First off. Thanks for reviewing, Yellosh. I've started collecting ideas for my new story.

Here's the next chapter.

Chapter 20

Da Solo

"It's easy to cry when you realize that everyone you love will reject you or die."

Kate had almost everything that she needed now. Food. Water. Stuff for her shelter. It would last her the two or three days that she planned to live. Now all she needed was medicine. She'd have to go to the infirmary to get that. That meant going to Jack's cave. She wasn't sure if she could handle that. She felt horrible though and knew it would only get worse if she didn't go. With a deep sigh, she closed her eyes for a moment, then grabbed Vincent's leash once more. "Now we have to go get more stuff." she said quietly.

The dog lazily got up, watching as she slung her backpack over her right shoulder. He didn't seem to want to move all that much, but oh well. Whatever his new master wanted. Yawning, he stretched than followed her out of Sawyer's tent.

Before heading to the caves, Kate walked over to her own shelter. She went inside and took out all that she had just put in her backpack. She began to organize it, knowing she was simply stalling so that she wouldn't have to go to the caves. Things got organized pretty quickly though, since her shelter really wasn't all that big. Getting up, she looked down at Vincent again. "Come on, Buddy."

The dog looked up at her, seeming to be getting a bit annoyed by the constant stopping and going. He sighed and yawned again, then began to follow her out of the tent.

The whole way, Kate felt nervous. Half because she was going to Jack's tent, half because she was walking in the jungle alone and it was possible for Them to come and get her once more. Even though she was alone, she'd rather be alone than have those people take her again.

It didn't take long to get to the caves. It was maybe a fifteen minute walk normally, though with Vincent sniffing everything in site, it might have taken twenty to twenty-five minutes. Kate stood outside, not sure if she wanted to go in or not. She wasn't sure if she could go in. She needed medicine though. Without it, she probably wouldn't even be fine enough to last the two or three days she planned on waiting. Taking a deep breath, she headed in the caves.

Just get the medicine, then get out. That's all you need to do.

Kate walked into the infirmary and over to where Jack kept his medicine. She opened the bag and began to look through it. There wasn't much in there, but it wasn't like anyone else but her was going to be needing it now. With a sigh, she pulled out a few bottles and looked them over, then took off her backpack and put them in there. On second though, maybe she should take the rest. She didn't want to have to come back to the caves anymore. With a sigh, she picked up the rest and shoved it in her backpack. There. Now she could go.

Turning, she went to head back out of the caves, but ended up in a coughing fit. She stood there in Jack's cave, coughing for what seemed like five minutes straight. Once she was okay again, she leaned against the cave wall and closed her eyes for a moment, a dizzy spell overcoming her. It made it hard to be in Jack's cave while she was sick since he wasn't there to make her feel better. She took a breath and moved away from the wall, but ended up falling sideways onto a pile of Jack's clothes.

Just get up and get back to your shelter, Kate.

A voice seemed to be talking in her head, though she wasn't sure if it was just her thoughts or what. She was pretty feverish and might have just been hallucinating. What the voice was saying though sounded like a wise idea. She slowly moved to get back up, but couldn't help but look down at the pile of clothes she was lying on. She picked up one of his shirts and brought it up to her face, inhaling his scent. She'd always loved the way he smelled. It was a mixture of cologne, sweat, and burning wood. She closed her eyes, hugging the shirt tighter, finding herself unable to move. She sniffled slightly and buried her face in his shirt more, her tears beginning to make it a bit damp. "Jack." she whispered, gathering more of his clothes and hugging them close. She whimpered softly, shaking her head. Out of all of her life, she had never felt this horrible. Never.

She sat there for awhile, just hugging his clothes and rocking herself back and forth. Finally, she had to pull herself away. She opened her backpack and shoved as many of his shirts in there as she could fit. She needed to take some of his stuff back with her. She needed something of his with her, just to keep her going for the next few days.

"Come on, Vincent. Let's go back." She whispered after several moments. Slowly, she stood and put her backpack over her shoulder again. She turned, shocked to see Jack standing there in front of her, blood soaking his entire body. She blinked, and then he was gone again. "Jack?!" she asked in confusion, looking around the cave.

Thunder cracked loudly outside, signaling an oncoming storm.

Kate ran her hand through her hair, still looking around. She drew in a shaky breath and closed her eyes for a moment. "Come on, Vincent." she murmured. She began to head out of the cave and towards the beach, wanting to make it back before the rain started. Rain was not something she wanted to be in.

She rubbed her forehead, not really even bothering to look around as she walked. Her eyes stayed glued in front of her, her gaze not even drifting as things around her made noises in the jungle. Had she really just seen Jack back there in the caves? It couldn't have been Jack. He wouldn't have just disappeared like that. She glanced down at Vincent. "I think I'm going crazy." she whispered quietly. She probably shouldn't have glanced down, because as soon as she looked back up, Jack was standing on the path right in front of her. She stopped dead in her tracks, looking at his blood covered body. "Jack…" she said, uncertainly. She waited for a rely, but got none. "Jack…" she tried once more, getting scared now. She took a step towards him, reaching to put her hand on his arm. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared once more.

Whispers began to fill the jungle.

Who's that?

It's that girl from before

Should we capture her?

Nah. She looks miserable. We'll leave her suffer and die.

Kate picked up her speed, really thinking she was crazy now. She ran her hand through her hair and glanced around. Giving up on speed walking, she broke into a run, getting back to the beach in half the time. Stumbling onto the sand, she fell onto her hands and knees, staying there for a moment to catch her breath. Maybe she was simply hallucinating. Maybe if she went to sleep, she'd wake up and everything would be fine. Well. Nothing would be fine. But maybe her mind would be at least slightly more clear. Yeah. Sleep sounded good.

Getting up, she headed for her tent, pulling Vincent along with her. Once inside, she sat down on her airline couch and placed the backpack beside her. Unzipping it, she dug through it until she found some medicine that would bring her fever down. She popped one of the pills into her mouth then grabbed a water bottle and took a drink to wash it down. She put the water bottle back down, then looked down at Vincent. She took his leash and attached it to the seat. "Stay." she said quietly, before turning back to her backpack. She pulled out one of Jack's shirts and held it up to her face again. Shifting slightly, she moved her backpack onto the floor and lied down, hugging Jack's shirt as if it was a stuffed animal. "I love you, Jack." she murmured, before drifting off.