Chapter 9

It had been two days since they had left the island, and finally on the horizon, there was a dock. The dock was in the middle of the sea, in the middle of no where. Just a woodern platform in the middle of the sea. Just like Alex had described. As they pulled up along side of it, a man appeared from inside of the small woodern hut. His hair long and tatty, dirt stained on his face. Where they just coming into a trap made for them by the others? They had no idea, all they could do was hope.

As Kate steered into the dock, Jack prepared to jump overboard onto the first land they had seen in two long, hard days. The boat creaked and bumped along the side of the platform. Jack jumped onto the dock in one quick leap. He strolled midlesly over to the man.

"God is it good to see a new face, to get off that boat.Your just where they said you would be." The man extended his hand and Jack politely shook it.

"I'm Jack." The man smiled gently before replying.

"And I am Edward. Call me Ed." Jack slightly smiled back at the man.

"It's nice to meet you Ed."

Behind the two mens backs Sawyer had joined them on the dock and was busy tieing the boat surcurely to it with big, strong ropes. Kate left her position at the wheel and lowered the ramp to the dock. Sawyer rushing back on to aid Ana. Kate brushed past him slipping off the boat. She joined Jack next to the man. Jacks arm sliding over her shoulders loosly. Sawyer glanced at Ana as they departed the boat, both sharing a smirk. Neither knew what had happened between Jack and Kate whilst on the boat. They both just suddenly became closer, just out of the blue bagan holding hands, sharing light kisses when they thought they hadn't been watching. They finally stopped behind Jack and Kate, Sawyer leaning over to greet the new face. They shook hands similar to what Ed had with Jack.

"So what we doing here dog"? Saywer asked rudely, Ana slapping his shoulder before showing an apoligetic expression to Ed.

"The names Ed. And to answer your question, you were sent here by Ben, you will rest here for tonight and tomorrow will continue your journey back home. I shall point you in the right direction, and if i can find a copy of that dang map lying around somewhere, you'll get that too." The group watched him suspiciously. Should they trust him? Sawyer didn't. He didn't like the idea of resting here tonight with this new guy. This new guy taht was obviously one of them.

"Don't take any offence to the nicknames Ed, he calls everyone like that." Jack explained, knowing all too well. Ed glared at Sawyer, then turned his gaze to Jack and nodded in reply.

"Right well, it is nearly sunset. You four should get some rest, and I shall have everything prepared for you by morning. I shall see you then. Goodnight." With that Ed dissapeared back into his little cabin. The group leaving the dock, headed back to the boat. The girls got into bed, cuddled up under the covers. Their men standing over them, placing kisses on their forheads. Jack exited the room, heading back up to the deck of the boat, while Sawyer lingured slightly longer. Kate had already drifted off into a deep sleep, her eye lids fluttering every few seconds. Sawyer sat gently on the edge of the bed, taking Ana's hand in his. He kissed it lightly before placing it back down on the bed. His arm raised to her head, brushing her hair out of her face and tucking the stray curls behind her ear. His hand then went to her stomach, where it rested. A smile forming on his face. His dimples indented his cheeks, and his gaze raised to meet Ana's as her hand landed silently ontop of his. He could stay like this forever, but he had to talk to Jack, urgently. He leaned in and left a butterfly kiss on er soft lips before pulling away, letting his hand lingure for a second longer on her stomach. Pulling his hand away he bagan to climb the stairs to the deck, glancing back to watch his girl roll over and snuggle down to sleep.

Before he knew it, he was on the decks. The nights air hitting him roughly in the face. Jack sat a few paces away from him, feet up on the railings. He was standing guard. Sawyer strolled over, taking a seat at Jack's side.

"So Doc. I think we need to talk. Don' you?" Jack's head rose to meet Sawyer's eyes. He already knew what about, he knew Sawyer had felt it too. Something wasn't right. His eyes glanced over onto the dock and into the small woodern house of Ed's. He could barely see the man, but he could tell he was rishing around doing something. Preparing for tomorrow, if he was telling the truth. Or was he preparing something else? They would find out soon enough, and he knew that he wouldn't let him lay a finger on Kate, just as he knew Sawyer would do the same for Ana.

"You don't trust him either then?" His gaze returned to Sawyer.

"Hell no Jacko. Something fishy round here, and it aint from the sea." A small grin tugged at Jack's lips before he looked back over to the cabin.

"You come to keep watch too?" He asked, his eyes fixed on the stranger.

"'Course. Didn' trust that dog. It was like what he was sayin' was all rehearst. Like he had said it a thousan' times before. He can stay in his littl' house over there all he likes, but the second he lays one foot on this boat, he's gonna damb sure wish he hadn'." Jack glanced back towards Sawyer. He wouldn't have even had to listen and he would have know what Sawyer meant. The feeling was nutreal. He felt the same way.

"So Doc, whatcha plannin' on doin' when we get back to the good ol' states?" He gave the doctor his cheeky, dimpled grin. Jack sighed, raising his hand to brush through his hair.

"I don't know. Buy a house, maybe move in with Kate. Try and get my job back at the hospital. You?" The southerner glanced out at the miles of open sea. It seemed so calm, maybe he could live by the sea, then when his baby was born, and it grew up, they could take it to the beach every day.

"I have no idea Doc. Get back to reality. Hell looks like I'm gonna have a kid." The smile reapeared on Sawyer's face. Jack chuckled slightly, before his gaze moved back to the house. Sawyer rose to his feet. He stretched his arms before heading to the lower deck of the boat.

"Jus' gonna go check on her. Be back in a few." Jack replied with a nod as Sawyer trudged down the stairs. His footsteps decreasing in volume with each step. Ed was still rushing around in his little house.

"I'm watching you, Ed." Jack stated as he stared at the man. He was just about to raise from his seat to check out this house of his, when Sawyer reamerged onto the deck.

"Probably not a good idea anyway." He thought to himself. Sawyer joined him again, sitting in the same seat as before.

"Boy this seat sure got cold while I was gone." A smirk appeared on Jack's face. This guy really was a comedian, wasn't he.

"Well, looks like we're playing watch dog for the rest of the night." Sawyer's gaze joined Jack's on the house.