Chapter 2

No-one had come to rescue us. We'd been on the island for a good twenty four hours now, and we'd had no word from anyone outside of the island. I was worried, I'd expected rescue by now.

Things were a little calmer than they were when we first crashed. Jack had done all he could for the injured, unfortunately we lost a few people; there was nothing he could have done. I helped Jack, I couldn't do much for those who were badly hurt but I could help with the minor stuff. My mom had been a nurse right up until I was fifteen, right up until she died. When she was alive she taught me bits and pieces, by the time I was three I knew how to put someone in the recovery position, and by ten I was an expert on the Heimlich manoeuvre. There was one man, who even Jack was struggling to fix, the U.S Marshall. There was a lot of suspicion going around camp as to who he was escorting. He had shrapnel wounds from the plane crash, or at least that was what Jack told us. I'd been to see the Marshall. I didn't think he was going to make it.

We'd made make shift tents from what we could salvage from the wreckage. Jack had people searching for medical supplies. Luckily, I managed to find my suitcase and although some things had gotten a little wet, it was all pretty salvageable. My dress wasn't really suitable for the island, and it was pretty messed up already. In my "tent", if you could really call a bit of tarp thrown over some sticks and metal a tent, I changed into some khaki cut offs and a t-shirt; something a little more island worthy.

Many of us had banded together to form some sort of team of workers. We found as much luggage as we could and found their owners; if the owner was dead we sorted through the cases to find what was useful to us. It felt bad to me, like we were being disrespectful. It was bad to go through somebody's belongings when they were alive, I was sure that it was worse when they were dead. I worked a lot with Boone, he was good looking but I can't really say I found myself attracted to him. He wasn't my type, but he was easy to get a long with and that was good enough for me.

It had been pretty scary the day before; there was this loud roaring sound coming from the jungle. We'd all frozen; Walt had wrapped his arms around his Labrador, Vincent. And everyone else wasn't really sure how to act. Trees crashed to the ground without us seeing why. We'd all thought that this island was pretty safe, that rescue was imminent, but this was something new, this was something dangerous. I wasn't sure how I felt about this wild creature in the jungle thing, but there was no way I was going to go into the jungle on my own.

"How are we going to get off this island? What if rescue doesn't come?" I asked Jack and Kate.

Kate Austen was one of the passengers, just like the rest of us. She seemed nice enough but I'd never been the best judge of character. It seemed clear to me that Jack and Kate were attracted to each other. I'd smiled knowingly when I'd seen them earlier. At least this stupid crash onto this stupid island might be good for somebody.

"I don't know, Ollie" Jack sighed "it has only been twenty four hours since the crash, rescue will come for us.

He didn't sound so sure, and his eyes, they didn't seem to believe in what he was saying either. Kate was quiet, deep in thought, twirling a lock of brown hair around her finger and her brow was furrowed in thought.
"What's up, Kate?" I asked.

"I've got an idea" Kate mumbled, jumping up from the log from which she was sitting on.

Jack and I stood up too. A few others who were nearby were watching her too: Charlie, Michael, Walt. My heart squeezed tight at the sight of Walt; he was just a kid, he shouldn't be stuck here on the island, just a kid. My hand automatically moved to the left pocket of my cut offs. I rested my hand against the outside, I couldn't feel it in my pocket, small and square and thin. It wasn't there. My heart clenched once more. Panic surged through me. No, I chastised myself, don't think about it, don't think about her.

"The plane crashed, right? And split into pieces. In the pilot's cockpit you'd be able to contact someone, right?" Kate rushed.

Charlie, a former rock star, came over. He was a bit out there but he seemed sweet; yet there was still something about him that concerned me, I wasn't sure what it was but there was something.

"It's like that black box thing, isn't it?" Charlie chipped in.

"They have a transceiver" Jack conceded after mulling over the idea, "if we can find the cockpit, and find the transceiver, then what do we do? I'm a Doctor, not an electrician"

"We'll worry about that when the time comes" Kate said decisively.

It was decided that there would be a hike into the jungle to find the cockpit, and to find the transceiver. Kate and Jack were both up for it, and Charlie had volunteered too. Kate went to get her rucksack and Charlie disappeared off to God knows where.

"I'm coming too, I want to find this transceiver" I started, wobbling a little as I followed Jack back to his tent.

"You're struggling to walk, Ol. Anyway, I need someone to stay here to watch the Marshall and to keep an eye on Claire. Hurley's been watching her but I'm sure she'd enjoy some female company" Jack explained as he stuffed a bottle of water and some mangoes into his pack "and, try and watch Sawyer for me, make sure he doesn't get into too much trouble"

I grinned.

"I'll do my best, Doc" I enthused, saluting.

"We haven't got much medicine or alcohol to give the Marshall; Sawyer might have some but…give him these if the pain gets worse. It's a strong sedative, it should help" Jack instructed.

"You better get going, Jack. Find the transceiver for me" I smiled.

Jack hugged me, it wasn't romantic or anything. I didn't think of him that way, and I was pretty sure that he didn't feel that way about me either. It was a friendly hug, the type you might give to your brother or a close friend.

"I'll see you later" I murmured "look after Kate and Charlie for me"

"See you later" he mumbled as we pulled apart.

He headed off to meet Kate and Charlie and I tried to prepare myself for seeing the Marshall. It wasn't that I was particularly squeamish or anything, I'd seen many things in my eighteen years of life. But this was different; I'd never seen someone who was dying before.

I took a deep breath to steady myself and walked firmly towards the tent where the Marshall was. I could hear him groaning and crying out in pain.

"You can do this, Ollie" I told myself out loud "you can do this"

Without another thought I pushed back the canvas, knelt down and crawled into the tent. The Marshall was lying on the floor in top of some sheets and towels that Michael and Walt had found for him. His face had a layer of sweat on it, and his jaw was clenched as he fidgeted.

"Try and stay still" I told him as I unscrewed the lid of a water bottle "drink this.

I slid my arm under his head and lifted him slightly. I tricked the water into his mouth and eventually he swallowed.

"I've got some tablets, if you want them?" I said, he nodded his head a little.

I read the instructions on the lid: take no more than two every four hours. I popped the lid of the container and shook out two of the little red tablets. I edged closer to the Marshall and lifted his head once more.

"Here you go" I muttered as I placed the tablets on his tongue and washed them down with a swish of water.

I cleaned his wounds as best I could and redressed them with the bandages that Jack had left beside him. I didn't like doing it, but I did because he needed it doing. It had to be done. I sat beside the Marshall as he slept fitfully for an hour or so before I crawled back out onto the sand. I was momentarily blinded by the strength of the sunlight, but once I could once again see straight I pushed myself up so was standing and hobbled away from the Marshall's tent.

"Finished playing nurse?" Sawyer asked mockingly, that ever present smirk on his face, as he sauntered out of the jungle, mango in hand.

I rolled my eyes and then glared at him.

"Someone's got to do it, Sawyer" I told him.

"And that someone is you? So Jack, Kate and Charlie get to go into the jungle, everyone else gets to relax on the beach – and you, my friend, get to wipe snot bubbles from the good Marshall's nose" Sawyer taunted in that accent of his.

Ye, that accent; I loved it and hated it. I loved it because it made my heart flutter like an idiot. And I hated it for the exact same reason. And it made it impossible for me to ever be angry with him.

"Can I help you with something, Sawyer?" I said hesitantly.

"Nah" he drawled "just thought you might want this"

Tauntingly, he pulled a bag out from behind his back. My bag, my carry on bag. My heart soared, it would be in there. I reached towards it but Sawyer pulled it away from me.

"Ah, ah, ah, Sunshine; I don't think so" Sawyer grinned, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

"Sawyer" I warned, placing my hands on my hips, "give me my bag"

"Finders keepers, Sunshine"

"Sawyer, that bag belongs to me. Please just give it to me" I pleaded.

My eyes were tearing up, but I wasn't going to cry, not in front of Sawyer. He watched me for a moment, sighed and muttered something under his breath, before holding the bag out to me once more. I near enough ripped the bag out of Sawyer's hand. I slumped onto the floor, not caring that Sawyer was standing there in front of me. I yanked the zip along the teeth and pulled everything out onto the sand: a couple of books, passport, plane ticket, cell phone, a fleece, my purse. And then, right at the bottom, the little square photograph. I held it gently between my fingers. This time the tears did leak over; my baby girl, my Leah.

Taking control of myself, I packed up my bag, wiped my tears and slipped my photo into my left pocket where it belonged. I stood up and crossed the small expanse of sand between Sawyer and I. I hugged him, tightly. This hug was different to my hug with Jack, this had a different meaning to it, I just didn't know what.

"Thank you, Sawyer" I whispered into his shirt.

I just want to thank "audreydarke96" for reviewing my fanfic :) it means a lot and inspired me to write the second chapter! SO please people, more reviews! :D