Chapter Eight: Vulnerable

The sun was already high in the sky the next morning as Claire fed Aaron. She watched as everybody on the island washed up in the ocean, or ate their breakfast, or went for their morning jogs. She sighed as she stared down at her baby's blue eyes. Everything was as it should be, she guessed, but it just didn't seem right.

She found she was soon joined by Charlie.

"Good morning." He said as he passed her a banana and a bottle of water. Claire offered a smile as she accepted graciously.

"Thanks Charlie." She replied, as Charlie extended his arms to accept Aaron, while Claire ate. Aaron only grunted as he stared up at Charlie with wide eyes. Charlie smiled.

"I think he's starting to really like me." He said. Claire nodded, distracted by her own thoughts. Charlie noticed as he looked up.

"What's up? Are you okay?" He asked. Claire shook her head.

"I just wish they would find her." She replied. "I mean, she's been gone for over a week, and they haven't found anything. Not even a hint."

"You're talking about Violet?" Charlie asked, as Claire nodded. Charlie sighed. "Yeah, poor kid. And Walt too. Blimey, what do these monsters want with the kids?"

"I don't know Charlie, but Libby was telling me the Others took the kids on their side of the island too, the first night we crashed." Claire noticed Charlie's blank expression. "Libby was on the plane. She was on the other side of the island. You know, where the tail end of the plane crashed?"

"Right." Charlie remembered. "Well, why do you think they took the kids on that side of the island the first night, but waited until now to take our kids?"

"I don't know Charlie, but it scares me. Why haven't they come for Aaron? What if they come back for him?" Claire looked at her baby boy with tears in her eyes. Charlie shifted closer to Claire and stared at her seriously.

"Claire, I'm not going to let that happen. I'll keep you safe, and I'll keep Aaron safe." Charlie promised as he gave Aaron a squeeze. Claire shook her head.

"Charlie, these people are smart. Don't you realize Kate made that same promise to Violet the night she was taken? And now look at how much it's killing Kate." She pointed out as she let Aaron grasp her finger tight. Charlie sighed.

"Yeah, she's really upset, isn't she?" He said, scanning the beach to see if he could see her. There was no sign of Kate anywhere.

"I can't really blame her. I mean, everyone could see Violet was close to Kate. Kate took care of that girl after her sister died. Violet really relied on Kate for a lot of things. Kate feels like this is her fault."

"How do you know that?" Charlie asked, as he puckered his brow. Claire looked down the beach and saw Jack looking around. He was probably looking for Kate.

"I heard Kate and Jack talking the other day. She was pretty upset." Claire replied. Charlie nodded.

"Well, we'll get Violet back. We got you back, right Claire?" He said with a small hint of a smile, knowing it was a bit of a touchy topic. Claire only nodded.

"Yeah, but I have no memory of what they did to me. What if Violet comes back with no memory either? What if she doesn't come back at all? Charlie, they tried to kill you. What if they've already killed Violet?" She asked, visibly shaken by the lack of memory and the thought of Violet being dead.

"Claire, we can't think like that. Jack and Kate have been looking for her everyday. They'll find something eventually, I'm sure. They've got to." Charlie replied, trying to sound hopeful, but he felt as helpless as she did. Violet had been gone for a week, and nothing had been found to suggest any evidence the Others had taken her, or where they had taken her. He let out a sigh, as he and Claire watched as Jack continued his search for Kate.

He wouldn't find her on the beach.

Kate stared up a tree that held mangos at the top. She had ventured off into the jungle at first light, before anyone else had woken up. She thought she would get an early start on breakfast so she could spend the rest of the day searching for Violet. Anger still consumed her. It had only been the night before that Jack had approached her with bad news.

"Michael's gone." He had told her. Kate's stomach did a flip as she stared at him.

"What do you mean he's gone? He just got back!" She said. Jack sighed.

"He left a note. He's gone to look for Walt." Kate stared at him in surprise.

"By himself?" She asked.

"By himself."

That was the part that irritated Kate the most as she glared at the fruit in the tree top. Only a few days ago had Michael and Kate sat on the beach together, discussing the fact that Violet and Walt had both been taken the same night. Kate had been under the impression Michael was going to help them continue their search in the jungle, and he had, for the last couple of days. It came as a shock to her when Jack had told her Michael had ventured off on his own. He knew I wanted to find Violet just as badly as he wanted to find his son. Why the hell wouldn't he ask me to go with him? She felt like screaming out in frustration as she gripped a hold of the tree and began to climb it. If he finds them, he'd better damn well bring Violet back too! She clawed her way to the top of the tree and rested on a tree branch, breathing out slowly. I swear, if he finds her and leaves her there... She began picking mangos from the tree angrily, as her whole body felt tense from anger and exhaustion. She hadn't slept properly in days, thinking about Violet, and whether or not she was okay.

As Kate slid back down the trunk, the first step she took on the jungle floor caused her to stumble and she slipped, dropping all the mangos to the ground. She watched them roll away as she steadied herself, and then she lost it as she sank to her knees in tears. She had lost Violet - she felt she would never see her again. She was the only one on this entire island who didn't judge her for being a criminal. She didn't even know what I did, but she didn't care. Kate thought to herself, as she remembered the night she blew up her farmhouse, with her stepfather inside. She had done it to protect her mother, but no police officer, or marshall cared to hear that part of the story. Kate had been on the run for so long before the Marshall had actually caught her, ready to transport her back to LA. Violet was so trusting of Kate, not caring about her past, or who she had been, or what she had done. She didn't even ask what I did.

Kate continued to cry as she stumbled to pick up the mangos she has dropped. Violet, where the hell are you? Kate didn't care about risks. If there were any risks in rescuing Violet, she would take them. But I can't do anything unless I know where you are.

"Hey Freckles." Kate looked up and saw Sawyer entering the clearing where Kate was on her hands and knees, tears streaming down her face. Kate hastily wiped them away and stood up, placing her hands on her hips casually, breathing out.

"I...I was just collecting some fruit for breakfast." She said, trying not to let her voice sound as upset as she felt. "What are you doing here?" Sawyer spread his arms out.

"It's a free island, isn't it Freckles? Just thought I'd go for a little stroll in the jungle." He replied with that familiar grin on his face. Kate looked away, shaking her head.

"You weren't cryin', were you Freckles?" Sawyer asked, as he approached Kate, picking up some of the runaway mangos. Kate rounded on him and glared at him.

"What do you care if I was crying, Sawyer?" She asked, as anger fumed inside of her. He was so insensitive, and she was tired of it. Especially now. He stared at her with narrow eyes. For a moment, he almost looked hurt.

"Ouch, Freckles. You think I'd just walk on by and ignore a damsel in distress?" He asked.

"Sawyer, just-" She felt the tears on her cheek and realized she was crying again. Sawyer dropped the mangos, and his grin, and only looked at her.

"You miss the kid, don't you?" He asked in a quiet voice. Kate felt her stomach leap in her throat. She had never heard Sawyer talk like this, like he actually had a caring bone in his body. It stirred something up inside of her. A desperate need for comfort.

She stared up at him with teary eyes as he nodded, knowing that was exactly what was wrong.

"She's a spunky little thing, Freckles. I'm sure wherever she is, she's-" He didn't have a chance to finish, as Kate closed in, grabbing hold of his shirt, and pressing her lips against his. She was lost in the moment, feeling vulnerable and alone as she kissed the man. When she backed away, after realizing what she had just done, she looked away, feeling embarrassed. Sawyer breathed out.

"Freckles..." He started. Kate shook her head.

"I'm sorry Sawyer, I shouldn't have...I just..." Her heart was racing, as she wiped away a tear. Sawyer's typical grin returned.

"Hey, I'm not one to argue when a beautiful lady lays some sugar on me." He said with a bit of an awkward laugh. Kate didn't say anything, she just turned her back on him, and slowly began picking up some mangos, stumbling as she went. God, I'm so stupid. She thought to herself as she found Sawyer kneeling next to her, picking up some mangos as well.

"You really want to find her, don't you?" He asked, changing the subject, which Kate was incredibly grateful for. She turned to him and nodded, not able to find any words. Sawyer exhaled audibly.

"There's something you should know." He looked at her. "I know where to find the Others." He almost jumped back when she jumped to her feet with wide eyes and anger fuming inside of her. Sawyer knew where to find the Others? Why the hell hadn't he said anything?

She grabbed hold of his shirt and swung him around, slamming him into the nearest tree.

"Where Sawyer? Why haven't you told me this sooner? God, Sawyer, she's been gone for a week!" Kate screamed out.

"Relax, Freckles. I just found out a few days ago." Sawyer said quietly.

"Why didn't you tell me a few days ago?" Kate demanded. Sawyer shrugged.

"I didn't think it was the greatest idea to let you know." He replied. "Knowing you, you'd try going on your own, and that ain't a good idea at all."

"Where?" Was all Kate said, visibly shaking as she gripped Sawyer's shirt, holding him against the tree. She knew he could break free and pin her easily, but he didn't. He just considered her.

"Look, when we were coming back from meeting those other people from the plane, I was on my own about an hour from here. I just needed a break from the rest of the group, and this guy jumped me. He was one of them. He told me this was their island and that if any of us crossed this line, they would have to take serious action. He literally drew a line in the dirt and told me never to come back." He sighed. "I think that's where the Others are, Freckles."

"Why didn't you follow them back for Violet?" She asked in a loud voice. Sawyer stared at her and shook his head.

"In case you've forgotten Freckles, I just got back a few days ago and just found out about her being gone. I didn't know they had her." He replied. Kate stared at him for a moment before she finally let go, and turned to leave. He smiled a little as he stared after her.

"For a minute there, I thought you was gonna lay some more sugar on me." He didn't even have time to think, as Kate swung around and punched him square in the nose, before running off into the jungle. Sawyer held on to his bloody nose and breathed out angrily. Women.