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It had been a long night and one where Kate had gotten very little sleep. She ended up sleeping near Jack, who Riley was huddled up against refusing to even let go. Kate awoke in the morning and sat up and saw Jack talking with Riley. Talking at Riley would be more specific; she still hadn't said a word. Jack looked over and saw that Kate was awake, "Kate, can you take her to the bathroom? I don't think she went all night, then we can go." They were going off in search of the cockpit to try to send out an SOS signal.
Kate nodded though she dreaded the idea. Jack stood up still holding Riley when Kate walked over. Kate wasn't sure how Riley would take to her. In all honesty Jack could've taken her to the bathroom but he needed a minute to himself without a mute five year old hanging onto him every second. Jack passed Riley over to Kate who awkwardly held her in the air for a second before Riley wrapped her legs around Kate's waist and leaned into Kate's shoulder. Jack clapped Kate's shoulder and smiled before he walked off.
Kate smiled to herself, "Okay not so bad. We can do this." She muttered. She started walking towards the jungle when Riley tightened her grip on Kate and turned her head into Kate's shoulder. Kate immediately stopped, "Hey, hey what's wrong?" Riley started shaking and pointed to the jungle. "Are you scared about last night? What was in the jungle." Riley nodded. Kate used her other hand and rubbed Riley's back, "Don't worry, I'm not going to let anything happen to you. I promise." Riley loosened her grip a tiny bit.
Kate walked forward a few yards before she set down Riley and pulled up her dress, highly uncomfortable. Kate turned her head, "Can- can you take off your undies?" Riley nodded and pulled them down as Kate held up her dress. "Okay now just squat and do whatever you have to do."
Kate couldn't help but think about how uncomfortable this was. First off she was never motherly material. She'd been on the run for years and after a pregnancy scare with her husband she'd left him, knowing she would never make a good mom or wife.
Riley stood up and Kate looked back. She realized Riley was waiting for her. Kate let go of the dress and pulled up Riley's panties. "You ready to go?" Riley nodded. Kate expected Riley to lift up her arms, signaling she wanted somebody to pick her up, usually Jack, but one time Claire. But instead Riley grabbed her hand and Kate started walking forward, back to camp.
As they approached, Jack was looking out onto the water. Kate was still holding Riley's hand and had found something oddly comforting about it.
"You ready?" Kate said quietly.
Jack turned around and took them in. Kate looked determined and Riley looked terrified, still clinging to Kate. He sighed, "Kate you showed me where the smoke was. I can get there myself." He nodded to Riley, "Who's going to watch her?"
Kate looked down and stroked Riley's head, "There's 50 people here. Somebody can watch her. I'm coming." Kate said determined.
Jack smiled, "Well you're going to need better shoes. I'll find someone to watch her."
Kate nodded and moved to leave when Riley tugged on her arm, thumb in mouth. Kate knelt down, "Hey I'll be back. Okay? I'll be back. For now just go with Jack."
Riley nodded as Kate stood up and walked away. Riley turned to Jack and held up her arms; Jack picked her up hoisting her onto his hip.
Jack looked for Claire to watch Riley, but couldn't find her, and he was running out of time. Jack noticed Sayid standing alone, he seemed all right.
"Sayid! Sayid." He walked over as Sayid turned towards him, "Sayid I'm going to try to find the transceiver with Kate, see if we can find the cockpit. I need you to stay here…keep order, make sure nobody panics."
Sayid nodded, "I can do that."
Jack looked at Riley, "There's another thing. Kate and I are both going, do you think- could you?"
Sayid nodded again, "I can do that too."
Jack rested his head against Riley's. "Riley? I have to go. But I'll be back. This is my friend Sayid. You're going to stay with him until we get back? Okay?"
Riley glanced over at Sayid and turned her face into Jack's shoulder. How was Jack to go if Riley wouldn't stay with Sayid? Sayid leaned forward, "Do you want something to eat?"
Riley nodded and immediately sat up as Sayid reached for her. Jack smiled. Progress was being made. After Sayid had grabbed her she seemed perfectly content to be held by him. Jack briefly wondered when children stop wanting to be held. Riley was 5 shouldn't she be more walking around on her own? As Jack eyed Riley he did notice how small she was, were 5-year-old girls supposed to be that small? Jack shook his head and left to find Kate, it wasn't really his problem they weren't going to be here for that long.
Sayid found a box of graham crackers and an unopened apple juice box and sat down next to Michael, Walt, and Charlie on the beach. He set down Riley and opened the juice for her and let her sit there and eat crackers. She seemed content enough. Sayid was talking with Michael and Charlie when Shannon and Boone joined them, then Hurley.
"So I was just looking inside the fuselage… It's pretty grim in there." Hurley glanced at Riley, "And in the uh- surrounding areas. You think we should do something about the-" He paused and looked at Walt, not sure if he could spell, "b-o-d-y-s?" Everyone in the group looked at him confused. Charlie looked to Sayid for instructions.
"What are you spelling, man? Bodies?" Michael asked.
Walt who was playing in the sand never even looked up, "B-o-d-i-e-s"
Sayid nodded, "That sounds like a good idea."
"No! They'll deal with it when they get here." The girl, Shannon, said arrogantly when Jack came up breaking off the conversation.
"We're going out to look for the cockpit. See if we can find a transceiver, to send a distress signal, help the rescue team." Jack turned to Boone; "You're going to need to keep an eye on the wounded. If the guy in the suit wakes up, try to keep him calm, but don't let him move that piece of shrapnel. You understand?" Jack said firmly.
Boone nodded, "Yeah, got it. What about the guy with the leg? The- the tourniquet."
"I stopped the bleeding. I took it off last night. He should be alright." Jack said.
Boone nodded again, "Yeah, cool. Good job."
Charlie was feeling quite useless sitting there while everyone was trying to do their part so he scrambled up, "I'll come with you. I want to help."
Jack quickly stood up, "I don't need any more help."
"No it's cool. I don't really feel like standing still." Charlie said. Jack nodded. "Excellent." Charlie said quietly.
Jack leaned down to where Riley was sitting next to Sayid; he placed a hand on her stomach. "Hey I'll be back soon okay?" Riley nodded and Jack stood back up. "Sayid, thank you." Jack said.
Sayid smiled, "It is no problem."
As the day wore on Riley stayed close to Sayid as he filtered between different tasks. Never forgetting about Riley. Near the fuselage Sayid was helping sort out usable items from scrap metal. Sayid turned around to check on Riley and saw her sifting through metal fragments. Sharp, jagged, metal. Sayid was about 10 feet away and lunged over. "Hey! Hey be careful." Riley dropped the piece she was holding. Sayid grabbed Riley's hands and examined them. They looked okay. He pointed to the rubble. "These are sharp, you could hurt yourself."
A guy next to them also looking for supplies, stealing supplies was more accurate, snorted and Sayid turned to the man. Sawyer. "You have a problem?"
Sawyer laughed, "Oh now you care about not hurting people?"
Sayid stood up, dumbfounded by what the man was implying, "Excuse me."
Sawyer turned to him cocking his head, "It didn't seem like you cared about who got hurt when you blew up the plane now did you?"
Sayid gasped and pulled back his fist before releasing, almost cold-cocking Sawyer. Riley gasped and shuffled backwards falling onto the sand, as they started to fight. A circle of people had formed around them, watching, when Jack, Kate and Charlie arrived back. "Hey guys come on." They heard Michael say. Jack moved to break up the fight and Kate saw Riley standing back and went over to check on her. Kate knelt down in front of her, "Hey are you okay?" Riley nodded, relieved to see a familiar face and thrust her arms around Kate's neck. Kate picked up Riley and turned back around as she heard Jack shouting.
Jack was pulling Sawyer off of Sayid, "Hey! Break it up. Break it up! Come on! That's it! It's over! That's it!"
"Son of a bitch!" Sawyer yelled as Michael tried to hold off Sayid.
"I'm sick of this redneck!" Sayid screamed.
"You want some more of me boy?" Sawyer replied.
Sayid calmed down slightly but was still fuming, "Tell everyone what you told me! Tell them that I crashed the plane! Go on! Tell them that I made the plane crash!"
Sawyer yelled as Jack still held him, "The shoe fits buddy!"
"What is going on?" Jack screamed over everyone. Kate shifted Riley onto her hip and Riley turned around to see what was happening but clung tighter to Kate.
Sawyer broke free and Michael handed Jack a pair of handcuffs, "Look my kid found these in the jungle."
Sawyer pointed at Sayid, "And this guy was sitting in the back row of business class, the whole flight, never got up. Hands folded underneath his blanket." Sawyer flung his arms up, "And for some reason, just pointin' this out, the guy sittin' next to him didn't make it."
Sayid shook his head, "Oh, thank you so much for observing my behavior!" He spat.
"You don't think I saw them pull you out of line before we boarded?" Sawyer asked. Sayid lunged at him, "Come on bring it!" Sawyer yelled.
"STOP!" Kate screamed. It was rather impressive even with a five year old clinging to her she looked scary enough, or mad enough, to put both Sayid and Sawyer back in their place and Sayid backed off. Kate looked around at the group, "We found the transceiver, but it's not working. Can anybody help?"
After a minute Sayid nodded, "Yes, I might be able to."
Sawyer was furious, "Oh great. Perfect! Let's trust this guy!"
Hurley stepped forward, "Hey! We're all in this together, man. Let's treat each other with a little respect."
Sawyer looked over at him, "Shut up Lardo." He said irritated. Kate turned to look at him as Riley snuggled deeper into her shoulder.
"Hey! Give it a break." Jack said to Sawyer.
Sawyer backed up, "Whatever you say doc, you're the hero."
Boone walked up to Jack, "You guys found the cockpit? Any survivors?"
Jack shook his head, "No."
"It's a dual band, military spec. Chances are, the battery is good but, the radio is dead." Sayid said to Kate.
"Can you fix it?" Kate asked.
Sayid nodded, "I need some time."
Rose came running up to Jack, Kate and Sayid, "Doctor…the man with the shrapnel. I think you should take a look at him." Jack nodded and followed Rose to where the wounded were being kept.
Kate was wading in the ocean water with Riley. They were about knee deep, calf deep for Kate. After Sayid took the transceiver Kate stood there stunned for a few moments still holding Riley. Then she caught a whiff of herself. After a day's journey she smelled less than pleasant and she hadn't showered in about 2 days. She looked down at Riley and could see the dirt streaks lining her face. It wasn't that noticeable because everybody was grungy but still people should shower, so Kate decided to wash up. But first, she had to find clothes.
Somebody in the group had compiled all of the suitcases into one spot. Kate walked over and set down Riley and started looking. Not just for today but for any clothes that would fit her. She didn't know how long they would be here for. Kate snagged an empty duffel bag and filled it with usable clothes, socks, underwear, and what not. She already had the other shoes she had taken, the brown hiking boots off of the dead body. Kate turned back and realized Riley was still sitting there. 'Shit.' Kate thought. 'She needs clothes too.' Kate started rifling through until she found a bright blue child's suitcase. She tore it open and it was filled with all kinds of clothes, girls clothes that would fit Riley and a pair of sneakers. Kate looked over "Is this yours?" Riley shook her head. "Well everything in here is damn near your size, so it is now." Kate muttered to herself before she threw the little blue suitcase into her duffel. All of the supplies were neatly organized into piles and Kate took a bottle of shampoo and a bar of soap.
Now they were at the beach. Riley, was being bathed by Kate. Riley shivered. "I know its cold we're almost done." Kate assured her. She had already washed Riley's body and was now lathering shampoo into Riley's hair. "Okay dunk and then your done." Riley submerged into the water and Kate made sure there weren't any bubbles in her hair. Riley popped up a few seconds later. Kate pointed to a spot a couple paces behind her, "Okay stand here and don't move." She didn't want the little girl to dragged in by the undertow. Kate had already taken off her own pants but now took off her t-shirt and threw it over her shoulder. She tied her hair up and grabbed the bar of soap, when the Korean woman came up mumbling in Korean. "Okay?" Kate finally said. She couldn't speak Korean. She didn't understand. Kate finished washing up and grabbed Riley's hand, pulling her out of the water. Kate opened the blue suitcase and found a pair of shorts that fit Riley okay and a green tank top that fit well. She put clean socks and the sneakers on Riley. Then Kate dressed herself pulling out a loose fitting pair of jeans and an orange t-shirt then putting on clean socks and the brown hiking boots.
Kate had already put her own hair up but she grimaced at Riley's hair. Years of managing her own hair had taught her that wet knots? Not desired. So Kate gently worked out the tangles with her fingers then did two identical French braids. Kate had to admit little Riley really did look quite adorable now that she was all clean and her hair was done.
After washing up Kate walked back to the fuselage, trailed by Riley. Relieved that Riley wasn't clinging to her anymore. She saw Sayid fiddling with the transmitter, "Is it working?"
Sayid nodded, "Seems to be. Except we're not picking up a signal."
Kate tilted her head, "Why do we need to pick up a signal? Aren't we trying to send one?"
"Yes but what you want to see here" Sayid pointed to a spot on the transceiver, "Is little bars. The bars would show the radio is getting reception."
Kate nodded, finally understanding, "We need the bars."
Sayid shrugged, "We could broadcast blind. Hope that someone, maybe a ship somewhere picks up our distress call. But that could be a waste of the battery, which might not last long." Sayid looked at Kate, "There is…one thing we could try."
Kate looked at him eagerly, "What?"
"Seeing if we can get a signal from high ground." Sayid answered.
"How high?" Sayid nodded to the mountains behind him and Kate turned around to look. Immediately regretting it. It was miles and miles high of tedious rocky terrain to hike, in the hot sun with minimal water.
Kate approached Jack who was still working to save the air marshal. "How is he? Can you do anything?" Kate asked as she nibbled on her finger.
Jack shrugged, "Pull out the shrapnel."
Kate took a step forward, "But you said yesterday that if you took it out…"
"I know. But that was yesterday." Jack shook his head. "I was hoping he'd be in a hospital by now. If I leave him like this he'll be dead within a day. If I open him up, if I can control the bleeding and if he doesn't go into sepsis and if I can find some antibiotics… he might be alright."
Kate moved towards him, "I'm going on the hike."
Jack turned around, "Sorry?"
"Sayid fixed the transceiver, but we can't use it. Not from here." She replied.
Jack jumped up, his concern for Kate's safety obvious, "Kate, wait a minute."
She shrugged, "You're the one who said that we had to send out a signal."
Jack leaned into Kate, "Look, you saw what that thing did to the pilot."
Kate nodded, "Yeah, I did. What makes you think we're any safer here than we are in the jungle?"
Jack looked back to the Air Marshal briefly, "Wait for me. I don't know how long this will be-"
"Sayid said the batteries won't last." Kate informed him. "Riley is with Claire. I'm going"
Jack didn't like this idea, not one bit, but they weren't dating, hell they barely knew each other. Which is why Jack was wondering why he even cared if she left. He didn't know, but he did know he didn't want Kate to leave, and that he couldn't stop her, "All right. If you see, or hear, anything... Anything. Run."
Claire had been sitting on the beach watching the waves when Kate showed up with Riley in tow. Apparently Kate was going off on some hike with everyone to try to fix the transceiver. But she needed someone to watch Riley. Claire agreed and Kate sat Riley down on the plane seat next to Claire. "I'll be back okay?" Riley nodded as Kate stood up and went off to find Sayid. Claire watched Kate walk away and wondered why Kate had taken over caring for Riley. There were plenty of other women who could have done it and Kate didn't seem like the mothering type. It had only been two days and she'd already gone off, leaving Riley twice.
Claire looked over to Riley, "Do you want to play a game?" Riley turned and looked Claire in the eye then looked back to the water. "Oh yeah" Claire looked out onto the water, "I don't know any games where you don't have to talk." Claire tried to convince Riley to talk a couple more times but to no avail. Finally, Claire gave up and pulled out her diary to journal her experiences on the island so far. That was when Jin came up. Jin was the husband of the Korean couple.
Jin was holding a tray of some kind of raw fish animal. He held it out to Claire and started saying something in Korean and rubbing his stomach.
Claire smiled, "No. Thank- thank you. No, it's okay." But Jin kept insisting, "No, really." Jin stared blankly at her and Claire caved, "Okay. Thanks." She hesitatingly picked one and forced it down. She picked up another one and offered it to Riley who looked disgusted and turned her head away. Claire smiled apologetically at Jin, and put the second one back onto the tray. Just then she gasped and jumped up. "Oh, gosh. I just felt it." Claire beamed. She hadn't felt the baby kick since yesterday. "Come here, feel this. Please." She tried to force Jin to touch her belly but he left, rather quickly. She turned to Riley, "Riley, Riley feel this?" She grabbed Riley's hand and placed it on her stomach, "Do you feel that? There! Right there, that's a kick! There! There, right there's a foot!" Riley's squealed in delight and placed both hands onto Claire's stomach. "He's moving around." Claire looked at her belly, "He." She stroked her stomach and smiled, "He. I guess I think you're a he." She smiled and looked out onto the water.
Just before sunset Jack came up to Claire where she was sitting at a campfire with Riley.
"Hey Claire. Thanks for watching her." Jack said as he picked up Riley where she immediately nestled into his neck.
Claire struggled to sit up, "Oh it's no problem. To be honest I didn't mind having the company." She admitted, "How's the shrapnel guy doing?"
Jack shrugged, "Not very good. I'm going to have to stay with him all night. I'm not sure if he'll make it." Jack looked down at Riley.
Claire nodded, "If- if you want, I can watch Riley tonight. I know Kate's gone. I don't mind, really."
"Are you sure your up for it?" Jack asked.
"I mean I should get used to watching a kid, right." Claire stroked her stomach, "I'm going to have one of my own soon enough."
Jack chuckled, "Right." And carefully set down Riley next to Claire.
Claire woke up the next morning exhausted. Riley had to use the bathroom twice in the middle of the night, Claire had been sleeping on the ground going on 3 days so her back was killing her, and the sun came up at 8 in the morning making it impossible for anybody to sleep in. Claire sat up and stroked her belly as she felt a kick. Claire never thought she'd be so thankful to have the baby kick her. Claire looked over to Riley who was sleeping about 2 inches from her. Jack said Riley had slept that close to him too. Riley was scared of the jungle, or what was in it specifically. Claire didn't blame her whatever was knocking down those trees was dangerous, but Claire really couldn't do much to protect her if something happened. Claire brushed some of the stray hairs out of Riley's eyes. Her neat braids were now messy with little baby hairs poking out all over. Riley yawned and rolled over.
Claire smiled, "Hey good morning. Do you have to use the bathroom?" Riley shook her head no. Claire bit the inside of her lip; Riley hadn't said a word in days. She'd have to ask Jack if that was normal. Claire stood up and saw a commotion forming near the fuselage. They were back. The group who had left to pick up a signal, Kate, Sayid, Charlie, Sawyer, Shannon and Boone. Holding Riley's hand Claire walked over to where they were calling people over.
Sayid was standing on a box above everyone informing them of what happened, "As you and the others know, we hiked up the mountain in an attempt to help the rescue team locate us. The transceiver failed to pick up a signal. We weren't able to send out a call for help." Sayid paused, "But we're not giving up. If we gather electronic equipment - your cell phones, laptops - I can boost the signal and we can try again, but that may take some time." Riley grabbed onto Claire's leg and Claire stroked the back of her head, how long would they be stuck here? "So for now, we should begin rationing our remaining food. If it rains, we should set up tarps to collect water. I need to organize 3 separate groups. Each group should have a leader. One group for water - I'll organize that. Who's going to organize electronics?" Sayid pointed to a man, "You? Rationing food? Okay. And I believe a third group should concern themselves with the construction of shelter."
After the meeting Claire decided to look for her luggage, she'd been wearing the same clothes for 3 days. She finally found it and was trying to lug it across the beach while Riley mostly watched. Charlie was sitting down fooling around when he saw Claire struggling and immediately jumped up, "Whoa! Hey. I got it. I got it."
Claire stopped and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear as Charlie picked up her suitcase, "Thanks."
"Well, look on the bright side. Whoever's this was is probably better off than we are." Charlie joked.
Claire turned around and held out her hand, "Come on Riley."
"So, how's the baby?" Charlie asked as he pulled the wheelchair holding the luggage.
Claire used her free hand to rub her stomach, "It's okay. I think."
Charlie nodded, "So your husband…was he on the flight?"
"Oh no I'm not married." Claire shook her head.
"Oh." Charlie replied, pleased.
Claire laughed, "I know how modern of me."
Charlie brushed it off, "Well who needs men right? Bloody useless," he said making Claire laugh. Charlie looked down at Riley, "Speaking of men her father wasn't…?"
Claire shook her head, "No it was just her and her mum."
Charlie looked around, "So where's Kate? Or Jack, wasn't she kind of picked up by them?"
"Yeah but they're busy, I don't mind." Claire laughed. "Though I think she likes Kate better than me." Though Riley obviously was comfortable with Claire the way she clung to Kate when Kate was around, Riley had obviously formed an attachment to Kate.
Charlie shook his head and knelt down, "No. Impossible." He looked at Riley, "Riley who's your favorite person on the island?" Riley stared at him blankly.
Claire laughed, "She doesn't talk, Charlie."
He looked up at Claire, "What do you mean she'd doesn't talk?"
"Not since the she uh- you know." Saw her dead mother's body. Not that she was saying much before.
"Oh right." Charlie stood up, "Bloody terrible, what happened." Right then it started pouring down rain. Riley turned to Claire and held her arms up.
Claire sighed, "Riley I can't pick you up. Look how big I am?" Riley whimpered in response. Claire turned to Charlie, "Charlie can you grab her?"
"Right. Of course." He leaned down and scooped Riley up, "Come on we need to find Dry shelter." Charlie helped walk Claire and Riley down under the plane wing, which was fully covered from the rain.
Kate wasn't in a particularly social mood. She was setting up a fire by the Air Marshal when Sawyer came up.
"Need a light?" Sawyer asked with a cigarette sticking out of his mouth. Kate nodded and he threw down the lighter. Sawyer looked around, "Where's Miss Shirley Temple?" Kate looked up at him confused, "The girl that's been practically attached to your hip since we got here?"
Kate smiled as she leaned in to light the fire, "Riley." Kate corrected. "She's with Claire."
Sawyer cocked his head, "Huh." He said surprised.
"What?" Kate asked.
"I just thought you were playing Mommy to her, not Claire." Sawyer said bating Kate.
Kate squared her jaw, "I'm not her Mom, I just found her. She doesn't even talk."
Sawyer shrugged, "Just cause she don't talk doesn't mean she got nothin' to say."
Kate brushed off her hands, "Is there something you want, Sawyer."
Sawyer dropped the topic, "Came by to thank you." Kate didn't reply. "You going to ask what for?"
"What for?" Kate asked half-heartedly.
"For taking that gun away from me." Sawyer said menacingly.
Kate looked at him, "I didn't take it away from you."
Sawyer laughed, "It's sticking out of your denims, ain't it? I sure wouldn't want to be the one with that gun right now. Because everyone sitting out there listening to that poor boy scream all night knows what's got to be done. Only one that can do it is the one with that gun." Kate looked at him surprised by what he was proposing, "Don't act so surprised. I heard you tell the hero the same thing. Hell, there's only one bullet left - be damned near poetic."
The next morning things had calmed down slightly. Jack had made his peace with the Air Marshal's death. Now that he wasn't providing the Air Marshal with round the clock care he had went and picked up Riley from Claire. He had assumed that Kate would be watching her but Kate seemed more concerned with herself at this moment and Jack knew that anybody, but a child especially, would need protection out here.
Jack was sitting looking out at the water with Riley leaning up against his chest between his legs when Kate came up. Kate paused as she took in the scene, Jack looking out at the water with a lost little girl laying on him. Riley was obviously comfortable with Jack. Kate wasn't sure why everyone assumed that Riley was her responsibility. Kate wasn't mother material. She never had been, not to mention Kate couldn't sit still for long and liked going off on these adventures with the group. Kate looked down at the doll in her hand and squeezed its center. She'd found it amongst the plane wreckage and thought Riley might like it.
She sat down in the sand next to Jack and Riley who both looked over. Kate handed the doll to Riley who wasn't sure at first, "It's yours." Kate said and Riley grabbed the doll clutching it to her chest. Jack smiled and patted Riley's head and everyone was quiet for a minute.
Kate looked over, "I want to tell you what I did. Why he was after me."
Jack shook his head, "I don't want to know. It doesn't matter Kate. Who we are, what we did before the crash, it really doesn't" Jack looked at Riley who in the moment was content with lying on Jack, holding her doll, watching the waves crash. "3 days ago we all died. Everyone gets a new life." He glanced at Kate "We should all be able to start over."
