A/N: Mia, as always, belongs to littletonpace, to whom this chapter is dedicated as well-thanks for kicking my Matt muse's butt hon!
"Michael!" Mia hissed, trying to keep her voice down while still alerting him to their presence. When he didn't turn around, she and Matt began to hurriedly make their way through the undergrowth, Mr. Eko and Jin right beside them. They felt any and all exposed skin get viciously scratched and torn at, but pushed on, soon stumbling up to the banks of a river.
There they found Michael, hovering with one foot in the water, eyes frantically flickering from side to side, body twisting one way, than the other. "Walt!" he called out again, screaming at the top of his lungs, voice almost gone. "Walt!"
"Michael, stop!" Mia begged. "The Others, they could still be nearby. We can't let them hear us!"
"Wa-" Michael started again, and Matt leapt forward, leveling a controlled tackle on Michael, carefully taking him down to the ground, landing on his back. Michael struggled, reaching a fist up to hit Matt in the face, but Matt easily grabbed it, gently easing the hand back to Michael's side. "Let's not do that again, please," Matt said softly. "Michael, please, I understand. I have a little sister, Jordan, and if anyone took her, I would do whatever it took to get her back. But getting yourself taken, or worse, isn't going to help Walt at all."
Michael's struggling eased, and he sighed, nodding softly. Matt carefully climbed off his back, remaining in a defensive posture until Michael walked away from the river, a hand out to Matt. "Will you help me find him? If you can?" Michael asked.
"Of course," Matt answered, shaking Michael's hand. "I promise. Now let's get out of here before the barefoot brigade comes creeping back."
"Before Jack strangles Ana Lucia with gauze and Sawyer starts shooting everyone for looking at him funny?" Mia laughed, taking Michael's other arm and urging him towards Mr. Eko, before heading back to Matt's side.
"We'd better hurry," Matt grinned, following Mr. Eko's quick pace.
"If we move too much, they're not going to be able to find us," Jack protested for the tenth time in as many minutes. He could see Ana Lucia pointedly reaching for her gun, and he rolled his eyes, keeping his grip on Sawyer's arm around his shoulders. Sawyer's feet were dragging behind him, each step a slow trudge full of effort. "Also, if you haven't noticed, Sawyer could really use a rest."
"Thanks for the kindness, Doc," Sawyer said gruffly, his foot kicking Jack in the back of the leg. "Really appreciate you putting my whole gunshot wound second to your boyfriend and his magical mystery tour."
"Don't try to tell me you haven't been thinking about Mia every second since she left," Jack laughed, deftly maneuvering out of the way of another kick.
"Yeah Sawyer, don't try to tell him that," came Mia's voice from around the bend. Her and Matt quickly came into view, followed by Mr. Eko, Michael, and Jin.
"Already in the arms of another man," Matt said with a good-natured grin, running the last few steps. Mia already had Sawyer sitting on a nearby rock, one hand resting on his arm, the other checking out his wound. Jack grinned back, catching Matt in his arms, hugging him tight before moving a hand to the back of Matt's head, drawing him in for a long kiss.
"I missed you," Jack said softly, smiling as he kissed Matt again before pulling back, a frown suddenly overtaking his face. "You're all scratched up." His hands made their way gently over Matt's skin.
"Jack, they're just a few scratches," Matt protested, as Jack pulled him over to a rock and sat him down. "Jack, I promise."
"He did tackle Michael to stop him from running away," Mia called out, good-naturedly rolling her eyes as she batted Sawyer's hand away from her tank top.
"I am sorry I missed that," Jack said, a twinkle in his eye as he ran a hand down Matt's arm. "I bet it was really hot." His fingers played with the waistband of Matt's jeans.
"I'm gonna put in an order for a private cave here," Matt grinned, leaning in and kissing Jack soundly, fingers stealthy sliding up Jack's shirt and running over his abs. They were suddenly distracted by the sounds of Ana Lucia and Mr. Eko arguing nearby.
"I'm taking them back to their camp," Mr. Eko said firmly, carving another symbol into the walking stick he carried as Ana Lucia fumed. "If you do not wish to separate, you must come with."
"Fine," Ana Lucia spat out, then turned on her heels, grabbing her pack. "Everyone up. We're heading out."