DISCLAIMER:

I do not own LOST or any of its affiliated characters, settings... and the rest of it, even if I totally had the idea before any of those other guys did and they totally thieved my idea, idea-thieves that they are. Amy Reading is mine though; aren't I lucky?

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Chapter 3, in which more things happen. I'm not sure if I like this chapter... I did consider just setting it in with chapter two so that would be one big long chapter but I think it rather has to stand alone, as a preparatory chapter. Anyway, let me know what you think if you're reading – don't be shy! Thank you to all reviewers – you make my day shiny and happy and make me a shiny and happy person.
PS - sorry for the long wait; my USB device decided to be mean. Yes, yes, it's a bad workman that blames his tools and all that... but rest assured the only bad workman in this story will be Roger. :D

It wasn't long before his shouts faded. She felt stupid, worthless that she couldn't cut him down, couldn't help him. He needed to be cut down by Sayid, needed to be shot. The journey back to the camp took about an hour, and she lingered in the trees, looking to see if anyone was awake. There was a slim figure sat beside the fire, poking it with a stick. Kate. Amy carefully set her backpack into a leafy shrub, and hid it from view. Strolling forwards, trying to act nonchalant, she made her way to her tent. As she crossed the beach, out of the corner of her eye she saw Kate stand up and start forwards.

"Amy!"

Amy turned around, feigning surprise.

"Oh, hi Kate. How are ya?" The young woman reached her, and looked suspiciously at the jungle and then her.

"Where have you been?"

Amy frowned, and looked at Kate quizzically. "Sorry, but my tent doesn't have an en-suite bedroom. In fact, it's quite lacking in any modern bathroom facilities."

Kate laughed softly, and looked at Amy with a smile.

"Okay, you got me there. I didn't hear you leave though."

Was that suspicion in Kate's voice? But of course, this young lady was always suspicious, always wary, and hesitant to trust. She felt a twinge in her head, as she saw something.

Kate, handcuffed, sitting with a marshal on the plane.

Opening her eyes, she saw Kate regarding her with concern, her doubts forgotten. A criminal, Kate was a criminal – Amy wondered how many people knew.

"You okay?"

Amy tried to smile, and held a hand to her forehead.

"I'm fine; I've just got a migraine. I get them all the time." Kate smiled sympathetically. "Actually," continued Amy, an idea forming, "I think I might go down to the hatch and see Jack. He might have aspirin or something for me."

Kate nodded, and then looked at the dark trees. "Yeah, that's probably best. Want a little company?"

Amy shook her head, and waved off her concern. "I'll be fine, Kate. Thanks anyway."

"You sure?"

Yes, she was still suspicious, or perhaps she was just eager to see Jack.

"I'm sure," she confirmed. "I'll just be off then." She began to move away, towards her tent, and noticed that Kate did not move from where they had spoken until she was within her tent. Now that was a girl with issues.

Inside her tent, Amy cast about for anything she would need. She would tell Jack she hadn't been feeling right, and would appreciate a shift at the hatch, somewhere she could rest in peace. She rolled up her blanket and set it neatly in the corner of her tent. The remaining clothes she bundled under her arm with a few of her own books she'd managed to salvage from the wreckage of the plane. She glanced around for anything else she would need, and figured if she had forgotten anything the DHARMA supplies would most probably provide.

"Hell," she muttered, "They've probably got DHARMA-branded toilet roll... makes a change from bloody leaves."

She laughed at herself, and made her way out of her tent. Seeing her, Kate jogged over, causing Amy to stifle a groan.

"How's your head?"

No change since you last asked, thought Amy, which was oh, about four seconds ago...

Amy forced herself to smile politely; after all, the sympathy could be genuine. Kate seemed like a nice enough young woman, and the least she could do was be pleasant. After all, they had gotten on okay after the crash; Kate had even helped her rescue her books from the creek.

"It's fine, seriously, I'm used to them." She tried to hide the wince as the familiar feeling of a vision stole over her senses.

A burning house.

A sense of family.

Murder.

Kate was watching her closely. "Are you sure you don't want me to come? I'll carry your stuff for you." She actually moved to take the things but Amy stepped backwards, avoiding her.

"No, no, really Kate. I'm fine."

Except that she was not. Except that she was in a hurry because tomorrow, tomorrow a man would be brought to the hatch that she would have to pretend she knew nothing about and he in return would have to pretend not to know her. Except that she thought she would never have to lie and sort out circumstances because of her ability, because she thought that it had ended. Finished. Gone, just a ghost in her past, but now come back to haunt her.

Kate's eyes were narrowed. Amy nodded at her, and turned on her heel before marching into the trees. She could feel Kate's eyes burning into her as she left, but did not turn back.

After picking up her backpack and bundling her stuff into it, Amy half-ran, half-stumbled through the jungle, headed for the hatch. She knew she had to be there when Henry was brought in. Rousseau would reach him in a few hours, and would get Sayid the next day. Seeing the hatch's doorway close to where she was, she breathed a sigh of relief and began to jog towards it. Pulling back the big metal door, she entered the hatch.

She moved quickly along the corridor, seeing how the dim light reflected eerily off Desmond's murals. When he reached the end of the corridor, she stopped and listened for movement.

"John?" she called, moving forwards again, "Jack?"

Jack appeared out of the bathroom, rubbing his hands with a towel. He nodded at her, and raised his eyebrows.

"Hey there, Amy."

"Hi, Jack," she smiled at him, and shifted her grip on her backpack. "I was just wondering, do you mind if I stay here for a while?" She frowned as she heard the low beeping that alerted Jack of the button. He darted across to the computer and clicked in the numbers; the timer rolled back and began counting again. He returned to her with an apologetic smile, and spread his hands.

"Fallen out with someone?"

"What?" Amy started to laugh, and Jack shrugged his shoulders. "No, no, I've just been having really bad migraines lately."

Jack's face immediately showed concern, and he moved closer. Resting a hand on her shoulder, he looked carefully at her face, eyes narrowed.

"You look tired," he concluded, "You can sleep in one of the cots if you like. I'll go get a few aspirins for you."

"Thanks Jack," she said gratefully, as he patted her shoulder once, and then ambled off to get the medical supplies. "That would be great."

She went to move towards the sleeping quarters, where a low snoring alerted her of John's presence, but stopped as she saw the bookcase. She headed towards it, a smile lighting up her face. Reaching out, she ran her fingertips along the spines of the books, and let out a low cry of joy as she recognised a few of them.

Pulling one out, she dropped her backpack to the floor and held the novel between her hands.

"You shouldn't be reading with a sore head, you know."

Amy spun around to see Jack, heading towards her with a glass of water and a box that presumably contained aspirin. He was smiling good-naturedly at her, and she grinned back at him, holding out the book.

"I remember reading this, when I was in high school. Had to do a book report too, if I remember correctly." She pulled a face. "'To Kill a Mockingbird'. Have you read it?"

Jack frowned at the book, and then took it in exchange for the glass and the box. He turned it over and read the back.

"Yeah, I think I have. Can't remember much of it, though."

Amy grimaced at the bitter taste of the aspirin as she swallowed a tablet, and took a gulp of water. She shrugged, and set the glass down on a cabinet.

"I've always loved it. Only got a 'B' for my report though."

She looked up at him and realised how tired he looked, so smiled and patted him on the shoulder before taking the book back and pushing it back into its original place.

"I'll see if I can get a few hours before the sun's up, huh?" She didn't wait for him to answer, but moved away towards the cots. "Thanks Jack."

"Yeah, good night Amy."

* * *

She hadn't expected to get to sleep. Her mind was whirling with questions, uncertainties and fear. She was scared. Scared that all this was coming back, scared that it did not bode well for her.

Why though? Why now, when she felt like she could settle in and lead a normal life, one without visions, why did it come back? She felt angry, upset that it was still running her life. Still ruining her life.

Turning over onto her other side, Amy tried to sleep.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Coming soon to a fanfiction near you: Chapter 4, with extra Ben! :D

GUESS WHAT? I have a BENJAMIN LINUS mousemat. :D
It's so inspirational... although I tend to spend a lot of time just gazing at it, and not writing much... hehe.

Reviews always appreciated... feel free also to contact me with questions or ideas. Also, if you just want to chat about Ben Linus and all things LOST, get in touch; I'd love to hear from you. Probable update dates on my profile. Also a poll relating to this story. :)