"Locke, I think we should turn back" Kali announced, the rain finally having stopped, but she was still soaked.
"You can go back if you want, but I'm going to keep going" Locke advised.
"I think you're bleeding…" Boone trailed off, spotting the red on Kali's trousers.
She groaned as she realised her leg wound must have re-opened and was the reason why she was in so much pain.
"C'mon, John. We need to get her back to camp" Boone insisted, as Locke sighed, knowing he was right.
It was then that they heard a shuffling from the undergrowth behind them, as John pulled out his knife, ready to attack. Everyone sighed in relief as they saw it was only Sawyer, with a large backpack in tow. Kali couldn't keep the large smile on her face, as the familiar blonde approached them.
"Ah, the three musketeers! Didn't get very far, did you?" Sawyer accused.
"What do you mean?" Kali asked.
"You're only about five miles from camp" Sawyer informed them.
"So, we've been going in circles all night? I thought you were supposed to keep a good tracker, Locke?" Kali questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"I must have got turned around back-" Locke started, but Sawyer cut him off, when he saw the blood on Kali's leg.
"What happened to your leg?" Sawyer inquired, a hint of concern in his voice.
"I must have reopened the wound after all this walking" Kali stated, as Sawyer rolled his eyes.
"I told you this was a bad idea!" Sawyer scolded her, with a shake of his head.
"I know, I know…do you have anything to wrap around my leg?" She queried.
With a few grumbled words under his breath, Sawyer pulled off the plaid shirt he was wearing, handing it to her.
"Well now you're going to get pneumonia" Kali suggested, but still took the shirt.
"More like you will" Sawyer pointed out, reaching out and playing with a few strands of her wet hair.
"You don't think this drowned rat look will catch on?" Kali joked, as she began typing the shirt around her leg, tightly.
Before Sawyer could reply, Boone was quickly at Kali's side, and helped to steady her as she finished tying the shirt.
"I think it would take a lot more than some rain to make you look bad, Kali" Boone interjected, as Sawyer rolled his eyes.
"Alright, Romeo. Let's start heading back" Sawyer advised.
"Actually, I'm going to keep going. We still haven't found Claire" Locke replied.
"Kate and the Doc couldn't find her either, but they did find Charlie…hanging by his neck" Sawyer told them, as Kali's eyes widened.
"What?! Is he okay?" She questioned.
"He'll live. The Doc saved the day, once again" Sawyer mumbled.
"Then it's even more reason to look for Claire. She could still be out here somewhere" Locke insisted.
"Alright, Indian Jones, we'll see you back at camp" Sawyer retorted, seeing as he had never really entered the jungle for the older man.
"Boone, are you coming?" Kali asked, seeing that he still hadn't moved.
"I'm going to stay with John. Two eyes are better than one" Boone explained.
"But you said-" Kali started, but he cut her off.
"I didn't want you going back to camp on your own. But he's here now…Tell Shannon I'll be back soon" Boone stated.
"Your funeral, bonehead" Sawyer retorted, as he began walking away.
"Be careful" Kali insisted, as she began following Sawyer.
"You too" Boone said, raising an eyebrow towards Sawyer.
"C'mon, blue eyes. Let's go" Sawyer exclaimed, his hand brushing against her arm, gesturing for her to follow him.
"So, how come you went looking for us?" Kali queried, as they got closer to the caves.
"Bonehead's sister was freaking out…I needed to do something to stop her from crying" Sawyer responded.
"Yet your returning with me, not Boone" Kali pointed out.
"At least I can tell her he's not dead" Sawyer shrugged.
"Hmm, I don't buy it. I think you were worried about me" Kali suggested, as Sawyer scoffed.
"And I think your overestimating your importance" Sawyer retorted.
With a thoughtful look on her face, Kali suddenly let out a cry of pain and started clutching her leg. Sawyer was instantly by her side, his hand touching the small of her back, a concerned look on his face.
"Ha! See, you are worried!" Kali grinned, nudging his shoulder lightly.
"Pft, only worried that I might have to carry you back" Sawyer grumbled, as he continued walking.
"You just don't want to admit that we're friends now" Kali stated.
"If I agree with you, will you drop it?" Sawyer inquired, as she nodded, happily.
"Fine, we're…friends" Sawyer mumbled, in a pained voice.
Kali couldn't stop the smile that grew on her face, knowing how much someone like Sawyer would hate to admitting that he cared about anyone.
The moment the pair returned to the caves, everyone rushed over to them, seeing the way that Kali was limping. She quickly explained that she was fine, and that Boone and Locke were too. Jack led her over to his part of the cave, with all the medical supplies, while Sawyer explained to the group what had happened. Kali's eyebrows shot up when she saw Sayid laying on his back, looking in a bad state.
"I thought you left" Kali announced, as she used her arms to lower herself to the ground.
"Do you want him to leave?" Jack asked, knowing that last time they met Sayid had tried to torture her.
"…No. Let's just get my leg dressed" Kali replied, taking a pair of scissors from Jack's hand.
She cut the thin fabric of her trousers up near her hip and saw that while the wound was still bleeding, it was just superficial. She was lucky. Jack was about to pour some peroxide onto the wound, but she put her hand up to stop him.
"I've got this" She told him, pouring a small amount onto her leg, hissing at the pain.
She then grabbed the gauze and bandage that he had left beside her, and began to tie it around her thigh, as Jack shook his head.
"You remember I'm a doctor, right?" Jack pointed out.
"I'm capable of bandaging a wound, Dr. Shepard" Kali retorted, as Jack let out an amused laugh.
"I'll see if I can find you some new trousers" He exclaimed, knowing she wasn't going to want his help.
"You shouldn't blame, Jack. It was me who hurt you and Sawyer" Sayid informed her, after a few seconds.
"He allowed it. That's almost as bad as doing the crime…" Kali trailed off, a dark tone to her voice.
"I'm truly sorry for what I did, Kali. I'm ashamed" Sayid sighed.
"You should be. You could have killed Sawyer" Kali argued.
"All I can say is I will do what I can to make it up to you both" Sayid told her.
"…What happened to you, anyways? You look like you got run over by a bus" Kali suggested.
"It was the French woman. She attacked me" Sayid replied.
"She's still alive?" Kali questioned, her eyes going wide.
"She's half mad now, it's no surprise…" Sayid mumbled.
"Having nothing to do but be haunted by your own thoughts for 16 years? You can say that again" Kali shuddered, at the thought.
"That's not quite what I meant…when I was out in the forest, I…I thought I heard something" Sayid admitted.
"Heard what?" Kali frowned.
"People. People whispering" Sayid answered.
"What were they whispering?" Kali insisted.
"I thought-" Sayid was cut off, as Sawyer suddenly entered the space.
"Hey, don't talk to her" Sawyer warned him, as he came to sit next to Kali, who finished bandaging up her leg.
"It's fine. Sayid was just apologising to me" Kali informed Sawyer, who simply grunted in response.
Kali was having a difficult time tearing the tape needed for the bandage, while having to use her other hand to hold down the bandage. Sawyer noticed this and placed his hand on her leg, keeping the bandage in place, as Kali gave him a grateful smile. She finished tapping it together in no time, as Sawyer let go of her leg. Sayid noticed how Kali continued to smile at Sawyer, even after Jack arrived with her new clothes. He felt sorry for Kali, expecting she was only going to get herself hurt getting closer to the older man.
Author's Notes: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! I'm now well into Season 5 of Lost, and I'm really enjoying Sawyer and Juliet's relationship. I'm glad Sawyer has someone who has his back now. Please leave a review:)
kz4valentina: Thank you for the review:) I'm glad you're liking all my characterisations! I still haven't completely made my mind up with Boone's fate yet, so you never know. I think I'll be really sad when I finish the series, I'll want to rewatch it all over again, haha.
DrLexieSloan: Aw, thank you so much! It's always good to hear that you like what I've done with the characters and that you like Kali:) I hope you enjoy this update.