I didn't remember falling asleep after my conversation with Jack. One minute we were talking, the next I was dreaming about being swallowed up in vines as they wrapped tightly around my body. When I woke I realized the illusion must be associated with my stomach aching from my surgery.

Dangling my feet over the bed, I felt the tug of my stitches as I pulled myself into an upright position. I sat there a moment, considering the throes of gravity before touching my feet to the ground and drawing them back as Kate decided that moment to walk into my tent. In her hands was a piping cup filled with golden brown liquid that held the slightest hint of carrots and onions.

"Hey." Kate placed the cup on top of the chest by my bed, a worn smile on her face, her curly hair bouncing slightly as she walked across the tent. "Thought you could use something easy on your stomach. Jack told me you haven't been eating much since your surgery."

"Thanks."

"You know you don't have to pretend with me. I've seen the look you give Jack every time he comes to check up on you. In fact, it's taken everything to convince him to not check up on you every hour." I let out a low chuckle as I eased myself back under the blanket. "He may not show it but he was really worried when we couldn't find you."

"I always say doctors make the worst patients." I teased, lying against the pillow in more of an effort to keep me sitting up and keeping pressure off my stomach. "I am no exception."

"Something tells me you're not used to other people taking care of you, especially when you're the person who takes care of everyone else."

"After my parents divorced, I took it hard for a very hard time. I put up these walls for a really long time. It was actually my history teacher that convinced me it was better to put my efforts into studying rather than rebelling."

"Your history teacher. I don't think I've ever asked you this." Kate stuck her hands in her pockets. "What made you choose to be a doctor?"

"Believe it or not, I love helping people. When my sister got cancer, that was the icing on the cake. The moment I knew I had chosen the right career. I realized that if the chemotherapy and radiation had left her sterile, there were others out there who were going through the same thing." Rachel's sobs echoed through my head as if I were sitting right next to her at the appointment her doctor told her the news.

"Here. This should have cooled down now." Kate lifted the cup over to me, making sure I had a good grip on it before letting go. I appreciated it as my hands weren't as steady as they usually were.

"Thanks." Staring at the drink, I blew on it lightly before taking a polite sip. The broth immediately warmed my stomach, although I was still waiting to see if my body could tolerate the intake of food. "How's the progress with the submarine?"

"It's slow but Sayid and Desmond said it looks promising. It's going to be at least a couple of days until they can get it up and running."

"Well, keep me updated. I'm not really getting a lot of information sitting in this tent."

"I will let you know as soon as I hear anything else," Kate promised, brushing some leaves off her pants. "A little heads up, Jack is planning on checking up on you after he gets back with Hurley and Miles."

"Thanks." Pretending to take another sip, I noticed her watching me closely up until she left the tent. When I was sure she was gone, I let the cup drop lightly to the floor, suddenly feeling drained of all energy. All I could think about was closing my eyes and letting myself drift back to a better place.

It didn't feel like I was there long before feeling bile rising in the back of my throat, breathing through waves of nausea before forcing myself out of bed. I managed to stagger out of my tent, barely making it to the tree to empty my already barren stomach.

"Juliet?" Jack came around from the outside of my place this time, looking alarmed and taking the situation in with concern as he approached me with one hand on his hip. Even with Kate's warning, I expected him to be a little longer. "Come on, let's get back inside. I have something that should help get rid of your nausea."

"What gave it away?"

"Kate mentioned you looking a little pale." He told me as I carefully edged back into bed. He grasped my arm, jabbing the needle into my arm. His lips were pressed into a thin line as he capped the lid back on the syringe. "I checked to make sure it wasn't the chloroform causing problems. It was almost out of your system,which left one thing: you've been lying about the amount of pain you're in."

"I can handle it," I promised him, trying not to move around too much until the medication kicked in. I still felt some residual nausea, although it wasn't as bad as it had been a few minutes earlier. "I want a clear mind when the submarine is fixed."

"It's about a two-hour walk."

"As I recall, your surgery never stopped you from following the chopper. It won't stop me from getting on that submarine."

"Fine, we can hold off for now." I could tell his slightly flaring nostrils, he was irritated. I couldn't help that I was being so obstinate about it. Although I could remember him doing the same thing when I found him out of his tent, walking around while munching on food. It was like when that chopper flew overhead in the middle of the night, his mindset to rest went right out the window. "If you experience any dizziness or trouble breathing, I'm giving you pain medication. No questions asked."