Tracker, Chapter 23 (Skate, others)
Title: Tracker, Chapter 23
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Skate, Jana, others
Disclaimer: I don't own LOST
Summary: Set during S2, immediately post-WKD, Kate, Sawyer and several other characters go off into the jungle after Michael, learning secrets of the Island along the way.
Spoilers: Season 2
A/N: Tracker is an extremely lengthy, multi-chapter fanfic that I wrote during Season Two. I plan on posting a couple of chapters a day if I can, so please check back! By the way, blame kirvash if you get hooked on it. Thanks for reading!
Chapter 23
The group headed north around a small cove, turning to the south as they rounded the far side. They stuck to the beach, moving at a leisurely pace; the morning sun was already hot and the air was sticky even in the ocean breeze. Everyone was quiet, the camp was only a couple of miles behind them but already it was a world away.
Kate and Sawyer walked together, not touching. He was still sore and every step hurt, but he and Kate had spent the day before walking around, slowly, gently working and stretching his cramped muscles. The other workout didn't hurt either, he thought, grinning over at her. She caught his eye and grinned back, taking his hand and squeezing his fingers. She was worried; his back was still troubling her, though it had scabbed over and didn't have that raw, hamburger look anymore. It bothered him, though, she could tell; he grunted a little every time he turned or bent. She sighed, wishing there was something she could do.
Locke stopped; he was in the lead, followed closely by Jack. "Why are you stopping?" Jack asked.
Locke pointed to the beach, which had come to a point in front of them. "This is as far south as it goes," he said, gesturing at the spit of land. "I've never explored this way. I didn't know it only went this far." He glanced at Jack, who was looking pissed. "We can turn and go northwest. The important thing is to keep moving, right?"
Jack glared at Locke but he kept his cool. "Sure, John. We'll do that." Turning around, he glanced back at him and sneered. "Guess it's our destiny to go this way, eh, Locke?"
Locke gave him a patient smile. "I guess it is, Jack," he said softly, walking back up the beach. Ana watched them for a minute, then she caught up to Jack, who was stalking angrily after Locke.
"Hey, what was that about, Jack?" she asked, putting a worried hand on his arm. He glanced down at her and smiled, slowing just a little. "You okay?"
Jack cast a dark look at the back of Locke's head, then shrugged at Ana. "Yeah. I'm fine." He nodded at Locke. "He just gets under my skin sometimes."
She nodded. "I can tell." Looking ahead, she cocked her head at him quizzically. "We're heading back north?"
Jack shook his head. "Northwest, actually. I figure we stick to the beach, or at least the tree line when the beach gets too hot, follow the coast. I think we should stay out of the jungle as much as possible." She inclined her head, silently agreeing. Looking down at her, Jack smiled. "I'm glad you came."
Ana glanced up, grinning. "Me too." She cocked her head towards the jungle. "So far."
Jack laughed, forgetting about his hostility. Ana was smiling at him, her hand on his arm, and he suddenly felt the same urge he had in the airport bar; the urge to get her into the airplane bathroom and take her up against the wall. He glanced around, almost hoping to see a bathroom manifest itself. Shivering a little, he met her eyes; he could see her thinking the same thing. She dropped her hand from his arm and they kept walking, not looking at each other.
The beach was getting uncomfortably hot as the sun rose higher; Jack decided it was time to move into the tree line to get them a little shade. Once in the shadows he called for them to stop; everyone dropped and took out water bottles, drinking thirstily. They rested for about twenty minutes then Jack got them up again.
Sawyer groaned a little as Kate helped him up; his back was aching and his muscles screaming. He wondered briefly why he was doing this, putting himself through this and he was surprised at the answer he gave himself. Part of it was guilt, although that had lessened somewhat; part of it was revenge; but part of it was...he wanted to belong. To be a part of things. It was such an alien feeling for him he didn't recognize it at first, he'd always been on the outside and he'd become accustomed to it, even gloried in it. Kate changed that, though, because now he had a stake in what went down on this island, he had a reason to care about what happened to them...to him. He wasn't sure how to go about it, being a part of it; this was uncharted territory for him.
Wobbling a little as he stood, Sawyer reached out and leaned against a vine covered rock for balance. It shifted, and his hand slid along it, ripping the vines off. "Shit," he grunted as his back wrenched painfully, and he glared at the rock, ready to curse it but stopped, taking a closer look. "What the hell?"
Kate looked over at him, concerned at his grunt. "You okay?" she asked, then noticed him staring at the rock. "What is that?" She leaned in to get a closer view.
It was a large stone marker; there was a plaque of some sort set into it and two large arrows were carved below the plaque; one pointing up the beach, the other pointing into the jungle. Kate and Sawyer looked at each other, then Kate began clearing away the vines that were draped over it while Sawyer tried to rub away the dirt and moss that covered the plaque.
Jack noticed them and came over, curious. "What's that?" he asked, not really expecting an answer. Sawyer stopped trying to clean it; the lettering on the plaque was worn and faded but he could just make it out. Kate stopped too, and Jack read over their shoulder:
Alvar Hanso Foundation
Dharma Project
"Since the dawn of our species we have been blessed with curiosity."
-Alvar Hanso, 1967
Above the first arrow, which was directed at the beach there was a thin bronze strip with the words "Drains" in raised lettering. The bronze strip was missing from the arrow that pointed into the jungle, leaving a indentation where it had been.
They all looked at each other in shock. Locke came up, seeing them huddled together, and as he read the plaque his eyes widened. "Interesting." He glanced at Jack. "Drains?"
Jack shrugged. "Why should that surprise us?" he asked, meeting Locke's eyes. He felt a shock as he did; Locke laughed.
"Fair enough." He glanced back at the marker, then looked off towards the beach. "Wonder what the jungle has in store. Too bad that one is missing." he pointed to the bottom arrow.
Jack looked up the beach. "I say we try the drains. At least we have an idea about that." He glanced at Kate, who shrugged. "Okay, then. Drains." He shouldered his pack and started up the beach.
Locke watched him go, then turned to Sawyer. "I didn't really get to say anything before," he said, smiling, "But I am glad you're okay." He paused and leaned in so Kate couldn't hear. "I knew you would be. That was not your fate." He leaned back and winked at Sawyer, who was staring at him with fear and a little revulsion; he smiled at Kate and turned away, following Jack and the others.
Kate glanced up at Sawyer; he was watching John go with a look of distaste. "You okay?" she asked. "What's the matter?"
Sawyer shook his head, "Nothin'. I just don't like him. He creeps me out." He picked up his pack, grunting a little as he bent. Rising, he noticed Kate's eyes on him. He glanced up the beach; the others were already a good distance away. He dropped his pack and advanced on her, her eyes widening as he grabbed her around the waist, burying his head in her neck. "Sawyer!" she gasped, struggling half-heartedly against him; he didn't let go, nibbling and kissing her neck instead. "Sawyer, stop," she was breathless; she didn't really want him to stop. She pushed against him, hard, and he finally let her go, grinning at her.
Something erupted out of the bushes behind them and Kate screamed as it rammed into the back of her legs knocking her to the ground. Sawyer didn't have time to react; by the time he got his gun out it was gone. He turned to Kate, who was getting to her feet shakily looking disgusted with herself. "You okay?" he asked, and when she nodded he looked relieved. "Did you see it?"
"No, Sawyer all I could see was the dirt," she snapped, brushing herself off. "Did you see it? I think you had a better view."
Rolling his head at her in disgust, he snorted, "No, Freckles, I was too busy watching you fall on your ass."
"It wasn't my ass, it was my face!"
He sneered at her, "Well sometimes I have a hard time tellin' the difference, Sweetcheeks."
She glared at him for a second, then they heard Jack, calling her. "Kate!" He came bursting through the trees, panting and looking worried. Taking in the two of them, he glared at Sawyer. "What happened?" he gasped, "I heard Kate scream."
Sawyer flared at the accusing look in Jack's eyes. "What're you lookin' at me for, chief?" he snapped. Jack didn't answer. "Thought so."
Putting her hand on Sawyer's arm, Kate felt him relax just a tiny bit; she smiled. "Something ran out of the bushes and knocked me down."
Instantly Jack said, "Are you okay?" Kate nodded. "What was it?"
"I don't know," she said, looking at Sawyer. "We didn't see it. It was gone so fast." She glanced out at the beach, where the others were straggling back. "It must have left some tracks, maybe Locke can tell us what it is." They both looked at her quizzically. She shrugged. "I can follow tracks, I just can't always tell you what made them."
As she said it, Locke came pushing through the bushes. "Everyone okay?" he asked, scanning the clearing. Kate nodded. "What happened?"
Jack spoke up. "Something ran out of the bushes and knocked Kate down. They didn't see what it was. Can you find its tracks?"
Locke glanced up at Jack; this felt like a test, like Jack was trying to see how far he could push him. He rubbed his forehead, squinting at Jack. "Well, I can certainly try." he looked at Kate. "What direction did it come from?" Kate pointed and Locke began scouting ground for tracks.
Jack turned his attention to Kate. "Are you sure you're okay?" he asked, looking concerned.
Sawyer's arm went possesively around her waist, and she smiled and nodded at Jack. "Yeah, I'm fine." Glancing at Sawyer one more time, Jack nodded and went over to Locke.
"Do you know what it is, Locke?"
Locke smiled and nodded towards the beach; Michael was walking up, a happily bounding Vincent at his heels. Jack rolled his head in relief and glanced at Kate. She was looking at the dog and grinning sheepishly and she glanced up at Sawyer and he kissed her quickly, laughing.
Jack shook his head, smiling. Vincent was a good omen, he thought. He watched the dog gamboling happily around Ana, who knelt down and rubbed his ears while he licked her face. Sighing, he hoisted his pack up higher on his back and started walking up the beach.
***
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Skate, Jana, others
Disclaimer: I don't own LOST
Summary: Set during S2, immediately post-WKD, Kate, Sawyer and several other characters go off into the jungle after Michael, learning secrets of the Island along the way.
Spoilers: Season 2
A/N: Tracker is an extremely lengthy, multi-chapter fanfic that I wrote during Season Two. I plan on posting a couple of chapters a day if I can, so please check back! By the way, blame kirvash if you get hooked on it. Thanks for reading!
Chapter 23
The group headed north around a small cove, turning to the south as they rounded the far side. They stuck to the beach, moving at a leisurely pace; the morning sun was already hot and the air was sticky even in the ocean breeze. Everyone was quiet, the camp was only a couple of miles behind them but already it was a world away.
Kate and Sawyer walked together, not touching. He was still sore and every step hurt, but he and Kate had spent the day before walking around, slowly, gently working and stretching his cramped muscles. The other workout didn't hurt either, he thought, grinning over at her. She caught his eye and grinned back, taking his hand and squeezing his fingers. She was worried; his back was still troubling her, though it had scabbed over and didn't have that raw, hamburger look anymore. It bothered him, though, she could tell; he grunted a little every time he turned or bent. She sighed, wishing there was something she could do.
Locke stopped; he was in the lead, followed closely by Jack. "Why are you stopping?" Jack asked.
Locke pointed to the beach, which had come to a point in front of them. "This is as far south as it goes," he said, gesturing at the spit of land. "I've never explored this way. I didn't know it only went this far." He glanced at Jack, who was looking pissed. "We can turn and go northwest. The important thing is to keep moving, right?"
Jack glared at Locke but he kept his cool. "Sure, John. We'll do that." Turning around, he glanced back at him and sneered. "Guess it's our destiny to go this way, eh, Locke?"
Locke gave him a patient smile. "I guess it is, Jack," he said softly, walking back up the beach. Ana watched them for a minute, then she caught up to Jack, who was stalking angrily after Locke.
"Hey, what was that about, Jack?" she asked, putting a worried hand on his arm. He glanced down at her and smiled, slowing just a little. "You okay?"
Jack cast a dark look at the back of Locke's head, then shrugged at Ana. "Yeah. I'm fine." He nodded at Locke. "He just gets under my skin sometimes."
She nodded. "I can tell." Looking ahead, she cocked her head at him quizzically. "We're heading back north?"
Jack shook his head. "Northwest, actually. I figure we stick to the beach, or at least the tree line when the beach gets too hot, follow the coast. I think we should stay out of the jungle as much as possible." She inclined her head, silently agreeing. Looking down at her, Jack smiled. "I'm glad you came."
Ana glanced up, grinning. "Me too." She cocked her head towards the jungle. "So far."
Jack laughed, forgetting about his hostility. Ana was smiling at him, her hand on his arm, and he suddenly felt the same urge he had in the airport bar; the urge to get her into the airplane bathroom and take her up against the wall. He glanced around, almost hoping to see a bathroom manifest itself. Shivering a little, he met her eyes; he could see her thinking the same thing. She dropped her hand from his arm and they kept walking, not looking at each other.
The beach was getting uncomfortably hot as the sun rose higher; Jack decided it was time to move into the tree line to get them a little shade. Once in the shadows he called for them to stop; everyone dropped and took out water bottles, drinking thirstily. They rested for about twenty minutes then Jack got them up again.
Sawyer groaned a little as Kate helped him up; his back was aching and his muscles screaming. He wondered briefly why he was doing this, putting himself through this and he was surprised at the answer he gave himself. Part of it was guilt, although that had lessened somewhat; part of it was revenge; but part of it was...he wanted to belong. To be a part of things. It was such an alien feeling for him he didn't recognize it at first, he'd always been on the outside and he'd become accustomed to it, even gloried in it. Kate changed that, though, because now he had a stake in what went down on this island, he had a reason to care about what happened to them...to him. He wasn't sure how to go about it, being a part of it; this was uncharted territory for him.
Wobbling a little as he stood, Sawyer reached out and leaned against a vine covered rock for balance. It shifted, and his hand slid along it, ripping the vines off. "Shit," he grunted as his back wrenched painfully, and he glared at the rock, ready to curse it but stopped, taking a closer look. "What the hell?"
Kate looked over at him, concerned at his grunt. "You okay?" she asked, then noticed him staring at the rock. "What is that?" She leaned in to get a closer view.
It was a large stone marker; there was a plaque of some sort set into it and two large arrows were carved below the plaque; one pointing up the beach, the other pointing into the jungle. Kate and Sawyer looked at each other, then Kate began clearing away the vines that were draped over it while Sawyer tried to rub away the dirt and moss that covered the plaque.
Jack noticed them and came over, curious. "What's that?" he asked, not really expecting an answer. Sawyer stopped trying to clean it; the lettering on the plaque was worn and faded but he could just make it out. Kate stopped too, and Jack read over their shoulder:
Alvar Hanso Foundation
Dharma Project
"Since the dawn of our species we have been blessed with curiosity."
-Alvar Hanso, 1967
Above the first arrow, which was directed at the beach there was a thin bronze strip with the words "Drains" in raised lettering. The bronze strip was missing from the arrow that pointed into the jungle, leaving a indentation where it had been.
They all looked at each other in shock. Locke came up, seeing them huddled together, and as he read the plaque his eyes widened. "Interesting." He glanced at Jack. "Drains?"
Jack shrugged. "Why should that surprise us?" he asked, meeting Locke's eyes. He felt a shock as he did; Locke laughed.
"Fair enough." He glanced back at the marker, then looked off towards the beach. "Wonder what the jungle has in store. Too bad that one is missing." he pointed to the bottom arrow.
Jack looked up the beach. "I say we try the drains. At least we have an idea about that." He glanced at Kate, who shrugged. "Okay, then. Drains." He shouldered his pack and started up the beach.
Locke watched him go, then turned to Sawyer. "I didn't really get to say anything before," he said, smiling, "But I am glad you're okay." He paused and leaned in so Kate couldn't hear. "I knew you would be. That was not your fate." He leaned back and winked at Sawyer, who was staring at him with fear and a little revulsion; he smiled at Kate and turned away, following Jack and the others.
Kate glanced up at Sawyer; he was watching John go with a look of distaste. "You okay?" she asked. "What's the matter?"
Sawyer shook his head, "Nothin'. I just don't like him. He creeps me out." He picked up his pack, grunting a little as he bent. Rising, he noticed Kate's eyes on him. He glanced up the beach; the others were already a good distance away. He dropped his pack and advanced on her, her eyes widening as he grabbed her around the waist, burying his head in her neck. "Sawyer!" she gasped, struggling half-heartedly against him; he didn't let go, nibbling and kissing her neck instead. "Sawyer, stop," she was breathless; she didn't really want him to stop. She pushed against him, hard, and he finally let her go, grinning at her.
Something erupted out of the bushes behind them and Kate screamed as it rammed into the back of her legs knocking her to the ground. Sawyer didn't have time to react; by the time he got his gun out it was gone. He turned to Kate, who was getting to her feet shakily looking disgusted with herself. "You okay?" he asked, and when she nodded he looked relieved. "Did you see it?"
"No, Sawyer all I could see was the dirt," she snapped, brushing herself off. "Did you see it? I think you had a better view."
Rolling his head at her in disgust, he snorted, "No, Freckles, I was too busy watching you fall on your ass."
"It wasn't my ass, it was my face!"
He sneered at her, "Well sometimes I have a hard time tellin' the difference, Sweetcheeks."
She glared at him for a second, then they heard Jack, calling her. "Kate!" He came bursting through the trees, panting and looking worried. Taking in the two of them, he glared at Sawyer. "What happened?" he gasped, "I heard Kate scream."
Sawyer flared at the accusing look in Jack's eyes. "What're you lookin' at me for, chief?" he snapped. Jack didn't answer. "Thought so."
Putting her hand on Sawyer's arm, Kate felt him relax just a tiny bit; she smiled. "Something ran out of the bushes and knocked me down."
Instantly Jack said, "Are you okay?" Kate nodded. "What was it?"
"I don't know," she said, looking at Sawyer. "We didn't see it. It was gone so fast." She glanced out at the beach, where the others were straggling back. "It must have left some tracks, maybe Locke can tell us what it is." They both looked at her quizzically. She shrugged. "I can follow tracks, I just can't always tell you what made them."
As she said it, Locke came pushing through the bushes. "Everyone okay?" he asked, scanning the clearing. Kate nodded. "What happened?"
Jack spoke up. "Something ran out of the bushes and knocked Kate down. They didn't see what it was. Can you find its tracks?"
Locke glanced up at Jack; this felt like a test, like Jack was trying to see how far he could push him. He rubbed his forehead, squinting at Jack. "Well, I can certainly try." he looked at Kate. "What direction did it come from?" Kate pointed and Locke began scouting ground for tracks.
Jack turned his attention to Kate. "Are you sure you're okay?" he asked, looking concerned.
Sawyer's arm went possesively around her waist, and she smiled and nodded at Jack. "Yeah, I'm fine." Glancing at Sawyer one more time, Jack nodded and went over to Locke.
"Do you know what it is, Locke?"
Locke smiled and nodded towards the beach; Michael was walking up, a happily bounding Vincent at his heels. Jack rolled his head in relief and glanced at Kate. She was looking at the dog and grinning sheepishly and she glanced up at Sawyer and he kissed her quickly, laughing.
Jack shook his head, smiling. Vincent was a good omen, he thought. He watched the dog gamboling happily around Ana, who knelt down and rubbed his ears while he licked her face. Sighing, he hoisted his pack up higher on his back and started walking up the beach.
***