Tracker, Chapter 27 (Skate, others)
Title: Tracker, Chapter 27
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 27
The right hand walk didn't have many cages; after they passed a few ragged fences the walk forked again; the right side of the path opened out onto one long, low building while the left side of the path continued on, curving in the distance.
Jack stopped in front of the building, staring at it. He was still furious at Locke; the man knew how to push his damn buttons.
There were few windows and they were small and overgrown; the whole building had a derelict feel to it. It was sagging under the weight of the jungle; some of the walls were crumbling in spots and a large section of the roof had fallen in leaving naked beams crawling with vines and roots.
Michael was studying the building too; he glanced at Jack and shook his head. "I know what you're thinking, man," he warned, "I wouldn't go in there."
Jack looked at him, sighing with irritation. "If this is a research facility, I'm guessing they have a veterinary unit, which means a stock of medicines at best and surgical supplies at worst. There could be food, blankets, clothes-"
"Guns." Ana looked at Michael, who still seemed unsure, though a little taken aback at Jack's tone.
Jack glared at her, almost spitting the word out. "Guns." He glanced back at Michael, who was shaking his head.
"No, Jack," he said, "that thing is like a house of cards, man, one stiff wind and it's gonna fall down on your head."
Jack licked his finger and stuck it in the still, sticky air, then he smirked at Michael and said, "Nope, no wind, Michael. Not even a stiff breeze." Glancing at Ana, he shrugged, "I guess I'm going in." He started towards the building, looking for a door.
Michael glared at his back, and Ana shot him a look of sympathy; that had been a little out of line on Jack's part. She caught up to him. "Hey." He didn't stop. "Hey, Jack." She put her hand on his arm, slowing him down so she could talk. "That was a little harsh, don't you think?" She watched his face, studying him. "You're not mad at Michael, it's Locke, right?" He didn't answer, jerking his arm away from her and continuing his search for the entrance. "Why, Jack? Why does he bother you so much?"
Jack stopped, his shoulders tensed. He turned to Ana, coldly. "He wants me to believe that my choices don't matter. That what I do in my life means nothing because no matter what I'm going to end up in exactly the same place." He leaned in closer. "He wants me to believe that I am going to end up like my father. Hated and alone." He smiled icily; Ana looked at him with something like pity and empathy, and he continued. "But John, oh, he can fix me. Or actually, the island can fix me, if I ask it pretty please and give up part of my soul as a thank you." Ana was still staring at him with that same look; he turned away. "I don't know what Locke got from the island," he said, "But I sure as hell know what he gave back." He turned back to her coldly. "Who he gave back." He walked away, looking for the door.
Ana let him go, staring at his back. So that's why he doesn't trust Locke, she thought. She smiled a little; Jack had let a little of himself slip there.
A scream ripped through the jungle; Jack could barely make out the words. He glanced at Ana, "Did you hear something? Did it sound like 'shoot it'?"
"Yeah. Sounded like Kate." They pulled their guns and Jack led them back down the walk to the fork; glancing at Ana questioningly, he asked, "Back to the beginning, or take this path?" he nodded to the left.
"The left." He took off at fast trot, Ana and Michael close on his heels. What the hell was happening now? The path finally curved and he could see Locke and Eko coming out from between some cages, breathless.
"Locke! What happened?" Jack glanced around at the empty cages as Locke came up to him looking around nervously. "Where's Sawyer and Kate?" He felt icy dread trickle down his back. He snarled at Locke, "What happened?"
Locke rubbed the back of his head. "I don't know. A big cat attacked Sawyer, from over there," he gestured towards the fence, "but Vincent stopped it. It went after Kate and Sawyer again, but Vincent bit it and held it long enough for them to run. We didn't see where they went. We tried to go after Vincent, he was hurt pretty bad, but he ran away, through the fence." He looked sadly at Michael. "I'm sorry."
Jack glared at Locke. "You went after Vincent? Kate and Sawyer were being chased by a giant cat and you went after the dog?" He looked incredulous. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
Ana put her hand on his arm, trying to placate him. He was getting that scary crazy look in his eyes. "Jack,-"
He shook her hand off of his arm, glaring at Locke, who just smiled. "They got away, Jack, and they had a gun. Vincent was badly hurt and he had just saved both of their lives. I'm sorry if you don't agree, but I made a judgment call." He shrugged. "We were just going to track them-"
Glaring at Locke, Jack turned away and started calling them. "Kate! Sawyer!" he started to walk further ahead, but Locke put his hand on him. Jack shook it off angrily.
"Jack, the cat may still be around. You might want to stop yelling." Still glowering at Locke, Jack stalked off down the path. Locke watched him go, sighing, then glanced at Ana and Michael, who were staring after Jack too.
He didn't care where he was going, he just wanted to get away from Locke. The man was insane. He slowed his pace, trying to calm himself down. As he rounded the far curve of the path a few minutes later, he thought he heard something; it sounded like a moan. Someone was hurt. He listened and heard another; he followed it around a crumbling cage to the building behind it. There was a door, but it was latched from the outside, he stepped up to the door to lift the latch and froze; there was another moan, punctuated by a soft giggle and a sigh; he shook his head and rolled his eyes to the sky, screaming silently in frustration. Sighing, he silently, carefully lifted the latch, then casting one more furious look at the door, he turned and went back to the others.
* * * * *
Sawyer was kissing her neck, nibbling deliciously while his hands roamed around the rest of her. She lay reclined, basking, still slick with sweat, her hands behind her head, watching him in the beam of light that fell across them. He hit a ticklish spot and she giggled a little; his hand roamed lower. The beam darkened, and Kate tensed, sitting up; Sawyer lifted his head and to protest but she shushed him, staring at the door. After a tense minute the light returned; Kate waited a second then jumped up and ran to the door, turning the knob and it opened, spilling light into the room.
Sawyer threw his hands over his eyes, squinting at the bright light. "Shut the door, Freckles." She did, but out of embarrassment; holding it cracked she could see Jack walking away. "That's better," Sawyer said, pulling her to him. She pushed him away, irritated at herself for feeling embarrassed at all.
She snatched up her clothes and started putting them on. "We gotta go. Everyone's probably worried."
Sawyer snorted. "Nice try, Sweetheart. Somebody had to unlock that door. I'm guessin' from your reaction it's dear old Saint Jack." She didn't answer and he started dressing angrily. "What is it with you two?"
"Nothing."
"Well, it sure doesn't seem that way sometimes." The bitterness in his voice hurt her.
She looked up at him, and caught his eyes, holding them steadily. "There is nothing between us, Sawyer." She hesitated, then reached out to him, caressing his scarred and bruised chest gently; she whispered, "How could there be?"
He stared at her for a long moment, then averted his eyes and mumbled, "Alright." He waited a beat, then hugged her to him, tight. She leaned into him, then rolled her eyes as he started kissing her neck again. "Oh, puh-lease, Sawyer." She laughed a little as he tickled her neck; she felt herself responding to him despite her protests. With an effort she pushed him off, holding her hand out to stop him as he lunged for her again. "Stop. We have to go."
She opened the door and stepped out into the sunlight; Sawyer came out behind her, and catching her eyes he beamed; she smiled back and he took her hand. They walked around the corner of the cage; Jack was sitting on one of the benches, apparently waiting for them. He looked really annoyed.
He feigned a look of surprise. "Well, that certainly didn't take long."
Kate felt herself flush and that irritated her. "What's it to you, Jack?" she snapped.
"I don't suppose you care, but we've all been looking for you." He sneered at Sawyer. "But I guess you had more pressing concerns."
"Excuse me?" Sawyer tensed up, his good feeling gone in a flash. He stepped up to Jack. "Exactly what business is it of yours, Doc?"
Jack glanced at Kate; she had an expression of weary resignation, as if their earlier friendliness had been too good to be true and and a pang of remorse shot through him. He backed down, shaking his head. "Forget it, Sawyer. Come on, everyone's waiting." He turned and walked away; Sawyer scowled at his back as Kate tugged on his arm, pulling him along.
Locke came up to meet them. "Glad to see you're okay. What happened?"
Jack spoke up before they could answer. "They were locked in an animal shed. I heard them yelling when I walked by." Sawyer and Kate exchanged glances. "We found the research lab, I think, back on the path Ana and I took. I want to go back and check it out, see if there's anything we can use."
Locke nodded. "Sounds good. Let's get the others."
Twenty minutes later they all stood in front of the research lab, eying it with dismay. Jack had finally located an entrance, and he cleared the vines away, revealing a door with an electronic security lock. He tugged on the door, it didn't budge. He inspected the lock; it had a digital display on top, and the front of the lock had three lights. Everything was dark; there was no power. He wanted to scream in frustration. He looked around at the holes in the crumbling walls; none of them were big enough, and anyway, climbing on crumbling masonry probably wasn't a good idea. He kicked at the door in anger.
Kate felt her pocket; it was there, she'd nearly forgotten about it. The security badge she'd found on the skeleton. She pulled it and looked at it closely, it was covered in mold and she wiped it clean on her shirt but she still couldn't see much, just a smudgy barely visible picture and a blurry, unreadable name. The bottom of the card was perfectly clear and a barcode was visible and legible. She smiled to herself and walked up to the lock; taking a deep breath she swiped the card through.
Nothing.
She shrugged and smiled apologetically at Jack. "I thought it might work." Behind her, the lock beeped and whirred; a red light flashed on; then it clicked to yellow; she leaned up to read the LCD display as it whirred on. Her eyes widened and she turned to look questioningly at Sawyer; he leaned over her shoulder and read it. His face turned stony and cold and he grabbed her wrist, hard, snatching the badge out of her hand.
"Where the hell did you get this?"
* * * * *
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 27
The right hand walk didn't have many cages; after they passed a few ragged fences the walk forked again; the right side of the path opened out onto one long, low building while the left side of the path continued on, curving in the distance.
Jack stopped in front of the building, staring at it. He was still furious at Locke; the man knew how to push his damn buttons.
There were few windows and they were small and overgrown; the whole building had a derelict feel to it. It was sagging under the weight of the jungle; some of the walls were crumbling in spots and a large section of the roof had fallen in leaving naked beams crawling with vines and roots.
Michael was studying the building too; he glanced at Jack and shook his head. "I know what you're thinking, man," he warned, "I wouldn't go in there."
Jack looked at him, sighing with irritation. "If this is a research facility, I'm guessing they have a veterinary unit, which means a stock of medicines at best and surgical supplies at worst. There could be food, blankets, clothes-"
"Guns." Ana looked at Michael, who still seemed unsure, though a little taken aback at Jack's tone.
Jack glared at her, almost spitting the word out. "Guns." He glanced back at Michael, who was shaking his head.
"No, Jack," he said, "that thing is like a house of cards, man, one stiff wind and it's gonna fall down on your head."
Jack licked his finger and stuck it in the still, sticky air, then he smirked at Michael and said, "Nope, no wind, Michael. Not even a stiff breeze." Glancing at Ana, he shrugged, "I guess I'm going in." He started towards the building, looking for a door.
Michael glared at his back, and Ana shot him a look of sympathy; that had been a little out of line on Jack's part. She caught up to him. "Hey." He didn't stop. "Hey, Jack." She put her hand on his arm, slowing him down so she could talk. "That was a little harsh, don't you think?" She watched his face, studying him. "You're not mad at Michael, it's Locke, right?" He didn't answer, jerking his arm away from her and continuing his search for the entrance. "Why, Jack? Why does he bother you so much?"
Jack stopped, his shoulders tensed. He turned to Ana, coldly. "He wants me to believe that my choices don't matter. That what I do in my life means nothing because no matter what I'm going to end up in exactly the same place." He leaned in closer. "He wants me to believe that I am going to end up like my father. Hated and alone." He smiled icily; Ana looked at him with something like pity and empathy, and he continued. "But John, oh, he can fix me. Or actually, the island can fix me, if I ask it pretty please and give up part of my soul as a thank you." Ana was still staring at him with that same look; he turned away. "I don't know what Locke got from the island," he said, "But I sure as hell know what he gave back." He turned back to her coldly. "Who he gave back." He walked away, looking for the door.
Ana let him go, staring at his back. So that's why he doesn't trust Locke, she thought. She smiled a little; Jack had let a little of himself slip there.
A scream ripped through the jungle; Jack could barely make out the words. He glanced at Ana, "Did you hear something? Did it sound like 'shoot it'?"
"Yeah. Sounded like Kate." They pulled their guns and Jack led them back down the walk to the fork; glancing at Ana questioningly, he asked, "Back to the beginning, or take this path?" he nodded to the left.
"The left." He took off at fast trot, Ana and Michael close on his heels. What the hell was happening now? The path finally curved and he could see Locke and Eko coming out from between some cages, breathless.
"Locke! What happened?" Jack glanced around at the empty cages as Locke came up to him looking around nervously. "Where's Sawyer and Kate?" He felt icy dread trickle down his back. He snarled at Locke, "What happened?"
Locke rubbed the back of his head. "I don't know. A big cat attacked Sawyer, from over there," he gestured towards the fence, "but Vincent stopped it. It went after Kate and Sawyer again, but Vincent bit it and held it long enough for them to run. We didn't see where they went. We tried to go after Vincent, he was hurt pretty bad, but he ran away, through the fence." He looked sadly at Michael. "I'm sorry."
Jack glared at Locke. "You went after Vincent? Kate and Sawyer were being chased by a giant cat and you went after the dog?" He looked incredulous. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
Ana put her hand on his arm, trying to placate him. He was getting that scary crazy look in his eyes. "Jack,-"
He shook her hand off of his arm, glaring at Locke, who just smiled. "They got away, Jack, and they had a gun. Vincent was badly hurt and he had just saved both of their lives. I'm sorry if you don't agree, but I made a judgment call." He shrugged. "We were just going to track them-"
Glaring at Locke, Jack turned away and started calling them. "Kate! Sawyer!" he started to walk further ahead, but Locke put his hand on him. Jack shook it off angrily.
"Jack, the cat may still be around. You might want to stop yelling." Still glowering at Locke, Jack stalked off down the path. Locke watched him go, sighing, then glanced at Ana and Michael, who were staring after Jack too.
He didn't care where he was going, he just wanted to get away from Locke. The man was insane. He slowed his pace, trying to calm himself down. As he rounded the far curve of the path a few minutes later, he thought he heard something; it sounded like a moan. Someone was hurt. He listened and heard another; he followed it around a crumbling cage to the building behind it. There was a door, but it was latched from the outside, he stepped up to the door to lift the latch and froze; there was another moan, punctuated by a soft giggle and a sigh; he shook his head and rolled his eyes to the sky, screaming silently in frustration. Sighing, he silently, carefully lifted the latch, then casting one more furious look at the door, he turned and went back to the others.
* * * * *
Sawyer was kissing her neck, nibbling deliciously while his hands roamed around the rest of her. She lay reclined, basking, still slick with sweat, her hands behind her head, watching him in the beam of light that fell across them. He hit a ticklish spot and she giggled a little; his hand roamed lower. The beam darkened, and Kate tensed, sitting up; Sawyer lifted his head and to protest but she shushed him, staring at the door. After a tense minute the light returned; Kate waited a second then jumped up and ran to the door, turning the knob and it opened, spilling light into the room.
Sawyer threw his hands over his eyes, squinting at the bright light. "Shut the door, Freckles." She did, but out of embarrassment; holding it cracked she could see Jack walking away. "That's better," Sawyer said, pulling her to him. She pushed him away, irritated at herself for feeling embarrassed at all.
She snatched up her clothes and started putting them on. "We gotta go. Everyone's probably worried."
Sawyer snorted. "Nice try, Sweetheart. Somebody had to unlock that door. I'm guessin' from your reaction it's dear old Saint Jack." She didn't answer and he started dressing angrily. "What is it with you two?"
"Nothing."
"Well, it sure doesn't seem that way sometimes." The bitterness in his voice hurt her.
She looked up at him, and caught his eyes, holding them steadily. "There is nothing between us, Sawyer." She hesitated, then reached out to him, caressing his scarred and bruised chest gently; she whispered, "How could there be?"
He stared at her for a long moment, then averted his eyes and mumbled, "Alright." He waited a beat, then hugged her to him, tight. She leaned into him, then rolled her eyes as he started kissing her neck again. "Oh, puh-lease, Sawyer." She laughed a little as he tickled her neck; she felt herself responding to him despite her protests. With an effort she pushed him off, holding her hand out to stop him as he lunged for her again. "Stop. We have to go."
She opened the door and stepped out into the sunlight; Sawyer came out behind her, and catching her eyes he beamed; she smiled back and he took her hand. They walked around the corner of the cage; Jack was sitting on one of the benches, apparently waiting for them. He looked really annoyed.
He feigned a look of surprise. "Well, that certainly didn't take long."
Kate felt herself flush and that irritated her. "What's it to you, Jack?" she snapped.
"I don't suppose you care, but we've all been looking for you." He sneered at Sawyer. "But I guess you had more pressing concerns."
"Excuse me?" Sawyer tensed up, his good feeling gone in a flash. He stepped up to Jack. "Exactly what business is it of yours, Doc?"
Jack glanced at Kate; she had an expression of weary resignation, as if their earlier friendliness had been too good to be true and and a pang of remorse shot through him. He backed down, shaking his head. "Forget it, Sawyer. Come on, everyone's waiting." He turned and walked away; Sawyer scowled at his back as Kate tugged on his arm, pulling him along.
Locke came up to meet them. "Glad to see you're okay. What happened?"
Jack spoke up before they could answer. "They were locked in an animal shed. I heard them yelling when I walked by." Sawyer and Kate exchanged glances. "We found the research lab, I think, back on the path Ana and I took. I want to go back and check it out, see if there's anything we can use."
Locke nodded. "Sounds good. Let's get the others."
Twenty minutes later they all stood in front of the research lab, eying it with dismay. Jack had finally located an entrance, and he cleared the vines away, revealing a door with an electronic security lock. He tugged on the door, it didn't budge. He inspected the lock; it had a digital display on top, and the front of the lock had three lights. Everything was dark; there was no power. He wanted to scream in frustration. He looked around at the holes in the crumbling walls; none of them were big enough, and anyway, climbing on crumbling masonry probably wasn't a good idea. He kicked at the door in anger.
Kate felt her pocket; it was there, she'd nearly forgotten about it. The security badge she'd found on the skeleton. She pulled it and looked at it closely, it was covered in mold and she wiped it clean on her shirt but she still couldn't see much, just a smudgy barely visible picture and a blurry, unreadable name. The bottom of the card was perfectly clear and a barcode was visible and legible. She smiled to herself and walked up to the lock; taking a deep breath she swiped the card through.
Nothing.
She shrugged and smiled apologetically at Jack. "I thought it might work." Behind her, the lock beeped and whirred; a red light flashed on; then it clicked to yellow; she leaned up to read the LCD display as it whirred on. Her eyes widened and she turned to look questioningly at Sawyer; he leaned over her shoulder and read it. His face turned stony and cold and he grabbed her wrist, hard, snatching the badge out of her hand.
"Where the hell did you get this?"
* * * * *