ficinabottle

Title: Tracker, Chapter 4
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 4

Ana-Lucia held the 9mm in her hands, enjoying the weight and heft of it as she thought sadly of Shannon and asked herself again if this was really what she wanted. Yes, of course, it was. She had missed the safe, cold comfort of a gun in her hand and she smiled as she checked it over.

Tucking the gun into her waistband, she caught Jack watching her; there was a hint of worry in his eyes, and she gave him sort of a sad smile. "I can still give it back," she offered, only half-joking. A tiny part of her wanted him to ask her for it back, to take the decision out of her hands.

Jack shook his head. "No. You'll need it." He held another gun out to Eko, who was standing by watching them impassively. "Sure you don't want one?"

Eko smiled serenly. "No, thank you," he said, "I do not like guns." He fingered the wicked-looking club that hung from his waist. Jack shrugged and tucked the gun into the back of his jeans.

Ana glanced at Eko. He was inscrutable- after almost two months she still had no idea what he was thinking. With her experience as a cop she learned to read people easily, but this was one nut she hadn't been able to crack. She smiled at him nervously; out of all of the people going on this crazy rescue mission, only she and Eko had an inkling of what awaited them Out There. She didn't want to go, not really. She understood Michael; those bastards took his son and she didn't blame him for wanting to find them and kill them all, she thought bitterly. How could she? She killed a man for her child. But the idea of more of them trekking directly into the lion's den was insane. So why was she going?

Because she owed it to Shannon. It was crazy, but Shannon had died chasing Walt; or what she thought was Walt. In some way Ana felt that if she found what Shannon had been looking for it would help her atone for what she did, accident or not. Plus, the Others had stolen the kids from their camp- maybe there was a sliver of hope that they would find Emma and her brother.

"We'll be leaving in a few minutes," Jack said, locking the gun cabinet behind him. They wouldn't make that mistake again. "As soon as Locke and Kate get here."

"Don't forget about me, Jackass." Sawyer sauntered in and dropped his pack on the floor.

He saw Ana-Lucia and froze, his eyes narrowing as she smirked at him. "Hey Cowboy, how's the shoulder?"

Sawyer sneered at her. "Well, why don't you hand me that gun in your pants, Cupcake, and I'll give you a first-hand taste."

Jack eyed the two of them warily. This could be bad. "Sawyer," he sighed, "You can't possibly be serious. You are three days out of a semi-coma, you need rest, not to run around the jungle."

Sawyer shifted his narrowed eyes to Jack. The walk from the beach had cooled him off and about five minutes after leaving the tent he was kicking himself. He almost turned back twice, to go to her, but each time he thought about it he saw the fear in her eyes- fear he had put there. How could he go back?

"I don't remember it bein' up to you, Boss," he snapped. "Besides, if I get tired Mr. Ed over there can just give me a lift. Ain't that right, Ed?" Sawyer inclined his head toward Eko, who smiled and nodded back.

"Sawyer, do you want the fever to come back? Because that's what's going to happen if you go out there! Is that what you want?"

Sawyer's temper flared. He stepped up to Jack and his voice was deadly quiet. "I am going, Jack. Now give me a gun and let's get this show on the road."

Jack had a vision of Kate leaning over Sawyer and kissing him and he fought the urge to draw back and knock Sawyer senseless. He spat back, "I'm not giving you a gun. You're not going."

Sawyer was seeing red. He stood toe-to-toe with Jack and snarled, "You sure you wanna make that decision, chief?"

Jack sensed they were about to come to blows but he kept seeing Kate and Sawyer together. He couldn't stop it. He knew Ana and Eko were watching them, but he couldn't stop himself; they were glaring at each other, inches apart.

"Hey!" Kate's voice was sharp and anxious. She quickly took in the scene before her. "What's going on here?"

Locke came running behind her. "Everything okay?"

The standoff lasted a beat longer, then Jack stepped back, taking the gun from his jeans and handing it to Sawyer, who took it, checked the clip and stuffed it angrily in his pants. Neither of them looked at Kate.

Ana-Lucia was studying the three of them intently, especially Kate.

"Fine." Jack barked at no one in particular. "Let's go." He grabbed his pack and stomped out the airlock. Sawyer picked up his bag and followed him, roughly brushing past Kate without looking at her. Locke and Eko wordlessly followed.

Kate was staring at the floor. He hadn't even looked at her.

Ana studied Kate closely for a minute. Then she held out her hand. "We haven't met. I'm Ana."

Kate looked up. She smiled hesitantly and took Ana's hand. "Kate."

"Well, Kate," said Ana, grabbing her pack and hoisting on her back, "are we gonna let the guys have all the fun?"

Maybe Ana wasn't as bad as everyone made her out to be, Kate thought to herself. "Nah, I guess we'd better not." They followed the men outside.

* * * * *

Michael had apparently decided to take a break, Jin noted with relief, he was not a long-distance runner, that was for sure. He understood that Michael's urgency, though, was partly Walt and partly Jack. The search party was probably already on their trail.

"We should have a pretty good lead, now," Michael said. "We can rest some. Eat, drink. Okay?"

Jin nodded. He understood eat and drink, and that was enough for him. He sat on the jungle floor and leaned back againt a tree; it was strange to him to realize how much had changed since the crash. Less than a week after being stranded he had tried to kill Michael, to drown him -in front of his son! And over what? A watch? The watch held no meaning for him anymore, literally or figuratively; what good did it do to tell time here? And his father-in-law was so distant, so remote, so...unimportant, it was like he was from another lifetime. Another world.

And Sun...he smiled a little to himself at the thought of her. They had changed as well. The island had given them the freedom they needed to find their way again, to find their love again. He didn't even care that she spoke English anymore- he understood that his pride was a sacrifice he had to make to get what he desired. And who cared about pride here? If he wanted to feel proud he could feed people- and Sun would love him all the more. She was right all along-all he had to give her was a flower.

The bushes rustled next to them. In an instant Jin was on his feet, his gun out.

A woman came out, a rifle cradled carelessly in her arms. She didn't seem startled or afraid, but she went directly to Michael and started talking. Jin strained to catch any words...he was only getting random ones...boy...come...now...he gritted his teeth in frustration. Michael was looking agitated, and the woman was insistent. How did he know her? Who was she? They were still arguing, and finally Michael snatched up his pack and put it on. He uncocked his gun and slid it back into his waistband, and slowly Jin did the same. Michael came up to him. "It's Danielle," he said, "and we're going with her. She says she knows where to find Walt."

Jin looked uneasily from one to the other. He would have to trust Michael, what other choice did he have? He wasn't going back.

He nodded. Danielle took the lead and they melted into the jungle.

* * * * * * * * * * *

The six of them walked silently through the jungle. Locke was in the lead, tracking Michael and Jin; luckily they had left a pretty plain trail and the team was making good time, though not as fast as Jack would have liked.

Kate was trailing the others, keeping her eyes glued to Sawyer a few paces in front of her. Any sign of weakening or stumbling and he was going back to camp if she had to drag him there. He was keeping up well, though, she had to admit, and from back here she was getting a helluva view.

She was hurt that neither of them had spoken to her, or even looked at her. She could see it from Jack, given the past few days, but Sawyer's behavior was mystifying; sure, he was an ass, but with the way things had been between them the past few days she just expected something different from him.

She allowed a small smile to play around her lips. He needed her. She liked that feeling, of being needed, and if she had to be honest, she needed him. And that scared her. For so long she had been alone, reliant only on herself; it was easier that way, she didn't have to get close to anyone or let anyone get close to her, she could live comfortably in misery with her memories and guilt and watch the world pass her by. After Tom, she had become merely a robot- going through the motions of life, her only motivation the need to get away. She would never love anyone again, she told herself- that was her penance. She closed herself off behind a door of guilt and loneliness, and when someone came knocking she retreated behind it and locked it up tight.

The problem was, Sawyer wasn't knocking. He was blowing the door off its hinges.

Ana-Lucia dropped back a few paces and fell in step with Sawyer and Kate felt a sudden stab of jealousy. She sped up so she could hear what they were saying.

"You don't have any rocks in your pocket, do you?"

Sawyer glared at her. "Not yet, Cupcake, but you can bet I'm pickin' up the next one I see."

Ana grinned. "I don't think you're quite ready to take me on again, Cowboy," she said, eyeing his injured shoulder. "But as soon as you can use both arms, I'll let you have a shot."

"Fine by me, sweetcheeks. But just so you know," he sneered, "I don't need both arms."

Ana chuckled and sped up, moving a few paces in front of him.

He stared at her back, wishing his eyes really could shoot daggers. For a minute he considered picking up a rather large rock on the path; he even bent over to pick it up then he caught Kate out of the corner of his eye. She was watching him, her hand over her mouth, trying to stifle a laugh and he straightened up and glared at her and she flashed him a smile so dazzling he forgot himself and grinned sheepishly back at her.

In that instant the tense events of the morning were forgotten. Well, maybe not forgotten, and probably not forgiven, but they were done. In the past. They faced each other, and Kate glanced at Ana's retreating back as she leaned in close to Sawyer and said softly, "I don't think I'd risk that yet,Cowboy." He rolled his eyes at her and they fell into step together.

Jack was itching at the slow pace. He knew John was right, slow and steady was the best way to track, but the trail Michael and Jin left was pretty plain. They could go faster...how would they ever catch them? He glanced back at the others to check their progress and his heart skipped; Kate and Sawyer were walking side-by-side, arms swinging and as he watched Sawyer caught her fingers and held them lightly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Kate looked up at him and smiled, and she was there again, the Secret Kate. Jack looked away guiltily, feeling a little sick.

The pace was chafing. He wanted to run. He suddenly wished the island would manifest a damn stadium so he could run the stairs until he collapsed. "Locke," he finally burst out, "could we pick up the pace a little?"

Locke stopped and glanced back at Jack, a little annoyed. He knew this was coming- actually, he was surprised it had taken so long. Jack had been agitated and peevish all day, and John suspected he knew the reason; he'd seen Kate coming out of Sawyer's tent this morning too. But agitated Jack meant impatient Jack, so Locke consented. A little. "We can speed up a little, Jack, but we don't want to miss a -"

The jungle in front of them exploded into the air. The groaning and clanking of the monster roared through the jungle, shaking the ground.

"Run!" Jack screamed, and the group scattered into the shadows.