Tracker, Chapter 25 (Skate, others)
Jun. 5th, 2008 12:48 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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ficinabottleTitle: Tracker, Chapter 25
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![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
kirvash if you get hooked on it. Thanks for reading!
Chapter 25
The blackness was complete and utterly void of anything. He reached out, trying to feel his way, but there was nothing there and he couldn't see the ground; he wasn't sure if that was even there so he didn't move his feet because he would fall into the abyss if he did. He cried out for her but the blackness swallowed his voice before it even reached his own ears; he could hear her name ringing in his head as he called her over and over.
A light appeared in the distance and he stopped calling; it came closer but the dark was too deep, too thick for it to penetrate. It came closer still, he could just see a shape in the darkly glowing light. He could almost make it out-
Bright, harsh light flooded all around him as if someone had flipped a switch. He was blinded by it, his eyes burned and watered and he tried to focus. He froze in terror. Walt. It was Walt, but not Walt. This Walt looked the same, but he was old, older than him, older than the island, older than the earth, older than time itself. He was everywhere and nowhere, everything and nothing; he filled Sawyer up like water fills a jug; his voice rang in Sawyer's ears and his hand reached to touch him. He screamed- he didn't want to be touched, it would burn him, it would-
"Sawyer!" He woke up to Kate shaking him, looking terrified. She sighed with relief as he opened his eyes. "You okay? You're trembling."
He didn't answer for a second; he let the shaking subside and the world return around him. His eyes burned; the bright light was still searing his vision and he blinked rapidly, trying to clear his eyes. Jack appeared over Kate's shoulder, looking concerned. "You okay, man?" he asked. "You were screaming."
Sawyer grunted and sat up; Eko and Locke were also eying him with some concern. "I'm okay," he muttered. His head was pounding and his ears were still ringing with Walt's voice; he held his head in his hands trying to block out the words. He could feel everyone's eyes on him and it was irritating the crap out of him, he glared up and snapped, "You all waitin' around for the second act?"
Everyone dropped their eyes, embarrassed, except for Kate; she smiled gently, though he could still see the fright lingering in her eyes, and said, "They're just worried about you, Sawyer. You were screaming bloody murder."
He looked at her and swallowed. "Did I say anything?"
She didn't answer. Jack was still standing next to them and he spoke up, looking aside at Kate. "Mostly it was just screaming, but I think you said 'It burns' and 'Don't touch me'." He glanced at Kate again, and she nodded. "Do you remember any of it?"
He swallowed again and shook his head. It was already fading, like dreams do; he let it go willingly. He sighed shakily and ran his hands through his hair, feeling his body relax slowly as the dream receded into the back of his mind, leaving only a lingering feeling of terror. Feeling Kate's worried hand on his arm, he turned to her, smiling weakly. "I'm okay, really."
Jack nodded, "Okay. If you need me..." he shrugged and went back to his place by the fire. Ana and Michael were sitting up, waiting for Jack to come back to his spot next to them.
Michael looked worried; he asked Jack as soon as he sat back down, "Is he okay?"
Jack looked over at Sawyer; Kate was sitting against the fallen log they had been sleeping next to, his head in her lap, stroking his hair with one hand, while he held the other, playing with her fingers. "Yeah," Jack said, smiling at the scene before him. "I'm pretty sure he's okay. It was just a nightmare."
Ana contemplated that. "Must have been a pretty bad nightmare."
Jack glanced sharply at her. "Well, I'm sure he has a lot of nightmare material." He regretted the accusing tone of the words immediately, but it was too late.
Ana looked away, feeling a stab of guilt. She stared at her feet for a second, then she looked back at Jack, smiling sadly. "Don't we all?"
Kate was gently stroking Sawyer's hair while he held her fingers. His trembling had stopped, but every few minutes Kate would feel him stiffen and shiver as terrified chills ran through him; she wondered in vain what he had seen in his nightmare to frighten him so badly. "Hey, Tex," she whispered softly, "are you sure you're okay?"
He smiled a little and squeezed her hand but he didn't answer. His eyes wandered up as Eko came over, looking a little apologetic. Kate smiled a hello and he nodded to her, then he smiled down at Sawyer. "James, are you alright?"
"Yeah, Ed. I'm okay. Just a nightmare." He gestured to the ground with his free hand. "Sit?"
Kate was a little surprised at Sawyer's offer, usually he preferred them to be alone. It didn't surprise Eko, he grinned and folded his feet under him as he sat next to Sawyer. He stared at him for a moment, then he leaned in close. "Tell me about your dream, James."
Sawyer sighed, and glanced up at Kate, who was staring back at him with curiosity and a little hurt. Eko noticed and touched her arm, smiling. "It is alright, Katherine. James and I have had a few such heart-to-heart talks, have we not, James?" Sawyer nodded, glancing at Kate guiltily. "As have we, Katherine." She smiled, nodding abashedly. "Very good. Now, James, tell me about your dream."
He sighed shakily, closing his eyes, then opening them again. "It was dark. I saw somethin', then it was really bright light, and I couldn't see anything. Then," he paused, his eyes finding Michael across the fire; his voice dropped lower, "Walt came to me...and he was talkin' but I couldn't understand...then he tried to touch me and that's when Kate woke me up." He relaxed, only then realizing how he had tensed up.
Eko smiled wisely, touching his shoulder; he felt the usual shock, but this time it lifted him a little; he felt lighter and the nightmare faded almost completely away. "Yes. I can see why you woke screaming; that must have been very frightening." He paused, and continued softly, "But, after all, James, it was only a dream." He stood, and smiled at Kate. "Take good care of him, Katherine," he said, and nodding his head in goodbye he left them together by the fire.
Kate smiled down at Sawyer, who was playing absently with her fingers again. She had been a little hurt that he was willing to tell Eko about the dream and not her, but just as she was thinking it, Sawyer spoke again. "He wanted me to tell Mike somethin'," he whispered; he didn't want Michael to overhear him. "He told me to tell him that he loves him." He looked up at Kate, misery in his eyes. "How can I do that?"
Kate shook her head; she didn't know. Sawyer closed his eyes, and a little while later Kate heard him snore softly. She leaned back against the log, still caressing his hair; she was in for a sleepless night.
* * * * *
Since going over the cliff was out of the question, the group decided to backtrack to the stone marker and make their way into the jungle from there. The beach was hot and Kate sat down abruptly and pulled her shoes and socks off, stuffing the socks into her boots. She knotted the laces of the boots together and slung them over her shoulder; she stood and bent over, rolling the legs of her pants up to her knees.
She glanced up at Sawyer; he was watching her with curiosity. "What?" she asked.
He grinned. "Nothin' sweetheart, just enjoying the view."
She smiled back. "I'll bet you are." She motioned to his feet. "Why don't you join me?" She finished rolling up her cuffs and stepped into the water, feeling the waves rush by her toes; the sand rushed back out with the receding tide and Kate sank a little into the shore.
"Well, maybe I would if I knew exactly what it is you're doin'." He couldn't take his eyes off of her. She glanced up at him, smiling sweetly. "I'm sinking."
He shrugged. "Okay. If you say so." He slipped off his shoes and socks and rolled his cuffs a little, then he stepped next to Kate and let the sand drag him down. He hesitated, then he looked at her, wanting to tell her something; he was afraid but he didn't know why. He stared out at the ocean, the breeze lifting his hair from his sweaty forehead; Kate reached over and took his hand. He smiled at her, and suddenly, talking to her was the easiest thing in the world. "Kate," he said, and stopped, uncertain. "I was thinkin', last night, about the dream." She looked over at him, smiling encouragingly. "I don't think it was a dream."
She looked alarmed. "What?"
He sighed, and closed his eyes. "I-I think I'm rememberin' something. I don't think I dreamed it." He kept his eyes closed tight, afraid to look; he just knew she was going to laugh at him, or think he was crazy- he just needed her to believe him. Her fingers squeezed his and he opened his eyes; she was smiling at him, gently. She didn't know what else to say, so she just said, "It's alright, Sawyer." She leaned against him, her hand sliding into his back pocket; her fingers met paper and she drew them back as if they were burned.
He didn't notice, and she wrapped her arms around him, letting the ocean carry them away, wave by wave.
* * * * *
The marker wasn't hard to find again, and they turned into the jungle following the arrow. Ana was walking next to Jack; by unspoken agreement they had pushed aside the sharp words of the night before and now they strolled together, talking quietly.
"So how come you're not married anymore?" Jack was getting accustomed to Ana's blunt lines of questioning, but this one stopped his heart for a beat. Ana didn't miss his frown. "Never mind," she said, backtracking. "Forget I asked."
Jack smiled at her quickly, then looked back down at his feet. "No, it's okay." He sighed and looked away. "She left me for another man."
Ana shook her head. "What a stupid bitch."
Jack burst out laughing at that. "I'd like to say that's a little extreme," he smiled, "But I am afraid I have to agree with you." His smile faded. "It wasn't all her, you know. I wasn't there. And I did...other things." He smiled hesitantly at Ana. "It wasn't all her."
Ana smiled back. "I'm sorry."
"Yeah," Jack said, a little sadly. "Me too." He shook his head and grinned at her. "But that's ancient history, so..."
Ana grinned back up at him. "So." Their eyes met again, and they both laughed.
Something crashed in the trees ahead of them: Vincent started barking and ran off into the woods. Michael hollered after him but everyone was frozen. Jack, Sawyer and Ana pulled their guns; Kate reached for hers and realized it was gone. Shit, she thought, I must have lost it when I fell from the cliff. Feeling very vulnerable without her gun, Kate slipped behind Sawyer as he pointed his into the trees.
The bushes parted and a giraffe stalked gracefully into the clearing, ignoring the band of humans staring in shock and pointing guns at it. It paused and nibbled a few leaves, then moved on, nibbling some more; its manner was one of supreme indifference as it drifted from tree to tree.
It finally seemed to notice them; it stopped and gracefully turned its head, staring each one of them in the eye before turning back to its path.
The seven of them were frozen in awe and surprise as the giraffe gracefully pecked at a few more leaves before it exited the clearing, shaking the bushes as it went. Nobody spoke for a long minute; then Sawyer shook his head in amazement, letting out a deep breath. "Damn," he said, staring after the retreating animal. "Now that's somethin' you don't see every day."
* * * * *
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 25
The blackness was complete and utterly void of anything. He reached out, trying to feel his way, but there was nothing there and he couldn't see the ground; he wasn't sure if that was even there so he didn't move his feet because he would fall into the abyss if he did. He cried out for her but the blackness swallowed his voice before it even reached his own ears; he could hear her name ringing in his head as he called her over and over.
A light appeared in the distance and he stopped calling; it came closer but the dark was too deep, too thick for it to penetrate. It came closer still, he could just see a shape in the darkly glowing light. He could almost make it out-
Bright, harsh light flooded all around him as if someone had flipped a switch. He was blinded by it, his eyes burned and watered and he tried to focus. He froze in terror. Walt. It was Walt, but not Walt. This Walt looked the same, but he was old, older than him, older than the island, older than the earth, older than time itself. He was everywhere and nowhere, everything and nothing; he filled Sawyer up like water fills a jug; his voice rang in Sawyer's ears and his hand reached to touch him. He screamed- he didn't want to be touched, it would burn him, it would-
"Sawyer!" He woke up to Kate shaking him, looking terrified. She sighed with relief as he opened his eyes. "You okay? You're trembling."
He didn't answer for a second; he let the shaking subside and the world return around him. His eyes burned; the bright light was still searing his vision and he blinked rapidly, trying to clear his eyes. Jack appeared over Kate's shoulder, looking concerned. "You okay, man?" he asked. "You were screaming."
Sawyer grunted and sat up; Eko and Locke were also eying him with some concern. "I'm okay," he muttered. His head was pounding and his ears were still ringing with Walt's voice; he held his head in his hands trying to block out the words. He could feel everyone's eyes on him and it was irritating the crap out of him, he glared up and snapped, "You all waitin' around for the second act?"
Everyone dropped their eyes, embarrassed, except for Kate; she smiled gently, though he could still see the fright lingering in her eyes, and said, "They're just worried about you, Sawyer. You were screaming bloody murder."
He looked at her and swallowed. "Did I say anything?"
She didn't answer. Jack was still standing next to them and he spoke up, looking aside at Kate. "Mostly it was just screaming, but I think you said 'It burns' and 'Don't touch me'." He glanced at Kate again, and she nodded. "Do you remember any of it?"
He swallowed again and shook his head. It was already fading, like dreams do; he let it go willingly. He sighed shakily and ran his hands through his hair, feeling his body relax slowly as the dream receded into the back of his mind, leaving only a lingering feeling of terror. Feeling Kate's worried hand on his arm, he turned to her, smiling weakly. "I'm okay, really."
Jack nodded, "Okay. If you need me..." he shrugged and went back to his place by the fire. Ana and Michael were sitting up, waiting for Jack to come back to his spot next to them.
Michael looked worried; he asked Jack as soon as he sat back down, "Is he okay?"
Jack looked over at Sawyer; Kate was sitting against the fallen log they had been sleeping next to, his head in her lap, stroking his hair with one hand, while he held the other, playing with her fingers. "Yeah," Jack said, smiling at the scene before him. "I'm pretty sure he's okay. It was just a nightmare."
Ana contemplated that. "Must have been a pretty bad nightmare."
Jack glanced sharply at her. "Well, I'm sure he has a lot of nightmare material." He regretted the accusing tone of the words immediately, but it was too late.
Ana looked away, feeling a stab of guilt. She stared at her feet for a second, then she looked back at Jack, smiling sadly. "Don't we all?"
Kate was gently stroking Sawyer's hair while he held her fingers. His trembling had stopped, but every few minutes Kate would feel him stiffen and shiver as terrified chills ran through him; she wondered in vain what he had seen in his nightmare to frighten him so badly. "Hey, Tex," she whispered softly, "are you sure you're okay?"
He smiled a little and squeezed her hand but he didn't answer. His eyes wandered up as Eko came over, looking a little apologetic. Kate smiled a hello and he nodded to her, then he smiled down at Sawyer. "James, are you alright?"
"Yeah, Ed. I'm okay. Just a nightmare." He gestured to the ground with his free hand. "Sit?"
Kate was a little surprised at Sawyer's offer, usually he preferred them to be alone. It didn't surprise Eko, he grinned and folded his feet under him as he sat next to Sawyer. He stared at him for a moment, then he leaned in close. "Tell me about your dream, James."
Sawyer sighed, and glanced up at Kate, who was staring back at him with curiosity and a little hurt. Eko noticed and touched her arm, smiling. "It is alright, Katherine. James and I have had a few such heart-to-heart talks, have we not, James?" Sawyer nodded, glancing at Kate guiltily. "As have we, Katherine." She smiled, nodding abashedly. "Very good. Now, James, tell me about your dream."
He sighed shakily, closing his eyes, then opening them again. "It was dark. I saw somethin', then it was really bright light, and I couldn't see anything. Then," he paused, his eyes finding Michael across the fire; his voice dropped lower, "Walt came to me...and he was talkin' but I couldn't understand...then he tried to touch me and that's when Kate woke me up." He relaxed, only then realizing how he had tensed up.
Eko smiled wisely, touching his shoulder; he felt the usual shock, but this time it lifted him a little; he felt lighter and the nightmare faded almost completely away. "Yes. I can see why you woke screaming; that must have been very frightening." He paused, and continued softly, "But, after all, James, it was only a dream." He stood, and smiled at Kate. "Take good care of him, Katherine," he said, and nodding his head in goodbye he left them together by the fire.
Kate smiled down at Sawyer, who was playing absently with her fingers again. She had been a little hurt that he was willing to tell Eko about the dream and not her, but just as she was thinking it, Sawyer spoke again. "He wanted me to tell Mike somethin'," he whispered; he didn't want Michael to overhear him. "He told me to tell him that he loves him." He looked up at Kate, misery in his eyes. "How can I do that?"
Kate shook her head; she didn't know. Sawyer closed his eyes, and a little while later Kate heard him snore softly. She leaned back against the log, still caressing his hair; she was in for a sleepless night.
* * * * *
Since going over the cliff was out of the question, the group decided to backtrack to the stone marker and make their way into the jungle from there. The beach was hot and Kate sat down abruptly and pulled her shoes and socks off, stuffing the socks into her boots. She knotted the laces of the boots together and slung them over her shoulder; she stood and bent over, rolling the legs of her pants up to her knees.
She glanced up at Sawyer; he was watching her with curiosity. "What?" she asked.
He grinned. "Nothin' sweetheart, just enjoying the view."
She smiled back. "I'll bet you are." She motioned to his feet. "Why don't you join me?" She finished rolling up her cuffs and stepped into the water, feeling the waves rush by her toes; the sand rushed back out with the receding tide and Kate sank a little into the shore.
"Well, maybe I would if I knew exactly what it is you're doin'." He couldn't take his eyes off of her. She glanced up at him, smiling sweetly. "I'm sinking."
He shrugged. "Okay. If you say so." He slipped off his shoes and socks and rolled his cuffs a little, then he stepped next to Kate and let the sand drag him down. He hesitated, then he looked at her, wanting to tell her something; he was afraid but he didn't know why. He stared out at the ocean, the breeze lifting his hair from his sweaty forehead; Kate reached over and took his hand. He smiled at her, and suddenly, talking to her was the easiest thing in the world. "Kate," he said, and stopped, uncertain. "I was thinkin', last night, about the dream." She looked over at him, smiling encouragingly. "I don't think it was a dream."
She looked alarmed. "What?"
He sighed, and closed his eyes. "I-I think I'm rememberin' something. I don't think I dreamed it." He kept his eyes closed tight, afraid to look; he just knew she was going to laugh at him, or think he was crazy- he just needed her to believe him. Her fingers squeezed his and he opened his eyes; she was smiling at him, gently. She didn't know what else to say, so she just said, "It's alright, Sawyer." She leaned against him, her hand sliding into his back pocket; her fingers met paper and she drew them back as if they were burned.
He didn't notice, and she wrapped her arms around him, letting the ocean carry them away, wave by wave.
* * * * *
The marker wasn't hard to find again, and they turned into the jungle following the arrow. Ana was walking next to Jack; by unspoken agreement they had pushed aside the sharp words of the night before and now they strolled together, talking quietly.
"So how come you're not married anymore?" Jack was getting accustomed to Ana's blunt lines of questioning, but this one stopped his heart for a beat. Ana didn't miss his frown. "Never mind," she said, backtracking. "Forget I asked."
Jack smiled at her quickly, then looked back down at his feet. "No, it's okay." He sighed and looked away. "She left me for another man."
Ana shook her head. "What a stupid bitch."
Jack burst out laughing at that. "I'd like to say that's a little extreme," he smiled, "But I am afraid I have to agree with you." His smile faded. "It wasn't all her, you know. I wasn't there. And I did...other things." He smiled hesitantly at Ana. "It wasn't all her."
Ana smiled back. "I'm sorry."
"Yeah," Jack said, a little sadly. "Me too." He shook his head and grinned at her. "But that's ancient history, so..."
Ana grinned back up at him. "So." Their eyes met again, and they both laughed.
Something crashed in the trees ahead of them: Vincent started barking and ran off into the woods. Michael hollered after him but everyone was frozen. Jack, Sawyer and Ana pulled their guns; Kate reached for hers and realized it was gone. Shit, she thought, I must have lost it when I fell from the cliff. Feeling very vulnerable without her gun, Kate slipped behind Sawyer as he pointed his into the trees.
The bushes parted and a giraffe stalked gracefully into the clearing, ignoring the band of humans staring in shock and pointing guns at it. It paused and nibbled a few leaves, then moved on, nibbling some more; its manner was one of supreme indifference as it drifted from tree to tree.
It finally seemed to notice them; it stopped and gracefully turned its head, staring each one of them in the eye before turning back to its path.
The seven of them were frozen in awe and surprise as the giraffe gracefully pecked at a few more leaves before it exited the clearing, shaking the bushes as it went. Nobody spoke for a long minute; then Sawyer shook his head in amazement, letting out a deep breath. "Damn," he said, staring after the retreating animal. "Now that's somethin' you don't see every day."
* * * * *
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