Part 272: Day 54

The day had arrived almost quicker than anybody had expected. Jack yawned as he finished putting on his shirt. He quickly grabbed his backpack that he had packed the night before. He began his trek into the woods, seeing Kate’s smiling face waiting for him. The two friends just shared their smile as they walked off to meet up with the others.


Tony took off his sunglasses and rubbed his eye. Even though he couldn’t see from it, it didn’t stop him from getting the morning eye mucus. Marita rubbed his back as she waited on the others. Shanna seemed to be the only one that was up, with a happy attitude. Sayid found it amusing. “How did Flower take to your departure?” the Iraqi asked.

“She’s okay with it,” the redhead smiled, “Alexander will look after her and considering her scare she had the other day, I don’t think she is eager to venture into the woods anyway. So I don’t have to worry about following me.”

“Good,” Sayid smiled.

“How is Andra by the way?”

“She weeps at night. I fear she misses her mother but like any pain, it will fade in time.”

“The whole point is to be there for her when she needs you, Sayid.” Tony smiled.

“As I will. I promised her mother.”

Then from the direction of the caves emerged Jack and Kate. Within a few seconds more, McKay and Locke appeared into the wooded area. The group gathered around themselves, looking at each other. They all knew what they had to do and the odds were stacked against them. Tony took a deep breath. He wanted John by his side, he trusted his best friend to protect him and the people he cared about. However, in the absence of the best shot, more numbers probably wouldn’t help. “Do you think we should bring one more person?” he asked.

“Who?” asked Sayid.

“Who knows best how to work a gun?”

“Hal does,” Marita mentioned.

“He protected the group before and they trust him,” Jack said, “We should leave him on the beach. The group will look up to him.”

“Dutch did pretty good, what about him?” Marita mentioned again.

“Sawyer knows how to work a gun,” Kate piped in.

“I was reluncant to bring him in on this due to the nature of what we are after,” Tony whispered.

“He was pretty useful in the battle with the Liberation, Tony.”

“I know, Kate but I wasn’t thinking of that. I was thinking of that debacle we went through during the building of Micheal’s raft. He ousted you as a fugitive, remember? What else is his capable of if it turns out we find a real boat?”

“Still doesn’t change the fact that he is good with a weapon, Tony,” Jack mentioned.

The blind man raised his head. Due to their colorful history, he wasn’t expecting his fellow doctor to take up for the redneck. “So you are cool with Sawyer coming with us?” he asked.

“Yeah, I am cool with it.” Jack mentioned.

“I’ll go get him,” McKay said, turning around.

“Once you get him, McKay, hook up with us on route toward The Outpost.” Tony called.

“Will do,” he said, disappearing into the foliage.

The group then turned and began their trek into the dense jungle. Kate turned and began to follow the others. For a brief moment, she saw Shanna looking back toward where McKay was walking with a slight twinkle in her eye. When the redhead noticed Kate was looking at her, she quickly stopped smiling and proceeded to follow the others. The brunette was curious about what the quick but excited look was all about.


McKay stomped into the sand as he landed into the beach. He walked past all the other sleeping people and made his way to Sawyer’s tent. He then immediately pulled back the tent tarp and saw Sawyer naked. McKay immediately turned his head, grunting. “There are children on the beach, Sawyer.” The Australian hissed.

“Nice cliché, Curley,” he smirked, putting on his boxer briefs, “I got another one for you. Haven’t you ever heard of knocking?”

“Skip the comments from the peanut gallery, Sawyer. You are coming with me.”

“Is it someplace with candle light?”

McKay smirked. “This was a good idea.”

“What was a good idea?”

“A bunch of us are going hunting. We felt we needed a extra hand, especially one who can use a weapon. Kate suggested you.”

Sawyer raised an eyebrow as he put on his flannel shirt, “Kate is on this hunting party?”

“You bet.”

“Why didn’t you say so?” the redneck bent down and uncovered his shotgun, “I am in the mood to hunt with Freckles.”

“Pack a bag while you are it. Fresh change of clothes and such.”

Sawyer paused for a second. He then turned toward his left and started to do as the Australian ordered. “This hunting party, Curly,” he coughed, “How long is it going to last?”

“A few days. Seven probably.” McKay said, finally looking at the clothed man.

“Seven days?” the redneck got curious.

“The boar are moving up into the distance of the upper valley, Sawyer. We got to go where the meat is.”

Sawyer shrugged. “Sounds like a plan.” He agreed, picking up his shotgun and backpack.

McKay and Sawyer then started to walk up the hill away from the valley. The Australian pushed his way through the bushes as the southern man followed behind. Sawyer adjusted his backpack; clipping the straps across his chest. He wondered what they were really up to. He didn’t mind hunting for boar with anybody. But he knew John and McKay were the best to hunt besides Locke.

So why was John still sleeping with Mia?



Locke led the way through the bushes, knowing the route toward the Hatch and then further onto The Outpost. If they didn’t stop, they would make it by late afternoon. Sayid followed behind with Tony and Marita behind him. Jack followed them with Kate and Shanna bringing up the rear. They were evenly spaced between each other. The brunette looked to the redhead with a slight grin. “You excited, Shanna?” she asked.

“Yeah, Kinda,” she replied, “More nervous than anything.”

“Yeah, it would be nervous wondering if we are going to find a boat or not.”

“I am dead eager to get off this Island. How about you, Kate?”

“Yes, I am ready to leave as well.”

Shanna stepped over a dead log, making sure she would miss the puddle collected near it. “Kate, can I ask you a question?” she grunted, landing past the puddle.

“Yeah, sure, what’s up?”

“What is Sawyer like?”

Kate paused of a second, “How you mean? I figured you know him just as well as I do.”

“Well, I never really spoke with him. All I know is what I learned when we played that game of I Never.” Shanna retorted.

“That’s pretty much all there is to know.” The brunette chuckled.

“But you know him better than most, right?”

Jack stopped for a second and turned, looking at the two girls. They were close by so he couldn’t help but overhear their conversation. Kate saw Jack looking at her and then she turned Shanna. “Of course I don’t!” she flustered, “What made you think that?”

“Oh, . .uh . .I’m sorry,” the redhead said, slightly embarrassed, “My mistake.”

Jack tilted his mouth up slightly and resumed his trek, following the four people in front of him. Kate had stopped to take a breath allowing Shanna to move past her. The brunette was curious about the redhead’s sudden interest in the redneck. “Why do you want to know about Sawyer, anyway?” she whispered.

Shanna smiled, tucking a strand of her hair behind her right ear. “I . . like him.” She giggled.

“You like him?” Kate said in disbelief.
“Yeah, ever since he gave me the . . . Goo-Goo Eyes when I traded that calendar for the Watership Down book. I guess . . .it probably comes from my upbringing too.”

“What do you mean?” Kate really got curious.

“Sawyer would have been the type of man . . .my dad would NOT have approved of.” Shanna giggled, “So, since he didn’t approve of him, I would have sort out that type of man. However, there wasn’t much of those kind of guys in my home town.”

“I suppose I can understand that.”

Shanna stopped, allowing Kate to get ahead of her. “You really should make up your mind, you know?” the redhead whispered.

“Huh?” Kate asked.

“Sawyer or Jack. You really should make up your mind. I don’t think both of them will wait for you.”

Kate scoffed at Shanna’s arrogance. There was no way she could know the brunette was unsure of which man to be with. She stopped for a second, then looked back at her young companion. “What makes you think I want either man?” she asked, testing her.

“That’s easy,” Shanna smiled, “You want Sawyer cause you can’t stop being around him.”

Kate then turned to see Jack disappear into the bushes ahead of him. “And you want Jack, “the redhead smirked, “Cause you can’t stop looking at him.”

The brunette felt slightly insulted and embarrassed. She was unaware that it was that obvious. She caught herself and began to continue their trek, not letting the others get too far ahead.



McKay pushed the branch aside, stepping up on the embedded rock in the ground to get his footing. He turned and offered his hand to Sawyer, who quickly took it. The two men continued their journey. The Australian would pause and look around, making sure he was on the right track. The redneck by his side quickly pulled out a small box of cigarettes and lit one up. He tapped his companion on the arm with them. “No thanks, I don’t smoke,” McKay promptly told him.

“You got any other vices, McKay, besides the Bubbly Bubbly?” Sawyer asked, putting his zippo away.

“No, not really,” McKay sighed. Somehow he knew his redneck friend would bring up Taylor.

“What’s she like, anyway?”

“She’s a nice person, who doesn’t judge anybody. She’s been through a rough-“

“No, no, no,” Sawyer grunted, “I mean, what’s she like in the sack? C’mon, spare me nothing.”

“No way in hell I am telling you that!” McKay grunted.

“Just thought I would ask, considering I don’t have a chance with her.”

“YOU’RE DAMN RIGHT, you don’t!” the Australian grunted.

Sawyer chuckled a little bit; proud of himself he was able to get under McKay’s skin. Even the Australian sighed a little bit, realizing that was the redneck’s intention from the beginning. The redneck rubbed his hair back and took a drag off his cigarette. “Well, now that we’ve gotten our little spat out of the way,” the redneck grunted, “Maybe you want to tell me what we are really doing out here?”

“We’re hunting. I told you.” McKay answered.

“Yeah, right, Big Daddy,” he spit, “ You and John are the best hunters. You sure as hell don’t need me. So what are we ACTUALLY hunting?”

McKay paused. He wasn’t expecting Sawyer to figure it out so soon. He was fully planning on telling him by the time they met up with the others. He smirked as he leaned against a tree. “I guess you aren’t as stupid as you look,” he replied.

“Glad you noticed,” he said, taking a puff of his cigarette.

McKay smirked and then continued to walk toward the direction of their friends. “Tony told us in his battle with Belmont that the scumbag was not panicking,” the Australian whispered, “Belmont knew exactly where he was going.”

“Which was?”

“Some area of the Island he called Broadway. Why it’s called that, I don’t know, so don’t ask me.”

“What is at this place?” Sawyer flung his smoked cigarette away.

“If our guesses are right, some kind of transport off of this Island.” McKay admitted.

“For real?” Sawyer hacked.

“Yes,”

“And when the hell were you gonna tell everybody else?” he demanded.

“When we REALLY saw a boat or plane and REALLY brought it back.” McKay continued to walk.

“You mean . . .you don’t know if it’s actually going to be there, waiting for us?”

“That’s right. Or how many Liberation members are guarding it.”

“Is that why you brought me along? Cause I am expendable?” Sawyer grunted.

“Isn’t that too big a word for you?” the Australian chuckled.

“Seriously, McKay, why bring me along?”

“You are good with a gun. Kate suggested it and Jack confirmed it.”

Sawyer paused for a second, squinting one eye and looking confused; yet amused at the same time. “Jack?” he smiled, “Jack . ..thought it would be a good idea if I came?”

“Honest to God,” McKay continued to walk.

Then up ahead, as the two companioned entered a small clearing, they saw on the ridge where their friends were. McKay stopped and let out a massive whistle. The group heard them and turned around. Jack waved to the two men, motioning for them to catch up. Kate waved to Sawyer and then smirked at Shanna. The redhead jumped up and down, waving to them both. The southern man stopped for a moment, looking at the excited young girl up ahead. “Shanna?” he gulped.

“Yeah, Mia asked that she accompany us.” McKay said, stepping on the rock to get to them on the ridge.

“Why didn’t you tell me the Cream Pie was coming?” Sawyer replied with glee.

“Cream Pie?” the Australian said confused.

“Yeah, cause of her pale skin, “ the redneck got on the rock with him, “Normally I go for the tanned girls but with Shanna it just . . .I mean . . .DAMN.”

“I didn’t know you were attracted to her. Wait . ..what am I saying? You are attracted to any female above 17 and below 40.”

“You are starting to know me real well, Curly.”

“You better behave, Sawyer. I will be watching you,” McKay warned, taking out his machete.

“Not my fault, hoss. You were the one who said it, not me.”

“Said what?”

Sawyer stopped to look ahead, letting his eyes fall on Kate and Shanna’s buttocks. “We have to go where the meat is,” he smiled his signature smile.

“Oh, god,” McKay groaned.