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"Alright," Jack replied. They continued walking until Jack questioned, "Are we getting close? You three couldn't have gone THAT far."

x x x

"I think we're here," Kate replied with an eerie tone in her voice. She looked to Claire to make sure she was right.

x x x

Desmond thought for a moment. "I brought you here because I found you fainted in the jungle," he said tersely. "You looked like you needed help."

x x x

"Sorry," Ewan said as he bowed his head. He walked into the pantry and pulled out some Dharma Initutive Mac and Cheese. "You don't mind if I make this, do you?"

"Let me make it," Desmond said. "You should rest your leg." Ewan nodded and headed back to the room with bunk beds where he quickly fell asleep.

Awkwardly, Kate laughed, "I don't think so. He looked like he was going to be sick the last time we saw him."

x x x

Jack eyed the two of them as if they had taken part in the kidnapping of this man. "What was his name? Maybe I can check and see if anyone's seen him."

x x x

There was no use in making the mac and cheese at all. Ewan was already fast asleep, so Desmond kept half the serving in the fridge and ate the other half himself. He was really getting into A Tale of Two Cities... even though this was the third time he had read it.

Jack said, "You should rest," as he motioned to Claire. "Kate? Will you come with me to search?"

"Sure," Kate responded. "Claire can come too. I mean... she's been fine... right Claire?"

x x x

Soon, Ewan awoke. It hurt a bit to walk, but he wandered into the kitchen to see Desmond reading some book. "Where's the Mac & Cheese," he asked groggily. Des pointed to the fridge. Ewan seemed to be taking this very well. He set the food on the counter and began eating. "So what is it you do down here?"

x x x

"Push the button," Des smiled wanly. "There's not much else you can get done within one hundred eight minutes." He sensed that Ewan was upset, or maybe it was just that he was still tired.

Even though she barely knew the man, Kate could tell Jack didn't like her idea. But Kate didn't want Claire to be sitting on the beach doing nothing. She could at least help.

x x x

Jack smiled back. "Yeah, alright. You can come." He started off in a random direction. "Maybe we should search the jungle first. Just incase he wandered off a little."

x x x

"So... when can I leave? When can I go back to the beach and see Claire?" Ewan asked.

Des paused for a moment. "Why would you want to do that, brotha? You've got a bed, food and a roof down here."

"Well I..."

"And not to mention," Desmond said tersely. "I brought you down here because I thought you could use somewhere to rest. You should be thankfull."

"Whatever..."

Jack paused for a moment. "I guess... I don't know... where was he laying again?"

x x x

Kate laughed, but was then distracted by something else. "Look... the grass has been patted down here... lots of times. Like someone was stepping on it. Or maybe... I think he went this way."
x x x

"Well," Ewan suggested. He raised one eyebrow at Desmond's sudden anger. "Since you've been doing all this stuff for me, how 'bout you take a rest. I'll push the button."

"Really?" Desmond's eyes lit up, but he tried to hide it with a solomn expression.

Ewan sighed. "Yeah, yeah. Just take a rest. Now, explain to me," he hobbled over to the computer. "What do I do when it starts beeping?" Desmond helped Ewan over to the computer with a smile. He wrapped his arm around the man's shoulder and let him lean on him for support.

Kate sighed. "I don't know. But these are clearly footprints." She examined them one last time. "Why don't we head this way?"

x x x

Jack nodded. He didn't know someone who looked as good as Kate did could be an expert tracker.

x x x

Ewan checked to be sure Desmond was fast asleep. The man's eyes had dark circles under them and he knew Des could use a good rest. Then, once he was sure Des was out, Ewan made his way slowly to the door.

He didn't want to leave Desmond. The man had been so kind to him, but... it still creeped him out a bit--the way that Des expected him to stay down in that hatch forever, pushing a bloody button. The warm, outdoorsy scent that floated in the air made Ewan feel relaxed. He hoped he wouldn't get lost on his way back to the beach.

x x x

Kate lead the two of them on for awhile, but then it started to get dark. She said, "I can't see the footsteps guys. What should we do?"

x x x

Jack replied, "We're in the middle of nowhere." He gave Kate a look. "Maybe we should just take a rest for now..."

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