A/N: Okay, this will most likely be a 30-40 chapter fic. I'm a fan of one-shots, but I don't tend to write them very often. Updates will probably be 1-2 times a week, possibly more. (Keep in mind that the more you review, the happier I'll be. Good mood equals more updates. ;) ) The first few chapters are going to be setting down a foundation for the rest of the fic, so there's going to be quite some character development starting next chapter. But everything's going to tie in together with the events of "What Kate Did". So any character growth isproduced from the happenings of that episode.

I will try to leave the characters' pasts vague enough so that in the future I can add in anything that they may reveal on the show. But keep in mind that the actual events of new episodes will most likely not be included in this fic, because this takes off from WKD and a new plot is created from there.

Also, let me say this. I know that WKD left off with Michael at the computer. That will be addressed later, I'm not just going to leave it hanging.

Alright, the only thing to remember, is the easiest equation of all time (which I mentioned above)
Reviews equalA Happy Author equals more updates. :) Thanks for reading.

Her body felt weak, and every so often her vision would blur. But Kate wouldn't let this get in the way of the task she meant to complete.

Widening her eyes a few times just to make sure they stayed open, Kate placed the object in her backpack and stood.

She kept her pace quick, and avoided the stares of those she might pass. Ever since the incident where Sawyer had told them who she really was, the trust had vanished from their eyes.

Once back in the jungle, she sped up her pace even more. She tried to reason with herself that she'd only been gone a half hour, but she knew she shouldn't have left him in the first place.

Sawyer had just woken up, from almost dying, might she add, and she had just left him there.

Okay, not just left him. Sawyer had assured her that he would be fine by himself, and told her to go get whatever it was she needed to get. And even though he appeared to be fine, Kate still wanted to get back as soon as she could. But along the way, she'd gotten too dizzy and had to rest.

That's what she got for being awake for more than 24 hours. But she'd spent that time by Sawyer's side, making sure he would wake up.

In fact, she had been terrified that he wouldn't.

The last time she'd been able to speak to him, well, she didn't think she'd ever see him again. Which should have been a blessing, she though at first. He had exposed her to everyone else. Told them the cold truth she had wanted to keep secret.

But when he had shown up the way he did, Kate had realized it was no blessing for him to leave at all.

You need a haircut.

She smiled at the reply she had given him. That had been one reason for her smiling, yes. But she still couldn't get over the fact that he had actually opened his eyes. And she'd never been so thankful to see them.

She didn't want anymore death on the island. Especially not of someone she cared about.

On this thought, she made it to the airlock and opened the door. Stepping into the hallway, she began to take her backpack off. "Sawyer?"

She looked in on the room he was supposed to be resting in. "Sawyer?" No answer, and no Sawyer.

Turning around, she took in a quick breath of air when she almost ran into Locke. "Holy..."

"Heard you calling. I thought I'd let you know I heard the shower running earlier."

"He's in the shower?" She asked, eyes wide.

"Somethin' wrong with that?" Her head snapped to the side when she heard Sawyer's voice and she sighed, rolling her eyes slightly.

"You're supposed to be in bed."

"Sorry, mom, but I needed a shower."

"Sawyer..." She sighed, going forward and putting her arm around his waist as she had before. He sighed in an aggravated manner, trying to get the point across that he could walk on his own just fine, but all the same put his arm across her shoulder. Leading him back into the room, she gave Locke a thankful smile as the older man walked back toward his station at the computer.

As she helped him back down onto the bed, she gave him a disapproving look. "You really should have waited for some help."

"Is that an offer, sweetheart?" She didn't take the bait, just continued to stare at him, hands lightly placed on her hips.

"No," she told him, finally smiling and rolling her eyes a little. "But I'm sure we could've gotten Jack in here to help you out."

He glared at her, and she continued to smile. "You have a death wish, Freckles?"

She laughed a little and sat down in the chair that had already been placed next to the bed. "Was kidding," she assured him, relaxing and setting her bag next to her. "But I don't want you back out of bed until he says you can be," she told him, a serious look in her eyes.

He sighed dramatically. "It was nothin', alright? A bit of a misfortune, sure, but I'm not dead."

She kept an even look. "You almost were." A hint of confusion entered his face when he noticed a look of - was that concern? - enter her eyes. "Sawyer, please, just stay in here? I know that actually listening to what someone asks you to do isn't your thing, but it'd make me feel better."

Sawyer smirked a little at that. "Is that so?"

She didn't roll her eyes, just kept an even look. "Yeah," she replied. "That's so."

"Well, alright, then," he told her, leaning back some more. "I'm not movin' 'til the good doctor pats me on the head and sends me away." The last part was said somewhat sarcastically, but she was still grateful that he wasn't going to be up and moving yet. The last thing he needed was for something else to go wrong.

"Thank you," she told him, the smile back on her face. "You hungry?"

"Well, when I woke up and saw I was in a damn bunk bed, I was hopin' for a burger. So excuse me that I ain't got an appetite for berries and grass."

She chuckled a little at that, and he smiled back. "What've you got?" He asked Kate.

"Well, fruit," she told him, which made him sigh. "...And a surprise."

"A surprise?" He asked, eyebrow raised.

"Yeah, I-" She was cut off as the sound of a loud beep cut her off.

"What the hell..." Sawyer muttered.

The computer, she thought with a sigh. The short noise repeated itself every few seconds, and she waited for Locke to type in the numbers so she could finish her conversation with Sawyer.

When the sound ceased, Kate sighed and turned back to him. "What was that?" He asked.

"That...actually, we're not sure."

"You ain't sure?" He questioned incredulously.

"Well, it's kind of a long story."

As she explained to him what they knew about it, he stared at her as if she'd gone completely insane.

"Freckles, you tryin' to tell me that you push a damn button when this piece-of-shit computer starts to beep? And you don't even know why?"

"No. We aren't really wanting to find out."

He rolled his eyes. "I bet," he muttered. "Hope you ain't expectin' me to sit in front of that just waitin' to press a button."

Kate rolled her eyes, but still smiled. "Wouldn't even think ofit, Sawyer," she told him with a sigh. He smirked slightly at that and shrugged.

"...About my surprise?"

Kate grinned at that, and reached for her bag. "Yeah," she said, grinning. "Close your eyes."

Sawyer eyed her suspiciously. "Ain't no way in hell I'm gonna-"

"Sawyer, close your eyes," she said again. "Or no surprise."

He rolled his eyes, and then closed them with a heavy sigh. Of course, she'd gotten him curious now, but he wouldn't let her know that.

He heard something rustling, a short popping noise, and then she told him to open his mouth. He didn't, obviously still not trusting her.

"Sawyer, open your mouth," she told him, laughing slightly. Finally, he complied. She placed something inside his mouth, and slowly he bit down when she told him to. He kept his eyes closed, letting the taste settle in his mouth.

"Are those..." He started off, his voice disbelieving. Opening his eyes, he stared at the bag she held up.

"Chips," she answered with a grin. She handed over the rest of the bag, and he stared at it with wide eyes. But it didn't take him long to reach in for another and place it in his mouth.

"Chips," he repeated with a bewildered tone, looking at her. "How the hell did you get chips, Freckles?"

She smiled. "This place had some supplies when we first got in here. Food. Hurley thought it'd be best if he just handed it out. Like a Thanksgiving type of thing. We each got a couple of things. I saved those."

"So you didn't expect the raft to work?" He asked, eyebrow raised, and she looked confused at this.

"What?"

"Well, if you saved these, then you must have expected we'd be back."

Understanding, she smiled and shook her head. "Don't flatter yourself, Sawyer," she said with a grin. "I saved them for me. But you got back before I had the chance to eat them. I was just being nice."

He shook his head, but with a slight smile.

She felt the dizziness stir inside her again, and she widened her eyes once and shook her head slightly to keep from passing out.

"You alright?" Sawyer asked. The question startled her, since she thought he hadn't seen. She smiled slightly, and nodded.

"Very tired," she explained. "Which, by the way, is your fault."

"My fault?"

"Yeah. You're the guy who was on his death bed," she reminded him. "I haven't gotten any sleep since you got back."

He glared at her, but it lost its affect because of the softening in his eyes. "You stayed here the whole time?" He asked sarcastically to cover up how much this affected him.

"Well, yeah," she said, looking down slightly with a smile. "Jack told me I should get some rest. I tried to sleep here," she said, indicating the chair. "But..." She trailed off, narrowing her eyes at him because she knew that he would make a sarcastic remark when she finished her statement.

However, Sawyer guessed what she was going to say. "You were worried?" Upon her look, he chuckled slightly. "Gotta say, Freckles, I'm touched."

She shook her head at him, enjoying the conversation she was having with him, probably for the first time. Because of his past, Sawyer was easy to talk to, but one of them always seemed to say the wrong thing when they were around each other.

She knew that whatever it was keeping them friendly toward each other would probably dissipate soon. After all, they still had a lot to talk about. She planned to start by kicking his ass for revealing her identity to the rest of the survivors. Even though she understood why he'd done it, it still hurt.

The air had cleared a little when they had said goodbye that night, but not nearly enough.

She'd realized that when the raft had taken off and she thought she'd never see him again.

"You really should get some sleep," he told her in a lazy tone, but still looked a little concerned. Then he smirked.

"You know, I wouldn't mind you stayin' here." He patted the spot next to him on the bed. "Plenty of room for two to sleep comfortably."

She shook her head, rolling her eyes. "No," she told him, and he sighed in disappointment. "The chair is fine," she assured him.

He looked back up, obviously not completely happy, but glad that she'd at least be in the room. "You sure 'bout that, Freckles?" He asked again.

She sighed, regarding him for a moment. "I tell you what," she started. "You leave the offer open, and I'll consider it," she told him, and he raised an eyebrow in surprise. "As long as you understand that it's only sleeping."

"Damn," he muttered, though with a grin to show he was kidding. He paused for a moment. "Offer stays open," he assured her.

"It's not a promise," she told him, standing up. "It's me saying that I may get too uncomfortable in that chair."

He put another chip in his mouth and shook his head a little. "Whatever you say, sweetheart." She rolled her eyes a little, and started toward the door. "Hey, where'ya goin'?"

She sighed, turning back to him after a moment. "I need to go talk to Jack before I go to sleep," she told him, and she saw the good mood leave his eyes.

"Right. Give him his good-night kiss and all."

"Sawyer..." She said with a sigh. "I swear, I just need to talk to him about something and I'll be right back."

He didn't reply, which made her a little more frustrated. But she forced herself to remain calm and tried to just be thankful that he was actually alive to make these kind of comments. "It's not his bed I'll be sleeping by tonight, is it?" Kate asked him finally, the slight frustration showing through in her voice as she tried to remain calm, and without waiting for a reply, turned and headed out of the room.

Once she was gone, Sawyer smiled to himself, getting a little more comfortable. "No, Freckles, I guess it ain't," he said to the empty room.