Loyalty

Sorry if this titles already been used, I'll think of something else if it has.

This is a Jate/Skate fic starting after 'I do' based on pure speculation.

Sawyer

Sawyer lost the internal battle raging within him and looked back towards the Others' camp. There was still no sign on anyone pursuing them, but he couldn't risk looking back again. It was slowing him down. He noted Kate's steps were becoming slower, but he made no effort to slow his pace. They could rest when they got to safety. If they got to safety that is.

He had no idea how long had passed since Jack began his countdown, but he knew they couldn't have much time left. If they didn't find a boat soon, they'd be recaptured.

Despite this, he halted immediately as she stumbled, and he touched her arm hesitantly,

"You okay Freckles?"

"Yeah" she said in an exhausted tone that was breaking his heart, "Come on" he nodded; resuming the run which they both feared would only lead to their imprisonment.

Sawyer smiled grimly as he led their through the dark jungle, with no idea of either direction they were travelling in, or how long it would be before they were safe, if they ever would be again. This wasn't the usual way he spent his morning afters.

Once they had time alone to think, one way or another, he would have to say something to her about the previous night. He felt that he'd said all he needed to properly say goodbye, but now it looked like he might live. He'd finally told someone he loved them and meant it, for the first time since he was eight years old. He'd come 'full circle' so to speak. All the signs had pointed to his death, but he'd been saved. By the Doc, no less. His rival and his only friend in this infernal place.

He knew if they didn't concentrate on escape, all hope was lost for them, but every time he glanced at her, he had to fight hard to push her from his mind.

Kate

He doesn't know where he's going anymore than she does, but she follows him anyway, with no idea why. This is unknown territory for both of them, and she lets him lead simply because he needs to feel in control again. They'd been caged in like animals for too long. A bit of freedom before their eventual recapture was important, and she'd let him lead the whole way back to imprisonment if it helped him regain what he used to be. The strong man who would have fought for his life. The man who would never have fallen in love. He'd know what to do. He'd miraculously know the way back, despite all odds, throwing back insults about Jack while they ran. This silent Sawyer scared her more than the Others ever had.

She glanced behind them as she thought she heard a twig crack in the foliage. She put it down to paranoia, and sped after Sawyer. She was so exhausted; she almost wished they would catch her now, so she could have a lie down in her cage. Except if they went back, Sawyer would die, and she couldn't let that happen.

She also worried about Jack. What would happen if they didn't go back? Would they kill him for risking their leader's life? For forcing Pickett to let them run? Kate always knew that eventually she would have to make a choice between Jack and Sawyer, but she'd never anticipated that the one she didn't choose would be killed. How was anyone supposed to make that decision? She looked at Sawyer again, and wondered if he didn't realise what the consequences for Jack would be, or if he just didn't care.

They broke out of the jungle onto a beach, the sunlight momentarily blinding them. Kate spun as she heard another noise from within the jungle, and from the look on Sawyer's face, he'd heard it too. Someone was tailing them.

"What's that?" Sawyer suddenly murmured. She spun around, and followed his line of sight. A slow smile appeared on her face. If that was what she thought it was, Sawyer would get away.

Sawyer

They ran the last hundred metres or so, and stopped beside the submarine, staring at it in awe for a moment, hardly believing their luck. When they heard a shout coming from the jungle, Sawyer didn't hesitate in scaling the side, and wrenching open the hatch at the top. He held out his hand for her to help her get beside him, but she shook her head.

"You go" she said

"I can't just leave you" he glanced quickly around the beach, and noted that the Others were now out of the jungle

"I have to go back. If I don't they might kill Jack"

"And if you do, they might kill you both" he said. He couldn't believe that they were nearly free, and this was the moment she chose to argue.

"I have to go, I'm sorry" she said, and then she said three words that shattered Sawyer's heart into a million pieces, "I love him." He swallowed, trying to get hold of his emotions, before saying

"You're lying"

"Maybe, but you can say whatever you like, I'm not coming with you" Sawyer gave her one last glance, realising he couldn't do anything to convince her, before dropping into the submarine through the hatch, slamming it shut behind him. His whole life he'd looked after himself. Self preservation was the most important thing to him. So why did it feel that he was leaving part of himself behind on that jetty?

Kate

For a horrifying moment, she thought that he wasn't going to get the submarine to start, but she heard the engine jump to life, and turned to face the fast approaching Others, knowing that Sawyer was safe now. He would make it back to their friends. It was herself and Jack she would have to worry about now. Pickett stopped beside her, just as the radio crackled into life,

"Are you safe Kate?" Jack shouted through the radio. Kate looked Pickett in the eye, and suppressed the urge to tell Jack she'd never felt less safe in her entire life.

"Yes" she said instead, and proceeded to repeat the story he'd told her on their first day on the island. Satisfied, he replied,

"I'm going to have to stitch their leader back up now. Good luck Kate" she dropped the radio onto the sand, expecting Pickett to pounce on her now that his favourite punching bag had escaped in their very own sub. Instead he looked at her almost sympathetically.

"Let's get you back to your cage" he grabbed her arm, though not with the roughness she'd come to expect of him, and led the way back across the sandy shores, back to her cage. Back to Jack.

'Tis very Jatey at the minute and well remain so for a while, but have faith skaters, some proper Skate will emerge eventually.

Now it isn't the best start in the world, but I'll try to do better next time. If you review that is... ;)