Title: Once Upon A Second Chance…
Author: Dee (hey that's me!)
Rated: PG-13 (for the most part)
Summary: The 3rd story in a series of Kate/Sawyer fics. After getting off the island and spending a good amount of time at Sawyer's, Kate is finally caught by the authorities. Now what will happen!?
Beta-Reader: A dear friend, Jodie. :)
Disclaimer: I do not own LOST. I do not own Sawyer or Kate. And I know it. All right?

Quickie:
Welcome welcome, one and all to the THIRD - yes, third - installment of Sawyer and Kate stories I have here on If you have not read the two previous stories, "Drawn Together" and "Like a Boomerang", then you should be reading those and not be reading this yet. To all returning cust-er...readers, welcome and thanks for the continuing patronage! Love to all my fans. And I will try and keep up with this story better.

So...I know this seems like I'm just jumping right into it. But oh well. That's the way the cookie crumbles. Besides, I hardly believe anyone objects. So here we go again! I know, I know. It starts out short. But remember – it's only the beginning!

Special Credits to Michael for the help with the title :-)

Chapter 1

Police flooded Sawyer's house armed with guns and dogs. Some were investigating, two were speaking with Kate, and one was speaking with Johanna. A few led the dogs around the house, searching for anything. Sawyer, watched for a few minutes, and they passed by the area in the hallway which the attic was above without a care. He returned to the kitchen, staring out the window. One of the detectives who was searching the house saw him. He went outside and over to the rest of the men and told them, pointing to him. They all took a look over, including Johanna.

"He's with me," she said, quickly.

"We're going to have to ask him a few questions," one of the officers told her.

"Can it wait until we're at the station?"

"All right." He turned to one of his men. "Go get him."

"Wait!" Johanna said, grabbing the man's arm, stopping him. "I'll drive him down to the station."

"And who're you, ma'am?"

"I'm Miss Austen's lawyer. And if this man requests, I'll represent him as well as– "

"All right. You follow us with him. We leave now."

She walked slowly inside, to get Sawyer.

"James?"

He didn't turn around. He seemed to be oblivious to what was going on. And she couldn't blame him. But he'd done the right thing. She sighed.

"The police want you to come down to the station. They want to do a brief interrogation."

He turned around and she was faced with his weary, sad expression.

"I'm driving you," she told him.

And he followed her out. The drive was completely silent. It was an hour drive just to get into town, and then another half hour to make it to the police station. Johanna kept glancing over at him, but he was continuously glaring out the window, sadly. She had to admit that she felt bad for him, but his sulking was just getting pathetic. Still, who was she to sit back and be blunt with a man who'd just given up the love of his life?

"Look, I promise you she'll be all right," she assured him.

"Why should I trust you?" he said in a coarse voice.

"Excuse me!?"

"IT'S YOUR FAULT THIS HAPPENED!" he shouted.

She was quiet. She hadn't expected that, but he was right. It was her fault. She hadn't told either of them that she'd been speaking with the police while she'd been working to help Kate. They knew where she was and Johanna had helped keep her there. She tried to clear her mind of it, but his words were still ringing in her ears. She let out an unsteady breath. She couldn't let him know. Not yet.

"So, what? You think I – "

"YOU LED 'EM TO HER!"

"But I never – "

"THEY FOUND HER 'CAUSE OF YOU!"

She quieted again. He sat back in his chair, and tried to breathe.

"All I know is if you didn't come they'd never have found her," he said bitterly.

"You know, I'm starting to wonder what it is she saw in you."

He had no response. But her words stung. What it is she saw in you. He repeated it in his mind over and over. What was that supposed to mean? Was Kate done with him now? Was there something Johanna knew that he didn't?

"None of us is responsible for this, James. It was bound to happen one way or another. And right now, instead of figuring out who to blame, we should be figuring out what to do to help her."

"What am I supposed to do to help her?"

"Well, for now…I guess, nothing."

"Oh. That's real – "

"They're going to want to interrogate you so I'd advise you to lay low for a bit."

"Why?"

"Sooner or later they're going to suspect you of aiding a fugitive – which you have. But we don't need to let them know that. They have no means of proving it." She sighed. "As morally against this as I am, I'm going to have to ask you to lie in front of the judge at your hearing. And yes, you will have one. You just follow my lead."

"What if I don't want you to be my lawyer?"

She laughed. "Then you'll just wind up in jail with Kate. No lawyer is going to be so lenient and ask you to actually lie to save your ass."

"How much is this gonna cost me?"

"I wouldn't worry about that right now."

He quieted. "You know, she ain't got a damn penny to her name."

"I know."

"She ain't gonna be able to pay you."

"I know."

After what seemed like an eternity of silence, he finally said, "I wanna pay for her."

Johanna stopped at the red light, and slowly began to shake her head.

"I'm not so sure – "

"No. I ain't gonna take no for an answer. There's no way she'll be able to pay even if she does get out."

Johanna cocked her head to the side and glanced at him as she started to drive again.

"You say that as if she won't."

He turned, looking out the window without a response. She sighed.

"I know you want to help her, but there's nothing you can do for her."

"Just let me pay for her."

"If I do, she's not going to be happy about it."

"Which is why you ain't gonna tell her."

"How can you expect me to do that?"

"You're a lawyer. You'll figure out somethin' clever."

"All right, fine," she said, frustrated.

"Good."

The car was silent yet again. He noticed she was no longer driving calmly. Her attitude had changed quickly from relaxed to anxious. That couldn't be a good sign.

"She tell you why she wouldn't talk to me?"

"Do you know why?"

"No. Why do you think I asked?" he said irritatingly.

"Oh."

"So did she tell you?"

"Yes."

"Any chance of you tellin' me?" he asked, after a pause.

She smiled. "That would be breaking the lawyer/client privilege."

He sighed. "God forbid…"

She smiled again. "If you want my opinion, I don't think she's too upset with you anymore."

He looked at her for a minute, and she only smiled, staring at the road ahead of her. He turned back to the window, musing…