Title: Did She?
Author: emma4713
Classification: LOST, Skate
Spoilers: Through "I Do"
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters.
Summary: Kate's thoughts after she and Sawyer are finally together.
Word count: 651
Did she?
She didn't know.
Maybe she could, if given a real chance. Maybe if they weren't on this island. Maybe if she wasn't a fugitive. Maybe in a different time, a different life.
But maybe she already did.
She claimed to. When they wouldn't stop beating him, she said it. But then it was the only way, right? He would have been killed. Later she told him it was just to save his life. Wasn't that true?
But then she begged Jack to save him. Then she climbed out of her cell and broke into his. Then she kissed him. Then she gave herself to him.
He asked her afterward, basically flat out. She didn't say it out loud. She kissed him—hoping actions spoke louder than words. They did apparently, for he grinned and said it to her. She almost cringed when he said it.
She didn't know why it made her cringe, why it terrified her so. It shouldn't have been anything frightening, just something she wasn't used to. She was so used to living on the run. She wasn't allowed to settle down. She wasn't allowed to get attached. It was the same here, in this cell. They were going to kill him tomorrow. How was saying it going to make any difference?
She thought about it.
They were going to kill him tomorrow. What was she doing in this corner of the cell, nowhere near him, contemplating her feelings for him? He slept peacefully under the moonlight, his arm still curled casually around the shadow of where she had been.
She stood and slowly made her way back over to him. Even while he slept he had that smirk on his face, no doubt dreaming about her. She smiled and slipped back into his arm.
He moaned slightly. "Hey Freckles."
"Hey."
He pulled her into him and kissed her head. She rested comfortably under his chin, in his nook, her hand flat on his chest. He stroked her hair.
It was comfortable and it was easy and it seemed right, like his shoulder was made for her head, their bodies molds of each other. They fit together so well.
Was it meant to be?
She closed her eyes and breathed him in and tried not to think.
They woke up to men barging into the cell. He pushed her behind him and fought, but there were too many of them. They dragged him out of the cell and shoved him to his knees. They pulled her to the edge of the cell by her hair.
The gun sat at the base of his neck. He looked at her.
"Close your eyes."
She shook her head.
"Please."
She wasn't sobbing, wasn't begging. It was just like a request. Like she was asking them to pass her the salt.
Tears rolled steadily down her cheeks but her voice never wavered.
"Please don't kill him. You'll just lose two good workers."
"Two, huh?" Pickett scoffed.
She looked at him. "I will do nothing for you if you kill him. If you kill him, I will never move another pebble for you."
For a while she and Pickett just stared at each other. She blinked and more tears fell.
"Please don't kill him. I love him."
She knew this time it was something more than saving his life. She looked him in the eyes and said it.
"I love you."
He nodded.
Their eyes open, never leaving each other. Somewhere along the line the gun was lowered and the anger quelled. Somewhere along the line they worked their way back to each other.
He cupped her face and kissed her. Her head found its way to his shoulder once more and he held her close. They fit together so well.
Was it meant to be?
She closed her eyes and breathed him in and said it again.
"I love you."