Title: A Little Less Talk

Author: Carla (moviebuff001)

Rating: T-For later chapters

Category: Skate, romance, angst

Summary: Kate and Sawyer learn trusting someone can be a good thing.

Kate knew it wasn't a good idea to be walking around in the jungle at night but she needed some space, away from everyone, just some time to herself. It had been a long, hard day. The tension from the new passengers was lessening up but Kate had gotten into a…altercation with Ana Lucia. Kate hadn't realized how much she'd missed over the last week by staying in the hatch taking care of Sawyer. Apparently Ana Lucia had taken Kate's place in the group and although Kate was strangely fine with, Ana Lucia had felt the need to exert her…dominance. It hadn't been much, just a few strongly put words.

"You know what, if you want to be head of the tribe, go ahead," Kate finally said sarcastically, after being berated about not contributing enough to the camp. "But, what I do is my business and I'd like you to keep out of it."

Ana Lucia smirked at her, "You would say something like that."

Kate clamped her lips together and turned and walked away, the last thing she wanted was to make an enemy with someone like that.

Kate walked for awhile but finding that it had quickly darkened she headed back. She was about half way to the beach, when she saw a light a little off the path, it looked like a fire. Picking up a large stick, Kate cautiously made her way through the brush, careful not to make any noise. As she got closer she could hear someone singing.

"…tried mess with my head but I didn't even listen to a word he said. I knew somewhere amid all this distraction…"

"Sawyer, what are you doing?"

"Was a little less talk and a lot more action."

Kate stood above Sawyer her hands on her hips, a smirk on her lips.

"Well, hey ya Freckles. Wanna pull up a chair," he grinned, motioning to the log beside him.

Kate frowned at him, "Sawyer what are you doing?" She repeated.

"I'm on lookout." He declared. "Thought I'd make a contribution to society." He grinned up at her.

Kate walked up closer to him, a questioning smile on her face. "Sawyer, are you drunk?"

He gave a low laugh, pulling a bottle of clear liquid from behind him. "How did Jack get off the island?"

Kate wasn't in the mood for any Jack bashing jokes, she sat down beside and frowned at him.

"Jack Sparrow! You didn't see that movie?" He handed her the rum bottle.

"Do you think it's a good idea to be getting drunk in the middle of the jungle, alone? Especially in your condition?" She took a sip, anyway.

Sawyer's face moved incredibly close to hers, "Well, I'm feeling a lot better thanks to a nice little nurse and I'm not alone now, am I?"

Kate decided to change the subject, taking a bigger draw from the bottle. "So what were you singing?"

Sawyer gave a little chuckle, thankfully too tipsy to be embarrassed. "I take it you're not a country girl."

Kate smiled at him, "You'd be surprised. Sing me some more."

Sawyer hadn't planned on drinking tonight, he wanted to keep it for a more 'special' occasion but he'd volunteered to be on watch tonight, one of Ana Lucia's new ideas. It was out of pure boredom that he'd done it and it was also out of pure boredom that he'd started drinking. He definitely hadn't expected Kate to show up and he couldn't help but be a little glad.

"I'm not that drunk yet." Kate couldn't help but smile.

"So you like country music and 'Pirates of the Caribbean', I'm seeing a whole new side of you Sawyer," She said sarcastically. "What's your favorite colour?"

He grinned at her, dammit if she didn't look good and he knew it wasn't the drink talking. The fire was casting her face in a light shadow but her eyes were shining brightly and her hair was down, framing her face.

"Blue. Yours?" He answered despite the sarcasm.

"Green." Kate hadn't missed the fact that it was also the colour of his eyes.

"Toby Keith."

Kate looked at him confused, "What?"

"The song I was singing, 'A Little Less Talk' by Toby Keith." Had she moved closer or did he?

"Wait, he's the one that sang 'Who's your Daddy' right?" Sawyer grinned. "I should have known."

"So now Miss Country Expert, what's your favorite song?"

Kate thought for a minute, then smiled. "'When You Say Nothing At All'."

Sawyer smiled, "I think I know that one." He stood up, putting his hand out to her. "Would you like to dance?" Yeah, he wasn't definitely drunk but he wasn't sure it was the rum.

Kate stood up, much to her surprise, without thought, taking his hand. She wasn't sure if she was tipsy or over tired because she couldn't figure out why she was having such a good time.

Sawyer pulled her up and put his hand on her back, holding her other hand up, in a standard two-step position. Consciously, he left room between him and her, not entirely trusting himself. And then he sang…

"It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart

Without saying a word you can light up the dark

Try as I may, I could never explain

What I hear when you don't say a thing"

Over the last week Kate had gotten closer to Sawyer than ever before. She'd slept on the top bunk every night watching over him, she fed him and even cut his hair. The fact was, that no matter how hard she'd tried to deny it, she wasn't spending time with him because she was concerned for his health. She was, but she was much more interested in spending time with him. He'd remained playful most of the time but there had been a few instances that had been fairly intense. Besides all that, as she heard him singing softly into her ear she couldn't deny how drawn she felt to him.

"The smile on the your face let's me know that you need me

There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me

A touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall

You say it best when you say nothing all"

Without noticing, he had pulled Kate closer to him, his singing barely audible, his lips graced her hair. What was it about dancing, sometimes it was so uncomfortable and other times it just felt so right. He'd danced a few with many girls but it had never felt this right. But nothing about Kate was the same as other women. He'd never had anyone take care of him the way she did or on the opposite end, drive him so crazy.

"All day long I can hear people talking about

But when you hold me near you drown out the crowd

Oh Mr, Webster could never define

What's being said between your heart and mine"

Kate leaned her head against his shoulder, closing what little space was left. His arms dropped to around her waist and she wrapped her arms around his neck. She could hear his heart beating loudly under his chest, nearly meeting hers in speed. She could feel his face getting lost in her hair, she wasn't sure when he had stopped singing and she didn't care. Ever since he'd been back, all she could think about was that kiss, how out of control it had made her feel. She hated that feeling, she was always in control, she needed that. But Sawyer brought out feelings in her that made her dizzy and she hated to admit that she liked it.

Despite how hard he tried, his breathing was becoming erratic, his hands sweaty, his brain flooded with memories of how it had felt when they had kissed, what seemed like only hours ago. Her scent, the feel of her body pressed against his, drove him crazy and he was never a man to deny his needs. But he didn't move, he didn't try to ravage her like some wild animal, he denied himself. He wasn't sure when he feel in love with her, it had just sort of happened. It shocked the hell out of him, he'd never experienced this sort of feeling before. It scared him, that was why he was drinking he realized and out in the middle of the jungle, he was trying to avoid her.

Kate didn't want to move, she wasn't sure that she wanted this to go any further but yet she didn't want it to go away. Slowly, she lifted her head, turning her face to his. His eyes seemed to mirror her arousal but he made no move to kiss her. His hand leisurely raised to her face, drawing a finger along its outline, moving from the top of her face to the bottom and then moving back up to her cheek. Whatever control Kate had over her breathing, was lost, as his finger inched closer to her lips. Finally, his thumb graced over her lips, as if needing to memorize every millimeter.

Sawyer's eyes, which had stayed locked on hers, dropped to her lips, before his head, slowly descended to hers. His lips touched hers ever so softly, in no rush this time, Kate's breath hitched.

"Kate," it was more of a moan than anything but nothing sounded sweeter to her ears.

Her patience and reserves spent, she crashed her lips to his, opening her mouth fully, needing to feel the way his tongue felt against hers. He replied with the same passion, his arms pulling her tightly to him, his mouth consuming hers.

He pulled them down to the jungle floor, pulling off Kate's shirt on the way. His lips moved to her neck, edging over the strap of her tank top, loving the feeling of her hair encircling him. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get away from this woman, it was like she was a part of him, the part he always tried to hide.

He stopped what he was doing, bringing his face up to hers. He tucked her hair behind her ear and looked into her eyes and saw exactly what he wanted to see. He was about to move his lips back to hers, when they heard a crack.

"Not a nice night for a tousle in the jungle, kids," and then everything went black.