DISCLAIMER: I do not own any characters from ABC's Lost. I only own this plot that I made!

TAKES PLACE: This takes place after Episode 11 where Jack and Kate found Charlie. This is my idea of what I would like to happen next. CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS!!!

RATED: PG-13 for some language and adult content

GENRE: Drama/Romance/Action

SUMMARY: Kate can't decide if she loves Sawyer or Jack. Jack gets jealous of Sawyer and jumps him. Claire gets found. Kate, Boone, and Sawyer investigate the metal object that Boone and Locke found in the jungle. Romances are CC and KJ/KS.

CHAPTER ONE: Tension

Kate stood on the moist sand, staring into the ocean, thinking. The beach was so tranquil. It was a good escape from the caves. She didn't even really want to go to the caves. She was kind of…pulled along. But heck, she wasn't even sure of what she wanted anymore. She lost thought of her desires. Everything was so hard to get through lately. No one understood her. But standing there on the sand was the most calming thing she could do at that point.

She thought about lots of things. They found Charlie, hanging from a tree. Jack wouldn't quit until he found them, which was good, because if he hadn't pounded the life out of Charlie, he would've died. He hadn't spoken a word for several hours. She knew how he felt for Claire. It was easy to see. Where was Claire? Why did Ethan take her? Was she okay? Did she have the baby yet? Kate breathed in and sighed as if it would rid her off her troubles. Nope. They were still there. She thought about Jack. How did she really feel about him? Did she love him? Or Sawyer?

That was another thing on her mind. Sawyer. The kiss. It all came back like it happened seconds ago. She wasn't sure if she wanted to kiss him, or if she was just doing it because she had to. And after discovering something troubling about his past made her almost…pity him. And she knew it was wrong. Sawyer was a brick wall. No one came in, and nothing went out. No emotions. No feelings. No…nothing. Did she love him or Jack? Would her feelings betray her thoughts, knowing that it was wrong to fall for the stubborn redneck? Then, as if on cue, he was standing just a few feet away, behind her.

"Hey, Freckles."

Kate lifted her eyes to the ocean from the sand. She acted as if she didn't hear him.

"So what is it about that big blue thing that just makes you stop functioning?"

Should she answer him? Pretending not to want to talk to him was worse than actually talking to him.

"It's peaceful. Nice to get away from everything."

"Like what? Or who?"

"Everything. Gives me time to think."

"Bout what?"

She continued to stare out into the sunset. She wanted to walk away from Sawyer, afraid she would pour out her feelings to him. Then, she punished herself for thinking such a thing. But then again, walking away without answering might be childish, and she didn't want to give off an impression like that.

"All of the stuff going on around me."

With his hands in his pockets, he slowly walked up next to her, keeping a foot's distance between them. She could tell he didn't have a shirt on. He gazed out with her, a smile on his face.

"Might be nice to have someone to talk to." Sawyer told her.

Kate knew he was right. But the thing was that he was hinting at him. Opening up to Sawyer wasn't going to help anything.

"Not all the time."

There was an awkward silence between them for a moment. Then Sawyer spoke.

"Alright then. I guess I'll go."

He began to walk away. Wait, don't go, she thought. But she would regret saying it later on. Was he trying to show her that there was more to him than what she had seen of him? Maybe she should just give him a chance.

"Do you think they're coming?"

He stopped and turned around.

"What?"

"The rescue boats…do you think they'll come?"

He slowly came back.

"Now that's something to talk about. And do I? Well…we ain't exactly anywhere close to Miami. Pitching a tent might be a good idea. How bout you?"

"Maybe they will. You never know."
"Don't hold your breath, sweetheart. Like the pilot said, we're 1000 miles off course. Until then…might as well get comfortable."

"Sounds like you're not excited about leaving."

"As if I have a life to go back to."
"Then maybe this whole island might be a good thing to look at. Starting over."

"I already have my reputation here and I don't intend to change it."

And she had been wrong. He was still a brick wall. Why was he like this? She turned to face him, a disgusted look on her face.

"Do you want to be hated?"

"What?"

"It all comes down to that. Answer the question. Do you or do you not want to be hated?"

He stared at her, his eyebrows arched into a confused look.

"Because if you do, that would explain everything. Why you jumped Boone instead of just telling him that you didn't have the inhalers…and why Sayid seems to be your target when everything goes wrong…and why you have to act like a player just to get me to kiss you?"

There was a pause as she stared into his eyes.

"You don't have to be like this. People would give you a chance."

"And what makes you say that?"

"It only makes it harder on all of us when you're not."

"And I should care?"
"The only way we're going to survive on this island is if we all stick together. And as much as you try to act like you have no feelings…I know that there is someone inside there."

"So you care about me?"

"I never said that."
"That's what's coming across."
"Care about you? I pity you. I pity you for the way you are. Nobody wants to be around you."

"Looks like you do."

She stared into his eyes. Then, she looked down.

"Face it, Freckles. I'm the only one on this island who understands you, and you with me. We're meant for each other."

She looked back up at him.

"You know it."

She kept her stare, trying to remain neutral.

"You may not believe it now, but you'll see it later."

They stared for a moment. Then, they were interrupted. Jack approached them.

"Something going on here?"

Kate's eyes went to the ground.

"Howdy, Doc. How's it goin?"

"Something wrong, Kate?"

"We're just having a chat." Sawyer said
"I believe I was talking to Kate."

Sawyer kept the cheesy grin on his face.

"Everything was hunky-dory until you came in, so maybe you should go back to your surgery table and finish tearing someone's spine up."

"Who the hell are you to talk? Nobody wants you on this island anyway, so I think I'd just shut up if I were you."
"Still worked up over the fact that there's something between Freckles and me and you can't get the Scarlet Lady's attention?"

"Hey!" Kate said. This was going to end before it started.

"Alright then," Sawyer said. "I guess I'll be on my way. See you later, Doc."

Sawyer started to walk away. Kate stared at him as he left.

"Everything okay with you? Did he do anything?"
"No, Jack. I'm fine."
"I don't think it's safe around that guy. God only knows the story behind him."

"Look, Jack, whatever it is going on between the two of you needs to end. We won't make it on this island the way we're going right now."

"It's no problem for me. Talk to Sawyer."

"I tried."
"And?"

"And…I don't know. He doesn't want to change."

"Well, only one of us is going to come out in the end."

"Jack!"
"I doubt it'll be him."

"Jack…"

"I'll see you later, Kate."

He walked away. Kate stared back at the ocean. She wasn't sure who she loved more. She did catch a glimpse of the real Sawyer a moment ago. He showed some affection for her, but then he closed up. Jack did care for her, but he appeared to be afraid to show his true feelings.

With one last look into the sunset, she headed back to the caves.