Title: Obstacle Course
Rating: N/C-17Disclaimer: I don't own Lost or any of the characters
Part 1

Ana sat on the heavy grey rocks starring out to the sea. It was quiet there; far enough from camp yet close enough in case of trouble. She squinted as the sun reflected off the water and into her eyes. She breathed the salt air in and sighed. She was lonely but then again she had felt that way for a long time now.
"Ana Lucia"
Her body immediately tensed up. She would know that voice anywhere. The voice of Sayid.
"Ana Lucia," the dark skinned man repeated, "I would like a moment of your time please."
His politeness with her made her feel even more uncomfortable and guilty than if he would act angry. Ana got up, sill standing on the rocks. The height made her feel safe.
"Yes," she said raising an eyebrow questioningly.
"This army you and Jack are forming…"
"Were forming, there's no point now." She cut in.
"Because Sawyer has the guns? That is a mere inconvenience," the Arab stated matter of factly.
Ana shifted her weight.
"Well, that and the fact that not that many people seem to be interested. You can't have an army without soldiers."
"No you cannot. I will help you with that, among other things."
Ana stared at Sayid. Her mind raced with wonder. Why did he want to help her of all people and why now?
"What other things?" she asked.
"I will help train your army. You may have been a police officer but I am," at this he paused and stared off into the ocean.
Ana waited, her brow furrowed in confusion.
"I am a soldier," Sayid finally finished.
Ana kept quiet, still wondering why he was there having this conversation with her. Sayid turned around and began walking back to camp. Half way down the beach he paused, turned around and said, "Meet me and the others about a quarter mile from the tents in fifteen minutes. We will begin then."
Ana Lucia exhaled loudly as Sayid was finally out of sight. She didn't know what to make of any of this but she knew one thing. She was going to meet him in fifteen minutes.

When Ana finally made it back to the designated meeting place she found that Sayid had been busy. An obstacle course had been set up and a group of at least fifteen people had gathered. She took a quick scan of the crowd. No Jack.
"Great," she thought to herself, "He's left me alone with all this."
She looked again. Her eyes settled on Charlie. Her eyebrow shot up as was its habit when she was feeling puzzled.
"Ahh, good you are here. Then we can begin," Sayid said cutting her trail of thought.
"Begin? Begin what exactly?" she asked walking through the crowd to stand at the front with the Iraqi.
"Training of course. You see I set up an obstacle course. The first thing to do is get these people fit and coordinated. We'll worry about fighting later," he explained.
Ana took another look around. There was Hurley standing awkwardly in the back. Charlie the drug addict. Scott was there as well, or was it Steve? She never could remember. And Kate. Kate? She wouldn't trust Kate with her or anyone else's life, not after Kate convinced Jack to doubt his trust in her. Ana frowned and pulled Sayid aside.
"This is no army you've got gathered here, this is a band of misfits." She whispered.
Sayid shook his head, "No Ana Lucia, anyone can be trained to become a killer. You should know that."
Ana looked to the ground and swallowed hard. More guilt. How was she going to get through this with this man? She wished Jack were here to back her up. Where was he anyway?
"Alright, let's get on with it," she relented.
"Good, now listen up everyone. I have constructed an obstacle course. Two people will run it side by side, up to those trees there," he pointed just ahead of himself, "I have attached two ropes to them, and you will climb the rope as fast as you can. The first to the top is the winner so to speak. Now I need two volunteers to try it first. Who's up for the challenge?"
Silence filled the air around them.
"What no one? Come now somebody has to be willing," Sayid pressed.
Ana groaned. This was going to be a long and difficult road. She walked forward.
"I'll go first," she said.
"Good now who will race her? Hurley, perhaps you will go?" asked Sayid looking at the rather large man hanging in the background.
"Who me? No dude, I think I'll wait a bit you know, uh, I just like, kind of ate a while ago and um, I don't want to get a cramp. Yeah I uh, just had a fruit salad and I think I should let it just digest before I exert myself," Hurley gave as way of an explanation.
Sayid rolled his eyes, "What about you Charlie?"
Charlie's eyes shot up from under his hood. "What?"
"Will you race Ana Lucia?"
"Me? No thank you, I'll just watch for awhile"
"Come on people. You wanted to join the army to protect yourselves from the others. You have to be willing to do the work."
"I'll race G.I. Jane."
Ana looked up and to the back of the crowd. Sawyer was swaggering his way through the people towards her.
"You asked him to join?" she questioned Sayid.
"No," he stated bluntly, "I did not."
"What's wrong LuLu? Scared I'll win?"
Ana gave him a half smile and a grunt as way of an answer.
"Fine, let's go," she replied.
"Wait Ana Lucia," Sayid said putting his hand on her arm to stop her.
Sawyer was already waiting at the start of the course. He gave the crowd a smirk and settled his gaze on Kate. She cocked her head to the side but stayed stone-faced. He winked at her then looked back at Ana.
"Well what are you waiting for darling?"
Ana looked at him then back up at Sayid.
"You don't have to do this. He wasn't invited," he told her.
"I know. I don't mind."
"Yes, but I do. I don't trust him."
Ana looked back at Sawyer and sized him up. "Neither do I ," she whispered, "But he does have the guns and you can't have an army without weapons."
"There are other ways to kill men other than with bullets," Sayid stated.
His cold answer made Ana nervous, she swallowed hard again and looked at him.
"Yeah but still, I say we get on his good side anyway. Make him feel apart of the group again. This way we're in control of him and not the other way around."
"Very well Ana Lucia, I'll trust you on this one."
Ana was surprised to her the words trust you coming from the man whose lover she had killed not that long ago. She smiled softly and walked to stand beside Sawyer.
"You ready to get your butt kicked red neck?" she said half jokingly, half seriously.
"Now I don't know if the good Doctor is into that kind of stuff but me, well I like being the one in control. If, however, you want to be punished well we can arrange something later," Sawyer said in his southern drawl.
"Ugh, you're completely disgusting," Ana replied.
"Ooh hoo, and your little miss innocent huh?"
Before Ana could respond Sayid began his count, "On your mark, get set…go!"

Part 2

The two of them took off bopping and weaving around the various items Sayid had put in front of them. At one point they had to climb a makeshift wall of metal and bamboo Sayid had constructed. Sawyer and Ana were neck and neck up until that point. The effort to climb and jump the wall was too much for Sawyer who was still recovering from his bullet wound and subsequent infection. Ana spied him lagging behind from the corner of her eye. She laughed, the race was hers! She approached the rope and began to climb. In minutes she would reach the top, but Sawyer wasn't about to give up. He hauled himself over the wall with a grunt and was catching up. He was already at the bottom of the rope. Ana looked down and as she did she slipped, the rope burning through her flesh. She cursed and bit down on her lip as she began to climb back up, but it was too late. Sawyer had gained on her and was already crying victory. Ana finished anyway and the two met at the top of their ropes hanging onto a tree branch while collecting their breaths.

"Not bad," Sawyer said, "For a girl."
"You got lucky," Ana snorted.

She slid down the rope, rubbing her hands on her thighs. She spotted Kate smiling to herself and Ana's blood began to boil, but she kept her anger to herself and went to stand beside Sayid. He cocked his head to the side and looked at her. Ana couldn't make out what he was thinking.

"Hmm," he finally said, "Good job, now who's next?"

They spent the rest of the afternoon drilling the other volunteers, taking turns racing each other. By dusk Ana was thoroughly exhausted and just wanted to lay down in her tent and crash. Her palms were still burning, the skin torn and bleeding just a bit at the surface. She passed Sawyer on her way down the beach. He was still gloating, the fool.

"Hey Xena, how about that butt kicking? Was it as good for you as it was for me?" he asked with a smirk.

Ana turned around, "Good? I didn't feel a thing, George of the jungle," she said and continued walking.

"That's 'cause you're a cold..."
"Fish?"
"What?" Sawyer asked.
"Fish," Jin offered, coming up to him.
"Oh so now we're friends again?" Sawyer asked facing the Asian man, "I thought we weren't talking"

Jin just stood there holding the smoked fish under Sawyer's face.

"Sure Bruce, I'll take some."

Ana immediately lay down on the floor of her tent. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She was so tired all she wanted was to sleep. She closed her eyes and tried to rest. Ana was just about to drift off when she heard someone rustling at the opening of her tent. She sat up in a shot.

"Hey it's just me."

Ana rubbed her eyes and squinted as the light flooded her makeshift room, "Jack."
Jack sat on the blanket she had laid down, carefully keeping his feet off it. He pulled his backpack off and set it in front of him.

"So I heard about your little race with Sawyer," he said.
"Yeah?" Ana replied.
"Heard you got the worst of it," Jack said and took Ana's hands in his, turning them over to look at her palms.

Ana smiled, but then quickly winced as he rubbed his thumbs along her torn skin.

"So you slipped on the rope," Jack said still examining her hands.
"Yeah. But its okay, I'll be fine."

His touch made her feel giddy, like a school girl. She didn't know why, she was usually so in control of herself, her feelings. Even around Jack she could be cool except when he touched her. Then any pretence of the reserved Ana would fade away. Ana blushed a little and quickly lowered her head so her hair would fall over her face.

"It looks pretty bad though. I'll disinfect it just to be safe," Jack said reaching into his bag for some peroxide.
"So, did he rub it in?" Jack asked as he carefully dabbed at her palms, "You know, about beating you in the race?"
"What do you think?" she asked sarcastically. Jack just smirked.
"It's okay though. I'll have the last laugh."
"What do you mean?" Jack looked up at her face. It was lit by a stream of fading sun light that entered through a tear in the tarp behind her. It made her olive skin glow and her dark eyes shine. Jack thought she was beautiful. He bit his lip trying to concentrate on what she was saying.

"We'll you didn't honestly think Sawyer actually beat me did you?" Ana asked with a glint in her eye.
"You mean you let him win?" he asked as Ana nodded, "Why?"
"It's all part of my plan."
"Plan?"
"Yeah to get back the guns. I'm gonna make nice with that red neck and then I'll beat him at his own game."
"Con the con man," Jack said.
"Exactly. Hey got any food in that pack of yours? I'm suddenly starving."

Jack pulled out a mango and handed it to her. She felt herself flush at his touch again and quickly turned around pretending to look for a knife. Why in heaven's name was she being so ridiculous? She cursed under her breath and told herself to stop. He was just some guy after all. She busied herself looking through the few things she had gathered, her back facing Jack. He smiled as he watched her, taking in her smooth shoulders and curvatious backside. He cleared his throat, getting his thoughts together.

"I don't know Ana," he said.

She looked at him, peeling the mango and handing him a piece.

"About what?"
"This plan of yours. I mean how far are you willing to go with Sawyer? You could find yourself in over your head."
"I can take care of myself. I know what I'm doing," she said then paused, "You have some juice running down the side of your lip."

Ana gently wiped Jack's mouth with her thumb, cupping the side of his face with her hand. Jack reached up and placed his own hand over her forearm.

"Thanks," he barely managed to get out.

They locked eyes and sat there gazing at one another for what seemed like eternity. Finally Ana broke the silence, letting go of his cheek.

"You can't say anything though."
"Huh?"
"About my plan to con Sawyer. You know people talk a lot around here."
"There's not much else to do except talk and push that damn button."
"I can think of a few other things," Ana said coyly.
"Oh really?" Jack asked his eyebrows lifted in contemplation.
"Sure, hunt, fish, join Sayid's army workout camp. Things like that."
"Right, things like that."

They laughed. It felt good, but Ana was tired and even Jack couldn't chase her exhaustion away. She stifled a yawn but Jack caught it.

"I should go," he said getting up and grabbing his backpack.
"You don't have to, you can stay if you want," she said looking up at him.
"Nah, you're tired and I should catch some sleep myself. I've got another hatch duty in a few hours so…"
"Okay," Ana replied, "I'll see you then."
"See you. Goodnight," he said and left.
"Goodnight Jack," Ana whispered to herself.