Chapter Seven

Libby was no match for Ana, though she did draw close to the frantic runner's heels more than once. Ana, however, remained just beyond her grasp.

The ex-cop likewise dodged both Claire and Bernard with limited effort, grabbed the flag, and headed fast from the field. Despite their frequent rivalry, Kate cheered Ana as she ran towards the border. Sayid watched silently; he was pleased by the possibility of success, but he was not particularly satisfied by the thought that it should be Ana who brought victory to their team.

Though Ana had managed to escape Libby, Bernard, and Claire, she had been right about one thing—Jin was a formidable match. Before Ana could plunge into the foliage, he had wrapped his arms about her waist. She struggled fiercely, but she did not resort to Kate's questionable tactics. Perhaps there was a hint of payback in the stranglehold Jin kept on her; in a matter of seconds, Ana was on her way to the guardhouse.

"I keep guard," Jin declared to Libby when he arrived to deliver Ana.

Libby smiled apologetically. "I was…distracted," she said.

Jin only looked at her with that expression that, to Libby, always appeared half-amused, but which, for all she knew, may have held no sincere hint of a smile at all.

"I'll guard the flag then," she agreed.

When Libby had left, Jin turned to Ana and raised his eyebrows. "Positions reversed," he said simply.

She grimaced and cocked her head a little. "I said I was sorry about that."

"I know." Actually, Sun had persuaded him to make a peace offering to Ana long ago, and he held no open grudge against her. But he could not resist a slight jab from time to time, when Sun was not present to witness it.

As Jin continued to periodically provoke his prisoner, Sayid and Kate took their free passage back to their camp. While they walked, Sayid drew his shirt back over his head. As he was pulling the edge down over his navel, Kate protested, "Hey! Who said you had to put that back on?"

He glanced at her with bewilderment. "What would be the purpose of leaving it off now?"

"Well," she said with a twinkle in her eye, "to amuse me."

He creased his brow and looked at her with…what was it? Disapproval? A bit taken aback by his expression, Kate muttered, "Good God, Sayid, do you know nothing about flirting?"

"I am sure I am quite capable," he replied, "when there is a practical purpose to it."

Kate ran a hand through her wind-tangled hair and sighed. "All flirting is idle, Sayid. That's the nature of flirting."

"Then what is the point?" he asked. "If you are not in pursuit of any potentially attainable goal--"

"It's not science, Sayid!"

"I did not mean to imply that it was."

"Lovely weather," announced Kate.

"What?"

"Lovely weather….you see how I did that? I'm trying to change the subject to avoid any further humiliation."

"Ah. Yes." He glanced at the sky. "It is not raining."

Kate shook her head, but she laughed a little, and she began to walk several steps ahead of him. He caught up to her again, and they discussed strategy on their way back to camp. They would leave Michael to guard the prison, they determined, and Hurley, Sun, and Walt could keep an eye on the flag. Sayid, Kate, and Locke, however, would make a collective plunge for the opponent's flag. Jin could capture only one of them, and Kate and Sayid felt confident they could outrun anyone else, unless Eko had made his way back to guard the flag.

"Where is Eko anyway?" Sayid asked. "I did not see him while I was performing…" He recalled Locke's seriousness and smiled to himself. "…reconnaissance." He looked contemplative for a moment and then continued, "I do not believe I have seen Jack either."

"Let's just hope they're not anywhere near our flag," answered Kate, quickening her step to return to camp.