A/N: Thanks to everyone who left me a review for my last chapter - especially those who do so every time. hugs

Thanks to Amy, for beta reading this chapter. I'm so pleased you enjoyed it and that I left you with a minimal work load for a change :)

Chapter Twenty Five

Sawyer hardly saw Kate at all over the next few days. She was rarely in the stables - although he knew for a fact that she was still working the horses, and whenever he got inside for the night, she was never anywhere to be seen then either. Left in no doubt that she was avoiding him intentionally, he found himself in a quandary as to how best to deal with the situation. Was it wise to leave her alone, hoping that she'd come around in her own time? Or should he approach her now, before the distance between them became too wide for either of them to breach? If he didn't do something soon, he realized that he risked letting the lack of communication between them become the norm. Four days after his return - when the district was in the middle of a heat wave, and Kate had said barely a word to him all day - he finally decided that he needed to take action. Arming himself with two tall glasses of freshly squeezed orange juice, he took the opportunity to corner her as she sunned herself on the back patio.

"Thought you might like to join me in one of these," he said, extending a glass towards her.

Kate opened her eyes at the sound of his voice. She'd been dozing lightly, letting her hair dry naturally in the sun after her recent shower, and hadn't heard him approach. Briefly she reached to scrunch her long curls in the palm of her hand, pleased to find them free from moisture. With a toss of her head, she then sent her hair tumbling back between her shoulder blades and turned to look at Sawyer. Like herself, he was barefoot in jeans - the only difference being he wore a shirt, and she a tank. The refreshing tinkle of ice cubes in the glass he was offering drew her attention, and she licked her lips. A long, cool drink would go down just nicely she knew. Abruptly she dragged her gaze away, staring out over Highgrove's lawns before replying, "No thanks."

Sawyer shrugged, "Suit yourself." He took a seat at the table opposite her, placing both glasses down on its weathered wooden surface. The condensation on their bases instantly began to seep into the parched timber, leaving moisture rings in neat circles around them. "Hot day," he said, hoping to draw Kate into conversation.

His comment was met with silence, and he watched as she stuck out a foot and dragged a second chair towards her. Resting her feet upon its seat, she sighed and wriggled her toes in the sun. Sawyer watched in fascination, struck by the sudden, unexpected desire, to take those same toes in his mouth. He could almost see himself, trailing kisses across the pale skin of her instep...circling his hand around her delicate ankle...

"Tell me about it," Kate suddenly replied, unaware of the direction Sawyer's thoughts had taken. Her fingers tightened their grasp on the arms of her chair as she spoke, the only outwards sign of the tension she felt accumulating inside her. "I only managed to get three of the horses worked."

Sawyer shook his head to clear his vision, reluctantly dragging himself back to reality. At least they appeared to be on speaking terms again, he thought. Failing to notice the subtle change that had passed over Kate, he shrugged causally at her comment. It was his opinion that she always tried to cram far too much into any given day; why couldn't she just take things easy for once? Lightly, in an attempt to make her feel better, he voiced his thoughts. "I wouldn't beat myself up about it if I were you, the horses will still be there tomorrow."

Kate frowned, his response not what she'd been hoping for. "I hate getting behind with things," she rephrased.

Sawyer took a gulp from his glass and placed it gently back on the table. "There's more to life than gettin' things done, Freckles."

"Hmph. For you, maybe." There was no mistaking the bitterness in her tone this time.

Sawyer's eyes narrowed, and he fixed her with a penetrating stare. "What's that supposed to mean?"

She glared back at him angrily. Ever since he'd shown up at Highgrove, nothing had gone right for her. Feeling an irrational wave of resentment towards him, she let fly with her thoughts. "It means, James, that unlike you, I can't just up and take a week's vacation whenever the mood takes me."

Her words were met with a deathly silence, and for the briefest of moments she regretted having spoken. She got the disturbing feeling that she'd just started an argument from which neither of them would be prepared to back down. Knowing she'd gone too far to back out now, she squared her shoulders and waited for his reaction.

Sawyer scowled at her in angry disbelief. When he finally spoke, his voice was a hoarse whisper. "A vacation? Is that honestly what you think?"

"Well, what else was I supposed to think?" She snapped, feeding off his anger. Now that she'd started talking, she couldn't seem to stop. "You disappeared without warning for an entire week - leaving me to run the stud by myself. I had no way of knowing how long you would be gone for..." She took a ragged, uneven breath, "...Or if you even planned on coming back!"

"Damn it, Kate. You heard what went down that day. What did you expect?" Sawyer's hands had clenched themselves into fists, but he managed to stay seated - just.

"I expected you to face up to your responsibilities. It was your decision to buy Highgrove, you can't just up and leave whenever things get rough."

Sawyer snorted. "I should have known it'd all come back to Highgrove. Tell me, sweet cheeks, is there anythin' you wouldn't do for this place?" He paused for a moment, "...Coz I know you don't blink an eye at contemplatin' murder."

Kate recoiled, incensed that he'd bought up her failed attempt to poison Wayne. No man with a shred of decency would ever stoop so low as to mention that day again. "Don't pretend that you know me, Sawyer!" she said between clenched teeth. "You don't know the first thing about me - or about what I would or wouldn't do."

He raised his brows. "I know that you live and breath for the Highgrove's very existence." Fixing his gaze upon her face, he lowered his voice, "What I don't understand though, is what does the place do for you?"

Kate screwed up her nose. "That's a stupid question - I love Highgrove. It makes me happy."
"It makes you happy." Sawyer repeated, his tone flat.

"Well - until my so-called partner runs off and leaves me without notice, that is!" Unsettled by the direction their argument had taken, she jumped at the opportunity to turn things back in her favor. "I can't even remember the last time I left the grounds or went out anywhere. "Do you have any idea of how hard I had to work, just to keep the place running while you were gone?"

"It seems you managed well enough before I came along in the first place."

The comment took the wind from her sails, momentarily leaving her lost for words. What he said was true, she realized. She'd certainly worked longer and harder before - why should the previous week have bothered her so much? "I don't expect you to understand..." she said, distressed to hear a slight waiver in her voice. "You're not the one who's had your home sold out from under you. Do you think it's easy for me, staying on here, knowing that I'll never be able to call it my own again?" A lump formed in her throat and she swallowed, trying to hide the tears that suddenly threatened.

Sawyer sighed. He wasn't surprised at the obvious resentment she harbored towards him, he only wondered why she'd taken so long to voice it. Now at least they knew where they stood with each other. He averted his gaze as she swiped a tear from the corner of her eye. How was it that they could be so totally opposite from each other, and yet at the same time, be almost exactly alike? His voice was soft and without malice as he spoke, "I imagine it ain't exactly a bed of roses for you at the moment." He turned away so that she couldn't see his face. "But some might say you were lucky. Not everyone has somewhere that means so much to them to lose in the first place."

Kate blinked, lowering her hand to study him from across the table. She couldn't see his features, but she knew that he hadn't intended for his comment to reveal so much about himself. Suddenly, she felt the slightest bit uncomfortable about the argument she'd caused.

"Here, have your drink." Sawyer pushed the glass across the table towards her. The last thing he wanted was for her to voice the pity that he could feel coming. "So, where do you wanna go then?"

Swallowing a sip of orange juice, Kate lowered her glass. "What?"

"You said you haven't been away from here in almost two weeks. Where do you want to go?"

"What? I didn't mean..."

He raised his brows for emphasis. "Look, it's pretty obvious that we both could use a break from this place. How about we take a drive, go shoot some pool or somethin'?"

Kate frowned, thrown by the absurdity of his suggestion. Surely he wasn't serious? "...I don't think so."

"Aww, cumm'on." He got to his feet and approached her. Grasping her wrists, he tugged her to her feet. "What's the matter? Afraid you might enjoy yourself?"

She gasped in astonishment. "Wait. Sawyer!"

"Meet you back here in five minutes."

"Five minutes? It'll take me longer than that just to climb the stairs."

"Well you'd better get a move on then, hadn't 'ya."

She stared after his retreating back in exasperation. Who exactly did he think he was? Shaking her head in bewilderment, she climbed the stairs to her bedroom. There was no way she was going to consider his crazy suggestion of course - she was just going upstairs as a way to avoid further contact with him. Closing the door to her room behind her, she crossed to her bed and stretched herself out upon it. Her eyes gazed sightlessly at the ceiling as she twiddled her thumbs, moments passing by and maturing into minutes. The bright digital numbers of the alarm clock on her dresser taunted her - letting her know that it was precisely 5:47, and only the beginning of yet another long, boring evening spent confined inside the house. She sat up. Sawyer had mentioned a game of pool, hadn't he? She smiled as an idea came to her. Swinging her legs down from the bed, she checked her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was frizzy from lack of styling and her freckles were clearly visible. If she was going to make herself presentable then she'd better get a hurry on, she decided. As she changed into a good pair of jeans, she thought back to her teenage years - and the endless hours she'd spent shooting pool with the local boys. More often than not, she'd won every game she played. It would be fun to beat Sawyer in just the same way, she thought, as she smoothed a dab of foundation across the bridge of her nose. When she was satisfied that she looked her best, she left her room and descended the stair case.

She'd expected Sawyer to be waiting for her in the foyer, and was annoyed when she got downstairs to find it empty. The heels on her boots resounded seductively against the tiled floor as she crossed to the door and stepped outside onto the patio.

"About time," Sawyer drawled, straightening up from the stone pillar on which he'd been casually leaning. Apart from the addition of his boots, and the leather jacket he held draped across his shoulder, he wore the same clothes as earlier.

The appreciative glance he shot towards Kate reminded her that she was not, and she crossed her arms defensively across her chest. "Are we going, or what?"

Sawyer quirked his brow. He'd been waiting for the better part of ten minutes for her, and now here she was, giving him the hurry up. "I guess we are then," he said, leading the way towards his car.

Kate followed, trying not to teeter too much in her heels as she crossed the stone driveway. Quickly she opened the car door and got into the passenger side beside Sawyer. In such an enclosed space, the scent of his cologne instantly drifted across to meet her. Her heart beat quickened with familiarity, and she gently eased the window down a fraction so that the evening air could circulate and dilute the aroma. As Sawyer started the engine, the tape deck clicked into action, filling the cab with the soft sound of reggae. She sat in silence, feeling oddly excited at the thought of getting away for a while. The Ute rolled smoothly out onto the main road and she turned to stare sightlessly out the window. It was a couple of minutes before she realized that beside her, Sawyer was singing softly under his breath. She cocked her head a little, catching his tone and the odd word or two - both of which were enough to tell her that he could carry a tune.

He must have felt her looking at him, because he broke off for a moment and look at her "What? You don't like Bob Marley?"

She smiled, "Everyone likes Bob Marley."

He laughed, the sound a deep rumble that stirred an awareness in the pit of her stomach. How could she dislike him so much one minute, and then enjoy his company in the next? The car swung into the parking log of Dave's Diner - or Dave's, as it was affectionately called by the locals - and she dropped the thought to look out the window. From the outside, the place didn't look like it had changed much in the years of her absence. The red neon lights still flashed brightly upon the roof (although, she noticed with a grin, the 'R' in Diner had been repaired, so that it no longer read 'Dave's Dine'). Through the side window, she could see people gathered around the bar with their drinks, and further along, those who were dining in the rear room. She stepped out of the car and followed Sawyer into the main bar, her earlier feeling of excitement escalating as she found herself suddenly surrounded by people.

"What do you wanna drink?" Sawyer asked over his shoulder.

"Just an orange juice, thanks," she replied, looking around at her surroundings. The interior layout had barely changed either - the bar, pool tales, and gaming machines were still in the same places in which she remembered them. Other than a coat of paint to the walls, it was almost as if she'd stepped back in time.

Sawyer tossed a twenty at the bar man. "A Jack Daniels and an orange juice, thanks." He handed Kate her glass, "You want anythin' to eat?"

"Thanks, I'll pass. It's too hot to eat."

He nodded in agreement, and they sipped their drinks for a moment in silence. Kate stared around the room, surprised that she didn't seem to recognize anyone. Surely there must be someone here that she knew? Just as she was about to give up her search, a tap on her elbow caused her to look around.

"Hey! I thought it was you," a tall, dark haired man smiled at her.

"Jason! You're the last person I expected to see here," she exclaimed. "I thought you'd shifted upstate?"

"I did. I've just come home for a visit."

"Great timing then. Oh..." she suddenly remembered Sawyer standing behind her, "... this is my partner, my business partner..." she clarified, "...Sawyer. We're running Highgrove together."

"Howdy," Jason extended his hand, "...Name's Jason. Kate and I went to high school together."

Sawyer took the man's hand, automatically sizing him up in the process. At 6ft 2" he stood a little taller than Sawyer, and was of a similar, muscular build. His dark brown hair curled at the nape of his neck and he had a pair of alarmingly penetrating blue eyes. Exactly how well did he and Kate know each other?

"Sorry to be a party pooper," Jason said unexpectedly, "But I can't stay to chat. "I'm here on a pub crawl - and if I'm not careful the bus will leave without me. Nice seeing you again though Kate."

"Likewise," she smiled.

So pleased to hear that the man was leaving, Sawyer managed a smile of his own. "Be seein' ya,' he called after Jason's retreating back. As soon as he was gone, he turned to Kate, "Now, how about that game of pool?"

She shrugged, not wanting to appear too keen. Best to let him think he was in control for as long as possible. "If you like."

Sawyer led the way to a free table, and paid to release the balls for play. As he set up, Kate casually observed the line of cues, trying to find one that would suit her.

"You wanna break?"

"Sure," she said, approaching the table with her selected cue. In one fluid motion, she leaned over the table and sent the white ball down the table with a satisfying crack. One of the balls in play immediately found its way into the side pocket and she turned to face Sawyer with a smile. "Guess that makes me low."

He chuckled, knowing he'd been played. Shrugging himself out of his leather jacket, he tossed it over a nearby stool and leaned on his cue to watch her take her next shot. Her face was a mask of concentration as she gave the number 4 ball a light nudge and pushed it into the corner pocket. "Classy," he said with open admiration. "You gonna tell me where you learned to play like that?"

She grinned and shook her head. "Uh uh, it's classified."

"What? You screw the junior pool champ in high school or somethin'?"

"Do you have to be so crass?" She wrinkled her nose. "I used to play a lot when I was younger."

"Why'd you stop?"

"Who said I had?" She pushed another of her balls closer to a pocket. "Your turn."

Sawyer chalked his cue and surveyed the table. He wasn't in the least bit daunted by Kate's two ball lead. He hadn't spent most of his life hanging out in bars without learning a thing or two about how to play pool. In quick succession he sank two balls of his own, missing the third shot, but leaving the white in a neat snooker in the process.

Kate shot him a look. "I guess this isn't the first time you've played either then?"

He chuckled, "Well, it's the first time in a few weeks..."

"I should have known."

He chuckled. "I'll let you take stock while I go get us some refills."

"Don't think I'm going down without a fight."

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

They grinned at each other for a moment before Sawyer turned and pushed his way through the crowd towards the bar. He reappeared a couple of minutes later to find Kate resting on her cue, waiting for him.

"I see not much has changed," he taunted, surveying the table.

"What did you expect, after that mean snooker you pulled?"

"Here, take your drink and sit back. Let me show you how it's really done."

Kate rolled her eyes and took a sip from her glass. "This'll be good,"

"Red ball, corner pocket," he called, lining himself up for an easy shot.

Kate swung herself gently back and forth on her stool as she watched. She was having fun, she realized with a start. She watched as Sawyer played his shot; the red ball skimming across the front of the pocket without dropping in.

"Son of a..."

She let out a small whoop. "Don't you just hate it when that happens?" she said, her smile clearly saying otherwise.

Sawyer frowned at the table, as if the sheer force of his scowl might somehow frighten the ball into the pocket. "Laugh it up, Sweet Cheeks. But you should know - I make a mean come back."

"Maybe," she smiled, quickly sinking another of her balls. "But you'll have to wait your turn first."

Taking a mouthful of bourbon, Sawyer let his foot tap to the rhythm of the house band while she pulled off two more impressive shots. "Jesus, woman. Go easy," he said testily, relieved when she finally missed a shot and gave the turn back to him. He did his best to catch up, but by now her lead was already too strong. Sinking just one ball, he handed the turn back to her, and watched as she pocketed the black to win the game.

Pleased with her victory, Kate did an impromptu dance with the pool cue. "Again?" She asked, her face flushed with success.

Sawyer laughed, never having seen her so relaxed before. "I guess so. But it's my turn to break this time." Although he put on a good show of reluctance, he was in fact enjoying himself immensely. Other than having Kate all to himself in bed, there was nothing else he'd rather be doing with his evening. Deftly, he started a second game, unlucky not to sink a ball from the break as Kate had done earlier.

She made the most of the opportunity, and was soon off to another large lead. "It doesn't look like it's your night," she said with a laugh as she handed the turn back to him.

He fixed her with a heated stare. If things went well, tonight might not only be his night, but hers as well, he thought. "I'm just warmin' up," he smiled lightly.

"Better not take all night to do it then," she warned, oblivious to the double entree of her comment.

"I don't plan to," he replied, gaining the lead by sinking three of his balls in turn.

Somehow Kate managed to claw her way back into the game, and when the black ball was finally sunk for a second time, it was to her victory once again. "I think I've played enough for one night, she smiled," returning her cue to the stand.

"No fair, you can't just pack it in when you're on a winning streak. I'm hittin' my stride now."

"There's no shame in quitting while you're ahead. Besides, this is the first time I've been out in ages and I don't want to spend it just hanging around a pool table all night."

Sawyer's interest picked up. "So what did you have in mind?"

"Dancing!" Kate enthused, her eyes sparkling as she looked towards the darkened corner where bodies were gyrating together.

Sawyer's face fell. "Dancin's for teenagers."

"So what? I can pretend if you can."

"I don't dance."

"Suit yourself," she said with a shrug, "But I'm going to."

He watched as she disappeared into the crowd, emerging a few minutes later on the edge of the crowded floor. Never having seen her dance before, he found himself staring as she began to swing her hips in time with the beat. A group of woman were dancing next to her, and one of them turned and said something that made Kate laugh. Instantly they widened their circle and included her into their group. Sawyer shook his head. What was it with women and dancing? Finishing his drink, he headed over to the bar for another.

"Hi there," a feminine voice at his side prompted him to turn. He found himself looking at an attractive blonde woman, aged probably somewhere in her mid-twenties. "I haven't seen you in these parts before," she purred softly.

"Maybe you haven't been lookin' hard enough."

"Oh, I've been looking all right." She looked longingly at the Jack Daniels he'd just ordered. "Buy a lady a drink?"

He nodded at the bar tender, adding the woman's drink to his purchase.

Taking a delicate sip of her vodka martini, she looked at Sawyer through lowered lashes. "You have a name, sugar?"

"Sawyer," he replied automatically, already beginning to grow bored with the conversation. Looking over the woman's head, his eyes sought out Kate on the dance floor. He saw she was smiling and laughing with the group of women like they were all old friends. Maybe they were, for all he knew.

"Well, Sawyer, I'm Amber," the woman smiled seductively. "Are you here with anyone?"

Sawyer glanced at her, taking in her slim waist and ample cleavage. Once, not so long ago, he would definitely have considered passing an evening with her. Now though, he found himself replying, "Yeah. She's up on the dance floor." His eyes turned towards Kate again, noticing for the first time that the group of women had been joined by two men. As he watched, one of them spoke to Kate and began dancing along side her.

Amber followed the direction of Sawyer's eyes. Quickly she singled out her rival, smiling to see a man dancing next to her. "Looks like she's having fun," she purred.

Sawyer's face darkened as the man inched his way closer to Kate. Although they weren't yet touching, he could see the man matching himself to Kate's dance movements. Hit by an unfamiliar pang of jealousy, he tore his eyes away.

Amber saw the look in his eyes and smiled inwardly. She was already contemplating multiple ways of how to console the handsome stranger in front of her. "How about you and I go some place quiet?"

Sawyer looked down at her, almost having forgotten she was there. "Some other time, maybe," he replied absently, turning his gaze back towards the dance floor. If the man got any closer to Kate, he'd literally be breathing down her neck, he decided.

Piqued at his obvious rejection, Amber shrugged. "Your loss," she said nastily, taking her drink and moving on.

Sawyer didn't notice her leave. Throwing back his head, he drained the last of his bottle and banged it down on the bar top. Before he knew what he was doing, he found himself pushing his way through the crowd and was approaching Kate on the dance floor. Singling out her dance partner, he came to a stand still behind him, towering over him by a good four inches. Kate looked up in surprise, and the man spun around to find himself face to face with Sawyer's chest.

"Who the blimmin heck do you think you are?" the man demanded in a high pitched, british accent.

Sawyer glared at him. "Time you were leavin', Amigo."

"Oi. You can't talk to me like that - don't you know who I am?"

"I couldn't give a rat's ass who you are. Beat it."

"I'm bass guitarist from the band, Driveshaft - that's who I am. And me and the lady here, we were enjoying a dance."

"I said, beat it, hobbit boy," Sawyer glowered.

"Alright, alright. No need ta get your panties in a twist. She didn't tell me she was here with anyone." The man turned towards Kate, "Nice meeting you," he said. Maybe we can catch up again sometime? Just let me know, and I'll get you front row tickets to see my band - Driveshaft."

Kate smiled politely, embarrassed for the man's obvious discomfort. "That would be lovely," she said encouragingly. "I'll be sure to look you up."

The man shot one more look at Sawyer before hastily making a retreat, calling just once more over his shoulder. "Driveshaft. Remember the name. We're gonna be bloody famous."

Sawyer looked at Kate, "Driveshaft?"

She laughed, "I know, I've never heard of them either. Anyway, I thought you didn't dance."

"I changed my mind."

The tone of his voice sent excited shivers up her spine as she swayed in time with the music. He took a step closer, moving in time with her, rather than the music itself. He wasn't quite touching her, and yet her whole body seemed to have suddenly become a mass of nerve endings. Her heart beat loudly inside her chest as she chanced a look at him. His eyes captured hers and she found she couldn't look away. There was something different about him, she realized then - something that had changed since his returned. She couldn't quite put her finger on what exactly the difference was, but she could feel it drawing her irresistibly closer to him. His eyes broke their contact with hers, traveling lazily down her face and pausing ever so briefly upon her lips. She swallowed, feeling him move to her rhythm, never hurrying, nor missing a beat. His eyes traveled down her neck, crossing her shoulders - exposed in the halter neck top she wore - and caressing her breasts. Briefly his chest brushed against her, making her breath catch in her throat. The closer he got to her, the more the dance floor began to fade from her view. She reached towards him, brushing her fingertips against his chest before letting her hands reach up to rest upon his shoulders. Strong sinew flexed under her touch, stirring a longing inside her that had never really been dormant since she met him. Dimly she was aware that the rhythm between them had changed - that it was no longer her leading, but he - and she felt him place his hands upon her back, drawing her closer to him still.

Sawyer breathed in, intoxicated by her nearness. She held him spellbound, fascinated, and entirely unable to pull away. If the band hadn't have chosen that moment to stop for a break, he fancied he might have danced with her as he was right through the night. Instead he felt her gently pull away as the music stopped and reality returned. Slowly he relinquished his hold upon her, noticing her wobble slightly as she stood alone for the first time.

Kate blinked, her body feeling strangely boneless and lacking in density. "I think it's time we got going," she somehow managed to whisper.

He nodded, placing an arm protectively upon her shoulder to guide her from the floor. The after effect of their dance still surrounded them with a warm glow, and he felt strangely in tune with her as they pushed their way through the crowd of people.

"I didn't expect to see the two of you here," a voice penetrated through the haze, drawing them both reluctantly further back into their surroundings. They both stopped walking and turned to find Juliet looking at them. "Looked like you were having a good time on the dance floor," she smiled cooly.

Kate felt her heart begin to hammer in her chest. "Are you here alone?"

"No. Jack's with me."

Kate turned her head, expecting Jack to appear at any moment. She hadn't seen him since the day he'd brushed her off after treating Sultan for colic. Suddenly she felt sick. Had he seen her dancing with Sawyer?

"We were just admiring the display you two put on," Juliet continued, confirming her fears. She smiled brightly at the panicked look that crossed Kate's face. "Oh wait, here he is now. You'll have to wait and say hello."

Overcome by discomfort, Kate wasn't aware when Sawyer's hand slipped from her shoulder. She turned to face Jack, afraid of the welcome she might receive.

"Hey, Kate," he smiled, looking relaxed in casual attire. His usual white shirt and tie were gone, replaced with a maroon shirt that had the sleeves cut off it. He nodded curtly towards Sawyer, clearly less than pleased at having to acknowledge him.

"Hey," Kate smiled. Her relief to find that Jack was apparently still talking to her made her smile a lot broader than it might have otherwise been. It fell from her face in shock however, as he handed Juliet her drink and then leaned over to place a light kiss on the cheek.

"So, what brings you two out here then?" Jack asked, placing his arm casually around Juliet's waist.

"Uhh..." Kate stammered, "We just though we needed to get away for a little while. You know... Unwind a little."

"Looks like you found the perfect way to that then," Jack said, a trace of condemnation in his tone.

Neither Kate nor Sawyer missed the implication behind his remark. Sawyer shot him a look, "You should try it yourself some time, Doc."

Jack laughed, and shook his head. "I don't think so. I haven't done that kind of thing since I was in high school." He glanced at Juliet affectionately before shrugging and adding, "Each to their own though, of course."

Juliet smiled calmly, enjoying Kate's obvious discomfort. "We'd really better be going," she said, turning back to Jack. "We've got a lot on tomorrow, remember?"

He smiled, "As if I could forget. Nice seeing you again Kate, Sawyer. Hope you enjoy the rest of your night." He reached for Juliet's hand and guided her towards the door.

"Jackass," Sawyer hissed softly under his breath.

Kate looked at him, silencing him with her pained expression. "Please, can we just leave?"

He stepped back, disappointed and stung by her abrupt change in mood. "Whatever you say," he said, walking out the door and leaving her to follow.

They traveled home together in silence, the radio the only noise in the cab. This time, Bob Marley's lyrics fell upon Kate's deaf ears, and Sawyer didn't sing.