TITLE: Drawn Together
CHARACTERS: Kate and Sawyer
RATED: PG-13 for now... (Language, somewhat specific details)
EPISODES: After "Outlaws"
STATUS: Chapter twenty eight of -?
BETA READER: Harlequin
DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of LOST's characters. That privilege is entirely ABC's. (Dangit! Jk!)

Quickie:
Twilight Zone! Do do do do! Do do do do!

Chapter 28

It took a few minutes for Kate to come back to reality and realize she was here kissing Jack. She quickly pulled away, taking a few steps back. Jack was panting slightly, as she drew a trembling hand to her mouth.

"Before you get freaked out," Jack said quietly. "You can't tell me that you felt nothing at all there."

She looked up at him, surprised and horrified, her hand still covering her mouth.

"You can't tell me that you didn't feel anything, because I know you did, Kate."

She shook her head.

"I know you did, or you wouldn't have kissed me back."

She had no clue what to say to that. True, she did feel something. And true, she had kissed him back. But she had no idea why. Wasn't it Sawyer she was supposed to be kissing?

She finally withdrew her hand and spoke quickly, "I have to go."

She started for the jungle, but Jack grabbed her arm.

"What do you want from me?" she said, tears in her eyes.

"Just tell me."

She stared at him, with cold watery eyes. She twisted her arm out of his grasp. This time, when he reached for her again, she punched him across the face. Without looking back, she started off out of the jungle. She ran as fast as she could, without knowing which way she was going. She wasn't sure if her eyes were closed or too blurred by her tears, because she couldn't even see anything. It was all darkness…


"You think it's still there?"

"What?"

"You know what."

"It's the middle of the night, Katie."

"We might not get another chance."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Is it on? I don't think it's on."

"It's on."

"Okay, this is Kate Austin and Tom Brennon and this is our dedication for our time capsule, here on August 15th, 1989 - Hey, give me that back."

"Why are you putting this stupid plane in there?"

"Because it's cool, Katie. I got it when I flew to Dallas by myself."

"That is cool, just like this time capsule."

"It'll be totally cool when we dig it up in like 20 years."

"How do you know we'll be together?"

"Because we'll be married and you'll be a mom and we'll have 9 kids."

"I don't think so. As soon as I get my license we should just get in a car and drive. You know, run away."

"You always want to run away, Katie."

"Yeah, and you know why…"


Kate came to an abrupt stop, falling to the ground, with her knees under her. She buried her face in her hands, and was crying hysterically. Things just kept getting worse and worse now. She knew she loved Sawyer, yet she kissed Jack, without remorse. And she still couldn't believe she had punched him, of all people! But now she couldn't rid herself of thoughts of Tom. Why was this happening to her?

She sat for what she thought must have been hours, just crying it all out of her. It wasn't long after that she finally got up and slowly started walking back to the beach, silent tears still streaming down her cheeks. Her arms were folded, and all she could do was look downward. Eventually, she made her way to the beach, and she kicked her shoes off. She picked them up, holding them both with one hand, her arms still folded. She went to the very edge of the ocean on the sand and let the water run over her feet. Her mind was finally clear of Tom, but she was nowhere near relieved.

How could she tell Sawyer what had happened with Jack? How could she ever look him in the face again? How could she ever look Jack in the face again? Why was she suddenly feeling mixed emotions for both of them? To tell Sawyer was going to be the most difficult thing in the world. And she knew that one way or another, the subject would come up in conversation. She just hoped that it was later rather than sooner.

"There you are!"

She heard Sawyer's voice behind her. Her eyes widened and she tried to wipe them quickly. She slipped her shoes back on and turned around, face to face with him.

"You all right?"

"Fine," she said quietly. "Just needed to stretch my legs."

"Where'd you go off to?"

She turned and started slowly walking again, trying to think of what to say.

"I went in the jungle."

"What for?" he said, curiously.

"I just…" she drifted into thought.

She couldn't even think of one lie to tell him. She stood wordless, slowly slipping back into the thought of her previous kiss with Jack. She closed her eyes, forcing back the tears, but that wasn't enough. They poured down her face, and Sawyer undoubtedly noticed. He rested his hands on her shoulders and squeezed them.

"What's the matter?"

She shook her head. "I can't," she managed before letting out a sob. "I can't do this!"

She pulled herself out of his grasp and ran across the beach, leaving him standing there, helpless. He ran a hand through his hair, unsure of what to think now. After she disappeared too far for him to see, he sighed and returned to his tent. Well something was definitely wrong here. And she was good at hiding whatever it was.

Sawyer never saw Kate again for the rest of that day. She didn't return when it began to get dark either. He grew uncomfortable without her sleeping next to him. He had gotten so used to it, that now that she wasn't there, he felt like he couldn't sleep. He lied awake thinking of hundreds of things that could be bothering her. He read and reread his letter throughout the night, and he went through a few of his bottles of alcohol.

He was lying on his side with his eyes half closed when he saw Kate approaching. He pretended to be asleep, and closed his eyes. Not even a snicker from her when he faked a light snore. He watched with one eye open as she gathered up her things into her backpack, and pulled her hair up tighter. She turned to start leaving when something caught her wrist.

"Where you headed, Freckles?" Sawyer asked, softly.

"I have to go," she whispered.

He sat up now, glaring at her curiously. "Go where?"

She pulled her arm away, but he pulled back tightening his grasp, and she almost stumbled. He looked at her strangely.

"What's goin' on here, sweetheart? There somethin' you don't wanna tell me?"

"Sawyer, please," she pulled again.

"I don't think so," he said, firmly, as he pulled back, causing her to fall to her knees.

She grew angry quick, and jabbed her elbow into his abdomen. He let go of her, grabbing his stomach in pain. As quick as she was to dart out of the tent, Sawyer was after her, and threw her to the ground, holding her arms down.

"Now why does this seem so familiar?" he said, with a feisty edge.

She tried to head butt him but he was too quick.

"Didn't work last time, and it ain't gonna work now, Freckles."

"Let me go," she spat angrily, fighting his grasp.

"Whoa-ho-ho! Be gentle, sweetheart!"

"Go to hell!"

"Already been there. Pretty nice place. 'Cept they ain't got TiVo."

She glared at him.

"All right. Are you gonna tell me what the hell is goin' on or are we gonna be wrestlin' all night? 'Cause, baby, I could stay here all night long!" he grinned.

She finally stopped fighting him, panting from the effort, but focused her eyes away from him

"No? All right then. We're gonna have to do this the hard way," he smirked.

In response, she jabbed his stomach with her knee and when he released her arms, punched him across the face. When he fell back and off of her, she got up and ran as fast as she could toward the caves. She was unaware that Sawyer got up quickly too and followed her. She ran through the jungle not looking anywhere but forward. Sawyer was running only feet behind her. She was beginning to lose strength and he caught up, just as she bumped into something.

She looked up to see what it was – Jack - and immediately backed away, backing into Sawyer. She jumped and turned around, shaking her head horrifically.

"Kate, are you all right?" Jack asked her, in his usual concerned manner.

"No…no…no…" she sobbed, shaking her head, continuously. This couldn't be happening.

She tried to make another run for it, but Sawyer caught her arm again.

"Oh no you don't! You ain't runnin' again, Freckles!"

"Please! Just let me go!" she cried.

"Not 'til you tell me what the hell this is all about!"

Jack looked from Kate to Sawyer and back to Kate again.

"What's going on?"

"That's what I'm tryin' to figure out, Doc! But she ain't spillin'!"

"Leave her alone," Jack tried.

Kate tried to fight his grasp again, but he pulled back hard, and she flinched in pain.

"Huh. Guess this is what it's like when a criminal don't wanna cooperate with the cops!"

"That's not funny," Kate said sternly, through more tears.

"I wasn't tryin' to be funny!" he yelled back.

"Sawyer, calm down," Jack said.

"Don't be tellin' me what to do, jackass!"

"I'm not telling you, I'm asking you to calm your anger," he said calmly. "It's not helping the situation out."

"Like I give a hell! She's got somethin' she won't tell me, and I wanna hear it!"

He pulled her close to him, and she was forced into his chest. She pushed away with her hands but was still only inches from him. He glared down at her.

"So let's hear it, sweetheart."

"Over my dead body," she glared back, and pulled away again.

He snapped her back to him and she closed her eyes tight, fighting the pain.

"Sawyer, stop. You're hurting her."

"Stay outta this, Doc! It don't concern you!"

Jack chuckled and shook his head. Sawyer stared at him, curious.

"You got somethin' to share, Doc? 'Cause by all means, share it!" he roared.

"No, I don't."

Suddenly, Kate twisted her arm around and slipped out of Sawyer's grasp. She ran as fast as she could away from them. Sawyer started after her, but Jack held him back.

"Don't, Sawyer."

"Get off me, Doc!"

"Trust me. Just leave her alone."

He glared at Jack, but then pulled away from him. He walked angrily back to his tent, to get rip roaring drunk with all the alcohol he stole from the trunk in the cave.