Quickie:
Okay. So guys, I know this is REALLY REALLY unexepected, because I gave no warning. And I know I haven't been keeping up with answering your questions and everything. For that I am really really sorry. I promise that I will in the future.
Now you're wondering how I can make such a promise? Well...read on. You'll find out.
Thanks to everyone that has stuck around to read this. I appreciate your dedication and reviews. I write for the fans and you have all been amazing right to the end.
Chapter 49
Johanna wasn't much trouble for the most part. She came at reasonable hours – surprisingly, to Kate. Sawyer and Kate still weren't on the best of terms. He still wanted to know what it was she was going to say, but decided not to press it. She, however, seemed to be avoiding him at all costs. When he entered a room, she left it. She wouldn't even talk to him for days at a time. And when she did talk to him, it was when she couldn't find something, or just to make small talk. When he tried to confront her, she only got angry with him. He gave up on talking to her for the time being, hoping that in time she'd come to him.
But suddenly Johanna showed up at stranger hours. Sometimes, she and Kate would be in the kitchen until the early hours of the morning. Sawyer wanted to know why, but they always made him leave. But after a few days, Johanna suggested he know what was going on, just in case. She told him all about the guys in Houston, the allegations against Kate, but, by Kate's request, she didn't say a word as to why Kate had even been on the run in the first place. He asked what she was doing to help, but everything she told him only made him dislike her even more than he already did. He felt like she stopped trying to help Kate! But she learned that was the way Sawyer was – stubborn and unwilling to believe anything other than his own opinion.
The next day – two and a half weeks after Johanna's arrival – Johanna, Kate and Sawyer were in the kitchen discussing the situation. Johanna had come early waking them both up, obvious that there wasn't any good news. The only thing she had told them was that things weren't running smoothly. After hours of discussion, they sat in silence. Johanna and Kate were sitting at the table, while Sawyer leaned against the counter. They were all quiet, thinking about the same thing – Kate. Johanna sighed.
"It just doesn't look good."
Kate looked down, distressed. Sawyer looked at her, wishing there was something he could do, but she still wasn't speaking to him. As an added misery, she wouldn't even look at him.
"I hate to say it, but I have some worse news," Johanna finally told them.
"What could possibly be worse?" Kate said, miserably.
"Remember I said it was a good thing that we got to Jack first? So that the prosecutors couldn't turn him against you?"
"Yeah. What's wrong with that?"
"Well, they've targeted everyone else on the island that I couldn't get a hold of. They've started to track them down and interrogate whoever may have associated with you."
Kate looked up horrified, then looked over at Sawyer, who was completely oblivious to the conversation.
"Jack just called me last night and told me that they came to him as well. Which means they're still trying to change the minds of everyone I've talked to already."
"But then that would mean…"
She glanced at Sawyer again, who was staring out the window in thought. Johanna glanced too and caught on.
"Exactly."
"I need to leave," Kate said suddenly.
Sawyer immediately snapped out of his trance and stood up straighter. His whole body tensed and he took a step toward her.
"No," Johanna said, which stopped him.
Now both Kate and Sawyer focused their attention on her. She put a hand to her head.
"You need to stay here, Kate. You can't just keep running. It's an unhealthy life."
"As opposed to living in a jail cell for the rest of my life?"
"Well…"
"I can't just give up! I can't give in and wait here until they come to take me!"
"Who says they'll take you? As long as I'm here, they can't. I'm fighting for you Kate, but you have to believe in me. And yourself. And anyone else involved in this case."
Kate buried her face in her hands. Acting on instinct, Sawyer went over and rested a comforting hand on her shoulder. She immediately stiffened at his touch, and he removed his hand. The tension was obviously still there, which meant she was probably still upset with him. He leaned against the counter again, sighing.
"I think I had just about enough of you," he said to Johanna, with a glare.
"Well that's just too bad. I'm not going to be leaving just yet. Perhaps you should be the one to leave."
"Go to hell," he muttered.
"I'm sure Kate would agree with me," she said to him, with a challenging look.
"You happen to forget whose house you're in!?" he snapped, ignoring the comment.
"You happen to forget my occupation, JAMES?"
He quieted after that and the whole room fell silent. The silence was quickly broken by loud knocks at the door. All three exchanged worried glances. Kate and Johanna rose from their seats.
"POLICE! OPEN UP!" came a shouting voice.
Kate's eyes widened. "No…no…no…" she shook her head, petrified. "No…This can't be happening…"
"OPEN THE DOOR NOW!"
Kate instantly leaned into Sawyer's arms, sobbing into his chest. He slowly lowered his arms around her, a bit staggered.
"Don't let them take me," she sobbed over and over.
He hugged her tighter, and smoothed the back of her hair. The wall between them that had been built by all the tension finally disintegrated.
"I ain't gonna let 'em take you," he assured her in a whisper.
He looked at Johanna who was giving him a threatening look and…was that a trace of guilt he saw? He knew what she wanted him to do but he wouldn't do it. He couldn't. He started shaking his head.
"I ain't lettin' 'em in."
"You have to."
"No! I ain't lettin' 'em take her!"
"You want to keep your ass out of jail!? You do as I say!"
He stared at her, wordlessly. She had a point…
"Open the door, now."
He was torn. It was a lose-lose situation. If he gave Kate up and opened the door, he'd lose her. If he didn't, he could still wind up in jail himself, and still lose her. It wasn't fair. And with her sobbing in his arms how could he just let her go? He couldn't do it. He'd been so worried all this time that she'd run away, leaving him alone without her. Never did he think she could be taken from him right out of his arms.
"Sawyer, please," Kate whispered, shaking her head. "Don't. I can run! I can…" she trailed into a sob again.
What kind of choice was that!? And with those eyes of hers staring at him desperately, it made it even worse. And then he knew what he had to do…
"Open it!" Johanna said, firmly. "I can help her out of this."
He started to pull away from Kate.
"Sawyer, please!" she cried. "No!"
Feeling the worst ache in his heart and already feeling an eternity of guilt, he went to the front door and opened it, letting the swarm of police flood in. Kate slumped to the floor, sobbing hysterically. How could he? How could he just let her go like that? Didn't he love her? He was just going to let them take her away without so much as a good-bye or an apology?
He watched it all happen so fast, feeling the pain of a thousand knives in his heart. They quickly lifted Kate to her feet and cuffed her, reading her rights. He watched them take her out the door and the last of her he saw was her glaring at him, her eyes still flooded with tears. But then, just as Johanna was about to follow the swarm out, he caught her forearm and grasped it tightly.
"You bring her back to me," he said in a coarse – but wavering – voice.
She only stared at him, sadly. He let her go and she started talking to some of the police. Kate sat in the backseat of the car, staring at nothing, as they talked to Johanna. While they did so, he slowly walked to the kitchen staring out the window at the snow. He thought of Kate again. Millions of images of her passed through his mind. Kate swimming on the island with him, their kiss when he was tortured, giving him a haircut, at his door looking a mess but as beautiful as ever, twirling in the snow, in his stupid robe. Kate laughing. Kate crying. Kate's smile. Kate's eyes. Kate, Kate, Kate.
All those times she'd ran away, and came back. She was like one of those toys – a boomerang. Throw it away and it would always come back. But he'd never thrown Kate away. Until now. And the truth was, she wouldn't come back this time. He couldn't remember exactly what had just happened, but he could still see Kate's eyes looking up at him while he held her, moments before he betrayed her. They were filled with worry, regret, sorrow, pain, and yet hope, all at once. And he let her down. He'd never get those eyes out of his head…….
Your eyes
As we said our good-byes
Can't get them out of my mind
And I find, I can't hide
From your eyes
The ones that took me by surprise
The day you came into my life
Where there's moonlight
I see your eyes
How'd I let you slip away,\
When I'm longing so, to hold you?
Now I'd die, for one more day
'Cause there's something I should've told you
When I looked into your eyes…
- "Your Eyes" (Adam Pascal – Rent)
Now that you have finished reading the chapter, and you are all jumping out of your seats going crazy that it could end in such a way, I want to inform each and everyone one of you faithful readers: Don't think of this as the end. Think of it as...a beginning...
Okay so let me stop beating around the bush. Yes, there is more Skate to come in yet ANOTHER story. I'm sorry. I got carried away and I couldn't stop writing. I hope that you'll all stick around to read it. It should be up very soon. The title you'll be looking forward to is: "Once Upon a Second Chance". I hope to see you all there! And thanks for the continuing patronage! ;-)
