These Past Unpleasantries

Author: Elizabeth5

Disclaimer:I own neither the show nor the characters...sadly.

author's note: Thanks for all the reviews. I didn't starve last night!

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"Sawyer knows something."

Night had fallen and Kate had busied herself with preparing a fire near the shelter where the stranger lay. Sawyer was carefully keeping his distance, but Kate would not give herself the same liberty. If this man was somehow connected to Sawyer's past– and especially if this man had some ulterior motive toward Sawyer– she would be the first to know about it.

Of course, as Jack was the resident doctor, he also hadn't travelled too far from the stranger's side. Kate suspected that his devotion to the patient's well-being wasn't entirely philanthropic either; he, too, sensed that this man could answer a few questions about Sawyer's past, and he wasn't going to give up his post.

Kate finally turned back to regard Jack, careful to keep her face impassive. "What do you mean?"

"I don't care what Sawyer says," Jack asserted, "he knows this man. Which means that his being on this island isn't an act of chance."

She looked down at her hands. "You heard what Sawyer said. His name is Dave Sawyer. The man kept calling him Thatcher. He must have mistaken him for someone else."

Jack let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "And Sawyer doesn't strike you as the type that would use an alias? For all we know, he could have a dozen different names."

Kate was suddenly glad for all the background she had in lying. It certainly made covering for Sawyer that much easier. "Maybe you're right," she said, "But our only real option now is to trust what Sawyer says."

"Trust? Sawyer?" Jack shook his head. "That's kind of an oxymoron, isn't it Kate?"

She shrugged. "He hasn't lied to us yet. Withheld information, sure, but he's never been dishonest."

"That we know of."

Kate could feel Jack's gaze on her, studying her. She kept her gaze trained on the fire, not wanting to give him anything to suspect. Jack would never understand her motives for wanting to protect Sawyer. Honestly, she couldn't even really understand them.

Jack took her by the shoulders, startling her from her reverie, and turned her so that she was facing him. He looked into her eyes. "Do you know something you're not telling me, Kate?"

"About Sawyer?" She forced a smile. "What makes you think that?"

"You're keeping something from me, Kate." The words were accusatory, hurt. "Why are you trying to protect him?"

She tried to meet his gaze but couldn't. Finally, she looked away. "Because somebody has to, Jack."

He had opened his mouth to respond when the stranger coughed, struggling to sit up. Kate and Jack both raced back to him, steadying his arms.

"Easy, easy," Jack instructed. "How are you feeling? You okay?"

The stranger laughed, massaging his head ruefully. "I feel a bit hungover but otherwise fine. Where am I?"

Jack laughed in return, shrugging. "Wish we could tell you. We were on a plane that crashed about a month ago and we've been stranded here ever since. Wherever here is."

"That tops my story," the stranger admitted, "Boat was caught in a storm. Must've been a few miles from here. I guess the others didn't make it."

Kate folded her arms, regarding him. There was something about this man she instinctively didn't trust. "What were you doing out here in the first place?"

He met her gaze evenly, his eyes masked but curious. "I was looking for someone. The man who was here before. Tall, blondish."

"Sawyer," Jack said, before Kate could stop him. "But you called him Thatcher."

The man laughed, shaking his head. "Typical Danny. He's always paranoid about this or that. Changes his name more than he changes his underwear."

Jack frowned at him. "How do you know him anyway?"

"He's my brother," the stranger replied easily. "Daniel Thatcher. I'm Bill Thatcher."

Kate somehow resisted the urge to laugh. A four year old could have come up with a better ruse. "You called him Thatcher when you first saw him," she reminded him. "Funny way for someone to address his brother."

"Danny's always liked the tough guy image," Bill informed her. "He insisted on everyone calling him by our last name. Don't let him know that I told you his first name is Danny– he'd kill me."

"You don't look that much alike," Kate informed him, "for brothers, I mean."

The stranger shrugged. "I took after my mom, Danny took after my dad. At least, that's what mom always says."

Except she's dead, Kate thought, triumphant in catching him in his first concrete lie, something you'd surely know if you were really Sawyer's brother.

"Speaking of my baby brother," Bill continued, "I'd like to see him. Is he somewhere around here?"

"Yeah." Jack glanced over at Kate before continuing, "I'll go get him."

Kate followed him out of the tent until they were out of hearing range. "Jack, I don't trust that man. He's lying to us."

"How are we supposed to know that?" Jack inquired, glancing back toward the tent. "We don't know anything about Sawyer's past." He studied Kate. "Unless there's something you're not telling me?"

She was silent for a moment. "Just don't believe everything he says, all right?" Jack remained silent, and Kate sighed."I'm gonna keep an eye on him while you get Sawyer."

"Yeah, all right," Jack agreed, rubbing the back of his neck as he turned and disappeared into the night.

Kate reentered the tent, forcing a smile. "Jack will be right back with Saw– Danny." She stopped a few feet from him, hugging herself for warmth. "Is there anything I can get you?"

"I'd like to ask you a few questions, actually," Bill said, smiling at her. "Do you mind?"

"No, of course not." Kate ventured another step closer. "What do you want to know?"

Bill cocked his head, studying her. "How well do you know Danny, anyway? You two pretty good friends?"

"No one really knows Sawyer," Kate replied honestly. "He keeps mostly to himself."

Which wasn't entirely true. She and Sawyer had spent a good deal of time together, and she felt that out of everyone, she knew him best. But something about Bill's eyes kept her from confiding this information too soon. She wouldn't be party to giving him Sawyer's secrets.

His eyes were probing her; it was as though he could read her mind. "But I bet you and Danny have spent some time together. Pretty girl like you. Danny's always had a hard time staying away from pretty girls."

Kate shrugged. "I guess you could say we're friends." She cleared her throat, switching gears. "But I'm more interested in knowing about you. You said you were looking for us?"

"That's right," Bill returned.

She met his gaze evenly. "How did you know where to look? We were a thousand miles off course. No other rescue ships have come close to finding us. So how did you know where to go?"

He shrugged. "Lucky guess. Maybe it was brotherly intuition."

"Yeah," Kate returned, "maybe."

Jack and Sawyer appeared at the head of the tent, both looking rather wary. Kate tried to meet Sawyer's gaze but he ignored her, stepping up to Bill. "Well?" he said.

Bill laughed. "Danny, come on. Is that any way to treat your big brother?" He opened his arms expectantly.

Sawyer hesitated for a long moment, then hugged the other man, pulling away quickly. Bill merely smiled at him, motioning to Kate. "I was just having a chat with your friend here. She's pretty, Danny. One of the prettiest I've seen you with."

"Who?" Sawyer inquired curtly, and glanced briefly at Kate. "Oh. Her. We don't know each other all that well."

Kate looked at him, stung. He had just completely dismissed her, as though she was nothing to him. And he hadn't really looked at her since coming into the tent.

"All right, all right." Bill held up his hands. "No need to get testy. Aren't you even glad to see me, little brother?"

"I'm elated." Sawyer deadpanned. "Now wanna tell me what the hell you're doing here?"

"I came to rescue you, little brother." Bill informed him. "Everyone else told me you must be dead, but I wouldn't believe it. I knew if anyone could survive a plane crash, it would be you, Thatcher. Looks like I was right. Wasn't it lucky, me washing up on shore here?"

Sawyer's face remained impassive. "It's like I won the lottery."

Bill smiled at him. "After all this time apart, the two of us are finally face to face again. Don't worry, little brother, I'm not letting you out of my sight again."

"No, I imagine you won't." Sawyer cleared his throat. "Well, it's been a long day. I'm gonna get some shut eye. I suggest you do the same, Bill."

Bill regarded him for a moment, then nodded. "All right. But I want to catch up tomorrow, brother. As soon as I've regained my strength."

Sawyer turned to make his way out of the tent. Bill watched him for a moment, then looked to Kate. "You mind keeping watch over me tonight, sweetheart? I'm afraid if I fall asleep, I might never wake up. Concussion, and all."

It seemed to Kate that Sawyer paused, but it was so brief that it could have only been her imagination. Then he was gone. Troubled, she turned and forced a smile at Bill. "Of course. I'll keep a close watch on you, Bill– I promise." She smiled sweetly but allowed her words to have the appropriate undercurrent of menace.

He met her gaze, his eyes laughing. "Thanks a lot, sweetheart. I sure do appreciate it..."

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To Be Continued

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