MistyX - I've read your reviews for In Hiding and I'm glad to get a review from you. I hope I hear from you more often, heh. Hope Kate and Sawyer's meeting in this chapter isn't too dramatic for you. :P
liFE-SaRkER - Yes, it is a Kate/Sawyer story, heh. I just wanted to draw the drama out a little before they met up again. ;)
CHAPTER 4
Kate hadn't intended on staying outside this long when she left the party to get some air. At first she just stood right outside the doors that lead to the walkway towards the beach, but she found herself on the path and eventually down to the sand. She walked a little towards the water and then headed left, away from the beachcombers, barefoot with her sandals now dangling from her fingers. She was wanting to sit on the sand, but realizing that she was in a dress she instead made her way to a rock that seemed to form itself to a comfortable place to sit. After she checked to make sure the surface wasn't wet, she sat down and looked out over the ocean.
Kate wasn't sure if anyone noticed at the time, but the day the raft left, that same night she was sitting on the beach looking at the ocean. Both Sawyer and Jack would notice she would do this, but she never fully explained why. To her, these were the only moments that truly felt were just for her. She was alone a lot on the island, but those were spent climbing up trees or walking around the jungle to look for food for everyone. Sitting on the beach allowed her to just be Kate. She always found peace doing this, except for that night, which was when the rescue boat appeared on the shore and Kate realized that she had nowhere to run.
The sound of young voices and water suddenly broke Kate from her thoughts. She saw two young kids, a boy and a girl, standing near where the waves would end up before heading back to sea. When the water would get close to them, the boy would reach down and splash the girl with water. She seemed to be annoyed the first couple of times, but eventually she started to laugh run around, still laughing and with the boy in pursuit. Suddenly, Kate heard another voice, this time it was behind her.
"Do you do this at every beach you go to?"
Recognizing the sarcastic tone and voice immediately, Kate turned around slowly. Looking at him again brought her back to that night on the island; she remembered there was something else on her mind when she sat there those years ago. Kate realized she was staring and quickly brought her eyes back towards the water. She couldn't help it, and smiled. "Hey, Sawyer."
Even though Kate was looking away from him now, Sawyer kept his eyes on her. He really didn't know what to do, what exactly to say next. This moment had been haunting him since that first night she was in his dreams. She still looked beautiful, but different. He had been used to seeing her so guarded, looking like she was ready to run at a moment's notice. At this moment, for the first time, she looked comfortable exactly where she was. He looked away, feeling like he was invading her space. He was about to turn when she turned around again.
"You look the same. Well, maybe a few wrinkles here and there." She smiled again, and chuckled a little.
Sawyer wanted to look upset, but seeing her like this only brought a smile to his face. "Nice seein' you too, Freckles." He said in both a sarcastic and genuine tone. "You finally got a sense of humor. They teach you that on the inside?" Sawyer quickly looked down, wanting to kick himself. He glanced over to see her reaction.
She was looking at the ocean again, but she didn't look upset. "I'm just glad to be out, to finally be free." Her expression softened and she turned back to Sawyer. "Did you see Jack?"
Sawyer, who had been standing on his own, now leaned back against the rock and shook his head. "You really wanna ruin our little reunion here?" He said half jokingly, half in defeat. He couldn't look at her now. "Yeah, I saw Jack. Nearly hit me in the face when I was comin' in." Sawyer finally looked up and saw that she was looking at him. He made sure his eyes were fixed on her, determined to see her every reaction. "Saw the wife, too. Always knew the doc had good taste." He looked for any change in her face, but she just smiled and bent down to put her shoes back on.
After Kate adjusted the straps on her sandals, she stood up and turned around. "Are you coming back inside?"
Sawyer looked at her, and could almost see that she wanted him to go back with her. Sawyer broke their gaze, putting his guard up once again, and instead looked to her right towards the water. "You go on ahead, Freckles. I think I'll try out this sit-and-watch-the-ocean thing, see what the big fuss is all about." He turned back to her with a smirk on his face. He then reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes.
"It's illegal to smoke on the beach, Sawyer."
Sawyer couldn't help but chuckle a little at Kate's comment and notice that Kate could see the irony in her proclamation. "I think I'll take my chances with the beach police." He said as he lit one up.
Kate rolled her eyes and started walking away towards the hall doors. She had barely walked past him when she stopped. She wanted to know, but she really didn't know why. Still without really knowing why she was doing it, she turned around. "Hey, Sawyer.."
"Uh huh.." He said without turning around to face her.
"Where were you when they were loading the raft?"
"Cuttin' down some bamboo for a new mast." He said nonchalantly, but then slowly he turned around to face her. He then stood up. "Why are you asking?"
They stood there, not saying anything for a few seconds. For the first time throughout this whole conversation, Sawyer once again saw the Kate that he saw on the island. Guarded and ready to run. Kate finally spoke up.
"Oh.. no reason." Kate looked at Sawyer a little longer and then finally turned around and walked back inside.
Sawyer, however, was still standing there.