------------------------------------------------
CHAPTER 5
"Why are you asking?"
"Oh.. no reason."
The sun's rays peeked through the blinds of Sawyer's bedroom and were strong enough to wake him abruptly. For a second he didn't know where he was since his last memory up to that moment was standing on the beach. He finally collected himself and realized it was about a week later, and he had been dreaming. Sawyer opened his eyes a little more but was blinded by the sword of light directly on his face, and then feeling like he was punched by the heat that penetrated through his windows. He slowly sat up, his hand up to his eyes to shield them, to make his way towards the window to seal the blinds a little more. Sawyer turned his body and his feet were about to touch the floor when he heard a groan at his side. A confused look washed over his face before he turned his head to see a somewhat haggard looking redhead, half naked in the least and on her stomach, sleeping next to him. He looked at her intently, trying to remember what had happened the night before. Sawyer knew he had gone out but didn't remember much else. He was still looking at her when her eyes opened.
"You are so sweet," she smiled and placed her hand on his chest, "how long have you been watching me sleeping?"
Sawyer looked at her, confused, but he quickly recovered. He grinned. "Not long, I just woke up." He took her fingers, placed it on his lips and kissed them.
She giggled as Sawyer started kissing down her arm. The woman turned her head slightly and then quickly sat up. "Oh my God!" She exclaimed as she quickly jumped out of bed and started picking up pieces of clothing from the floor. "It's 10:30! I'm late for work!" She managed to get most of her clothes back on, except her bra which she was still clutching in her hand, and started heading back to the living room.
Still shirtless, Sawyer got his jeans on as fast as he could and followed her almost to the front door. "Wait, let me give you a ride or somethin'. You can't be walking around --" He was about to start looking for his keys when she stopped and turned around.
"I drove here, remember?"
Sawyer stood there blankly, unable to hide the fact that he didn't remember anything. She looked embarrassed and turned back around and opened the door. "No wait, I meant --" He tried to reach for her when he saw someone right outside his front door. The woman was startled enough to clutch her bra closer to her, but she immediately lowered her head and walked away.
The man standing at the door watched her leave but quickly turned his attention back to Sawyer. He looked a bit uncomfortable, but Sawyer wasn't sure if it was because of the woman or something else.
"I'd ask what I could do for you, Doc, but I figure I should ask how you found out where I lived first." The condescending tone that naturally always came through when Sawyer was talking to Jack was only partially masking his genuine curiosity of how and why Jack was there. He wondered if Jack could sense this.
"Michael saw you coming in here a few days ago. I asked around and --" Jack shifted his weight to his right and looked around before turning back to Sawyer. "So which one is it really? Sawyer.. or James?"
Sawyer smiled, remembering that even after the rescue and the whole media blitz, his secrets remained his own. While he himself was hearing about Charlie's past drug addiction, Jin's ties with the Korean mafia or, Sawyer's personal favorite, Jack's failed first marriage to a woman whose life he saved; there was nothing about him on the news. No one was calling him for interviews or hiding in the bushes taking pictures. Sawyer always figured that with 40+ survivors, most of them willing to go on Leno for their 15 minutes, it was easy for him to slip through.
Before Sawyer could respond to his question, Jack chuckled and put hand up in front of him. "You know what, I don't wanna know." Jack's tone seemed to be light-hearted still, but Sawyer couldn't help but notice that something was weighing heavily on Jack's mind. "Can I come in?"
Sawyer had a bad feeling about all this, but his curiosity got the best of him. He smiled, moved out of the way and gestured for Jack to come in. "Be my guest, Doc." Sawyer said before following Jack into the living room and sitting down on the couch while Jack was still standing. Sawyer sat on the edge, sat back so only his shoulders touched the leather upholstery, and folded his hands over his stomach. "So, are doctors doing house calls even if no one's sick now?" Sawyer said sarcastically, completely expecting that look of annoyance that Jack always gave him. This time, however, Jack had the same expression that he had at the reception. Sawyer relaxed a little and sat up. "What do you want, Jack?" Sawyer couldn't have prepared himself for what Jack was about to say.
"I want.. I need you to look after Kate." Jack said before sighing heavily.
Sawyer stared at Jack with the kind of intensity that could have burned through steel. He was determined not to show any reaction, despite feeling like his heart was going to leap out of his chest. This son-of-a-bitch has a lot of nerve, coming in a man's home and jerkin' him around. Sawyer broke his gaze, looked down at the floor and chuckled. He got up and headed towards the front door. He opened it and turned around to face Jack. "I think you better be on your way, Doc, 'cause I ain't got time to play your games."
Jack didn't move and kept his eyes on Sawyer. It was clear that despite the animosity and the glaring differences between these two men, they somehow managed to understand each other without saying much. Jack knew that Sawyer knew at that moment, Jack was not playing games. As predicted, Sawyer closed the door.
"You want me.." Sawyer shook his head and couldn't help but laugh a little, "to look after Kate?" He looked at Jack and could see this was the last thing that Jack would have wanted, the look of defeat in his eyes were obvious.
"I offered her a job at the hospital, to help. She wouldn't take it." Jack was looking down now.
"If that lil' lady wouldn't take help from her knight in shining armor, what makes you think she'll let me? You know how she feels about –"
"Yes," Jack interrupted, stiffened, and looked at Sawyer knowingly, "I know how she feels about you." He could see Sawyer's face soften, which was a rarity. Jack cleared his throat and relaxed a little. "She's been running for years, Sawyer. That's what kept her going and strong. Now that she doesn't have anything to run from anymore, I think she's feeling.. lost. She won't take help from anyone, but she needs it."
Sawyer walked past Jack and towards the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator and took out a bottle of beer. "You want one, Doc?"
"Um, no thanks, I have to go to work in a couple of hours. And also 'cause it's only about 11 in the morning." Jack said mockingly, even managing a slight smile. Sawyer returned the smile, gave a slight nod and made his way back to the couch.
"This is the same Kate that made the damn FBI look like chickens with their heads chopped off." Sawyer took a swig before continuing. "She held her own on that island. If you ask me, I think the ol' girl can manage on her own." He wanted to kick himself. He wasn't sure if Jack could see through his veil of disinterest. Sawyer, however, had a feeling that he did.
"She needs a friend, Sawyer. She needs someone that –"
"That doesn't have anything better to do with his life than babysit someone that don't need it? I see how it is. Go ask Sawyer, he doesn't have anything important to do. Right?" Sawyer looked at Jack accusingly but Jack's expression didn't change.
"Kate needs someone that understands her. So I'm asking you. I'm not stupid, Sawyer." Jack pulled a folded piece of paper out of his pocket. He tossed it towards the coffee table. "She's staying there. Room 56." Jack stood there and waited for Sawyer to pick it up, knowing that he would.
Sawyer stared at it for a few more seconds before picking it up. He looked up and Jack started walking away towards the front door. It was only after Jack closed the door behind him that Sawyer unfolded the piece of paper. It had the name of the motel and the room number. Also written on it, at the bottom, was just one word. "Thanks."