I know it's been a while so here it is. And i will have a new chapter for my other story up by the weekend. Enjoy!

Veiled Grasp

Water surrounded her ankles and then quickly disappeared. The sound of the waves came closer as they touched her skin. With the sun overhead beating down upon her body she knew it was daytime. She didn't care of the heat or it being daytime she was too content and relaxed to the core to move a muscle.

She knew he lay next to her. In the back of her mind she knew it, but she didn't acknowledge it. She just lay there on her stomach with her breasts press against his side and his arm wrapped loosely around her.

"Bloody hell." Was the horse shocked words that woke her.

Opening her eyes they adjusted as she saw the shoreline cresting over Jack's chest. Closing them again she breathed in the aroma around her as Jack too began to wake up next to her. Slowly stretching out her body she felt Jack do the same. Then they both stopped at the sound of someone clearing their throat.

Kate froze and slowly looked up. There stood Charlie with his hand to his mouth containing his laugher and Hurley and his wide-eyed stare right behind him. Kate's eyes looked over to see Jack in the same position she was. Hurriedly the two scrambled to try and cover themselves with the one blanket they had. They couldn't believe they had been found like this and by Hurley and Charlie no less.

"Morning.' Jack smiled uneasily with a squint as the sun blocked his view of Charlie's smile.

Kate's face began to blush as Jack wrapped his arm around her and held her close concealing her from the two grown men acting like boys.

"Mor- Morning.' Charlie got out with a laugh.

Hurley slowly shook his head turning away.

"I hate this island." He mumbled walking back up the trail.

Charlie looked back to the two who had gotten somewhat better situated.

"Um… You guys.. I mean you two are wanted on the…the beach." Charlie finally got out trying his best to hold in his laughter.

"We'll be there in a minute." Jack smiled hoping that would be the end of it.

He was lucky. With that Charlie quickly turned around and walked after Hurley. Walking away he tried his best to keep in his laughter, but quickly let it all out as he came to Hurley's side at the beginning of the trail.

"Oh my god! Did you see that! They slept together!" Charlie voice though faint could be heard.

"I know. I know. I don't wanna talk about it." Hurley moaned as the two disappeared.

Jack quickly let go and nearly fell to the sand. Kate sat there for a second and then broke out into laughter. Jack looked over to her confused at why she thought it was funny.

"What's so funny?" He asked.

"You know we're never gonna hear the end of this. Especially with those two finding us." Kate laughed.

Jack looked back up the beach.

"Yeah…" He sighed playfully.

It was silent for a moment as the two looked off in their own directions. Then slowly they looked to each other.

"We best get ready and head to the beach." Jack suggested.

"Yeah." Kate agreed looking around for her clothes.

"Maybe if we get there we can catch this before it spreads." Jack said sounding honest.

Kate looked to him with a raised eyebrow then slowly laughed it off.

Within a half an hour the two were dressed and walking out onto the beach. They remained close as they came from the trail. They had hugged and kissed as they walked from their part of the beach, but when they knew they were close they separated enough to try and pass it off.

Before they stepped on the sand they felt the stares of everyone on the beach. Slowly as they could without standing still they walked over to Sayid who had started for them.

"Nice to see you two this afternoon." Sayid said with a snickering grin.

Jack looked down as Kate slowly walked away from him with the remark.

"Where're you going?" He asked with a hint of worry in his voice.

She stopped and looked back to him.

"I'm gonna go grab some things real quickly." She smiled before turning and walking away.

With her smile Jack quickly grew one as he pushed knowing Sayid was standing there out of his head as he watched her walk away. He just watched the way her body moved in the sunlight and her hair swayed in the wind.

"Did you two enjoy yourselves last night?' Sayid asked with a hinting smile.

Jack turned to him from watching Kate.

"What?" He asked not hearing what Sayid said.

"I asked if you enjoyed yourself last night?" He repeated.

Jack blushed with a nervous laugh as he turned away trying to hide it.

"Yeah I did matter of fact." Jack replied with the most honest answer he could give to the question.

Kate walked off down the warding off the stares and just went along. Coming over to the supply stash of the beach dwellers she squatted down looking for a hairbrush.

"Heard about you and the doc." An all too familiar voice came from behind her.

She slowly stood up taking a deep breath preparing her self to face him. Turning around she was hit hard with that grin she despised, yet secretly liked.

"How'd you know?" She asked quickly turning back to the pile.

"Word travels fast round here Freckles. Especially when Cobain and Stay Puff are spreading it." Sawyer smirked looked down over her.

She said nothing to his comment. Just tried to let it roll off her shoulders.

"Was he any good?" He asked trying his hardest not to laugh at the thought.

Kate stood up and quickly turned around.

"It's none of you business." She snapped as she walked past him.

"No need to get feisty." He warned pretending to be offended.

"Looks like you two are on the mend." He said hurrying after her.

"I guess we are what's it to you?" She asked knowing she was going to get some smart-ass remark from him.

Coming up behind her he grabbed her arm and turned her around brining her close to him.

"If I remember we kissed.' He reminded her as their stare became heatedly intense.

"If I remember you kissed me." She spat in a low almost threatening voice.

"Same difference Freckles. You kissed me back" He smirked in satisfaction knowing he was getting to her as she looked away.

She already felt guilty enough that she kissed him in the first place now she had slept with Jack.

"You don't have to choose between us." He whispered with his breath the stench of cigarettes.

She slowly looked up to him with anger in her eyes mixed with fear.

"Leave me alone." She growled on the verge of tears as she ripped from his grips.

He let his arm down as she walked away. Turning he watched her walk up the beach and Jack came down to her. Here he came to the rescue. She was hurt and upset and he had to mend her.

"Kate what's wrong?" Sawyer heard him ask.

Kate didn't say anything and walked right past him. She couldn't face him after what Sawyer said. She just passed everyone and headed up to the trail. As Jack watched her walk away he turned to Sawyer his face full of anger.

"Dammit." Sawyer muttered under his breath not really in the mood to get a lecture from the all might doctor.

Turning back Jack had quickly snuck up on him. He tried to keep away from eye contact, but it was impossible when Jack was invading his close breathing space.

"What's you say to her?" He asked trying his best to keep from being loud.

Sawyer groaned at the already hate conversation.

"I didn't say anything to her." Sawyer smiled sarcastically.

"Don't lie to me! What did you say-"

"I'm not the one lying Jack." Sawyer said with compete seriousness as he hinted to Kate with a devious look up the beach.

Jack stood there staring him in the eyes trying to figure what he meant by that. Was he talking about Kate or just trying to be an asshole? Neither would have surprised him. Slowly keeping Jack's stare as long as possible, Sawyer turned and walked away heading from his tent leaving Jack to stand there and think about what he said.

It took Kate an hour or more to get to the caves. When she got there, there was another fresh batch of faces to watch her every move. Charlie and Hurley sat off staring and whispering as she walked in. She heard their snickering, but tried to let it go as she did on the beach. But now she was a little more on the edge.

She held her head low and walked with guilt. Guilt of Sawyer's words. The words that reminded her of the kiss they shared three days before. The words that sank to her soul and chilled her bones. They latched on and pulled her to the ground.

Walking over to her stuff she sat down and placed her head in her hands. She wanted to badly to cry, but she already had enough scandal on her hands. Sulking in her place she tried to tell herself to get over it. Convincing herself enough she pulled herself up and walked over to one of the caves looking for the hairbrush she never found.

Finding one she could use she came over to the mirror Jack had set up. Kate took a deep breath as she looked into it. It seemed so hard to look at herself in the mirror. To stare into her own eyes. Eyes filled with trouble and guilt. Her eyes shifted from herself to Jack as he walked into the caves. Looking around he came to see her and locked eyes with her.

Looking away she took the brush and became to comb it through her unruly hair. She shuttered as she felt him come up behind her. Closing her eyes she tried to keep calm as his hand came up to her side.

"You ok?" He asked with that sense of worry.

Kate swallowed hard as she nodded her head. Thinking it was the end of the conversation she went back to brushing her hair. Still he stood close watching her through the mirror.

"Just forget about him." He said.

Slowly almost sly he looked around seeing everyone had lost interest in them and were now to their own lives. Without warning he pulled her closer.

"When he starts to annoy you just think to last night." He whispered in her ear as she finally looked over to him in the mirror.

Closing her eyes as his breath flowed down her neck she got sick to her stomach. Thoughts of last night didn't help her it just aggravated the situation more. His hold on her was now a death grip and his gentle words of comfort were pressure points to destruction.

"Jack not now." She said near tears as she pulled away and pushed him back.

He stood there watching her walk off on the trail. He was confused about what had gotten into her. All he was trying to do was help her forget about Sawyer and that was just the problem. Sawyer. He must have said something to make her this upset.

Hours later Kate came in with the darkness. Her body hung and stumbled with exhaustion. Jack stopped what he was doing and watched her walk in and sit down. He dared not follow her earlier, but how he wished he would've. Something was eating at her and he wanted to help her. He wanted to get up walk over and ask what was wrong, but he couldn't. She had pushed him away twice and a third strike he was out.

It was odd he thought. Sitting there he thought back to the nigh before. She was so passionate and full of life. Now she sat before him depressed and deathly. It5 was weird how one word or event could change a person's personality in a day. He ached inside to not go to her, but he couldn't. She had to come to him.

Kate sat there in the same place and same position she had been when she walked in. Now everyone was asleep even Jack and now she watched them sleep. He mind was not on them, but Sawyer.

"You kissed me back."

She closed her eyes feeling so wrong. Feeling guilty about kissing Sawyer and having sex with Jack, but more so of Sawyer. Why did she feel worse about Sawyer? Was it because she had more feeling for Jack? She honestly didn't know why she felt this way. It was just a kiss. No it was more. It was a kiss she shared with Sawyer.

Shaking the feeling as best she could she realized she couldn't deal with these feelings alone, but she couldn't go to her confidant. Looking around she contemplated whether or not to go along with the thought. Glancing over she saw Jack sleeping no more then five feet from her. She began to feel guilty again. She never wanted to hurt him, but it might be too late. Too late if she didn't get up and head to the beach.

With newfound strength from seeing Jack she got up. Being as quiet as she could she walked to the trail. Her feeling fought inside of her pulling in this way in that. Without looking back Kate headed to the beach.

Her stomach ached with nervousness as her feet hit that sand. Shuffling her feet in the sand she passed the tents with sleeping people as the fires dimmed. Coming down to the shore she looked up to the moon remembering watching it the night before. Last night was so peaceful to her. Now even with the claming sounds of the gentle waves she couldn't bring herself to feel that way. The way she felt being held so close with Jack.

A single tear trickled down her cheek as she the night before played over in her mind. Then she replayed the kiss with Sawyer. Lowering her head at the thought she fought herself over the real reason she was out there and not back at the caves sleeping with Jack.

Looking back over her shoulder up the beach she saw his tent. The small fire inside displayed his lazy shadow as he sat there reading his book. Pushing herself she pulled away from the water and trudged up the sand towards his tent. To see her she looked as if walking to her execution.

Standing outside his tent she stood there staring through the small opening. Watching his sit there unaware of her. She stood there mentally trying to push herself. And with a deep breath she extended her shaky hand. Grasping the tarp she pulled it back.

"Sawyer I need to talk to you." She whispered walking in.