Disclaimer: I do not own lost, Not Jack, Sawyer, Kate or Claire.
The next chapter, I realize it's a tad on the short side...but, it's an important chapter all the same. :)
Thank you to all the reviews already, and please keep reviewing :D
"You okay Kate? Looked kinda lonely out here…thought ya' might like some company"
Kate sighed with relief. The voice had a thick Australian accent, not a southern one, so she could breathe again.
She turned to face the intruder "oh, hey, Claire"
Claire smiled "Hey, heard someone moving around, figured I might come and see who it was. Glad I'm not the only nocturnal one around here."
Kate managed a strained smile "It's a nice night"
"Yeah, Yeah it is" Claire answered simply, moving to sit beside her.
"Back in Australia, as a kid, I used to lay out in my back yard, starring at the stars, the sky. I always thought it was so beautiful. Then my parents moved us to the city, never saw the stars much then. They're always so bright out here though"
Kate smiled genuinely this time "I used to do the same thing, when my dad took me hunting. Sitting around the campfire. I miss it sometimes"
"Well, constant camping tip on this island…" Claire sighed, absently rubbing her stomach.
Kate noticed this and peered at the rounded belly "Thought of any names yet?"
Claire sighed "Not really… I guess I'm hoping we'll be rescued and that I can think of names when we get back to the mainland. Don't want to think about having to have him here"
Kate sighed and dug her heels into the sand.
"Lets go swimming" She said suddenly, a mischievous smirk on her face.
Claire started giggling, nodded then rose to her feet.
The two moved to the waters edge, stripping down to their underwear and then diving into the freezing ocean.
Claire loved swimming, she could forget about how heavy she was. Kate loved swimming because she didn't have any worries in the water.
They moved to the shallows, the icy water lapping around their thighs.
"So, are you with Jack?" Claire asked, closing her eyes and letting her face bathe in the moonlight.
Kate groaned, she had been hoping to avoid this "I don't know"
Claire accepted that answer and Kate was grateful, she just wanted to enjoy her midnight dip and not worry about her heart and It's hasty decisions.
When the water finally grew far too cold to remain in, the two made their way to their clothes, teeth chattering, and lips blue.
"Well, I think I'm going to call it a night, I'll be here if you ever want to talk to someone." She smiled and left Kate to dry by the campfire.
Now alone again, Kate decided she would have to confront Sawyer in the morning, tell him what she knew and hope that it was for the best.
She just hoped that she was making the right choice.
Sawyer on the other hand, wasn't about to let it go, he wanted Kate, and nothing was going to stand in his way.
He watched the object of his affections from the flap on his make shift tent, watched her with the Aussie girl, playing around in the water. Watched her lay out beside the fire and close her eyes, falling asleep where she sat.
He watched her chest rise and fall with each breath, listened to her incoherent mumblings in her sleep, smiled at the way she curled to her side and hugged and imaginary figure.
He could watch her all he wanted, but he didn't have her.
Snarling when he saw and heard Jack come through the trees, he pushed himself back inside his tent, leaving the two lovers alone.
Jack spotted Kate by the fire and smiled. She was so beautiful when she slept, a movement caught his eye though, at Sawyers tent, and he scowled.
Catching himself, he was reminded that Kate was his and nothing Sawyer could say would change that. He'd won out in the end.
Lifting Kate in his arms, cradling her against his chest he moved her back to the caves, so she could finish her sleep more comfortably.
"Kate, come here! I can save you! Don't go that way, you'll die if you go that way"
It was Jack, he was shouting, on the other side of the bridge.
"Don't listen t' him darlin', you'll be safer over 'ere"
Sawyer… He was calling too.
She was confused, everything was swirling colour, why wouldn't it stop.
"Help me!" She screamed.
Suddenly they both turned their backs.
"Choose already" They both answered monotonously.
The bridge collapsed under her and then she saw nothing.
"Jack!" She screamed, shooting up from where she had lay sleeping.
Jack was at her side in an instant "You alright?"
Kate nodded, aware of how real everything felt now, the cave was hot, she was sweating desperately and she needed to get up and move.
"I'm ok, just a dream…wow, it's really hot in here"
Before Jack could reply she shot out of the cave and into the harsh sunlight.
She blinked a few times, adjusting to the light, before rushing through the trees and down into the soft sand of the beach.
She often wondered just why she'd finally caved and let Jack convince her to move to the caves.
"What ya running from freckles"
She groaned, "Not now Sawyer" She snapped.
Sawyer feigned heartbreak "I'm wounded"
"Good"
"Now, now, freckles, no need to get snappy"
"Well if you just left me alone in the first place.."
"Why would I do that?"
She opened her mouth to retort but closed it soon after.
Just let it drop, she told herself, just walk away.
"You still haven't explained that kiss Freckles, just why it was you came running down that beach, straight into me."
Kate closed her eyes "Drop it. Sawyer, just drop it"
"So you're with Jack now?"
She opened her eyes and starred at him "Yeah, I'm with Jack" She said uncertainly, "Yes, we're together, is that a problem?" She said with more conviction this time.
Sawyer nodded "It is actually"
It was at this point that Jack intervened, he'd come racing after Kate, and had heard the entire conversation, deciding that this was were he stepped in.
"Ah look, the good doctor to the rescue" Sawyer drawled lazily, casting a look at Kate.
Jack had had enough and lurched forward, fist connecting with Sawyers jaw.
Sawyer reacted, tossing a kick at Jack's stomach, and it escalated into a full blown fight.
Kate started screaming at them to stop, but neither man listened to her.
She pushed forward reaching for Jack's arm to stop the fight when a fist connected to her stomach.
She shot backwards, shock etched in her features.
The fight stopped immediately.