Chapter 14- Mischief and Rewards

Jack placed his hands behind Kate's head gently. He didn't want to let her go, maybe it was wrong how he was feeling, but he didn't want to think about that right now. Jack's hand slowly dropped to Kate's lower back. Somehow her arms had found their way around his neck. They were kissing as if they had known each other all of their life. He didn't know anything about her…except that she made him feel a certain way.

Kate opened her eyes, as she allowed her lips to continue to move with Jack's. His eyes were closed, and he seemed to really be enjoying their kiss as well. Warmth started to invade her cheeks, as Jack gently squeezed her side. She was ticklish there, and she wanted to laugh, but if she did then Jack would stop kissing her.

Jack squeezed her side again.

Kate couldn't hold it back any longer. She laughed, and then took her arms from around Jack so she could reach for his hand.

Jack stared back at her with his face red as a tomato, and breathing rapidly. He was so involved in his kiss with Kate that he hadn't been breathing. Smart move Jack.

Kate looked down embarrassed.

"Can we blame it on the moonlight?" Jack asked somewhat bashfully as he shook his head.

Kate crossed her arms, and looked down so Jack couldn't see her smile. "Yeah…the moonlight."

"Kate…I'm sorry about that. I um…usually don't go around attacking people."

Kate slowly looked back up at him. "Attacking is when something is uncalled for or…"

"Or what?"

Not wanted. Kate thought to herself.

Jack stared at Kate for a couple seconds longer. How was it possible that he felt something in that kiss that he hadn't with Sarah. He had known Sarah for almost three years, and Kate for only two days.

"Um…maybe we should go and find Sawyer?" Kate suggested.

"No…I mean Yes," Jack said quickly.

Kate smiled, "I hope he's still here."

"I have the keys remember," Jack said reaching in his pocket. His search turned up empty. "Um…damn, I must've dropped them."

Kate looked around in worry. They had to get going and if Jack dropped the keys in the woods it could take them forever to find them. "Maybe Sawyer has them?"

Jack nodded, "Maybe…"

He walked towards Kate.

She looked back at him, and then looked down.

Jack wasn't sure what to say. You're a good kisser Kate, I never felt that way before. Jack closed his eyes, he wasn't good at these kind of situations.

Kate tucked her hair behind her ear, and watched Jack as he walked away. She felt incredibly guilty, not only for kissing Jack…but also for liking it…actually enjoying it. Kate closed her eyes as mental images of Jack's lips on hers filled her brain, and then opening her eyes to see him kissing her back with passion. Just at the thought butterflies started to invade her stomach, here she was thinking about Jack, when she had more important issues. No matter how hard she tried she couldn't shake him.

"Shit, I can't believe him."

Kate looked up at Jack surprised.

He looked angry, and he was shaking his head in disapproval. "We have a problem Kate,"

"What's wrong?" Kate asked walking over to him, as she still tried to push kissing him out of her mind.

"Sawyer does have the keys, but unfortunately he has the car too."

Kate gasped, "No,"

Jack nodded, "Yeah, we're stuck here until he comes back…or we get another car. Which isn't a possibility, because we're not going to hold anyone hostage."

"No we're not, but we are going to get a car." Kate looked down embarrassed. She didn't want Jack to think less of her if she suggested they take someone's car.

Jack sat down, "This is unbelievable."

Kate frowned, "Well, we have no choice we have to drive, and if I stay here then…"

"What are you trying to say Kate?" Jack asked.

Kate bit her lip. "We need to take someone's car."

Jack shot up, "No Kate,"

"Well what am I supposed to do! Lay down on the ground and just wait for the Marshals to come after me…and have you forgotten Sawyer's "friends" in the black cars! Jack I know it's not the best way…but right now it's the only way."

Jack crossed his arms. He would do anything to help Kate get out of the country, but stealing a car… "Let me ask you a question Kate,"

"Okay," Kate replied.

"What if the person that we steal the car from calls the police, all he has to do is give them the type of car, and license plate number, what do we do then."

"Change the license plate." Kate said quickly as if it was procedure.

"How many times have you done this?" Jack asked.

"Two times,"

Jack looked away from her. The harder he fell for her the more he wanted to know about her, but he was scared his feelings would change if he knew to much.

"Are your opinions changing of me now?" She asked.

Jack shrugged, "No, but I still don't think it's smart to steal a car."

"So what are we going to do? Wait for Sawyer!" Kate exclaimed.

Jack looked up towards the sky in confusion. He didn't know what to do.

"We have no choice, we have to take someone's car, because I know Sawyer is not coming back."

"Why not?" Jack questioned.

Kate placed her hand to her forehead, "Because I made him angry."

Jack reached in his pocket for some asprin, and handed it to Kate. "Why do you think you made him angry."

"Because…" Kate declined to answer Jack's question and instead reached for the asprin. "Thanks, you carry this everywhere you go."

"Life can be stressful, situations come up…"

Kate looked up at him as she popped off the top. "Kind of like this one."

Jack nodded, "Where's my wallet?"

Kate raised an eyebrow, How could Jack's wallet and the keys be gone? She reached in her pocket for the letters she had scribbled to Jack and Sawyer the first night at The Quarter.

"They're gone too."

"What?" Jack said still looking anxiously.

"Sawyer must have took my letters, your wallet and the keys,"

Jack clenched his jaw. "So he took the car, and my credit cards…and what notes."

Kate shrugged, "They were just notes that I planned on giving to you and Sawyer, because I planned on leaving the first night at the Quarter."

"So then why did you stay?" Jack asked forgetting about Sawyer for a brief second.

Kate opened her mouth to speak, but at the risk of sounding like a fool in love with a stranger she closed her mouth. She didn't leave because that first night Jack had turned over on his side, and wrapped his arm around her. Kate had taken that as a sign that maybe she should stay. She knew she should've thrown the letters away when she had the chance.

(Break)

Dear Sawyer,

Hey, I just wanted to wish you the best of luck. I know you're on a mission…a very dangerous one, but despite everything I am glad that I met you. Yeah, you carry on like you're a one man island, that doesn't trust anyone in this world, but everyone needs someone to lean on. I hope you get that guy…the one that is after you. But if you want to why not just leave the country, if you left the country…I wouldn't have to worry about them coming after you as much. Well, I was born to run…so I can't wait too long, timing is everything. P.S. I saw you get up and go outside last night, when I looked outside…I saw you reading something, and your head was bent. Sawyer I know you care about something, and that seems to be it right there. Take care, and I'm glad I got the chance to meet you. Your brief partner in crime…Kate.

Sawyer placed down the note and then took a swig of his beer. The guy behind the counter came over to him.

"Is it a woman?"

Sawyer reached for the other note. So Kate did care after all. He decided to ignore the toothless bartender talking to him. What was wrong with this guy talking to him with a mouth full of gums…didn't he have any respect. Sawyer took another mouthful of his beer. He could still feel Kate's lips on his. She was the best damn kisser he had come across. And he had kissed a lot of women, so there was something special about Freckles. He brought the letter to his nose, if Kate had perfume he knew she would spray it on the letter. She just seemed like that kind of girl, lost, but yet sweet and caring inside. Sawyer slouched back in his seat. Well, he had left her. She was on her own with Jack, and they had no way of getting out of the woods.

"Excuse me Sir,"

Sawyer looked up, he was just about to open Kate's letter to Jack, but then stopped.

"Yeah?" Sawyer asked, not even attempting to be nice.

"I'm looking for someone, and I just wanted to know have you seen them."

Sawyer scowled, "I don't live around these parts…"

"Can you just take a look at her picture anyways."

Sawyer sighed, "Sure, what kind of damn town is this, first I'm trying to enjoy my beer and then Gumby over there comes over to me with no damn teeth…"

"Can you just take a look." The other guy asked more sternly.

Sawyer frowned, "Fine, lemme see it."

The man held out a picture to Sawyer.

Sawyer gingerly snatched the picture out of the guys hand and then took a look. He ignored the mug shot first and then looked down at the name. Catherine Austin. No, he didn't know any Catherine's. He picked up the picture to hand back to the guy, and then glanced briefly at the mug shot. He paused. She stared back at him with those hypnotizing eyes, but there was a sadness behind them. It was Kate.

"You recognize her don't you." The guy asked with anticipation.

Sawyer looked down at the picture once more. "Who the hell are you."

"I'm a U.S. Marshal, have you seen her, if you have then turn her in, because there is a warrant out for her arrest, and a 23,000 dollar reward for the man that turns her in."

Sawyer looked down at Kate's note once more.

"We all need a little money, and 23,000 that's more than a little bit of pocket change…I am going to ask you once more, have you seen her?" The Marshal grilled.

(Thanks guys for the awesome reviews once again. Yeah that was one shipper moment…but I got some even better ones in store. I'm sorry this chapter was short, but I'll update soon…and make the next one longer. Peace.)