Chapter 26- Deadly Liasons

"We'll stay here for the night," Sawyer mumbled.

Kate looked up for the first time in two hours. Sawyer parked in front of a rail over looking the Virginia Appalachians. She wasn't sure if it was smart for them to stop anywhere, but then again what choice did they have?

The whole way there, Jack had been muttering something to himself. Kate only made out a couple of words, and they were murderer, and let down.

Sawyer killed the engine, "Look at that view, ain't it purty."

Kate ignored him, she didn't feel like talking. Tonight was rough, and all she wanted to do was close her eyes, and forget about everything. Especially Jack lumping her together with Sawyer like they were the worst humans in the history of the world.

Sawyer swung open his door, and then stepped onto the gravel. "Smell that crisp air."

Kate crawled out after him. She closed the door, and watched as Sawyer walked towards the ledge.

"You need to relax." Jack said distantly.

Kate was surprised that he was even talking to her. What he had said earlier hurt. "I will,"

Jack slowly nodded.

Kate waited for him to apologize, but Jack just turned away. She looked down, and then rested against the truck placing her hand to her forehead. What if this was the last straw for them? Kate watched as Jack walked towards the woods. She wasn't ready for their relationship to be over, because it hadn't even started.

"Where's he goin?" Sawyer asked walking towards Kate.

Kate placed her hand to the bandage Jack had put on earlier. "I don't know, but if I told him to stay I have a feeling he wouldn't listen to me."

"Why didn't you go after him?"

Kate scowled, "Because he wants to be alone. I'm not going to force myself onto him if he doesn't want me."

Sawyer chuckled.

"What's so funny?"

"This is funny Freckles, that's what's so funny."

"How is any of this funny?"

"Well Jack and his mood swings, I don't know how you handle it. If I was a woman and I was in love with a crazy ass fool like that…then I would've shot myself by now."

Kate sighed, "You act like he doesn't have a reason to be upset. He just shot a guy to save your life."

"No, let's get this right cupcake, the good ol' Doc didn't shoot that man for me…he did it for you. If Jacko had his way then I would be dead already."

"He doesn't want you to die, don't be ridiculous."

"Well, how about I solve this. I don't care what the Doc wants." Sawyer said matter of factly.

"Well I do," Kate said.

"Well then why are you standin' around me? Why don't you go find him, and make sure he doesn't try to kill himself or something."

Kate opened her mouth to speak, but she was feeling a little light headed.

"I need to find some more people to con, so I get back my fortune."

Kate closed her eyes in disbelief.

Sawyer kicked at some dirt beneath his boots. "I need money, so I can get away from all of this shit. I need money so I can get away from Jack….once we have enough money I'll go one way…and you'll can go the other."

"Sawyer…"

"I don't want to stay with you two…why the hell would I wanna do that…when you'll are practically married…hell Jacks minus as well give you that ring he got for his fiancée."

"I'm not going to marry him."

Sawyer raised an eyebrow, "Is that right cupcake."

Kate rolled her eyes at Sawyer's nickname. "I just…don't think I'm the right one for Jack…I thought so, but I'm not sure anymore."

Sawyer sat down on the ledge. "Well then who's right for ya?"

Kate shrugged, "People like me, don't deserve to be with anyone."

"Someone out there is right for you." Sawyer said.

Kate looked away. She wanted it to be Jack, but of course she had to be wrong.

"Hey Freckles," Sawyer whispered.

Kate opened the door, sat down in the seat, and then rested her head. "Yeah?"

Sawyer's eyes widened, and a mischeivious smile formed on his face. "You better go look for Jack before he runs away…after all he is runnin' man."

"Speaking of running Sawyer, why are we stopping? I hope you realize that we all were nearly killed tonight…and not just once…but twice."

"I realize that suga."

Kate groaned.

Sawyer smiled, "But what's life if you don't ever stop and smell the roses."

"What roses, there is nothing rosy about our situation." Kate spat.

Sawyer's smile transformed into a smirk. "We have our lives, we got Vinnie's truck…yeah, the bastards dead, but we're alive."

"Sawyer…"

"Yeah, sexy mama."

"Can you please stop talking?"

"I'm sorry by the way." He mumbled quickly.

Kate stared back at him shocked, "What did you just say?"

Sawyer turned away from her, "I'm not repeatin' it."

Jack crouched down and rested his head in his hands. He was going crazy, with regret. Jack closed his eyes, and tried to erase the look on Kate's face, when he had insulted her. He couldn't handle the fact that he had killed someone. All Kate wanted to do was help him, but she couldn't help him.

Jack took in a shaky mouthful of air. He had to fix himself. His body gave way underneath his feet, and fell against the dirt. Jack stared up at the trees that surrounded him. Going back to L.A. wasn't even an option anymore.

Staying alive had been his main goal…but now he didn't care. He probably pushed Kate into Sawyer's arms, and what hurt him the most was she didn't even come after him. Jack closed his eyes. But why should Kate care?

Jack looked around him. In his pocket was the letter Kate had written. He fought back tears. He had been crying too much for his own liking. His father would tell him that he was giving up…but what did it matter now because he had given up on his father a long time ago.

Jack reached in his pocket with shaking hands. He bit his lip as it started to quiver. He couldn't focus on loving Kate anymore, not after killing that man. Jack's hands grazed the note. The note that seemed to have taken a lot of time to write. As he balled it in his fists, he felt a feeling of emptiness close over him.

Jack nodded to himself. He had to do it, he had to let Kate go. And after he got her safely out of the county then he was going to turn himself in to the authorities. Jack tossed the note into the brush, and then rested his head back against the dirt. He screwed up every important relationship in his life, playing the sane one only drove him crazier. He wanted to be the one to fix Kate…but he couldn't fix her when he was already broken.

Jack closed his eyes, and drifted off. Kate was in the back of his mind. He saw her dancing and smiling, and then he saw himself coming into the room. He was smiling, and so was she, they were happy, and she wanted him to dance with her.

A pathetic smile crossed his face. If only that was how there lives really were.

"I'm worried about him," Kate said.

Sawyer leaned against the truck. "Maybe he'll come back."

"I'm going to go find him." Kate said.

"Hold on there Xena, you need you're rest."

Kate tried to get up, but Sawyer placed his hand on her shoulder. "Sawyer, Jack's going through a lot…he needs someone…"

"He needs someone to what? Stand there and wait for him to punch the shit outta them. Jack's not playing with a full deck of cards right now and I don't want you going after him."

"So you care Sawyer?" Kate asked trying to get up once again.

"No, I don't." Sawyer lied.

"Well, I'm going to go find him." Kate said.

Sawyer stopped her once again, "Let me,"

Kate sighed, "Fine,"

"If I don't come back then that might mean they got me…but that's okay as long as Jack returns right."

"Go Sawyer," Kate said softly.

"Lemme go find Jack…Hey Jack cat where are ya?"

Kate rolled her eyes.

Jack walked back towards the truck. He watched as Sawyer leaned against the edge as he talked to Kate. Jack balled his fists. It was Sawyer's fault. Sawyer was the one that dragged him into this in the first place.

Sawyer was the one that held him at gun point, and he was the one that slammed that vase over Kate's head. Jack clenched his jaw, And what got to him the most was Sawyer acted like all of this was okay. Maybe it was okay for Sawyer to kill a man, and to continue on with his life, but it wasn't okay for Jack.

Jack felt tired and drained of energy. All of his emotions and thoughts had zapped anything he had left. He staggered over to the truck.

Sawyer looked up at him, "Where have you been Jacko?"

Jack wiped at the back of his mouth with his hand.

"Fine then don't talk." Sawyer muttered.

"Why the hell are they after you Sawyer, that's what I want to know? What did you do to them? Did you steal their money, sleep with someone's wife, kill someone? What the hell did you do!"

Kate turned around surprised.

Sawyer stepped away from her, and then walked over towards Jack.

Kate got out of the car. "Jack…" She warned.

He ignored her, "Sawyer, you dragged me and Kate into this shit, you tell me what the hell you did you son of a bitch or I will kill you right here!"

Kate's mouth dropped open. Jack, what was going through his head.

Sawyer smiled back at Jack smugly. "Why should I tell you? You ain't my daddy."

Jack raised his fists. He hated seeing Sawyer so smug. If Kate died then it would be on Sawyer's shoulders.

"Punch me, I dare ya." Sawyer taunted.

"Listen to me Sawyer, don't provoke him, he's going through a lot." Kate warned.

"He's a maniac, Look at him Kate is that what you want…is that what you wanna settle down wi…"

Before Sawyer could finish Jack tackled him to the ground.

Kate jumped back before they brought on Concussion #2. "Jack, Sawyer stop!" She screamed.

They couldn't hear her because they were so busy attacking one another.

Jack slammed his fists into Sawyer's jaw. Pain surged through his fists but he didn't care. He hated Sawyer, and he wanted him as far away from Kate as possible…even if that meant killing him. Jack had already killed one man tonight, what difference would two make.

(Hey guys thanks for the reviews!)

Sunny 102- You're right…I'm going to keep it just J,K, and S.

Rain1657- Jack has officially lost it…but no worries he will be returning to join the sane sometime soon…lol

Liadan Lady of Seven Waters- Greetings from America! And it's so awesome to know I have a fan in Germany! Glad you like the story so far.

October Sky- That's such a huge compliment! Thanks a lot! And no you're never boring…I love the feedback.

Thanks to Angel and Bwcheer as well!