Chapter 32- Autumn Foliage
"Hey, we're back," Kate called.
Jack looked down self consciously, "I was hoping we could sneak back in, shower and get out of these ridiculous costumes."
Kate placed her hand on Jack's shoulder, "Why are you in such a rush to shed the farmer image, it's very relaxed, and as far from Jack Shepard as can be,"
Jack nodded, "I know,"
Sawyer stepped into the den with his shirt off, and wearing a pair of pajama pants with purple polka dots.
Kate snickered, "Sawyer that's very becoming,"
Sawyer passed Kate a sarcastic smile, "I always though purple polka dots would look nice on me Marilyn Monroe."
"I guess we're all playing dress up," Kate said smirking once again as she took another eyeful of Sawyer's high-water pajama pants.
"Taylor doesn't have much clothes that I can fit into…so what's goin' on farmer Jack?" Sawyer chuckled, "I think you out assed me."
"Come again?" Jack scowled.
Sawyer placed his hand below his chin, and then looked back at Jack. "I thought I looked like a joke until I got a look at you, damn Jacko I don't feel so bad anymore,"
"Jack looks nice," Kate said.
Sawyer wrinkled his nose, "You're just saying that because you like him."
Jack glanced at Kate, and then Kate smiled back at him.
"It ain't no secret, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if you'll did more than fill up a container of gas, I mean you''ll crazy kids did take a while."
"Are you trying to suggest something Sawyer?" Kate asked.
"Maybe I am sassafras," Sawyer looked Kate up and down, "I mean that dress is suggestive, how do you expect Jack, me, or any other guy to keep their eyes on yours doll?"
Kate blushed, "I'm going to take a shower,"
Jack pulled off the cowboy hat he was wearing, "First and last time I'm playing dress up."
"Hold on Jack, you never went trick or treating?" Kate asked.
"I thought you were taking a shower," Sawyer said sitting back further in the chair. His pajama pants rode up higher.
"You're well suited for a flood Sawyer," Kate commented before turning back around to face Jack.
"And you're well suited for a night of fun with me baby cakes…did I ever tell you how much I like to play dress up games before se…"
"Sawyer!" Kate exclaimed.
Chloe came into the den with her Barbie dolls in hand, "You like to play dress up too?"
Sawyer frowned, "A whole different kind of dress up little girl, but I usually rather the lady friend do the dressin up."
Kate sighed, "Sawyer,"
Jack walked towards the back.
"Is he jealous?" Sawyer chuckled, "I'm sensing another hysteric Jacks episode coming on,"
"Where is Taylor?" Kate asked cutting Sawyer off.
"Making dinner," Chloe said.
Kate smiled, "Thanks sweetie,"
"Uhuh, does your husband know how to drive one of those big trucks! The ones that eat the corn and the grass?"
"My husband?"
"Jack," Sawyer filled in.
"Oh he's not my…"
"Yes he is!" Chloe exclaimed.
Kate closed her mouth, and simply nodded.
"You two would be so pretty together…I have a doll that I named Kate…and a man doll named Jack…and guess what Katie!"
"What?" Kate asked with a smile.
"Kate and Jack are getting married tonight, I'm performing a ceremony, and Sawyer said he was going to be there…so will you come?"
Kate watched as Jack walked into the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. He smiled at her, and then closed the door behind him.
"The kid's waiting for an answer freckles," Sawyer replied.
"Oh um…" Kate placed her hand to the side of her face.
"It's just dolls Kate-Kate, ain't it something how the kid can even tell that you and Jack got some heavy duty feelings for each other?"
"Should I go and make you an invitation Kate?" Chloe asked.
"Sure," Kate said.
"Yay!" Chloe jumped up and then clapped her hands excitedly. "I'll make one for Jack too!"
Sawyer watched as Chloe ran off, "So what were we talking about sugar?"
"I don't know, did you tell her that Jack and I were married?"
"Why would I tell her that? I've got more important things to do than entertain little kids," Sawyer stood up, and slightly pulled down his pajama bottoms. "I hate these damn pants,"
The bathroom door opened, and Jack stepped back out.
"Well, well, speak of the blushing husband," Sawyer groaned.
Jack raised an eyebrow in Sawyer's direction. "I'm not going to even ask him what he's talking about, I was quick so you can get showered Kate,"
"Thanks Jack,"
Jack nodded.
Kate walked over to him, and then reached outwards.
"What are you doing?"
Kate ran her hands along Jack's cheek, "You still had a little soap on your face."
Jack chuckled, "I was trying to be fast."
"I appreciate it,"
Sawyer crossed his arms, "I hate to break up this very touching moment, but I offered to go out and get some wood for Taylor so she could start using the fireplace."
"Okay, are you asking for help?" Jack asked.
Sawyer frowned, "No, I'm just saying…because I'm not trying to run into anyone,"
"This is a slow town, but you still have to be careful Sawyer,"
Sawyer nodded, "I'm going out,"
"Be careful Sawyer," Kate repeated.
Sawyer didn't respond he just headed outside and closed the door behind him.
"I'm going to shower,"
Jack looked around, "I'm not sure what I'm going to wear…but I definitely don't want to wear…"
"Sawyer's purple polka dot hot pants,"
Jack chuckled and shook his head, "I've never seen anything so ugly,"
Kate gently slapped Jack on the arm, "I know,"
"Okay, go on and take a shower before Sawyer comes back and takes another shower, and leaves you with cold water,"
"That is a thing Sawyer would do, I'll be out soon. Try and find me some clothes,"
"On it Kate,"
Kate closed the door slightly and then peeked through the slight opening as Jack walked away. He was so incredible.
"Hey there polka dots," Taylor called.
Sawyer turned around, "You gave me these pants, I'm gonna get em' dirty so you got to throw them away."
"They are ugly," Taylor said with a smile. "I'm going to go out later and get some clothes for you guys,"
"No you don't have to do all that,"
"Well you'll need clothes," Taylor reasoned.
Sawyer shrugged, "We'll be fine, you have to take care of your kid. Kate, Jack and I will make a way…hell we always have."
"Sawyer stop arguing…for now you're adventure has stopped and you're staying here, so just shut up."
"Shut up huh?"
Taylor nodded, "Yeah I said it,"
Sawyer smirked, "Damn woman,"
"Besides I like Kate and Jack, I have a special mission planned."
"Special mission, What's that turn us into the authorities?"
"No, I want to help them get together, I mean I have a soft spot for romance and…"
Sawyer pretended to gag, "You still got your head stuck in them Harlequin novels?"
"How did you know,"
"Some things don't change,"
Taylor turned towards the door, "I should go check on the spaghetti."
Sawyer rubbed his stomach, "I'm as hungry as a fox…and there ain't nothing better than a plate of your spaghetti."
"You remember it?"
"Hell yeah, that was the best damn spaghetti in Tennessee!"
Taylor tilted her head to the side, "Not better than your Grandmother's…rest her soul."
Sawyer looked down, "I'm going to go gather some wood, and if you got an axe cut down some trees."
"Sawyer, you don't have to cut down trees."
"Small ones, Country Sunshine,"
"You and your nicknames."
"Don't ya love them?"
"Sometimes, I don't have an axe though so…"
"Taylor, where are you dear?"
Sawyer's aqua saucers quickly shifted towards the side of the house where an older African American woman was making her way over to them.
Taylor's mouth dropped open, "Oh God, that's Cecile Von Amberg…she's Chloe's babysitter…um…you have to hide Sawyer,"
"Can't I meet her?"
Taylor's mouth dropped open, "No, her son is the head of the police department in town."
"Well shit!" Sawyer exclaimed.
Taylor looked around for a place for Sawyer to hide, "Um…in the outside shed."
She linked her arm in his and then ran towards the shed, "Get in,"
Sawyer jumped in the shed, his foot tripped over a lawnmower and he went crashing down. "Oh fu…"
Taylor promptly closed the shed.
"There you are darling, I was looking all over for you!"
Taylor smiled, "Oh well I was just um…observing the um trees…the leaves are slowly starting to change and…"
"I hear my son has hired a new detective, his name is Brian, and he sounds just like your type."
Taylor nervously glanced towards the shed, "Oh you know I'm not into dating…"
"He's tall blonde, blue eyes, he may even look like that Saw…"
Taylor's mouth dropped, "What, huh," She linked her arm in Cecile's and led her away. "I'm to busy to date, but thanks,"
"Let me watch Chloe, and you go ahead and enjoy yourself, besides I get kind of lonely I love having Chloe over,"
Taylor bit her lip, "I…"
"It's set, I'll tell my son that you're interested in Brian the detective , and we'll work things out from there,"
"Cecile," Taylor sighed.
Cecile waved her hand. "You deserve some happiness sweetheart, by the way I swear I heard a man talking to you earlier,"
"Um, no."
Cecile smiled, "My old age must be getting to me, give Chloe my love."
Taylor nodded.
Jack peeked through the curtains as the lady walked away. She had a normal expression, so hopefully she didn't suspect anything.
Kate opened the door and closed it behind her.
Jack turned around startled. "Kate, you scared me,"
"Sorry," Kate held her towel around her body. "Did you find any clothes,"
"I was looking until I heard someone,"
"Was it the cops?" Kate asked scared.
"No, I think I heard her say that she was Chloe's babysitter,"
"Did she see Sawyer?"
"I'm not sure," Jack stepped away from the window. "Staying at Taylor's is really convenient, but we're risking their lives."
"Which is why we can't stay,"
"But we have no money. It's hard to live on the run without it you know,"
Kate sat down on the edge of the bed, "So it seems like we're stuck until we get money,"
Jack sat down next to her, "Pretty much,"
"By the way your invited to a wedding tonight?"
Jack blinked, "Come again,"
"Get this, Chloe named two of her dolls after us and she's marrying them tonight."
Jack smiled, "Hmm…she's a smart child,"
"I guess she's trying to tell us something?"
"Maybe." Jack said looking down.
Kate pulled up her towel when she realized it was sagging a little around her breast area. "You're checking me out,"
"What?"
"You were, Jack you were looking at my…"
"No, I wasn't I was…"
"Checking out the fabric on the towel?"
Jack blushed, "Yeah,"
Kate bumped into Jack with her arm, "Yeah okay Doc,"
There was a knock on her door.
She got up, and then placed down her plate of food. "Who is it?"
"Detective Mullins,"
Sarah opened the door. She feared the worst. What if Jack was dead. "Hi Detective, have you found him."
"No,"
Sarah sighed, and then placed her hand to her stomach.
"We believe that he is being held hostage by two criminals."
Sarah placed her hand over her mouth, "What if they hurt him, what if he never comes back…and I have to do this on my own. You have to find him, I need him back here, we both do."
The detective looked down at Sarah's stomach which was just starting to show, "You're pregnant,"
"I was going to tell him before he left, but I never got the chance. Jack doesn't even know I'm pregnant, he doesn't even know."
"I assure you we our doing our best to track down Jack, and the criminals that took him hostage. We're working with family members of the wanted persons involved, and so far they are willing to help, but I stopped by here for another reason."
Sarah nodded, "Okay,"
"We want to enlist you in the witness protection program."
"What?" Sarah asked startled.
"Jack's in trouble, because of the company he is with, and we're aware that we are not the only party that wants to find Jack and his capturers, people want them dead, and if they don't find him, we have reason to believe that they will come after family and friends…which is why we need to protect you."
(Hey you'll thanks for the reviews! I like Jack, Kate and Sawyer in North Carolina. They NEED a break! So even though danger might pick up around them, I think I'm going to keep them safe for a while…and work on the JATE…I might toss in some Sawyer…because he still likes her, but no worries…I support JATE…Oct, I'm planning for Jack to run into Sarah sometime, but not yet…this story has a LONG way to go…thanks once again for the support, you'll are awesome, and I will update soon! Peace.)