Chapter 3

The other side of the wall was actually a busy brightly lit street in what Kate figured was a residential area of a city.

"Where are we?" she asked Boone as she looked around watching cars drive by and people on foot hurrying to their destination.

"Boise, Idaho. You and Sawyer have been living here for about 3 months." He explained. "Up in that apartment." He pointed across the street to the older building in the middle of two smaller ones.

"We got off the island?" she whispered incredulously not quite believing they were ever going to really get rescued.

Boone shrugged his shoulders and looked away. "Looks like it huh? Actually, we're about a year and a half in the future after you guys got off the island."

"But how did I not end up in jail?" she wanted to know. "I should have been arrested once they figured out who I was."

"Except that they didn't figure out who you really were in the beginning. Sawyer came up with a plan of how to escape once you got on the mainland. "

Kate looked over at Boone still confused trying to figure out how she had slipped past all the authorities that must have been involved in the rescue. Surely she would have been asked her identity prior to getting on any rescue vessel.

Boone continued with his explanation sensing her confusion. "Jack came up with having you use Joanne's passport to get you off the island." He stated softly.

"Jack did?" Kate's voice was barely audible. She couldn't believe he would risk something like that for her.

Boone nodded. "He wanted to make sure you were safe. Didn't want you to go to jail…even if he thought it would have been better to face your legal problems and stop running. They didn't figure it out until a few days after you and Sawyer had taken off. You've been hiding since."

Kate looked up at the building Boone had pointed to earlier. Not the coziest looking dwelling. It had to be at least 25 years old. The front stoop had a few sparse looking trees and potted flowers the landlord had planted in hopes of making it look more inviting. Boone took her hand and pulled her across the street.

"Come on. Let's check out your place."

Instead of walking through the door like he had previously done with the wall Boone turned the door knob and opened the door before the two walked through. They went into the quiet hallway darkened partially by the burnt out lights that had yet to be replaced. A baby could be heard crying in the distance behind one of the doors. Taking the elevator to the 3rd floor they soon found themselves in front of Apt #315. This time Boone put his hand up and walked through the door pulling Kate along with him

Glancing sideways at him Kate smirked. "No doorknob this time?"

"Door's locked" he stated.

Inside they found a low lit living room furnished with a tired couch and chair and 2nd hand tables. A small multicolored rug with frayed edges had seen betters days too. Across the couch was a TV on a plain stand. Kate moved further into the room and saw a couple of pictures of her and Sawyer on the table holding a lamp. They were smiling and looked happy. Other than that the room seemed to have a dreary feeling to it.

"So we live here?" she asked.

"Ah huh. You and Sawyer don't tend to stay in one place for long periods of time. Just long enough to make some money and decide where to go next."

"Some things don't change." Kate said sadly more to herself than Boone. Even though she knew back on the island that if rescue came it would mean a return to life on the run or life behind bars a small part of her couldn't help but hope that somehow she figured a way to change her fate.

All of a sudden they heard a key in the lock of the front door turn and the door start to open. Both turned around at the sound.

"Do we hide?" Kate whispered.

"Don't need to, "the young man explained. "Nobody can see us."

The door opened and Kate gasped. She saw herself walk through the door.

"Okay, this just got weirder." She stated.

Boone shook his head. "Not really. We're here to see what your life could be like if you stay with Sawyer. Technically, you're just an observer."

Kate watched as Future Kate made her way into the empty apartment looking exhausted. She put down her backpack on the kitchen table and hung her jacket on the hook on the wall.

"Sawyer, are you home?" she called out. Silence greeted her. "Great, "she said to herself, "Another late night."

Padding through the living room she continued into the bedroom as Boone and Kate followed. Future Kate started undressing preparing to take a shower. Kate saw Boone staring at her future self as she took off her shirt and quickly brought her hand up to shield his eyes.

"Excuse me" she commented.

"What? I've seen naked women before" Boone protested trying to get her hand away.

"Not this naked woman" Kate replied "A little privacy please."

Boone sighed and put his hand down and tapped his foot while he waited for future Kate to finish removing her clothing before grabbing her robe and going into the bathroom.

"And we don't need to follow me in there either. "Kate stated. "I think we just assume I…she…she's taking a shower and leave it at that."

Boone chuckled. "You're no fun."

"So tell me about myself. Besides being a fugitive, I mean. Where am I coming from this late?" Kate had glanced at the alarm clock next to the bed and saw it read '2:30 a.m.'

"Actually, you've got a job working at a strip club…"

"A strip club?" she interrupted. "I don't think so. There's no way I would be stripper. Not even if I'm running for my life"

Boone put up his hands to stop her argument. "No, no," he laughed. "You're working there as a bartender. No stripping. The tips are decent and the owner doesn't ask a lot of questions. He likes the idea of having 'hot' looking women serving the drinks too."

Kate blushed slightly at Boone describing her as "hot". She still remembered what a caring and gentle young man he had been on the island, always trying to lend a helping hand whenever he could. His death had been a big blow to the survivors having lasting effects especially on his sister Shannon and Jack who never quite seemed to get over not being able to save the young man.

"And where's Sawyer? "She had to admit she was anxious to see the sharp tongued Southern.

Boone shrugged his shoulders. "Hard to tell with Sawyer. He's always working one end of a deal or another. When you guys lived in New Orleans he came up with an idea to sell tourists these tickets for a special VIP party during Mart Gras. Party that included special seating for the parade and unlimited drinks and beads. Only problem…"

"There was no party." Kate finished the sentence.

Boone shook his head. "But you guys made enough money to move onto Miami, Florida. There he hooked up with another guy to illegally ship Cuban cigars."

Kate shook her head as she listened. One scheme after another. She guessed Sawyer had gone back to doing what was natural to him.

"Is he still coning women for their money?" she asked not sure she wanted to hear the answer.

Boone shook his head. "No. He promised to stay away from that."

Kate nodded her head and looked around the bedroom as they hear the water continue to running in the other room. The bedroom was as plainly furnished as the living room with just a picture of Kate and Sawyer at what looked like Marti Gras with two other people she didn't recognize. Future friends? She thought to herself and then quickly dismissed the idea. Probably not long terms friends. Hard to keep friends when you have to pick up and move at the drop of a hat. Sighing she sat on the edge of the bed. The beautiful bedspread caught her attention and she ran her hand over it feeling how soft it felt.

"Sawyer gave you that on your last birthday. Said it was easy to carry with you guys and would make wherever you went feel more like home." Boone explained.

Kate smiled to herself as she thought of the sweet gesture. Sawyer trying to make her feel better about the situation she had put them in. Maybe all this dreary and bland environment wasn't so bad…not if she and Sawyer were happy.

Suddenly the shower stopped and a few minutes later Future Kate emerged with her hair wrapped in a towel and her robe on. Bending over she took off the towel and started drying her hair with it. At the same time they heard the front door open and close.

"Hey Freckles, you up?" a male's voice rang out in the other room.

Sawyer was home.