Chapter 3

Last night. He tried to remember what happened last night. Kate coming to his house, going around as if she owns it. What is she that fairy tale girl invadin' the seven dwarfs' house snoopin' her nose on everythin' even demandin' the dwarfs take a shower! Sawyer smiled. Then he stopped smiling, realizing that all he could remember about last night was Kate.

He stared at her. It was inexplicable how she can disarm him, how she can leave him vulnerable. He stared at her, trying to explain to himself what is it in her that makes him just want to take her in without any questions. Questions, damn, I didn't even get around askin' her how she came to be here. Thought she was goin' to prison for somethin'. And why wasn't she with the Doc? Why is she here with me? Then he stopped staring; he didn't want her to wake up and catch him staring at her like that.

He stared at nothingness, but continued to remember last night and Kate. He tried to organize his thoughts and questions; and just when he told himself he'd have to get his answers as soon as she wakes up, a soft "hey" brought him back to the present. He turned his head to Kate; she was now awake.

Uncanny timing, Freckles, now what will my first question be…, he quickly said to himself. But almost as quickly, he realized he couldn't bring himself to ask her the questions as he had planned to a while ago. Woman, what is it with you that makes me so...

"Hey, how was your sleep" Kate repeated.

"Freckles, with you beside me, I would have preferred it if we were up all night and we didn't have to sleep at all," Sawyer grinned, trying to hide his vulnerability.

"God Sawyer, do you really think and talk like that at what," Kate strained to look at the digital alarm clock that was on the table at Sawyer's side of the bed, "at 2:14 P.M.," Kate finished, confused with the time. "O, your clock needs new batteries," suddenly remembering.

"Trust me, Freckles, what goes on in my head is much more interestin' than what comes out of my mouth," flashing a mischievous smile. "But what I can do with my mouth is way much more electrifyin'," he added, hoping that nothing would give away what was really going on inside his head.

"I'm sure," Kate smirked. "Your clock needs new batteries," she repeated. She got up from the bed, hoping that Sawyer would realize that she wasn't in the mood for banter.

"Yeah and you need to tell me how and why you're here, sweetheart!" Sawyer demanded a bit too hard. He could tell Kate was surprised, but he was surprised with himself too. The words and the tone came out as if involuntarily.

"What's the matter, Freckles? Surely you ain't thinkin' I can just let you stay here and control my house, sayin' who gets to sleep on the bed, without me gettin' my answers," Sawyer continued after noticing that Kate wasn't going to say anything without a bit more prodding.

"Fine. Fair enough. You want answers, what are your questions," Kate finally replied, still standing, almost frozen. She still hadn't figured out what she'd tell Sawyer had he asked all his questions. She'd just tell him the truth, she finally decided, it would only cause more trouble if she didn't. Besides, Sawyer would know if she was lying.

"My question? Freckles, where's the fun in plain question-and-answer." Sawyer slowly leaned back, put his hands behind his head, and exaggeratedly put one leg on top of the other. "We'll play a game…Fact or Fart, " he announced.

"Fact or fart? Another college game Sawyer," Kate asked, remembering that one time they played 'I Never'.

"Nah, I just thought of it now so don't be cruel."

"Sawyer, I'm really not in the mood for another one of your games."

Sawyer ignored her complaint and proceeded to explain the game instead. "I'll ask you a question, you'll give me an answer, it can be the truth or it can be a lie. Then I'll have to guess whether what you're telling me is fact or fart. That simple, Freckles. Surely you can handle that."

"Sure," Kate felt somehow relieved that she wouldn't have to linearly narrate everything. "But how are you going to know the truth if what I initially said was a lie," Kate continued, finally taking a seat on the bed right beside Sawyer's crossed legs. Her energy level was beginning to pick up.

"Well the rule is, after my guess, you'll have to tell me if what you said is fact or fart. If it's fart, you'll still have to tell me the truth," Sawyer replied matter-of-factly, trying to conceal that he was actually thrown off-guard for a bit.

"Where's the fun in that, Sawyer," giving him a taste of his own medicine. "The rule is if I told you a lie and you guessed right that what I said was fart, that's when I tell you the truth. If you said that the answer I gave was a fact when it was really a lie, I wouldn't have to tell you anything. That a deal?"

"You got it, Freckles," Sawyer agreed, extending his hand signaling a deal.

"Very well then," Kate replied in a voice that made her sound like a host of a TV show contest. She extended her hand with only her pinky sticking out, bringing it across Sawyer's ready handshake.

"What kind of sign language is that," Sawyer asked, faking irritation.

"Pinky promise."

"What promise? Freckles this ain't a slumber party, you know," Sawyer grimaced, his hand still outstretched.

Kate instantly grabbed his hand and forcibly intertwined his pinky with hers.

"What the… Fine. Enough of you dillydallyin'. I need my answers."

Sawyer's face suddenly became serious. Kate knew she had to give him answers and even the game wouldn't make it too easy for her.

"First question. Did you kiss the Doc while we were on the island," Sawyer grinned. "Did you kiss him ever, ever in your life," he added, realizing the possible loopholes of his first question.

"Well, when we were rescued, everyone was actually going around hugging and kissing each other," Kate replied, there was a wistful smile on her face as if she was remembering that moment. "Jack and I might have taken all the hugging and kissing a bit too far," she added.

Sawyer didn't say anything. He doesn't know whether or not what she said was true, but just hearing her say something like that almost made him go crazy. Not knowing how to react, he just looked at her intently. Kate thought he was trying to find clues on her face, checking if her voice would quiver or if she would look to the left, if she would show any classic sign of lying.

"Come on Sawyer, you have to guess whether that's fact or fart," Kate spoke, attempting to distract Sawyer.

"Fart," Sawyer said tersely, successfully hiding his uneasiness, his jealousy. Although he still wasn't sure whether or not something happened between Jack and Kate, he wasn't going to admit it to himself.

"Fine," Kate conceded, did he see something on my face that made him know I was actually lying?

"Knew it," Sawyer eased up a bit, careful not to sound too delighted. "Next question," he quickly added, "Why are you here with me and not with Jack?

"I can't believe you, Sawyer. Of all the questions you could ask me, all you can think about is Jack. What is it again that you feel about Jack really," Kate teased, her eyes lighting up.

"Well, we didn't say that I have limited questions, did we. For all we know, I'm gonna be askin' question after question 'til my clock finally learns how to tell the right time."

"Well, if it's going to take us so long, then you better go get us something to eat first. I'm insanely starving."

"Fine. Get up. We'll eat out," Sawyer announced as he got up and grabbed his wallet from the bedside table.

"I can't," Kate whispered, her energy seemed to suddenly die down.

"O, don't tell me. You're hiding from the cops are you, Freckles. You gave them a run, that's why you're not in some rotten prison right now."

Kate looked down. She decided to tell him the truth this time.

"Sawyer, the reason why I got off the island, the reason why I'm not in some rotten prison, is because the police, the other survivors, pretty much everyone I know," Kate paused. Sawyer saw the pain in her eyes. "The reason why I'm here," Kate started again, "is because everyone thinks I'm already dead."