CHAPTER 6

Four days. It had been four days since Kate woke up. And he still hadn't gone to see her. He told himself he didn't need too. That there would really be no point of his going. He didn't need to see her. But he knew the real reason why he wasn't. He didn't want what he had so desperately been trying to escape these past few days to come rushing back to him.

Didn't want to have to face the emotions that had been raging thorough him ever since he laid eyes on Ethan holding a knife to her throat. Rage had burned through him thick and hot. Blazing brightly it had taken all of his self control not to let it pour out on Ethan.

But something else had been there too. Something that made him slightly apprehensive. Something like fear. He'd never really felt fear before like the kind he'd felt. There had been that time back when he was eight and his mom had ordered him under the bed. He had felt fear then. But it had been nothing like the fear he'd felt over her.

This fear had taken over his whole body. Almost paralyzing him. And it hadn't gone away once Ethan had died. Instead it stayed there the whole way back to the camp. The whole time Doc had been patching her up. It had been there as he sat by her side waiting to see if she was alright. Eating away at him.

And then he'd left. Left his spot beside her and distanced himself from her. Hoping that being away from her would take the fear away. But it hadn't. It was still there. Deep inside him.

Sawyer raised the almost forgotten cigarette in his hand and took a long drag from it. He blew the smoke out in front of him. He'd been smoking like crazy lately. Anything to keep his mind off of her. He couldn't say it was working.

And the fact that all the women on the island had decided to take it upon themselves to convince him to go see her wasn't much of a help of getting her off his mind. The pregnant chick had popped in at least once everyday to talk about anything she could think of before trying to steer the conversation in what she hoped was an inconspicuous way toward Kate. He'd shot down her attempts each time, but that hadn't prevented her from coming back the next day. He guessed he should just be happy she wasn't bringing along the VH1 has-been with her when she did come.

If wasn't enough on the one trip he'd made to the caves, since he'd been back, to get water he'd passed the Korean girl a couple of times and each time he did she didn't say anything, but she had this look on her face. Like she had caught him doing something illegal and was disappointed in him. Like someone's mother would act. And it's not like she could know what was going on. She didn't even speak English. But either way it was seriously creeping him out.

And of course Sticks had constantly been around. Hell, if she wasn't with the Omar studying those papers he always had her doing or spending time with Kate which she'd she was here annoying the hell out of him. She hadn't exactly been bugging him to go see Kate. She hadn't really mentioned Kate at all. But she still had this way of making him feel guilty for not going to see her.

Between all three of the damn women he was going crazy. They would not leave him alone. They were intent on making his life miserable until he got his head out of his ass and went to see Kate. Those being Shannon's words when he asked her when they were finally going to leave him alone.

Hell, maybe I should just go see her. It can't be any worse than dealing with them everyday. It'll be a picnic after all this. Besides it can't hurt. Sticks said she was doing okay now.

Sawyer shoved his cigarette down into the sand till it had gone out and stood up. Running his hand through his hair he sighed. Might as well get this over with. Slowly, not in any hurry, he started up the beach.

Four days. Since she'd awakened she'd been confined to sitting down under the tent for four days. And it was driving her insane. She wasn't used to this. Just sitting unable to do anything. Alone with her thoughts.

Everyone on the island had been by to see how she was doing at least once. Claire had stopped by a couple of times. They hadn't really talked about what had happened to them. Both of them preferring to just keep it to themselves.

And of course Jack had been by dozens of times. He was worrying over her like an overbearing mother. Checking on her every little bit as if she were contemplating murdering herself or something. If he came by one more time asking if she was alright or wanted to talk about what had happened to her, she wasn't going to be able to keep herself from strangling him.

But of course the one person she wanted to see more than anyone else hadn't come by at all. He was avoiding her she knew. And with her not being able to walk around at all it wasn't that hard for him to do. She had half a mind to order Jack and Sayid to drag him in here like they'd done when he wouldn't give up Shannon's inhalers. But she doubted that would go over that well.

Kate glared down at her foot. She would be marching to his tent right now if it weren't for her damn foot. Why in the world did she have to break her ankle? Why couldn't she have broken something like her arm? At least she'd still be able to walk. Jack had said she'd still have to be off it for a little longer. Then they'd have to find something that she could use for a crutch.

Why was Sawyer avoiding her anyway? There wasn't one good reason she could think of for him to do that. He'd saved her life. She had half expected him to come waltzing in here one of these days and start saying how much she owed him in return for what he'd done. But he hadn't come at all. And she still couldn't get that look he'd had on his face that night out of her mind.

"Brooding like usual?" Shannon's cheerful voice snapped Kate out of her thoughts and she looked up to see Shannon settling herself down onto the sand. Sayid stood beside her.

Shannon like Jack had been becoming a regular around here recently. One that Kate welcomed a lot more than Jack.

"So, Sayid finally let you off work?" Kate asked grinning.

"Actually, I told her she could leave a little while ago." Sayid said before Shannon could open her mouth.

"Oh, really? Getting tired of my company are we, Shannon?" Kate smiled teasingly.

"Hey, I didn't say that." Shannon protested.

"I'm sorry Kate, but I think it's just that she likes being in my presence more than yours." Sayid said putting a hand to his chest.

"Hey I'm the invalid." Kate said indignantly. "I get first dibs."

"Get first dibs on what?" Everyone turned to look at Claire as she joined them under the tent.

"Kate's just insulted that I don't feel like spending all my time with her." Shannon said.

"I am not. It's just that she'd rather spend extra time with those French papers than with me. I didn't know spending time with me was that un-enjoyable."

Claire sat down carefully and rested her hand on her belly. "The papers or Sayid?" Claire said looking amused.

Shannon immediately turned bright red as Kate's eyes narrowed in on her with an evil look lurking in them. "Is there anything you want to tell us, Shannon?"

Shannon squirmed uncomfortably as three pairs of eyes became fixated on her. Sayid's more intent than the rest. "Um, Claire isn't it about time for you to go bug, Sawyer? It's your turn."

"Not again. I don't feel like doing it today. I mean I already know I'm pregnant, the large belly is kind of hard to forget about, but does he have to constantly remind me by calling me the pregnant chick?"

"Just be glad he hasn't come up with something worse." Shannon muttered.

"Wait hold up a second." Kate started. "Go annoy Sawyer about what?"

"Yeah," A voice drawled slowly, "go annoy Sawyer about what?"

"Oh hi, Sawyer. Didn't expect to see you here. We were just about to come pay you a visit." Shannon said smiling innocently.

"I gathered as much from your conversation." Claire began to open her mouth, but Sawyer cut her off, "And why don't you save whatever lame excuse you thought up and just leave."

"Uh, well yeah I'll be going. I'll see you guys later." Getting up Claire quickly exited.

"Well, I'm staying here. No way am I missing this after all the work I had to do to get him here. Things are just about to get good." Shannon said looking in the direction Claire had gone.

"Fine then. If you won't come I guess I'll just have to remove you to where we can have a nice long conversation about Claire's comment." Sayid said grinning.

Shannon was on her feet in seconds. "Is that Boone calling me? He must need me for something. Bye, guys." Seconds later Shannon was out of the tent and down the beach.

"Thought that might work." Sayid smiled slightly. "I'll be leaving now."

The tent was silent then. Kate sat studying him. Not saying a word. Waiting for him to say the first thing. He didn't look as if he was even close to saying anything.

Fine. If he wants to be like that. I can wait. Sitting back Kate crossed her arms. I can wait.