Chapter Four

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever sweetheart," Sawyer murmured. Why in the hell did he even try? On the island, Kate once told him that he should try a little harder. Well, when I do try Kate it always comes back to bite me in the ass. Was he seriously thinking of taking the risk of turning a few months in prison to a few years? For Kate? Like she would even trust him anyway.

But as he glanced at Kate, he felt the same conviction as he did before. Kate sat there blankly staring at something he wasn't able to see. Not many people would notice, but Sawyer saw the traces of her terrible past etched unalterably in her face. She wasn't like most other woman Sawyer knew: the lonely ones with rich husbands looking for a good time. The ones that thought suffering was receiving a five-karat diamond ring instead of eight as an anniversary present. No, Kate was different. She knew what suffering was and already had suffered too much in her young life. There wasn't anyway that Sawyer could let her suffer anymore.

As Sawyer thought of Kate, he was able to see so much of himself within her. The agonized childhood, the lonely existence, no one to count on. Their pasts were riddled with similarities that Sawyer fancied couldn't be coincidence. But there were differences between he and Kate: she didn't deserve her past. She was just one of those unfortunate people in life, who no matter how much they plan or how hard they endeavor to do things right, it never works out.

Sawyer knew he wasn't to blame for his parents' deaths. He knew he was just a kid caught in a screwed up relationship. But knowing that didn't stop the hurt or the pain or the anger. If anything it made it worse, reminding him of how helpless he had been and that there wasn't a thing that could have been done to prevent it. No, he didn't deserve that horror. The fury and the want of revenge did lead him to a life of crime, and there was where he deserved his past. No one forced him into that life. He could blame his parents all he wanted but he was still the one who decided what existence to lead.

He had to help Kate. If Sawyer had missed so many opportunities to help others, to reach out a hand, he knew he wasn't going to miss this one. He and Kate were of a kindred spirit. All she had to do was trust him and that might prove to be a tall order for her to fill.

Sawyer waited as Kate delicately opened the letter and began to read the hurried words scrawled across the page. Her body language told him nothing. He began to doubt whether she would go along with the plan or not. On second thought, he didn't have any semblance of a clue in the first place but his gut told him that she wouldn't pass up the opportunity to dodge a bullet once again.

With baited breath, the southern con man waited for the ex-fugitive's answer. Kate drew in a deep breath and ran her hand through her hair turning her face to the outside world. The next few seconds passed with an agonizing slowness that made Sawyer want to shout for her reply. Then he heard it. One tap, then two. Sawyer let out a sharp sigh of disappointment. His mood was sourer than before. Then he heard it, a slow deliberate third tap from Kate. He raised his eyes to meet her's in disbelief. She met his stare and gave a curt nod. It was then an understanding passed between them, one that would change everything between them: Yes, Sawyer I trust you enough to do this.

While waiting for dusk to arrive Kate and Sawyer worked out the final kinks in their scheme as inconspicuously as possible. More than a few times, they each failed to catch the pen ending in a loud clatter which caused Sawyer to wince. Fortunately, the guard due to his groggy state failed to notice the noise.

When all was said and done Sawyer glanced over the note-filled paper. He couldn't believe how many times Kate opposed his ideas and argued to do it the way she wanted.

"Sawyer, we can't both rush the guard. That would be suicide. He would have his gun out before we could take three steps."

"Well, what do you propose we do then, because that's the only idea I've got Freckles."

"We have to get the guard to come back here."

"Alrighty then, I'll say that I'm done with the pen and paper and then we can both go after him."

"No, that won't work either. I have to call him back here."

"And why do you have to call him back here?"

"No offense Sawyer, but I think he'd more willing to come back and help me than you."

"And what do you want me to do or do I still have a role in all of this?"

" While he's helping me, you sneak up behind him and go for the gun."

"Why didn't you just tell me you had another plan to begin with, sweetheart?"

"Because that would have been to easy plus I have to let you think you have some control."

At the last pass of the paper, Sawyer perceived a subtle grin from Kate and when he read her note he just shook his head. With any other woman, Sawyer would never dream of giving up control. But if Kate could trust him after everything he did, he sure as hell could sacrifice his pride and let her run the show.

The dusty blue sky slowly changed to shades of violets as the last of the day's light slipped below the horizon. Sawyer's heart was already racing from anticipation. He unsuccessfully fought the waves of nervousness crashing over him one after the other in sync with his frantic thoughts of what could go wrong. What happens if the driver calls on the radio before they could get the gun? What if the guard wasn't fool enough to come back? Damn, how would they even run in leg chains? But one thought trumped the rest completely. What if Kate gets hurt? But Sawyer had to quell his emotions because it was now or never. He began to casually whistle the first few bars of You All Everybody in a slow country tempo but before he even reached the chorus Kate was in action.

"Guard, guard!" Kate shouted as dusk settled in around them. "Can you please come help me?"

The guard gave her a weary look but still came back to give her assistance.

Kate bit her lip and looked at the guard innocently showing him her cuffed hands. "I managed to get both my hands in this one cuff. I was bored. I didn't even realize what I was doing," she stammered, acting embarrassed.

Without a word, the guard reached for his keys and bent over to help Kate. At that instant, Sawyer attacked him from behind struggling for his gun. The stunned man threw his weight back against Sawyer sending them both colliding back into the seat with Sawyer's head cracking against the window.

But Sawyer had his hand on the weapon and was wedging slowly from its holster. The bus swerved and stopped abruptly as the driver slammed on the brakes to pull over. The last jerk of the bus was all Sawyer needed to finally free the gun.

"Don't you dare touch that radio, cabby," Sawyer yelled dangerously, aiming the gun at the driver's head.

"Stand up, hands in the air, and walk back here," ordered the southerner.

The driver pulled his hand away in shock and tentatively stood up, bewildered. He took slow, faltering steps, his fear showing in every movement. Sawyer kept both the gun and his complete attention on the driver daring him to run back to the radio. And the driver as well kept his observation fearfully on Sawyer until the last few footfalls of the journey. Sawyer turned to see what had distracted the driver, but before he knew what had happened the guard had him pinned to the seat and the struggle for the gun resumed.

This time Sawyer was at a disadvantage with the full weight of the guard bearing down upon him. Both of them grappled for the gun, neither able to proclaim it his. It took all of Sawyer's strength to push the guard back into the aisle at which point the driver was brought to his senses and hurried to help. Now it was two against one, and Sawyer wondered why Kate hadn't joined the fray.

All of the men were beginning to tire which ensured the conclusion of the fight would quickly come. Sawyer was beginning to find his handcuffs more irritating by the minute and the guard along with the driver were almost finished from pure physical exertion. With their last ounces of strength, all of the men made one final push for the gun. The driver almost had the weapon dislodged from Sawyer's hand and with the slippery sweat forming on Sawyer's body was enabling the driver to pull it from his grip. Sawyer fought viciously as the driver secured his hold on the gun at which point he triumphantly stopped grappling. Sawyer didn't and both men went sprawling down onto the floor quickly followed by a loud bang and Kate's shriek.