Disclaimer: I don't own LOST (damn!) OK, this chapter is a little agnsty, and its going to get more so. So, I apologize in advance! AND, I'm trying to use the reviews to help the story along, so thanks to all who have reviewed and please keep it up!

Ana just sat there listening to the silence in the hatch while continuing to stare at the concrete floor. She could feel Sawyer's stare on her, so she decided to speak.

"I'm sorry, Sawyer, that your wound progressed as far as it did. Honestly I am." Sawyer was taken back by this side of Ana. He had seen the hard-ass in the jungle and this more sorrowful side was a real shock to him.

"But, I'm not sorry for protecting my crew. You don't know what it had been like for us, before you all washed up on shore. Life was hell. We lost people. Friends..." She paused for a moment as if pondering what to say next.

"I really don't know what else to say."

Sawyer sat for a moment until he was sure she was finished. She had opened up to him slightly, and it was a little disconcerting. Only a little though. However, before he could respond, she had gotten up, muttered something like 'I'll be back' and left the hatch. He was alone, in some weird shell, left thinking about Kate, who he had thought about while he was gone, and Ana Lucia, who had just shown a genuine side to him. Women!

Jack was walking back to the beach. He wasn't really confused about anything in particular, but a lot had happened. He saw Ana again. Kate had kissed him in the jungle. She admitted she loved him and he admitted he loved her. Sawyer had woken up. He went into his doctor speech that he hadn't done in months. He didn't feel like himself.

He replayed seeing Ana in the jungle. He knew that she had killed Shannon, and even though he knew it was an accident, he was shocked and disappointed. It hurt that she could do something like that, accident or not. He could see she wasn't the same, yet when he saw her in the hatch as Sawyer was waking up, she became the woman in the bar again. He saw the same spark in her eyes that he had then. What shocked him was that he felt hurt when it was directed to Sawyer, not him. He mentally shook himself.

"Jack!" It was Kate. As soon as he heard her voice, that hurt feeling about Ana melted away and he was reminded at how much he was in love with the woman that now stood in front of him.

She could see that he had been contemplating things. He always got the crinkles between his eyebrows when he thought like that.

"Where are you going?"

Jack thought to himself. Where was he going? He just knew he had to get out of the hatch, but he wasn't entirely sure where his feet were taking him.

"I just needed to get some air and clear my head," he finally responded.

"Are you ok?"

"Uh…yeah, I think so," he said pretty unconvincingly.

"You sure?" she asked, concerned.

Jack didn't really know how to answer her. Was he really ok? Something was wrong with him, but he couldn't place his finger on it. He wanted to explain how he was feeling but anytime he tried to open his mouth, nothing would come out. He wondered why he couldn't tell Kate this? Why, when he had always been pushing for her to open up to him, could he open up to her?

"Kate…I…" was all he could get through.

Just then they both heard the rustling of bushes. Ana had come walking out of the jungle and seemed to be in a haze. She registered Jack and Kate being there, but just barely. She smiled slightly and continued on her way, looking troubled. Both Jack and Kate followed her with their eyes.

"She left Sawyer alone!" Kate voiced. Jack was caught off guard. Why was she thinking about Sawyer at a time like this?

"Kate…she's upset about something…" Jack said to defend Ana. Why was he defending Ana?

They both looked at each other, confused about each other's responses. Neither knew what to say after that. But it was Jack who voiced his thoughts first.

"Kate…you're obviously concerned about Sawyer…so…why don't you go back to the hatch and keep an eye on him. I'm going to go see if Ana is ok."

"What? You're going to talk to her?"

"Yes, Kate…she looks upset and she could probably use someone to talk to and maybe a shoulder to cry on…"

"That's probably not all she wants…" Kate said under her breath.

"What? Kate…"

"I'm sorry Jack, but I saw how she was looking at you?"

"How was she looking, Kate?" he asked defensively.

"Like you were her last meal!"

"Kate, you're over reacting. Besides, you seemed so concerned that she left Sawyer alone, and the more you dwell on me talking to Ana, the longer you leave Sawyer alone!"

"Jack…what's gotten in to you!"

"I don't know!" He paused and regained his composure. "Kate…I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm acting like this. I just don't want to see anyone upset, ok? Can we just leave it at that?"

"Yeah…I guess. I'll just go see Sawyer and you go talk to Ana." Kate began to walk away.

Jack stood there for a moment, then ran up behind Kate and turned her towards him. He looked in her eyes for a moment then he leaned forward and captured her lips in a kiss. When the kiss was finished, Jack gave her a small smile, and then proceeded in the direction that Ana had taken a few minutes before. Kate stood there in awe, touching her lips for a moment, before heading back to the hatch.

Reviews please!