Chapter Six

They had been sitting around waiting for their clothes to dry for thirty minutes. They only had thirty-five minutes before their time was up. Ana had partly dressed in her jeans, as had Sawyer. Currently, she was inspecting the shelves again as Sawyer went through another old magazine.

"Man I tell ya, the eighties were something else."

"You remember the eighties?"

"I remember hating fluorescent colors," he said closing the magazine.

Ana nodded. "Yeah, that was a bit much." Her eyes grew large as she pulled out an album.

"I can't believe this! They got a Rick James album down here!"

Sawyer just gazed at her, unimpressed. The last time he heard Rick James he and a few of his friends were on the same page with Rick about loving Mary Jane. Of course, there was the one time he dated a woman that was stuck in the seventies. She had a lot of cash on her, which helped, but man, the music drove him up a wall.

Ana turned the album over before saying, "Dang! This one has Fire and Desire on it. My friend Tammy's Mama loved that crazy song. I thought it was over the top, but the lyrics were decent. She used to sing that song with her boyfriend like it was a three-act play."

"Okay. That's nice." He stood up and left the room.

Ana didn't pay him any attention. She simply went to the record player and put the song on.

Wow
Its really good to see you again, baby
And I must admit you're looking very, very, very nice these days
I guess life must be treating you well As the beginning played, she giggled to herself, remembering her friend's Mom and boyfriend standing in the family room over acting the song. It was easy to do, as the song itself was over down. Teena was shrilling through out and Rick was shouting. Tammy's mama said that's what happens when a person testifies.

You know, I think back to when we met
The way I use to be and the cold way I use to act
But more than that. I think of how you changed me with your love and sensitivity
Remember when I used to

Just as Rick started to sing, she heard a deep voice, slightly off-key, come from the other room singing along:

Love them and leave them

Sawyer was standing in the doorframe, hand out, waving it at her in an overly dramatic fashion. Ana's mouth fell open.

That's what I used to do
Use and abuse them
Then I laid eyes on you

He stepped into the room as he sang walking towards her. Ana fell out laughing. She couldn't believe he even knew the song. It was pain before pleasure

He threw his head back belting the song out.


That was my claim to fame
With every measure, baby
Tasted teardrop stains, yeah

He was standing right next to her now, singing it in her ear. His breath was like a warm enticing breeze on her neck. I was cold as ice long ago, baby, baby
I wasn't very, very, very nice, you know
Sugar, sugar, sugar

His lips brushed against her ear.

Then I kissed your lips

He stepped back from her, his eyes boring into hers, then a huge grin spread on his face as he watched her flush from the contact. He stood in the middle of the room before throwing open his arms, shouting:

And you tuned on my fire, baby

He dropped his arms, walking back over to her, and started singing to her again, standing close to her body, letting his voice drop. Ana stared up into his eyes, watching the mirth in them.

And you burn me up within your flame
Took me a little higher
Made me live again

He placed his arms on either side of Ana's head, trapping her against the shelf.

You turned on my fire, baby
Then you showed me what a love could do
Fire and desire, baby
Feel it comin' through

Ana tried to duck under his right arm, but failed to get by. She moved under his left, laughing the whole time.

And I thank you, baby

Sawyer backed away, moving closer to the table as Rick began talking again.

"I can't believe you know this song."

"I was with a lady that played it every other day. She loved this song thought it was a true love song."

"Oh." She turned from him. A thought came to mind just as Sawyer sang with Rick.

You know its funny how a man can change
So quickly from a cold blooded person
Thinkin' he's God gift to women
Remember how I use to do that
I must have been crazy then
Remember when you used to

Ana spun around, hair whipping into her face before falling on either of her face. She pushed her chest forward, arms outstretched, and held her head at an angle eyes closed. There was no way she would hit the note like Teena, but she did mange to make a pretense of being shrilly.

Love them and leave them

She dropped her hands and patted on her chest.

Oh, that's what I used to do

Use them and abuse them, whoa
Then I laid eyes on you

She looked at him then, head down, looking through her eyelashes. Then walking slowly towards him, she raised a shaking fist.

It was pain before pleasure

Again she pointed at herself, stopping before Sawyer.

Oh, that was my claim to fame
With every measure

She used her thumb and forefinger to reflect a small amount.


Tasted your teardrop stains, yeah

Sawyer joined the song again, pointing at her saying:

You were cold as ice

Ana threw back her head to sing:

(Woo...hoo...hoo...hoo...)

Then leaning close to his face, pointed at her chest:

(I-I wasnt, I-I wasnt very nice, I know, woo...)

Sawyer nodded his head in agreement:

Sugar, sugar, sugar, sugar

Again he whispered, this time staring at her lips:

Then I kissed your lips

Together, they said the last part, circling each other, but shouting the lyrics.

And you (You turned on) turned (You turned on) on
(You turned on my fire) my fire, baby (Ooh...)
Then you showed me what a love could do (Woo...hoo...)
Fire and desire (Fire and desire)
Feelin good to you (Feelin good to you)

The circle shrunk until they were touching each other. Sawyer was stroking her back as Ana's hand slid down his chest. They held each other's gaze the whole time they sang, an intensity starting to creep into the fun.

You turned on my fire (Fire, ooh...ooh...), baby (Oh, baby)
And you burn me up within your flame (You burn me, you burn me)
Fire and desire (Fire and desire)
And were both to blame, both to blame (Ooh...ooh...)

By the time the song ended, they were standing shoulder-to-shoulder, Sawyer facing one way and Ana the other. Both had their heads turned, facing the other, breathing heavy from the silly performance. Their faces were close, Sawyer leaning down and Ana's head tilted. The next song came on, but it might as well not have played because they didn't hear it.

"What's this, cowboy?" Ana whispered.

"What do you want it to be?" he responded.

She was quiet for a moment. "I don't know," she replied honestly.

For once, Sawyer responded in kind. "Me either, Xena."

"Curious?" she said with a smirk.

Sawyer grunted, "Hardly."

"Lie," she said, turning to walk away.

"You wish," he said.

"Maybe…" she started.

Sawyer smirked in victory.

"I wish that you were someone else," she said sarcastically.

His smile fell. Turning, he waved a dismissive hand. He leaned back on the table and crossed his arms, ignoring the biting pain in his shoulder.

Ana burst out laughing, then before walking over to him. Sawyer gave her a stony look.

"What?"

She grabbed his head, pulling him into a fiery kiss. Sawyer uncrossed his arms and he pulled her close. Ana's hands slid into his silky hair as she pressed herself closer to him. Sawyer took all he could, letting his tongue dance with hers, his hands memorizing the exposed skin. She felt good to him as he to her.

She ended the kiss cupping his face and placing one last tender kiss on his lips before backing away.

"Curiosity satisfied?" she asked.

He leaned back while letting that sexy smile play over his lips. They both knew the answer. It could work. If nothing else, there would be passion. The only question was if they wanted to try it.

"How about you?" he asked

"I don't know. The jury is still out," she said with a smile.

The alarm was going off. Eko hurried through the halls more worried about Ana than the buttons. He turned it off and then went to find Ana. What he saw when he found her actually made him smile. Maybe Ana has found some peace.

Ana was sitting next to Sawyer on the couch knocked out cold, head resting on his right shoulder. Sawyer was asleep too, his head against the wall. Eko went to the bunks, grabbed a blanket and tossed it on them before taking his partner to another part of the compound to do their service.

6