Chapter 9- Shiver

Edward Mars sat back in the stiff hotel chair, with a remote in one hand as he aimlessly flipped through television channels. He placed it down once he reached a crime alert station for the area of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Edward had no idea where Kate Austen was but according to some witnesses, a woman that fit Kate's description had been sighted with two men around the Virginia area. He clenched his jaw as he watched the mug shots of criminals flash against the screen. Kate had slipped through his fingers more times than he could count, but he wasn't going to let her get away. People like her didn't deserve to be free, they deserved to be miserable, confined, and if he had it his way, dead. A wicked smile crossed his face. But it wasn't his job to kill her; all he had to do was bring her to justice. His frosty blue eyes traveled around the hotel room, and then he glanced outside onto the boardwalk below. Couples strolled merrily together hand in hand, and kids laughed as they pedaled their bicycles on the stretch adjacent to the boardwalk. He stood up and walked towards the balcony door, the smell of the salty Atlantic wafted to his nose mixed in with crisp air. Edward reached into his pocket and took out a box of cigarettes while observing the picturesque setting.

"To think she could possibly be somewhere right under my nose." Edward shook his head in disdain. He took a drag of his cigarette and blew the smoke out into the darkness surrounding him. He knew that Kate had already worked her charms on the two men she was with. He grinned. If only they knew what kind of woman she really was, and what she was really capable of. Up until now he had no reason to believe that she would hurt them, but if her life or freedom was in jeopardy then he knew she would sacrifice them in a heartbeat. Kate was smart, attractive and not to mention dangerous. He knew what she was capable of, and that's why he had dedicated his life these last couple of years to finding her.

His phone rang inside. Edward carelessly tossed the cigarette over the balcony and then strolled back into the dimly lit room. He snatched up the cell and flipped it open. "Edward Mars speaking."

There was a pause, and then an overly cheerful tone spilled through the receiver. "Hello, so I finally get to talk to the man behind the fugitive,"

Edward paused where he stood. "Excuse me,"

"You did want to be reached at this number, correct?"

"Who am I speaking to?" Edward asked as he walked over to the drawer to pull out a small notepad on top of a bible, and a pen close by. "Can I have your name?"

"Kate,"

Edward looked up in confusion and then scratched his head in thought. "No, not her name, what is yours."

"Tom,"

Edward sighed. "Do you know you could get in a great deal of trouble for making prank calls…"

The guy on the other end chuckled. His tone grew low and eerie, "What makes you think this is a prank call? Are you trying to insinuate that the love Kate and Tom shared was a prank…are you trying to say that dead man she just slept with deserves her more."

Edward placed down the pen. He had dealt with more than his share of lunatics claiming to have spotted Kate Austen in order to get the 23,000 dollar reward, but up until now he had gotten nothing like this. "I don't think you've spotted her, I'm a busy man I don't have time to…"

"You think I'm lying…Edward?"

"I think we're talking about different people here, Unless you have some actual information for me to go on then I'm going to…"

"She sits with Caroline underneath the Eastern Glow, tar is on her heels and Dogwoods bloom in the fields, look for her there, but she might be gone."

"Your giving me riddles now? I don't have time for this shit." Edward pulled the phone away from his ear, and got ready to end the call.

"Wait,"

Edward hesitantly placed the phone back to his ear. His face was red with anger, and he was ready to give the psycho on the other end a slur of curse words, but he stopped himself remembering that he was supposed to retain a calm demeanor. He clenched his hands and then released his tension. "Where is she, if you think you know John Doe."

"I don't think I know, I do know. As long as I have followed Kate's story it would be instant death for me to not recognize my Katie when I see her in person. She's here, I'm watching her…and I'm watching him to."

"Who is him?" Edward asked sitting on the edge of his bed.

"Kate calls him Jack…but I call him dead."

Edward's mouth dropped open, he was starting to believe that this guy was serious. "Is there another man with them?"

"Tall, blonde hair, built…and his name is Sawyer."

"If you do in fact know whereKate is then why don't you tell me when there is money involved?"

"Desperate now aren't we Edward…tsk, tsk, tsk, what makes you think the 23,000 dollar reward is more important than Kate?"

"You called me to turn her in didn't you."

"That's where your wrong, why would I turn her in when all I want is to be with her, and who knew that when she and Sawyer killed that man, my wildest of dreams would've came true."

"Killed a man?"

There was a pause on the other end. "Oh I'm sorry, I guess I forgot to tell you." He chuckled, and then his tone grew serious. "They hit a man, and then Sawyer tossed the body into the river…funny, that he'll floating down that same river."

"You need help." Edward said cautiously. He stood up and then walked over to the hotel phone. "No one needs to get hurt."

"So you believe me now."

Edward declined to comment.

"They're with a woman and her child, I guess they don't give a shit about who's lives thereputting in danger. Well I gotta go it was nice chatting with you Eddie, but I have to take care of him."

"Take care of who?" Edward asked with concern.

"Jack." The phone died.

"Kate Shepard, I like the sound of that." Jack said with a smile.

Kate laughed and then playfully punched Jack in his arm. "Since you'll be my partner in crime, I only think it's fitting that you go by Jack Austen."

Jack glanced at Kate with a raised eyebrow. He opened his mouth to respond, but Kate leaned forward to give him a kiss. He suddenly lost track of what he was going to say. Kate leaned away seconds later, and then traced her hands against Jack's jaw.

"If I do get married one day…"

"You will… and it will be to me." Jack replied with a know it all grin which was more like Sawyer than him.

A smile crossed her face. Jack seemed cocky now, and maybe he had reason to be because she had just showed him how much she cared about him. They just slept together, and Kate felt closer to him than ever. "If I do get married…to you, then I don't see myself being called Kate Shepard, I'll either keep Austen, or you're going to have to change your last name to mine."

"You have a funny way of thinking."

Kate dragged her hands downwards and placed her hand on his chest. "Take it or leave it."

"I'll take." Jack said wrapping his arms around Kate and then pulling her to him. "Mr. Austen."

Kate's smile widened, "That's a nickname you can keep, it's a thousand times less sappy than Honey," She pushed Jack down onto the bed. Jack's arms flopped outwards against the ruffled sheets."I could go again."

Jack smiled excitedly, "I think I'm starting to see that other side of you."

Kate trailed her hand down Jack's chest and then got on top of him straddling his waist. She rubbed her hands against his chest, and then moved upwards teasing the skin around his shoulders and neck.

"They'll be back soon." Jack whispered.

"I know," Kate said softly, she said collapsing against him. "I love you,"

"I see the "L" word has become easier for you." He ran his hands through Kate's hair and then planted a kiss on her cheek. "When we wake up in the morning are you going to deny sleeping with me?"

"Yes, if anyone finds out."

Jack scowled.

Kate kissed the top of his nose. "But I won't deny it to you, Sawyer doesn't need to know about this, and neither does Taylor."

"We're good at keeping secrets."

"I know I am," Kate replied.

Jack watched her curiously, but he had promised himself a while ago that he wasn't going to be suspicious of Kate's history anymore, all that mattered was she was safe, and that he loved her. He turned his head to the side as Kate rested her cheek against his. "I wonder where they went too."

Jack wrapped an arm casually around Kate's waist. "Are you really going to sleep on top of me,"

"Okay, I'll roll off…" Kate attempted to get off of Jack, but he grabbed her arm.

"I don't think you understood me, I wasn't objecting." He narrowed his eyes back at Kate playfully. "The heat's on low, and I'm cold."

"Me too," Kate said.

"But if you sleep on top of me, then I get your body heat…with the addition of the covers, so it works out better that way."

Kate bit her lip, "Are you going to sleep yet,"

Jack adjusted his body underneath Kate's. "No, because I want to talk."

Kate gasped, "Talk after sex? What kind of guy are you?" She laughed and then buried her head in the crook of his arm. "I was just kidding, but I'm not a comedian so…"

"I'm not a comedian either, and for the record I'm different than most guys."

"I know," Kate said wrapping her arms around Jack's neck and pushing herself upwards.

Jack smiled, "You should stop."

Kate grinned, "Because I'm making you excited?"

Jack chuckled and looked away as his cheeks grew bright red. "That's a way to put it."

Kate cupped Jack's chin in her hand forcing him to look at her, "You don't have to be shy around me anymore…Mr. Austen."

Jack laughed, "Kate Shepard."

Kate made a teasing angry expression his way. "Last time I checked I was the fugitive and you Sir, was my hostage."

"I haven't thought of you as a fugitive in long time, and I don't want to go back to that way of thought."

Kate looked away, and a saddened expression crossed her face briefly. "I am what I am."

Jack gently stroked the side of Kate's face, "You were a fugitive when I first met you, but that was before all of this, I think I know you a lot better than anyone chasing after you."

Her cheeks flushed with warmth as she looked down at Jack. By his expression Kate could tell that he meant every word of what he had just said.

"I mean it," Jack reassured.

"I know,"

He smiled in satisfaction. Edward was smart enough to put two and two together, and realize that Kate was hiding out in North Carolina. He flipped on the light switch as he entered the cellar. His boots creaked on the wooden steps as he walked down. The cellar was drafty and the wind whistled between the cracks in the wall. His favorite vinyl record was playing in the background causing the soothing sounds of classical tunes to invade the room, wash over him, and make him feel relaxed. He looked around for the red container that was marked with FLAMMABLE in bold letters.

The tune changed. He smiled at the song which always reminded him of Christmas. And he liked Christmas, because according to a website Kate's DOB was 12/25. He hummed to himself as he scooped up the box of matches. Christmas this year was going to be the best, because that's when he was going to take her. Too bad that Jack had to die earlier, he already had it planned out in his mind. Kate would go with him on Christmas, and then he would take care of her, and make sure she was always happy. And he knew that Kate would be happy, because he was as close to Tom as possible. No he wasn't close to Tom…he was Tom, and Kate was going to fall back in love with him.

He reached for a list on his desk which read "Timmy's Wish List" up top. He crossed out Timmy and then he substituted Timmy for Tom. Underneath the title read, 1.) Get rid of Jack…ways to kill him? Want to make him suffer…fire. 2.) Sawyer…don't care for him too much, he seems to like to torture Kate so maybe I should torture him. Options for his disposal…bury him alive…I like that one. 3.) The blonde, she has to die by association along with the kid, and last but not least, before all of this I will take KATE.

"Well it looks like there will have to be a change of plans…Jack dies first, Bye bastard."

Sawyer and Taylor walked along the beach.

Taylor bent down to pick up a seashell, and then handed it to Sawyer. He looked down at the seashell with disgust and then raised an eyebrow in her direction.

"What are you giving me this for?"

"It's pretty, I thought we could collect some…fine," Taylor reached for the pink shell with hints of a white around the edges, but Sawyer pulled it back. "I thought it was dumb?"

Sawyer glanced down the beach where Chloe was skipping along merrily. "Who goes to the beach late at night like this?"

"Me and my daughter, I like the beach better at night. The waves are calm, and not to mention how beautiful it is when the moon shines down right on the water." Taylor tilted her head to the side. "I've always had a thing for beaches, it's just something about the atmosphere."

"I know you always liked em'," Sawyer said to himself as he tucked the seashell into his pocket.

Taylor watched him pocket the seashell with a smile. "So you do like it."

"It's for the kid…I'll give it to her for Christmas."

Taylor laughed and playfully pushed Sawyer away from her. "I think Chloe will appreciate that, so are you still going to be with us for Christmas?"

"I dunno, why don't you find one of them psychics and ask them."

Taylor looked down and then clasped her hands together. "I hope you're still here by then, I mean I know I'm being silly because you, Kate and Jack are running away from something, and I don't know what it is, but I do know that I like having you around."

"Bullshit," Sawyer groaned.

Taylor stopped in her tracks. She grabbed onto the edge of Sawyer's sleeve and then forced him to stop as well. "I want you to stay, but I understand that you can't."

"I don't get you ya know that. Why the hell would you want me to stay after the way I treat you?"

"How do you treat me."

"Badly." Sawyer said quickly.

Taylor shook her head, "Are you trying to convince me or yourself of that?"

Sawyer kicked at the sand, and then turned to walk towards the sea, but Taylor pulled him back towards her. "What do you want from me?" He groaned.

"I just want you to be okay."

"Then put a candy cane and a big ol' teddy bear in my Christmas stocking puddin."

"James," Taylor said softly.

Sawyer stared back at her in confusion. It took him a couple of seconds to process the fact that she had just called him by his real name. Sawyer allowed his arm to relax in her grasp. He looked down at the damp sand underneath his boots solemnly and then looked back into Taylor's clear blue eyes.

"I know what you're trying to do, and it's not working on me. You did the same thing in high-school but I always saw through the façade. You're not a bad guy Sawyer…"

"Yeah, I am."

Taylor shook her head, "No you're not."

"I don't have time for this…"

"If you're so bad then why did you send me money after you left Tennessee? You could've just left and never looked back, but you didn't."

"I left you when I said I would take you with me, and I only sent the money for six months, and then I stopped. What's so damn good about that?"

"I never cared about the money…I still have it you know."

Sawyer looked down.

"And you can have it…I guess I was just being selfish and I didn't want you to leave yet," Taylor gently swiped aside a strand of hair away from her eye. "So if it makes you feel any better then most of the money I used for the clothes is yours' anyways."

Sawyer struggled with the information Taylor had just given him. So there was a way out, they did have money, but then again he had given it to her. "That money is yours."

"No," Taylor said shaking her head.

Sawyer nodded, "I gave it to you, and I don't want it back."

"Don't be foolish, I'm going to give it back to you," Taylor bit her lip, and then sighed as she watched Chloe stand close to the waves and then run away as they broke onto shore. "Chloe really cares about you."

Sawyer groaned, "All this caring is makin' me feel like I'm stuck on a damn episode of Oprah, do I get a free car too?"

"No, I'm sorry." Taylor said with a smile.

Sawyer crossed his arm as a cold breeze blew past. "Why did you call me James?"

"Because I saw that letter, the one you had tucked away in your bag, I always knew your name wasn't Sawyer, and I wanted to ask why you went by it, but I never did and now…"

"Now you know," Sawyer grunted.

"I apologize for going through your stuff."

"I'm assuming you were looking for some clothes to wash ain't that right?"

Taylor nodded, "Well that's one reason, because you always wear the same clothes and you don't let me wash them, but I also was looking for something."

"Lookin for what?"

"That gun,"

Sawyer clenched his jaw, "So you knew about it too?"

"It was gone by the time I got to your bag,"

"Because Kate done went and hid it from me." Sawyer said looking away.

"You need to let it all go Sawyer." Taylor reached for his arm and slid her hand down to his. "I'm sure you've went through this with Kate, and I apologize for getting in your face when you don't want to talk but I…"

"You care dontcha." He had meant for it to come out in a nasty tone, but his gentle tone gave him away. Sawyer cursed himself under his breath, the truth was he was very vulnerable right now, and Taylor wasn't helping.

She looked back at him with big eyes. Sawyer felt that she really did care about him. He wanted to argue with her, but then again he needed someone to be there for him. Sawyer clenched his jaw as he felt himself leaning forward. He couldn't explain what was coming over him, except for the fact that a small part of him wanted to confide in Taylor and believe that she could help him put the pieces of his life back together.

"Are you hungry?" Kate asked.

Jack nodded, "Ice cream?"

"Hot chocolate," Kate suggested instead.

Jack nodded once again.

The power died, and the lights went out with a low buzz.

Jack sat up and Kate rolled off of him. There one knock at the door, then two knocks, and a couple more followed afterwards.

"You stay here," Jack advised.

Kate shook her head, "No way, I'm not letting you go out there by yourself." She grabbed onto Jack's arm and then pulled him back down onto the bed with her.

"I'll be fine, it's probably just Taylor, Sawyer and Chloe,"

"Taylor has keys," Kate pointed out.

"Maybe she forgot them." Jack suggested standing up once again.

Kate let her hand collapse onto the bed, as she watched Jack's silhouette disappear out of the room. A shudder traveled up her spine as she glanced outside. "Jack come back," Kate whispered standing up and following after him.

(Thanks everyone for the reviews last chapter! I was very pleased with the feedback on last chapter. It's really late and I have class tomorrow so I'm going to be quick. The guy after Kate his name is Timmy...he is not Tom, because Tom is dead. I'm going to try to update on Saturday...because I want to get Sawyer, Kate and Jack ready for Thanksgiving next Thursday...so I need to quickly pick up where this chapter left off! Thanks again...Peace.)