Chapter 17- Born to Run, Part 2

"I said Merry Christmas," The Marshal repeated as he stepped further inside. He raised his gun and then signaled for Kate to get up against the wall. "Put your hands behind your back where I can see them, and don't try anything tricky because I won't hesitate to fire." He then cast his cold blue eyes in Jack's direction. "Consider yourself lucky that she's not your problem anymore, now you can get back to your life with Sarah." The Marshal turned to look back at Kate who was suspiciously looking around the room. He immediately suspected that she was up to something so he ran over to her and grabbed her arm.

Kate grimaced in pain.

"Don't hurt her!" Jack yelled letting Chloe down to the ground, and starting to walk over to them.

Edward turned to look at Jack warningly, "I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt and I'm letting you off the hook. And you know why that is, it's because she's smart. Miss Austen here plays with people's minds and then screws them over. Too me you look like a decent guy who got sucked into her mess against your will. I'm giving you your life back. Go back to L.A. and be with your fiancé."

Jack looked at Kate. He had a feeling that the Marshal was talking about Sarah. Jack tried to search for the right words to get Kate off of the hook, but he knew there was nothing he could say that could help her now. Jack still didn't even know what Kate had done before he met her. He swallowed down a wad of nervousness in his throat. It seemed as if there was no right choice for him to make right now. What could he possibly do? Attack the Marshall, and then end up getting shot right in front of Chloe? Or even worse sit back like a coward and watch as Kate gets taken away to prison. His troubles weighed heavily on his mind as he watched the Marshal pull out his handcuffs. Jack clenched his jaw. Although, he still cared about Sarah, he couldn't go back to her, his heart was with Kate.

"Justice must be served, even to you Katherine." He grinned wickedly as he tightened his grip around Kate's arm while he used his other hand to keep the gun on her. "She's a runner you know. I got her once when she was trying to get away to see her daddy…"

"Shut the hell up!" Kate yelled.

Daddy? Jack didn't know much, but he did know that Kate didn't get along with her father. So why would she go to see him? Jack shook his head. He didn't care about what the Marshal had to say. Although, a part of him felt that he should know, Jack didn't want too, because he felt as if he knew Kate better than anyone else.

"Now how did you manage to convince him…a spinal surgeon to stay on the run with you this long?" He glanced down at the plaid button down shirt Kate was wearing and then at her bare legs. "Oh I think I know now."

"You pig," Kate growled.

The Marshal shook his head, "You have the right to remain silent anything you say…"

"Don't read me my rights," Kate interrupted. Her legs were shaking uncontrollably, but she knew that it was either fight or flight. She closed her eyes as she felt the Marshal clasp one handcuff tightly around her thin wrist. She looked up at the ceiling first as she tried to shake her fear. After Kate felt as if she had gotten herself somewhat together she searched for anything to attack him with. Jack was going to think she was crazy after seeing what she was about to do. And she didn't want him to be afraid of her, because she loved him so much, but honestly she had been scared of herself the last couple of days. And Chloe, Kate bit her lip as she looked at the child. She didn't want Chloe to see her at her worst. But Kate had no choice. The Marshal leaned close to Kate and then whispered in her ear causing her to loose her train of thought. "No one loves a murderer."

"Get the f…"

"Watch your mouth," The Marshal growled as he dug his nails into Kate's flesh. "Does the Doc know about that potty mouth of yours?"

"You have no right to barge in here unannounced without any reason to search this place." Jack pointed out obviously searching for a reasonable way to help Kate.

"Oh…but I do now. Let's just say that somehow your scatterbrained plan to escape by cutting the screen window open with a pair of scissors worked," Edward paused to laugh sadistically.

His laugh was shrill and filled with hate that made Kate's blood run cold.

"If Kate did escape then I could've gotten in trouble, but now that I got her in my custody I'm off the hook. But before I tighten the last cuff around your wrist why don't you take one last look at him."

"I don't have to take one last look at him." Kate snarled with tears threatening to fall from her eyes.

"And why is that? Do you think that he's going to come and visit you at some maximum security prison while you're waiting to get fried in the electric chair? Stop living in a fairytale, and wake up," The Marshall slammed Kate against the wall.

"Stop manhandling her! She's not resisting arrest!" Jack yelled feeling like the biggest idiot in the world. How was he supposed to get Kate off of the hook this time, it didn't do them any good if they were both sent to jail. Jack clenched his jaw. He would just have to find a way to get her out. Shit, was he actually accepting that fact that Kate was going to jail. Jack bit his lip in thought, If Kate did go to jail then he doubted that they would even post bail for her. What was he supposed to do? He needed Kate in his life, like he needed oxygen. No matter how pathetic it sounded Jack knew that it was true.

"What's happening?" Chloe asked clearly frightened.

Jack looked down. He always knew the right words to say to ease Chloe's anxiety, but not this time. "I…" Jack shook his head dismissing any other words that might come out of his mouth and focused back on Kate.

Kate eyes rested on a fire poker close enough for her to grab. If she made a move for it then she knew that she would have to be quick because the Marshal would shoot her in a heartbeat. "I give up," Kate lied.

"Of course you do, because I'm not giving you any other choice." Edward said as he got ready to snap the last handcuff on Kate's other wrist, but he was interrupted when Kate turned to look at him. "What do you want?" He growled.

"It's freezing outside can you at least let me put on a pair of pants," Kate said innocently. She knew that he wasn't buying her act, but she couldn't come up with anything smoother because her mind was in overdrive.

The Marshal wrinkled his nose in disgust at Kate, and the deep lines in his forehead became more apparent. "Are you kidding me?"

Kate shook her head, "No, I'm serious."

"Why should I spare you your dignity, after the way you made me chase you around the whole damn country for the last couple of years. Frankly I don't give a shit if you freeze to death."

"I'll get her some pants," Jack volunteered figuring that Kate was trying to distract the Marshal.

Edward glared at Jack but didn't object when he disappeared into the back.

"He doesn't love you. You tricked him into feeling that way."

Kate glanced towards the fire poker once again. She wished that Jack would take Chloe outside and wait for her out there, because Kate had a pit feeling deep in her stomach that things were going to get ugly. The second cuff was still hanging loosely behind her back. Her plan was working so far, if only she could find another way to distract him long enough to get over to the weapon.

Jack walked back in slowly.

Edward turned to him, "Want to dress her too?"

Jack clenched his jaw.

Kate signaled for Jack to talk to the Marshal in order to keep up her game of distraction. If Jack didn't think she was a monster after seeing what she was going to do to the Marshal then Chloe definitely would. As much as it pained her to do it, Kate knew that she had too. Her life, her freedom, and her relationship with Jack was on the line.

"What do you mean a Marshal showed up here looking for Kate?" Taylor asked frantically as she tried to get Sawyer to look her directly in the eyes.

Sawyer gazed around the hospital wearily.

"Sawyer?" Taylor pleaded.

He sighed and then focused back on her, "A Marshal was here, and he was looking for Kate. There is nothin' else to know. "

Taylor looked away as she placed her hands to the side of her face. "This is crazy,"

"That's why I am trying to figure out why you keep on helping us out. I let you off the hook but you keep on comin' back." He reached for Taylor's arm and pulled her away from a group of nurses who seemed to be eavesdropping in their conversations. "We don't need no more favors from you. And shit, can't they mind they're own damn business?" He growled.

"I know them. They all work with me," Taylor replied as she allowed her hand to slip to her cheek. "We have to warn Jack and Kate,"

"And tell them what? That leatherface is in town and he's looking for himself a fugtive? All that's goin' to do is worry them, and they can't do shit without a car." Sawyer said as he tried to ignore the worried tone his voice had now picked up.

"We can get them one."

Sawyer laughed, "How the hell are we gonna get them a car in the middle of the night without drawing attention to ourselves and riskin' Jack and Kate getting caught?"

"Cecile has a car that she doesn't use, it belonged to her husband that passed away two years ago and she's been trying to find good use for it."

"I don't want nothing to do with that woman." Sawyer muttered.

"Sawyer," Taylor scolded.

Sawyer turned away with a clenched jaw. The last thing he wanted to do was be reminded of that woman's son every time he got in the damn vehicle. He had dealt with the consequences of his actions that night already, and he didn't want to deal with the thought of an innocent man's blood on his hands again. "I just…"

"Kate needs to get away."

"Do you know what you're risking by helping us out? Why don't you just let me figure out what to do…"

"Keep your voice down!" Taylor reprimanded as she reached for Sawyer's sleeve with shaking hands.

Sawyer closed his mouth because for a brief second he found comfort in her touch.

"Taylor!" A voice called down the hospital corridor.

Both Taylor and Sawyer turned around to watch as a doctor approached. He appeared to be in his early to mid thirties, and he had pale blue eyes and dark brown hair which he wore slicked back.

Sawyer lowered his eyebrows over his eyes as the man stopped in front of Taylor. "Hey, I haven't seen you in awhile." He said smiling back at her with what looked

Like sympathy hidden in his eyes.

For a second Sawyer temporarily forgot about their situation. He watched angrily as the doctor placed his hand on Taylor's arm. Sawyer opened his mouth to speak, but then he caught himself. He wasn't in a relationship with Taylor first of all, and then again he was about to leave so it didn't matter. Right now the only thing he needed to focus on was getting Kate out of North Carolina before the Marshal got to her.

"How have you been?" The doctor asked.

"Good," Taylor replied as she looked towards the exit.

"Are you okay?" He asked as he gently massaged her arm.

Sawyer had had enough, the jealousy which he didn't know he possessed was starting to kick in. "We should go."

"We should," Taylor agreed. She gave him the doctor a smile which looked sincere but a little contrived for Taylor's tastes. "It was nice seeing you Ryan, but I have to go."

Sawyer felt Ryan's eyes glaring back at him. So he looked up. This guy didn't even know him but yet he was already looking at him wrong. Instinctively Sawyer clenched his fists ready to fight. But then he remembered the situation they were in. Sawyer forced himself to look away and so did Ryan.

"If you ever need anyone to talk to then I'll be there in a second."

"Okay," Taylor said nodding because she had a feeling Ryan was referring to what happened with Timmy. News traveled fast in small towns in the south like this one.

Now Sawyer was really starting to get angry. Who was this Ryan guy to her? He didn't like this doctor, and it said something because within two seconds of meeting him Sawyer already hated him more than Jack when they first had met.

Ryan glanced at Sawyer once more and then decided to extend his hand. "Hi, I'm Doctor Ryan McCarthy and I work here with Taylor, I don't think I caught your name."

Taylor sighed because she knew that they had to go.

Sawyer narrowed his eyes back at the doctor. He thought about not shaking Ryan's hand, but they had to leave and they didn't have much time for games. "Sawyer," He muttered under his breath.

"Excuse me? Didn't quite catch that what did you say?"

"Are you deaf?" Sawyer snapped.

Ryan straightened his back and then raised his chin. He adjusted his lab jacket and cleared his throat snootily. "Well Taylor the offer still stands as always."

"Thanks Ryan," Taylor replied politely as she followed after Sawyer who was already storming out of the door.

The Marshal took the pair of jeans from Jack's outstretched hands and then snickered. "Doesn't she have any of her own clothes?"

Jack looked away. He definitely wasn't in the mood for jokes.

"So how are we going to do this?" Edward asked in a low voice.

"Can I dress myself? I can't do too much with your gun trained on me." Kate replied turning around to look at him. The sight of his wicked face made her stomach churn.

"I still don't trust you any further than I can throw you, how about he helps you out." Edward beckoned his head towards Jack. "The last close contact you have with him before the lie is over once and for all."

"I can do it," Kate repeated.

"Well I'm not going to let you." The Marshal snapped as he tossed the jeans back in Jack's direction.

Kate watched quickly as the Marshal lowered his gun. He was clearly distracted because he was keeping his eyes trained on both Jack and Kate. Jack stepped forward.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Edward snapped.

Jack picked up Chloe, "I'm taking her outside because she doesn't need to see this."

Kate thanked Jack underneath her breath. She gave him a brief smile as he walked out.

"It's all over." The Marshal rubbed in. His face was still turned towards Jack as he spoke. Kate took action and quickly slipped her arm out of Edward's grasp which had loosened. He turned to her with his mouth agape and tried to train his gun back on Kate. But she had already kneed him in the stomach. He doubled over and then fell to the floor.

On the way down he latched onto Kate's leg. She screamed in surprise as she fell to the hard ground. A grunt escaped her throat as her back broke the fall. Edward was now on his knees frantically reaching out for his gun.

Out of no where Jack ran back into the house. He dived down, grabbed the gun and held it down by his side as he started to back away.

"Give that back if you know what's good for you. I'm letting you off the hook, don't ruin your life over this wretched woman. Surely, your freedom is more important that her!"

Kate kicked him in the stomach forcing him to let her go.

"Bitch," Edward growled as he clutched onto his stomach.

Kate forced herself up and then reached out for the fire poker. She didn't want to do this, but she had to. Kate bit her lip as she stepped back. She raised the fire poker in her hand and then stopped when she saw Chloe looking back at her from the door. Tears were welled inside of her big eyes and she looked so sad and scared. Kate hated to see Chloe like this because she was so young and innocent.

The Marshal stood up.

Kate gasped and stepped backwards focusing all of her attention back on him. In her hands she held the cold steel which she wasn't sure if she could hit him with.

"You wouldn't dare." He challenged.

"Jack take Chloe away from the door." Kate said shakily as she started to back away from the Marshal.

"I'm not going to leave you." Jack protested.

"Now Jack!" Kate pleaded.

Jack lingered for a little longer as Kate suspected but then the Marshal turned around to face him.

"If she wants a fight then I can give her one, she's right take the kid and let us handle this like adults,"

Kate stepped back cautiously as the Marshal sneered back at her.

"If you think I'm going to let you get away after all of the crimes you committed then you got another thing coming precious. I'm not leaving without you."

"Then I guess you aren't going to leave at all." Kate threatened as she tried to find the courage within her to swing at him if he came any closer. Images of Jack flashed into her mind. She saw his smile, and then she heard his laugh echoing in her ears. Kate needed him in order to keep her sanity.

The Marshal lunged forward like an animal that had just been released from a cage and grabbed a fistful of air as he tried to wrap his hands around Kate's neck. "I won't miss next time," He warned as he got ready to pounce again.

Kate fell backwards and hit the fireplace. She groaned in agony as her shoulder rammed into the hard bricks. There was no time to recover from the pain because the Marshal took advantage of her brief period of weakness and attacked her. He wrapped his hands around her neck tightly and rammed her against the wall in attempts to make her release the welcome. But Kate held on so tightly that he knuckles were turning a dark shade of scarlet.

"You want to kill me? You want to kill me huh?" He chanted eerily as gripped his hands around Kate's neck tighter. "My orders were to bring you in dead or alive,"

Kate winced as he squeezed his hands around her neck tighter. She saw Jack at the door, and he was yelling something but Kate couldn't hear him. Her vision was starting to grow blurry as she gripped her hands on the fire poker tighter.

Fight or Flight. Fight or Flight.

"He's going to leave you. He doesn't love you." The Marshall leaned in close enough for his lips to almost touch Kate's cheek. "Now he knows what type of woman you are. He's been too blinded by your phony charm up until now. But I'm releasing him and letting him off the hook."

"He loves me…" Kate choked out.

"Like Tom loved you before you killed him?" The Marshall growled.

Kate shivered at the mention of Tom's name. How dare he bring Tom up right now after everything that's happened these last couple of days. How dare he! She raised the fire poker behind his head using the little bit of energy she had left. He was so set on strangling her that he didn't notice.

"He'll see that just because you're pretty on the outside doesn't mean a thing, you're ugly on the inside." The Marshall opened his mouth wide to suck in some oxygen as he continued his assault. "You will not get away this time, you…"

Before he could say another word Kate rammed the steel pole into the back of his head. A primal like scream escaped his lungs as he collapsed onto the floor holding onto the back of his head.

"You can't get away from me, I got you now! You walk out that door and I'll get you." He yelled as he kept his hands firmly planted on the back of his head. His hair was now drenched in blood, and his blood was starting to stain the floor.

Kate stood frozen in shock as she looked down at the fire poker which was still clutched tightly in her hand. She had made him bleed, and she didn't regret it. Maybe she should finish him off here, that way she wouldn't have to run anymore. Kate raised the weapon in her hand. He deserved to die. His only purpose in life was to torment her, and make her realize all of her shortcomings. She didn't want to deal with him anymore. Kate wanted him gone. She wanted to be able to relax for once, and as long as he was around she would never be able to settle down. Every instinct inside of her body told her to finish the job.

"No you're wrong. I will get away from you. I always do." Kate brought the fire poker down. Confused emotions of relief, pleasure and disgust washed over her as she hit him over and over again. Kate knew that she had officially lost her mind, but there was no turning back now. It had to be done. The Marshal had to die.

Jack turned around to look at Chloe as he ran inside. He had asked her to wait for him out there and thankfully she did. Terror washed over him as he watched Kate beat the Marshal over and over with the fire poker. He was struggling on the ground, and it looked as if he was loosing consciousness.

"Kate stop!" Jack yelled horrified. He ran over to her and wrapped her up in his arms.

"Let me go!" Kate screamed.

Jack was reminded of the time Kate had lost it when they were in Timmy's basement. They couldn't afford for that to happen now because they had to leave. "Kate, we have to go."

"He's going to keep coming after me. I just want to be free…I just want to forget and…" Kate allowed Jack to ease the fire poker out of her hand. And as it fell to the floor Jack realized that no matter how hard he tried he understand Kate he would never be able to, at least not anytime soon. She held so much inside that every traumatic incident only seemed to drive her further and further over the edge.

"I don't want to go to jail," Kate said frantically.

Jack knew that Kate didn't want to go to jail, and a part of him also knew that she didn't want to kill the Marshal either.

Edward started to move around on the floor.

"She'll never be free…" He groaned. "I'm going to get her…turn her in…" He rested his head against the floor and closed his eyes. "Go with her…and I'm coming after you too." He directed to Jack.

Kate tried to pick up the fire poker again but Jack held her tightly in his arms. She wasn't herself and the last thing he wanted was for her to live with another murder on her hands. She collapsed into his arms.

"Kate?" Jack said fearfully.

He picked her up in his arms and ran towards the door. They had to go before the Marshal came back too, and came after them. Jack had no idea where they were going to, but he knew they had to get away.

Chloe looked back at him and then at Kate with tears in her eyes.

Right now Jack didn't know what to do or say. All he could do was run as fast as he could with Kate in his arms and Chloe right behind him. He was in deep and now he was officially a criminal along with Kate. Surely his love for Kate meant enough for him to risk it all, but everyday he worried about her more and more, because Kate's behavior seemed to be growing more and more erratic each day. Jack was terrified for her, because if it wasn't obvious to him before it was now. Behind Kate's smile was some horrible secret that had prevented her from having a normal life. It was more to it than just being a fugitive. There was something deeply wrong with Kate and it crushed him that he had no idea what it was.

Taylor parked her truck in front of Cecile's house. All the lights were off.

"It looks like she's sleep, how 'bout we leave." Sawyer suggested as he looked around the quiet street for any unwelcome guests.

"We can't," Taylor grabbed her purse. "I'll be back, Jack and Kate need a car."

Sawyer grabbed Taylor by her arm, "I don't want you doin' anything else for us you hear me. Just call Jack and Kate and let them know that he's here and we'll figure out what to do from there. We don't need you anymore."

Taylor looked away. "I came this far without knowing the truth, do you really think I'm going to turn my back on you guys just because I know the truth now?"

Sawyer groaned, "Any normal person would. Look where your caring got you. The second we leave your life ain't gonna fix itself. Everything was good until we came along and fcked it all up."

Taylor opened the door and stepped out, "I don't need to hear this,"

Sawyer refused to let go. The reason he was so angry at Taylor really had nothing to do with her, but it was him. He hated himself for letting it go that far. Taylor and Chloe should've never gotten this involved with them. His jaw tensed at the thought of Chloe. He knew that she had to cry when she was alone. She was just six but yet she had seen more that most people do in a lifetime. And it was all his damn fault. Sawyer looked away in disgust. He didn't want to care, he never did. But no matter how much he fought it. He did care. Fuck, he did care. Sawyer swallowed as he felt his hand grip onto Taylor's arm tighter suddenly not wanting to let her go. He knew that as soon as he left her, her life would be destroyed. And she would be left to pick up the pieces all on her own. Sawyer looked back up, and his heart ached as he saw the tears fall down Taylor's cheeks. He could've killed himself for doing this to her, but he couldn't be selfish now. Sawyer looked away once again with difficulty. He felt as if he could cry. But he refused to shed a tear. Crying showed a weakness that he didn't care to possess. The only time he had really cried was after his parents had died, and he wasn't going to do it again. Because he needed to believe that he was immune to emotion and caring.

Taylor pulled her arm out of Sawyer's grasp. "No matter what, I grew close to all three of you…and I don't care what happened in the past. We can't change it."

"If Kate gets caught then we're all going down." Sawyer commented as he looked down at his hands. He cared about Taylor more than he wanted too.

"I'll be back," Taylor said as she wiped away her tears. She looked around and then walked towards the front door.

Sawyer sat back in the chair. His jaw was clenched and his eyes were fixed on Taylor's petite figure as she made her way through the chilly night air towards the door.

He didn't want to leave her like this, but he had too.

Sawyer clasped his hands together.

Before he had turned into this masochistic shell she had always been there for him, and he had swore that he would do the same for her. But he was Sawyer, and he didn't keep promises. Sawyer closed his eyes, feeling somewhat humane after all, when he realized that he wanted to stay.

Taylor struggled to contain her emotions as she waited for Cecile to open the door. She knew that it was best if Sawyer left deep down, but a part of her wanted him to stay. Taylor bit her lip as she felt a second wave of tears come over her. If only he knew how happy she had been when she spotted him with Kate and Jack the day their truck had failed on them. She hadn't seen him in six years since the night he came back to town, and then left. Taylor looked down as she tried not to think about it.

Sawyer's charming smile haunted her thoughts.

Taylor shook her head.

His piercing blue eyes invaded her soul she could feel them on her now.

"Please," She whispered under her breath as she tried the door bell once again. Taylor had thought about telling him the truth. A part of her felt that he deserved to know, but then again she didn't want Sawyer to feel trapped. Taylor closed her eyes as the thoughts continued to flow. And even worse she didn't want him to feel obligated to stay. The door opened and Cecile looked back at her in worry. Taylor took in a deep breath as she tried to force all of the thoughts of Sawyer out of her head. Sawyer could never know that Chloe was his daughter.

(Thanks everyone for reviewing last chapter. I promise a break is coming because I know it's been really crazy lately. But Jack, Kate and Sawyer are spliiting up for a little bit. And Jack and Kate are heading to Kentucky, while Sawyer will stay in North Carolina for the time being:)