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Chapter 7

"Shoot her! Target her legs, we want that bitch alive!" The men were chasing her for the last few days but it was the first time they got close enough to have a clear shot. They wanted a reward, and that wasn't much of a surprise. For today, she was worth over one hundred grands and almost every week she was on the run, the reward was getting higher. But Kate didn't want to give up easily, she made her choice. If she had to choose between being imprisoned or dead, she would have to die.

Tom was right, you always want to run, you never stay in one place for longer than a few weeks. You've spent all your life chasing something that isn't even there. That's why you've never settled down, that's why you can't even stand the thought of being in jail. That would kill you and you know it well.

Kate looked around her and noticed change in the landscape. The high pines disappeared and she was now surrounded by palms and bushes, it was all strangely familiar although she'd never been to such an exotic place. It came to her mind that she was on an island but she couldn't recall how she had gotten here.

But it wasn't important now. The only thing important was to run way from the men that were hunting her down.

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Sawyer watched Kate tossing on the bed, she had been in this state for the last few hours and he knew that she had not been getting better. Jack said that it would be the most important hours. If she lived through the night, she would probably survive. If not… Sawyer couldn't even think about it, it was too painful.

That's why he was almost happy that she had been breathing so heavily, tossing and turning on the bed, shivering. He didn't have to wonder if she was still alive. Every time she calmed down a little he felt dread rising in his heart. Was it already over? Had she left him forever?

Kate, Kate, Kate…she gave you light, she gave you hope. Locke said that this island could give you anything you want, anything that is good for you. The island gave you her. But maybe, maybe this place changed its mind, maybe it realized that you're not worth having a new life, not worth her.

You're getting crazy, you know? You never believed in destiny, and now one girl changes everything, a girl that isn't even in love with you… she is in love with the Doc…

You're losing your mind…and that's funny in some way. She dies, you jump from a cliff because you can't survive without her one damn day. It's like some kind of a fucking Greek tragedy. Hell, your whole life is like a Greek tragedy. Your parents, Cass, the man you killed. You bring only pain and misery.

Sawyer put his head into is hands and run his fingers through his hair, then he stared at Kate blankly. All those thoughts were killing him and he couldn't control it, he didn't even want to control it because that was another form of punishment.

Yeah, you're great with it, aren't you? You never do anything good, never think before you act and then you just punish yourself… Those last few weeks on this island haven't changed you a bit. You're still the same bastard that left Cass and conned all those other women. The only thing Kate managed to do was make you realize that you really could change your life if you only tried. You're a coward and you know it. That's why you said that Tigers didn't change their stripes. Because you were too afraid to admit that you may actually like being a good person, that you want to be loved. But it would make you too vulnerable, wouldn't it?

Sawyer wasn't aware of anything that was happening around him. Jack's presence would normally piss him off but now he didn't care. They both remained silent, trying to ignore each other.

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Kate heard shots behind her and unconsciously increased her pace. She knew that she shouldn't run too fast, because she would get tired and collapse. She was scared even though she didn't want to admit it. She felt the breath of death upon her.

The first bullet reached her arm, the second peeled the skin off her leg, the pain was overwhelming but she knew she couldn't give up, she had to run, run for her life.

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Suddenly a loud shriek broke the silence, Kate gave out one piercing scream. Big tears were falling on her pillow, moistening her hair. Both men froze with terror.

"Is this it?" Sawyer asked Jack with low, horrified voice.

"I don't know, she suffers but I can't tell if she is dying or found strength to fight, I just don't know" With those words Jack fell on his knees and started crying, he touched gently Kate's body and in that position, kneeling on the ground with his head resting on the bed and one hand on Kate's leg he was crying out his pain and fear.

Sawyer watched him, feeling like an intruder in a very intimate scene. He felt as if they were making love in front of him, and he couldn't help thinking that if she had awaken it would have stayed this way, this would be the closest he would get to her because Jack would now protect her from him. And was it really so surprising?

You told Ana that if she hurt her you would have to kill her. So what are you gonna do now, huh? Kill yourself? But then again, death is the easiest way out, isn't it? The greatest punishment will be watching the two of them together, hugging, laughing, touching. His hand upon her face, his fingers caressing her dark hair…his…

Yes, this would be the most painful punishment you could imagine. Not that you don't deserve it. Maybe the Island planned it in the first place. Maybe it didn't want to rescue you but make you pay for all the things you did before, all the things you do, all the things you will do in the future.

After a while the expression on Kate's face softened. She didn't look like a woman with troubled past, a murderer. Sawyer realized that he would do everything to save her just to be able to call her Kath, Katie… something sweet and innocent. He wanted her to feel innocent and safe.

Yes, he would give everything he had to keep her alive, but in fact she was everything he had left. Her life was the only thing in the world that mattered to him now.

If she died, there would be nothing but emptiness in his life. And he wasn't sure if he would be able to face the world on his own again.

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"Jack, I need to talk to you" Ana Lucia came into the room unnoticed. "Jack!" She raised her voice a little when there was no response.

"What do you want?" Jack was calmer than a few hours ago. After that horrible scream, Kate's state stabilized and although he didn't want to allow himself to have false hopes he noticed some small changes in her look. Her cheeks were not as pale anymore, and pulse was slightly stronger. Maybe there was still chance…

"I need you on the beach" Ana explained quietly, almost apologizing.

"I'm not going anywhere, I need to stay here" Jack sighted, clearly irritated.

"Sayid came back from the jungle, he is wounded. I looks that John attacked him."

"What!" For a second Jack forgot about the woman laying on the bed a few feet away from him. "Why on earth would Locke attack Sayid?"

"Sayid thinks that Locke wants to find Danielle and make her lead him to the second hatch, that's why he needed the gun so badly." She took a deep breath and then continued again "Jack, she looks much better than a few hours ago, I'm sure you can leave her for some time, If you want I can…"

"I can watch over her" Sawyer interrupted her quickly, at the same time trying to ensure himself that he didn't do it only to steal some private moments with Kate.

Jack looked at him cautiously. Whatever he was thinking of, Sawyer couldn't read it from his face. Finally he answered "Fine, stay with her but call me instantly if she wakes up or if there is even the slightest change in her state. I will send Sun to help you as soon as I get to the beach, ok?"

Sawyer nodded, happy that Jack agreed. After all he didn't have to let him stay here alone, he could have made Ana Lucia stay with him. But then out of sudden it hit Sawyer what made the other man act like that.

She said Jack's name, not yours. He doesn't have to be afraid you do something stupid, because he is certain that her feelings for him won't change in a few hours.

He's got hope, I have nothing …

Jack slowly left the room giving Kate one last look as if he was trying to remember her features. Ana followed him after a short while, leaving Sawyer alone in the room, alone with Kate and his thoughts.

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The pain was hard to bear… the gunshot wounds were burning horribly now. With every minute it was more difficult for her to run. Soon she would have to stop, and she didn't even know where she was going. Usually the only important thing was to get as far as possible from something or someone, but this time she had to find a shelter, somewhere safe.

And then, suddenly she realized where she was heading. She had to find him, she was sure that somewhere among the trees he was waiting for her, ready to fight for her life…

Kate saw him standing far on the horizon. He reached his hands towards her and she made the last effort to run faster, because she knew that her only chance for survival was him.

She felt tears filling her eyes. He was there, he didn't leave her just like everyone else did. With her last strength she opened her mouth trying to call his name but to her surprise the only thing that came out of her lips was a whisper…

"Sawyer…"

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"Sawyer…" Her voice was so quiet that normally he wouldn't hear it. But he was alone in the hatch. A place that had walls so thick that even dynamite wouldn't be able to demolish it, so even the slightest noise was loud here. Besides he had been watching her face restlessly for the last few hours so even if he wouldn't hear his name, he would certainly read it from her lips.

"I'm here Kate" he got up from his chair and sat on the bed by her side. "I'm here, everything will be fine" Sawyer watched the rapid movement of her eyelids, she was desperately trying to open her eyes and when she finally succeeded she focused her gaze on Sawyer's face. He held his breath, knowing how fragile that moment was, wanting it to last forever. What if this was the last time she would be alone with him? Maybe she would live after all, but would she live for him, with him?

A little smile appeared on her dried lips "I knew you would save me." Saying those words must've been very exhausting for her, because she closed her eyes again. Sawyer didn't know what she was talking about. For a second he was afraid that she was delirious again, but then he noticed that she really looked much better than before and that gave him hope.

After a few minutes she looked opened her eyes again. "Are we here alone?" the words that came from her lips were louder now. Sawyer felt a flicker of disappointment. Did she want Jack to be here instead of him?

"Yeah Kate, we are alone, but I can go get Jack…if you want" he stared at her meaningfully and she read right through him, realizing that she held the happiness of that man in her hands. With one little word she could make him pay for all the things he did to her.

But if she said "yes" it would make her suffer too.

There was tension in the air, they both waited for her to say something, answer his question both not knowing yet what the answer would be.

Then Kate reached for Sawyer's hand and touched it gently, fondling his long fingers exploring every inch of his skin. He watched it in bewilderment, not daring to move.

Out of sudden she raised her head, looked straight in his eyes and answered in a low, husky voice "No, I'm glad you're here with me"

Kate closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Finally she was safe, finally she didn't have to run anymore. She was on the island, she was with Sawyer… she was home.

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