Chapter 19
Sawyer finished shuving his stuff into a backpack and walked out of his tent. He was halfway suprised to find that Kate wasn't already there. But just grumbled to himself and started walking toward her tent-- Iher previous tent/I he thought to himself with a smirk. As he walked he stretched his muscles. He'd had quite the workout the night before and was beginning to feel the effects. Especially was his abdomen starting to be sore. IGuess I strained it a little too much./I He smiled again just as he was coming within view of her tent.
"Kate!" Sawyer shouted with impatience. "Christ! Girl what's takin' ya' so long?" He continued forward, a frown speading over his face when he didn't get a response. "Kate? he paused Freckles?" Again there was no answer. His heart started to race and his footsteps quickened. Just when he reached the doorway of her tent, Kate popped out scaring the sht out of him. Sawyer stopped short and almost fell over backwards trying not to run into her.
Kate grabbed his arm to help steady him. "Dmn it girl!" Sawyer cried when he finally had his balance. "Why you gotta do that?"
"Do what?" Kate asked, raising her eyebrows. "I answered you when you called. Didn't you hear me?"
"No." Then he mumbled something that Kate didn't quite catch. Sawyer was trying to look mad, but she could see the fear behind his eyes. Lightly touching his arm, she stood up on her tippy toes and kissed him. Sawyer's hand came to her waist and he deepened the kiss. Then he moved his kisses to her cheek and then the side of her neck. Between kisses he whispered into her ear, "Maybe we should just go back to the tent."
Kate let a small moan escape from deep in her throat and then whispered back. "Just as soon as we find Shannon, we'll go back to the tent." She sighed and then continued, "we'll stay in there as long as you want."
Sawyer pulled away looking slightly disappointed, but even more intrigued. "Promise?"
"Promise. Now lets go." And with that she turned and walked away, grabbing his fingers with hers, not quite holding his hand, but not quite not either. He followed her as she made her way to the caves.
Sawyer sighed occasionally, thinking about after they found Shannon.
When they finally reached the caves they saw Jack standing with Locke and Boone and Sayid. They walked up to the little group, still hand in hand. Jack stopped mid-sentance when he noticed them. He glanced down at their hands and winced a little. Then he looked at Sawyer, "I told you no." Then he turned back to Locke, "So did yo-."
Kate interupted him, "You told him no what?" Jack looked at her and breathed out.
"You're not going Kate."
"Jack."
"No Kate. You're not going. They took Shannon. It was different when they took Claire-who by the way we still haven't found. But now they took someone who they have no apparent use for. You are strong and-"
This time it was Sawyer who interupted him, "Already tried that, doc. Won't work."
Jack narrowed his eyes at Sawyer and then looked up in the air, trying to hold his tongue. Finally he said, "No. We have enough people."
Kate took a step towards him, her stance becomiing deffensive. "You have enough people, Jack? Enough people for what? Because as I recall we never did 'find Claire'." she said mockingly. "Did we have enough people then?" She stopped, staring hard at Jack. But he wouldn't meet her gaze so she continued, "Besides, since when can Ianyone/I here but Locke track? I'm the only other person, Jack. What if the path splits again, like it did when Charlie and Claire were taken? What will you do then?"
Jack looked at her sharply as if to say that she'd said enough. "Fine. You've proved your point." He pointed a finger at Sawyer, switching his attention, "But you have to swear to me that you won't let her out of your sight."
Sawyer raised his hands in the air, "Fine by me, doc. Just one thing." Sawyer paused for emphasis, and stepped up into Jack's face, "You point that finger at me again, you won't get it back." Then he turned and walked the few feet to the waterfall and filled some bottles while the rest breathed out, letting at least some of the tension break.
When Sawyer got back to the group they were ready to go and Locke lead the way.
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A short time later they had been following Shannon's trail when as Kate had predicted, the path split. Jack cursed quietly and then turned toward everyone. "Here's what we're gonna do. Locke, me and Boone will follow this train that goes northeast. Sawyer. You, Kate and Sayid go west. If you haven't found anything substancial by the time the sun begins to set, come back here. That way we can meet up, and plan our next move. If you do find something substancial - a piece of clothing, some kind of note - just find a safe place to camp, and then continue from there in the morning. And be Icarefull/I." Jack looked meaningfully at Sawyer.
"No worries, doc." And then he wrapped one arm lightly around Kate's waist in a protective way. Kate looked up at him and made a disgusted noise in her throat. Then she pulled out of his grasp and started off to the west, following the trail. Sawyer waved, "See ya tonight. If we don't find nothin'."
