Chapter 24

Sawyer gently kissed the top of Kate's head and held her close to him until the others were ready to go. Kate looked up at him and smiled, "Thank you." Sawyer wasn't quite sure what she was thanking him for but he had a vague idea. He just nodded and smiled.

When Shannon was finally calm enough to go, she and Sayid stood together, him with his arm protectively around her, her nestled into the crevace of his neck, and they walked out together that way. Boone silently watched them leave, and then followed. Then Kate and Sawyer followed Boone.

--------------

When they all finally reached the outside air after having been in the tunnel so long, it was like coming home. It was twilight. None of them had realised just how long they'd been in the tunnel, but they were just grateful to be out. They decided to walk back toward the caves for a little while before setting up camp. They wanted to get a little ways away from the cave.

When everything was finally settled down for the night, they all slept around the small fire Locke had built. Shannon cuddled next to Sayid and fell asleep almost immediately. He watched her breathing softly the cool night air and then kissed her cheek before finally drifting off himself.

Jack was laying down a few feet away from them, across the fire from Sawyer and Kate, staring at the trees overhead.

Sawyer pulled a blanket out of his pack and layed it on the ground, motioning for Kate to sleep on it. She lay down, but when Sawyer didn't lay beside her she looked up and caught his eye. She tilted her head toward the space next to her and after a second of hesitation and a glance at Jack, Sawyer lay down on his side facing her. Kate had pulled her blanket out too, and now scooted over close to Sawyer, her back to him, and threw the blanket over them both. Sawyer's body was rigid for a minute as he contemplated this. But finally he rested his head on his arm, and drew Kate close to him with the other hand. And they fell asleep that way, their first night together without sex or even a kiss.

---------------

They got back to camp, and a few days passed without consequence. Over those few days, Kate had found ways to avoid sleeping in Sawyer's tent. She wasn't sure why, but she couldn't bring herself to sleep with him, not yet.

On the third morning since they'd gotten back she woke up in the caves. She stretched her muscles and then got up. She folded her blanket and put it with the others and then walked over to the waterfall. She washed her face and was trying to get the sleep out of her eyes when she sensed someone behind her. But before she could turn around, they grabbed her around the waist and began tickling her. Kate instantly knew it was Sawyer.

She laughed, and wriggled until she got away from his exploring hands. Breathing hard from the effort, she looked at him and smiled. He smiled back, and then took a step closer to her. He held his hand out to her, "I need your help."

Kate's eyebrows rose in mock-surprise. "You...need my help." Sawyer rolled his eyes, but nodded. "Ok," she said, and took his hand.

He pulled her along the familiar route to the beach, and then to his tent. When he pushed aside the tarp-door, he guided her inside using his hand and then went in after her.

Kate frowned a little as she looked around the tent. It looked like a wild animal had come through. There were cloths tossed all over, blankets sprawled out, bed cushions laying in disarray. "What happened in here?"

"You happened," Sawyer growled, slightly amused, slightly angry.

"Sawyer. I haven't even been here. What are you talking about?"

He took a few steps toward her until they were close, "What the hell did you do with my dmn boxers?"

And Kate busted up laughing. She actually fell on the floor, and laughed until her sides hurt.

When she finally got control over herself she looked at Sawyer. "Sit down...over there." She pointed to the one seat that wasn't pulled apart. Sawyer complied without a word. Then she crawled across the tent from him, over the used-to-be bed, and dug her fingers into the sand next to one of the posts that held the tent up. She tugged on the soft cotten, and then pulled the boxers out of the sand.

She shook some of the sand out of them and then held them up for Sawyer to see. Growling, he started to get up. But Kate was too quick. Before he was even out of the seat, she had made it to the tent door and was off and running.

Sawyer sprang up and chased after her. Kate ran throught the jungle, dodging trees, branches, and roots that all threatened to trip her up or slow her down. Sawyer spead after her. She was quick to start but once Sawyer got moving, there was no way she could outrun him. Kate ducked into some tall grass, laughing. She'd hoped it would hide her at least a little, but Sawyer's height helped him out for once and he could see the grass shifting as she moved through it.

When he finally caught up to her, she was laughing uncontrolably, and stumbling all over. Sawyer grabbed her just as she was about to fall, but she just ended up pulling him down with her. Kate held the boxers still in one hand and held them high over her head, trying to keep them out of Sawyer's reach. But his arms were too long.

Kate wriggled and moved, and succeeded in keeping the boxers for a short time, but with Sawyer on top of her, she soon had to relenquish them.

Sawyer balled them up in one hand and firmly kept a stubborn hold on them in case she decided to try for them again. He rolled off of her, into the grass, breathing hard. Then, unexpectedly, Kate rolled over to him and looked into his eyes, and then kissed him. It was a soft kiss, full of need and desire. It took Sawyer's breath away.