Chapter 2

They made the rest of the trek to the hatch without exchanging any words. Kate was lost deep in thought thinking about the real reason she was taking him to the hatch. She couldn't help but feel slightly apprehensive and was more than a little thrown by Sawyer's unusual response to her request.

Upon entering the hatch, Locke met them at the door, "Hello Kate, James, can't say I am not glad to get out of here, I've been on shift on my own for the last 8 hours and I have to admit I am starting to get a little stir-crazy."

Kate smiled tentatively at Locke, "Well lucky for you Sawyer's gonna take over now, give you a chance to stretch your legs and get some fresh air."

"Yeah lucky me too, huh, I get to stay in here and press a goddamn button like some lab monkey." James said mockingly. Kate rolled her eyes and Locke nodded in silent agreement with her reaction as he walked around them to leave the hatch. Sawyer turned to Kate and muttered, "Self-righteous Mr. Clean."

Kate couldn't help but smile at this, "Do you have to give everyone and everything a nickname?"

"No, as a matter of fact I don't Freckles, but I never heard anyone complain, so why the hell not?" James replied. He swaggered towards the computer, and struggled to suppress a shiver of disgust with more than a tinge of fear as he approached the machine. Kate watched him closely, as she tried to gage exactly what kind of mood he was in. Although it didn't really matter as his temper always seemed to flare up at the slightest provocation.

James felt her eyes watching him as he sat down at the computer and he turned in surprise to see her sit down on the couch. "Whatcha doin' Sweetcheeks dontcha have a date with Our Doctor the Hero in the Jungle of Mystery somewhere?"

Kate rolled her eyes at Sawyer's new nickname for Jack, the man was incorrigible! "Well actually, Tex, I am right where I am supposed to be." She replied, casually.

James' pulse did a small jump as he allowed himself to think for a second that she was actually going to be truthful about her attraction to him or something along those lines. 'Don't be a fool James, she's not here for anything like that, ever known her not to have a hidden agenda?' He asked himself, bitterly.

"Oh yeah, whatcha here for then, really? To babysit me? 'Cause if that's the case there are more interesting things for a sitter to do than just watch, Freckles." James gave her a smoldering look that told Kate exactly what line of thought his "other things" fell under.

Kate crossly suppressed the small thrill of excitement she felt as she looked into his eyes. 'What is the matter with me?' She asked herself in annoyance. This was getting ridiculous she couldn't react to the smallest look or actions or words that came from Sawyer in this manner, it was just not right. He wasn't right for her.

Kate took a deep breath, "I brought you here so you and I could man the hatch together, Sawyer-"

"You tricked me? Hell Freckles, why the hell do I even bother with you people?" He growled irately, James felt a twinge that felt very much like his feelings were hurt, and he didn't like it. He couldn't believe it, after everything, when he'd been so upfront with her she'd tricked him into coming into this waking nightmare!

"I tricked you? You have some nerve Sawyer, after everything you've done, you have the audacity to claim I tricked you?" Kate yelled back, 'Well done Kate way to keep your cool!' she congratulated herself.

"You know what Freckles, forget it. I get it loud an' clear now, Sir Fixalot asks you to get me into the hatch so he can look for the guns with Daniel Boone an' you're ready willing and able to do what the Doc ordered." James ground out, angrily. Kate's eyes flickered at his astute observation, 'How does he do that?' she asked herself.

James didn't miss the tell-tale flicker of her eyes as Kate pulled on her poker-face, "Well, I'll be damned, I'm right aren't I?" James let out a small laugh as he shook his head, she was unbelievable sometimes!

Kate stubbornly refused to let herself feel guilty for his obvious disappointment in her, 'Served him right he stole the guns and played her in the process. Time to get a taste of his own medicine!' and with that she resolved not to let whatever he said affect her.

"I'm not discussing this with you Sawyer, you lost any moral high ground the minute you pulled that stunt on us last week." She said harshly.

"You see, Freckles that is where you an' I are different, I embrace my flaws an' don't give a damn about what the rest of the world thinks of me. Whereas you don't wanna give up on the hope that everybody will love an' respect ya. I got news for ya, Puddin', society tends to frown on murderers, no matter how pretty an' innocent ya look…it comes with the territory."

James saw he hit the mark with his comment as she flinched at his use of the word murderer. Bingo! She think she was the only one who could manipulate people? He watched with a twisted fascination rooted in obsession as she struggled to maintain her unperturbed composure.

"That was low Sawyer, even for you." She responded resignedly, as she gave up the pretence of not being affected by what he'd said.

James tilted his head to the side as he studied her, "Hmm, now we're getting' somewhere Freckles. You can hide your thoughts and emotions from everyone else, but know this, I always know what 's really goin' on in that pretty little head of yours." Kate looked up at him, as he was standing right in front her, the words had been said without malice but almost matter of factly, as if it went without saying.

"You know nothing about me Sawyer, nothing. Now get out of my way." She demanded quietly, looking him in straight in the eye as she rose from her position on the couch and pushed past him.

James grabbed her arm, in what was fast becoming a regular occurrence with them. Kate violently shook his hand off her arm and strode for the door. As she pulled it open, James' hand slammed it back shut missing her nose by half an inch. Kate turned around angrily, and James moved in so close their breaths mingled and their noses were nearly touching. Kate held her breath with nervous anticipation as to what was going to happen next. 'Is he going to try to kiss me? Will I let him? Do I want him to?' She asked herself frantically.

"Ya wanna keep that button from countin' down to zero an' beyond, you better sit your ass down on that couch. 'Cause I swear to God, Puddin' you walk outta that door, Locke an' Jacko will have a lot more to worry about than the friggin' guns. You brought me here under false pretences an' I'd rather die a thousand deaths than stay here on my own after that. You want me here, ya stay here with me!" He hissed angrily, James was breathing heavy, with anger and lust and a dangerous emotion he didn't want to examine.

Against his better judgment all he wanted to do was kiss her… and more. He could feel those very same feelings emanating from her, yet something inside him made him hold himself back. He paused for a moment savoring the scent of her hair, skin, fear, anger and desire, before he pulled away and calmly walked back to the computer. He resumed his seat and entered the code as the timer was dangerously close to reaching zero.

Kate remained pressed against the door, shaking with emotion she couldn't define; she hadn't even heard the alarm going off! She hurriedly stormed off into the bathroom, slamming the door with all the frustration and anger pent up inside. Pressing her back against the bathroom door, she slid down to a sitting position and exhaled loudly. 'I hate him! I can't fucking stand him, he physically makes me sick!' She thought to herself passionately. 'He's just like Wayne!' She added for good measure. She took another calming yet shaky breath, 'Who am I kidding? He's not really like Wayne, never was really except for the accent and the rudeness.'

Kate shook her head ruefully, comparing him to her stepfather had been an almost effective barrier, but deep down she knew it wasn't true. Sure Wayne had preyed on the weak, been a boor of a man, but just because Sawyer was a conman didn't make him like Wayne any more than being a boor and rude had made the Marshal like Wayne. She could be honest enough with herself to make this admission. But that was as far as she was willing to go with the self-honesty at the moment. She wrapped her anger at Sawyer like a protective blanket around her heart and rose from the floor, after splashing some water on her face, she walked back out towards Sawyer and the computer.