Thank you all for the reviews! This chapter is moving things along now… it is now the night before Dave (s. 2, ep. 18) so all the things that happened with the tree frog, Lockdown, etc have happened. Kate hasn't gone off into the jungle yet with Jack, and just imagine Jack's face being bruised still. For those of you who have seen Dave you'll understand the hot air balloon reference, and for those who haven't don't worry! Sawyer says he saw the balloon drop the night before when everyone else is all like, 'where did this come from?' That is all.

Chapter 9

James sat high up in the tree watching the camp in a thoughtful silence. His ribs still hurt but his lip was almost completely healed now. He had asked Sun for a herbal remedy to stop the pain and the Korean beauty had made him a poultice to apply on the wound that had worked wonders. He also had a crick in his neck that would not go away because after his conversation with Ana-Lucia the day before yesterday he had resorted to sleeping in the abandoned Commie Caves just to get away from everyone.

James had a suspicious feeling someone had followed him there but he had been far too pre-occupied to care. Now he sat up in the tree surveying the camp and doing his best not to think about the dream he had last night. Against his will all he could do was relive the dream all the same.

He'd seen her, Catalina and she had been standing alone at the entrance of the caves, crying her heart out. When he'd asked her what was wrong she'd replied, "You promised me Jamie, I believed you and you broke your promise." When he had tried to go to her and hold her, she had run away into the jungle, and as he chased her retreating figure he'd stumbled on something. He hadn't managed to look at it properly but it looked like a discarded wig and beard, James had run as long as he could before collapsing in an exhausted heap calling out Catalina's name. She had turned around to look at him over her shoulder, then somehow disappeared behind what appeared to be a mountain wall. James looked around him in surprise as he realized the foliage and terrain was different from anything else he had seen on the Island. Getting painfully to his feet he had run up to the spot she'd disappeared behind. As he studied it he realized that it was a secret entrance, pushing it in he was shocked to see a virtual paradise unfold before his eyes. It was a valley, with carefully tended gardens of vegetables and trees that formed an orchard. At the edge of the valley was a camp. As James tried to take it all in he saw a man that looked very much like Zeke without the beard and eyebrows enter a hatch that was underground. He stared in surprise as Catalina stood at the spot where Zeke had disappeared under, she was looking at him expectantly, "Do something Jamie, you promised me." He shook his head with fear, she'd get caught! "Cat come here please, just come back to me." He whispered desperately. Catalina shook her head in disagreement. "No! You promised me! You promised me!" She was screaming at him and as he watched her in horror fearing for her safety, a wind picked up from nowhere and started to blow around them. The wind carried Catalina's voice to him then away as she disappeared with the valley, leaving James standing in the dark on his own.

"Catalina!" With that cry he'd woken up with a start to find himself sweating and alone in the CommieCaves.

James was racking his brain trying to understand what the dream had meant. 'Damn Rambina, this is all her fault.' If she hadn't brought up Diego and Catalina he wouldn't have dreamt her, wearing white and more beautiful than ever. James felt his chest contract with pain as he thought of his beautiful Cat. Before he could dwell on the past any further, Kate walked up to the trunk of the tree James was in. 'Oh great, I was wondering what could make this day any more disastrous, thank you Lord for bein' so kind as to bring her here.'

Kate looked up at him in the tree before climbing it and positioning herself next to him. She didn't say a word, just looked out at the camp as he had done earlier. James didn't say anything either and the tension between them built up to the point that either one of them was going to say something or suffocate in silence.

"What are we looking at?" Kate asked, finally breaking the unbearable silence between them. James tsked in frustration, "Something I can help ya with, Freckles or did you just run out of people to annoy?"

Kate nodded slightly at his question, "You still bitter about losing the poker game to Jack?"

"Nah, lucky for the Doc I don't bear grudges."

Kate turned around to look at him incredulously, "You don't bear grudges Sawyer?"

"I'm talkin' to you ain't I?"

"Touché." Kate said in a funny voice. James looked at her expectantly, wondering what she was doing here.

"I guess I didn't really think yesterday counted because Hurley was around, although I have to say it was a little awkward at first. I am sorry Sawyer. I'm sorry I-"

"Let's not talk about this Kate, if it's all the same to ya, I'd rather not." She nodded in agreement, slightly relieved that she didn't have to open that can of worms just yet. The silence between them now wasn't so heavy. There were still many unsaid words hanging over them but they were like old friends as opposed to malevolent spirits.

"So Ana-Lulu tells me Jack and Locke have got themselves a genuine prisoner of war." Kate looked at him in surprise, not that he knew about Henry but that Ana-Lucia had told him.

"You and Ana-Lucia are buxom buddies now?" James sat up a little straighter he had noticed the carefully casual tone in her voice as she asked him that question.

"Whatsa matter Katie, you jealous?"

Kate smiled and shook her head slightly, "No… I just don't understand what you and Jack see in her. I mean both of you talk to her and seem to respect her. Am I the only one who remembers she shot Shannon? Dead!"

James studied her face, "Some people would say the same about you… and poisoning Michael. Or Locke and what happened to Boone, hell even Sayid and torturin' me. Aww shucks, I forgot, the only one who cares 'bout that is you."

Kate looked at him in surprise, "I didn't poison Michael." James noticed she didn't disagree that she cared about him.

"I hear what you're sayin' Freckles but your eyes tell me somethin' different. Either you did it yourself or ya had somethin' to do with it at the very least. I'm guessin' your girlfriend Tokyo Rose the herbalist coulda been persuaded to poison Chewie in order to stop him from leaving. Or maybe it was Mickey himself she didn't want to leave the Island. Either way it woulda worked for you." Kate's eyes widened at his astute observation, the man was much smarter than anyone gave him credit for.

"You've made your point Tex." She conceded.

"Does Jacko know?"

Kate shook her head, James nodded in understanding, "Didn't think so. Don't worry Freckles, your position as head nurse is safe."

Kate looked at him gratefully, making James slightly angry at how eager she was to please the spinal surgeon.

"I'm tired of sittin' in this damn tree, gonna go for a walk, ya comin'?" As he asked the question James was already climbing down the tree.

Kate followed suit and smiled her acceptance of the invitation. Smiling at each other the two set off, walking side by side into the jungle.

They ended up at the waterfall they had discovered a month ago, and just like the last time they decided to go for a swim. Sitting on the rocks the pair dried off naturally in the fading afternoon light. Kate watched James through her lashes, trying to this side of his personality with the man that had stolen the guns and beaten Jack to a bloody pulp.

'He's so mercurial! Everything he does, is with so much passion…except for conning That he does cold-bloodedly, I wonder why?'

"Somethin' on your mind Sweetcheeks?" Kate looked at James guiltily. He snickered at the attractive blush creeping onto her cheeks.

"I know when I am being watched Sugar, especially when I am being stared at."

"I wasn't staring!"

"I'm the one who's bein' stared at! I'll be the judge of that."

"Okay fine whatever, yeah I was staring at you."

"No matter how hard you try you just can't help yourself can ya?" James was teasing her but he knew he hit a nerve when her smile faltered for an instant.

"Actually, I was wondering why you con people Sawyer. You obviously don't enjoy it. So why continue to do it?"

James frowned in response to this question, it was a little too observant and with the events of the last few days it was like ripping the band aid off a half-healed wound.

"What makes you think I don't like doin' it Freckles?"

"I can tell." She spoke confidently like she had him figured out.

"Is that a fact? Well lemme ask ya this Sass, what makes you think you're not bein' conned now?" 'That shut her up' James thought with satisfaction.

"We should get back to the beach." She spoke as she stood up and pulled her jeans on. For a moment James regretted the words that had brought on this change in her, but he squashed that inner voice that made him feel bad. He got up too and buttoning up his shirt he followed her briskly retreating figure back to the beach.

That night he had the dream of Catalina again, when he woke he left the tent and stood in the trees enjoying a cigarette and trying to still his rapidly beating heart. Ambling off into the jungle he saw the hot air balloon of food drop into the trees. Cursing he walked up to it in an attempt to figure out what it was about. When he saw it was food he lumbered down onto his haunches to get a better look. The hairs on the back of his neck started to stand on end of their own volition, turning sharply, what he saw made a cold hand of fear clutch his heart. Catalina! Standing in the trees looking straight at him with a disappointed look on her face, "You promised me Jamie." The words were whispered but still audible, before he could even make a move towards her she turned away and dissolved into the trees. James took off at a run, his heart thumping loudly in his chest. A few minutes later he accepted the fact that he'd lost her, she was gone.

Walking back to his tent he saw Kate and Jack walking through the jungle towards the beach too. They were talking animatedly in hushed whispers and Jack was smiling at something she said. Turning around to walk back to his tent the long way around, James swore under his breath.

Kate was going through her clothes, looking for things to take on her trek into the jungle with Jack tomorrow. It wasn't definite but it was pretty much a given that they were going. She smiled to herself, happy to be doing something. She couldn't stand being still for too long, her defenses weakened and it was harder to keep the demons at bay. Most importantly the nightmare she'd had the other day was lingering at the edges of her consciousness and she felt like she was fighting a losing battle to stop it from recurring. She needed this, needed to occupy her mind with other thoughts. She couldn't afford to fall apart or worse now!

'What's worse Kate? Worse than memories of things you'd rather not think about?' She taunted herself, knowing full well a trek into the jungle also meant some distance between her and Sawyer, which if she was to be honest was what she really needed. Somehow, the Southerner could crack the façade with a look, a gesture, a word. With him all kinds of emotions came up to the surface, he was like a bowl of fish-hooks, she picked one up and they all came rushing forward with it. That's why it was best to leave well enough alone.

With Jack it was different, he gave her something to strive for, she wanted to be the kind of woman he would be proud to have by his side. Real doctor's wife material, someone Tom could have stayed married to. Someone who would never get her best friend killed because she wasn't selfish enough to care only about herself. Someone who hadn't deprived the Marshal's wife and kids of their father forever, because he'd been hunting her down and ended up in a plane crash. Someone who didn't have murder in her heart, and had destroyed anything good she came across. Someone who didn't have a person like Wayne for a father. At this thought she couldn't help but think of him, too. 'Where does he fit into all this? Everyone looks at him like he's scum, but he's nothing like Wayne. He's me in ten years time or maybe even less, if I don't change.' Not really aware of what she was doing, Kate stood up and walked out of her tent. 'I have to tell him he's nothing like Wayne. Tell him that I am sorry I ever thought that. I have to make him understand that nothing can ever happen between us. He's not part of the plan, part of my future, if we ever get off this Island.'

She walked into his tent without warning and ground to a halt when she saw him sitting in the dark wide awake. They stared at each other, her heart was beating so loud she couldn't hear anything else. Everything she wanted to say to him froze in her mind as she watched him rise from his sitting position.

He stopped a foot away from her his searing gaze lighting her entire being on fire. She saw him open his mouth to speak and without thinking she lunged forward, grabbing his face and kissing him passionately.

James was floored, he wasn't expecting her to do that! He kissed her back with passionate fervor, their tongues tussling in the age old dance of a kiss. Kate moaned into his mouth, pressing herself against him so hard he lost his balance. The two of them tumbled onto the tent floor, but she didn't stop kissing him. James rolled her over so that he was on top of her, pausing to look into her eyes before he resumed their kiss. They were making love with their tongues, and James felt like the heat their kiss was generating would burn him alive.

She was writhing and undulating beneath him, making him forget about the pain in his rib and concentrate on the torturous pleasure he felt elsewhere. He pulled away from her and she grabbed his hair pushing his head back down to her so she could crush her lips against his. There was fire in her kiss but the force of it bordered on violence and James instinctively knew what she wanted. Kate rolled over on top of him and as she straddled him she clenched her thighs so tightly around his torso that he thought his rib would break again. When he rolled on top of her this time he held her arms above her head in a bruising grip that also stretched them to their limits. James saw the blaze in her eyes burn brighter as she relaxed slightly and strained to kiss him again.

When he lowered his head towards her she kissed him hungrily and hard, the combination of her breathing, the welcoming hot cradle created by her raised knees that were clutching him hungrily and her guttural moans that he swallowed in order to stop others from hearing drove him over the edge of his self-control. He slid his hands down her torso and she shook with anticipation as his fingers fumbled at the buttons on her jeans. Rising up on her elbows she ripped his shirt off and flung it to the side, James raised his eyebrows at her in teasing question at the violence of the action. "I take it you don't like that shirt on me."

She responded by pulling her own shirt over her head before she started to unbutton his jeans with a frantic eagerness. James was going to expire on the very spot, the friction of her fingers against his groin as she searched for the zipper was bringing him that much closer to crazy. She groaned with pleasure when she discovered he wasn't wearing anything underneath the jeans. Taking control of the situation again James grabbed her wrists and forced them up above her head again. When he lowered himself into the welcoming silk of her thighs she arched her back and hissed in ecstasy. He plunged inside her violently, and kissed her hard as she moaned into his mouth, he lay there relishing the feel of being inside her for a second. It felt like his mind was splintering into a million pieces he had no coherent thought left and when she started to move against him in a provocative, excruciatingly rhythm he knew he was lost.

Kate wanted to lose herself in this feeling, this relinquishment of control, she alsoinvited and craved the pain he was inflicting on her arms and wrists as he held them above her head. She wasn't anything or anyone just the feeling. She tightened her hold on him and felt him groan in response, she was whispering words of encouragement that she knew would help her get what she wanted from him. He too was losing control and it made her dizzy with ecstasy as he increased the tempo pumping into her so hard she could feel her buttocks chafing on the pile of clothes she was lying on.

She was whispering words into his ear, words he hadn't thought she even knew let alone was capable of uttering throatily as she was doing now. She squeezed him so hard he felt a pleasure that could almost be described as pain. He could die from this.

Gasping with effort James drove into her one last time both of them tumbling over the edge of ecstasy into brief oblivion. Stars danced behind her eyes and she lay there, sprawled beneath him, her body shaking with the force of her release.

Too soon, she was back on earth and the reality of what they had just done hit her like a splash of cold water across the face. Sitting up quickly she looked at him as he lay next to her with growing distaste spreading on her face.

James looked up at the expression on her face and had a pretty good idea of what was going to happen next. Deliberately making himself act nonchalant he said in a sated, gravelly voice, "You bit ma shoulder, Sass."

She was already drawing on her bra and shirt, "Don't you dare tell anyone about this!" she hissed angrily at him. Then pulling herself up to a kneeling position she hauled her jeans over her hips, buttoning them hastily. Her fingers were shaking and she swore in frustration at the length of time it was taking her to get out of Sawyer's tent. The Southerner was sitting up now, he'd buttoned up his jeans and was watching her in fascination as she struggled with her clothing.

When she finished she got up off her knees and without saying a word ran out of his tent.