The Man Under The Mask

Part 2

It was quiet now, that everybody decided to let him be for now, Sawyer was grateful for the new found peace. But then he was not alone, he heard someone approach and knew it was her without looking.

"Did you miss me, Freckles?"

Kate studied him carefully. As lightly as the question sounded, there was no mistake of the seriousness that masked his face as he stared back at her.

"I did," she admitted evenly.

Sawyer said nothing, but did not look all that thrilled to hear her reply.

"How are you feeling?"

"What do you think?" he said in bitter sarcasm, "It hurts even to breath."

The place was shrouded in a moment of silence as the two did nothing but exchange silent-meaningful stares.

"I though I'd never see you again," Kate said and at that exact moment she realised how scared she really was for him.

"Well, I'm back, Freckles."

"I'm glad," she told him truthfully.

"Believe me, not half as much as I am," Sawyer said with a grunt after he tried to shift his position, "Funny how this place feels so familiar, so like home."

"This 'is' our home now, Sawyer." Kate's voice was gentle and warm, Sawyer did not recognize how much he missed hearing it.

"Yeah."

"You know, this place is the closest thing I had for a real home in a real long time," Kate said softly.

Sawyer turned his head, looking away. "So, anything interesting happened while I'm gone?"

"I'm not going to tell you." Sawyer looked back at her and saw her smile playfully. "I'm going to leave it for you to find out."

"Oh, really?"

"Really."

Silence again.

"Sawyer?"

"What?"

"What happened to you?"

Sawyer sighed. "There's nothing to tell."

"Why won't you tell us what happened?"

Sawyer remained silent.

"Why, Sawyer?"

"Because something real ugly might happen if I do, Freckles."

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