Author's Notes: Sorry this took me so long to get up! I was in Cancun last week, and then this week was "Hell Week" for a musical that I am a part of. I was barely sleeping, let alone writing. This chapter is really short, and it's completely based on something not in the actual episode, so I hope you enjoy. The final chapter or two should be posted by the end of the week, just in time for my birthday on May 8th! ;)

They walked in silence for some time. Kate wanted to say something, anything, to break the monotony but she couldn't think of an appropriate remark. Her history with Jack was so complicated. Any remark she considered was either too personal or too casual. Their relationship had been so many things but now it was barely anything, a mere fraction of what it used to be.

She knew she had ruined things by kissing him. It had obviously not been something he was looking for, judging by his avoiding of her afterwards, and for that she regretted it. She would give anything to have their relationship back to the way it was, back to when they could joke with each other or confide in each other. He was the only person she had ever felt like talking to at all hours, the only person she had ever trusted and had ever considered telling her darkest and deepest secrets to.

It wasn't that she didn't want him to know about her past. She did, desperately. But Kate was afraid of the repercussions. She was afraid that he would be repulsed by the murder she committed or by the robberies she led. He had his own problems, that she knew, but they were nothing like hers. She didn't want to lose him because of her weaknesses.

They had come to a small hill. It was raining, hard, and the ground was muddy. Jack started up the hill, digging his feet into the turf to keep his balance. Kate followed suit, but her shoes were a little too big, and she slipped.

Jack turned around quickly and grabbed both of her arms. It was to no avail, however, as she was already falling too quickly. Instead of saving her, Jack got caught in the momentum and ended up falling as well.

They rolled to the bottom of the hill and landed on each other in a heap of muddy clothes and body parts. Kate ended up entangled in Jack's arms once again. Once they had stopped rolling, both began to laugh.

"This is getting a bit ridiculous," Kate said, shaking her head.

"It is," Jack agreed. They untangled and sat up, each cross-legged. Jack brushed some of the mud off his clothes. Kate did the same.

They were silent again, except for the sound of the rain beating down. Kate had never really seen this part of the jungle. She had been kidnapped and blind folded somewhere near here, but could barely remember any of it. All she remembered of that experience was Jack's coldness after they had given her back. That had hurt more than the binding by the Others.

"You've got some mud," Jack said, gesturing towards his cheek. She swiped at her own cheek, feeling a bit self-conscious. "No, it's a bit more to the left." She tried again. Jack laughed. "Let me get it."

He leaned forward and brushed her cheek delicately with his thumb. His hands were rough with wear but they were utterly gentle in their touch. The tender contact caused shivers to chase down her spine. She tried to smile and make a joke, but her throat was constricted.

Jack left his hand cupping her face for just a second too long. Their eyes met for a long moment and the corners of his mouth turned up in an adorable grin. Kate wanted nothing more then to kiss him again.

Then, something cracked off in the jungle and both jumped up. Kate swallowed and gestured towards the hill that they had so recently fallen down. "We should get going," she said.

Jack nodded and offered her a hand. "I'll help you up," he said, and they continued on their way.