Chapter 58
Eko was waiting for them when they finally emerged, breathless from climbing the ladder. He helped Kate out first, then offered Sawyer his hand as Vincent ran to Kate, woofing happily and jumping around in circles. Smiling, Sawyer took Eko's arm and helped to heave himself out of the hatch.

Vincent lost his doggy marbles as Sawyer straightened and he bounced around madly, barking and licking him joyously. Sawyer grinned and held him off, "I know, Rover, I know. I'm glad to see you too. Stop!" Vincent had put his paws on Sawyer's chest and was licking him happily in the face. Spluttering in disgust as Vincent landed a big wet one on his mouth, Sawyer pushed him off. "Get down! You just slipped me some tongue, Fido. Knock it off." Vincent came to a panting halt, grinning at Sawyer and he woofed; Sawyer wrinkled up his face in revulsion. "No, I didn't like it. You know, maybe I didn't miss you so much after all." He turned to Kate, wiping his mouth with the bottom of his shirt. "Damn, that dog is nasty."

Kate was laughing and as he tried to kiss her she turned her face away. "No way. Not until we find some mouthwash."

Sawyer glared at Vincent, who had rolled over on his back and was wriggling happily in the little bit of grass that was growing on the jungle floor. "You better hope I find some soon, Fido," he said, taking Kate's hand, "Or you're gonna be in a world of trouble."

Eko smiled as Kate turned to him. "Hey. Did you sleep out here last night?"

"Yes, Vincent and I went out to the beach and slept beneath the stars. It was very nice." He didn't miss the exchanged grins and he nodded. "I take it you slept well?"

Kate didn't tear her eyes from Sawyer as she answered, "Yeah, we slept great."

Vincent woofed wickedly and wriggled his back on the ground; rolling his eyes Sawyer said, "Yes, we did get some sleep. And what the hell business is it of yours anyway?" He shook his head, glancing away from Kate to Eko. "Is there a way to turn him off?"

Just smiling, Eko motioned to him. "Come, James, I have one more thing to show you. But not here, we should go to the beach. So, are you ready?"

Hell yes, he was ready. He was ready to move on, to become the person he could be; he was ready to be done with this so he could be with her. "Let's go."

They moved into the trees; the beach wasn't far and kissing Sawyer quickly Kate sped up a little and fell into step with Eko. "I've been thinking," she said, feeling Sawyer's eyes on her back, "and I just don't see any way around it. It's a catch-22; Sawyer needs to kill Frank to be whole but if he does it it will destroy him." Glancing back at him she caught him staring at her ass; she shook her head, smiling, then turned back to Eko. "What do we do about that?"

She was sharp; he beamed at her slightly. "Katherine, I never said he couldn't kill him. He cannot do so for his own selfish reasons. There is a difference." He winked at her, confidentially. "I would not tell him that, though. Not yet."

Nodding, Kate smiled. "No, I won't." She heard Sawyer whistle apreciatively behind her, and she glanced back to see both he and Vincent smiling at her.

Flashing a grin at Vincent, Sawyer came up to Kate, leaning seductively into her as he whispered, "Do you wash your pants in windex, sweetheart? 'Cause I can see myself in them."

Kate shoved him away, rolling her eyes. "That was lame, Sawyer. I thought you, of all people, would have a better pick up line than that."

Vincent woofed angrily, insulted. "That was his, Freckles. We were comparin' notes. You wanna hear one of mine?"

Laughing, she shook her head. "I don't think so."

He grinned at her, then put his arm over her shoulder as they walked; the beach was just visible through the trees. "Now, Freckles, the pick-up line is a lost art form. And it just so happens that I got myself quite a collection."

Kate rolled her eyes, grinning. "I'll bet you do."

"Sure. Now there are different categories too; first there is your 'straight to the point' line, if you are pressed for time and you don't want to waste any with formalities. So I'd come to you and say, 'They say you are what you eat. Well, baby, I could be you by morning'."

He paused as Kate laughed, rolling her eyes. "Yeah. That would work on me."

Sqeezing her shoulder a little he said, "Well, I wouldn't have used that one on you, sweetheart. Don't worry, yours is coming up. The next category is innuendo," he grinned wickedly at her, "my specialty. So I would say, 'That shirt is becoming on you." He smiled into Kate's eyes and she could suddenly see why the lines worked for him; his eyes were blazing and he was so confident that they just seemed to work. "If I was on you I'd be coming too."

Kate burst out laughing, and she could see Eko smile a little. "Did that ever actually work on anybody?"

Eyes shining, he gazed at her, he loved to see her so happy, laughing and smiling; he soaked it in, saving it for the dark times that lay ahead. "You'd honestly be surprised, Freckles." He kissed her on the forehead and said, "Category three- cheesy. I don't use these too much myself. I guess one of the better ones is, 'Do you have a map? 'Cause I'm lost in your eyes'." Kate groaned. "Yeah, I know. Cheesy." Her arm snaked around his back, wrapping itself around his waist; she was having fun picturing him using the silly lines and she suddenly wanted to hold him closer as irrational stabs of jealousy pricked at her. "Now, some purists consider cheesy to be the same as lame, but I think there are a few fine distinctions. Here is an example of lame." He looked deeply into her eyes and said, " 'Baby, I'm no Fred Flintstone, but I can make your Bed rock.'"

Kate laughed and groaned at the same time and Sawyer suddenly bent to her, kissing her softly. "Hey," she whispered, "you haven't used the right line, yet, Tex."

He smiled against her and said. "Right. It just so happens that I was saving yours for last. 'Flattery'."

Kate grinned. "Flattery will get you nowhere."

"We'll see." He pulled her close, pressing his body to hers; eyes shining, he leaned into her ear and growled, " 'I know milk does a body good, but damn, baby, how much have you been drinking?' "

The line was horrible but she didn't care, his breath in her ear and his thrumming body drove her mad; she kissed him, passionately, her hands sliding into his hair and his arms encircling her, slipping beneath her shirt to feel her skin tingling against him.

Vincent barked at them, jumping against Sawyer's legs. "Dammit, dog! Would you stop that?" He pulled away from Kate, glaring angrily. "Are you jealous or somethin'?"

Vincent woofed at him with disdain, then ran to catch up to Eko, who was stepping out onto the beach. Kate sighed and turned to follow them; Sawyer grabbed her arm, pulling her back against his chest. He stared at her for a second, then kissed her, softly, deeply, before finally letting her go. He bent over and whispered to her, "I told you the line would work. It's all in the delivery, baby." Kissing her neck softly, he murmured the words. "Love you, Freckles."

She smiled. "I bet that line works better than any of 'em."

He nipped at her, making her jump. "That ain't a line, darlin'. That's the honest-to-God truth." He pulled away from, her, grinning cockily. "But I'll run some more by you later, if you want."

Rolling her eyes at him again she kissed him swiftly, the turned to follow Eko to the beach. "I may have to pass on that, Cowboy, as good as it sounds."

"Didn't you ever use a pick-up line?" He leered softly at her and she smiled at his expression. He growled throatily, "You never saw a guy in a bar or somethin', thought he was cute, maybe good for a romp or two? You never went up to him and said somethin' to get his attention, make him laugh?" His fingers ran down her cheek and her breath caught in her throat. "You never did that, Kate?" His eyes were glowing as he whispered. "I know you got one. Let me hear it."

She was curiously aroused by his demand and she nodded. "Okay," she said, a little shakily. "Ready?" She took a deep breath, and stuck her hand out to him. "Hi. I'm Kate."

Sawyer laughed aloud, dropping his hand and hugging her tight. "Yeah, Freckles, I imagine that would have worked for you."

She took his hand, pulling him. "Come on, Eko's waiting and I'm kind of curious to find out what new power you're going to have today."

Sawyer laughed. "Hopin' it'll benefit you?" He gave in to her tugging and followed her out into the sand.

She glanced slyly back at him. "Maybe."

Eko was waiting for them beside a large stone; he held two smaller ones in his hands. Sighing deeply, he said, "James, you did wonderfully against the Others, but now they will be coming at you harder and with more venom, more temptation. The battle is joined, James, and this is just a pause between blows. You are ready to be introduced to your second most important power." He held up one of the stones and said, "We are all made of the same things, James, the Earth, the Sea, the wind, the stars. The universe. This stone is the same as you. It is an extension of you." He hesitated, looking at them, "Control it, James."

Sawyer's eyes flew to him. "What?"

"Control it. Tell it what to do."

Sawyer looked a little scared and incredulous. "It's a rock, Ed. How can I control it?"

Eko sighed. "Do not resist, James. Let yourself believe." He handed Sawyer the stone, pressing it into his hand, hard. "Feel it. It is the same as you. You are made of the same electrons and neutrons and protons; you are both made of the stuff of the cosmos. Can you feel it, James?"

The rock melded to his hand; he opened his palm flat, the rock sitting in the center of it. "Yeah," he said, and the rock wiggled a little in his hand, rising gently from his palm before dropping again. The stone was an extension of him; he controlled it like he would a muscle. A very weak muscle, at the moment, as the rock flapped ineffectually in his hand.

Kate's eyes were wide, but she put her hand on his arm, encouragingly; she could feel the power coursing through him and it made her shiver a little. "Wow."

Sawyer grinned down at her hand and the rock rose a few inches and held steady. Eko was smiling; he said, "James, command it."

Sawyer took his eyes from Kate and concentrated on the stone; it started to spin in circles, hovering over his hand and he glanced up at her, grinning sheepishly. She smiled back in amazement and the other stone in Eko's hand zipped from his grasp and joined the spinning stone; they began to spin and weave together in an intricate dance; Kate was captivated by it and she loved him, loved him so much she couldn't begin to fathom it.

The rocks waltzed together for a few more seconds, then Sawyer turned his hand to the ocean and they zipped out into the sea, skipping along the waves. He glanced at Kate; she was staring at him with love and awe.

Eko grinned. "Very good, James. Now try this one." He pointed to the large stone next to him. It was the size of a great dane.

Sawyer looked a little dubious. "That's kinda big, Ed, don'tcha think?"

"Size means nothing at the molecular level, James. Become one with the stone."

Sawyer sighed. "I'll try."

Eko shook his head, sadly. "No, James. Do, or do not, there is no try. The time for that has passed."

Kate rubbed his arm and he smiled. Concentrating on the stone, he imagined it, he became it; he was rock and earth and eons of time compressed into a tiny fragmant of the universe. He was time and age. The boulder rose, slowly, and it wavered a little, but he felt Kate touching him and it became more confident, holding steady at his eye level.

As Kate watched in astonished pride, the stone began to turn ponderous flips; they became faster and finally the boulder spun out into the ocean, plopping into the water with a thunking splash.

They were all quiet for a few seconds. Finally Vincent woofed, an awestruck look in his brown eyes, and Sawyer looked down at him, smiling. "Thanks, Vincent."

"Practice, Sawyer. The time will come when this skill will be most important. But do not let anyone else see; this is best kept secret."

Sawyer nodded. "I guess we'll stay here for a while, then. Okay with you, Freckles?" She nodded.

Eko smiled, clapping Sawyer on the shoulder. "Great idea. I will go back to the hatch; I believe we need to discuss our next move." He yurned suddenly serious. "Do not trust Locke. He has chosen his side and it is not ours."

Kate and Sawyer looked at each other, and Sawyer said, "You may want to get back the book I loaned him, then."

Eko sighed. It was always something. "Book?"

Sawyer grimaced. "Yeah, he was talkin' about that tesseract stuff, and I recognized it from a book; he asked to borrow it and I gave it to him."

Eko turned towards the jungle, sighing wearily. "I will see what I can do." Pausing, he stared herd at Sawyer. "Practice, James. You are a part of the universe, nature; if you try you can control it." He diappeareed through the trees, Vincent trailing him.

Sawyer shook his head. "What the hell, Freckles?" he said, looking at his hands. She took them, sliding her palms against his until she was pressed against him.

Suddenly she found herself suspended in the air, Sawyer laughing at her as she flailed around. "Put me down, Sawyer!"

He grinned cockily at her, kissing her upside-down face. "Ed said I needed to practice, sweetheart, and I don't see anymore rocks."

She laughed, panting as she struggled. "At least turn me right-side up, Tex. My blood is all going to my head."

He lowered her, still upside down and grinned at her wickedly. "Yeah, Freckles, mine too."