Chapter 67
The gunshot echoed through the jungle.

"What the HELL is wrong with you, woman?" He gazed in goggle-eyed shock at his now-empty fingers; the letter had been clutched in them seconds ago. He noted with unease exactly where his hand was; it was even with the crotch of his jeans, and he rolled his head at her, glaring. "Please, God, tell me you were aiming for the letter."

A tiny smile touched the corners of her mouth; Sawyer saw it and a light flickered on in his heart like a guttering candle. "I hit what I aim for." She glanced down at his jeans. "Glad to see there's something you love more than the letter."

His lips curled up with the hint of a smile; Kate saw it and a candle flickered on in her heart. They were so close, so close; all it needed was a word from one of them, a gesture, to make it all okay again. The silence stretched on until Sawyer finally turned away from her, going for the letter which lay a few feet away; as he reached for it she said, "I'll shoot it again. How many bullets do you think it will take to turn it into dust?"

His hand froze over it and he glared at her over his shoulder. "Why are you doin' this, Kate?" He straightened, crossing his arms as he faced her and the gun. "I ain't ever gonna be what you want me to be; I can't save everyone. I can't save myself. And I sure as hell can't save you."

She began angrily, "I don't want-" she stopped, her eyes meeting his; her anger was gone and she was filled with an empty sadness that seeped into her bones, making her weary and her voice softened as she said, "I don't want you to save me, Sawyer. I just want you to love me. That's all. You don't have to be a hero for me; If I wanted a hero I'd be with Jack." He flinched and glared at her at Jack's name, but she smiled softly at him. "I just want you."

His eyes flashed in the dark. "Is that so?" he drawled, and the light in her heart flared a little more. "Come here."

She stuck the gun in her waistband and went to him, sighing happily as he enfolded her in his arms, kissing her softly; but the kiss was off, somehow, it didn't feel right and as she started to pull back he snagged the gun from her pants and shoved her away, smiling coolly, shaking his head. "Women. You fall for the same shit every time. A little kissin' and I can steal the house out from under 'em."

Cold daggers stabbed Kate in the heart and she suddenly felt very, very sorry about knocking Cassidy's ass in the dirt. "You really are a bastard, Sawyer."

He sneered at her in the shadows. "I never pretended to be otherwise, darlin'." He winked at her and stuck the gun in the front of his pants; he didn't see her coming and her fist connected with his jaw, knocking him backwards though he didn't lose his balance. Love flashed through his eyes as he rubbed his jaw, shaking his head. "Damn, Freckles, you hit like a girl."

She was shaking with fury and frustration and very close to tears; what the hell was happening here? "Sawyer, why are you doing this?" Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes as she said, "Why?"

She began to sob in earnest, and Sawyer felt himself relent a little; he couldn't stand to see her cry, he never could. "Freckles, I can't..." he stopped as she threw herself against him, sobbing against his shoulder. He couldn't bear it; he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close and soothing her.

She snagged the gun from the front of his pants and shoved it into his stomach, grinning coldly. "You know what they say about payback, eh, Tex?"

He was furious; she'd turned his own damn play against him and it really sucked to be on the recieving end. She backed away a few steps, still holding the gun on him and she stepped on stick; the crack startled her for a second and as she looked down Sawyer tackled her, knocking her head against the jungle floor. Stars burst behind her eyes, but she struggled to keep the gun out of his reach; they grunted and strained for a few seconds as he fought with her to grab it. He was gaining, he was going to get it from her; in desperation she brought her knee up sharply into his groin, wincing as he grunted and gazed down at her in shock and pain. She shoved him off and scrambled to her feet, panting; as he got painfully to his feet she watched him warily to see if he was faking as she tucked the gun back into her waistband.

He was disgusted. "That was dirty, Freckles." His voice cracked a little.

She smirked, looking a little regretful at the same time. "All's fair in love and war, Sawyer. And we are in both."

Torches flared up around them and they both jumped as Frank came out of the bushes. "I don't know about the love part, Ford, but the little lady is right about the war."

All of his anger and frustration with Kate shifted to Frank; he glared at her anyway and snarled, "Gimme the gun, Kate."

Frank smiled. "Yeah, you do that, Missy. Give him the gun and maybe he'll kill you before he does himself in." He sneered at Sawyer. "Like father, like son."

To hell with the gun, Sawyer thought. He tried to generate a spark- he was gonna electrocute the asshle if he couldn't shoot him- but nothing was there. He was empty. He cursed Kate silently, glancing over at her as she watched him. "What kind of war?"

Frank pointed to the sky, smiling coldly; Kate noticed for the first time how the chill extended physically from him, coming off of him like sheets of ice. "The Battle for Heaven, Sawyer. Heaven and Earth."

"That sounds a little out of our league, Pally, but thanks anyway." He didn't know what to do; he wanted to rush the bastard and strangle the life from him, but he didn't want to die before he could finish the job.

Frank eyed Kate with interest and as hard as Sawyer tried not to care it drove him even more insane; Kate was trembling as he came closer, running his beady eyes up and down her body. "Well, don't give up just yet, Ford," he sneered. "To the victor goes the spoils." He reached out a dirty finger to Kate's cheek, and whispered, "And you'll be spoiled, baby, we'll take good care of you."

He didn't quite touch her before Sawyer's hand smacked his away. "Don't touch her." He rested his hand on Kate's shoulder and looked into her eyes; the tiny kindled flames burst into life as their eyes met and he smiled apologetically at her as he dropped his hand and grabbed the gun from her pants, keeping it concealed behind her back.

Tears of hurt and hate shone behind her eyes as he held her in place; she wouldn't have said anything anyway, but she felt like he was using her as a shield. He tensed and she knew it was coming; he was going to do it and the Island would own him, she would lose him forever; but she was powerless; the rekindled flames were still just sparks.

He looked into her eyes and said, "I love you."

She smiled back and said, "I know." He pushed her aside as he pulled out the gun and fired it at a triumphant Frank; as he did a yellow bullet jumped from the bushes and leapt in front of Frank just as the bullet reached him. Vincent fell into a bleeding heap on the jungle floor.

Sawyer and Kate both rushed to him as Frank snarled in frustration. He melted into the trees but they didn't notice; they both knelt down next to the bleeding dog.

He was panting shallowly and fast; his brown doggy eyes gazed up at Kate as she held his head, stroking him. She looked up at Sawyer, who was looking at the wound as it bled steadily, staining Vincent's golden coat a dark brown. "Well?"

He looked up at her, tears in his eyes. "It's bad, Kate. I think it's a..." he didn't want Vincent to hear, so he spelled it out, "L-U-N-G."

Vincent growled weakly and Sawyer choked out a laugh. "He said 'I can spell, you condescending asshole'." His laugh turned to a sob as he looked down at Vincent. It was crazy; he was crying over a dog.

Kate stared at him, and she felt it; the light was creeping back inside of her. "James," she whispered, putting her hand on his shoulder, "you can do it." She nodded at Vincent's wound; his breathing was becoming shallower and his eyes were clouding over.

"I can't," he said, shaking his head. "I tried earlier to-" he stopped as he felt it too; she was back, creeping slowly inside of him.

What had happened? It was easy, Kate thought, We need each other. Eko said we could only do this together, as one. "James."

Their eyes met. Kate's breath caught in her chest and she touched his face softly, noticing the scratches on his cheek; his hand went to her stomach, feeling her warmth fill him and he laid his other hand on Vincent, who growled something softly as Sawyer touched him.

They hadn't broken their gaze and Sawyer could feel the energy from her flowing through it; he smiled and said, "He says it tingles, but that could be because his head is in your lap." Kate laughed softly, her eyes never leaving his.

Sawyer closed his eyes and concentrated on Vincent; he visualized the bullet coming out and the wound closing; he imagined the blood gone and Vincent whole and happy.

Kate gasped and his eyes flew open; she was staring at Vincent, who was still lying with his head in Kate's lap, his tail thumping happily on the ground. He stretched, being sure to rub himself all over Kate as she rolled her eyes at him; she shoved him off of her, laughing and smiling at Sawyer, who smiled back. He reached out and cupped her chin in his hand; she stopped laughing as his lips found hers and this time it was real, it was right.

Vincent wiggled out from between them as the kiss grew deeper and more urgent; Sawyer pushed her back onto the ground and they panted and groaned as their bodies touched. He craved her and his hands and tongue became more insistent as she moaned and pushed up against him, tearing frantically at his clothes. She was dying of thirst and he was a cool fountain; she drank him in until she was so full the light was shining from her eyes.

Vincent barked urgently and Sawyer groaned, resting his head against Kate's. "Every friggin' time," he whispered, shaking his head; Kate laughed softly, then holding him to her as he tried to rise she said, "I love you, James. And I am calling you that from now on, so get used to it."

He smiled at her, his heart swelling; how could he ever have thought about leaving her? She had saved him again; and again, and again. "I'm sorry, Kate. I'm so sorry." He hugged her to him tight; her arms went around him, grasping him as close as she could. "I love you."

We're almost there, she thought, feeling the letter lumped against her in his pocket. So close and yet so far.