Jack ran like the devil was behind him, turning on his newfound speed and moving through the jungle like a wisp of smoke; by late afternoon he had made it almost to the caves, and he slowed because the chances of meeting someone now were higher and he didn't want to be seen, at least, not now.

His mind had been consumed by her for the last few hours as he ran, wondering where she was, what was happening between her and the others, what she was telling them, if she missed him like he missed her. And he did, he ached for her, for her touch, her voice, and he kicked himself over and over for being so stupid. What he would do once he saw her again was something he avoided thinking about; he wasn't so stupid as to think that she would just fall back into his arms like nothing had happened; he dreaded what was coming because he wasn't sure he was going to be able to convince her.

It was taking all of his willpower to not run off looking for her and he slowed to a crawl as he came close to the caves; he listened for a few minutes but they seemed deserted, or at least very, very empty. He slid around the corner of the cave walls, peeking to see if anyone was there, sighing with relief he stepped out into the deserted caves and ran to Adam, the skeleton they had left at rest in his cavern bower.

He reached into the pocket of the corpse, wincing just a little at the cold touch of the bones, and he pulled out a pouch in triumph, his eyes gleaming as he upended it into his hand. Nothing came out. He shook the bag, frantically, then opened it wide, peeing in, though he knew it was silly. They were gone. The stones were gone.

Somehow, some way, they had beaten him here and gotten the stones, because Kate knew where they were. They were probably on their way to the hatch now. Furious with frustration, Jack slung the bag away, then grabbed Adam in a fit of rage and threw the body across the cave, scattering bones and bits of rotted clothing everywhere. Only then did he notice that there were still suitcases and pallets here; they weren't deserted they were just empty, and he kicked at one of Adam's bones as he left the caves before anyone came back, headed for the Backgammon Hatch.

-----

None of them slept much after Philip's visit, Sawyer not at all, and as Kate snuggled against him in the sand he held her close, running the conversation over and over in his mind. There was so much to contemplate he couldn't get his mind settled to one topic; if he tried to consider the implications the Island would have on Joshua another part of his brain was whirling around the fact that his dead father had just come to see him, while yet another section of his mind was shouting that everything he had ever thought about his parent's death's was a lie, and deep down in a dingy, dirty corner, he could see Jack, with Kate, his hands on her, making her moan and writhe in pleasure and he couldn't take it, he couldn't think. He wanted to wake Kate up, to talk to her, but he couldn't bring himself to do it and so he just gazed at her, trying to push all of the other thoughts away and concentrate on her beautiful, sleeping body.

She wasn't sleeping anyway, not really, and Sawyer's intense gaze made her skin tingle; she cracked her eyes to find his shaggy head bent over hers, peering intently at her, as if willing her to wake up. She smiled sleepily and said, "Yes?"

He kissed her, and that worked at driving everything else away, his mind was clear and he knew one thing with crytal clarity, that he loved her and would do anything, anything in the world to be with her and the baby. Waves of emotion so strong they made him shake washed over him and he slid his hand over Kate's stomach, feeling the delicious warmth of her skin even through her shirt, and he said, "I couldn't sleep."

Her hand drifted down and covered his, feeling him tremble. "What's wrong, baby?"

He ducked his head, and said, "It's too much, Kate. I can't...I can't take it all in. It's like my head's gonna split open." She could see the miserable, pained tears glinting in his eyes, reflecting the firelight, and she sat up, hugging him. "Was he real? Or am I crazy?" He wasn't sure which one scared him the most.

Kate must have felt the same way; she laughed and said, "Well, either way we're screwed, right?"

That made him laugh, too, and suddenly his head was a little clearer, the misery on his shoulders wasn't so heavy, and he said, only half-joking, "You better watch your choice of words, Freckles."

She rolled her eyes and said, "Here, James, lay back," she pulled his head down so he was laying on his back with his head in her lap and she said, "Now, what's wrong?"

He raised his eyes up to her and said, "Why do I feel like I'm on a couch? Bein' a shrink one of your many hidden talents?"

She gave him a smile as she began to rub his temples softly, and he closed his eyes because damn it felt good, and as her rhythmic rubbing began to lull him he said, "Do you think it's true, what he said about Joshua?"

The pressure of her fingers increased a little and she said, "Was it true about you having doubts?"

Her voice was strained, worried and he opened his eyes to look up at her. "Not about us, Kate," he said, softly, a little scared by her fear. "I just don't know where we fit in. Except here."

"We don't, James. But we're used to that." He closed his eyes again, letting her fingers relax him; it was as much her touch as the actual massage, just her caress was enough to ease him, and she whispered, "We don't belong here, either, James. We'd never be safe, we'd always be running."

His reply was suddenly vicious, because he saw the truth in her words. "Not if we kill them all."

Her hands slid from temples into his hair, and she began combing through it, lightly. "Right, right. Kill them all. Is that really the solution you want?"

"Yes." It was almost hissed and it gave her chills because he was serious; he'd kill everyone on the island if it meant they could stay here together, and that level of fear in him shook her a little.

"Yeah, so we kill Locke," which, if she was honest with herself, didn't really bother her all that much, "and Hurley, and Jin, and Sun, and Jack-"

He snorted, half-sitting up to glare at her. "You think I'd have a problem killing Jackass? Well think again, honey, 'cause I could snap his neck without even thinking about it." He hesitated, because he knew he was frightening her a little, and he tried to make her understand, because always, in the back of his mind was that vision, that damn vision his dear old dad planted there, however unwittingly, of Jack and Kate, and it infuriated him as he snapped, "When my father asked me to picture you, with another man, who do you think it was?"

She paled a little, wondering why she hadn't considered that before, and suddenly his violent hatred of Jack was clear, and she said, "You still wouldn't kill him. You're just upset, and that's understandable. But, James, please," she tried to turn his mind away from Jack by taking his hand and putting it on her belly, holding it there with hers, "If we have to do it, to save him, then we have to do it. You and me," she swallowed hard, looking into his scared, furious, loving eyes, "We'll never fit in. We only fit together. So we'll be okay, as long as it's us. The three of us."

He wanted to believe her, he wanted to so badly and he made himself because it was easier that way. "I hope you're right, Kate." He grinned, squeezing her belly a little, lovingly. "And you know how much I hate for you to be right."

"Yeah." Their lips met, softly, and they kissed for a few minutes, until it began to get into dangerous territory; glancing over at Sara and Ana, sleeping beside the dying fire, she whispered, "You think they'd notice if we just went at it right here?"

He whispered back, mischieveiously, "You think I care if they do?"

She chuckled softly, "No, I guess you wouldn't." She laughed. "You probably want them to, like some Penthouse letter or something."

His dimples deepened dangerously and he said, "Well, actually, that hadn't crossed my mind. Apparently I ain't the only one with my mind in the gutter." His arms had snaked around her, pulling her close and her heart started beating a mile a minute.

"Well, I was just thinking as you, you know, so it was really you thinking it, not me."

He frowned, shaking his head. "Freckles, my head hurts enough, please don't say confusin' stuff like that right now."

She laughed and kissed him on he cheek. "Sorry."

They sat quietly for a few minutes, just holding each other and staring up into the sky; a silvery star streaked across the heavens and they both watched it fall, passing the horizon as it seemed to drop into the ocean. "I'm not really tired. Let's start walking."

He agreed, actually, their kissing had produced an energy with no way of immediate release, and some excercise might help. Otherwise they would both just sit there and chafe, restlessly, so going was really their best option. "You wake up the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, then, and I'll wait here."

She threw him a look of disgust as she stood, brushing off her jeans. "What a trooper."

He grabbed her, suddenly, kissing her hard as his hands traveled down her body; he pulled her into a hug, resting his head on her shoulder, and she gasped for air, flushed and thrumming with excitement. "I love you, Kate."

"I love you, James. And we're gonna be fine. Okay?"

He believed it. "Yeah. We are."

She pulled away and went to wake Sara and Ana while he picked up their stuff and put sand over the fire; the women woke up unwillingly, groaning and complaining, but they climbed to their feet, stretching and yawning. "So much for beauty sleep, eh, Cowboy?" Ana winked at him and he smirked back.

"I can see why that's your first concern, Butch." Still smiling, he let Kate take his hand and lead them down the beach.

They walked, back in their old formation, and after a while Sara said, "It's kinda funny."

Kate turned her head back and said, "What?"

"That Sawyer's father's name is Philip." She grinned at Kate, her eyes twinkling like the stars. "It means 'friend of horses'. And Philip was the father of Alexander the Great. Philip was a great horseman, he was known for it across the Greek Kingdom he had won for himself, and a great general, and though Alexander was very much like his father, the same bravery, same good looks, by the age of twenty-one he had outstripped his father in all things. Even in horsemanship, for one day a trader brought in Bucephalus, a mighty black stallion who refused to be tamed. He breathed fire and brimstone and devoured the flesh of any that would dare try to ride him. Philip turned the horse away, because if he couldn't be ridden he was of no use, but Alexander begged him to buy the beast, vowing that he would repay his father if he couldn't tame the horse." Kate smiled at the mention of the horse. "Alexander was only eleven, but he walked fearlessly up to Bucephalus, and whispered into his ear. The horse snorted but didn't move and Alexander swung himself up onto the horse's back and they rode away, leaping over the gathered crowd and galloping off onto the plains. The mighty Bucephalus had been tamed."

Sawyer was looking at Kate and she said, "Oh, really?"

Sara smiled at the two of them, so happy, so content. "Yeah. He was Alexander's best, most loyal companion, and when Alexander died in his sleep, at thirty-three, they say Bucephalus lay down in his stall, went to sleep, and never woke up."

Sawyer grimaced. "Nice ending."

Kate squeezed him. "It is kinda nice. They couldn't live without each other."

It was quiet and tranquil, walking with him, their hands entwined, and the breeze was cool on their fevered skin; the stars and the moon whirled away and the dawn peeked over the mountains, finally, and Kate realized they were almost to the spit that would lead them to the camp, and she stopped. "Ana, does Jack know you took those stones?"

She and Sara shared a knowing glance and she said, "Uh, yeah. I'm pretty sure." They both burst into light giggles, and Kate looked up at Sawyer, her eyebrows raised.

"Oookay. Well, what do you think is the likelihood of him coming after the ones in the caves?"

Suddenly serious, Ana said, "I'd say good. Why?"

Kate paused, then pointed into the jungle. "The caves are that way, straight through the jungle. I think two of us should go get them."

Sawyer eyed her, suspiciously. "And I'm assuming you are one of those two?"

"I know where they are." She looked away from him, a little guiltily, and said, "And Ana."

"Why not all of us?" He didn't want her to go and so he was grasping at straws, though he knew it was useless, if she'd made up her mind she was going to do it.

"Because you and Sara need to go to the beach and create a diversion; you know they'll send someone to the caves to get everyone, if you go back to camp. This is probably the most exciting thing that's happened since we've been gone."

He laughed. "You hope."

She didn't find it so funny. "Yeah, I do hope. But if so, then you'll draw everyone to the beach, then Ana and I can slip in and get the stones."

"Why me?" Ana spoke up, wondering why Kate would choose her, though she had a suspicion.

"Because if Jack shows up you'll be a diversion."

Chuckling grimly, Ana said, "Well, at least you're honest." She sighed. "And right. About it all. If anyone sees us at the caves we'll be mobbed, and I don't think it's a good idea to let too many people in on what's been happening." It was a subject she'd been meaning to tackle, since they'd decided to go back to camp.

Kate nodded. "I think Ana's right. We should only tell people what they need to know. We can let Sayid in, I think, but anyone else is a liability."

"How do you mean?" Sara didn't know anyone else at the camp, so she didn't get their inclination towards trouble.

"Do you really want everyone storming off into the jungle to find the other hatches? The Foundation? Look at the trouble we've gotten into! This place is chaotic enough."

Sawyer grinned. "Good point." He sighed and looked own the beach, then into the jungle. "Okay, Kate, but Jesus, please be careful."

She kissed him, a slow lingering kiss and he savored it like it was their last; the last thing he wanted was for her to go wandering off in the jungle with Ana of all people, but she wasn't Bucephalus, she wasn't tamed. He didn't want her to be, so he'd let her go without too much of a fight, though his stomach was already icy with dread, and he knew it would be until he laid eyes on her again. Pulling away slightly, she held his face in her hands. "I'll see you in three hours, James. The faster you get to the beach, the faster you draw everyone away, the faster I come back to you. Okay?"

"Okay. I love you."

He said it with desperation, and as Kate looked into his worried, frantic eyes she chuckled a little. "Oh, James, I love you too. I'll be fine. Who in their right minds would try something on me and Ana?"

He snorted, throwing a mean look at Ana, and said softly, "Well, sweetcheeks, how about anyone who wants you dead? 'Cause everybody knows how she reacts in stressful situations. Just ask Sticks. Oh wait, you can't."

She smiled at him, but it was cold and she drew away as she said, "Well, thanks for the vote of confidence. You'd better get going. Ana and I will be waiting for everyone to leave the caves, just tell them we got separated." She gave Sawyer a nasty look. "It won't be far from the truth."

His return sneer was almost as nasty. "That all my instructions, General? Sure you don't want to draw me a map in case I can't figure out how to follow the beach?"

"Hey!" Ana said, stepping between them, "That's enough." She looked up at Sawyer with a sneer. "And I heard what you said about me, asshole."

"Well, if the shoe fits, honey."

Kate was furious; they hadn't even made it to the beach and they were falling apart. "Let's go, Ana." She hefted her pack and began walking towards the jungle and Ana glared at Sawyer one last time before running to catch up the the fast-moving Kate, and he stared after her in despair; why, why did things always spiral out of control like that? She was going to leave him? Just like that? His heart wanted him to go after her and his head wanted him to chase her down but his feet were rooted and his mouth too dry to call after her to stop, to wait, to come back for just a minute, so he just stared after her, open mouthed in shock.

Kate was slowing down because every step away from him made her legs more like lead and as Ana caught up to her she could barely take another step; she recognized that weight, it was so familiar, so comfortable because it was guilt and she turned back. As she took her first step towards Sawyer her feet were suddenly light and she ran to him, throwing herself into his waiting, hungry arms. "I'm sorry," they both said it at the same time and laughed, kissing each other frantically before Kate disengaged herself and ran back to the edge of the trees, stopping and waving before she and Ana disappeared into the trees together.

Sawyer stared at the trees, hoping against hope that she'd come back but after a few minutes it was apparent that she wasn't and he sighed as Sara said, "We should go."

He nodded and forced himself to turn his eyes away from the trees and start moving down the beach; Sara took his hand and said, "She'll be fine. She just wants to talk to her."

He glanced down at her sharply. "About what?"

Grinning, Sara just shook her head. "I won't tell. But it's something very important. Something good."

They walked in silence for a while until they came to the cove, and as they rounded the curve they could see the camp, and people scurrying around, doing the usual things they did and Sawyer sighed, a little relieved himself to find the camp still there, and it surprised him now that he could see them, how worried he had actually been without even realizing it. He took Sara's hand as she looked a little dubiously at the throng of people and he smiled. "It's okay. They don't bite. Most of them are nice." She nodded, still a little nervous.

"Bloody hell!" Charlie spotted them from where he'd been sitting on a rock, a little way down the beach from Claire and Aaron, watching as she walked him up and down the shoreline. He jumped up as he saw two people walking towards them and one was Sawyer, he was sure, but who was the other? He ran, shouting, "Sawyer!" and when he reached him he gave him a big hug.

Sawyer was almost knocked backards by Charlie's embrace, and he chuckled, saying, "Whoa, whoa, easy on the duds, Chuckie. I just had 'em cleaned."

Charlie realized what he was doing and backed away, looking sheepish. "Sorry, man."

Sawyer laughed, then grabbed Charlie in a bear hig, lifting him off the ground. "Damn, it's good to see you, Chuckie!" he set him down and Charlie, grinned.

"Yeah, yeah, man, it's great to see you, you've been gone so long! We all thought you were dead. But where's Jack? And Kate?" He turned his gaze to Sara, who smiled as Charlie grinned endearingly at her. "And who are you?"

Sawyer smirked at Charlie's lame show of interest in Sara and said, "Sara Shepard."

"Shepard, isn't that Jack's-"

"Ex-wife, yes." Sara stuck her hand out, giving Sawyer a look. "And you must be Charlie."

He bowed, ridiculously, and then took her hand, kissing it as Sawyer rolled his eyes. People were coming down the beach now, and he took Sara's hand, leading her to meet the oncoming throng of people.

Sayid was in the lead and he stopped just short of him as everyone thronged around them; he heard Charlie shout, "Sun is at the caves, someone go get her!" He saw someone start running up the path.

His task just completed for him, he smiled at Sayid and said, "Well, well, how ya been, Apu?"

Sayid stared at him hard for a moment, his arms crossed. "I have been tolerable, Sawyer. Where is everyone, and who is this?"

Charlie piped up. "That's Jack's ex-wife."

Sayid turned very interested eyes onto them; he didn't trust Saywer anyway and it was a little suspicious for him to show up without anyone from their group, but with a stranger in tow. "Really, now. And where is Jack?"

Sawyer was getting pissed; he hadn't expected an interrogation as a welcome, and he silently vowed to kick Kate's ass next time he saw her for getting him into this. His eyes narrowed and his voice was soft. "I see that look in your eye. Torture ain't on the menu today, Sahib."

Claire had pushed her way to the inner edge of the circle, holding Aaron, and she said, "Where's Kate?" Ever since Kate had delivered him, in the jungle, she'd had a close friendship with her and she was alarmed that Sawyer had come back without her.

"She's coming. We got separated. She's fine, Ana's fine, Jack is...fine, I guess, and Locke is insane."

Sayid didn't seem impressed by that. "Really. Perhaps you could be a little clearer."

"Perhaps you can wait until Kate gets here."

"Perhaps you'd like to wait in the hatch."

"Perhaps you'd like to try and make me."

The tension was high as they faced off; no one stepped in, no one moved at all until finally Sayid said, "What have you been doing out there all this time, Sawyer?"

"Oh, a little of this, a little of that." He was still pissed off, at Sayid and at Kate.

"Really." Sayid smiled, coldly, and took a step forward. Sawyer didn't flinch. When Sayid spoke he enunciated his words clearly and put a little force behind each one. "What were you doing out there, Sawyer?"

His eyes were gleaming, glinting like steel as he said, "I was having tea with the White Rabbit."

Sayid laughed but it was humorless and his eyes were black as he took another step forward. "I'm going to ask you one more time, Sawyer," he said softly. "What were you doing out there?"

His eyes flamed and he had to restrain himself as Sayid moved into his space and he stepped up, toe to toe with him and said, "I was surviving, Sayid. If you want to know any more I suggest you wait for Kate."

"And when will that be?" Sayid hissed. "How long do I wait? For all I know Kate could be dead."

The very words struck him cold and he said, low, "If Kate was dead do you think I'd be here?"

Sun came bursting down the path, Jin behind her, and a line of people from the caves were straggling behind; Sawyer sighed, his chest tightening because Kate wouldn't be far behind. Sun ran to Sawyer and threw her arms around his neck and he hesitated before returning the hug; seeing the look on Jin's face he cut it short, pushing her gently away as she said, "I can't believe it! We thought you were dead! Where's Kate?"

"She's right here."

They all turned to see her coming out of the trees, panting and sweaty, Ana behind her; Sawyer's legs went shaky with relief as she smiled and came running down the beach.

-----

After leaving Sawyer and Sara behind on the beach they moved along at a good pace for a while; eventually Kate called a halt and they stopped, taking drinks and catching their breath. Kate smiled. "I think we can take our time. He'll probably sulk his way down the beach for a while."

Ana laughed, recapping her bottle and sticking it into her pack. "Whew. We can slow down then. You set a killer pace."

Kate just smiled; she had done that on purpose, first, to get her as far away from Sawyer as possible so she wouldn't be tempted to turn back, and second, so they would have time to slow down. "I wanted to talk to you, Ana. I know we haven't known each other long." She smiled again as Ana looked at her curiously. "And to be honest, most of that time we've been at odds. But I think over the last day we've become something like friends, don't you?"

"What are you getting at, Kate?"

She started walking, not answering right away. "I think we have a kind of bond. I'm not sure what it is, but I think I can...we can help you."

"Help me what?"

"Find what it is you're looking for."

They walked quietly together; it was beautiful, the sun was warm but shaded by the canopy, and though Kate hated being back under the stifling trees, she had to admit it was cooler. Finally Ana said softly, "And what is that?"

"You tell me."

Sneering, Ana said, "Where is this going? How can you help me if you don't know what I want?"

Kate stopped, facing Ana and meeting her eyes. "I know, Ana. But I want to hear you say it. Say what it is you want and I can fix it for you." Her eyes were shining with excitement, and Ana dared to hope that it could be, for a second, then she quenched it, drowning the hope because when it wasn't true she would be crushed.

Suddenly she hated Kate, for even making her want to feel hopeful again, and she snapped, "This is pretty shitty of you, Kate, to screw with me about that."

Looking hurt, Kate said, "I'm not, I promise. Just say it, Ana, I'm the only one here. I just want to be sure I'm right. That I know what you want."

She hesitated, sighing, afraid to trust her but wanting to so badly that she finally blurted out, "Kids. I wanna have kids."

Kate smiled, nodding. "I thought so." She leaned close, whispering in Ana's ear, "He can fix you, Ana. And he will, when the time is right. I promise you."

There had to be a string attatched somewhere, and Ana said, "I can't promise you, Kate, if Jack...I can't promise I'll always be on your side."

Kate glanced aside at her, smiling a little. "I know."

"You'd do it anyway?" She shook her head. "I don't get you, sometimes, Kate."

She smiled again, slyly. "I know."

They walked until Kate spotted the path and they stayed in the shadows as people came and went sporadically; finally someone came tearing up the path, calling for Sun, and Kate smiled at Ana as people began to file out, hurriedly headed for the beach. Sun passed and she wanted to call out to her but she didn't, instead she just watched her pass, sadly.

Finally the trickle ended and they slipped out of the trees and into the caves. Kate had been right; they were now deserted and she ran to Adam, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the pouch. She started to tuck the pouch in her pocket but Ana stopped her, dumping the stones out into her hand and sticking the pouch back into the corpse's pocket.

Kate watched her, a grin playing at her lips; it was pretty funny. "You're so mean," she whispered, as they exited the caves and started running for the beach.

Ana glanced sideways at her and grinned. "I know."