Hurley came lumbering down the hallway as they entered the airlock door, and he caught Kate up in a big bear hug as soon as he saw her. "Dude," he cried, "We thought you were dead!"

Kate smiled wryly, gasping a little. "Yeah, I heard that. You're crushing me, Hurley."

He let her go quickly, blushing a little. "Sorry. Man, I wish Jack had come back too. Hey, Ana-Lucia. How you been?" He was terrified of her, and he hoped that it didn't show in the dark hallway because he learned a long time ago that fear only egged bullies on. He hadn't had much to do with Ana since she'd joined them for that reason.

"Good." She brushed past them and went into the hatch.

Kate smiled at Hurley, who seemed a little upset at Ana's abrupt departure. "Don't worry about her, Hurley. She's having a bad day." She was a little concerned about her, really, she was still pale and harried looking, like something was eating at her and Kate had a pretty good idea what it was. "Sara, maybe you should go with her." She was already halfway down the hall. "You haven't seen Sawyer have you?"

He shook his head. "Nope. Been here for about three hours. Nobody's been here but Sayid."

She tried to hide her disappointment. "Okay. Thanks." She inclined her head towards the hatch. "I gotta..."

He nodded, opening the airlock door. "Yeah, yeah, go ahead. I'm sure we'll bump into each other later." He smiled at her and left, closing the door against the twilight outside.

Sighing, Kate lingered by the door for a few more seconds, still hoping Sawyer would walk in but she gave up and went to join the others in the hatch. It was starting to worry her, that he hadn't shown up but she consoled herself with the thought that he had probably gone back to the beach to look for her first. Her next worry was Ana, who seemed very detatched and withdrawn, sitting on a stool with her back against the wall, staring vacantly, yet somehow angrily, at the opposite wall. Sara was next to her, as much for support as to keep her from taking off, and Kate went over, looking Ana in the eyes. "Ana?"

She'd been okay until Hurley mentioned Jack, wishing he'd come back, and it just cast her into an angry, miserable funk because she wished that too, she wanted him to be there with her. "I'm okay, Kate." Their presence made it a little more bearable, and just like the walk on the path, as soon as they started talking, the urge...the Ineed/I for him lessened.

They were all gathered around the computer, and Kate was reminded of the last time they had been like this, when they were discussing taking Michael into the jungle. Sawyer had just been brought back from the Others, and the thought of him made her push the memory away and concentrate on the present.

Sayid spoke first, breaking the tense silence. "Where is Sawyer?"

Kate opened her mouth to say she didn't know when she heard him. "I'm here." He came in from the hallway and his eyes fell on her, smiling in relief; he hurried to her, taking her in his arms and kissing her deeply, lovingly, and he whispered, "I'm sorry, Kate."

She didn't answer, just clutched him closer before noticing the three pairs of eyes trying to look everywhere but them. She pulled away, sheepishly, and said, "Okay, we're all here." She leaned back against him, letting his arms wrap around her as she continued, "Now, Sayid, I swear, you are never going to believe all of this."

"Try me." He couldn't stand to look at them, so happy and bright; he almost felt like they were burning his eyes, and he blinked but the radiance was still there. "I'm willing to believe a lot of things."

Grinning, Sawyer said, "Well you're about to find out, Apu."

Kate took a deep breath. "Okay. After we left the camp we headed southwest but that ended in a spit so we turned north, headed up the coast. Sawyer found a stone marker, in the jungle, a Dharma Foundation marker with arrows pointing to some drains, back on the beach, and what ended up being a Zoology Center, though we didn't know it at the time. We decided to check out the drains." She grinned at Sawyer's squeeze. "Okay, okay, II/I decided to check out the drains. There was a body up there," Sawyer squeezed her again, hard, and she wasn't sure it was intentional; he was tense and she decided to skip the part about his identity for now, "And I found a badge and a pouch on it. The pouch had two stones in it, black and white, and a bottle of some kind of medicine or something. We went on to the zoo..." She continued, spilling the whole story, what she knew of it, and Ana and Sara, and Sawyer filled in any gaps.

It was taking a long time and Kate was thirsty; she remembered some juice in the pantry, and hoping against hope she excused herself and ducked into the shockingly bare room. They had been gone a long time. She sighed and looked around the shelves, moving boxes and cans around in the vain hope that she'd find what she was looking for hidden behind one but it was no use. Something caught her eyes, though, and she moved aside a can of Dharma Initiative Spaghetti Sauce to grab it and she grinned as she opened the jar of olives, fishing them out with her fingers and savoring their bitter saltiness; she was so intent on her task that she didn't hear the pantry door snap shut behind her.

She almost screamed as a hand went around her waist; his voice was ragged as he whispered, "Eatin' for two now, Freckles?" and suddenly he was kissing her, pushing her up against the shelves as she dropped the jar she was holding, not caring that it shattered at her feet. Sliding her hands into his hair, she met his kiss with the same passion and desire as he moved his body, his hard body against hers and she groaned a little, slipping her hands beneath his shirt and caressing the smooth skin, making him gasp and he pulled away, meeting her flushed, feverish eyes. "I love you. I'm sorry I hauled ass on you like that."

Sighing, she leaned her head against his chest, feeling his heartbeat as it synchronized with her own. "It's okay, James. You have plenty of time to adjust." She grinned up at him. "That's why it takes nine months."

He didn't answer, just bent his lips to hers hungrily, and within seconds they were semi-nude, their hands frantic and their bodies sparking like mad as Sawyer lifted Kate up, sighing with rapture as she slid over him; leaning her against the shelves, he began to move, slowly, her hair brushing agaist his chest in rhythm with his easy thrusts.

Her eyes were closed but his were open, watching her; her face was flushed and sweaty and he wished there was a damn bed, or hell, even a blanket he could lay her down on because he wanted to do it right, he wanted to take his time but there were people out there, even now, probably waiting and while he didn't particularly care, let them wait, he knew that the position they were in wasn't really conducive to time-taking. He'd make it up to her later.

The cold bars of the shelves were digging into her back but she didn't care; the feeling was too good and as he began to rock faster; the shelves were shaking and boxes and cans were vibrating onto the floor as he groaned into her shoulder and it pushed her over the edge. Crying out, she tensed and kissed him, crushing her lips to his with unexpected force and he groaned as he followed her.

They leaned together, supporting each other on shaky, weak legs as he kissed her again, teasing her gently with his tongue and she returned it, her hand snaking down and he smiled, backing away. "No, no, Freckles. The mind is willing but the flesh..."

Giggling, she kissed him once more then started dressing and after watching her for a few seconds he did too. She waited as he slipped his jeans back on, picking up the boxes and cans that they'd knocked from the shelves and trying to clean up some of the olive mess. When he was ready she started to open the door but he slammed it shut again, sweeping her into his arms and kissing her passionately. "I love you, Kate. And I Iam/I sorry."

She was breathless for a second but she finally managed to say, "It's okay, James, really. I understand, you're scared. I am too." She cupped his face in her hands, staring him in the eyes as she whispered, excitedly, "But wasn't it wonderful? Wasn't he perfect?"

Her excitement was infectious and he nodded, smiling; but he was really remembering her, holding Aaron on the beach in the hazy afternoon sun and how absolutley perfect Ishe/I was, how beautiful that scene had been. "Yeah. He was."

When Kate left Ana was telling Sayid about the Foundation, and she supposed part of Kate's flight was because she was getting close to the time when Jack killed Kate; when Sawyer followed her a few minutes later she didn't think it was for the same reason, and she and Sara exchanged amused glances before she continued with the story. Her hunch had been right, after talking and being in Kate and Sara's soothing presence her desire for Jack had faded from sharp, shooting desire to dull, aching need and she could almost completely forget about him if it wasn't for the fact that she had to Italk/I about him. She didn't elaborate on their relationship and Sayid didn't question it, though she had the feeling he had guessed anyway, it was probably pretty obvious.

He stopped her a couple of times during the whole 'time travel' part, making her go back and tell it over again while Sara supplied the bits Ana didn't know; they all swiveled their heads as a loud crash and moan came from the pantry; Sayid stood, thinking maybe someone had fallen or something but Ana put her hand out, grabbing his wrist and shaking her head with amusement. "I wouldn't do that."

Sayid looked down at Ana's hand on his arm and pulled away, gently, then glanced in the direction of the pantry with a little embarrassment. "I see."

Sara and Ana both laughed, and Ana said, "You get used to it. They're like rabbits."

As if in conformation there was another loud cry and moan and then quiet, and Ana grinned. "See? Rabbits. Quick and constantly."

That made even Sayid smile, and he nodded in their direction. "They have changed."

"We all have, Sayid,"Ana smiled sadly; the part of the story Sayid was least likely to believe was coming up and she wasn't sure how to begin. Glancing at Sara she decided to leave the angel parts out, at least for now; that wasn't important and he was already looking at them with polite disbelief as it was.

"Perhaps," he said, his eyes shifting to her. "I don't think you have."

She wasn't sure if it was an insult or not and his eyes didn't give anything away, they just held hers until she said, "Well, you didn't know me before, did you?"

His smile was tight but not unfriendly. "I knew enough. What haunts you may not be the same thing but you are haunted nonetheless." He leaned closer. "In fact, I know what haunts you now."

She froze as icy misery flooded through her and she wished suddenly that Kate was there, with her, because she understood and just her Ibeing/I there was a comfort. "And what is that, Sayid?"

"That's not what we're here to talk about, Ana." He smiled. "Please continue with the story."

Sawyer came strolling out, grinning as everyone's eyes went to him, sweaty, flushed and happy. "What?"

Sara and Ana just grinned as Kate came out behind him, carrying a can of fruit juice she'd found next to the door, where it had apparently rolled after they shook it from the shelf; she noted with delight that is was grape. She avoided everyone's eyes as she grinned and said, "Is there a can opener in here?"

Sayid pointed toward the kitchen and Kate disappeared around the corner; Sawyer's eyes followed her and Sayid had to smile too, he couldn't help it. As she disappeared he turned his eyes back to Sayid, his dimples flashing as he caught his grin. Sayid clapped his hand on Sawyer's shoulder, chuckling. "You are a lucky man, Sawyer."

"Don't I know it, Apu." All of the earlier hostility was gone, the scene on the beach forgotten as Sawyer suddenly grew serious. "I'm sorry about Shannon."

Sayid nodded, turning away to hide his tears as he swallowed hard. "Thank you," he said, his voice strangled, and Sawyer looked away, giving him time to compose himself. He understood, God, he Iknew/I what it was like to lose Kate and he was surprised Sayid hadn't blown a cylinder and offed half of the camp; the fact that he was being civil, even friendly to Ana kinda threw Sawyer for a loop.

He was suddenly tired; he didn't want to hear anymore tonight, his head was swimming anyway and he just wanted to be alone, be solitary for a while and let it all sink in before he heard anything else. Shannon's grave called to him, as it did every night, and sometimes he thought he could hear her, whispering to him on the quiet night air, when the camp was asleep and he was Iawake/I, alive because he could finally feel her with him.

Kate came back around the corner with five glasses of grape juice with Iice/I in it, and she smiled as she handed one to each of them before taking a sip of hers and kissing Sawyer with icy cold lips. "Mmm..." he whispered, "grape. My favorite."

She giggled a little, then turned back to the others; Ana and Sara were both savoring the sweet, tangy grape juice with tiny little sips but Sawyer had gulped his down, and Kate said, "There's food in the pantry."

Sara and Ana both left immediately, taking their drinks with them, leaving Sayid with Kate and Sawyer. He couldn't bear it, the way they were, it made him long for the quiet solitude of Shannon's grave and he took Kate's hand, kissing the back of it -Kate felt Sawyer tense- before handing his untasted drink to her. "I think I have heard enough for tonight. You will excuse me?" He didn't wait for an answer, vanishing into the hallway before they could respond, and a second later Kate heard the airlock door groan shut.

Sawyer watched him go, feeling for him, and he slid his arms around Kate even tighter. He noticed the drink in her hands. "You gonna drink his, Kate?"

She rolled her eyes and handed it to him, feeling the electricity as their fingers brushed even though she was curled into his arms. "Poor Sayid."

They stood together for a minute, wondering in the luck, the incredible luck that seemed to be on their side, keeping them together. Suddenly a loud sqeal came ringing out of the pantry. "Mashed potatoes?"

Kate kissed Sawyer quickly, then detatched herself and ran to the pantry. He shook his head, then followed her, leaning against the doorway and watching as she tore through the boxes with the other women, laughing and giggling as they plundered what was left of the food, carrying it into the kitchen.

Piling all of the boxes and cans on the counter, they all looked at each other and burst out laughing because they had enough food around them to feed a small army. While Ana and Sara carried some of it back (though not much) Kate and Sawyer began pulling out pots and pans. "You know how to cook, Freckles?"

She shrugged. "A little. My mom taught me some but it's not really a skill I've needed for the past few years."

A huge grin spread across his face. "Well, why don't you and your little friends have a seat and let the master get to work?" He started opening and shutting the cabinets and the refrigerator, checking out what they had available.

Kate eyed him with disbelief. "IYou/I can cook?"

He rolled his eyes as he pulled a small tray of spices out of the cabinet. "Don't look so surprised, Kate. I ain't totally helpless." Picking up a couple of the boxes they'd brought out he said, "I don't know how great it will be with Dharma mac & cheese and Dharma rice-a-roni but we'll see what we can do."

She kissed him, suddenly so overwhelmed with love she couldn't stand it; he dropped the boxes and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her back. "I love you so much, James."

He didn't think he'd ever known this kind of emotion; after all of his doubts, all of his fears and uncertainty she still was there for him, she still loved him. He crushed his face into her hair, breathing the sweet salt air still trapped in it, mingled with sweat and it was Iher/I scent, the one he would always remember when he thought about her. "I love you Kate, and I swear, I'll never do that again."

She laughed, pulling away. "Yes, you will. But I'll be here waiting for you to come back."

Letting go of her was almost painful, but he could hear Ana and Sara coming back and he wanted to get cooking. The dinner, anyway. But he whispered once more before he let her go; leaning close he said, "No you won't, Kate, because you'll be right there with me."