Ok so this is a tad unexpected, and I know I didn't give y'all much warning. But I am ending this fic. In about 2 chapters is going to end. Just thought I should tell y'all… when I post the last chapter I will also post a writers note chapter thing, and that should clear up most questions I hope.:)
So last chapter I made the mistake of not going into detail in the Sawyer&Londy scene because I didn't want to draw attention from the focus of the chapter, so to clarify before I start, Londy, let him escape, it was not part of a plan.(hence why miss Klugh stressed that he was suppose to stay) I wrote it that way to show a softer more considerate side to Londy than what has been shown, obviously I did not do a good job lol. So yeah, she allowed him to escape. And although that might now make sense now, I promise it will later:)
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Chapter 14: Trust
Sawyer dipped his blood stained hands into a stream. Dark red sores lined his wrists, the cold water hurt his open wounds. He rubbed his hurt hands softly to whip the dry blood off. They had been on the move all night; after Kate had heard his side of the story they barely talked the rest of the night. They went onward, not wasting a minute, although Sawyer had hurt his foot worse from running after the others had stabbed him.
Kate watched at a distance as Sawyer cleaned his gashes. But she only stood observing for a moment.
She soon felt alive as her hands and feet worked together to make her way up a tree. She had discarded her shoes on the ground; her toes gripped the bark as her fingers wrapped themselves around each branch. Kate finally felt relaxed, she needed a purpose, sitting idol would not help her any.
Growing up she had not enjoyed the indoors, for that was where all the 'yelling', and 'fights', as she had simply called them when she was young, that was where they occurred. When she was outside all her troubles disappeared, her parents weren't there to ruin her fun.
Kate recalled long summer days when her small hands and feet worked in one smooth motion to make her way up the oak tree in her backyard. The feel of the bark against her palm was reassuring, it was strong and dependable. The feeling of reaching the top was what stuck with Kate most through the years; holding on to branch she would steady herself and look out on the small town. Her house had not been in the city but neighbors houses could be seen from above. There had always been a breeze that blew through her curly brown hair. Even as a child Kate's facial features had been distinct. Her hair had still been brown and curly, it had held a light tent to it, from being out in the sun all day long, and many more freckles had been spattered across her checks. Her hair always got tangled by the wind, yet it had been un-groomed to begin with so this never worried Kate; her fingers had short cut nails that held dirt underneath the surface. She had been no more that nine years old or so, yet those days of when she was just the right size to sit on the branches of trees, kept in her mind as vivid as any other memory. She recalled her mother's voice straining to be heard above the wind. Kate knew she was being called down, for her mother thought being that high was dangerous, but she usually ignored her mother's pleas and blamed the wind, saying she could not hear her calling. She had formed a bound with the natural world that was like a medicine to her in her time of need.
As Kate climbed the tree she didn't think about how she was on the run, or how about she knew not one person she could really trust, or about how She and Sawyer could be captured at any given moment, no, her mind was focused, care free almost. Once she reached about 35 feet up she stopped climbing and picked a few mangos; her satchel was wrapped around her shoulder so she placed the fruit in there. At great ease she made her way down the tree. Her feet touched the ground once she jumped off a branch about 5 feet in the air. The soil felt soft compared to the hard sturdy branches. Making her way toward Sawyer she took out a water bottle and drank from it, quenching her thirst.
Sawyer's heart was still hardened, not toward Kate but toward the Others, they had messed everything up. He felt no need to speak unless it was necessary, he knew that he needed to concentrate and not get distracted if they were to stay safe.
A veil of pink covered the forest. The sun had just begun to rise and the forest had dew drops lacing every plant. With the sun's rising a new day dawned, new opportunities, new hopes. Although the jungle seemed nearly enchanted, springing with new life and beauty at the morning's birth, the inhabitant that treaded its soil were less seemingly thrilled. A dreaded journey lay before them, one that would easily be wished non-existence. Both travelers new they had to carry on despite the desire to stop. Life before the island had taught them that 'there is no rest for the weary'. Each faced the fact that no matter where they were or who they were with they would always be escaping and avoiding one thing or another.
"Come on, we needa get goin." Sawyer told Kate dryly.
Kate finished retying her boots then nodded and followed his lead, She held out her arm, offering him a drink of water. Taking the water from her Sawyer drank it letting cool water run down his parched throat.
"So what's the plan?" Kate asked trailing behind Sawyer. She was not egger to lead, in fact she was rather reluctant. Going back to the same camp where they had spent the past two months was not what she wanted. Kate missed the constant companionship but she wished that she could explore without the fear of 'Others'.
"What do you mean 'plan'?" Sawyer responded snarkily.
"Well, what's to stop the 'Others' from marching over to our camp and taking one of us, after all we do seem to be the ones they want."
Sawyer turned is head to face hers. Sighing deeply he tried to explain as he had earlier that morning.
"I told you, they don't want us. They just wanted us out of our camp, and now they want us to be apart, never near each other."
"But why?"
"Cause it prevents them from doing their job or something like that."
"So you don't think they'll try to get us if we stay apart?"
Sawyer found her understand his cue to continued on walking.
"Sounds about right."
Kate's heart sank. She walked up and remained walking at a pace that from then on kept her at his side.
Sawyer was deep in thought. Not only did he not like being told what to do, he hated being taunted. Walking by his side was the one thing he was told he couldn't have; he feared what would happen if he even attempted to satisfy his attraction. Walking by his side was also the very women that provoked his very being, to give up everything to see her happy, but he knew he could never now have the pleasure to be the one to please her, keep her safe, and make her happy.
They walked in silence for some distance. Sawyer as he had done his whole life separated himself, from companionship and from the possibility of love.
Kate decided to take the optimistic approached opposing what had been happening most of their time together since he had found her.
"Remember that time we went swimming in that waterfall?" Kate asked smiling to herself at the memory of Sawyer tickling her beneath the water.
"Yeah, where we found those dead bodies?" Sawyer answered with next to no expression in his tone.
"Right…" Kate said, letting her head sag. "What about when I read that funny old 70's magazine to you?" She pondered, laughing a little, calling to memory that morning.
"Yup, that was the day Sun got hurt and I conned the nice island folks outta all their guns."
Kate began to be discouraged. Her last hours with Sawyer, the man who she had laughed so often with, the man who had made her smile more than any one else, the man who had deemed her 'Freckles', and all he could do was remember the bad parts of their relationship. Kate attempted one more time to try make Sawyer recall something good between the two of them since the crash.
"Remember that time we kissed?" Kate asked tilting her side in an effort to see Sawyers face.
Sawyer remembered that most of all, she had been one of the only women to ever truly make him feel weak. Never had Sawyer been more confused than that day, he had never known what a kiss could do. The way her lips touched his was as if the breath that sustained life for him was nothing compared to the joy she brought him in that moment. It had been more than a kiss, it had been a revelation, he had come to the knowledge even during that kiss that it was all much deeper than physical.
He wanted to block the memory, he wanted to block them all. They were reminders of what could never be, to him. Sawyer opened his mouth and started to speak, in that same monotone voice, another negative comment as to guard his heart.
"Don't" Kate said stepping in front of Sawyer, keeping him from moving forward.
"Let me have one good memory without your destroying it." Neither Kate nor Sawyer was one for emotional talk but this once she had to set it straight. There came a point where she had to be able to look back on an occasion with Sawyer and smile.
He closed up like a book, he didn't let her in, or at least he showed no outwardly sign of letting her get to him.
He pushed her aside and kept walking, this time as a faster pace as if his motion could force her to stay behind.
Kate ran up beside him.
"Say something, please."
Sawyer kept walking. Kate's face was turned to him as they treaded onward.
"Sawyer?"
He ignored her pleas for conversation and continued to advance in step.
Kate refused to be ignored; in an instant she went from trying to get attention to rebuking.
"Sawyer!" Kate yelled "You think ignoring me will work, you think it'll make this easier? Ok, I realize it's all gone, I know everything is different, I just wanna enjoy the last little bit."
"What?" Sawyer yelled back. He was not afraid to hurt her emotionally. "So you wanna give yourself just an other taste of what ya can't have? It's gone! If you wanna live, if you want others in our camp to live then we have to keep away from each other, before they have to find a way to make us themselves. So for the good of the island residents here darlin' how's about he draw a lil line down the room and keep to our own sides." Sawyers face tightened up and he walked away leaving a stunned Kate behind.
Never having listened to people before, she went against her more considerate judgment and pressed on with the topic. She stood still for a moment and watched him saunter away. Kate snapped, she ran to catch up to him. Feeling the different level of jungle floor shift beneath her feet, her foot work was precise.
When she reached his side, each of them stopped.
The pink jungle that had existed only a little while ago was now a golden heaven. The sun shown in the east, it had just risen. Light shown through the trees, and every time the wind blew the branches the shadows would change making light flicker around the two lost, survivors. Birds and frogs chirped, while the sea could softly be heard roaring in the distance. Kate stood by Sawyer waiting for him to turn and face her. Slowly turning his body his eyes met hers. Only hours before he had looked at those tear stained eyes in darkness. Now he looked into them seeing the greenness of the jungle reflected, causing her eyes to look green along the outer edge, then toward the center they formed into a piercing crystal blue that nearly looked gray when it was bright enough out.
Kate brought her hand small up to his cheek. Sense he had obviously not been able to shave, his bristled hair had grow sort of long.
"You are worth it." She told him gently, with complete sincerity in her voice.
Sawyer took a moment to take in everything about her, then in a whisper she murmured.
"Kate?..."
Quickly and smoothly Kate ran her fingers to the back of his head pulling him toward her, as she leaned into him. Kate initiated this action but Sawyer quickly took the rains, forming into his natural element, yet this was beyond what he had ever done. His hand wrapped around her tiny waist pulling her closer toward himself.
Lacing her hands through his hair Kate rested her thumbs on his temples while Sawyer ran his hands up her back gently stroking her, absorbing every essence of her being. They each closed their eyes, the warm breath coming off of their lips touched the other's face. Their lips met lightly, forming gentle strokes. In a moment it was more than a light touch, their lips conformed into one, Sawyer inhaled her warm breath. They were afraid to let go, afraid it would end. Sawyer's hands slowly ran along her waist and back, while Kate's continued to hold a firm grip on his head. Sawyer's hands glided beneath the end of her shirt, he could feel the warm of her skin in the tips of his fingers; till he rested his hand on her warm lower back beneath her tattered black shirt. Everything natural about it filled them, although it was new; never had they been worry free, they were lost in the moment, they forgot it all except for who they were with. Never, had something been so new, yet so natural. It all went away, the worry, the doubt, the fear, it melting into contentment that swallowed them, consuming them in the moment; the moment, they most desired, longed for, needed, till there was only the passion that drove them and the trust held that made it all real.
