A/N: So...I finally updated! YAY! This chapter was kinda fun. Jex and humor...and a teeny tiny dosage of jangst...maybe...hmm...fun. Enjoy, and please review. They make me giddy...like jex! hehe -I'm glad you guys are enjoying this so far...

Kate walked along the sand, staring down at her wrists, rubbing them, much like she had done that first time she'd literally stumbled across Jack. Except, now, they were burning from the feel of his touch, not irritated by the cold metal, handcuffs. In a daze Kate barely noticed Claire calling out to her.

"Huh?" Kate asked finally looking up, realising the Australian had in actual fact been trying to talk to her.

"Everything alright? You looked kind of distant…" Claire said softly.

"Yeah…" Kate moved to sit in the sand beside Claire, and smiled down at Aaron gurgling away in his mother's lap.

"What's wrong, Kate?" Claire asked her.

"I…I…um…Jack…we…I…Claire, I had… jex…I mean…sex with Jack…" Kate admitted staring out across the ocean, not wanting to look at her friend.

"You slept with Jack?" Claire asked amazed, with a gleeful smile.

"Not exactly. No sleeping…" Kate said distracted, and then with a sigh; "Just a shower."

Claire's eyes widened. "You had sex, in the shower, with Jack?"

"Yes." Kate felt her cheeks grow red. "It wasn't…I didn't mean…I slipped."

"You slipped?" Claire asked with raised eyebrows, and Kate nodded. "Honey, how did it happen? You can just slip into having sex…that doesn't happen."

"I know." Kate said deflated. "We were talking the other day…somehow the topic turned to how long it had been. I might have said something about maybe us…hooking up or something. To test the sex is like riding a bike theory."

"Right…" Claire said, urging Kate to continue. She was split in half, her friend seemed zoned out and confused, and she wanted to help, she did. On the other hand, she couldn't say she hadn't expected something to happen between the two of them, and was rooting for them all away. She was a girl after all, and she was in need of some good gossip.

"And then yesterday, I just…bumped into him. So he walked me to the hatch. I had button duty, he wanted a shower. I said I wanted one too, and he was acting lazy, so I raced him, on the whomever gets there first…After he had his shower, I had mine. But the water was cold I kind of screamed, and then I slipped and fell. And Jack came rushing in, wearing just a towel." Kate sighed. "So he helped me up, and then changed the temperature for me…and somehow, we ended up…just…screwing." Kate frowned.

"So…what does that mean?" Claire asked carefully. "Does that mean you're a couple?"

"No, I don't think so. It was just no-strings attached sex, but…"

"You don't want it to be?"

"No." Kate shook her head. "I mean, it's…it's not that. It's just. He makes me…I feel…"

"What, sweetie?" Claire pushed.

"Jack made me feel something I hadn't in a long time. And I enjoyed it."

"Kate, I think you're allowed to enjoy it, sex is meant to be enjoyable."

"I guess…" Kate mused.

"So…" Claire grinned. "How good was it? It must have been good for you to be like this."

"It was okay." Kate mumbled.

"Okay? You're not fooling me."

"Okay, it was…Claire, it was amazing." Kate smiled at the memory.

"Amazing…like…" Claire pushed, smiling.

Kate nodded. "Like…best ever." Claire let out a laugh at that.

"You want it to happen again?" Claire asked her.

"I don't…I wouldn't mind." Kate admitted. "But, I don't think it's a good idea."

"Why not?"

"We have a good friendship, I don't want to ruin that." Kate said.

"That's perfectly understandable, sweetie." Claire told her. "So, is it true what they say about doctor's hands? Aren't they meant to make the best lovers?"

"Yup." Kate smirked, and stood up. "Thank Claire, but…can you not tell anyone?"

"Sure. Stays between me, you, Jack, and the infant who understands nothing." Claire smiled. "I expected it to happen, sooner or later. It was inevitable." Kate turned to look strangely at Claire, before walking back down the beach.

-

Two days later, as Jack emerged from the Jungle he spotted Kate on the beach, and called out to her. She ignored him.

"Kate…Kate." He said as he approached her.

"What do you want?" She said coldly, removing her feet from the sand in which they'd been sinking.

"Why are you being so cold?" Jack asked her.

"I'm not." Kate said defensively.

"Like hell you are, Kate. Why are you shutting me out?"

"I don't know." Kate shrugged.

"So could you not?"

"I don't know…you know why." Kate told him, and turned to walk away.

"Because…because of the shower?" Jack asked in shock.

"Because of the shower." She confirmed, and as she started to walk away, Jack grabbed her arm, and spun her around.

"You won't talk to me because of what happened, when it was your idea? You realise how stupid that sounds?" Jack asked looking into her eyes.

She glared at him. "It was a stupid idea."

"You seemed to enjoy it at the time." Jack grinned.

"Oh shut up!" She felt like slapping him for being so smug and happy about it; while she was trying to figure out why she now felt bad about it happening, she did enjoy it though. "It was a stupid idea. It was wrong. We shouldn't have…Would you please let go of me now, it hurts." Kate said detached from her emotions. 'It doesn't hurt, it burns…and it's a good burn…and grrrrrr…I hate you, Jack.' Kate thought, as he let go.

-

Later that afternoon Kate was on a walk, part way to the caves when she spotted Jack. Part of her felt like running, again, like avoiding him as she had been the past few days; because, things were easier that way, right? However, the other, slightly more dominant part, felt a surge of lust, and excitement, seeing him in a tight shirt, with his bulging biceps, and strong chest. They were bound to meet up in the middle, it was inevitable really, with one headed one way, and the other the other, they had to cross paths, had to collide. Kate wasn't sure what she'd do when they did.

"You busy?" Kate asked him. She'd made her decision.

"Not really, I was going to check up on a few people, nothing important."

"Good. Can it wait?" She asked, her head tilted slightly to one side.

"Yes, why?" He asked, watching her curiously, just hours ago she'd been acting cold and harsh to him.

"Come with me. We need to talk." She walked into the jungle, away from the path, and checked to see that he was following her. He was.

About 10 minutes into the jungle, after taking a winding route, Kate stopped and leant against a tree. She pulled her hair free from her hair tie, shook it, then wrapped it back into a loose bun, securing it with the hair tie.

"You wanted to talk?" Jack asked leaning against another tree.

"I'm sorry." She mumbled.

"What for?" He asked her.

"For being cold." Kate smiled at him, and when he smiled back she knew he'd accepted her apology. "And, I'm sorry for saying it was stupid…"

"So it wasn't stupid?" Jack grinned.

"I don't know…maybe, maybe not." Kate frowned. "I didn't want things to change between us, and you said they wouldn't unless we made them. I was an idiot, I made things change…I'm sorry for that. I don't really know why, it was just…weird…"

"It's okay. I understand, I think." Jack backed away from the tree, and moved towards Kate. "So…would it be stupid, if I said I couldn't feel my…toe, and that I might need to test it, see if it works?"

"Your toe?" Kate smiled. Jack nodded. "Your TOE?" Kate laughed.

"Kate…" Jack started but couldn't help laughing either, her laughing was infectious.

"Sorry…but, seriously Jack, your toe?" Kate shook her head. "I think you can check out your own toe, I'm no doctor." Kate smirked, her eyes sparkling.

"Oh, but I can't. It would be so much better if you did."

"But your TOE?" Kate snickered.

"What? I couldn't think of anything…it was the first thing that came into my mind." Jack shrugged.

"Interesting." She said, standing up straight and pushing a strand of hair back behind her ear. "So…have you forgotten how to tell the truth, Jack?" Kate raised her eyebrows at her.

"I was trying to be…I don't know…" Jack frowned.

"Right." Kate nodded.

"You see…it's been a few days, and well…you know, with riding a bike, you have to practise…and so I thought I should ya know, practise…and…" He said, taking a step closer to her.

"You thought I might like to…observe?"

"Kate…"

"I mean, it could be interesting…can't say I've observed before, so I'm curious. But I must admit, don't you think it's kind of strange, Jack?" She smirked.

"Kate, I don't want you to observe…" Jack told her.

"Oh, shame. I was soooooooo looking forward to that." Kate said with a tone of sarcasm. "Well, happy practising." She winked and turned to walk away.

Without giving her much of a chance to get away, Jack grabbed her arm, and twisted her around to face him. "That's not what I meant, and you know it." Kate tried to hold back a smile, but couldn't help it, and a grin crept across her face.

"I'm sorry, Jack. But it's kinda fun to tease you." She grinned.

"I can assure I didn't find it fun in the shower…it's never fun when a cold shower is required." He informed her, pulling her slightly towards him.

"Oh, I disagree, I thought it was fun." She raised her eyebrows as his arms snaked around her waist.

"Not so much. Afterwards was fun, but not the teasing." He shook his head.

Placing her hands on his shoulders, her features softened, and relaxed. "I'll keep that in mind." She nodded, and gazed up at him.

Testing the waters, Jack leant down and placed a soft, tender kiss on her lips. When he drew back, she wrapped her arms tighter around his neck, and pulled him closer, not allowing him to draw back, not allowing their lips to part. He knew he'd beaten her, again. Of course, beating her into submission gave him a much better feeling, than beating her to the shower; however, he was sure that the events that followed would be just as rewarding.

As Jack backed Kate against the tree behind them, they continued to kiss passionately, and his nimble hands found themselves underneath her shirt, moving up her body, gently caressing her. Kate's hands drifted from his short hair, to the top of his shirt. As Jack pulled back, just ever so slightly, Kate tightened her grip on him, and pulled him closer by his shirt, before beginning to undo the buttons on his shirt. Kate pushed Jack back slightly, as they parted so that he could rid himself of his shirt, and she of hers.

"And you thought this was a bad idea?" Jack said with a smug smile, oh what Sawyer would do if her knew, Jack had gone all the way with Kate. And was about to do so again.

"Hmm…a girl can change her mind." Kate shrugged, as she stepped closer to Jack and ran her hands over his strong chest.

"That so?" He asked, pushing a lock of dark hair out of her face.

"You know you love it." Kate smirked, as their lips met again, and her hands began to fight with his belt. Jack smiled against her lips as one hand cupped her left breast, toying with the fabric of her bra, and the other placed firmly on, what he thought was, her very cute rear end.

"This is taking too long." Kate sighed impatiently.

"Oh, so now she complains…"

"Just take your trousers off; it'll speed things up." Kate told him with a slight smile.

"As you wish." Jack said and quickly flung his jeans off, and turned back to find her leaning against the tree, in a sexy pose, in just her bra and panties. "That's a good look for you." He told her.

"Shut up." Kate mock-glared at him. "Can we skip the talking, and cut to the lovin'?"

"Loving, eh?" Jack chuckled. "I thought it was just sex."

"It is." She shot him a dirty look. "It just sounded good, like a rhyme. And if you wouldn't mind…"

"Right, right." Jack said as he pulled her into his arms, and forced his mouth against hers. Once again, Jack pushed her back against the tree, this time, trying so hard, to undo the clasp of her bra. Kate laughed as they broke apart so he could concentrate on the task.

"You know, anyone would think you've never taken off a girl's bra before." She smirked, as she reached behind, and instantly pulled the clasp apart. "It's easy."

"Of course it is, for you. Are you getting rid of that?" Jack asked, and watched happily as she tossed it to the side.

Kate sighed frustrated, when Jack's attention was clearly focused on her chest, and not anywhere else.

"You know, you can't have sex with my breasts?" She told him, and his eyes returned to face, and he gave her a bashful smile.

"But they're pretty." He grinned.

"Okay…" Kate said, taking his face in her hands, and kiss him tenderly. As Jack pushed his tongue into her mouth, Kate mentally smirked, as her hands drifted to Jack's boxers, so that she could free his growing erection, and get to the sex part of the gig.

Jack rid Kate of the last offending piece of material, before lifting her up and backing her against the tree. Kate gasped as he slid into her, revelling in how different sex in a shower and sex in the jungle, backed against a tree, felt. She tugged on his lower lip as he thrust into her. Jack trailed kisses down her neck, to her breasts, and back up again.

This time, when she came, she couldn't find it in her to scream, she could barely make a sound, it was so good, so different to the shower; he left her speechless. Instead she just let a breathy moan, and whispered his name, so quietly he could barely hear her, as she buried her head against his shoulder. He shortly followed her over the cliff of ecstasy, and tenderly kissed her, keeping the mood clam, and trying desperately not to call out her name, much like she hadn't.

"God Kate." He spoke in a low voice, when he couldn't hold it in anymore, he had to say something.

"Hmm?" She smiled lazily up at him, as he slid to the floor, Kate still in his arms, surrounding him.

"You are so…you feel, so good." He told her, and kissed her forehead.

"Pretty amazing yourself, Sheppard." She smirked, as she climbed off of him, and pulled on her underwear, tossing him his boxers. Kate smiled softly at him, running a hand through his short hair, before he pulled her onto his lap and kissed her shoulder. "Really, I mean it." She said.

"You didn't scream this time." Jack stated, wondering why she didn't.

"I couldn't." She shrugged.

Jack smiled smugly, "I'm that good?"

"You're that good." She ducked her head, and smiled shyly. "Kind of left me…speechless for a while."

Jack didn't know what to say, and so just nodded, smiling at her.

"It was different. To the shower I mean." Kate told him. "I didn't think it would be, I didn't think it could be."

"Imagine what it'd be like in a bed, or on the stairs…or in the kitchen?" Jack mused out loud.

"The kitchen?" Kate raised her eyebrows at him.

"You've never wanted, or thought about doing it in the kitchen?" Jack asked her.

"I don't think that's very sanitary." Kate frowned. "You'd really prepare food; in the place you have sex? That's weird."

"I assure you it's not." He grinned at her. "Besides, kitchen's can be cleaned."

"I'm not having sex with you in the kitchen." Kate said firmly.

"Sure." Jack grinned, playfully. "Maybe not here, but in the real world…you'd have sex with me in my kitchen…"

An uncomfortable and sad look crossed her face, and Jack instantly regretted what he'd said. "I'm sorry, Kate. I didn't think. I am so sorry." He said and tenderly kissed her temple, stroking her hair.

"It's fine." Kate said shaking her head, and then turned to look up at him, and poking his shoulder smirked, "Your kitchen, huh?"

"My kitchen." Jack nodded.

"What makes you think I'd have sex with you, if we weren't here?" She raised her eyebrows and gave him a sly smile.

"Ouch." He held his free hand against his heart. "Wounding me."

"Aww, did I bruise your ego again?" She asked and kissed his cheek.

"You know you'd miss it."

"What makes you think I'll even have sex with you again?" She smiled at him.

"Because…you enjoy it, I left you speechless." He reminded her. "Besides, I have my ways."

"I'm sure you do." Kate said leaning back against him. She tilted her head back, to look up at him. "I'd like to see you try…"

"You're on." He said, wrapping his arms around her stomach, pulling her close to him. "I'll turn you on." He nodded. "We will have sex again. You'll be begging me."

"Someone's cocky." She smirked, standing up, and pulling on her remaining clothes.

"So, how about a kiss to seal the deal?" Jack asked her, after they were both fully dressed, and she was crouching down to fasten her walking boots.

"See, now, I know you're checking me out." She said straightening up. "You were so checking me out then." She laughed.

"So, can we seal the deal?" Jack said, changing the subject.

"Fine." She said, as he drew her into his arms, and kissed her forcefully.

With that they parted, and walked off in different directions. For now, things were easy, all fun and games. Things were good, simple, but Kate couldn't help wondering, with the way Jack was acting, specifically, would they always be like this. How long, could they keep playing this game?