A/N: Sorry about the wait, I had work experience this week and I was completely shattered! Here's the next installment of the ongoing Hatch Saga...enjoy!

Jane was going to the kitchen to get something cold. She was always aching for ice, that small little pleasure you take for granted in civilization. She rarely went to the hatch but she couldn't resist seeing if there was anything cold besides water to drink on this island.

'Besides, I never have gotten around to seeing if they have a freezer down here,' she said to herself.

Rounding the corner, she stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Sawyer wrapped in only a towel and standing very near to Kate. It was a very interesting position to find them in to say the least, and she felt very wrong for intruding on such an obviously intimate moment. However, she couldn't escape unnoticed, as Sawyer had seen her come through the doorway.

'Ummm, I'm sorry! I'll... I'll just come back later.'

Kate looked up as Jane appeared in the doorway, and let out an inward sigh of relief. Much as she loved her alone time with Sawyer, she needed a distraction.

'Hey, Jane. Don't worry, Sawyer was just off to find his clothes. He appears to have lost them.'

She gave Jane a meaningful look that said Back me up here!, as Sawyer once more turned on her.

'Aw, Sawyer! How could you lose your clothes again?' Jane piped in. She noted the look of conspiracy from Kate and decided to take another step in and play along.

'Last time you lost them, I heard they ended up being molested by a boar!'

Ben walked out of the bedroom laughing, until he saw Sawyer's face, which soon shut him up. 'I thought I heard your voice, Jane,' he turned to look at Kate. 'You like Jane but not me, huh?' Ben lay down on the couch, resting his head on his arms, watching as Sawyer was out-numbered.

'Everybody likes me, Ben. Didn't you get the memo?'

Jane laughed at her own sarcastic joke and crossed the room, totally ignoring Sawyer's stare. She was still on a quest for a refreshing glass of ice-something and she hadn't forgotten it.

Finding the freezer and opening its door, she revelled in the cold air that hit her face. She could not be any happier even if Santa Clause visited with all 8 tiny reindeer.

Appears to have lost them? Sawyer gave Kate an 'Is that so?' look and then swivelled his chair to look at Jane. 'Very funny. Last time the boar peed on them, it didn't run off with them to make a nest, or...' He trailed off and glared at Ben who was obviously getting a kick out of what was going on. 'Yeah, laugh it up. Next time it'll be your boxers going walkabout.'

He turned back to the girls. 'Seems like the women of this camp just want us men to be barefoot and shirtless, huh? Next you'll be tellin' us to make you some scrambled eggs.' He smirked at them, trying to regain some control of the situation.

Kate grinned at Sawyer, the situation getting funnier by the minute. When he mentioned scrambled eggs, she suddenly realised that she hadn't eaten since the night before.

'Well, actually, now that you mention it...scrambled eggs are sounding pretty good to me. What do you say to making a deal? You make us some brunch and if I like it, I'll help look for your clothes.'

She waited for his answer, tapping her foot expectantly against the side of the desk.

Sawyer suddenly felt like he'd walked himself into a trap of his own making. He had to give Kate points for jumping on the opportunity. He smiled, and tossed her an amused look.

'Gotta hand it to you, Freckles, you got me there. I love a girl who knows how to negotiate.' He moved to the pantry and began to look at everything stacked in the cupboards. 'Don't got real eggs, just that powdered stuff. But I guess I can rustle somethin' up.' He paused to rescue the towel around his waist. He was gonna have to do something about that, unless he was intending on everyone getting a free show before brunch was served. 'Someone gotta belt or a piece of damn string?'

Jane closed the freezer door after retrieving her ice.

'Aw, but I like barefoot and shirtless. Too bad all the guys won't go for it!' Jane laughed. 'But, if you must find your clothes, then I guess getting lunch in that bargain would be a wonderful compromise.' Pausing she added, 'I like mine scrambled.'

Then she found something that looked like it wasn't water, added it to her ice and sat down to relax for a while. She was totally enjoying watching Sawyer squirm.

Kate threw Jane an amused glance at the way she handled Sawyer's request. Kate had realised that Jane wasn't serious with her flirting with Sawyer, and found it highly entertaining watching him deal with two women, both equally intent on making him squirm.

'Mm, scrambled sounds great. Thanks, Sawyer,' Kate called casually into the kitchen, imagining the look on his face as she patronised him.

Strolling into the living quarters, she ran her finger along the bookshelf; it had been ages since she'd had a chance to sit and read, and she was looking forward to the opportunity.

Jane took her drink and, giving Sawyer the same kind of 'once-over' he'd often given her, she smiled at him approvingly and followed Kate into the living area.

'It's just way too much fun to mess with him, isn't it?' she asked Kate. Getting out of Sawyer's view she went near to Kate and said, 'By the way, I don't have any romantic notions about Sawyer. I just like to give it as well as I get it, and he likes to dish it out in abundance.'

Kate smiled at Jane, thinking that they could probably become friends. Apart from Sun and Claire, Kate hadn't really bonded with any of the women on the island, and now that her two girlfriends had Jin and Charlie, respectively, as well as Aaron, she was spending less and less time with them.

She laughed at Jane's comment about Sawyer, a genuine laugh, something she hadn't done for what seemed like years.

'Yeah, that's very true. His eyes also seem to have a problem with staying fixed on your face when he's talking to you,' she continued in the same vein, trying to keep her voice down a bit; it had been ages since she'd gossiped about a guy with another girl, and she didn't particularly fancy Sawyer overhearing them.

'I noticed,' Jane quipped back, pretending to feel incredulous at the idea. 'At least he seems to be in control of his hands.'

Jane watched Kate as they both were getting a kick out of talking about Sawyer behind his back and acting like a couple of school girls. That in itself was thoroughly enjoyable.

'I liked the disappearing act with his clothes. Gave a nice view when I walked in the door - although I must admit I thought I was interrupting something!'

Kate blushed slightly; she had a feeling that several of the other castaways had noticed the way she and Sawyer acted around each other, though no-one had actually commented on it before.

'Believe me, I was glad of the interruption. The situation was starting to spin slightly out of my control. And yeah, that is one nice view,' Kate grinned, taking a book from the shelf.

'The Third Policeman. Looks interesting enough, don't you think?'

'Yeah, well, I think it might take all three of those three policemen of those to police our thoughts at the moment,' said Jane as they sat down on the couch. It occasionally gave a great view of Sawyer fixing them some food while trying to keep his towel in place. Oddly enough, it wasn't Sawyer that had her thoughts.

'I'm so losing my mind!' she said out loud. Laughing she figured Kate would probably just think the obvious - that she was speaking of Sawyer.

Kate found laughter coming easily in Jane's company, and was glad for it. Looking in the direction of the kitchen, she noticed what Jane was commenting on. Sawyer was so...adorable when he was uncomfortable. That was the only word for it, and she said so to Jane. Now that it had been confirmed that she was only teasing with Sawyer, Kate was a lot more relaxed around her.

'Hey Sawyer, how are those eggs coming along?' She waited for his response, anticipating either a sarcastic or suggestive reply. Not that she minded either way.

Jane smirked as Kate continued to tease Sawyer. Man, she had it bad.

'Hey, why don't you go in and tell him I don't like mine rubbery. Oh - and if we have salsa, I'd like some on top!' Jane winked conspiratorially at Kate and let her exit. It was just too much fun to watch these two.

'Hold your horses, sweetcheeks,' Sawyer grumbled good-naturedly back. 'It ain't exactly Julia Child's kitchen in here.' He was still trying to take stock of what food items he had on hand as well as rustle up the correct cooking utensils. Every now and then he had to pause and readjust his damn towel.

Kate smiled mischievously at him as he tried to juggle food, utensils and fixing his towel.

'We're in no hurry, Sawyer. Take your time.'