A/N Yeah, I know… It's been a while since I updated. I'm so sorry, but my mom has me working a lot and then when I'm not working, I'm either sleeping or hanging out with the boyfriend…

But I didn't die! That's a plus! So yeah. I don't really have a whole ton of news to share with everyone, except that I went and saw Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest last night and it was awesome. I give it like 4 thumbs up. It was that good!

Hope you guys like this chapter!

Oh, and most of the italics (like in large quantities) refer to flashbacks.

Disclaimer: I don't own Lost, Sawyer, or Kate. I own her voice though. Where else did you think it went?

"Hear me I'm crying out
I'm ready now
Turn my world upside down
Find me
I'm lost inside the crowd
It's getting loud
I need you to see
I'm screaming for you to please
Hear me...hear me"

Kelly Clarkson

Chapter Nine: All the Things She Wish She Said

Three weeks later

Things had really been going well with Sawyer and me. We weren't a couple, and we weren't dating, or anything stupid like that. No, we were just us. The same people we were before I lost my voice, only we were us together.

But not. (It confuses us too, don't worry.)

I had taken to hanging out with him when I wasn't sleeping. Where ever I went, he went and visa versa. It sounds like it would get really annoying after a while, but truthfully, it didn't. Sawyer was one of the only people in my whole life who I would even consider being with so much, and I've been around for a while. So that means this is a pretty big deal.

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I clambered out of Sawyer's tent, not wanting to draw anyone's attention. This was the eighth night in a row I had fallen asleep in Sawyer's tent. The first few times, I thought I had been pretty sneaky and no one had noticed, but by the fourth time, I knew that someone had figured it out and spread it around the camp.

"Kate!" I nearly jumped out of my skin as my foot caught on a stick and I fell to the ground. I looked up and saw Locke grinning down on me. I held up my hand for him to help me up and he did. "That's quite a position you have yourself in." He smirked.

"Oh shut up. I'm a big girl; I know how to make my own decisions. I don't need your approval." I paused for a second, than added "But for your information, we didn't sleep together." Locke just gave me a look that clearly said he didn't believe me.

"You're telling me this leads me to believe that you do need approval for what you're doing. If you hadn't told you, this would show that you're okay with what you are doing and that you don't care what other people think. Because you had to clarify, this means that you do care." He responded, not paying attention to my attempts to cut in. I rolled my eyes and turned around to go back to my tent. "You can't hide anything forever Kate. Sooner or later, everyone's going to know."

"Kate!" I jumped. Shit, not again. I don't want to deal with this. I groaned as I turned around. I felt my eyes widen as I realized who it was.

"What do you want Jack?" This was the first time he had approached me since that time on the beach, and I didn't expect it to end pleasantly.

"What makes you think I want anything? What if I just wanted to make polite conversation?" I glared at him. "Alright alright, you're right. I was just wondering how you're feeling. I haven't seen you for a long while and…" He trailed off, clearly not knowing what to say.

"I'm feeling just fine, thanks. No thanks to you." I turned around, but he took a few steps and grabbed my arm, spinning me back around to face him. I yanked my arm out of his hand. "Don't touch me Jack. I don't need you, and you don't need to feel like you have to protect me! I can take care of myself." I felt like a broken record, repeating things I've been telling people for the past month.

"No, Kate, I know. I know you don't need me, but I don't want you thinking I'm only concerned because I think I have to be. I truly care for you, even if you don't believe it. I'm just concerned. I'm not trying to be a jerk." He finished, resting his eyes on mine. I tried to look away, but I knew I couldn't. This is why you avoid him girl. Just turn around and leave. I couldn't listen to my own brain though. Jack started walking toward me and I didn't move. He reached me and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me to him as if I was his only lifeline to life. I wrapped my arms around him too and I started crying. Small tears at first, but eventually they grew into heavy sobs. Thank god I had no voice, or I would have probably woken up everyone on the island. Jack loosened his grip on me and held me at arms length. "Everything's going to be fine Kate. We're going to find out why you can't talk, and we're going to get it back."

"That so doc?" Sawyer emerged from his tent and glared at him. Jack dropped his arms and backed up a little.

"Yeah, that is so Sawyer. You aren't doing anything to help her, so I figured someone should." I shook my head, intent on disagreeing, but Sawyer spoke again.

"Shows how much you know doc. I've been helpin' her out in more ways than you can count. So get your shit straight and don't feel like you have to rescue every girl around here." He walked up behind me and draped his arms around my shoulders, resting his chin on the top of my head. I knew I should have been mad about what he had said, but I wasn't. I actually felt pretty good, very protected.

Jack looked like he wanted to say something else, but he just turned on his heel and walked off. "That'll take care of him for a while." Sawyer chuckled as he let go of his grip on me. I turned around and hugged him, burying my face in his chest. It was obvious he was surprised, but he wrapped his arms around my body and kissed the top of my head. "Now what is this for Freckles?" He asked with a grin as I lifted my head from his chest. I thought for a second, then spoke.

"Because I love you."

A/N So… yes, no, maybe so? I know, it's pretty short, but I had writers block on this portion and I just kinda needed to get it out… and I haven't updated in almost 2 weeks, so I figured you guys would want to read something too!

Let me know what you think, reviews are muchly appreciated! Oh, and give me ideas… I love them! Thanks so much for reading!

Tazitz