Ok, so based on the episode, "Expose", I know that my interpreted characterisation of Nikki was totally off. So please think of her in this story as AU Nikki, or the Nikki that the real Nikki tries to project onto the other survivors …
You know what I mean.
Thanks also to reviews from SassyLostie and LostSista. Glad you found the last chapter funny.
Chapter 3
Part 3
Scene 5 -
( Kate is standing outside what she presumes is Nikki and Paolo's tent. In fact she can tell it is because a pair of Nikki's denim "short" shorts are slung over one of the tent poles. A bit like flag pole Kate muses. She is carrying in her hands a bottle of water and wearing a look of grim determination. )
( And she is standing outside Nikki and Paolo's tent because she can hear bickering from inside. And it's not like there's a door she can knock on, so she is not sure whether to stand there until it dies down, or to barge straight in. She has tried coughing loudly several times but to no avail. )
( So instead Kate is forced to wait. And while she waits she can pick up on several fragments of the argument, phrases like" why do I have to go" (( Paolo )) and " because I say so" (( Nikki)) are among the forefront of things Kate hears. However these remind her of her own "disagreement" with Sawyer, about an hour ago, so she tries to block the argument out. She is still upset, but more angry than anything, so after she left him she had gone straight to the tent, changed, certain that he wouldn't follow her, then came straight her, just to prove that she would, with or without him. Kate scowled in recollection, to hell with him. She stopped scowling when a passer by gave her a funny look, and she realised she had picked up one of Sawyer's traits. )
( Just then Nikki storms out of the tent, angry, but upon seeing Kate she stops, and as quickly as a light turning on her expression changes, and she beams at Kate who smiles uncertainly back. )
Nikki: Hey you came!
Kate: Yeah -
( Kate is cut off by Nikki throwing her arms around Kate, as if she hadn't seen her in months. )
( Then releasing her, she steps back and looks at the bottle of water in Kate's arms. )
Nikki: Is that for us?!
( Kate looks down at the bottles, and blushes slightly, a little sheepish because now, in retrospect, her idea seemed pretty stupid. )
Kate: Uh yeah, I mean people usually bring wine to this sort of thing -
( As far as Kate knew. )
Kate: - so I brought the next best thing. And this way you won't have to go out in the jungle tomorrow.
Nikki: Yeah! Well, it saves Paolo a trip really. I hate going on hikes in the jungle to tell you the truth.
( Kate frowns. )
Kate: I thought you said you were a "tomboy."
( Nikki scoffs - )
Nikki: Yeah, but there's tomboy and then there's just monkey. Besides, the jungle wreaks havoc with your hair.
Kate: Yeah.
( Kate agrees even though she clearly couldn't agree less. Absentmindedly she wonders if maybe she should have brushed her hair once more since this morning. )
( Nikki then takes the bottle out of Kate's hands then looks around. )
Nikki: So where's Sawyer?
( As Nikki speaks Paolo emerges from the tent, hands in pockets. )
Kate: Oh, uh, he couldn't come. He had a thing to do.
Nikki: Really?
( Nikki tilts her head to the side and looks at Kate in a way that makes Kate feel for a moment that Nikki knows she's lying. )
( So, to distract Nikki, Kate also blurts out - )
Kate: He says hi though.
( Nikki blushes and says - )
Nikki: Really?
( Kate looks a little awkward but lies seamlessly anyway. )
Kate: Yeah, and he said for me to save some fruit salad for him.
( Paolo rolls his eyes and sighs grumpily, both Kate and Nikki notice this. )
( Nikki turns around to face Paolo, furious once more, her hair whipping Kate in the face. )
Nikki: What? At least someone likes my fruit salad!
Paolo: What? I never said I didn't!
Nikki: You've just had your whole heart set out against this. You didn't like it from the moment I told you!
Paolo: Gee, I wonder where you got that idea from princess? Maybe because I told you I didn't want to go?!
Nikki: You're my boyfriend! You have to come!
Paolo: ( Motioning to Kate ) Yeah well, he's hers and he 'aint shown up!
( Throughout this whole spectacle Kate has watched, mouth slightly ajar. Why did she agree to come out with these people? Sawyer was right. )
( And as she thinks those words Kate suddenly blinks, once, then twice. Sawyer was right? )
( And where was he? Kate tried to picture where he would be, probably sitting in his tent, alone, depressed and sulking. He would expect her to be mad for days and till then they would just be around each other in awkward uncomfortable silence. But that wasn't what Kate wanted. Not really, as she thought in growing realization. She wasn't really mad at Sawyer, she was frustrated, but why spend an evening with this bickering couple just so she could be proud for the sake of being proud? )
( And suddenly Kate woke up. She looked at Nikki and Paolo still bickering and smiled. This wasn't her. )
( Kate cleared her throat. )
( Nikki and Paolo continued to fight. )
( So - )
Kate: ( Shouting ) Nikki!
( Nikki spun round, mildly surprised - )
Nikki: Kate?
Kate: ( Resuming her normal tone ) I have to go.
Nikki: What? Why?
( A hand flies to her mouth )
Nikki: Oh god? It's not because of Paolo is it?!
( Behind Nikki Paolo exclaims disbelievingly and Kate bites her lip to stop from smiling. )
Nikki: Because I can make him go away -
( Nikki claps her hands together, which Kate recognises as a sign in Nikki's world, that is equivalent ot a big light bulb flashing above Nikki's head when she gets an idea. )
Nikki: - we could have a girls night in!
( Kate shakes her head, smiling )
Kate: No honestly Nikki it's fine. I just remembered, I have go see someone.
Nikki: Who?
( Kate, smiling, and more to herself - )
Kate: Sawyer.
( Kate looks up, and meets Nikki's smile. Who, for the first time completely understands how Kate feels. )
( Calming down, Nikki says gently. )
Nikki: Go on then. Get him back.
( Kate frowns - )
Kate: Who says I need to get him back?
( Nikki shrugs - )
Nikki: Thought something was up with you.
( Nikki grins at Kate. )
Nikki: Expert eye.
( Kate grins back, partly because Nikki is right, and partly because of the irony, that the one person who understood what Kate needed before she did was Nikki. )
( Kate turns, and leaving Paolo and Nikki, goes to look for Sawyer. )
Scene 6 -
( Kate walks quickly, invigorated by her sudden epiphany, and urged on by a desire to find Sawyer quickly and apologise. )
( She hurries towards his tent, trying not to break out into a run, absolutely certain she'll find him inside the tent, sulking, and waiting for her to come back so he could pretend to be asleep. )
( Kate paces along the sand, and as she approaches Sawyer's tent, the entrance to it comes into view. )
( Sawyer isn't sat outside. )
( Not deterred Kate slows to a walking pace, and approaches the tent casually, nodding to Sun who waves to her from several tents away. With no time to walk, Kate also waves back, and carries on going, a spring in her step. )
( But as Kate enters Sawyer's tent, inattentively waving the tent flaps aside, she stops, in surprise. Sawyer isn't inside the tent. )
( Frowning, Kate does a quick scan. Sawyer's belonging seem intact, and she also notes that his book is still there. However some objects had been moved around since she had seen it this morning, a couple of pillows were on the opposite side of the tent, and some of Sawyer's belongings were scattered from the pile Kate had made just that morning. Which means, Kate reasons, that Sawyer had returned to the tent since she left him further down the beach. He had just gone away again. Upon realizing this Kate sighs, somewhat disappointed and also feeling slightly cheated, she had left Nikki and Paolo to com find Sawyer and he wasn't even here. )
( Well, if he was that desperate not to be found she was going to find him anyway, just to prove she could. Looking more resolute now, Kate exit's the tent, and the firs thing she does is stand and look around for Sawyer, in case she might have missed him in her rush to get to his tent. )
( But there was definitely no Sawyer, he was at least instantly recognisable by his profile, especially among some of the fellow survivors, and Kate couldn't see him anyway. Besides, she already knew it would be unlikely to find Sawyer hanging out at the communal beach bar or with another survivor. Kate knew of very few survivors Sawyer ever talked to apart from herself when not on "business." Except for Jack, but Sawyer just liked to tease him, and he wasn't there. )
( Not seeing Sawyer Kate sighs again, but bites her lip in determination and strides forward, toward another survivor that had caught her eye. A slightly tubby white male, who lived a couple of tents away and who, Kate had noticed, was often sat outside his tent, watching the world go by as if it were Paris. )
( Kate, on approaching him - )
Kate: Um, excuse me.
( The man looks up and upon seeing Kate smiles. )
Man: Yes love?
( He's speaks with a British accent, and Kate is mildly surprised. )
Kate: Oh, sorry, hi. I was just wondering if you've seen Sawyer in about the last hour? I'm looking for him and I just need to know which way he went.
( The man still smiles, but shakes his head, not following Kate. )
Man: I'm sorry, who?
Kate: ( Blankly, as if it's obvious ) Sawyer.
( The man scrunches up his nose and shrugs. )
( Disbelievingly Kate describes Sawyer. )
Kate: Tall, blonde hair, speaks with a southern accent …
( The man laughs and waves his hand apologetically. )
Man: Ah I'm sorry! Your boyfriend of course. Must have been sitting out in the sun too long.
( Kate shares a small smile with the man, then continues - )
Kate: Anyway, so have you seen him?
( The man sticks out his bottom lip in an I-don't-know fashion and shrugs. )
Man: Honestly can't remember love.
( Sincerely he adds - )
Man: Sorry.
( Kate nods a little disappointed, then turns. Facing back toward the beach she looks for other people who might know where Sawyer went and she rubs her hands together, creassing her eyes against the setting sun. )
( Spotting someone she calls out and heads towards them - )
Kate: Sun?
( Sun looks up and smiles at the approaching Kate. )
Sun: What is it Kate?
Kate: Have you seen Sawyer?
Scene 7 -
( Kate is pacing along the beach, walking steadily but with a sense of direction. She knows where Sawyer is. He hit her when she was trying to think of all the places she'd seen him on the island. But the only reason she had to do such a thing was because no-one else had know where Sawyer was, or noticed any of his movements. She had asked at least 10 people, including Sun, and Sun on behalf of Jin, and no-one had even remembered seeing Sawyer that day. And at least 8 out of 10 of those people had been around his tent all day, and knew who he was perfectly well. It had saddened Kate, did no-one besides herself care about what happened to Sawyer? She knew many people in the camp treated Sawyer with contempt, mainly because of his own doing, but the idea that no-one noticed him, upset and surprised Kate. How could you not notice Sawyer? In the end, this idea only fuelled Kate's desire to find Sawyer. )
( And Sawyer was exactly where she thought he was. He was in the clearing, the one where he went to chop wood during that first month, and where Kate had first confronted him about the inhalers, and had subsequently read the "letter." As a result the memory of the place, and how to get there, was still quite clearly imprinted in her mind. )
( And as Kate entered the clearing, rounding the corner of one tree, she wasn't at all surprised to see Sawyer, sat on a sandy stretch in the middle, facing out to sea, hands rested on his knees, and his whole back sunk. Kate's heart just tugged looking at him. )
( She approached him with caution, because now that she had found him she didn't know what to say, her first thought had to been to go be with Sawyer. Now that she was with him, she wasn't all that sure he wanted to be with her. )
( As she approached she could see Sawyer's back stiffen, as he heard her approaching footsteps. But he didn't turn around, and he didn't acknowledge her. )
( Kate swallowed, then calmly walked right up next to Sawyer, and sat down in the sand, looking out to sea like him. )
( Sawyer almost rolled his eyes but he resisted it. If she was going to play the silent game. So was he. )
( But after two minutes Sawyer couldn't take it anymore. If she was gonna come to him she probably had a reason, and he wanted to hear it. Masking his voice by speaking in monotone and without emphasis he spoke, but without turning around. )
Sawyer: I thought you were at dinner.
Kate: ( Still staring at the sea also. ) I was. I left.
( Sawyer frowned. So much for being civil. But he declines to say anything because that would be dragging up the afternoon's argument, and they're not speaking about that. Even though they know they are both thinking about it. )
( Instead Sawyer comments, in a purposefully casual tone - )
Sawyer: Good for you.
( But then Kate surprises him with a sudden outburst, breaking away from staring at the sea she turns to Sawyer and lets her real emotions flood into her voice - )
Kate: Look Sawyer I'm sorry. I'm sorry o.k.? I shouldn't have said yes for you, I shouldn't have even said yes for me. I spent 10 minutes in their company and I would have gladly been anywhere else, even back in that goddamn cage -
( Sawyer smiles a little, unable to help himself. )
Kate: - and I realised -
( Kate takes a deep breath and turns back to the sea. Sawyer openly looks at her now, interested in what she has to say. ) Kate: - I realised I'd rather be with you. Most evenings in fact, not just because of them. And I'm glad I am. And even though I do want to get to know people more, and I'm not giving that up or forgetting the things you said -
( Sawyer eyes flicker, and he looks down momentarily - )
Kate: ( Taking another deep breath ) I realised that I have you, and there's so much time, so I don't need to rush out and meet people. That's not who I am. I can spend my time with you.
( Kate laughs a little. )
Kate: It's ironic. It's only after we crashed on a damn island that I've actually tried to start having a life.
( And then Kate's speech is over. She wait's a little, her inhaled breath not released tense in anticipation of how Sawyer will take it. )
( Sawyer is in fact a little overwhelmed, that Kate had said so much, had been apologetic, to him and what she had said. He looks back down, staring at the his hands hanging loosely over his knees. )
( Kate turns to watch him, and looks saddened, through creased eyes, that he doesn't say anything. Did he not hear her? She just spilled out her heart and he doesn't care? She too looks back and stares at her own hands, biting her lip. )
( But then - )
Sawyer: ( Lowly, speaking down into his chest ) Sorry.
( Kate doesn't move but is more alert. She is dying to ask what for, but the moment is so rare she doesn't want to move or say anything to break it. Luckily for her Sawyer continues. )
Sawyer: For what I said earlier. I don't know a damn thing about your life Freckles -
( Kate's mouth drops slightly, thinking maybe this is a complaint but - )
Sawyer: - so I got no right to judge it.
( Bitterly he adds - )
Sawyer: Can't be worse than what I done anyway.
( Kate looks at Sawyer sympathetically, then looks back down, smiling to herself a little, happily and quietly. Sawyer doesn't move, her forehead creased, his train of thought obviously segueing into what he has done that makes him a worse person. )
( Kate however, boldened, brings up something that has been weighing on her mind all day, yet had only just occurred to her. )
Kate: You know I've been thinking about what you said this morning Sawyer.
( Sawyer looks at Kate. )
( Kate can feel Sawyer looking at her, but she doesn't look back. )
Kate: About me tearing down my tent.
( Kate waits for Sawyer to say something but he doesn't comply. )
Kate: Just thought I'd do it after all.
( Kate speaks quite quickly, ending the last syllable in a high voice. It's too dark to tell if she's blushing but she's tentative. And already deliberately ambiguous in pre-emptive defence of Sawyer teasing her. )
( Sawyer doesn't take the bait though, and speaks in the same coded, casually pretending tone. )
Sawyer: ( Looking back at the sea. ) And where would you sleep Freckles?
Kate: ( Shrugging and her voice still suspiciously controlled ) I don't know. I could just keep doing what I'm doing now.
Sawyer: ( Smiling to himself ) What? Stay in my tent?
Kate: Sure. If you want.
( Sawyer laughs and Kate looks at him a little red. Is he laughing at her? )
( Looking up at him questioningly Kate can barely see Sawyer. It's so dark she can just see his profile, towering above her, outlined by the last, faint orange rays of the day. )
( Sawyer smiles down at Kate sitting in the dark, so small and confused, it's all he can do not to sling her over his shoulder and run off to the waterfall. )
( Instead he holds out his hand, leaving it in front of Kate's face. )
Sawyer: ( Smiling happily at her ) Come on then Freckles.
( Kate looks at Sawyer in confusion. He's not teasing her? )
( Sawyer waggles his fingers. )
( Kate realises, looks down and smiles, in relief and mild embarrassment, then looks up and smiles broadly back up at Sawyer. In one decisive movement Kate leans on one arm, and reaches up ad grabs Sawyer's hand in contained excitement. Sawyer smiles back, and with one tug Kate lets herself be pulled up to her feet where she tries to stand giddily, her feet sinking in the sand. Sawyer rights her by grabbing her waist in the dark. Kate observes with satisfaction how warm Sawyer's hands are in the cooler evening, it feels like he is burning his finger prints onto her skin by grasping her waist. And not letting go.)
Sawyer: On your feet Freckles?
( Like an excited kid, Kate sticks her tongue out of the corner of her mouth in a purposefully cute manner, and nods, grinning wickedly. )
( Sawyer can't resist anymore, clutching Kate's waist tightly Sawyer leans in, angling his head to meet Kate's tilted one, and she leans up to him. Softly their faces cushion together, their lips brushing, then Kate deepens it, standing up on her toes and pressing her mouth against Sawyer's, one hand sliding to the back of his neck and tangling in his hair, as his arms envelop Kate, circling on her back then pulling her up in a huge bear hug. Kate and Sawyer both simultaneously smiles into the kiss, enjoying the pleasant buzzing warmth between every point of contact between them. Kate is as closely aligned to Sawyer as is physically possible, and as his hands slip underneath her shirt, they part, just once, to share a smile. Fully reconciled.
Several minutes later
( Kate and Sawyer stand, wrapped up together, faces barely apart, talking lowly in confidential whispers. )
Kate: Shouldn't we be heading back?
Sawyer: Nah, let's just stay here.
Kate: ( In between kisses ) He- re?
Sawyer: ( Breaks apart and looks around in inspection ) Here 'aint so bad. Nice trees, soft sand, ocean -
( Kate shuts Sawyer up by grabbing the back of his neck and kissing him hungrily. Not breaking apart they fall to the ground, hitting it with an "oomph" making Sawyer laugh abruptly. )
( He is soon muffled by Kate.)
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