Thanks for reviews for the last chapter from Ltodal, BasketBall Babe8 and SassyLostie. Glad you found Nikki funny, she's quite unlike her real character in this fic but this version is fun to play with too. In future chapters I might try to show a side of Nikki as shown in the show, but only in passing. This is a Skate fic after all. :)
OK here's Chapter 5! And just to avoid confusion ... when football is referenced by both Charlie and Sawyer, Charlie is referring to the english variation of the game, "soccer" whilst Sawyer is referring to American football.
Plus, the routine Sawyer and Kate are working around in this chapter has been previously written about. So if you remember that, you are golden. :)
Chapter 5 -
Scene 1 -
( Kate and Sawyer are sat outside his tent. Even from a distance, you can see they are talking and sharing food. Sawyer ducks down his head and says something, and as he does Kate breaks out into a grin. Kate is sat next to Sawyer, with one hand she drinks from a water bottle, and looks between the beach and Sawyer. The other hand is rested on Sawyer's propped up leg, seemingly forgotten, and invisible to the rest of the beach. )
( Cut to them - )
( Sawyer rubs his hands together, then screws the lid back on an empty water bottle and chucks it across the sand, where it lands a metre left of the tarp. Sat next to Sawyer, Kate rolls her eyes, and nudges Sawyer with her elbow. )
( Sawyer looks down at her - )
Sawyer: What? There 'aint exactly any bins around.
( Kate, still chewing, smiles, and using the hand on Sawyer's leg, pushes herself up to a standing position. )
( Sawyer looks up and says quickly - )
Sawyer: You going?
( Kate swallows and stares at him. )
Kate: You trying to get rid of me?
( Sawyer smiles winningly - )
Sawyer: Course not -
( And Sawyer reaches out with one arm to grab Kate's leg. But she is too quick for him, and nimbly jumps out of the way, grinning triumphantly. )
Kate: ( Smiling ) And I guess that's my signal to go.
( Sawyer leans back. )
Sawyer: So, Pippi Longstocking. What's on the menu for today?
Kate: ( Bending down and picking up some stuff ) The usual.
( Kate places various collected articles into a bag as she speaks. Then shrugs the bag over her shoulder. )
Kate: We need some more fruit so I'll do some picking, then I might go swimming, and then, I don't know. Wander.
( Opposite Kate crouched down, Sawyer is reclined in his chair, watching her )
Sawyer: So it's the full jungle assault course today then?
( Kate looks up at Sawyer and smiles. )
Kate: Don't worry. I'll be back in 2 hours or so. You can stay out of trouble till then.
Sawyer: ( Grinning back ) I'm not worried. You're the one who's gonna have to stay in bed all day if you break your damn foot falling outta a tree.
( Kate smiles and stands, brushing the hair out of her eyes. )
Kate: I don't fall.
( Sawyer stands up too. )
Sawyer: Of course, what was I thinking? Forgot you were half human half monkey for a second there Freckles.
( Kate laughs as she bends down to pick up a couple of the water bottles lying on the ground. Sawyer notices this. )
Sawyer: Hey, leave a couple for me.
Kate: ( Eyebrow raised ) Sitting down and reading requires that much water?
Sawyer: Different plan of action today Freckles.
Kate: ( Standing up surprised ) You aren't going to stay here?
Sawyer: ( As he stands, two water bottles in each hand ) Nope.
Kate: ( Mockingly ) But who will guard your stash?
( She nods toward the tent entrance. )
Kate: Unless you have a guard dog back there somewhere?
( Sawyer glances toward the tent, then back to Kate. He laughs a little humourlessly. )
Sawyer: Don't need a damn dog shortcake, I'm sure people will remember what happened last time they helped themselves to my stash.
( Kate winces. Yes, she does remember Sawyer's less-than-pleased reaction to finding their stuff gone after they had got back. And it certainly hadn't been pretty. )
( So instead of refreshing that particular saga, Kate decides to change the topic. )
Kate: Where are you planning on going then?
( Sawyer grabs the remaining back pack and places his own water bottles inside. He crouches down to this, and Kate stands in front of him, backpack at the ready, waiting to go. )
Sawyer: Jungle. I'm gonna chop some wood.
( As if to illustrate his point, Sawyer picks up the axe that lies next to his chair. Kate watches this and comments - )
Kate: You know you could just get logs from the collective pile.
( Sawyer stands and looks around. )
Sawyer: Well that's their "collective pile." 'Aint mine.
( Sawyer looks back to Kate. )
Sawyer: ( Admitting ) And I need to clear my head.
( Kate frowns, trying not to let her concern seep through, but her brow creased nonetheless. )
Kate: Something wrong?
( Sawyer lets out an amused breath, looking down, then up at Kate. He shakes his head. )
Sawyer: I'm fine Freckles. Everybody's just so damn noisy around here. Doesn't help that the tot over there-
( Sawyer nods in the direction of Claire's tent. )
Sawyer: - is bawling his head off every 5 minutes. I figured you get your two hours a day. I get mine.
( Kate is staring at Sawyer, then snapping out of it, she blinks, smiles and readjusts the strap of her bag. )
Kate: Fair enough. I guess I'll see you later.
( Sawyer smiles, and replies with a low voice. )
Sawyer: You can count on it Freckles.
( Kate smiles, then walks off. )
( Sawyer watches after her for a few seconds, then, when she is far enough away he drops the bag and unzips it. Taking out one bottle of water, he replaces it under the tarp, then goes inside the tent. He re-emerges seconds later with a couple of suspiciously rolled up magazines, two cans of Dharma brand beer and a rather crumpled and dog eared packet of cigarettes. Furtively Sawyer stuffs these objects into the backpack, and as he zips up glances across the beach. Sawyer then takes the axe and holds it for a moment, wondering. Catching sight of the water bottle on the ground, Sawyer takes that and the axe, and lays them both under the tarp. )
( Then he stands, swings the backpack over his shoulder, and walks away from the tent, down the beach. )
( As he walks away Sawyer allows himself one, mischievous grin. )
Scene 2 -
( Further down the beach from Sawyer's tent, in the path Sawyer in which is travelling, there is commotion. It is Charlie, and about 15 or so other willing participants, most noticeably Hurley, Locke, Nikki, Sun, Jin and a sour looking Paolo. )
( He is stood amongst the havoc of an attempted football game, two posts awkwardly erected as goals at either end, and various people scattered around the pitch, some of them slightly red. Charlie is stood in the middle of this, a ball in his hand, and pointing at one of the "goals" to Hurley, who has turned a lovely shade of purple, and trying to pay attention as Charlie tries to explain something. Locke also stands nearby, nodding, but apart from that no-one else is paying attention. Noticing this, Charlie looks around, then blows on the whistle around his neck, that he has somehow found, to gather their attention. )
( It also gathers Sawyer's. He is walking past, oblivious, until the high pitched screech made him whip round, in search of the source of the noise. It is such an unusual noise to hear on an island, that many other people also turn. However, Sawyer is closest. )
( And he stops and watches Charlie, in confusion, who is trying to shout instructions across the pitch. )
( Then, calling out - )
Sawyer: Hey chucky, what are you doing?
( Charlie doesn't turn around, but continues to shout across to someone trying to move their goalposts closer together. So Hurley nods to Sawyer behind Charlie, and Charlie, turning and following Hurley's line of vision, spots Sawyer in confusion - )
Charlie: ( To Sawyer ) Me?
( Sawyer rolls his eyes. )
Sawyer: Yes Aaron Carter, I'm talking to you. Now what the hell are you doing?
( Charlie scratches behind as his ear and says - )
Charlie: Oh, um, I'm teaching these guys how to play football.
( Sawyer looks scornful. )
Sawyer: Why? You gotten tired of the golf course already?
Charlie: No, uh, we found this.
( Charlie holds up the black and white ball he had tucked under one arm. )
( Sawyer looks at Charlie like he's stupid. Charlie doesn't understand why. )
Charlie: What?
Sawyer: That 'aint the right ball.
( Charlie looks down at it critically - )
Charlie: Yeah, I know it's not a real one, but a leather ball would be too heavy to use on sand anyway.
Sawyer: No, dufus, I mean it 'aint a real football ball.
( Charlie looks up at Sawyer. )
Charlie: Uh, yeah it is.
Sawyer: Well I don't know what game you tommies play in England, but that definitely 'aint a real football ball.
( Charlie's mouth forms a big "o" and he smiles and shakes his head at Sawyer. )
( Sawyer frowns. )
Charlie: Oh, no, I'm teaching them how to play real football.
( Sawyer shifts on one foot to face Charlie fully. By now other players have stopped talking among themselves, and are instead listening. Charlie and Sawyer don't notice. )
Sawyer: Well then you've been misinformed sonny, 'cos what you're playing is called "soccer." Real football 'aint nothing like this.
( Sawyer gestures around the pitch. The turns to Charlie, and grins, confident he is right. )
( Charlie however doesn't submit, and replies, a little defensively - )
Charlie: Well actually you've been misinformed -
( Sawyer's eyebrows raise at Charlie's retort. Hurley and Locke are both watching with interest. )
Charlie: - " soccer" is real football. That's what it's called. American football ripped off our name.
( Sawyer chuckles, amused by Charlie's indignation. )
( Charlie however, annoyed further by this, fires up - )
Charlie: Hey, look mate -
( Sawyer pulls a face at being referred to as Charlie's "mate." )
Charlie: - it's an English sport, and trust me, in England, it's called football.
( Sawyer frowns irritably, that Charlie is challenging him further. However Sawyer is still adamant not to give up his original, if somewhat meaningless argument. )
Sawyer: Yeah well then they got it wrong, didn't they hoss?
Charlie: ( Quietly, but still so Sawyer can hear ) Yeah, but only if "they" is you.
( Sawyer stares at Charlie momentarily, then scowls, looking away. Which, in the dictionary of Sawyer - People, means Sawyer is wrong. And he knows it. )
( Charlie grins a little to himself, and Hurley and Locke exchange a knowing gaze. Sawyer turns in time to catch this, and scowls at them all, wiping the smiles off everyone's faces except Locke. Who nods to Sawyer. )
( Sawyer shakes his head - )
Sawyer: Whatever. 's not important.
( Sawyer strides off, behind the chatter of the "footballers" starts up again. )
Scene 3 -
( It is several hours later. And Sawyer hasn't made it much further down the beach at all. He is sat on the beach, backpack abandoned, watching the game. )
( Kate approaches across the beach. With a bemused expression she stops when she sees the "football game." The match is in full play now, survivors running around and shouts rising up from the pitch. )
( Curious, Kate diverts from her original path, and heads toward the game. As she comes closer she in fact realises what it is. A " soccer " game. )
( She laughs, and stands to watch, smiling at Charlie running around, yelling himself hoarse. She views the large crowd, also standing around to watch. Some, more engaged than others, appeared to be cheering a certain side on. )
( Then, with a start, she spots Sawyer. Confused approached him. )
Kate: Hey!
( Sawyer turns, spots Kate, then turns back to the game, waving Kate over. )
Sawyer: Hey Freckles, come check this out.
( Kate approaches, and as she does, notices Sawyer's bag and noticeable absence of wood, but one can of beer open in his hand. )
Kate: I thought you were chopping wood.
Sawyer: ( Not looking around ) Change of plan.
( Kate comes to stand next to Sawyer, and after looking at him, turns to the game, the direction in which he is pointing. She is unsure of what he wants to point out. )
Sawyer: Nice game huh? Locke's side are a little stronger -
( Sawyer takes a swig from his can then wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. )
Sawyer: - but the score is 3 - 2. So I suppose there's still hope yet for the limey runt and his other 6 dwarfs.
( Kate looks sharply back to Sawyer in confusion. )
Kate: Sawyer? Are you watching the game?
Sawyer: ( Eyes following players on the pitch as he speaks ) Not just watching the game Freckles. Betting on it.
( Kate readjusts her stance, moving to face Sawyer a little more, one hand on one hip. )
Kate: You're making profit off this game?
Sawyer: ( Sawyer shrugs casually, as if this is perfectly normal ) Always good to spot an opportunity Freckles. For instance, see that guy over there -
( Sawyer points to a middle aged tubby guy, that Kate recognises, but she can't for the life of her remember his name. )
Sawyer: - well, he's bet me some bottles of sunscreen and 5 shirts that Charlie's side wins, but what he don't know is that Jin, the leading player, hurt his foot yesterday. And my team, Locke's side, has Hurley in goal. And let's face it Freckles, if anyone's gonna be blocking any goals it's that guy. And he thinks the fact that my team's got an old guy is going against me?
( Sawyer laughs. )
Sawyer: He don't know Locke.
( Kate shakes her head a little disbelievingly - )
Kate: I can't believe you're turning a soccer game into an enterprise.
( Sawyer shrugs, as if to say, "What do you expect?" )
( Kate sits down on the sand beside Sawyer, looking at the game. )
Kate: Besides, how much money do you expect to make off the outcome of one game?
Sawyer: Oh, it's not just one game Freckles -
( Sawyer waves the hand holding his can in the direction of the pitch - )
Sawyer: - they got a whole tournament thing going on here. Besides, they switch players around every couple of games -
( Sawyer drinks from his can - )
Sawyer: - mixes up the odds.
( Kate looks back towards the pitch and raises her eyebrows, smiling a little in concession - )
Kate: Alright, I'm impressed.
( Sawyer, who up until now, had been watching the game as they spoke, looks up at Kate, and they shares a smile. Still grinning he looks back to the game and he takes another swig - )
Sawyer: Glad to hear it Freckles.
( Kate notes this action, then asks Sawyer - )
Kate: You got any more of those?
( Sawyer, looking toward her - )
Sawyer: What? Oh, yeah, hold on a sec Freckles -
( Sawyer quickly zips open the bag and fishes one out. He passes it to Kate, then looks back to the game - )
( Kate holds the can, and stares at Sawyer. )
Kate: You weren't really going to go chop wood were you?
( Sawyer smiles to himself. )
Sawyer: Sherlock 'aint got nothing on you Freckles.
( Kate turns back to the game. And sticks out her bottom lip in consideration, then nods reasonably. )
Kate: Yeah, I guess that's fair. I mean, if I don't ask you what do on your time, I don't have to tell you what I do on my time.
( Sawyer looks round sharply, in protest. )
Sawyer: Hey -
( Kate breaks out in a smile, and glances back toward Sawyer, relishing in her joke. )
( Sawyer rolls his eyes and breaths out, realising he's been had, as he turns back to the game. )
( Kate watches Sawyer and smiles. )
Kate: You're just too easy sometimes.
( Sawyer nods and takes another swig of his beer. )
Sawyer: Only when you want me to be Freckles.
Kate: Speaking of which …
( Kate then stands up, grabs Sawyer's bag as well as her own, and starts to walk away. Sawyer turns quickly, and calls after her. )
Sawyer: Hey, where are you going?!
( Kate turns, facing Sawyer. )
Kate: ( Smiling ) What do we usually do about now?
( Realisation dawns on Sawyer and he breaks out into a grin. Kate grins too, then turns and continues walking. )
( It's not until Sawyer scrambles to his feet, that he remembers something, and stops. Not hearing his footsteps, Kate turns for a second time, heaving a sigh. )
Kate: What now James?
( Sawyer gestures lamely to the game, almost ashamed for pointing it out - )
Sawyer: ( Regretfully ) My bets.
( Kate quirks her eyebrows upwards, shifts the bag on her shoulder, then looks to Sawyer. )
Kate: ( Smiling and biting her lip ) Your choice.
( Then without another word she turns and walks away. )
( Sawyer is torn only for a moment, before pacing along the beach to catch up with Kate. )
( Besides Kate - )
Sawyer: I'll collects my winnings later.
( Kate smiles and Sawyer places a hand on the small of her back, and they change direction, toward the jungle. )
The football tournament is not over! How will Skate be involved?
Review! It keeps me going. :)