Hello everyone, I wanted to thank you for your reviews. They were all so very positive and I'm glad you like the story so far. I really enjoy writing it, so it's gonna go on for awhile. Before you read this chapter, please notice that it's probably rated M, because I kinda went overboard on the description...

New Life

Chapter 2

Small Talk

By the time she reached the airport, the sun had set. With the overpowering population of Los Angeles, the pollution and smog acted like a blackout curtain for the sky, not even a single star could be seen.

She never knew why they always met at the small dirt road outside the gates of LAX. It was quiet a drive from her house and more than once they'd received a suspicious visitor. Whenever she did ask Jack why he always picked this spot he would have a different answer, it was secluded, it was appropriate, it was convenient, or that he just liked the planes.

After one month of meeting him in the same place he just said it was habitual. After three months it was traditional. After that she stopped asking.

She didn't know what she was doing with Jack, or for that matter, what she was doing with Sawyer. Since the island she'd always been with one of them, and that too was habit forming. She couldn't choose between them if she tried. She wouldn't choose between them if her life depended on it.

They each gave her something different. Sawyer gave her stability. He brought the money into the household; she was somewhat dependent on him. He made the decisions, he was the big wheel. She stuck by him, because he had sacrificed everything for her. She might as well have signed her name in blood.

On the contrary, Jack gave her change. In her remedial day to day life, he was that something special. He was eccentric, she knew about his drug addiction, she knew he stole the medication from the hospital, but she lacked the ability to care.

Everyone who survived the island had severed contact with him. He was the reason they were ultimately rescued, but he was also the reason why only seven of them left the island.

Slowing her car down and without signaling, she turned down the path where Jack's fulvous jeep was waiting less than ten yards away. The gravel crunched underneath the weak roll of the car's tires as she inched forward, coming to a stop only when she saw him get out of his vehicle.

Turning off the ignition, the air condition which she had become so accustomed to shut off along with all the glowing lights on her dashboard. When she opened the car door, a solid wall of humid air almost knocked her back down to her seat.

The atmosphere outside nearly strangled her. The island had never been as bad as this, there were at the most a hundred people populating the island at one time. More than a hundred people lived in her apartment building alone. The entire city felt like an oven, and no one else seemed to notice.

Jack didn't seem to notice the weather or her very much for that matter as she approached him. His back was leaning against the side of the jeep, and his head turned skyward as an airline jet flew above them. The machine caused a miniscule whirlwind to develop in their general area, the tree branches rustled and small amounts of dirt were stirred up into weak tornados.

Kate wasn't particularly fond of planes anymore. She hadn't been quite fond of them to begin with, but after the island, even looking at a plane sent icy shivers down her spine. The life long gold card for Oceanic was of no use to her, she would never set foot on an airplane again. But if anyone asked her how she felt about flying, she would lie.

No matter how old the habit, it still died hard.

She moved beside Jack, copying his pose with her back against his jeep and her eye to the sky. Minutes passed and neither of them said anything. She wondered if he even knew she was standing beside him.

Finally, when the plane that had taken off wasn't even a red blinking light in the sky Jack opened his mouth, "I think that one's heading for Tokyo," he didn't look at her when he spoke, the moonlight outlined the features on his tired face.

From nearby a cricket chirped with elation. At least something was enjoying the extreme heat. Kate shrugged, unsure of how to reply, "Maybe Hawaii?" her suggestion was empty. Neither one of them was good at small talk, but both thought they at least owed it to each other.

Jack let out a dry laugh that sounded more like a huff, "I went to Hawaii once. I got married to Sarah there."

Kate directed her eyes towards the ground, every time she tried to start a conversation, Jack always ended up replying bitterly or starting an argument they've had a thousand times before.

"Maybe this was a bad idea," the words flowed out of her mouth as soon as they popped into her brain, and immediately she regretted it, her body tensed as she waited for his reaction. She was eighteen months to late to say that sentence.

To her surprise he turned towards her. In the four years since the island, he seemed to age ten. It was if every time they met, there were more white hairs in his unkempt beard. His eyes were so sullen and fatigued as they boar into hers. He looked much worse than he ever had on the island.

"You were the one who called me." His words were curt and clean. His voice dangerously stoic. The complete response was unlike Jack.

Her eyebrows furrowed as she moved closer to him, which was when she noticed his change in appearance. Though his beard was still wild, she could smell the aroma of aftershave on him, and his breathe wasn't tainted with scotch or any other alcoholic beverage.

Before she could stop it, a genuine smile graced her face. Each of her hands held one of his wrists and she moved closer to him still. With a hint of reservation in her voice she questioned, "Did you take any drugs today?"

A mild blush crept to his cheeks, and he turned his face away from hers, "No." When she let go of his wrists he rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment, "I. Uh," he stammered uncomfortably and for a minute he was the Jack she always knew, "I wait until after the time you usually phone to take them."

The rapid beating of her heart slowed as she let the smile falter from her face, "Oh."

Her eyes were focusing on the dirt clods again as he began to articulate. "It. Uh. It just didn't feel right." Another plane took off, shaking the trees and swirling the sand around him. When the din died down he spoke again, "I'm sorry."

The apology brought the memory of old Jack back into her mind. The one who was her confidant for the first few days after the crash. She shook her head and looked back up at him, back into his hazel eyes that were glassy with unshed tears, "it's all right Jack."

He shook his head and bit his lip, "I don't think things will ever be all right, Kate."

She watched him as he bowed his head in grief, knowing he truly felt that they were better off on the island. So much had happened on that island; only seven people really knew the full details on the story, only they knew why they were the only ones on the speed boat that pulled into an Australian harbor.

Kate moved closer to him, and wrapped her arms around his waist. She rested her forehead against his and spoke truthfully, "Yes they will."

One of his hands came against her face, and he moved his calloused thumb over the soft skin on her cheek. His face moved forward, capturing her lips in straining gasp. Her hands crawled up his back, her fingers gliding over his dress shirt until she reached the base of his neck.

His temperature was rising, the heat outside, the passion; it was making small beads of sweat grow on his skin. Pressing her against the side of his jeep, his body towered over her, his lips traveled across her skin, alternating between feathery kisses, and more powerful ones. They weren't strong enough to leave any marks, he knew the rules, but they were strong enough to get her attention.

The rough pads of his hands found their way under the trim on her cotton shirt. They floated across her stomach enticing her, but she knew it wouldn't last long. Neither of them preferred it that way.

When his head was buried in the crook of her neck, his beard scratching her, his mouth tasting her untouched skin, she moved her hands forward and began to undo his pants. She no longer fumbled with buttons or belts, like dialing his number, she'd done this so many times, she could do it with her eyes closed. Sometimes she did.

She didn't revel in the moment; they didn't build up to it. It wasn't two people who loved each other expressing it. It was two confused people finding solace in a quick moment to forget about their pathetic lives.

Slithering his hands out from beneath her shirt, he rediscovered the curves of her hips. Their mouths entangled, as he slowly pushed her pants down. After playing with the smooth skin on her hips for a few moments he pulled down the sides of her panties as well.

Gathering her in his arms once again, her mind only had a few moments to contemplate before he was kissing her. He grasped her possessively, lifting her so they were at the same height, her legs wrapped around his waist and she began to move in rhythm with him.

The pressure built up between the two of them. Mixed feelings, the sweltering heat, and the need to let go came crashing in on them.

Her back was against his jeep when they finished, a synchronized sigh spread between them. Still holding her, their chests were heaving. His head fell forward to her chest, pressing the white fabric on her top to her skin. Her head rested on his shoulder, her eyes wrenched closed and her face turned away from his neck.

With one final sigh it was over. They separated instantaneously and she began to smooth all the wrinkles out of her clothes to make herself look more presentable. He always watched her afterward, even though her back was always too him, she could almost feel his eyes.

Walking back to her car, she dragged her feet in the dirt. This was the part that always hurt the most, the part that built up the most doubt in her mind. Before she opened the door, she glanced over her shoulder and saw the same broken look Jack always had. He always looked worse then before they started.

"Good night," it was what she always said. It had to be the most ridiculous thing to say, but she couldn't leave without uttering a word to him, and she didn't want to stay to strike up another conversation that led to an argument she'd just have again when she got home to Sawyer.

He nodded his head and managed a weak smile as she dropped back into the driver's seat. As she turned on the ignition, she chanced a glimpse at herself in the side mirror, her hair was a little disheveled and her cheeks were still flushed, but other than that her appearance was normal.

Looking back up, Jack was still in the same spot, his hands at his side and a weak smile on his face for her. She returned it, and put her car into reverse.

As she drove through the city, her mind was a complete blank. She didn't think about Jack, or about Sawyer or anything else that had irked her that day. When she stopped at a light and cranked the air conditioning to the highest setting was when she noticed the time.

Kate's stomach became unsettled when she realized she stayed out an hour longer than she wanted too, Sawyer could already be home. He certainly wouldn't be happy about her being out this late, he was strangely overprotective and the unnatural change of character threw her mind in a loop.

As she turned down the street to their apartment, her mind began to knit excuses that she could feed to him like she did every time he caught her.

But a nagging voice in the back of her mind reminded her that she couldn't keep this up forever. Sooner or later Sawyer would find out.

Woowee, that was surprising wasn't it?
Remember to review if you liked it.
And to all you Sawyer lovers, the next chapter will have more of him.