Ok so this chapter may be a bit confusing if you didn't read 'Running' but I am gonna try my best to explain things so everyone can understand:)
Thanx for reviewing everyone it's always great to see feedback!! Once again I apologize for the length in between updates; I have a million excuses but really I am just to involved in the new season. So please bear with me here, cuz I'm really tryin';)
Chapter:: 4 Observation
Once again Sawyer and Kate found themselves in the presence of an Other around the time of sunset. The three of them sat on the jungle floor, surrounded by tall grass. The green grass had a pale look to it due to the fading light of day. A fluorescent color filled the sky, making the white clouds appear pink. A small breeze had picked up and blew the trees and each of their hair so it covering their faces slightly. It had been agreed that they would talk; so all weapons were laid aside for a moment. The tension was so thick it could be cut with a knife. Sawyer sat with Kate to his left, facing the wind; they were straight across from their visitor. She sat with her back to the wind and about four feet away from her two former captives. Few words had been exchanged between the three since her arrival only minutes before. A strange feeling of desperation hung about the small party. All three were confused, none of them knew whether they could trust each other of not. The parting of the three had been questionable but there had been a small hint of truth in the escape
As Sawyer stared into her eyes he felt a desire to protect boil over inside him. He wanted nothing more than to take Kate in his arms and secure her safety himself.
After all weapons had been set within view yet out of reach, an awkward silence fell over the small gathering. The only sound heard for a short time was the sound of the evening wind blowing through the trees; but that was soon lost to their ears by sudden sound of Sawyer's voice.
"Guess you people aren't early risers, seein' as we some how always run into y'all folks at night." Sawyer said looking in the girl's direction yet not exactly at her.
She gave him a blank look, as if to tell him that she would only care for what he had to say if it was of importance to her. She held a defiant air about her, one of self confidence. Sawyer imminently saw through this; but it was difficult to do. He still saw her inner strength.
"So how are my two favorite fugitives doin'?" She asked. Sitting cross legged she sat her arms behind her and rested her hands on the soft soil.
"Oh we're just doing awesome! It's been just great being held a gun point a few different times and being the reason that a murder happened." Sawyer replied with utter sarcasm.
Ignoring Sawyer she looked at Kate.
"I knew you wouldn't listen to me." She stated with a cocky smile.
"Then why did you keep talking to me?" Kate snapped back.
"Cause I was told to."
"Funny, you don't seem to be the type to follow orders."
"Well then I guess we're just to peas in a pod don't ya think, Honey. Listen I did my job the best I could and it's not my fault that you people are so closed up."
Sawyer and Kate looked their old enemy in her blue eyes. She understood them better than most. She understood them from and outsider's perspective. Londy had been the only Other who had shown understanding of the two. Ironic as it was, neither Kate nor Sawyer had had much of a childhood; their lives at Londy's age were never fun and games or dating and partying. They had always fended for themselves. To think that some one that very age that they had missed out on, understood them confused them each a great deal.
Kate thought back upon when she was that age and she could barely remember a thing, she had been forced to grow up to fast.
Sawyer had spent a week with this girl, he thought he knew her. She had interrogated him at their camp, she had taunted him by speaking of Kate and she had judged him constantly. Immediately he started to do what he did best; he started to take in the details. He knew Londy observed things in a mechanical nature; she took them for what they were worth. The details were not forgotten in her mind but only the important facts were held to memory. Sawyer noticed how she listened intently to all that they said. Sawyer saw these things because he was constantly doing the exact same thing; and he knew that she could read him like a book. It was a talent, a personality trait that not everyone possessed.
Kate could not take in the details as Sawyer and Londy could; Kate often saw the big picture. After years of quick thought and constantly having to be alert, her mind was focused on only what it needed to be. When she took her time she could observe the little things; but she often didn't. Looking back on the week she had returned and meet Londy, Kate thought of how she had been tricked. She had never fully believed, but she knew Londy could play the game. Kate understood that Londy had been trained and she knew how to do her job well. After being the victim of a lie once again Kate decided she would not let Londy win an other time.
"Darlin', I just hate to break up this little party we got goin' here but we actually got a few things to do. So if ya wouldn't mind how's about we pick up the pace on this heart to heart." Sawyer said as he turned his head to one side and smiled sarcastically.
"Why do you think I'm here James?" Londy asked keeping a blank face. "Think I am here to kill you? I could have done that a long time ago; I have been following you all day. I had a rifle and a clear shot, but here you both are alive at the end of the day talking to me. Did you think I want to scare you? I could have already done that too. Do ya think I am just here for kicks, and that I get the thrill of tracking? Sure I do, but why would I track you two when I already know where you're going."
Sawyer and Kate sat as confused as before. They quickly got tired of Londy's mind games. No matter how hard they tried they couldn't fit it all together; it was as if they were missing pieces to the over all puzzle.
"Then why the hell are ya here, Londy?" Sawyer asked uttering her name for the first time.
"Well Sawyer, I am here out of pure curiosity."
"And what exactly are you curious about?"
"You. I am curious about both of you. I know where you are headed, but I want to know why." Before they could say a word Londy continued to talk. "I could assume it's all about revenge; like most people would. I could also assume it's about anger. But ya see, I haven't known either of you long; but I know y'all well. So I don't think this adventure was sparked by rage or revenge. So my questions is, why?"
"Why?" Kate ask. "You tracked us, stopped us and you are sitting here and talking to us all to satisfy your own curiosity?"
"Uhm, yeah." Londy answered rolling her eyes, as I she was sort of annoyed that Kate was shooting back to her what she had already said.
Sawyer looked cross eyed at Kate, she glanced back at him.
"Ya don't know why do ya?" Londy said tauntingly.
"What's it matter to you?" Sawyer barked back at her.
"Cause I do."
"You don't know a thing about us." Kate said trying more so to convince herself than to tell Londy.
"Oh really, Kate?" Londy said in mock surprise."If y'all can't tell me then there is no use for me being here." Londy said getting up.
"See y'all around!" Londy said while walking off.
"Wait!" Sawyer called after her. "What the hell? You think we are gonna let you go and tell them where we are. And why should we believe that you are really leaving? You could just track us again and kill us."
"Sawyer, I told you, if I wanted to kill either of you I would have already. There would be no point in putting it off. And you can't hide from me, and you won't be able to hide from them much longer; there would be no point in me telling them where you are. They will find you."
Kate jumped up and started into the conversation.
"Why would they let you come her? Obviously they wouldn't send you here to not do anything but talk to us. You came on your own." Kate proclaimed. "Why?"
Londy stared at her old fake friend and told her.
"You already said it, Kate. I'm not too good at following orders."
"She's exactly right!" A voice boomed from the jungle.
Sawyer rose and turned to face a figure coming out of the jungle behind them.
"Howdy there Mr. Pickett!" Londy called out with a sarcastic tone that implies she was not fond of the man.
The man nodded toward Londy.
"London." He said in a greatting. "there's a bright girl." The man said. "She realized that it wouldn't take us long to find you two." Pickett kept a tight eye on Sawyer and Kate and ignored London. "You two have given us more trouble than you're worth. It's about time this ends."
The man London had referred to as Mr. Pickett, and who Sawyer recognized as one of the guards who had handled him a few weeks before, neared them.
"I'd stop right there if I was you." Sawyer warned in a deep tone. Kate stood by his side, ready to act at any given moment.
The sun had just set and the sky held a small tent of light left that reflected from the west. The breeze had picked up and it held a cold feel to it. A full moon began to rise in the east. An enhanced silver set a bright glow in each of their faces. Sawyer's dark eyes glistened as they stared at the man.
Mr. Pickett brought a gun out of his old jeans and began to bring it to the level of Sawyer's face. It was too late; the guns lay too far from to be of any use.
Time in Kate's mind went into slow motion. She saw each movement as if it was a still shot from a camera. She stood behind Sawyer, to his right. No words could escape her mouth. Fear crept through her enabling her to barely breath. For the longest time surviving had been her only goal, it had not been hope that kept her alive, nor had it been the desire to live. She had needed to defeat this world and prove something to herself. All remembrance of that wish was extinct as she saw the man pull the gun and point it at Sawyer. No longer would they been giving a threat; no longer would there be some way out of the situation. Kate winced, shutting her eyes tight as a sound of a gun shot rang in her ears.