In Shallow Seas We Sail

Author's Note: Sorry for the slow update. This is a fairly long chapter though. Thank you all for the great reviews, story alerts, and author alerts!

Enjoy,
Sara

*

If you just open your eyes, you could get out of this,
But you're such a success, you're just not built for it.
Miss Behavin'

[3]

"I'll leave whenever you'll go with me." He didn't want to argue, but she had to go with him. With all the nightmares, he couldn't leave her again. Not to mention the trouble she'd gotten into last time he'd gone to Albuquerque – it wasn't her fault, but he wasn't about to let her stay alone with the threat of Benjamin Linus still lurking. Part of him wished that he'd never gone the first time. After all, he's made no progress with Cassidy, and if he hadn't seen Kate there, he wouldn't be in the current situation. And if Ben had come around when he were there to protect Juliet…well, he wouldn't have hesitated to pull the trigger.

"James –" she said, coolly.

"Juliet, come with me." He hated to make her feel like he was treating her like a child, so he added, "I need you."

She tilted her head to the side and blew out her breath. "Under one condition," she said.

He was tempted to say anything, but with Kate involved, his better judgment was often sacrificed. Needless to say, that was something he would have to work on. Juliet was priority now. "What's that?"

"I – it just sounds silly," she admitted, dropping her eyes from his.

"Just name your price," he said with an encouraging smile. He was actually sweating her response, especially with this build-up.

She looked at him, eyes now boring into his. "Don't call her Freckles," she blurted suddenly.

He almost laughed, but he saw how serious she was. Her gaze was strong; her lips were pressed into a thin line. Instead of bursting forth, his laugh caught in his throat and he cleared it roughly.

Unfortunately, she had always been perceptive. "You think it's funny?" Her face flushed.

"No, not funny. I – you're not – I thought maybe you were joking…until you….weren't."

"No, I'm not joking."

Her gaze still intimidated him to no end, but there was a certain shine in her eye that let him know that she realized how ridiculous her request sounded. It would be tough. Kate had always been Freckles, but if this was what it took to ensure that Juliet was safe and with him, he was willing to grant it. With a dimpled smile, he reached across the table to grab her hand. "You've got a deal, Blondie."

She returned the smile, and he was relieved. "And don't call me Blondie," she quipped and stood to start supper. As she passed, he reached for her and pulled her down to him for a kiss.

"Can you leave tomorrow?"

-

It was relatively simple to arrange the trip to Albuquerque. Juliet easily got off work, as she hadn't even taken a day off since Edmund's funeral, Jared said it was no problem for his mother to watch Julian the next couple of days, and Sawyer successfully booked the flight. They both packed two days worth of clothing and zero idea of what they were going to do for Kate or Cassidy. They didn't discuss any tactics; it seemed pointless. Though Kate only sounded mildly delusional on the phone, Sawyer sensed that there was more. Cassidy wasn't prone to overreaction. Aside from being easily swayed and allowing a fugitive to live with her, there was nothing wrong with Cassidy's general judgment. Sawyer didn't even consider her quick judgment of his sudden change of heart a bad judgment. He guessed he would've done the same. Any parent would have.

Kate's voice, her words, still played in his mind. We have to go back. When he'd asked why, she hadn't been able to answer him. Instead, she seemed disoriented, as if she didn't realize what she was saying in the first place. Cassidy had reported that she thought Kate was going stir crazy, talking about islands and palm trees. She just assumed that Kate was fantasizing about a place where she could be free, and Sawyer regarded this as a good assessment. Although Kate was not in prison, she was, essentially, imprisoned. Maybe Kate was having thoughts of turning herself in; at least in jail she wouldn't have to babysit.

Juliet emerged from the hotel bathroom, hands working on a French braid down the back of her head. "Ready?" she asked, shaking him from his thoughts.

He took a deep breath. "Yeah."

"What's the battle plan?"

He gave a helpless shrug and smiled a little. "Smack some sense into her?"

Juliet smiled and opened her mouth to respond, but obviously thought better of it. She sat next to him on the bed. "We just have to get answers," she said calmly. It was no wonder that Juliet and Jack's relationship hadn't worked out; both of them always needed to have a plan. Nothing was spontaneous (although he was proud of the spontaneity he had, from time to time, elicited from Juliet).

"Okay then, how are we gonna get 'em?"

She shook her head slightly, but her smile betrayed her. "You really have no plan. None, whatsoever?"

"None." He smiled. "Whatsoever."

She slapped him playfully on the arm. "Well, I guess you're just going to have to talk to Kate and just ask her."

"Why don't you talk to Kate?"

"I'm going to bet that you'll have better luck," she said.

"Fine, fine. I'll talk to Kate, but you'll have to keep Cassidy company." He watched as Juliet bit her lower lip. "What, you scared?"

She laughed lightly. "No. I think I can take her." She stood and brushed her hands against her jeans. "Did you call Jack?"

"No," Sawyer admitted, "I didn't want to get him all worked up. Sometimes I doubt his sanity when Kate is involved." Although he finished the statement with a chuckle, he wondered about his own judgment as well. At least Juliet was here to keep him grounded. He stood up and followed her out of the room, taking her hand as they exited the building and hailed a cab.

*

Cassidy's house was a classic, middle class home in the suburbs of Albuquerque. It had a southwestern flare to it that very few homes in Miami had. Red ridged shutters, orange-brown brick siding, big brown door, and a front yard of scorched grass.

Juliet was nervous, although after living on the island with Ben, this should be nothing. It continually amazed her how many things in ordinary life bothered her. She guessed that she had just been too far removed from everyday life – the Dharma Initiative, after all, was no good substitute for what she'd had to deal with since she woke up in 2004.

James asked if she was ready, and she gave a nod. She wasn't about to act like she was nervous. Especially not in front of James. However, the thought of entering this house which contained not only James' daughter but two of his ex-girlfriends (if Kate could given be given this title), was a bit overwhelming. She sucked in a deep breath as James knocked on the door.

The door swung open almost as soon as his knuckles touched it. Cassidy stood in the doorway, mouth open to speak, short hair pulled back and bangs sticking out wildly. As soon as her eyes fell upon Juliet, her mouth snapped shut. "Hello," she said, one eyebrow rising.

"Cassidy, hi," James said, "This is Juliet. She's my," he paused, "girlfriend. She knows Kate, too."

Cassidy gave Juliet a quick look over and then turned her attention to James. "Are you serious? Does this make you Romeo?"

Juliet chose to keep her mouth shut. It seemed logical at the time, though she did not appreciate the other woman's tone or expression.

"Yes, I'm serious."

"And you thought I'd let you see my daughter? Telling me you've changed and all this, but here you are. Yeah," Cassidy sneered, once again observing Juliet, "she looks like your type. Looks like she'd have money."

James seemed to be at a loss for words.

Juliet stepped forward, putting up her mental shields and giving Cassidy a cool look. "Listen, Cassidy, I know James' past but – "

"James?!" Cassidy laughed.

Juliet raised her voice. "But he has changed, I can assure you. However, we didn't come to argue with you, we came to talk to Kate. So you can either let us inside to see her, or you can send her out here."

"Listen, lady, this is my house and –"

"Juliet?" A voice called from inside. Kate. Her face appeared behind Cassidy, and she carefully squeezed through to throw her arms around Juliet. Juliet was startled, and by the look on James' face, so was he. "I can't believe it. When Sawyer told me you were alright, and you remembered – I, wow. I can't believe you came." Kate put Juliet at an arm's length, then pulled her into another hug, whispering into her ear, "Jack was wrong, Juliet. We remember because we weren't supposed to leave."

Cassidy looked between the two and then back to James. Reluctantly, she stepped out of the doorway and allowed James and Juliet to enter with Kate now in tow.

"Cass," James said, "We need some time to talk to Kate, to see what's happening."

"Be my guest," Cassidy said, "And good luck."

"Cassidy, wait," Kate said, looking apologetically toward Juliet, "I – um, I would like to talk to…just Sawyer, first."

Cassidy shrugged one shoulder. "C'mon, Juliet," she said gruffly, leading the way into the living room. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see James throwing her a nervous glance, but he followed Kate into the adjoining room. Their conversation fell into quick murmurs.

A small girl, around Julian's age, sat close to the TV, but instead of watching the screen, she was coloring furiously. Her blonde curls bounced as she moved the crayon back and forth, ignoring the lines and, at times, the paper all together. She stood when Cassidy and Juliet sat, leaving the beige carpet confettied with color. She approached them shyly.

"Emmy, do you remember mommy's friend Sawyer that came to visit?"

Clementine nodded.

"Stop playing shy," Cassidy said, and Clementine laughed rebelliously. "This is Sawyer's friend Juliet."

Clementine stood in front of Juliet in quiet observation, much like her mother. More than likely, she noticed her mother's flippant attitude toward the other woman.

"Hey, Clementine," Juliet said softly, "I have a little nephew that's your age. You all would have fun together."

"A boy?" Clementine said, stressing the word 'boy.'

"Yes, his name is Julian."

"Wrestle!" Clementine yelled, pumping one fist into the air.

Juliet laughed. "Yes, I suppose you could wrestle him."

Clementine giggled and threw herself back into the floor with her coloring sheet. Aside from the TV, the room lapsed into silence. Juliet shifted uncomfortably. She felt badly for being so harsh toward Cassidy, but she wasn't about to let the other woman run all over her. That part of her had died with Edmund.

Finally, she cleared her throat and spoke, "I feel like we got off on the wrong foot," Juliet said.

Cassidy turned her attention toward Juliet.

"And I'm sorry. But James, Sawyer, whatever you want to call him, he has changed," Juliet insisted.

Cassidy put her chin in her hand. "I believe you, Juliet, and I'll tell you the same thing I told him. I believe that you believe he's changed, maybe because he's told you about his adventurous life, maybe because he finally told you what happened to his parents, maybe he even tells you he loves you. But he hasn't changed. It's the same thing over and over with him. You know how many women he's told the same thing to? Hundreds, I'd bet." Cassidy leaned forward. "People like Sawyer, they don't change. They'll make you every promise, and as soon as you turn your back, they'll break it."

Juliet was shocked at Cassidy's words. She knew James' past. She'd read his file and heard it firsthand, but she'd never heard it from someone he'd hurt, and Cassidy had obviously been hurt deeply by his actions. "I – I don't know what to say. There's nothing I can say to convince you, but he has changed and…I love him."

Cassidy leaned back into the cushions. "So did I."

Commotion from the other room spared Juliet from further conversation with the obviously disgruntled Cassidy. Juliet stood before she knew what she was doing.

"Kate? Kate!" James' voice was loud, frantic, "Kate!" He appeared in the doorway, where she met him face to face. "Juliet, there's something wrong with her!" Juliet followed him into the other room where Kate lay on the floor, shaking.

"She's having a seizure," Juliet assessed quickly, "Hold her head."

James clambered to the floor and held Kate's head between his hands. "Shouldn't we hold down her tongue or something?" he asked.

Juliet kneeled beside him. "She'll bite off your finger. She's calming down." Sure enough, Kate's body movements were less extreme. Soon, she stopped moving. Juliet checked her pulse, and though quickened, it was strong. "Kate?" she asked.

Cassidy stood in the doorway, Clementine clinging to her leg. "Should I call 911?" she asked, alarmed.

"No, no…" Kate moaned.

"No," Sawyer said, "She's a god damn fugitive!" He looked down at Kate anxiously. "Hey, hey, you okay, Freckles?"