"Did you hear what I said – "

For a moment, the Hustlers face showed every bit of irritation and resentment, before it flattened back into his customary sneer.

"I heard you, Jackass." Sawyer growled, disgruntled. But still made no move to obey. Like any of them should be surprised.

Shepards jaw tightened so hard, it was quite possible his molars would grind down to nubs. His gaze kept flickering between her and the blond, no doubt taking in their state of undress and the disturbing tension stretched like taffy between them.

Before Anas mind could wrap around what possibility she could explain this away, Sawyers grip tightened possessively.

Muttering angrily, Ana shoved the Cowboy off her, back a few steps to at least give them room to breathe, breaking the male stare off. And most importantly, any hold he still had on her, at least temporarily.

Sawyer looked at her askance, at first surprised. Then settled his frame against a nearby tree, watching her closely.

The fascination, continues.

Ana simply ignored him, her gaze on Jack. His shaky hold on the gun, staring daggers at the Hustler, a sure situation that needed diffusion.

"Jack?," Ana ventured quietly, as if she suspected Jack might just be on the same cliff-edge, she herself, teetered on, not more than a few hours ago.

To be honest, she still wasn't sure if she had stepped that far back at all, while Gale remained within her reach.

"Not that I haven't thought about it," she began reassuringly. "But shooting the cowboy, however intoxicatin', won't get the guns any faster."

Sawyer made a huffing sound in the back of his throat

"How about Jackie boy, leaves us alone, Cupcake - an' we see if you can come up with something 'faster'."

She'd warned him not to tell anyone - the way he was acting, he wouldn't have too.

"Shut it." She hissed at him, without breaking eye contact with Jack. Directed her concern to him.
"We cool, man?"

Jack seemed unsure.

"Did he hurt –" Jack fought down the hurt, the unexpected betrayal. She was obviously, gloriously naked under that shirt. HIS shirt. Why was she wearing the Hustlers shirt? What did he bust in on? Jack swallowed hard, gasping - wouldn't believe it, till she told him. Till he asked. If, he asked. "--You all right, Ana?"

"Like a dandy." Sawyer interrupted, not liking at all Muchachas preoccupation with Dr Giggles or the insinuation. "Got me a few scratches, what with being chased by gun toting vigilantes." he complained, his glare on Jack.

"But gimme time,"Sawyer offered huskily, leaning against the wall with delinquent ease. ".. To heal up," those piercing baby blues on her again, "an' I'll be ready to do it all -," his eyes slide down over curves he knows a bit more each day, "-- over, and over again."

It took all she had not to jump the distance between them, and smack the living day lights outta the Islands self-appointed sheriff.

In the end, it was taken from her.

The sudden noise of something crashing through the jungle undergrowth behind Jack, made them all snap in toward that direction, heartbeats going double time.

Jacks gun arm straightened, raised, following the sound with near dead accuracy. Sawyer body tensed beside her, took a step in front of a startled Ana, which only sufficed to piss her off more. Their gazes locked over his shoulder.

For a moment what passed between them, could not be given words. Too many between them already. She raised a dark brow, bold challenge.

He was unrepentant, mouthing the word "Polar Bears"over his shoulder to her. She glared hotly back, mouthing a few chosen words of her own.

Those awesome Southern dimples winked back hard in reply, making his grin grow softer as he wavered towards her - tempted all the while. Before it was erased just as quickly.

A figure exploded from the jungle, svelte hellion - worse than any raging polar bear.

A whole other sort of danger.

"Jack?!!"

Oh, hell.

Kate.