Kate stumbled on the unseen, her eyes wide and darkening, catching them - in what? A lovers quarrel? A tense stand off? A prelude to something like four hours ago?

Damned if he knew himself, as Freckles took in the scene before her, mind on automatic pilot, her words came tumbling out before she could catch them back.

"Locke has gone back to the Hatch to check on Gale –" She looked between the three of them, coming to rest beside Jack. Something she was used too. But this; the strange alchemy between Jack and Sawyer, and Ana, - without her - was not.

Sawyer bare chested, standing rather too close to Ana Lucia who was clad only in Sawyers shirt, that drew her brows down, flooded her eyes with questions, he couldn't answer even if he wanted.

"Wh-what's going on?"

"Oh, there you are Freckles," he jovially continued, though Ana noted a small tremble in it, as if he was afraid Kate might cotton on to his and Rambinas altered chemistry. A charming bluff artist, however, came to the fore - begged off the questions he read there.

"Mr Stand-and-deliver, here, was about to rob the shirts from our backs –" his smile widened, rubbing his chest suggestively, leering at the stoic Rambina. "I suggest he starts with J-Lo."

"Everything's okay. "Ana chose to ignore him. "Taking a shower, letting my clothes dry, and was interrupted by this fool," she gestured dismissively to the titan blond.

"Heard it's the done thing ta do, between forbidden sweethearts," Sawyer retaliated, shooting an accusing look of his own at the çaught in a net' pair. "Besides I gave my shirt to Modest Molly."

He threw Ana a menacing scowl. "Not that she stopped with that."

"Not help-ping"Ana snapped, finally diverting her angry glare to him.

"Not try - ing." he sing-songed merrily back, lopsided grin securely in place.

Right.

Jack still hadn't lowered his aim. Ana felt tension return to her back, shoulders and arms. She noted the Hustlers jealous glare at Kate, and felt her own response to it, where Jack was concerned. Did something happen between he and Kate? One thing for sure though, she was gonna stop feeling like a jilted lover. Diverting attention usually worked.

"Why's Locke so eager to get back to the hatch?"

Even as she asked the question she wasn't too sure she wanted the answer. All eyes on her, began that tension to flourish in the pit of her stomach.

"Locke told us about Gale. Why didn't you say something.."

To me.

There are no words left to her, except that of surrender. And she ain't ever been willing to give those.

"Can look after myself, Jack."she admonished quietly. Not pretending the horrendous bruise and cut on her forehead didn't tell something different. "I had to wing it."

"Yeh, how's that working out for ya?" a whiskey warm voice smoothly echoed in her ear, the pads of Sawyers fingers gently stroking back a wisp of hair to show the bruise on her temple.

The unexpected intimacy of that gesture, momentarily stilled all who witnessed it. Ana blustered, fists clenched, told him - someone was gonna die, and soon.

Most likely him, if his mouth kept up the patter - but around her, he was finding himself becoming helpless. His connection was supposed to be Freckles. Except, Lucy had resonated with the darkside as well as the light, he saw that - she was given to temptation either way.

Struck by her radiance, he lingered. Enticing, she loomed in his minds eye, wounded and out of reach. The sudden pall of desperately wanting too, struck him hard. Made that ol' fear jump up in his chest, constricting. Only one taste of her, and he was caring what happened to her, other than making Rambina pay?
He quickly snatched his hand back.

The strange chemistry wavered, gave no chance to move him in the direction he wanted. Jacks voice executing the opportunity.

"Is that why you took Sawyers gun, Ana?"
Not the only reason.

"That would be the taking care of myself part." she gazed up at him, unapologetic.

Jacks intense gaze landed on her again, deep enough to be nothing but trouble for anyone else to try, but because he was Jack - for what she knew, she respected- Allowed him to find what he needed to continue.

"You're not alone this time, Ana." His smile touched her, softening the confession or the rebuke she knew was coming. "Trust me enough to know that much."

A little late for that. Shrugged her shoulder. "Did what I had to do."

"Does that mean Gales dead?" Kate asked troubled.

Ana kept her gaze straight on Jack. Would not flinch from his burgeoning disappointment at her silence. He swallowed thickly, suddenly dreading what Ana was about to confess.

"For me, he is." She softened her stance, two notches before continuing. "He ain't the only one, Jack. There's more likely on their way. For him, for us – they don't take too kindly to those that fight back."

"Even when they can't?"

Insult added to hurt, her eyes blazed fury. 'Don't ever count me out, Hustler."

He wouldn't dare.

"You want revenge,"statement not query. He tapped his shoulder. "Figure me an' Zeke got some anting up too. Might as well throw in..."

Ana turned fully towards him, struck a bullish stance. "What makes you think, I'll let you throw anythin'..."

"The guns, chica. All of them." leans towards the fuming woman. Saw what she didn't want him to see. Grace might be there, and bravery, endurance and perhaps belatedly, restraint.
Already predisposed to a little vengeance, he knew her leadership skills - like Dr.Giggles - would come to the fore when her people were threatened. And that 'something' only he could provide. To his utmost advantage.

"All the guns I took from the hatch, and the ones I had stashed from our lill' treks hunting Polar Bears and such. 'Cause what good is an Army without 'em?"

Jack made a sound of approval, lowering his gun arm. Sawyers 'Watch this space suckers!'secret smirk remains annoyingly inscrutable, as well as evocative.

"Jack? He ain' done yet." Ana knew better than to trust his offer at face value. What he had in mind, couldn't be as bad as whatever injustice he thought he'd suffered at her hands, and was willing to bet, he had some suitable punishment in mind to correct it.

"What do you want, Sawyer?"

"Not What I want, Hotlips." She compressed her lips into a hard line, as Sawyers smile grew round and soft. "But Who."

Dios. Definitely worse.