Hello again! Here you have a new chapter, it's short. Only 2 more left and this story will get to its end... :( Mmh... now where do you think things will go after this? Any guesses?

Foxy4ever, how did you know? You smartie! ;) Was it predictable?

Enjoy...

Chapter 50

Jack smiled wryly at himself and shook his head, really surprised by the dark silhouette of the "old friend" who was waiting for him staring at the window. – I never thought I'd see the day. –he affirmed crossing his arms against his chest after closing the door behind him.

– Neither did I… So, you're getting married. Now that's a surprise… Lucky you…

Jack's look hardened, finding that comment not amusing at all. – What do you want Sawyer? –he asked, not losing his calm.

– I think you have something that's mine. –Sawyer affirmed, finally facing Jack. He had cut his hair and was wearing a suit with no tie. He looked tired and still had that signature sarcastic smirk of his, and the same sorrow that'd lived in his eyes since Jack first met him.

– Do I?

Sawyer smirked again. – Don't play bimbo doc. Doesn't suit you. I did my homework, read the reports. I know you have it.

– I have what?

– The letter. I know the police gave it to you.

Jack smiled wryly. – I have it. And it will be really interesting to hear how come I have it. Tell me, Sawyer, did you lose it before or after you left Kate bleeding to death in the wreckage of the car and took the money? –he asked with a scathing voice.

Sawyer looked down in discomfort. – It wasn't like that.

– Oh, right. You also took some time to call 911, how kind of you. –Jack replied sarcastic.

Sawyer threw a wry short laugh. – I need that letter back, doc. There's no use in talking about the past, so why don't you just give it to me?

Jack laughed, really amused by Sawyer's demand. – Why is that piece of paper so important to you? I thought you'd lost it on the island. It's hardly readable anyway. –he asked curious.

– Well, I'm a sentimental. But that certainly ain't of your business.

– What the hell are you doing in my house? I think that's of my business.

– Easy doc. No need to be so damn rude. As I said, all I want is what's mine.

– I won't give anything to you until you tell me what happened that night.

Sawyer rolled his eyes. – Damn it, Jack-O, you just have to make it difficult, don't you?

Jack laughed harder. – I'm the one that makes it difficult! That's a good one actually.

– What do you want me to say, doc? That if she'd listened to me just that one time, you'd have been the one driving that car instead of her so I'd be the one getting married?

His answer got to Jack's nerves and he approached him menacing, cornering against the window, with an enraged look. – Careful Sawyer. Don't think I won't beat the shit out of you just because this place is full of people. –he threatened to his face.

Sawyer looked down and moved away. – I see you still have that great sense of humor.

Jack shook his head. – Why do you hate me? –he asked annoyed.

Sawyer opened his eyes wider and raised his eyebrows. – Excuse me?

– Since day one. On the island, all I ever wanted was to keep everybody safe, including you. I even saved your life. Yet all you did was bugging me nonstop, and it seems you're determined to keep doing it, even to this day. Why's that Sawyer?

– Don't you guess it? –he replied with a sly look on his face.

Jack rubbed his hair. – It's not my fault she chose me. –then he thought for a second and smiled scathingly. – In fact, she didn't even choose me at all. I always knew the only reason she stayed with me was because you vanished after we got rescued. But I learnt to live with that. I even got to think she loved me for real. –he stated with irony. – But you had to come back and rub in my face I was wrong and she was just waiting for the first chance to run away with you. –he snapped, finally raising his voice. – At least you could've made sure she stayed alive so she wouldn't leave her children orphan! –he said finally losing his temper.

The blonde man stared at him fiercely. – So you really think she was running away with me, huh? I kind of saw that coming… –Jack threw a disconcerted look. – You really think she was leaving on the same car you gave her? Please…

– What are you talking about? –Jack asked with fear in his eyes.

– You really want to hear it?

He was done. – I want to know exactly what happened that night, how long you've been seeing her, how many times you slept with her, everything! –he yelled, slamming Sawyer against the wall.

Sawyer pushed him back violently to make Jack let go of him. – She wasn't leaving you asshole. She was just helping me out.

Jack let go of him, stunned. – What the fuck are you saying?

Sawyer sighed slowly. – Well, turns out I have a daughter… Never saw myself as a daddy, but I saw the kid once and that was it. I got doomed. Her mommy didn't let me see her, so I sued her for custody. Spent all the damn money I had on lawyers, but it wasn't enough. I had no choice but to go back to business and conned again. But it got fucked up. My head had a price, if you know what I mean. –Jack was staring at him expectant, waiting for him to make a point. – Anyway, I needed money to save my ass, and I couldn't think of anyone else to turn to other than Kate. I knew her hubby was loaded and wouldn't miss a couple of bucks, right?

– Then what was she doing at the freeway that night? –Jack asked in frank confusion.

– I was on my way to Mexico, 'cause the police was chasing me too. We agreed on meeting a couple of miles from the viewing point. So she got there, gave me the money and quickly turned back. After a minute I heard the screech and the thud. I ran that way and saw the car in the cliff. I wanted to help her, but couldn't. That's when I called 911, but I couldn't stay. That place was getting full of police officers within the blink of an eye.

Jack felt his throat constrict. – If all you wanted was money, why didn't she tell me? Why did she hide it from me?

– I asked her the exact same question. She said things were "perfect" between you and she didn't want to ruin it by upsetting you with my troubles. She said it'd only take an hour. Guess that's why she's in such a hurry…

– Why she had your letter?

– I left it to her as a pledge. She was giving it to me when I paid her money back.

Jack took a deep breath and felt his head spin. – I don't believe you. –he affirmed in denial.

Sawyer rolled eyes again. – You think I'd come all the way from Mexico just to make this up and lighten you up? That's not my style doc.

– Coming clean like this isn't your style either.

– Well, Jackass, to be honest with you, I was planning on keeping you believing that she was running away with me. That way both of us would be miserable. But she keeps haunting me…

Jack's eyes opened wider. – What you mean?

– I keep dreaming of her begging me to tell you the truth. Hey! Don't look at me like I'm some kind of wacko here! It's true, but I know you don't believe in that shit. So, let's just say that, since I can't afford to pay your money yet, I thought this would do it meanwhile.

Jack couldn't believe his ears. All he had thought about Kate in the last 2 years was totally wrong. He couldn't utter a word, so Sawyer kept talking.

– And regarding your question before… I don't hate you doc, never did… You see… I always thought we're not that different. Hell, I could've been a surgeon too, but one day some son of a bitch decided to blow away that chance and ruined my family. If I'd only had my daddy to push me around a little… –Jack looked away and felt tears forming in his eyes, knowing what he meant. – You remind me of that Jack, every single day of my life. As for you… I know I remind you of what you could've turned into if your daddy hadn't been around… That's why you saved my ass so many times Jack, that's why you feel sorry for me. We're just two sides of the same coin… This thing between you and me was never about Kate.

– It was about Kate too… –Jack affirmed feebly, not looking at him.

– You never got it, did you? –Sawyer asked. Jack threw him a questioning look, silent. – It was always you, doc. The only reason she had a fling with me was 'cause she was too damn scared of loving you. That's why I did us all a favor and disappeared, so she could stop using me as an excuse…

Jack rubbed his eyes. He just couldn't believe all that was happening. Then Brooke popped up in the studio without knocking. – Baby, we're ready for the toast… –but she went mute when she saw Jack wasn't alone. – I'm sorry, I didn't know you had company… –she said looking at him with an expectant look, waiting for him to introduce the stranger man.

Jack hesitated, disconcerted, so Sawyer made his move. – I'm James, and you must be the bride… –he said with his charming smirk, shaking Brooke's hand.

Brooke smiled and nodded. – I'm Brooke. –Then she stared at Sawyer, puzzled. – Uh, excuse me, do I know you? Your face's kind of familiar…

– I don't think so, miss. If we'd met, I'd sure remember. I never forget such a pretty face… –he stated smirking.

Brooke flushed. – Are you staying for the party?

– No… –Jack snapped from behind him.

Sawyer glanced at Jack with wry eyes. – I'm afraid I can't, I'm in a hurry. I just wanted to congratulate Jack, but now I'm leaving.

– Oh, what a shame… –Brooke said politely. Then she glanced at Jack, expectant.

– I'm coming. –he told her softly with a short smile and an assuring look.

– Okay… well, nice to meet you James. –she said shaking Sawyer's hand.

– My pleasure…

As he watched Brooke from head to toe walking away, he announced impishly: – Well, that's one hell of a fiancée doc…

Jack felt his blood boil and approached Sawyer, menacing. – If you ever talk to her or look at her like that again, I fucking kill you. ­–he threatened.

– Hell doc! Can't you even take a compliment? Don't worry, she ain't my type…

Jack shook his head in disbelief. – Yeah, right. –he said ironically.

– Hey, don't get me wrong. Sure she's smoking hot, but she's too East Coast … New York girls never fell for me. They're just too smart to buy my act… –he said, sticking his sunglasses on his face and preparing to leave. Jack was stunned with the comment, how the hell he knew Brooke was from New York? He sure had been snooping around. – Anyway doc, I'd love to stay and keep talking, but I got to run. –Then he looked down and took a deep breath. – I'm sorry about Kate… I've lived feeling guilty for her death, if that's of any consolation. It was a tragedy, never meant to happen… I'm glad you found someone again… –he said honestly, glancing at Jack once more.

Jack took a deep breath too, defeated, whilst Sawyer headed to the door. – Your daughter… –he said, making him stop. – Did you get her?

– Not yet…

Jack nodded. – Good luck with that…

– Yeah… Goodbye Jack…

Sawyer left the house and left Jack in a sea of confusion. As he returned to the party, he saw Brooke in the distance smiling brightly, talking with Claire, Marion and Charlie. Everybody was having a great time, but yet a dark feeling took over his heart. All of the sudden, he found the scene in front of him surreal and couldn't help but feel it was wrong.