Chapter 10: Time off

'Hey. Has been. Where is Claire?' Sawyer demanded of Charlie. Charlie looked up and squinted at Sawyer.

'Who wants to know?'

'Santa Clause does. He wants to let her know she's been naughty this year. Me you, moron!' Sawyer snapped rolling his eyes.

'She went to have some alone time.' Charlie told him. Sawyer sighed and rubbed his forehead.

'Where?' Sawyer asked Charlie who had turned back to the baby.

'Where's what?' Charlie asked looking up. Sawyer sighed.

'Daddy!' Aaron screeched out looking at Sawyer. Sawyer and Charlie's jaws dropped. Sawyer suddenly grinned at Charlie.

'Sucka.' He said and left.

Sawyer walked around in the jungle calling Claire's name. 'CLAIRE!' He yelled. He couldn't find her any where. 'Where the hell did she run off to?' Sawyer asked him self aloud. He paused when he heard singing. Listening hard he followed it to a clearing, the voice was slightly scratchy, and high pitched but beautiful. Then he saw Claire.

'So this is love, Mmmmm. So this is love. So this is what makes life divine. I'm all aglow, Mmmmm. And now I know. The key to all heaven is mine. My heart has wings, Mmmmm. And I can fly. I'll touch every star in the sky. So this is the miracle that I've been dreaming of. Mmmmm. Mmmmm. So this is love'

She was standing under a water fall in a small pond. She was running her hands through her hair, she wasn't naked but wearing her bra and panties. Sawyer stood watching her, eyes wide. He felt like a teenager, looking at girls in the locker room. But this was different. His heart rate had never gone faster, not even when they crashed. He was breathing deeply and was watching her every move. Sawyer turned around when she stepped out. Sawyer knew he was in love.

Jack and Hurley where walking through the jungle at a slow pace, they where going to the golf course and where in no real hurry.

Suddenly Hurley snapped his finger. 'Hey, dude, I've got an idea.' Jack turned around and raised his eyebrows at Hurley. 'Why don't we invite Kate?' He asked. Jack sighed. 'Bad idea?'

'Her and I are "taking time off"' Jack used air quotes.

'From what?'

'From me and hers relationship, which is more of an un-relationship, because if I'm right she'll fall right into Sawyers arms.' He said.

'Gotta have faith in your girl.' Hurley told him. 'Wait, Jack, dude, you where never together.' He told him.

'So? I'm trying to make her happy, Hurley.' Jack told him, turning around and walking towards the golf course. Talking about his feelings made him a little bit uncomfortable.

'How do you know this is going to make her happy?' Hurley asked in a skeptical voice. Jack frowned.

'Because that's what she asked for.' He told Hurley in a matter-of-fact voice.

'She's a girl, Jack.' Hurley pointed out of the obvious.

'I've noticed.' Jack said rolling his eyes.

'Well good. Because maybe she wants you to fight for her, you know, prove your love?' Hurley asked. 'Her knight in shining armor?' He suggested. Jack felt a little proud and had to smile at the thought.

'Kate's not like that, she's independent and strong. And she said she wanted time off it make sure we worked.' Jack spoke the truth.

'Well sure.' Hurley agreed. 'But with the babies.' He paused. 'Maybe she wants you to prove it?' Hurley tried again. Jack just sighed and shook his head.

'You're what?' Claire asked squinting at Kate. Shannon nodded.

'Taking time off…' Kate said slowly.

'Time off from what? You where never together!' Claire barked.

'Well…we kissed a lot.' Kate said brushing Olivia's hair out of her face. Shannon smirked, she was holding May and Claire was holding the ever so squirmy Aaron.

'Aww.' Shannon said and Kate shot her a look. Shannon only smirked at her but her gaze drifted over Kate's shoulder to Ana who was approaching them. 'Here comes trouble.' She murmured. 'Ana's got her eye on Jack.' Kate tensed but she didn't know why. She didn't have feelings for Sawyer but for Jack. For all she cared Ana could have Sawyer. But she wanted Ana to stay away from Jack.

'Can I join you?' Ana asked coming up to them. Shannon and Claire nodded coldly.

'Well it doesn't matter because we are taking time off.' Kate said again wanting to continue their conversation.

'Whatever.' Claire said quickly. Kate didn't understand, one minute Claire was all over this bit of gossip next minute it was old news.

'Who's taking time off?' Ana asked. Kate looked at her, she was sitting down scowling at May. Kate brushed it off.

'No one!' Shannon said quickly.

'Me and Jack.' Kate told Ana. Ana nodded and then scowled at Olivia. Kate pulled her tighter against her stomach.

'Well, this is rather boring, I'll see you girls later' And she left. Once she was out of hearing range, Shannon kicked Kate in the leg.

'Ah! What was that for?' Kate demanded.

'She is going to go after Jack know you dimwit!' Shannon cried. Kate's face fell. She looked around the beach quickly, as if expecting to see Ana and Jack laying in the sand already. But they weren't. What she did see was Sawyer, starting directly at Claire and Claire focused back at him.

'Jack?' Charlie asked coming into the caves. Jack looked up. He was sitting with Ana, she had a hand on his knee and was rubbing it. Jack felt slightly uncomfortable with this. He didn't have feelings for her. He had feelings for Kate. And that was the way it was going to stay.

Jack looked at Charlie. Charlie was standing there nervously. With Kate. Kate was focused on Jacks knee and Jack could see the hurt in her eyes. 'Yes?' Jack asked looking at Kate. Kate's eyes suddenly snapped to his, at first he wanted to look away but didn't.

'Can we talk to you alone?' Charlie asked. Jack nodded and turned to Ana.

'Sorry, I'll see you later.' He said. She nodded, smiled at Charlie but didn't even give Kate notice. Kate sat down where Ana had been sitting. Jack hoped she'd put her hand on his knee but she didn't, and he knew she wouldn't. 'Is there something wrong?' He asked.

'Yes.' Kate said. 'Claire and Sawyer seem to have a little thing going on.' She told him. Jack frowned. 'Well, not officially but it seems like it.' Jack nodded at her and looked at Charlie. His blue eyes where sad and wide. 'Do you know anything about it?' She asked. 'I…we…don't think that, Sawyer is the greatest choice for Claire, but…' Kate was interrupted by Jack and Charlie.

'But? No buts!' Charlie said starting at her angrily.

'What? You don't want her with him so you can have him?' Jack asked her angrily. Kate ignored Charlie.

'What?' Kate asked. She jumped up and Jack did also. 'You think I care about him!' Kate asked pushing Jack, her anger overtaking her. 'You ass hole!' Kate pushed him again.

'What was I supposed to think, Kate! You are always with him! You always talk about him!' Jack yelled.

'What?' Kate screeched. 'You're crazy! You're so stupid!' She slapped him and Jack grabbed her wrists so she couldn't do it again. 'You think I care about him over you!' She twisted her arms to break free but couldn't. How could Jack think that she didn't care about him. 'I tried to show you I cared about you so much! I care about you so much, you ass!' She twisted free again.

'Then why did you ask for time off?' Jack asked her, slightly blown away by this sudden confession of her love for him.

'Because you don't care about me!' She twisted again. 'Jack! You're hurting me!' Kate cried bursting into tears. Jack suddenly became aware of his tight grip and let go but grabbed Kate and pulled her back against him. 'And you don't!' She sobbed into his chest. Jack rubbed her back.

'I do, Kate, I do. I care about you more then anything else on this earth.'

So, Jacks just confessed this, what does that mean for him and her? And just what is up with Claire, Sawyer and Charlie!!!! Who stole the babies?