Chapter 17. Well this is going fast isn't it? Anyway I hope you like this chapter but that is really all I am going to say because I have places to be. So I hope you enjoy it.

Spoilers: It is AU

Disclaimer: I do not own Abby or Kate.

"Where are we going?" Abby pestered her friend as the walked down the beach.

"I thought we would go to the yacht club for a swim," Kate told Abby, "as opposed to just eating lunch."

"That sounds like fun," Abby agreed as they stopped walking and dropped their towels and shoes in the sand. Then they walked onto the dock and headed towards the end.

"Now here at the Club there are several main attractions," Kate said in an announcer's voice, "You can jump of the low dock, the high dock, and any of the pilings. You can also swim out to the raft. You can also play the age old game of rag tag."

"Any of those against the rules," Abby asked curiously.

"I think jumping off the high dock pilings is," Kate told her, "and I know rag tag is but no one ever cares. Since when do you care about rules?"

"I don't particularly," Abby replied, "I just wanted to make sure I didn't get caught."

"You won't," Kate told her, "No one has gotten busted for rag tag in like ever and they play it every day. See here comes a group now."

"Do you want to play?" Abby asked excitedly.

"Not particularly," Kate replied her eyes narrowing a little at the group of the dock, "But if you want to I'm game."

"Great," Abby said walking over to the group, "Are you guys going to play rag tag?"

"Yes," the boy who seemed to be the leader of the group replied, "Who are you and why do you want to know?"

"I'm Abby Sciuto," Abby introduced herself, "And we want to play."

"We?" the boy questioned still glaring at Abby.

"She's my friend," Kate explained stepping forward a little bit. This kids had never been particularly close her, but they almost all respected her at least a little bit. There were several of them that she really did not like, but so goes life.

"Alright," the boy said with a nod, "Then you two can play. Do you know the rules?"

"No," Kate replied simply, not pointing out that they knew she never played rag tag and it was Abby's first time on island.

"Well you avoid getting hit with the rag," one of the girls told them, "if you get hit you're it. You have to stay in the dock area. Other than that every thing is fair game. Okay?" Kate and Abby both nodded in understanding.

"Great," the boy said clapping his hands together, "I'm it first. Go."

Everyone scattered. A lot of people ran to the low dock before jumping into the water. Kate did not bother. She turned around and took a running jump off the high dock. She may not like rag tag but certain laws of survival in the Club's food chain required her to be decent at it.

Once she landed in the water Kate backtracked a few feet so that she was under the dock. She saw Abby looking around for something and motioned to her friend. Abby shook her head. Kate nodded. Abby was playing the game by putting herself out there in the hopes that someone would come after her with the rag. Kate was playing defensively.

Suddenly someone ducked under the dock and Kate felt the rag make contact with her neck. She grabbed it, considering it interesting that someone had tagged her. Most of the time rag tag was a game of unfulfilled vendettas. Kate had not annoyed anyone to make her the top of their list.

Kate did not really mind. It made the game more interesting if you got tagged. Still holding the rag she pulled herself onto boat dock, which meant unless you were in just the right spot you would not see her. She located her target and prepared a course of action.

She would stay true to the nature of the game because she too had unfulfilled vendettas. Her target was preparing to jump off the dock and hand no idea that she was behind him. Quickly and quietly Kate got in range and threw the rag at his back. The piece of cloth made its mark and Kate ducked below the dock smirking.

"That was impressive," Abby told her, "I thought you didn't play rag tag."

"I don't," Kate replied, "but you pick up things if you hang around her long enough. Rag tag is one of those things."

"I wish I could get hit," Abby decided.

"I don't know why you would want that but I can help you out," Kate decided, "go out there and float in the water." Abby did as she was told and Kate rolled her eyes when no one targeted Abby. So Kate swam out so that she was just on the other side of Abby. Almost predictable the rag soared towards them and came just short of Kate.

Abby jerked to life as the rag hit her and Kate shook her head at just how predictable boy with injured pride could be. It also never ceased to amaze Kate that people who played this game everyday of the week all summer long could still not throw well.

Abby grabbed the rag and ran up on to the dock. She looked around trying to select a target for her choosing. She selected the boy who had given the orders earlier. Kate watched in interest as Abby walked up to him and sort of tossed the rag at him. The boy immediately grabbed it and whipped Abby across the legs with the rag.

"Now we play hardball," Kate commented to no one in particular. Abby grabbed the rag whipped the boy around the middle and then took a running jump of the high dock. She swam under water to where Kate was waiting.

"You would have to make an enemy of Adam wouldn't you?" Kate asked.

"There something wrong with that?" Abby questioned her friend as Adam paced back and forth trying to figure out how to get Abby.

"Well only that he is a twit under normal circumstances and hates me," Kate replied, "Well actually I am not sure if he hates me…I think he does…but either way I defiantly do not like him."

"Tu enemy es mi enemy," Abby told her.

For those of you who were wondering rag tag really is a game. I have played it once or twice but only by force because I highly dislike it. Anyway. Please review.