Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters and settings are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.

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Author's Notes:

This is a little chapter called 'Missing pieces'

It has recaps from the episode 'Recon' to explain why and how (in my mind) James and Kate became closer again.

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Flashback

Kate looked over at James and asked, "What are you doing running errands for Locke?"

"I ain't running errands for nobody."

"He said he sent you over to the other island. Did you find the plane?"

"Yeah, and that ain't the only thing over there. Guy named Widmore set up camp over on the beach. Got a whole team with him - guys with guns - they're here for Locke."

"So what are you gonna do?" She can't take her eyes off him.

He looks over at her, "I'm gonna let them fight it out. And while they got their hands full with each other...you and me are getting the hell off this Island."

She smiles, happy that he included her in his plans again. "Even if we could get on that plane, who's gonna fly it?"

"We ain't taking the plane, Freckles. We're taking the sub." Their eyes locked on each other and James can't help but form a half smile on his face. He looked at her as if he had it all figured out.

They sat there in silence for a while, her still poking the fire with the stick. She watched Claire across the camp settling down for the night. This whole day had just been hell … Claire trying to kill her, she couldn't find James. But then again, had James been there when that happened, he'd probably have killed Claire. Or at least he wouldn't have just sat there and watched it, doing nothing like Sayid.

But now, what he'd said to her just a little while ago, it gave her new hope … he'd made plans for the both of them to get off the island together.

He got up and walked away to get something to drink. As she watched him walk off, out of nowhere she felt overwhelmed with emotions. Not wanting to start crying in front of him and the rest of the champ that was still awake, she got up herself and disappeared into the jungle.

She walked into the darkness of the jungle, just left that fire burning and her blanket lying on the ground. The only thing she took was her rifle. She started running, couldn't even see what was in front of her. Tears were starting to fall down her cheeks. When she felt she'd gotten far enough, she sat down on the ground, finding herself leaning against a tree, crying. Claire was crazy, and sure she did apologize, but for whatever reason, she didn't buy the apology. She wished she could just believe Claire was sorry, but there was something about her … like when she held her hand right after arriving at Locke's Camp … it wasn't sincere, it was fake!

James on the other hand … she thought she'd lost him, but he just restored her faith in him, when he said they'd both get off the island together. The more she thought about it, the more she couldn't breathe. Trying to catch her breath between sobs.

She forced herself to stop crying when she heard a noise in the darkness of the jungle. Something or someone was coming towards her. She picked up her rifle and pointed it to where the noise was coming from. She heard footsteps coming closer, and she could feel her heart starting to race ... wishing she hadn't left camp. Wondering if it was Claire again to attack her, wishing she hadn't left James' side.

Right at that thought, James walked out of the darkness, right in the line of fire of her rifle. When she saw that it was him, she sighed and lowered the gun. Her body collapsing again towards the ground, leaning against the tree again.

"Hey, why'd you wander off into the jungle? You shouldn't be out here alone."

She didn't want to answer, cause she knew the moment she'd speak, he'd be able to tell that she was crying.

"What? You're not talking to me anymore, Freckles." He came closer. Standing there looking down at her sitting on the ground.

She had to speak, "I-I just needed to be alone for a minute." Her voice breaking, it was obvious.

He sighed, still looking at her, then looking around if anyone had followed him too. They were alone. He sat down, and without saying a thing pulled her onto his lap and into his arms. First she tried to fight it, but then she just let him hold her. Her sobs got louder again, and she cried, tears soaking through his dark blue shirt, while she held onto him for dear life. As bad as she felt about Claire, she had needed him, wanted his arms around her since the moment she'd gotten back to the island. Hell, who was she lying to? She'd wanted his arms around her since the moment he'd jumped from that helicopter over 3 years ago.

He stayed silent, just held her tight, let her cry it out. He was wondering what had brought this on. Was it because he'd admitted that he wanted to get off the island with her? Was it because she still had feelings for him? He knew he still had feelings for her … never stopped loving her. He wished he wasn't so afraid himself. He wished he would just have the guts to ask why she was crying. Afraid that she might say she still loved him, but also afraid that she might say that wasn't the reason after all. Had he done this to her when he'd lied about that ring? Was she crying because he said he had planned on proposing to Juliet? Would she stop crying if he told her the truth? If he told her that ring was hers all along. His heart ached … too broken himself to comfort her, but here he was holding her.

She was sitting in between his legs, both her legs hanging over his thigh. Snuggling into him. Her face buried in his shirt, she was still crying, he could feel her tears soaking through, making his shirt stick to his skin. Both her arms wrapped around him, he had one arm around her waist, the other hand in her hair, holding her close in his arms.

He had to know … he wanted to know. His lips by her ear whispering, "What happened Kate? Why are you crying?"

She lifted her head, looking at him, tears on her cheeks, shaking her head softly, "I don't know."

For a moment he saw her stand in front of him in that cage, same tears running down, same look on her face, same I don't know coming from her lips, after she'd kissed him with those lips.

"Sure you do. Just tell me, Freckles." His hopes were high, hoping she'd say it first, say that she wants him, missed him, loved him. If she says it first, then I'll say it too. I'll cowboy up and admit to everything. Please say it Kate.

She wiped her cheeks, trying to wipe away the tears best she could. Then she said, "Claire"

His heart sunk again. Of course this was about Claire, he was an idiot to think she was actually crying about him.

Kate continued, "Claire tried to kill me when you were gone."

His eyes wide open, what did she just say? "What?" He framed her face with both hands, so she wouldn't look away from him. "How? What happened?"

Kate told him the whole story. The knife to her throat. Sayid just looking on. Everybody else just standing around watching. The whole conversation with Locke or whoever he was. The hug and apology that she didn't buy. She told him everything, not just the facts, but also her thoughts on it all.

He couldn't take his eyes off of her face. Juliet was dead, he'd lost her and the pain he felt was unbearable … or so he thought. But this right now, this was unbearable. All he could think about was how he would have taken a gun to his own head, had he come back from Hydra Island and found out that Kate had been killed while he was gone. He pulled her close, held her tight, tighter then he had ever held her.

His stubbles rubbing against her cheek, she could feel his heart racing. She needed this, needed to know that he still cared this much about her. She wished she could tell him how much she needed this. Finally she spoke again,

"I was looking for you. I needed you. I couldn't find you."

He answered, his lips right by her ear, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you. I'll keep you save now."

When she heard those words, she sighed. His hot breath on her neck and her ear, his fingers on her skin. This was almost too much … she shouldn't feel this way. He's in love with Juliet, he's heartbroken about Juliet. She'd finally stopped crying altogether, trying to pull away … trying to get out of his tight embrace. As she pulled away, their eyes met ... it was dark, but the moonlight shining through the trees let them see each others face.

Her heart was pounding. So was his. This is wrong … this shouldn't happen. Not like this. Not after Juliet had just died.

They couldn't help it. Their lips like magnets pulling towards each other. His eyes lost in hers. His lips slightly brushing over hers. It's going to happen … neither of them had any strength left to stop this from happening. Both of them hurt and heartbroken … for the most part due to each other's inability to say what they really felt. But maybe they didn't need to. Maybe what would happen here now, would speak volumes … saying I still love you without making a sound.

A sound in the jungle. And just like that they were snapped out of this moment, both of them turning their head towards the sound. She got up, grabbing her gun again. He did too, pulling his gun, pointing it towards the noise, he stepped in front of Kate.

Whatever or whoever this is, is only getting to her over my dead body.

The noise stopped … silence again. Must have been an animal.

He turned around, looking at her, "You ready to get back?"

She just nodded.

Both of them walked in silence back to the camp. She settled into her makeshift tent, without asking he settled in there with her. Not close enough to touch. None the less, anyone had to get past him to get to her. This is how it would be from now on, he'll protect her, this is how it would have to be.