They are tracking through the jungle, just like old times. Although Kate can't recall ever really tracking through the jungle with Frank. Her heart is full of hope, but for some unknown reason she is hesitant. In her mind she'd pictured herself running at this point, running to the barracks, searching for him. But instead she's walking at an average pace, afraid of what returning to the barracks has in store for them today.

She remembered the last time she came here, searching him out in the house he'd shared with Juliet. It seems like a million years ago now, but still the thought of the conversation they'd shared down by the pier still hurt like that moment he'd told her. The moment he'd told her that he was going to propose to Juliet.

She was being a hypocrite, after all hadn't she accepted a proposal from Jack, all because she didn't want to be alone herself. She didn't want to raise Aaron alone. To have someone who knew about it all and who could share the guilt over raising someone else's child. But then again, it seemed Jack and her were taken a turn for the worst once he'd proposed. He'd proposed to her on a Friday night, it was very late. She could remember it like it was yesterday. And then in less than a week, he'd changed into this person she couldn't even recognize anymore. That also seemed like it was a million years ago.

"How much further?" Frank asked before he took a drink from his canteen.

"We should be almost there Frank." Kate was growing a little impatient.

Frank looked over at Kate, "So what do you think will await us when we get there? I'm sure Hurley would be happy to see us, but if Ben's in charge, god only knows what's waiting for us."

She gave him a concerned look, "I really don't know what to expect." She smiled, "Hope for the best but expect the worst."

Frank smiled back.

Right at that moment they hear the clicks of rifles ready to fire. They're surrounded. Kate can't believe her eyes. There surrounded by young men and women from the Dharma Initiative.

The barracks

Sawyer marches into the Security Building, followed closely by his group of recruits. When he spots his deputy he shouts out to him.

"What the hell is going on, Tim? How did anyone get in the perimeter without deactivating the fence?"

"We went out to investigate. We couldn't find anybody, but they apparently chopped down a tree and used it to get over the fence."

"Son of a bitch. We need to get all of those cameras fixed today." He runs his fingers through his long hair. "Is Mr. Reyes still in the bunker?"

"No, he's in his house."

"Why the hell not? Why isn't he in the bunker?"

"Ben said he sees no need to hide."

"Keep the entire complex surrounded, no one goes out unarmed. If they have to shoot, then shoot. I go talk to Reyes and find out what the hell has gotten into him."

His walkie-talkie goes off, "LaFleur, are you there?"

"Yeah, I'm here. Any news?"

"Yeah, we got them. A man and a woman, but they won't give up their name. They're saying they'll only talk to Hugo Reyes. What should we do?"

"Are they armed?"

"They were but gave up their weapons without a fight. They seem cooperative enough."

"Alright, just bring them in so we can talk to them and find out why they're here."

Sawyer walks over to Hurleys house, but doesn't even bother to know or wait for an invitation, instead just walks in immediately. He finds Hurley sitting on his couch, looking through some paperwork. Hurley looks up when he sees Sawyer and smiles.

"Hurley, what the hell is wrong with you? We have a breach, someone's coming and you're just chilling on your couch?"

Hurley stares at him, still a slight smile on his face.

Sawyer gets an annoyed look on his face, waving his hand as he speaks, "What? What the hell are you smiling for?"

Hurley gets up and walks towards him, "Dude, everything will be okay now. You're gonna be okay."

"Well, Jumbotron, that's just fucking awesome that I'm gonna be okay, but I really think you should be in the bunker right now. Because Tim caught them. And surprise! They wanna talk to you? So is there anything you wanna tell me before I go check on our intruders Hurley?"

Hurley can't stop smiling. "Give me your walkie-talkie, dude."

Sawyer has a surprised look on his face, "What? What do you want my walkie for?"

"I just do. So just save us the whole dance that you do about how you're head of security and just give it to me Sawyer."

Reluctantly while rolling his eyes, he hands over the walkie-talkie to Hurley.

"Tim, if you hear me, pick up now. This is Hugo."

"Yes Mr. Reyes, I'm here."

"Listen, I know who they are, so don't shoot. Don't shoot, no matter what."

"Copy that. Don't shoot. But do you want us to bring them in?"

"Of course bring them in. But don't hurt them in any way, don't shoot. That's an order. And bring them to the Rec center instead."

"Roger."

He looks back up at Sawyer and hands him his walkie-talkie back. "They're probably hungry, we should have Jason bring some lunch over for them."

Sawyer got a questioning look on his face, "So, what the hell is going on? Wanna tell me who they are and why we're treatin' them to lunch instead of a prison cell?"

"Dude, just trust me on this."

"You know, you complained how Jacob didn't really explain anything, but I gotta tell you buddy, you aren't any better than he was. I am still head of security, so I have a job to do here, man. I need to keep you save."

"It's okay, dude. I am save." Hurley starts walking out and says, "I'll see you there."

"See me where?" Sawyers getting annoyed.

Hurley turns back around, "At the rec center. I'll see you there."

Hurley left and after standing there by himself for a few moments, he decides to follow his friend and find out what all this is about.

Hurley, Ben and Sawyer are standing around. Sawyer leaning onto the new pool table, absentmindedly playing again with the ring on his finger. "Can't you both just tell me what the hell is going on?" he glances over in the direction of Hurley and Ben.

Hurley looks at Ben, then back at Sawyer, "You chose to do this your way. You chose to do this without talking it over with me first, dude. Richard and Ben only helped you because they saw how desperate you were. But this is all on you now."

"What the hell is that supposed to me? We already had this conversation, Kong. It wouldn't have mattered either way, she wouldn't have believed me if I had said I don't love her anymore. I've never been good at pretending that I don't love her. Just ask Juliet next time she shows up to chitchat with ya'. This was the only way I knew how she wouldn't end up following me." Sawyer's eyes narrowed on Hurley, his anger rising up in him again.

Ben chimed in, "All he's saying, what's done is done, and you chose to do this your way. Now you have to deal with the consequences of your actions. But keep in mind that any of this will have been for nothing if you tell her why you did it. These are the rules of the island, you can't tell her, no matter what. Do you understand James?"

He shook his head to both of them, didn't understand where all this was coming from, "Her? She thinks I'm dead, why would I tell her anything? And I don't see why you'd even bring that up now again. That converstation's over and done with. I wanna know how these people found the island, and why neither of you seem to be worried about it? Let's talk about that."

Right in that moment, the doors opened. Two men in Dharma uniforms brought in Frank, and right after Frank followed Kate.

Kate immediately locked eyes with Sawyer. Neither of them could believe it. Both their faces flooded with emotions in an instant. He thought he'd never see her again. She hoped he wasn't dead, but there was still this lingering doubt nagging her for the last 3 weeks.

"Sawyer?" She yelled out.

"Freckles?" Sawyer hurried over to her, then shoved the man aside that was holding onto her, and started untying her. Neither of them could take their eyes off of each other.

Frank looked on and smiled, "Son of a bitch. Would you look at that. He is alive!" Hurley ordered the other guy to untie Frank.

Kate looked up at him, he looked down at her. He gently cupped her cheek with his left hand, then slowly brushed his callused thumb over her lips.

"Are you real?" a whisper escaped her lips.

He smiled wide, brushing her cheek now with his thumb, "Are you?"

Both their hearts pounding more and more with every second passing. She framed his face with both her hands, pulling him down towards her. He did the same, pulling her in and they kissed. First just a soft kiss, then both pulling away again to look at each other again. To lock eyes all over again. Both smiling. Then he kissed her again, their eyes closed and this time their lips slowly parted. It seemed like that very first kiss all over again. His hands traveled down to her waist, pulling her entire body into him. Neither of them aware of anyone else in the room anymore.

That's when Ben looked around the group and said, "Maybe we should give them some privacy."

And with that Kate was snapped out of the trance like state she was caught in with Sawyer. She broke free from the kiss, free from his embrace and within the blink of an eye grabbed the gun of the guy that had brought her in. Pointing it at Ben Linus.

"Why did you do this? Why did you bring him back here?" She shouted angry with her eyes fixated on Ben.

Everyone was surprised and shocked at the same time.

Sawyer was the first one to speak, "Freckles, what the hell are you doing?"

She glanced over at him, still pointing the gun at Ben, "He did this to us! How can you just let him do this to us?"

Ben didn't say anything, neither did Hurley. Sawyer sighed because he knew the inevitable that would follow his confession, "Freckles, he didn't do anything." He shook his head, "I did this, I set it all up."

It took Kate a moment to let the words sink in, pain written all over her face. She slowly lowered the gun, looking up at Sawyer.

And without any further hesitation she punched him, her knuckles hitting his left cheekbone. She ignored the pain in her hand. "What? Why would you do that?" Her face showed every emotion running through her body. Betrayal. Confusion. Disbelieve. Lost hope. Hurt.

He brushed the punch away as if it had been nothing.

She yelled at him, "How could you do that to me? How could you to that to Clementine? To all of us?" She tucked the gun in the back of her jeans and walked back towards him and this time pushed him as hard as she could.

He backed up from her in the process, "I did what I had to do!"

Anger written all over her face. Her eyes were welling up with tears, "What you had to do? What is that supposed to mean?" Her hands balled into little fists hitting against his chest, "You son of a bitch. How could you do that to us?"

Within seconds her anger turned into tears. She stopped hitting him, just crying now. Sawyer tried to wrap her in his arms, but she pulled away. She wouldn't let him touch her anymore.

Frank walked over to her, pulled her in his arms instead, while he gave Sawyer a mean glance.

Sawyer looked on, wanted to console her so badly. Wanted to tell her the truth, but he couldn't. He knew she'd be grieving him. Knew she'd be in pain over his death, but seeing the pain he'd inflicted right in front of his eyes was too much to bear.

Hurley walked over, "Kate, why don't you come with me?"

Kate looked up from Franks embrace, "Just get me away from him."

Hearing her say that hurt him more then he would ever admit. He just stood there and looked on while Hurley put his arm around her shoulder and led her out of the rec room. Ben followed close by. So did the 2 men that had brought them here.

Frank watched her disappear out the door, then turned around to face Sawyer and said, "What the hell is wrong with you? How could you do that to her? She came back here cause she thought you'd been forced to come back." Frank walked towards him, giving him a push like Kate had done just a few moments ago.

Sawyer was mad enough at himself, and his inability to come up with a good enough lie to make her feel better. He hadn't prepared for her to ever come after him. He'd thought he'd done a good enough job convincing her he'd died. But when Frank shoved him, he welcomed it. He had an outlet for his anger.

He took a step towards Frank, evil glint in his eyes, "You sure you wanna make this your problem grandpa?"

Frank stood his ground, rolling up the sleeves on his shirt, "Grandpa? That's the best you got?"

Sawyer took a step towards him, right in his face, "Walk away now, and we forget that this ever happened. This doesn't concern you. I'm warning you Frank!" Just dare me and I'll put you in the ground instead.

"This doesn't concern me? I'm here, ain't I? I came back here with her to save you. But seems the only one that needs saving is her. She needs to be saved from you, you son of a bitch."

He pushed Sawyer again, and this time he was ready to punch him, but before he could the door flew open and Ben stopped them in their tracks.

"Frank? She's very upset, and she insists that I get you."

Frank and Sawyer exchanged a look, and without another word Frank just walked away. Walking out the door that Ben held open for him.

Ben turned around, "James, I send some men out to get those cameras fixed before nightfall."

Sawyer looked at him as if he'd lost his mind talking about work right now.

Then Ben continued, "She'll be fine, you should go home for now. And James, remember, all of this was for nothing if you tell her the truth ..."

Sawyer interrupted him, "I know, you told me time and again..."

Ben interrupted him, "Then I guess you just have to come up with a good enough lie. That shouldn't be too hard for you." Ben left before Sawyer could comment.

Sawyer was pacing back and forth in his living room. Rubbing his ring on his finger over and over again. It had been hours since Kate had arrived, but he hadn't seen her since Hurley walked away with her. How the hell did this happen? She was supposed to think he'd died. She was never supposed to come back here. Never supposed to come back for him. Everything he'd done was to avoid this very scenario. Damnit!

He's startled out of his thoughts with a knock on his door.

He rushes to the door and opens it, hoping it might be her ... although he still hasn't decided what to say to her.

It's Hurley. "May I come in?"

Sawyer huffs, "Sure, come in." He steps aside, closing the door right after his friend found his way in.

He knows he must look pathetic, he damn sure feels pathetic when he asks, "So, how is she? Has she said anything? How did they get here?"

Hurley plops down on the chair, "That's why I came here. To fill you in, dude."

Sawyer decides to sit down across from him on the couch, "Go ahead, I'm all ears. What she say?"

"Apparently Desmond and Penny helped them get back here. And Miles and her found your laptop, and gotten some letters you wrote to her and Clementine." Hurley raised his eyebrows. "They said the letters kinda read like suicide notes. Anyway, so Miles went to the cemetery and found out that it wasn't you in that grave. So, that's how they figured that out."

Sawyer couldn't believe it, "My laptop burned in the fire, and I erased everything before I started the fire. And Miles, he told me once that he doesn't get within 100 yards of a damn cemetery ... that son of a bitch." He ran his fingers through his hair, obviously disappointed that his plan hadn't worked out like he'd planned. "So what she say about me? Did she ask you why I did it?"

"Yeah, she asked, but I told her that I can't say. Anyways, she was pretty upset, but she calmed down a bit. The doc tried to give her some valium to calm her nerves, but she refused. Anywho ...thought I'd fill you in." He looked up at Sawyer.

"Did she asked where I am at all? Did she ask to see me?" There it was again, that pathetic longing for her to want me.

"No, dude, sorry. She didn't ask ... but she cursed your name a few times, if that counts for anything."

Sawyer frowned at that last remark.

"So, have you thought of anything yet? I mean if she did want to see you, have you thought of something yet to tell her why you did what you did?"

"Not really, I guess I'll just have to go with the standard, stealing a little thunder from Locke and Jack, if you know what I mean?"

Hurley looked at him confused, "What?"

"You know, like 'I was supposed to' or 'it was my destiny' sorta crap ... that ought buy me enough time to come up with something better."

Hurley smiled, "Yeah, dude, I got a feeling she ain't gonna buy any of that crap from you. She knows you inside out. Destiny ain't your thing, but it's better than nothing I guess."

Hurley pushed himself up out of the chair, "I guess I better go check on her, have to figure out a place for them to sleep tonight."

"She could sleep here." He stood up fast, "I mean, I'd give her the bed, and I crash on the couch."

Hurley gave him an awkward smile, "Yeah, I don't think she's gonna go for that dude. And to be honest, I'm not even comfortable with bringing it up either ... she'd just rip my head off, you know. She looks pretty hardcore when she's mad."

"Could you at least try, Hugo. How the hell am I supposed to patch things up with her, if I don't even get anywhere near her."

Hurley sighed as he slowly walked towards the front door, "I see what I can do. Oh, but before I forget, Ben said you and Frank looked like you were about to throw down in the rec room." Hurley looked up, and Sawyer nodded. "Well, dude, beating up the only person she seems to trust at the moment ain't the way to get back into her good grace, man. So just keep that in mind before you beat up on an old man, alright?"

"Duly noted." Sawyer answered before he shut the front door again behind Hurley.

He sat back down on the couch, his elbows resting on his knees and his face buried in his hands. He knew this was a terrible thing to do, but it was even worse knowing she knew about it. The cowardly way. She was supposed to think he died,... but that way she'd at least still love him.

Kate was sitting alone on the basement stairs of Hurley's house. The house was full with people and she'd needed a minute to be by herself. So she went to the basement.

There she was sitting on the stairs, her knees drawn up, with her arms draped around them, and her head hanging down. What the hell just happened? Her heart was broken into a million pieces. She didn't understand what she'd done for him wanting to walk out on her like this. She was embarrassed that everyone knew about it too. All of them looking at her with those sad eyes full of sympathy. She didn't want that. All she wanted was for him to tell her that he made a huge mistake. That he wish he could take it all back. But it wouldn't help anything at this point. What he'd done couldn't be undone.

Her mind was racing a mile a minute. She was exhausted.

Should she seek him out? Should she give him the chance to explain himself? Should she get the hell away from here? She had a million questions, but most of them she was afraid what the answer would be, so she didn't ask them.

Sawyer grabbed 2 six pack of beers and headed out his front door. It was already dark out, a full moon high up in the sky. He started walking, went by Hurleys house even though it was out of his way, just for the off chance she might be outside. But she wasn't. The lights were on, and it killed him knowing she was in there somewhere. He stopped for a brief moment, just staring at the house. He then kept on walking. He walked for a while to get to the nearest beach.

Looking for a quite spot. He finally arrived at the sandy shore, sat down in the sand with his knees bend. He opened his first beer and started drinking. He'd already drank a few before he'd left his house. He was trying his best to drink all this pain away.

I'm gonna drink some beers, trying to catch a buzz. I'm gonna lay me down on this sandy beach. Make another wish up on a fallin star. I'm gonna think again about the way it was. I'm gonna close my eyes and forget about us. I know it won't be easy, but I've got a plan. To just let my memory let go of your hand. I'm gonna miss your touch, but I know I must forget about us. When the morning sun burns across my face, I put my shirt back on get up and walk away. I'm gonna forget those soft green eyes, and your warm skin. And the way you say good morning ... If I can just forget about it all then I'll be alright.

She'd settled down to sleep on Hurleys couch. She had so much on her mind, she actually didn't think she could even fall asleep, but exhaustion took over. He was alive, and she was finally able to sleep again for the first time since the police had told her that he'd died.

"Good morning sunshine." The way too cheery voice awoke him.

He opened his eyes and immidiatly felt the pounding in his head. His throat was dry, but he managed to get a "Good morning to you too" out anyways.

Rose sat down in the sand next to him, moving some of the empty beer cans out of the way first. "Darndest thing happened to me this morning." She glanced at him as he buttoned his shirt back up.

"What?" he asked, but immediately regretting saying anything at all. His headache got stonger with every word he spoke. Or at least so it seemed to him

"I ran into Kate." She said smiling.

"Oh." Was all he brought out.

She looked at him, with those big brown eyes, "So what happened sweetheart?"

"She didn't tell you?" and as soon as the word came out, his hand went to his head, as if holding it would stop the pounding.

Rose looked at him sympathetically. She had this motherly nature about her. "How about we get you home, and while you take a shower I make you some breakfast. A asprin or two and something in your stomach other then beer might help with that headache of yours. What do you think honey?"

Sawyer couldn't help but smile a little at the way Rose called him sweetheart and honey within seconds. He couldn't help but think back at his mom, how she used to call him that. He just nodded his head, because with everyone fussing over Kate, and him not being part of it, he could use someone fussing over him for one morning.

He got up, lightheaded for a moment and was just about to walk away, when Rose pointed to the empty beer cans scattered on the beach. "You're gonna pick those up, aren't you?"

He chuckled while squinting his eyes at the bright morning sunlight, then nodded and said, "Yes ma'am." As he started picking them off the sandy beach. She helped him with the task and then slowly walked back towards the barracks. When they arrived there, he was looking around, with the hope of getting at least a glimpse of Kate for a second. But he wasn't that lucky.

End Note: Reviews are always appreciated! Thank you for reading!