Quickie:

LostSista - Thank you for calming my insecurity about Cassidy's characterization. It helps - really, it does.
Jerseygirl92 - Cassidy? Leave a 6 year old in a motel alone? Pfft. No. I...just, didn't explain that. Doh! Another blemish to cover up..
Mathildou - The three of them in one room together has always been a mind-blowing idea to me. I tried to be a close to realistic as I could with it, so I hope it worked. It'd be amazing to see it really done though. You know, if any of the producers happen to be reading this story by chance...;)
SassyLostie - You know, what happened? You used to be such a dedicated reviewer and now I get barely anything out of you. Well fine. Go ahead and be cheap! Not like I care or anything. You and your short reviews...pshaw.
(Kiiiiiidding!!! I couldn't help that one.)

Well, well. I won't be around to update for two days. And if I forget, it might well be five... So don't let me forget! Then again, I haven't my own internet access yet, so internet is always here and there. Hopefully I'll be able to update again within 5 days. (Within, not in.)

My only words: I...don't like the unrealistic-ness of this chapter, but it's open to interpretation. Enjoy.

Chapter 39

Kate was left alone for a while, until Sawyer returned a couple of hours later. He dropped his keys on the mantle and found her in the kitchen flipping through a magazine.

"She's gone?" he asked.

Kate looked up, startled.

"Cassidy," Sawyer clarified.

"Yeah," she looked down at the page. "She's gone."

"Good."

He walked around the table toward the empty chair across from her.

"James…" she closed the magazine. "We need to talk."

He sighed, still standing and holding onto the top of the chair.

"Look. I didn't wanna say anything about it 'cause I don't want nothin' to do with that kid."

"No, not about that."

"No?"

"She's here."

"What're you – "

"Clementine, isn't it?"

"What do you mean she's here?"

"Here, in Tennessee. Cassidy's staying at some motel, and she said Clementine was there."

"Bull Puckey."

"She said that you were going to meet her, one way or another."

"She said that?" he said, disbelieving.

"Yeah. Why, you don't believe her?"

"Do you?"

"Well give me a reason not to."

Sawyer finally sat down, sighing. This was the last thing he needed right now.

"How long ago she leave?"

"A few hours. She stayed for about fifteen minutes after you left."

"And you two, what, talked?"

"A little."

"What about?"

"You, actually." She looked down for a second. "I guess you really must have hurt her."

He quieted. "Why do you say that?"

"The way she was talking about you. It was like she wouldn't believe that you've changed."

"Have I?" he said with a glare.

"What do you mean have you?"

"Whatever…" he muttered.

She stared at him incredulously. "Well if you don't think you did, then I guess everything I said to her is shot to hell."

He peered at her. "Why?"

"I defended you, Sawyer." She got up, shaking her head. "I tried to tell her that you have changed. But maybe I was wrong."

Sawyer watched her leave the room, disgraced. He was reduced to Sawyer yet again. But this time, he decided she wasn't going to get the last word. He got up out of his seat and ascended upstairs. She was in their room, as he expected.

"What did you say to her?" he demanded.

She turned around, startled, but refused to speak. He walked more into the room, towards her, still glowering.

"What did you say, Kate?"

She tried to remain, unaffected, but blinked furiously.

"I told her that you're not the same man you used to be."

"What else?" he said, taking another step.

"I said she needed to give you time."

"What else?"

Another step closer and then they were inches apart. She looked up at him, hesitating.

"I told her that even though she might not believe it, you have a heart."

"Why would you say that?"

"Because you do," she said, softly. "This whole self-loathing act has got to stop, James. It's not who you are."

"You don't know who I am," he muttered, turning away from her.

"Yes, I do," she said, putting a hand on his shoulder.

She walked around so that she was facing him again, and placed her hands upon his face.

"You're better than the man you used to be."

He scowled. "The man I used to be – "

" - is gone now. Maybe not entirely, but for the most part. And that's a good thing, James."

He stared down at her, his eyes pain filled.

"Trust me," she whispered.

Kate leaned up and kissed him, softly and tenderly, with love. When she pulled away, he stared down at her for a moment, gratefully. Then he leaned down for another kiss, which grew more forceful than the first. In a minute's time, they were already pulling off each other's shirts, longing for the feel of skin. She shoved him lightly, breaking the kiss, then pushed him backward, sending him down on the bed.

It seemed like it had been so long, even though it hadn't. She let her hands explore his rock hard body as she kissed down his chest. When she reached his face again, she smiled down at him, and he admired the way her long brown curls poured over her shoulders and down over her breasts. He slid his hands around her face, pulling her down for another kiss, drinking her in. They came together, forgetting the pain from a moment ago...

Almost two hours later, Kate was lying in bed, and Sawyer stood next to the window smoking a much needed cigarette.

"Wow," he said suddenly.

"Wow?"

"Yeah. That thing you did…"

As he smashed the butt into the sill, she laughed and looked down, hiding her flushed face. He sauntered over and sat next to her on the bed again.

"Where'd you learn to do that?"

She turned on her side, leaning her head in her hand and looked up at him flirtatiously.

"Girl scouts."

He grinned. "You earn yourself a merit badge for that?"

"I earned my fair share of merit badges for all kinds of things."

He raised his eyebrows, fascinated. "Like what?"

Instead of answering, she quickly jumped from the bed and grabbed her robe.

"I'm gonna go start breakfast," she said, tying the knot.

"Breakfast? At two in the afternoon?"

"Fine, brunch."

"You already made the coffee, hours ago," he pointed out with a grin.

She turned her head and glanced at him over her shoulder.

"Well if you want to know what other merit badges I earned, I'm gonna need to replenish my energy."

He leaned back in bed, folding his hands behind his head. What a turn this day had taken…

Kate made her way down to the kitchen. The phone rang suddenly as she was leaning down to get a frying pan. Who could that be? she thought to herself. Cassidy?

"Hello?" she answered it.

"Hello, Kate? This is Amy from Dr. Park's Office. How are you?"

Her stomach twisted. "Hi Amy. I'm good, thanks."

"Dr. Park wanted me to inform you that she's been examining the test results from two days ago. As it turns out, she hasn't seen anything that should provoke deformities or complications in the embryo or you."

"Okay…"

"What this means is that there is a ninety-eight percent chance that your baby – and you – will escape any deformities or complications."

Kate held onto the phone, speechless. Two days ago there was a huge uncertainty, and now there was a great chance that nothing would be wrong?

"Kate? Are you there?"

"Yes. Sorry. I'm here."

"I know there's that small percentage of a chance, but Dr. Park assures you that it's nothing to worry about. I'd have her tell you herself, but she's busy with a patient right now."

"Oh," Kate said, uncertainly, still not fully registering Amy's words. "Are you sure?"

"Positive. You should have nothing to worry about. Of course, Dr. Park will be monitoring just in case, but it's hardly an issue. Your baby and you should remain healthy and unscathed."

Kate dropped the phone and fainted. Sawyer heard the thud from the head of the stairs and hurried his way down to see if Kate was all right. He saw her sprawled on the kitchen floor, the phone at her side.

"Kate!" he rushed to her. "Kate, are you alright? Wake up!"

Slowly, she started to come together.

"The baby…" she whispered.

He stared at her, confused. "Okay. We'll go see the doctor right away."

"No, I mean the baby is okay."

"Yeah, but I don't know how hard you hit your head when you fell. We should go check it out anyway."

"James, you're not listening to me," she said, slowly sitting up. "I'm fine. The baby is fine! The doctor's office just called."

"What?"

"The test results. She said that she didn't see anything that would trigger the deformities or complications. We should be fine."

"What do you mean should be?"

"Well, there's a small chance, but – "

"How small?"

"Two percent. But that other ninety-eight says we'll be okay. The…the baby and I."

He looked away for a second. "Well, I guess this changes things a bit, don't it?"

"A bit?"

"Well, a lot."

He helped her up and they both took a seat at the table. They both avoided eye contact, suddenly. Kate looked down at the floor, while Sawyer stared at the table. She spared a glance at him.

"So now what?"