Welcome to the second ever Friday Fic Challenge!

First off, let's see who won the first one!

*opens the envelope*

IT'S A TIE!

Congratulations PARTYMAN AND NANSE!

I don't know what you've won! perhaps we'll come up with SOMETHING :D

"So, it's Friday Fic, but you're posting on Wednesday?"

Well, "Wednesday Fic" doesn't sound as cool as "Friday Fic," also, we'll vote on the best starting on Friday.

So basic rules are:

1. You cannont start the story until the challenge is announced. (we cannot really enforce this rule, but since the challenges will be specific....it will be hard to have something prepped alrady.

2. post by friday NOON California time (that's 3 eastern). Basically you get ALL of Thursday (24 hours) with a bit of a grace period.

3. on Friday I will I will reopen the voting in the comment thread.

4. stories must comply with rules of this site, no cussing or overly explicit sex or anything, use common sense!

5. this thread is for posting the stories ONLY. Comments to go in the comment thread. (http://www.thefuselage.com/threaded/index.php?topic=6363.0)

6. keep in mind that the writers cannot legally read fanfic, so please don't go promoting this thread in the VIP lounge.

7. these are YOUR stories...you don't have to impress us with how much cannon you know or try to guess what will ACTUALLY happen . . . make it your OWN.

8. Please title your stories either at the top of the entry or prefferably in the subject line so when we start voting it's easier to vote.

now for the CHALLENGE:

Write an short fic (like i dont' care how long..it can be 100 words for all i care) centered around Sawyer..
difficulty level - you must include somewhere, in a flashback or on the island (from luggage?) a Super Soaker filled with Cola and hat made of fronds..

good luck and have fun!

(comment on the stories here) (http://www.thefuselage.com/threaded/index.php?topic=6363.0)

OK so I'm new to the threaded board . . . hope this is what I'm supposed to do! ^_^
My story;


The Possibility of Heatstroke


It’s not like Sawyer to exhibit the fact that he can do anything really useful – demonstrating skill might mean he’d have to work, and he’d rather get by on his stash of stuff and fast talking than by sweating his *** off for someone else’s benefit – but the sun’s damn hot, and well, he’s bored.

Over-under-over-under . . .

Gradually the mat of fronds he’s weaving takes on a conical shape, and voila, a hat. Looks a bit Robinson Crusoe, but it’ll do.

Jesus Christ it’s hot out here.

Going to the water-filled tarp, Sawyer manages to gulp some of the rainwater down, and splash more over his head before the Hero corners him. Ah well. Only to be expected.

‘We’re supposed to be slowing down our water consumption, Sawyer. We don’t know how long it’ll be until it rains again,’ says Jack, although Sawyer can tell he’s not really convinced by this line of argument.

‘It’s fucking Monsoon Central out here boy, in case you hadn’t noticed. And you used enough of it on Fever Man the other day.’

Jack’s expression hardens at the mention of the man Sawyer tried – and failed – to euthanase. Sawyer glares right back at the doctor. It’s amazing that the particles of sand drifting between them don’t combust; the mutual disgust in their eyes is so intense.

‘He was dying.’

‘Yeah, well, he died. Despite your Aquarius impression. And unless you want people to start dying of heatstroke as well as from your screw-ups, I think maybe you should let them drink.’

Sawyer stalks off to the edges of the greenery; still technically on the beach but close enough to the trees to get some shade.
God, what he wouldn’t give for a Coke right now. Back home, on hot summer days like this, his favourite trick during water fights used to be loading his Super Soaker with cola rather than water. Leaves the victims sticky as hell and attracting flies.

Sawyer grins at the memory, and lies back against the tree, his frond hat tilting over his eyes and shading him from the sun’s glare.

*whoomph*

An explosion of sand beside him makes Sawyer start, hat falling into his lap. He looks up, sees Jack standing a few metres off. Then he looks down, to see a drink bottle in the sand next to him.

‘Wouldn’t want you to die of heatstroke, now would we,’ says Jack drily, and moves on. Suddenly he stops, and looks back. ‘Now all you’ve got to worry about is . . . screw-ups.’


Trojanhorse

Okay my first time and I'm really nervous but here we go....

Sawyers Luggage



Sawyer was ticked off storming down the beach...."You Have you seen my luggage?" The people around him shook their heads..."How come nobody here has seen my luggage ?"
"Find it yourself dude like the rest of use" Hurly put in....Sawyer didn't bother to give him a response he Continued storming down the beach.. people scurried out of his way. His eyes burning with anger.. he started kicking and throwing the luggage around him..."Where is it...Where"
"How could it be someone who has everything else.. can't find his own luggage..?"
Laughing he glanced up "Listen here freckles this isn?t the time nor the place to play this game "Stepping forward he leaned in closer "I've got better things to do then have another round of cat and mouse" Kate tilted her head..."suit yourself.."
He grabbed her arm as Kate turned to go..."What?" He asked through gritted teeth. Pulling her arm out of his grasp she turned and starting walking towards the jungle. "You know Freckles this better be well worth it...because I'm starting think this was just a ploy to..."He was cut off by being hit with something sticky in the face..."Found this in your luggage. Figured I play with it, I never had one growing up and I added a little something else I found .."Holding up a coke can she smirked.
Eyeing the super soaker he smiled "Great you had your fun...hand it over" Raising an eyebrow she squirted him again.. "What will give me for it?" Laughing again he stepped closer.. "No ,I don't want no.. here take it" Kate told him handing the now empty super soaker over.." Besides Sawyer I think I'll have more fun with this" Sawyer was to busy eyeing the super soaker to pay attention to Kate.. "Yeah Yeah ,Yeah you just do what ever your heart desires freckles"
"Are you sure about that..." Glancing up he stopped.. "I believe that?s mine to.. "Standing there in his hat made of fronds was Jack "I don't think that?s your style doc, now hand it over I aint gonna ask nicely again..." Kate grabbed the hate..."Come and get it" She dared him running off into the jungle..

THE END~

Yay!* I started pecking the moment you posted the challenge!* THANKS speaker! This is fun!* Oh and kind of long, but hopefully entertaining. :)

==================================

THE DAY IS YOUNG


Sawyer observed Walt’s activities while sitting in his usual bartering spot outside of his tent.* Walt was unearthing rocks around the perimeter of the jungle with a stick.* Vincent trotted closely behind him, often stopping to sniff each stone before rejoining his master.

“That kid must be bored as h*ll,” Sawyer thought to himself, “I know I am.”

His Kate-dar hadn’t gone off all afternoon, so he knew she wasn’t around to strike a few sparks off of.*

Sawyer flicked the blade of grass that he had been peeling into thin strips out of his hands.*

Fidgety hands had always been a bad habit of his even when he was younger.* His mother had learned the hard way to keep his hands and mind occupied when one day she had been tapped on the shoulder by store security regarding the payment of a keychain toy that was stocked on a lower shelf in the checkout line.* He tried to explain to them that while concentrating really hard to solve the miniature Rubik’s cube that was attached to the key chain, he hadn’t even noticed that while following behind his mom, they had walked out of the store.*

The doctor had warned his parents that it was simply a stage he was going through in order to get their attention.* He grunted at the accuracy of the diagnosis that was now right on target.* His dad had been awfully mad at him about the key chain incident and just as mad at his mom for spending $815 on one outfit.*

Walt stumbled and drew Sawyer’s attention once again to the youngster's mundane existence.* Sawyer didn’t have any brothers and sisters either and understood the kind of loneliness he must have been feeling as an only child.* Hell, to be the only child on an island would have to be down right unbearable.

Sawyer stood to his feet to stretch his legs and turned as he heard Walt’s name being shouted from out of the density of the jungle.

“Hey Walt!” Michael called out, “Walt!”

Walt ran around the thickness of the brush and into his father just as he was stepping out the foilage into the clearing, “Yeah Dad?”

“What did I tell you about always running off?” Michael asked his son sternly.

With a deep sigh, Walt apologized to his dad.

“Poor kid” Sawyer thought.* “Which is worse, to not grow up with a father as a kid or to be with one who forgets you even exist half the time?* He knew the answer to that before he even asked.* He would have given a limb to have the latter.* Part-time is better than none at all.

“Look I’m sorry man, just worried about you that’s all.” Michael stooped down to look into his son’s eyes.* “We’re all we’ve got, Ok?”* Walt shook his head in agreement and hugged his dad.

Sawyer watched with envy as father, son and dog disappeared into the brush towards the caves they now called home.*

====

“Dude,” Hurley addressed Sawyer, startling him from behind.* “Uh….like we got another golf game starting up in a few and uh…I could use some mousse for this,” he said pointing at the uncontrollable mane that he had failed to keep under the wraps of a makeshift hat made out of palm fronds.* There appeared to be a belt holding the hat down from the top with the straps buckled underneath his chin.* “So you care to make another one of those wagers?” he asked Sawyer bracing himself for the verbal insult that was sure to come.

“Another day Doughnut,” Sawyer replied with a dimpled smile, grateful that he was being asked at all.* “Meet me here after the game though and I’ll see what I have in my inventory for that bad hair weave of yours.”*

“Okaaaay,”* Hurley answered slowly, thinking it was too easy and wondering if it was a trick or not*. When he saw that it wasn’t, he smiled then added as he turned to walk away, “You know dude, your OK.* I don’t care what they say about you.”* Hurley stopped in his tracks.* He could’ve kicked himself for that last statement.* “Uh…I guess that was a little too much information.”* He hurried off before he messed up the deal completely.

Sawyer scratched the overgrowth of stubble on his chin and started walking in the same direction as Michael and Walt through the jungle.* But instead of continuing northeast, he turned just west of the fresh water area that Jack had discovered the night he was MIA from the camp.*

Sawyer rummaged and picked through what was left of the wreckage.* He knew it was here somewhere.* He stepped over the muddy dolls that actually started to take on a realistic look of decay.*

“I gotta get off this da** island,” he thought to himself as he once again shook off the eerie feeling he got when he looked at the trail of dolls.

“Ah!”* He saw the yellow plastic tube jutting out of what appeared to be shreds of soiled quilted satin and remnants of cherrywood debris.*
====

“Hey Tatoo!”* Sawyer shouted at Walt.*

Walt raised his head in time to see in its purest 3-D form, a splash of fresh water from the caves headed his way just as he shut his eyes in time to take the brunt of the strong spray.* He looked up at Sawyer in utter shock and a hint of fear as he held both of his dripping arms out in an extended position.

“Oops my bad son, I didn’t know it worked,” Sawyer said tossing the SuperSoaker down onto the ground in front of Walt.* Sawyer smiled and slowly turned around and started to walk away, knowing that the temptation would be too much for the little guy.

Walt looked around for his dad and although there were a few people still on the beach, he remembered his dad had stopped working on the raft to play some golf.

Twenty minutes later during a one-sided water fight between Walt and a soaked and dripping wet Sawyer, they heard a twig crack and both stopped in time to catch Steve walking off with a Polaroid camera strapped to his shoulder.

Later on that night Sawyer yanked the string that pulled the now affixed SuperSoaker trigger and shot the Rum and Coke into his mouth.* This was as close as he was going to get to the single beer he had each night before he went to bed back home.* "A man’s gotta’ do what a man’s gotta’ do, "he chuckled softly.* He offered the toy to the kid, but for some reason the kid thought his dad wouldn't* be pleased with him accepting gifts from anyone.*

He opened his briefcase and checked his inventory of liqueurs.* “I’ll have to have a cocktail with little Miss Secrets one day,” he thought mischieviously.*

A shadow fell across the opening of his tent.* A hand pushed a flat object underneath the flap of it.* Sawyer wiped his hands on his jeans as he picked up the photo.* He opened the tent door hoping that the light of the campfire would give the photo more clarity.*

He smiled to himself when he saw that something indeed had been captured in both of the photo's subjects:*

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v194/DiamondLife1985/TheDayIsYoung.jpg

photo compliments of People magazine

The Waternater

Sawyer laid out next to Brandi, the dumbest lady he had ever conned. They were at her resort, enjoying the sun after days of rain. She lathered on baby oil even though her tan already was deep brown. Sawyer smiled at her, leaned back, and tried to get some sleep.

"D*mn kids.." he sighed as the screaming and thwacking of noodles woke him up.

"I'm going to get you!" A little girl yelled at her older brother when she finally managed to get out of the pool, in tears. He shrugged, dived under the surface and attacked another kid like a shark.

"Wouldn't you love to have one?" Brandi asked. Sawyer grinned and kept his mouth shut. May God help us all if that woman ever becomes a mother... He thought. Just met her the day before yesterday and already she has paid for my plane ticket out of here.

The little girl came running back, this time armed with a water gun.

"That's my Super Soaker!" Her brother complained, starting to get out of the pool. She armed and fired, but instead of water streaming out, it was cola. And not great to be soaked in, by the looks of the screaming boy.

____


to be continued when I get home from school

Tid's Tale: Part 2: The Plot Thickens!

WARNING!!
This is part 2 of an ongoing story! Please read Part 1: Tournament of Fools! By Clicking Here: http://www.thefuselage.com/threaded/index.php?topic=5719.msg91091#msg91091
Thank you,
Tid

And Now Part 2: The Plot Thickens!

Sawyer hung up with Mel and felt a high he only felt when a job was coming together.* He didn’t trust Mel; really he didn’t trust anyone, not since that day so many years before.* When your job was conning others it was hard to ever trust anyone else.

As soon as Mel said the name “Hurley” Sawyer had almost puked.* He’d heard stories of the one they called Hurley for years.* He was sure most of the stories weren’t true, but if even a tenth of them were, then this was the big score he’d waited for his entire life.* But the real reason he almost puked is because several of the stories he’d heard of connected Hurley to his namesake, the man he’d been hunting for most of his life, the man they called Sawyer.* *If those stories were true then his search may finally have been coming to an end.

Sawyer thought, if it is true, then something inside of me most have known and brought me her to Australia to finally finish this once and for all.* He had hurriedly regained his composure and finished his conversation with Mel and hung up the phone.
__________________________________________________ ____________________________

Sawyer awoke on the beach to see Hurley leering over him wearing a giant hat made of fronds.
“Dude, I totally just made this hat, how cool is that?* If you like it I could trade it for some of those peanuts you’re still hoarding”
“I ain’t got no more peanuts big britches, so just turn around and walk away from me.”

“Dang, I was just trying to be nice, Jerk” Hurley mumbled as he turned and walked back up the beach.

I was so close, so close, and then that damned plane went down, Sawyer thought to himself.
__________________________________________________ ____________________________

As soon as Sawyer hung up the phone began to ring.
“What now?”
Sawyer’s face dropped at the sound of the voice on the other end of the phone.
“Yes sir”
“OK, I will”
“No, no that’s fine.”
Sawyer hung up the phone and took a deep breath.* He reached for the phone and realized that was a mistake.* If they knew where he was staying, then they most likely already had the phones tapped and the room bugged.* He grabbed his cell phone and walked out the door.*
He took a cab a few blocks away and got out a walked around for a while to make sure he wasn’t being followed.* Finally he stopped and* called Mel.
“Hello?” Mel answered.
“Mel, listen you have to keep Hurley here an extra day or two”
“Why?* I thought everything was good to go?”
“Because something’s come up, just get him to take a later flight to stay with you a few more days.* I promise we will still be able to make this work, Trust me”

As he put away his cell phone he began to walk down the street. Suddenly a kid rode by on a bike and sprayed him with a super soaker.* Sawyer realized he hadn’t been sprayed with water but a coke of some kind, he ran after the kid and began to yell obscenities at him.* The kid turned a corner and as Sawyer turned the corner after him he bumped into her and knocked her down.
“Watch where you’re walking.” Sawyer shouted at her and hurried after the kid…..

End Part 2

Okay, this is barely checked over and I wrote it inbetween tasks at work, so forgive and bit mess ups or poor story telling.* Sawyer was both hard and fun to work with. This story also kinds flowed in a direction I didn't inted, so hope it pans out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sucker
By: Nanse

Sawyer ran his fingers around the brim one last time.* It wasn’t perfect.* In fact, it looked pretty lousy, but being stranded on lovely Craphole Island meant beggars couldn’t be choosers.* It wasn’t like he was going to come across a Hugo Boss anytime soon. Plopping the frond hat on his head, tucking a blanket under his arm, and grabbing his sparkly sunglasses he headed off to the beach for a little fun in the sun.* A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth at the thought of Dr. Do Good getting all bent out of shape seeing him lounging comfortably not doing a darn thing.* It made his day getting under that man’s skin.

Very purposefully, Sawyer chose a spot in full view of the path to the cave.* He dug into the sand creating a nice makeshift recliner, laid his blanket down and settled in.* The repetitive sound of the waves and warm sun had him beginning to drift off before long.* Just as he was about succumb to the nice nap calling his name, a shower of sand and bamboo sent him jumping from his blanket.

“What the heck!!”* He yelped, skipping clear of the debris sending his hat and glasses flying

“Sorry.”

Brushing the sand off he looked up to see the kid was the culprit.

“Hey Mini-me!* Watch out where you’re going!”*

“I said I was sorry.”* Walt shot back at him indignantly.

“Yeah, sorry.” Sawyer mumbled as he picked his hat out of the sand and shook out his blanket.* “Shouldn’t you be in daycare or something?”

“I’m ten years old, I DON’T need daycare.”*

“Whatever, Tatoo,” Sawyer dismissed him as he settled back down. “Why don’t you go run along to daddy?”

Thinking that was the end of the encounter, the Sawyer wiggled back into a comfortable position and closed his eyes.* The kid just stood there, however.* He stood there staring.* Sawyer let out a sigh and cracked his eyes open.

“Ya planning on takin’ root there?” he asked.

“Where’d you get the hat?”* Walt asked out of left field.

“Made it.* Why do you care?”* Sawyer asked back, closing his eyes again.

“It looks funny.”*

“Well look who’s the fashion critic all of a sudden.* Don’t you have somewhere to be?”
Walt shrugged.* “My Dad’s trying to build a raft.* That’s what the bamboo is for.* But it’s really boring.”

“Well thanks for the island bulletin.* Now don’t ya have a boat to build?”

Walt stared for a second longer, and finally gave up.

“Sheesh!”* He grumbled gathering the bamboo. “Ya don’t gotta be so mean about it.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“You don’t have to be so mean about it.* I said I was sorry.”

Sawyer found himself soaked, and suddenly feeling guilty at yelling at some snot nosed kid who didn’t watch where he was shooting.* He looked down at the tow headed boy decked out in a ridiculous combination of army fatigue pants, a futuristic laser tag vest, and bright colored plastic utility belt.* The kid’s weapon, the weapon that had Sawyer looking like a dunked dog, hung loosely in his hands.* Bright blue, angry and hurt eyes looked defiantly up at him.

Sawyer cursed under his breath.* Just his luck.* Here he was on his way to meet a guy about getting some money so he could the heck out of this crazy country, and what happens?* A rug rat with a Super Soaker, and an itchy trigger finger sees fit to give him an unwanted shower.* He probably had ruined his dry clean only suit while he was at it.* The kid deserved a good yelling at.* What was a kid doing taking pot shots at passerbys anyway?* And yet he was standing here feeling guilty about giving the kid a tongue-lashing.* He was getting way to soft.

“What are you doing hiding in the bushes shooting at everything that moves anyway?”* Sawyer asked the kid, his anger still seeping into his voice.

“Like I said, I didn’t mean to hit you mister.* I thought you were my brother.* I wanted to get he and his friends back for ambushing me.”* The kid explained.

“And I look a lot like this brother of yours?”* Sawyer asked as he tried to wrong out his jacket.

“No.”* The kid mumbled guiltily. “I kinda got over-anxious.”

“No kidding.”* Sawyer mumbled.

“Look, I said I was sorry okay!”* The kid shouted and spun around on his heels angrily.

Sawyer sighed.* That was a great way to alleviate his guilt at shouting at the kid, shout more.

“Hey kid!”* He called.* “Wait up.”

“What?” the kid grumbled.* “Are you gonna yell at me more?”

“Nah.” Sawyer said. “You wanna get your brother back good?”

“Yeah.”* The kid looked at him skeptically.

“Don’t shoot ‘em with water.”* Sawyer offered.

“What am I supposed to shoot him with then?”*

“Get a couple Cokes use ‘em to fill up the Super Soaker of yours.* It’s real sticky, and with all the mosquitoes around here, the sugar will make sure they get eaten alive.* They’ll be itching for days.”* Sawyer explained.

“Cool.”* The kid immediately bolted for the nearest market, enthralled with the idea.* He only paused and turned back long enough to through back a “Thanks mister!”

Sawyer caught himself smiling a bit, remembering when he pulled that trick on his Dad when he was a kid.* The smile faded as quickly as it came.

“Just make sure you watch who your shootin’ kid!”* He shouted after the boy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sawyer shook off the memory, and watched Walt’s retreating back for a second.* He thought about just letting the boy keep going.* It wasn’t really his business anyway.* Then again, he was sucker.

“Hey kid!”* He shouted after Walt.

“What?” Walt shouted back.

“Come here.”* Sawyer waited for the boy to make his way back to him.

“What to you want?” Walt asked not hiding his annoyance.

“Ya wanna play a trick on your old man?” the conman asked.

“A trick?”* The kid tried to keep on a poker face, but Sawyer could read the curiosity, and mischief brewing in the his eyes.

“Yeah, a trick.* Come on.* I got an idea.”

Sawyer grabbed his things and led the way to his tent, with Walt right at his heels.*

"Hey!"* Walt spoke up.* "Can you show me how to make one of those funny hats too?"

Sawyer looked back at the boy.* He shook he head.

"Yeah, sure kid.* Whatever you want."

Yup, he sure was a sucker.

"The sad man behind blue eyes"

Yesterday had been a tough day. The waves had come up even further, threatening to wash away the remaining threads that reminded the Lost survivors that they had come from previous lives in real civilizations. Everyone had worked hard yesterday. Sawyer had even seen Charlie move for the first time in days. Today, there was a nervous kind of levity. Everything was safe for now and the priority was once again both trying to find Claire and trying not think about what had happened too much. He hated times like these. There were too many reminders. Like Kate. She looked at him the same way....the same as Sarah had....

*flashback* Sawyer is about 13, at an orphanage. They are gathered in a large cafeteria for dinner. There was a dance coming up. Sawyer desperately wanted to go, and he knew he wanted to ask Sarah, a girl already tallish with brown hair, sparkling eyes, and an engaging smile. His plan was to walk suavely up to her and pose the question. He had a coke in hand. She was there with all her friends, talking, delighting everyone. She didn't carry the same dark shadow that so many people around him did. He sauntered over, and in his mind's eye he could not have been cooler. He stopped short. His image of suave was the man who ruined his life. A punch in the gut. But there was a mission to be done.

And then the giggles came, the curse of all adolescents under stress or discomfort. Unfortunately for Sawyer, he had just taken a swig of his pop. He was close to Sarah...he put his hand over his mouth. She gave him a look that was purely disgust and that just seemed all the funnier. And then all of a sudden, he spewed coka cola all over the girl of his dreams. He might as well have filled up a super soaker and set it to its maximum setting. It felt like the whole world was crushing him down. He looked at Sarah one last time before she dashed away in feminine embarassment.

Kate was looking at him that way now.

"Are you going to help us?"

"Help you with what, Freckles? You mean there's something you and the good doctor can't do with hands tied behind your back?"

That bewitching smile again. Was it kind or cruel?Kind or cruel. A shadow came and Sawyer knew that Jack approached. Jack, like all those boys in the public high school they made Sawyer go to who had it all together, who always got the girls. Sawyer pictured Jack with a hate made of fronds on, almost a god with laurel leaves, but not quite. A funny picture.

*flashback* Sawyer is in a small bedroom in a hotel looking at a handful of photos. They are, in addition to the letter, all that he carried with him from his previous life. It was the last vacation his family took. His mother was probably already seeing Sawyer, but the little boy in those pictures knew nothing of it. There were pictures of his parents, pictures of his dad, carefree and unknowing, and there, a picture of his dad with a frond hat on, a joking clown powerful because he was father. Only a short while later, Sawyer would see that man crack. Sawyer puts the photos in a trash can, lights a cigarette, and tosses it into the can too.

Sawyer sees Jin and Sun out of the corner of his eye. So happy looking, so aloof in their lack of a connection to anything going on in what Sawyer perceived of as the real world. There was Walt...Sawyer felt for the kid. A little. His mother died, his step-father dropped him like a hot potato. But Walt was to be resented to. He had a second chance now if he could ever get off this island. He had a real father there.

Jack and kate are huddled closely together talking. Sawyer sees his mother and the real Sawyer in confrontation with his father. He sees Sarah dancing with a Jack-like boy at that dance so long ago when there was a glimmer of hope that Sawyer's soul could be saved. He sees again the look of pity Kate gave him when she realized what his life story was. No, happy days like this were no good. It fueled his anger. it fueled his hatred. It fueled his desire to show everyone his true colors. It fueled his desire to get even.

The Waternater: Part 2

Warning: I like boots....

____


"You have a pretty mouth," Brandi told Sawyer over their shrimp dinner. It was all on her, of course, seeing as Sawyer had been 'pickpocketed at the airport'. Sawyer grinned. She sure has a way with words, don't she? he thought to himself.

There was a crash in the kitchen and the same little girl from the pool came running out, hands full of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

"GET BACK HERE!" A heavy man with a red face yelled as he came after her. He fell flat on his face after her brother stuck his foot out. The man got up and tried to grab the boy's ear, failing miserably and crashing into Sawyer's table. Marinara sauce splattered all over Brandi, who shrieked and desperately tried to save her dress from staining. With the force of her napkin, a wad of silicon popped out. Sawyer let out his roaring laughter, much to the disdain of Brandi, who waddled off in her ten foot heels.

Suddenly, all the chaos stopped. A dominating man had appeared at the door, and the girl stopped dead in her tracks. The chuckles died in Sawyer's throat, the boy froze mid stride, and the heavy man got up, shaking and sweaty.

"I'm so sorry sir, the rascals were after me lucky char- Reese's. Me lucky peanut butter cups!" He apologized for the disruption over and over again, but the tall man did nothing but stare at the children, as if they were communicating. Within a blink of an eye the girl was dangling from one of the man's powerful hands. The boy charged toward him only to be taken in the other.

"These are them," The man said. "Prepare the guillotine!" He snapped the order at the other man.

"You can't be serious," Sawyer said out loud. The man noticed him for the first time.

"Young man, I am Andrew Pinklyn, I assure you I'm serious. I am the owner of this restaurant." The way he said it, as if what Sawyer said was preposterous, made Sawyer think it was just a sick game.

"Well Andy, what ever show you're putting on here isn't that entertaining. I'm no critic, but if you expect a tip or something, you're out of luck." The children looked at him as if he had three heads.

"It didn't work on him... why didn't it work?" They looked at Andrew, utterly amazed.

"SHUT IT!" Andrew screamed, throwing them into the wall in his fury.

"Oh my God.." Sawyer started to rush toward the lifeless bodies, but Andrew stuck out his hand and snatched his neck as he went forward. He held gasping Sawyer over his head.

"You saw nothing. You ate some bad shrimp and it gave you a nightmare." Sawyer franticly reached for something as Andrew reached into his inside pocket and pulled out a syringe. Finally Sawyer's fingers clasped around something, and without thinking twice he brought it crashing down onto Andrew's head.

to be continued yet again after I pack... ::)

GAMES PEOPLE PLAY


Sawyer is sitting under the shade of what he now calls home, some metal and tarps and such. It is hot and Sawyer is wishing he had one of those battery powered fans to cool himself off. Sweat is running down his neck and chest and making his shirt stick to his body like a second skin. He pokes his head around from the tarp only to see Kate, down by the ocean and cooling herself off. She is wearing only her unmentionables and is looking very nice. He wonders why she would come down to right in front of his shantee to cool off and can't resist a little playful flirting. It is really the only thing he looks forward to and relishes the fact that Kate squirms so. He slowly gets up and quietly walks towards an unaware Kate.* Her back is to him and she is waste deep in the ocean and cupping handfuls of water and pouring it down her now bronzed body. He has to stop and just admire her for just a minute. He wonders what it would be like if they had met somewhere else. Anywhere besides this godforsaken island.

Sawyer- "Damn girl"

Kate is startled and quickly turns around and attempts to cover up a bit.

Sawyer- "Now don't tell me you're going to act like you are embarrassed. Heck, I thought that kiss meant something."

Kate- "What do you want Sawyer?"

Sawyer-"Well freckles, I thought you might be up for a game of connect the dots."

Kate- "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Sawyer, looking through the hair that has fallen across his face, smiles.

Sawyer- "C'mon freckles, connect the dots. You figure it out."

Kate- "Why do you have to be such an ***?"

Sawyer laughs as he turns away and starts to walk back to his home away from home. "Anytime you are ready just let me know."

Kate watches as Sawyer saunters through the sand and thinks to herself "Why does he have to be so damned fine."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Later that day Sawyer sees Kate walking by herself and heading into the JUNGLE of MYSTERY. He thinks to himself "I wouldn't be much of a gentleman if I let her go into the jungle by herself now would I?"

Sawyer shouts- "Freckles!! You wouldn't be thinking about going into the jungle all by your lonesome now, would you?"

Kate stops and turns around and waits for Sawyer to join her but then quickly shuts him down.

Kate- "I am just going to get some water and besides, I can protect myself or do you need reminding?"

With that she turns and continues into the jungle. Sawyer starts walking right along her side.

Sawyer- "Oh would ya please? But lets stick to the hand to hand combat and spare me your rocks."

Kate-"Look, if you insist on coming can we just try to act normal?"

Sawyer- "Whatever you want freckles, I am just here for the ride."

Kate- "So, tell me something funny that has happened in your life and I will tell you something funny that happened in mine."

Sawyer-" Ah, kinda like truth or dare huh?"

Kate- "Never mind, forget it."

Sawyer thinks about pushing it further but then decides that it might be benificial to play nice this time.

Sawyer- "Well, I am not sure how funny this is but I will give it a whirl".

Sawyer looks at Kate to see how interested she seems. It seems as though he has her full attention as she is staring at him in a way that he has seen her look at Jack. Sawyer starts to feel the anger and jealousy rise up but realizes that Jack is not here and he best take this opportunity while he has it.

" I spent the night in jail once for delivering Christmas presents to a hospital. You see, I owed this guy a favor and so when he called and said that we would be even if I made a delivery for him I said yes. Now I know what you are thinking but all I was supposed to do was bring a bag of wrapped Christmas presents to a hospital. I should have known better but this guy did do alot of charity work. It was his way of trying to pass himself off as an upstanding citizen or something. Most people that knew him knew better but it didn't stop him from trying. Anyway, I was a little leary and so I asked if I could open one of the gifts and he said sure. So I open up this one and it is a cool Red Fire Truck and that was it. I figured what the heck, make a delivery of some presents and I won't owe this guy squat so I said yes."

Sawyer stops for a second but see's that Kate is eagerly awaiting the rest of the story.

"Anyway, all is going along just peachy like until the elevator door opens up to the floor I am supposed to drop this bag off at. Next thing I know I am on the floor, guns are drawn and people are screaming. They cuff me and I am screaming that I didn't do anything. That it is just Christmas presents. Well, it turns out one of those Christmas presents is a Super Soaker filled with cola. You know, the expensive uncut kind. The son of a gun set me up. It's a good thing I had a good lawyer that owed ME a favor and I was released after one night."

Sawyer turns and looks at Kate whose smile breaks into a good hearty laugh.

Kate- "I can just see you lying there on the floor, scared out of your mind and I just can't help but laugh."

Sawyer- "Well, I am glad that you think it is funny."

Kate- "Oh come on, it is funny. At least you only spent one night in jail."

They arrive at the water hole and fill up all of the containers that Kate had brought. As they are about to head back to the beach Kate notices a flesh colored object sticking out from under one of the bushes. She walks over and reaches down to pull out a doll in a fancy flowered dress and someone has made a small bonnet made out of fronds and placed it on the dolls head.

Kate- "Sawyer, come look at this please."

Kate hands Sawyer the doll.

Sawyer takes it, looks at it, turns it over and then hands it back to Kate.

Sawyer- "Ok, it's a doll. This isn't your way of telling me that you want kids or something is it freckles? Because I am all about the process but not so much the product."

Kate- "Damn it Sawyer, I am being serious. Look at the doll, doesn't something strike you a little odd about it."

Sawyer- " I think you are asking the wrong guy sweetheart, It just looks like a regular doll to me."

Kate- "Look at the hat, it was made by someone and it appears to be something that was made fairly recently. It was made from fronds and they are still green and moist. I can only assume that there is no one that we know on this island that would be playing with dolls."

Kate is starting to get frightened and Sawyer sees it in her eyes.

Sawyer- "I don't know freckles, my guess would be Boone".

Kate- "Yeah, that's real funny. Let's get out of here."

Kate and Sawyer head back to the beach but not before Sawyer hears a very faint giggle of what sounds like a young child. It is not something he is sure he actually heard and he doesn't want to scare Kate anymore than she is already is. To be honest, he is feeling a little scared himself.

The Waternater: Part 3

Warning: Skipping is fun, but it may turn lethal....

____

We Interupt this regularly scheduled program to bring you this news bulletin:

"This just in: A series of volcanic eruptions on the West Coast has caused many earthquakes. The entire state of California has been completely removed from the continent! In the chaos, Governor Arnold has declared it as self-ruling country to be known as Terminatown. We now go back to the bestest show EVER!" The reporter looks off to the side as someone yells an obscenity. "Oh come on Alex, you know nothing could ever replace Jeopardy... I pray to your departed mustache nightly-"

____


"So you're telling me that this man-"

"Andrew Pinklyn" Sawyer sighed under the bright light of the interrogation room.

"Andrew Pinklyn threw two children into the wall because they stole some candy?"

"I know it sounds crazy-"

"Andrew has been a respected member of this city for ages. He owns some of the best restaurants. And you're telling me you broke a bottle over his head because he was going to drug you after you saw him hurt two kids. With that amount of alcohol in your system."

Sawyer gave up and tried to get some good sleep in the cell they put him into. 'Tommy Pickles has a big head' what is that all about? Sawyer thought as he looked at what had been carved into the wall. 'Always remember to eat your cheeses'? 'Chocolate and Sugar together equals fun'?! Disturbed by these, Sawyer moved to the top bunk, where he counted tally marks. Supposedly made by a man who loved Wilson.

Sawyer never learned the answer to that, as a bulldozer came crashing through the wall and tried to eat him. "HOLY JIMBOB'S CRAB SHACK!" He exclaimed, dodging a piece of wall.

"What kind of colorful language is that?!" The young boy asked as he stepped through the rubble that once stood together.

"One of utter shock," Sawyer attempted to say. The dust and surprise made it sound like he said something about a butter mock.

"Come on out, we have your plane ticket to L.A. and a change of clothes. Sally, you do have your super-glue, right?"

"Of course I do!" The girl, busy collecting the rubble, snapped.

"Okay, okay. Now Mr. Sawyer-" the boy started with emphasis on the Sawyer.

"How do you know my name, boy?"

"You might come to know someday. For now, we just have to protect you. You are gifted, as you continued to move and process what was going on even after 'Andrew' arrived."

"And what does that mean?" Sawyer asked as he put on his new shirt.

"You have realized we're a bit different, haven't you?" the boy asked, looking back at Sally who had pieced over half the wall back together. "Andrew is no longer Andrew, another being sent him out of that body long ago. We're here to stop that, with as few caught in the crossfire as possible. Now you are going to go back to the States and stay out of rich Aussie resort owner's bank accounts."

Sawyer decided someone really must have put something in his drink. Was Brandi's low intelligence all an act? He wouldn't be surprised. Yes, it was all a dream. The conman was being conned. He was screwed when he snapped out of this.

He didn't say another word as the young boy drove a full-sized van. He relaxed in the back as Sally sang Old McDonald had a farm and put a hat made of fronds on him. He followed their instructions and got on the plane. He just never snapped out of it.

Her Hat



"Sawyer? You awake?"

Sawyer opens one eye and sees Kate standing just out of reach. "Do I get a prize if I say yes?"

"Do you have any hats in your little store? The sun is a killer today."

"The boutique went out of business a week ago darlin'. I'm streamlining my sundry operation."

Kate turns to walk away and Sawyer quickly sits up. "I might have a scarf or two left. I'll take a look-see. Come back in an hour."

When Kate is gone, Sawyer goes to his stash, being careful that he is not being followed.

He digs furiously, but comes up with nothing. He slams the suitcases closed and once they are safely hidden again he flops down cross legged on the ground in frustration.

His eyes are drawn to a patch of fronds. They look so familiar. Where has he ... wait ... he remembers ... her.

... the sun is so warm and the lake water so cool. He and his younger brother are storming the beach armed with super soakers. They filled them with cola so they could tell the difference between a hit and just being wet from the lake.

And there she is. Sitting on a towel and leaning against the cooler holding their lunch and the ammo soda. Her shades seem to take up half her face. And that big, floppy linen hat with the printed frond pattern made her look young enough to be their sister rather than their mother. He thought her the most beautiful woman he had ever seen ...

Sawyer began fiercely ripping the fronds free from the ground.

A while later when Kate came back, a hat made entirely of fronds was sitting on the makeshift table.

"Seems I had one left after all. I think it has your name on it." Sawyer picks up the hat and hands it to Kate.

"It's beautiful." Her hand brushes his as she takes the hat and places it on her head. It fits perfectly. "Who made this?", she asks. "Surely not you."

Sawyer grins sarcastically. "Wouldn't want those freckles multiplyin' too quick. I might lose count."

Sawyer vs. Sawyer

"Sawyer!"

Sawyer emerged from his tent, a little bleary eyed. The sun was shining brightly that morning and the glistening Sea was hurting his eyes. He turned to Kate and responded.

"Freckles, what can I do for ya?"

"It's what I can do for you. Do you want a hat?"

"A hat? Yeah sure, I'd love a hat. Why?"

"You'll see!" She replied with a smile, before jogging away down the beach.

Strange girl, he thought, but damned cute too. He wanted some more of that.

His eyes followed her form as she moved off, until he noticed that the clothes he had hung outside the day before were dry now, so he took them down and folded them up. He looked back towards the beach at the morning activity. Not a lot seemed to be happening, so he went back into his tent to rest some more. He figured he might go to the caves later for a shower, but for now he was tired.

Sticking out from underneath his makeshift pillow was the letter. He tucked it safely away and lay down.

Damn this place, I don't need this crap. I have things I need to do

He was fed up of waiting.

-----

Sawyer walked through the door and straight to the bar. A quiet word with the bartender and he knew who he needed to talk to. He ordered a beer and a Jack and Coke and carried them both to the table in the corner, placing them down in front of a man who was sat silently reading a paper. The date in the corner read: 15th August 2000.

"Can I help you?" said the man from behind his newspaper, not even looking.

"Guy behind the bar says that's your poison", declared Sawyer. He sat down at the table and sipped the beer. " I need some information"

The man lowered the paper, and looked at the drink. He folded the paper up and placed it on a nearby empty chair.

"Three cubes of ice. You've done your homework, son…. What kind of information?"

"A con job, almost twenty years ago. Man sleeps with wife. Man steals money from husband. Husband goes crazy, kills wife, then kills himself. Leaves a child orphaned, scarred and bent on revenge. You dealt with the case."

"Yeah I remember that." The man replied." What's your interest?"

"I need to find him"

"What for?"

"I have my reasons."

He nodded to himself, and then looked up to lock eyes with Sawyer "What's it worth"?

"What do you need?" he replied with a smile.

-----

"Here you go", said Kate, producing from behind her back a hat made of palm fronds. "And before you start getting all cocky, I made Jack one too"

"Worried Doctor do-good is gonna get sunstroke are we freckles? I bet our Iraqi friend is feeling all left out". He looked over at Sayid's tent, and saw him sat laughing with Shannon. "I'd be needing something to keep me cool with something that hot all over me."

"Still a pig I see", she replied handing him the hat. "You don't have to wear it"

"Thanks, but out here in the wild, I think of myself more as a Boar. Do I bore you?"

"You should make more of an effort Sawyer," Kate suggested. "Now you have the hat, you can’t use your "It's too hot" excuse anymore. You should get out of your tent more, get involved with things."

He could think of a few things he'd like to get involved with. "What exactly did you have in mind?" he asked. He wondered if she had any idea how much he wanted her.

"There's a tournament on this afternoon. The Winner gets a patch of Sun's garden named after them. You should come and play, even if you suck at Golf", she informed him as she turned to leave. He just sat there smiling at her.

"Ya know… one of these days, I might be needing another of those kisses", he drawled.

Her reaction was not what he was expecting. She didn't even turn back as she walked away from his tent, but simply spoke as she left…

"Ya know… one of these days, you might be getting one"

He hadn't been speechless since the crash.

-----

8pm. He walked in and took a stool at the bar. He gestured to the girl behind for a beer, and took a look around. It was quite busy.

The weekend's fun was getting started over on the stage, where some girls were asking for volunteers to take part in some kind of challenge. Beer now in hand, he turned back to the girl with a question.

"Why are they taking their shirts off? What do they have to do?" Sawyer asked.

"It a stupid game that the regulars came up with" she explained. "We fill a supersoaker with Cola, and whoever can drink the most with the least spillage wins some drinks".

"Why not fill it with Vodka?"

"That would be a waste of Vodka." She replied bluntly.

"Is it Coke", Sawyer asked?

"Pepsi", she replied.

"Then I'm not playing", he said with a grin. There's only one cola for me. "I'm looking for Juliette." He placed a piece of paper on the bar, and threw a stack of $100 bills on top of it. "Give her that", he whispered, with a glint in his eye.

"I'll see if she's around", answered. The barmaid opened another beer and placed it down on the bar for him. "Don't hold your breath" She picked up the paper and the money, and walked away through door at the back of the bar. He sipped the beer and waited.

Fifteen Minutes after he had arrived, a girl sat down next to him at the bar. She was in her late twenties, with dark hair and those kind of mysterious eyes that let you know something dangerous lurks behind them.

"Hi, I'm Juliette", she said as Sawyer turned to face her.

"You got it?" he asked her bluntly.

She handed him an envelope.

"Everything you need to know is in there", she said. Her eyes flickered as she looked at him She was curious as to why he needed the information, but didn't want to be nosy. He took the envelope and opened it right there and then. He read the contents and smiled. As he got up from the barstool and went to leave she could help asking...

"So, is that what you're looking for?"

"Yes it is. Thank you. Thank you very much." He smiled at her, turned, and walked outside.

He had found him.

-----

It was getting hot, even with the added protection of Kate's hat. Most of the survivors were over at the Golf Course, but despite her encouraging words earlier he wasn't feeling in the mood. He grabbed a bottle of water and sipped it. The beer had run out weeks ago, and as for the liquor, well he had drunk most of that himself. With no chance of rescue it all seemed a bit hopeless, even without all the weird stuff that had been going on recently.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the letter. This is the only thing that keeps me going, he thought. She doesn't want me. She acts like she does, but she just gets off on it. What the hell would she want with a guy like me anyway? He didn't deserve her. Even though he had trouble keeping memories of that kiss out of his head at night, he knew it wasn't real.

He'd done some bad things. He'd hurt some people. Maybe I deserve to die, he wondered, but first there's something I have to take care of. He read the letter to himself, and stared out at the ocean. He wasn't a religious man, but he had found himself praying recently. Nobody knew this of course. She knew about the letter, but not about the hope, or that this hope was the only thing keeping him going in this crazy place.

Dear God, please let me get off this island. Take everything I have but allow me that. I need to see him. I need to look him in the eyes. I need him to know.

Amen

-----

He sat in the Airport Lounge, waiting. It was almost time.

Sawyer smiled to himself. It had taken him a lot of trouble to get this far, but it needed to be done. He needed to try and put things right. He was tired of running from his past. He wanted to change, he had changed even, but this was hanging over him, over his every word, thought, and action. He needed to resolve it. Yes, it needed to be done, and let the cards fall where they may.

*PING*

The arrivals screen updated with a new announcement: "Oceanic Flight 815 from Sydney has been delayed."

He walked over to the enquiry desk and asked the attendant for more information. "I'm sorry sir, we don't have an Estimated Time of Arrival yet. I am sure the screens will keep you updated", she answered through a weary smile.

"Oh well", he said. "I guess there's no harm in a little delay."

Plenty of things to do at LAX. He could get some coffee. He liked coffee.

He sat back down and waited…

and waited…

and waited….