After seeing the episode The Hunting Party I wrote this because ever since Sawyer said I love her I've been waiting for someone to bring it up and deal with it, damn it. Jack came so close to discussing it, I could feel it! But he didn't so in my annoyed state I, as usual, messed with things that were not mine to mess with. So this is them confronting the "I love her" as they are chasing after Michael.

Sneaking silently and skillfully behind the three edgy men, Kate crept. She knew all to well how to keep from being noticed, threading softly between branches, weaving gently through grass. There was no way she'd let them go alone. She had told jack before, perhaps falling on deaf ears, missions on the island were as much her problem as it was his. She wanted to help find Walt as much as everyone else and admittedly watch out for Sawyer and Jack too. She had the right to go. Frowning in interest, Kate listened carefully as a conversation began.

"What did she do to you?" Sawyer asked between audible breaths, his body still exhausted from his wound. Kate crawled closer crouching low, trying to prevent Locke from noticing her. There was a sting of guilt in her heart; she still hadn't apologized for kissing Jack.

"Nothing" Jack dismissed him shortly continuing on.

"Right" Sawyer responded in a slightly sly tone "You're yelling at her because she wanted to help get Mike back that makes a lot of sense"

"Why don't you go back and see if I hurt her feelings?" Jack said an underlying tone of anger becoming more apparent as they trudged on up the steep slope.

"I'm just saying" Sawyer replied realizing this was not the time to pick a bone with Jack, thinking that the conversation was over.

"Yeah, I know. You love her" Jack answered a stab of resentment in his now rough voice. Kate's breath caught in her throat and she froze, straining to hear. Sawyer had stopped too.

"What'd you say?" Sawyers' voice rose in surprise. Jack turned, a harsh look on his face, somehow managing to maintain a certain amount of calm.

"When I was treating your wound" he said nodding at Sawyers shoulder "You asked me where she was, I told you she was out getting food for you and then you said…I love her"

An feeling of acute estrangement ripped between Sawyer and Jack as they stared at one another. Jack started walking again.

"I can only assume she feels the same way…cause apparently you're a better kisser" Jack complained the almost bitter sarcasm not fading. Sawyer's expression hardened at that remark.

"Tested you out doc?" he growled his eyes set in a stone glare "Don't matter to me cause I don't love her" but as jack turned he caught a glimpse of something he didn't expect.

"I never loved anyone in my life" as the words, mingling with his coarse southern accent, passed over his lips his expression faltered momentarily revealing something raw and alone. Like saddened remorse at his own declaration.

Then it was gone. Kate sat reeling from the shock of the argument that had just taken place. She was still sitting there when the others came up behind her and took her without even a muffled scream. She had no chance to escape, nor to see that expression, the one meant for her eyes. But jack had and he knew...

Sawyer was lying.