A/N: Umm... I don't really have much to say seeing as it's taken me one year and ten months to update. I have gotten some PMs and stuff here and there so it forced me to get off my booty and edit this chapter (which I wrote two years ago). Since my last update, the Kate and Sawyer website was closed *sniff*, James and Juliet gave the ABC portrayal of James and Kate a run for their money... the show ended, oh and Jate apparently did turn out to be fate or something? *rolls eyes and dry heaves* I don't care.

I'm gonna continue with this fic anyway.

So... onwards and upwards as they say!

Chapter 21 – Sine Qua Non

They made a good-looking couple; she was plump with rosy apple cheeks and a strawberries and cream complexion that was set off by the fine, bone-straight strawberry-blonde hair peeking from underneath her wide-brimmed white straw hat. Her brown eyes twinkled as she surveyed the scene around her in downtown Miami. Her partner a beer-bellied but still attractive man in a white Miami Dolphins t-shirt, khaki cargo shorts, a Dolphins fanny-pack, Rafters and Dolphins baseball cap drew her closer to share a confidence which made her frown.

Kate looked down at the pink calico dress she was wearing with a black fanny-pack girdling her waist and leather Jesus-sandals and it took all her inner strength to suppress a grimace. She had to hand it to Monique and her team, when she had looked in the mirror after they were done she had barely recognised herself. She snuck a glance up at James who was walking in wide but small strides that made him look like he had always had the beer belly Monique had given him.

"Whatsa matter hon?" James asked solicitously.

"I've never consciously worn calico, nor am I fan of pink."

"Well, technically this ain't you is it, so it don't really matter."

"I know but it-"

"You're the one who wanted to go on this foolhardy mission in the first place Freckles an' now that you gotta play the part you wanna start bitchin' 'bout the job Nikki did for no fee an' out of the goodness of her heart-"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound ungrateful, 'cause I am!"

"Well then try showin' it a little." James grumbled from the corner of his mouth.

"Sorry… It's just that I feel like everyone is watching us." Kate said tersely.

"Freckles we're in Downtown, Miami, why the hell would anybody be watchin' us when we look so run-of-the mill American tourist surrounded by many more run-of-the mill American tourists?"

"I don't know, I just can't shake the feeling that we're being watched."

"There are CCTV cameras all over the place so its not like your feelin' is completely wrong, an' that's exactly why ya need to relax so as not to draw any attention to us." James said in an equally terse tone.

"Don't you think I'm trying?"

"You're not tryin' hard enough… how the hell did you last so long on the run if you were this uptight?"

"That was different, I was on my own and I avoided overly crowded places."

"If that's the case then I repeat, how the hell did you last so long? Crowded places are the easiest way to hide in plain sight."

"Luck maybe?" Kate said cockily.

"Yeah well, we're all outta that at the mo so loosen up or you'll get us busted." James snorted, squeezing her hand very hard to stress his point.

She pasted a bright smile on her face and squeezed his hand back.

A thin, sharp-faced woman approached them, grabbing Kate's free arm in a tight grip. Kate's eyes flared in panic but James anchored her to his side, effectively stopping her from struggling to break free.

"Scuse me, I'm looking for the free train, where do I find that?"

"Umm… it's j-j-just over… it's a block away from here." Kate stammered anxiously.

"Where?"

"If you keep on going straight it will be on your left hand side, it's called the Metromover and they've got a station roughly every two blocks. I'm pretty sure we just passed one, isn't that right Hon?"

"Yep, just where she said you'd find it, lady."

"Okay, thanks!" The lady said as she hurried off.

Kate turned to look up at James, he shrugged at her with an encouraging smile.

"See, that wasn't so bad, I keep tellin' you Puddin' relax an' it'll be alright, I'm right here."

"Okay, but I think I had minor heart-attack there so let's find somewhere to sit, my voluptuous ass needs somewhere to rest." She quipped.

James slid a glance at her exceptionally rounded and ample derriere and grinned appreciatively, "I'm sure glad Nikki's idea of an average Floridian has your ass in the double figure zone."

"Grow up!" Kate said with a smile in her voice.

"I'm serious Baby; this is what it's all about!" James said as he squeezed her bottom.

"Don't do that!" Kate protested with a laugh as she tried to swat his hand away.

James raised an eye-brow at her, as she grabbed both his hands and clasped them in his hers.

"We're supposed to be blendin' in; you holdin' my hands like that makes it real hard for me to walk properly."

"Okay, I'll let go but stop squeezing my fake fat ass!" Kate admonished, still unable to keep the smile off her face.

"Fine, whatever you say Big Momma." James agreed in a suspiciously acquiescent tone.

They both laughed as James wrapped an arm around Kate's shoulder and steered them out of the crowd towards the pier.

"Come on, I'll buy you somethin' nice an' fat free to eat."

"Speak for yourself Bubba, you could lose a pound or twenty!" Kate retorted, jabbing him in the gut.

They got on a Metromover a few blocks down and then walked over to Miami Beach.

"Come on Kiddo, I'll take you to Wet Willie's, forget the fat-free, hair of the dog that bit you last night is what you need." James said as he led the way down Ocean Drive.

Kate looked around the road with wonder, the famous Art Deco Architecture that made South Beach so popular vividly enchanting.

"I didn't really see this last night because I was more worried about where we were gonna stay but its amazing!" She exclaimed with childish excitement.

James grinned at her, as they walked past palm trees and umbrellas on the sidewalk and he pushed the door open to an air-conditioned pinkish-red and orange lit basement bar done with white and red furnishings. Kate clutched her multi-colored beach bag closer to her as James approached the bartender.

"Hi, we just want some cocktails… Where are my manners? I'm Gary and this here is my wife Ginger. Say hi Ginger."

"Hi, pleased to meet ya." Kate drawled in a convincing Southern accent.

"She's Southern, how'd you like that? Anyways, she read in the TimeOut guide that this bar was the place to get us some alcoholic slushies before we hit the beach, so if you don't mind, we'd very much like your advice or a menu to help us decide what drinks we want to get." James finished in his earnest, distinctively Eastern accent.

James pulled a stool for Kate and as soon as she was seated, he took the one next to her. The bartender, a good-looking Italian-American whose name-tag read Vinny, smiled at them politely, handing them a menu each.

"Welcome to Wet Willies, and to SoBe."

"SoBe?" Kate asked with an endearing frown.

"That's what we locals call South Beach. Welcome to South Beach and I guess I should also say Miami?" Vinny asked.

"Why you're mighty polite, isn't he polite as evah Gary?" Kate practically purred as she stroked Vinny's arm.

Vinny's eyebrows sky-rocketed but he was well-trained enough not to laugh outloud.

"He sure is Baby, I think she'll have the Mango-Coconut Pina Colada and I'll get the Bahama Mama Caipirinha."

"Coming right up." Vinny said as he turned away from them to make their drinks.

"Aww, Sugarpie, this place sure is impressive, we gotta come back here for an aperitif some night." Kate gushed at James.

"Not a problem Pumpkin, we'll put that on our to-do list."

"I'm just gonna go powder ma nose, I'll be back in a jiffy Vinny, don't you worry your handsome head none." Kate called out to Vinny as James rose from his seat on the bar-stool.

James' eyes twinkled in disbelieving appreciation at her antics. Vinny turned back to James and poured out their drinks in tall plastic glasses.

"Plastic?" James asked.

"Yes sir, so that you can take them out with you to the beach."

"That's a really smart idea."

"The patrons seem to like it."

"Hmm… oh she'll have a pink cup, and make sure she gets an umbrella too, thanks. Actually add another shot of whatever in there; my Gina likes her drinks and her men strong." He added with a wink.

Vinny smiled at this, his grin widening as Kate returned.

"Your Mango-Cocunut Pina Colada ma'am."

"Why thank you Handsome." Kate said, pinching Vinny's cheek.

She took a sip of the drink and murmured in delight. James reached into his fanny-pack and pulled out $40 which he handed to Vinny.

"Come on Little Lady, let's get us some sun."

"Bye for now Vincent! I'm sure he'll be back for another glass!" Kate cried as James steered them out of the bar.

When they got out into the sunshine, they crossed the street onto the beach and keeping a tight rein on their mirth found themselves a bench to sit on facing the water. When they sat down, Kate let out a giggle.

"Gary… the look on your face when I started talking in my heavy Virginian drawl made the last two days worth it."

"You think so Freckles? How'd you like your Mango-Coconut Pina Colada?" He mocked.

"I hate you for that, I can't stand Pina Colada or coconut!" She protested.

"But I'm sure Ginger from Virginia would find it just the right kinda exotic."

Kate pinched his arm as they laughed together. Putting his arm around her, James drew her close to him and kissed her on the forehead. She put her free arm around his back and drew him closer, kissing him soundly on the lips. He kissed her back and when they drew apart he rested his chin on the top of her head.

"So I take it you think that us acting like a couple won't get us the wrong kind of attention?" She asked him softly.

"Well, Sassafras, I think we got a better chance of gettin' away with everythin' if we act natural 'round each other an' from what Ashley said to us in Tampa I think its pretty obvious that we're no good at hidin' our sexual attraction from folks." James said matter-of-factly.

Kate turned her face up to him and looked into his eyes for a few seconds trying to determine the veracity of his statement. His eyes softened under her appraisal and she smiled at him through her lashes, secretly pleased at the raw emotion she saw in the blue depths as well as the prospect of not having to worry about pretending not to be attracted to him.

She leaned up and sighed with pleasure when he met her lips in a soft and tender kiss. When they broke apart she took a healthy sip of her Pina Colada.

"What was that for?" She asked casually, toying with her umbrella, she avoided his eyes.

"Just stayin' in character." He replied in an equally casual tone.

She raised her eyes up to meet his, dazzling him with the brilliance of her smile. He chuckled, reaching for her beach-bag.

"Let's take a look at our maps an' plan our next move. Don't know if you've got any ideas 'bout where we should start?" His tone was now brisk and business-like.

Kate set down her glass and took a few maps from him, looking at the notes she'd made in the margins, she frowned in concentration.

"I think we should start with goin' to Captain Falafel's house in Key West like we agreed before." James suggested, looking to her for confirmation.

She nodded emphatically, "Okay, so what are we doing here then?"

"I thought we should try out our disguise in public… an' I also just wanted to cop a feel of that fat booty."

She burst out laughing, "There really is no one like you James."

He shrugged, putting their maps away, with a smirk on his face.

"Come on Cowboy, it's 3 pm, we should get going, I don't wanna go to Sayid's after dark it'll be more dangerous."

"Alright, let me finish my drink first!" He protested good-naturedly as Kate got up, slinging the beach bag over her shoulder.

"Well hurry up!" She retorted as she sashayed towards the taxi-cab rank a few hundred yards away from them.

If she had turned around she would have seen the unholy glint in James' eyes as he watched her extra-padded hips and ass move underneath the thin fabric.

Twenty Minutes Later

The voice in her head that was telling her to be careful was savagely silenced as James' tongue energetically probed the depths of Kate's mouth for the second time in as many minutes. She scooted closer, so she was sitting in his lap and drew his head closer to her so she could kiss him back with just as much fervor. He pulled away and started to trail kisses down her neck as her heart beat frantically in time with the Gloria Estefan song blaring out of the cab's stereo. James' right hand squeezed her enhanced bustline, while the left slid up her skirt, stroking her inner thighs on its way up; she gasped with pleasure, titillated by their very public display of affection. The taxi cab pulled to a stop, preventing James from going any further and Kate from letting him. They were near the curb of a leafy neighbourhood in Key West.

"Gary we're here!" She exclaimed breathlessly to James.

Perversely, James kept his hand up her skirt as the Cuban driver turned around and speaking to them through the glass pane, told them they had arrived at their destination.

"Thanks a lot Chico, do you know any nice motels or hotels in the vicinity where me and the Missus can go?" James asked in a tellingly husky voice.

The driver nodded, accepting the money Kate gave him with fumbling fingers before she opened the door and escaped outside.

"Yeah, sure… the two of you really need it, huh? Let me guess, you're either newlyweds or she's somebody's wife, am I right?" The cab driver spoke, his voice heavy with lewd insinuation.

James gave a self-satisfied smile, "We're on a second honeymoon, renewed our vows last month… So yeah, we're newlyweds of a kind."

He stepped out of the cab and shouldering Kate's beach-bag leaned into the passenger window waiting for the driver to finish writing down the address to a nearby hotel. Kate, not to be outdone, leaned over and wrapped her arms around his waist, leaning in to kiss his neck, while her hands travelled down to his groin, right in front of the driver. James' back muscles were tense beneath her front.

"This is a good hotel, they do bed and breakfast in their standard price, they also got a nice restaurant and bar. Have fun!" The cab-driver said as he handed James the piece of paper and winked at Kate.

James thanked the man, straightening up as the driver drove off, waving at them from his window. Scowling, he turned to look at Kate. Crossing her arms, she laughed at him.

"Why is it okay for you to maul me in public but not for me to do it to you?"

"I didn't say don't do it, I was just surprised… 'Sides it's different for me as my clothes don't hide what's happenin' to a very external part of my body..." His tone getting more and more defensive as Kate listened with exaggerated attention.

"Take it on the chin soldier, you didn't hear me complaining despite your serious breach of propriety when you had your hand up my skirt while the cab driver was watching."

"Thank you Scarlett, now if you don't mind I'd like to get to the street parallel from us where Abdul lives." James said testily as he dragged her with him.

"Wait, we can't just walk up there without some kind of cover story. We've also got to be careful walking around here, there may be surveillance cameras or vans around the street or even people who are waiting for us to walk into a trap. Remember Ashley said that two guys that weren't law enforcement went into his building in Tampa before the real cops got there?"

"Okay Nancy Drew, what do you suggest we do?" James asked irritably, stopping in his tracks to look at her.

Kate bit her lip, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear she put the straw hat back on, "I think we should go in via the front door, we've got a key right? We'll just pretend we get it from a potted plant or something… if we bump into anyone we'll pretend we're looking for an old friend who isn't Sayid."

James nodded, seeing the logic in her proposal he pulled out his cell-phone and dialled a number.

"Hey it's me. Listen, I need the name an' details of the last occupants of that address in Key West an' I need the names, addresses an' any other info on any friends or family members the last occupants had within five minutes…. Yeah call me as soon as you got it. Bye."

Taking Kate's hand he brought it to his lips and placed an absentminded kiss on her fingertips, as they strolled leisurely towards Sayid's street.

"When all this is over, if we're still alive, maybe you'll introduce me to all these people behind the scenes that take orders and have so much access." Kate probed in a conciliatory tone.

James frowned but gave a curt nod in agreement, turning down to look at her he didn't get a chance to speak as his phone rang again. He picked it up and nodded a few times before cutting the line.

"Turns out that a young couple from New Orleans, is currently on vacay in Thailand, used to live here. Names were Roger an' Jane Dubois, sold the place to Sayid two years ago, they've since moved to Jacksonville, Florida. They met at Notre Dame an' she's a housewife while he's an advertising exec. We're Rob an' Heather Maguire their friends from college. Rob's in Sales an' Heather's a nurse, think you can fake that?"

"Yeah of course, should I keep my Southern accent?" Kate asked, secretly impressed by James' source of information.

James steered Kate around a kid's discarded tricycle, "Yeah Heather's from Louisiana 'pparently, an' Rob's from Toronto, Canada."

"Alright, do you have the key?" Kate whispered as they approached Sayid's front door.

James nodded as he approached a string of potted plants to the left of the doorbell, and pretending to root around pulled out the key they'd found in Tampa.

"Roger! Jane! Hey it's us Heather an' Rob! Open up!" Kate called out as she rung the doorbell a few times to no answer.

James shrugged at her then inserted the key in the front door and unlocked it. Stepping in they shut the door, letting out a deep breath when nothing confronted them on sight.

"Rob! Jane!" Kate called out expectantly.

To their relief nobody answered. James pulled out two pairs of latex gloves; handing one pair to Kate they quickly snapped them on. Kate rooted around in her fanny pack, pulling out a small canister and a gadget that beeped intermittently, started to canvas the hallway, heading for the living room. James raised his eyebrows in silent question.

"You're not the only one with a trick or two up your sleeve." Kate mocked gently in her Southern drawl as the gadget beeped twice by a remote control.

Picking it up Kate neutralized the sound and sprayed a black substance from the canister on the remote's sensor. Mouthing the word 'camera' to James he nodded, following her from a safe distance. He searched the places that she had already neutralized but found nothing. They approached a Baby Grand piano that took up half the living room, it had several pictures of an attractive Middle Eastern woman in a headscarf. There was one of Sayid and Ashley standing in front of the house which James and Kate looked at with a combination of sadness and guilt. Dragging her away from the picture, James guided Kate to the stairs and pulling out his pistol followed her and her gadget up.

Twenty minutes later, they had found and neutralized four cameras and eight microphones in total but a search of the house had yielded nothing. It was obvious that the place had already been searched very recently as there were signs of things that had been there having been lifted. They went back downstairs and James went through the pile of Sayid's unopened mail, finding a khaki envelope that was thick and heavy amidst the pile of junk mail. He slipped the envelope into one of the big pockets in his cargo shorts. Then taking Kate's hand, they walked out of the house, pretending to return the key on their way down the driveway.

"Let's try the neighbors." Kate suggested quietly as she took the lead and approached the house next door to Sayid's.

Before they had walked up to the front door, it opened suddenly, an obese, blonde-haired man with freckles and a friendly open face smiling at them in welcome.

"Howdy!"

"Hi! We're Heather an' Rob Maguire, we've come all the way from the East Coast an' we're lookin' for our friends Roger an' Jane Dubois. Last we checked they used to live next door." Kate drawled as she held out her hand to the man.

"Pleased to meet you, Heather… Rob. I'm Tom Karlsson, I've lived here for five years, and I remember Roger and Jane. They sold their house to a genuine Iraqi two years ago though, come on in and have a glass of ice tea." Tom said as he ushered them into his well-lit and air-conditioned home.

They walked through the living room into the kitchen which was warm with the smells of baking.

"Let's go out into my backyard, got some lawn chairs out and a nice umbrella to protect your fair skin. I'll bring out the ice-tea and some of my world famous brownies!"

James and Kate shared a look and shrugged, sitting down on the lawn chairs and looking around the yard. Surreptitiously, James looked across the wood fence into Sayid's yard to gauge what Tom could see or might have seen from here.

"Here we go! I'll pour the ice tea, help yourselves to the brownies they're still moist."

"Thank you, Mr Karlsson, you're mighty kind." Kate drawled, batting her eyelashes at Tom.

James rolled his eyes as he accepted a glass of ice tea and a plate with a few brownies on it.

"Yeah thanks man… I can't believe those guys moved and didn't tell us where they'd gone, its so unlike Roger or Jane." James started off conversationally.

"Please call me Tom! Hmm… yeah it's strange, two years is a long time but you know what life's like, it just takes over and the things you meant to do get left by the wayside. I mean, I've been planning on seriously losing weight since I moved out here and five years have gone by!" Tom chuckled, patting his large girth.

James commiserated, patting his own belly. Kate bit into the brownies, her eyes widening in delight at the delicious flavour.

"Wow, Tom these are really good. Is this your own recipe?"

"Yes, yes it is."

"Hmm… delicious… Hon, have a bite of this little piece of heaven, it tastes almost as good as ma cousin Virginia-Mae's secret recipe!" Kate offered James a bite of her brownie which he accepted, his eyes twinkling at her accomplished play-acting.

"So, Tom what do you suggest we do? We sure don't have a clue on how we can find our dear friends. Lord, you should have seen our faces when we saw pictures of an Arab woman with that scarf wrapped 'round her head in our Roger an' Jane's house!" Kate twittered.

"Not to worry, I can give you the card of the realtor that sold their house for them. He might have a forwarding address or even know where they are now… It's funny, but I knew the minute I saw what a respectable couple you were that you weren't here to see

Abdul." Tom remarked.

"Abdul? Is that the Iraqi's name? Hon, I told you his name would be Abdul or Muhammad or Ahmad or somesuch now didn't I?" Kate addressed James.

He nodded taciturnly.

"You were sayin' Tom?"

"I was saying, the only people that have ever visited Abdul were this screwed up teen with crazy pink hair called Ashley, her social worker and some other hippy-looking volunteer types."

"Is that the poor child we saw on that picture on his piano?"

"That would be her."

"So he's a philanthropist this Abdul?"

"Of a kind, he works with this org called Street Strife, and they help out troubled teens, kids, adults, you name it… I think it's very commendable of him but something about him was never right."

"Certainly, especially when you see how screwed up his very own country is an' here comes gettin' all high an' mighty in the U.S. of A."

"Heather!"

"What Hon, I'm just sayin'! Tom here didn't take any offence did you Tom?"

"No of course not, I think Heather's got a point. And to support your point, the FBI were here yesterday morning, searching the house and asking us neighbors all kinds of questions." Tom said in a conspiratory whisper.

"No kidding!" James exclaimed, leaning closer to hear what else Tom had to say.

"Oh my Lord! You see what I mean Hon? These people aren't to be trusted look what they did in New York!"

"I'm not kidding Rob, the FBI were here yesterday morning, told us to contact them if we saw anything or anyone suspicious as the investigation was still ongoing. When I asked them what exactly this was about they said they weren't at liberty to say!" Tom finished off dramatically.

Kate brought a hand to her chest and grabbed James' arm with the other one.

"Hon! We've stumbled into some terrorist's lair!"

"Don't get so over-excited Pumpkin I'm sure whatever it is doesn't have to do with terrorism. If it had, they'd have brought down a Hazmat team with them yesterday, isn't that right Tom?" James said in a reassuring tone.

Tom nodded in agreement. "Of course."

"Well, Pumpkin pie, say bye to Tom now, we gotta get going remember?" James prodded softly.

"Of course, thank you so much for bein' such a fine host, Tom. I must give you our phone number an' address perhaps you can come an' visit us one of these days."

"Sweetie, we're relocating to New Orleans next month remember? Why don't we take down Tom's phone number, we've got his address, we can call him as soon as we're settled in."

"Oh, sure… I'm sorry Tom, see my Momma's gettin' on an' I just wanna be able to take good care of her in the winter of her life-"

"Come on Pumpkin!" James said as he pulled Kate up with him.

Tom rose swiftly, nodding in understanding as Kate rolled her eyes at James.

"Ma husband, such a Yankee, well Canadian but it's really the same thing. Manners aren't inbred in them like they are for us… I'm sorry Tom, we really must be gettin' on. Do give me your card or your phone number so I can add you in my scrapbook." Kate drawled charmingly as they went back indoors.

Tom scribbled his number down for her on a piece of note paper and led them to the front door.

"Thank you so very much for your time Tom, where are my manners I didn't even ask if you were married!"

"Yes I am, my wife's a Chartered Accountant, she's back from New York tonight that's why the place looks so good… and also why I'm making brownies, they're her favourite."

"Your wife's a lucky lady Tom. Thank you once again, I'll make sure to send you somethin' from my cousin Virginia-Mae's recipe book."

"Bye for now Tom, and thank you." James said warmly, shaking the other man's hand.

"Bye Tom!" Kate called as James, arm around her shoulders steered her down the driveway.

"Did you wanna talk for Florida back there or what Freckles?"

"Is that your way of saying my idea paid off better than you'd imagined?" Kate shot back sweetly.

"No. Yes. Whatever… what I'm tryin' to say is its easier to stay undercover if you don't talk too much an' give yourself opportunity to slip up." James explained patiently.

"If I hadn't talked so much he'd never have told us about the FBI visit yesterday morning. Also if I hadn't suggested we speak to him, he might have called them to report that we were suspicious." She finished off in a superior tone.

"Fair enough, but another neighbor might still report us if they were watchin' us."

"I'm willing to take my chances."

"Of course you are, you don't have much to lose."

"That is so unfair, I have plenty to lose especially now that I know I have four kids whose lives I have completely missed out on."

"Whatever Freckles, if they were so damn important to you, we'd be in Marshall, Texas right now, just 'bout to have dinner with those four misfits. They'd be hoppin' all over the joint in that loud chorus of theirs, while Viv and Mel heckled from the sidelines."

Kate stopped and cocking her head to the side stared at him in dawning realization, "You miss them! That's what this is all about!"

"I don't!"

"Yes you do!"

"No I don't!"

"Do too! Patty was right, they do have you wrapped around their little fingers, just admit it!"

"Alright fine! I do miss 'em an' as of tomorrow it'll be the longest I've been away from them since they were born." James admitted.

Kate wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight.

"I'm sorry, I know this is all my fault."

James hugged her back and squeezed her tightly.

"I know."

"Hey!"

"If we make it outta this you're gonna have some serious ass-kissin' to do, as for now, come on let's go find somewhere to stay." He said lightly, drawing away from her and leading her down the road.

Kate blinked, wondering if James realized that it was the second time in one day that he had hinted that they had a future together after all this.

A Few Hours Later

Kate watched James from under lowered lashes as their elevator climbed up to their floor at the Prince D'Or. Dressed in the clothes they had been wearing in the morning before Monique and her crew had worked their magic. It felt like a lifetime ago when she had donned the silk Matthew Williamson floral print wraparound dress and sparkly gel flip-flops. James pulled off his LA Raiders cap tapping it against his thigh in an offbeat staccato. The floral print shirt had also been balled up and stuffed into the military style duffel bag he was shouldering. Kate was admiring the contrast of his golden tan and the white wife-beater when the elevator doors opened on their floor. James held out his hand, letting Kate precede him. When they got to the door he slid the card in the slot and opened the door gallantly for her. She smiled indulgently as she stepped into their room. After a quick sweep of their rooms, they both kicked off their flip-flops and sprawled on the bed in exhaustion.

"Ahh… much better." James sighed.

Kate closed her eyes and murmured in agreement. After they had left Sayid's neighbourhood, they had taken a stroll amongst a bunch of condos with a view of Sayid's house. They had settled on renting an apartment on the second floor of a relatively uniform cream building. Then they had hired a cab back to Miami before collecting James' duffel bag from a safe deposit box, changing back into their normal clothes in a public toilet, hopping onto a tourist bus back to South Beach and finally arriving at the Prince D'Or.

Rolling onto her stomach, Kate ran a hand through James' hair. He groaned in appreciation.

"So Ford, what are your thoughts, observations, and or criticisms about today?"

James smiled at her use of his family nickname, raising a hand to stroke Kate's back he took a deep breath and frowned slightly.

"First off, the chances are pretty high we got spotted today. I don't think we should continue being seen as a male and female couple."

"Okay I agree with the first point…."

"Wait I'm not done yet Freckles… If we've been spotted already an' our bad guys know 'bout Tampa, we just cannot risk usin' the guy/girl pairin' anymore. Most importantly whatever we're doin'... we're racin' against time when it comes to Sayid's life, getting to know who exactly is our enemy and what they're capable of." His hand tightened on the silk covering her back and his heartbeat sped up slightly at the mention of just how dangerous their situation was.

"We've been through so much these last two days and its not enough!" Kate mumbled in frustration as she buried her face in his chest.

"We better keep the momentum goin' then, find Ashley's Pimp Daddy, he might end up really dead by tomorrow."

Kate raised her head and looked into his eyes, "Is that a priority?"

"Yeah, Peaches I think so… 'sides at least that way we can get wasted on the job an' I can check your ass out in the teeny tiny shorts I made sure Monique put in my pocket."

"I'm starting to sense an ass theme going on here."

"I don't know where you're gettin' 'ass theme' from Freckles, I'm just tryin' to make sure we don't blow our cover, if that means your ass-cheeks don't get a lot of cover for the greater good then, Amen!"

She whacked him on the chest and failed to stifle the mirth bubbling up inside of her. James' chest rumbled and shook silently along with her as he wrapped his arm over her head in a playful chokehold.

-xx-

Postnote: So have I totally lost the plot? Are they still in character? Do y'all still care about this fic? Don't forget to feed the writer! Trust me, it really, really helps.