This is an idea that I had for a Jack and Kate story. Let me know what you think!If enough people seem like they would want to read more I will go ahead and make a story out of it.

Also, Happy New Years

The four of them sat in an old motel room that was falling apart at the seams. One wall was posted with all kinds of information and pictures of their next con. They took their places around the room as they were about to go over the much need information if they had any chance of pulling this off.

The four players in this team each had their vital roles that they must be played to perfection.

The master mind behind this group of con artists and the one who put the team together was James "Sawyer" Ford. Sawyer had been a con man for years and preferred to fly it solo, but that all changed the second he got caught. Once he got out Sawyer knew that he could no longer be the front man anymore it was to risky and the cops were just waiting for him to make a mistake again. As Sawyer tried to search for something else to do with his life he realized that there really was only one thing that he was truly good at and that was conning. Then the idea just came to him one day to put a group together that he could control and tell them how to move, think and act like a con man. When needed he would jump in and help. Sawyer would pick all the marks, set up the blueprint for each con. When picking his team Sawyer had to be very careful find people who had the natural ability to con or just find a couple of jackasses down on their luck that would be willing to do about anything for the money and ones that he could manipulate as well.

Then one cold and raining night Sawyer ran into Charlie and Hurley two very drunk men that where down on their luck. Hurley was some loser that was working at a fast food restaurant still living with his mother. The reason for his drinking on this particular night was that he lost the nerve to ask out a girl he had been crushing on and then a couple months down the line his best friend comes in and takes her from him. Then there was Charlie who was a washed up rock star who had no more money to his name only just enough to get him trashed for the night. The two lost souls had found each others company where drinking the night away together. As Sawyer walked into the dark pub he could smell their misery a mile away. He soon joined the two men and through out the night as the pair kept getting drunker and drunker Sawyer had them both convinced that their lives had nothing going for them and that they both needed a change. He had just the fix for them. Ever since that night the two never left his side and Sawyer knew that they would be loyal to him till the end.

Hurley had become the researcher. His job was to gather as much information as possible that he could about their marks. Everything from family and personal history, what their weakness where, what type of women or men they were into to, even what kind of food they enjoyed. It was also his job to observe from afar taking pictures of their mark at home, workplace and any recurring contact they may have with other individuals. Then once he gathered all the information he would give it to Sawyer who would come up with the perfect way to con them.

Charlie Pace had become the group's front man since it was to risky for Sawyer to put out his own neck out there. Sawyer actually found that Charlie was actually quit good at conning a center target group. That target group being woman who were in their thirties and up who never could find a man of there own. They were living off of Daddy's money and they made sure that Daddy always had a lot of money. These women were so lonely and needy that they always fell for the wit and boyish good looks of Charlie. Usually they made the cons quick and easy so they could leave town and move on to the next mark. They would have the father make an investment in some phony company that Charlie would be starting and they would run away with the money or if the mark had a valuable piece of art, jewelry or really anything thing they would just take it and run like bloody hell. This way they were always a step ahead so they would never be found out.

They would move from state to state all in one night. They would switch from one shitty car to the next the next shitty car, never wanting to use the same vehicle in case they were being followed by anyone.

Then one night the gang found themselves in the middle of nowhere Iowa at some crappy diner that was the only sign of civilization for miles. Hurley ordered his usual stack of pancakes, Charlie going for the more traditional route of eggs and hash, then Sawyer only getting black coffee. As the three sat there talking over where they should go next that was when Sawyer saw her.

Sure he was attracted to her, but more than anything he saw a money maker. There was just something different about her, the way she sat at the diner bar in an all knowing manner. He could tell that she had everyone in the room figured out including them, but yet he could not quit get a fix on her that infuriated and excited him at the same time. Sawyer then smiled he was just going to have to run a couple of tests on her just to see how good or not so good she could be at conning. If she fell for his act in any way he knew that she would never last on the field. Lesson one of a conman is never fall for another person's con.

" If you will excuse me gentlemen I need to see about something."

Charlie and Hurley looked up and then followed Sawyer's glare.

" Oh boss man has the hots for diner chick." Hurley teased which caused Charlie to start laughing.

" Would you two just shut up. It has nothing to do with that, I will tell you later what it is all about."

" I'm sure you will after your done." Charlie smirked, Sawyer was about to ream into them again, but he was saved as the pair's food arrived they lost all interest in teasing their boss.

Once Sawyer left Charlie looked up at Hurley, " I bet you three pieces of bacon he crashes and burns."

" What are you talking about Charlie. Sawyer is a stud he could get any woman he wanted."

" Yeah except for that woman has stay the fuck away from me tattooed across her forehead."

This caused Hurley to laugh and then he smiled at the Englishman, " Oh your on."

Sawyer made his way over to her and sat down beside her. She was playing with a lighter yet had no sign of a cigarette. This only intrigued him more to what her story could be.

" For the life of me I can't figure it out?"

The open ended question got her attention and she turned her gaze towards him. Sawyer laid it on thick showing his dimples and then in long drawn out southern tone he whispered in ear, " What is a pretty girl like yourself doing at a diner all by her lonesome?"

This caused the girl just to roll her eyes in return. Sawyer thought she could be no older than twenty, no make that twenty-one as he noticed the half empty beer in front of her. She was definitely beautiful, a little rough around the edges, but once he cleaned her up she was sure to make any man fall in love. She was this wild mix of a strong confident woman who could take the whole world on that was in her inside, yet at the same time had a look of innocence and vulnerability which made you want to hold her and protect her from the world. She had freckles all along her face which only added to the innocent look. This dangerous combination always made for a great con artist and your prey would never see the con coming. The girl that Sawyer had been trying to figure out finally spoke.

" Look why don't you just skip all this bullshit and you tell me what it is you want from me? "

" Excuse me?"

" Well for one I know that you don't want sex from me, cause I know that look all to well and your not giving me that look right now, but you obviously want something. You came all the way over hear to ask me some lame questions and then you just stop and go into a deep thought. The only other thing I can think of is money and I will just help you out there I don't have any."

Sawyer then let out a light chuckle, "Oh I like you and your right I don't sex well at least for now anyway."

This caused the girl to roll her eyes again, "You're a pig." She then got up to leave, but found that the man had grabbed her arm. "Wait don't leave you have not found out what I want yet. Please just sit back down."

She reluctantly sat back down and then cast him a look to continue. " Okay so your right I did not come over here for sex or for your money, anyone could tell just by looking at you that you probably only have two buck in your pocket by the way."

" Is there a point to this or are you just trying to insult me?"

" Hold on sweet cheeks I'm getting there. Look my name is Sawyer and what I do is con people. You see those two goof balls sitting in the corner booth?"

She looked over at the larger male and much smaller male and she then nodded her head, " Yeah I see them."

" Well those two men work for me and I guess you could call us a team of con artists that is the best way I can think of it. I have been at the trait for many years now and I have a special talent for reading people. It helps me pick the marks. I can smell on easy mark from a mile away , but it also helps me smell out a natural born con artist. That is where you come into play freckles, everything about has the makings for a great con woman. So the reason I came over here was one to see if you have the stuff which I think you do and two to see if you would be willing to join our team of misfits?"

" Look Sawyer I'm flattered that you think I have the makings of a great con artist, but I'm sorry your barking up the wrong tree. I'm just a nobody sitting all by herself at some diner with only two bucks in her pocket. I don't have the sliest clue about conning someone."

Sawyer found that her change in attitude had affected him more than he would care to admit. She was getting to him and no ever got to him. God if she could get to him imagine all the marks that she could get to care and love her. She was going to be perfect, he could make her as good as him maybe even better.

Sawyer then smiled at her, "That's just it Freckles what you don't come by naturally I will be there along the way to teach you and don't worry we will start out with baby steps and work your way up."

" I don't know Sawyer." He could tell that she was seriously thinking about his offer now. Then he noticed her gaze went towards an older woman who was waitressing at the diner. The older woman was giving the girl the death glare.

Sawyer thought he would then interject, " Mommy dearest?"

" What? Oh yeah that obvious huh? She has been giving us the evil eye since you sat down next to me, but she can't say anything, because she might lose her job."

"Have you just been going along with this whole conversation to piss her off?"

This time it was the girl who let out a laugh, "Yeah kind of."

" See a natural born user, never for one second where you falling for anything that came out of my mouth, perfect makings for a con artist."

" What I don't get is if your such a great con artist yourself why do you need me then?"

" Well you don't miss a beat Freckles. The thing is I can't be in the public anymore I have to do all my work behind scenes."

She then looked at him questioningly.

" I got thrown in jail okay. Look Freckles we could really use you on our team. You would be making hell of lot more money than you are now and the freedom. Freedom from your mother and from this hell hole of a town, I can see it in your eyes you have the itch to get as far away as you possibly can. "

" Come with us Freckles."

She sat there and looked at her mother and then back at Sawyer.

" You want to do something to really piss off your mother?" Sawyer asked her as he raised his eyebrows.

She let out another laugh, a sound that Sawyer was growing very fond of, in joking manner she responded. " Always."

Without warning he moved in and gave her knockout kiss that took her breath away.

Once they broke for air they both opened their eyes and looked at each other. "You're really serious about this conning thing?"

"As a heart attack."

" Okay then, I will go with you." He gave her his million dollar smile showing his dimples. He put down money for her beer and took her hand in his own.

" No time like the here and now Freckles. Let's get going."

She then glared back at her mother, "Sounds great. By the way my name is Kate not freckles."

As she left the diner and all her problems she could hear her mother's voice in the back round. "Katherine you will live to regret leaving with that man. Men like him are nothing, but trouble."

All she could think about was how no man could be worse than her step father or how no life could be as bad as the one she was living now.

A couple months had gone by with the newest team member. Sawyer had not lied to her about taking baby steps into the business and he had also been right about her being a natural. Charlie was still the front man and did his usual gig of conning sad lonely woman, but this time they had the added bonus of Kate. They would send her in a couple days early to befriend the mark get her to trust her as a friend and get a good read on her. Kate was always dead on never having a problem with the woman trusting her or with an accurate read on the personality letting Charlie know how he should play each one. Now, instead of Charlie having to get their attention somehow Kate would just tell the women that she had the perfect guy for them and the woman where more than willing to meet their Mr. Wonderful.

Charlie had welcomed Kate with open arms she made his job so much easier and he also enjoyed her sense of humor as well. Hurley on the other hand was a bit standoffish in the beginning, he would never tell Sawyer or Charlie this, but he was kind of scared of her at first. That soon changed after a day or two he was now very fond of the young woman and she was the only one he could tell if he thought Sawyer and Charlie were crossing a line that they should not or that sometimes he hated what he did to these people, but then he would back it up with it was a hell of lot better than his life was before. Then there was Sawyer who had now made it his personal goal in life to make her into the perfect con woman. He would always be telling her tips on what to do or what not to do and sometimes he would have Hurley set up a video so they could observe Charlie has he worked the mark and he would point out all the faults in his approach and how sloppy he was making sure that Kate knew what to do and always make sure that she always had the upper hand. There was definitely an undeniable attraction there that Sawyer could not deny , but he never acted on it expect for that first kiss in that diner and that very kiss he would still have sweet dreams of months later. Romance would have to wait till after he had created the perfect con artist that he knew she could and would become. If he started anything romantic before she reached this level it would only distract her and bring her down.

They were now headed to LA with only five hundred dollars between the four of them. Charlie had royally fucked up their last con getting trashed before he met the father of their latest mark. He was so gone that he threw up all over the families dinning room table. The father threw him out so quickly that they never had a chance to make any of the money back that they spent on wining and dinning the daughter.

Sawyer had it all planned out though, he knew exactly who their next job was going to be. All that was needed was a little research on Hurley's part and then they could hit the ground running. Once Hurley had finished up with the research he turned it into Sawyer so he could plan an attack. Due to low funds once Hurley was done with his job he had to find a normal job to somewhat support their corrupt little family. Luckily he found a job right away at a pizza joint which worked out very well for the group since he got to bring home a free pizza every night.

The team had found a cheap dirty motel room that they could afford to live in for the time being.

Tonight they where going to have their meeting that they always had before their job. They were just waiting on Hurley and their dinner that he would be bringing with him. Then he barged threw the door, " Its mushroom tonight guys."

Kate let out a huge, " YES"

" Bloody hell I hate mushrooms."

" Don't worry Charlie I will eat your mushrooms for you."

" Thanks love your so sweet." His voice was oozing with sarcasm.

"Anything for you." She stated with the same sarcasm.

Sawyer then stepped in, " Would you two stop acting like four year olds. We have serious work that must be done."

Once each of them had a slice in hand they began the meeting.

Sawyer posted a picture on the wall of an attractive male when Kate saw the picture of their latest mark she busted out in laughter.

" No one told me that Charlie was going gay for this job!"

When she looked around the room she saw that they all had a serious look upon their faces.

" Freckles this not Charlie's mark it is yours."

" What! Sawyer I'm not ready to be the lead!"

" Freckles I think that you are more than ready and how are you ever going to know if you don't just jump in? Will you at least hear the stats on this guy?"

Kate nodded her head for him to continue.

" The mark is one Dr. Jack Shepherd."

" Oh great a doctor that's just perfect."

" Freckles."

" Okay Okay I'm shutting up now."

" As I was saying the mark is not only a doctor, but he also a trust fund kid making his net worth in the millions. He just recently divorced from his wife which she got away with nothing, because he had her sign a bullet proof prenup and he has been quit the playboy since then. So you will have a lot of competition, but your biggest obstacle is going to be his best friend with benefits Dr. Juliet Burke. I had Hurley look into it and as far as we can tell it is only about the sex."

" This is not a con this is more like mission impossible! Sawyer I don't know what crazy pills you have been taking to make you think a guy like that would have any interest in me at all."

" Freckles do you even look in the mirror when you wake up?"

" What the hell is that suppose to mean?"

" What it means is that you are knock out and you could have any man falling at your knees. Plus with my ploy to take down Dr. Jack Shepherd he will be like putty in your hands. Look Freckles I know that it is kind of scary being your first real job, but think if this works of how much money we will have. No more shitty hotels or pizza for dinner every night."

When she did not say anything Sawyer took it as a sign to continue.

" The good news is that I have our marked pegged and I know exactly how we are going to get to him. The Good Doctor has beautiful confident woman throwing themselves at him, but yet he has not fallen for any of them including his ex wife. We need to flip his whole world if this going to work at all. Jack is a very casual sex kind of guy; he is no way or form a protective lover. He believes and I quote word for word that "Woman are powerful beautiful creatures and who am I to get in their way to what they want. If they want me so be it." What will take our boy by surprise is going to be nice beautiful, weak girl that needs him to take care of her. I don't care what this jackass says everyman wants to feel that he is needed and that he can protect his woman. First we need him to become over protective of you and then BAM he will not know what hit him he is going to fall so hard."

" Sawyer I am none of those things you just described."

" Freckles what did we talk about?"

" Lesson number three a good con artist will change their personality depending on the mark."

" Exactly."

" Okay so lets just say for humor sakes that I can this pull off. I'm still not quit sure how the hell we are going to get his money."

" Freckles not only are you going to have to get him to fall in love with you , but your going to have to get him to fall so in love with you to have him marry you without a prenup. It is what we like to call a long con.