[Enter Post Title Here

Flashforward

Within a dark hotel room, the dusk of dawn forms an indigo glow around the curtains of the window. A woman's silhouette suddenly appears, and she moves slowly and quietly around the room.

A light suddenly flicks on.

Kate, clad in her bra and a pair of jeans, shirt in her hand, turns in surprise. A small smile forms on her lips. "Hey," she says quietly.

Jack runs a hand over his face, blurry-eyed. "Hey...what time is it?" He asks as he searches blindly for his watch on the bed side table.

"Just after five," Kate's reply is muffled as she pulls the t-shirt over her head. She makes her way towards him as she fiddles with her long hair, lifting it out from beneath the hem of her shirt, dark curls spilling over her shoulders. "I didn't wanna wake you." She offers as explanation to the frown on Jacks' face.

He sits up as she perches on the bed side, and reaches for her hand. "Doesn't matter, I'd rather see you."

Kate squeezes his hand. "You need to sleep. You're exhausted, Jack." She reaches across him to nook in the headboard for her earrings, sending goosebumps all over him as her hair grazes his bare chest.

'Yeah, well," he says, watching her, amused at her frustration with one of the clasps. "After last night, can you really blame me?"

Kate pauses, her hands at her ear, and gives him a look. Jack smirks.

"That's not exactly what I was referring to," she replies, grinning, finally snapping the clasp shut, before bending over to get her shoes.

Watching her intently, Jack's smile slowly fades. He looks down, frowning, picking at the edge of the sheet draped across his midriff. "So...when can I see you again?"

Kate halts at his words, and then slowly sits back up right. She sighs and turns to look at him. " I dunno, Jack...you tell me" she says, her eyes gazing imploringly, saying more than the words she's said.

He looks up at her, catching the look, getting the point he was hoping she was not trying to make. Clenching his jaw, his brow slightly furrowed he remains silent.

Kate scoffs, turning away from him, and shakes her head.

An awkward silent surrounds them. After a few moments, desperate for an escape, Kate moves to stand up. "I've gotta go."

But she stops, feeling his hand wrap gently, yet firmly around her wrist.

"Kate..." his voice is pleading.

She looks at him, her heart aching at the desperation and longing in his eyes. Slowly, she sits back down on the side of the bed and slides her hand into his. He moves closer, and reaches out to brush a strand of hair away from her cheek, letting his hand linger before coming to rest at the nape of her neck. She closes her eyes at the feel of his touch, and leans forward, to rest her forehead against his own.

He lets out a shaky breath. "Please..."

She clenches her teeth, trying to fight back the tears that have already started to build. Swallowing hard, she pulls away, and looks at him. His eyes are glassy and he's breathing heavily.

"He needs me, Jack." Her voice is hoarse, and comes out almost as a whisper.

He tries to return her gaze, tries to reason with the words she is saying, but can't; he drops his head, and again, succombs to the selfish impulse that has been boiling up inside him ever since the first day he met her. The overwhelming need to be with her, the need to have her, to himself, and to hell with anyone else; he knows he's wrong, he knows she's right, but he can't fight it.

"I know..." his voice is weak. Almost sheepishly, he brings his head up to meet her gaze once more. "But so do I..."

What was left of Kate's defences break at his words, at the sadness on his face; he looks so vulnerable, so helpless, like a lost little boy...this is the Jack that she had seen only glimpses of on the island, but since they had gotten back, his strong, heroic shell has been cracked and had revealed a painfully honest and broken man.

Tears trickling down her face, she reaches up and pulls his face to hers, and kisses him, long and hard. His hold on her tightens, and he kisses her back, desperate for the feel of her.

Kate pulls away, and brushes her thumb against his cheek, their eyes locking. Part of her had already predicted this was exactly how things would turn out after last night, but the other half- whether it was rational or not she didn't know- had been so hopeful that this time it would be different, this time she would be stronger and would somehow be able to convince him. But she hadn't...and as usual, for the most part, after being with him, after touching him, after kissing him, she found herself thinking, she didn't care...that all that mattered was him, and being with him- so fuck the rest. For the most part, she was happy...until at 3:00 am the small inkling at the back of brain had begun to twitch...and she had remembered, no, it wasn't that simple...not now...not any more...because it wasn't just her and Jack that she had to worry about...there was him too.

She sighs, but tries to hide her inner turmoil with a small smile. "I'll call you..."

The relief that washes over him is so great, Jack almost shivers. He lets out a breath he hasn't realized he's been holding, and blinks quickly, in attempt to rid the tears he's afraid she'll see in his eyes.

He nods. "'OK..." and returns her smile.

"''OK..." she whispers, and kisses him again, then stands up.

Jack lets his hand trail down her arm, and squeezes her hand before slowly letting it fall away as she moves towards the door.

Kate picks up her jacket and purse off the chair, and has her hand on the door knob.

"I love you," he says.

Frozen, she closes her eyes, letting the words that both elevate and torture her, to sink in. She swallows.

" Me too," she says shakily, and proceeds to open the door, without looking back, knowing that if she were, she would lose all of what little control she has left.