A/N: A jate story I wrote a while ago. I doubt I'll continue it. I have a few chapters, though, I'll put them up as I find them.

"Broken"

Chapter One

It had been two years since they were rescued. And Jack Shephard still remembered that day. Helicopters swarming the island, waiting for the remaining survivors to climb aboard. He remembered saying all those goodbyes once they were home. He remembered saying goodbye to Kate. Jack had not had any contact with her since that day. And, to be honest, he wasn't even thinking about her right now, this Tuesday night.

Sighing, he flopped onto his couch, just home from a long day of work at the hospital. Kicking off his shoes, Jack turned on the T.V. He flipped through the channels until he found that satisfied him – the news. He closed his eyes slowly and sank into the comfortable cushions of his leather couch. And he had barely been listening to the audio of the T.V. until he heard a name that made his heart skip a beat – Katherine Austen. Jack's eyes shot open as he started watching the news story.

"The two cars collided recently on Highway 95. The drivers, Katherine Austen and a woman in her mid-thirties have been sent to Midfield County Hospital. Both of them came out of this with minor injuries…"

Immediately, Jack shut off the T.V. and grabbed his coat. Midfield County was where he worked.

"What are you doing here, Shephard? I thought you left a while ago," asked Jack's coworker Jim Lowry.

"Is she here yet? The car crash – Kate Austen," Jack stumbled.

"She was just brought into the ER," Jim replied, looking confused."

"I need to see her," said Jack.

"Well you won't be able to until she's out of the ER and in a private room," Jim said, "How do you know her?"

"The plane crash," mumbled Jack, wondering if Kate was still on the run as he sat down in a nearby waiting room chair, "On the island we were…pretty close."

"Well," said Jim, "I'd say she'll be fine. As far as I know, she just has a fractured left arm and minor damage around the upper chest."

Jack nodded, slightly relieved. That wasn't bad. "When will she be out of the ER?"

"A few hours, probably," replied Jim, "But I've got to get home, I was headed out when you got here. So…"

Jack nodded again, "All right."

Jim started towards the door, but turned around. "And Jack?" Jack lifted his head. "I'm sure she'll be fine."

Forcing a tiny smile, Jack replied, "Thanks." And he rested his head on his fist, trying to ignore the butterflies in his stomach. Before he knew it, he had drifted asleep against his own will.

"Jack, wake up already!" Charlie was shaking him back and forth, Claire standing nearby.

"Oh God, I fell asleep," mumbled Jack groggily, immediately realizing where he was, "Where is she?"

"Claire smiled at him. "They said she's asleep, but she'll most likely be fine, and we can visit her. Charlie and I thought that you should see her first. The room is 209."

"That's right down this hall," Jack said, feeling relieved, "Thanks, you guys." He started down the familiar hallway, with Charlie and Claire behind him, and stepped into room 209.

There she was. Kate. It had seemed like forever, but she looked the same to Jack. The same beautiful Kate. Her chocolate brown springy hair caressing her freckled skin which now sported an occasional bruise.

Jack slowly walked closer to the bed, Charlie and Claire remaining in the doorway. He knelt beside the bed gently once close enough.

"Hey," he whispered, and bit his lip. He cautiously intertwined his fingers with her motionless ones. "I missed you," he said softly. Unexpectedly, Kate's sparkling eyes fluttered open and she moved her lips as if trying to speak. No sound emerged.

"Oh, yeah," Charlie announced from the doorway, "The doctors also said she won't be able to talk for a little while. Something about her vocal chords."

Jack nodded and turned back to Kate. A lone tear had fallen from her eye and he wiped it away with his free hand. "Hey, it's gonna be okay. You're doing fine. And I'll stay with you. I'll take care of you. Now you should really try and get some more rest."

Kate's lips spread into a smile, which was enough to comfort Jack. She slowly shut her eyes and gave his hand a squeeze before drifting back asleep.