A Day in the Life Series: A Hard Day's Night
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from/related to LOST. Title is from the Beatles song, A Hard Day's Night.
A/N: This series takes place after getting off the island. No real spoilers here, simply AU story lines, if any spoilers they are from past seasons. This is a mini series of the lives of the Shepard family. This is not meant to be a super long fic, maybe 5 parts or so. Parts may be read in no particular order. Each part is its own story.
Jack Shepard sat in his car, rubbing his tired eyes. The day had worn him out and all he wanted to do was have a good nights rest. He entered the dark house, seeing that his family was already in bed sound asleep. Jack quietly walked through the house making his way upstairs into the master bedroom. Taking off his jacket, he looked over to Kate who was fast asleep with a book in her hand. Jack gently placed himself next to her, draping his arm over her, pulling her close. Holding her ever so closely Jack buried himself next to her, taking her in.
Feeling the shift in the bed, Kate knew that Jack was home. Feeling him pull her close, she smiled. Clasping her hand with his she greeted him, "You're home, what time is it?" "Hey," he whispered, "it's late." She turned to face him, "You okay?" "It's been a really long day." Whenever Jack answered with "a really long day", she knew that something at the hospital didn't turn out the way he wanted it to. "What happened?" she asked cupping his face.
"There was a pretty bad accident today and the mother and son were brought in. They were in bad shape and the son needed surgery." Kate leaned over and turned the bed side lamp on so she could look at Jack. "The boy was nine years old. His injuries were too severe. I did the best I could." "Jack it's alright. You did what you could." "I know. I just…it hurts. Whenever someone comes in like that I can't help but think that it could be you or Leah." He said looking sadly at her. Jack always shared his stories from the hospital, with Kate always on the other side listening. She knew that if he tried to be strong with what he saw everyday and kept it inside he would break.
After every surgery or just a long day at the hospital, Jack always went home and held Kate and Leah a little bit longer. Jack would just hold her and breathe everything about her in, and of course she didn't mind. "Do you want to talk about it some more?" "No, I'm okay now. I just want to lay here with you for a bit before I check on Leah." "Okay." Kate smiled. "How was your day?" he asked. "It was alright. Work is work. Leah brought home plenty of drawings that she wanted to show you when you got home." Jack smiled. "She also asked when she can play the black and white keys like daddy." "Leah is going to grow up being a tree climbing pianist." He laughed. "It's in her genes." She smiled.
"You must be really tired. Why don't you go back to sleep. I'm going to change then check on Leah." "I'll wait for you." "No it's alright, go back to sleep." He said after she had yawned. "I'm not tired." Jack laughed, "Go back to sleep. I'll be back in a few." He said kissing forehead. "Okay, love you." "Love you too." Jack got off the bed, changed his clothes then headed over to Leah's room. Quietly entering her room, with her night light guiding him, he picked up the stuffed toy that had fallen and placed it back into her arms. Covering her with her blanket some more, he brushed her dark hair away from her face and gently kissed her head. Jack smiled as his peaceful sleeping daughter before sitting down on the chair next to her bed.
Jack spent many nights in this chair reading stories to Leah. It was one of Leah's favorite things to do with her daddy. With those nights, Jack would just sit there and watch Leah sleep. After long, stressful days at the hospital, Jack would just sit and watch. After seeing everything that could possibly come through the hospital, coming home to his family was the happiest place he could be. Whenever someone was rushed through those hospital doors his mind was set to default, thinking that it was Kate or Leah. After every surgery Jack always called Kate to check up on his girls.
The moments where Kate and Leah were asleep, Jack cherished the most. They were the moments where they were at peace, and sleeping with a smile. They were the moments when Jack knew that they were safe and sound, with nothing in the world that could hurt them. If Jack had the choice, he wouldn't wake them up for the world. He would do anything and everything to protect them, to shield them from pain and sorrow, to prevent them from feeling any sadness.
Jack smiled at the thought of Leah following in his footsteps and playing the piano, then running outside and getting dirty. With one last look for the night, Jack kissed his daughter again before getting some rest himself. Walking back to their bedroom, Jack smiled at the fast asleep Kate. Slowly placing him self next to her, Kate curled up against him and let out a sleepy sigh, "She okay?" "She's perfect." He whispered. Jack wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes. This was just another day in Jack Shepard's life. It was a hard day's night, but when Jack came home, the events earlier in the day faded, and he enjoyed everything that was right in his life.
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