Title: Right Where I'm Meant To Be
Pairing: Jack/Kate maybe a lil Charlie/Claire later on
Spoilers: May be slight spoilers for season 3 not in the 1st few chapters though
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in this story, nor do I own any rights to the television show "Lost". They were created by JJ Abrams and Damon Lindelof and they belong to them, Touchstone, and ABC.
Summary: This is a post rescue fic but it starts on the island with Jack & Kate (BTW thanks to Megan for reading over this chap for me)
I already started this on LF a little while ago just haven't updated in a while i'm working on it though . Hope you like please review...
Chapter 1:
"Jack, Jack, Jack", Kate teased lightly. "I've called you out on this before. You were so checking me out again".
"You wish Katherine", he grinned, nudging her slightly in the side.
Stopping suddenly in her tracks and putting her hands on her hips she stepped in front of him blocking him from going any further and tapped her foot on the ground.
"Tut tut Doctor Shephard. You'd think at your age you'd be man enough to admit when you're checking someone out", she smiled clicking her tongue disapprovingly.
Jack flashed her another smile and for a second Kate felt the wind being knocked out of her like she often did around him. Recovering quickly she poked him playfully in the chest.
"Well what have you got to say for yourself then?"
Taking one swift step towards her he bent down to her eye level and with a playful smile masking his face he whispered softly,
"Kate I'm all man shame you haven't figured that out by now" and before she had the chance to answer back he stepped quickly to her left and strode off happily in the direction of the caves. Kate stood rooted to the spot for a few minutes taking in what he had said. A girly giggle escaped her mouth before her brain started working again and she quickly turned around running to catch up with him.
"Jack? Hey Jack wait up!", she called out before abruptly stopping in her tracks once more seeing him casually leaning against a tree with his arms folded.
"God Kate you sure do take your sweet time"
Her hands quickly returned to her hips again and she started to tap the ground with her foot once more; a little more violently this time as she glared back at him through cold eyes. A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he watched her.
"Have you been just waiting here expecting me to follow you?" she asked sharply.
"Yeah", he grinned.
"Jack!"
"Well you did follow me didn't you?"
"Yeah", she started slowly. "But that's just because...um...you have the fruit you know the only reason I came with you so give them here & I can go".
"Now Kate I doubt very much that's the reason you followed me", Jack told her matter-of-factly.
"And why's that?" she asked through gritted teeth.
"Well 'cos see that bag hanging there by your side? That's where all the fruit is; I've got nothing".
"Dammit", she muttered under her breath causing Jack to break out into another huge grin.
"What?" Kate asked eyeing him curiously.
"When are you just going to admit you want me?" he sighed.
"Jack?!" she shouted thumping him on the arm.
"I'm just kidding", he smiled. "Come on lets get the food back to the camp after all it is the only reason you came right?"
"Right", she smiled. "Well almost".
"Almost?" he smirked.
"Yeah Jack...I..." she began but was interrupted mid-sentence by a frantic Charlie heading straight for them.
"Jack! Kate! Come quick...it's a boat...a bloody boat...we're saved...come on guys we're going home", he shouted happily.
"What? Are you serious?" Jack asked suspiciously.
"Yeah mate I am. Come on we haven't got much time. They're leaving in an hour! This is it: we're going home!", he smiled before turning back around and running back towards the beach again.
"I can't believe it", Jack whispered under his breath before another smile masked his features. Turning around to face Kate is face suddenly dropped seeing the look of terror that was streaked across hers.
"Kate?" he started softly but it was only then it hit him. She didn't have a home to go back to or family she was on her own. He had been living with her for so long he didn't think of her as the fugitive or the murderer she was...Kate; just Kate. His Kate...well she almost could be...
"Kate", he repeated again softly. "It's going to be okay. Don't be afraid. I'm here alright? We can get through this together..."
"No Jack we can't. I'm not letting you get involved in my mess. I'll just stay here...it'll be fine...I'll be fine..." she muttered more to herself then Jack.
"No Kate", he said firmly. "You can't stay here. Not by yourself. It isn't safe...please we'll think of something ok?"
"Jack I am not getting on that boat. You know what'll happen if I do. They'll recognise me...someone will, they'll take me away Jack. I can't...please...just let me do this...you know I have to..."
"The passport", he said suddenly.
"What?"
"The passport. Joanna's passport. Do you still have it?"
"I...yeah...I think so..."
"Good, then that's all you need ok. I'll cover for you, everyone will. Please Kate I'm not leaving you here; I can't. Please just come with me everything's going to be fine I promise".
"I...Jack...I..."
"Please Kate?"
"O...Ok", she nodded hesitantly.
Jack breathed a quick sigh of relief before grabbing hold of her hand.
"Good come on then Kate we haven't got much time", he said pulling her along behind him.
An hour later all of the remaining survivors were gathered by the waters edge packed and ready to go. Word had quickly travelled about Kate and everyone knew what they had to do. They were to admit they knew about the fugitive on board the plane but she didn't make it. Her injuries were too extensive and she died a few days after crashing. Claire reeled off the story word perfect when she was questioned by one of the two Feds on board the boat. They were a little suspicious at first but when Sawyer and Hurley's stories matched they seemed satisfied. No-one spoke much on the journey home. Home; it still hadn't hit them that they were actually going home. Jack sat beside Kate the whole way with one arm firmly around her waist. He spoke reassuringly to her telling her that he would do anything he could to protect her; she wasn't going to be sent away. She just nodded meekly in response and about half way there she took hold of his hand intertwining her fingers in his.
"Perfect fit", she whispered sadly as a few tears trickled down her cheeks.
That was all Jack needed to fuel his determination even more. A few hot tears threatened to spill but he swore to himself he'd keep it together, keep it together for Kate.
"We're almost there", Hurley shouted excitedly a little while later as he peered through the window causing Kate to inhale sharply. Jack squeezed her hand gently.
"It's going to be okay Kate. I know you have nowhere to go but you can stay with me for as long as you need. I..."
"No", she spoke firmly. "No Jack. I already told you, you're not getting involved in my mess ok. I'll be fine, I'll get by I did it before, I can do it again", she said offering a small sad smile.
"Kate..."
"No Jack please. You've already done so much for me, so much more then I deserve. I know what I'm doing okay"
"But Kate where will you go?"
"I dunno yet, I'll just see what happens but Jack before we have to...say goodbye...I erm...I just wanted to thank you for everything. I don't know what I would have done if you weren't on the island with me. You've done so much for you'll...you're never going to know what it's meant to me or what you've done for me Jack. I just wish that things were different, that I didn't do...", but before she could say anymore Jack pressed his lips softly against hers cupping her face in his hands. After a few minutes pulling away slightly Jack glanced down tucking a stray curl behind her ear.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" he whispered softly feeling his heart slowly break as he watched her fall apart in front of him.
"No I don't want to...but I have to Jack", she told him as gentle sobs racked her whole body. "I have to..."
Jack pulled her in close to him just wanting to hold her for one last time, stroking her back he rocked her gently.
"We're here", a deep voice called out which was greeted by a loud chorus of whoops and cheers. Before Kate reluctantly pulled away Jack whispered softly, "I'll never stop thinking about you Kate, nothing's going to change just cos we're home".
She simply stared back at him getting lost in his eyes for what seemed like the millionth time since she'd first met him. She wanted nothing more than to tell him she'd changed her mind, that she would go and stay with him but she knew it wasn't fair. Jack deserved more then a life with her. She thought she couldn't give him what he wanted but all Jack really wanted was her. Bringing her hand up to his cheek stroking it gently, she leaned up and kissed him softly one last time.
"Goodbye Jack, I'm sorry I can't give you more".
"You've given me more then you'll ever know. Goodbye Kate, look after yourself".
"Doctors orders?" she smiled.
"Doctors orders", he repeated and before he could say anymore she had gone to say a few quick goodbyes to the other survivors and had slipped through the crowd disappearing out of Jack's life forever. With a heavy heart he joined everyone else on the dock to say their own final goodbyes and to go back to the life they had before. He hugged his new family goodbye each promising to keep in touch and they all turned cautiously to face the throngs of people that had gathered to welcome them home. Jack scanned the crowd looking out for familiar faces. He could hear a faint voice in the distance calling out to him,
"Jack, Jack"
"Jack wake up Jack"
His eyes suddenly jerked open and it took him a minute to gather his surroundings. Glancing up he saw a black women smiling warmly down at him.
"Jack Shephard how many times do I have to tell you no sleeping on the job", she teased handing him a cup of strong coffee.
"Sorry Angie", Jack muttered sheepishly gratefully taking the cup off her.
"That's okay", she smiled down at him. "Now come on you're needed down in the ER, two car crash victims have just been brought in. Husband and wife; Matthew and Ava Quinn I think they're IDs say. Young couple. The girl's lost a lot of blood but she's stable. Doctor O' Keffee is looking after the guy he looks in a pretty bad way".
"Who's with the girl now?" Jack asked after slugging back the hot liquid.
"Evelyn's got her until you get down there", she answered following him out of the staff lounge. "So were you having a nice dream then? You look pretty happy for a guy who is on the night shift forthe fourth time this week getting some quick sleep on the world's most uncomfortable couch. Who is she?" she smiled.
"Who is she?" Jack repeated.
"Oh come on now I know I might not a young flower anymore but I still know that look when I see it. So who is she; this woman of your dreams?"
Jack sighed deeply remembering his dream, thinking back to his last few minutes he'd spent with Kate all those months ago. It seemed so much longer. Things had gotten back to normal pretty much as soon as he'd gotten home. Well as normal as can be expected after what he had been through. He still met up with most of the other survivors often enough. Everyone was settling back into the real world again. Jack had gone back to work a few weeks after returning home and things were almost like he had never been away at all. He had kept his word of course; Kate never once left his thoughts once. In the morning when he woke up he saw her, every night when he went sleep there she was, every minute of every day he saw her, thought of her, wondered about her, worried about her, dreamed about her, loved her. He thought back to Angie's question.
"The woman of my dreams?" he said and shaking his head slightly he mumbled quietly to himself, "Guess that's all she is now".
"Don't worry Jack you'll find your dream girl soon. Guy like you, you're not gonna be single for much longer".
"Maybe your right Angie", Jack laughed.
"Baby I'm always", she grinned "Now go on they need you down stairs".
Pushing through the doors of the ER Jack was immediately greeted with chaos.
"There you are Jack", cried a young nurse. "I was worried you weren't gonna show".
"Sorry Evelyn; got held up. So what do you have for me?"
"Young woman in her late twenties or so. She was in the passenger seat when the vehicle crashed. She's lost a lot of blood but we've managed to stabilise her, I don't know how extensive the damage is to her back. She had already been moved out of the car by the time the ambulance arrived".
"By who?"
"I dunno, I'm guessing the husband", she answered nodding in the unconscious mans direction who was being blocked out of Jack's view by another team of doctors.
"There was no-one else at there except for the woman who phoned the ambulance. She said she had already been moved by the time she found them. The husband had collapsed by her side he's been out cold since".
"Ok", Jack said. "Let me see her".
"She's right over here", Evelyn said leading her towards the woman.
"Right, I'm going to need you to...", Jack started making his way towards the bed but catching sight of the patient lying in front of him his heart started to beat just that little bit faster. "Oh my god..." he muttered barely above a whisper.
"Jack? Are you alright? What is it? What's wrong?" asked the young nurse worriedly.
He said nothing for a minute, just stared at the patient in almost disbelief. Trying to find his voice again he finally chocked out,
"Kate?"...
TBC
Well there we go...hope you liked please review good or bad i'll take it all!! xxxx
