Author's Note: Some stories just will not leave you alone, and while this isn't a full-fledged fic, I needed to do this. Because, for the love of Jate, I really want Jack and Kate to be happy, but right now neither of them are. And, for the sake of me, I just can't wrap my head around the idea of Jack not wanting Kate to help. He KNOWS she will come back, no matter what he says/tell her to do.
In any case, I think this is a little angsty, and I'm not sure it really worked out like my original plan, but I've had the idea in my head for a while now, and I wanted to do it. So, enjoy-and leave me a review to let me know what you liked/didn't like.
Disclaimer: I don't own. Any reference to real people may be intended, but any uses of names, places, etc are entirely for entertainment uses only. I don't own, and I'm not making money for it, either!
He hadn't see her in two years.
It was the one thought that ran through Jack's mind as he waited in tha parking lot. Staring at a cigarette butt on the ground, he kicked it, watching as it fluttered away in the wind. Sighing, he stared at thr foreboding gray building. He saw the fences, decorated in barbed wire. A couple stood by the gate, wrapped tightly in an embrace. He wondered why she had called him-they hadn't even talked since they had been rescued.
Jack remembered the phone message he'd gotten when he got home from the hospital one day:
"Jack...it's Kate. I know that it's been a while. I know that I am probably the last person you would expect to hear from, and the last person you would want to talk to. But Jack...the truth is that I have noone to pick me up this saturday, and they are finally letting me go."He rembered how she paused, how he could hear the emotion in her voice. "Jack, I'm getting let out. My lawyer has been trying for a while now, and they finally agreed. You don't have to. I can just call a cab, but-"Jack thought of how her voice teared up."I'd rather it be someone I know. Please? I know that I have a lot of explaining to do, so please...I guess I'll know if I hear back from you. Bye."
The sound of the dial tone after her message made it even clear to him that he had to do it. He had to see her again, especially with the way things ended. He'd kept in touch with Claire a few times, and had even tended to John Locke a couple of months back at the hospital. Sayid sent him a letter once a month, but other than that, he never heard from anyone. Noone had heard from Saywer in months, but the last they heard he was back in Texas scalping people at an arena.
Staring at his watch, Jack wondered how much longer he'd have to wait. He hadn't seen her face since they left the airport, carrying her away in handcuffs. It seemed harsh and cruel, afterall hadn't she suffered enough? Taking on the job of finding her a good lawyer in the area, he thoughthis job was done. Once he even considered going to see her, but he was called in for a surgery.
It couldn't be much longer. It just couldn't be. When he talked to the jail, they had said she'd be released at Twelve in the afternoon.
It was twelve seventeen.
Every minute that passed, Jack's curiousity grew even more. He made up his mind that if she wasn't out by twelve-thirty he would go in after her. He would be calm about it, but there was no way now that he couldn't leave without her.
He saw someone standing by the gate, a squinted to try and see who it was. At first it seemed distant, like a dream, taking a few minutes to try and realize who it was. Once he realized that it was her, he felt his heart pounding.
Kate.
What was he supposed to say? What should he do? Should he run to help her with her boxes, or wait until she got to the car? Should he wrap her in a bone-crushing hug, kiss her, or just give the awkward wave and smile combo?
Part of Jack was afraid that if he said anything, if he did anything, it would all go away. That Kate would no longer be standing in front of him, that she wouldn't be back in his life. He was afraid to move on the off chance that his vision of her was just a mirage.
"Jack."
He hadn't heard her say his name the way she had in a while, and upon hearing it, Jack was met with a well of memories. She was there. Right in front of him, close enough to touch, but Jack had no idea what to do.
"It's about time."
"I had some paperwork issues to deal with."Kate said, not meeting his eyes. "I'm sorry. But thank you for waiting."
"Kate-"Jack pleaded, needing to see it in her eyes. Any sign to make sure that she was okay. It was all he needed.
She looked up at him, a sad look etched onto her face. "It's still processing in my mind that this thing is real."She confessed.
"It's real."He was able to muttered.
The wind kicked up, blowing an empty Mountain Dew bottle past them.
"Are you hungry?"Jack asked, wanting the strange awkwardness to disappear.
"A little I guess. But I don't have any money."Kate said, not moving from her spot.
Jack nodded, knowing what he had to do. He hadn't seen Kate in over two years, and all he could talk about was food? He wanted so much to just let her know that everything would be okay, that he'd make it okay. Part of Jack was afraid, knowing that she wouldn't let him.
"I can pay."
"Jack-"
"I haven't seen you in two years, Kate. Let me do something for you."
"Okay..."Kate said, watching as his trunk opened. "So I guess this is it. I'll be happy if I never see this place again."
Jack shook his head, taking a sip from a water bottle. "I haven't even been here an hour, and I'm already tired of it."
Putting her box into the trunk, she shut it. Turning to face Jack, Kate wasn't sure what to say. She was afraid that Jack felt obligated to pick her up, because they had been so close before. She was afraid that he didn't want to be there. "So should I sit in the front, or what?"
"Oh. Yeah. You can sit wherever...but I'm driving."
"Yeah."
Jack stayed where he stood, studying the building.
"Jack, if you don't want to do this, I can just call a cab..."
"I'm not letting you leave this place in a cab, Kate. You asked me to come, so I did."
Kate cringed, studying his gaze. "So the only reason you came is because I asked you?"
He shook his head, for the first time since she came out, looking her in the eye. "No. I came because I wanted to. Because I haven't seen you in ages, and i'd like to think that we can still come out of this as friends."
"Oh."
Jack nodded, his hands stuffed into his pockets.
"So where to?"
"There's this buffet place about twenty miles from here...you think you can wait that long?"
Kate shrugged, her usually brown hair looked frayed in the sunlight. "How big is this buffet place?"
"It's not that big."Jack asked, curious. "It's like a Deli. They have salad and stuff. Why?"
"Just wondering."
"Oh, okay."Jack replied, getting caught up in the emotion of the moment. There was an awkward lull that neither knew how to fill.
"So are we going?"
Jack nodded, pulling himself out of his thoughts. Unlocking the car, he watched Kate as she slid it. It seemed right somehow, rather than awkward like he had pictured it. She set her smaller bag on the floor in front of her. He turned on the car, looking over at her. "You ready?"
She smiled, shrugging. "As I'll ever be."