-1Chapter 2

Juliet refused to believe what she was seeing. She stood for a few minutes staring at him, her mouth open, not at all sure what to say. He was really there, Jack was really there, standing right in front of her with a clipboard in his hand staring back at her. After what seemed an eternity for both of them, Juliet spoke.

"Jack", she whispered, "What are you doing here?". She knew if it were her she would have wanted a slightly different greeting, but she was still in shock. She had made it her aim to cut everyone she had met on that island out of her life, she wanted to forget, start again. A new beginning.. Even if it meant never seeing Jack again, never hearing his voice, never feeling his fingers touch her skin. But now he was here, what the hell was he doing here?

"I.. I work here Juliet", he tried calm himself but he couldn't do it. She was here, in this hospital. Juliet was the sister of the woman he saved, the aunt of the boy he pulled out of the burning car, and she was here. Not on the island, but standing right in front of him with a look of complete and utter shock on her face. Jack wondered if he was dreaming or if he was possibly losing his mind. It wasn't right. There was only one rescue plane that left the island and she wasn't on it.

"What are you.. How are.. Juliet you're…", he couldn't find the words. He didn't know what to say. For countless nights he had lay awake in bed thinking of her, dreaming that he could just be with her one more time.

Juliet's eyes never left his, he could see tears pricking up in hers. "Oh Jack.."

"God, I've missed you so much". Jack dropped the clipboard, ran over to where she was standing and grabbed her in his arms. He held her as close as her could, his head buried in her luscious blonde hair. She slipped her arms around his waist pulling herself into him, tears flowing down her cheeks.

There would be time for questions later, now was just about them. And only them.

Julian stood looking at them with a confused expression on his face. "Aunt Juliet? Why are you crying, are you sad again?". Juliet lifted her head slightly from the crook of Jack's neck to answer him. "No honey, I'm not", she brushed a couple of tears from her face and smiled, "Far from it actually". Julian, still looking terribly confused, retreated back to his seat.

"Julian, if I go to the coffee shop with Dr. Shephard would you be a good boy and stay here?". Julian nodded. Juliet turned back to Jack and studied his face.

"I think we've got a lot of catching up to do"

"I just can't believe that you're here", Jack fiddled with his cardboard coffee cup. "I've spent every waking moment thinking about you and now.. You're here. How did you get off the island, I don't understand"

Juliet took a sip of her coffee "Well, about a week after you guys left another helicopter came and, well.. rescued us.. Jack, I'm sorry I didn't try to contact you, I just..". Jack placed his hand on hers "Hey, it's okay, you don't need to explain, I wanted a fresh start too you know"

She smiled at him. How he missed her smile, the way she looked at him, studied him, she was so beautiful it was almost too much to bare. He had no idea how he had survive the past few years without seeing her face everyday. "Thanks Jack.. I thought about you everyday too, I wanted to see you but I told myself it was for the best if I didn't see anyone from.. there", she sighed.

Jack squeezed her hand. "Was it just you?". Juliet shook her head, "Oh no, there a couple of us actually - me, Claire and Aaron, James and a few others.. Oh and Scott too"

"You mean Steve?"

Juliet laughed, "Yeah Steve, I've always wondered how he didn't go crazy with everybody getting his name wrong". Jack sniggered, "Good to hear Claire and Aaron got to go home, I can imagine it wouldn't be the best childhood growing up on an island".

Juliet nodded, "She was so happy, everybody was.. I think James might have even shed a few tears". Jack smiled, "You're not serious". "Yeah you're right, I'm not!", Juliet giggled. "You could tell he was happy though"

They fell silent for awhile. Juliet thought about how good it felt to back with him again, smiling, laughing, talking, touching. "So Jack, how've you been?", she looked up and met his gaze. He smiled sadly "Not too good to be honest.. Though you can probably tell, right?"

"What, because of the beard?"

Jack pretended to look hurt, "You don't like it?". Juliet tried not to laugh. "Well it's very.. beard-like"

He looked down "I really wanted to go back Juliet, to the island.. I couldn't live without you, I've never forgiven myself for leaving you behind there. I'm sure your sister told you the guy who saved her was standing on the side of a bridge when she crashed her car"

"Oh Jack.."

He looked up at her, tears in his eyes. "I'm so sorry Juliet, I'm so sorry". Juliet stood up and walked over to him "It's okay Jack, you don't need to say sorry, I'm here now, it's all going to be okay". She took his hand in hers as he stood up, allowing her to place her arms around his waist again and hug him tight.

He was aware of the doctors and patients around him staring, but he didn't care, he was with her, holding her, they could stare all they liked.

Juliet gently pulled herself away from him and pulled a few napkins off the table. Jack watched her "What're you doing?"

"You got a pen?"

Jack felt in his pocket and produced a pen and handed it to her, "Juliet, what..". She started to scribble something down on the napkin. "Well Jack, I don't exactly want us to lose touch now, do I?". She placed the pen back in his pocket and placed the napkin in his hand.

"You're giving me your number?"

Julie smirked at him "I sure am.. Don't tell me you don't want it, Jack?"

"Of course I want it!", he smiled shyly and tucked it into his pocket. "I'll err.. Call you then?"

"Well sure, if you want to, go for it!. I better go or else I'll be late, got the plumber calling over soon". Jack leaned down and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, she looked down in an unsuccessful attempt to hide her blushing face. "Sorry, to much?"

"Not at all Jack. It was.. Really good to see you", she smiled at him once more and made her way towards the hospital exit. He kept his eyes fixed on her until he could see her no more.

"You too".