Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. I appreciate it. Here's the next chapter…enjoy!

Kate stirred slowly in her sleep as the garage door opened. Riley woke up and began to cry. Kate heard him through the baby monitor and groaned.

Kate got up and started to walk into the hallway. She heard the garage door shut and then Kate heard Jack enter the house.

Mrs. Shephard walked into the nursery and walked over to her son's crib. She picked Riley up and rocked him gently. Kate heard her husband walk up the stairs. Riley continued to cry as Kate tried to quiet him.

"Shh, Riley. Shh," Kate murmured, rocking him. "Baby, baby, it's okay. Mommy's here. Baby, shh."

Jack must've heard Riley because he walked into the nursery.

"Hey, sweetheart," he said to Kate, kissing her cheek.

Kate turned and looked at him. "Hey," she said sadly. She looked at Jack and noticed he looked terrible. "Baby, go to bed. You look horrible," Kate said.

Dr. Shephard shook his head. "No, Kate. I'll hold Riley. You go back to sleep," he said, holding his arms out for his son.

Kate sighed and handed Riley to his father. When Riley was in his father's arms he stopped crying.

Kate sighed. She yawned and the looked at Jack. "I'm going to bed," she said, standing on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. Then Kate walked out of the nursery and into the master bedroom. She got under the covers and closed her eyes.

Fifteen minutes later, Jack walked into the bedroom and changed into his pajama bottoms. He threw his shirt into the hamper and then crawled into the bed. Kate snuggled close to him, and Jack wrapped his arms around Kate's waist. Mrs. Shephard rested her head on Jack's bare chest and sighed. Dr. Shephard kissed her hair and tightened his grip on her waist.

Kate sighed. "What time is it anyway?" she asked.

"Almost two in the morning."

Kate groaned. "I thought you said-" she started.

Jack put his finger to her lips, shushing her. "Yes, Kate. I know I said that I would try to come home before Iz went to bed. I remember. But I couldn't leave. Turns out there was a new doctor that I had to show around," he replied.

Kate looked at him skeptical. "A new doctor?" she asked. "And what's the new doctor's name?"

"Tom Brennan," Jack replied simply.

Kate's heart skipped a beat and she stopped breathing. Tom was here? Tom was in Los Angeles?

"Yeah, he's from Iowa and he had a wife that died. Tom also had a son that died too," Jack explained, not noticing that Kate had stopped breathing.

Mrs. Shephard gasped for air and Jack looked at her.

"Kate, sweetie, you okay?" he asked.

Kate looked at him and nodded. "Yeah, Jack," she assured. "I'm fine." Then Kate turned and looked at Jack. "You're not working tomorrow, are you?"

Dr. Shephard shook his head. "Why?" he asked.

"Can you watch Riley tomorrow?" Kate asked.

Jack nodded. "Of course, Kate. Why?"

Mrs. Shephard bit her tongue. She couldn't possibly tell Jack the truth. Kate gulped and then said, "I wanted to go shopping. It's been awhile since I shopped by myself. And I wanted to take a day for myself. Is that okay?"

Jack nodded. He kissed her lips gently. "Take the credit card too. Buy whatever you want, okay?"

Kate smiled. "Okay. Thanks," she murmured, kissing his chest.

Jack nodded. "You're welcome. Anything for my beautiful wife," he murmured gently in her ear.

Kate smiled to herself as she snuggled closer to her husband. Then she sighed and closed her hazel orbs. Slowly, she fell asleep.

The next morning Kate woke up to Kayley tapping on her shoulder.

"Mom…" the nine-year-old whined.

Kate groaned and opened her eyes. "What, baby?" she asked.

"Daddy told me to wake you up. I'm leaving. Daddy said to say bye to you," Kayley said.

Kate yawned and hugged Kayley. "Okay. Dad will pick you up after school," she said.

Kayley hugged her mom back. "Okay. Bye, Mom. Love you," she said.

"Love you too," Kate replied.

Then Kayley left the room. A few minutes later Kate heard the garage door close.

She sighed and then got out of bed. Kate changed into her cargo pants, a tank top, and a button up shirt over her tank top. Kate threw her hair into a ponytail and she glanced at herself in the mirror.

Kate's reflection stared back at the woman nervous, and scared. Mrs. Shephard noticed that she looked as nervous and scared as she did on the day that the plane crashed. Kate took a deep breath and released it slowly. Then she walked down the stairs and to her car.