Wow. I'm glad people are so interested in this.

Jack's breathing was labored as he ran to the door. He twisted to get through as it closed, hissing in pain as he felt the stitches pull on his back.

"Wait!" he called as the Marshall started to shove Kate into the backseat.

"Ah, Mr. Shephard," the Marshall extended one hand with a smile to shake his, the other keeping a vice grip on Kate's arm. Kate bit her lip and looked down, focusing on her feet, swallowing down the instinctual urge to correct Mars; it was Doctor Shephard.

Jack felt a lump grow in his throat as he watched Kate, who was shifting between her feet awkwardly avoiding looking at him. The Marshall followed his line of sight and smiled before letting out an amused chuckle.

"Bet ya' didn't know the one who sewed you up was in handcuffs huh?" he said cheerfully, giving Kate almost a proud thump on the back.

Kate's eyes met his, surprised by the question. "No…I didn't", he lied quietly, "That's why I came over though," he added suddenly, forming the only plan he could think of quickly. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the cocktail napkin he had written his fathers funeral speech on. Writing a phone number on a spare corner, he tore it off. He licked his lips and gave her a weak understanding smile, and what he hoped was a comforting nod as he saw her eyes turn red as she fought to keep from crying; he knew her too well. She was terrified.

Remembering for her, for both of them, was a sick joke. They'd been through all of this before, she'd been free. It had been one thing to just go on about their lives, not even knowing the other existed, but Jack wouldn't-couldn't-leave her there, to the life she would have led if they hadn't met. He swallowed hard as his eyes darted to the handcuffs holding her. He felt a bubbling sense of panic that he was again involving himself in her life. He didn't have what it took to do this, to be what she needed-what she deserved. He would only hurt her again; it was inevitable. Never the less, he nodded his head when her eyes met his, 'We'll get through this, together,' his expression promised, reaffirming what she needed to hear, no matter how hollow it felt.

He stuck the scrap in her hand, tensing as electricity coursed through him at the touch. He swallowed hard and drew his hand back quickly; he had to stop letting himself feel that way around her. He had to stop loving her. Kate frowned at him as she watched him pull back; she knew him to well too. She could tell he was bracing himself for something. She averted her eyes; she knew what it was too.

The Marshall watched in horror as he handed her the slip of paper.

"You saved me," Jack started shakily, grasping for an explanation that would make sense given the circumstances. The Marshall didn't know the years of love and of misery that they had been through; to him they were just two strangers whose lives had briefly crossed paths. A coincidence, nothing more. Jack felt a lump rise in his throat, maybe that's all they'd been meant to be.

"Whatever legal problems you're having…," he shifted uncomfortably as she watched him silently, her eyes cold, her jaw clenched, swallowing down the urge to yell and scream, and convince him that he couldn't just throw them away like this; that it wasn't all misery. She swallowed painfully; she'd already lost that battle she remembered.

"You saved me, and I want to help you," both she and the Marshall stared at him silently, "So when you get to…wherever it is they are taking you, use your phone call on this," he urged her as she looked at him coldly, "I promise, I'll do everything I can to get you out," he added, his voice thick with emotion, "You deserve that much," he added, his voice raw. Kate's eyes grew red again and she opened her mouth to speak.

"You don't even know what she did!" the Marshall interrupted, sounding horrified. His face turned an angry red, and his lips curled back into a sneer. Abruptly, he shoved Kate into the car and marched to the driver's side, slamming the door behind him before speeding off.

Jack swallowed hard as he watched the car leave. It was for the best he reminded himself. The number he'd given her was that of the lawyer who had saved his father from being robbed of every penny he had when he operated drunk on a patient. He and his associates would keep Kate out of jail easily. She would be free and she could go on with her life, do all of the things they had stayed up late talking about, so long ago, get a job, go back to school like she'd always wanted to do once Aaron was older, he smiled, feeling his throat tighten again, she could start a family. A real one that wasn't built on lies. Away from him she could have anything she wanted, he let out a ragged breath, so why was he so happy that in the back of the police car he could have sworn he saw her look back too?

The car turned the corner in the distance and letting out a pained breath, he forced himself to turn away; he still had a funeral to get to. Turning back towards the airport, he saw familiar faces watching him sympathetically.

He felt a smile pull the corners of his lips as he saw Sun and Jin along with Charlie and Claire united. Claire…he ran a hand through his hair, what was he going to do about that one? He let a out a irritated sigh, should he invite her to the funeral? He ran a hand over his head, feeling unable to deal with that.

He frowned and paled as behind the group he saw Artz grab his bags and pass within feet of them without so much as a blink in recognition. Ana and Eko acted like strangers as they robotically collected their luggage and headed towards taxis. Hurley stared sadly as Libby too passed them by without any sign that she remembered them.

"Dude," Hurley said, his voice unusually subdued, "Why do only some of us remember?" he asked Jack as he watched Michael and Walt follow Libby out of the terminal.

"Yeah Doc," Sawyer challenged, his voice thick and raw, "Why do we remember?" he sneered, his gruffness trying unsuccessfully to mask the devastation he felt.

Jack shook his head slowly, "I don't know," he admitted.

"What the blood hell happened?" Charlie piped in." How did we get back here?" he challenged, his grip on Claries hand tightening, "Aren't I dead?" Claire turned to him sharply, her eyes brimming with tears as she glared at him. "Sorry," Charlie muttered, moving to embrace her, running a hand through her hair, "Touchy subject apparently," he muttered.

Jack licked his lips, running a hand over his head in frustration, wracking his mind for any explanation, "I don't know," he finally admitted with a shrug, his eyes brows rising emphatically, "I don't even remember the blast," he turned to Sawyer, "Do you?" he questioned, trying to fit the puzzle together. Sawyer shook his head, no, he didn't.

"Blast? What blast?" Sun asked in alarm. Jack frowned.

"Sun…where were you?" she frowned, confused by his question. He sighed and rephrased, "What's the last thing you remember?"

Sun frowned, "I was on Aijira 316 with you, there was a white light…and then I was here," she explained calmly, worried he had hit his head harder then he'd thought during the turbulence.

Jack and Sawyer eyed each other wearily, that was days ago, why didn't she remember?

"Um, excuse me," a tentative voice called out. Sayid paled as Shannon, followed by a confused looking Boone appeared. "Oh…god," she fidgeted, "I'm sorry I abandoned your bag back in the Sydney airport," she blurted suddenly, feeling uncomfortable surrounded by the large group of unfamiliar faces, her cheeks flushing as Sayid stared at her, unable to form words, "I…something came up and I just…" he flush deepened, "I'm sorry," she stood awkwardly for a second before Sayid managed to muster a weak smile.

"It is okay," he said, his accent thick and his voice raw as he restrained emotions that were obviously trying to fight their way to the surface. She smiled again and turned to leave, "Thank you though," he added and she turned back to him, looking confused, "For the apology," he explained. She smiled again before leaving with a confused Boone.

"What was that about?" Boone asked once he thought they were out of ear shot.

"God Boone, I just felt bad about what happened before okay!"

Boone chuckled, "We hit a bad patch of turbulence and all of a sudden you think Santa's watching or something so you better be nice," he teased scathingly with a roll of his eyes.

Shannon gave an angry huff, "I just felt…I felt compelled to," she shrugged as he continued to look at her strangely.

The survivors watched their retreating forms quietly, "I know why some of us remember," a voice finally said, snapping them back to reality. Rose, Bernard , and the others turned their heads to see Locke, sitting regally in his wheelchair.

Jack swallowed hard, wanting to believe in Locke after everything he had just been through, but feeling his knee jerk reaction to be weary of the man kick in full force.

"We remember because the island isn't done with us," Locke declared confidently.

Jack gritted his teeth, "Well, we're done with the island," he said as calmly as he could.

"After everything you still don't believe in me," Locke asked angrily.

Jack laughed bitterly, "I did what you said to John. I went back, we all went back, and now, we've made it so we never went. 815 landed, and we can all go on with our lives, "he explained, his voice rising angrily, even as he grit his teeth.

"Only we still remember having gone," Locke said patiently, a twinkle in his eyes.

"Yes," Jack agreed his fist clenching.

"So obviously, we did still go to the island, only now we've…returned to some sort of…alternate 2004," Locke scratched his chin thoughtfully before returning his attention to Jack, "I'm not well verse on the concept of time travel, but do you have any idea why all this might be happening Jack?"

Jack swallowed, gritting his teeth, "No John, I don't," he admitted.

Locke smiled as the twinkle glowed in his eyes, "Well, if you have no better explanation, then it could definitely be because the island isn't done with us yet," he smirked.

Jack shook his head slowly in disagreement. The island had been a means to an end, the only way to fix what had gone wrong.

"Do you have any idea how to get back?" Bernard asked Locke.

Locke shook his head, "Nothing concrete yet, but I know some people who might be able to help," he finished cryptically.

Bernard looked to Rose, who nodded in affirmation," We're coming with you then," he declared.

Jack frowned, "What? Rose, why would you …" He sighed, it was their choice.

They walked over to stand near Locke, "Bernard," Jack said finally, "Be careful," he warned, "Trying to get back…" he shivered remembering all the damage he had done while on his crusade to get back. He licked his lips, "It can consume you," he finished. Bernard gave him a grateful smile.

"thank you for the warning jack. We really do appreciate what you have done for everyone, giving everyone their lives back, but we want to be on the island. That's where our lives are," he looked at Rose, "We need to be there," he amended, squeezing her hand with a smile.

Sawyer moved to join him. Jack frowned. Sawyer saw and swallowed before speaking, "Not remembering and just…going on with my life, "his eyebrows pulled together tightly, as if in pain, "I would do that for her, but now, remembering…if there is even a chance she remembers Jack," he swallowed, "hell, a chance she's even just…alive," he shook his head, his voice cracking, "I need to know," he finished rawly.

Jack swallowed and nodded in understanding.

Locke looked around at the remaining survivors, Sayid, Hurley, Sun, Jin, Charlie, and Claire, "Anyone else?" he asked patiently.

None moved to join him and Locke nodded silently to himself in acceptance." Well, goodbye again Jack," he said with a small knowing smile, "I hope I'm wrong, and you can just go back to living your life," he smiled, his head cocking to one side in a knowing way, "But I think that soon enough, you're going to see that you can't out run destiny."

Sorry it wasn't Jate all the way through, but I figured some other characters need a little bit of closure lol. Hope it was still enjoyable.

8 reviews =update