There is a time for everything. And a season for every activity under the heavens. A Time To Be Born and a time to die.

-Ecclesiastes3:1-8

Chapter 2: A Time To Be Born

Katie sat in her bed, tossing a ball to the wall catching it when it bounced back, then again but fading to catch it this time. She faces the window, as she heard a door open. She looked into the hallway of nothingness, when Jake stepped into her line of vision.

" I'm way better at that." He said joking about the ball tossing. She chucked at his attempt of lighting the mood.

"These are special circumstance." She told him rolling her eyes as in to motion at the room she was trapt inside.

"Yeah. " He exhaled. "The stakes are high. Your nervous. It's called being clutch, Katie. Okay the true mark of a good ball player is if they're clutch."

She stood up walking towards the window. " You know a lot of ballplayers in isolation rooms?" She asked.

"Only eight hours left." He told her as an encouragement.

"I should be sick, Jake. Holding Mary like that, I broke every single rule." She said, although right now she couldn't believe her own words. She was not in the clear until the last eight hours passed and she didn't want to give herself fake hope.

"You were brave." He told her. She scoffed. "You think the virus cares about that?

"Okay, fine. Your right. If Mary had been sick, you'd be sick. But she obviously wasn't." He encouraged her, never looking away from her eyes. He wanted her to know there was hope.

In the distance they heard the door for the isolation rooms open. Jake turned. "You see?" He said to Quentin. "I told you."

"No sneezes?" He asked looking up at his mom hopefully.

"No sneezes."she reassured him with a smile. Even in her darkest moments Quentin always made her see light.

"Can I go visit Thomas?" Asked Quentin, now that he was assured she was fine, he wanted to go and play.

"Yeah." She agreed, and watched him turn around and leave.

Jake chucked. "That's rough" He told her. She looked at him, curiosity in her face. "Your not even the most popular person in isolation." He joked with her.

"I'm a mom." She said in mock dismissal, shrugging. "I'm not in it for the popularity."

•••

"Hey you're not gonna believe this." Said Jake coming back, he had stepped out to receive a call. "So lex said that there are these journalist inside the cordon who might've been onto a conspiracy. That means there could be a whole apartment full of evidence."

"Against Cannerts?" She was still convinced it was his fault.

"No,Dr. Lommers." He said taking her by surprise.

"Lex said she's the mastermind." He explained.

"Okay, but... Cannerts still lied about the timeline of patient zero." She wasn't convinced Cannerts was completely innocent.

"Yeah, well, hell be out soon, and we can ask him why." Jake said referring to his personal quarantine after they found that Thomas was a carrier.

"I can ask him. You can go check on that apartment." She offered.

He chucked. "Uh, I'm not going anywhere. " He told her as if it where obvious. "Okay? Not for another... Seven hours and four minutes."

"Are you crazy? I'm fine. This is what we've been waiting for." She said exasperated. If she had the chance to look into it she would of taken it in a heartbeat. Finding out the truth was more important that her.

"No, I'm sorry, I've been waiting for cold beer and a night out. Though I'd be willing to comprise for whiskey and a night in, if that's what..."he joked trying to change the topic. It didn't work. "Don't do that." She told him her voice a bit rised. She couldn't believe him. "You're not that guy you were pretending to be two weeks ago. This matters and you know it."

"You matter." He told her, she was the reason he wanted to stay. And although she loved that he was willing to put everything aside for her, she couldn't have that now.

"Then listen to what I'm saying. You're a clutch player, Jake Riley. Go act like."

He smiled at her in understanding.

•••

Cannerts was making his rounds around the containment rooms for the first time, it hasn't been long since his quarantine finished.

Katie saw him, and waves towards him trying to get his attention. Cannters noticed, and reluctantly walked to her.

" I see you made it out of isolation all right." She said as a greeting.

"I did, yes." He answered hesitantly. "Very happy to see how great your doing."

"How's Thomas?" She asked.

"Remarkably sanguine about being back here. I just wish..." He stopped mid-way, making her brows furor. "It was just widely unlucky, the tests I ran to make sure he wasn't contagious. The virus happened to muster exactly within the target sequence of my PC primers, which produced a false negative. At least now I can isolate his antibodies and perhaps..."

"Make a vaccine? Katie interrupted him, hopefully.

"Not exactly." He confirmed. "It's called passive immunization. And then idea it for ebola and it could really be effective to help fight the symptoms, especially now that it's taking longer..." She interrupted him again.

"Taking longer for people to get sick." She fished for him. He looked at her with sorry eyes.

"I pay attention." She told him. "Yes." He confirmed, "I've noticed.

"How much longer?" She asked wanting to know if she was out of danger or not.

"Most people with the Thomas strain, they haven't shown symptoms until past 40 hours. Uh 42 hours, "he told her going through his clipboard. "41,45."

She was stunned into shock, "so if I've made it through 42 hours that means nothing." A feeling of doom settled into her, her eyes watering.

He looked at her, his face full of regret? Shame? Katie couldn't place it.

"When you said I was doing great, you were lying. Again." She accused him. He opened his mouth to speak but stopped himself as the sound of the door opening was heard.

It was Quentin "less than six hours." He told her.

"Nothing to it."she reassured him, lying through her teeth. Because the truth was even she didn't know.

Quentin looked at her then to , who couldn't look long enough into Quentin's eyes

•••

Jake had gone out to do what was expected of him. To tell the truth if it wasn't for Katie being in isolation, he wouldn't have been so opposed to going. Yet, she always found a way to talk sense into him. That's how he found himself opening the door to the journalist house.

He entered slowly seeing as the places looked isolated. He pulled up his helmet walking into the living room, the room was a mess. Everything was on the floor or disorganised, no one in sight he ventured further.

He had one mission, and that was to find information about why this was all happening so without wasting time he began looking inside drawers and desks looking for paper's that might seem relevant.

Finding nothing he moved on looking everywhere until he stumbled into the restroom. The bathtub was black, filled with what seemed to be... Ashes.

Jake knew something was wrong, he looked up into the ceiling, which had a black spot as if it was burned. Weird...

He walked in further into the shower, pulling back the curtain. Both journalist reporter's bodies were in there, yet that wasn'tt what unsettled him. Their bodies were wrapped up in clear plastic. But who...

Somebody had been there before him, someone who wanted the evidence to be disposed of. Something was really off. Knowing he wouldn't find anything he left, making a call in the process.

•••

"It was bad, Lex."Jake began. "And it wasn't looters."

"And the TV was still there and the food. The only thing gone was their computer. And the papers-they were burned up. And even the way the woman's bodies were wrapped. It looked like s-s..." Jake was explaining from his side of the shipping box, never turning to look back. Yet his silence was unusual. Jakes stopped when he noticed Lex wasnt paying attention.

"Hey." He called out, trying to get his attention. Seeing that fail, anger boiled in him making him bang against the wall. That got his attention. "Are you even listening to me?" he asked.

"They didn't leave a trace in there, okay? Whoever did this..." He was interrupted by Lex. "Lommers, Jake. It was Lommers." He said so sure if himself.

"I mean, if you'd seen her this morning– the way she worked the press..." He told Jake, looking out of it. His face said it all. He was beating himself about this.

"Lommers. So she got someone on the inside. Or she send someone." Jake said. "And who do we know that got send in?" Asked Lex trying to give Jake the answer without stating it.

"Who, Messe?" Asked Jake, Lex nodded in confirmation.

"No, he fell in. He might be working with that -that gang, but he's not s..." He stopped himself. He didn't want to believe it but it was all there pointing at Messe. And...

"They had an APD sat phone." Jake said now convinced. "Oh, my... The gang– they had an APD sat phone." He said exasperated. How had he not been able to put the pieces together.

"Messe just feel in? With one of the department's only sat phones?" Asked Lex, onto something.

"Chief." Lex said. "Wait, what?" Asked Jake confused.

"She's working with the chief." Explained Lex walking up to the yellow taped lines. Jakes scoffed "what? No." He denied not wanting to believe...

"Yes."

"No. That doesn't even..." Jerked tried denying again.

"Yes. He has the keys to the sat phones. He's always telling me to get right with Lommers. Hes at that woman's Beck and call." Lex tried explaining. Jake Shaked his head.

"There is no way that she would work with anyone like Messe, so she gets the chief to do her dirty work." Lex finished, and Jake couldn't deny it anymore. Lex was right.

•••

Katie was sitting down inside her room playing cards with Quentin through the glass. "Go fish." She said.

"We're playing crazy eights." Said Quentin. Surprise lightened her face, she had been spacing out worrying about what Dr. Cannerts had said that she didn't pay attention to what might be her last game with her son.

"You're so weird." Smiled Quentin.

She chucked at his innocence "Guilty."

"Wasn't dad weird to?" Asked Quentin taking her by surprise.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"Like... Didn't he eat two whole jars of peanut butter one time?"

"Where did you hear that?"

"Well, grandma never had pretty butter at her house. So I told her she should get some. Then she got mad. And she felt bad and told me the story." Quentin explained to her.

"What exactly did she tell you?" She asked, wondering how much he knew.

"She said that dad was confused, and didn't know what he was doing. I think that's weird, right? Like, how could you not notice? Unless..." He stopped himself.

"Unless what? She asked encouraging him to talk, if she was gonna die she wanted him to know.

"Unless you're on drugs." She smiled a treary smile.

"He was. Yeah." She nodded piercing her lips. "And so was I." She smiled at him ashamed. "For a while. But I'm guessing you already know that."

He nodded. "Grandma told me that part."

"Look, honey, that was a mistake that I made a long, long time ago, and i would never, ever do it again." She told him reassuringly.

"I know" he smiled at her in confirmation. "And, anyway, Jake doesn't like peanut butter."

Katie chucked. "You asked him?"

"He said he's more of a bratwurst guy. Lots of mustard."

"Sounds about right." And with that, the conversation about drugs was over. Katie felt in a way relieved knowing that Quentin liked Jake. And that he knew about her mistakes and didn't blame her about it. But it felt... For her... Like a goodbye.

•••

Jake found his way into the shop were the gang was holding camp. He needed to know where those papers where. Yet as he made is way in a the cock of a gun suprised him from his left.

"Uh-uh." Said a gun member holding him at gun point. Jake put his arms up, as a way of saying that he came in peace.

The man signaled at him to the porch, Jake turned slowly, and didn't began walking until he felt the gun in his back giving him a push forward.

"It's the food drop cowboy." Joked Trey, as Jake made his way in.

"I just want to talk to Messe." Said Jake.

"Is your gun gonna play a part in that conversation?" Asked Trey, Jake took his gun of from the holster putting in the table. After that he walked towards Messe a silent agreement between him and Trey.

"Messe, you son of a Birch." Said Jake angered as he walked towards Messe. "I know what you did in that apartment.

Messe sighted "What apartment?" He played stupid.

"You know, the good news for you is I'm not here because you're a worthless traitor, okay? I just want the research." Demanded Jake. Messe smirked. "Why? You know it won't change anything. You'll still be stuck here. Might as well have a beer." Said Messe handing him a beer.

"You know..." Jake stopped himself frustratingly slapping the beer bottle from his hand. The glass breaking in the distance, Jake felt the glances of the gang behind them.

"Those are hard to come by." Said Messe.

"Yeah, and so's a conscience, apparently." Jake retorted.

"You want the research?"

"Yeah."

"Fine. Go back for the ashes. I may be a traitor, but I'm not sloppy."

"Yeah, you know the, uh, the girl that ran the store- she had your phone. Your sloppier than you think." Said Jake tauntingly as he walked away.

"You saw Teresa?" Asked Trey getting in his way.

"Yeah." Jake confirmed.

"I want the phone back." Trey demanded. "And where the hell is Montana?"

"I gave your guy the phone, okay? He left. If he didn't make it back..." He trailed off, Trey was smart enough to put the pieces together.

"And Teresa?" He asked putting the phone behind him.

"I don't know how she is, actually."

"Don't move." Says Trey, as he walked into the store. Jake did what he was asked of and gathered his gun instead, he couldn't help turning back to see Messe, Jakes reproach in his eyes.

Trey came back in no time, carrying food from the drop and placing it in a box.

"Make sure she stays strong for the baby." Said Trey as he handed the box to Jake. "I got kids, too. Outside."

Jake nodded in understandment. He headed out to drop off the good.

•••

Katie sat in her bed thinking, when she noticed Cannerts walking towards her "room."

"You're back." She pointed out.

"Katie, I know your upset with me, by you don't know the whole story." He started at what hopefully would be the truth.

"Try me."

"What matters is that I'm working as hard as I can to save us. What I was saying about Thomas's blood-" he started to ramble on

"Stop. Your doing it again."

"What?" He asked.

" When you want to get me off track, you throw science at me. You did the same thing every time I asked about when Sayid died. You made me feel like I was an annoying girl asking stupid questions. But turns out, not so stupid. Because I figured it out." She told him her voice clearly telling him to cut the bullshit.

"Katie, I assure you there is nothing to figure out."

She chucked incredulously. "Your right. I'm sure that why you ripped up a hospital logbook. That's okay. We were still able too find out who Henry Burns was."

"Yes. Well, I have, um... Like I said there's work to be done. I should..." He walked away at fast as he could. He was surprised that she had called him out, and told him about finding out about Henry Burns.

"Hey," Katie called out to his retreating figure. He didn't stop to turn around yet he slowed his pace." Your a coward." She told him.

•••

Jake was on the elevator up with the food for Teresa. And when the doors opened he didn't expect to hear Teresa Moans of pain.

"Hey, is she...?" He trailed off surprised.

"Yes." Rushed Xander and Sam who were obviously in the look out of who was their visitor, yet, seeing Jake brought relieve to them.

"Right now?"

"Yes!"

Jake rushed towards the glass doors.

"Just tell me they train cops to..." Sam asked as he opened the glass doors.

"Yes, they do." Confirmed Jake, as he rushed in he noticed Xander was in the glass room in the entrance with him. He was covering his mouth.

"I might be sick. I don't know." Said Xander along Jakes silent question. "Just please help her, please."

Jake left the room when the second door opened, his walk rushed as he headed into the room where Teresa was in.

"Last contractions were at about a minute." Said Sam.

Jake made his way into the room after washing his hands, surprising Jana and the rest.

"Hey Teresa, Teresa. Hey remember me?" Jake started talking to her trying to calm her down. "It looks like you might be having a baby, which is great news, because I actually know how to deliver babies, okay? I just been waiting for an opportunity."

"It hurts, it hurts." Cried Teresa.

"I know, I know. Listen, first baby is supposed to be this hard, all right?" He reassured her. " Now, from what Sam told me, it sounds like you are right on track."

"Really? It's normal?" Asked Teresa surprised.

"Yeah. Totally normal. Hey, hey. I'm gonna check under the blanket now. Is that okay?" He asked, he didn't want to make her more uncomfortable than she already was.

She nodded, in response.

So Jake did just that, he picked up the blanket and checked. "I can see her. I can see her." He told her, adrenaline rushing to him. He was about to deliver a baby.

"Is she okay?" Teresa asked in-between shallowed breaths

"Yeah." He assured her. "Hey Suzy, grab that pillow for me."said Jake pointing at a near by pillow.

"We going to sit you up a little, okay? It's less pressure on your spine, a little easier for the baby to come out. And I know your legs are tired, but I need you to put your knees up for me." Jake instructed.

"Okay this is it. This is it, okay, Teresa?" On your next contraction, you're gonna push, okay?" Teresa whimpered in response.

And so she did. On her next contraction she pushed as hard as she could.

"Hey you're almost there." Assured Jake who keeps his eyes on the baby. Than Teresa stopped pushing. "No, no, no, your almost there." Jake told her encouraging her to push. "Teresa, hey, I just need one more push from you. Just one more push. Just one more."

"So close, Teresa." Reassured Jana.

"No, no, I can't." Teresa denied.

"Yes, you can. And your gonna surprise yourself, and I promise you that's gonna feel really good. Okay, one more push, and your gonna meet your baby girl, okay?"

"Come on." Jana pushed her on helping her lift herself up for one more push.

"Knees up, knees up. There you go." Said Jake helping her lift her legs abit. "There you go. Come one. Said Jake.

"Once more push." Said Jana. And on her next contraction Teresa pushed her last hard push with a scream.

After that, the cry of a baby was heard.

"There-there's you baby. There she is." Said Jake as he was able to grab the baby out. He picked her up and wrapped her up in a blanket to keep her warm. Teresa lifted herself to get a look at her baby.

"There she is." Laughed Jake overjoyed. "Hey, you did it. You did it."

Everyone wherever silent at the relief of the baby being born. They just stood there witnessing Teresa and the baby's first encounter. Jake and Jana laughed at the relief.

•••

Katie layed on her bed, being in isolation was boring, without Quentin to visit or Jake she had nothing to do but to think about her life decisions about her son Quentin, and if it was possible a future with Jake and Quentin outside the cordon...

As she layed there a lean body that she recognized so well walked towards her room. She stood up and walked towards the glass. She could see in his face that something good had happened to him.

"What are you so happy about?" She asked with a smile.

"You look good." He said with a big smile.

"I feel good." She told him. "I just let Cannerts have it." She laughed.

"And-and Quentin and I had a... Well it's a long story. But it ends with all of us getting bratwursts." She told him and he chucked.

"Perfect. And I want to hear all about it." He told her smiling. " Right after I tell you that I just delivered a baby."

"What?" She asked surprised.

"And I'm not gonna lie, it was crazy. I mean the mother, this, uh, 18-year-old girl, she was amazing, I don't...I don't know how she did it." He said enthusiasticly. "I don't know how you did it. By the way, good job."

She smiled "yeah, well, it's all kind of a blur. Thankfully." She admitted to him. "But I bet it would have been alot easier if you had been there." She admitted to him, not looking away from his eyes.

"There's always next time." He told her, seriously. She opened her mouth with a look of surprise, making him laugh and she followed.

"I was thinking I'd go grab us some dinner. And then maybe you and I can sit down..." He stopped himself as she coughed, blood hitting the window.

His smile faded as reality hit him. Katie reached at her mouth shocked. She looked down at her fingers blood staining then.

Jake Shaked his head in denial. She looked at him exhaling. It couldn't be she had gotten this far. Why now!

•••

Okay, that's the end of chapter 2. I know things are a bit slow right now but bear with me as I said I'm following the show, and then I'll put my own spin on it. Hope y'all enjoyed it and see ya next time.