Chapter 3

Juliet sat with her legs tucked under her, sipping a cup of hot chocolate. The events of earlier hadn't at all sunk in yet. One minute she was asleep in a very uncomfortable hospital chair, and the next Jack was standing there in front of her.

There was so much she wanted to ask him, so much she wanted to know, she was angry with herself for dashing off like that so suddenly. "The plumber? What were you thinking Juliet?". She shook her head and took a gulp of her hot chocolate.

It wasn't that she wanted to leave, she would have loved nothing more than to stay with Jack for longer, much longer. But she just couldn't push something out of her mind. He had left her behind. Jack had gotten on that rescue helicopter and left her. Sure enough he had said that he would come back for everyone else, but she knew in her heart it wasn't going to happen. Ben had told her countless times one couldn't just leave and return to the island whenever they pleased. Juliet had known he wasn't going to come back for her, and she had a feeling Jack knew it too when he took a step onto that helicopter.

Juliet was sure he hadn't meant to do it, he did care about her…didn't he?

Of course he cares about you, Juliet, he made that more than clear at the hospital, stop being so stupid and let it go!

Sighing, she reached for the remote and turned on the TV. Apparently Jack had been all over the news when he saved Rachel. How did she, of all people, not know it was him? It would have been a different situation if it wasn't Rachel involved in the crash, seeing as she had been very busy lately, but it was. Her own sister had nearly died and she hadn't even asked to thank the man who saved her. Though with hearing the news her head hadn't been at all functioning properly.

Juliet switched off the TV and stood up, wondering what to do, when the phone rang. She almost crashed into the coffee table trying to get to it before it rang out. She picked up the receiver.

"Hello?"

"Hey Jules" - it was Jack. She suddenly felt very guilty about thinking those things about him, would he have called so soon if he didn't care? No chance… this was Jack, a part of her thought he might not even call at all. But here he was..

Juliet grinned and sat back down "Hey Jack"

"Sorry I didn't call sooner but my shift at the hospital just ended, and I'm not sure they'd be happy if I took off more time to talk to the 'mysterious blonde' "

Juliet giggled, "That what they've been calling me, then?"

"Yeah, I guess none of the staff are used to seeing broken Dr. Shephard happy". Juliet tucked a piece of hair behind her ear "I.. made you happy?"

There was a slight pause. "Ecstatic".

Another pause as Juliet opened her mouth to say something, but couldn't quite find the words. All past accusations of Jack flew right out the window.

"So anyway Jules, how are you?"

Jules - she loved the way he said her name. "I'm good Jack.. Really good in fact!"

"Oh yeah, and why might that be?"

"Don't be so modest Jack, you know why"

Juliet heard him laugh on the other end of the line. "Is it because of what I hope it is?"

She smirked. "What do you think it is Jack?"

He laughed again and cleared his throat . "So err, the main reason why I called was to err..", there was a pause.

"Yes, Jack?"

"..Was to see.. If you maybe wanted to… see me again sometime… soon?". Juliet didn't say anything - was he asking her out? Or did he just want to meet up casually to talk? No, no it was definitely more than talking… or was it? "Why is this man so hard to read!", she asked herself.

"Yes Jack, of course, that would be.. Nice" She decided that she would have accepted either way.

"Oh!, well good!", he answered. Juliet thought she could hear a hint of surprise in his voice. "So… when will I see you?"

Juliet stopped to think "How about tomorrow? We could.. Go out for lunch, if you wanted to?".

It appeared Jack didn't need to think, he answered straight away. "Yeah I'd.. love to"

If it wasn't a date it was just two friends going out for lunch, if it was a date then it was… two people on a date. Juliet argued whether to just come out and ask him, but she couldn't pluck up the courage. If it wasn't she would have made a complete fool out of herself, and right now she wanted everything with Jack to go well.

"Good.. I'd love to too"

There was a pause as both of them racked their brains for something to say. "So you want me to pick you up or do you have somewhere in mind?"

"Do you?"

"I.. might do, but if you have somewhere you want to.."

Juliet laughed. "It's okay Jack, you pick.. You asked after all!"

"Well I do have somewhere in mind actually, I know you'll like this place Jules, they make the best grilled cheese sandwiches!… Apart from yours of course". She smiled "I wasn't aware that you ever liked my food Jack, you usually just threw it against the wall"

"I ate the cheese burger", he said quietly. They both laughed.

"So wanna give me your address?". Juliet thought quickly "Oh err.. How 'bout you tell me where this place is and I meet you there instead?"

"Oh well.. Okay sure", Jack sounded confused, Juliet hoped he didn't think she didn't want him knowing where she lived because she didn't trust him. She did - completely.

She grabbed a pen and paper as Jack gave her directions to "Ben's".

"I have to say Jack, I don't like the sound of this place, the might mark you if you don't tip enough"

"Hey, I didn't pick the name!"

Juliet opened her mouth to reply when the doorbell rang. She took a quick look out the window.

"Listen Jack, somebody's here, I really gotta go, but 2:30 right?". Once again Jack sounded surprised.

"Oh.. Okay well yeah, 2:30. I guess I'll see you tomorrow then". Juliet started making her way towards the door, "And I'll see you, goodbye Jack"

"Goodbye Juliet". Jack hung up slightly confused as to why she had to go so suddenly, though she couldn't help it if somebody had called over, he supposed.

She smiled as she placed the phone on the hall table, took a quick look in the mirror and opened the door.

"Hey Derek"