Ok this story is dedicated to JaterLoveForeverAndAlways who requested a sick Kate fiction.

A FLU AND LOVE (RATED K )

Kate woke up with her head feeling like it was stuffed with cotton. She tried to breathe through her nose but found her sinuses were completely blocked. She took a raspy breath through her mouth and she could feel that her throat was scratchy. She laid her head back on the pillow and closed her eyes. She was sick. Kate hated being sick. When she was little her mom or Sam would always baby her and care for her when she was sick. Things changed as she got older though, Sam was gone, her mother was working two jobs to support everyone and then there was Wayne. If Kate were to get sick she would have to stay at home with Wayne and she hated it. He would look at her and Kate would feel uneasy in her weakened state. If she was lucky she could just stay in her room and he would drink himself into a stupor and their paths would never cross. If she were unlucky Wayne would come up to her room and yell at her and call her worthless and lazy. She had been so sick one day she had smarted off at him and he had backhanded her sending her across the room. She had never stayed home sick again after that day. Even if she had the flu or a really bad cold she would drag herself to school or work and force herself through the day.

Kate had sworn that if she were ever to have children she would always take care of them and nurture them when they had to stay home sick. The way things were before Wayne came back into their lives. She also swore she would marry a man that would feel the same way about their children. Things hadn't exactly gone as planned. Kate was a fugitive living on a deserted island and no kids of her own were in sight. She sighed miserably cracking open her eyes. She needed to get up and see what was happening outside. Someone might need help with something and she should be there. She slowly stood to her feet but it wasn't an easy task as she swayed and nearly toppled over. She rubbed her forehead as she could feel a headache coming. She slowly made her way to the tent entrance and carefully walked outside onto the sand. So far so good she thought as she managed to remain upright. Things didn't go wrong until she turned and smacked into a wall.

Well it wasn't really a wall but it sure felt like on to the ailing woman. She looked up and saw Jack standing there with an amused smile on his face. He then took in her appearance and stature and amusement quickly turned to concern. She nearly fell backwards but he managed to steady her with his hands on her shoulders.

"Kate? What's wrong?" he asked caressing her face gently and realizing she was burning up. Kate and Jack had a complicated relationship but about two weeks ago it became a little easier when they confessed their feelings for one another. Unfortunately not much changed and they shared a couple kisses and that was it. Jack had been busy helping and curing people and Kate had been going on a couple hunting trips with Locke. Both Jack and Kate looked forward to their relationship progressing they just weren't sure they were ever going to be alone long enough to make any steps forward.

"I'm fine" Kate's voice came out raspy and her throat burned. She began to ache all over and she began to wonder if what she had wasn't a common cold but the flu. A couple survivors had gotten sick with it in the last couple days. It wasn't dangerous as long as they followed Jack's orders to drink lots of water and rest a lot. It may not be dangerous but it did make a person pretty miserable.

"Kate" Jack said slipping his arm around her waist to steady her. "You're sick sweetheart" he said feeling her forehead. Kate smiled at the nickname and leaned her head against his chest. It seemed like forever since he had held her. Her eyes closed and Kate began to drift off listening to the pattern of his heart beat. Jack realized Kate was about to fall asleep on her feet so he scooped her up in his arms and started carrying her back to the bed. Kate sighed happily blissfully becoming unaware that she was hovering upon unconsciousness.

Jack gently laid her on her makeshift bed and stroked her cheek. She looked at him drowsily and smiled sweetly.

"Come to bed?" she asked, holding her arms out to him.

Jack just gave her a small smile; he knew the fever was making her delirious as it had all the other people who had it. He and Kate had never shared a bed before so he thought it was cute how she asked.

"Not right now" he said grabbing a bottle of water. Kate made a face and Jack could see she was not happy about his answer. "I need you to drink this" he said lifting her up to a sitting position so he could get her to drink the much needed water.

"Not till you come to bed" she muttered pushing the bottle away and Jack sighed.

"Even sick and delusional you're still trying to be a pain aren't you?" he asked affectionately. "Please drink the water and I will come to bed"

Kate eyed him warily if not sure she could trust his deal. She took the water and drank it thirstily never taking her eyes off of him. When she was done Jack helped ease her back.

"This bug seems to last twenty four hours from what I can tell, so you should feel better tomorrow. You just need to get lots of sleep and keep yourself hydrated". He had been getting water before so he placed a couple bottles next to her bed. She reached out and grabbed his hand with her own warm one. He looked up at her and she was looking at him sleepily.

"You said bed" she slurred slightly as her exhaustion started to take over. Jack gave her a rueful smile and crawled onto the bed and spooned up behind her. Kate lay down and snuggled back into his embrace. His hand had snaked around her waist so she took her own hand and interlaced her fingers with his. After a few minutes she fell asleep. Jack watcher her sleep and admired her beauty. They had shared a couple kisses but had never slept in the same bed and Jack decided to enjoy this moment before she woke up and realized what she had requested from him and got embarrassed.

Kate mumbled something and turned in his embrace so she was facing him. She wrapped her arms around him and snuggled her face into his neck. Jack could still feel the warmth of her skin and hoped her fever would break soon. He stroked her arm gently and watched as her breathing evened out and she managed to fall into a deep sleep. Jack stayed with her a couple hours and decided he needed to get up and see how everyone was doing. He figured he could get her some food and when he got back he'd wake her so she could eat and drink. He started to pull out of her grasp gently prying her arms from around his neck. Suddenly as if sensing his presence moving away she opened her eyes and tightened her grip on him with a moan.

Jack smirked and looked up to see her watching him.

"Where are you going?" she asked her voice raspy.

"I need to get you food and check on some of the other people." Jack said gently stroking her cheek. Her fever had broken about an hour ago and he was pleased to feel her skin was slowly cooling down as well.

"No" she said like an insolent child and she tightened her grip on him and managed to snake of her legs around his waist to keep him close. Jack closed his eyes and tried to not think about how her body was pressing deliciously against his.

"Kate" he started to argue but she looked up at him and asked him a question that dumbfounded him.

"Will you take care of our babies when they're sick?" she asked quietly and Jack fumbled for a response not quite sure what it should be but before he could formulate an answer she continued on. "My mom used to sit at home with me when I was sick and she'd make me soup." Kate said her voice tired. "That changed when Wayne came back" she said sadly.

Jack caressed her cheek gently. "Growing up both my parents were pretty busy and I never liked showing weakness around my father so I usually dragged myself to school when I was sick. One time I was really sick and I passed out at school and got sent home. My mom came to get me and I thought she'd be mad because I ruined her day but she wasn't. She got me home and I changed into my pajamas and we sat on the couch watching game shows and cartoons. I knew she could have watched other things but even when I was asleep when I woke up the cartoons and games were still on. My dad came home and asked me how I was and he even ruffled my hair. My parents weren't always affectionate with me but that's one of my favorite memories. I always swore when I had kids I would work less hours and I would spend time with them as much as possible. I also knew if they ever got sick I would take the day off and care for them just like that one day my mom cared for me." Jack said brushing his lips across her forehead. "So to answer your questions yes I will take care of our babies when they're sick." Jack knew Kate was pretty out of it and chances were when she was completely healthy she wouldn't remember much of this conversation. He still felt the warmth in his stomach at the thought of having children with Kate though. He secretly hoped that she wasn't just speaking nonsense but that these were her feelings as well.

"Good" Kate said and she snuggled close to his chest and fell back asleep. Over the next couple hours Jack would rouse Kate to drink some water but he wasn't able to get her any food besides the mangoes he already had in his bag. Kate was still pretty much plastered to him and wouldn't let him go. Finally as the night progressed Jack felt Kate cool down completely and her breathing wasn't as raspy and uneven. She eventually moved away from him slightly and Jack took the opportunity to slip out of the bed and walk out onto the sand. His legs were aching from lying down all day but he had no regrets being he was trying to care for Kate. He stood in the sand and noticed the campfires had been extinguished and everyone was asleep. He stood and just enjoyed the sound of the ocean as it crashed against the shore and he felt lightness in his chest knowing Kate was going to feel better when she awoke. He smiled at her actions and couldn't help but feel good that Kate trusted him enough to care for her when she was sick. He thought about their conversation about children and his small smile widened. If rescue ever came and Kate gave him a chance he would get her out of trouble if he had to hire every high priced attorney in the United States.

Maybe then they could work on that dream of sitting at their home with their kids. Suddenly Jack felt two arms wrap around his waist and a petite body pressed against his back. He smiled and turned so she could move to the front of him and rest in his embrace her back pressed against his chest as they both watched the sun start to rise for the day.

"You should be in bed" Jack said kissing her hair lightly. "How are you feeling?"

"I feel a hundred percent better but there was no reason for me to stay in bed because you weren't there." she said and she tilted her head back and placed a gentle kiss on his jaw.

"You remember everything?" he asked cautiously afraid she would be embarrassed and would pull away from him.

"Yeah" she said with a soft smile. "I remember blackmailing you into bed with me and then I remember holding you with a death grip. I also remember you telling me you would take care of our babies after I put you on spot on that."

"I didn't mind a single moment of it" Jack said tightening his hold on her gently.

Kate turned in his embrace and wrapped her arms around his neck. She gave him a sweet smile and pulled his head down to meet hers and they kissed gently but passionately. After a few minutes later they broke apart to catch their breath and leaned their foreheads against each other.

"I love you" she whispered so softly Jack almost thought he imagined it. He looked down at her and found her looking back at him with a look that put his doubts to rest.

"I love you too" he said and he bent and took her lips with his again.

They went back into the tent and crawled back into bed and slept in each others embrace. Later on that afternoon Kate was feeling much better and had been out picking fruit. She also was feeling good remembering her and Jack's exchange of I love you's. It might not be possible to some people to think that Jack and Kate could love each other without being together long but for Kate it was the perfect moment. She walked up the beach and saw Jack. She approached him happily and touched his shoulder to get his attention. He turned to her and she let out a little gasp. His eyes were red his skin was warm and he was breathing like he was all stuffed up.

"Come on" she said gently stroking his hair. "Its bedtime and lots of water for you now." She took his hand and led him to the bed and bestowed upon him the same care and loving he had given her when she had been sick.

Ok so there it is please read and review