Driveshaft – Jack's POV

It was packed. There were people everywhere. Charlie was right - Driveshaft really had had a comeback. He couldn't ever remember them being this popular. Mind, he'd never been that interested by music. He only listened to it in car, on the odd occasion where someone hadn't called him.

The show was pretty good – Jack was amazed by how different Charlie was on stage. He became an entirely different person. A few girls tried to chat him up, but he wasn't interested.

His ticket included a backstage pass. He was lost back there though – there were even more people milling about than outside. Thankfully Claire spotted him.

"Jack!"

"Claire, hey!"

"You're the last one. Here, we're all in a room over here somewhere. I was looking for you; Charlie said you'd be here."

"We?"

She pulled him towards a door.

"Yes, we. We who were rescued. C'mon."

The room was filled with so many familiar faces. Claire let go of him immediately and reached out to take Aaron from a very pregnant Sun. Sun and Jin looked very happy. He kept touching her stomach and fussing over her. She just beamed.

Hurley spotted him immediately.

"Dude! Hey, guys, Jack's here!"

Everyone looked around from their separate conversations, surprised by the sudden outburst from Hurley. They all said their various hellos before returning to whatever it was that they were talking about. Hurley made his way towards him, the small crowd parting in front of him.

"You showed up! We were worried you were, like, not gonna come. You know, with like Kate."

"I came for Charlie. When he showed up at my place he was pretty excited about this."

"Yeah, dude I know! He was like really jumpy when I saw him. I seriously thought he was on something, you know, like drugged or something."

"You'd be surprised."

"What's that meant to mean?"

"Nothing, don't worry. Is everyone here?"

"Pretty much. Sawyer even showed up! Said he was only here cause of the booze, but I think the guy actually wanted to see everyone."

"Sawyer? Is-"

"No. Please, Jack, just forget her. For a little while, at least. Lighten up!"

"Where is he?"

"In the corner, talking to Michael. Well he was a minute ago anyways. I want to know what happened on the raft that made them two buddies all of a sudden…"

But Jack had already crossed the room to where Sawyer was standing.

"Sawyer?"

Michael looked back and forth between them, sensing the tension.

"I, uh, gotta find Walt. He ran off somewhere, you know kids." He disappeared as quickly as he could.

"Doc."

"Heard Kate was living with you."

"Yeah."

Jack didn't know what to say.

"She couldn't come tonight. Don't think she was too keen on risking being seen in public right now."

"The police?"

"What, oh, yeah, yeah, the police. I'm as good as a criminal too, hiding a fugitive."

"Why hasn't she called me, or come too see me, or…something? She knew I didn't know where she was."

Sawyer sighed.

"She has a good reason. I take it she hasn't told you."

"Told me what?"

"It's not my place to say. She'll tell you when she's ready."

He turned to walk away, but stopped, turning his head back to Jack.

"Doc, nothing's happened between us by the way. Me and Freckles. She's just staying with me for the time being, that's all. Temporary arrangement. She loves you, I get it."

He went to walk away again.

"Sawyer. Can you just tell her that I miss her?"

He was about to reply but was distracted by an eruption of cheers. Charlie had just entered the room, finally having returned for the first time since the show finished.

Sawyer nodded quickly in Jack's direction before slipping out of the door.

Spotting Jack he headed over, Claire trailing along behind him.

"You made it!"

He looked around him in mock surprise, his arms coming up to scratch the back of his dyed-black hair.

"Where's that girl I told you to bring?"

"Non-existent. I didn't feel like company. You realise that I only came for you."

"Me? Oh, you shouldn't have, really. Oh well, you can pick up one later if you feel like it. There's a bunch of them outside."

He was interrupted by Aaron, whom Claire had pushed into his arms while she answered her mobile. He lifted the baby up, swinging him around. He was almost a year old now.

Charlie obviously adored him. The baby screamed in delight as Charlie played with him, tossing him up in the air only to catch him and cuddle him tightly.

Jack watched. He remembered his own baby, weeks before who had slept placidly in his arms. Or what he thought was his baby. He wasn't even sure if it was real.

"Mate, could you hold him for a minute? I've got to go be a good host and Claire's still on the phone."

"Aahh, sure." He took the baby from Charlie's outstretched arms, watching as he weaved his way through the survivors, saying hello to everyone until he was eventually waylaid by Hurley.

Aaron gurgled happily in his arms, clapping his hands together repeatedly, obviously amused by the sound that it made. He now had a small head of silvery blonde hair, and his eyes were as sky blue as Claire's.

He felt so small in Jack's arms. Jack couldn't help feeling as if he might break Aaron. He was still pretty small for a one-year old, the time he'd spent on the island obviously stunting his growth. That was hardly the place to raise a child.

Claire's phone snapped shut up.

"He's getting bigger now huh? Glad we're out of that place."

"Yeah. He's beautiful."

"I know. When I took him to see my mum, she cried. She thought I was dead, and then I return with her grandchild in tow."

Aaron cried at the sound of Claire's voice, reaching out for her. She took him quickly from Jack, shushing him and rocking him back and forth gently. His cries stopped once he was back in his mother's arms.

"Thanks for watching him. I was on the phone to someone about the album. Charlie's really psyched about this. It's kind of fun managing them as well."

"So you're living with Charlie?"

"Yeah, in England. It's kind of cute over there. We're not like, living together living together though. He's a good friend, as well as being the closest thing Aaron has to a father."

"He obviously loves him."

"Yeah. Charlie's great with him. Aaron's real father, Thomas, is demanding to see him. I haven't taken him yet. I suppose I'll have to, but the last thing I want to do is let that bastard get involved with my life again. I don't want him to have anything to do with Aaron, or me."

"Just tell him to fuck off then."

"I would, but knowing him he'd get the law involved. I mean, he walked out on me, saying he didn't want to have a baby, and now he's back and suddenly wants to be a father? I should've told him to fuck off a long, long time ago."

They both laughed.

"Yeah."

"But then I might not have had my adorable little baby!" as she said the last bit she lifted Aaron up, blowing a raspberry on his tummy. Aaron gurgled in delight.

"Well, I'm gonna go now. Aaron should be asleep soon, and I have so much to do! Take care Jack."

"Bye."

She left, carrying the baby asleep in her arms. A few people were starting to leave. Charlie and Hurley had already started on getting drunk, slumped on the couch with bottle in hand. Jack walked over to them.

"I'm gonna go."

"What? Oh, no, stay. We got plenty of drink, sit down and grab a bottle." Hurley slurred.

"I don't feel like getting drunk tonight. I'm tired, and I've got work tomorrow. I've gotta go, I'll see you some other time, ok?"

"Yeah, okay, bye mate."

"See you around dude."

It was a long drive back to his house. He'd had trouble wading through the massive crowd to reach his car, and then even more trouble actually leaving the car park. He was tired. But he knew that he wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.

Despite Sawyer's reassurances he was worried about Kate. There was obviously something she was keeping from him, or some reason why she didn't want to see him.

He swallowed the sleeping pills, washing them down with a glass of water. It wouldn't take long for them to work.

And then he could sleep, stop thinking about her for the few short hours until he had to go to the hospital.

Sleep. It sounded so good, his respite from the trying evening. It had been hard to be there amongst all the people he knew from the island without thinking about her. To him, the island represented Kate. Every single one of them reminded him that she should be there, that she belonged there with all of them.

But she wasn't.

Thank-you to everyone who's been reviewing! I really appreciate your input on this, it helps me to keep writing. I'll update soon, tomorrow if I can!