Hold on for one more day

chapter 9

Natalie's cries grew louder as he tried to soothe her. "Shh, come on Nat.I have to go back to work today and I can't do that if you keep crying." Kate had woken up at the sound of Natalie's cries and made her way down to the nursey. It had been two months since Jack had gone to work and today would be his first day back. Jack felt Kate wrap her arms around his waist and place her chin on his shoulder. "hey, I'm sorry she woke you up. I was trying to get her to go back to sleep before I left."

Kate smiled as she stepped forward and took Natalie from his arms. "It's fine, I was going to have to wake up soon anyway. Just go to the hospital, I know your just trying to stall." Jack laughed as he kissed her cheek. He then bent down and kissed Natalie on the head before leaving the room and heading to his car. The day at the hospital went by slowly, most of his day was spent doing paper work. He had called Kate twice and was about to call her again when there was a knock on his office door. When he opened the door he gaped at the woman standing in front of him. "Mom..." he muttered as she pushed past him and into the office. His heart stopped when he saw the picture he had placed on his desk that morning. It was a picture of himself, Kate, and Natalie on the day that Natalie was born. when his mother sat down, he sat behind the desk.

"So imagine Jack, for almost three months i thought my son was dead to find out that he was very much alive. I figured that all I had to do was wait and you'd call or something. So I waited, and waited, and finally after nine months I grew tired of waiting." She stopped and noticed that his eyes were not on her, but instead were on the picture frame that sat on his desk.Before he could protest, she picked up the photo and almost dropped it. "So is this the reason you didn't call...you knocked up some island whore...You couldn't call your own mother but you had time to get some money grabber pregnant...HOW can you be SO stupid..."

Before either knew what was going on Jack was slamming his hand down on the desk to silence her. She jumped from his studden agression and quickly shut her mouth. "Get out. You came here and acting like I never left, that I never got stranded on that island because of your ass of a husband. I went through hell and back and all you can do is critize the greatest thing that has happened to me. So, get out." Jack stood from his seat and walked over to the door, opening it and motioning her out. " I said get out." She slowly stood and as she walked out the door she handed him his picture and turned down the hall.

As Jack drove home his mind began to wonder. He thought hoq much his life had changed since he returned from the island how much his priorites had shifted.

Scar tissue that I wish you saw
Sarcastic mister know it all
Close your eyes and I'll kiss you 'cause
With the birds I'll share
With the birds I'll share
This lonely view
With the birds I'll share
This lonely view

The radio began blarring a song that Jack had grown to love over his life and thought about the happier moments in his life. He began think of himself and Kate brought a smile to his face, how she first stumbled upon him shirtless, and bleeding from the side. As he listened to the lyrics the more he realized they related to his relationship with her.

Push me up against the wall
Young Kentucky girl in a push-up bra
Fallin' all over myself
To lick your heart and taste your health 'cause
With the birds I'll share
This lonely view...

The second part of the song made him think of the first few times he spent alone with Kate, getting to know her until he finally fell head over heels for her. He thought of the very first thing he notcied about Kate, her eyes. Those emerald eyes that he'd gotten used to seeing in the past year, those beautiful eyes, which he secretly hoped were passed down to their daughter. They weren't only the first thing he noticed but the first thing he fell in love with.

Blood loss in a bathroom stall
Southern girl with a scarlet drawl
Wave good-bye to ma and pa 'cause
With the birds I'll share
With the birds I'll share
This lonely view
With the birds I'll share
This lonely view

The birds. It wasn't the first time that the song had used those lyrics but a sudden memory came to mind. It was the first time that he and Kate held hands, it wasn't necessarily romantic but it was the first real time he had actually touched her. It was in the cockpit of the plane, while they were trying to get up. She had needed help and he offered his hand to her to pull her up, and she gratefully took it.

Soft spoken with a broken jaw
Step outside but not to brawl
Autumn's sweet we call it fall
I'll make it to the moon if I have to crawl and
With the birds I'll share
This lonely view...

Autumn was when they met, the end of September, but that wasn't the only the memory, or rather regret, that filled his mind. The mistakes, the wait, the constant reminder that another man was getting closer to the woman he was falling for. Everything that led to the I love you that spilled from his lips right before he had called for the rescue boat. If he had lived for the moment then maybe things would have been differently but none of it really mattered anymore because he had his beautiful family.

Scar tissue that I wish you saw
Sarcastic mister know it all
Close your eyes and I'll kiss you 'cause
With the birds I'll share
With the birds I'll share
This lonely view
With the birds I'll share
This lonely view...

Sarcastic mister hit him hard and at that moment Jack slammed the button shutting it off and then he began walking up the drive way. He opened the front door, expecting to see Kate's smiling face there to greet him but she was no where to be found. He slowly made his way up the stairs and walked back to the bedroom to see Kate lying on the bed, Natalie sprawled out on her her stomach, Kate having her arm protectively holding her there. A smile appeared on his exhausted features as he softly walked into the bathroom and changed into his flannel pajama pants before climbing in the bed beside Kate.The sudden weight shift woke Kate and Natalie from their sleep. Natalie began to wail and soon Jack found himself reaching out for her. "Come here baby girl," he muttered as he picked her up and moved her to lay on his own chest. Kate just watched for a few minutes before breaking into a smile at the scene before her. the only thing to disturb their peace was the sound of the doorbell echoing throughout the house. Kate motioned for Jack to stay and slowly made her way to the front door. Her knees almost gave way to the shock and hatred that ran through her as she starred at the person on the otherside. "Hello Juliet..." she managed to say before resisting the urge to slam the door shut once again.