Author's Note: Well, this should be a long chapter for you guys. I have finally gotten to the main plot with a little sub-plot in it. Haha. Anyways, read and review! Enjoy!
A week later Kate sat at home, alone. Riley was taking a nap and the girls were at school. Mrs. Shephard sighed as the phone began to ring. She stood up and went to answer it. "Hello?" Mrs. Shephard said.
"Hey, Kate."
"Hey, Jack."
"How's Riley?"
"Taking a nap."
"Any problems?"
"No."
"Good."
"How's work been?"
There was silence. Finally Jack said, "I won't be home tonight."
"Why not? You haven't been home at night since Jules at over."
On the other side Jack sighed. " I know. I'm sorry. It's just been busy as hell. I'm sorry," he explained.
Reluctantly Kate said, "It's okay. But when you come home don't be loud. Please. Riley needs sleep."
"Fine. I'll see you tomorrow maybe. I love you."
"I love you too." Then Kate hung up the phone. Mrs. Shephard sighed and searched through her purse for his number. When she dialed his number it rang three times before he answered.
"Hello?"
"Hey, it's me."
"Katie, wow. Hey. Haven't talked to you in over a week. How're you?"
"2436 Oak."
"What?"
"My address. 2436 Oak. Come now. I need you."
"Uh, are you okay, Kate?"
"Tom. You love me, right?"
"Yeah I do, but what-"
"Come. Now. I need you. I want you."
"Uh, okay. I'll be there in ten minutes."
"Bye." Then Kate hung up.
Ten minutes later there was a knock on the door. Mrs. Shephard rushed over and pulled the door open.
Tom looked at her, worried. "Kate, what-"
The ex-felon hugged him tightly and then pressed her lips against his lips forcefully, interrupting him.
Tom kissed her back, shocked, and walked into her house. He shut the door with his foot as Kate's tongue slid past his own tongue. Dr. Brennan pulled away, confused. "Katie, what-" he started.
Kate's hands traveled his body and she pushed him into the living room. "Shut up," she said, pushing him onto the couch. Then the ex-felon got on top of him, pressing her body against his own body.
"Kate…Jack…"
"At work. Tom, I need you," she moaned, kissing his lips again.
Tom kissed her back and let his hands travel up her shirt. He fumbled with her bra as Kate straddled him.
She broke the kiss and took off his t-shirt. Then the ex-fugitive let her hands run up his chest as Tom took off her own shirt.
"Oh my God, Katie."
"Tom…" she moaned.
"Katie, I love you."
"I love you too, Tom."
About an hour later Kate rested her head on Tom's chest and sighed. "Tom," she murmured.
Dr. Brennan looked up at her. "Katie, what the hell just happened? I thought you loved Jack," he said.
"I love you too. Both of you. But Jack's at work all the time. I love you, Tom."
"Kate, you're amazing."
"I could say the same about you." Kate looked into Tom's eyes and kissed his lips.
Dr. Brennan kissed her back, resting his hand on her lower back. When they pulled away Tom looked at her seriously. "Katie, why'd you change your mind? I thought you loved him."
"Tom, I do love Jack. It's hard though. He's always at work though," she said with a sigh.
"So I'm your backup guy?" Tom asked, slightly hurt.
Kate gasped. "No, Tom! No! Just…I love both of you. I…" She paused. "I talked to Daddy a week ago," Kate said.
"Sam? What'd he say?"
"Diane died. Cancer came back. But he said he's been fine."
"That's good."
"Yeah. Tom, I need out of here."
"What do you mean?"
"I need a vacation."
"Where? With who?"
"Iowa. Me and you."
"Why there?"
"The time capsule. I want to dig it up."
"Really? Us, going back there?"
"Yes. Really."
"Katie, I…"
"Soon. End of this week?"
"Uh…sure. Kate, were you drinking?"
"No. Why?"
"This isn't like you. A week ago you said you wouldn't kiss me because you loved Jack and now we just made love. What the hell happened?"
"His other relationship."
"What? He's cheating on you?"
"Yeah."
"With who?"
"St. Sebastian's Hospital." Tears glistened in her hazel orbs.
"Oh, Katie," Tom murmured, stroking her hair.
The silver tears escaped her eyes and raced down her cheeks. "Oh, Tom…please say you love me," Kate murmured.
"I love you, Kate. I love you," he whispered.
"Kiss me like you mean it," she said, closing her eyes to stop the tears. Then Kate felt his lips pressed against her own lips. She rested her hands on his chest.
They pulled away as there was a cry from upstairs. Kate moaned and muttered, "Riley." She got off Tom and quickly dressed.
Then Mrs. Shephard rushed up the stairs and into her son's bedroom. Kate picked up her son and rocked him gently. "Shh, baby. Shh. Mommy's here. Mommy's got you," she whispered.
Riley looked at his mother and stopped crying. He cooed.
"That's right, Riley. I'm here. I'm not gonna leave you. Mommy loves you too much to leave you." Then Kate walked downstairs.
When she entered the living room Tom was fully dressed, sitting on the couch, and looking at a photo album. He heard Kate enter the living room and he looked up. "You're so beautiful in this picture," he said, motioning to the page that he was on.
Kate sat down next to him and looked at the picture. It was her wedding picture. Her long white dress sparkled in the sunlight as Mrs. Shephard clutched her husband's arm tightly. "That was almost two months after Kayley was born," she said with a smile.
"You had Kayley two months before your wedding?"
"Yeah."
"Oh my God. It doesn't look like you had her, you are glowing so much. And you're skinny again."
"Now I wouldn't say skinny," she warned, as Riley reached up to grab his mother's curly brown locks.
Tom looked over at Kate. "Yes. Skinny. You were skinny. You are skinny," he said. Then Dr. Brennan looked down at Riley. "Hey, little man," he said, smiling.
Riley looked up at him curiously. Then he looked at his mother and cooed softly.
"Hey, it's okay. Tom's okay."
Then the young Shephard clapped slowly.
"Yeah. It's okay, Riley. Everything's okay. See?" Kate murmured, rocking him gently.
Tom smiled at her. "You're such a natural," he observed.
Kate looked away from her son and she glanced at Dr. Brennan. "I wasn't a natural when
I had Elle. I was a nervous wreck," she said.
Tom shrugged. "You were on an island, practically alone. It's no excuse to be a wreck," he said.
"No, I wasn't alone. I had Jack, Claire, Charlie, Juliet, Sun, Jin, Hurley, and even Sawyer. Everyone was there for me. I wasn't alone."
Dr. Brennan sighed. "But you did fine, Kate. I bet Isabella's fine now. Perfectly fine."
Kate heard a bus outside and then heard voices. "Well, you can decide for yourself now. Izzy's home," Mrs. Shephard said.
Tom looked towards the front door as it opened.
Isabella walked into the house, sobbing. Kate heard her and began to worry.
"Tom, take Riley. Please," she said.
Dr. Brennan took the content child out of his mother's arms. Then Tom watched Riley snuggle in his arms. Dr. Brennan smiled slightly to himself.
Kate got off the sofa and rushed over to her eldest daughter. "Bella. Bella. Isabella. Isabella Hayden Shephard. Please look at me. Baby, look at Mommy."
Miss Shephard glanced up at her mother and sniffled. "Mommy…Mommy…Momma, oh Mom…it was horrible. He came to me after school…asked if I wanted a ride home. I knew who the guy was…it was obvious. But I said no. He…he…asked me why not and I told him that I knew about all the horrible things he did to you and Dad. And I told him that I hated because of how he treated you. Then he grabbed my arm and pulled me close to him. His cologne was so gross, Mom. And he…he called me Freckles…he pulled out a piece of paper and wrote his number on it. He gave it to me and said to gibe it to you. And I think he called you Mrs. Freckles. And on my God, Mommy. The whole time he wrote down the number he made sure I stayed really close to him. I was so scared, Momma. And then he told me to be careful because guys would be after me. He said I was beautiful. And then guess who walked over? Adam! Adam took his time to get out there. I know he did. Mommy, they're both scary. I…I thought he was gonna take me when I told him I didn't need a ride home. He has the scariest gray eyes ever! Momma, oh Momma, I'm afraid he's gonna come back for me. The way he looked at me when he told me I was beautiful…it was creepy. It looked as if he was daydreaming. Like…I dunno. I, I…I'm scared, Mommy. I'm scared," Isabella sobbed, falling into her mother's arms.
Kate groaned. "Dammit, James. Why are you doing this to me?" she murmured to herself. Then with all of her strength Kate managed to pick up Isabella. "C'mon, sweetie. Let's get you to the living room. I'll call Daddy and tell him to come home now. Okay?"
Isabella sobbed and buried her head in her mother's shoulder.
Kate rubbed her daughter's back and then looked at Tom. "Tom, sit in the recliner. I need to set her down and then call Jack. This is ridiculous," she said.
Tom nodded and rushed over to the recliner. He watched as Kate set Isabella down. Then she looked at him.
"Tom, can you please get a blanket? They're in the hall closet."
He stood up quickly. "Sure," Dr. Brennan said, rushing to get a blanket. When he put the blanket over Isabella Tom added, "Where should I set Riley? He's asleep."
"In the Pack and Play. I'm gonna call Jack now." Then Mrs. Shephard rushed into the kitchen and picked up the phone to dial Jack's cell phone number.
The phone rang three times before Jack answered. "Hello?"
"Jack, sweetie, you need to come home now."
"Baby, what's wrong? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Isabella's not."
"Oh God. Is she sick? What happened?"
"Guess who cornered her after school today."
"Who?"
"Take one guess."
"Adam?"
"No, worse."
"Oh God." A pause. Then, "Sawyer?"
"Yeah."
"That bastard," Jack murmured. "What'd he want with her?"
"He gave her his number to give to me. And get this," Kate paused.
"What?"
"He called her Freckles."
"He didn't."
"Yeah, he did."
"Did he do anything else?"
"Well, the whole thing started because he offered her a ride home. She told him no. But by what Isabella told me I think he wanted to give her a ride home so he'd have an excuse to see me."
"Son of a bitch."
"I know, Jack. I know."
"How's she holding up?"
"She's scared, Jack. She needs both of us here, now."
"Dammit. I'll get Tom to cover for me. Just let me call him and I'm coming home."
"Oh, I'll tell him. He's here now."
"Why's he at our house?"
"I invited him over for lunch."
"Oh. Well tell him to get his ass over here. I'm coming home."
"Okay. I will tell him. Love you."
"Love you too." Then Jack hung up.
Kate hung up and then went into the living room. "Tom," she started.
Dr. Brennan looked up at her. "Yeah?"
"Jack needs you to cover for him. Can you?"
"Sure, Kate." Then Tom stood up. He walked to the door, grabbing his coat. Kate followed him to the front door.
"Call me sometime, okay?"
"Yeah. I'll call you."
The Tom leaned over and kissed Kate's lips. Tom pulled away a moment later and opened the front door. "See you later," he said.
"Yeah. See you later." Kate watched him leave the driveway after he got into his car. Then Mrs. Shephard closed the front door and walked into the living room.
Kate sat on the couch and rubbed her daughter's back. "Sweetheart, can you give me the piece of paper Sawyer gave you?"
Isabella moaned and moved. She grabbed the folded piece of paper out of her pocket and handed it to her mother.
"Here, Mommy," she whispered.
Kate took the paper and smiled. "Thank you, baby," she replied. Mrs. Shephard continued to rub her daughter's back.
Fifteen minutes later Jack rushed into the house and over to his wife and daughter. "Kate, is she okay?" he asked, kissing Kate's forehead. Then Jack bent down and sat on his knees. He grabbed Isabella's hand and squeezed it gently as Kate continued to rub her back.
"Isabella, look at Daddy. Please, baby, look at me."
Isabella lifted her head off of the pillow and stared at him as tears raced down her cheeks. "What, Daddy?" she asked.
"Baby, what'd Sawyer do?"
"He wanted to give me a ride home. I told him no and then he grabbed my arm and pulled me really close to him. I could smell his cologne. Then he wrote down his number and told me to give it to Mom. Dad, I'm scared." Isabella sobbed and closed her eyes.
Jack leaned over and hugged her. "Shh, sweetheart. It's okay. There's no need to be scared. Mommy and I will protect you. I'll protect you. We love you so much, Isabella, we won't let anything happen to you. I promise. Okay?"
The twelve-year-old nodded and opened her hazel orbs. "Okay. Oh and Daddy…" she said, trailing off.
"What, Isabella?"
"He said I was beautiful. It…it was creepy."
"That son of a bitch," Kate heard Jack murmur. Then Dr. Shephard looked at his wife. "Kate, where's his number?" he asked.
Mrs. Shephard glanced at her husband. "Here," she said, handing him the paper that was in her hand.
Jack took the paper and ten stood up. "That bastard's not gonna know what the hell hit him," he muttered.
Kate looked at him with worried eyes. "Jack, please don't do something stupid. Please," she begged.
Dr. Shephard nodded, placing a kiss on her forehead. "Don't worry. I'll be rational," he promised.
Kate nodded and then Jack stood up. Mrs. Shephard watched her husband as he walked into the study and closed the door.
Kayley walked into the house. "Mom, I'm home!" she called, setting her book bag on the floor.
"Kayley, be quiet. Your father's in the study making a phone call. I'm in the living room."
Kayley bounced into the living room. She looked at Isabella and then at her mother. "What's wrong with Bella?"
"Don't worry about it, Kayley. How was school today?"
"It was okay."
"That's good."
A moment later Kate heard Jack screaming.
"YOU BASTARD! HOW DARE YOU CORNER MY DAUGHTER AT HER OWN GODDAMN SCHOOL!"
"Mommy, is Daddy talking to the Sawyer guy?"
"Shh, Kayley. Run upstairs and start your homework."
Kayley groaned but then marched upstairs.
"WHY THE HELL DO YOU WANT TO TALK TO HER?"
Kate groaned and then murmured:Isabella, stay here. I'm going to calm your father." Then Mrs. Shephard stood up and hurried to the study. When Kate got there she stood by the door and listened.
"Dammit, Sawyer. My daughter came home scared to death." A pause. Then, "WHY? WHY DID ISABELLA COME HOME SCARED? HM, LET'S THINK ABOUT THIS. MAYBE BECAUSE YOU CORNERED HER AND WOULDN'T LET HER GO!"
Then Kate couldn't take it anymore. She opened the door and rushed over to Jack's side. "Jack, sweetie, please. You promised that you'd be rational," she begged, tears obscuring her vision.
Jack looked down at her and sighed. Then he said, "Sawyer, just stay away from my family" After Jack said that, he hung up.
Kate hugged him tightly and buried her head in his chest. She let the silver tears escape her hazel orbs and sobbed. "You promised, Jack. You promised," she murmured.
Dr. Shephard sighed. "I know, Kate. I'm sorry."
Kate looked up at him and kissed his lips softly.