Author's Note: Thank you so much for reviewing. Sorry I have not updated in awhile. This will be the last installment of The Hardest Thing. But don't worry; I am working on the sequel now. So please read and review this chapter. Enjoy!
Alex came back ten minutes later with a boy who had dirty-blonde hair who, I guessed, was sixteen. When Karl looked around the room, his eyes fell immediately on Kate.
"You!" he gasped, pointing his finger at Kate.
I heard her sweet innocent giggle. "Hello Karl," she replied.
The boy's eyes moved from Kate to me.
"And who the hell are you?" he asked.
"I'm Jack," I replied.
Karl stared at me, studying me. After a moment he recognized me. "I know you. That Juliet girl never shuts up about you!" he said.
It felt like a bomb had dropped in my stomach. I slowly glanced at Kate. She shrugged. Then I looked back at Karl and Alex.
"Is everyone asleep?"
Alex nodded. "Yup. Or pretty damn close to it."
I started to pace the room, thinking hard.
"Okay," I said, mainly talking to myself. "If we leave in about ten minutes, everyone should be asleep. And that would put us at…what time Alex?"
She glanced at her watch. "10:30," she said.
"Good, good. We could get halfway there, take a break and then go the rest of the way. If we just take a five minute break and we don't sleep…we should get there as people start to get up. Right, Kate?"
Kate turned and looked at me. She thought for a moment. Then Kate replied, "Yeah. Hurley, Charlie, or Desmond will probably be up that early to get fish. Last I was there, we were running low on Dharma food."
I nodded, and kept pacing. Soon, after ten minutes, I stopped. "Alex, do you know where you guys keep the guns?" I asked her.
She nodded.
"Good. Go and get four guns."
Alex glanced at me puzzled.
I simply said, "Just in case."
Then Alex nodded once more and left the basement. Once the door shut I grabbed Karl's arm and pulled him into the closet. Both he and Kate stared at me confused. "We'll hide just in case Tom comes down," I said.
Kate nodded and Karl became silent.
He must know how bad they are, I thought.
We waited in the closet for about ten minutes when I heard the door open. I looked out the crack of the door and saw Kate jump.
"Who's there?" she called.
"It's me. Alex. I have the guns."
Then Karl and I walked out of the closet. Alex stared at us, puzzled.
"Just in case," Karl said. Alex nodded, understanding.
I looked at Alex. "Everyone asleep now?" I asked.
She nodded. "All the lights are turned off."
"Good," I murmured, pacing the room again.
After a moment I stopped in front of Alex. "We should get going. By the time they get up, we need to be as far away as possible. Gimme a gun," I said, holding my hand out.
Alex handed me one. Then she handed Kate and Karl the other guns, keeping one for herself.
I looked at all of them, staring at Kate a second longer than Alex or Karl. "Ready?" I asked, glancing away from Kate. Then I looked back at Alex. She nodded. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Kate nod slowly. "Okay then. Let's go."
The wind howled in the distance. I led the way through the jungle, closely followed by Kate. Her sweet aroma moved with the wind and into my mouth when I breathed. Karl and Alex trailed behind us. I felt Kate grab my hand. I looked back her her and saw that she looked worried.
"What's wrong sweetie?" I asked, stopping.
She stopped next to me and then hugged me tightly.
"Jack…Jack…" she murmured.
"Kate, what's wrong?" I asked, becoming worried myself.
"I really don't want to go back. What if…if Sawyer sees me with you…oh God, Jack. I'm scared. What if he tries to do some-"
I put my finger to her lips, silencing her. "Kate, I won't let him touch you. I will protect you. I promise," I said.
Kate sighed and kissed my lips.
I kissed her back and heard Alex make an impatient clicking noise. I pulled away from Kate and looked at Alex.
"Are you two ready?" she asked.
I nodded and then took Kate's hand. I led the way through the jungle, keeping Kate close to me. After days with the Others, we were finally going home.