He awoke to the sound of silence, he couldn't believe it. How could he be back here. The basement was cold and damp as usual, but he had left here, escaped. He closed his eyes and shook his head everything seemed so surreal. He had seen her, felt her... been close enough to tell her he loved her and he hadn't. Now he felt he would never get the chance because all of a sudden here he was back in this hellhole. How... He didn't know. He had felt the softness of her skin as his arms wrapped around her waist, gently caressing the flesh exposed between her tshirt and jeans. He had saw her face when he had stumbled upon them all, she had looked at him and in that one moment he knew he was home... safe.

He ran his hand through his hair, and sighed. It had all been so real. He felt her, breathed the same air she did, and wanted her as much as he sensed she wanted him. That was the reality, and this place... this was hell for him. He stood up and walked to the small bed that had been set up for him and he lay down. Curling into a ball he began to fall asleep hoping that when he did finally fall, he would see her there. He would apologise for not staying long enough, for not being there for her... he would tell her he loved her. It was only then he knew he would be able to move on.

His eyelids began to sink under the weight of the power of sleep. He eventually nodded off and true to his hopes, as clear as day there she stood. A young girl, about five clutching her hand. Her raven black hair was now waist length, having grown considerably as she had aged.But in those sea green eyes he saw her youthfulness. She smiled at him and ran towards him arms outstretched. He bent down and scooped her up in his arms her face finding the crook of his neck and his arms meeting as they encircled her waist. He let his hand move to her head and gently stroke her hair as he kissed her gently on the nose like he had in dreams previous. She smiled and kissed him back.

How could someone so small, be so perfect? How could somone he had never met, make him feel like his world was complete? He lowered her to the floor and watched as she stepped back to join Kate. Thier hands entwined, they looked every inch the happy mother and daughter, but in their eyes he saw something was missing.

The little girl looked up at Kate and was rewarded with a nod of the head. She looked at Jack and smiled.

"We miss you daddy! We really miss you..." she was nearly crying as she told him this, and Jack felt his heart beginning to break.

Just as fast as they had appeared they dissapeared. He fell to his knees, his head clutched in his hands and he began to sob uncontrollably, muttering her name under his breath. Wishing on every star that lit the sky that she would come back,

"Faith!... Faith!..."

Jack felt his body being shaken, he sat upright with a jolt and looked around him. No basement, No darkness. He could hear Aaron screaming at the top of his lungs three tents down. He was home, and to his right sat Kate. Her hand on his arm and a worried look on her face.

"Jack are you okay?... you were shouting someone at the top of you voice, you were shaking...i..."

He didnt answer, he had been asleep for what felt like forever and Kate knew all too well the feelings that were going through Jacks mind, she didn't want to push him. Kate looked at him sympathetically and shook her head. He took a deep breath and rubbed the back of his head wwith his free hand. Kate moved closer to him and smiled.

"bad dream...I thought it was only me who had them..."

He offered her an appreciative smile and placed his weight onto his spare hand trying in vain to stand up. It only amused Kate to see him stumble and fall back down. It hurt her to see him like this, so vunerable. But she also knew that if he didn't have the strength to go anywhere, he wouldn't leave her again. She didn't want to push him, but whilst she was watching him, he had shouted a girls name. He had never told her if he had kids, why would he... they weren't together. It was none of her buisness. They stayed silent for a while, just taking in each other, their eyes never breaking contact, their breathing shallow and the air tense. Their time together was cut short by the tent being rustled, and a tall man entering.

"Welcome home Doc..." Sawyer said, his head peering through the opening to the tent and a look of discontent on his face "... We had almost given up hope". He said motioning with his hand to where Kate sat.

So she had forgotten about him, was willing to forget eveything he had done for her. He wondered why it didn't hurt so much to know this. Was it because he knew all too well the power women like her held over men like him. Or was it because deep down, he hadn't expected anything from her. He wanted to love her, knowing full well she would never love him back the same way. What did they call it he thought to himself... yeah, thats it. Unrequited Love. Jack knew all about that.

He laughed gently at Sawyers comment, and waved his hand as if to show he didn't care about his rude remark. He watched as Kate stood up and walked over to the opening of the tent. Expecting to see the worst Jack turned his head. After a few minutes he had turned around to find his tent had been fastened from the inside, and there at the front of the tent stood Kate. Defiance in her eyes and love in her heart, she shook her head.

"What he said... it's not true. Any of it. I hadn't given up on you. I swear. I stayed here every night, i waited for you to come back..." He saw a tear escape her eye and roll down her cheek.

He stood up shakily and walked over to her. His hand met her face and his thumb caressed the tear that had escaped. Stopping it in its tracks.

"It's not going to be the same Kate, i know what you did... you and Sawyer" He told her, watching as her eyes widened and a look of horror and surprise appeared on her face.

"Jack... I... we...um..." He silenced her by moving his hand lower down her face where his finger met her lips.

"You're a big girl Kate, you make your own decisions. I'm not here to judge you. I remember you told me once you missed me, and it was too hard here without me... so i'm here and i'll never leave you, but its not going to be the same. It just can't be the same." the confusion still apparent. She wondered how Jack could know this, she had told him this in a dream, a dream she had dreamt every night since they had arrived back home.

He smiled at her and cupped her face in his rough hands, gently placing a kiss on the end of her nose and on her forehead he pulled back and walked out of the tent.

Leaving Kate standing there alone, wondering what exactly had happened to him. So he knew about her and Sawyer... then he had to know it was a mistake. He had to know how it was eating her up inside, how she wished she could have gone back and changed things. She shook her head. She wouldn't change a thing, she was at a point in her life where she needed someone and Sawyer was there. He was sweet and kind, and not many people saw that, but she knew that it wasn't right... being with him. It wasn't how it was supposed to be. She stood, rooted to the spot, her heart in her mouth and her feelings on display. She was going to have to work to Jack back, she knew it... all she had to do was stop running.