Thanks for the reviews. I was so excited when I logged on this morning and saw that there were 14 new ones! That's almost a record for me! (I got 16 for the first chapter of "Secrets and Lies" and SassieLostie and I get quite a few) I'm glad none of you thought it was weird. ;)

Chapter 11. Double Date

"So, Kate, do you live here in L.A.?" Jack asked, taking a sip of his coffee, once they were seated in a quiet corner of the cafeteria. He was eyeing her with the same intense look he'd been giving her since she'd admitted that she wasn't there to see his patient, as if he still wasn't quite sure what was happening.

He didn't seem to be fighting it either, though, which to Kate, was a plus. It meant that he felt the same pull towards her that she felt towards him, even if he didn't understand it.

"No, actually, I just moved here from Iowa," she told him to keep the conversation flowing, and he rewarded her with a smile that made her heart melt. She couldn't remember the last time he'd looked at her like that, without some hint of aloofness, or hurt. It made her feel like he was right about starting over, and letting go of the past; that there really was a second chance out there for them, without all of the baggage they'd brought with them to the island.

"A country girl, huh? So you're gonna need someone to show you around the city, help you get settled in? You're probably experiencing a bit of a culture shock." His eyes were twinkling as he deadpanned this; he seemed to be building up to something.

"Are you volunteering?" she asked him, raising an eyebrow, grinning when he teased her by trying to make it look like this was entirely her own interpretation.

"I guess that depends on whether or not you decide to take me up on it," he told her with a coy smile.

She couldn't think of anything she'd rather do than let him show her his hometown, so she agreed, doing her best to hide her excitement at the prospect of a second, real, date. "I'd like that."

"Great." Putting his fork down, he leant back in his chair, fixing her with his full attention. She could almost see the gears turning inside his head as he said, "If this is your first time in L.A., you've probably never been to Santa Monica after dark?"

"Never," she agreed, grinning in anticipation, and he nodded, pleased.

"Do you have the number of the place you're staying? If I get finished here early, maybe I could give you a call and we could start tonight." He seemed to be testing the waters, seeing how willing she was before he gave up his casual front.

"Sounds like a plan," she assured him, impressed by the unassuming way he'd asked her for her phone number, and he took a notepad and pen from the pocket of his coat, sliding them across the table to her.

She scribbled her name and the number of her motel down before tearing the page out and handing it to him, watching the careful way he folded it and tucked it into the breast pocket of his shirt.

"I've got a consultation in about ten minutes," he said, checking his watch, before standing, "but it was nice meeting you, Kate." He held out his hand, letting the handshake linger when she accepted it, and she wondered if he felt the same spark that surged through her palm. Something about the way he held her gaze made her think that he did, and that he wanted to explore it as much as she did. "I guess I'll see you tonight."

Kate had never considered herself the kind of woman who waited by the phone for a guy to call, but she found herself pacing her motel room that evening, watching the minutes tick by. She was afraid that once Jack had time to stop and think about it how strange it all was; how suspicious, he'd change his mind, but he didn't.

He was just busy.

It was almost eight by the time the phone rang, startling her so that she almost jumped out of her skin, but she managed to slow her heart enough to answer with a casual, "Hey", like she hadn't been waiting, even though she was sure it must be obvious to him that she had.

She'd already showered and dressed for their date in a dark tank top and form-fitting jeans, even going so far as to put make up on, in spite of the knowledge that it wouldn't make much difference to him, so, after a brief conversation, they agreed that he would pick her up just as soon as he'd had the chance to go home and change his own clothes.

He was wearing a leather jacket, and a tight black t-shirt that reminded her of what a great body he had when she climbed into the car, his hair combed back out of his face, but still a little wild, making her miss the crew cut he'd had on the island.

"Have you ever thought about cutting it really short?" she asked him, reaching over to run her fingers through it, not realising until after she'd done it that, as far as he was concerned, she'd probably overstepped her bounds. "And not shaving every day. I think it would make you look kind of sexy. Hardcore," she added, remembering the way she'd teased him about his tattoos.

To her surprise, he didn't shy away from the contact, his gaze locked on hers, waiting for her hand to drop before letting out a soft chuckle. "I'll keep that in mind."

"You should," she agreed, relieved that she hadn't embarrassed him, wondering why things weren't more awkward between them. For some reason, even though he wasn't the Jack that she knew, the Jack she'd met on the island, when she was with him, he still made her feel the same. He still made her feel safe.

He took her to one of the restaurants on the boardwalk, and after a more leisurely meal than they the one they'd had in the cafeteria, they walked across the road to the pier.

Marvelling at the way everything was lit up with coloured lights, like a kaleidoscope, set against the backdrop of the ocean, and the night sky, she could see why he'd wanted to bring her there. It was beautiful. And romantic.

"You never answered my question – how did you know who I was today?" he asked her during a lull in the conversation as they strolled along the planks, and she felt herself growing defensive, knowing him well enough by now to realise that he wasn't going to let it go, not if he really wanted an answer. His dogged determination was one of his best and worst qualities.

"Does it matter? We're here now," she said, trying to keep the mood light, but when he shot her a look that it told her that it did, she realised she was going to have to give him something more substantial.

"I saw an article on you in a medical journal," she lied, praying that he wouldn't call her on it by informing her that no one had ever published anything on him, and he relaxed slightly, but it wasn't enough to satisfy him for long.

"I thought you said you weren't a doctor?" he reminded her, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"I'm not," she agreed, thinking on her feet, searching for something that was at least partially true. "My mom was just diagnosed with cancer, and I've been trying to find a doctor for her. When I heard how respected you were here, I thought you might be able to help me."

He stopped, studying her for a long moment, and she was afraid that he was going to point out the holes in this story, but he just nodded, turning back to the ocean as he resumed walking. "If you give me her prognosis, I'll ask around and see what I can do."

It was only once she noticed that he wasn't looking at her anymore, that she realised she'd hurt him. He was doing a good job of covering it, but she'd been in the doghouse with him enough times to recognise his behaviour.

"Hey, that's not why I agreed to go out with you," she told him, coming to another dead stop, reaching out to touch his jaw instinctively, and he met her eyes, waiting for her to offer a better explanation.

"I really like you, Jack," she told him when she had his attention, finding it somehow easier to admit under these circumstances, where there was nothing standing in the way of them being together, and something about the way she was looking at him seemed to convince him, because he put his hand over hers, stroking her fingers lightly with his thumb.

She wasn't sure what made her bold enough to do it; it had taken being driven half out of her mind to give her the courage last time; but as their eyes locked, and he continued to search her expression, she pushed herself up onto her toes and kissed him softly on the mouth.

And this time, he didn't hesitate before kissing her back.

Next chapter: Kate continues to get to know AU Jack, but should I pick up from where I left off (keeping in mind that I don't write smut as such!), or skip ahead to their next date? ;)