Jack flung himself into the car, and began to speed toward LAX, he barley bothered with proper signals, followed the law or his general car driving etiquette. He slammed his car into the parking stop, and couldn't help but notice that the little voice wasn't screaming at him anymore.
He burst in and ran to the surprisingly lengthy line and gazed hopefully at the upcoming flights. One to New York in an hour, one to DC in thirty minutes…San Jose…thirty minutes…!!
He waited impatiently for another five minutes in line then ran to the front desk. "One…to San Jose…Please! Hurry!" Jack begged. "Please, hurry! It's an emergency!"
"Sir, just calm down. Passport?" The women asked cheerily.
Jack rushed her through the process, trying to relax, not wanting to be mistaken for a terrorist, and have his trip delayed. More delayed then it already is. He should have gone to see her ages ago, and he knew it now. He took his ticket and sprinted to security. He waited impatiently inline. A security women spoke to him. "Don't you have any carry ons? Why the rush?"
"I'm going to see the girl that I love." Jack said grinning. The women smiled slightly.
Jack ran to the boarding gate the moment he was done with security, he didn't even put on his shoes. He handed the women his ticket and boarded the plane.
*
Kate lay at home, still crying in her bedroom upstairs. Claire was at work, an emergency appointment had come up, and Aaron was a playschool. Kate felt like the world had crumpled around her. She had lost the man she loved. Loved more than anything. She got up; she was still wearing her work clothes. Black dress pants, and green blouse, but her hair hung down, and her shirt was no longer tucked in. The small amount of makeup Kate wore was smeared on her face. She walked downstairs and started making herself tea, hoping it might help put her to sleep. A sleep to escape her nightmare. She walked past the big window in the living room and saw the pouring rain outside. To match my mood, she thought bitterly.
Once the tea was done Kate walked back upstairs and sat on her bed, she couldn't bring herself to get changed or even call Claire. She never wanted to move again, she just wanted this feeling to go away. The feeling of having a rug ripped from under you, this winded, heartbroken, world crumpling feeling. Kate wasn't even still mad at Jack; she was in love with him. She didn't fall out of love when he rejected her, she just…broke. She wondered what he was doing right now. Probably going on with life, pretending nothing happened. Nothing did happen for him, she reminded herself. He just broke the heart of a woman he never met. Never will meet. She sobbed and buried herself in bed further.
There was a ring at the door. Kate ignored it. If they are important, they'll have a key. Only Claire as a key. Only Claire, Aaron and my job are important now, she deiced. I've been hurt by two many men. I won't involve myself with love anymore. It hurts less that way.
The door bell rang again. Oh my god. Kate thought through her tears. Jack…breaks…no…he…rejects….he hurts me. Jack hurts me and now the mail man is determined to reach me? Thanks a lot God. She sipped her tea and wiped at her tears. She realized she needs tissues and got some from her bedside table and blew her nose profusely.
Again, the door bell rain. "GOD! JUST GO AWAY!" Kate screamed from upstairs, hoping the person would hear her. She kind of doubted it. All she wanted in the world right now was for that person at the door to go away. She wanted that person at the door, whether it was a man or women, adult or child to go away and never return. She wished with all her heart, mind and soul that they'd go away and let her sit in peace. Be in her own peaceful misery.
Peaceful misery is what Kate had indeed. Unlike with Sawyer, Kate was not screaming in agony. She couldn't bring herself to scream. Maybe to scream at someone else, but not at herself. No amount of self abuse, whether it be screaming, hitting, cutting, depriving, could make Kate feel worse than she did now. Even death would be a appreciated retreat.
The door bell rang once more. "FINE!" Kate screamed. "IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT?! I'LL GO ANSWER THE GODDAMN DOOR!" Kate stomped down the steps and roughly slammed the door open.
*
Jack hoped into a taxi outside the airport, he was already soaking wet from only standing outside a few moments. He was sure his black boxer briefs were visible through his gray pajama bottoms but he didn't care. "5667 Redfield Avenue." Jack gasped at the cab driver who looked bewildered. "Hurry! If you get me there in twenty minutes I'll pay you double!"
"It's an hour drive!" The man gasped.
"Then step on it!"
They speed through San Jose, and reached Kate's house in record time, according the cabbie. Jack paid him ninety dollars on his Visa. "Stay here." He ordered, just in case Kate rejected him. He hurt her. He rejected her first. What if she didn't want him anymore? But despite Jacks order the driver said he had to go back to the airport and took off. Jack frowned. He had tipped him so well. But no matter, because Jack was suddenly overwhelmed with fear. What if Kate did reject him? Could he take it? I'll guess you'll have to find out. He thought.
He ran up the stairs and rang the doorbell, praying someone, anyone, would answer. No one did. Jack stepped back into the rain and looked at the house. There were no signs of life. No car parked outside on the street and no lights on. It was pretty big actually. It was a deep brown and had a side porch. Jack noticed the little tricycle and smiled, thinking of Kate's niece. She'll make a beautiful mother. He thought automatically. He had a surge of inspiration and rang the doorbell again. He quickly moved and rang the doorbell again. Still, no answer. He frowned and rang again. He thought he heard something from inside but wasn't entirely sure. He started the door down hard. He shivered.
"Look," he whispered to himself. "you came all the way here…and now you are getting rained on and she isn't even home. Go to a hotel. You can come back tomorrow when it's sunny, and sit outside her door till she comes out or goes in. Don't worry." He took a step away from the door. But then he changed his mind and rang one more time. "God, Kate, answer the damn door."
He paused but no one came. He walked down the long steps on the lawn and onto the street.
*
Kate stood in the doorway, her heart stopping.
"Jack!" She ran out a few a steps and stood in the rain, watching him. He turned around.