Ok so I know its been a long time and I wouldn't blame any of you if you stopped reading, so I thought if I told you my evil twin came to town, seduced my boyfriend and locked me in an abandoned mine shaft where I was kept hostage for months before clawing my way out and then fighting my evil twin to the death, you would be more forgiving of my lack of updates. Ok so maybe not, sadly all I can say is I'm working sixty hours and if I tried to explain to my boss I need more time for Jate I'd be standing in the unemployment line. So uh Matthew Fox if you are out there and would like to pay me to write hot smutty stories about you, I'm your girl.

CHAPTER 10

Dinner was full of laughs as Shannon told Jack all kind of embarrassing stories about Kate. Jack had laughed but winked at Kate so she knew that he was laughing with her not at her. Shannon in turn asked Jack all kinds of questions about his life trying to learn as much about the man who stole her best friend's heart. They finally decided to call it a night when Jack noticed Kate yawning. He smiled softly to himself. He knew Kate wanted to make love but she looked like she was going to fall asleep standing in place. It wasn't that he didn't want to make love to her, he did but her pregnancy scare had shook him to the core, he could have lost her and that freaked him out. He didn't want to do anything to endanger her or the baby.

Shannon went to her room and Jack scooped up a sleepy Kate and carried her into the bedroom. He laid her down on the bed and undressed by the time he crawled under the sheets, Kate was out like a light. He smiled and pulled her into his arms. Kate snuggled into his embrace and buried her face into his neck. It was her favorite way to sleep. Even when they were in Vegas during the small amounts of time that they actually slept she would snuggle right into him. With a smile on his face he drifted off into sleep.

The ringing phone woke him at two in the morning. He grasped for it as he heard Kate mumble beside him as she awoke. Dammit he wasn't on call.

"Hello" he said grumpily into the phone.

"Jack?" he heard a female voice. "Jack it's your mother."

Jack came to attention sitting straight up. "What is it, what's wrong?" Jack asked. There was no way his mother would call in the middle of the night.

"Jack, I'm at the hospital, Jack you're father had a heart attack."

Jack felt his blood run cold. "Is he uh how is he?" Jack asked.

"They got him back but he is going to need surgery. Jack Dr. Mitchell says he's not sure if your father's heart is strong enough for the surgery. Can you please come?" she asked her voice sounding so small and weak.

"Yeah of course I'm on my way." Jack leapt from the bed scrambling to grab his jeans and sweatshirt.

"Jack what's happening?" Kate asked her voice worried. "Is it the little boy with the tumor?"

"No" Jack said yanking the sweatshirt over his head. "My father had a heart attack, he's in the hospital and they aren't sure if he's going to be ok." He said pulling on his shoes. He looked up to see Kate getting out of bed and pulling on a pair of jeans.

"Kate what are you doing?" he asked going towards her.

"I'm going with you." Kate said pulling off her night shirt and throwing on one of Jack's shirts. "Let me just find my shoes."

"Kate no," Jack said taking her shoulders gently. "You have to stay here."

"What? I don't think so Jack your father is in the hospital." Kate argued.

"I know baby but it's also freezing outside and you're on bed rest." Jack said.

Kate shook her head; it's a car ride and sitting in a waiting room Jack I'm going to have to do that for my doctor's appointment. I'm going with." She said stubbornly.

"Please Kate, I can't deal with my father and worry about you. Please just stay here and when I find out more I'll call you. I promise I will call you the minute I find anything out and then you and Shannon can come in ok? Please I need to know that you are ok." Jack was almost desperate he just wanted to keep her safe and get to his father. Seeing his desperation Kate nodded.

"Ok I'll stay but you call me Jack please if you need me you call and I will come. I love you." She felt tears form in her eyes and he desperately hugged her against him. "I know you are in a hurry but please drive carefully." She said kissing him quickly and with that he was out the door. Shannon came out sleepily rubbing her eyes. She saw the worried Kate standing there looking at the front door.

"Katie what's going on?" she asked.

"Jack's dad had a heart attack, they aren't sure if he's going to make. I should be with him Shannie." Kate said her lower lip trembling. Even though his relationship had been tremulous with his father that didn't mean that Jack didn't love him. She saw the scared look in his face when he raced out. He shouldn't be alone.

"Why didn't you go with?" Shannon asked gently leading Kate over to the couch.

"He doesn't want me going because I'm on bed rest but Shannon he needs me." Kate said a tear dripping down her cheek.

Shannon hated that her friend was hurting but she understood where Jack was coming from.

"Kate what if something happened to you or the baby being up and around when you aren't supposed to. How do you think Jack would feel if he had to deal with his father being ill and then something happening to you or the baby? I'm not trying to make you feel bad. But you have to think about your baby." Shannon said gently.

"I have to think about the baby's father too." Kate said with a sniffle. "I love him and he's in pain." Kate said.

"Did he say he would call?" Shannon asked.

"Yes, he said he'd call if he needed me." Kate said chewing on her bottom lip.

"Then trust him Kate, if he needs you he will call and we can go to the hospital. Now you need to relax and try to get some sleep." Shannon said seeing the incredulous look on Kate's face. "I know it will be hard but you gotta look out for the baby and yourself."

Kate sighed defeated, she wanted to be with Jack so badly but she knew both he and Shannon were right. She had to look out for the baby.

"Fine I'll lie on the couch and rest but I'm not going to sleep." She said settling on the couch pulling the blanket over her. She lay down and stared at the ceiling. Shannon pushed her over and lay down beside her and grabbed the blanket to share.

"We'll both lie on the couch and rest but not sleep ok?" Shannon said and Kate nodded so glad that her best friend was here with her.

Though she tried not to Kate dozed on and off through the night and at about eight in the morning she woke to the phone ringing. She heard Shannon answer it and she sat up.

"It's Jack" Shannon said handing her the phone. Kate grabbed it and held it close to her ear.

"Jack?" she asked anxiously.

"Hey baby" Kate felt her eyes well with tears, he sounded so tired.

"How's your Dad?" she asked throwing a silent prayer out for Christian for Jack's sake.

"It's bad Kate, he's in surgery but it isn't looking good." Jack said defeated.

"I'm coming to the hospital Jack, I promise I will take it easy but I'm coming to be with you." She said and she heard Jack inhale softly.

"I need you Kate but please be careful. There are extra beds you can lie in if you need to sleep." Jack said.

"I'll be there soon." Kate said. "I love you Jack."

"I love you too."

Jack hung up the phone and turned to see his mother watching him.

"Was that Kate?" his mother asked curiously. "Is she coming?"

Jack nodded. "Yeah I'm not sure I want her here, not because I don't want her but she is supposed to be on bed rest and traipsing around in the Chicago winter can't be good. I think I'm going to see if I can have a bed brought in so she can rest when she comes in." Jack said scratching his head anxiously.

"That sounds like a good idea" Margot Shephard said nervously. She wanted to meet the woman who ensnared her son's heart and she wanted to meet her future grandchild. When Christian had come home and told her that Jack was having a baby with some woman Margot had felt sad that her son hadn't done things in what could be considered the correct order. Meet someone, fall in love, get married and then have children. But the other part of her was happy because that is all she wanted for her son. Sarah had been no good for him and Margot could only hope this Kate was nothing like Jack's scheming ex. She felt sadness at the way things have unfolded in their lives. Christian had always been too hard on Jack, Jack had fled from the family and Margot had quietly resented Christian all these years. When he told her that he had argued with Jack and had struck him, Margot had spit nails. She had packed his things and thrown them down the stairs. He had begged for forgiveness and Margot had allowed him to stay in the house but nowhere near her. Then he came home and told her of Kate's emergency with the baby. Margot desperately wanted to call Jack but she felt so ashamed that she had allowed things to get so bad. She had always wondered if she should have just taken Jack and left Christian when Jack was young. But she loved Christian and so she stayed he didn't abuse her or Jack and as far as she knew that incident was the only time he struck Jack. She just didn't realize that Christian's constant digs and criticisms were just as damaging to Jack.

She had gotten a phone call from Sarah's mother; it seemed Sarah had split from the man she had left Jack for. Sarah's Mother Linda had wanted to try to get Jack and Sarah back together. Margot had only put up with Sarah because Jack had loved her. She had taken great pleasure when informing Linda that Jack was no longer available. She looked down the hall where Jack was arranging for a bed to be delivered and she smiled.

Kate and Shannon pulled up in front of the hospital and it took everything Kate had to not full on sprint to Jack. She took it slow because she had promised him she would. She and Shannon walked in and headed for the 6th floor. She had talked to Jack on the way over so he was waiting for her. When the elevator stopped and the doors opened the first person Kate saw was Jack nervously pacing the floor. He looked up and their eyes met and he was across the space in seconds and soon he was scooping her up in a hug. Kate touched him all over as if making sure he was still in one piece.

"How's your father?" she asked concerned looking into his eyes. He looked back at her sadly.

"He's out of surgery but he hasn't woken up yet. All we can do now is wait." Jack said dejected.

Kate hugged him close stroking his hair and back comforting her lover.

Shannon noticed an older woman watching the couple with tears in her eyes. She glanced at Shannon and smiled sheepishly.

"Hello, I'm Margot Shephard." Shannon shook her hand.

"Hi I'm Shannon Rutherford, I'm here with Kate, she's my best friend. I'm so sorry to hear about your husband. Shannon wasn't quite sure what to say. Both women turned their attention back to Kate and Jack.

"How are you feeling?" Jack asked concerned.

"I'm fine Jack, I've been taking it easy I promise. How are you doing?" she asked stroking his cheek.

"Better now that you are here." He said with a tiny hint of a smile. He glanced up and saw something and looked back at Kate. "We have a private waiting area down the hall. We can all go there and be more comfortable. I had a bed brought down for you."

"Jack I don't need a bed" Kate said.

"Please just let me take care of you?" Jack asked his tone of voice breaking her heart. She nodded quickly knowing she would go to the gates of hell if he asked her. Jack leaned down and scooped her up into his arms carrying her to the waiting room. Jack wasn't kidding they did have their own private lounge to wait in. It had a fridge, microwave tables and couches and a bed tucked in the corner. Jack settled her on the bed and fluffed the pillows behind her.

"Jack?" they heard a soft voice behind them. Jack turned to see Margot behind them.

"Kate this is my mother Margot, Mom, this is Kate." Jack said nervously not sure how his mom would be towards Kate.

"Hello Kate," Margot said with a nervous smile. "I hear you are carrying a very important package." She said smiling larger.

Kate grinned and her hand automatically went to her stomach which was already being covered by Jack's strong hand.

"Hello, yes I'm pregnant with Jack's baby. I'm so sorry that this was how we had to meet." Kate said with a sympathetic smile.

"Well we're just going to have to get to know each other better than." Margot said and both women smiled at one another. The hours went by with still no change in Christian's condition. Kate catnapped on the bed but kept an eye on Jack at all the times she was awake. They looked up when the door opened and the doctor entered the room.

So I know it wasn't action packed but I needed this chapter to set up the feeling for the rest of the story. So I hope you liked and please please review.