Thanks for the reviews. I'm glad I didn't freak anyone out with the last chapter. I tried to make it as tasteful as I could. Only 4 more chapters left after this one, so please, please review... ;)

Chapter 21. Let's Go, Kiddies

With the separation they'd been dreading looming, they were desperate to be as close to each other as they could for as long as they could, so they climbed back into the van and undressed together for what Jack hoped wouldn't be the last time.

He was hesitant to go too far at first, after the close call they'd had the day before, but Kate urged him on, whispering assurances against his lips.

"It's okay – you can't get me pregnant," she told him, in between frantic kisses, which seemed like a strangely confident thing to say when hours earlier, they'd been worrying about just that, but he pushed the thought out of his head, determined to savour the moment.

In spite of his vow not to give up hope, he found himself taking in everything this time, filing it away, in case he never got another chance to be with her like this: the taste of her lips, the scent of her skin, the soft sigh of contentment she let out as she buried her face in his neck afterwards.

He didn't know what to say to her, or even where to start, so he just pulled her close, stroking her hair, until she lifted her head with a tentative look.

"Jack? There's something you should know…"

All the muscles in his stomach tightened, and the languid exhaustion he'd felt moments before left him as he scrambled into a sitting position. "Oh God, Kate – don't tell me there's more," he said. "Tony…?" but she pushed him back down again.

"No," she assured him firmly, and when he searched her eyes, he saw that she meant it this time. "He tried to grab my ass a couple of times, but he did that to all the waitresses… No, I just…" she turned away from him, bringing her hand up to cover her mouth as her own eyes filled with tears. "This is really hard…"

"Whatever it is, Kate, we'll deal with it together," he told her, wrapping his arms around her and settling her back against him as he racked his brains for any other secrets she might be keeping from him. She said she wasn't pregnant, but she wouldn't lie to him about something that important… would she?

"I just… I wanted you to know that whatever happens, I'm not sorry for any of it," she rushed on, and he relaxed to hear that that was all it was, smiling into her hair. "Especially you."

She wove her fingers through his, bringing them up to her lips so that she could kiss each of his fingertips. "You made me feel like I couldn't be all bad or wrong if someone like you could love me," she confessed, her eyes still on their entwined hands, and he felt himself getting emotional too at the idea that she could ever think herself unworthy of him.

"It wasn't hard," he told her, his voice low and hoarse as he tried to keep it from breaking. "You might not know it, but you are beautiful, Kate – inside and out."

She didn't reject his words this time, leaning in to kiss him sweetly. "I don't wanna go to prison, Jack – not unless I can take you with me," she whispered when they withdrew, resting her forehead against his. "I love you so much."

"That's why I need you to promise me you won't lie to protect him," he told her, pulling back to meet her eyes seriously. "Promise me you'll tell them everything you told me."

"Okay," she agreed, closing her eyes and curling against him, and once again, he was left with no choice but to trust her.

Jack could only imagine what the marshal would say if he caught them in bed together, especially after all of his comments about knowing Kate's type, so as the minutes ticked by, he forced himself to let go of her, and once they were both fully dressed, they returned to the step, huddling together while they waited for him to arrive.

The stress of the past few days seemed to be taking its toll on Kate; by the time the sun reached a midpoint in the sky, she was drowsing against him, her head lolling on his shoulder. He thought about using the opportunity to shift her into the passenger seat and take off, even if it meant fighting with her about it when she woke up, but he was tired of running. He didn't even know where he would go.

He was still sitting there holding her, watching her sleep, when he heard the crunch of gravel up ahead, glancing up to see the marshal get out of his car, advancing on them with his gun at the ready.

"Long time no see, Shephard," he said when he got close enough to speak, causing Kate to stir, and while his nose had all but healed, Jack could see that the bridge was still slightly crooked.

"Is that really necessary?" he asked warily, nodding at the weapon. "We turned ourselves in."

"Can't be too careful," the marshal agreed with a smirk, reaching into the inside pocket of his jacket with his free hand, and withdrawing a set of cuffs. "That's why I want her to cuff you."

Still waking up, Kate stared at him as he shoved them into her palm and stepped back, glancing over at Jack wide-eyed and helpless.

"Come on, Jack – it should be fun," the marshal taunted him, seeming to derive some kind of sick pleasure out of using them against each other. "Being tied up by a beautiful girl like that – isn't that every teenage boy's fantasy?" His eyes flicked over to Kate with a lewd smile. "I know it was mine."

At that moment, all of Jack's fantasies revolved around breaking his nose again, but he was the one with the gun, so swallowing his anger, he returned his attention to Kate, nodding to let her know she should do what he said. Then he stood with his back to her, placing his hands together to make it easy for her, his eyes burning into the marshal's as he felt the cool metal click shut around his wrists.

"Tighter," the marshal ordered, waving his gun, and Kate obeyed, her lips brushing Jack's ear with a whispered "Sorry" as she released him.

Once it was done, the marshal relaxed, sliding his gun back into its holster. "Good girl. Too bad I have to do this," he said, taking out a second set of cuffs, and Jack had no choice but to watch, helpless, as the marshal forced her to her knees in the dirt, wrestling her into them, her eyes never leaving Jack's.

"She would've come with you," he told him angrily as her face crumpled, and she started to cry, wishing his arms were free so that he could put them around her.

"I forgot you were the mastermind behind this little operation," the marshal said with an ironic grin as he took hold of her bicep, and hauled her back to her feet.

"Y'all know why we're here so let's just skip the formalities, and get straight to the good part," he continued, and as he began to rattle off their list of rights, Kate looked to Jack for reassurance.

It's gonna be okay – just remember what I said, he told her silently, and she smiled at him through her tears.

I trust you, she said, just as the marshal finished his spiel.

"Well ain't that sweet?" he said, catching their look, but Jack could hear the twinge of fear in his voice at the idea of them communicating like that. He gave Kate a rough shove towards the car, knowing that wherever she went, Jack would follow. "Let's go, kiddies."

Next chapter: Jack gets a visit from Christian and his lawyer (But that does not mean he's going to jail!)... ;)