A/N: Oh my gosh, thank you everybody who dropped me a review!! It was so cool to hear what you think about what's happened so far and what you want to happen…mainly the return of Jack. I promise you that he will return…it's all about timing. Things have to happen and events have to take place to set up his return. I do promise you he will come back in the picture and let's just say he won't be happy to hear he's been kept in the dark about being a dad!!
Anyway, here's the next chapter. Sorry, sorry for the delay. I had stuff in real life interfere with posting – but between the last chapter and this one I managed to type out another chapter. So…let me hear from you and I'll post that one up sooner….
Legal stuff: Don't own Lost or the characters. Don't own the song "I Can't Make You Love Me" sung by Bonnie Raitt.
Chapter 25 – I Can't Make You Love Me
Cause I can't make you love me if you don't I'll close my eyes, then I wont see
You can't make your heart feel something it won't
Here in the dark, in these lonely hours
I will lay down my heart and I'll feel the power
But you won't, no you won't
cause I can't make you love me, if you don't
The love you don't feel when you're holding me
Morning will come and I'll do what's right
Just give me till then to give up this fight
And I will give up this fight
It was morning when Kate came back to the house. Despite not saying anything the previous night before she left, Kate had been privileged to the back end of Carrie and Sawyer's argument shocked by Carrie's idea that Sawyer wanted to be with her and the baby. After picking up her cheeseburger and ice cream she had driven around while she ate thinking about everything that had happened since they had come to Las Vegas. Deciding she wasn't up to coming back to a tension filled home she found a motel and took a room for the night.
Now as she came into the living room she spotted Carrie sitting at the kitchen table alone drinking coffee and reading the morning paper.
The red head looked up. "You didn't come back home last night." She said making it more of a statement rather than a question.
Sitting at the table with her friend Kate grabbed a slice of toast from the stack Carrie had made and nibbled on a corner. "I got a motel room."
Carrie let out a sigh. "So, I take it that means you heard Sawyer and I arguing?" She asked tentatively.
Kate nodded her head slightly but didn't say anything looking down at the table instead.
"Kate, I'm sorry." Carrie said her voice full of remorse.
Kate looked up and made eye contact with the other woman. "Do you really believe what you said last night?" She asked softly.
Carrie nodded. "Yeah" She replied sincerely.
Kate sighed and absentmindedly played with the crust of her toast. She wasn't sure what to say. She thought about Sawyer's behavior since they had gotten to Vegas. He had become more protective of her than in the past, making sure she was eating and sleeping enough, not overexerting herself and making sure she was having some fun. Then there was the fight at the Rio and the incident at the hospital not correcting the nurse when she referred to Kate as his wife…and now he had gone out and bought her baby furniture…
"I'm sorry" She finally said sadly.
Carrie quickly reached over and squeezed her hand. "Why? It's not your fault."
"Maybe some of it is. I mean I saw how he was acting sometimes and I just let it go." Kate replied. "Maybe there's a part of me that wanted that…that protectiveness…that liked the idea of being taken care of."
"Kate, do you want…I mean, do you have feelings for…"
"No," Kate said quickly. "I mean, I care about Sawyer but I don't have those kinds of feelings for him. I still love Jack and he's the one I want to be with. Sawyer's just a good friend."
"Okay." The red head said slowly. The two remained silent for a moment not sure what either one should say next.
"I'm scared, Carrie." Kate finally spoke up. "The closer it gets to me having this baby the more nervous I get about being a mom. I have no idea how to be a mother." She admitted tearfully.
Carrie felt for her friend. "I'm sure all new parents go through that." She said reassuringly. "You're going to be a good mom, Kate, you'll see."
Kate sniffed back some tears. "I don't know, I mean, what if she starts crying and I can't figure out what she needs? Or what if I can't bond with her?" She started voicing some of her fears.
Carrie shook her head. "Kate, you shouldn't worry about stuff like that. Besides, you already love this baby, don't you?"
Kate gave her a small smile and nodded her head as her hand caressed her protruding belly. She already did love her baby…her daughter…and that's what scared her the most. She wanted so much to know that she was going to be able to handle this parenting stuff…she didn't want to let her baby down.
"All you need to do is love your baby, Kate. Everything else will fall into place." Carrie told her sweetly.
Kate nodded once again. "Thanks" she said gratefully.
"Hey, that's what friends are for." She chuckled.
Kate took a deep breath and sighed. "I guess I need to talk to Sawyer." She told her friend.
Carrie agreed. "I'm working tonight, so you guys will have the house to yourselves." She suggested.
"Carrie, look, maybe you and Sawyer can work through this…" Kate started to say.
Carrie shrugged her shoulders. "Who knows? Maybe, but right now I'd rather not think about it." She pushed herself off the dining room chair. "How about we watch some mindless movie that has nothing to do with romance or having babies?"
Hours later Sawyer returned to his house after his work day to find Kate sitting on the couch watching TV.
"Hey Freckles." He greeted nonchalantly. He thought about whether asking if she came home late last night would be a good idea but noticing the baby furniture still in the living room thought it best to not bring up the previous night.
Kate grabbed the remote and shut the television off. "Sawyer, we need to talk." She announced solemnly.
"Oh-oh" Sawyer smirked. "You breakin' up with me, Freckles?" He teased.
"Sawyer, please" Kate replied briskly. "I'm trying to be serious."
Flopping down on the recliner he threw his hands up. "Alright then, go ahead."
Taking a deep breath Kate turned a little more to face the blonde haired man better. "Well, first thing, you need to return the baby furniture."
"What?" Sawyer asked surprised. He wasn't expecting that request. "Why?"
"Because…it's too extravagant of a gesture, Sawyer." She told him.
"Oh please. It's just a crib and stuff. It's not like I went out and bought you a diamond ring." He retorted.
Kate shot him a look that told him she didn't find his comment funny. "I mean it Sawyer…this has to go back."
"You're being a little dramatic." He told her with a tone of irritability in his voice. He was getting upset with the idea that what he thought was a thoughtful gesture was getting thrown back in his face. "Are you sure those pregnancy hormones aren't acting up?"
Kate shot him an angry look. "That has nothing to do with this!"
"Really?" Sawyer continued. "Cause it sounds like they're clouding your judgment."
"What?"
"Yeah. I mean you're having a baby and this is baby furniture…"He gestured from Kate to the crib. "and you're gonna need…"
"You're not the baby's father!" Kate cried out.
Sawyer was taken aback by her outburst. He stared at her for a moment a brief look of hurt crossed his face before disappearing just as quickly. "So?"
"So…we're not your responsibility." Kate explained her tone a little softer, but still thick with emotion. "This…" she pointed at the crib. "…is something a father should be doing."
"Yeah, well he ain't around is he?" Sawyer snapped back wanting to inflict a little of the hurt he was feeling at her comment. The flash of pain in her eyes told Sawyer he had.
"You're such an ass!" Kate choked out.
While Sawyer felt a twinge of guilt he continued. "I wasn't such an ass when you decided to move to Vegas with me, was I?"
Kate could feel the tears pooling up but she was determined to keep them at bay.
"You know, you're the one that decided to leave Jack without telling him about the baby." He angrily pointed out.
"I didn't leave Jack…not like that!" Kate shot back. "Besides I have a reason and you know it."
"Yeah, yeah, I know all about your noble reason you keep using as an excuse." He yelled.
"It's not an excuse!"
"Bullshit!" Sawyer told her. He knew that he shouldn't be fighting with Kate over this, but he couldn't help himself…there were too many emotions running through him that were screaming to get out. "You and I both know that you did what you've always been good at…running. Things got a little too much with the Doc and you ran. Hell, you probably weren't counting on things getting so serious with him, I bet! You figured you'd hang out with him for a while, have a good time and then move on."
"That's not true!" Kate spit out feeling the tear start to fall down her cheek. Angrily she brushed it away. "I'm in love Jack!"
"Really, then why are you here with me?" Sawyer replied hotly.
Kate wiped at another tear and took a deep breath. She couldn't believe what was happening – Sawyer deliberately was pushing her buttons. "I'm not with you!"
Sawyer dramatically looked around the room. "Oh yeah? So where is the Hero, huh? In one of the other rooms? On his way home from work? No, he ain't. He's back in his nice cushy house in the suburbs of L.A. taking care of HIS WIFE. By now they're probably sharing a bed…you know, what with old habits!"
SLAP!!! Sawyer felt the sting of Kate's hand across his right cheek.
"Go to hell, Sawyer!" She tearfully yelled before storming off to her bedroom and slamming the door shut.
He followed and stopped outside the door. "I was already planning on it!" He yelled back.
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" She yelled out from behind her door.
Knowing she was done with him for the night he went into the kitchen and pulled a bottle of beer. He felt guilty for some of the things he had said. He hadn't meant to accuse her of running away from Jack. He had wanted to tell her that he did care about her and that he wanted to be there for her and the baby, but when she made it clear that it was still Jack that had her heart he snapped back and went into attack mode.
"Way to pick on a pregnant woman." He told himself softly as he took a swig of the beer. Rubbing his cheek he let out a snort. 'Damn Freckles, but you can pack a mean slap.' He thought to himself. Taking his beer to the living room he spied the furniture.
'You need to return the furniture' Kate's voice replayed in his head. Figuring that she just needed some time to cool off he decided to move the furniture into the garage for now and give her a few days to change her mind. It didn't make sense when she was going to need a crib anyway to send this one back. Putting down the beer bottle he began to move the furniture out.
Kate meanwhile was laying in her bed fighting back tears. She couldn't believe that Sawyer would purposely hurt her with his comment about Jack and Sarah. Clutching her pillow she took a couple of deep breaths and wiped at the tears that stubbornly fell. It hurt to think that Jack was in L.A. living his life without her, but the idea that he could be getting closer to Sarah clutched at her heart.
"I trust Jack." She told herself. "Sawyer's just being an ass. He was always jealous of Jack on the island and it looks like that hasn't changed." Laying her head down on the pillow she let out a couple of small sobs. "I can't do this." She cried softly. "I can't do this."
After a couple more minutes of crying she wiped off her cheeks and took a couple of deep breaths. Reaching for the phone she dialed Jack's cell phone number. She needed to talk to him – just needed to hear his voice and she would feel better. Besides they had agreed that they could call each other if either one was having a bad day – and Kate definitely was having a bad day.
He picked it up on the 3 ring. "Hey you." He greeted warmly having seen her name come up on the caller ID.
"Hey" She replied back trying hard to keep her voice sounding normal. She didn't want him to know she had been crying.
"I was hoping you'd call soon." He continued. "How's Vegas? I got your postcards"
Kate smiled to herself. "It's okay." She told him. "There's always something going on."
Jack chuckled. "I can imagine. You and Carrie been hanging out at The Strip?" he teased.
"We've only been there a couple of times." She admitted. "It was fun."
Jack could tell by the hitch in her voice that something was bothering Kate. He debated whether to call her on it or to give her a little more time to bring it up on her own. "You guys find a place near the casinos?" He chose the latter for now.
"We found a place in Henderson…a small house. It was cheaper than living near The Strip." She explained. "I've been working a few temp office jobs and Carrie's got a job at Cesaer's Palace."
"So, it sounds like you guys have settled in." Jack commented, his voice having a hint of disappointment. He was hoping that she was calling to say she was coming back. He heard her let out another sigh. "Katie, is something wrong?" He asked softly.
Kate bit her lip as she relished the sound of his voice. It was like a blanket that wrapped around her helping to keep her warm. "It's just been a long day." She told him. "I just wanted…to talk to you."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"I miss you too." He told her. "I'm glad you called."
Kate smiled to herself. "I'm glad I called too." She whispered. "How are you doing?" She asked thinking that maybe it was time to tell Jack about the baby. After everything that had gone on today and her argument with Sawyer maybe it was time to fess up the truth.
"I'm doing okay. Work's about the same." He said casually.
"How's Sarah doing?" She asked tentatively almost afraid to hear the answer.
Jack frowned into the phone. "Actually, it's been a rough week for her. They changed up her chemo treatment and it's left her weaker and getting more sick to her stomach."
Kate felt a wave of disappointment come over her. "I'm sorry Jack."
"Yeah, me too." He said sadly.
"It's probably a good thing you've been there for her, huh?" Kate deduced trying to keep her emotions under control.
Jack stayed silent for a moment. "Yeah, it probably is." He admitted. "You know Kate, I get now what you were trying to tell me about being here for Sarah…so that she wouldn't go through this alone."
Kate could feel the tears coming back. She couldn't tell him now…not with Sarah being so sick. "I'm glad..." She said softly. "…that she has you helping her."
"I still miss you Katie." He confessed. "I wish you'd come home."
Kate wiped at the tear coming down her cheek. "I can't." She replied. "Not yet."
"You know what, Kate, I can't do this anymore." He said exasperated at the whole situation.
"Can't do what?"
"I can't keep begging to see you or spend time with you when you just turn me down." He told her.
Kate tried to choke back another wave of tears. "I know its hard Jack."
"Yeah, Kate it is!" He interrupted. "It is hard…too hard. I sit here day after day missing you and wondering if you're okay, if you're safe, waiting for a phone call or a postcard…and when you do call it's the same thing, you say you miss me…"
"I do miss you!" She interjected with a hurt tone in her voice.
"And yet you don't want to see me!"
"You know why." She told him.
"Because it's too hard, yeah I know." He replied sarcastically.
"Jack…" She said tearfully surprised at the way he was acting. "Why are you acting like this?"
"Because maybe all of this is starting to get to me…maybe the stress is too much for me. Only problem is I can't run away!" He snapped. At his comment he heard a small sob on the other end and instantly felt guilty for taking out his frustration about everything on her.
"I'm sorry I called." She said quickly. "I didn't mean…"
"Kate, don't." He said just as quickly. "I'm sorry for what I said."
She took a deep breath and wiped another tear that fell. "This is too hard isn't it? These phone calls?"
"Yeah," Jack answered truthfully. "Harder than I thought it would be."
Biting back more tears Kate nodded. "So, maybe…ahum…we…we shouldn't call anymore…ahum…until…"
"Until you come back to L.A." He finished her sentence solemnly. He could feel his throat tightening up.
"Okay." She sniffed sadly. "Maybe it is easier…for now."
"Nothing's easier until you're back here." He commented.
"I know." She told him. A moment of silence passed between them…each trying to get a hold of their emotions. Finally Kate spoke up again softly. "Ahum…can I still send you a postcard once in while?"
On the other end Jack smiled despite his eyes brimming with tears. "I'd like that."
Kate took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Good." She squeaked out. "I'd…ah…I guess I better go, huh?"
"Yeah, me too."
"Okay." Kate sighed.
"Hey!" he called out.
"Yeah?" She sniffled.
"I love you Katie." He said emotionally.
"I love you too Jack." She replied then slowly hung up the phone.
After placing the receiver back on the hook she grabbed her pillow and hugged it letting a new wave of tears spill. She felt truly alone for the first time in a long time. It was a feeling she had been used to while she had been a fugitive but hadn't felt since the crash…since meeting Jack and now he was pulling away. Now things were just crazy…out of whack and she knew that it was her doing…her actions had set all of this in motion.
Bam Bam. She felt the baby kick…as if to remind her that she wasn't really alone. Rubbing her belly she let out a small tearstained smile. "It's just you and me, Sweetie." She whispered. "But we're gonna be okay. And we will be with daddy… hopefully soon."
As the baby continued to kick periodically Kate picked up the phone again. Her daughter would be arriving in less than two months and she knew that she would need some help…if for nothing else then to learn how to care for a newborn. There was one person she knew who could help and who had previously offered to be there for her.
"Hello?" A familiar Australian accented voice greeted.
"Hi Claire." Kate said.
"Kate, is that you?" Claire replied.
"Yeah, it's not a bad time is it?" She asked worriedly.
"No, of course not." Claire said cheerfully. "Aaron just went to sleep and Charlie's out checking out some local musician. How are you?"
"I'm okay."
"And the baby?"
"Active." Kate joked padding her stomach. "She's been kicking up a storm tonight."
Claire laughed. "I remember those nights. There were times when the moment I laid down Aaron would decide it was time for a jog."
"Same here." Kate smiled already feeling a little better. "I did have a little scare the other day though."
"What kind of scare?" Claire's voice held concern for her pregnant friend.
"I had false labor pains…ahum…"
"Brach ton Hick's." Claire interrupted.
"Ah huh. It was kind of scary and I went to the hospital. They ran some tests and everything is okay with the baby, she's fine…"
"Well, that's good."
"But the doctor noticed that there was a small separation in the lining of my uterus so she wants me to be on limited bed rest – 4 hours a day."
"Oh, Kate, that's too bad. But are you sure you're okay?" Claire asked still concerned.
"Yeah, they did a sonogram and checked out the baby completely. The doctor told me that the rest of the pregnancy should go as scheduled and I should be able to deliver normally." She explained.
"Well, that's good to hear." Claire sounded relieved.
"So, how are the boys?" Kate asked changing the subject.
"Aaron's just getting over a cold."
"Charlie still working on getting a band together?" Kate asked remembering their last conversation.
"Ah huh. That's where he's at tonight…some bar checking out a lead guitarist. You should see how excited he is about starting up performing again." Claire explained. "It's too bad his brother isn't interested in playing anymore."
"Well, at least Charlie's excited about all this."
"Excited to say the least, it's all he seems to talk about." Claire giggled. "So, Kate, what's up?"
Kate was caught off guard. "What?"
"Well, something must be up. You usually call during the day and if I'm not imagining things you sound a little off." The blonde deduced. "What's wrong?"
"Remember…ahum…your offer…a couple of weeks ago about me coming up there to stay with you guys?" Kate said slowly.
"Yeah?"
"Well…ahum…I've been thinking about it…and, well, I was hoping the offer was still good."
Claire almost let out a squeal. "Of course it's still good. You know you're welcome here anytime."
Kate smiled into the phone. "Okay."
"You're really coming up here?"
"I think so. I mean, the baby's coming in a few weeks and well, I think I'd feel better having you guys around…" Kate started to explain.
"What about Vegas…and Sawyer?" Claire asked still digging for a reason for Kate's decision. Did it have to do with the Southerner?
Feeling like she was carrying a heavy weight on her shoulders Kate told Claire about what had been developing, the argument and the feelings that she suspected Sawyer still had for her.
"Wow," Claire commented after Kate was done. "So, did he come out and say that he wanted to start something up with you?"
"Not in those words, but it's been everything. He's just gotten more possessive and now with this whole baby furniture thing…he didn't admit but he didn't deny." Kate explained. "And then the stuff he said about Jack, it was just laced with jealousy especially when I told him that I was still in love with Jack. It's almost like he thought that I was picking him when I agreed to come to Vegas with him."
"And what about Carrie? I mean isn't she still in the picture?" Claire asked about the red head.
"That's the sad part. She's the one that pointed this out. She and Sawyer had a bad argument the other night and I feel so bad because it was my idea for her to move up here." Kate's voice broke with emotion.
"Oh honey, it's not your fault. You can't help the way people feel." Claire told her. "If there's one thing I learned from my relationship with Thomas, you can't make somebody feel what you want them to."
"Yeah, I know."
"And besides, if Sawyer was thinking that you were wanting to start up something with him then that's his fault." Claire concluded. "He knows how you feel about Jack and you're carrying Jack's baby for goodness sake."
"I know." Kate said softly. "I just feel like maybe I might have given him some sort of sign without knowing it…"
"How would you have done that?"
"I don't know." Kate sighed. "He's been going out of his way making sure I eat the right stuff and get enough rest…and it felt nice to have someone taking care of me."
"There's nothing wrong with that, Kate."
"I know, but I can't help feeling like I gave him the wrong impression."
"He's a big boy, Kate." Claire said sternly. "And he's had plenty of experience with women."
"You're right." Kate let out another sigh. She still couldn't help feel a twinge of guilt over the situation.
"Kate, have you thought more about telling Jack?" Claire approached the subject tentatively knowing her friend's feelings were a bit raw.
This time Kate let out a small sniffle. "I can't tell him." She admitted. "I talked to him earlier and Sarah's doing poorly."
"And you don't want to get in the middle?"
"I can't." Kate told her friend. "She needs him…he even said so himself."
"Oh Kate, I'm sorry." Claire said sadly. "I wish there was something I could do to make everything better."
"You can," Kate said trying to sound cheerfully. "You can help me get ready for this baby and then teach me how to be a mom."
Claire giggled. "You got yourself a deal. I'll have the guest room ready for you when you get here. Do you know yet when you're coming up?"
"I'd like to get there as soon as I can."
"Well, you know you're really not suppose to fly in your 8th month." Claire warned.
"Actually I was thinking about driving up to Seattle, rather than fly, that way I can still have my car with me. I'm going to need it up there." She reasoned.
"Drive? All the way by yourself?" Claire fretted. "I'm not comfortable with you coming up here alone."
"I know, but…"
"Maybe Charlie could fly down there and then drive up with you." Claire offered.
"Or maybe I could ask my dad. He drove me up here from San Diego." Kate suggested.
"Well, let me check with Charlie and see what he thinks." Claire said. "He's going to be so excited to hear you're coming up here."
"I'm excited too." Kate admitted happily. She really did feel good about this decision. It did take her further away from Jack, but she'd be around Claire and Charlie and enjoy being part of their little family.
"I'll talk to him when he gets home tonight and I'll call you in the morning and we can finalize everything." Claire said matter of factly.
"Okay. And if he can't do it I can ask my dad. I'm sure he can do it." Kate replied.
The two finished up their conversation promising to talk to each other the next day to get the move finalized. Once she hung up the phone Kate felt better than she had in days. In her gut she knew she was doing the right thing – even if it looked like she was running again.
Knowing Carrie would be home in a couple of hours Kate left a note on her bed asking her to come to her room before she went to bed. She felt like she needed to tell Carrie what was going on before she told Sawyer.
Later that evening Kate heard a soft knocking on her door before it opened and Carrie stuck her head in. "You awake?" She asked quietly.
"Yeah, just watching some TV" Kate clicked off the remote. "Come in."
Carrie padded over and sat down on the edge of the bed. "So, what's up? How did things go with Sawyer?"
"Well, we had an argument and said some stuff, but other than that it went well." Kate replied sarcastically.
Carrie frowned. "I'm sorry Kate."
"Don't be. None of this is your fault." Kate told her. "It was probably a discussion we should have had before."
"So I noticed the furniture was gone from the living room."
"At least he listened to me there. I told him he needed to take it all back."
Carrie nodded. "So, is that what you wanted to talk about?"
"Actually, I wanted to tell you…I…ahum…I made a decision and I wanted to tell you." Kate started to explain.
"A decision about what?" Carrie asked cautiously.
"I called Claire tonight…ahum…the last time I talked to her she invited me to come up and stay with her and Charlie until the baby was born. To, you know, help out with everything. And well, I decided that I want to go."
"You're leaving?" Carrie asked surprised.
Kate nodded. "Yeah, I've been thinking about it since she made the offer and then this whole thing with Sawyer…I think it's better for everybody."
"Everybody? What about me?" Carrie asked suddenly feeling overwhelmed. Here she had made this move at Kate's request and now she was being left behind…with a guy that was probably in love with Kate.
"Carrie, I honestly didn't mean for you to get caught in the middle of all this." Kate said sincerely. "When I asked you to move up here I thought that you and Sawyer were heading towards something serious. I never meant for you to get hurt."
"Kate, this isn't your fault." Carrie told her friend. "I'm a big girl and I knew what I was doing. Besides, Sawyer wasn't the only reason I moved to Vegas." She reached over and took Kate's hand. "You've been the best friend I've had in a long time and with everything you've been going though I just though you could use all the support you could get. I moved up here to be that support…Sawyer was just a bonus."
Kate chuckled. "All the best laid plans huh?"
Carrie shrugged her shoulders. "Well, it hasn't been the first time I followed a guy and ended up on the losing end."
"Don't say that."
"It's not like I'm any worse off than if I had stayed in L.A. I mean, we're still friends, and I just traded in books for a pair of stilettos and a toga." She joked. "At least the tips are good."
Kate gave her friend a small smile but didn't say anything. She was amazed that Carrie was trying to put a positive spin on everything.
Carrie returned her smile. "So, when are you leaving?"
"As soon as I can. Claire's going to call me back tomorrow so we can finalize plans. She's going to talk to Charlie about flying down here to drive back with me." Kate explained. "She doesn't want me driving there alone."
"Well, you know, I can drive up there with you, if you want." Carrie offered impulsively.
"What about your job?" Kate asked. "Can you take the time off?"
"Actually, I've been thinking about moving back to L.A." Carrie confessed.
This time it was Kate's turn to be shocked. "Since when?"
"I don't know, the last couple, three days." The red head shrugged her shoulders. "And now, you'll be leaving so it's probably good timing."
"And Sawyer?" Kate asked softly.
Carrie shook her head. "I think that's pretty much played itself out, don't you think?"
"But maybe if I'm not here you two can work things out." Kate suggested.
"And be the girl that came in second?" Carrie replied. "No thanks. I'd rather just cut my losses and go back to L.A."
"Yeah, you're probably right." Kate admitted feeling bad for her friend.
Carrie slapped the side of the bed. "So, are we taking a road trip to Seattle?"
She chirped.
Kate pressed her lips together before she broke into a smile. "Yeah, looks like we're taking a road trip to Seattle."
Carrie reached over and hugged her friend and laughed. "Great, because I quit my job tonight."
"You what?"
"No big loss, trust me. Anymore time on this job and my feet would have turned into stumps." Carrie joked.
"You're crazy you know that?" Kate giggled.
"And yet you love me." Carrie replied sounding a bit like Sawyer. The Southerner must have rubbed off some on her. Jumping up from the bed Carrie cleared her throat. "Well, listen you and baby need your rest and it's late. So, how about we talk more about this tomorrow when Claire calls."
"Sounds good." Kate agreed. "I'll see you in the morning."
TBC
Upcoming chapter: Sawyer learns the girls' plans