Jack hovered nearby as he looked on in stunned silence. He took an awkward step back, bewildered as his hand reached up to touch his forehead in typical habit. How is this happening? What are the chances? But his thoughts were interrupted by the happy squeals of the sister reunion.
Maggie cried out Kate's name again as the sisters lavished on each other's cheeks dozens of tiny kisses, and clung onto each other so tight their ribs actually hurt. They finally drew apart and let their eyes trail over the other, as if needing to confirm that neither one was merely an apparition. Kate cupped her sister's cheeks. "Maggie, is this really you?"
"Yes! Of course it's me. It's me!"
"You're alive." Kate whispered. And the truth was, as much as Kate hated to admit it, she had given up hope of ever seeing her sister again. Of course, she prayed that Maggie was alive, but for self-preservation, Kate was forced to accept that their paths would never cross again.
Kate beckoned Jack over, "Jack, this is my sister Maggie." He nodded with a smile and shook her hand, "Nice to meet you … again, Maggie." Maggie looked curiously at him and then back at her sister.
And then an awkwardness settled in. How was he supposed to explain his relationship with Kate to Maggie? How he fit in Kate's life? It was best to let them have some time alone and … talk.
Giving a gentle squeeze to Kate's shoulder, his eyes locked onto her face, he subtly gestured to the door. "Uhm, Kate. I'll be outside. The two of you have plenty of catching up to do." Kate raised her palm to cup his hand that was gently resting on her and nodded.
The sisters watched Jack leave and gently shut the door behind him.
Kate clasped her sister's hands into hers. Her voice shook, "Maggie, you have to believe me. When this nightmare began, I tried to get in touch with you over the phone, but I couldn't get through. I tried and tried …."
"I know, me too. It was crazy, Kate. I mean … everything was falling apart …. I understand."
She wasn't sure whether she wanted the answer to her next question, but maybe there was more hope to be found at this place. "Maggie, do you know anything about Mommy and Wayne?"
"No. They left me a voicemail message that they were going to a military base in Nevada, I never heard from them again."
Kate nodded slowly, taking it all in. And then her eyes shot open, "Owen! He's with you, right? How's Glenn?"
Maggie released a tight smile and blinked back a few tears, "Owen is here, he's safe." Maggie then looked up at the ceiling and rubbed at the corners of her eyes. "No. Glenn, he didn't …."
Kate took a deep breath and shook her head as if to clear it, "Oh my god! Oh Maggie, oh no … I'm so … I'm so sorry." And Kate thought again how unfair it all was. Juliet, Sawyer, and now her sister. They all lost their loved ones. And then there was Daryl, Claire and herself. They found love in the most unexpected of places. How was this fair?
Maggie shook her head, the tears still eking from her eyes. "Thank you, Kate." Maggie whispered, hoping that her sister wouldn't notice her throaty voice. But the truth was, she didn't want to talk about Glenn now. She has already cried her tears, felt a pain in her heart that would make her grasp at her chest as if her heart would burst through it. When the time was right, she would tell Kate that Glenn died saving Owen. It happened on day three of the outbreak, they were with their close friends, Michael and Michonne and on their way to safety in Vermont - this place, the community the Dawsons created. But Chicago was overrun and they were ambushed by the Undead and Glenn sacrificed himself for his wife and child. For days afterwards she was like a blind robot on autopilot, for the sake of survival and her sanity, Maggie was forced to compartmentalize. She had grieved for Glenn, but needed to focus on Owen who needed her now more than ever. She didn't have the luxury of being the grieving widow. Everyone was a widow now in one way or the other.
They were quiet as they let the moment pass, allowing each other to ride the wave of new emotions. Maggie's voice was quiet, but held conviction. "Kate, I'll tell you everything soon … but later, okay?"
Kate nodded, she knew her sister well and they were together at last. She'll never leave her side again. "Maggie, how long have you been here? At this place?"
"Since the beginning. I haven't been outside, out there, if that's what you're asking. What about you?" There were so many questions Maggie had for her sister. The most obvious one being - who is that man she is with? Maggie's voice quickened as she latched onto her sister's shoulders, "Kate, who is he? He told us that he's your … husband?"
Kate took a deep breath, faltering, trying to find just the right words. "That is a bit difficult to explain, Maggie. But all you need to believe is that man standing outside this door is Jack Shephard and he is the man I love."
Maggie nodded slowly, carefully considering what Kate said, believing every word she said. But that didn't explain how this came to be. "Okay. But last time I spoke to you, you were married to Brian. I mean ... granted, you were about to leave him, but he was still your husband. How did you meet Jack?"
"On the first day of the outbreak, Brian and I were rescued by a team of Navy SEALs, Jack was the helicopter pilot -"
"Whaat?" Maggie couldn't have heard correctly. But Kate didn't give her a chance to interrupt. "To make a long story short, we were evacuated to a Navy freighter in the Atlantic and on the same day, Brian left me there … alone."
That figures … that bastard, Maggie thought. The world goes to hell in a hand basket, and that jerk dumps the extra luggage - his wife.
Maggie's eyes widened, "Whoa. Wait a sec … Jack has told everyone here that he's a surgeon-"
"He is."
"Kate, are you telling me, that in the middle of the world falling apart, you found a handsome surgeon that happens to be a Navy SEAL? How does that happen?" She knew she shouldn't be so light, but seeing her sister in front of her, in one piece, she couldn't stop herself. In that moment, she was transported back to happier times and she had a sudden urge to be that little sister that giggled under the covers of their bunk bed.
Maggie always disliked Brian. He was selfish and manipulative. For the life of her, she could never understand why Kate agreed to marry him in the first place. It wasn't as if Kate was a social climber, things of status never interested her sister. Kate had a great career, she was smart, independent, and beautiful. Kate didn't need Brian. Countless times, she tried to talk Kate out of the marriage, but her sister was stubborn. It almost was if Kate was hellbent on squeezing her heart to a pulp so she could never feel anything again. And when Kate had concocted her plan to leave him and shared it with Maggie, she was more than willing to help her.
But whatever Kate thought she was going to accomplish with that loveless marriage obviously didn't work. She saw the sparkle in Kate's eye when she told her who Jack was. Even when she came into the room, she caught them alone for a second and in that briefest moment she sensed a loving tenderness between them.
Maggie noticed Kate pause for a second, as if she wanted to say something more, something in particular. But instead Kate just smiled.
Kate thought about sharing the news about the baby, but she wanted to wait a bit before announcing her pregnancy, it was still early. And it was Jack's news too, for them to share together when they both decided the time was right. So instead, she asked, "Maggie, so what happens now? "
"Well, I was on my way to take you to where you and Jack will be staying. So why don't we get you both situated and I will stop by a little later with Owen. We have so much to talk about."
Driving the small van, Maggie peppered them with information the entire way, pointing to the school and daycare center, the supply building that housed food, clothing and dry goods. There was also a farm with cattle, chickens, sheep and a greenhouse where they grew vegetables. Jack and Kate remained silent as they listened.
Maggie looked over her shoulder into the backseat, "I know this is a lot for you both to take in right now."
Jack was quiet as he looked out the window at the trees and small houses. When Kate was hospitalized he had learned a bit more about the complex. But he still had questions. Many questions. In particular, how were they able to accumulate such a wealth of supplies in such a brief period of time, especially in a state of emergency. Only the government, the military was capable of mobilizing like that. And how were they able to stay insulated from the outside world. There was more to this place than Locke had alluded to him during their conversations. He wanted to speak to the person in charge. He had told Locke as much and apparently ... soon, he would get to speak to that person … Hugo Reyes. Locke had given him his word, if that meant anything.
He looked over at Kate and saw her watching him. She gave him a gentle, reassuring squeeze to his thigh. Kate was still pale, but her current physical appearance was a vast improvement from when they first arrived. The gleam had returned to her eyes, the news of the baby and seeing her sister again gave her almost an ethereal glow. And Jack was going to do his best to keep the skeptic in him at bay for now. Kate felt the muscle of his leg relax sightly and found the gesture heartening. Kate trusted Maggie and if her sister said that they were safe here, then she believed it. She wanted Jack to believe too, but she had x-ray vision when it came to him and she could see the wheels turning in his head. He wanted answers, Jack always needed to ask and discover things for himself.
After a few minutes of driving along the narrow winding and hilly path they eventually rolled up to a small grey clapboard house and Maggie put the vehicle in park.
"Here it is guys. Number 23."
Kate squinted to get a better look and teared up. She wiped her eyes and, leaning back, breathed deeply.
"Hey. Are you okay?" Jack murmured into her ear.
"Yeah. I think I'm just … overwhelmed."
Jack opened the door and took Kate's hand in his. Maggie broadly motioned them to follow her to the house that was nestled snug in a plot of bare winter trees.
Maggie opened the door and then handed the keys to Jack, "I guess these belong to the two of you now."
They stepped into the living room and looked around. From one thing to the other, Maggie walked around, pulling open cabinet drawers, then inspecting the closet while pointing to the neatly folded white towels and stacks of unopened bedding on the shelf, "The linens are all in here. The bathroom is down the hall and follow me to the bedroom. There are two bedrooms in this house, by the way."
A nursery, Kate thought with a smile.
They followed Maggie and Kate could feel Jack's strong arm encircle her waist when they stepped into the small room that contained a queen size bed, two night tables and a dresser. The furniture reminded her of an IKEA catalog.
Maggie strode swiftly towards Kate and leaned over to kiss her cheek. "There's some toiletries in the bathroom and I'll bring some food when I come by later with Owen. I'll leave it to the two of you to get settled in now." Maggie gave a playful wink before Kate watched her sister leave. She then turned to find Jack coming back with the sheets and begin to open the packaging. Kate walked over and began to help him and together they began to dress the bed.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" She asked with a tiny grin.
Jack shook his head and smiled, "If you're referring to the time you helped me make the bed back at the camp, the answer would be yes." And he remembered the way he felt then too. How much he wanted to kiss her, push her onto the cot and make love to her.
"That seems like a lifetime ago …."
Kate stopped tucking the corner of the sheet under the mattress and Jack looked over and noticed a shade of sadness come across her face as she touched her chest and looked like she was wincing. He stepped around the bed and stood close to her before folding her into his embrace. Jack's hand trailed up her spine before bumping over the bra strap beneath her sweater and then settling onto her hip. He tilted her head back and kissed her softly on the lips. He knew what she was thinking.
"Don't … Kate," he whispered.
"Jack, is this fair?"
Jack knew he would have to put on a strong front for the sake of her health and their baby. She was already weakened from the pneumonia and the stress of their struggles over the past few months. "No Kate, I don't think this is fair. But then, when is life fair, Kate? What about Rick? Was that fair? No, it wasn't. Not a waking hour goes by, that I don't think about him. But I'm a surgeon … and I was a soldier for way too long to know that fairness … justice isn't doled out equally. Kate, please let go of the guilt for now. Please."
He pulled her even closer and she groaned slightly before nodding. He released her and his hand went up to palm her cheek. Tentatively, he asked, "I was thinking about taking a shower, will you keep me company?" Kate smiled at his question, the innocent and chaste way he asked it and, of course, she could only say yes.
Under the spray of hot water and the steam enveloping them, Kate felt the tension in her shoulders slowly dissipate. It also must have been due to the way Jack was looking at her now and the way he always made her feel. Beloved.
And she loved this man. Loved his mind. Loved his heart. Loved this body and its hardness that so contrasted with her soft curves. She ran her hand along his beard that was speckled with hints of grey. She felt the pleasant bristling of the hair on his chest brush against her breasts, the sensation teasing their peaks and she felt a surge of hunger awaken inside herself. It has been long time… too long. She began to place tiny kisses on his neck, then playful bites on his nipples, and then teasing kisses along his stomach as she lowered herself onto her knees.
Jack cupped the back of her head and stopped her, "Hey. Uhm, when I asked you to join me, I wasn't expecting you to … you know…"
Looking up at him, Kate smiled because she knew that there was no ulterior motive in his invitation and that was why she loved him so, and why she wanted to make him feel good. He deserved to feel good. "I know. But I want to. I want … you."
She found his member thick and hard and wrapped her hand around it to give a couple of light pumps before she took him into her mouth. Kate ran her fingertips down his legs, tickling the back of his muscular thighs, and squeezing the taut round muscles of his behind. Growing bolder, she shoved him against the tile, accepting his length as much as she could, sucking hard and long. She hummed slightly from the delicious feel and taste.
Jack clenched his eyes shut, the deep strokes of her tongue and mouth were pushing him near the edge. He was almost gone when her hand went up to cup him and apply a gentle pressure of his balls against his cock. Gently, he tried to nudge her up. But Kate brought his hips firmly against her, refusing to let him do anything but release onto her tongue and the moan of her name that escaped his lips was enough to send a tremor through her core.
Afterwards, they climbed into their new bed for a much needed nap. Kate closed her eyes and Jack saw a small smile come to her face when he placed his palm on her belly that would soon swell with their child.
A/N: I know it's been awhile.
Please let me know if you want to continue reading this story. Prompts and reviews really fuel the inspiration. Thank you and have a wonderful holiday season!