Chapter 38

Jack locked his office door and walked past his secretary.

"Hey Tara. I'm going home for lunch today. Page me if you need to, okay?" He smiled at the woman.

"Sure thing, Dr. Shephard. Have a good afternoon."

"Thanks, you too."

Jack entered the elevator and thought about texting Kate, telling her he was on his way, but then decided it would be more fun to surprise her.

Settling into the Volvo, he wished he could take the Tahoe back from Kate. He didn't enjoy driving the sedan, and continuously contemplated trading it for another SUV. The only benefit to the car was the good gas mileage it got. He knew Kate was attached to the Tahoe, and would feel bad if he asked her to drive it once and a while, after all he bought it for her. But he needed something bigger, he decided ultimately. He just needed to convince Kate they could afford it.

Pulling onto the interstate to head home, his thoughts turned back to the previous few days. Things had been so normal since their reconciliation on Friday, and he hadn't been able to keep his hands off of her. He actually had a slight hope the kids were down for their naps when he arrived so he could enjoy her once more, as if that morning in the shower hadn't been enough. He had at least six months to make up for.

Grinning, he turned onto their street, and as he neared the driveway, noticed a car he didn't recognised in the spot where his car had been parked that morning. Pulling up, he parked next to it, turned off the engine and made his way to the front door. Walking in, the house was quiet except for the sound of the television coming softly from the living room. Unsure, he walked in that direction, standing between the kitchen and the living room. He saw the top of a head he didn't recognize and cleared his throat, causing the body to jump. When she stood, Jack's face grew confused. The woman's was a mixture of shock and surprise, her eyes wide, but a smile began to grow after a few seconds.

"You must be Jack," Cassidy greeted, moving toward the unsure man before her. When she reached him, she stuck her hand out. "I'm Cassidy."

Jack shook her hand wearily. "I'm sorry, do I..."

"No, we haven't officially met but I've known Kate a few years now." Cassidy was slightly taken by how impressive Jack was in person, and made a mental note to tell Kate that later.

"Oh, well, nice to meet you." Not making the connection, Cassidy slightly chuckled.

"Kate had to run some errands. My daughter and Aaron haven't seen each other in a while, so we thought this was a great opportunity for them to play. Their napping right now, along with Adam."

"How old is your daughter?" Jack took off his suit coat and moved to pour himself a glass of water.

"She'll be five this year. Her name is Clementine." Jack's back had been to Cassidy before she spoke, and as the name left her lips, he turned slowly to face her, finally making the connection.

"You mean...Is she...Sawyer's daughter?" Jack asked slowly, curiously, wearily. Cassidy rolled her eyes and laughed lightly, nodding.

"Yep, she is. She has his eyes, but hopefully that's all." The woman replied ruefully, as Jack leaned against the counter.

"I'm sorry about him.." he began, but Cassidy shook her head, interupting him.

"Don't be. We weren't together. He conned me and then went to prison, and when I told him he had a daughter, he didn't care. At least not until he told Kate about her, I suppose." Cassidy leaned against the breakfast bar. Jack wasn't quite sure what to say.

"Um..I'm sorry. That's terrible." His dislike for Sawyer grew with Cassidy's every word, as if he needed that kind of encouragement after everything that happened on the Island. Cassidy just grinned.

"It's all right. She's a wonderful little girl, and I wouldn't trade the last five years for anything." Jack nodded, understanding. He wasn't really sure what to make of this woman before him, but he was now more angry at Sawyer for leaving this poor woman with a baby, all by herself, and for what he did to her, and Jack now felt a slight protection over her. And if Kate trusted her to watch their babies, well, that was all he needed for reassurance.

"Want something to eat? I was going to have some lunch." Cassidy nodded, smiling.

"Sure."

When Kate pulled onto their street twenty minutes later, her heart started to race when she saw Jack's car parked next to Cassidy's. She swore under her breathe, parked on the street, and darted to the door. She entered to the sound of laughter coming from the kitchen and found Jack and Cassidy sitting at the bar together, each enjoying a sandwich, both smiling. She smiled back cautiously.

"Hey guys," she greeted. "Whatcha doin'?"

"Having some lunch. I came home to surprise you but you weren't here. Want me to make you something?" Jack stood, walking over and placing an affectionate kiss on Kate's forehead before moving to the refridgerator.

"Um, sure. But I can make it." Cassidy winked at Kate and Kate raised an eyebrow in response.

"Okay." Just as Jack was about to continue, a cry was heard from over the baby monitor, as Adam fussed upstairs. "I'll go get him." Jack offered, sliding by Kate with a pat on her backside. When Kate was sure he was out of earshot, she moved quickly to Cassidy.

"When did he get home?" She hissed as Cassidy laughed.

"Probably around a half hour ago. Kate, he is a stud. Oh my goodness!" Kate swatted at Cassidy, causing another laugh.

"What were you two talking about?"

"I don't know, just stuff. Sawyer stories, etcetera." Cassidy took a bite of her sandwich. "I don't think he cares I was here, he made me lunch." Kate laughed at that and rolled her eyes. "Are you gonna tell him where you were?"

"Ehh, maybe. We'll see." Was all she had time to say before Jack rejoined them in the kitchen, carrying a baby Adam in his strong arms. "Hey buddy," she greeted the child who sucked happily on his pacifier.

"What errands did you run?"

"I had to get some blood work done, and then I went by a few stores. I wanted to find something nice to wear Friday night." She referred to their double date with Mark Silverman and his current girlfriend. Jack nodded, smiling, and Kate felt relieved he believed her.

"You'll look great in anything." Jack spoke, kissing the side of her curly, brown head. Cassidy raised her eyebrows, and Kate blushed. He'd been extra affectionate lately since their recent escapades, and she was still getting used to it.

"Well, ladies, I need to get back to work." He handed the baby off to Kate and then kissed her full on the mouth. "It was nice to meet you Cassidy, hope to see you around more often. Kate, babe, I'll be home after my meeting. You two enjoy your afternoon." He winked before grabbing his keys and coat and making his way out the door. As soon as he was gone, Cassidy looked expectantly at Kate.

"You have that man wrapped around you finger. Where can I get one?"

When Jack arrived home later that night, he found Kate by herself, lying on the couch, the kids in bed, dressed in his flannel, plaid pajama pants and a tank top, her hair piled on her head.

"Hey," she offered, tilting her head up for a kiss. He smiled down at her, kissing her back, before straightening and removing his jacket and tie.

"Hi there. How was your day?" Jack dropped his tie on his jacket on the couch, and sat down beside her, leaning playfully into her.

"Good, yours?" Kate bit her tongue, deciding not tell Jack what she had been up to that day. She figured it was probably for the best. And if he found out, oh well, she thought, because whatever he was doing to keep Sarah away was clearly not working. She was just defending her territory.

"Good. You're little friend, Cassidy, she seemed nice."

"Yeah, she's great. I'm glad you finally got to meet her today."

"Me too. Even though I really wish Sawyer was here so I could give him a good shiner. I can't believe what he did to her, and then not owning up to his responsibilities and taking care of his baby. Really?" Jack asked the rhetorical question incredulously, and Kate shot him a look.

"Technically Jack, he did take care of her. He saved money for her."

"Maybe he should have gotten out of prison and taking care of his family though. Saving money for someone doesn't make you someone's father." Jack said with conviction. Kate was silent at his argument, silently agreeing and knowing he wouldn't be there now if he was back, and he definitely wouldn't have helped Kate take care of Aaron had he been there instead of Jack, she knew.

After a beat, Jack nudged her playfully and gave her puppy dog eyes. "What?"

"My feet hurt." He whined, shifting on the couch to where his socked feet were in her lap. She looked between his face and his feet, an eyebrow raised.

"And what would you like me to do about that?"

"All good wives rub their husband's feet. Are you a good wife, Kate?" Jack teased, a sly grin across his face. She placed a hand on one of the feet and gave a good rub across the bottom, causing a moan from him.

"How's that?"

"Good," he moaned again, as she continued rubbing. After a few moments though, she took her fingertips across the ball of his foot in a tickling manner and his eyes popped open. "Kate.." he warned when she did it again. "Do you remember what happened last time you tickled me? You'll lose that battle, Kate, I promise." He threatened, mostly playfully, though she knew a little bit of his words held truth. When she did it again, he sat, reaching up with his long arm quickly and grasped her wrist lightly. "Stop..." he gave her the warning look and she nodded, dropping her head in defeat.

"Okay, okay. I'll stop." Jack leaned back tentatively, not ready to trust her yet, and for good reason, because she generally didn't give up her fights that easy.

"You better. No more." Jack turned his attention back to the television as she began to rub his feet again. However, after a few moments, she was unable to stop herself, grabbing shamelessly onto his socked foot and shocking him, tickling mercelessly. Jack swore at her, moving to jump up, and attacked her, knowing that even though she was strong for a girl, he was much stronger, and fresh from the gym. She squealed with delight and horror, fighting off his advances, before he trapped her against the couch, her legs between his, his hands holding her wrists. She was breathing heavily from not having been able to during the tickling fight and when he let her sit there, she tried to catch her breath. "You're always in over your head honey. You're never going to win." Her eyes danced with pure laughter and he loved that look, and loved that he could cause it. "You know how much I hate that."

"I know," she breathed, "but that's what makes it so much fun to do!" And with that, he picked her up, tossing her over his shoulder.

"That's enough out of you. I think you're in trouble. You need to be punished." As as she laughed and playfully struggled, he shut off the television and lights, and carried her up the stairs, as she giggled over his shoulder. Walking into their room, he shut the door and then lightly threw her on the bed, causing a surprised cry from her. She didn't protest, only laughed, as he shed his button down shirt and climbed above her, intent on showing her the most loving way she could be punished.

I know I know, it's short. But I hope its good. I'm aiming for another update tomorrow, but I've been SUPER busy lately. We've got good stuff coming up though, like Kate's birthday, the honeymoon, etc. You all have been A-M-A-Z-I-N-G with the reviews lately, I am absolutely speechless. And it makes me feel even worse about the shortness of this chapter but at least it's an update, right? I hope to get one more up before I got out of town next Monday (I know, AGAIN) but then I'm back for GOOD for the holidays and I'll have PLENTY of time to write because I won't be working as much (which I am super excited about, now that I have some awesome stuff up my sleeve for this story, and more awesome pieces to write for 'Missing Pieces, which will be update tomorrow) so bare with me the next few weeks and you will be rewarded with some awesomeness. :-D At least I hope it's awesome. :-) You all are so wonderful, and I feel so blessed you read my story. Thank you thank you thank you!

Also, if anyone has anything they want to read in my Missing Pieces story, please leave me a PM or a review and let me know what you want to see. LostinDallas has already given me some awesome ideas, but please keep them coming! Thanks again y'all!