"Mr Austen is in your office," Jack's new assistant, Poppy told him. He tried to hide his smile. Ever since his assistant, Caitlin went on maturity leave, the replacement had been making small mistakes constantly. When he'd told Kate about it, she reminded him that it was Poppy's first job out of school and gave him strict orders to be patient. That being said, he made a mental note to tell Kate she'd been called a mister.
He rushed to get to his office, desperate to get to her. He knew this game; the random office visits. Keeping the passion alive had never been a problem for them. Out of nowhere she'd swing by his office for something innocent enough. He'd walk in to find her sitting on his desk, her legs crossed. Unlike when she and Aaron surprised him with lunch on occasion, these visits she wore tight skirts, short dresses or low cut tops. He one heel hanging off, dangling over her toes.
He felt the stirring in his pants as he thought about how she gave herself to him; she let him make all the decisions. Every time, he didn't realize all the stress he'd carried from the first half of his day until he was spent, unable to perform again. He'd hold her against him on his chair, taking in the contrast of his medical degrees and her naked body curled around him. How'd he ever get so lucky? He had managed to break down Kate's walls brick by brick and he knew her better than anyone in her life ever had. She was even more amazing than he'd given her credit for. Sometimes he wondered if Claire could raise Aaron as well as Kate; she was born to be a mother and the main reason he'd pushed her to be a stay at home mom. She never once got mad at him for his crazy hours like Sarah had. She understood this was his career. He often came home to find her asleep on the couch or sitting on a barstool with her head and arms sprawled across the kitchen island. When she fell asleep in the kitchen there was almost always leftovers she'd been waiting to reheat for him. And, she was the best lover he'd ever had. He'd never been with someone as eager, as in sync or as adventurous than her. He felt the stirring in his pants again and picked up the pace as he headed to his office.
"Poppy just called you Mister Austin," Jack chuckled as he opened his office door.
"It's actually Sergeant Major."
Jack stopped in his tracks, studying the man in front of him. He had grey hair and wore an army uniform. Jack had never seen him but he would have guessed without knowing his name. Jack shook the thoughts out of his head and offered his hand. "J—"
"I know who you are," Sam said.
"And I know who you are," Jack said. "I don't mean to be rude, but why are you here?" Jack asked. Sam hadn't been to Kate's trial. He had never seen Aaron. He didn't even show up at the airport when they arrived home. He'd never shake the image of Kate, entirely alone. Not a single person came to celebrate her survival or welcome her arrival.
"I saw your engagement announcement," he began. "I saw how beautiful Katie looked. And she's not a fugitive anymore..."
"No, she's not." Jack said defensively.
"I thought of how it's tradition to ask the father for the blessing..."
"Are you seriously upset I didn't ask your permission?" Jack felt the pressure rising. Even before the explosion, Sam had turned his back on Kate. Biological or not, he let this little girl he'd raised collect bruises and broken bones. He must have suspected Wayne's sexual advances towards his own daughter and he let her stay in that house. He was to blame more than Kate was for Wayne's murder.
"Finally," Sam continued, ignoring Jack's outburst. "I thought it's time we had a little talk, man to man."