"It was quite a shock, seeing that engagement announcement," Sam admitted.
"That's surprising, most people wondered why I waited so long," Jack chuckled. "We were stranded together and then dated for months."
"Katie's trial was on tv; I saw you on the stand."
"Yes, I was there," Jack left it unsaid that Sam was not. He knew Sam understood.
"You testified that you didn't love her. Did you lie then or are you lying now?"
"Did you come here to question my motives?"
"I know what you must think of me, Dr. Shepard. But I do love her; I've never stopped loving Katie."
"She goes by Kate now," Jack snapped, growing irritated. "And you don't know what I think of you. You've never met me. You barely know Kate!" Jack took a deep breath, trying not to raise his voice.
"The military is my livelihood. I couldn't risk losing my career and going to jail for housing a fugitive."
"She got off that plane after the rescue and not one single person came for her. Not one person. You should have been there!" Jack snarled. "You should have been at the trial, on her side. You should have gotten her out of that house! You knew! You knew and you did nothing!"
"Don't you think I know that?" Sam yelled, his face turning red.
"Why are you here?" Jack asked again, growing impatient.
"I miss her," Same said, his tone softer.
"Why are you telling me this and not Kate?"
"I... I..." Sam stammered and Jack suddenly saw him in a different light. He was nervous and uneasy, a stark contrast to his perfectly pressed army uniform.
"You want me to talk to her first? You think I'm going to convince Kate to forgive you?"
Sam took a step forward, maintaining his composure. "I want you to think of Katie. Think of her son growing up without grandparents. Think of your wedding day when she has no one to walk her down the aisle..."
Jack wanted to argue but Sam's last example hit him hard. He had imagined seeing Kate in her white gown, seeing Aaron in his suit holding the rings and their family truly becoming one. He had never considered that to Kate, it wasn't everything she dreamed of as a little girl.
"I could never let Aaron in danger the way you abandoned Kate," Jack stepped forward himself.
"Not even if you got a divorce and Kate pulled all the strings?"
"Kate would never do that."
"Her mother did."
Jack thought of it for the first time. He suddenly realized that he wanted to adopt Aaron, he wanted to be his father no matter what. He hated that he felt a twinge of empathy for Sam.
"Wouldn't you want another chance with Aaron? A chance to be in his life? To see his children?" There was a vulnerability in Sam's voice that tugged at Jack's heartstrings. "I'm not asking you to force her. I'm simply asking you to talk to her. Unless you think it's better for Kate to just approach her out of the blue."
Jack knew he was right. If he'd found out from her that he showed up one day, confronting Kate and Aaron his blood would boil.
"I won't guarantee anything," Jack finally snapped, angry at his defeat. "And don't expect me to try and convince her."
"My daughter can make her own decisions." Jack wanted to say that he wasn't her father but he knew it would be hypocritical. As a father, he understood Sam. But as Kate's partner, he hated Sam. In both points of view he didn't trust Sam.
He spent the drive home preparing what he would say to Kate. How could he bring it up? There was no casual segue to mention it. Would he say it over dinner? Should he pull her onto his lap and hold her as he told her? Could he watch the pained expression when he mentioned her father?
"Hey," Kate smiled when he walked through the door. "I'm making dinner."
"I love you," Jack said, wrapping his arms around her, hugging her from behind. He buried his nose in her hair, inhaling the sweet smell of her shampoo.
"I love you, too," she spun in his arms, her hands running along his jawline. "Was it a bad day?" Her voice grew low, "did you lose a patient?" She whispered.
"No," he sighed.
"Then what is it?" She stroked his cheek, but all he did was shake his head. Not yet. He wasn't ready. "It's okay," she assured him. "It's over; you're home now." She kissed him softly. "And, Aaron is spending the night at Connor's; they got a new dog. That means we have the house to ourselves..." her fingers wrapped around his belt loops, pulling him towards her. "You can be as rough as you want. As loud as you want..."
He clutched her against him, desperate to hold her and protect her. Kate knew something was wrong. Jack had never been uninterested in sex. He'd never held her so tightly, like she were a rag doll.
"What is going on?" She asked softly, leaning back to study his expression.
"Sit down."
"Jack, tell me what is wrong!" Kate's voice rose but her tone was concern.
"Kate," Jack sighed. His expression was sheer defeat.
"You're scaring me," Kate whispered.
"Your father came to see me today."