"Is he already asleep?" Kate asked in a low voice as she rushed through the door.
"Hello to you, too." Jack grumbled as he continued to bend over, picking up toys. "Yes, he's asleep."
"Damn!" Kate dropped her purse on the kitchen island. "There was a huge accident—"
"It was all over the news."
"Because it was huge!" Kate waved her hands in exasperation.
"It's a good excuse."
"It's not an excuse!" Kate raised her voice; she was quickly losing her temper. "What is it you're accusing me of?"
"What is it you've done?"
"How many?" Kate's eyes darted to the empty glass next to an open bottle of whiskey.
"Don't change the subject."
"You're drunk." Kate spat the words, turning to walk away "And pathetic."
She had only gotten three steps away when she heard the loudest crash she'd heard since the island. She jumped, gasping when she realized it had been a plate. Jack had thrown a plate against the wall, smashing it into a million pieces.
Jack couldn't believe he had done that. He stood, just as stunned as Kate.
Kate.
He realized she already had tear streaked cheeks, her green eyes wide and full of terror.
"Kate!" Before he had even finished saying her name she was gone, locked into the bathroom that connected to Aaron's room. He knew both doors were locked before he even reached the doors.
"Kate," he whispered, lightly tapping at the door. He didn't need her response, he heard the muffled sounds of her crying. "I didn't mean… I'm sorry… I wasn't thinking… I love you, Kate." That elicited a louder sob and he immediately regretted telling her that he loved her no matter how true it was.
He didn't know how long he stood there before letting himself sit down, his back against the door. He didn't know if Kate had stopped crying; he hoped she fell asleep either in the bathroom or Aaron's room. He ran a hand through his hair. He had ruined it. He knew he had triggered memories Kate had spent her whole life trying to repress. How could he earn her forgiveness for lashing out violently? How could he forgive himself?
She had been right, he was drunk. He knew the alcohol was letting past relationships poison this chance with the woman of his dreams. Kate wasn't Sarah. Kate wouldn't betray him.
But she had. With Sawyer. He had seen it himself.
Suddenly, Jack felt his anger boiling over. Would Kate even be with him if Sawyer had come off the island?
He forced himself to take a long breath. He wasn't this person. And he wouldn't be this person. He needed to be the man Kate deserved. The man she needed.
He walked down the hallway, shoulders slunk. It only took a minute to set up the blankets and pillows to make a bed on the couch, but he was hating how familiar the process was becoming.
He needed to fix this.