Chapter 3
The Next Day (after Chapter 1):
Jack sat on his back porch and watched the waves pound the beach for a long time. He still couldn't get Kate out of his mind, even after he learned that the quarantine in her neighborhood had been lifted. He had told himself he was just worried that she would catch the virus, but it was more than that.
Unable to clear his head sitting alone in his otherwise empty house, he grabbed his keys and headed for the door. He didn't know where to go, but a drive sounded therapeutic. Sitting alone in his house was doing nothing for him, and he was forbidden from stepping foot inside CTU for another ten days.
Jack stepped up into the Expedition and turned the key, the engine roared to life. He backed out of his space and turned onto the road that would take him inland. Since he had nowhere to go, he decided to let his instincts take over and let them lead him where they may. Twenty minutes later, he was surprised to find himself turning into Kate's neighborhood, completely unaware of how he got there. He still had time to turn back, but something was drawing him to her. Perhaps it was the mention of Kate by Kim, so unusual that it stuck out in his mind.
He turned into her driveway and parked behind her red BMW. He remained in the car for several minutes, debating whether to go up to the door. The last time he saw her, she had fallen asleep and he had snuck out like a coward. It was what happened before that that made him climb out of the truck and head for her door. He owed her an apology, at the very least.
Jack stood on Kate's front porch, his mind alternating between ringing the doorbell, and turning to leave. Ultimately figuring a surprise visit to Kate was not a wise decision, he turned to leave. Just then, the door opened, and Kate's face appeared, surprise was written clearly across it.
"Jack! What are you doing here? I thought you were going to send someone to pick up your jacket." Still only her head was visible on this side of the door.
"I know, I'm sorry, I was in your neighborhood and thought maybe I could pick it up." It was a lie, but he hoped he pulled it off.
"Actually, I'm glad you stopped by, there is something I need to talk to you about. That's why I called you last week, but you didn't seem to want to talk."
He lowered his head, studying the ground. "It was a rough day, too many things were going on then." It was a pathetic excuse and he hated himself a little more.
It was then that Kate opened the door and stepped onto the threshold. Jack instantly brought his head up and stared into her face. She was still beautiful, no question about that, but she looked different. She was smiling and her face was glowing, something he wasn't expecting to see when he showed up at her door. Insults, screaming, and tears were more along the lines of what he thought was waiting for him on the other side of that door, and he deserved every one. His eyes traveled down her body and then stopped midway. There was no mistaking the bump in her belly, even with her loose fitting clothes attempting to hide it.
This was definitely something else he wasn't expecting.
To Be Continued...