More thanks to FanOfLOST, MusicMonkey88, Oreata, a.k.a.-ashley, hulkmad, jackatefan76, Evermore, smilez4eva, and Cas85 for their reviews!
Also, many thanks to my friend, who inspired me to write the last scene in this chapter and who has been so supportive of this entire fic. You know who you are.
Disclaimer: I still do not own any of these characters.
Child of the Island
Jack look stunned for a moment at Claire's unconscious form. What have I done? Shaking himself, he picked up Claire and laid her gently on the pull-out couch. He began to check her over when he stopped dead in her tracks. Oh, my God. Her water broke. She's going into labor.
He whirled around, knowing that he would need help to keep her safe. "Help! Guys, hurry! I'm going to need help in here!"
Hurley rushed in upon hearing Jack's frantic tone. "What's going on?"
"Her water broke. She's going into labor. Listen, call an ambulance. Then come help me, please."
Hurley took one look at the moaning, half-conscious Claire and fainted. At the sound of his body crashing to he floor, Kate came out of her room. "Hurley, are you oka… Oh, my God. Jack, is she going into labor?"
"Yes. She's unconscious at the moment, but…"
Claire gasped for breath and opened her eyes. "The baby is coming."
Jack stroked her arm reassuringly, at this point completely in doctor mode. "Yes, it will be okay. We're going to get you to a hospital."
"No hospitals. Please, no hospitals." She closed her eyes again and winced against pain. "Contractions," she panted out.
Jack turned back to Kate. "Kate, call the ambulance."
"Claire said no hospitals. You don't know what they did to her there – she has every right to request that. You're a doctor, after all."
"A spinal surgeon, not an obstetrician!"
"Jack, please. Let me help you."
Jack paused, hesitant. This is my fault, said a voice in the back of his mind. I can at least do as she asked.. "Fine. We can do it together."
-
Two hours later, Claire sat up in the bed groggily. Something was itching at the back of her mind – something had happened, she had found out something important, maybe? Any thoughts of this raced from her mind, however, when she heard a baby's soft cry. Opening her eyes, she saw Kate trying to calm down the baby in her arms. Suddenly, Claire remembered. I am a mother now.
Smiling now, she reached out her arms. Kate smiled back and handed the child to her, saying, "It's a boy, Claire. He's beautiful. Congratulations."
Claire happily took him into her arms.
"Do you have a name for him?"
"Yes. Lyle. It is French and it means 'from the island'. I thought it fitting." She laughed softly and looked down at her son. "Hello, Lyle," she cooed.
She looked up to see Charlie come running in through the door. "I got the job, Claire! I am know a professional mixer! Soon, we can…" He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the baby in her arms. "
Jack came in from cleaning up and stood next to Kate. She turned to him joyfully. "We did it! They're all okay."
"I'm happy for them, but trust me. Never again will I do that," he murmured.
"But it was worth it," Kate responded. "No?"
She motioned towards Claire, Charlie, and Lyle. Jack finally smiles. "They look like one big, happy family."
Sawyer walked in and halted, confused. He quickly regained his composure and smiled broadly. "Look, the happy family. The drug addict, the oft-kidnapped girl, and the illegitimate child."
"Shut up, Sawyer," Jack and Kate responded in unison.
Sawyer raised an eyebrow. "Back in sync, you two? Interesting. Let me know when you get sick of him again, Kate. I'm here for you."
Kate rolled her eyes at him again. "In your dreams, Sawyer."
"I'm perfectly happy with that, Freckles. I mean, think about it. You met him in your dreams too." Laughing at his own joke, he turned and strolled into his room. Kate blushed slightly.
She and Jack stood in silence for a moment. Charlie's voice drifted back to them. "So then, Claire, when I have that money from the job you and Lyle and I can get our own place and…"
Kate softly took Jack's arm and led him away from the living room. "We should give them some privacy," she whispered. She came to a stop by the kitchen door. Neither of them moved for a moment. Realizing that she was still holding his arm, Kate dropped it and quickly went out the screen door onto Hurley's small deck. It was small – only big enough for a small table and a lounge chair. Above it, the roof jutted out enough to act as a shield from the weather.
To her surprise, Jack stepped out after her and closed the door behind him. Kate stood stiffly and looked out over the iron railing.
"Kate, tell me. What's going on between us?"
"Nothing," she said firmly, not turning to face him.
"Nothing," he echoed softly. "Okay, then. Nothing." Sighing, he sat down and reclined on the lounge chair, watching her.
After a moment, she turned and came over to him, sitting down on the edge of the chair. Pensively, she took his hand in hers and ran her fingers along his palm, avoiding his intent gaze. "Absolutely nothing. We couldn't afford it."
With his other hand, he reached up and lifted her face so that her eyes met his. "Are you sure of that? I thought that too, even earlier today. But now, maybe we could take a chance."
He leaned forward and brushed her lips with his. She looked up at him, her feelings confused and her previous certainty muddled.
Suddenly, the clouds above burst open and rain began to fall softly from the night sky. This broke them moment. Kate dropped Jack's hand and turned away, looking out over the balcony.
Slowly, the storm intensified. Still, neither moved. The roof protected them from getting soaked. Besides, the rain and the cool air seemed to be casting a spell of sorts. The pouring drops seemed to wash away the strain: Lorraine and Kate's trial and all the hurt and animosity that had existed between Jack and Kate.
Slowly, Kate leaned back and rested her head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her frame. They stayed there for hours, just watching the rain fall and knowing that, for this night, they were safe with each other.
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