A/N: Hey guys, I'm back. Did anyone get the new Harry Potter book? It has a twist like you won't believe! I know… I'm a HP dork. :)
Disclaimer: Stop. Think. Do I really own Lost? You all should know the answer to that particular question.
SearchingChapter 9
Painful
Kate knew something was wrong from the moment he spoke. His voice had changed dramatically, and it no longer sounded like the Jack she knew. "Jack… What happened?" She whispered. Kate spotted him wringing his hands over and over again, something she never saw him do before, and it scared him to be quite honest.
So much had happened in the last 12 hours, that her and Jack being together, happy, seemed like a lifetime ago. Yet it was only yesterday that they had spent an enjoyable day at the CityFolk festival, and only yesterday did Kate finally manage to get up the courage to tell Jack about the life they had created. But that time never came.
"Kate, did you know that you were pregnant?" Jack tried to stall, going over the words that would be spoken in a couple minutes, changing their lives forever. But why had she kept it a secret from him? Two months was an awfully long time to hold back such things, and he knew she couldn't deny the subject hadn't been brought up; her always asking for kids, him always telling her it'd have to wait. But why hadn't she told him? Did she think he'd blow up at her, blame it on her?
Kate's face drained of all color, and instantly Jack knew the answer. She opened her mouth several times to speak, failing miserably at each try. Finally, she managed to squeak it out in a very small voice, "Yes."
Jack sighed, but kept to the subject on hand, vowing he'd talk to her about it later. "Kate…" He tried to tell her, but her face was so innocent, and it would nearly break his heart to see all of it go down the drain. "Kate, we lost it." His voice broke down after that, and there was so much pain in his heart that he could barely see straight after he saw her eyes.
Kate's face crumpled right in front of him, and she buried her face in her hands, not wanting to let the awful truth to sink in.
"Kate…" Jack prodded, "Please talk to me…" After a couple days of complete silence, complete break-off from anyone, he was starting to get worried.
But no words came from the woman beside him, only silence. The news hit her harder then he had ever expected, and now she was blaming it on herself. She had stopped eating, stopped sleeping, stopped living her life almost. The TV was on the Shopping Network 24/7, and Kate had stared at the screen all the time now, occasionally making some sort of movement wit her hands, but even that only came occasionally.
"What if I told you I had some good news?" Jack asked, hoping it would perk her up just a little bit.
Kate couldn't help but smile, though a very, very small smile it was, and looked up to him. Still, no words came.
"Some of our friends are coming down to see you, Kate. Charlie and Claire, and Aaron of course, Sayid and Shannon, Hurley said he would too if he could make the flight, and Sawyer even said he might drop a line, though it'd probably be very short." Jack sighed, and smoothed back some of Kate's hair.
Kate sat back against her pillow, and went back to watching the TV.
Very Long Flashback (I mean, it's extremely long)
Kate sighed and looked out the window, as the plane slowly descended down the runway of the Los Angelos Airport, a descent they were supposed to have made months ago. Jack gave her that reassuring smile that he was famous for on the island. She returned it as he caressed her hand, ever so gently.
The smooth, metallic voice made it's way onto the intercom. "Ladies and Gentlemen of the previous flight 815, we'd like to welcome you back to Los Angelos!"
Many people clapped around them, hooting and hollering, just glad that they were safe; that they finally made it back home. Shannon and Sayid kissed, as did Charlie and Claire. Her baby cooed in her arms, as he tried not to get smashed between the two happy parents.
Kate didn't clap, nor did she hoot or holler. She didn't even look around, because she knew what fate awaited her at the airport. And she'd be damned if it wasn't. Jack knew of it too, and he'd be damned if he didn't get her out of the mess.
The big wheels of the airplane touched the ground, bumping the passengers around. Some screamed with delight, and a couple people were courageous enough to yell out "TURBULENCE!" (Of course, they got very few laughs, and a lot of stares, making the situation even more awkward to them.) Kate cracked another smile, well, at least as best she could, as the metallic voice came on again.
"You may now unclip your seatbelts and start to exit the plane. Please remember to put your tray in the upright position, and deposit your trash in the appropriate receptacles on the way out. Thank you for flying Oceanic Airlines!"
Sawyer yelled out "Only cause we didn't have any other choice! Damn airport officials!"
Everyone laughed and started down the aisle-ways again. Kate pulled her backpack from the upper luggage rack, and moved into the aisle, letting Jack get his.
She smiled as she exited the plane, hearing the familiar hustle and bustle of the airport. Of the city; of her old life. Sudden memories flooded back into her head, some bad, some good, many she had tried to forget.
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Camera flashes went off, and reporters shoved microphones into their faces, asking them questions that the survivors hadn't even thought of.
Suddenly, a voice erupted from the back.
"WILL YOU ALL JUST LEAVE US THE FUCK ALONE!" The voice of Hurley was unmistakable. All went silent for a couple minutes as pens could be heard scratching on the many notepads, all writing about the same subject. The survivors looked at Hurley in awe, amazed that he had said such a thing, especially in front of the raving mad reporters that had bombarded them ever since they got off the flight. Then the silence broke, the reporters louder then ever.
Kate looked around, picking her nails uncomfortably. Jack looked at her. "Since when did you start picking your nails?" He asked.
Kate stared down at her hands and shrugged. "Terror digs up old habits long forgotten."
Jack laughed. "Too true." And with that said, he started to tap his foot nervously.
Kate smiled at him, and he returned it, just like she had done before to him.
All the sudden, a scream pierced the air, along with a name. "JACK!"
Jack, and Kate (and most of the other survivors, mind you), turned around to see where the odd noise had originated. A blonde woman, no older then 35, had appeared, running to the front of the crowd, pushing reporters out of the way with such force, that even Sawyer was impressed at the sight.
"…Sarah?" Jack nearly choked out.
"Jack!" She screamed again, her voice filling with delight.
"Who the hell is she?" Kate asked, turning her attention to the officials waiting just beyond the gate.
Jack replied, "Sarah, this is Kate. Kate, meet my ex-wife, Sara."
Kate whipped around to catch a sight of Sarah again. "…You guys were… married…?" She managed to get out. A resounding boom occurred through her ears, and Kate was pretty sure that was sound of her life falling even more apart, and her heart breaking in two.
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Jack realized the color was draining from Kate's face pretty damn fast. Was it something he said? Jack had been pretty sure he mentioned Sarah at least once or twice to Kate, but by the way she was looking now, it seemed that him being married hadn't even crossed her mind.
"Kate?" Jack asked, concern lining his voice. "Kate, you ok?" He grasped her hand.
Kate took a deep breath and let it out slowly, counting to five in her mind, trying to see if this was all a dream. If it was, someone up above must have been extremely pissed at her, because this was no dream. It was a nightmare.
But, no surprises, this was indeed real life.
She shook her head. "I'm fine, Jack." She nodded with her comment as if trying to reassure herself of the words she had just spoken were true.
He gave her one of those "I'll-talk-about-this-later-when-my-ex-wife-isn't-around" looks and re-enforced it with a reassuring smile, one that he was positive of.
She bit her lip and nodded, "Yeah."
Jack pulled out of the line, though he had a very hard time, as A) the airport attendants were trying to catch his attention to ask him about a certain Kate Austin, B) more airport attendants were trying to get him to stay so he could go to the Los Angelos hospital (he replied to this by stating that he had been checked out in Sydney), and then C) reporters wanted to ask him more questions, naturally.
Kate had wondered if she was to follow him, a debate running in her mind. In the end, she had decided to let him alone for a while.
In the meantime, airport attendants had asked her if she had known a Kate Austin. Throwing them way off, she replied that she had never heard of the name before.
Then they asked her for her name.
"Weckle. Joanna Weckle." She lied. But so much sincerity was in her eyes that they actually believed her.
"Were you checked in Sydney, along with your husband?" One asked.
"… My husband?" Kate responded, confused.
"That one man you came off the plane with…?" the attendant replied a couple seconds later, her smile never faltering.
'God, stop smiling!' Kate thought. "Oh, that man! No, he isn't my husband… just a good friend."
"…Oh." The lady said. "Sorry about that. It's just you guys looked so… natural together. Threw me off." Her smile still stuck in place, almost as if it was the law to smile, and she wasn't one to break it.
'Oh my God, please stop! Just frown! Even if it's for one second…' Kate thought out again. "Oh. Well, we're just really good friends."
"Ah." The smile reformed into a knowing one. "I know where you're coming from."
Kate forced herself not to burst out laughing, a feat that was particularly rigorous until the attendant moved away.
A southern accent came from behind her.
"How's life, Freckles?"
"…Good, I guess." Kate responded. She knew who she was talking to, but she didn't want to turn around to face him. He had caused her too much grief already.
"Where's Saint Jack? …Maybe he's fucking that blonde in the bathroom." She could feel a smirk creeping across his face. "Truth be told, she don't look half bad."
"Read between the lines," Kate stuck up three fingers. She turned to face him. Bad idea.
"Oooh, touchy on the doctor Jackass subject, ain't we?" he replied, pushing down her hand.
"Go to hell, Sawyer."
"Excuse me?"
"Go. To. Hell." Kate slowly repeated them. "Want me to get a dictionary so you can understand the words I'm saying?"
"Damn, Freckles, I don' need no fuckin' dictionary. I'm already there. Care to join me?" He shot back, turning to leave.
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Jack noticed Sarah was following him. Sighing, he turned around, "What the hell are you doing here!"
"Jack, I was worried sick about you! When I heard your flight crashed, it took all my strength not to faint." Came a frazzled reply back.
Jack stared at the woman, who once, he was proud to call his wife. But no feelings came up; only bad memories came to mind. "But why are you here?" he repeated.
"Because I wanted to see you! I think I still love you, Jack."
Jack's jaw must of dropped and hit the floor, because a crashing noise echoed through him. "Why do you always have to do this, Sarah? Every time you pull this shit, it keeps on hurting the both of us."
"Jack, this time it's real. I bet my life on it. I sold my apartment, I gave up my job, I moved here, all for you!"
Jack sighed, and his eyes traveled over to Kate, who still looked lost. Reporters were standing by her, taking notes of God-knows-what about her.
"Sarah, I'm sorry. But I've already got someone." He spoke.
End of Very Long Flashback (See? Told you it was long)
A knock came at the door a day later, and Jack looked up expectantly. It was his break time, and he planned to spend every minute of it by Kate's side. She still hadn't spoke, and she was still watching TV. The doctors had responded to this by saying that if she didn't eat on her own free will soon, they would have to force her to. Kate had replied by eating an apple, and nearly half of her plate lunch that had been set on the counter. No way were they going to force any more tubes down her anytime soon.
"How do you open these bloody things?" Charlie groaned as he jiggled the knob. Finally giving up, he pounded on the door. "Kate, let us in!"
"Charlie!" A smooth Australian accent came through the door, "She might be sleeping!"
Abruptly the pounding stopped, and a "Kate, are you awake?" managed to be heard.
Jack stifled a laugh, but couldn't help but smile. "Hold on, Charlie."
"Jack?" An incredulous voice asked, "Is that you?"
A/N: Now how was that for a chapter, 'eh? Please review! More Sarah will be inducted in later chapters.