I have only made it to the finale of one story before, not counting one-shots, and that was EMENIUS SLEEPUS. That was sort of disappointing to some, I have been told, but personally I think it sent a message to my readers. That one was about dreams. This one is about secrets.
Two songs I really like ("Dreams" from the Game and "Dirty Little Secret" from the All-American Rejects) went into the making of those stories. Last time I didn't think of it but this time I enclosed the lyrics at the end of this story for chapter five. Read them. They really relate.
Plus, I love that song.
DISCLAIMER::clears throat and recites in unenthused voice: LOST belongs to JJ Abbrams and all those people at ABC with high authority. I own nothing. Except this snappy disclaimer, but it is also wearing thin.
-JADED-
-BY WHENICOMEAROUND-
-CHAPTER FOUR-
Instinctively, Jack raised his own gun and put one arm behind him to protect Kate.
"Put it down, Locke." he said.
"No can do, Jack." said Locke. He seemed to be enjoying the situation.
"Put... the gun... down, Locke." said Jack shakily.
Kate stepped forward, ready to do whatever she needed to do, and Locke shot at her leg.
Jack shouted a mix of swearwords, threats, and names, then dropped his gun, all forgotten, and slammed his fist into Locke's jaw.
Locke dropped his gun in surprise; Jack slammed his fist into Locke's face over and over again, then after a sick blow to the head, Locke fell silent.
Jack picked up the guns and raced over to Kate.
"Ugh," was all she said.
Jack pulled her up. "Kate, we're leaving."
"Aah," she said thickly.
"Stay with me, Kate, stay with me."
"Aah," said Kate again.
Jack was horrified, confused, and livid all at the same time. He picked her up and clumsily pointed a flashlight ahead of him with one hand.
Kate rested her head on his shoulder. Even sweaty and disgusting, Jack smelled nice.
When they got to the bottom of the chute, Jack stopped. He placed Kate gently on the floor.
"Are you all right?"
Stupid question, really. Anyone who gets shot in the leg is probably not all right.
But Kate said, "I think so."
She tried to stand, but Jack held her back.
"Jack, she said. "how are we going to get back up?"
Jack looked around; his eyes fell on a rope lying in the corner.
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Looking back, Jack was not entirely sure how he had managed to make himself tie the rope around his and Kate's waists and pull them up to the top; by the time they reached the top, Jack's arms hurt from pulling and there was a red, irritated area around his middle where the rope was.
He would say, he knew he had to do it.
Once they got to the top Kate was only semi-conscious. Jack had wrapped a rag around her leg to try and stop her from bleeding so much, but it hadn't done much. They got to the top and he picked her up again, only thinking, "This is what I need to do."
"Jack," said Kate profusely. "Jack, I've still got your back."
Jack smiled. He put his hand on the back of her head and trekked on. "I know, Kate, I know."
"Tell me your secret now, Jack." she said. "Tell me your secret."
Jack said, "I think you should know my secret by now."
Kate smiled. "No," she said. "I don't know, no, no."
Knowing that he would draw attention if he were to bring Kate back to the caves, he sat her down against a tree.
"Wait here," he said, which was probably a stupid thing to say, since Kate was immobilized, but Jack said it anyway. "I'm coming right back."
And he did; he ran all the way to the caves, got his medical bag, and ran all the way back. Kate's eyes were drooping, but she was still awake and waiting for him.
He examined Kate's leg.
"Um, Kate?"
"Yeah, Jack?"
"Would, um... would it be strange if I asked you to take off your pants?"
Kate smiled. "I wouldn't mind," she said.
Jack helped her take off her pants. The wound in the side of her leg was dripping blood.
Kate watched him take the bullet out of her leg, clean it, and wrap a bandage around it.
"Do you feel okay?" Jack asked her.
"Yes," she said. "thank you. So much."
"It's fine." he said. He helped her sit up, then handed her his water.
She accepted; when she finished drinking, she surveyed him.
"I can't figure it out." she said, smiling.
Jack, who was in the midst of placing his things back into his backpack, froze.
"What?" he asked her, not turning around.
"Your secret." she said.
Jack closed his eyes and opened them a second later. He took the water bottle out of Kate's hands and put his hand on the back of her neck. He pulled her forward.
And he kissed her.
When they finally pulled away, Kate was still smiling.
"I've got your back too, Kate," said Jack very quietly. "I love you."
"I love you too, Jack."
A/N: TA DAAAAAAH! How was that? Nice and Jate, just how it should be.
CAN'T WAIT UNTIL WEDNESDAY... LOVE YOU ALL!
-WHENICOMEAROUND