He walked down the beach and saw Boone and Shannon in an embrace, both scanning the horizon, and his heart swelled a little, they were just so darn cute. Jack knew the second he met the pair of them how much they cared for each other. And not just in the way that Boone had one night admitted to Jack that they cared for each other in Sydney the night before boarding the fatal flight 815 but in a much deeper way than that. They loved each other but it wasn't the romantic love that they seemed to have it confused with, it was something else, something better. But Jack could tell that neither of them had much experience of love, romantic or otherwise.
Mind you, he wasn't one to talk on that front. His parents, well, he really didn't want to rehash that whole portion of his life again but needless to say they weren't the best example. And then there was Sarah. Sarah was the best example. Sarah was sweet and kind and patient and so out of his life so why was he bringing all this up? Because he had to. Because repression isn't healthy. But really, in all honesty, there wasn't a whole lot worth dwelling on. Sarah got pregnant and Sarah lost the baby and Jack threw himself into work and their marriage went down the pan. End of story. Honest. Well, almost. Except for this stupid little voice inside of Jack that kept questioning him. One simple question. 'If Sarah hadn't lost the baby, do you think you would have lasted?' But Jack didn't like that question because he was fairly sure the answer was 'no' and if that were true then it was Jack's fault and not the baby's fault and Jack didn't want that hanging over his head so Jack didn't answer the question. Jack ignored the question.
And then there was Boone. Jack really couldn't explain that. He wasn't gay. He wasn't bi. Not even a little bit. The thought of being with another man had never occurred to him. Ever. But here he was, with another man, and he couldn't think of life any other way. He's tried to work out exactly what had happened so many times that he thought his head would explode but he could never work out what it was about Boone that made him fall so hard.
That first day they were on the island, the day of the crash, Jack woke up in the jungle and emerged on the beach to his worst nightmare. And then, while he was trying to work triage and save as many people as he could he came across a young lifeguard who couldn't even perform CPR. Jack had agreed that attempting a tracheotomy with a pen would be a good idea simply to get said incompetent lifeguard away from him. He revived Rose, helped out some others, and began to wind down a little, the main body of the crisis apparently over. But then aforementioned incompetent lifeguard came up to him with a handful of pens and somehow Jack fell in love with him. Two and a half years later he was still trying to work that one out.
Jack made his way over to Boone and Shannon. "You guys getting all emotional over here?" he asked as he stood by them.
The two of them pulled away from each other a little and looked up at Jack.
"I have hormones and apparently he's just a big girl," Shannon explained as she wiped a tear from her face.
Jack smiled and sat next to Boone, resting a hand on his thigh. Shannon pulled away fully to give them a little space, placing her hands back on her stomach.
"So, any sign of this rescue party yet?" Jack asked.
"No such luck," Shannon said. "I wish they'd hurry up, I am not having a baby on an island. Not this island anyway."
"I think you've got some time to spare, Shannon," Jack assured her. "How are things going with junior, anyway?"
"Well, she's kicking the hell out of me, so I'm guessing okay," Shannon said, trying to sound put-upon but there was a fondness in her voice she couldn't hide. "Have either of you seen Sayid, by the way?"
"He was at the caves when I left, I'm guessing he's still there," Jack said.
"In that case I think I'll go for a walk, if you boys will excuse me," said Shannon as she awkwardly got to her feet. Jack could tell that she hated not being delicate but he could also tell that she loved being a mother-to-be just a little bit more. Only a little, mind.
As Shannon left, Boone took hold of Jack's hand that sat on his thigh and gave it a little squeeze. Jack gave him a warm smile that he got double in return.
"So," Boone began, "What are you going to do when we get back to the states. First thing you're gonna do?"
"Well, we're probably going to be put in a hospital somewhere and then we'll be questioned endlessly and then there's the whole media circus that'll ensue..."
Boone looked annoyed and rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on, you know that's not what I meant. Play the game."
"Oh, are we playing a game?" Jack asked suggestively.
"Ideally, supposing you just got back to your own apartment, what would you do?" Boone asked, staying, Jack thought, upsettingly well focused.
What did Jack plan to do when he got back to his life? If his life was still there to get back to. Would there still be a position for him at the hospital? Would he even want to go back there? It'd been so long since anyone had called him Dr Shepherd. Well, except for Boone on occasion but that was hardly in the professional sense. Not that Jack was complaining. But what of his life? Did he even want it back? Did he ever want it to begin with? No, he wasn't going to start that. No dwelling on past choices, no parental issues, no wondering 'what if?' His life is his life and he's happy so that's that.
"Me?" Jack asked, turning his attention back to Boone. "I would take a nice, long, hot shower." He stared off at someplace only he could see and added almost dreamily, "I might even let you join me."
Boone smiled and gave him a friendly shove. "You really think you have a choice?"
Jack hoped not.