Author's note: Well this concludes my little Kate fic. Just wanted to do something kinda fluffy before I move onto what I have planned for Boone and Jack next, which I think is gonna take up more of my time.

Jack and Boone seemed happy. And Kate was happy for them. She really, really was. And she wasn't even kidding herself for once. Which made what she was about to do so much harder. She'd made the mistake of allowing herself connections and that was something she couldn't afford. Moving from place to place was bad enough without having to feel like you're letting other people down as well as yourself.

But it was time to go. And it wasn't because of Jack and Boone. She'd been there a few days and the barman downstairs had started to recognise her. And if he recognised her when she went into the bar, there was every chance he'd recognise her if her face were on the news. So she had to go. And she knew from experience that night was the best time to travel.

But she still felt bad about leaving Jack and Boone. She was fairly sure they'd expect it but that wasn't the point. She didn't want to do it. But she didn't do goodbyes. She'd never said goodbye to anyone, not really. Even after the island she never got to say goodbye to anyone. She was separated and put in a private room in the hospital under 24 hour watch. But the FBI weren't as smart as they thought they were if they supposed she couldn't get safely out of a second story window without assistance. So she didn't say goodbye. And she wasn't saying it now.

She finished packing her few possessions and lifted the bag onto the bed. She went over to the desk to pick up her room key and saw the complementary hotel stationary sitting there. A note? Was that saying goodbye? You can't say goodbye in a note, by the time the person reads it your gone so surely that doesn't count. She sat down and picked up the pen.

Dear Jack and Boone

I just wanted to thank you for such a nice evening, it's been a while since I've had any real company. You both seem to be doing great which is really good to know. I like thinking of the two of you all happy in that wreck of a house you told me about. Good luck with the fixing-up, Boone.

Anyway, bottom line, it's time for me to take to the road again. I felt like I owed it to you guys to not just disappear into the night though, I wanted to give you a bit of warning this time that you were never going to see me again. Not unless I'm on the 6 o'clock news anyway. And Jack, read the papers, there's no reason not to. If you're waiting on me you'll be waiting a long time. You don't owe me anything.

Just as a closing note, yes, Boone, I do have a place I feel homesick for. There was once a place that I belonged and a place that I long for. But it didn't last as long as I'd like and it wouldn't have been much fun there on my own.

If our paths don't cross again then just know that I'm happy for you guys and last night broke up the monotony nicely...

Kate xx

Standing outside room 1412, she looked down at the neatly folded letter in her hand. She could feel her heart pounding inside her chest and she couldn't quite work out why. Leaving a note wasn't so scary. By the time they read it she'd be long gone and it's not like she'd ever have to face them again. All she had to do was slip it under the door and go on her way. No one would ever mention it to her again because there would be no time or place to mention it.

She unfolded the note and looked it over. Was she giving away too much?

Annoyed with herself, she ripped off the blank space at the bottom of the note and fished a pen out of her bag. On the scrap on paper now in her hand she wrote:

Thanks for a great evening,
K x

She slipped it under the door and headed to the elevator. As she walked through the lobby she crumpled the note in her hand and tossed it into the trash. The desk clerk gave her a smile as she checked out.

"Have a safe journey, Miss Timmonds."

"Thank you."

She headed out of the building as she ran possible destinations through her head.