Note From Shiggity: Hey guys, I know what you're thinking, "Another story! Shiggity you beast! They're slipping out of you like you're a slip and slide!" Well I can assure you I'm definetly not, and this was a brainchild of not only your Shiggity, but the imfamous Crazyhorsegirl88. Two of Lost's fic most dasterdly minds working together on a project, is the community ready for it? I think so!
Disclaimer: Shiggity and I don't own Lost, we just want to. Sadly, Lost belongs to JJ and Co….
The thick, heavy stench of gasoline filled the air as the ivory colored Pathfinder pulled into the dusty terrain of the truck stop. The vehicle gleamed ethereally in the early morning's moon, as it pulled up beside one of the gas tanks. The door clicked open, and two sneaker clad shoes hit the ground causing two puffs of soil to explode from the ground and diffuse up into the night sky. Jack sighed as he brought one of his hands up to rub the kinks out of his neck muscles.
He had been driving for almost the whole day, highways, dirt roads, off roads, anything that would get him away from LA; he couldn't stand to be there any longer. He had been forcibly given a vacation from work; his attitude wasn't fitting in well apparently.
Coincidentally, he had rewarded himself earlier that week by buying himself a new car, which had everything he would ever need, but would never use. So that idea struck him to go on a small cross country trip, taking only a few items and clothes in a suitcase. He had a few weeks to spare and his destination was wherever the roads took him.
His life seemed so dismal now, so drudgery and repetitive. The exact opposite of how it had been on the island, he didn't like the dangers that inhabited the island, but at least he never knew what was going to happen when he woke up in the morning. That was a reason his life was so tedious, but not the main one. He knew the main reason was her. He hadn't seen her in almost a year, and his worst fears were starting to become a reality. He was starting to forget what she looked like; the feelings he experienced when she looked up at him with her gorgeous eyes; the way her dark hair blew in the wind, and how it contrasted with her fair skin that mimicked the color of the sand.
His eyes shot open and he realized slightly that he had fallen asleep for a few seconds while still pumping his gas guzzling SUV with fuel. He shook his head and pulled out the nozzle of the hose before it started to overflow. While wiping his hands on his faded jeans, he headed inside the station to pay for the gas and to buy a coffee.
Coffee was one thing he'd certainly missed on the island; he thought he'd never be able to give it up. He had a relationship with the substance equal to that of Sawyer and his cigarettes. But back in the 'real world' he took it for granted, not appreciating what it did for him. Now he felt that way about Kate.
He shuffled his way up to the coffee counter like a zombie in an old horror flick; they have a clear destination, but were in no hurry to get there. Once he was settled calmly before all the ingredients his mind ran a blank on what he was supposed to do with all of them. Slowly the information came trickling back into his brain, and he remembered that he took his coffee simply black.
He poured the steaming liquid into the largest plastic cup the store offered, and then struggled for a few moments to get the lid on. After hearing the welcoming snap, he sighed of relief and moved to the counter to pay. But something caught his eye. Not something, but someone.
He looked into the large rounded mirror in the corners of the store, which minimized all the aisles and their contents. There was one other person in the store other then himself and the clerk.
It was a skinny redhead, about twenty-three years of age. She wore a faded yellow tank top, and a pair of hip-hugging jeans that were held together by a large black belt, because they were obviously too big for her. A denim backpack that was somewhat opened hung limply over one of her shoulders and a pair of sunglasses sat snugly on the top of her crimson curls. The way they glimmered in the weak, manufactured light of the run down store made them look fake.
Her clover eyes scanned the room inconspicuously for a moment, before she reached out and shoved a handful of chocolate bars and various candies into her bag. Jack's eyes widened, he now knew why he thought her hair to be phony, because it was. She turned away and walked towards a Slushie machine in one of the corners. She took a small cup and began to fill it with a neon blue colored substance, then capped it quickly.
He walked down the aisle towards the machine, just observing her activities. She had now emptied out her pockets and was hurriedly trying to count her change to make sure she had enough to pay for her drink. It was her, it had to be her. She was a little thinner then he'd expect, but he'd seen her at worse. And she still held all her perfect curves.
He reached the ending of the aisle and quietly called out, "Kate?" She flinched but she didn't turn around, she had probably taken some other alias to keep others from finding her.
"Kate," he spoke to her again, louder. She placed her money on the counter lightly, "Look I don't know who you're talking to," she began, "but my name isn't Ka…" she stopped short of completing her sentence as she swung around.
It was her, even under the layers of makeup, the freckles that splotched her cheeks and her nose made it obvious. They were quite a good match for her hair and eyes, but now she looked more like Little Orphan Annie, then independent island Kate.
"Jack?" she whispered. A shaky hand traveled up to her agape mouth to block it. He smiled, a real smile, for the first time in months. It ventured all the way up to his face and even showed in his bloodshot eyes, "What are you doing here?" he questioned lowly.
"Can we, umm, talk outside?" she questioned, her eyes darting to the clerk.
"Sure," he obliged immediately. He should've been furious with her, or disappointed in her, or at least a little bit angry, but the only emotion he could feel at that moment was relief. Relief that he'd gotten to see her again, and that she wasn't some no named corpse in a random New York alleyway.
"I'll pay for your stuff," he offered as he reached for the drink in her hand.
"No, its okay," she assured. Of course she wouldn't let him pay for it, though she looked like some Vegas showgirl, she was still stubborn old Kate, "Besides I'm only getting the drink," she added nonchalantly. Not even breaking a sweat as she looked directly at him and lied through her teeth.
"And the stuff in your bag?" he questioned raising an eyebrow, he could've let it slide, knowing that she would rather break a law then let him help her out. It was that way ever since she came to him about the case, and he exploded. She made sure she was independent from him.
Her eyes darted over to the clerk, some teenager who was entertaining himself by reading a Cosmo and ogling the pictures. Much to busy to even notice that Jack and Kate had met, never mind that she had basically stolen a good piece of the candy shelf.
She looked to Jack who gave her a modest, but disappointed smile. "Okay," she sighed in defeat, "I'll put them back."
"You don't have to," he expressed, "Just let me pay for them."
She stealthy reached into her back and emptied all of the would-be stolen goodies. Then held up one chocolate bar, "I don't need all that stuff anyways," she commented as she handed Jack the candy bar, "It goes straight to my butt anyways."
It was meant to lighten the mood, but it made Jack worry about her even more, she didn't look sickly, but she certainly didn't look healthy. She watched him, concerned for a minute as he took the food and headed to the counter.
"Is this everything?" the kid questioned as he rang it through the cash register.
"And thirty bucks in gas," Jack added as he reached in his back pocket for his wallet, surprised to find it still there with Kate standing directly behind him. He paid for the items and he and Kate headed outside to rest on the old, cracked concrete sidewalk that barely lined the store anymore.
They sat in silence for a few moments, Jack nursing his coffee while Kate pushing around her Slushie, staring down into it like it was a different world.
"So red, huh?" he commented after a few minutes, she gazed up from her Mega Gulp cup with a questioning look on her face.
He reached forward and tenderly pulled a piece of her hair loose from behind her ears, and showed it to her. Her hair still felt silky in his hands, just as he remembered.
She let out a small giggle, "Yeah, it was the only color I hadn't done yet," she replied as she sloshed around her drink some more.
"By now I figured you'd be into purple and green," he stated as he placed his coffee on the walk beside him.
"The point is to not get noticed," She reminded, a devious look crossed her face quickly, "Why, don't you like it?" she questioned.
"It's not my favorite color of hair," he responded gently. She grinned, "Don't worry about it Jack," she assured him, "I hate it."
"The why keep it?" he posed, already knowing the answer, the authorities weren't looking for a redhead, they were looking for a brunette and in some places a blonde. Until the whole thing blew over, this was what she'd have to stick with.
"You know why," she replied forlornly as she glanced up at him momentarily. She looked miserable, her eyes dejected, all the makeup she wore masking only her natural beauty, not her true identity.
"I should go," she spoke as she got up, slinging the bag around her shoulder once again, then lifted her hair out from underneath it so it billowed down over her shoulders.
"Where are you headed to?" He questioned as he stood up, dusting his pants off lightly. Jack knew with dread that if he allowed her to walk away now, he might never get another chance to see her, let alone speak to her. He would take this chance for what it was worth.
"I'm going to Washington," she announced, "Well, Seattle to be more specific. I've always wanted to see the Space Needle."
"I'm going that way too," he declared. It was a lie really, he had no idea where he was going, but if it let him spend more time with Kate, then it couldn't hurt anyone. Little white lies never did.
"It's okay," she reassured, "I've got my own car, I'll be able to make it there myself." Why was she making this more difficult then it had to be? Why wouldn't she just trust him?
The only way he was going to get through to her was if he started being harsher. It might work, but it might push her away more. He sighed silently, he didn't really have a choice, "You can't afford a chocolate bar, but you can afford a car?" he questioned skeptically.
"Excuse me?" she asked with offense.
"I don't think you have a car," he stated simply as he finished his coffee and threw it in a garbage can nearby.
"Well I do," she replied angrily, crossing her arms.
"Really, then which one is it," he questioned with a sly smile.
"It's that one right there," she huffed as she pointed to a beat up, dark green Toyota Corolla on the other side of the parking lot.
"Really?" he queried doubtfully, "That one over there?" Jack didn't know why, but somewhere in his mind he was amused by all of this.
"Yes," she replied as she closed her eyes until they were two angry slits. This was a look that by now, he had to be familiar with.
"Then let me walk you to your car," he stated. She glared at him and he added, "Just to make sure you get to it safely."
"Fine," she mumbled as she grabbed her cup and began to head over to the car.
Before Jack and Kate were even half way across the parking lot, a man rushed out of the diner that neighbored the store. He unlocked the door of Kate's car and drove away quickly, before a large muscular man followed out of the diner shaking his fist.
"So that's your car huh?" Jack asked, stifling his laughter as he and Kate watched it drive down the vacant highway. He turned around and began walking back to his car as Kate quickly followed him like a lost puppy.
"So I hitchhike," she divulged, "There's nothing wrong with that."
"Except that there are some screwed-up people out there who would like nothing more then to take advantage of you," he enlightened as he pulled the key to his car out of his pocket. He pressed on of the buttons on his keychain and the vehicle's lights flashed on then off.
"Oh and like you're an angel," she argued as she watched him get into his SUV from the passenger's side.
"I'm a lot nicer then a lot of other creeps you'd meet along the way if you didn't go with me," he explained as he rolled down the windows of both sides.
"If I come with you, you'll be going out of your way to help a wanted fugitive," she whispered harshly. That's why she didn't want him helping her, not because she wouldn't accept the help, but because she didn't want Jack to get dragged in to the mess she'd created. He wouldn't be the first man she cared for to fall as a result of her own mistakes in life.
"I'd rather be caught aiding a fugitive, and knowing that she's safe then having a clean police record and hearing about her being found on the side of the highway," he stated with a shrug.
She groaned and looked away for a moment, back at the diner and the store, "Try and keep it low profile?" she asked as her eyes made their way back to him.
"As low as possible," he replied with a grin.
She sighed and gave him a small nod of agreement. He unlocked the door and she climbed up into her seat, "nice car," she stated as she threw her bag in the back seat.
"It's a SUV," he corrected as he turned on the engine.
Kate rolled her eyes and watched as Jack pulled out of his spot and onto the road, "Remember, you're only taking me to Seattle," she reminded.
"Yep," Jack agreed quickly, unable to suppress a small grin, "Only to Seattle."