A/N: This is the first Jack/Kate drabble I wrote and posted on my lj very soon after the season finale, Exodus. Like most of the others, it popped fully formed into my head and demanded that I write it down. This is a good way to test how well I did that.
Timeline: Nothing specific, use your imagination.
Rating: K
Disclaimer: Not mine, no infringement intended, etc., etc.
She hesitated and then reached up, slowly stretching her hand out to smooth away the worried crease between his eyebrows. He sighed, closed his eyes and felt the taut muscles in his face relax under the gentle pressure of her thumb. She sighed as well and moved her hand to rest against the stubble on his cheek.
"You can't worry about them all the time."
Her voice was low, barely above a whisper. He could feel her breath as she leaned in closer and he opened his eyes to take in her face. She smiled, the corners of her lips just turning up slightly while her eyes crinkled in concern.
He let out a breath, "Who else do they have?"
"They have each other." She reminded him gently, "No one here is helpless, they need you sometimes… but not always."
He looked away, but she drew his face around again and nodded at him, the stubbornness of hers that he knew so well now evident in her face. He met her eyes, "What about you, are you going to stop as well?"
"I…" She blushed a little and her eyes flickered downward for a moment before she looked back up at him.
"I could worry about you."
He blinked, surprised at the uncharacteristic reply and stared at her while she blushed even harder under his gaze. He paused, and then leaned in closer than he ever had before, until his forehead rested against hers.
He drew in a breath, "Alright."
"Alright."
He felt her fingers brush across his face before she lowered her hand to rest in her lap and then she swiftly turned her head and pressed her lips to his cheek, right against his jawbone. She stood up quickly, swinging her knapsack full of water bottles onto her back and then turned back to him.
She smiled. "I'll see you later."
He nodded and smiled back. "Yeah."
"Yeah, you will."
END.