Chapter 6

Jack left when the first sunlight illuminated his way. It didn't matter how often he told himself not to worry about Kate; he simply knew that there was something wrong with her, if he had a scientific explanation for that or not.

His ankle barely hurt anymore and the wound on his head didn't cause him trouble anymore, so he reached the beach in less than two hours. It was early in the morning, so most of the survivors were still asleep. The first person he saw was Charlie, who was playing with Aaron at the beach. The infant probably didn't allow him to get much sleep. For a moment Jack wondered where Claire was, but there were more important things on his mind. When Charlie saw Jack he looked at him puzzled for a moment but then started smiling widely.

"Jack! I can't say how glad I am to see you. We all thought you didn't make it. Hurley told us you fell from a cliff."

Before Jack could respond to Charlie, he saw Sawyer walking out of his tent. He had heard Charlie call Jack's name. His face was priceless.

"Jack, I had never thought, that I would be so glad to see you anytime. I really want to hear your story, but now there's someone who needs to see you right now."

"Needs to see me? Is someone hurt?" Jack felt panic overtake him. Had his feelings told him the truth? "Is Kate hurt?"

"Not physically, but if she doesn't see you alive and well soon that will change. I'll tell you everything on the way."

Jack and Sawyer nearly ran to the caves, Jack becoming more worried with each word Sawyer said. Kate hadn't been eating and sleeping for two days, she had to be very weak. But despite of his worry Jack was very touched by the depths of Kate's feelings for him. And he felt incredible guilty for allowing himself to rest the first day. If he had ignored his pain and dizziness he would have been back two days earlier and Kate wouldn't have suffered so long.

"It's my fault. I took a rest for a whole night, because my ankle was hurt and I had a concussion. If I hadn't done this, I would have been back two days earlier."

"Doc, if you had tried to walk back with a concussion and a hurt ankle, you would have passed out most likely and maybe you wouldn't be home by now. So stop torturing yourself and look after Freckles, we're almost there."

Claire's jaw dropped when she saw Jack entering the cave.

"Kate, look up," she said zealous. But Kate didn't react. Jack gave Claire a sign to leave them alone and Claire nodded and left.

Jack knelt down next to Kate, caressing her hair softly and whispering her name.

Kate jumped up and turned to Jack, facing him bewildered.

"Are you a ghost?" She spluttered.

"No, Kate, I'm real," Jack said with a soft smile. "I was lucky and fell on a rock spur."

Finally, Kate realized that this was real. Jack was alive and he was with her. Without any warning Kate threw her arms around Jack and kissed him with a passion he had never experienced before.

Jack needed a few seconds to respond to her, but then he returned the kiss with everything he had. After they had broken the kiss to catch some air, Kate hugged Jack tightly again. Jack pulled her in his embrace and Kate started sobbing again, releasing all grief of the past two days. Jack gently rubbed her back and kissed her hair, whispering soothing words to her.

"I'm so sorry it took me so long to come back to you, my love," Jack whispered.

Kate wanted to hear where he had been for so long, but not now. This could wait.

"Did you just call me 'my love'?" Kate asked through her tears.

"Yes, I did and I meant it," Jack said, gently wiping her tears away with his thumb.

"I've never believed in love at first sight until the day I met you. I love you Kate, more than I have ever loved anyone else in my life. You are the only thing that kept me from going insane on this damn island and you are the reason why I don't regret that I was on this plane. You are my last thought before I fall asleep every night and my first thought when I awake. You are my life Kate."

Jack didn't try to wipe away Kate's joyful tears anymore and now he had tears in his eyes, too.

"I love you so much Jack. I didn't know how I would survive without you. You are the best that ever happened to me. No one has ever treated me with so much respect before. I stopped relying on people a long time ago, but you taught me to believe in you."

"I was such an idiot. I should have told you that I love you a long time ago. But I always thought you wanted Sawyer. You two were so close and you seemed to be attracted to him," Jack told Kate, still caressing her cheeks.

"You're right, Jack. You were an idiot. I like Sawyer and I care for him a lot, but he can't ever be more than a friend to me, because my heart has belonged to someone else all the time. I just didn't say anything because I thought you didn't want me. You deserve so much better. I'm a murderer, Jack. "

"Kate, you are the most wonderful, committed and caring person I have ever met. When you killed someone you must have been in desperate situation."

Kate was speechless. She had thought Jack would hate after finding out what she did. She absolutely didn't know what to say, so Kate just kissed Jack again. He responded eagerly while Kate's hands started to explore his body. She caressed his hair, his arms and his back and then let her hands slowly slip under Jack's shirt.

"Are you sure?" Jack asked.

"I've never been so sure about anything," Kate answered firmly.

That was all reassurance Jack needed.

Jack kissed Kate passionately, only stopping to quickly remove their shirts.

They managed to get rid of their jeans and underwear without breaking the kiss again and within seconds Jack was buried deep inside of Kate. They could go slow next time.

"Harder, Jack!" Kate moaned and Jack complied happily. He moved in and out of her hard and fast, finding an angle which allowed him to reach all the places which made Kate scream in ecstasy.

"Oh god, Jack, yes!" Kate panted and a moment later Jack could feel her walls contract around him. Jack moaned at the sensation of Kate's inner muscles clenching around him and quickly followed Kate over the edge, moaning her name.

Jack started to pull out of Kate, but she stopped him. "No, please stay inside of me," Kate whispered, wrapping her arms around Jack's neck. She needed to feel him as close as possible to convince herself that he really was still there.

"Okay," Jack whispered soothingly and kissed Kate's neck. "I'm here."

Jack rolled on his back, taking Kate with him without breaking their connection. Jack grasped a blanket and threw it over them while Kate snuggled against his chest. Still joined in the most intimate ways the lovers soon fell in a peaceful sleep.