A/N: Thanks again everyone for the reviews and letting me know about the annoymous option. I turned it on. I hope you all like this chapter!

Chapter 12: Two Little Red Lines

Claire woke up sick again. Everyone was now back from the trip to Massachusetts. She went to the bathroom and threw up. When she was done she just stared at the toilet. What is wrong we me? This is the 3rd week in a row.

"You OK Claire?" Jack asked through the door. It was early in the morning and Jack heard her get up.

Claire opened the door. "Yeah. I was just sick again."

Jack could see from her face that she was really sick. "You have me worried." He shut the door so their parents wouldn't wake up. "Your eating right and haven't lost weight, so it's not a disorder."

"Thanks Dr. Jack." Claire joked rubbing her stomach.

"One day that will be true." Jack smiled and meant it. He really wanted to be a doctor. Maybe it was to be like his father, but he loved helping people get better. "How long have you felt like this?" He asked putting a hand to Claire's head checking for a fever.

She looked up and said, "About a month."

"Kate's coming over tonight so we can all talk more. And mom and dad will be gone." Jack reminded her.

"OK." Claire replied.

"Do you want help back to bed?" Jack asked.

She nodded and Jack helped her down the hall to her room. He tucked her in and told her goodnight.

"I love how you take care of me Jack."

"I love you too sis." Jack replied honesty and shut the door.

A couple of hours later, Claire was feeling better, and her and Jack picked up Kate for school. Everyone noticed Jack and Kate's new closeness. People would ask Claire, but she would brush it off. They would tell everyone when they were ready.

"How was the trip?" Charlie asked at lunch.

"It was great!" Jack replied and him and Kate shared a smile.

"I had a lot of fun and got great pictures." Kate said.

Claire went into details about the trip, but the remaining 5 friends knew something else had happened.

Sawyer was the first to ask. "What's with the looks? Freckles and Jacko keep making googlely eyes."

Kate's face went red and Jack just stared at him.

"Did something else happen?" Charlie asked.

"Yeah dude. I'm missing something." Hurley added.

Ana had it figured out. "You two kissed!"

Everyone turned their heads towards Jack and Kate, even Claire was pretending she didn't know.

The two in question looked at each other and Jack nodded to Kate. She replied, "How did you know?"

Claire was jumping up and down from excitement. It was easy for her to act surprised.

Ana replied to Kate, "You two have this glow and you both keep sharing glances. It's easy to tell."

"It's about bloody/dang time!" Charlie and Sawyer said at the exact same time.

Hurley then waved a hand towards Sawyer. He reached for his wallet and gave Hurley money.

Kate and Jack's eyes were wide. "What was that for?" Jack asked.

"We placed a bet on if the kiss would happen during the trip." Hurley replied. "And I won!"

Everyone started laughing and Jack and Kate held hands for the first time in public.

Later that night, Kate came over to the Shepherd house. She was going to spend time with Jack, but he told her about Claire. He thought Kate might be able to help somehow. Jack's parents had just left and the 3 were in the living room.

"Claire?" Kate asked. "How long have you been sick?"

"It's been coming about once a day for 3 weeks." Claire replied.

"Mostly is happens in the morning." Jack added.

"What else have you been feeling?" Kate continued.

"I'm tired, I eat a lot, but it's mostly just throwing up." Claire replied.

A scary thought came to Kate's mind. She had seen symptoms like this with her cousin Beth, and was right. "Claire, I know this is going to should weird, but when was your last period?"

"What does that have…" Jack stared but Kate stopped him.

"Oh God! It's been about 6 weeks." Claire was shocked and was catching on to Kate's thoughts.

Kate had another question. "Claire? Don't say the words if you don't want to, but did it get physical with Thomas?"

She just shook her head. Tears were coming now.

Jack just stared at the floor. He didn't know what to do.

"Jack?" Kate asked. "I'm going to run to the store. I'll be right back Claire."

She hugged the younger woman and left the house.

A few hours later, Claire came out of the bathroom. "It says it takes 5 minuets. I set the timer." She sat down on the couch next to Kate. Jack was pacing the floors.

"Jack site down. It's not helping." Kate told him. Jack did, but no one said anything for awhile.

DING! The timer went off a few minuets later. "I'll go get it." Kate said, leaving the siblings alone. She came back with the test and the box, and handed it to Claire.

The young woman looked down and saw 2 pinkish-red lines. "It's positive." Tears came back to her eyes and Kate hugged her. I'm on 17. What am I going to do?"

"It's going to be OK." Kate told her.

"I'm going to kill him!" Jack rose and the girls saw and anger he never had in his eyes before.

"You can't. He gone." Claire responded a little scared at Jack's reaction.

"What?" Jack asked confused.

"He left. No one has seen him and his number was disconnected." Claire explained and Jack could tell he scared both girls.

Jack sat on the other side of his sister. "I'm sorry I scared both of you. You know how I get when someone hurts either of you."

Kate nodded. "We know and we're grateful."

Claire suddenly said, "This baby won't have a father." And more tears came.

"You're going to keep it?" Jack asked calmly. He got his answer when Claire nodded.

"Claire, don't worry. Jack and I will help you." Kate told her best friend.

"Yeah. We'll always been here. And dad and mom will understand. It will be OK." Jack assured her.

"Thank you.'' Claire replied through more tears. Jack and Kate both held her and let her cry some more. A harder conversation would come later that night.