Chapter 12: I Had To

Jack stood there in the rain with the gun now pointing at a mere tree. The man that was choking Kate was now crumpled on the floor on top of Kate with a bullet in his head. He was dead for sure. Jack took a deep breath and dropped the gun. He ran forward tossing the man's body to the side off of Kate.

"Kate?" Jack fumbled with her head as he set it straight. "Kate?" He felt her pulse, she was alive. He checked her breathing. She wasn't breathing.

Jack's medical training kicked into gear and he began mouth to mouth on Kate. After several moments, Kate finally opened her eyes and gasped for air. She reached her hands up and reached for something.

"Kate." Said Jack. Kate stopped moving her hands and looked up into Jack's face. He smiled and took her hand. He moved her bangs off her face as with his other hand as she tried to sit up. He put a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't get up." He said. He stood himself and grabbed her by the shoulders. She looked up into his eyes breathing hard and rubbing her neck.

"Are you okay?" she asked hoarsly. Jack nodded.

"Got a headache and my stomach kills but other then that I'm fine." Kate nodded and slapped a hand to her head. Jack clasped her around her middle and let her lay against him. She put her head in the crook of his neck and exhaled. He stroked her hair as the rain let up and stopped pouring down on them. Kate coughed.

"Did you- Did you kill him?" asked Kate. Jack looked over at the man now laying dead on the ground.

"It was either him or you." Said Jack. He looked down at Kate's head as he began to rub her back. "I didn't want you to die." He felt Kate shiver as he said these words and she removed her head from his neck. She looked up at him. Her eyes were now droopy and bloodshot. She looked like she hadn't slept in days and she had tear streaks down her face. There were bruises all over her neck and cuts on her forehead.

"Thank you." Kate said. She looked over at him. "To do something like that… it takes a lot." He knew she couldn't find the right words for it. But that was okay for him. He smiled but it quickly faded as he heard a crack from his left. He saw a figure holding a gun to it's side.

Kate instantly threw her head into Jack's chest. Jack closed his eyes. This was the end.

"Kate, Jack." Came a voice. Jack opened his eyes.

"Alex?" asked Jack. Alex was standing right in front of him and Kate with a shotgun in her left hand. Alex had helped them escape the others camp just weeks before and seeing her here really was a surprise. Kate removed her head from Jack's stomach.

"Hi." She said weakly. Alex's eyes narrowed.

"Oh my god, are you okay?" She came closer and set down her gun. "I should have done something. I was here the whole time. I just- I just couldn't do it." She said. Jack nodded.

"It's okay, it's okay now." Said Jack reassuringly. Alex rubbed her eyes.

"Sawyer." Said Kate. "Is he and Charlie okay?" She looked up at Alex. Alex shrugged.

"I don't know. I did hear gunshots, but from who, I have no idea." She said. And without another word said two more figures emerged from the other side of the trees.

"Well well doc. Good to see your still alive." Sawyer said as he crossed the clearing. Charlie emerged behind him holding his arm, which had a long gash in it. They both stopped at the sight of Jack and Kate sitting almost on top of each other in the middle of the clearing.

"What in bloody hell happened to you two?" asked Charlie. His eyes then bounced up to Alex. "Who are you?" His eyes narrowed. "Do I know you." Alex gave a timid smile.

"I'm Alex. And I don't think I know you." She said. Charlie gave a nod.

"Where do you come from." Asked Charlie. Alex went to open her mouth but Sawyer answered for her.

"She was a part of the others." Said Sawyer. "But she's good, she helped us escape that fricken hell hole they lived in." Kate then coughed again and looked up at Sawyer.

"Did you get them?" asked Kate. Jack looked up at Sawyer as well.

"Two went after us. Both dead now." Said Sawyer. He pointed to Charlie. "He hit one guy in the eye. I think it burst." Jack smiled but shook his head at the same time. Sawyer glanced at the man now laying dead on the ground.

"What happened to him?" he asked peering over at the body.

"Jack." Said Kate. "He shot him." Sawyer looked up.

"No really? Jack killed a man?" Sawyer shook his head. "Man doc." Kate coughed again.

"He did it to save my life Sawyer." Kate said. She looked up at Jack who gave her a nod. Jack then returned his attention to Alex.

She was now looking around ammlesly at the trees and hugging her knees into her chest.

"Alex." Said Jack. She looked over at him.

"What?" she asked.

"You won't go back will you?" he asked. Alex looked confused.

"Back?" asked Alex.

"Yeah, you know… to the others." Said Jack. Alex let out her breath.

"Not much to get back too. There is only two left now." She said. She immediately clasped her hands to he mouth. "I shouldn't have said that." Jack shook his head.

"Don't worry, you have nothing to worry about. You can come with us." Said Jack. Alex smiled at the thought and then she stood.

"I guess we should go now then." Said Charlie. Jack nodded as Sawyer and Charlie moved on forward. Alex followed them and Jack stood up. He helped Kate up and she leaned into him.

"Can you stand?" Jack asked. Kate nodded. She stood and held onto his arm for extra support. Jack looked over at Sawyer and Charlie who had already begun walking. Alex was watching them.

"Are you sure this is okay?" asked Alex.

"Yeah." Said Kate. "Besides, there is someone I would really like you to meet." Jack looked down in curiosity.

"Who?" he asked. Kate smiled weakly.

"A woman named Rousseau." Said Kate. Jack smiled. Of course, Rosseau had a baby girl who would be around Alex's age right now, and she did have many similar qualities.

"You two would get along great." Said Jack. Alex nodded.

"Thanks." She said and she turned leaving them by themselves. Jack let out his breath and looked down at Kate. She was staring at him.

"Ready to head home?" asked Jack. Kate smiled and reached up and up putting her hand on the back of his neck.

"Ready when you are." She said. She then leaned up and gave him a kiss. Jack leaned into her kissing her back when they suddenly broke apart. He gave Kate a smile and then took her hand.

"Let's go." Said Jack, and they two also followed them down the path to home.