Kate groaned before her eyes opened, the pain unbearable. When her vision came into focus she was instantly aware that Jack's shirt was covered in blood. She suddenly felt the dried blood on her chin.

"How do you feel?" Jack asked, scratching her head gently.

"Embarrassed. Jack, I—"

"It's just a shirt; I can easily buy another shirt."

"Let me pay. Please?"

"Neither of us are going to worry about the cost of a shirt," he reminded her. "I'm not worried about it; you shouldn't be either."

"Where's Aaron?" She asked with a yawn.

"He's asleep, it's only 9."

"I slept all day?" She glanced around.

"You needed to."

Jack lead Kate to the kitchen, determined to get her to eat. She managed a small dish of applesauce and was working on a cup of jello. "Thank you," she smiled, the end of the spoon between her teeth. "Not just for the ride, but for all of this… you didn't have to—"

"We're still a family. We have to be there for each other." Kate nodded, glancing down to avoid his intense gaze. "Kate, when you were on pain medicine, you told me that I said it was Aaron but it was you. What does that mean?"

Kate tried to mentally force her body not to blush. She was grateful that he hadn't understood. If she brought it up, it would only lead to Jack telling her exactly what it was about her that he couldn't look past. What made her unlovable to him? Was she ready to face those truths? "I have no idea," she shrugged.

Jack knew she was lying. He could see it in her eyes. He knew her well enough to know whether she was lying or not. Whatever she was holding onto was big; it would take work to lower Kate's guard enough to figure out why she was distance. He promised himself that he'd figure her out. He'd done it on the island, he should be able to do it here.

Kate winced and grabbed her jaw.

"Take this." Jack offered her a tiny pill.

"I think I can take it from here if you want—"

"I'm not leaving you. You need me. Aaron needs me. Take this." He opened his palm; this time she accepted the pill with a sigh. "Thank you. Why don't you get some sleep?"

Kate yawned at the idea and nodded softly before heading back to bed. When she got to the kitchen doorway she stopped, her gaze lingering on Jack. She didn't remember ever feeling so desperate. She wanted to beg him to love her. She wanted to beg him to hold her until morning. She suddenly felt worse than desperate, she felt pathetic.

It didn't take her long to pass out again, her thoughts on Jack.