A/N: Whew! Sorry it took me so long to update! This law school schedule isn't leaving as much time for fanfic as I would like... And I so wish I had time to answer each review specifically, but rest assured that I read and appreciate every single one of them, and I really take the suggestions to heart, too. So, keep 'em comin' please! You guys are great :)

The next twelve hours were some of the longest of Jack's life. Kate drifted in and out of consciousness, the poison continuing to wreak havoc on her system. Her fever raged and, try as he might, there wasn't much Jack could do. He hated that feeling, helplessness. He hated sitting there, watching her face contort in a pain that he couldn't identify. But he couldn't leave.

This was the part they didn't prepare you for in medical school, and Jack had never gotten used to it. Every time he had lost a patient, it was like he'd lost a small part of himself, too. At least back in the real world he always had the luxury of knowing that he'd done everything possible. But this was different; sitting in a dark cave on some godforsaken island, thinking of twenty different things he could do for Kate if only they were back in the real world, in a real hospital. And if he lost Kate… Well, he'd be losing a much bigger piece of himself than usual.

She had gotten to him, simple as that. And no amount of warnings from the Marshal could have prevented it. He had seen who she really was before he had learned about the things she did; she was brave and compassionate and independent and just so… Kate. No use trying to describe her with conventional words. Kate defied convention in every way.

Jack smiled to himself as he watched her, remembering how they had met. She had been scared, he knew, but there had also been a quiet strength about her as she'd sewn him up. He inadvertently reached up to touch the scar on his back, lost in thought.

"If that had been me, I think I would've run for the door."

"I don't think that's true; you're not running now."

The rain came suddenly, snapping Jack out of his reverie. It always seemed louder at night, pounding on all sides of the caves and echoing through the silence of collective sleep. It wasn't unusual for Jack to find himself awake while everyone else slept. In a way it was nice, actually. He rarely had a moment to himself during the day, and the insomnia at least gave him a chance to think. But tonight his head was spinning, and he couldn't sit still anymore.

Jumping up, Jack grabbed a water bottle and walked to the cave entrance. Reaching one hand out into the downpour, he filled the bottle. The rain was colder than the waterfall, and he hoped it would do more for Kate's fever than what he'd been able to accomplish so far.

Replacing the cold compresses on her forehead and neck, Jack noticed that a strange rash had risen on Kate's chest and shoulders. A new symptom. Definitely not a good sign, Jack thought grimly. The dim glow of the fire wasn't exactly conducive to a good examination, but Jack leaned in closer, attempting to gauge the severity of the rash.

Suddenly, Kate jolted awake with a start. Seeing the dark form bent over her, she gasped and instinctually flailed her arms, struggling to push Jack away.

"Hey, it's ok," Jack soothed. "Kate, you're ok. You're safe."

Her eyes met his and she relaxed back against the pillow, breathing hard.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you," Jack said quietly. "Here, you need to drink some water."

He lifted the bottle to her lips, supporting her head from behind with the other hand. Kate took a few careful sips and shook her head to signal that she was finished.

"What were you doing?", Kate asked, still a little confused.

"You've developed a nasty rash in the last few hours and I was trying to get a better look," Jack replied.

"A rash?", Kate asked, bringing one hand up to her chest.

"Yeah. Looks like it started on your chest and spread across your shoulders. Does it hurt?", Jack asked with concern in his voice.

Kate hesitated for a moment, thinking. "It feels a little numb, actually."

"Numb?"

"Yeah," Kate answered. "Like tingly or something. But it doesn't hurt."

Jack didn't answer and Kate became worried.

"Jack, what does that mean?", she asked, trying to keep her voice calm.

He looked away for a moment, shaking his head, before returning his eyes to hers. "I don't know. But we'll figure it out," he said evenly, trying to sound confident, but Kate didn't look convinced.

"We'll figure it out, Kate," he assured her. "I promise."