A/N: Many apologies for my recent lack of updates. I made this chapter longer than usual in an effort to make up for it! Thanks to Foxygirl for proofing, and everyone on the ABC J/K Ship for always encouraging me to write more. You girls are the best!

Though it was only early evening, Kate felt completely drained. As much as she hated to admit it, if Jack hadn't carried her back from the shower, she'd probably still be there. The short walk from the infirmary cave hadn't been bad, but as soon as the supportive arms on either side of her were gone, she had begun to feel shaky. Mind over matter, she had reminded herself, but that was easier said than done. Despite her best efforts, her legs had begun to feel like Jell-o, and as hard as it was to ask for help, Kate had decided that the slight blow to her ego was better than passing out again, this time in an embarrassing state of complete undress.

But after feeling so much better earlier in the afternoon, Kate was frustrated to find herself so weak once again. Jack assured her that her condition really was improving, but Kate wasn't so sure. Still, Jack had never lied to her, and it was hard to argue with his kind eyes and gentle tones when he tucked her in and told her she'd feel better once she got some rest. "Doctor's orders," he had reminded, with that half smile he wore when he was trying to cheer her up.

So Kate had smiled back and snuggled deeper into the blankets, trying to ignore the wet hair clinging to her face and neck, and falling asleep to the quiet, comfortable sounds of Jack moving around the cave and tending the fire.

When she awoke several hours later, the remaining daylight was slowly creeping out of the caves, to be replaced by the looming shadows of the trees just outside. Kate blinked a few times as her eyes adjusted to the dim light, finally coming to rest on… Jack's bare back?

Kate blinked again. Great, now I'm hallucinating, she thought to herself. It could certainly be worse, though…

Curious, Kate squinted through the low light. Sure enough, there was Jack, apparently just back from his turn in the newly-constructed shower. He was standing in front of his suitcases, his back to her, and Kate could see tiny droplets of water glistening on his broad shoulders. He finished buckling his belt and reached for a shirt. Kate's eyes travelled from his trim waistline to his muscular shoulders, and she watched his back flex as he pulled the t-shirt over his head. She was glad he had picked one of the sleeveless ones because she always liked to study his tattoos when he wasn't looking, trying to figure out what they meant to him. Maybe someday he'll tell me…

Jack's voice startled Kate out of her reverie and she realized she was still staring at him.

"How long have you been awake?" he asked, surprise in his voice.

"Oh, just a few seconds," Kate explained quickly.

Jack eyed her suspiciously.

"I swear, Jack, I didn't see anything" she said playfully.

"Yeah? Then why are you grinning like that?"

Kate reddened a little and giggled. "Okay, I saw almost nothing."

Jack laughed and shook his head. "Well, lucky for you, I don't embarrass that easily."

Kate smiled. "Good. Besides, I'm the one over here wearing nothing but a towel, so you have no room to complain."

Jack nodded and gave her a conciliatory smile. "Do you want me to get Shannon to help you get dressed now?" he asked.

"No, I think I can do it myself," Kate replied. "Can you, uh…" Kate motioned with her hand for Jack to turn around.

"Of course," Jack replied, turning his back to her. "So I take it you're feeling a little better?" he called over his shoulder.

"I guess so," Kate replied half-heartedly. "But who knows how long that'll last."

"Well, as long as you don't over-do it, you should start feeling stronger every day. I think the poison has run its course, and your system just needs time to recover now."

"How much time?" Kate asked, her voice muffled through the shirt she was pulling over her head.

"Can't say for sure," Jack replied, knowing that wasn't the answer Kate wanted to hear. "At least a few more days."

Kate let out an audible sigh, but said nothing.

Jack frowned, shifting his weight uncomfortably. He sensed her frustration, but wasn't sure if it was directed towards him or simply the situation. It was against Kate's nature to be confined like this, Jack knew. He assumed that was why she never moved to the caves. And she obviously wasn't used to letting people help her so much. Don't take it personally, Jack, he reminded himself. This is just really hard for her.

"You can turn around," Kate said, her voice neutral.

Jack turned, eyeing her thoughtfully.

"What?" Kate asked, a little self-consciously.

"Nothing," Jack replied. "I'm just… sorry you've had to go through this."

Kate gave him a sad smile and looked down at her hands folded in her lap. "Don't feel sorry for me, Jack. It's my own fault anyway."

"It's your fault that a poisonous tropical spider bit you and I didn't know how to treat it?" Jack asked, confused.

"Well… I think so, yeah."

Jack crossed his arms and watched her, waiting patiently for a further explanation. Kate was silent for a few seconds, seemingly absorbed in pulling at a loose string on the blanket.

Without looking up, she asked quietly, "Do you believe in karma?"

"Karma?" Jack repeated, trying to understand where she was going with this.

"Yeah, you know. Like, what goes around comes around."

Jack walked towards Kate, looking a little puzzled, and sat down beside her. She didn't look up, but her fingers were nervously twitching the loose string now, and based on her tense posture, Jack was sure she regretted her question. Kate didn't often confide her worries, so he knew this must have really been bothering her. He hated to see her looking uncomfortable, but he wasn't about to drop the subject before at least trying to ease her worries.

"Kate, are you asking me if I think you… deserve this?"

She nodded but didn't look at him.

Jack looked a little incredulous. In his profession, he had seen a lot of bad things happen to good people; no rhyme, no reason. Shaking his head, he said, "Kate, that's crazy. This isn't your fault; some things just happen. There's nothing you could have done to--"

"You don't know that, Jack," Kate interrupted, her voice breaking as she said his name. "I've done terrible things. You just don't know…" She looked up at him then, a single tear escaping down her freckled cheek.

He reached out and gently wiped it away with his thumb, his hand lingering on her face. "I know everything I need to know."

Kate smiled then, and he continued to look at her for a few moments, feeling torn between being Jack the doctor and Jack the man. It was usually easy for him to separate the two, but something indescribable about Kate's eyes-- about the way she looked at him-- blurred the line in a way that both confused and excited him. He was willing to be whatever she needed; he just wasn't sure what that was.

Slowly, he lowered his hand, but Kate caught it in both of her own. "Thank you," she whispered. Then, pulling him towards her, she released his hand and encircled her arms around his chest in a tentative hug. It took Jack by surprise, but he hesitated only a fraction of a second before reaching his arms around her small frame and pulling her closer. Kate reflexively squeezed him tighter and rested her cheek against his warm chest.

Jack didn't know how long they remained like that, content in one another's silence, but eventually he felt Kate's breathing slow and her body relax. Being careful not to wake her, he laid her gently back onto the pillow and drew the blanket up around her shoulders.

He sat there with her as night fell, watching the slow rise and fall of her chest as she slept. He wasn't sure if he stayed for her or for himself… but he knew he couldn't leave.