Jate one-shot. Set immediately post-Lockdown. This idea is partly based on my thoughts on Kate not being seen much lately. A bit of angst quickly turns very fluffy.
Jack was talking to Hurley, out of earshot, but Kate couldn't hear what they were saying. She hadn't talked to him since the Henry drama in the hatch the previous night. There were so many emotions swirling around Kate that she couldn't keep them straight – she was angry that Jack hadn't told her about Gale, upset that the moment she was sure they had was ruined by the whole chaotic episode, and inexplicably jealous of everyone Jack talked to.
Kate made up her mind in a quick moment and forced a confident stride as she walked towards Jack. When he finished up his conversation with Hurley and turned around, she was ready. She faced him down, but he didn't move. Finally, Kate spoke up.
"Why didn't you tell me about Gale?"
"What? Kate, I -"
"I was such an idiot! I was just walking around here thinking everything was just fine. Well I guess I learned my lesson – everything is never just fine on this damn island!" Kate was more frustrated than she had realized. She had actually begun to believe that things were going well, and mere moments before everything got so out of control, she had allowed herself to start getting closer to Jack again. She didn't want to let that go.
"Kate," Jack stood there, feeling something like a deer caught in headlights, lamely attempting to find the right words "I'm sorry. I didn't… I didn't know if you wanted to know. If I would be bothering you."
"That's bull, Jack. You know it would never bother me! Tell me the truth. You owe it to me."
"I didn't want to you get hurt." Kate stopped moving, stopped breathing – just thinking. The silence between them spoke for itself. "It's dangerous telling you things, Kate, because then you want to help. You always do – it's who you are. You can't deny it. And then you'll get hurt. And I'm… I'm scared of that."
Kate was barely aware of her own narrowed, searching eyes, her mouth opening but then closing when she realized she didn't know what to say. Finally she realized that no words were coming to her, and she did the only thing she could.
She ran to him, wrapping her arms around him in a full body hug. Her display of affection shocked Jack, but only for a second – because after she buried her face in his chest, she looked up at him, tears in her eyes, and something clicked back into place on the island.