Unlike the last time she woke, Kate now felt refreshed, and hungry. She sat up, stretching, and noticed a glass of water sitting on the nightstand. After gratefully drinking it down, she got up and began to look for her clothes.
Kate found Jack sitting at the kitchen table. "Hey" she said, standing in the doorway.
"Hi. How are you feeling?"
"Good as new." She was still standing in the doorway, again tugging on the hem of her t-shirt.
"You certainly look better," he said, standing to approach her. "Are you hungry".
"Yeah" she admitted.
"Come sit down. I'll make you something".
Kate hesitated and looked around the room. Sensing her discomfort, Jack asked, "Do you need something?"
Kate blushed slightly. "Um, have you seen my clothes?"
Jack held up a finger before disappearing around the corner. He returned a second later and handed her a stack of folded clothes.
"They're clean. Why don't you go get changed while I fix you something to eat?"
Jack opened the heavy hatch doors and let Kate step out ahead of him. She walked a little ways and then stopped, drinking in the sounds and smells of the jungle. It was a welcome change after the harsh sterility of the hatch.
"Feel good to be outside again?" Jack asked, approaching her. She gave a smile and nodded.
"Come on. Let's head back".
Jack let Kate set the pace. She took her time, as if discovering the beauty of the island for the first time. Finally, Jack broke the silence between them.
"So, how did you break your leg?"
Kate turned to look at him, confused.
"You said you broke your leg when you were twelve" he reminded her.
"Oh, that" she blushed. "I umm, I fell out of a tree".
Jack chuckled. "Why am I not surprised?" Kate shrugged.
"I bet that kept you out of the treetops for a while". Kate didn't answer.
"Are you kidding?" he asked.
"No. It just made it a bit harder" she admitted.
Jack laughed, picturing a young Kate scaling branches despite a casted leg. "You haven't changed much, have you?"
She rewarded him with a small smile. "I guess in some ways I haven't".
They continued on in silence for a bit before Jack spoke again. "I'm sorry, Kate".
She stopped walking and turned around, seeing him standing behind her. He stepped closer to her. She looked nervous.
Jack ran a hand over his rough beard. "I'm sorry I hurt you." Kate looked at him but said nothing.
" And you were right," he continued. "I did do it on purpose".
Kate shook her head sadly. "I don't understand you two," she admitted.
"Who?" Jack asked, confused.
"You and Sawyer." She gave an exasperated sigh. "He's so gruff and aggravating. He tries so hard to act like he doesn't, but every once in a while he'll surprise you, show you that he really does care".
Jack nodded, agreeing with her assessment.
"And you," she continued, "you made me believe that you were my friend. I thought you cared, that I could trust you, but then, then you just changed." She dragged a hand across her eye, angrily swiping at unshed tears.
"Kate" he said softly.
"I don't understand," she said, shaking her head. "I don't understand what changed, what I did. Was it the kiss? If it was, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I know I shouldn't have done it, I just . . ." She shook her head again, at a loss for words.
"Why did you kiss me?"
Kate sat down on a nearby rock and took a slow, deep breath before speaking. "I don't know. I was upset, and scared. And then you were there, and it just felt right. It just happened. I didn't think'.
"If it felt right, why did you run?" Jack asked.
Kate hesitated before lifting her eyes to meet his. "When I realized what I had done, I got scared. I did what I always do when I get scared, I ran." Kate lowered her gaze to her feet.
"Kissing me scared you?"
She nodded, kicking at the dirt. "Why?" Jack asked.
Kate shrugged. "Kate?" he urged.
"I guess I was afraid of feeling something for you, of changing things between us, you know?"
Jack laughed and took a seat beside her.
"Why are you laughing?" she asked, sounding hurt.
"Because we're not so different, Kate. You and me, we're not so different".
Kate shook her head, at a loss.
"Don't you get it? Being angry, pushing you away, that's just my way of running. I have the same fears you do."
They sat in silence for a while, while Kate pondered his admission.
"Come on," he said, finally, standing and reaching for her hand. "Let's head back. We'll talk more about this later."
"Promise?" Kate asked, standing beside him.
"Promise."
The End.
So that's it. I hope I didn't ruin it with this last chapter. I've discovered I have a real hard time ending stories. I think the next time I decide to write something, I'll have to write the ending first!
As for this story, while I'm done with it, I can still imagine there is more to tell. Clearly, Kate will continue to be plagued by migraines, and Jack will do everything he can to help her. If anyone wants to continue with this idea, feel free. I'd love to read it!