Hey everyone thanks for the reviews, as long as they keep coming so will the chapters of this storyJ. Also in my story Shannon is still alive. Also can I just give out a shout out to JJ Abrams I just saw MI3 and at the end of the credits during the special thanks there is thanks to the Hanso Foundation and that just made my day. Ok so on to the story.
Chapter 3
The castaways decided to hold the funerals of Anna and Libby right away, it was almost best to just get it over with so they were laid to rest late in the afternoon. Henry was also buried but besides a prayer by Eko over his grave not much was said about the Other. Sayid, honestly could care less what happened to Henry's body but respected people's need to bury him and his memory. Kate had stood at the funeral but had kept her eyes on Jack the whole time. His attitude and behavior was just like it was in the hatch, he was cold and quiet during the services. When asked if he would like to say anything about Ana Lucia all he said was that she liked Tequila and Tonic.
Later that evening Kate sat at the end of the beach next to her own fire staring into the flames. She had searched for Jack but he wasn't at the beach or the hatch. She figured he had just gone off to be by himself but that wasn't reassuring to her. She knew she wouldn't be able to relax until she knew where he was and in her eyesight. She sighed and pondered her life and how she got to this point. When they had crashed here it was a mixed blessing. Being on the island had been a reprieve from having to go to prison it was a chance at a new life. Unfortunately it also was a curse, it would be so easy to give in and start a new life but the thought of rescue had held her back. She knew that what she really meant was that the thought of rescue had held her back from a life with Jack. At times she wished she had one of those magic glass balls and that she could look into it and see if rescue would ever come. She had known that if it showed her that it wouldn't she would've thrown herself into Jack's arms and never let go. She knew that if they would ever be brought back to civilization that she would be thrown in jail and as confused about Jack as she was she knew he would stick by her. Normally that would be a great thing; Kate knew that she would be able to get through everyday of incarceration as long as she knew Jack was out there waiting for her. But that was so selfish of her, it would be easy to sit in a cell all day and just think of his touch, smell and his taste.
How could she ask Jack to be out in the free world surrounded by his work, family and friends and still think of her? Kate wasn't stupid she knew that out there in the free world Jack was something that women dreamed of, tall, dark, handsome, caring, and sensitive plus a doctor to boot. How could she expect him to sit around and wait for a convict girlfriend while eligible women would most definitely be throwing themselves at him constantly? She saw the looks the women on the island gave him; they would watch him through the corner of their eyes, blush when he talked to them. The only thing was here Kate had an invisible claim on Jack from the day they landed and they all knew it. Back home she wouldn't be able to stake a claim to him with a look or a touch on his arm she would be locked away. Somehow after today though that didn't matter to her, today everything changed. Three lives had come to a brutal end by someone that most of the castaways trusted and cared about. The man she secretly loved was being haunted by his past and was deteriorating in front of her.
It hit her over the head by the cartoonish proverbial sledgehammer she truly loved Jack unconditionally. She didn't know what happened to Jack in his past but it didn't matter to her. Even if she didn't know everything about him she knew his heart and she knew that whatever he did it wasn't anything she couldn't look past. Hell she was a murderer herself, short of pedophilia there wasn't much Jack could have done to make her turn away from him. She was interrupted from her thoughts when she heard footsteps approaching her. She looked up to see Shannon.
Kate didn't know Shannon as well as she knew Claire and Sun but Kate had noticed the major attitude change in her when Boone had passed and had become involved with Sayid, she had become more mature and likable.
"Hey Kate," Shannon said tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Mind if I sit?"
Kate smiled at her and Shannon took a seat next to her and looked at the fire, after a few seconds of silence she spoke again.
"I think Sayid is going to kill me all I've done today is hover unmercifully" Shannon said with a smirk. She looked at Kate. "Uh Sayid told me about what Michael said about The Others wanting him, Jack and Eko. Sayid is a trained soldier and here I am keeping him in watching distance like it's going to make a difference."
Kate smiled, "It's understandable, you love him and want him safe." Kate's eyes quickly scanned the beach once again for Jack. The gesture didn't go unnoticed by Shannon.
"How is Jack? He uh didn't seem himself during the funeral." Shannon asked softly.
Kate sighed, "I don't know, he's not doing well though. He's blaming himself for Ana and Libby and he's hurting and all I want to do is help him but I can't because he's disappeared and I can't find him. The Others want him and so his big idea is to go off somewhere by himself I swear sometimes he drives me insane." Kate said her voice almost becoming hysterical. Sensing the change in Kate, Shannon gently put her hand on her arm.
"Hey Jack is going to be ok all right. He's hurting but he knows you love him and he'll be…"
"He doesn't know" Kate said softly "He doesn't know I love him because all I've ever done is push him away."
"Oh" Shannon said thoughtfully "I always thought you guys were together I mean the way you look at each other and I don't know you guys just kind of scream chemistry. You mean to say you guys haven't even kissed yet?"
Kate blushed, "Well no we've kissed. I kissed him once and then I did what I do best and ran away, and then he uh kissed me today but he left not long after." Kate couldn't believe she was talking about this but she had never had many girlfriends so the stereotypical girl talk was almost a relief.
"Really?" Shannon's eyes lit up "What was it like? I mean Jack looks like he's a good kisser." Shannon chuckled at the look Kate gave her, "Hey don't get me wrong I love Sayid but I am a woman and I'd have to be blind to not see Jack as an attractive man, I mean all the women on the island do. You know that woman Susan who seems to be with a new guy every week? I think Jack is her grand prize."
Kate's eyes flared at the thought of another woman trying to get Jack, "Oh really?" her voice somewhat harsh.
Shannon laughed "Yeah, do you know she actually stepped on a sea urchin on purpose just so Jack would look at her foot? It was pretty funny Jack just looked at her foot gave her medicine and sent her on her way without barely a peep. She had practically thrown herself at him and he gave her nothing. It was amusing for us to watch."
Kate looked down the beach and saw the woman Susan snuggling up to another man Kate remembered his name was Daniel. She would be keeping an eye out for that one.
"It's kind of an unspoken fact that Jack is yours though" Shannon said "And well no offense but the fact that you are a fugitive kind of helped you out, I think Susan is afraid of you so she's stayed away from Jack."
Kate laughed at that, who knew Sawyer had actually done a favor for her when he exposed her in front of everyone. The two sat for a few minutes just enjoying the silence, when Shannon spoke up.
"Look we don't really know each other that well so please don't get mad that I'm going to say this, but you need to tell him you love him. Sayid says a war is coming and he's nervous. All I'm saying is you and I are in the same boat. These people they want to hurt are the men we love and do you know what scares me? They just might be able to do it. So just think about telling him cause pretty soon it might be to late." Shannon said hurriedly. "I'm going to head back to Sayid, have a goodnight Kate and please consider what I said." With that Shannon was walking away and Kate was alone again.
She sighed and looked around her and she knew Shannon was right; who knew the best advice would come from a girl that gave herself a pedicure after a plane crash? Kate pulled her knees up to her chin and thought of what she was going to do. First she was going to have to find Jack, second she was going to have to make him listen to her. With the mood he was in she knew she was going to have to do a lot of convincing to make him come around. She smiled for a second, well if he won't listen to my voice he's just going to have to listen to my body. She blushed as thoughts of how she could gain his attention rushed through her head. Ok she thought as she stood up and brushed the sand off her pants, time to find Jack.
She headed down the beach and looked in his tent and all around and didn't see him anywhere. She figured she would try the hatch one more time. As she walked to the hatch she kept her eyes and ears open, not just for danger but anything that might lead her to Jack. She approached the hatch and headed in. When she entered she saw Claire sitting on the couch with Aaron and peeked into the computer room and saw Locke doodling on a piece of paper. She had noticed Locke spending a lot of time around Claire and she thought it was a bit strange. Kate understood why Claire was wary of Charlie and his possible drug habit but she was sure they would find their way back to each other. Hell if she and Jack could then anything is possible.
"Hey Claire" Claire looked up at the voice and smiled when she saw Kate.
"Hey Kate, how are you?" the young mother asked.
"Uh not bad, have you seen Jack down here at all?" Kate asked trying to keep her eyes from scanning the room; it would hold too many bad memories of Libby and Ana.
"No I haven't, I just came down here to get the nappies I left in the laundry I'm waiting for them to finish so I can get out of here. I don't like it here anymore, it's too sad." Claire said.
"You're looking for Jack?" Locke's voice came from behind her. His obvious interest in Jack made Kate falter for a second. Jack and Locke were notorious for not getting along and for some reason his wanting to discuss Jack made her a little nervous.
"Yeah" Kate carefully answered, "I haven't seen him and just need to talk to him."
"Well he hasn't been here since this morning; you know when that interesting conversation about Jack's past came up? Is there anything on that subject you could shed any light to?" Locke asked curiously.
Kate frowned and shook her head, "Sorry can't help you out"
"Can't or won't?" Locke asked and Kate felt a bit annoyed. She also saw his eyes flicker to the room where Michael was being held. That made her very uncomfortable, if Locke really wanted to know about Jack how much would he give Michael to get the information?
"I really don't know anything, now if you excuse me I'll talk to you guys later." Kate said as she hurried out of the room. As she exited out of the hatch she ran into Sayid.
"I'm sorry Sayid I didn't see you." Kate said apologetically.
"It's ok Kate, sometimes I think we should all wear bells." Sayid said with a small smile.
"So where's Shannon?" Kate asked with a smirk.
Sayid chuckled, "She is with Jin and Sun, she said she would stay only after I promised to come straight to the hatch. I wanted to stay here and keep an eye on Michael" he said walking past Kate towards the entrance.
"Sayid?" Kate called getting his attention. He walked back facing her. "Can I ask you for a favor?' she went on when Sayid nodded. "Look, Locke is really interested in what happened in the hatch this morning, especially the information about Jack's past. I know we are all interested but I don't like the way Locke looked when he was asking me questions. I think he's going to try to get Michael to tell him and I'm afraid he's going to do something really stupid like make a deal with him or something. I promise you whatever Jack did, I don't believe he's a threat to us in anyway so I think he should be able to keep his past to himself without John Locke trying to get involved in it." Kate said nervously tucking her hair behind her ear.
"I couldn't agree with you more." Sayid said while Kate gave a small sigh of relief. "I have seen into Jack's eyes too and you're right I don't believe he's a threat to us, but I am worried about him, I have never seen him like this and I'm afraid he won't do a very good job taking care of himself."
"I know I'm actually going to find him now. Don't worry, I will make him take care of himself even if it means I have to drug him again" Kate said joking but Sayid could see the seriousness in her eyes.
"Do not worry about Locke, Kate. I will be in there tonight and I will make sure that if he tries to bring it up that the discussion on Jack is off limits and that he doesn't see Michael at all." Sayid said giving her shoulder a squeeze. Kate smiled gratefully at him and said goodnight. After he entered the hatch Kate started to think of where he might be. He wasn't at the hatch and he wasn't at the beach. Kate suddenly remembered the last time Jack disappeared without a word, it was when he found fresh water. The cave of course you idiot! Kate shook her head scolding herself. The caves had been long abandoned and she knew that would be where Jack would go to get away.
Ok so this was actually intended to be one update but this chapter became way too long so I'm going to post this part now and finish what would have been the end of this chapter. So you will be getting 2 updates today so please please review because my fragile little ego depends on it.
