Ok here's another update I think I'm trying to get a lot written before the season finale because who knows what the heck is going to happen. Also a couple people mentioned they were worried that it might be too soon for a baby, this story is taking place in the same timeframe so if Kate were to become pregnant I'm neither denying nor confirming that by the way, it wouldn't be know for a least a couple months and right now I'm not sure the story will actually last that long. Ok so I just wanted to clear that up,
Chapter 9
Kate awoke to the sound of the ocean crashing against the beach and the feel of Jack's arm wrapped around her waist. She smiled and turned to face him to see that he was awake and was leaning on his elbow his head propped on his hand. She smiled sweetly at him.
"What are you doing?" Kate asked making herself comfortable on her side mirroring his position and allowing herself to look into his eyes.
"Watching you sleep" he said with a lazy grin, "I actually have to get up soon and go talk to Sayid he has a plan to get Walt back."
Kate reached up and stroked his cheek. "Can I come with?"
Jack sighed and adverted his eyes, he knew Kate would want to be involved and to come along but Jack was worried about her safety and now with the change in their relationship he was feeling even more protective of her.
Before he spoke she interrupted him. "Jack I know what you are going to say but I'm a big girl and I can take care of myself, please I want to help" said Kate.
"Ok let's make a deal, why don't you come with me to hear about what the plan is and then decide if you should be involved" Jack could see that Kate was going to interrupt so he quickly went on. "Remember last night? You told me you wanted a baby has that changed?'
"Of course not" Kate said strongly.
"Then we need to also keep in mind that you may be pregnant and the first couple weeks are the most trying Kate, it's when the baby is most vulnerable. If you are pregnant I can't just sit back and say its ok that you go out on a dangerous mission. I know you can take care of yourself and I respect you because of your strong will and independence, but this would be my baby too so please just think about it ok?" Jack asked her gently tucking her hair behind her ear.
Kate sighed and knew he was right she wanted a baby, a baby that could be just starting out in her womb right now and she didn't want to do anything to endanger that precious life. "Ok I'll come to hear the plan and we will decide my role in it later."
"Thank you" Jack said leaning over and brushing his lips across hers.
"It's only cause your so fricking great in bed" Kate muttered as she got up to get dressed and Jack lightly swatted her on the rear.
"Damn straight" Jack said giving her a sly grin as he watched her change in front of him. He soon got out of the bed and started readying himself for the day.
Fifteen minutes later the two were out of their tent and started walking down the beach towards the path to the hatch. Kate looked over and made eye contact with Claire who gave her a teasing smile and next to her was Shannon who gave her the thumbs up sign. Kate smiled and rolled her eyes she had a feeling she was up for some serious girl talk whether she wanted to or not. As they walked Kate noticed Slutty Susan, who Kate had started to mentally refer to her as, glaring at her. Kate smiled and pretended to not notice the woman as she slipped her arm through Jack's and tugged him close as they walked. He looked down and smiled at her and leaned down and quickly kissed her. Kate smiled and glanced over at Susan who practically had steam coming out her ears. Kate smiled sweetly at her and gave a little wave. She knew the little gestures would really drive the woman crazy. Who the hell did she think she was anyway? It wasn't like Susan had any claim on Jack. It was Kate who was friends with him from the beginning. If that dumb bottled blonde wanted to tussle Kate had no problem going at it with her. Kate heard muffled laughter from behind her and turned to see Claire and Shannon trying to cover their laughter and looking at Susan, it seems they caught on to Kate's gestures as well.
As they went through the jungle Kate noticed Jack was awfully quiet and seemed to be thinking pretty hard.
"What's up?" she asked looking up at him.
"Huh" he said coming out of his daze, "Oh can I ask you a question?" Jack asked.
"Sure, fire away" Kate said with a smile.
"Why didn't you tell me that Locke was asking questions about me? I'm not mad or anything Sayid told me you brought it up with him. I was just wondering if it upset you, why didn't you tell me?" Jack asked thoughtfully
Kate smiled, "Well Jack it's pretty easy. I had every intention of telling you but you have to admit our recent conversations haven't exactly been real traditional. I mean between the passionate moaning and the incoherent sentences I kind of forgot about it."
Jack chuckled, "Yeah, I guess it's kind of hard to have a real conversation when one of our tongues is usually jammed down the other ones throat." He said joking but then became serious. "I just want you to be careful around him ok? I don't want him trying to use you to get information."
Kate smiled and took his hand, "It'll be ok I'd never tell him anything anyway, plus remember I have your back"
The two walked the rest of the way holding hands in a comfortable silence. A few minutes later they were entering the hatch and came around the corner to see, Sayid, Locke, Sawyer and Charlie waiting for them.
Jack was half expecting Kate to let go of his hand when she saw Sawyer but was pleasantly surprised when she didn't and sat down right next to him on the couch their bodies pressed side by side.
"Well bloody hell when did this happen?" Charlie asked looking at the couple. "Seriously I've been working on that blasted church for so long I totally missed this." He said gesturing to Kate and Jack's intertwined fingers.
Before Charlie could go on Jack spoke up "Speaking of the church where is Eko."
Sayid sighed, "Eko wants nothing to do with the Others, he says he will make sure to watch his back but that is as far as he wants to go."
Jack nodded and looked at Sayid, "All right so what's the plan then?"
"Michael was sent here with an agenda, to lure our own people out into the jungle and then right into the Other's trap. Chances are they really want it to be Eko, you and myself so they can be done with us."
"Speaking of that" Locke spoke up "Maybe it would be best if could understand why the Others would be after you three specifically."
Kate could literally feel Jack tense and turn into stone; they both knew Locke was fishing for information on Jack before either could speak Sawyer piped in.
"I hate to say it but I agree with Mr. Clean on this. I mean Sayid and Eko I understand them but why you Doc? What's so scary about you?" Sawyer said with a smirk, but the smirk quickly faded when he saw that Jack's eyes has turned cold and deadly. Kate literally could feel the change overcoming Jack and she squeezed his hand and leaned up and kissed his cheek. She let out a sigh of relief when he glanced down at her and she could see the man she loved behind the cold eyes. She knew this darkness was a part of him and a part of what made him who he is today. That was ok with Kate, he had been through enough to allow him the right to be that way, but she didn't want it overwhelming him so as long as she could see the man she loved in there then she would let him be. Plus it was kind of amusing to see Jack intimidate Sawyer without really even trying.
"It doesn't matter" Jack said.
"But see that's where I disagree" said Sawyer, "I mean here you are being the friendly doctor and even shacked up with Freckles, how do we know you're safe to be around. How can we trust you as a doctor when we can't be sure you aren't some kind of sicko who likes to hunt and kill women in your free time?"
"Well Sawyer, I'm still alive" Kate said dryly. She didn't like how he was going after Jack just because he was jealous.
"For now Freckles, but who is to say he isn't gonna get tired of you and one day poof you disappear and he's got you buried under his tent or something." Sawyer said.
"I think it's pretty safe to say that if Jack were going to snap I seriously doubt the person he's going to kill is going to be Kate, however Sawyer if I were you I might watch my back." Charlie said. Sayid had filled him in on what was going on and about the question of Jack's mysterious past, he was with Sayid and Kate and believed Jack should be able to have his own secrets.
The whole time Jack had been quiet but he couldn't suppress the tiny smile that came to his lips when Charlie spoke.
"Look" Jack said, "Yes I have a past, just like everyone else here. I am however not a crazy serial killer looking for my next target" he said throwing a glare at Sawyer. "However it's my past and I get to choose who I want knowing about it and who I don't. I am not a threat to anyone on the island and I think I've done enough these last two months to prove that."
"Exactly" Kate said and Charlie and Sayid nodded in agreement. Locke nodded after a few seconds. Everyone but Jack looked at Sawyer and the room was silent finally Sawyer threw up his hands.
"Fine whatever just don't come crying to me when you find yourself being chased through the jungle by Jack who's wearing a hockey mask and wielding a chainsaw."
Everyone just shook their heads in disgust at Sawyer and Sayid spoke up.
"We need to get the exact details from Michael about what is expected of him. I think are best bet would to be to send three or four people the way Michael is supposed to bring them. Myself and Jack should follow behind and travel secretly. When we get out there and the Others are distracted by the first group we go in and get Walt. Once we get all the exact details from Michael about what we're up against we can finalize and set the plan in motion. Ok?" Everyone nodded "Jack would you mind staying behind a second I'd like to run something by you?"
"Sure" Jack said. Everyone left except Sayid, Jack and Kate. Sayid glanced uncomfortably at Kate, and Jack noticed his unease.
"It's ok Sayid, Kate can hear anything you need to say to me" Jack said with a nod.
"All right" Sayid said, "As much as I respect your privacy I do need to bring up your past. Whatever it is, and I truly don't want to know, was enough to scare Michael into giving himself up. I was wondering if you would be willing to get the rest of the information that we need from him."
Jack thought for a moment and nodded his head, "Ok I'll go in and talk to him in a few minutes." He stood gently pulling Kate up with him. Sayid excused himself to go punch in the numbers.
"Why don't you head back to the beach and stay with Claire and Shannon. I'll be back as soon as I can." He said stroking her hair.
"No" Kate said "I'll wait for you here."
Jack sighed; she was so damn stubborn god help them if a baby ever does come. "Kate, I love you and I don't regret one second of our time together or telling you about what I did, and yes you do know about my past but that doesn't mean that I want you to see me like that though. I don't want you to ever have to meet the man that I used to be ok, and I'm afraid that if I can't reason with Michael right away that I might have to become him. That's why Sayid asked me to do this, he knows I'm capable of getting the information."
Kate studied his face for a moment and moved into the security of his arms. "Jack, you're talking about yourself like you're Jekyll and Hyde and that's not the truth. You are the same man that you were when you were in the military. Your experiences there helped shape the man that I'm looking at right now. It's ok to have a dark side just as long as you don't let it overwhelm you. I'll go because I love you and respect your wishes to not have me here even though I don't agree with them, however you need to get something straight I love and adore you and I won't let you berate and abuse yourself over your past. You're a good man Jack Shephard, and no one can convince me otherwise, not even you."
Jack leaned down and kissed her hungrily, no one has ever accepted him as openly and lovingly as Kate does. He deepened the kiss and ran his hands through her soft curls. After a few more minutes they broke for air.
"I better get back to the beach" Kate said breathlessly and Jack nodded at her, "Try to get back as soon as you can" with that Kate kissed him one last time and headed out the hatch. Jack turned and stared at the door that shielded him from Michael. He glanced over as Sayid entered the room.
"Are you ready my friend?" Sayid asked.
Jack looked at Sayid and spoke "I used to kill people for my government I was an assassin."
Sayid looked at him but showed no disbelief or disgust as he spoke "Jack I used to torture and kill people for your government as well" The two men looked at each other and nodded they had just become brothers in arms. They had an understanding Jack had confided in Sayid and he would never betray his trust the same way he knew Jack would do the same for him if the positions were reversed. Jack rubbed his hand through his hair and opened the locked door and came face to face with Michael once again.
Gosh it's like 2 am so please forgive any typos I'm exhausted. This will probably be my last update until after the season finale so I wish everyone good luck and I hope everyone's favorite characters survive.
