Chapter 13

He'd been thinking, cursing and trying to plot together a plan to go back when his mother looked around the door. He didn't even realise that night had turned into day sunlight was streaming in through the hospital's 8th floor windows.

"Hey, can I come in" Margo asked sounding a little hesitant. She wanted to know in which state of mind he was first.

"Sure" he sighed sounding tired

"How do you feel?"

"Trust me you don't want to know" He rubbed his eyes to trying to clear his mind.

"Jack" she began slowly "I'm sorry for sending you to Australia after your dad none of this would've happened if I didn't sent you to bring him back"

Jack just looked at her, was this actually an apology coming from her? He shook his head. "It's not your fault"

"In a way it is." She seemed to be having difficulty speaking the words.

Jack started to interrupt her but she stopped him. "There are some things you need to know"

Jack frowned great more secrets he thought grimly, well let her bring it on he doubted anything could shock or surprise him anymore.

"I sent you to bring your father back for some of my own selfish reasons. Yes I did blame you for your fathers career for what had happened back then at the time but I know now you did the right thing. He forgave you. He loved you"

Jack swallowed hard and nodded, yeah he'd gotten that message already.

"I also sent you to Australia because I know why he went to Australia, you don't know this Jack but 22 years ago when you were 15 your father had an affair while on a business trip to Australia, you might remember he was away for several weeks."

Jack nodded not sure what to say, yes he remembered times his father was away on business trips for days or even weeks on end he also remember a lot of times when things were tense to say the least between his parents, there was more than one time he'd thought they'd get divorced.

"Well it turns out he had another child, a girl"

"What?" Jack asked incredulously, He had suspected his father had affairs but never thought that there might be a child involved.

Margo just stared at him. "You have a sister" She said without a trace of emotion on her face. Typical Margo he thought.

She continued before he could respond. "I found out from his will, He'd left his estate to you and the girl, so the lawyers worked to track her down. They found her mother in Sydney she said her daughter was missing, she'd been on a plane to the US" She paused a moment then said the words that made Jack gasp. "She was on your plane Jack"

"What?" He seemed to be asking that a lot lately he thought wryly.

"I haven't met her yet, guess I don't know what to say to her but you must know her, she is one of the survivors rescued with you. Her name is Claire"

Jack gasped. "Oh my god"

"I take it you know her then"

"Of course. Claire? Omg how can that be?"

"I don't know if her mother told her yet but you're both millionaires now" Margo paused "oh that's when we have you declared alive again"

Jack frowned, "what do you mean?" his mind was still spinning at the thought that Claire was his sister.

"After the crash when search for the plane were stopped, you were all declared dead. Everything was turned over to me. I've already contacted a lawyer back in the States as soon as we're back we'll get things sorted out again"

Jack's mind was still stuck on the shocker "She had a baby on the island" At his mother's quizzical look he continued "Claire, she was 8 months pregnant when the plane crashed. Kate delivered the baby" He had trouble swallowing past the lump in his throat.

She left him shortly after to mull over all this new information by himself, not for long though. It wasn't long before there was a knock on the door again.

"Come in" he said absently.

The door opened and Claire peeked around the door. Jack suddenly felt nervous. Did she know yet? How did she feel about all this? His father ultimately abandoned her to be with his family in the States.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" She asked coming in slowly. She looked nervous and hesitant.

"Depends" he said vaguely. He watched her as she bit her lower lip.

"Jack I spoke to my mother she told me something…"

"I know, mine just told me"

She slowly let out a breath. "I'm so sorry, I had no idea. I never knew him, never made the connection with your name being Shepherd and all"

"Claire its ok, I didn't know either. None of it is your fault and even if you had his last name too, we still wouldn't have made the connection. I mean what are the odds?"

Claire smiled "yeah it's so weird." She was quiet for a few seconds "I couldn't have asked for a better brother though"

Jack looked at her. "Nor could I have asked for a better sister" They both felt choked up and when Claire came closer to touch his hand he pulled her into a hug and both started crying.

It was some time later when they sat talking trying to catch up some on each other's life's before the crash.

"Where's Aaron btw? How is he?" Jack asked.

"Your nephew's fine" she said with a smile, "he's with my mother, she's insisting on babysitting as often as possible"

"That's great, have you thought about what you're going to do now, where you want to live?"

"Not really. I've been thinking of going to the US but my mother wont like that …" She trailed off a gleam in her eyes.

"And?" Jack pushed sensing there was more to it.

"Charlie's also staying here, his brother being here and all"

"I see" He said knowingly. "Glad to hear you two kissed and made up"

"Who said we kissed?" Claire teased

Jack just smiled at her. "Well whatever you decide it should be your decision"

"Yes brother" She teased back as they both smiled.

"Am I interrupting?" Sawyer came in without knocking. "And why you calling him brother blondie?"

Jack and Claire just looked at each other. "Should we tell him?" Claire asked

"I don't think we have much of a choice" Jack shrugged

"Tell him what?" Sawyer asked eyeing them suspiciously.

"Turns out we're brother and sister, same dad" Claire said.

Sawyer frowned "you serious?"

Claire continued to tell him the rest of the story as Sawyer listened dumbstruck.

"well I'll be damned"

After Claire left Sawyer stayed seated. "I actually came to say goodbye, I'm flying back to the US tonight"

"So soon?" Jack sounded surprised.

"Well there's nothing keeping me down under, I need to go sort some things out in the States, suppose you'll be going back soon as well."

Jack shrugged. "I want to go back to the island; I need to go find her"

"Jack" Sawyer started. "We searched everywhere"

"I heard. But I can't just give up, forget about her and move on with my life while she's still there with Them"

"I know man it's killing me too but I spoke to the pilot the fact that they found the island was an accident, they were lost in bad weather and their navigation went haywire, they'd have no idea how to find the place again"

"I appreciate what you've done. Eko told me you didn't want to give up" Jack started. "I know you care about her too. And I'm grateful that you looked for her but I can't just leave it, I have to try and find her"

Sawyer saw the sheer determination on Jack's face in the past few months he'd learned that that look meant business. "Well good luck then, if you need help be in touch and let me know if you find her" Sawyer got up to leave but Jack stopped him.

"Sawyer. Thank you. I know we've had our differences but…"

"It's cool Doc, I know I didn't make things easier." He looked at Jack. "Bygones?"

Jack nodded "we were all under a lot of stress but we got a second chance, I just need to go find mine"

"Yeah me too" Sawyer said absently. "Take care, Doc"

"You too, Sawyer"

Sawyer turned and left the room leaving Jack alone again.