Chapter 17

Jack sat staring out the window of the small plane. Scanning the sea below for some sign of an island but there was only an ever expanding volume of water beneath him.

It had been eight months since he was rescued from the island he was now looking for again. Back then he'd never have thought that he would ever be looking for the place again. They'd all just wanted to be rescued to get back to civilization back to their lives but now that he'd been back he could barely function. All he could think about was getting back to the island. Of coarse it had nothing to do with the actual island and everything to do with the woman left behind there. He'd never forgive himself if something happened to her. He'd never be able to go on with his life with her still there. She was his future.

He'd been back in Australia for more than two months now, and was beginning to feel like he was stuck in some time warp as every day was the same he got up at the crack of dawn went down to the airstrip got in the plane and headed out each day hoping that today would be the day he found them. Charlie and Claire had gone out with him a few times but most days he was alone in the small cockpit. He'd taken up flying lessons again while back in the US waiting for his leg to heal. He'd accepted Hurley's offer of buying a small private plane, easier to do this himself than to try and hire someone who most likely would've given up by now. He couldn't expect anyone else to understand his drive to find her. Some days he could barely grasp it himself.

Who would've thought that after the horror of a plane crash and trying to survive on a dangerous island he'd find his soul mate, the one person he didn't want to live without ever again. She was unique, she infuriated him one minute and the next made him laugh.

He knew there was still a lot unsaid between them, to be honest they hardly knew each other at least not in the typical sense of two people who would've met under normal circumstances and started dating. They probably never would've met under normal circumstances or at least not have started dating seeing as how different their lives were before the crash. But they knew each other's hearts in the way that mattered. He knew she was a kind and caring person even though he knew she was a wanted criminal he never got a cruel or menacing vibe from her. That's probably why he was so shocked to find out that she had been the criminal the Marshall were taking back to the States. But now that he knew why she did what she did he understood her better, knew why she was so intent on always running. Life had really dealt her a bad hand. He just wanted to hold her and tell her that it's all over that she was free to start a new life again. Hopefully a new life with him.

A few days after the Christmas party at Hurley's house he got a call from a woman who said to have gotten his number from the airline. She only said she wanted to meet with him and that it was about a woman named Kate. Jack had given her his address and the following day his doorbell rung. An elderly woman stood in front of him, he invited her in and she introduced herself as Samantha Austen, Kate's grandmother. Jack was surprised by this, Kate never mentioned a grandmother but then she never really talked about her family.

Jack got them both a cold drink and both of them sat down on the couch. After Jack told her what had happened since the crash the woman just looked at him and replied softly. "You love her" Jack felt some heat creep up his cheeks. Was it that obvious? Even to a stranger?

The woman smiled. "I'm glad my granddaughter found someone to love her. She deserves some happiness. I'm not sure how much you know of her life before you met?"

Jack shook his head. "Not much. I know she was being bought back to the US by a Marshall…"

"mmpphh Marshall my ass" The woman sneered. Jack looked mildly surprised at her choice of words.

"He was a Marshall yes but also the son of Wayne's drunk friend, he asked to be on the case to track Kate down. It turned into a personal vendetta he got obsessed with her with tracking her down"

"Who's Wayne?"

"Wayne is…was Kate's father…" She had a faraway look on her face as she continued to tell him how Kate had first grown up with Diane and Sam then when she was 5 years old Diane had taken her with her to live with Wayne. She told him of the years she and Sam, her son, had tried to get Kate to come live with either of them without success. It killed me knowing in what circumstances she was growing up."

Jack was starting to feel a sense of dread. Just what were those circumstances; just what did she have to go through.

"He was a drunk. Abusive to Diane, Kate's mother, and Kate. When she was younger he used to just lock her up in the pantry when she was bad according to his standards that didn't take much, when she got older he started beating her too. Diane made excuses for all the bruises but I knew the truth. They were too scared of him to go to the police. Sam and I tried but the one time child services went there they said they didn't see anything wrong and the next day neither Kate nor Diane left the house. Kate never told me what happened but I wasn't born yesterday."

Jack held his breath if he got his hands on this Wayne he wouldn't be responsible for his actions.

The older woman continued. "Kate and I stayed in touch I had her come and visit as often as possible for weekends when she got older just to get her out of the house a while. She planned on running away for years but then she met a boy, her first love, Tom. She stayed on in Iowa longer than she had initially planned to be with him. Also she felt guilty about leaving her mother alone with Wayne if she were to run away. That's Katie for you. Even though there was nothing she could do. She decided to stay. I tried to persuade her but she closed up every time I bought up the situation at home, I got the impression that things had gotten worse as she got older…though I can't say for sure she never spoke about any of it."

Jack's face pulled into a hard line listening to the woman talk.

"Kate had money put away and planned to go off to college somewhere. Wayne however found out about it and somehow got a hold of it. Drank it all up I don't know. She stayed the summer after she finished high school to spent time with Tom before he was going to leave for medical school. She wanted to go with him but by the end of the summer Tom's parents had sent him away to college a week earlier than planned, they weren't happy with how serious the relationship seemed to have become. I hardly spoke to her that summer and wished I did, maybe things would've turned out different."

Samantha took a sip of her soda. "I got a call from the hospital that Kate was there. When I got there doctors told me she had a miscarriage. A miscarriage caused by Wayne beating her after he accidentally found out she was pregnant. I couldn't sit by and watch it all happen again. I went to the police to get them to arrest Wayne. They went out to the house but Diane lied said it was an accident that she fell down the stairs. Wayne had some connections with the local police as well he used to be in the military as well. So they believed him and Diane, I was made to look like the crazy old woman making up stories."

Jack couldn't believe what he was hearing. He knew it would be bad but couldn't have imagined just how bad.

"Kate left as soon as she got released from hospital, she eloped with some guy she hardly knew, divorced six months later. As far as I know she never told Tom about the baby. She moved around a lot but we kept in touch".

"It was a few years later when Diane ended up in hospital by Wayne, I went to see her, tried to convince her to leave him. Wayne however overheard and he followed me out. Next thing I know I'm in hospital too. Kate came back to see me. She looked so distraught to see what he did to me. I don't know. It's like something in her snapped after all the years. She told me it would never happen again. Next thing I hear Kate was wanted by the police for blowing up Wayne."

Jack drew in a breath. Oh God.

"She contacted me a few days later and promised to stay in touch. She'd kept her promise and we wrote each other, she always gave me an address where I could reach her. The police were suspicious that I might know something but I could never tell them where she was. I couldn't protect her while she was a child but I wasn't going to let them lock her up for doing something to that scumbag. When her mother got sick I told her and she went to visit her. Tom was a Doctor at the hospital and helped her as there were cops waiting in case she shows up. Things got out of hand and Tom helped her get out however he stayed in the car with her and got shot as she drove past a roadblock. She never forgave herself and I think that haunts her more than anything else."

Jack recalled something that happened on the island, when Kate had found a toy airplane and broke down after she told him it belonged to the man she killed. It must've been Tom. He always felt guilty for the way he forced her to tell him what the plane was or for not going to her later that night when he saw her sit alone by a fireplace.

"So what's going to happen now? Is she still wanted for murder?"

Samantha smiled. "No. I had lost touch with her after she went to Australia and couldn't tell her that Diane had passed away and before she died told the police everything that happened. That Marshall chasing her was supposed to bring her in for questioning only. Sam and I also made statements and she weren't being charged with murder anymore. After the crash she was pronounced dead and the whole case was closed. She's got a chance at a new beginning. She's suffered enough."

Jack slowly nodded. "I'm going back to try and find her" He finally said.

Samantha smiled. "Good. Will you let me know when you find her please neither me nor Sam will ever tell anyone where she is"

Jack nodded. "Of course" He sat there for a long time after Kate's grandmother had left.

The sun was setting as Jack landed the plane. Every night he got back without her he felt emptier inside. He would've wanted to continue looking another hour or two but he had promised Charlie and Claire he'd be at the party tonight. They were throwing a big engagement party. A few of the other survivors had flown to Sydney as well.

He was happy for them. He'd taken Charlie aside the night they told him and made him understand he'd better take good care of his little sister or else. Charlie had solemnly sworn to do just that. The guy was so head over heels for Claire anyway he was sure he'd have sold his soul to be able to marry her.

By the time Jack got to the house the party was already in full swing, he kept thinking how much Kate would've wanted to be here as well. Claire gave him a quick hug when she saw the faraway look on his face they'd all come to know so well lately. Hurley and Libby came to greet him; they were getting married in a few weeks and had just came to Sydney on a quick break from all the wedding arrangements. It sounded to Jack like it was going to be the wedding of the year.

Charlie was chasing after Aaron who was beginning to walk. He scooped the boy up as he fell down again, his legs not quite steady enough to walk more than a few steps on his own.

Sawyer and Cassie were also there. Surprising Jack by saying it was their honeymoon, they had eloped the week before, neither wanted a big wedding. Both grinned as Jack congratulated them.

Sayid was one of the few people not there. His wife Nadia, were 6 months pregnant and he didn't want her to fly or leave her alone. So he just sent a present to the new engaged couple with Hurley.

Jack was surprised to see Sun and Jin there he'd heard they had a baby girl about three months ago. They were visiting on a detour to Korea. They wanted to go show off their baby to their parents whom hadn't seen her yet.

Jack tried to enjoy himself at the least for Claire and Charlie's sake. But he kept thinking of Kate of how things would've been tonight if she was here as well. He sat watching some of the other couples move slowly over the dancefloor. His thoughts drifting back to the night he had Kate in his arms.

Your love's a gathered storm I chased across the sky
A moment in your arms became the reason why
And you're still the only light that fills the emptiness
The only one I need until my dying breath
And I would give you everything just to
Feel your open arms
And I'm not sure I believe anything I feel
And now, now that you're near
There's nothing more without you
Without you here
And I'm trying to believe
In things that I don't know
The turning of the world
The color of your soul
That love could kill the pain
Truth is never vain
It turns strangers into lovers
And enemies to brothers
Just say you understand
I never had this planned
My head lies to my heart
And my heart it still believes
It seems the ones who love us are the ones
That we deceive
But you're changing everything
You're changing everything in me
And now, now that you're near
There's nothing more without you
Without you here