Chapter 19

Jack was out of breath when he got to the hatch door, he had to take a few minutes to locate the door. Someone had gone through some effort to try and hide it from the outside with huge plants. He tossed plants aside in his hurry to get in. As soon as he could see the door he tried opening it but it wouldn't it was obviously been jammed from the inside. He tried forcing it open without success when that didn't work he started banging on the steel, calling out for someone to open. He just hoped there was still someone capable of opening the door.

Locke was inside walking towards the pantry to find Kate something substantial to eat, Rose and Bernard were still sitting with her oohing and aahing over the newest hatch member. Just as he was turning on the pantry light he heard a noise down the passage. Someone was banging on the door. Locke froze, it's been months since they had heard or seen anything from the Others, except for Kate returning nearly two months ago, neither John, Rose or Bernard had seen another human being. Locke was just reaching for a gun they kept in the pantry when he thought he recognised the voice. He frowned as he slowly walked closer to the door. It wasn't his imagination he realised as he heard his name being called again. Could it really be? He slowly opened the door with the gun ready in case it wasn't who he thought it was. But when he opened the door he wasn't sure who were more surprised himself or the man on the outside.

"Jack?" Even though he thought he recognised the voice seeing him stand in front of him was still a surprise.

"Locke" Relief flooded Jack he was beginning to fear he was too late that there were no one left here.

"How did you get here Jack?"

"Can I come in John?" Jack raised his eyebrows; the man still looked as calm as ever.

"Of coarse, sorry I'm just surprised to see you"

"Yeah I know. I've spent the last 3 months looking for this island again. Not an easy task" Jack stepped into the hatch did a quick sweep but everything still looked the same, for a moment it felt like he never left. "There's a plane on the beach Locke, Rose and Bernard, they're still here? I can take you all back but first I have to go find Kate"

"Yes, they're fine, but Jack…"

Jack shook his head, "don't say anything yet, I need to tell you a few things first before you make a decision. I'm not leaving without Kate though"

Locke nodded "okay but Jack there's something I need to tell you too"

Before Locke could continue a voice came from the direction of the bedroom.

"Locke I thought you're getting food…" Kate stopped in her tracks 'OMG was she seeing things for real now?' she blinked took a deep breath. No it couldn't be it couldn't really be him…

Jack spun around, he'd recognise that voice anywhere, eyes widening he just stared at her. Was it really her? Did he actually find her? how long had she been back here? A thousand thoughts a minute were racing through his head. It had to be her…

"Jack?"

"Kate?"

They just stared at each other as if afraid if they break eye contact the other will evaporate into thin air again.

Just then a baby's cry broke the silence and the trance they both seemed to have been caught in.

Rose stepped out of the bedroom behind Kate holding a crying baby in her arms. "Sorry Kate doesn't seem like she's planning on sleeping today, what's taking so long out here anyway? You should be lying down" She noticed the silence and looked up from the baby girl in her arms, her eyes widening. "Jack?"

Kate finally broke eye contact and turned to Rose to take the baby but felt a wave of dizziness sweep over her

Rose saw her going pale and reached out an arm to try and steady her. Jack crossed the room in record time grabbing onto her other arm and helped her to a chair in the kitchen, closest place to sit down. She reached out to take the crying baby from Rose and Jack felt a tug at his insides looking at her holding a newborn in her arms. John didn't say anything as he went to fill a glass of water, handing it to Kate silently. She took a small sip but had trouble swallowing, Jack was really here. He was standing right here in flesh and blood. She didn't think she'd ever see him again.

As if sensing the uncomfortable silence the baby's crying increased. "Kate, she's hungry, why don't we get you two back to the room" Rose was first to speak again. Kate nodded and got up slowly. Rose and Bernard walked out with her. Kate gave one quick glance back over her shoulder towards Jack.

He got up to follow but couldn't find the strength to move his legs. He couldn't stop staring. Yet he had so much thoughts going through his mind of all the possible scenarios he'd played over in his mind of what would happen if he ever found her again this was never one of them, he'd played out scenarios of what he'd do if he found her injured or worse though he never lingered on that possibility or even if he couldn't find her or if she became one of the others but finding her with a newborn baby… he didn't know what to say or what to do.

"Jack wait" Locke stopped him when he noticed Jack wanted to follow Kate to the other room.

Jack looked over at John almost like he forgot the other man was still standing next to him.

"What happened? How long has she been back? The baby?"

"I don't know, been back nearly two months and she gave birth yesterday morning" Well that was a direct short version answer for you Jack thought

"She had the baby yesterday? Did everything go ok?" He was concerned now, she did look tired and pale he thought to himself.

"Well you saw her, she says she's fine but Rose said it was a long labour, she hasn't been getting much sleep since, come to think of it, not really before either. Maybe you can check them both over now that your here"

Locke continued to fill Jack in on when and how she returned. "She tried to hide it but she took it hard when she realised you were all rescued" Locke took a moment before continuing "She never talked about what happened during the time she was missing but she did say they didn't hurt her. Never really talked about the pregnancy either though…"

Jack didn't know what to think. Locke saw the confusion on his face knew what thoughts were running through his head.

"I'll go see how she's doing" Jack said after a moment. He had no idea what he'd say to her but he'd spent the past few months looking for her he wasn't going to let anything get in the way of him taking her back with him.

Jack slowly opened the door and peeked in. Kate was lying on her side, back turned to the door.

Kate?

No answer

He stepped into the room "Kate?"

Still no answer he went closer and realised she'd fallen asleep with the baby wrapped in a blanket cradled close to her face. He leaned over to see the baby. As he was staring down she opened her hazel eyes.

And looked up at him.

Jack forgot where he was. All sound vanished. He felt like the whole world came to a halt nothing mattered but this moment. He forgot to breathe for a minute as she laid there staring up at him he couldn't tear his eyes away.

Just then she started niggling and Jack instinctively reached over the sleeping Kate and quietly lifted her up in his arms. He felt his knees go weak and he slowly sat down on the lower edge of bed. She went quiet and swung her arms around reaching out and found his thumb grasping it and holding on.

Jack swallowed hard. What was going on with him? He'd held babies before and never felt anything like this before. He had the most overwhelming feeling to protect this little life. Like he could, and would do anything to keep her safe and yet he'd never felt so vulnerable.

Just then Kate stirred and felt across the bed, quickly sitting up with a panicked look when she couldn't feel the baby next to her.

"It's ok. She's here" Jack said to calm her not quite recognizing his own voice.

Kate sat up and turned to face the voice she thought she'd never hear again.

She couldn't stop a small gasp and bit her lip as she saw them.

Jack was holding their baby.

Her small little hand wrapped around his finger. She took a deep breath but couldn't find her voice to speak. She'd dreamed about this, the 3 of them together for months. But never really thought it would ever happen she didn't think she'd ever see him again she thought he left her behind, forgot about her by now but here he was holding his daughter

"Jack?" She finally managed

He looked back at her saw her eyes glistening concern furrowing his brow.

"What's wrong? Are you ok? I'd like to examine you make sure your ok"

"I've never been better" she said softly not quite trusting her own voice "Is she ok? I mean she looks healthy but I still want to be sure"

"She looks healthy I'll check her out for you though"

Kate just nodded

Jack slowly turned put the baby on the bed next to him and started listening to her breathing, heartbeat and did a few other easy routine checks He looked up at Kate smiling. "She seems perfectly healthy but we should take both of you back to Sydney as soon as you're up it anyway."

"Sydney?"

"Yeah I'm here with a plane to bring you back"

The baby started crying again and Jack reached over to pick her up and then handed her back to Kate

"I'll leave the two of you to get some rest, we can talk later"

"No wait" Kate swallowed, "please stay" she said slowly "there's something you need to know"

She looked down at the baby then back up at Jack how was she supposed to tell him she was holding his child that he'd just been sitting holding his own daughter. It seemed like such a long time ago since that night they spent together. Kate remembered every second it was ingrained in her memory she'd play it over and over in her mind every day while she was held by the Others and especially since she escaped to find that Jack wasn't here on the island anymore. She didn't know if he still felt anything for her, maybe he didn't even remember that night, now she was about to tell him they made another life.

She'd imagined having this conversation with him hundreds of times to try to think how she'd tell him what his reaction would be but then when she realised he'd left injured she didn't think she'd ever get the chance to tell him. She didn't even know if he was ok, if he'd survived the gunshot wound. And if he takes her back to civilisation what's going to happen to her, she's still wanted by the police, they'll lock her up then what will happen to their daughter?

She'd made peace with the fact she'd most likely have to raise their child on her own here on the island it terrified her but somehow she was even more scared now what if he didn't want a child that kind of responsibility she had no idea how he felt about having kids they certainly never had conversations about starting families. He'd been back in civilisation for months. Probably back at his old life as a surgeon. Now she was about to pull the rug from right under him.

Jack saw the conflicting emotions on her face, she was obviously in some kind of inner struggle.

He kneeled down next to the bed. "Kate? Its ok, Everything is going to be ok now. Whatever it is you don't have to tell me now."

Kate swallowed and nodded "yes I do"

"Is it about the baby?' Jack asked carefully keeping her gaze she looked so scared and nervous he was starting to feel very uneasy.

She nodded.

Jack had a thousand questions and possibilities running through his mind but nothing could prepare him for her next words coming out as barely a whisper from her but the words echoed through his mind

"She's yours"

Desperate for changing
Starving for truth
I'm closer to where I started
Chasing after you
I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I've held onto
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you
Forgetting all I'm lacking
Completely incomplete
I'll take your invitation
You take all of me now...
I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I've held onto
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you
I'm living for the only thing I know
I'm running and not quite sure where to go
And I don't know what I'm diving into
Just hanging by a moment here with you
There's nothing else to lose
There's nothing else to find
There's nothing in the world
That can change my mind
There is nothing else
There is nothing else
There is nothing else