Author's note: sorry for the delay in updating, have ended up home schooling my daughter and have been trying to organise some material for that so has kind of ended up on the back burner. Not as happy with this chapter, but R&R welcome to keep me going!

Ch.4

Jack considered his options for a moment then realised there was no way he could leave her to cool down. He guessed really that that wasn't working anytime soon. He didn't think he had ever managed to upset her so much during the time they'd already be here, but then medical practice on a deserted Island didn't exactly come as part of the standard medical training. Why was everything so complicated? He cursed silently, he liked Kate, perhaps he even loved her, despite the fact that he'd learned she was a criminal on the run within a day or so of arriving here. It had not tempered his feelings for her, but there was always something else. She had feelings for Sawyer, he had professed his love for her in a fever stricken moment, shortly afterwards Kate had surprised Jack by kissing him. Then of course she ran away. She became closer with Sawyer when Jack closed her out. Of course she did, he couldn't blame her for that, but he realised that actually he had blamed her for that. Only because he had known that she would and he wanted her to... to what? Prove him wrong? Pine after him for affection? No, that wasn't Kate. She didn't show herself to be hurt easily. She had taken a leap of faith confiding in him about a list of things in the last 24 hours, and he had repaid her by doubting she had told the truth about the most basic of things. He told himself that he could be forgiven, that his feelings for her had clouded his judgement. He allowed himself an honest thought. He was disappointed that it was a situation like this that had finally brought her to him or him to her as it happened. He worried that this would forever close down a path that he very much wanted to take with her. It made their feelings for one another ever more complicated now that this event seemed to be the focus of their relationship. Could he ever pursue a relationship with her if he helped her to end this pregnancy? Would she ever look at him and not remember this? Probably not. Would she even let him get a word out before she smacked him in the face? Probably not.

His guilt twisted a knot in his stomach; he had to go after her. Without a glance to the onlookers of his internal tussle he strode off toward the exit which Kate had headed to. His mind was racing, where would she go? Was she alright? God I am SUCH an idiot!

As it turned out he did not have to go far before he found her. She was sitting on a downed tree within a few steps of the doors they had just exited from. The sight of her twisted a knife further into his chest. Had he even broken her will to run? That most basic instinct which seemed to have driven her for years? She faced away from him, her head bowed, her face hidden behind a dark veil of curls that hung heavier in the humidity. He did not have to see her face to see that she was crying.

"Kate?" His own voice caught in his throat, it came out a whisper but she heard it anyway.

She turned to face him. Her face was slick with tears, her eyes puffy and red, she looked like she hadn't slept for days, the weight of the last few days' events was evident on her face. "Jack, just … go will you? I'd rather be on my own." She turned her face away from him again; he could see her wrestling to regain some of the composure he had stolen from her.

He eased himself a step closer, "I don't think that's true Kate. It's a big island, if you wanted to get away from me, ten paces from the door you just came out of is not a great start."

She did not respond, but he could tell from her posture he now had her attention. "Kate, I know it doesn't mean very much, but I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking properly. I'm too close to you to treat you like a patient, because I care for you, Kate."

"That's how you care for someone is it Jack? Because if so I can do without it, OK?" Her words were bitter but she lacked the tones to back it up.

Jack eased himself down next to her and deliberately relaxed his body, hoping she would unconsciously do the same. It was a medical school trick to diffuse a difficult situation; patients mirror your posture and mood without even realising it. His efforts were not rewarded, she remained as tightly coiled as a spring, "I'm sorry Kate. Maybe it's this place, the situation we're all in. I'm still trying to be a doctor with virtually nothing, and all the while treating people who seem to lie like breathing. Every time I've come across a situation that needed some medical intervention there's been a curtain of lies over the real issue before I can even think about it. It's wearing, you know? It's got nothing to do with you, your past, it's me, OK? My issue, not yours."

She nodded her without facing him, "Why would I lie Jack? You really think I'd have anything to gain?"

"No. Look I'm going to walk down to the beach, talk to sun, see what our, your, options are. I won't mention any names, no one will know don't worry."

She nodded her assent, and watched him leave. As she watched him walk away she could feel herself slip deeper into her own fears and feel the exhaustion pulling her body down, it was like drowning, like he was her life line sailing away. For probably only the second time in her life she had no plan, no back up, no idea really how she was going to get out of this situation. She realised this mindset was not going to help her. This was not a situation she could get out of, it was one that needed to be worked on, worked out there was no way to escape it, unless they actually were rescued. That seemed pretty unlikely and also wouldn't really be to her advantage, she'd just find herself in jail.

Kate rose unsteadily from the log she had been sat on and decided to start after jack to the beach. She thought of going to the caves to get some water but the beach was closer and more open, the closeness of the cave walls had always added to her feeling of being trapped. She followed the path they had worn into the underbrush toward the beach. The sky was clouded, as if rain were about to appear, but it was not cold.

She allowed her mind to empty; there was plenty of time to rake over everything with jack later on. Abruptly she became aware of a noise behind her, she turned to see if she could see what it was, too late, she found herself suddenly face down in the grass.

Kate struggled under the grip that held her, it did not waver. It felt resolute but seemed to have no intention of taking her anywhere and apparently had no qualms about discovery being that this was a relatively well travelled path. That is what worried her most; this person didn't care if someone else came upon them. As she struggled to see, the weight pressing her down in the centre of her back became heavier and Kate finally relented and lay still. Her assailant did not ease up on the pressure and she was forced to gasp, "I can't breathe."

Her assailant shifted their stance and relieved the pressure a little, "Better?" A young female voice asked her, Kate nodded her agreement, "Don't do anything stupid ok?" Again Kate nodded.

"What do you want?" Kate gasped.

"Just to give you some advice, Kate."

Kate kept her silence; she was hardly in the position to challenge right now.

"I know what's going on, they will soon too. You might think jack can protect you, he can't Kate. Not on the beach, in the caves or in the hatch you seem to have decided to claim for your group. It's not the only installation on this island. Your front door is not the only way in. They'll let you think you are safe, then take you, cut the babies out and leave you to die. You understand?"

"How do you know about all this?"

"I've been charged with spying on you, I'm giving you a break. I helped Claire escape, I won't be able to do that again, they don't trust me much anymore. I have medicine, meet me here tomorrow; I'll give it to you. You can't tell jack, they'll be watching, they can't find out what you're going to do. Jack has to think it's natural too." She pushed herself up and allowed Kate to get to her feet.

Kate regarded her coolly, "You ... you were with him out there, you helped him, why should I trust you?"

She shrugged, "You don't have to, you can take your consequences if that's what you want."

Kate shook her head, "I won't lie to Jack, Alex."

Alex laughed at her, "Is your honestly worthy your life, or his Kate? If they find out they'll kill you, then him because they'll believe he helped you, they won't believe you over me."