Chapter 2

Kate awoke to bright sunlight flooding the cave. It was absolutely quiet, almost peaceful. The other survivors were probably all at the beach waiting for a plane to come to their rescue. In the half-conscious state between being asleep and being fully awaken Kate felt happier than she had ever done. She was lying in Jack's arm feeling his naked body pressed against hers. A smile appeared on her face when she remembered the previous night. They had made love nearly the whole night and it had been better than everything Kate had ever experienced.

But Kate's smile slowly faded when she remembered what had let to the sudden progression of their relationship. A rescue plane was most likely on his way to the island. And it had probably a federal agent on board who would arrest her immediately. Last night would be the only night she'd ever have with Jack and she would treasure the memory of it for the rest of her life. Kate took in Jack's scent and the sensation of his body pressed against hers. She didn't want to forget one single precious detail about him.

Kate felt her lover move in her arms when he slowly awoke.

The first thing Jack realized was a warm body lightly shifting in his arms. He smiled and pulled Kate closer towards him before he opened his eyes. When he saw the expression on the face of the woman he loved more than anything his smile disappeared. The previous happiness was replaced by a feeling of fear and grief. Maybe the plane which was going to take Kate away was already on its way. But Jack hadn't changed his mind. He would fight for Kate no matter what. There had to be a possibility to convince the court to give her a short penalty. And Jack knew that he would wait for her no matter how long it took. He couldn't imagine ever being able to love another woman as much as he loved Kate.

The lovers were thrown out of their thoughts by Hurley clearing his throat discretely.

"Sorry if I'm interrupting anything…really private, but its there! There is a rescue plane on the beach. We're going home dudes!" Hurley told them ecstatically.

"We're coming. Just give us a minute," Jack said without looking at Hurley.

He only had eyes for the woman in his arms. When Hurley had left there was a moment of uncomfortable silence before Jack finally spoke.

"Kate, you told me you didn't feel like talking yesterday, but now we have to talk. And I ask you again not to run. I know you and I know you're not a cold blooded murderer. Whatever you did: There must have been extenuating circumstances."

„I killed my father Jack! I blew the damn house up, with that bastard inside. He beat my mother up so bad that she had broken bones afterwards. And he molested me. But he didn't do anything to me that I could use to report him and my mom would have denied everything. But I didn't kill him in self defense. I'm a murderer and that means I'll be doing life. I don't want that, Jack. And I don't want you to come to see me and talk to me through glass plate for the rest of your life. You deserve better than that."

Jack felt more helpless than he had ever done when he looked into the tear strained face of the woman he loved sitting next to him wrapped in an airplane blanket. What she had just told him didn't change the way he felt for her. But it looked really bad for her and Jack started doubting that she would get a short penalty.

"Considering your silence I think you're not sure anymore if your lawyers will be able to do a lot for Freckles."

"How long have you been standing there, Sawyer?" Jack asked annoyed.

"Long enough. So why don't you two get dressed and then I'll let Freckles have a look at my private collection of passports."