Chapter 7

"Jack," Kate whispered. She wasn't able to form a coherent sentence.

Seeing Kate so vulnerable broke Jack's heart. He sat down on the edge of Kate's bed and hugged her tightly never wanting to let go. Kate gave in to the comfort of Jack's embrace. She had missed him so much.

After what felt like an eternity Jack let go, but didn't leave his spot on the bed.

"Kate, why did they bring you here? What's wrong with you?" he asked full of concern.

Kate smiled lightly. "Isn't the doctor supposed to find that out?"

When Jack didn't smile but looked only more worried Kate continued.

"I didn't feel well the whole day. A little weak and dizzy. And then I got sick during the flight. But I'm feeling better now."

"Any other symptoms? Do you have a head ache, stomach cramps or a fever? Or have you been more thirsty than usual?" Jack asked while he was taking Kate's blood pressure.

"No, nothing like that. Just the sickness and the dizziness."

"Did you eat anything unusual during the last few days?"

"No, nothing different from what I eat usually."

"Did you take any pharmaceuticals?"

"No."

"Did you get sick before when you were on a plane or a ship?"

"No. I've never gotten sick when I was travelling. Not even on roller coasters."

"Alright. It's probably nothing, but to be sure, I'll order some tests."

"Which tests?"

"I'll take some blood from you to do a test on hepatitis and malaria considering that you were on a tropical island just 7 weeks ago."

Jack took blood from Kate making sure to be as gentle as possible.

When Jack had filled the medical record and was about to call the nurse his eyes caught something on the form he held in his hands. Normally that would have been one of his first suspicions. He made another cross on the form and then pushed the button to call the nurse.

"I need these results as soon as possible," he told her.

When she had left Jack sat back on his spot next to Kate and took her hand in his.

"I'm sorry, Jack," Kate said after a moment of silence.

"About what?" he asked a little confused.

"I'm sorry that you have to see me again like that. That you will have to see me going to jail. If I hadn't been caught you would have been able to start over and forget me."

"Kate, listen to me. I would never have been able to forget you. I really tried to move on with my life during these past 7 weeks. But each time I had a few minutes to think I thought about you. I was worried if you had a place to stay and enough to eat and I wondered if you are missing me as much as I missed you. I love you and I always will. And I won't let you go again. I won't allow you to push me away this time. And I will fight for you. I'll find you the best lawyer in the city, no the best lawyer in the states. And I will wait for you, no matter how long it takes. Because you are the only woman I can imagine spending the rest of my life with."

"I love you Jack. I missed you so much," Kate cried and allowed herself to get lost in Jack's arms again. She wouldn't try to push him away again. For the first time since she had started running she felt a little spark of hope, that maybe she wouldn't be doing life. She was sure she had to spend a long time in prison. But with Jack waiting for her this thought wasn't as terrible as it had been only a few hours ago.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but the results of the laboratory tests are there," a young nurse who was shyly standing in the door frame told them.

"Thank you," Jack answered taking the form from her. When he read it Jack turned pale. He took a deep breath and silently counted to 5 before he looked into Kate's face.

"Jack, what's wrong? Is it something serious?" Kate asked meeting his gaze worriedly.

"You're pregnant, Kate."