Kate's grip on the lid tightened at the sight of the too familiar object. She picked up the airplane and let it lie on her palm. This was part of her past she never wished to see again. Yet it still haunted her once pleasant dreams. She remembered that day vividly. She could almost hear the tires screeching, see the bullets whizzing past her head, smell the burning tires, and feel Tom's fresh blood forever staining her hands and heart.
With his help she had let the past go and now he was leaving her too, just as Tom did. He had filled the part in her heart that was missing and now she feared it would become void again. Kate placed the tiny object in her pocket. It was her security, her safety blanket, her grief, and pain.
Kate reluctantly lifted the next object out and blew off the thin layer of dust that had settled on it. She ran her slender fingers over each of the faces in the picture, remembering every detail about them. She smiled at Hurley making bunny ears over Charlie's head and at Sawyer who was trying to make a stoic face, but failing miserably. Those people were her family, every one of them. Sure she didn't like some of them but they were still apart of her. After living together on a haunted island for 2 years you create bonds, ones that can never be broken.
Just then she felt a hand on her shoulder. She gasped and turned around startled. Her heart slowed down when she saw him, and let out the breath she had been holding.
"What
are you doing up here?"
"I came home early and figured
you were up here."
She turned back to the picture as he
knelled down behind her. Kate leaned against his firm muscle and
looked up at his clean shaven face. She inhaled his familiar
scent.
"Where are the kids?"
"Over at
Claire's, she volunteered to watch them."
His attention diverted to the picture she was looking at and he swallowed. She could tell this was just as hard for him, maybe harder.
"I miss them." she whispered
"Me too
baby.' he said his hot breath tickling her ear.
Her eyes began to
water.
"I keep thinking of Boone, Shannon, Locke, Suns baby,
Libby, Walt, all the people that didn't make it in this picture. they
were my family."
"They were all of our family."
Not
one of them would be able to forget them, or the time they spent on
the island. Kate knew she wasn't the only one facing the past, it
haunted the others too. Gruesome pictures of blood drenched bodies,
graves lined up in a row, missing faces, and the vicious others whose
only purpose was to terminate them. No, no matter how much they tried
to forget it, the past was very much alive
. He reached for one of
her hands and squeezed it reassuringly. She studied him. He was still
handsome, his eyes that captivating green. His hair was just as short
with touches of gray on his sideburns.
"Jack," she
managed to choke out "What am I going to do without you?"
""Lets
not talk about that now. Now's not the time."
They sat
there in silence, each of them contemplating what lay ahead of
them.
"Do you remember how we met?"
She snuggled
in closer to him.
"How could i forget." she said
"How
bout he first time we kissed?"
She looked into his eyes which
were fixated on her face, never straying away.
"That was an
interesting day."
"Yes it was."
"Do you
remember what you were doing the day we were rescued?"
She
smiled.
"Running away from you."
FLASBACK
Kate ran through the jungle at a rapid pace. Her bare feet pounded on the moist ground. The sharp rocks pierced her tender flesh, but she kept running. The tears that were streaming down her face never faltered. She quickly wiped them from her eyes, as they were blurring her vision. Behind her she could hear the labored breathing of her persistent follower. She fought her way through the lush jungle overgrowth trying to stay in the lead. He would never catch her, running was her game not his.
"Kate!" yelled his
distant voice
She didn't answer but slowed down.
"Kate,
I'm sorry."
He was always sorry. What had been a pleasant day was turning into a disaster. He didn't understand, he hadn't done anything, it was her. He wanted to love her but she didn't let him. It wasn't possible, she didn't want him to get hurt.
"Kate
come on." he said frustrated
'Jack just leave me alone."
"No
Kate."
She had now stopped, but she could tell he was still walking. She watched as he appeared through the green foliage. She couldn't stand to look at him, she couldn't let him read her.
"Please Kate. What's wrong?"
"Jack
just stay away okay."
'I'm not going to leave you Kate, I
care about you."
"You just think you do Jack. You
couldn't care for a criminal. It's impossible."
"Nothing
is impossible."
"I don't want to hurt you."
"You
are hurting me more by staying away. Every time I think that you care
for me too, you end up pushing me away."
He was walking towards her now. Why did he have to be like this, so kind hearted and caring. He ran his hand over her cheek, wiping away the salty tears that were staining her face. She still stared at the ground, trying to avoid eye contact. He gently lifted up her chin to see her face. That was when she caved in.
"I do care about you Jack."
she said in a hushed tone the tears still falling.
"Don't cry
Kate."
He brought his lips down to hers. His kiss tasted salty and moist due to the tears that were cascading down both of their faces. It grew more passionate every second. They had both wanted this for so long. When he finally drew away because of the lack of breath she collapsed in his arms. He held her tight in his embrace, not letting go.
"Kate I will love you, for always and forever."
