Chapter 5- Sweet Home Savannah

"Morning beautiful," Jack whispered in Kate's ear.

She stirred ever so slightly and then let out a low moan.

Jack's hazel orbs glimmered with admiration. He tucked the strands of chocolate curls behind Kate's delicate ears and then placed his mouth to her skin. He kissed her earlobe softly and then her soft cheeks. Kate placed her hand across the side of his chin and gently stroked his stubble. "Just trying to give you a wake up call,"

Kate smirked. Her eyes were still closed, and sunlight streaming from the large glass paned windows cascaded golden light onto her long eyelashes. "I'm awake…but there are other things you could do to get me on my feet in seconds,"

Jack snickered as he wrapped his arm around Kate's neck. "I liked having you all to myself last night."

"I loved it," Kate cooed. She peeked one eye open as she traced circles along Jack's chest. "I think I only got two hours of sleep last night after all that…activity,"

Jack smiled, "I didn't get any sleep at all." He stood up and pushed back the covers.

Kate sat up and placed her hand against her head as she watched a naked Jack grab a towel on the stand. "I would prefer it if you didn't get dressed just yet,"

"Oh really?" Jack taunted playfully as he held the towel in his hands.

"I had so much fun last night that I don't want this to end. I want to keep you in Atlanta, and live in this hotel…and have all night sessions forever," Kate giggled as she wrapped the linen sheet around her body and stood up. Her head was spinning so she paused for a second and massaged her forehead.

"Are you okay Kate?" Jack asked walking over to her quickly. He placed his hand on her shoulder in obvious concern.

"Fine, just a little hungry."

"Then I'll order in breakfast before we leave," Jack's eyes drifted down to Kate's stomach. "Because you are eating for two now," His cheeks flushed with warmth and he hugged Kate.

She laughed, "If you want to get out of here you should put that thing away,"

"Thing,"

Kate bowed her head in a fit of giggles and then pointed to little Jack. "That thing, as much as I want to stay here, I do want to get back to Riley. I miss him."

"I miss him too," Jack looked down and then grinned. "I'll put him away,"

Kate bit her lip, "When we get back to Savannah, work starts back up, and I won't get to see you this much. How about we order breakfast, and while we wait for that…I take advantage?"

"And we try to fit breakfast and sex into an hour?"

Kate grinned, "We can shower, get cleaned up for the day and then eat breakfast. I think we need a little more time for the latter suggestion of yours' because my hormones are raging like a mad woman and I'm trying my best to control them so we can get back to our son,"

Jack raised his eyes up and down playfully, "Raging hormones, sounds a little dangerous,"

"These are the good hormones, I'm in a good mood," Kate cast a sideways glance at Jack, "Now at least,"

Jack stepped back cautiously.

Kate smiled, "But you shouldn't worry because at the moment I'm not really carrying around any extra weight, and my feet aren't killing me, so life is good. Not that I'm complaining or anything." Kate latched her arm around Jack's. "Go ahead and order room service and I'll be in the bathroom waiting,"

"Then I'll order," Jack said with a nod. "Should I get out a notepad and pen?"

"No just remember that I am craving blueberry pancakes, bacon, eggs…if they have cheese, eggs with cheese, strawberry yogurt and a big tall glass of ice cold milk. Kate jabbed Jack in the chest playfully, "Did you get all that stud?"

Jack reached for Kate's hand, "You lost me after strawberry yogurt,"

Kate kissed him, "My last request was a big…tall…glass…of ice…cold…"

"Kate,"

She smiled, "I just wanted to make sure you got it, because everyone knows how slow surgeons are…I mean for heaven's sake Jack, you can fix spines…but yet you can't remember a simple breakfast order," Kate affectionately cupped his chin and then winked at him, "Spinal surgeons,"

"I think I got it all now," Jack turned around and headed towards the phone, "You go ahead and get the shower running,"

"Shower…I was thinking more on the lines of a hot bath."

Jack glanced over his shoulder at Kate.

"We can fit it all in our last hour," She convinced.

"That's fine," Jack said as he picked up the phone. Before he could dial in the room service number Kate wrapped her arms around his neck. "Woah," He unsteadily swung to the side. "Tackling me now?"

"I just wanted to thank you for taking me away to this place. I know I could've waited to thank you again, but I just wanted you to know,"

"I know," Jack said softly. He placed the phone away from his ear slightly and looked back at Kate lovingly. "You've thanked me like a million times. I took you here because not only did I need to have you alone from the distractions of work…but I also wanted to have a chance for us to reconnect in privacy. I missed this. I missed us talking about anything and everything but work…and obviously I missed the sex." Jack stroked Kate's cheek. "But honestly my intentions were selfish I just wanted to have you to myself."

"Ditto," Kate rested her head against Jack's back. "Now I'm going to leave you alone for a little while so you can go ahead and order breakfast, I'll be in the bathroom."

"I'll be right in," Jack kissed Kate and then started to dial in the number to room service.

Claire opened Aaron's room door. The first thing she noticed was the empty space in Aaron's bed. The comforter was pulled back and his pillow was on the floor. Claire's forehead creased in concern, and her hand lingered on the door as she looked towards Riley. He was still sleeping in the bed. All he did was sleep. Claire bit her lip. She was going to have to suggest that Jack and Kate take Riley to the hospital. Claire felt horrible for suggesting that to Jack and Kate, because Jack was a doctor, and not to mention that Riley wasn't her child. Claire was distracted by the television. She turned around and slowly walked into the den. Claire found Aaron sitting on the couch with the remote in hand and a pillow clutched tightly in his arms. "Aaron?"

Aaron turned around, "I wanted to watch television."

Claire sat down beside him and wrapped her arm around his shoulders, "You know if you couldn't sleep then you could've woke me up and we would've watched t.v together,"

"Well…I went in your room…and you looked happy. Mommy who is Charlie?"

Claire felt her heart skip a beat. She looked away from Aaron's curious blue eyes and then removed her arm from around him so she could place her hands in her lap. Did she say Charlie's name aloud when she was dreaming. Now that she was awake the dream seemed so far away. The island was now gone, and so was Charlie.

"Mom."

"Charlie was a good friend of mine,"

"Did he die?"

"No!" Claire placed her hand on her mouth. She had been louder than she planned. "Sorry Aaron, I just…he was a good friend." Claire nodded in the way a parent would to a child in order to politely get them to drop the subject. But as usual Aaron didn't bite.

"Did I know him?"

"You were really young then." Claire looked down at the rug. "I knew Charlie on the island with Jack and Kate but he's um…not here now."

"Why not,"

"People change Aaron,"

Aaron scowled, "Like Riley,"

"Riley hasn't changed he is still the same," Claire directed her attention back towards Aaron who was staring blankly at the television. "You know what would make Riley feel better?" Aaron didn't respond so Claire tapped his shoulder lightly. "Hey,"

"Yes," Aaron asked softly.

"Let's make some breakfast, and if Riley feels up to it we'll go to the park before Aunt Kate and Uncle Jack come back. How does that sound?" Claire massaged Aaron's shoulder and she was relieved to see him give her a small smile.

"Uncle Jack is a doctor…can he fix Riley?"

"Honey, Riley's not broken." Claire replied with furrowed eyebrows. She stood up and Aaron followed after her. "He's just not feeling well right now but he…" Claire paused. She didn't want to think the worst right now but she had been for a while. No matter how many times she had this conversation with Aaron it never got any easier. "I'm going to go check on Riley,"

"He's still in bed, where he always is."

"Aaron sweetheart, when you don't feel well don't you lay down too?" Claire asked trying to get him to understand. "Riley wants to play with you, but right now he just can't."

"I'm being selfish." Aaron pouted.

"We are all a little selfish." Claire rubbed Aaron's head. "But you wanting Riley to be okay is not selfish, you miss playing with him, and I know he feels the same way." Claire swallowed as she waited for Aaron's reaction.

"Do you think Riley will go away like Charlie?"

Kate kicked her legs up on the dashboard and placed her hands over her stomach in content. "I'm going to have to call my doctor so I can schedule an appointment."

"And I'm going to have to take that time off work,"

"You're schedule will probably be set by then,"

"Cameron will cover for me," Jack said with a smile. "After all I can't be MIA while you go check on our baby." Jack focused back on the highway. "Baby, baby, baby,"

Kate turned in the seat slightly, "You're still in shock. Jack you're practically foaming at the mouth at the thought alone."

"Am I?"

"You so are," Kate grinned. She squinted at Jack curiously, "When should we tell Riley. Last night I was thinking about that."

"I thought about it too, he'll be happy." Jack said assured.

"He will, and so will Aaron." Kate rested her head against the headrest. She glanced out the window thoughtfully. The cars on the freeway passed them by in a blur. When they left Riley hadn't been feeling that well. He was showing all the signs of a cold…a fever…exhaustion…but he seemed to be getting better which was why she didn't bring him to the hospital. Kate hoped that when they returned Riley would be better.

"Claire didn't call us about Riley," Jack said slowly.

"Which is a good thing I hope," Kate tried her best to sound as if she wasn't worried. Deep down she always feared that Riley could have something worse than a cold. Kate searched Jack's eyes for any signs of tension.

"Claire would call us if Riley didn't get any better," Jack assured. He seemed to be trying to convince himself that now.

"Claire would,"

Jack nodded.

Silence filled the car for a couple seconds and then Kate placed her hand on Jack's.

"I never told you the real reason why I needed to get away."

Jack raised an eyebrow and took his eyes off of the road briefly. The radio was on low, and 'Carry Me Ohio' by Sun Kil Moon was playing. Jack turned the volume down all the way. "There is a reason?"

"I was worried about Riley," Kate confessed. "When it comes to Riley I worry about everything you know that and…" Kate closed her eyes for a second. "I thought if we went away then he might be better when we came back. I know it's a horrible excuse and I'm a bad mother,"

"You are by no means a bad mother."

"I ran from our son,"

"It was our anniversary, I took you away." Jack said. He swabbed at his mouth with the back of his hand. "If he is sick then we'll take him to the hospital."

"You think it's just a cold?"

"I do," Jack gave Kate a weak smile. "Otherwise I wouldn't have taken you to Atlanta. Our anniversary means everything in the world and you know that…but if I honestly thought Riley was sicker then we would've stayed in Savannah."

"I'm going to call Claire and see how he's doing."

"We'll be in Savannah very soon." Jack said.

Kate placed her hand to her mouth, "As soon as we got in this car I just got this bad feeling. Maybe it's the hormones speaking again, but I'm starting to really worry." Kate reached for Jack's hand and he squeezed tightly. "I was fine in Atlanta, but now that we're heading back to Savannah everything is starting to hit me again."

"Riley was better when we left,"

"He was,"

"So we'll just see when we get there okay," Jack squeezed Kate's hand once again.

Guilt was setting in. Maybe they should've never left Riley in the first place. Kate sighed and then tilted her head back against the seat. "The mood swings must be setting in already…and so early, Jack you're in trouble." Kate turned back up the radio. "This song is depressing lets listen to something happy."

Finally Kate decided to turn off the radio.

She would just clear her mind until they got home.

Charlie stepped into the coffee shop in downtown L.A. He figured that he could sit in his apartment all day in a daze, or else go out and try to do something with his life. The last couple of days he had been in a depressed stupor trying to figure out why Claire hadn't responded to one of his letters in the last three years. Charlie wanted to believe that she hadn't received them because he had the wrong address, but Jack told him that Kate had told him about the letters. Charlie grabbed a seat in the corner. He couldn't help but to wonder if Claire read any of them. The last time they were together she was disgusted with him, and obviously she still felt the same.

As difficult as it was going to be he had to move on. Charlie clasped his hands on the table. He stared off in the direction of a young couple sitting close together as they whispered sweet nothings into each other's ears. As painful as it was going to be, he had to let go. Because this emptiness he felt inside couldn't be cured with anything or anyone besides Claire. It was time to move on. He'd write one more letter and then he would be done. Somehow he would find a way to move on. Get a job to compliment his recent milestone of being clean for three years, and pick up the pieces.

Coffee shops were depressing. Charlie reflected as he looked around. He was surrounded by three types of people. There were suits, drinking coffee alone and reading the newspaper before work, and then there were the couples. Happy, almost sickengly so, and in the midst of it all it were people like him.

The girl in the corner with the thick glasses, she had to have a prescription out of this world, and stringy hair. She hid in the corner alone. Looking beyond depressed with her bag clutched close to her body, and a hot cup of coffee cradled in her other hand. Charlie wondered what her story was. He knew without asking that his story was worse.

If only he hadn't been using. The pity and shame was going to be the hardest part to get over. If he did manage to move on. Charlie tapped his hands on the table in thought. After Liam left to take care of his family, Charlie had made the same promise to get his life together. But he had only gotten worse. The sting of rejection had eaten him up inside, and the loneliness became intolerable. Heroin became his friend during the darkest of nights, and the loneliest of days.

Charlie didn't want to become a junkie again. He didn't want to turn to heroin for the euphoric high feeling that only lasted for a few hours and then sent him crashing. Charlie rubbed his forehead. After the last letter was written he would wait a week, and then he would figure out what to do from there.

"Three dollars for a damn scone! What the hell…all it is is a little biscuit…hell I could make that with my bare hands… I ain't paying three dollars for some bread!"

Charlie could recognize that voice from anywhere. He looked up and wasn't surprised to see Sawyer's tall figure hovering over the register.

Sawyer turned around to face the customers, "Three dollars for a scone…don't you people got better things to do with your money like say…help out the needy women at the strip joint down the street." He chuckled to himself. "I ain't paying three dollars for a scone, that's some highway robbery."

"Excuse me sir," An employee said approaching Sawyer.

"What d'ya want Mr. Starbucks…I already said I ain't buying your scone,"

"Then don't buy the scone, but please sir, would you mind taking your voice down a little. You're disturbing our customers…"

"Your three dollar scone eatin', stuffy shirt, tight lipped, upper crust of society customers are being disturbed by me…well, well, well, Mr. Starbucks ain't that a shame." Sawyer drawled in his southern accent.

"I'm going to ask you one last time,"

Sawyer smiled, "And if I don't,"

"Then we'll have to ask you to leave, but hopefully it won't come to that."

Sawyer opened his mouth to return his signature smart comment but then his eyes fell on Charlie sulking in the corner. "You're actually not worth my time, Coffee bean." Sawyer strolled over to Charlie and sat down across from him without invitation. "Either I'm watching an episode of VH1 has beens or else I'm looking at the real and autenithic Charlie Pace,"

"Authentic," Charlie corrected.

"You know what I meant. What are you doing in a place where they charge three dollars for a scone," Sawyer blew out a puff of air. "For a scone,"

"I heard that, about ten times." Charlie replied. He wasn't in the mood to entertain Sawyer's humor. Now he regretted coming to this particular coffee shop.

"Anyways what are you doin' in Los Angeles Chucky, trying to build the frame for starting back up Driveshambles…Driveshafner…"

"Driveshaft…my band was Driveshaft,"

Sawyer reclined back in the booth, "Well 'cuse me, I see someone's not so happy to see a former graduate from Craphole Island. If I was considerate then I would leave, but lucky for you that's never been my strongpoint."

Charlie felt like asking if Sawyer had someone else to harass like the strippers he was talking about earlier but he refrained.

"These girls in Hollywood are trouble…I better leave before I end up with some little Fords runnin' amuck." Sawyer smirked. "So what's new with you?"

Charlie raised an eyebrow, "You don't have to pretend to care,"

"I'm not pretending just nosy. You and Claire made up? Ya'll were like Bonnie and Clyde on the island."

"Bad comparison…that was more like you and Kate."

"News flash Chuck-a-roo, Katie Shephard chose the Doc…and together they had a little Shephard…we had nothing." Sawyer shrugged. "Freckles wasn't my type anyways,"

"Good to know," Charlie said. He was thinking about taking a raincheck. "I was about to head to the…"

"What's the rush Chucky boy? You don't have to hate me anymore, I'm not the enemy."

"No offense or anything, but I'm not sure why you're even talking to me. After Kate choose Jack, you alienated yourself, and decided to make everyone's life miserable especially mine."

"That's in the past,"

Charlie shook his head, "I wish it was that easy to forget the past, but it's not. Nice seeing you again Sawyer, But I got to…"

"Claire hasn't talked to you since huh?"

"What?" Charlie asked.

Sawyer nodded, "I guess I'm not the only one that's lost contact."

Claire opened the door for Jack and Kate. "Hey,"

"Hi Claire," Jack said.

Claire quickly ushered them inside. Her instinct was to ask them about their anniversary, but she withheld because of her concerns for Riley.

"How is Riley?" Jack asked as he searched around the den for his son. Aaron was sitting on the couch with an open coloring book in front of him. He looked up at Jack and Kate and waved. Aaron wasn't as energetic as usual. "Is Aaron alright?"

"Aaron is fine," Claire said slowly. Her eyebrows dropped as she looked between Jack and Kate. "But Riley…"

"Mommy, Daddy!"

Jack, Kate and Claire turned. Aaron's room door had been thrust open and Riley ran towards them. He was still in his pajamas, and even though he was running it seemed as if he was in pain. Riley was pale, and his smile seemed forced.

"Hey buddy!" Jack exclaimed picking Riley up in his arms and then hugging him tightly. Riley wrapped his arms around his dad's neck, and then extended his hand for Kate to grab onto.

Kate held Riley's small hand in hers. He was so pale…and…there was no color in his cheeks. What was wrong with her son? Dread was starting to cloud over her again. Something was wrong, she couldn't deny that anymore. Kate's eyebrows furrowed low over her eyes, and she felt her eyes glisten with tears.

Unconsciously she squeezed onto Riley's hand harder just to make sure he would squeeze back. He did, but not with his usual strength. With shaking hands Kate ran her hands over Riley's man of dark hair and then stroked his cheek. "Jack…" she stammered.

"I know,"

Kate stared back at him quizzically. Jack shook his head signaling for Kate not to say anything else and then kissed Riley on the cheek. Kate watched them in awe. She left for Atlanta with Jack, when she should've stayed. What kind of mother leaves when there child is sick? Kate blinked as tears cascaded down her cheeks.

She was stronger than this. But how could she keep it together when her only son was staring back at her behind sunken eyes, and a weak smile. She slowly let go of Riley's hand and then walked into the kitchen wiping at her face.

Claire followed after her while Jack stayed in the den with Riley.

"It's bad," Kate said with a nod. She rested her hand on the counter and looked back at Claire with a tight smile. "I thought Riley had a cold…or even the flu, but still I should've stayed here."

"Kate you were gone for only one night,"

"Riley needs me…he needs us. Jack and I are his parents and we should've stayed here and took him to the hospital yesterday, because there's something wrong with him…He looks so sick…" Kate's eyes widened and she placed her hand to her mouth. "I'm scared that if I touch him then he'll break…he looks so fragile…so sick." Her arms started to shake.

The front door opened and then closed.

Claire quickly walked over to Kate and hugged her. "Kate, it might not be anything, just wait until you go to the hospital and…"

"And what…I hate hospitals! I hate them. My mom died in one, Tom died when I was trying to escape from one." Kate placed her hand to her face. "I can't do this right now. I just need too…" Kate started to cry harder. She was overly emotional and she was desperately trying to control it but she couldn't.

The tears fell like rain.

Aaron came into the kitchen with Claire and Kate. He stood in the doorway in silence watching as Kate cried unsure of what was going on.

"Is Aunt Kate okay?" Aaron asked.

Claire nodded. "Aunt Kate is fine,"

"She's crying." Aaron pouted.

Kate turned around so Aaron wouldn't have to see her tears. "Last night was so perfect. I was so happy, and Jack he was great…and now we come back home and everything is messed up."

"Kate," Jack said as he came into the kitchen. Riley was in the car along with his belongings. "I called the hospital and told them that I would be late because it's time we take Riley to…" Jack looked down at Aaron who looked up at him curiously.

Claire rubbed Kate's back and handed her a tissue to wipe her eyes. Jack walked across the kitchen to Kate and wrapped her in his arms.

Kate clung onto his shirt. "Why am I thinking of worst case scenarios," she sobbed quietly.

Jack clenched his jaw as he led Kate towards the car. He didn't want to think about worst case scenarios because it was his son, not a patient he was treating at work, but his own flesh and blood. Until Jack had concrete evidence of what was going on with Riley he would have to try and remain level headed. For all of their sakes.

Kate got in the backseat with Riley. She said nothing but wrapped her arm around his shoulders and brought him to rest against her.

Jack met Kate's eyes in the rearview mirror. It pained him to see her so sad.

Claire sat on the edge of her bed with her hands clasped together. She wanted to be there for Jack, Kate, and Riley, but she couldn't. All she could do was wait. Wait until they came back and hopefully with good news. Claire exhaled and tilted her head backwards. Aaron was smart, he knew that Jack and Kate were scared about what was going on with Riley, and Claire could see it in his eyes that he was scared too. She really hoped that it was nothing serious, despite her bad feelings, and constant worrying, hopefully Riley would be fine.

Claire stood up and walked towards the window. She opened the blind slightly so she could peer out. Aaron sat alone in the grass, playing with his favorite truck as if he had been forced. He was sad. Claire needed to cheer him up somehow.

While thinking about how she could make Aaron happy. Claire thought about how Charlie used to always come to the rescue. When Aaron was just a little baby, he would read to him. Claire sat back down on her bed.

Jack had Kate and Kate had Jack. So they weren't in this alone. Riley had both of his parents to help him get through and to love him. And even though Claire loved Aaron with all her heart she feared that it wasn't enough. Aaron was getting to that age when he would start asking questions about his father…even though Thomas was his birth father…in the back of Claire's mind Charlie had always been Aaron's father. Because it was Charlie that had held her hand after Kate helped her deliver the baby, and Charlie that went after Aaron when Danielle Rousseau had taken him. Charlie risked his life for her, and after three years of silence, he still wrote to her.

Even if Claire tried she could never stop loving Charlie, and now she needed him more than ever. Maybe it was finally time to respond to his letters.