"Hurley?" Jack asked into his cell phone, trying to drive.
"Uhhhh… hey Dude… so… here's what had happened…" Jack knew any sentence that Hurley started that way was no good.
"What happened?" Jack gritted his teeth. He had asked Sayid for help but he didn't have time. With Sun so far away it left Hurley. Because he admitted himself he was able to leave any time and had checked himself out for the sole purpose of kidnapping Kate. Jack had a sinking feeling something like this would go wrong and now that today was the day, his fears were confirmed. "How big of a problem is it?"
"It's more of a … uhhh… it's more of a tall problem than a big problem…"
"Hurley!"
"I gave her my sleeping pills but it didn't work… she didn't fall asleep… I gave her a little more and she caught me—"
"—You let her catch you?" He snapped. "How many pills did you give her?"
"Two doses. So four pills."
"Jesus!" Jack yelled. "Kate is tiny, Hurley. Your dose will be strong for her. Hell, one would be strong for her. Where is she now?"
"That's just it… she figured it out and ran outside. I managed to find her but—"
"But what?" Jack demanded. "Is Kate okay?"
"She climbed up a tree. And then she passed out…"
"We've got to get her!"
"How man? I can't climb…"
"I'm almost there. I'm going to pull my truck up to the tree. I'll use the roof as a boost and get her."
"I really tried, dude."
"It's okay. I'm sorry I snapped—"
"I get it. I mean, this is Kate. And you and Kate…" Hurley trailed off, his voice sad with the reminder that Kate and Jack weren't together. "You and Kate always felt like the reason for the crash…"
"We caused the crash?"
"I think it happened to bring you two together. It was what kept me going on the island, the idea that it was all romantic divine intervention.
"I'm trying, Hugo. I'll be there soon," Jack said softly. When he hung up the phone he hit the gas, his knuckles white from holding the wheel so tightly. He had to get to Kate. He had to get her off the tree. He had to carry her to safety. He needed to know she was safe and to feel her, not in a sexual way but a way to assure him she was safe. On the island he'd often found simple ways to touch her for the same reason. He'd offer a hand and claim it was slippery. He'd put his hand on the small of her back. He'd give her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
Jack pulled up to the isolated building. The oceanic five had used part of the settlement to buy a safe house. It wasn't how they intended, but it was a perfect place to hold their friend hostage.
When he got to the tree line he saw Hurley waving. Above him, Kate was sound asleep, mouth open and hugging the branch. He took a deep breath; he had forgotten how good Kate was at staying in the tree. The thought broke his heart because he could only imagine she'd used the trees to hide from Wayne repeatedly.
Jack took his shirt off, not wanting the tight button down shirt to restrict him. He jumped from the bed of the truck to the roof, using that to hoist himself onto the tree. When he got closer, he could hear her soft snores, the medicine making Kate sleep heavier than he'd ever seen her sleep.
Kate easily wrapped her arms around Jack's neck instead of the tree the minute he was close enough. "Jack?" She murmured almost incoherently. She nuzzled into the crook of his neck and he realized even unconscious, she knew the scent of his cologne. He wondered if she missed the scent the way he missed her perfume. Once, in a moment of weakness he bought a bottle. He couldn't even say it was a regret because he sprayed it nearly every day; being surrounded by the familiar scent calmed him down. Closing his eyes and pretending she was there with him instantly relaxed him, even if it was all a facade.
He was able to get Kate to the roof of the truck where Hurley grabbed her.
"Jack, I'm so—"
"It's fine. She's okay. She's perfectly fine," he whispered, brushing the hair from her face. She was okay. That's all that mattered.
"Dude, how are you going to explain this to her?" Hurley asked. Since they weren't far away, they walked back to the safe house so they had less chance of waking Kate.
"I don't know," Jack admitted.
"So, what's the deal with the dude?"
"He doesn't love her—"
"C'mon man! Who doesn't love Kate? She's just a friend and I just want to protect her."
"He's dating her because of the publicity she's gotten. He likes the idea of dating 'killer Kate' and being Aaron's stepfather because—"
"Obviously," Hurley interrupted. He knew it was true, but he hated hearing it. He hated being reminded what Kate did. It sounded terrible even if it wasn't.
"He cheated on her, too. Probably still is. But that's… I mean…"
"You slept with Kate!" Hurley hissed with excitement. "You two slept together! I know it!" Jack grinned at him, silently confirming Hurley's suspicions.
"But then… why is she still with Spencer and not with you?"
"She's mad at me," he sighed.
"What did you do?" Hurley smiled.
"I told Spencer that I fucked his fiancée and that I'd fuck her as often as I could." Jack shrugged, still not feeling any remorse over throwing it in Spencer's face.
Hurley laughed so hard that he had to stop moving as his deep laughter caused his belly to jiggle. Kate's hair swung with every laugh. Jack rushed over, grabbing her, afraid she'd wake up or hurt her neck. After one inhale she made a soft moan, whispering his name.
"I just needed a way to get her in one place long enough for her to listen, you know?"
"I get it. And Kate's kind of a runner," he chuckled. "I'm surprised she didn't run to Vegas and marry him to avoid talking about it."
"She pushed the wedding up," Jack sighed, giving Kate a glance. He held her a little tighter the minute he saw her.
"Do you think she'll forgive you?" Hurley asked slowly, as if walking on eggshells.
"I don't know. I hope she does but I'm willing to risk losing her if it protects her from having a guy use her as a paycheck. If he betrays her it'll destroy her."
"I'm sure it'll be fine," Hurley offered but Jack could hear the doubt in his voice. His most optimistic friend didn't even think Kate would forgive him. Reality began to creep in.
Any reconciliation was slowly slipping through his fingers.
