"Dude, don't do that," Hurley spat out. "She'll kill you. I mean… not because she…"

"I know what you meant," Jack corrected. Kate was still slumped over and unconscious.

"Hurley," Jack sighed in frustration. "I'm not leaving her. She'll be afraid and confused when she wakes up—"

"Which will make her attack, dude. Don't you remember what Juliet said about Kate fighting her?"

"Believe me, I know how Kate can be." Jack felt annoyance building; since the island he'd always found himself jealous and frustrated when anyone spoke about Kate like they knew her better. They didn't. Kate had opened up with him more than he could fathom her opening up more than that. "If I don't stay with her, she'll wake up thinking she got kidnapped. She'll be terrified of what is on the other side of the door. I'm not doing that to her. It's bad enough it's resorted to this."

"You really love her, don't you?"

"Don't sound so surprised."

"I wasn't sure for a while," Hurley admitted. "I thought maybe it was—"

"Maybe it was what?" Jack snapped.

"Maybe you just wanted her because she's hot," he grumbled.

"Is that what you think?"

"I don't know, dude. I know Kate isn't telling the full story about why you guys broke up. I know she's protecting you. And I know it was killing her to stay strong."

"How do you know all this? You're such an expert on Kate all of the sudden?"

"I mean, we all keep in touch…" Hurley didn't want to tell Jack point blank that he had been in contact with Sun and Sayid and they'd discussed the breakup. They all wanted to be there for both Jack and Kate and had worked together to maintain a United front.

When they finally approached the room, Jack adjusted Kate gingerly. He was determined not to wake her up.

"I messed up, Hurley," Jack admitted. "And I know there's a chance I'll lose her. Or get beaten up," he said with a small laugh "but I cannot let her marry this man. I've got to talk to her. And I'm going to be there the moment she wakes up."

Hurley gave him a thumbs up. Tension and confrontation weren't his strong points and he didn't even know how to respond to Jack. He believed him but this was Kate. She'd been like a sister to him and he'd do anything for her. Jack didn't see the way she'd excuse herself when his name came up on visits. He didn't see the pain in her eyes when Aaron asked about him. Only seeing Kate during visitations made her change in appearance and weight. "I'll let you to it," Hurley whispered and headed out, his head hung so low that his frizzy curls covered his eyes.

Jack took a deep breath as he knelt down and gently placed Kate on the bed. She made a soft murmur as she hit the pillow. "Jack," she whispered in her sleep. He climbed into the bed and closed his eyes, savoring the way Kate's body just gravitated towards him as if they were magnets.

He brushed the curls from her face and stroked her cheek. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I didn't know what else to do." He hugged her tightly, feeling the warmth of her body. He struggled not to chuckle as he pulled twigs and leaves from her hair. She was nothing if not a survivor. He couldn't have handled one of her situations let alone all of them. He didn't know how she did it.

"Please forgive me, Kate." He kissed her forehead. As much as his stomach was in knots, the feel of Kate curled into him was enough to send him into a deep sleep.

She had to forgive him. He needed to prove to himself that he was the one for her. He needed to prove it to the other Oceanic survivors, too. But mostly, he needed to prove it to her. To prove that he could protect her; he needed to prove that her survival was still his first priority whether it be in the jungle or in the city.