Jack glanced next to him, watching her. Even after all this time, their bodies seemed to fit together effortlessly. Her head rested on his chest, rising and falling with his every breath. The way her eyes sporadically shifted side to side underneath her eyelids. He wondered what she was dreaming of. What she saw and what caused the hint of a smile.

"Jack," she whispered, her voice a mumble. Jack brushed a cluster of curls from her face.

"Kate," he whispered, stroking her arm. "Kate." She moaned softly and tried to bury her face further into his chest and muffle the sound. "Kate," he said a little louder, adding more pressure as he brushed her arm. "Kate! Wake up!"

He watched as she opened her sleepy green eyes, struggling to wake through the haze from the pills.

"Jack?" She smiled as she lifted a hand to stroke his cheek. When she lifted her arms she heard the metal clink and felt the restriction. She was handcuffed to Jack.

"What is happening?" She asked, her breathing getting heavier and heavier. "How did we—"

"You're fine. You're safe…"

"This is the safe house," she realized. "How did I get here and why?" She demanded.

"Kate, just listen—"

"Hurley," she remembered. "You had Hurley drug me? How could you?" She snarled. "Why, Jack? Why?"

He held his hands up in surrender. "Kate, you're in danger."

"From what, exactly?"

"Spencer. He's bad—"

"Worse than kidnapping?"

"Kate…" with his hands still in the air he took a step closer to her. In a split second she slammed her head straight into his. The impact left him stunned and he felt her stumble at the head butt. "Kate!" He snapped, rubbing his head. "What are you doing?"

"Let me go!" She growled. "I mean it."

"I'm not letting you go and it's physically impossible for you to move me," he reminded her. "Stop fighting me." He put one hand on each shoulder and took a deep breath, hoping she'd do the same. "Kate, Spencer is not the man you think…"

"I should have known," she scoffed. "This whole territorial male thing. Grow up, Jack."

"He's cheating on you," Jack whispered.

"I've cheated on him. I guess I'd be a hypocrite to make a problem of it."

"He's using you," Jack said with a sigh.

"He has his own money."

"Your fame. He talked about a memoir. Kate the killer and … and stepfather of the stepfather killers kid."

"Stop," she whispered the plea. "Spencer wouldn't do that." Her body was beginning to tremble. "Why… why would he even tell you?"

"He didn't mind us sleeping together because he's been cheating on you." He hated the way Kate's face fell in disappointment.

"Is that why you told him we slept together?"

"No," he admitted. "I told him because I hoped he'd leave you and we could reconcile." When her mouth fell open he shrugged. "Can you blame a man for trying?"

"Why are you doing this?" Tears began rolling down her cheek.

"Because I'm willing to risk losing you forever if it means I protect you from the pain a memoir or interview will cause you. I love you that much, Kate. I'll do anything to protect you."

He watched her look to the ground, the wheels turning in her head. He knew her brain was putting the pieces together; she was too suspicious to just ignore the information. He liked to think that a bigger part of her trusted what Jack said, whether they were involved or not.

"And what?" She finally asked. "What is the plan here? Just… keep me handcuffed to you forever? What if you have to work? What about Aaron?"

"Aaron is fine," Jack added quickly.

"How long are you going to keep me here?"

Jack sighed. "I don't know," he admitted. "I hadn't really—"

"Thought this through?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Kate, please…he's going to hurt you!"

"Let me go. Now."

"I will," he held the key up in surrender. "But Kate, you know that there is nothing I wouldn't do to win you back. There is nothing I wouldn't do to make you mine. And I'm risking it all. I'm risking losing you." He uncuffed his hand and then Kate's. He watched as she rubbed her wrists, just like she had the very first time he met her. He wondered if the deja vu could be a sign of the cycle repeating. Not that he'd ever lose Kate again.

Jack took it a step further, unlocking the door and opening it. When he looked back to Kate, she wasn't ready to leave. She wasn't standing strong. She was crouched down, her back against the wall and her knees against her chest. Her knees covered her mouth but she was crying, her eyes red and puffy.

"Hey," he said softly. She shook her head without even looking at him. She continued to just stare off. He knew she needed time and space. "I'm going to make us some food," he offered. She'd have some time to herself and he'd still get her to eat. "I hope you decide to stay and eat," he offered, squeezing her hand.

As he headed out he heard her sobs but he didn't hear footsteps. Whether it was consciously or not, she stayed. She chose to stay by Jack; he could only hope she'd chose him when it came to the information on Spencer.