"Thanks again for the James Bond movies. I started to watch them with Aaron but Kate said he's too young for them." Jack laughed as he remembered how cute Kate looked when she was mad, when her lips turned into one narrow line and fire burned in her eyes. "She was pretty angry, actually."
"You're more than welcome. Hope that's not too cold," Sarah said as she ran a sponge over Jack's toned torso.
"No, you're good." Jack thought for a minute on how to word his next statement. Sarah seemed to sense his hesitation.
"Let me save you some time. Kate had to take Aaron for a dentist visit and I thought I'd help her," she explained.
"I didn't mean..."
"It's obvious Kate and I do not get along. She'll probably be mad I even gave you a sponge bath..."
"Why would she be mad?"
"She's jealous. She knows I'm still in love with you." Sarah's words hit Jack harder than he intended. He remembered when he stood up for Sawyer when he told Kate that he hadn't meant what he said. He'd told Kate he loved her as nonchalantly as Sarah had told him. Had she felt that same heaviness? She had loved Sawyer at the time, but she had loved him, too. Hadn't she?
"Kate's not really the jealous type. She's just territorial," the words spilled out before he could stop them. He hadn't meant it as a challenge to Sarah. Instead, he wanted to hear that Kate still felt territorial of Jack, even if he had to hear it from his own voice.
"Well, you were mine first."
"Sarah—" Jack started but Sarah refused to listen to it. She instead moved the sponge lower, brushing it over his member. When he stirred and hardened under the feel of the wet sponge, she used just her hand to stroke his shaft. "Sarah," he tried again to stop her but his voice didn't sound convincing even to himself.
"Just relax," Sarah whispered. "Let me take care of you." She massaged his shaft and balls, motivated by his heavy breathing. Her other hand grabbed a tissue from behind her and used it when he exploded from her touch.
"The water's getting cold," was all Jack could manage. He was struggling to catch his breath; both his heart and mind were racing. The rush of endorphins had left him feeling better than he had since the accident. His mind, however, raced at what had just unfolded. What did this mean for him and Sarah? What did it mean for him and Kate?
"You have to get ready anyway."
"Ready for what?" Jack asked.
A short time later, Jack hobbled to the patio where Sayid, Hugo and Sun had joined Kate and Aaron.
"Surprise!" Aaron yelled, his arms outstretched.
"What's all this?" Jack chuckled.
"I thought you could use some company. And they've been worried about you." Kate explained.
"Dude, are you okay?" Hurley asked.
"I'm so glad you're okay," said Sun.
"Good to see you, Jack." Sayid placed a hand on Jack's shoulder.
"We have salad and sandwiches," Kate added.
"And cake!" Aaron clapped.
"You did all this?" Jack asked incredulously.
"I got it catered," she smirked, both of them knowing that wasn't what he was asking. He took her in, the pleated white skirt, purple silk blouse and wedge sandals. She pulled out a chair for Jack and helped him adjust.
The group spent hours reminiscing and catching up. There were laughs and tears but they each needed to discuss and remember that part of their lives. Aaron kept insisting that he remembered their stories, desperately wanting to be a part of it.
"I'm happy to see you and Kate back together. It wasn't the same when you weren't together," Sun said when Kate had gone inside to put Aaron down for a nap.
"We aren't actually together," he admitted. "But I know she still loves me."
"How?" Hugo asked.
"My mom told me," he said in embarrassment. The gang laughed, amused at the idea that Jack honestly didn't know.
"So go be with her!" Hugo practically jumped out of his seat. "You said it yourself, Kate is your destiny. You two belong together! What are you waiting for?"
"Sarah has, uh, complicated things." Jack confessed.
"Do you have feelings for Sarah?" Sun asked.
"I'll always love Sarah. And I'll always love Kate..."
"But you don't want to be with Kate anymore?" Sayid asked, his face shrouded in doubt. "I'm sorry, Jack but—"
"But she's so hot!" Hugo interrupted. "Like unbelievably hot—"
"She's also brave and selfless," Sun added. "But yes, she's gorgeous as well." Sun let out a small smile as if she were admitting a secret.
"They're right," Sayid took control of the conversation again. "Honestly, if I were you I'd stop at nothing to keep her by my side—"
"I get it, she's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, too." He ran a hand through his hair.
"I don't just mean her looks," Sayid corrected. "I'd turn her into a work sidekick. We'd be the perfect team. She probably wouldn't need me for very long..."
"She'd kick some serious ass," Jack laughed, knowing how scrappy Kate was. "And I do love her. And I still feel like meeting Kate was my destiny. But an accident bringing Sarah and I together twice? Sounds like fate..."
"Didn't the accident bring you and Kate back together as well?" Sun pushed.
"Dude, since the breakup all you ever say is how you'd do things different if you had another chance with her," Hugo reminded him.
"She let your ex wife stay here so that she could be near you," Sun added. "Do you know how hard that must be for her?"
Jack thought for a moment of how it would be if Sawyer and he were in the same house both trying to take care of an injured Kate. He clenched his jaw at the idea and how he'd feel to watch Sawyer take care of her. He and Kate had always shared a need to protect the other, even before they began dating. He knew that Kate must be feeling the same way. The thought made his heart hurt.
"Sorry it took so long. He fought sleep because he wanted to stay up and spend time with you guys," Kate smiled as she came back inside.
"You don't have to apologize," Sun replied. "We should be thanking you for setting this up."
"It's been too long," Sayid agreed.
"It's been nice being outside again." Hurley glanced around.
"Speaking of," Sayid began to stand "you're about due back." The group shared tearful goodbyes, none ready to let anyone else in the group go. Still, they parted ways in the end.
"You okay?" Jack asked when Kate came back into his room.
"What do you mean? I'm fine," she scoffed.
"Kate. Every time we get together I would hold you while you cried. Every time."
"I haven't forgotten any of it."
"You were gone an awfully long time when they left," he tried. "It's okay, Kate. It's okay to miss them and it's okay if seeing them brings up old memories. It's all okay." When Kate didn't reply, he held a hand out. "Come here."
Kate held his hand and let him lead her closer to his chair. "Be careful," she whispered. "I don't want to hurt you."
Her words hit deep. He didn't want to hurt Kate, either and yet he had. He knew in that moment what needed to be done. He needed to come clean if he had any chance with Kate ever again.
"Kate, I could never thank you enough..."
"It was just lunch," she blushed at the gratitude.
"No, not just that. Taking care of me, opening your doors to me. Why do you do so much for me?"
"You know why." Her eyes searched his for understanding. She wasn't ready to say the words but they both knew how she felt. She ran a hand through his hair as she studied the plains of his face. "I know it's all a lot for you right now. I can't imagine..." she shook her head. She couldn't imagine Sawyer and Jack both trying to help her recover and win her over.
"Yeah, I'd probably be throwing punches with Sawyer just knowing he was in your ear. Knowing he touched you..." Jack's hand balled into a fist at the idea.
"What do you mean, 'touching'?" Kate's eyes narrowed and he head tilted. He could practically see the anger bubbling underneath and knew better than to try to pull one over on her.
"Sarah ... she gave me a sponge bath...and she ..."
"She what?" Kate demanded.
"It was stupid. She... she... she gave me a hand job, okay?" He held his hands in surrender.
"Did you tell her to stop?" Kate's voice was icy.
"No. But I still—"
"Still what, exactly? You still care about me? You'd still fuck me?" Kate snarled, tears welling in her eyes. "This isn't some reality show. You can't just date both of us, Jack."
"That's not—"
"I've got to go make some calls. I'll find a place that can give you the proper treatment—"
"Kate, this—"
"And by the end of the day you and Sarah will be out."
"Kate!" Jack yelled but she ignored him and headed down the hall.