Thanks for the reviews. I know Kate's pretty hard on herself, but she's got major issues, which I will address next chapter. And thanks for complimenting my Sawyer, ms metaphor -- I've been trying really hard to get his voice right, but I worry it's a little over the top sometimes. Even if he can be. And I try not to be too derivative of his dialogue on the show...

I was just going to post this chapter, but I couldn't leave it like that (although I love that it's so much like the caves argument in season 1), so I'm adding the next one as well. I think you'll like it – Jack stops being so passive. As soon as I finished it, I knew it was nearly the end, so I'll just warn you now, there'll only be a few more chapters after this, including the one about Jack's plan. (By the way, I couldn't resist sneaking in that little Red Sox reference…)

Please read and review. I'm looking forward to hearing your comments, particularly about chapter 20, which I'm pretty fond of. Does everyone else's hit count go down as they go along, or is it just mine? Cause I'm starting to get worried...

Chapter 19. Like The Red Sox

They didn't make it to the movies after that. Even though Kate recovered well from the shock of seeing James with his new girlfriend, the mood wasn't what either of them had hoped for after that. Jack wondered if they really were just two ships passing in the night, destined to keep missing each other, for the rest of their lives. It seemed like whenever one of them was ready to start a relationship, the other one wasn't. Maybe, like the Red Sox, they were never meant to win.

It was probably for the best, Jack decided. His confidence that she would come with him to L.A. was beginning to wane. She hadn't mentioned it again since she'd told him she'd think about it, and that was a few days ago now. He had to go back soon; she was running out of time to make a decision, especially if she wanted to give the diner reasonable notice.

There was nothing to eat at the motel, so they went back to the diner, making awkward small talk as they picked at their food. Jack wanted to clear the air between them, by asking her about the kiss, or near kiss, but he was afraid that if he reminded her of it, it would only make things worse.

She caught his eye a few times, like she wanted to say something, but when she realised that she had his attention, she baulked, staring moodily back down at her plate.

Realising that the timing was wrong, but knowing that he couldn't make things any worse by bringing in up again, Jack resolved to ask her about L.A. If she wasn't coming, he could at least justify in a way she'd understand, why he was keeping her at arm's length.

She brushed the question off again, telling him she didn't know. "We're short staffed here," she explained, though Jack knew there was more to the story than work. "If I leave, there won't be anyone to cover my shifts." His doubt must have showed on his face, because she grew defensive of her answer, adding, "I can't just go changing my whole life on a whim. I may not be a doctor like you, Jack, but I have responsibilities too."

It sounded so unlike the Kate he knew, so against her natural inclination, that Jack couldn't help but feel like she was punishing him for something. For rejecting her, maybe, though that wasn't what had happened, no matter how she chose to read it. As illogical as it sounded, and as hard as he knew it would be for her to believe, he hadn't kissed her because of his feelings for her, because he wanted to make sure that they were both in this for the right reasons before it ruined the relationship they already had.

Pushing his plate away, and taking a deep breath, Jack decided it was time to set the record straight. He wanted to be open with her, even if that meant hurting her a little to do so. "I'm sorry about what happened at the motel, Kate," he began, still not entirely sure which path his apology was going to take. "Or what almost happened—"

He didn't get the chance to finish, because she cut him off, her voice firm, a little cold, even, as she looked up at him with that closed off expression he'd become all too familiar with in the past few days. "It's okay, Jack. Don't worry about it. We got caught up in the moment. It happens." She pushed her own plate away, standing up. "I'm really tired, and I've got to open tomorrow, so we should probably just go home."

She didn't say another word as she paid the bill herself, affectively ending the date, and the argument. Then she picked up her jacket, and headed for the door, without even waiting to see if he was coming. Too stunned to say anything, Jack followed her out of the diner, wondering if they'd just broken up before they'd even started dating.