A few hours later Jack returned to Kate's room to update her on Sawyer's situation.
"They've managed to stabilise him. He's lost a lot of blood but he's doing good. He's going to make a full recovery", Jack smiled as he saw the relief wash over Kate's face.
"Oh good", she breathed. "Can I see him?"
"Not just yet Kate; he's sleeping now but I'll take you down to see him in a couple of hours ok?"
"Ok", she smiled. "Thanks Jack".
"Anytime. So um... what are ye going to do now? I mean are ya going to move on to Las Vegas like ya planned?", Jack asked cautiously.
Kate looked down for a minute. "Jack I..."
"It's ok Kate. You don't have to answer that erm I'm gonna go; I have some other patients to check up on".
"Is that all I am another patient?" she asked sadly.
"No Kate, you know you're not", he sighed shaking his head. "Why does everything have to be so complicated with you?"
"With me? What do you mean with me? What about you?"
"What about me?" he asked angrily.
"I never know where I stand with you Jack. One minute you're ignoring me, the next you're asking for me to go on little treks into the jungle with you".
"So we're back to that again", he said bitterly.
"What do you mean again? We've never talked about this, we never got the chance. Forgive me for being slightly curious about why I was being ignored for days and then suddenly welcomed back into the group?"
"For Christ's sake Kate. I wasn't ignoring you; I was just keeping my distance and don't act so innocent. You know perfectly well why anyway".
"It's always the same with you Jack. I'm always the one to blame. Why can't you ever just admit you were wrong for once?" she spat.
"I was wrong? Are you serious? Oh sorry Kate I didn't realise it was normal for people these days to kiss someone and then just turn and run back to some other guy!"
"I said I was sorry Jack", she said her voice starting to shake a little.
"Oh yeah I remember that Kate. Well that's ok then. As long as you said you were sorry then I guess we don't have any problem".
"Stop it Jack", she whispered as a few hot tears escaped from her eyes.
"Stop what Kate? Look I know you and Sawyer have a thing ok but did you have to kiss me if you were just going to turn and run straight back to him?"
"Shut up Jack. You know perfectly well there's nothing between me and Sawyer; there never has been".
"Don't even try that Kate. There has always been something between you and him".
"Like that something between you and Ana?"
"Don't you dare bring her into this! It has nothing to do with her. Me and Ana were just friends that's all", Jack spat as his eyes began to fill up with tears.
Kate's face instantly softened. "Oh god I'm sorry Jack", she said softly making her way towards him. "I didn't mean to...I...I'm sorry..." she knew he still blamed himself for Ana's death.
"It's ok Kate", he whispered. "I'm sorry for shouting at you. Can we just forget all of that just happened?"
"Yes please", she smiled gratefully.
"Ok look I have to go and check on my other patients but when Sawyer's awake I'll come back and get you".
"Thanks Jack", she smiled squeezing his hand gently.
"See you in a while".
A little while later Kate was shakily making her way towards Sawyer's room.
"You ok?" Jack asked worriedly.
"Yeah I'm fine", she smiled shyly.
"Ok here we are", he said turning the handle to his room.
"Thanks Jack", she said quietly as she made her way inside.
"See you in a while", he said closing the door behind her.
"Well hey there Freckles", Sawyer grinned as he saw her come in.
"Hey Saw...Matthew", she said quickly spotting a young pretty nurse standing by the window on the other side of the room.
"Well I'll be back to check up on my favourite patient in a little while", she said with a wink, making her way towards the door.
"Thanks Ally. Don't be gone for too long".
Kate rolled her eyes as she watched him flirt mercilessly with the young nurse.
"Some things never change", she smiled shaking her head.
"Sorry Freckles. Feelin' jealous are we?"
"You wish Sawyer".
"The name's Matthew, Ava".
"Yeah...so how are you feeling?"
"I've been better. How bout you?"
"I'm ok now. Jack's been taking good care of me", she smiled softly.
"I bet he has", Sawyer said disapprovingly.
"Jealous?" she smirked.
"Now why would I be jealous Freckles? I'm the one married to you".
"Whatever Sawyer… so um what do are we going to do now?"
"Well I dunno… Las Vegas is still there but I have a feelin' you got other ideas".
"What do you mean?"
"You and Jacko always had something. If he asked you to stay with him you'd jump at the chance".
"Well he hasn't ask me to stay so that's going to be a problem", she said sadly.
"Not yet. He will though. Kate you've been pining for him since we got rescued all those months ago".
"What about you?"
"What about me? Freckles I'd love nothin' more then for you to come with me but I know you'll always regret not stayin'. It's up to you".
"I would love to stay with him", she admitted. "But I can let him get involved in my mess. He'll lose everything if I get caught. He's worked so hard for what he has; I can't do that to him".
"He's already involved Kate. Look if you wanna come with me then I'll be leavin' as soon as I get outta here but if you wanna stay then there's not much I can do to change your mind".
"I never knew you were so deep Sawyer", she smiled.
"Whatever Freckles", he shrugged. "I'm a man of many talents"
They were interrupted by a light knocking on the door.
"Hey", Jack said cautiously peering his head in.
"Hey there Doc", Sawyer grinned. "You comin' in or what?"
"How are you?" he asked closing the door behind him.
"I'm ok I suppose. You can't up my dosage can you even with all the flirting in the world I can't crack that hot nurse".
"That's Ally for you", Jack laughed. "There's nothing I can do".
"Damn soooo Doc when you gonna ask Freckles to stay with you then?"
"Sawyer!" Kate muttered.
"Come on now Freckles you wanna stay and he wants to ask you please just get it over and done with", he sighed shaking his head.
Kate looked down blushing while Jack said nothing just rubbed the back of his head nervously.
"Erm...I...well...Kate if you want to stay then of course you can stay with me, I have plenty of room".
"Really?" Kate smiled looking up.
"Yeah course if that's what you want".
"I...erm...yeah...oh no Jack I can't", she said suddenly.
"What? Why not?"
"What if they find me? I can hide forever; you'll be in as much trouble as me if I do".
"Kate they're not going to find you and anyway I want you stay… please?"
"I...erm...ok, if you're sure".
"Yeah I am", he smiled.
"Ok then thanks Jack".
"My pleasure".
"I'm sure", Sawyer smirked. "Now see that wasn't so hard was it? Well seeing as that's sorted you two can go now me and Ally still have a lot of getting to know each other to do", he winked rubbing his hands together. "Send her back in Doc".
Jack and Kate both rolled their eyes in unison.
"Awww ain't that sweet like an old married couple already", Sawyer teased making them both to blush.
"Shut it Sawyer", Kate smiled.
"I'll be back to check on you in a while ok?" Jack told him.
"Can't wait", he drawled. "Now where's the hot nurse?"
"Ally?" Jack called out.
"Yes Jack?" she smiled.
"You're wanted", he said nodding in Sawyer's direction.
"Again?" she smiled shaking her head. "That's the fourth time today".
"Jack?" Kate asked quietly on the way back to her room.
"Yeah?"
"Are you sure...I mean about me staying because if you're not then it's fine, I understand..."
"Kate", he said stopping her and putting his hands on her shoulders, "Do you want to stay?"
"Yeah I do but if I get caught..."
"Kate that's not what I asked do you want to stay? Forget about everything else".
She hesitated for a minute not saying anything. "Yeah...yeah I do..."
"Good cos I want you to stay too", he smiled. "Now come on you're supposed to be resting".
"Yes Doc", she said happily.
"That stopped getting cute after the first few times", he teased opening the door for her.
"So you think I'm cute then Jack? Hmmm interesting", she smirked.
"Don't get too excited Kate", he laughed. "Come on get into bed you're supposed to be resting".
"No need to be so bossy Jack. Are you going to be that bad when I'm staying with you?"
"I'm gonna be worse", he smiled. "Now sleep you're being discharged tomorrow and lucky for you I'm taking the whole weekend off to get you settled in".
"Really? You're going to be there all weekend?"
"All weekend", he repeated.
"Thank you Jack", she smiled sweetly. "For everything".
"Kate you're going to have to stop thanking me for everything all the time".
"Is that not cute anymore either?" she teased.
"Nope. Sweet dreams Kate", he smiled bending down to kiss her softly on the forehead.
"Night Jack", she mumbled softly before the black of sleep took over her.
Jack stood and watched her lovingly for a few minutes. He still couldn't believe that all of this had actually happened, that she was actually here. He knew she was right though if she was found he would be in as much trouble as she would be but he didn't care. They'd worried about when the time came, for now he was just happy she was here and he was willing to do anything in his in power to keep it that way...
TBC
Hope you like please review!!
Laura x