Kate hurried into work, out of breath, red in the face, her clothing a mess. She saw her boss standing in the door, looking furious. Kate was suddenly over come with a sense of dread. She ran up to her boss and began to explain. "Please don't be mad. I got caught up writing to Jack, you know the great guy I was telling you about?! He really needed me to write back! I had to! I'm sorry I'm late! I really am!"

"Save it, Kate!" Her boss's voice boomed. Kate winced. "I am sick of you! You are almost always late!"

"I am not!" Kate protested. But her boss raised her hand, it was painted with black nail polish and six or seven rings on it. But she had the standard 5 fingers. "Please, I love this job!"

"I thought getting you a pen pal would take your mind off of Sawyer but it seemed to work to well! I can't put up with this Kate. You are FIRED. You can pick up your last pay check tomorrow. Get out!" Kate stood in place gasping for air and tried to think straight. She walked home in tears and collapsed on her couch. Although Claire was there, rubbing her back and consoling her, Kate wished Jack were here and prayed his next letter would arrive soon. She would have sent him a letter sooner, crying her heart out, but she wanted to get one from first.

Which it did, in fact, only a week after she was fired.

Dear Kate,

Okay, I'll admit to it. I rent porn. I'm a guy who never gets laid. What can I say? I can't help it. If you can admit you haven't for 6 months I can admit to that. But most guys do it anyways so whatever.

And don't count on me getting jiggy with Ana. She got hold of some of your letters. Well of them but the last one. She seemed so ticked off by it. I dunno, I kind of felt ticked off that she was reading them…they are supposed to be private you know? And…I guess…it's not just because I'm depressed that I was ticked off. This may sound really weird but part of the reason they seem private is cause they are with you? Does that sound weird? Or creepy?

So you are brunette? Me to. Brunette are just sex gods all around. Well…maybe not Ana. She has vibe from her that tells me she stinks in bed. You know?

It made me all warm and fuzzy inside to think that you think of me that way. I mean, wow. You barely know me but I really appreciate that you think that. It feels nice to have someone think you are really good person. To care about you like that, or to put so much thought into you personal life. I guess…when you are someone's personal life, it is kind of necessary. Or do you just do that cause you want to?

MR. NO BONE?! EXCUSE ME. BUT I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW THAT THAT IS COMPLETELY NOT…okay wait a second. Lets not finish that sentence….ever. Or you'll start calling me Mr. Random Bone…but nice, Kate, thank you. I can feel the caring and support you give me for my lack of sex life. Haha, just pulling your leg…or am I?

I'm sorry to hear about you and Sawyer. What happened? He was probably a big ass cake. Ass cake???? Okay. Ass hole. Ass hole stick. He probably didn't deserve you.

I'm glad you like your job so much! I don't own a pet. But I did buy a goldfish for my office! I've named her Katie. Wow. I just realized how creepy that is. Again…I've written in pen…Ugh. Well…if you think it is creepy just tell me…

I may get a dog, not sure yet though. Any suggestions?

Wish you best, feeling a little bit better, (could you tell in the letter?),

Jack

Kate read the letter, and wrote back saying what had happened at work. Then mailed, and went then wrote again the next day about her actual response to his letter.

*

When he got two letters from Kate he was surprised. He opened one that on the back said "Jack, read this one first, I wrote it first." The other one said. "Now, read this one."

Jack ripped the first one open in concern. It had tear drops all over it, and places where she had scratched words out.

Dear Jack,

I can't believe it…I've been fired.

I was late for work. I can't believe it.

I was writing my letter to you.

That's why I was late.

There was a large scribble mark.

It's not your fault. Don't you dare think for one second it's your fault. I was so worried about you that I just got consumed writing the letter.

Don't you dare blame yourself Jack Shephard. I know that's what you are doing.

Another couple lines were scribbled out.

That is what friends are for.

But I do feel awful. I feel terrible for loosing my job. I want to die. It meant everything to me. I feel sick to my stomach. This hurt worse then when I broke up with Sawyer.

Now I'll never get a dog.

Ugh, Jack, what do I do?

Please give me some kind of advice if you can.

I hope you can read this okay.

I'm crying a lot.

I HATE THIS.

UGH!

SHE told me to get a pen pal!

I do!

And she FIRES ME FOR IT!

Why?

How is that even fair?

God, this HURTS!

And get this!

She told me to so I could get over Sawyer!

And she used that against me to! To fire me!

Ugh god, I want to throw up.

Please right back SOON.

Scared, upset, sad, hurting,

Kate.

Jack had tears in his eyes as he read the letter. He didn't think so much emotion could be portrayed through such little amount of words. He wanted to write her a letter but ripped open the other one.

Dear Jack,

I'm not feeling much better, but please write back soon. Now I'll properly respond to your last letter.

Renting porn is normal. Especially if you are man. Kudos on being normal. Ha. Unless you are a porn addict! Weeeirrrddd.

You let her read my letters? I'm not mad. Just surprised, I don't let anyone read yours. But I guess…since…you said they are private with me…I can forgive you. Hehe. It doesn't sound sneaky at all Jack. It sounds adorably sweet. I bet you are such a romantic guy. Now that may have sounded creepy.

And yes, I know that vibe Ana gives you. My son of bitch boss had that vibe. Ass cake. (hehe!)

Of course I think of you that way, Jack. You do seem like a really great guy. And I try to be honest with people on a regular basis. I have never once been dishonest in our letters and never will be. Cause I do care about you. I write because I want to, and I care. I'm glad to hear I'm part of your personal life.

OH MY GOD! Mr. Random Bone! I love that. I nearly died laughing when I heard. Thank you for the much needed comic reliefe! I love that…Mr. Random Bone…hehehehe

I think the fact that you named your fish Katie is a little creepy. But the sweetness and cuteness of that wins over the creepiness so keep her named Katie. Why don't you send me a picture of her sometime?

I broke up with Sawyer cause I found he was cheating on me with his ex WIFE, yes wife, Cassidy. How sick is that? See, he was married to her and…I…well…I had a crush on him. And then he went on a trail separation with her, BEFORE he even went out with me! And we started dating and I fell so in love with him. He was really sweet, funny and seemed to care about me. Not to mention good in bed. Then he got divorced from Cassidy and we went for two years. I was totally and absolutely in love with him. Then he started acting funny and one day I walked in one him with his wife in our apartment. He said he wanted to get back together with her because she was pregnant with his baby. I miss him even though he's a jerk. I hate it and I hate myself, and him for it. Stupid sounding eh?

And yes, Jack! I could tell you were feeling happier in the letter! I'm really glad to see that! I'm proud of you! It wasn't because of Ana was it? How are things going with that? Is she becoming your special girl? Have you guys…gone to the next level? You know, like kissed? Made out? Extera, extera?

I hope my first letter didn't make you feel worse, Jack. I really just…I just wanted to help and it's my fault I got consumed by the time. You didn't sit me there and force me to write, did you? It's not your fault. It's mine.

Still really, really, upset,

Kate.

Jack sat back in the chair. And forced his own tears back. Her letter made him feel worse already. He had told this girl things he had never told anyone else and now he horrible. It was like hitting your best friend in the stomach. Jack gulped back his sob and tried to remain calm. "You did not make her loose her job. You did not make her loose her job. You did not make her loose her job." Jack chanted over and over again in his head until he was convinced he didn't and then he realized what he should do.

Just then his office door banged in and in walked Ana. She was red in the face and looked ticked off. Crap. Jack wiped at his eyes.

"Why didn't you answer your cell?" She snapped. Jack glanced at his phone. He had six missed calls. Jack was shocked. He hadn't even heard it ring.

"Sorry…I was reading this." He gulped. Ana snatched it out of his hands and grabbed the other one.

"You are crying because of her? Because she lost her job?" Ana looked over the letter. "What kind of vibe do I give you?" She glared at him. Jack shrugged. "Are you…are you in love with her, Jack?" Ana asked. Jack laughed out loud. "I'll take that as a no…" She scanned the letter again. "I don't want you writing her anymore. Not ever." She said simply. Jack gaped at her.

"Excuse me?!" Jack snatched the letters from her.

"You heard me. You are becoming obsessed with her. You are crying because of someone you don't even know. It's weird." She said, her voice and body language showed she was ready for a fight. "Me or her, Jack."