Hi there! New chap., long chap., expected chap. You get to know what happened to Kate, at last. And please tell me something, is it me or this chapter is sad?
P.S. I added a ruler so you won't get confused between Jack's memories and the narration itself.
Chapter 40
As Jack drove away from the condo, he felt like burning inside. He soon found himself speeding up with no apparent direction. He kept driving for about an hour, replaying in his head what had just happened.
Why Brooke, why? Damn it!, he kept saying to himself. At that moment, he couldn't understand why she couldn't be content with him and just him. Why she needed more? Why everybody always expected something from him? She wanted his soul. His soul. If he even had one, it was too much to ask for, he thought.
Soon the sun began to set. Now he was really far from home. When he came back to reality, he started recognizing the road. His heart beat faster when he noticed where he was. Without realizing, he had taken the Interstate 5 freeway. He pulled over abruptly at the first viewing-point he spotted. He couldn't believe it. He was at the exact place where Kate had crashed the day she died.
Almost hyperventilating, a big wave of memories came to his mind. He saw his life with Kate flashing before his eyes. He remembered the very first time he saw her, the very first time they kissed and how she finally stopped running to stay with him after they got rescued from the island…
As they were boarding the ship to leave, Jack still couldn't believe they were finally going home. One by one they got on, and every second he was waiting for someone to start the fire and kill them all, or for another unexpected danger or complication to frustrate their departure.
He had learnt just few days ago that Claire was his sister, her father's daughter. Juliet told him, before giving him the file the Others had about his life. He was blown away. Not that he found surprising his dad had one lost and unknown daughter, but he found stunning the fact of getting to meet her under those circumstances. What were the odds, right? Crash on the same island with his unknown sister, helping her somehow with her baby, his nephew, neither of them being aware of it. Amazing, he always thought. Maybe Locke had been right all the time and some things are really meant to happen in certain way.
Claire, on the other hand, had learnt from Desmond. One day of desperation, she was crying her heart out believing they would all die on the island without anybody giving a damn. She had given up, her faith was finally gone. She never felt more lost in her life.
Then Desmond came to her with calm in his eyes and his voice. He told her to smile and shine, because one of her most precious wishes was about to become true. What wish?, she asked. The one of having a real family for your child, he replied. She looked back at Desmond with confusion in her gaze, and he knew she needed more details. He threw her a short smile and announced: You have a brother and you'll soon meet him again.
She frowned. Again? What you mean again? Where is he?, she asked puzzled. He's on this very same island, Desmond affirmed. As if she'd had an epiphany, Claire's eyes opened wider. It had to be him, she thought frantic. She asked Charlie to watch Aaron for a moment, ignoring his yelling and demands for explanations. She went to her secret spot, the one she always ran to when she felt like writing on her diary. After he had been taken, she had removed his things from his former tent and kept them there. She never told anyone, because she could not think of a decent explanation to do it. She just felt she had to.
So there she was, digging in the sand with anxiety and excitement at the same time. When she took his backpack, the one he had after the plane crashed, she knew she had to find in there some proof of what Desmond had just told her. She sneaked into it and found some medicines, Kate's mug shot, a T-shirt, his ID and yes, his wallet. She opened it and searched, her hands shaking every second. When she found it, she almost blacked out. It was a picture of Jack, and her father was there, holding him. Jack was her brother, the son of her father. Then she ran to tell Charlie, and the world.
The day they were finally rescued, all the survivors were waiting at the dock. Claire was waiting with huge expectation to see Jack. She even affirmed she wouldn't leave if he didn't get on board with her. Then we'll both stay, Charlie told her. Desmond approached them and said there was nothing to fear, since Jack was coming soon. Stay with me, Desmond told Claire, I'll take you to him, he promised.
And so he did. Soon after, a little boat anchored at the dock. Then Jack, Sawyer, Kate, Locke, Sayid and Juliet came down. The minute their gazes met, they knew. She had no doubt as neither had him. Somehow, they could recognize their father in each other's eyes. Then Desmond took her hand and walked to Jack. I give you your sister, he said, placing Claire's hand in his. They couldn't utter a word. They could do nothing but hold each other tight and burst into tears, feeling their blood relation running in their bodies, while everybody looked at them stunned. They knew they were not alone anymore. No matter what happened, they would always have each other. Then he felt the immediate urge to hold Aaron. They were a family. They became inseparable from that moment on.
Then the ship arrived. They would be taken to mainland, back to Australia, where they would board a plane. Jack and Claire were holding hands, while he was carrying Aaron. Charlie was right beside them, and Hurley followed them close.
Once on the plane, they took the 15th row. Charlie sat at the window, then Claire in the middle and Jack at the end. Hurley was one row behind. Dazed by his encounter with Claire, Jack forgot for an instant about Kate, until he saw her walking the corridor, guarded by a man who was probably a marshal. He followed her with the gaze until he lost sight of her. She had been taken to the front rows of the plane. They were not in the best terms at that moment, but still he felt concerned with the idea of her going to jail. He needed to figure out a way to help her, he thought at the moment.
It was a long flight and all the passengers were jittery and hysterical. Everybody remained uncomfortably silent, holding their breath. The slightest air bag, the tiniest turbulence or vibration, was reason enough to panic. Many of them had to be sedated. Others got sick and kept throwing up. Others, like Jack, were nervous but tried to remain calmed, expectant.
As the hours went by, people started falling asleep, unbelievable as it was. Jack, of course, couldn't. Yet Aaron, then 2 years old, was sleeping comfortably on his chest. Claire, feeling safe and relieved, was also asleep with a gesture of peace on her face. Charlie also managed to take a nap.
They were taken to Houston, to the NASA Headquarters, absurd as it was. Now all the survivors were in custody of the U.S. Government. They wanted to make sure the survivors were not carrying some infection or disease, or that they really were who they claimed to be. Authorities had to make sure they'd got all the leaders and members of the Dharma Initiative –or what was left of it– captive, so the aberration that happened on that island never repeated again.
Interrogations were endless. Each one of the survivors had to make a statement of the events, which was recorded in video. Doctors, scientists, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, priests and even psychics, everybody wanted to hear the story and made the impossible to arrange interviews and meetings with them.
Some of them narrated what they saw and/or heard. Others told what they thought they had seen or heard. Some more told what had happened to other people as if it had happened to them.
But the stories that interested the most were the ones of those who were really in the eye of the storm, those who got to really see what the island was about and were close to the so called Others, the people who were on the island before the plane crashed.
Therefore, Jack's testimony was one of the most appealing of all. Not only because he had spent the most time with those Others, but also because every single survivor had mentioned him at least once. Some of them said he had saved their life. Other ones admitted he was the leader. But what almost all the survivors agreed on was that he did everything he could to keep everybody alive and safe, and that he had been a key element to finally get off the island.
After repeating the same things and answering the same zillion questions everybody made, the survivors were released after 4 days of exhausting investigations.
All of them were compensated for the damages and losses they experienced for the plane crash. They were asked where they wanted to be sent or located to start over or go on with their lives. Jack and Claire talked about it. Of course she agreed on going to L.A. and stay near him. Therefore, Charlie would go too. So did Hurley.
They were put on a plane again, but this time they took it easier. At last, they got to Los Angeles. The minute they tried to step out of the airport, a voracious horde of reporters and media was waiting for them. Jack had never been big on crowds, but this time it was over the top. It was even scary.
A security staff was arranged to help them get out and reach the van that was driving them to the Shephard's residence. Directions were given to them to accomplish the task. They would be taken to the van one by one. Hurley was first. Then Charlie, and Claire was next.
Whilst Jack was waiting for his turn, he was holding Aaron in his arms. He was watching Claire between the mob with anxiety and concern, breathing deeply to stay calm. He had to take care of his nephew, who was crying out loud, scared by the buzz and frenzy of the media outside.
He was ready to go out when somebody grabbed hold of his hand. He turned his head and couldn't believe his eyes. It was Kate, who stared at him with a determined look of complicity, the one she always gave him when she was certain about something they both agreed on. From that moment on, he knew she would stay with him, no matter what. He nodded to her and she blinked her eyes, and then they came out of the airport together.
Margo almost dropped dead when she opened the door and saw her son not only alive, but with a baby in his arms, two women by his side and two men behind. After letting her recover from the shock, he introduced Hurley and Charlie. Then he introduced Claire, and had some trouble to tell who she was. But Margo didn't need to hear it, she knew since the second she looked in Claire's eyes. Then Jack introduced Kate, telling his mother she was the woman he loved.
After telling Margo all there was to be told, Jack finally had a moment with Kate alone. They were at Jack's former bedroom, now turned into a studio. She explained that the police considered she had already paid her debt to society after all she had been through on the island, and with Edward Mars dead, they decided to just drop the case.
Then she told him she loved him, always had and always would. He said he loved her back, which she already knew. Then that long time coming kiss arrived, full of hope, passion, longing and lust at the same time. They got rid of each other's clothes and finally merged their bodies in one true, pure and devoted act of love. Six weeks later, Kate found out she was pregnant. Jackie was on her way.
Little by little, they all began rebuilding their lives. They got the houses where they lived on to this day. Charlie and Claire got married with a big cheery party. Jack and Kate, on the other hand, just stick to a very private ceremony.
Jack went back to work at the hospital and soon was appointed Chief of Surgery. Charlie resumed his music career and released his first very acclaimed solo album. Hurley was a millionaire, so he spent his time looking for a reason to spend his money, finding in Aaron and Jackie an excellent excuse. Claire and Kate became pretty housewives. They were all a whole brand new happy family.
Kate and Jack built a nice marriage. This time, she didn't pretend to be a perfect wife, like when she was married to Kevin. There were no mysteries between her and Jack, he knew everything there was to know about her, so she was just herself. She managed the household in a practical way and wasn't much of a spender. Claire had to beg her to go with her to the salon or to go shopping for new clothes. She always ended up buying things for the kids.
She wasn't great on style and wasn't a fan of fancy dresses and high heels. That's why she hated when Jack had to attend parties or events with his colleagues. She hated to dress up. Sometimes, Jack wished she was more womanly, 'cause he definitely appreciated sexy clothes, styled hair and that kind of feminine details. But since she was very good in bed, she indulged him with other talents to compensate her scarce sexiness.
Some nights they both woke up in panic, caused by the nightmares they still had from their island days. Sometimes only she woke up, some others he did, but they learnt to live with it.
Later on came Brett, and Jack thought life couldn't be more perfect. It should be the reward for the hell they had experienced, he always thought. He was a devoted father and husband, and she would kill again for her family. She was absolutely proud of her husband and children. They were happy, and it was supposed to last forever.
But it didn't. The day Kate died, Jack had to operate on a very fucked up patient. It was going to be a long and complicated procedure, and Kate knew it. He wouldn't be home for dinner. Jack had finally managed to lower his guard, so he didn't notice Kate had been weird and jittery the last couple of weeks. He just thought she was on her PMS.
He left home in the morning and drove the kids to school, as always. Kate went on with her usual week-day routine. She went to the market with Claire and they had a nice chat, as they always did. Then they both went to pick up the kids at school.
Charlie was arriving from a tour, so Claire went home and didn't stay over for supper. Then Kate fed Jackie and Brett and helped Jackie with her homework. She had a hard time with that, 'cause Jackie had been very stubborn and fussy the whole day. Brett was 2 years old then, so all he cared about was playing with his legos.
When the night came, she had dinner alone with the kids. Then she put them in their pajamas and made them brush their teeth. She lulled Brett to sleep and then went to Jackie's bedroom to read her a bedtime story. She explained to her daughter daddy was working late, so this time mommy was reading for her. Jackie accepted reluctantly.
She finished reading the story and Jackie wasn't even drowsy. Kate sighed in despair and begged her to sleep. Jackie didn't want to. Why you don't want to sleep? Kate asked. Because I don't want you to leave, Jackie replied. Kate raised an eyebrow and decided to sing a song to her daughter. Finally, Jackie closed her eyes. Kate stopped singing and covered her with the blanket, placing carefully her stuffed bunny under her arm.
Then she walked to the door and the second she turned off the light, Jackie pleaded: Mommy, stay with me. Jackie, please, you know it's time to sleep, she begged. No, mommy, please don't go. Kate approached the bed and threw her daughter a questioning look. Don't go where? She asked. To that place you're going, Jackie replied. Don't go mommy. I'm not going anywhere, Kate affirmed caressing her cheek. Then Jackie gave her mom the saddest look she'd ever had and closed her eyes, hoping what she had said was true.
Jack got home at 11:00 pm, exhausted. Kate asked how the surgery went, and he told her satisfied the patient was fine. He was so tired, he rather not eat and went straight to the bedroom, taking Kate by the hand.
Once in there she kissed him softly, and in spite of his weariness, she seduced him and they made love. She made a wreck out of him, of course. He was so profoundly sleep, he didn't feel when she got up of the bed and sneaked to the bathroom to get dressed. He didn't feel when she kissed him sweetly on the lips.
He didn't hear when she went to Brett's room and kissed his cheek, neither when she entered Jackie's room and kissed her head with a smile on her face. He didn't hear when she started her SUV and drove away.
What he did hear were the hysteric screams of Jackie, who woke up in frantic crying. He got up and noticed Kate wasn't on the bed. She sure was at Jackie's bedroom, he thought. He went fast to check on his daughter and found her almost in a catatonic state. She kept crying for her mother, calling her insanely. Jack noticed Kate wasn't there. Kate? Kate? He yelled, but she didn't reply. Jackie's screams had awoken Brett, who began crying too. Kate? Kate?!Where are you?! Can you check on Brett? He shouted. Then he stared at her daughter, concerned to death. Jackie, what's going on? Mommy, mommy, was all she was saying. She sure had a nightmare, he thought. Honey take it easy, you just had a nightmare, mommy's coming, he assured, holding her to his chest.
Then the phone rang and he literally jolted when he heard it. Who could be calling at that time? He checked on Jackie's wall clock and saw it was almost 4:00 am. He rushed to pick up, wondering annoyed where the hell was Kate. It was Derek, calling from the hospital. Kate had wrecked her car and was in the ER. He felt like choking, how could that happen? It didn't make any sense. He hung up and immediately called Claire. In a minute she was there and he asked her to watch the kids.
He got on his car and drove to the hospital in vertiginous speed. When he was about to burst into the ER, a distorted Patrick tried to stop him, but Jack pushed him violently to get him out of the way. When he finally came in, he found Derek and a whole crew of interns and nurses with long faces. Jack I'm so sorry, Derek said with teary eyes. She died in the ambulance, he managed. Jack thought he had to be in Jackie's nightmare. He felt the world collide. What the hell was going on? That couldn't be happening. His wife was back home, taking care of his children.
He approached the table and looked. She was Kate indeed. He fell into a denial state. For almost an hour, he kept silent and still, sitting beside the table. Then Andrea came and feebly told him a police officer wanted to talk to him. That was when he hit the ground. He went straight to Derek and knocked him down. What the fuck happened? Tell me! Tell me! What's my wife doing on the street? He asked screaming. The police officer had to control him, but he was like a raging bull at the moment. Patrick had no choice but inject him a sedative.
Then Jack was taken to the accident scene, at the Interstate 5 freeway. The police explained a flat tire and the excess of speed made the SUV tip over and fall into a cliff, right before a viewing-point. Though the cliff wasn't so deep, the paramedics had trouble pulling her out of the vehicle. She was seriously injured and had lost a lot of blood. Unfortunately, the closest hospital equipped enough to attend her injuries was St. Sebastian, which was half hour away from the crash point. She went flat line by the time the ambulance hit the Emergency Zone.
Derek's shift was almost ending and Patrick was already there to start his. Derek sweat the shit out trying to resuscitate her, without even knowing she was Kate, but he couldn't, she had been flat line 4 minutes. Then he called her dead. Patrick went in and froze when he saw who she was. He told Derek she was Jack's wife. Derek's hand began shaking and he rushed to make the call.
The police interrogated Jack at the very crash scene. They asked him if he was having troubles with his wife, if they'd had a fight or if she or he had a lover. He denied all of it. They said they'd call him if they needed to ask him something else.
Then he went home and told Claire what had happened and then rushed to the bathroom to throw up. Claire burst into tears, not believing her ears. She called Charlie immediately. Then she called Margo and finally Hurley.
They all got there in the blink of an eye. No one understood what was going on and kept asking Jack questions he didn't have answers to. Margo arranged the funeral.
When the morning came, Jack went to her daughter's room. With tears in his eyes, he tried to explain as well as he could that her mom was gone. Tears rolled over Jackie's cheeks and then she nodded, asking any further questions about it, which Jack found unbelievable.
After the autopsy, the police had given him a final report of the accident. They also delivered him a bag with Kate's belongings. Among them he found an ATM receipt. She had withdrawn all the cash she had in the account where Jack deposited her monthly spending money. He also found a letter. He didn't even need to read it to know, but he read it anyway. Kate was leaving him and running away.
At the funeral, everybody was crying the hell out, except Jack. He just couldn't. He felt numb. And from that moment on, he hated her. She was a betrayer, a liar, a cheater. She made him believe she loved him just to rip his heart apart. She had done it beautifully, he thought. Again. What he couldn't believe was that she hadn't given a damn for her kids and simply abandoned them too.
The loud horn of a heavy truck made Jack come back to Earth. He felt devastated, but he had come to a conclusion. He didn't want to be there when Brooke disappointed him. He didn't want to be there for her to break his heart. He had already hurt her, and he didn't want to give her the chance to hurt him back.
So far, she was perfect, and he wanted her to remain like that. What she had made him feel, her love, her smile, her beautiful eyes, would live in his heart forever. That way, when he thought of her, he would be able to smile and remember what it felt like to be loved.