Chapter 17: Jin, of Sawyers Gang.

"Jack!" Sayid, Shannon, Claire and Charlie said in union when they walked into the hospital room. Jack looked up from Bow Bow, who he was playing with. They four ran to his side and took turns hugging him.

"Are you alright?" Charlie asked. Jack nodded awkwardly, not sure what do to with Bow Bow, hopping they wouldn't notice. "When do you get out?" He asked.

"Um…in like, six days…" Jack told them.

"Is that Bow Bow?" Claire asked suddenly. Jack went bright red.

"My mom brought him here!"

*

Six days later Jack sat in Charlie and Kate living room, scratching Jim's ears. Jim licked Jacks face happily, his polka dotted tail wagging happily with attention. "Jack, you realize of course, we haven't gone on one date yet, we are a couple of some sort?" She pointed out skeptically. "I propose you ask me out."

Jack sighed and started into the eyes of his girlfriend. He couldn't believe how much things had changed over the past few months. Over the past few years even. He remember being in love with her in high school, being her best friend, the one she could confined in. He dreamt of her each night, day dreamed off her each day he started at her in class, madly in love. Everyone had known it, everybody but Kate. Then he had kissed her, pressed her against the brick church wall and kissed her senseless and was cheered on by his friends. They were then together, together and happy. For one year, as happy as could be. Then Jack was accepted into medical school and things went down hill from there. He barely talked to her, barley touched her, barley kissed her, and he never mentioned that he loved her. But of course he did, he loved her from the bottom of his heart and when she packed his things and left he had felt a heartbreak like nothing he's never felt before. Three years later he came back home, back to the place they grew up, where they cared for each other, took care of each other and loved each other. And he got her back.

"Well, Kate." Jack said. "I suppose we could. Where are you interested in going?" He asked. Kate shrugged. "Great, I'll book reservations." Jack smiled and jumped up and walked towards the phone. He picked up and pressed a few random numbers. "Hello? No where? Yes, I'd like to make a reservation for never for me and my girlfriend. What time? I was thinking around 13:00 am. Really? Great, thanks. Bye." Jack set down the phone and walked back over to Kate. "It's a date." He said and picked up a magazine and began to flip through it again. Kate rolled her eyes and grabbed the magazine, then slapping his thigh with it.

"Okay wise guy, how about just a restaurant…on Monday maybe? 7:00ish?" She gave him back the magazine.

"I work Monday." He said. "All day and nearly all night, I don't think I could make it." He told her.

"Oh that's right!" She laughed. "I forgot, well, whenever you're free we can go out and celebrate your new job!" Jack smiled and nodded.

"That's sounds great."

*

That Monday Jack walked into his brand spanking new office. He wore his long starch white coat. Nothing could describe this feeling, standing in his office. It was like a symbol of his accomplishments. All his 23 years in life, this is what he had achieved. He was now officially a spinal surgeon and the hospital he had wanted to work at since he was aware his father worked there. All of his hard work had paid off.

"Hello?" Asked a voice. Jack turned around and saw a familiar face standing at the door. He was a tall Korean man wearing scrubs. "Jack Shepard?" Jack walked forward and offered his hand the man.

"I'm sorry, I don't believe we've met." Shaking his hand.

"I think we have met." He said nodding. Jack frowned and dropped the mans hand. His instinct told him to step away but he ignored it. "I'm Jin Kwon. Remember? We went to school together. With Sawyer, Hurley, Sun, Michael…" He trailed off. "Remember now?" Staring a Jacks face in concern. It then occurred to Jack that he was starting, at poor Jin with a horrified expression on his face.

"Right!" Jack exclaimed snapping out of his state. "Right! Yes of course I remember! Sawyers gang!" He nodded rapidly.

Jin grimaced. "Yeah, that was a dramatic year. I'm sorry. I'm not sure what was wrong with us. Survival of the fittest I guess." Jack nodded. "So, are you still with Kate?" He asked.

"We broke up." Jack said. He didn't know why he said, it just came out of no where before he knew what he was saying.

"I'm sorry, Jack." He told him. Jack frowned and glanced around nervously. "Is something wrong?"

"Well, we're back together now. But what…what about you?" Jack quickly changed the subject. "Are you still with Sun? I didn't know you want to be a doctor. Did you just start working here to?"

"Yeah, I'm still with Sun. We just had a baby. But yeah, I've always wanted to be a doctor. I graduated three years earlier because I took on way more classes then I should have." He chuckled. "So, I've been working here for three years. It's a nice small town. Homey and quaint." Jack nodded and laughed.

"Yeah, I know. I grew up here. My dad used to work here." Jack gulped down a sob. "Christian Shepherd?"

"Oh yeah…yeah…aw, I'm sorry man. So…you're doing spinal surgery as well?" He asked politely. Jack nodded. "Yeah, I'm in the birthing ward." He grinned and Jack managed a small smile. "Well, it was nice seeing you again, tell me if you need anything. My office is on the 4th floor, room 418D." Jack grinned and nodded.

"And as you know…my office is room 316C." Jack smiled at the sound. That was his office. His office, his fancy new office. Jack shut the door once Jin had left and turned to look at his office. "Well, maybe not fancy."

*

"Okay, I am sorry, but I need to get something off my chest!" Claire said barging into Jack's office. Jack looked up at Claire in surprise. "Man, I am so proud of you, Jack! You are like a big brother to me! I love you so much! Wow, that felt good! Now it's your turn!" She sighed and sat down happily on the edge of his desk. Jack started at her.

"I'm sorry, what?" Jack asked from his document.

"I love you, big brother!"

Jack started at her.

"I'm concerned for your health."

"I know about you and Kate!" Claire snapped. Jack started at her. "I know you two were trying hard to be discreet but it didn't work! We know about the two of you, I got it out of Charlie a few hours ago." Jack continued to stare at her. "Well?" She snapped.

"I had forgotten we were keeping that a secret."

"Jesus…" Claire mumbled.

"Where is Aaron?"

"At your place with Charlie! Now, Jack, do you realize what you did to Kate?" Claire asked. Jack sighed and rubbed his forehead.

"Of course I do, Claire. And…honestly, this isn't any of your business. This is between me and women I have always loved."

"Don't you dare take that tone with me, Jack!" Claire snapped. "I have been there for you and for Kate our whole lives, are you forgetting that? I love you both, you have been my best friends for forever. I've seen both of you naked, I've seen you pee, I've seen her use a tampon, I've walked in on the two of you having sex, I've let you cry on my shoulders and I've cried on yours." Claire spoke loudly and clearly at Jack. Jack put down the document and walked around the table. He wrapped his arms around Claire and pulled her into a tight hug. "I'm watching out of her, and I'm watching out for you! I'm just trying to protect you guys from each other!"

"I know, Claire, it's okay." He kissed the top of her head. "It's okay, I love you to alright? But you have to see this through our eyes. We do love each other and we are going to take things slow. I am never going to hurt her again…" He paused and pushed his face into her hair. "At least I'm going to try not to."

"Good." Claire mumbled into his chest. "Good…cause…cause…I love you guys."

"I know, we love you to."

They stood in their embrace for a moment then Jack pulled away and looked at Claire.

"Jin works here." He told her bluntly. Claire looked up at Jack, clearly not remembering who Jin is. "From…high school…boarding school, remember?" He asked. Claire's jaw dropped.

"No way!" She gasped.

"Yeah…" Jack paused. "You…you are okay with that right? I know you had a hard time with the whole…Sawyer incident."

"No…no…it's fine. I've gotten over it. It's just, surprising that's all. I haven't thought about high school in a long time actually." She sighed. "God, we were immature." She laughed quietly.

"No kidding."