*This chapter is back to present time.*
Kate woke up in a sweat; her dreams were so real and vivid. She saw all of the past in such detail. Her life in jail, her relationship with Sawyer, and her lack of relationship with Beth. She wasn't sure if this was the real past, but she had a feeling the island was giving her a gift. She just wished she saw something after Beth boarding the plane to Australia. She wanted to see how or why she ended up on the island.
Kate pulled the covers off and headed to the kitchen. She grabbed a glass and poured some water to drink. As she was drinking the water, she felt a presence behind her.
"Jesus, Jack. What are you trying to do? Give me a heart attack?"
"Sorry, sorry. I was just worried and decided to check on you."
"Don't be worried, I'm fine."
"You don't seem fine. Ever since you came back from talking with Beth this morning, you seem…different," Jack told her.
"I know, Jack. I know. But I'll let you know that I'm fine. Don't worry about me. Just worry about everything else we have on our plate."
"Kate, I know there is something wrong. You have to tell me. Please."
Kate looked at him with tears in her face. "I have to ask you to trust me on this one, Jack. Please don't ask."
"Are we going to do this again? Really? After everything we've gone through?" Jack asked stupefied. "I can't deal with this anymore, Kate."
"Jack, you know everything I have ever kept from you, I have kept for a reason. To protect you and others."
"Well, I don't need you to protect me," he stated. "I can take care of myself."
"Jack…I love you. Please don't ask this from me. It's too…"
And with that, they heard screams from down the road.
Jack and Kate immediately ran for the front door to see what was wrong.
"Wait! Take this…"
Jack handed Kate a gun.
They went outside and found people in Beth's front lawn.
"Beth!" Kate went running. "What happened?"
As the two ran up to Beth's house, they saw a man on the grass with people huddled around.
"Danny came back," Beth breathed out. "He's…he's been shot. I don't know what happened. He went to see Ben and Hurley and then…this happened?"
'Wait, Ben and Hurley? What are you talking about?" Jack interjected.
"Jack, not now," Kate said quickly and then bent down to see Danny's injuries.
"Who else is on this island, Beth? There must be someone else."
Beth looked up at her and then back to Richard a few feet away.
"The smoke monster, formerly known as the 'Man in Black' is still on the island. And that's why we are here…"
Kate face bore a massive amount of confusion, while Jack just looked around amazed.
"What does he need?" Kate immediately changed the subject.
Beth looked over at Jack. "He needs a doctor."
"Alright…but if I help him, I want to know what the hell in going on here. All of it. Is that a deal?"
"Yeah, yeah, it's a deal. Just please…" Beth pleaded.
And with that, Jack began to tell people what he needed. The bullet wound deeply penetrated the lower abdomen, and he had to work quickly.
"Ok, I'm going to bring him into the house. Kate, help me lift him up."
They went into the house and put Danny on a bed. Richard, Beth and others came back with supplies from their makeshift hospital down the road. Jack worked quickly and efficiently. In a matter of minutes, he had the bullet out and began to stitch up the wound.
"He's going to be fine. Just keep him on this medicine and keep him hydrated. He's gone through a lot from the looks of it. He'll regain consciousness soon. When he does, find me." And with that Jack stood up and headed toward the sink to wash up. Kate walked over to talk to him.
"You haven't lost your touch," Kate smiled, trying to lighten the mood between the two of them.
Jack smiled back.
At that moment, Beth and Richard walked over to Jack.
"So Jack, what do you want to know?" Richard said with hesitation.
The four went into the other room, giving Danny some time to heal and wake up.
They all sat down, Beth and Richard on one side and Kate and Jack on the other.
"Why are we here, Richard?" Jack pressed.
"Jack, you know I don't know that."
"I am getting really sick of that answer," Jack stated. "If you can't answer that, then tell me this. Is Jacob still alive? And why did you say Ben and Hurley were on the island?"
"Jack, if I tell you, it could change the future," Richard said.
"I don't give a damn anymore. I want answers, Richard. I want to know what the hell is going on here."
"Alright." And with that Richard began to tell them everything they wanted to know.
"About two years ago, Beth, the others in our camp, and I crashed on this island."
"How did you get off the island in the first place, Richard?"
"Jack, you're just going to have to trust me on that one. I got off. That's all that matters. And what matters even more than that, is that we crashed right back here," Richard continued. "The Jacob that you knew of was killed in the past. Probably after when you are from. And without telling you everything, Hurley was 'chosen' to fill Jacob's shoes. And Ben stayed to help him."
"So, does that mean we get off the island?" Jack asked. Kate looked down in agony. She wanted to tell him so badly, but she couldn't. She looked up at Beth, and Beth held eye contact with her. They both exchanged looks of sadness and pain.
"Jack, you can't know that," Beth chimed in.
"All you need to know is that we landed here. And through some chain of events we found out that the evil on this island that you have already seen had never left and is still here. We think that we were brought to this island to stop it. Again." Richard stopped. He didn't know how far he should go. He looked at Jack to see his response. Jack just sat quietly and thought.
"So, we don't save the island?" Jack finally stated.
"You do what must be done for the time being. But no, you don't save it in the way you think you do. But you might save it in a way that you would never think of."
Beth knew what Richard was talking about. She was the hopeful savior of the island in everyone's minds. And she was the child of the two sitting across from her.
Kate sat in deep thought. She figured what Richard was talking about as well, but wanted to test the waters to see how much she could get out of him.
"So, what is Beth's role in this?"
Jack looked confused. "Why just Beth?"
Richard again chimed in. "Because Jacob had a list of names written on a wall. It was found when you were all on the island, and all of the survivors names were listened, most crossed off, except for a few. It turns out that he was picking his successors after he was gone. All of the names made sense in the beginning. Jack, you were on the wall. And you too, Kate. But there was always one name that didn't belong. One name that was never looked into that much because no one knew of the person and it was written very lightly. The name was 'Beth'."
Kate gasped. "What does that mean?"
"We don't know. But we think that Beth has a job that she must do here. And we think that it may bring peace to this island once and for all."
Beth looked very somber after hearing the story retold to Jack and Kate. She had so many mixed feelings. She didn't want any of this. She just wanted to go back home.
"And that's why Danny went to see Ben and Hurley. He was trying to figure out what needs to happen. But I guess the 'Man in Black' grew wise to our suspicions. He must be on the move."
At the mention of Danny, Beth got up and went into the other room to check on him. He had yet to wake up but it seemed like his fever was getting better. The medication was doing its job.
Kate stepped into the room with her and left Jack and Richard alone.
"I didn't know you had all of this on your shoulders. Beth…"
"It's fine. I'm fine. Don't worry about me. Just worry about your real life and what you have to do."
"But I'm worried about you. You are my real life and I have to protect you. I'm going to try my hardest to change the past because I want you to be safe and happy and avoid a life here."
"Thanks, Kate."
"How is he?" Kate changed the subject.
"He hasn't woken up yet, but his fever seems to be getting better."
"Good, I'm glad. Hopefully he will wake in time so that I can meet him."
"That'd be great, Kate."
"Please, call me mom."
"Mom?"
Kate and Beth looked back. Without their knowledge Jack and Richard walked into the room.
Jack had the look of shock and confusion written all over his face.
"What is going on there?"
And with that, there was a flash of light.