A/N: Sorry for the delay guys, thanks so much for the reviews. Please keep them coming, I like to know how I'm doing as a writer. Here's chapter 3. It's a bit longer than the previous two chapters, and I hope to keep increasing chapter length to fit more story in. just the last two chapters kind of had convenient ending points, and i figured i liked the cliffhangers. Apologies in advance for any grammatical errors, I dont have a beta reader. Well enough of me rambling, enjoy!

Chapter 3: I'm Glad You're Here

Kate took her time and enjoyed the vegetarian breakfast she'd made – a cheese omelet and a cup of hot coffee. It was the best meal she'd had in a while, because normally she was rushing out the door for work in the early hours of the morning.

Jack had already left for work a few hours earlier. He had a very early surgery to remove a spinal tumor, and then later in the morning had a crushed vertebra to attempt to repair.

He enjoyed telling Kate about what he had to do that day at work, and so, even when she had no idea what he was talking about she listened intently, paying more attention to the smile on his face, the happiness radiating out of his eyes and his lips, than the words coming out of them.

She hadn't really wanted to listen to what he had to say today though. After all, it was only last night Sawyer had left her. She almost walked away from Jack when he began to talk about 'dural sacs' and 'lumbar punctures' and 'the thoracic cavity', but the expression on his face melted her heart instantly.

He looked so happy just to be talking to her normally again, and she didn't have the heart to deprive him of that. In fact, it wasn't something she really wanted to do either.

So Kate put on a smile and listened as well as an untrained, non-doctor could listen.

Ironically, those few minutes of conversation were fast becoming the best parts of her day, especially when the rest of it entailed job hunting and boringly waiting for Jack to get home, if only to tell her how that gibberish from the morning went.

Kate thought about her job- well, now her lack of one. She'd decided not to tell Jack about that particular part of her story, she didn't need him going into overdrive.

She loved the fact that he still cared so much about her, but she knew from the island that Jack in overdrive was almost more annoying than helpful.

Kate headed outside to grab the paper, intent on finding a new job as quickly as possible, preferably before Jack noticed she wasn't leaving for work. If Jack found out she'd lost her job, there'd be a huge inquest about it, and that wasn't something Kate needed right now.

She checked through the classifieds and circled a few of the promising ones in pen. She'd sort out interviews and how to proceed later. She knew Jack would be home soon, and she still hadn't showered since yesterday. She didn't want to look like the emotionally damaged, broken woman she looked like last night when Jack got home, so she hid the paper in the spare bedroom and headed upstairs to the bathroom, spending a good twenty minutes relaxing herself.

The shower was extremely refreshing, and she felt a lot better for having it. She grabbed some old college sweatpants and t-shirt from Jack's closet and she felt a lot more comfortable. She headed back downstairs to wait for Jack's return.

It wasn't long before Jack walked in smiling. He was extremely happy, and explained that his surgeries had gone extremely well. Kate smiled back at him, happy that at least one of their lives wasn't in the dumps.

Wow, she makes that shirt look like it was made for her. Jack thought. But he didn't say anything, he just smiled, he didn't exactly want to scare Kate away only hours after she'd walked back into his life.

They sat together on the couch, they're voices competing with the television, passing the time away.

Jack began to talk about his surgeries from the day, and although Kate barely recognized any parts of it besides 'went well' and 'textbook' she was overjoyed for him. She knew from their island days that whenever Jack lost a patient, he always blamed himself. No matter whose fault it really was. He hadn't had a chance at saving the Marshal and still blamed himself for days afterward.

Boone's death affected him even more. He felt that because he based his treatment on Boone being a fall victim, he felt responsible for not rechecking Locke's story. When it turned out Boone's leg was crushed, Jack blamed himself.

No one else noticed, because Kate was the only one who knew him well enough to see through his tough exterior. He may have blamed Locke to the others, but his mistakes were eating him up on the inside.

The clock had just turned four, when Jack said, "Hey Kate, Sarah and I were going out to dinner tonight. You're welcome to join us if you'd like."

Kate smiled graciously, "That sounds great Jack and I'd love to, but I really shouldn't."

"Sure you could. I'd love for you to come, and I'm sure Sarah wouldn't mind." Jack replied, hiding his disappointment.

"Jack, thanks for offering, but really I couldn't. Sarah's your girlfriend and you need to spend some time alone with her. Besides I don't even have anything to wear. You should spend some alone time with your girlfriend. It wouldn't be right for me to come." Kate declined softly, almost choking on the word 'girlfriend' each time she said it.

Jack couldn't hide his disappointment anymore, "OK Kate, but next time you're coming. Promise?"

"OK, Jack. Next time, I'll be there. No excuses." Kate replied, the smallest of smiles appearing on her lips.

"Great! I'm going to hold you to that, Kate." Jack said, his grin stretching almost from ear to ear, making Kate want to rethink her decision of sitting this one out.

Kate didn't reply, just flashed him a smile as bright as he'd seen in ages, and he continued.

"You have my cell number, so if you need anything just call. I'm not sure when I'll be home, but I'm sure you can find something to do."

"Thanks Jack, have fun tonight. Oh, and could you check and make sure Sarah's OK with me staying here? I don't want to cause any trouble between you and Sarah." Kate asked as he walked out the door.

"Sure thing Kate. See you later." Jack replied just before he left the house, turning around to face her.

She had wanted nothing more than to take up Jack's offer, but she couldn't- not yet. She didn't want to seem to eager. She wasn't even sure if Jack still had those same feelings for her, he did after all have a girlfriend. But could she really blame him? After all she'd put him through?

Kate spent the next few hours following up on some possible jobs, watching some TV, and cleaning up Jack's house a bit. It was the least she could do after all he'd done for her.

It was around 10pm, and Kate was just picking up some magazines in Jack's living room when, unbeknownst to her, he walked in from his date with Sarah.

"Kate, what are you doing?" Jack asked.

"Oh, I didn't hear you walk in," Kate replied honestly, "I was just cleaning up a bit. It was the least I could do after how you've helped me out."

"Kate, I told you. It was no problem, living here alone gets really lonely, not to mention boring, after a while. It's probably one of the reasons I tend to work really long hours." Jack answered.

"Well, still. I figured I needed a way to repay you. No matter what you say, I'm sure you have better things to do than have some emotional girl living in your special bachelor pad." Kate said with a laugh, smiling.

"Kate, don't worry about cleaning the place, there isn't much to clean anyway. I don't spend much time here compared to the hospital." Jack replied amusedly.

"Oh yea? So you really threw yourself into work since you got back, huh?" Kate asked wryly, part of her hoping it had something to do with her, while the other desperately hoped it didn't.

"Well, not immediately after. I was working decent hours, but then about three months ago, I decided it was time to get back to work for real." Jack replied casually.

It dawned on Kate that she'd started dating Sawyer around that time. But she decided it was nothing, it was purely a coincidence.

"Oh, well…" Kate began to talk, but didn't really know how to respond.

Luckily, Jack interrupted her.

"And Kate?" Jack said, causing Kate to snap out of her thoughts and look into his eyes, his beautiful brown eyes.

Kate didn't speak, just locked gaze with Jack and waited for him to finish his thought.

"I'm glad you're here."

A/N: That's it for chapter 3, sorry theyre still kinda short (im workin on it, really), but bear with me. I'm gonna ask for 6 reviews again before I put the new chapter up. This chapter didn't really advance the plot much just a little character, but I promise you chapter 4 is a big plot chapter. if i get the reviews in time, I should have it up by thursday or friday, ive got a pretty busy week. thanks for reading.