A/N: Thanks so much for all the reviews, keep them coming. I hope you're all enjoying this fic as much as I am. Here's chapter 5, which is my longest one yet. We're starting to get into the main plot and so alot of things are being set in motion... a couple of flashback's to help explain things as well. I tried to write Sawyer differently in this fic, because in lot of Jate fics I see him written as the asshole. I tried to write him in a different way, because I really like his character, just not with kate. so, enjoy...

Chapter 5: Catching Her Up

"Morning Jack." Kate said happily.

"Hey." Jack replied grumpily, catching Kate's attention.

"Not much of a morning person, huh?" Kate asked amused.

Jack cracked a tired smile, "Not really, after the island I'm more of a 24/7 kinda guy."

Kate laughed. "Yea I bet Jack. So, do you have a surgery today?" She asked sincerely.

"Yea, about an hour from now actually, then I'm going to meet Sarah. We gotta…uh… talk over some things that have happened recently." Jack replied.

"Oh, that sounds fun." Kate said seriously, wondering what they could possibly have to talk about, "I think Claire got back this morning from Charlie's tour so I figured I'd go over there and see her. Catch up ya know? It's been a while since I've seen her."

"OK, I'll probably be back late tonight, so I'll see you then." Jack said with a smile that made his chocolate brown eyes light up.

"Yup, see you then." Kate answered with an equally bright-eyed smile.

"Make sure you say 'hi' to my sister for me." Jack said.

Only five minutes after Jack was out the door and on the way to the hospital, Kate showered and got ready to head to Claire's. They too had some important issues to discuss.

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"Kate!" Claire screamed as she answered the door.

"Hey Claire, it's been a while hasn't it?" Kate greeted with almost as much enthusiasm, embracing her friend.

"To long Kate, way to long. Come on in, I was just making some coffee." Claire invited.

"That's sounds great, Claire. We have a lot of things to catch up on." Kate said, accepting the invitation.

"We sure do Kate." Claire agreed, turning around to head inside.

Claire lead the way to the kitchen, poured two cups of coffee and the pair immediately began gossiping. They started talking about Charlie's tour with Driveshaft, moved on to doting over Claire's son Aaron before finally reaching the conversation Kate was dreading, yet eager to have at the same time.

"So Kate," Claire began, "How are you and Sawyer doing?"

"Oh…well, uhh…we're kinda not together anymore." Kate said, knowing this would be awkward, and looked at her feet.

"WHAT? Kate, I'm so sorry. I didn't know, I shouldn't have brought it up." Claire said jumping to her feet to apologize, and attempting to embrace her friend.

"No, Claire. It's ok, I'm actually kinda glad you brought it up." Kate answered, slowly looking up from the ground, returning the waiting hug.

"Oh yea? And why's that?" Claire asked skeptically.

"I guess I just need to talk about it, get it all out of my system. Finally get over it, ya know?" Kate answered honestly.

"Yea I guess that's true…" Claire rationalized, "What do you wanna talk about then? How'd it happen?" She continued.

Kate was sitting on the couch watching TV, although she wasn't really interested in what was on. She had been fired from work that day, and she just wanted to cool down and sleep it off. Suddenly though, a gruff voice from behind her interrupted her thoughts.

"Kate, we need to talk." Sawyer said blankly, in his unruly southern accent.

"Since when do you call me Kate?" Kate asked, and then it hit her. "Wait a minute, are you…are you breaking up with me?"

Sawyer didn't answer immediately; he just sat down beside her on the couch and gazed at her.

"Look Kate, I've been thinking a lot lately, and this…this just ain't working. I mean…I love ya; I just think your mind's been…somewhere else lately. I don't know how much more of it I can take." Sawyer explained.

"What are you talking about Sawyer? I love you." Kate exclaimed, and moved her lips toward his. But Sawyer put one finger on her lips to block her attempt and continued speaking.

"Look, I'm trying to do what's best for you here. Kate, you may be in love, it just ain't with me." Sawyer finished sadly, giving her a sincere smile. She knew exactly whom he was referring to.

"Oh yea, and who might the lucky guy be?" Claire asked smugly, already knowing the answer.

"This guy I met at work about a week before Sawyer asked me out." Kate joked, cracking a smile for the first time in half an hour.

Claire slapped her friend playfully on the arm, "Kate! Tell me, now I want the truth. I want to hear you say it!"

"Jack." She whispered, so quietly that even Claire, who was sitting right next to her now, could barely hear.

"Oh my god! You're in love with my brother! We're gonna be sisters!" Claire yelled with joy, almost jumping around the kitchen.

Kate had to smile at her friend's antics, "I hate to break it to you Claire, but I don't think so. While you were gone, Jack met this girl. Her name's Sarah, and they've been dating for a while now. It seems like he's in love with her. Every moment I spend with him now, I regret what I did on that stupid island more and more." Kate said, her mood turning from happiness to sadness in a few short moments.

A moment of silence followed, and Kate recalled what had happened that day. It was one of the worst days of her life.

Kate was sitting, crying, on the beach, just watching the waves crash against the shore. She was so involved in her thoughts, that she didn't hear Jack approach from behind, kissing her neck as he sat down and putting his arm around her shoulder to comfort her.

"Hey, what's wrong? You worried about the rescue?" Jack asked concerned.

"No…well, yea…it's just Jack, we really need to talk…about us." Kate stammered.

"I got time, Kate. What's up?" Jack replied concerned.

"After we leave the island, this…us…needs to end. I can't do it anymore." Kate said, tears flowing down her cheeks.

"Kate, why? I already told you everything will be fine. I won't let you get put in jail. Everything is going to be fine." Jack said, thinking that this was going to be one of those conversations where she told him she didn't deserve him.

What he heard next though, shocked him completely.

"That's not it Jack. You and me. It's not working. I just don't feel the same way about you as you do about me." Kate almost whispered.

Jack was taken aback. He didn't know what to say. He hadn't expected this at all.

Kate didn't really want him to respond, lying to herself was hard enough. She loved Jack so much, but she knew she was going to get put away on their return to the mainland and she couldn't put Jack through that. She wasn't worth it.

Kate slowly stood up and began to walk away.

She turned and looked back and saw a single tear fall from Jack's eye. She wasn't sure if he'd ever talk to her again after this, but she really hoped they could stay friends. It would be easier that way when she was caught.

"I'm sorry, Jack." She choked out, and walked off down the beach.

"I was so stupid. Jack was the love of my life. I told him I didn't love him and now…I just can't believe I said that. Of all the things I could have said. I wish he could have known that wasn't the real reason we broke up. I just didn't want him to try and fix what I broke." Kate spoke almost to herself.

"Kate, it's ok, don't worry. He still loves you, you know that right?" Claire consoled.

"No, Claire it doesn't look that way to me. What makes you think he does? Did he tell you something?" Kate asked honestly, suddenly interested a lot more in what Claire had to say.

"I'm his sister Kate. I just…know. Since when have you been spending so much time with him anyway if he already has a girlfriend?" Claire asked confusedly.

"Hah, well that's a funny story actually." Kate said with a chuckle, feeling better.

"Well honey, I've got nothing but time." Claire laughed.

Kate took a few minutes to explain everything that happened that fateful night about a week ago. She explained how she showed up in the middle of the night crying, and how Jack had made her feel safe and happy, just from his presence. She explained how he'd asked her to move in after he'd found out she'd been fired the same day she broke up with Sawyer. She even explained about the morning after they'd gone out to celebrate their new 'roomie' status, when he'd been really awkward throughout breakfast and never told her why.

"Kate, that's amazing. I was almost ready to pull all of Aaron's old toys out of the room you used to stay in."

"Yea well, as nice as that sounds, I'm pretty settled at Jack's place." Kate said smiling.

"I bet you are, Kate. Can I ask you something though?" Claire said.

"Yea, Claire. Anything." Kate answered.

"Do you still love him?" Claire asked her question.

Kate didn't know what to say, she wasn't really sure if she did. Although, Sawyer must have noticed it in order to break up with her, and Claire seemed convinced, or she wouldn't go through all this trouble. Was it really that obvious?, she thought.

"I'll take your silence for a yes then. OK, Kate, I've got an idea." Claire said, a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

"No, Claire. I can't. He loves Sarah. I couldn't do that to him." Kate rejected the idea immediately, knowing exactly what Claire had in mind.

She didn't deserve him after what she did to him. He was happy with Sarah.

"Kate. Doesn't that remind you of something a certain ex-boyfriend said to you a day or two ago? Besides, it's not like we're going to break them up or anything. Just going to see if he still has any feelings left for you, ya know...a little test. " Claire grinned, "If he does, Jack will take care of the break-up all on his own."

Kate sat there shocked, in silence. She didn't know how to react, what to say. But finally, curiosity got the best of her. "OK, tell me." she muttered.

"I'm glad you asked." Claire began, "Here's what your gonna do…"

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"Hey Sarah." Jack said approaching Sarah in the hospital cafeteria.

"Hi, Jack. So how was your day?" She responded, planting a kiss on his lips as he arrived next to her.

"Great. The surgery was textbook, not a single problem." Jack exclaimed proudly. "It couldn't have gone any better." He added with a smile.

"That's great, honey." Sarah replied, kissing him again. "So what did you wanna talk to me about?"

"Right. Well, you remember Kate don't you? My old friend, from the island?" Jack asked, hoping she wouldn't.

"Yea. Why do you ask?" Sarah asked sweetly, a worried look appearing on her face.

"Well, a few nights ago. She broke up with her boyfriend…" Jack began to explain.

"So what am I? F*cking rebound sex? She dumps you without a second thought when you get off that island, and then the minute she walks back into your life you dump me to that same curb and get back together with her?" Sarah interrupted, screaming venomously.

"No, no! It's not like that all. Nothing has changed between us, and it's not going to start changing just because of Kate." Jack had to yell, attempting to calm Sarah down. Besides, it's not like they would even if I wanted them to, Jack thought.

"Oh. Ok. I'm…uhh…sorry about that, I was just worried. I don't want to lose you. Ever." Sarah smiled, but Jack noticed the same emotion didn't quite reach her eyes.

"I know Sarah, and I'm not planning on doing that to you either. I just felt like you had the right to know." Jack explained, smiling back.

"Why would I need to know that she broke up with her boyfriend? It doesn't exactly concern me, and it shouldn't concern you." Sarah remarked, giving Jack a stern look as if to say that he was hers.

"Well, that's exactly why I needed to talk to you. She came to my house in the middle of the night. She left her boyfriend's, and her one real friend in LA was away at the time. She didn't have anywhere else to go." Jack said softly.

"So you slept with her because you felt bad!?!? Why the f*ck would you do that Jack!? " Sarah yelled, almost ready to storm out right now.

"No, no, no. Jeez Sarah, I thought you trusted me a little more than that. I just let her have the spare bedroom for the night." Jack said, adding, "and the next few nights after that" under his breath.

"Well, I guess that's fine Jack. It's not as if I can do anything about that now. I'm happy you told me." Sarah began sweetly, "Now that she's got her life sorted out, she can find somewhere else to live." Sarah finished coldly, giving him that look again.

"Not exactly, Sarah. See, about three days after that first night, I found a newspaper in the room she was staying. She'd been circling classified ads to try and find a new job. She hadn't told me because she didn't want me on her case I guess, but she'd been fired the same day she broke up with Sawyer." Jack continued.

"Sawyer?" Sarah laughed.

"What? Oh, that was her boyfriend's name. Kinda a nickname he gave himself on the island. His real name's James." Jack answered.

"Oh. Well, it is a rather silly name, don't you think?" Sarah asked, trying to steer the conversation away from Kate. Sarah didn't like this girl already, and she'd never met even her.

"Yea, I guess. It doesn't matter. What matters is, when I found out she was unemployed. I asked her to move in with me…as a friend…" Jack added quickly, "and she said yes…"

"She's…moving in…with you?" Sarah asked, her tone shifting from incredulity to anger, "Are you kidding me Jack? That woman has some nerve."

"To be fair Sarah, she only agreed after I told her you were fine with it." Jack said, defending Kate.

"But you never talked to me about anything like this." Sarah said confused.

"Which is why we needed to talk just now." Jack said condescendingly, as if that was kind of obvious.

Sarah didn't miss the tone in his voice, but she continued, "So what happens when I say it's not fine and she has to go?" Sarah replied in the same condescending manner.

"Well, I say that it's not up for f*cking debate and you're just going to have to trust me." Jack replied angrily, flashing her an expression that simply said, 'don't even try'.

Sarah sat quietly, almost brooding, for about a minute. Her expression changed from angry, to thoughtful, and finally to accepting when she finally responded.

"OK." Sarah said, kissing him one last time with a little more passion as she got up to leave. "I can trust you on this."

Jack smiled at her and accepted the kiss, but didn't reciprocate with the same passion Sarah showed, just relieved that he had smoothed things over. The last thing he wanted was for Sarah and Kate to be at each other's throats all the time.

Sarah walked away with a smile on her face, but as soon as she had passed through the hospital doors, she muttered to herself with a snarl, "That bitch doesn't know what's gonna hit her. I've worked to hard to come this far and fail."

A/N: Hope you enjoyed it. please review!!!! im going to hope for 6 reviews again, but ill be posting the next chapter in a few days regardless. please review, let me know what you think about where this is going, and if you have any suggestions id love to hear them.