A/N: I apologize for the lateness, I think I said I'd have this up yesterday, but work was hell and completely forgot :D. Anyways, here is the second to last chapter (last is an epilogue). Hope you enjoy it. Please review, this is your second to last chance to tell me what you think :D.
Chapter 19: Full of Surprises
"Morning, Kate." Jack said as he walked into the kitchen and approached Kate from behind, wrapping his steady arms around her waist.
"Morning Jack." Kate said, turning around in his arms to kiss him.
"So, I was wondering, are you busy tonight?" Jack asked, making conversation.
Kate turned around and gave him a look, which clearly said, 'Are you serious?'. "Actually Jack, I have a hot date. You'll have to wait until tomorrow." She joked.
There was a moment's pause before Kate added, "Of course I'm free, Jack, and I'm all yours."
Jack laughed with relief, "Well, that's good. I was wondering if you wanted to go out to eat somewhere, just you and me?"
"Aren't we a little past the first date, Jack? I mean, we skipped dates one, two and three. Oh, and normal couples don't move in before they're together." Kate mused lightheartedly.
"That's true, but we're definitely not a normal couple. Besides, I thought it might be nice. You know, every couple needs a first date. One of those memories we can go back to. Plus, I can't screw it up now because you're already in love with me." Jack said with a smile.
"Oh, I am, huh?" Kate said coyly.
"I sure hope so. I don't usually have sex on the first date, ya know. Never mind having it three times before I've gone on any dates with a woman." Jack joked.
"Well, technically it was more like six times. Besides, we went on a few dates on the island. You remember that time you made me walk halfway across the island to that secluded little lake? I was so tired I almost fell asleep when we got there." Kate recalled happily.
"Hey, in fairness, I did carry you all the way back." Jack retorted.
"Well, it was a good job you did or I would've been to tired for what happened when we got back. Seriously Jack." Kate said rolling her eyes.
"That's true. As long as that walk back was, the hours after…and especially before… it was definitely worth it." Jack finished, recalling their first date on the island.
"Before? Don't you mean after?" Kate replied seductively.
"No. I really enjoyed spending time with you on the island, sex or no sex." Jack replied, drawing a smile across Kate's lips.
It was only two nights ago that Jack and Kate had finally admitted their feelings towards each other. For two people who had put up so many walls around their emotions, it hadn't been an easy feat. Some of the survivors were jealous of the pair of them, while others were indifferent towards them. For Jack and Kate though, the only emotions they felt were relief, happiness and love.
Jack, unbeknownst to Kate, had spent the entire day preparing for what he had planned for that night. Being the island's only doctor it had been easy to convince Kate he was simply doing rounds and caring for the sick that day.
He'd set out at the crack of dawn, leaving Kate behind in his tent, towards the lake he'd discovered accidently just days before. He had everything prepared at the site already. He had grabbed the best of what remained of the Dharma food and he'd found a ledge that overlooked the entire lake picturesquely. He then sat back and observed the scene before him- perfect.
He surveyed the beach campsite, looking for Kate, and quickly found her sitting by the fire closest to their new tent. Not wanting to waste precious time, he quickly made his way over to her.
"Hey." Jack greeted, sitting beside her by the fire, admiring how she looked so stunning even in these difficult island conditions. She hadn't showered in days, her clothes were covered in mud, but she'd never looked so good.
"Hey yourself." Kate greeted back, looking up to meet his eyes.
"I was wonderin' if you wanted to head into the jungle for a little privacy. I found a little place we could eat and talk a little." Jack asked.
Kate momentarily looked down into the fire and smiled out of Jack's view, causing Jack to lose his confidence temporarily, "I understand if you don't want to, I just thought…"
"Shut up Jack." She said as she caressed his cheek, "I'd love to."
Jack's face instantly lit up once again as he lead her into the jungle for what he hoped would be as successful as an island date could be.
They had walked for almost an hour, and with no sign of stopping, Kate began to grow tired. "Are we almost there, Jack? I'm beginning to think we're lost."
"Almost. It should be right through this next clearing." Jack replied.
As they walked through the clearing, Kate prepared herself for what she'd see next. But however much she tried, she could not have possibly been prepared for this.
The lake before her was beautiful enough as it was, but Jack had made it perfect. She picked out a ledge which overlooked the lake, surrounded by firelight which made the water glisten. She saw the meal he'd taken from their remaining supplies sitting neatly, waiting to be consumed and then she turned to see Jack grinning at her reaction- the most gorgeous site of all.
Jack grabbed Kate's hand and lead them around the water's edge toward their waiting meal. "You know, lighting torches in a jungle is kinda dangerous, Jack." Kate said matter of factly.
"You were worth the risk." Jack replied as they sat down.
Jack quickly cooked them the last remaining Macaroni and Cheese box and as they ate they enjoyed light conversation.
"How'd you find this place, Jack? It's beautiful." Kate said, as she surveyed the scene before her yet again.
"I was in the area a few days ago, and I stumbled upon it. I'd call it lucky I guess." Jack replied cryptically.
"You didn't have to do all this, Jack, really." Kate said.
"I didn't have to, but I wanted to, Kate. You deserve it." Jack replied as he put his arm around her shoulder, causing Kate to smile shyly and nestle herself into Jack's chest.
"How'd you find all the time to do this? It looks like it took a lot of time and effort." Kate said, realizing how much work Jack must have put in to make the lake look this way.
"Well, I had some help." Jack said, hoping she wouldn't venture further.
"Help? Well, I'm guessing it wasn't Sawyer." Kate laughed.
Normally Jack would have tensed at Kate's mention of Sawyer. But since she'd convinced him where her heart truly lied, it didn't affect him the way it used to.
"Actually, it was Juliet." Jack began, noticing Kate's slight tense underneath his arm. "She took over the doctor duties so I could take the day off. But the effort, I was more than happy to put in." Jack explained, and felt Kate's muscles visibly relaxed.
They spent the next few hours simply talking and enjoying each other's company. The sun had finally set and the moonlight had only enhanced the shimmering water before them.
All Kate wanted to do know was fall asleep in Jack's arms, but he had other ideas.
"Kate, we should probably go back to camp. I don't think it's to safe out here to sleep." Jack said, ever the fearless, intelligent leader.
Kate groaned in disapproval, and Jack chuckled in response. "But it's so far Jack, can't we just stay here tonight?"
"Well, there is one more thing I want to show you. It's how I found this lake in the first place." Jack said, peaking Kate's interest once again.
Jack proceeded to lead Kate around to the far side of the lake, and through a small patch of trees. On the other side of the trees, Kate saw a very familiar setting before her. There were the tracks of fifty or so people leading to their left, and directly in front of them stood a tree stump. The very same tree stump she'd sat on when they'd made their way to the radio tower, the same tree stump she'd sat on when Jack…
Kate's thoughts were interrupted when Jack asked, "You recognize this place, Kate?"
Kate immediately turned and buried her face into his chest in an embrace. "Of course I do Jack, it's where you first told me you loved me." She said, and trapped his lips between her own. "I never thought you'd say that when you started defending Sawyer."
"You'll find I'm full of surprises." Jack replied grinning.
"That was really a great night, wasn't it?" Kate reflected, snapping out of her reverie.
"Yea. Gorgeous lake, beautiful night, and the perfect girl." Jack said, evoking a wide-eyed smile from Kate.
"You sure do know how to make a girl feel special, Jack." Kate joked, pulling him in for a kiss.
"I try." Jack laughed.
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"Jack, are you going to tell me where we're going Jack?" Kate asked annoyed.
Jack chuckled in satisfaction. "You never did like secrets, Kate. Not even on the island."
"What are you talking about, Jack?"
"Well, I figured out that I was in love with you when I saw you…on the monitor." Jack explained, allowing his voice to trail off. He didn't want to bring up past memories.
"How's that?" Kate asked, not wanting to remember much about then.
"It hurt so much." Jack said curtly, causing Kate to cringe. "I had no right to feel hurt, because we weren't together or anything, but it did. It hurt more than anything. I knew I loved you then, but at the time I thought you'd picked Sawyer." Jack continued as Kate looked at the floor, though listening intently.
"So I told Ben I'd do the surgery on him. I told myself I was going to get you out so you could be happy, even if that wasn't with me."
"You did that for me? Even after all I did to you?" Kate asked, her eyes tearing.
"I just wanted you to be safe and happy. That's why I tried to keep you away from the island. When Ben offered me passage off the island, I knew it was my chance to get everyone help from the real world. All you had to do was get off the island and enjoy your time with Sawyer." Jack finished.
"You shoulda known I'd be to stubborn to let you go." Kate joked, smiling.
"Yea. You're almost as stubborn as I am. But, enough of this, it's making me depressed. Anyway, we're here." Jack informed Kate.
"We're where? It's a beach, Jack. I thought we were going to eat?" Kate asked confused.
"I told you Kate, I'm just full of surprises." Jack said wryly.
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"I'm sorry for the long walk..." Jack began to apologize.
"Again." Kate interrupted jokingly.
Jack had to admit she was right. "Again." He affirmed himself, "But I think it'll be worth it in the end."
"I hope so Jack. But you're still going to have carry me back." Kate said, causing Jack to nod while he stifled a laugh.
They continued to walk down the coastline for about ten more minutes when they came to a tiny inlet in the sea. Kate began to wade into the water, anticipating they needed to go through, but Jack just shook his head and pointed upwards.
"Up, Jack? What's up there?" Kate asked quizzically.
"You really think I'd ruin the surprise now, after I kept it secret since…well this morning?" Jack replied.
"No, I guess not." Kate accepted, following him up a small path in the rock face.
It was surprisingly easy to walk up the face that surrounded the inlet in all directions. It was beautiful. The water came to a peaceful rest in a small pond that was surrounded by elevated land all around. It seemed to Kate that this place had not been seen by many people before them, and she wondered how Jack had found it in the first place.
Kate didn't know why, but the place was startlingly familiar.
They reached the top of the rock face, and Jack placed his hand on the small of her back to guide her around. Kate was glad he knew where he was going, because some of the places looked slippery. As much fun as jumping into the water below would be, Kate wasn't sure she was in the mood tonight. It was definitely something she would've done on the island though.
That's it. The island.
This inlet bore a striking resemblance to the lake that Jack had brought her to on the island. The overlooking view, the peaceful water, the blissful silence, and of course the obnoxiously long walk.
"Jack? Is this…" Kate asked.
"Yup. As close as I've found." He replied quickly.
"How'd you find this place?" Kate continued to ask questions.
"I'll tell you, but only over dinner."
"Dinner?" Kate started, but then she realized where they'd been walking. She'd been so involved in her thoughts she hadn't noticed which part of the face they now occupied. This part of the face jutted out slightly, so it was directly above the water. They could see the entire inlet from this single spot, including where the water flowed back out to sea.
Suddenly Jack's hand left her back, and Kate felt herself shiver momentarily, before she noticed the presence of light behind her. Jack began lighting to torches, similar to those on the island, that she presumed he'd put there himself.
He then reached behind a rock and pulled out a picnic basket, causing Kate to raise her eyebrows at him.
"What? I put it out here this morning." Jack replied.
Kate didn't respond, instead opting to walk over and bury her head in his chest before whispering softly, "Thank you. It's perfect."
Jack laid out their little picnic and they began to eat and talk quietly, all the while Kate still admired the view.
"So, you promised you'd tell me how you found this place. Is this how you get all the girls, Jack?" Kate joked.
Jack chucked and shook his head. "No, actually. You're the first person I've ever brought here. I've always been kind of embarrassed as to how I find it."
"Why's that?" Kate probed.
Jack took a moment to compose himself. He looked away from Kate and smiled to himself, before turning back. "Because I came here when I needed to think- about us, about you." He explained, and Kate shuffled closer to Jack, leaning against his shoulder as he continued.
"A few weeks after we got back I was still a mess, so I drove out here one day after work. I just needed some time to be alone, and relax, and drinking in my apartment wasn't the best plan. I came out here, and just walked. I got to the inlet and could go thru because I was still in my suit from work, so I went around." Jack continued explaining.
"Then when I got up here, it hit me. This place was like the lake we went to on our first date." Jack said as he took a bite of his sandwich. "I sat here 'til dawn just thinking, enjoying some alone time ya know?"
"Every time something happened between us, good or bad, and every time I just needed to relax, be alone, I'd come here. It was more of a way to get away from girls than to reel them in." He joked, more to himself than Kate.
"Then when we got together, I figured it might be nice to bring you here. It still holds some of the best memories of my life." Jack finished, drawing a smile from Kate as she settled deeper into his chest.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, both admiring the scenery they found themselves in, when Jack broke the silence.
"There was one thing I always regretted not doing with you on the island though." Jack said mysteriously.
"Oh? And what is that?" Kate asked.
Jack didn't speak again, just nodded towards the water below them.
"Oh no! No you're not! There is no way you're getting me in that water tonight!" Kate exclaimed.
"We'll see about that. I mean it's totally safe, I've done it before. The pond is about 30 feet deep. No rocks or anything." Jack explained.
"But still, I'm not in the mood to get all wet. Plus, then I'd be tired for what comes later tonight." Kate said seductively.
"Oh, and what's that?" Jack replied, playing dumb.
Kate slapped his chest softly. "Don't be an idiot, Jack. You know what it is."
"Maybe I do. But what if I don't want to unless you jump in the water with me?" Jack argued.
"Yea, like you would turn down sex because I wouldn't jump in the ocean with you." Kate said, but Jack's smile didn't falter.
"Kate, I lasted a pretty long time with no sex at all. I'm pretty sure I can go one night without it, I'm just not sure you can." He challenged.
"Oh, we'll see about that Dr. Shephard." Kate accepted the challenge.
"Trust me, I'll have you in that water by the end of the night. I promise."
They ate the rest of their meal slowly, savoring every moment of the night. Soon enough though, it became time to pack up. Jack knew he was running out of time to get Kate to jump into the water, and drastic times call for drastic measures.
As Kate packed up the picnic, Jack put out the makeshift torches. Taking the basket from Kate's hand, they began the long walk back to the car. Jack would go as far as to say it had been a successful night. But it wasn't done yet.
Jack was walking on Kate's right, the side closer to the ledge now, and was planning his course of action when Kate spoke up.
"I told you wouldn't get me in the water tonight. Looks like I win." Kate said victoriously.
"I guess…" Jack said, as he purposely drifted his foot a little to far left. He dropped the picnic basket and dove into the water beneath him.
"Jack?!? Jack!?" Kate yelled worriedly, when he didn't surface after 10 seconds…15 seconds…20 seconds…something was wrong. "Jack!"
Kate couldn't wait any longer. She dropped her shoes from her hand and jumped in after him. She surfaced for breath after her dive and he began to scour the water for any sign of Jack. No luck.
Kate submerged herself again to check the bottom of the pond, no luck. Kate's heart was pounding now. What happened to Jack? Is he hurt? Is he…no, don't think like that.
She broke the surface once more for air but before she could re-submerge she felt two strong arms wrap around her waist. "There's really no need for you go to go back down there like a crazy woman." Jack said, with a grin wider than Kate thought humanly possible.
Kate was angry and relieved at the same time. She turned around and started hitting him mercilessly in the chest, causing him to groan in a combination of pain and laughter.
"You! I was so worried about you! I thought you drowned!" Kate screamed.
"Well, in my defense. I did promise to get you into the water, and I always keep my promises. Admit it, jumping in was fun wasn't it?" Jack asked.
"Yea. Except for the part where I thought you were drowning under the water!" Kate yelled again.
"But admit it. It was fun." Jack repeated.
Kate looked up at him to yell once more, but when she saw the happiness in his eyes, her angry demeanor melted. Her hysterics of anger and sadness turned to laughs and she wrapped her arms around Jack's neck and settled her head into his neck.
"Don't you ever leave me again Jack." Kate whispered after a moment's silence.
"I'll never leave you Kate. I promise." Jack assured her softly.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed it. Epilogue is coming next. I'm going out of town on thursday night, so I'll try my best to upload it that morning. But only if I have 8 reviews, otherwise you'll have to suffer until Tuesday without the epilogue. Yes, I know. I'm evil. :D Thanks for reading.