ALL I NEED

22 September 2015

Summary: Kate is offered an opportunity to regain her freedom.

Ship: Jate

Rating: G

A/N: Originally posted on my main Tumblr, this fic is part of my own flash sideways AU. This also follows I Miss You So Much chronologically. Also posted on my freelance editing blog.

I own nothing. Everything belongs to ABC, JJ Abrams, Damon Lindelof, and Carlton Cuse. If I owned LOST, Jack Shephard, and Kate Austen, then Jate would have been canon before Season 4. All mistakes are mine. Reviews and constructive criticism are welcome.


"So, have you decided yet?"

Kate looked up at Jack with knitted eyebrows. "Decided on what?" she asked as she marked her place in her book, which she then clutched to her chest. She lifted her head and adjusted the pillow on her fiancé's lap. She laid her head back down and rubbed her swollen belly with her free hand.

Smiling down at her, he covered her hand with his own. "On whether or not you're testifying against the mob boss."

"I knew it." She sighed as she put her book on the coffee table. "Why did you have to tell Duncan about that?" She did not even try to hide her irritation.

"Why wouldn't I?" He slipped his fingers between hers. "Kate, you saw the mob boss execute someone on your way home from your doctor! And Duncan has offered to get your criminal record expunged in exchange for your testimony in court. Isn't that what you want?"

She shook her head. "Not when it puts our family in danger. You know as well as I do that the mob would make the rest of our lives hell if I testified against him. Even if the feds put us in the witness protection program, I know that they'd find us and hurt us. I can't let that happen, especially now that we're having a baby. And erasing my criminal record wouldn't make much difference anyway."

"You'd be able to leave the state," he pointed out. "We could go to Europe on our honeymoon without the authorities monitoring our every move. You could visit Claire and Aaron in Sydney or Cassidy and Sawyer in Albuquerque without any restrictions. My point, Kate, is that you'd be free to do anything you want to."

"That's true. But, right now, all I want is to protect our family. You and David are more important to me than my freedom." She squeezed his hand and smiled at him. "It's OK, Jack. This is my choice."

He nodded. "All right." He took a deep breath. "But if Duncan found a way to include your testimony without endangering us, would you do it?"

She thought for a moment. "Sure. I doubt that though." She smiled sweetly up at him. "Aren't you hungry yet? Baby David and I are starving."

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. "A little bit. Wanna order pizza?"

Her eyes lit up at his suggestion. "Yes, please. Don't forget the breadsticks!"

"Yes, dear." He chuckled as he reached for the phone.


Happy 11th Anniversary, fellow LOSTies!