So I know that this story may seem gloomy at the moment but all I can say is just wait. Things are "just"heating up.
Thanks for the reviews :)
Kate and Charlie went off in the Ambulance whilst Jack proposed to follow up once he made Kathy aware of what happened.
Without hesitation Kathy agreed to accompany Jack, especially when she heard Kate's name being mentioned. After what she'd witnessed earlier tonight, Kathy vowed to keep a close eye on Kate.
However that all suddenly changed when Jack told her about Claire's condition. For some reason she started to wig out at that moment. Claiming she had more crucial commitments to fulfil at the party and Jack was more confused rather than angry in response.
However with no time to spare, Jack put Kathy's weirdness to the side and focused on getting to his sister instead.
(Back at the Hospital)
The moment the ambulance arrived, a now screaming Claire was immediately whisked away into the ER unit. A place where Kate and Charlie unfortunately couldn't follow, despite Charlie relentlessly pleading otherwise with the Doctors.
"I'll be right here love." Charlie shouted as the doors to the ER closed, leading for the self blame to take effect. "I should've bloody done something…."
"You did the best you could." Kate firmly assured, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "She'll be fine - they both will."
"Besides if she's the Claire I know then she'll literally be bouncing out of that bed in no time." She joked, trying to make light of the intense situation.
The kind she was familiar in experiencing, a year and a half earlier to be precise.
However things didn't end so well for her then.
(A year and a half ago)
The days had become pretty much a routine now. Whilst Jack spent a majority of the day at work, sometimes running into the night, Kate simply stayed in the nursery made for Lily.
Everything still remained as it was originally laid out with the exception of the empty pink blanket which now lay tightly wrapped within Kate's arms.
Still unwilling to accept the reality of her daughter's death, Kate resorted to attach herself to Lily's things in an effort to keep her alive. The blanket being the closest thing cause Lily was wrapped in it the moment she breathed her first and last breaths of life.
The only thing she continued to ask herself was, "Why?"
Why did this happen? What did she and Jack do to deserve this?
With no answers to those questions she simply buried her sobbing face in Lily's blanket.
(End of Flashback)
The wait was agonising, specifically for Charlie, but hope and relief finally awarded their efforts.
"She's gonna be fine."
It was all Charlie tuned into hearing the Doctor say before hugging an equally relieved Kate.
"Can we see her?" Charlie then asked.
"I'd like to keep the visiting number down to 1 at a time for the time being, so…"
"Give Claire my regards." Kate confirmed putting any residual hesitation from Charlie to rest and with that she watched him walk away with the Doctor.
The extent of Kate's relief showing through the tears that fell, but a smile soon followed at the knowledge that Claire thankfully wouldn't have to experience the loss she did.
"Hey" she then heard a voice and smiled upon recognising it straight away. However her smile replaced itself with slight confusion upon seeing no Kathy in sight.
"How's Claire?" Jack asked veering Kate away from questioning Kathy's absence.
"Thankfully in the clear. Charlie's with her now." Kate replied, allowing for a relief filled "thank God" to escape Jack's lips in response.
With that Jack then noticed the evidence of her emotion and without hesitation he allowed his concern full precedence.
"Hey, you okay?" he gently inquired, stepping into her and placing his hands over the tops of her shoulders, massaging the area. Completely unaware as to what his touch was doing to her.
"Yeah, I just…." Kate started, momentarily hesitating to resurface the past, but she wanted to be honest with him at the same time, regardless of the consequences. "I just couldn't help but think about Lily."
He didn't have to ask why and simply pulled her into his arms. Rocking her softly crying body, having a hard time keeping his own emotions at bay but he did so. Just like he'd done all those months following Lily's death.
"Sorry" Kate apologised once she reluctantly pulled away from his warm and familiar embrace.
"You've got nothing to be sorry for." Jack assured. "Especially when it concerns our daughter" He added, convincing Kate to ask the next question.
"You still think about her too?"
"All the time" Jack confirmed, eliciting a tear filled smile out of Kate. A smile created out of his simple recognition which undoubtedly sparked a new found hope Kate could no longer contain. Yet was forced to with what Jack reminded her of next.
"I'm gonna phone Kathy and update her on the situation." Jack suggested, excusing himself before Kate could say anything. Not that she wanted to anyway because he had a right to do what he wanted, including the woman he planned to spend the rest of his life with.
The question was could she truly accept it, especially when she clearly hadn't moved on from what they shared?
It was a thought she considered pondering over whilst Jack talked to Kathy over the phone. The only solution she came up with being one she was admittedly reluctant to pursue at first, yet at the same time it would give her the fresh start she so desperately needed.
"Is everything alright?" Kate asked, noting Jack's bother with something.
"Yeah, it's just….."
"What?" Kate pressed on.
"She just sounded really off on the phone. Like she's keeping something from me." Jack explained, arousing Kate's confusion and wonder at the same time.
"Is that why she didn't come?" she guessed, suddenly aware that it came across as slightly accusatory towards Kathy, but thankfully Jack didn't see it as that.
"I don't know but I can tell something's wrong."
"Maybe you should talk to her?" Kate suggested, opting to put the other thing she wanted to discuss with him to the side for the time being.
"But Claire…"
"Will be fine and knows her big Brother is there for her." She assured, making Jack smile at the fact that she always knew the right thing to say.
"When did you become so smart?"
"Oh I always was. If I weren't then you wouldn't have aced that Psyche exam you claimed to study for." Kate teased, knowing it was nothing short of the truth though.
"Yeah, well I would have had time to study if someone didn't hold parties almost every night."
"I wasn't that bad." Kate defended herself though failed to convince Jack in the slightest.
"Ah, so you're still not the reigning record holder for the "UCLA tequila shot-meister"?"
"It was a one time thing and you know I'm not one to weasel out on a dare."
"Yeah, sure" Jack replied. "Anyway I owe you for helping me out."
"What are friends for?" Kate stated with the utmost seriousness in her tone. "Now go take care of your life."
And as she watched him walk away she knew what had to be done to take care of her own…..
Next Chapter: An accident gone wrong and second thoughts…..