Quickie:

OMG! She's ALIVE?? Is she actually updating this story?? :-)

Sooooooo sorry my loves. I know it's been awhile. Just had a big ol mess of my life going on. But I finally found some time and inspiration to finish writing this fic. Yes, it IS finished. Yes, it IS near the end. No, I'm not writing another story. Sorry. But all great things must come to an end. Besides, hasn't this just been dragging on and on and on? Aren't you just sick of it already??

You'd better not be. I might have to come through the screen and punch you if so. Heheh. Anyways, I left you at a bit of a dramatic moment. Luckily, this chapter has a bit more. Teehee. Again, sorry for the long wait. There are two chapters left of this fic, I hope you'll all be around to finish it with me! xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Chapter 63

Sawyer was led back to Clementine with the promise of seeing Kate later after she had slept a bit. When he got there, Clementine was already awake, watching TV and eating breakfast. A nurse was sitting in the room with her, combing Clementine's hair up into a ponytail.

"Hi daddy," Clementine said cheerfully.

"Hey Sunshine," he said dully.

"Where's Kate?"

He sat down in a chair, sighing. "Sleepin'."

"Is she okay?"

He didn't answer her. The nurse looked down and got up.

"I'll be back later," she told them.

Sawyer looked up and watched her leave, his eyes full of pain. His eyes finally rested on Clementine.

"I don't know."

She looked around, thinking. She pursed her lips, cocking her head to the side.

"Did she have the baby?"

He sat back exhaling. "Yeah."

Clementine sat up more. "She did!?"

He nodded, and tried to push away his sad thoughts, covering them with a smirk.

"Yeah. You got a little brother, Sunshine."

"A brother?" she grimaced.

He laughed. "Can't win 'em all."

"Can we go see him?"

"Sure."

Clementine hopped off the bed and grabbed Sawyer's hand. He looked down at it, surprised by the gesture. Clementine just looked up at him, impatiently. He held her hand and they walked down the halls, turning this way, then that way. Why were hospitals all designed like mazes? he thought to himself. They were passing the waiting room when he had to do a quick double take. Was that…that couldn't be who he thought it was…could it? Before they could see him, he pulled Clementine around the corner. He let out a long sigh of relief and continued toward the nursery.

They arrived at the door, and he led Clementine to Mason's secluded room. When he opened the door, he saw Dr. Park jump.

"Well hello there," she smiled.

"Hi," Sawyer said briefly.

"And who is this?" she nodded toward Clementine.

Sawyer looked down at Clementine and took a moment before he spoke. He just couldn't bring himself to say the word daughter.

"Clementine," he said.

Dr. Park smiled at Clementine. "Hi Clementine. I'm Dr. Park."

"Hello," Clementine said, quietly.

"Would you like to see your little brother?"

Clementine looked up at her father, then nodded. Sawyer released her hand and Dr. Park pulled a chair next to the incubator. Clementine climbed up and looked in.

"He's small," Clementine said in wonderment.

"Sure is," Sawyer responded as Dr. Park stood back beside him.

"His hands are so small! Smaller than mine!"

"Well, you're a lot older than he is," Dr. Park told her.

Clementine nodded and stayed quiet, carefully toying with Mason's tiny fingers. Sawyer took the opportunity to talk to Dr. Park.

"How is he?" he said softly.

"Still too weak to leave the incubator just yet, but he's holding up well."

"That's…good, right?"

"Yes. It's very good."

He shifted his feet for a moment. "And Kate?"

"She's healing," she said, her tone of voice instantly freezing.

He looked down. "When can I see her?"

"When the time is right, James."

"And when exactly is that, Doc?" he said, growing annoyed.

She folded her arms, disliking his attitude. "Possibly after the visitors leave."

"Visitors??" he turned to her, both stunned and curious.

Kate looked out the window, her eyes slowly drooping closed. The door opened her eyes opened again instantly. When she looked up, she saw a familiar smiling face.

"Hey Jack," she said weakly.

"Hey," he smiled, closing the door behind him.

As he walked toward her bed, he picked her chart up from the end of it and thumbed through it. He sat beside her and his eyes scanned the sheets until Kate put a hand over it.

"Jack," she said with a smile. "For once in your life, be my friend, not my doctor."

He let out a short laugh and put the chart on the table beside them.

"How are you?" he asked.

"I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded. "Just tired."

"That's normal," he nodded. "You know I could let you sleep if you want. I could just come back – "

"No." She smiled. "I want you to stay."

He smiled back. "How's Sawyer?"

Her smile weakened. "Okay, I guess." She paused, and looked down sadly. "He, um…asked me to marry him."

"Oh," Jack snapped back, stunned. "That's…" he nodded. "Congratulations."

"No, I didn't…he didn't…" she shrugged. "I don't think he really mean it. Just…said it in the heat of the moment, I guess," she laughed nervously.

Jack looked at her, shielding the pain in his eyes. "I don't think so," he smiled.

Kate grinned. "You think he meant it? You think Sawyer meant it?"

Jack laughed. "Hey, anything's possible right?"

She nodded, her smile fading. "Right," she said sadly.

He stared with pleading eyes. "How are you?"

"I'm fine, Jack," she said with a nervous laugh.

"Kate…no one is fine after that."

"After what?"

"I don't know. Almost dying?"

"I don't know why everyone keeps making such a big deal about this. I'm still here!"

"But you almost weren't," he took her hand. "We were all worried – "

"I wish everyone would just stop!" she said, her voice wavering.

"Fine." He stood. "I'm going to go back to Allison now, then – "

"Jack…"

"Good to see you alive, Kate."

"So that's it? You're just going to leave?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "I am."

"What do you want me to do?!" she argued. "Fall to pieces in your arms and tell you how terrible it was?"

"Some emotion would be nice. Would be real – "

"I'm fine!"

"If you say so." He sighed. After a long pause, he finally stood and said, "I'm going to get back to Ally."

She gazed at him sadly as he walked toward the door. As he reached for the doorknob, she sighed and stopped him.

"I'm not okay," she finally admitted. And with that came the realization to herself. She really wasn't okay, as much as she tried to force herself to be.

Jack stopped, and stared at her.

"I'm not okay…" she repeated, the words feeling realer. "I'm not okay. I'm not…"

He went back to her side and held her. She kept repeating the same line over and over until she finally was reduced to tears…