Jack sat protectively by Kate's bedside for 12 straight hours. Sun returned shortly after Kate had fallen asleep, having brought the promised plants with her. After explaining to Jack what each was for, she offered to sit with Kate so Jack could take a break.

"Jack, why don't you go get some sleep or something to eat, you've been with her for a while now. I will stay and watch her."

"Thanks Sun but I'm not leaving her right now. I need to be here in case something happens," Jack answered.

Sun then slipped quietly from the room, leaving Jack sitting alone with Kate. No one else bothered them for several hours. During that time, Jack sat beside Kate, occasionally talking to Kate's sleeping form, telling her stories about his past, about life back in the real world, about things that he missed.

"You know Kate, one thing I really miss from back in the real world is baseball. I don't have a lot of good memories of my father but I remember this one day when I was probably about six, he came home from work early and told me to get ready to go. That was the first time I ever went to a major league baseball game. We watched the Oakland Athletics play the Red Sox. The Sox were amazing in that series, swept the A's. I was totally convinced that they were going to win the World Series but my dad just kept saying "The Sox will never win the series." It was something he would say all the time, anytime something crazy happened, he's say "That's why the Sox'll never win the series." That was one of the best days of my childhood though; hanging out with dad, watching baseball, doing things that normal kids did with their dads. But we got home that evening and my dad left for the hospital and I didn't see him again for a week. I watched the rest of the series alone and I remember thinking that I must have done something to make him angry because otherwise he wouldn't have left like that. As I got older, I saw less and less of him and we didn't go to anymore baseball games but that one day instilled a love of the game in me. I even played in high school, 2nd base, haha. What I wouldn't give to be playing baseball again."

Jack laughed at himself, telling this deeply personal story to a sleeping woman, who even though he denied it, meant more to him than anyone had in a really long time, maybe ever. Jack's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by shouts outside of the bedroom. As much as Jack didn't want to leave Kate's side, he knew that he also had a responsibility to the entire camp; they looked to him for guidance and at this point, with Henry Gale locked in the armory, and everyone arguing over what to do with him, Jack knew that the camp was in desperate need of guidance. Even if Kate was undoubtedly where most of his concern and protectiveness was concentrated, Jack still had a need to take care of everyone.

Jack opened the door to the bedroom to see Ana Lucia entering the armory and Locke shut the door behind her.

"What's going on John?"

"We need answers Jack, Ana Lucia knows how to get them, she was a cop."

"Yes John and you just locked her in a room with someone you believe to be responsible for the murdering and kidnapping of our people?" Jack yelled. He was already on edge with worrying about Kate and now he was beginning to lose his temper.

"Well Jack, sometimes sacrifices have to be made. It was a risk she was willing to take in an effort to help us all," Locke responded.

Jack knew he wouldn't get Locke to understand why locking Ana Lucia in there with Henry Gale was insane. He tried to open the armory, only to realize that Locke had changed the combination. At this, Jack's anger really began to take over. Jack's instincts had always been to fight first, think second. Without another thought, Jack's fist connected with Locke's face and Locke immediately hit the ground. Fortunately Sawyer and Sayid entered the hatch just as this all began and rushed over to pull Jack off of Locke. Locke just sat up with the same smug look on his face that was always in place.

"Woah Dr. Giggles, what's gotten into you? I mean, we all know the great white hunter over here is a little off his rocker, but there's no need to go trying to beat the crazy out of him," Sawyer taunted as he held Jack back.

"He locked Ana Lucia in the armory with Gale and changed the combination," Jack snapped.

Just as Sayid was about to respond, a thud was heard coming from the bedroom. Sawyer immediately let go of Jack and both of them rushed into the room where Kate had been sleeping. They found her lying passed out on the floor.

Jack immediately forgot his worries about Ana Lucia and turned his attention back to Kate.

"Doc, what happened? She okay?" Sawyer began to question.

"I don't know Sawyer, I need you to go convince Locke to give you the combination to the armory and make sure Ana Lucia is still alive while I take care of Kate."

"And how do you suppose I do that, Dr. Fix it?"

"I don't know Sawyer, you're the conman, con it out of him!" Jack snapped

Sawyer walked out the room then, returning to the drama in the main area while Jack turned to helping Kate. He picked her up and placed her back in the bed. Then he placed his hand on her forehead, once again checking her temperature. She definitely still had a fever but it wasn't in such dangerous territory as it had been earlier.

"Kate, it's time to wake up, you've been asleep for a long time, come on, rise and shine," Jack said trying to get Kate awake. She began to stir and Jack was glad to see that she was a little easier to rouse this time than she had been the last few times he had tried to wake her.

"Jack? What happened?" Kate mumbled groggily

"I'm not sure Kate, did you wake up and try to get out of bed?" Jack asked her, trying to understand what had caused her to collapse on the floor.

"I woke up and I was so thirsty so I tried to get up to go get some water but I'm so tired, I didn't even have the energy to stand up."

Upon hearing this, Jack immediately jumped up to get some water for Kate. He handed her a bottle, "Here, drink this slowly, drink as much as you can, we want to make sure you stay hydrated." Jack helped her sit up but when she tried to bring the bottle up to her mouth, she was too weak to even hold it. Jack gently took it from her hands and held it to her lips so that she could drink. When he was finished, he helped her lay back down.

"How are you feeling, other than tired?"

"I'm too tired to talk Jack," Kate whispered so softly Jack barely heard her.

"I know you are Kate but I need you to tell me how you're feeling and then you need to take some more medicine then I promise I'll let you sleep again."

"My head…hurts…and I'm cold," Kate mumbled

"Okay, we can help with the cold for sure," Jack said with a slight smile as he helped her sit up once again and helped her take more medicine. As soon as he laid her back down, he added another blanket on top of her to help with her chills. Jack stood up but was stopped by Kate's hand on his arm. Jack turned and looked back at her and could tell that simply moving her hand had exhausted the last of her energy.

"Stay with me, don't leave me alone again," Kate said quietly

"I won't leave you, I'll be right here with you as long as you need me," Jack responded just as quietly, suddenly feeling guilty for leaving her alone earlier. In that moment, Jack realized that despite all of the drama and the problems with everyone else, Kate was his priority. He had to take care of her even if it meant letting someone else take care of the rest of the camp.