A big, BIG thank you goes to those that have supported me with this story.

"Happy Birthday, Kate."

Jack's warm eyes gazed down into hers as he handed her the recognizable small robin egg blue box adorned with a white ribbon. He felt a little anxious as he watched her hold the gift, he had thought long and hard about what to get her and now he was hoping that he did the right thing. Her fingers were awkward in their excitement as she unraveled the delicate bow and tore off the paper. She carefully lifted the cover and pushed away the cotton until she found an oval shaped locket made of platinum. Jack watched as she removed the pendant from the wrappings and let it dangle on its long chain before her eyes. She carefully examined it and turned it over.

On the backside was a small diamond and a simple, but perfect inscription, I love you - J.S.

Tears were shining in the corners of her eyes, "Jack, it's beautiful. I love it." She hastily ran a little finger to catch the tear before it could make its way down her cheek.

Studying her face, he stared lovingly at her and tilted his chin up in the direction of the gift, he told her, "Open it."

Kate used the little bit of fingernails she had to snap it open and then a lump formed in her throat. Overwhelmed with emotion, she saw two small portraits, Henry was on the left and her mother on the right. Her eyes grew blurry as her heart swelled and her emotions overcame her, "How? How … did you get these pictures?"

He saw her joy and elation and that made a small exhale of relief spill from his face, "I snuck that picture out of your wallet and made a copy." Her bottom lip trembled, trying to keep herself from becoming a blubbering mess. Instinctually, Kate pulled him into her and let her lips travel over his neck before reaching his lips and whispering into them, "I love this, Jack. It's perfect." She drew away so she could look adoringly into his warm brown eyes. He reached into her hand and lifted the locket from her palm before gently placing it over her head and around her neck. It nestled perfectly in between the gentle curve of her breasts.

To celebrate Kate's 19th Birthday, Jack had made a dinner reservation at a stylish, but quaint restaurant in Silver Lake. They were both in the living room of his apartment dressed and ready to go, but Kate felt a different urge, "Jack, can we stay in? Let's just order some takeout … watch a movie."

"Are you sure?" He didn't mind either way, this was Kate's night and he would do whatever she wanted. He looked at her face and she appeared wistful. Birthdays must be hard for her, he thought. He understood the feeling of a losing a parent, but Kate was so young and to have lost a little brother too… life could be so unfair and cruel.

"Yeah. I'm sure Jack." Her eyes were limpid as they held onto his. His fingers reached to trail over face and she placed her palm on his hand and then lifted it to give kisses on his long tapered fingers.

He didn't push it. It was Kate's personality to withdraw at times and he saw that in particular when he would try to broach the subject of her completing her undergrad studies at UCLA instead of going to New York. For Kate, it was a sensitive topic that wasn't up for discussion - she would follow Sam … PERIOD.

Tomorrow, Sunday, was her actual birthday and she was going to celebrate the date with Sam. Kate still hadn't mentioned her relationship with him to her father and Jack was admittedly ambivalent about it. Jack hated the feeling that he was being somewhat dubious by dating this man's only and young daughter, but he didn't want to upset or anger him either. Jack suspected that Sam may not be too receptive about the age difference between them and what he may perceive as Jack's interest and motives for wanting to be with someone her age. And the whole fact that he used to be her teacher further blurred the lines. Whether he cared to admit it, he still struggled with how their relationship started, he always knew he should have waited until she graduated. What he did was wrong and he never felt right about it. The guilt still lingered, but his desire for her made him do crazy things ….

"So, how about we put some sweats on and get comfortable then." He playfully took her hand and tugged her along to follow him. Since Jack didn't have a TV in his bedroom, he pulled out the sofa bed in the living room and dressed it with sheets, pillows and blankets. Together they crawled under the blanket and she instinctually rested her head against his collarbone and sighed. He noticed how she unconsciously held the locket in her hand while they watched a movie with the sound faintly on. Her eyelids were getting heavy and she was yawning repeatedly, he knew she would be out in a few minutes. He began to thumb her cheekbone and trace patterns in her freckles.

His touch seemed to awaken her. She flirtatiously peered up at him from the corner of her eye and gave a grin, "Okay, what do you see tonight?" Kate was referring to the 'game' Jack started a couple of months ago. It began as a joke, Jack had told her he could 'connect' her freckles, or as he referred to them, little stars, and name constellations. At first, Kate had teased him that he was just trying to show off his knowledge of astronomy, but then he became creative and made up names of new ones. Some of them totally corny and some that were accurate in reflecting her mood at the moment.

Jack gave her a playful smirk just before he easily flipped her onto her stomach and lifted the hem of shirt to expose her lower back. He nudged down the waist of her pajamas an inch and started to trace a line between the scattering of a few light freckles. His touch was ticklish as he moved his finger lower towards her round behind. He then laid a gentle open mouth kiss on the spot where his finger was a second ago, letting his tongue linger. Kate let out a giggle, "If you say 'the Big Dipper' I'm going to smack you." She playfully warned.

With his long arms he drew her in close and held her tight. He breathed in the scent of her hair, "There's nothing 'big' about you. Maybe your brain, but that's it. I love you, you know."

"I love you too Jack." She reached for the locket, "This gift, I'll treasure it always."

Jack smiled and gave her that little typical nod of his before he looked at her face, she looked tired and ... emotional, "How about we get some sleep?"

It was a Friday night towards the end of the semester. They had decided to take a break from studying so they could catch a movie. Smiling and happy looking, they exited the theater and Jack gave Kate a small peck on her cheek. It was crowded outside and they were walking in the direction of Jack's car when they heard a voice calling from behind, "Mr. Shephard? Is that you?" Immediately, Jack's arm dropped from around Kate's waist as they both turned around in the direction of the voice. Kate felt Jack's body stiffen slightly and saw a small frown appear on his face as they were approached by Shannon's brother, Boone. They both stood there helpless, their expressions flooded with guilt.

Boone's eyes immediately scanned to Kate, and looked over her appraisingly, "Hey, I know you … you're my sister's friend … ummmm…." Kate finished the sentence for him, "Kate. We've met before." She gave an awkward smile before looking down at her feet.

Jack looked over to Boone and then glanced at Kate who now stood in a detached sort of way, "Hi Boone. You can call me Jack now. I'm not teaching anymore, so no need for the formality." He tried to sound light and comfortable. Boone looked back and forth at both of them, sizing up the situation, "Soooo… taking in a movie, huh? Are you guys going to dinner now?" Jack coughed into his hand and turned his eyes towards Kate, "Well, I guess that's up to Kate. Are you hungry?"

Thoughtfully Kate stared at Jack, trying to read his mind. Jack didn't give her an opportunity to respond before he glanced back at Boone, "Well, it was good seeing you again Boone. Say hello to your sister for me. Bye."

Embarrassment heated Kate's face as they walked away. Jack discreetly looked over his shoulder in Boone's direction and then whispered to Kate, "Shit. He's dialing his phone."

"Jack, you know he's calling Shannon to tell her about us", she said, sounding flustered as she glanced up at him and warned, "I better talk to Claire … before Shannon does."

He reached into his pocket to take out his phone, "No, Kate. It should be me. Let me handle this."

They both sat anxiously in his parked car as he made numerous attempts to call Claire but the calls automatically went to voicemail. He left her a brief message asking her to call him asap. Kate stared straight ahead, almost as if she were hypnotized. Claire would hate her now, she thought. Jack looked over in her direction and gave her thigh a gentle squeeze of re-assurance, "Don't worry Kate -"

Jack's phone made a beep, it was a text… from Claire.

WTF?! JACK?!

I hate you! How could you?! She's my best friend.

Tell that SLUT to never call me again!

Oh boy. Jack raked his hand over the back of his head while he nervously cleared his throat after he read the message. He quickly tucked the phone into his pocket.

"That was Claire, right? What did she say?" A cloud of worry came across her face.

"Nothing. Don't worry about it. I'll fix this." His words clearly trying to brush Claire's ugly words under the proverbial rug.

"Jack -"

His phone rang, he didn't need to see who was calling him. He just let it ring.

"Jack, aren't you going to answer it?!" Kate practically pleaded.

"No way."

"Jack, if you don't pick it up, I'm going to call her-"

"Fuck … fine. He answered it, "Yes-"

'WHY?!' Kate could even hear Claire's shrill.

"Claire calm down, it's not what you're thinking -" Jack then threw Kate a look of helplessness.

'I CAN'T believe you! MY BEST FRIEND! JACK?! Why her? WHY. HER?!'

"Where are you Claire? Okay. Uh-huh. I'm coming over tonight and we're gonna talk face-to-face. I'll be there in an hour." Kate listened as Jack tried to calm his sister down.

'Put her on the phone Jack! I know she's there!'

"I'm not putting Kate on the phone Claire."

'FUCK YOU! Or excuse me, Kate already has, right?!'

"That's enough, Claire!" His voice now sounded low, impatient and threatening. He hung up and looked at Kate. Seconds ticked away before he was able to form any words of use, "Kate -"

"I think you should take me home now, Jack." Kate said as she sat there, with her eyes riveted to something off in the distance. He shrugged his shoulders and sighed before turning the key in the ignition.

They didn't speak a dozen words as he drove Kate back to the dorm.

Kate looked at her watch, Jack was running late … again. Her shift would be starting in less than two hours. They had agreed to meet up at their favorite restaurant for lunch in Santa Monica, it had a nice outdoor seating area that they enjoyed taking advantage of. She would give him another fifteen minutes … that's it. Kate tried to be accommodating and she knew that Jack was drowning in his studies since he decided to take a full course load over the summer in his attempt to graduate from med school in three years instead of four.

Okay, he was officially a half hour late and he hadn't responded to her call. Kate opened her wallet so she could pay for the coffee she drank while waiting. She was about to stand up to leave when, at that moment, Jack approached the table. He looked flustered and … apologetic.

"Kate, listen, I'm sorry for running late-" He spoke lightly and there was a ghost of a hopeful smile on his face.

Kate stared straight in front of her. She faintly shrugged her shoulders as if to suggest that she was accustomed to his lateness, "It's fine Jack. Let's order soon, I have work in less than two hours-"

His long slim build leaned over the table, so he could plant a small kiss on her forehead. He sat in front of her, his knees accidentally bumping into hers. He studied her expression and he knew that she was angry. The waiter promptly came and took their order. Jack handed him the menus and fixed his attention back on Kate whose gaze was set abstractly on something past his right shoulder. Some errant summer breeze managed to blow the cloth napkin off her lap and Jack bent down to pick it up.

"Kate-"

She sighed, "Jack, let's just enjoy our lunch ... okay?" Her eyes softened then and she reached out to grab his hand. They hadn't seen each other in over a week and she was working the next few days, so it would likely be a bit of time before they could be together again. She didn't want to waste it on being upset.

"You know, Kate … I'm trying to graduate early so I can come to New York sooner … so we can be together. I wouldn't have to do that if you'd just stay and graduate from UCLA-"

The words struck a raw nerve with Kate and her lips parted to say something, but instead Kate sank down to rest her elbows heavily on the round cafe table, suddenly feeling exhausted. The topic of her going to New York was always tiring, because it was wrought with so much tension.

Maybe it was his exhaustion combined with frustration and him feeling a little indignant because he felt a need to defend himself, "You know Kate. It's not like I'm out having fun. I'm studying my ass off to get top grades and graduate early and you're acting like I am intentionally trying to be late or -"

She fought so hard to keep this pleasant, but now her green eyes clashed with his brown ones, "Do you really want to do this Jack? Because let's be honest with each other. I know you want to think that the only reason you're breaking your back to get through med school in three years is to be with me. But we know what the real reason is-"

"And what's that, Kate?"

"Your father Jack! You want to prove yourself to him. Prove that you're smarter and that you'll be a better surgeon than him."

"Is that what you think?" He leaned back into his chair with his arms folded across his chest now intently studying her.

"Yeah, that's what I think."

The waiter then arrived with their entrees. They both sulkily looked down at their plates, each suddenly not feeling too hungry. They ate in silence until a voice called Jack's name, pulling them simultaneously back from their distant thoughts. They both looked up at an attractive woman approach their table. Jack shifted in his chair and Kate watched him carefully and noticed that he appeared a little uncomfortable.

"I thought that was you, Jack." The tall and slender redhead exclaimed. "Wow, it's been a long time, huh … I can't believe I bumped into you."

Kate's sense of observation was acute as she watched the woman smile with twinkled eyes at Jack. Kate's gaze flitted between both of them, taking in the dynamic.

As if sensing Kate's glare boring into her, the woman looked in Kate's direction, "Oh, is this your little sister?"

Jack coughed into his hand and shifted his eyes to a fuming Kate and then looked up, "No, Stephanie. I would like you to meet my girlfriend, Kate. Kate, this is Stephanie."

Kate gave a tight smile as she politely extended her hand, "Nice to meet you." Stephanie awkwardly shook Kate's hand and spoke for a minute before making a hasty exit. Kate waited until she was out of hearing distance, "So are you gonna tell me what that was about?"

"There's really nothing to tell, Kate." Jack looked around trying to get the attention of the waiter so that he could get the check.

"Is she an ex-girlfriend?"

"No, not quite." He answered as he fished around in his pocket for his wallet. She looked at him, at least he had the decency to blush.

"Wow. That's even better, Jack." Kate's sarcasm was dripping from her words. The subject of his past sex life had been broached by her before and never yielding good results. He walked her to her car and she opened the door and was about to step in when he gripped her arm, he looked carefully into her eyes, he could see she was hurt and he didn't like seeing her this way. "I love you." He whispered as he kneeled in to give her a kiss. Hesitantly, she kissed him back.

From behind the counter, Kate noticed him the second he stepped into Starbucks. It had been two days since their failed lunch date and she hadn't returned his phone calls. She watched him scan around looking for her. She sucked in her breath and quickly looked down. Her co-worker whispered into her ear, "Oh my god, do you see that guy that just walked in?" Kate was about to respond when Jack approached her, "Hi Kate, can I talk to you for a minute?" He had his hands thrust into the front pockets of his shorts, his eyebrows were raised and hopeful looking.

"I'm busy Jack." She mumbled while gesturing to the line of people waiting for their specialty drinks to be made. Jack's dark eyes clouded as his frown deepened, "When does your shift end?"

She took a quick look at him, at his his clean-cut good looks, at his muscular legs that looked amazing in shorts. She relented, "In a half hour."

"Great. I'll wait." He then went to stand on line so he could order something. He watched her work, the way she concentrated on the task at hand. He also noticed the way men would drop bills in the tip jar near her. Particularly, the older suit types. They definitely lingered trying to strike a casual conversation with Kate. She would give a small polite smile and then wipe her hands on her apron before resuming to prepare the next beverage. He noticed that her hair was pulled back in a thick low ponytail and that her nose and cheekbones looked a little sunburned. He studied the graceful way she moved from one task to the next, he always thought Kate was sensual without knowing she was. And she had a rare freshness to her that he found so touching.

He smirked when he approached the counter, especially after she let out a huff, "What will you be drinking today?" He bit his bottom lip as he contemplated. Kate, impatiently, shifted her weight onto one leg, "Sir? Your drink order?"

Teasing her, he answered "I'll have one of those super-sized cinnamon cappuccino, latte, chai, espresso things with extra foam, light on the whipped cream -" Kate rolled her eyes, "A plain grande coffee then." She came back with the steaming paper cup and placed it onto the counter. He reached into his pocket to pay for it, but she stopped him. "This is my treat." She looked around for her manager before whispering, "I'll be done soon and then we can talk."

He was seated while waiting at a table outside. The day was too hot for coffee, but that never stopped him from his small vice - caffeine. She finally came out, no longer wearing the uniform of a baggy black logo'd t-shirt and coordinating apron. Instead, Kate was wearing a dark plum colored tank top and a short loose chambray skirt and flip-flops. He let her appearance sink in a moment. She looked so pretty. She approached him and sunk into the seat next to him.

"Hey." His eyes smiled at her.

"Hey." She dropped the bag that contained her uniform, dirty jeans and sneakers. Absentmindedly, she looked at her arms, even though she had scrubbed them clean, they still felt sticky from hours of handling syrups, fruits and other beverages.

Jack's tone changed ever so slightly, "Are you tired?" His eye then fell onto the locket he gave her, the one she wore everyday.

"A little. So what's up Jack? Why did you come here?"

"Well, I think that's obvious. I've tried calling you and you haven't returned my calls in almost two days." He then moved his seat a little to let a person get by him.

She looked away,"Yeah. Sorry about that. Just been busy..." She trailed off before jutting out her bottom lip and blinking a couple of times.

He nodded cautiously, but knew she was lying, "Do you have any plans right now? How about you come over to my apartment, so we can talk. It's just a little after four o'clock now."

"Okay." She sighed.

He followed her into the apartment and dropped his keys onto the kitchen counter. Kate walked into the living room as he called out to her, "Are you thirsty?"

"No, I'm okay." She said as she looked around

She waited until he stepped in and took the spot next to him on the sofa and he inched closer to her. He placed his arm about her shoulder allowing his fingers to slowly brush against her right breast before reaching around to cup it. He lifted the heavy curls away from her shoulder so he could latch his mouth onto the column of her neck and gently start sucking on it, making his intention to take her to bed very clear.

She felt and tasted incredible. It seemed like forever since they'd done it (it'd been a week and a half) and the endless August summer heat had made thoughts of sex a preoccupation for his mind as of late. He couldn't wait to get her out of her clothes and kiss her all over.

She removed herself from his embrace and she moved to lean against the armrest of his sofa. She placed a folded leg on the cushion between them, making it clear the he wasn't supposed to resume his task. She wet her lips, which now felt unusually dry.

"I thought we were going to talk, Jack."

He read the look on her face and, exasperated, threw his head against the back of the sofa, "What is it Kate?"

"The other day, that girl that approached us at the restaurant ... who exactly is she?"

"Ugh, she's a girl I dated a couple of times. That was years ago, just after I started teaching ... it was nothing."

Kate eyed his mannerisms, "What about that time on campus? In April? Who was that girl?"

Jack rubbed the back of his head trying to recall who Kate was referring to.

"The blonde?"

"Valerie? She grew up two blocks from my dad's house. You know Kate, you're being paranoid-"

"You ... you should know what it feels like to be me, to feel insecure about other people ... about having a past, a sense of comparison -" She was sputtering now.

A deep flush heated her face, "You have it so so easy! I'm a clean slate. No sexual past or history for you to contend with. While, with you, who knows how many women you've slept with!"

Letting out a frustrated sigh, Jack rested his elbows onto his knees and cradled his head in his hands, "Kate, I promise my history is not remotely close to what you're imagining-"

Kate jumped to her feet, took her stance and folded her arms across her chest.

"Then why won't you tell me?"

"Because whatever number ... and I swear it's not a lot, is always going to be too much for you. I don't want you to be upset, Kate. There's nothing for you to be insecure or jealous about." He said in a soft, tender voice.

"Jack, I doubt you'd like it if the roles were reversed and guys I slept with were coming up to me when you're standing right there. You should know how it feels, Jack!" Kate felt a little inclined to cry, but out of her own wounded ego she didn't.

"Kate, you need to stop this, okay?" He murmured just before bowing his head, his patience now being tested. He kept trying to remind himself, that she was young and relationships were still so new to her.

Something about the way that he made it seem like he was the one now being unfairly pressed upon made her furious. He seemed to take this so lightly. Her lips parted ready to insult him, but instead she threw him a scornful look.

She waited a second before spewing, "I apologize for the inconvenience of meeting one of your hook-ups. You better hope that it doesn't happen to you."

His head jerked higher, contemplating her words, "So what are you trying to tell me, Kate?"

"Nothing, Jack. Just maybe you shouldn't take it for granted that I'm supposed to just bite my tongue in acceptance that you've slept with other people." She was so angry now, she wasn't thinking. She flipped her head so he couldn't see her face before immediately moving to leave his apartment.

Her answer and glare seemed to infuriate him, because he stalked purposefully after her, hot on her heels. "So, what is it Kate? You want a few notches on your belt now? If you think I'm gonna be okay with you screwing other guys so you can 'catch up' to me … you can FORGET IT!" His voice was low, but loud as he announced it with absolute conviction. With her back to him, Kate shook her head and raised her hand to wave him off before she reached for the handle to his apartment door and as she twisted the knob and opened it a crack, the flat of his palm slammed it shut. The aggressive gesture startled her and made her jump. She turned around, he was towering over her, his chest grazing hers, his dark, fiery eyes boring into her. She had never seen him like this before, he was … different.

"I'm leaving-" She said firmly even though the look in his eyes shook her.

The color of his eyes deepened. "No."

Aghast, Kate drew her head back, surprised by his … arrogance?

She quickly ducked under his extended arm, so she could clear some distance between them, but she hadn't taken three steps before he threw them roughly against the wall. He looked down at her luscious lips and there was no denying that he was turned on as hell. Certainly, they had bickered once in a while, but they had never been in a real argument until now and her feistiness and desire to keep him at arm's length made him want her.

He closed his eyes for a moment so he could ask himself what the hell he was doing. With past girlfriends, if he was on the verge of a confrontation he'd just shrug his shoulders and respond with silence. Or worse, he would make no gesture or movement of his face to even indicate that he was listening. But, now with Kate, he actually wanted to hash it out with her. That usual cold self-control that he exercised when working or studying for hours on end dissipated quickly. Both their chests were heaving, their hot breaths mingling against each other's lips.

His mouth was now against her ear, his words sounding like they were teasing her, his voice hoarse and gritty, "So you want to sleep with other guys, Kate?" His fingers then squeezed her hips in a possessive manner.

His words glued her tongue. For a moment she stared at him without moving and felt his hand slowly drag down from her hip to her thigh. "Let me go," she growled in an attempt to show indignation. But her knees were feeling wobbly … she was aroused … excited.

She pushed against his torso, but her small hands were ineffectual in budging him. She tried to throw him off her, but his size and weight made the move useless. If anything her attempts seemed to arouse him further because his hand then snaked down to the inside of her thigh and up her skirt. He took her earlobe in between his teeth and nibbled gently on it. She let out a long sigh, this man knew exactly how to make her tingle. His long fingers were too exact, rubbing and stroking her over the thin and wet fabric of her panties. He looked down at her, her eyes were bleary and rapt looking. He didn't want anyone else ever seeing her like this. He wanted her to know that for him, she was all he needed.

Her back was now firmly pressed against the wall and she could feel his hardness pressing up against her hip. She stared at his sagging mouth and heard his soft moans.

Kate knew she was bordering on being crazed, she enjoyed him touching her intimately and looking so out of control ... all because of her. She then hastily reached for the zipper of his shorts and yanked it down. He felt her small hand grip him and he ground out some incoherent word. His cock felt so hard, it bordered on painful. Her eager gesture was all the encouragement he needed. Jack roughly tugged at her underwear and lifted her leg over his hip as he drove himself into her. She let out a low quivering whimper.

On his bed, Kate snuggled into his embrace and felt his hand slip around her. Jack held her tightly, enjoying the way his hand spanned the width of her waist. He put small kisses on the top of her head and sighed heavily. She could feel him begin to drift off to sleep and she looked up to see his face. His eyes were closed and he had a happy, content looking, lazy smile on his face. As she lay in the circle of his arms, she looked up at the bedroom ceiling. She felt oddly confused, the 'angry sex', as she had heard it termed, WAS amazing, below her waist she still felt achey ... yet satisfied. She relished seeing that side of him and, so help her, she enjoyed being dominated by him. But part of her felt uneasy, somehow things between them didn't seem resolved ...

It was actually fun taking a break from all the dark and heavy stuff in Those That Remain. I hope you enjoyed it!