Without waiting for her to answer, he proceeded to move his way past her through the door. Kate was speechless, she could feel her jaw drop. She didn't know what to think or where to turn - he was the last person she expected to see at her door.

And yet, here he was, in her apartment.

Jack looked around, taking in his surroundings. Her place was cozy, her imprint clearly detectable in her selection of furnishings and wall art. He couldn't help drawing a small smile. Her home smelled like her, Kate's presence everywhere. He took a second so he could breathe her in.

Stunned into silence, she took another deep swallow, peered into the hallway before gently shutting the door. Carefully, she leaned on the cool metal and planted her hands firmly behind her back ... and waited. She stared at his handsome face framed by his tightly shorn hair and appreciated the sight of him wearing something other than scrubs or a lab coat. His long lean form filled out the fitted dark charcoal grey t-shirt and blue jeans well. She caught notice of his wristwatch and then the colorful ink etched up his forearm.

Jack was so near, a wave of nostalgia nearly knocked her over. This was the man that she had made love to in the library, on the beach, in his father's pool, bathrooms, hotel rooms, cars, even splayed over flights of stairs.

She bit her bottom lip in frustration, she needed to stop staring at him, at how good he looked. She was still … furious with him, after all.

Jack turned to face her, his palms lightly brushing up and down the front of his thighs - an unconscious habit of his when he was feeling anxious or even nervous. He was the first to speak, "Kate, I guess I should have called you first, but I needed to come by tonight to apologize for my reaction during the surge-"

Kate noticed how his words seem to trail off, as if he were distracted.

Jack managed to forget what he was going to say, his eyes now too occupied by her appearance, by her body.

Kate then peered down at herself and felt the heat rise to her cheeks. She might as well have been wearing nothing at all. Her thick wet hair had pretty much dripped down and soaked through her thin white camisole, her naked breasts clearly visible to him. Her sheer pale pink lace underwear offered no coverage either ... she was completely exposed to him.

She followed the line of his gaze and gasped with a mixture of what may have been embarrassment or frustration. Instinctually, she shook out her towel and fumbled humiliatingly to cover herself from his eyes.

Yet she stood her ground and shouted, "What the hell, Jack?!"

Jack noticed that her green eyes were now bright with anger and accusation. He also knew that his neck was turning red, his roaming stare had been a bit too obvious. But part of him really didn't care at this point. It wasn't as if he hadn't seen it all before… she was perfect, how could he help it?

He then tried to contain the tiny smile that was inching across his face, that peculiar sensation that is borne of familiarity. Kate had always managed to look so cute when she was angry. Her slitted eyes, pouty lips - he was more than effected by her furious beauty.

He took a hard swallow and paused for a moment. Everything he had planned to say, why he was here … it was all quickly going to shit. Could anything ever be simple between them?

Kate thought she saw a look of confusion dance across his face.

She sighed. This whole situation was beginning to feel preposterous. She was literally standing half-naked in front of her boss and, yes, they had been lovers … had even been best friends at one point - but the past didn't change their present circumstances and she couldn't help the resentment that was slowly boiling inside her. Who was he to just show up at her door? In the past month he had barely spoken to her and then when he finally did, he had made her feel like a complete idiot. It was bad enough that her personal life was in shambles, but did her career have to take a hit because of him too?

And then, and then … he didn't even have the decency to tell her that he wasn't engaged anymore? For two whole weeks she continued to anguish over his upcoming marriage, to torture herself by crying over a man that she still loved. And he never said a word!

The obvious imbalance of power in their relationship was slowing making her nuts. Kate had a sudden urge to pace around, but there wasn't enough room.

It was official … she was pissed off now.

"I'm supposed to be having dinner at Juliet's, so if you have something to say to me Jack … spit it out."

"Hey, can you calm down, Kate? I only came to apologize -"

"Well … apology NOT accepted, you can leave now."

Jack pulled his head back, a deep frown evident in his expression, "What's the matter with you? Let me explain myself …."

"Why? To give you a chance to tell me why you're an arrogant asshole? I already know the answer and despite what you may think, it's not just your father's fault. So, if you'll excuse me, I need to put some clothes on … you can show yourself to the door."

Jack winced, he knew that she was angry with him, but this was on an entirely different level. What was going on here?

Lifting her chin up with a childish sense of pride, Kate proceeded to stalk past him, but he took two steps towards her and placed his hand on her wrist and tugged her towards him. She lost her breath and towel as he spun her around to face him. Judging by the furious sheen on his face and the sudden grip of his fingers on her arm, her words finally found their target.

He looked down at her, and in a deep voice, he told her, "Don't…"

Kate drew in a deep breath and looked down, shaking her head questioningly. Don't what? She wondered. Don't leave … don't tell you to leave … don't get dressed? What did he want? What did Jack want?

He could feel her tension, she was motionless, but quivering at the same time. He watched her, savoring her closeness, the way her heat and sweet scent enveloped him.

And then she glanced up at him and saw his familiar look, felt that irresistible pull of his eyes. And even though it had been years, she knew exactly what he was thinking, what he now wanted.

He wanted her.

Her stomach tightened and her chest pounded. The feeling that Jack drew from her was undeniable. She stopped breathing when his warm palms slowly cradled her face and his head bent over to kiss her. But Kate didn't hesitate to kiss him back and before they knew it, they were locked in a demanding embrace. He kissed her with a passion almost crazy, his tongue sweeping inside her mouth as she moaned from the delicious taste of it. Hungry hands roamed everywhere, arousing each other's senses. Kate felt his rough palm cupping her behind and lifting her center to rest flush against his. And Kate pressed herself into him right back, she SO wanted this - so badly. He heard her soft moan and enjoyed the familiar, supple feel of her against him.

She wanted him.

A dizzying sensation overcame her and the room felt as if it were beginning to spin. She placed the palms of her hands on his chest and blindly … no … furiously pushed him away. She shook her head and blinked quickly. Everything was moving way too fast.

Jack was surprised by her retreat, but he was not daunted. He was not giving up this time. He thought he had only come to offer a simple apology, but he now realized it was way more than that, his motives ran more deeply. He wanted Kate back and he was tired of wasting precious time. Ryan or no Ryan, he was exhausted from denying how he felt, denying what he wanted for himself.

He stared her again, her beautiful appearance would not be ignored either. Even though it felt like it had been an eternity since he had seen her so bare like this, it still felt so right and familiar to him. Her breasts were still round, high and pert. He would never forget how they fit so perfectly in the palms of his hands.

Kate noticed that he briefly stared at her breasts, again, and that infuriated her. And when he looked as if he would reach out to touch her again, she became enraged and completely lost her temper. His arrogance and presumptuousness were galling. It was hard enough to bear the brunt of his authority in the hospital, but to see him so self-assured here, in her space, was enough to send her over the edge.

Her eyes welled up with tears and she knew she was on the verge of unleashing EVERYTHING she felt on him.

No longer able to contain herself, Kate bared her teeth when she shouted, so ready to tell him what she thought of him. "Who do you think you are?! Showing up at my door like this. Especially, after you humiliated me in the OR. You went out of your way to be condescending to me in front of the team. I don't understand you, one minute, you and I seem fine and then later you are berating me. This passive aggressive bullshit is so old, Jack. Seriously, who the fuck do you think you are? "

Politely ... patiently, he listened to her and then he drew his head back to better study her furious face.

His silence seemed to make her even more angry and her voice grew louder, "And… and … last year, I poured my heart out to you but you were engaged to someone else and then you ended your engagement and never bothered to tell me! WHY?! You kept that from me! You're a liar! And then you sabotaged my relationship with Ryan!"

She caught Jack's puzzled look before continuing her rant, "What? You didn't think that I noticed that either? Well … thanks to you, your pages, the long hours working with you ... he dumped me! And then you come here tonight and try to pull this?" Kate angrily pointed to his crotch then. "Do you have such a high opinion of yourself? Did you really think that it would be so easy, that you could just knock on my door and I would hop in the sack with you? Get over yourself, Jack!"

Without thinking, she leapt forward and the flat of her palm found the side of his face, the sound so loud and piercing, it left her hand red and stinging.

Kate was trembling from the violent gesture, but her body was on fire. She placed her hands on her hips, lifted her chin and looked at him defiantly.

Jack's face was rocked by the force of her slap and he rubbed his left cheek. He was stunned. Yet, his calm and unflustered demeanor only underscored the passionate anger she was displaying. He simply couldn't be angry at her.

"Okay Kate, is that how you really feel? You're pushing me away and yet I know you want me … us - I know you want us. And yes Kate, I want you - all of you." He stopped to look at her again, the way her chest rose with each harried breath. "And you know what else? You look so fucking hot right now, I can't take it. And I'm not lying. So now tell me to leave and I will AND I promise to NEVER bother you again."

Kate blushed, his words reminding her once again of she looked, her anger having made her temporarily distracted and unaware. But instead of reverting to her usual tendency to shy away or cover up, she pulled her shoulders back and held her head high. Their eyes locked, his brown-eyed gaze bore into her green-eyed one. Unrelenting in their stubbornness, they stared at each other and stood like that for what felt like an eternity, their silent standoff interrupted only by the sound of their shallow and ragged breaths.

He finally took that first step towards her and in a deep husky voice he told her, "Tell me to leave Kate."

She stood still as he took another step closer, so he was now practically touching her, "Kate, tell me to leave."

He was an inch away from her and she stepped back, and he inched forward. It had been a long time since Kate saw him act so, so… sexually assertive and she was undeniably aroused by this side of him. He kept moving forward and she kept retreating until she was pressed against the wall. They stared at each other, the loud puffs of their hot breaths hitting each other's cheeks. Jack gave in first and with a small sigh, he bent his head and kissed her throat, his stubble scratching her in that way she loved.

That was all it took, she was too easy to break and she found herself surrendering to him, she would let passion and sensuality rule now. For the briefest moment she was angry at her body for betraying her, for being so weak. ln a last feeble, half-hearted attempt, she bit his bottom lip, daring him to back away, but he didn't. He flinched slightly and then just smiled - the corners of his eyes creased in that way she so adored.

With a light, tickling touch, he kissed her face, her cheeks, her closed eyelids, and then her wet lips again. His hand reached up to tilt her jaw back, so his mouth and tongue could caress the side of her neck. His fingers moved lower, following the outline of her body down her side, before deliberately dragging it over her nipple.

Soon, he was all hands and she could barely keep up with him. He kissed her breasts through her camisole, lingering over them and then dropped onto his knees so his lips could now burn against her stomach and soon his face was flushed against her core and she could feel his hot breath through her barely there underwear. He could clearly see the small tuft of hair and he bent his head forward so he could nuzzle his nose in between her thighs and push his tongue against the thin fabric.

She heard him mumble, as he toyed with the fabric of her underwear, "God, I love these."

She let out a loud moan when he hooked his thumbs on the sides of the dainty fabric and pulled them down slowly … slowly. A flood of warm wetness flowed between her thighs as her muscles down there reacted to his touches. Her hips jerked against his hands, she didn't know how much more she could possibly take of this.

He looked up at her, her eyes were half-closed and her mouth open. Her chest was contracting under her steady little puffs of air. She was stunning.

And in a husky voice dripping with desire, he confessed, "Kate, not a single day has gone by where I haven't thought about you like this."

She nodded her head at him, she understood what it was like to desire someone every single day, Kate never stopped wanting him too. She then watched him slowly lift her leg and place it over his shoulder.

A tiny shudder left her body. She was burning. Lost in her excruciating anticipation, Kate leaned back, tipped her head to the ceiling and shut her eyes. The sensation was inexplicable, it was all too familiar, but the passing of time made it somehow feel new again. He dipped his head, his tongue and fingers finding those places that only he seemed to be capable of locating. She was so close and knew that her orgasm was seconds away.

Kate was almost embarrassed at how easy she was to satisfy and even more clear that only he had this power over her body. Her build up was quick and fierce, she shouted out his name and a single tear of joyful release rolled down her face.

Her body went limp and she felt herself unable to stand as she slowly slid down the wall. Her heart melted as his soft warm brown eyes caressed her. With his right thumb, he wiped that lone tear. Kate cupped his face between her palms and placed light kisses on his cheeks, his chin, his forehead and then on his lips.

He reveled in her attention and smoothly maneuvered her body so that she was laying flat on the rug in her entryway. He brushed his lips across her shoulders and then lifted the sheer camisole over her head, so eager now to kiss her bare breasts. They were still damp as he lavished attention on her sensitive peaks and she moaned from the sensations he was drawing from her body. She wanted him, no she NEEDED him inside of her now. He kissed his way down and found his face between her legs again. Kate lifted her head gesturing for him to slide up and make love to her. He shook his head, "The first time was for you, this time's for me."

Kate nodded, rested her head back on the floor, closed her eyes, and with a loud sigh she let his mouth explore her again. She stroked the top of his head as she was overcome by the realization of how much she missed this, how much she needed this man. How on earth did she survive this long without … Jack? His tongue and lips searched and probed, needing to fill his mouth with as much of her as he could. She came quickly again and for the briefest moment, she thought her heart may have stopped. Jack crawled up so he was now face to face with her, he had to see her face.

Kate stared directly into his eyes as she grabbed at his belt buckle and pulled his groin towards her. Her fingers eagerly worked to unfasten it as he bemusedly looked at her and smiled, "And I'm the one with the high opinion of myself?"

She seized his face and kissed him, letting him lean over her, kissing her mouth, neck, whispering into her ear, saying things until she tore his shirt over his head and ripped down his jeans along with his boxers. She gripped him in her hand and led him to her wet entrance, without hesitation he slowly entered her and they each simultaneously let out a low loud groan. This was not sweet and gentle, not like it was their first time, this was pure lust. Everything they had held back all these years between them erupted into an explosion of unhindered desire.

They both gasped and panted as they succumbed to the deepest passion of their lives. She tilted her hips in search of the contact she desperately needed and this only encouraged Jack to drive himself deeper. He held himself up, his arms flexed while Kate gripped his biceps and rubbed his tattoos with her thumb. She glanced quickly downward at the unfamiliar markings and smiled. They would take a little getting used to, she quickly thought to herself.

Kate looked upward and couldn't stop staring at the gorgeous man above her, she loved his closely shaven head, his face, his mind, his body … EVERYTHING.

Jack continued with his strokes while his mouth moved from one nipple to the other, sucking and teasing them. Kate clenched her eyes shut and screamed, finding herself quivering from one orgasm after another. Without warning Jack felt her teeth sink into the fleshy part of his shoulder.

Jack smiled and, if Kate knew better, he looked a little proud of himself. He pulled back for a moment, to exercise some control and let her rest, before flipping her over. He reached his hands beneath her and cupped her swollen, achy breasts. He eased himself inside, they both moaned from the new contact. He took her hips in his hands and pulled back and drove in again, deeper this time now finding a new shared rhythm. With a few shouted expletives, they both came. His release warmed up her insides and left their bodies convulsing.

Lying on their sides, with sweat sheening their bodies, Jack nudged Kate around, so his searching eyes could meet hers. He laid a protective arm around her waist as they both breathed heavily and stared at the ceiling. Kate shivered and clung to him, suddenly washed over with a happiness that left her crying, crying from the relief of knowing that he was there next to her … after all these years.

"Hey. What's going on?" He asked warmly.

"I'm so happy you're here. I've missed you so much." The tears freely flowed down her cheeks and she tried blinking to hold some of them back.

"Me too." He traced the back of his hand along her jawline and dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose. "I'm here now, Kate." He held her for a long time, tightly in his arms, placing intermittent kisses while allowing her to cry and sob it all out.

Suddenly, Jack rubbed his free hand across his face and let out a low and loud laughter of pure disbelief. Kate lifted her head and her laugh quickly followed.

"That was something else by the way, I wasn't expec-"

Breathily, she interrupted, "I know, me too."

She nudged his arm as she rolled on top of him. They then embraced and kissed each other as if they could never get enough of one another.

When they finally stopped for air, Jack rubbed his lower back and asked "Kate, do you want to go to your bed? I mean, don't get me wrong… I love this floor." He slapped the floor for added emphasis, "This patch of floor is now my most favorite spot in this entire world, but - "

Kate quirked her eyebrow at him, "Dr. Shephard, are you asking to spend the night?

He looked at her freckled face and smiled back.

Without removing her eyes from his face, she slowly stood on her feet, bent over slightly and extended her hands out to help pull him up, "C'mon old guy, let's see what you have left."

"Old guy? Really?"

Sawyer rode the elevator up to Kate's floor. Juliet had tried calling Kate, but her calls went straight to her voicemail. Juliet sent him to find out what the hold up was. He walked down the hallway and was about to rap on the door of 27H with the back of his hand when he heard some distinct noises coming right from behind the door. He wasn't sure he could be hearing this correctly, so he placed his ear against the door and quickly jerked back.

Sawyer opened his apartment door and entered. Juliet was in the kitchen and looked up expectantly, "Where's Kate?"

With a wide grin, he answered, "Ahhhh, yeah, well ... Kate ain't gonna be joinin' us for dinner."

Juliet looked worried, "James, is she okay?"

Sawyer walked into the kitchen and placed his hands on her hips, "Yeah, I am pretty certain she is."

Juliet raised her eyebrow and gave him a skeptical look, "What are you not telling me James?"

"Let's just say Kate's got some company. The male persuasion kinda company. Comprende, Blondie?"

Juliet covered her mouth and let out a giggle, "Really? Oh my gosh, I wonder who she's with."

Sawyer barked, "Well, the 'Oh, Jack' is probably a giveaway. She's a bit of a screamer, wouldn't have expected that from Freckles."

"No way!" Juliet nearly reeled from the news and then shrugged her shoulders, "Well, it's about 'freakin' time, no? C'mon, honey, let's eat."

Kate's alarm went off - 4:45 am, and it was painful. She looked at her rumpled covers trailing onto the floor. His arms were still wrapped around her, his leg thrown over her hip and that made it all the more difficult to rise out of bed. She hit "snooze", something she never did, but she needed those eight extra minutes with him. Jack had the day off and Kate could not have been more envious. She was exhausted, their activities leaving her sore and with barely any sleep, but it was so worth it. She gently lifted his arm and leg without stirring him, but not without noticing the contented grin on his sleeping face.

Kate released a deep, throaty chuckle, the obvious sound of a happy and sated woman. He then squinted one eye at her lazily when her hair brushed his face as she leaned over him.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you, Jack." She whispered.

"Hey. It's early. Why are you up?" He groaned.

Kate put one foot on the floor, "I'm on call, remember?" She lifted her hand to push her hair out of her eyes again and noticed how his hazel eyes looked into hers, the way they held them, compelling Kate to see his love for her.

He lifted his arm and wrapped it around her waist to drag her back into the bed. He leaned over her, caressing her breast and then inner thigh absentmindedly. He heard her soft sigh and couldn't help moaning back from his own pleasure.

He began to recall the events of last night and he could feel himself get aroused again. Jack felt himself shiver, he had never had so much sex in a single evening before - not even close. Her body was so responsive and never before had he felt as wanted as he did earlier. He was convinced more so now than ever that she was made just for him.

Jack also would always remember the perfect vision that was Kate, her body on display still glistening from her shower and her breasts clearly visible under the wet camisole, as if teasing him. But it was her fiery temper and feistiness that had triggered his intense desire. She looked so beautiful with her eyes ablaze, standing on her toes to meet and challenge him, with her arms raised to emphasize her pure anger with him. He knew then he wouldn't be able to leave without trying to convince her to give him a chance.

"Call in sick."

She wrinkled up her nose and groaned, "I can't."

He lifted his head and looked at her, "Yes, you can. I'm your boss, remember? I promise you will get a pass on this one. Take advantage while you can." He playfully winked at her and then proceeded to kiss the hollow at the base of her throat. Her teeth caught her lower lip as she felt herself tingle.

Kate averted her face, turning her head sideways, she tried not to giggle, "This all seems eerily familiar don't you think?"

"No. It's different now. There'll be no secrets."

"What do you mean?"

"I'll tell McAdams that there is a conflict of interest and that I can no longer evaluate your performance. If he wants me to resign, I'll resign. But I doubt he'll do that."

Kate gasped, "Is that a good idea?"

Jack peppered her face with little kisses, "All that doesn't matter, what matter's now is …" His hand moved lower down, taking the cotton sheet with it….

A/N: Ha! It's been forever, but we got these two lovebirds back together. And I want to say thanks to "Anon" that noticed that this time it was Jack going to her apartment. I intended for this "reunion" to be a bookend to their first "union".

So, I was holding out on this chapter, hoping that more of you would review, the traffic stats were off the charts for the last two chapters. I know I sound like a broken record, but your reviews and comments really make my day. I have been writing this story for almost a whole year! I think that stamina deserves a few words from each reader, no?

I've started working on the next chapter and I really could use your support to help me finish this story. IT IS UP TO YOU WHETHER I FINISH THIS.

Again, to those of you that take a few minutes from your lives to leave me a note - THANK YOU and OXOXOXO!