(Author's Note: Well, a few of you guessed it. I'm sorry. History is being shuffled in the name of fanfiction, and it's going to be a rough couple of chapters for the lambs. Not really the greatest for the day after Christmas but...

This one does change perspective in the middle, so be aware of that. It's a pretty clear shift from Katherine to Jack, and back again, so you shouldn't have any trouble with it.

Standard disclaimers apply. I own nothing but my own imagination. And my tears.)

"We've been married three months and you're already leaving me?" Katherine screeched. She didn't usually get mad like this, but when someone you love tells you they're enlisting in the army, well, you do things you might not usually do.

"I'm not leaving you, Ace, I'll just be... away for a while," Jack said, trying in vain to calm down his frantic wife.

"Don't you 'Ace' me!"

"I'll be back before you know it." He took a step toward her, and she backed away like a frightened animal.

"How could you do this?"

"I have to do my part!"

"You could die Jack." That made him pause for a second.

"I'll come home. I promise."

"Jack, you can't do this."

"It's done! I have to Katherine!" He argued, getting upset.

"No you don't!" She pleaded.

"You don't understand."

"Jack!" Then he did something Katherine never thought he would do. Something she didn't even think he was capable of doing. He lifted his hand as if to hit her.

She caught his wrist and grasped it tightly enough to leave a mark, her fingernails digging into his skin, her breathing heavy.

"Don't you ever raise a hand to me again, do you hear me? Ever," she articulated coldly, trying not to let her voice shake too badly. With that, she let go of his wrist, his hand dropping limply to his side, and she left, tears starting to fill her eyes.

He had tried to hit her. She couldn't get the thought out of her head. Jack Kelly, her husband, the man she loved more than anyone in the world had tried to hit her. It was so unlike him.

Katherine slammed the door hard as she left the apartment, not caring whether the neighbors heard. She wasn't even sure where she was going, but soon she found herself climbing up the stairs to the roof of the apartment building. How ironic. She collapsed on the rooftop, tears running down her face, her mind racing. Katherine wanted to forget that any of it had ever happened, but she couldn't get it out of her head. So instead, she cried. She cried because she was hurt, and because she was angry, and because she was scared. She cried because she never wanted to see Jack Kelly again, and because she didn't want Jack Kelly to ever leave her, and because he was leaving her. She just sat, and cried.

He had to find her. He didn't know where she'd gone; he didn't even know where to start looking for her, but he had to find Katherine.

Hot tears started to fight their way out of his eyes. Jack couldn't believe he'd almost hit her, the love of his life, his wonderful Katherine. He was falling apart inside just thinking about it. He was so grateful that she'd stopped him. He never would have forgiven himself if he'd hurt her. If only he could find her and apologize, maybe he could make things right. Then again, he wouldn't blame her if she never wanted to speak to him again, but he'd never know unless he could find her.

As soon as the apartment door slammed shut, he ran to it, but she was gone. Jack started to head down to the street, but something stopped him. If Katherine was anything like him-and in this case she most definitely was-her anger wouldn't take her down to the streets, it would take her up, just like Jack's anger had taken him up to his penthouse so many times as a boy.

He climbed the stairs slowly and nervously. He couldn't get her face out of his head when she'd caught his wrist. On the surface, there was anger. She was furious-her scowl and vicious glare proved that-but underneath, she was hurt. Her eyes glimmered with half-formed tears and she was saddened that he would ever try to hurt her. It pained him to see that face, but he knew he deserved it-he deserved any anger directed toward him. He would take it too. He only had one week before he had to leave her. God he hated to leave her...

And there she was. He'd reached the rooftop of the apartment, and his hunch was right; Katherine was sprawled near the edge, crying softly. Jack was terrified. He stood there silently for the longest time, pondering how to approach her. He just wanted to fix it. He wanted to take it back, but he knew he could never truly do that, so fixing it would have to do. He took a few steps toward her.

She was absentmindedly playing with a loose curl when she heard someone approach her from behind.

"Kat, I-"

"I don't want to hear it, just-just go." she spat, drying her tears abruptly and refusing to look at him. She simply crossed her arms across her chest and pursed her lips defiantly. "Don't touch me," she added, as she felt his hand graze her shoulder.

"Look, I don't know where that came from. It-it ain't like me to do somethin' like that, you know it ain't." His voice was broken like he'd been crying. It wasn't like him to cry. "Please, Katherine, you have to believe me when I say that that was the stupidest thing I've ever done. I love you, please just say something Katherine." When she didn't respond, he sat down next to her and took her hand, forcing her to look him in the eyes.

"I am so sorry. I would never hurt you Katherine," he continued, calmer now, "and if you hadn't stopped me, I never woulda forgiven myself. Look, I hate leaving you here, but it'll only be for a year at the most, and Crutchie an Davey will be here with the rest of the boys who ain't enlisting, and I know they'd do anything to help ya out." Katherine let out a long breath, still unsure of how she felt, and said quietly,

"Promise me you'll come home."

"I'll come home." He leaned over to kiss her, but she turned away, not quite ready to forgive him. Jack huffed, exasperated,

"Oh c'mon Ace, you can be mad at me for a whole year while I'm gone, but I got one week before I ship out. Can you tolerate me for one more week?"

"We only have a week?" Katherine squeaked, not bothering to hide the note of panic in her voice. He nodded gravely, and she leaned her head on his shoulder, tracing tiny circles on the side of his hand. She forgot then and there any semblance of being upset with him.

"Well," she laughed sadly, "I guess I can put off being mad for a week." Jack smiled and draped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close.

"There's that sense of humor I'll miss so much," he muttered sarcastically. Suddenly Katherine was overwhelmed; finally processing what was about to happen to them, to their lives. She wrapped her arms tight around Jack's chest and hugged him, burying her face in his shirt. She was trying her hardest not to cry again, but several tears soaked into the fabric anyway.

"Woah there Ace, you're gonna squeeze all the air out of me," Jack chuckled, but he held her and kissed the top of her head.

"I'll miss you," Katherine whispered, her voice wavering.

"I'll come home soon Ace, I promise."

(Again, I'm sorry for this one! It will get better, I promise you! Please review, and don't be afraid to point out things that need to be fixed or could have been done better! As long as you're nice about it, I will always take constructive critisism!

Much love,
PrettyLittleMonster Xxx)