Laura's School Prompt
Title: Um. School... Times... For Laura...
Pairing: Jack/Kate
Rating: PG-13 again.
Summary: Post-rescue, on Jack's favourite day of the week.
A/N: Another fic written for laulauz, but I can't actually remember the prompts, since I wrote this quite a while ago. I know one was school, but that's kind of it. Oh, and also featuring in this fic is Forbes, the *cough* greatest Food Tech teacher ever.
Jack’s alarm went off at six am, as usual. He flung his arm across to the clock and switched it off, sighing. Five minutes later Jack pushed the blankets off and swung his legs over the edge of the bed, rubbing his eyes. Jack got up and walked to the window, pulling the full-length curtains open. The dim early morning light was soft but nevertheless blinding, and Jack turned away.
He got dressed casually, knowing she wouldn’t wake for at least another hour. A plain t-shirt, and jeans he’d had for over two years. Jack pulled the blankets back over the bed neatly and headed quietly downstairs, bare feet not making a sound on the carpet.
Jack shut the kitchen door so the coffee maker wouldn’t make too much noise for her, and turned the TV on to watch the morning news.
A musician passed away, an earthquake in a remote country, a car crash overnight. Nothing that could make him smile, or think about something different for once.
“Did you always want to be a doctor?”
Jack chuckled. “Maybe ‘want’ is the wrong word, but yeah, I guess so. Why?”
Kate shrugged. “I dunno. I just think that… you suit it. Being a doctor, I mean. It’s so… you.”
Jack watched her nervously shuffling her feet into the sand and looking away, and he knew he felt something, he just didn’t know what it was.
“Is that a compliment?”
Now Kate blushed, and Jack felt a smile that couldn’t be resisted. He loved that he could do that to her.
“Maybe,” Kate smiled, and looked at him. “If you like doctors.”
“And… do you like doctors?”
Kate smiled even more than before, and slowly turned around, leaving Jack slightly unsure whether to be let down or encouraged, but feeling like something had happened. Something good.
Jack was pouring the freshly brewed coffee into a mug when arms wrapped around his waist, and he turned around.
“Hey, you,” Jack said. “You’re up early!” He put the coffee down and lifted her onto the bench beside him, pressing a kiss to her hair. She smiled and shrugged a little. Jack bent to her level. “I didn’t wake you, did I?” She shook her head and looked around.
“You’re using the cup I made for you, Daddy!”
Jack looked at the mug he had put the coffee into. It was white, with ‘Daddy’ painted on the side in messy green letters. Jack smiled.
“Well, it’s my favourite one.” He told her, and the six year old giggled. She held her arms up and Jack leaned forward, letting her wrap them tightly around his neck.
“It’s my favourite too.” She murmured, and kissed Jack’s cheek. Jack took her from the bench and sat her down on one of the chairs carefully.
“So, what’s for breakfast?” Amelia asked brightly, grinning and showing off the gap between her front teeth, and making Jack laugh.
Jack wasn’t talking to Kate, again. And he didn’t really know why, again. It had been happening more and more lately, and for less and less important reasons, like they were building up to a huge explosion, but of what, Jack wasn’t sure. The other people in the camp were getting used to everything being fine one moment, and then Jack and Kate were yelling at each other in the middle of everything.
Jack decided he’d make the first move to reconciliation this time. He searched the beach for Kate, and asked around. He eventually found out she’d gone for a walk by herself about ten minutes ago. Charlie pointed him the right way and Jack set off at a jog down the sand.
He found her as he had many times before, sitting and facing the ocean. He slowed and walked up to her, carefully sitting close to her side. Jack was breathing heavily, trying hard to get his breath back.
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?”
“Kate, please…I came… to apologise.”
“Yeah. Right.”
“I did! I want… to… say I’m… sorry.” Jack felt incredibly stupid, unable to say a complete sentence without gasping for breath.
“Sorry for what?”
“I’m sorry for… fighting with you.”
Kate turned to face him, and just looked at him. Jack wished she’d talk, because even if she yelled at him it would be better than the way she was looking at him so pityingly.
“Kate -
Jack was cut off, Kate touching their lips together lightly at first, then delving deeper and forcing his mouth open. Jack was too stunned to do anything at first, but realised soon enough what was happening and fell into it gladly, returning her passion. Before they knew it, Kate was in Jack’s lap, his hands all over her, and they only remembered where they were when Jack lost balance and fell backwards, taking Kate with him. Kate sat up and looked at Jack, who was breathless again, but for an entirely different reason.
“I forgive you.”
Amelia was still in her pyjamas and on her second bowl of cereal, and Jack was on his second cup of coffee. She was watching a children’s programme on TV, deeply immersed in it. Jack watched her, instead. She had brown eyes, like him, but beautiful dark curls, like Kate. She was confident and brave, as expected from the life she led for three years. Still, she was thoughtful and often kept to herself, making it hard for Jack to tell how she was feeling.
The ad break came on, and Amelia turned to Jack, and the coffee in his hand.
“How come you’re not eating anything?”
“Oh, um, I’m just, not very hungry, sweetie.”
“But Mom said that breakfast was the most important meal, and we have to eat it. Both of us. She told me to make you eat it.”
Jack stared at her, and didn’t know what to say. He took a deep breath, then reached over and took Amelia’s bowl. “Okay then. If Mom says I have to…” Jack started eating her cereal, and Amelia laughed, yelling ‘Dad-dy!’. Jack chuckled and put the bowl down.
“Okay, okay. Come on, we gotta get you ready. You don’t wanna be late for school now, do you?” Jack asked.
Amelia shook her head. She jumped down from the chair and ran off, heading to her bedroom. Jack quickly drank the rest of his coffee and followed her.
Kate sat up, and started to get out from under the covers but Jack grabbed her waist and pulled her back to him, without even opening his eyes.
“Thought you could just sneak off, huh?” He asked, voice low and sleepy.
Kate laughed a little. “I thought you were asleep.”
“And that makes it okay? Well, you’re gonna pay for that…” Jack opened his eyes and rolled Kate onto her back, grinning at her and still seeming half-asleep. She smirked at him, and leaned up to meet him as he kissed her lazily. Jack pulled back and trailed his lips down her neck, kissing her shoulder wetly. He growled a little, and Kate felt it travel along her skin deliciously. Jack lifted his head and looked her in the eye. Kate ran her hands over his face adoringly, unable to stop touching him.
“God, you’re so sexy when you’re sleepy.” She told him and they kissed again, lips flowing together easily.
“I love you,” Jack murmured before their lips touched again. “I love you,” he repeated, and continued to say it between quick kisses.
They stayed in bed a little longer, and only got up because Sayid came and made Jack get out of bed to help with something. Kate pulled him back at first, telling him to stay, but he managed to force himself to leave, not before kissing her again and reminding her how much he loved her.
“Come on, Amelia, you have to choose.”
Amelia furrowed her brow, looking intently at the two sweaters laid out on her bed. One red, one blue, both the same to Jack. But Amelia felt differently, constantly changing her mind. “Dad, shh. I’m trying to think.”
Jack rolled his eyes and sighed, then sat back and waited for her to decide. A minute or two later, Amelia picked up the red one and turned around.
“Okay, Dad, we’re having this one. It’s final.”
She looked so serious, Jack had trouble keeping a straight face. “Okay, Meli. Put it on, then.” Jack got up and put the other sweater away. When he turned back around, Amelia still hadn’t put the red one on.
“Amelia?”
“Help, Daddy.”
Amelia held the sweater out to Jack, and he took it, rolling his eyes. She put her arms up into the air and Jack pulled it over her head, then knelt in front of her.
“You know, you’re definitely old enough to do it yourself.” He said.
Amelia smiled. “But I like it when you do it, Dad.”
Jack kissed the tip of her nose. “Okay.” He kissed her nose again, and again, until Amelia pushed his face away, giggling.
“Dad, stop it! We have to get ready.”
She left the room, and Jack heard the water running, so she had to be brushing her teeth. He went into the bathroom and picked up his own toothbrush, squeezing the toothpaste onto it and standing behind his daughter to look in the mirror. Once he had finished Jack picked up a hairbrush and sat down on the edge of the bath, then motioned for Amelia to come and stand in front of him. She turned so her back was to him and Jack gently began to brush through her curls.
“Dad?”
“Yeah, honey?”
“Yesterday at school… Jake McGregor asked me why my mom never picks me up, why you always do.”
Jack stopped brushing. “What did you say?” He asked carefully.
Amelia shrugged. “I told him to mind his businesses.” She suddenly smiled. “It didn’t matter anyway, ‘cause Aaron pushed him over for being mean.”
Jack raised his eyebrows. “Really? Aaron did that? But he’s nice, he never did that to anyone else…”
“Keep brushing.”
“Sorry.”
Jack pulled Kate’s shirt over her head swiftly, threw it aside, and began kissing down her chest. Her head fell back for a moment, then she grabbed his cheeks and pulled him up to kiss him. Kate pushed Jack onto his back, the long jungle grass tickling his bare skin. She straddled his legs and undid his jeans, then got off him and pulled them off his legs. Jack rolled over and reached for his backpack, opening the front pocket and pulling out a small foil packet. He rolled back over and watched Kate finish taking her jeans off. She noticed the packet in his hand and leaned over, taking it and throwing it back towards his backpack.
“Uh, Kate? You can’t tell me we’re not gonna do this now, I mean, come on, we just -
“I don’t want to use a condom.”
Jack stopped, staring at her with his mouth half open.
“Are… are you sure?” He asked slowly.
Kate nodded. “I’m sure.” She came over and sat in Jack’s lap, hands sliding over his broad shoulders. “I love you, Jack. I love you, and I… I want a baby. With you. I want us to have a baby.”
Jack kissed her for a long time, then pulled back, eyes shining. “You… god, you’re perfect, Katie.”
“Jack…”
“I just… I love you, god, yes, I do, and I want a baby so much, with you, always with you, we could have lots, and we’d have a girl first, and she’d look like you, so beautiful, I know it, and I love you, Kate, you make me so happy…”
Kate wiped at the tears beneath Jack’s eyes, and kissed him slowly. “Shh, Jack,” She whispered. “Okay. We can do that, all of that. But it takes time, okay? You gotta slow down, baby.”
Jack nodded, and kissed her like she was his whole world. It’s not like that would be a lie, anyway.
Jack was packing Amelia’s lunch into her schoolbag when the phone rang, and Amelia answered it.
“Hello? Aunty Claire! Yeah, I’m good! I’m getting ready for school, I’m just packing my bag…” Jack rolled his eyes. “Uh huh… yeah, he is. No, he didn’t! I told him to! But he’s stubborn, Aunty, more than anyone. Oh, okay. Yeah. Yep, bye!”
Amelia ran up to Jack, phone in hand. “It’s Aunty Claire!” She said, pushing the phone into Jack’s hand.
“Okay, sweetheart, thank you. Finish packing your bag while I’m talking, alright?” Jack put the phone to his ear. “Hello?”
“Hey, Jack, sorry to call you in the morning, I know I shouldn’t…”
“Anytime’s fine, you know that.”
“Yeah, okay. Anyway, Aaron was telling me this morning about some boy at school, he said something to Amelia…”
“Oh yeah, she told me.” Jack’s tone changed a little, becoming serious before brightening again. “I think Aaron took care of it, though.”
“What? What did he do? He didn’t tell me!”
Jack laughed. “I feel really… I dunno, like I’m getting someone in trouble. Like a kid, or something.” He paused. “Amelia said Aaron pushed the boy over when he talked to her.”
“He did what?! Oh god, that boy is just trouble, really, what am I gonna do with him?” Jack could hear the smile in her voice, and knew Aaron was nearby. Jack looked over his shoulder, seeing Amelia sitting behind him, and grinned.
“But Claire, isn’t that what boys do when they like a girl?” Jack asked, deliberately letting Amelia hear.
Claire gasped. “You know what, Jack? I think you’re right! Maybe Aaron likes Amelia!”
Jack suddenly heard an outburst from Claire’s house, mingled with Claire’s laughing. “Aaron likes Amelia? Definitely. And she’s in love with him.”
Amelia jumped up and came to Jack’s side, yelling that she didn’t, and ‘he’s a boy! That’s gross!’
Jack laughed and he and Claire said goodbye, and he hung up the phone.
“Da-ad! What are you talking about? I don’t like Aaron!” Amelia whined the second he put the phone down.
“Oh, I know you do really, Amelia, you don’t have to pretend…” He teased.
“I don’t! It’s gross! Boys are gross!”
Jack gasped, and put a hand to his chest. “What? Are you saying I’m gross?”
Amelia rolled her eyes at him, a gesture so Kate it made his breath catch in his throat. He pushed the feelings away, as usual.
“No, Dad, you’re not a boy. You’re a man. And Mom’s a lady, and it’s okay for you and Mom to like each other, ‘cause you’re old.”
Jack stared at her, completely thrown by her logic. Old? Him? Jack shook his head. “Okay then. When you’re a lady, and Aaron’s a man. Then you’ll like each other.”
Amelia turned away, picking up her schoolbag. “Maybe.” She said, and left the room confidently, leaving Jack wondering when his six-year old became ten years cockier.
“Heard you and Freckles again last night. Think maybe you two should move house. Or maybe, move universes. P’haps then we’ll sleep easy.”
Jack stopped and turned to Sawyer, trying to glare through the grin on his face. “Excuse me?”
“Little consideration next time might be nice, Don Juan. I need my beauty sleep, ya know.”
Jack walked closer to him. “Who the hell is Don Juan, Sawyer?”
“That would be you.”
Jack ran a hand over his head, then dropped his backpack and sat down next to Sawyer. Sawyer looked at him incredulously.
“What?” Jack asked.
“Oh, nothin’, I was just wonderin’ why in the hell you’re sittin’ with me when everyone knows you would like nothin’ less in the world.”
Jack shook his head, smiling. He didn’t say anything, just gazed over the beach for a moment. Soon enough Sawyer couldn’t stand the silence.
“Look, Jack -
“I’m gonna ask her to marry me, Sawyer.”
Sawyer almost dropped his book. “You’re gonna do what now?”
“Kate. I’m gonna ask her to marry me. Tonight. I’m gonna ask her tonight.”
Sawyer blinked at him, for once not knowing what to say. “Wow. Really?”
Jack turned and looked at Sawyer witheringly. “Yes, really. Are you really so shocked?”
“Well, no, I mean, I just don’t know why you’re tellin’ me, is all.”
“Yeah,” Jack said, staring out into nothing again. “I don’t really know, either.” He sighed. “But I’m gonna do it. Because I love her.”
Jack lifted Amelia into the front seat of the car, and helped her do up her seatbelt before making sure the child lock was on the door and shutting it. He got in the driver’s seat and looked at her.
“So, ready to go, Meli?”
“Uh huh. I’ve got my lunch, and my pencils, and the book that has your phone numbers in just in case.”
Jack smiled. “Great, you’re perfectly prepared.”
Amelia looked at him and grinned. “Perfectaly prepared.”
Jack laughed and started the engine, backing carefully out of the driveway. The clock on the dashboard read quarter past eight. Amelia’s school started in half an hour, and Jack started work at nine. He didn’t work at the hospital anymore. It would never have worked, with Amelia, the shifts were entirely too long. So Jack got a job at the local doctor’s clinic. It wasn’t as glamorous or professional as a spinal surgeon, but Jack didn’t mind. He liked the hours, the pay was reasonable, and usually his patients could talk to him, meaning his bedside manner had improved. And, unless there was an emergency, he got Sundays off, so he could spend time with Amelia. She went to Claire’s on Saturdays, and played with Aaron for the day.
“Dad, what day is it?”
“It’s Wednesday.”
“Wednesday… are we going to see Mommy tonight?”
“Yeah, of course. That’s what we do on Wednesday, right?”
“Right.”
“Will you marry me?”
Tears welled in Kate’s eyes and she dropped to her knees in front of Jack, making them on the same level. She held onto Jack’s arms, dropping her head. When she lifted it up there were tears down her cheeks.
Jack panicked, and hurriedly wiped the tears away. “Oh, no, no no no, Kate, please, don’t cry, I’m sorry, we don’t have to, please, Kate…”
Kate started shaking her head, opening her mouth but unable to say anything.
“Talk to me, baby, Katie, talk to me.”
“Jack…”
“Yeah, I’m here. Please don’t cry!”
“I… I can’t… I’m… Jack, I’m…” Kate broke off with a choked sob, and Jack started rambling quickly again, promising her anything if she’d only be okay for him, and Kate tried her best to regain control of herself and talk properly.
“Kate, we can slow down. If you want to, we don’t have to get married, I mean, I guess it was stupid, we’re on an island, there’s no way…”
“Jack…”
“…and I know that you have… issues, we both do, but I can wait, I really can, I just want you to know I love you, no matter what, I love you…”
“Jack…”
“…so it’s okay, really, I’m fine. I don’t even have a ring, I should have waited. I can do that, just stop crying, please, I’m gonna cry if you don’t stop, and I can’t just cry…”
“Jack!”
“I’m sorry, Kate, I’m rambling again, but I can’t help it, I’m sorry, I am -
“I’m pregnant, Jack.”
Jack stopped mid-sentence, frozen.
“And yes, of course I’ll marry you. God, you sound so insecure. How could you think I’d say no?”
Jack pulled up outside Amelia’s school and got out of the car. He walked over to her door just as she got out, and he grabbed her bag for her.
“You want me to walk you to the class?” Jack asked. Amelia looked around, and just as she did, Charlie pulled up with Aaron in the front seat. Amelia smiled brightly.
“No thanks, I’m fine.” She took her bag from his hands and ran over to Aaron. Jack watched her go, feeling the tiniest bit of sadness.
“Bye, Amelia! Have a good day!” He yelled after her, but she didn’t seem to hear him. Jack heard Charlie yell to Aaron but was also ignored as the pair walked into the school together. Jack looked over at Charlie, who gave him an appalled look, and Jack laughed. He waved, then got back in the car and headed towards work.
Wednesday, he thought with a sigh, feeling like it couldn’t have taken longer to get here. Easily his favourite day of the week, Wednesday.
Jack got to work with five minutes to spare, and checked in with the secretary, Maria, as soon as he got there.
“What’s on for today, Maria?” He asked, and she looked up, smiling as she recognised him.
“Morning, Jack. Today…” Maria flipped through a couple of pages of a planner. “Ah, you have a follow-up appointment with Mrs Forbes, to make sure she’s… um, okay…”
Jack grinned. Mrs Forbes had been a particularly unusual case. She had been in the hospital because of a toad bite. Jack truly hadn’t known toads could bite, but hey, this one clearly could. After her emergency treatment, she had been referred to Jack for post-op care.
“Yeah, that will be fun.” Jack said sarcastically. “I think maybe there’s still some toad in her, by the way she acts. Toad-like, I guess you’d call it.”
Maria laughed. “Doctor Shephard, you shouldn’t talk about patients that way! Anyway, after Mrs Forbes you have a new guy from San Sebastian, needs some prescribed meds for a few broken bones. And then… you’re on your usual Wednesday break until two.”
Jack nodded. “Okay, then. Thanks, Maria.”
Mrs Forbes took longer than expected, purely because she wouldn’t co-operate. But eventually Jack had finished for the morning, and he was able to leave the clinic. He got in his car and drove half an hour to the women’s penitentiary.
It was a helicopter that found them. It landed neatly on the beach one day, shocking everyone into chaos. They were scared for it to leave, so it was lucky the radio inside worked fine. A reasonably sized boat was called, and in a few hours everyone was on board.
Jack had talked to the officials for close to half an hour for them to let Kate stay with him for the ride. She was holding his hand tightly as they sat on the deck watching the island get smaller and smaller, three-year old Amelia on Jack’s lap.
They hadn’t talked yet, apart from Kate murmuring ‘Thank you’ to Jack when he won her argument.
“Kate…” Jack started eventually, just because he couldn’t stand the silence. She shook her head and leaned onto his shoulder, and Jack wrapped an arm around hers, the other holding Amelia close to his body. Safe, he thought. They’re safe, so it’s okay.
Jack nodded to the guard as he signed the visitor’s book. He was let through the gates and left at the door of the conjugal visit room. The guard moved away to give them a little privacy, and Jack took a deep breath, unconsciously straightened his jacket, then opened the door.
Kate was standing at the far end of the room, chewing nervously on her fingernail. Her hair was loose around her shoulders and she didn’t notice Jack was there until he cleared his throat and she spun around.
A complete look of relief came over Kate’s face when she saw him, and she sighed his name before stepping closer, into his arms. Jack held her tightly and buried his face into her hair, whispering her name.
There had been a lot of discussion after Kate’s trial whether or not they would be allowed the conjugal visits. In the end it was decided that since an official priest married them on the island, and Kate was a non-violent prisoner, it would be alright. Jack was eternally grateful for this decision, but there was one problem.
Amelia didn’t know. She didn’t know that every Wednesday morning before she got to visit her Mom, Jack spent at least an hour with her. He wasn’t telling her because, as a six-year old, she would demand to be taken along with him. And as much as he loved her, Jack didn’t particularly want Amelia there for these visits.
Jack pulled back first, and led Kate to sit down on the bed. “How are you?” He asked softly, smoothing her hair away from her face. Kate shrugged.
“I’m… okay, I guess. Nothing new.”
Jack smiled, and kissed her gently. Kate kept her eyes closed for a moment when he pulled back, savouring the moment.
“I miss you,” Kate said. “So much.”
“I’m right here.”
“I know. I’m glad.”
Kate’s trial was reasonably short. Anyone involved in any way told their side of the story, and Kate was sentenced to seven years, eligible for parole in five. She broke down in the courtroom, and before she was led out Jack pulled her into his arms for a long time, and she let him but didn’t respond.
Kate knew she got off easily, really.
Jack came by himself the first time he visited. The guards asked if he wanted to be separated from her, in one of the glass booths, and Jack felt like punching him. As if Kate would hurt him, or as if he was scared of her.
Jack was seated when Kate entered, but as soon as he saw her he couldn’t keep his hands off her. Jack kissed her and touched her, until he was told to sit down.
After that he brought Amelia every time, and the three of them talked about Amelia’s school, and people Jack had seen from the island, but they didn’t talk about Kate when Amelia was there.
One day Amelia fell asleep against Kate’s shoulder, so Jack and Kate talked softly for a while.
“I, uh, I talked to the guard again last time I came. About conjugal visits.”
Kate looked at him. “And? What… what did he say?”
Jack grinned at her. “We can have them.”
Kate’s whole expression perked up. “Really?! When?”
“Next week, if we want.” Jack told her, laughing softly.
“If we want? Why wouldn’t we?!”
Back on the island, when they slept together, the majority of times it was fast and passionate, both scared of being walked in on and just stressed from daily life. But here, in the prison, it was like a cheap motel room and Jack felt like he owed it to Kate to try and make it special.
Jack moved slowly, touching her gently, and kissing her softly. He made her feel loved, and promised her so much more than he could give right then. Kate could forget where she was when Jack held her, and imagine it was just them. The problem was, it always ended. And it was always too soon.
They never had much time for just lying together anymore, but at the moment they simply couldn’t get up. Kate couldn’t lift her head from Jack’s chest, and Jack didn’t want her to anyway. Eventually, she spoke.
“Jack?”
“Yeah?”
“I… I was just thinking… can we have a… proper wedding, when I, you know…?” she asked, nervously fiddling with her fingers.
Jack lifted his head and propped himself up on his elbows, looking at Kate. “Of course we can, Katie. Of course.”
“And… we could, you know, maybe… we could have more kids?”
“Oh, Kate…” Jack rolled them over so he was above her, and leaned down to kiss her. He couldn’t seem to stop himself once he started, and only pulled away when there was a harsh knock on the door, accompanied with ‘Time’s up, kids!’
Jack reluctantly got up and Kate followed him, and they got dressed quietly, watching each other when they thought the other wasn’t looking. Once they were ready Kate stepped close to Jack, curling her fingers around the lapels on his jacket.
“So… was that a yes?” She asked, attempting at casual but the longing in her eyes betraying her.
Jack kissed her quickly again, then looked her in the eye. “Yes.” He whispered. “Definitely yes.”
Kate smiled and Jack said goodbye to her, leaving with a long, wistful glance behind him. He reminded himself he’d be seeing her again this afternoon, but it didn’t really make it any easier.
Jack spent the rest of the day at the clinic until he left at ten to three, picked Amelia up from school and headed straight over to the prison. The meeting went as usual, and soon enough Jack was tucking Amelia into bed. He went into his room and opened his top drawer, taking out a notebook. It had the days for the next two years written through it. He crossed off the day and then flicked forward through the pages, until he found the one circled in red. It wasn’t long now, he thought. Getting closer by the day.
Pairing: Jack/Kate
Rating: PG-13 again.
Summary: Post-rescue, on Jack's favourite day of the week.
A/N: Another fic written for laulauz, but I can't actually remember the prompts, since I wrote this quite a while ago. I know one was school, but that's kind of it. Oh, and also featuring in this fic is Forbes, the *cough* greatest Food Tech teacher ever.
Jack’s alarm went off at six am, as usual. He flung his arm across to the clock and switched it off, sighing. Five minutes later Jack pushed the blankets off and swung his legs over the edge of the bed, rubbing his eyes. Jack got up and walked to the window, pulling the full-length curtains open. The dim early morning light was soft but nevertheless blinding, and Jack turned away.
He got dressed casually, knowing she wouldn’t wake for at least another hour. A plain t-shirt, and jeans he’d had for over two years. Jack pulled the blankets back over the bed neatly and headed quietly downstairs, bare feet not making a sound on the carpet.
Jack shut the kitchen door so the coffee maker wouldn’t make too much noise for her, and turned the TV on to watch the morning news.
A musician passed away, an earthquake in a remote country, a car crash overnight. Nothing that could make him smile, or think about something different for once.
“Did you always want to be a doctor?”
Jack chuckled. “Maybe ‘want’ is the wrong word, but yeah, I guess so. Why?”
Kate shrugged. “I dunno. I just think that… you suit it. Being a doctor, I mean. It’s so… you.”
Jack watched her nervously shuffling her feet into the sand and looking away, and he knew he felt something, he just didn’t know what it was.
“Is that a compliment?”
Now Kate blushed, and Jack felt a smile that couldn’t be resisted. He loved that he could do that to her.
“Maybe,” Kate smiled, and looked at him. “If you like doctors.”
“And… do you like doctors?”
Kate smiled even more than before, and slowly turned around, leaving Jack slightly unsure whether to be let down or encouraged, but feeling like something had happened. Something good.
Jack was pouring the freshly brewed coffee into a mug when arms wrapped around his waist, and he turned around.
“Hey, you,” Jack said. “You’re up early!” He put the coffee down and lifted her onto the bench beside him, pressing a kiss to her hair. She smiled and shrugged a little. Jack bent to her level. “I didn’t wake you, did I?” She shook her head and looked around.
“You’re using the cup I made for you, Daddy!”
Jack looked at the mug he had put the coffee into. It was white, with ‘Daddy’ painted on the side in messy green letters. Jack smiled.
“Well, it’s my favourite one.” He told her, and the six year old giggled. She held her arms up and Jack leaned forward, letting her wrap them tightly around his neck.
“It’s my favourite too.” She murmured, and kissed Jack’s cheek. Jack took her from the bench and sat her down on one of the chairs carefully.
“So, what’s for breakfast?” Amelia asked brightly, grinning and showing off the gap between her front teeth, and making Jack laugh.
Jack wasn’t talking to Kate, again. And he didn’t really know why, again. It had been happening more and more lately, and for less and less important reasons, like they were building up to a huge explosion, but of what, Jack wasn’t sure. The other people in the camp were getting used to everything being fine one moment, and then Jack and Kate were yelling at each other in the middle of everything.
Jack decided he’d make the first move to reconciliation this time. He searched the beach for Kate, and asked around. He eventually found out she’d gone for a walk by herself about ten minutes ago. Charlie pointed him the right way and Jack set off at a jog down the sand.
He found her as he had many times before, sitting and facing the ocean. He slowed and walked up to her, carefully sitting close to her side. Jack was breathing heavily, trying hard to get his breath back.
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?”
“Kate, please…I came… to apologise.”
“Yeah. Right.”
“I did! I want… to… say I’m… sorry.” Jack felt incredibly stupid, unable to say a complete sentence without gasping for breath.
“Sorry for what?”
“I’m sorry for… fighting with you.”
Kate turned to face him, and just looked at him. Jack wished she’d talk, because even if she yelled at him it would be better than the way she was looking at him so pityingly.
“Kate -
Jack was cut off, Kate touching their lips together lightly at first, then delving deeper and forcing his mouth open. Jack was too stunned to do anything at first, but realised soon enough what was happening and fell into it gladly, returning her passion. Before they knew it, Kate was in Jack’s lap, his hands all over her, and they only remembered where they were when Jack lost balance and fell backwards, taking Kate with him. Kate sat up and looked at Jack, who was breathless again, but for an entirely different reason.
“I forgive you.”
Amelia was still in her pyjamas and on her second bowl of cereal, and Jack was on his second cup of coffee. She was watching a children’s programme on TV, deeply immersed in it. Jack watched her, instead. She had brown eyes, like him, but beautiful dark curls, like Kate. She was confident and brave, as expected from the life she led for three years. Still, she was thoughtful and often kept to herself, making it hard for Jack to tell how she was feeling.
The ad break came on, and Amelia turned to Jack, and the coffee in his hand.
“How come you’re not eating anything?”
“Oh, um, I’m just, not very hungry, sweetie.”
“But Mom said that breakfast was the most important meal, and we have to eat it. Both of us. She told me to make you eat it.”
Jack stared at her, and didn’t know what to say. He took a deep breath, then reached over and took Amelia’s bowl. “Okay then. If Mom says I have to…” Jack started eating her cereal, and Amelia laughed, yelling ‘Dad-dy!’. Jack chuckled and put the bowl down.
“Okay, okay. Come on, we gotta get you ready. You don’t wanna be late for school now, do you?” Jack asked.
Amelia shook her head. She jumped down from the chair and ran off, heading to her bedroom. Jack quickly drank the rest of his coffee and followed her.
Kate sat up, and started to get out from under the covers but Jack grabbed her waist and pulled her back to him, without even opening his eyes.
“Thought you could just sneak off, huh?” He asked, voice low and sleepy.
Kate laughed a little. “I thought you were asleep.”
“And that makes it okay? Well, you’re gonna pay for that…” Jack opened his eyes and rolled Kate onto her back, grinning at her and still seeming half-asleep. She smirked at him, and leaned up to meet him as he kissed her lazily. Jack pulled back and trailed his lips down her neck, kissing her shoulder wetly. He growled a little, and Kate felt it travel along her skin deliciously. Jack lifted his head and looked her in the eye. Kate ran her hands over his face adoringly, unable to stop touching him.
“God, you’re so sexy when you’re sleepy.” She told him and they kissed again, lips flowing together easily.
“I love you,” Jack murmured before their lips touched again. “I love you,” he repeated, and continued to say it between quick kisses.
They stayed in bed a little longer, and only got up because Sayid came and made Jack get out of bed to help with something. Kate pulled him back at first, telling him to stay, but he managed to force himself to leave, not before kissing her again and reminding her how much he loved her.
“Come on, Amelia, you have to choose.”
Amelia furrowed her brow, looking intently at the two sweaters laid out on her bed. One red, one blue, both the same to Jack. But Amelia felt differently, constantly changing her mind. “Dad, shh. I’m trying to think.”
Jack rolled his eyes and sighed, then sat back and waited for her to decide. A minute or two later, Amelia picked up the red one and turned around.
“Okay, Dad, we’re having this one. It’s final.”
She looked so serious, Jack had trouble keeping a straight face. “Okay, Meli. Put it on, then.” Jack got up and put the other sweater away. When he turned back around, Amelia still hadn’t put the red one on.
“Amelia?”
“Help, Daddy.”
Amelia held the sweater out to Jack, and he took it, rolling his eyes. She put her arms up into the air and Jack pulled it over her head, then knelt in front of her.
“You know, you’re definitely old enough to do it yourself.” He said.
Amelia smiled. “But I like it when you do it, Dad.”
Jack kissed the tip of her nose. “Okay.” He kissed her nose again, and again, until Amelia pushed his face away, giggling.
“Dad, stop it! We have to get ready.”
She left the room, and Jack heard the water running, so she had to be brushing her teeth. He went into the bathroom and picked up his own toothbrush, squeezing the toothpaste onto it and standing behind his daughter to look in the mirror. Once he had finished Jack picked up a hairbrush and sat down on the edge of the bath, then motioned for Amelia to come and stand in front of him. She turned so her back was to him and Jack gently began to brush through her curls.
“Dad?”
“Yeah, honey?”
“Yesterday at school… Jake McGregor asked me why my mom never picks me up, why you always do.”
Jack stopped brushing. “What did you say?” He asked carefully.
Amelia shrugged. “I told him to mind his businesses.” She suddenly smiled. “It didn’t matter anyway, ‘cause Aaron pushed him over for being mean.”
Jack raised his eyebrows. “Really? Aaron did that? But he’s nice, he never did that to anyone else…”
“Keep brushing.”
“Sorry.”
Jack pulled Kate’s shirt over her head swiftly, threw it aside, and began kissing down her chest. Her head fell back for a moment, then she grabbed his cheeks and pulled him up to kiss him. Kate pushed Jack onto his back, the long jungle grass tickling his bare skin. She straddled his legs and undid his jeans, then got off him and pulled them off his legs. Jack rolled over and reached for his backpack, opening the front pocket and pulling out a small foil packet. He rolled back over and watched Kate finish taking her jeans off. She noticed the packet in his hand and leaned over, taking it and throwing it back towards his backpack.
“Uh, Kate? You can’t tell me we’re not gonna do this now, I mean, come on, we just -
“I don’t want to use a condom.”
Jack stopped, staring at her with his mouth half open.
“Are… are you sure?” He asked slowly.
Kate nodded. “I’m sure.” She came over and sat in Jack’s lap, hands sliding over his broad shoulders. “I love you, Jack. I love you, and I… I want a baby. With you. I want us to have a baby.”
Jack kissed her for a long time, then pulled back, eyes shining. “You… god, you’re perfect, Katie.”
“Jack…”
“I just… I love you, god, yes, I do, and I want a baby so much, with you, always with you, we could have lots, and we’d have a girl first, and she’d look like you, so beautiful, I know it, and I love you, Kate, you make me so happy…”
Kate wiped at the tears beneath Jack’s eyes, and kissed him slowly. “Shh, Jack,” She whispered. “Okay. We can do that, all of that. But it takes time, okay? You gotta slow down, baby.”
Jack nodded, and kissed her like she was his whole world. It’s not like that would be a lie, anyway.
Jack was packing Amelia’s lunch into her schoolbag when the phone rang, and Amelia answered it.
“Hello? Aunty Claire! Yeah, I’m good! I’m getting ready for school, I’m just packing my bag…” Jack rolled his eyes. “Uh huh… yeah, he is. No, he didn’t! I told him to! But he’s stubborn, Aunty, more than anyone. Oh, okay. Yeah. Yep, bye!”
Amelia ran up to Jack, phone in hand. “It’s Aunty Claire!” She said, pushing the phone into Jack’s hand.
“Okay, sweetheart, thank you. Finish packing your bag while I’m talking, alright?” Jack put the phone to his ear. “Hello?”
“Hey, Jack, sorry to call you in the morning, I know I shouldn’t…”
“Anytime’s fine, you know that.”
“Yeah, okay. Anyway, Aaron was telling me this morning about some boy at school, he said something to Amelia…”
“Oh yeah, she told me.” Jack’s tone changed a little, becoming serious before brightening again. “I think Aaron took care of it, though.”
“What? What did he do? He didn’t tell me!”
Jack laughed. “I feel really… I dunno, like I’m getting someone in trouble. Like a kid, or something.” He paused. “Amelia said Aaron pushed the boy over when he talked to her.”
“He did what?! Oh god, that boy is just trouble, really, what am I gonna do with him?” Jack could hear the smile in her voice, and knew Aaron was nearby. Jack looked over his shoulder, seeing Amelia sitting behind him, and grinned.
“But Claire, isn’t that what boys do when they like a girl?” Jack asked, deliberately letting Amelia hear.
Claire gasped. “You know what, Jack? I think you’re right! Maybe Aaron likes Amelia!”
Jack suddenly heard an outburst from Claire’s house, mingled with Claire’s laughing. “Aaron likes Amelia? Definitely. And she’s in love with him.”
Amelia jumped up and came to Jack’s side, yelling that she didn’t, and ‘he’s a boy! That’s gross!’
Jack laughed and he and Claire said goodbye, and he hung up the phone.
“Da-ad! What are you talking about? I don’t like Aaron!” Amelia whined the second he put the phone down.
“Oh, I know you do really, Amelia, you don’t have to pretend…” He teased.
“I don’t! It’s gross! Boys are gross!”
Jack gasped, and put a hand to his chest. “What? Are you saying I’m gross?”
Amelia rolled her eyes at him, a gesture so Kate it made his breath catch in his throat. He pushed the feelings away, as usual.
“No, Dad, you’re not a boy. You’re a man. And Mom’s a lady, and it’s okay for you and Mom to like each other, ‘cause you’re old.”
Jack stared at her, completely thrown by her logic. Old? Him? Jack shook his head. “Okay then. When you’re a lady, and Aaron’s a man. Then you’ll like each other.”
Amelia turned away, picking up her schoolbag. “Maybe.” She said, and left the room confidently, leaving Jack wondering when his six-year old became ten years cockier.
“Heard you and Freckles again last night. Think maybe you two should move house. Or maybe, move universes. P’haps then we’ll sleep easy.”
Jack stopped and turned to Sawyer, trying to glare through the grin on his face. “Excuse me?”
“Little consideration next time might be nice, Don Juan. I need my beauty sleep, ya know.”
Jack walked closer to him. “Who the hell is Don Juan, Sawyer?”
“That would be you.”
Jack ran a hand over his head, then dropped his backpack and sat down next to Sawyer. Sawyer looked at him incredulously.
“What?” Jack asked.
“Oh, nothin’, I was just wonderin’ why in the hell you’re sittin’ with me when everyone knows you would like nothin’ less in the world.”
Jack shook his head, smiling. He didn’t say anything, just gazed over the beach for a moment. Soon enough Sawyer couldn’t stand the silence.
“Look, Jack -
“I’m gonna ask her to marry me, Sawyer.”
Sawyer almost dropped his book. “You’re gonna do what now?”
“Kate. I’m gonna ask her to marry me. Tonight. I’m gonna ask her tonight.”
Sawyer blinked at him, for once not knowing what to say. “Wow. Really?”
Jack turned and looked at Sawyer witheringly. “Yes, really. Are you really so shocked?”
“Well, no, I mean, I just don’t know why you’re tellin’ me, is all.”
“Yeah,” Jack said, staring out into nothing again. “I don’t really know, either.” He sighed. “But I’m gonna do it. Because I love her.”
Jack lifted Amelia into the front seat of the car, and helped her do up her seatbelt before making sure the child lock was on the door and shutting it. He got in the driver’s seat and looked at her.
“So, ready to go, Meli?”
“Uh huh. I’ve got my lunch, and my pencils, and the book that has your phone numbers in just in case.”
Jack smiled. “Great, you’re perfectly prepared.”
Amelia looked at him and grinned. “Perfectaly prepared.”
Jack laughed and started the engine, backing carefully out of the driveway. The clock on the dashboard read quarter past eight. Amelia’s school started in half an hour, and Jack started work at nine. He didn’t work at the hospital anymore. It would never have worked, with Amelia, the shifts were entirely too long. So Jack got a job at the local doctor’s clinic. It wasn’t as glamorous or professional as a spinal surgeon, but Jack didn’t mind. He liked the hours, the pay was reasonable, and usually his patients could talk to him, meaning his bedside manner had improved. And, unless there was an emergency, he got Sundays off, so he could spend time with Amelia. She went to Claire’s on Saturdays, and played with Aaron for the day.
“Dad, what day is it?”
“It’s Wednesday.”
“Wednesday… are we going to see Mommy tonight?”
“Yeah, of course. That’s what we do on Wednesday, right?”
“Right.”
“Will you marry me?”
Tears welled in Kate’s eyes and she dropped to her knees in front of Jack, making them on the same level. She held onto Jack’s arms, dropping her head. When she lifted it up there were tears down her cheeks.
Jack panicked, and hurriedly wiped the tears away. “Oh, no, no no no, Kate, please, don’t cry, I’m sorry, we don’t have to, please, Kate…”
Kate started shaking her head, opening her mouth but unable to say anything.
“Talk to me, baby, Katie, talk to me.”
“Jack…”
“Yeah, I’m here. Please don’t cry!”
“I… I can’t… I’m… Jack, I’m…” Kate broke off with a choked sob, and Jack started rambling quickly again, promising her anything if she’d only be okay for him, and Kate tried her best to regain control of herself and talk properly.
“Kate, we can slow down. If you want to, we don’t have to get married, I mean, I guess it was stupid, we’re on an island, there’s no way…”
“Jack…”
“…and I know that you have… issues, we both do, but I can wait, I really can, I just want you to know I love you, no matter what, I love you…”
“Jack…”
“…so it’s okay, really, I’m fine. I don’t even have a ring, I should have waited. I can do that, just stop crying, please, I’m gonna cry if you don’t stop, and I can’t just cry…”
“Jack!”
“I’m sorry, Kate, I’m rambling again, but I can’t help it, I’m sorry, I am -
“I’m pregnant, Jack.”
Jack stopped mid-sentence, frozen.
“And yes, of course I’ll marry you. God, you sound so insecure. How could you think I’d say no?”
Jack pulled up outside Amelia’s school and got out of the car. He walked over to her door just as she got out, and he grabbed her bag for her.
“You want me to walk you to the class?” Jack asked. Amelia looked around, and just as she did, Charlie pulled up with Aaron in the front seat. Amelia smiled brightly.
“No thanks, I’m fine.” She took her bag from his hands and ran over to Aaron. Jack watched her go, feeling the tiniest bit of sadness.
“Bye, Amelia! Have a good day!” He yelled after her, but she didn’t seem to hear him. Jack heard Charlie yell to Aaron but was also ignored as the pair walked into the school together. Jack looked over at Charlie, who gave him an appalled look, and Jack laughed. He waved, then got back in the car and headed towards work.
Wednesday, he thought with a sigh, feeling like it couldn’t have taken longer to get here. Easily his favourite day of the week, Wednesday.
Jack got to work with five minutes to spare, and checked in with the secretary, Maria, as soon as he got there.
“What’s on for today, Maria?” He asked, and she looked up, smiling as she recognised him.
“Morning, Jack. Today…” Maria flipped through a couple of pages of a planner. “Ah, you have a follow-up appointment with Mrs Forbes, to make sure she’s… um, okay…”
Jack grinned. Mrs Forbes had been a particularly unusual case. She had been in the hospital because of a toad bite. Jack truly hadn’t known toads could bite, but hey, this one clearly could. After her emergency treatment, she had been referred to Jack for post-op care.
“Yeah, that will be fun.” Jack said sarcastically. “I think maybe there’s still some toad in her, by the way she acts. Toad-like, I guess you’d call it.”
Maria laughed. “Doctor Shephard, you shouldn’t talk about patients that way! Anyway, after Mrs Forbes you have a new guy from San Sebastian, needs some prescribed meds for a few broken bones. And then… you’re on your usual Wednesday break until two.”
Jack nodded. “Okay, then. Thanks, Maria.”
Mrs Forbes took longer than expected, purely because she wouldn’t co-operate. But eventually Jack had finished for the morning, and he was able to leave the clinic. He got in his car and drove half an hour to the women’s penitentiary.
It was a helicopter that found them. It landed neatly on the beach one day, shocking everyone into chaos. They were scared for it to leave, so it was lucky the radio inside worked fine. A reasonably sized boat was called, and in a few hours everyone was on board.
Jack had talked to the officials for close to half an hour for them to let Kate stay with him for the ride. She was holding his hand tightly as they sat on the deck watching the island get smaller and smaller, three-year old Amelia on Jack’s lap.
They hadn’t talked yet, apart from Kate murmuring ‘Thank you’ to Jack when he won her argument.
“Kate…” Jack started eventually, just because he couldn’t stand the silence. She shook her head and leaned onto his shoulder, and Jack wrapped an arm around hers, the other holding Amelia close to his body. Safe, he thought. They’re safe, so it’s okay.
Jack nodded to the guard as he signed the visitor’s book. He was let through the gates and left at the door of the conjugal visit room. The guard moved away to give them a little privacy, and Jack took a deep breath, unconsciously straightened his jacket, then opened the door.
Kate was standing at the far end of the room, chewing nervously on her fingernail. Her hair was loose around her shoulders and she didn’t notice Jack was there until he cleared his throat and she spun around.
A complete look of relief came over Kate’s face when she saw him, and she sighed his name before stepping closer, into his arms. Jack held her tightly and buried his face into her hair, whispering her name.
There had been a lot of discussion after Kate’s trial whether or not they would be allowed the conjugal visits. In the end it was decided that since an official priest married them on the island, and Kate was a non-violent prisoner, it would be alright. Jack was eternally grateful for this decision, but there was one problem.
Amelia didn’t know. She didn’t know that every Wednesday morning before she got to visit her Mom, Jack spent at least an hour with her. He wasn’t telling her because, as a six-year old, she would demand to be taken along with him. And as much as he loved her, Jack didn’t particularly want Amelia there for these visits.
Jack pulled back first, and led Kate to sit down on the bed. “How are you?” He asked softly, smoothing her hair away from her face. Kate shrugged.
“I’m… okay, I guess. Nothing new.”
Jack smiled, and kissed her gently. Kate kept her eyes closed for a moment when he pulled back, savouring the moment.
“I miss you,” Kate said. “So much.”
“I’m right here.”
“I know. I’m glad.”
Kate’s trial was reasonably short. Anyone involved in any way told their side of the story, and Kate was sentenced to seven years, eligible for parole in five. She broke down in the courtroom, and before she was led out Jack pulled her into his arms for a long time, and she let him but didn’t respond.
Kate knew she got off easily, really.
Jack came by himself the first time he visited. The guards asked if he wanted to be separated from her, in one of the glass booths, and Jack felt like punching him. As if Kate would hurt him, or as if he was scared of her.
Jack was seated when Kate entered, but as soon as he saw her he couldn’t keep his hands off her. Jack kissed her and touched her, until he was told to sit down.
After that he brought Amelia every time, and the three of them talked about Amelia’s school, and people Jack had seen from the island, but they didn’t talk about Kate when Amelia was there.
One day Amelia fell asleep against Kate’s shoulder, so Jack and Kate talked softly for a while.
“I, uh, I talked to the guard again last time I came. About conjugal visits.”
Kate looked at him. “And? What… what did he say?”
Jack grinned at her. “We can have them.”
Kate’s whole expression perked up. “Really?! When?”
“Next week, if we want.” Jack told her, laughing softly.
“If we want? Why wouldn’t we?!”
Back on the island, when they slept together, the majority of times it was fast and passionate, both scared of being walked in on and just stressed from daily life. But here, in the prison, it was like a cheap motel room and Jack felt like he owed it to Kate to try and make it special.
Jack moved slowly, touching her gently, and kissing her softly. He made her feel loved, and promised her so much more than he could give right then. Kate could forget where she was when Jack held her, and imagine it was just them. The problem was, it always ended. And it was always too soon.
They never had much time for just lying together anymore, but at the moment they simply couldn’t get up. Kate couldn’t lift her head from Jack’s chest, and Jack didn’t want her to anyway. Eventually, she spoke.
“Jack?”
“Yeah?”
“I… I was just thinking… can we have a… proper wedding, when I, you know…?” she asked, nervously fiddling with her fingers.
Jack lifted his head and propped himself up on his elbows, looking at Kate. “Of course we can, Katie. Of course.”
“And… we could, you know, maybe… we could have more kids?”
“Oh, Kate…” Jack rolled them over so he was above her, and leaned down to kiss her. He couldn’t seem to stop himself once he started, and only pulled away when there was a harsh knock on the door, accompanied with ‘Time’s up, kids!’
Jack reluctantly got up and Kate followed him, and they got dressed quietly, watching each other when they thought the other wasn’t looking. Once they were ready Kate stepped close to Jack, curling her fingers around the lapels on his jacket.
“So… was that a yes?” She asked, attempting at casual but the longing in her eyes betraying her.
Jack kissed her quickly again, then looked her in the eye. “Yes.” He whispered. “Definitely yes.”
Kate smiled and Jack said goodbye to her, leaving with a long, wistful glance behind him. He reminded himself he’d be seeing her again this afternoon, but it didn’t really make it any easier.
Jack spent the rest of the day at the clinic until he left at ten to three, picked Amelia up from school and headed straight over to the prison. The meeting went as usual, and soon enough Jack was tucking Amelia into bed. He went into his room and opened his top drawer, taking out a notebook. It had the days for the next two years written through it. He crossed off the day and then flicked forward through the pages, until he found the one circled in red. It wasn’t long now, he thought. Getting closer by the day.