Chapter 7

So first off thanks so much for all the support guys. It is considerably hard to write for a ship when you strongly support another, but I'm the kind of person who likes to conquer new things so thanks for giving me the chance to be able to do that guys and without further interruption here's the new instalment.

Enjoy

"Kate what's wrong?" Jack urgently asked of her as she continued to remain silent, still reeling her mind around what she had just been informed over the phone.

"Kate." Jack urged in a slightly louder tone in an attempt to get her attention and thankfully it immediately snapped her out of the almost catatonic state she was slowly slipping into the more she kept hearing the one name she dreaded to hear, especially along with the words "St. Sebastian's Hospital". She could only assume the worst of the worst but was still with it enough to reveal the place she felt she was needed at the most and lucky for her the man opposite her was also heading there.

(The Hospital)

They thankfully managed to calm him down with the aid of some medication of course, but they were really left with no option in the end considering the physically critical condition he was in at the moment. Making matters any more worse than they already were could possibly bring forth something fatal as a result and that was the last thing the Doctors wanted.

All they could do now was keep him stabilised once the specific help they called or more so paged for, arrived.

"Did they say how serious it was?"

"Well they said she had a heart attack so I'm thinking it's pretty damn serious!!" Kate snapped and immediately muttered an apology for her rather erratic behaviour, Jack noticed as he paid keen notice to the changes. He of course had his assumptions to the possible reason but kept his mouth shut seeing that it wasn't his place or his business for that matter.

So with that he focused his attention back on the road ahead giving Kate the chance to think over things and also prepare herself for the worst.

A half hour later and they finally pulled into the parking lot of the Hospital, and before Jack could get out of his car, Kate was already heading towards the main entrance. He of course never thought to question it because he knew he would pretty much react in the same manner if he found out his own Mother had suffered a heart attack.

"Can I help you Ma…..Mr's Shepherd it so nice to see you again." The receptionist offered in an elated manner but that surely wasn't the case with Kate who just physically flinched at still being referred to with that surname. Never the less she got past the hurt and anger and focused her mind on the reason she was here in the first place.

Mom.

"I'm looking for a Diane Austin. I got a call saying she was admitted in a few hours ago." Kate hurriedly explained while Jack joined her in the seemingly endless wait.

"Yes she was and she's now in room no.48. Doctor Silverman is in there with her at the moment so if……." The woman started out but didn't really get a chance to finish because Kate was already gone leaving Jack to offer a brief apology to Kathy the receptionist who completely understood the situation. She and Kate had always been relatively good friends in the past but of late she had wondered what changed, especially now.

A thousand thoughts loomed through her head on the way there but nothing could have prepared her for the sight she was graced with when she arrived. She looked so terribly pale and sunken that it filled Kate's heart with nothing but fear, though the sight also filled her with a sense of determination from the initial anger she felt at knowing that no one else was responsible for this but Wayne.

"Hey Kate" Marc softly uttered in an attempt to not disrupt the rest he felt his patient desperately needed in an effort to be taken of the respirator she was on at the moment.

"How is she?" she asked in a trembled tone clearly suggesting the arrival of what she couldn't keep pent up anymore and before she could completely break Marc took it upon himself and pulled her into a friendly hug while assuring her that Diane would be up and walking in no time.

He was never really a big believer in false hope but Kate was one of his dearest friends and the last thing he wanted her to feel was hopeless.

(Meanwhile)

"Dr. Shepherd." Kathy called out before Jack could attempt to follow the path Kate had already taken and with a disgruntled sigh elicited he turned himself around. Truthfully longing to be with Kate instead in her obvious time of need, but he also reminded himself of the fact that he still had a job to do. A job he loved with a passion but sadly enough all it could ever bring him was self accomplishment when it reality all he ever wanted was to be appreciated and loved in the way he thought Kate did.

He still wanted to believe in that….

"Jack, are you alright?" Kathy questioned in genuine concern for him and he just wordlessly nodded while giving her his attention as she briefly affirmed him of the patient he was paged about, and with being offered the details of the injury and present location of the patient he was off hoping this would be quick so he could get back to Kate and be there for her. However everything came to a standstill when he finally came face to face with the latest patient he assumed was the one he would be working on, but did he really want to now, especially after all the hurt and trouble this very man had caused him and his family in the past.

"James."

"Uhh….sorry about that." The brunette apologised in shame for turning into a bubbling mess and in front of a stranger no less.

"C'mon, you, me and Jack go way back. Plus it's perfectly understandable so you have nothing to be sorry about."

"So what are her chances Marc and please be honest with me" Kate asked while trying to avoid the other thing she sensed was on Marc's mind. Though that problem would have to be picked up at another time because her Mother was lying virtually lifeless before her and she grew even less hopeful by the distinct silence which followed her question.

"Kate I…. Kate!! Kate!!" Marc started out but the minute he lifted his gaze to meet hers she had already collapsed in assumed exhaustion but little did he know that there was a lot more to it.

So how does Jack know Sawyer and will he also find out that this man was the sole reason his marriage fell apart?

Is Kate pregnant?

Will Kate ever find out about Sawyer or will something be done to stop her from knowing in the first place?

Will Diane be okay?

All will surely be revealed and answered once you guys let me know what you thought. I promise an update will soon follow because I now have a clear idea on the direction I want to take this fic in.

Clementine's Mother may also make a surprise appearance in the next few chapters and no it isn't Cassidy. It's someone who might be friendly and harmless at first but in some ways may later prove to be a formidable threat to Sawyer and Kate, but more so Kate…..

So what do you think guys?