A LOST fanfic: Taken care of

Taken Care Of

He didn't understand. She'd been doing so well. Kate was pale but she managed a smile up at Jack.

"I know you'll take care of her Jack."

Shaking his head in denial, he grabbed for her hand. A watery smile adorned his lips.

"You're going to be just fine. You and Megan are going to be fine."

Denial was what he was best at sometimes. He let it in especially when he knew someone was going to die. Not giving up on her was his only hope. His pleading eyes stared into Juliet's blue ones.

"They'll make it through this right? Megan and Kate?"

They were his family now. This island had taken so much from him, but he would give his very last breath to save the woman he loved and his little girl. Scanning Juliet's eyes, once more Jack pushed a strand of hair away from Kate's sweaty forehead.

"Jack I'm sorry. But you know how this is going to end. I know you don't believe in miracles. But Kate got 6 extra weeks of life she shouldn't have."

Jack's eyes glazed over momentarily and then determination crossed them.

"Would Kate and the baby have a better chance if we did a C-section rather than have her deliver naturally?"

Juliet's gaze softened more. She'd done everything in her power over the last 9 months to help Kate survive.

"She has less than a 5 percent chance of surviving Jack."

Jack could tell Juliet was fighting the tears that were threatening to cascade down her cheeks at any moment. Hard-set determination lined Jack's face, and he shook his head no.

"I'm not giving up on her. They both deserve a fighting chance. Now are we going to give her that epidural or not?"

Jack hadn't meant his last sentence to sound so sharp and a bit annoyed, he was just on edge and tired. They'd been at this for almost 2 days. Juliet silently nodded her head and got what she was looking for. Helping Kate sit up and pulling her into a hug, he could see she was scared.

"What's going to happen to Megan?"

His heart sunk at the sound of Kate's words. However, stubbornness and determination kept lining his features. He wasn't going to lose the two things he loved most.

"She'll be out in a minute. Everything's going to be fine."

Jack felt if he kept repeating that to himself enough everything would be fine. But he knew the cold hard facts that were in front of him; women who got pregnant on the island die. That one sentence kept running through his mind like a war drum getting louder and louder as the minutes passed. He heard Kate hiss and felt her tense slightly in his embrace. He didn't like hearing her cry like this. It absolutely tore him into a million shreds.

"I know it hurts Kate. Just keep breathing. It'll all be over soon ok?"

Heart sinking even further, Jack mentally beat himself up for his last sentence. It'll all be over soon. The outcome he wished for was for his daughter to be healthy and that Kate would get to see her, to hold her. Swallowing, he knew it would be a few minutes before the drugs took effect. It was 25 agonizingly long minutes before Kate felt no pain whatsoever. Juliet tried to give her a warm smile, but it faltered.

"How are you feeling Kate?"

Blurry-eyed she smiled tiredly up at her and then held Jack's left hand.

"Doesn't hurt anymore."

Sighing in relief, Jack was happy she wasn't in so much pain. Kissing her hand, he took a seat on a stool next to her. As Juliet did her work, she tried to make happy conversation with the couple in front of her.