✈ day one hundred and ninety eight, video

[diealone]

[Jack's in the infirmary, which is where you can find him pretty much on any given day. There's no question or hesitation when it comes to taking advantage of this situation, because this is what he's been hoping for for a long, long time.

One hundred and ninety eight days, actually.]

This is Dr. Jack Shephard. [And he looks well, honestly. He's clean shaven, clearly has access to hot water and shampoo and all that. Which is better than could be said of him in the past.

A lot better.]

If you can hear this, [He doesn't mean just anyone, he wants to hear from the Island, even though he's already bracing himself for disappointment.]

And I promise, I'm working on finding a way back. I'm going to fix this.

Comments

[boar_expert]

[It's Kate's shift to push the button, and she's seriously considering another shower. She's not supposed to, they're keeping strict inventory of everything...but it's running water, and it beats the hell out of staring at a computer screen.

There are records, and books...she's just about to grab a book when the screen suddenly comes to life...and Jack's on it.

Clean-shaven, calm...he even looks rested. Something about the image doesn't even seem right, but it still squeezes her heart so painfully tight she actually loses her breath for a second.]

Jack? [Where is he? Do the Others have him? Did he find Desmond...she saw him just a little while ago, she just saw him. How can he be on her computer screen?] Jack, can you hear me? Can you see me?

[diealone]

Kate? [God, it's like getting shot. All at once, he looks desperate and not quite panicked, because it's been forever since he's seen Kate, and sure, they hadn't exactly been on great terms when he'd been dragged here, but he still loves her. He always has.

Except this isn't the woman he left behind. He recognizes where - when - she is, and he can practically hear everyone talking about how whatever happened, happened, except maybe it doesn't have to.

Maybe he can fix this while he's still here.]

Is that the hatch?

[boar_expert]

Yeah, it is. [There's a quiet huff of something like a laugh behind the words, because...he knows it's the Hatch. And he's looking at it like it's some kind of monster, or some kind of saving grace...

...or maybe the latter is reserved for her.

But it's not, why should it be? It's not the first time she's felt that gut-check when she's with him, talking to him, looking into his face...and it won't be the last. Blinking, she shakes her head, as if that could shake away the strange sense of confusion, hope...and blistering fear that's churning in her head and in her stomach.]

Jack, where are you? I don't understand what's happening.

[diealone]

Kate, I need you to listen to me, [And he sounds desperate, maybe even angry or scared. He doesn't really have the best track record when it comes to communicating his emotions accurately to other people.]

In a few weeks, some people are going to come to the island. They'll say they're here to rescue us, but you can't go with them, do you understand? We can't leave the island.

[Distantly, he knows this will sound insane and totally unlike him, but that doesn't matter. He needs to warn them, and he knows Kate would understand if she knew what was going to happen to them if they left. Right?

They can save so many people. They just have to be warned.]

Private

[fuckton]

Hey, I know I'm not like from home and shit, but I have a question for you.

Private

[diealone]

What's wrong?

[It probably says something about him that his first thought isn't "what's up", over "what's wrong?"]

Re: Private

[fuckton]

Nothing's really wrong. I was just on medicine for anxiety and sleep back home, and was wondering if I could get some.

[Look Mom. No swearing.]

Private

[diealone]

Sure. What were you taking before?

Re: Private

[fuckton]

Xanax for panic. Cymbalta for sleep.

Private

[diealone]

Come up to the infirmary whenever you get a chance and I'll see what I can do.

Re: Private

[fuckton]

Alright. Thanks, Jack.