Sawyer woke with a start. He tried to stand but couldn't move. He slowly became aware of what happened. He was tied to a tree with his hands bound. Sawyer tested the ropes but realized there was no way he wa getting out of this. He raised his head to check his surroundings.
Sayid stood against a tree several feet in front of him, watching.
"Well if you wanted me to stick around that bad, you could have just said so."
"You would not have stayed."
"No offense but the last time you had me tied up, it wasn't exactly the best day of my life."
"I am sorry about that, but you brought that on yourself. You should have said you did not have the inhalers."
"Would you have believed me?"
"Probably not."
"That's what I thought."
Sayid pushed himself off the tree and walked forward. Sawyer watched him coming and struggled again trying to find some way to free himself. Fuck. He knew better than to come. Why did he ever agree to come out here. They were miles away from the beach. He could try screaming but it probably wouldn't do any good.
"Tell me what you dream about."
Sawyer stared at Sayid in shock. Of all the things he expected Sayid to say, this wasn't any of them. Why the fuck was Sayid asking about his dreams? It didn't matter, there was no way he was sharing that with Sayid. His memories were his.
"Lollipops and gumdrops. Why, what do you dream about?"
"Please don't make this difficult."
"How am I supposed to do that? I'm the one tied to a tree. If you wanna see difficult let me tie you to a tree."
"Sawyer, I do not wish to hurt you. Please just answer me."
"Why should I?"
"Because, other's have hurt you more than enough." Sayid took a step closer.
"You have no idea what the fuck you're talking about." Sawyer spat at Sayid.
Sayid turned around and walked back to the tree he had been leaning against. Sawyer pulled against the ropes knowing it was useless. He couldn't free himself. Sayid was going to do whatever he wanted and there was no way Sawyer could stop him.
"You have no reason to trust me. I'm sorry for that, but you did not do anything to make matters any better. I do not wish to hurt you. You have been hurt too much already. Please talk to me."
"If all you wanted was to talk then why are we here? You could talk to me just as well at the beach."
"First, you would not have talked to me if I asked you to do so on the beach."
"And second?"
"Second, I did not say talking was all that I wished. It will have to do for now."
"What do you mean for now?"
"What do you dream about?"
"Sunshine and ponies."
Sayid covered his face and took a deep breath before lowering his hand back down.
"Sawyer. I realize this situation is not helping you to trust me, but there was no other way."
"Oh yea? You could have left me alone. If you hadn't brought me out into the middle of the damn jungle and tied me up, it might have gone a long way towards me trusting you more than I do now."
"I need you to talk to me."
"Why? Why the fuck do you need me to talk to you? What do you want from me? Why are you here? Why are you doing this? Why can't you just leave me alone!"
"Because too many people have 'just left you alone'."
"What the fuck is your problem!"
"You are."
"What?"
"You are my problem."
Sawyer stared at Sayid. He didn't have an answer for that.
"I find that I wake up and leave my tent every morning hoping to see you. When I tortured you I was filled with guilt because I broke a promise to myself. I was also saddened to think I had hurt you and for no reason. I watch you read. I watch you swim. I think about you for no reason." Sayid walked until he was face to face with Sawyer. "You are my problem."
Sawyer was speechless. Sayid had walked him out here, knocked him out, and tied him to a tree because he couldn't stop thinking about him?
Realization started to settle in. Sayid wanted him. Tied to a tree he couldn't stop Sayid from taking him. Sawyer began to panic.
"Sawyer."
"No. No no no. Leave me the fuck alone! Leave me alone! I won't do it! Damn you, untie me now! NOW!"
"Sawyer."