Chapter 7
Let me know what you think...
Jack watched as Sawyer's breathing slowed, but the pained expression on his face was still in place.
"I need to check your ribs. Can you take your shirt off?"
Without speaking, Sawyer leaned forward and started unbuttoning the shirt. It took a while as his fingers were shaking. But Jack knew better than to help. Sayid walked to one end of the cage and looked out to the trees, Mike walking to the other, watching the building again. As the shirt opened, Jack let out a groan, attracting the other men's attention.
Bruising spanned the left side of Sawyer's torso, a mixture of black and purple, travelling to his back, which couldn't be seen. The right side had a large star shaped red and blue burn, bruising spanning from the middle of his stomach to the middle of his ribs. This was where the taser had made contact.
"Oh my god," Mike had come closer, crouched down next to Jack, "How the hell are you sitting up?"
"We made you walk through the jungle like this. We should have carried you."
"No, you shouldn't have. It's fine." The response made Jack laugh.
"No, it's not. Look at you. I need to check if you have internal bleeding. Mind you, I don't know what's going to happen if you do. We hardly have access to hospital supplies." He leant forward, gently applying pressure to the outskirts of the bruising, slowly making his way towards the centre. This is where Sawyer jumped and grimaced in pain. But Jack kept going, earning more pained gasps. It wasn't until he moved near the taser contact point that Sawyer yelled and his body started shaking. The reaction made Jack snatch his hand back, Mike automatically put his hand on Sawyer's shoulder. "It's ok. It's ok. Just breathe."
Jack sat back on the ground, watching as Sawyer tried to steady his breathing. Sayid was standing with his back against the bars, watching the other three. Mike still sat next to Sawyer, holding his shoulder steady. He looked at Jack, finally understanding the difficulties they were facing.
"So, what's the prognosis Doc?" He said it through gritted teeth, but was trying to make light of the situation.
"Two cracked ribs. No internal bleeding."
"So I ain't dying. Well, yet anyway."
The latter sentence made the three men look at each other.
"No one is dying."
Jack was about to second Sayid when the door to the building opened. Ben walked out, carrying nothing this time. He strode over to the cage. Yet again the three men stood and faced the gate, blocking Sawyer from view. Ben stopped just outside the bars, looking at the three standing then trying to look around them to Sawyer. "Oh James, that looks sore. I'm sorry things got so out of hand."
"Where's the kid?"
"Don't worry James, he's in good hands."
"Like hell he is. I want to see my son. Now."
"Now," Ben carried on as though Mike hadn't spoken, "I would like you, Jack and Sayid to come with me. We have work for you to do."
"What about him," Mike nodded behind him towards Sawyer.
"I'm afraid it will be quite labour intensive. And James – as you can see – is not feeling his best. We think it best he stays here. For today anyway."
"We are not leaving him," Sayid spoke before Jack could, but he agreed all the same.
"I'm afraid you have too. He'll be here when you get back. I mean, he can hardly stand, I doubt he'll be able to run. Right?" He directed this last word to Sawyer, who said nothing. He stared at Ben like he would like nothing better than to punch him. Without saying anything further, Ben stepped forward and unlocked the gate, pulled it open and held it open. When no one moved he took the taser from his belt and held it by his side. They knew they had no choice but to leave.
"I knew you'd see sense eventually. You've made the right decision."
"If we help you, I want to see my son."
"No. You're helping us because if you don't, he will be dead by the time you get back," he nodded his head towards Sawyer, before closing and locking the gate. This made the three men look back at Sawyer, locked up and alone. But Ben started walking towards the jungle. And, again, he left them no choice but to follow.
