Chapter 16

Here's the next one. Let me know what you think!

After making sure Sawyer was comfortable, Sayid went to his usual spot looking at the building, Mike and Jack sat side by side against the bench.

"At least he saw Walt."

"And was an idiot," Mike looked at Jack as he spoke, not understanding what he meant. "He told Walt to run, if he does it soon, Sawyer isn't going to be able to go. Then we won't know what to do."

"He did that on purpose. It is a way to make sure we leave him behind if need be." Sayid spoke out of the growing darkness.

"What do you mean?"

"If he told us what he was going to tell Walt if he got the chance, we would tell him not too. Now, he has backed us into a corner. Him or Walt," he remained whispering to ensure the camera didn't hear them.

"I have to look after my son."

"We know, but we can't leave him."

"We may not have a choice," Mike and Jack looked at Sayid again.

"We can't leave him. I can't leave him. I would never be able to live with myself. I'm trying not to think about what they'd do to him if we leave."

"Jack, we can come back for him. Like he said, bring more people."

"They will torture him," the coldness in Sayid's voice resulted in silence, "as soon as they see we have left. They almost killed him when Michael put down a shovel. They would not hesitate if we leave. They will torture him, we do not know what they are capable of. What they will do to him."

"But if Walt leaves..."

"I don't know."

"We must sleep. Nothing will happen tonight. They will be watching Walt closely now, since he saw Sawyer today," Sayid looked at the building again. Mike and Jack knew this was the best idea, not speaking again.

They must have slept, as both jerked awake at Sayid shaking their shoulder's.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I thought it best to be awake before they come for us."

Jack nodded, turning around to wake Sawyer, finding his eyes already open. He smiled as Jack moved towards him, "You think you can sit?"

"Yeah." Jack helped, with Sawyer for once doing most of the work.

"How're you feeling?"

"Better."

"Head?"

"Sore, but not as bad as last night."

"Eye?" Jack put his hand over Sawyer's right eye.

"I see you Doc. You're blurred. But I see you," he smirked, Jack smiling back.

"Good. That's good." He opened Sawyer's shirt again, feeling his ribs, earning him pained groans. "You're doing ok. Just rest. You need food."

"I'm fine."

"No, you need food. And more water. And more painkillers."

"Don't ask them."

"We have to. And we need to talk about yesterday."

"Was Walt really ok?" Mike looked over from his stance near the gate.

"He was fine. He was scared. But he was ok."

"They just let him see you?"

"That Frank guy said Walt asked. I manage to tell him before Frank pulled him away. He didn't hear me. I made sure. He won't do anything to Walt."

"Thank you."

"We need to talk about it though. You shouldn't have told him that. We should have discussed it. You should have waited until you were better-"

"I didn't know if we would get that chance. Or if I will get..."

Jack was about to interrupt when Sayid spoke, "He is coming out."

They all looked over, seeing Ben walk from the building with a laden food tray. As he got closer he motioned for the three men standing to step back. The tray held four plates worth of food and four bottles of water. As well as a small bottle of painkillers.

"I thought it best to give you the morning off. I brought you some supplies." He slid the tray under the bottom bar, where a small gap allowed it. "I'll be back to collect you at mid-day." With that, he turned and left.

Jack crouched down at the food, giving Mike and Sayid a plate and a bottle of water, turning away from them as they turned and sat leaning against the bench. He picked up the tray, taking it over to Sawyer, sitting beside him. He looked at the small bottle, seeing they were the same pills as before.

"You need to eat first. It's not good to keep taking these on an empty stomach. Here," he handed over a plate of food, Sawyer picked at it, "you have to eat." He watched as Sawyer cautiously put a piece of fruit in his mouth.

The four of them ate in silence. Once they were finished, Jack emptied out two painkillers, handing them to Sawyer, who was ready with his water. He threw them back his throat. His hands were steadier, a good sign.