Chapter 17
Next one, let me know what you think!
By the time mid-day came, Sawyer was asleep, the painkillers and some food an obvious source.
"Is he ok?" Mike was standing with his back on the gate, watching him.
"Yeah. He's doing better. His left eye is improving. If nothing else happens, and Walt waits a few days, we should be fine," he looked at Mike as he said it. As he began to say something else, he saw Ben and Frank walking towards them. He quickly turned and knelt beside Sawyer, gently shaking him. Suddenly he jerked awake.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. But we're leaving now. I wanted to tell you before we left. How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine." Jack didn't quite believe him, but he had no choice but to go with it. The gate opened behind him.
"Right, now you are refreshed and rested, let's go."
"Where's my son?"
"He's fine. He saw him yesterday," Ben nodded at Sawyer, who had sat up, resting against the bars. Mike looked back at him as he left the cage, nodding, Sawyer nodding back.
Again, they left him behind, walking through the jungle, coming out at the dig site. They got to work, feeling stronger. They worked until darkness was drawing in, with only a short break for food. Once Ben told them to stop, Mike spoke.
"I know Sawyer saw Walt yesterday. Thank you for that."
"But..." Ben looked suspicious.
"But I would like to see him. I don't want to cause any trouble. For me, us, Walt. But I would like to see him. I don't have to talk to him. Just see him. Please."
Ben considered this for a moment, looking between the three men, finally turning and walking back to his tent. He returned with a small, hand-held, portable television.
"I am assuming you have spotted the camera above your cage?"
"Yes."
"Well, I can show you the footage from yesterday. You can see Walt. See he is ok. How does that sound?"
"I... ok."
Ben turned the device towards the three men, Frank coming up behind them to watch. On it, they saw Sawyer, sitting with his back against the bars, eyes closed. They saw him jerk awake, stand up, sway on his feet, stagger, say something. But it had no sound. At this Jack glanced at Sayid, who continued to look at the screen. They saw Sawyer turn his back to the gate and get on his knees. Saw the pain it caused him. Mike was just about to ask where Walt was when he suddenly appeared, throwing his arms around Sawyer's neck. Mike let out a breath, watching as Sawyer turned to put his back on the side of the bench, Walt backing away from him, Sawyer grabbing Walt and hugging. He saw that Walt was blocking any view from the gate. This is when Sawyer began rapidly talking. Sayid went still, Mike noticing too late that this communication had been previously unknown.
"What the hell? What did he say?"
"We don't know Frank, you were there."
"But I didn't..." he stopped talking and went back to watching.
They watched as Frank entered the cage, pulling Walt away. Watched as Sawyer stood, tried to grab Walt's arm, tried to keep Walt with him, putting himself in danger. As Frank threw his arm back and hit Sawyer with his baton. Jack looked away as Sawyer fell to the floor and didn't get up.
"So. There we have it. You saw Walt. Let's go back." he didn't wait for a response, just marched away into the jungle, leaving the others to follow, Frank walking behind them. They walked in silence, finally coming out into the wide opening. They saw Sawyer gently pacing back and forward. He was getting stronger. Jack smiled, but he was shoved aside by Frank, who barged past him, the key for the gate already out.
As he approached, Sawyer looked over. He barely had time to register what was happening, when Frank was in the cage. He was quick, grabbing Sawyer by the still open shirt and pinning him against the bars, shouting in his face, Sawyer yelling out in pain.
"What did you say to him?"
"Hey! Get off him!" Jack tried to run forward, but Ben removed the taser from his belt, using the threat to keep them in line.
"Frank. Stop. What he said doesn't matter. The boy is where he has always been. Let him go," He looked at Jack, "Well done. You showed restraint. You can go in now." Frank let Sawyer go, not looking at anyone as he stormed out the cage and across to the building. As the three men entered the cage, Sawyer was sliding his back down the bars. Jack and Mike crouched beside him, Sayid standing at the gate, looking at Ben as he closed it.
"Son of a bitch."
"Are you ok?" Jack took one arm, motioning for Mike to take the other and they helped Sawyer sit on the bench. He was stronger, holding his own weight.
"Yeah. I'm good. What was that about?"
"They showed us footage from the camera. When Walt was here. It was the first of him noticing you had spoken to him."
"Yeah, I managed to block his view. Great use that was now."
"At least we learnt something," Sayid spoke at a normal volume, not turning to look at them, "the camera does not have audio."
"So?"
Sayid turned to Mike, "We can talk freely about what we plan to do."
