Chapter 22
As the boat stopped on the hard sand and gravel, Sayid came out of the cabin.
"How is he?"
"I managed to get his heart re-started, he hasn't had another seizure. But he hasn't woken up. We need to get him off the boat, we need to hide. They could come for us and he'll be completely defenceless."
"We need a camp, or at least a shelter. And gather food. I found some full bottles in the cabin, some blankets, but there is not much," Sayid looked at the surrounding trees as he spoke, "I think we should walk as far in-land as possible; we need to figure out how we will move him."
"I'll carry him."
"Jack, you cannot do it alone. Make sure he is ok, I will look around and come back. Gather everything we may need and get off the boat," with that Sayid left, jumping off the boat and walking into the trees.
"Is he ok?" Walt's small voice echoed in the silence. Jack looked at him, Walt's eyes were red with crying and he was staring at Sawyer.
"Yeah. He'll be fine, won't he Jack?" Mike looked at Jack as he spoke, really wanting him to agree, but knowing he couldn't.
"I don't know. He's really unwell Walt. He was shot with electricity and it was really strong. We need him to wake up first, then we can see if he is ok."
"He'll wake up though, right? I mean, he has to. He... he pushed me out the way."
"I hope so." They sat on the boat, looking at Sawyer, his breathing ragged. "We need to move, Sayid's right, we need to get away from the water, they could be following us." Jack stood and walked into the cabin. He found the water Sayid spoke about, also some blankets, two torches and empty buckets. He went back to find Mike standing, having just lifted Walt out the boat, and beginning to bend down to get Sawyer. "I've got him, you get off, take him from me." Jack grabbed Sawyer, lifting him up as much as he could, carefully lowering him to Mike, who grabbed him, lowering him to the ground as Jack got off the boat to help. "Ok, we'll take him over there, behind the clump of trees. Walt, stay beside us," Jack took his shoulders and Mike his feet as they lifted Sawyer and started walking to safety.
They lowered him behind a tree, propping his torso against a large trunk. Jack crouched beside him, checking his pulse. It was fast, too fast. He opened his shirt, the bruising from before still there, but now an additional star shaped black and blue burn spanned his chest, reaching around his ribs to his back.
"The pain he'll be in will be brutal."
"Even though he isn't awake?" Walt was watching from across the small clearing, his back against a tree.
"Yes, he'll still feel it. But he's alive, that's what we've to focus on, ok?" Walt just nodded at Jack, Mike looking at the mess of Sawyer's torso, a pained expression on his face. Jack was about to say something else when they heard a noise to their left. He stood, Mike right beside him, ready to fight. But it was Sayid who walked through the trees towards them.
"Are you all ok? How is Sawyer?"
"Alive. Did you find anything?"
"Yes, it looks like a second set of caves, like the ones back at our camp, smaller. There is shelter and fresh water. It is about to be light, we should be there by then. Walt, can you bring the blankets?"
"Yeah, ok."
"Good, we should move now." He scooped to pick up the bag with the water in it and turned to walk away. Jack and Mike grabbed Sawyer again and hauled him up, beginning to follow Sayid and Walt.
They weren't walking for long before they entered a small opening to a small cave. Inside had a small water source and small light source coming from a gap in the ceiling. They settled Sawyer next to the light and Jack crouched beside him, trying to wake him again. When it was clear this wasn't going to happen, he walked over beside Walt, Mike and Sayid, who were not speaking.
"How is he?" Walt looked up at Jack eagerly.
"His pulse is really fast. But he's -"
"Alive." The saddened way Walt said this showed that he only wanted to hear Jack saying Sawyer would be fine. But he couldn't lie to the kid.
"Yeah. Look Walt, he's hurt really bad. The last time, the charge was weaker and this time his body was already weakened by the past week. It's going to take a while for him to be ok."
"But he will be?"
"I hope so."
They sat in silence, listening to the sounds of the jungle around them. The sun was rising, the reality of what has happened starting to set in.
"Walt, why don't you get some rest?" Jack nodded towards a part of the cave wall that jutted out.
"No, I'm ok. I'll stay here," he was looking at Sawyer again.
"Son, you need sleep. If anything changes, we'll wake you. Please, just sleep." Walt looked at his dad, slowly nodding, standing and walked over to the wall. He was tired, he hadn't slept well in ages and all he wanted was to lie down. He glanced at Sawyer, he was lying, unmoving. Mike had walked with him, helped him to lie on the ledge and told him to sleep. After Walt turned his back to the cave, his breathing slowed and he was asleep.
