Chapter 27

Here's the next one. Quite short... let me know what you think. Merry Christmas.

Jack stayed beside Sawyer all day. He heard Walt tell Mike about the interesting things he had seen that morning. No one bothered Jack. He sat, trying to block out the events of his morning, finally deciding to wake Sawyer around mid-afternoon.

"Are you going to wake him up?" Jack hadn't noticed that Walt had walked up behind him.

"Yeah, he needs food."

"Can I help?"

"Best ask your dad." Jack looked up as Mike walked over.

"Yeah man, course you can help. We'll sit there as Jack makes sure he's ok." Mike didn't look at Jack as he walked to the other side of Sawyer, he and Walt sitting down.

"He looks like he's in pain."

"He is, but it's getting better." Mike gave Jack a disapproving look at his answer.

Jack reached over to check Sawyer's pulse. Almost as soon as his fingers made contact with his neck, Sawyer's hand latched on to Jack's wrist. The grip wasn't strong and it was clear the movement had caused more pain as he yelled out. Walt gasped and moved backwards slightly.

"Is he ok?"

"I'm fine," Sawyer's voice was weak but hearing it made Walt move closer, talking to him.

"Sawyer? Are you ok?"

"Hey kid. I'm fine. You ok?"

"Yeah, I'm good. We got food and we kept you some. Will I get it?"

"Yeah, thanks."

"No bother, be right back." Walt quickly stood and ran to the other side of the cave, rapidly telling Sayid he needed food for Sawyer.

"How are you really feeling?" Jack moved closer, as did Mike on the other side.

"Like crap. How long was I out?"

"Few hours. How's your chest?"

"Tight. Burn doesn't hurt so much now. Assume I have you to thank for that?"

"Cleaning it would have helped. Tight as in you can't breathe?"

"Tight as in I can barely move," he closed his eyes as he said it.

"We need to sit you up a bit more so you can eat. It's gonna hurt."

"Don't let the kid..."

"He'll be fine, he's just glad you're alive," Mike began to stand, ready to help.

"Sawyer, I got your food... what's happening?"

"We need to help him sit up. Then he can eat. Stand back Walt," Jack grabbed one arm while Mike grabbed the other. They didn't have far to go. "One, two, three."

As they lifted his torso up, Sawyer couldn't help but yell out in pain. It blinded him, he only noticed he was sitting further up the boulder when Jack put his hands on his face. He opened his eyes. Jack's face was inches from his.

"Are you with us?"

"Yeah," his voice was barely audible, his breath catching his throat and making him cough. Pain cascaded down his body, causing another yell. He opened his eyes, seeing Walt stare at his torso, still with fear. "Hey, it's ok. I'm fine."

"You don't look fine," Walt's voice shook as he spoke. Jack had returned close to his face.

"How are you feeling? Pain on a scale of one to ten? Truthfully?" he said the last word in a whisper, only Sawyer and Mike hearing him.

"Ten," his whisper back was unheard by Walt. He wished he hadn't said it when he saw Jack and Mike's pained reactions. "I'll be fine. I was the last time."

"It was different the last time. Here, eat some of this."

"I'm not..."

"Eat some. You don't have to eat it all." Jack watched as Sawyer struggled to lift his arm from the fruit up to his face. "I can help..."

"No. I'm fine." As his hand reached his face he let out a low groan, finally putting the fruit in his mouth. He was breathing heavy, as if he had just run. He opened his eyes while he chewed the soft food, seeing Walt look at him, a small smile now on his face.