Chapter 31

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Sayid worked on the stretcher, making sure it was strong enough, that it would last. He sat through the night, watching the others sleep, watching Sawyer's body spasm in pain. It made him work faster. By the time the sun came up, he had finished, even got a few hours sleep.

Mike was the first to wake, he walked over to Sawyer, looking down at him, thinking about the journey ahead.

"He is asleep, we should wait for Jack to wake him." Sayid startled Mike, he turned to look at him, seeing the stretcher.

"Looks good. Is it ready?"

"Yes. We should move soon, I think he is getting worse."

"I'll get Jack..." Mike walked over to the sleeping man, lightly putting his hand on Jack's arm. Jack flinched, gasping for air as he woke. "Woah, sorry, are you..."

"I'm fine. What's wrong?"

"We're ready. To go I mean. Sayid made the stretcher. Sawyer... we need to go."

As Mike woke Walt, Jack sat beside Sawyer. He put his hand on his arm, feeling the heat radiate off him, feeling his body spasm in pain. "Sawyer? Wake up, we're getting ready to go. Sawyer? Wake up, come on?" When nothing happened, Jack closed his eyes, knowing what he had to do. He put his hand on the outskirts of Sawyer's burn, feeling him tense and cry out in pain. But at least he was awake.

"Sorry, I'm sorry. I needed to wake you."

"Don't... don't do that..."

"I'm sorry. Sorry. Just breathe. We need to get going. Sayid built a stretcher and we'll carry..."

"No... no, don't do that... we'll just stay here. It's too dangerous."

"Sawyer... no. You can't stay here. But it's ok. We have you. We'll help you. Don't worry."

"What happens... when... we get back... and they don't want..."

"That won't happen. Stop talking. You can barely breathe. Don't worry about that. We won't let it happen. We'll look after you, I promise. Just try and stay awake." Jack looked at man in front of him, seeing the pain and worry on his face. His attention was drawn to the arrival of Mike and Walt, Sayid carrying the stretcher behind him. "Ok, ready. Mike and Walt, gather all the stuff we need, make sure you get as much water as possible. Sayid, help me, grab his legs."

"He's still here..."

"Shh. Sayid, grab his legs. Right, this is going to hurt. Just keep breathing. It'll be over soon. On the count of three... one, two, three..."

As soon as they lifted Sawyer, he started yelling. It was loud, it echoed and it was full of pain. They moved to the left, slowly lowering him on the stretcher. He was gasping for breath as he lay there. Jack crouched down beside him, grabbing his hand.

"It's ok. It's ok. Breathe. Just relax."

"I... can't..."

"I know. But try. We've got you. Just try stay awake," he turned his head to Sayid, "We need to go, you get the bottom," Jack let go of Sawyer's hand, walked to his head and bent to get the stretcher, "On three... one, two, three..." Slowly, the stretcher lifted. Sayid held it behind him so he could face the way he was going. Together they walked to the entrance of the cave, Walt and Mike close behind.

The sun was beating down on them as they started walking. Jack looked down at Sawyer, his eyes barely open, his breathing shallow and rasping. "How you doing?" He whispered, seeing him try to focus his eyes, but he smiled.

"Great. Just... great. You?"

"Yeah, living my best life." He smiled hearing Sawyer laugh, grimacing when it had caused him pain. "It's ok, just breathe."

They walked in silence, hearing Walt talk to his dad in front of them. "Sayid, do you know where..."

"Yes. I know where we are going," he looked back at Sawyer, who had his eyes on him. "We will get there."

They walked, for hours. They walked over tree roots, and exotic plants, constantly on the lookout for danger. Sawyer was awake, but in a haze of pain and fever that made him oblivious to everything around him. But he was awake.

The sun was beating down, Jack felt the skin on his face and arms burn, looking down, he saw how red Sawyer's skin was, realising not all of it was caused by the infection.

"Mike!" His voice was loud, startling everyone. Well, not Sayid, he just glanced back. But Sawyer jumped, "It's ok, sorry, it's ok."

"What's wrong?" Mike was beside Jack, concern on his face, looking at Sawyer, who wasn't looking back.

"Grab something to block the sun..." But Mike had pulled out a blanket, starting to drape it over the stretcher, making it like a tent. "Thanks."

"Yeah... feel much better now," Sawyer's sarcasm went unnoticed. Normally, that would piss Mike off, but he just looked at Jack and walked back to Walt.

"Is he ok..."

"Walt, he's... yeah he's ok." He didn't have the guts to tell him the truth.