Chapter 32
Next. Day late but still here. Let me know what you think...
The sun was beginning to set, Jack knew they'd have to stop. He was tired and hungry and thirsty. Just when he thought they would have to camp out in the open air, they came across a small sheltered area. Not quite a cave but a... something. He wasn't sure what it was, but he wasn't going to question it.
"We need to go in there. For the night. Safest we'll get for now." Mike followed his nod, seeing the shelter, re-directing Walt in that direction. His son was tired, he had done well. His chatter had died off throughout the day, but he hadn't complained. Each time he looked close to it, he would look back at Sawyer, and didn't say anything. Now, he sat down in the shelter, his back against a wall and his eyes closed.
Jack looked down at Sawyer, "Hey man, we're going in here. Then we'll rest. You still with us?"
"I'm... I'm here. Where... where are we?" Jack could hear how difficult it was for Sawyer to talk, to catch a breath.
"Emm, I'm not sure. But it's ok."
They all walked into the small space sheltered by rock. Sayid stopped at the far end, he and Jack lowering Sawyer as far from the entrance as they could. No matter how slowly they did it, he groaned and yelled in pain when the stretcher was lain flat.
"Ok, here we go. Least it's cooler. Here, have some water," he lifted one of their few bottles, and lifted Sawyer's head, pouring some water into his mouth. The fact Sawyer didn't protest was the worst bit of all. He just lay there.
"I will go and see if there is water nearby, then we can use what we have," Sayid hadn't rested, but he was gone.
"Where is he going?" But Walt's question was ignored. Instead he walked over to Sawyer, sitting beside him.
"Hey kid. You ok?"
"Yeah. Are you?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." Sawyer tried to keep his breathing even, but it wasn't working. He didn't want to scare the kid. That wasn't working either. He was about to say something else, but Sayid came back.
"There is a water source, not far from here. It is small but enough for drinking. Here..." he handed Jack his shirt, it was wet and cold, "To cool him down."
"Thanks... why don't you get some sleep. Then we'll get more water when we need to." Sayid didn't answer, just walked away and sat down, slowly closing his eyes. Jack turned to Sawyer, pressing the cold shirt to his head and face. "Here, this will cool you down... well, a little. How are you feeling?"
"Fine."
"Yeah course you are. Walt, you need to get some sleep."
Walt looked at Sawyer, not wanting to leave. But Sawyer turned his hand over, facing his palm upwards for Walt to put his hand in.
"Go kid... sleep." Walt smiled, taking back his hand and walking to his dad.
"How are you feeling?"
"Like... I can't... breathe. I can't focus..."
"It's the wound and infection. The temperature. When we get back to the hatch..."
"If..."
"When. When we get back it'll be ok," Jack felt like his whole body was aching, the strain of carrying the stretcher and walking all day was taking a toll. He felt exhausted. He closed his eyes.
"Are you ok?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"You... are a bad... liar. You... should've left me."
"We weren't leaving you. It's ok. You should get some sleep, I'll wake you before we leave."
"I... I need you... to promise... something..."
"What?"
"Don't... let the kid... watch me die..."
Jack was taken off guard, he looked down at Sawyer, seeing the pain in his eyes. He didn't want to think about it, but there's a possibility he wouldn't make it.
"I promise. I promise that won't happen."
The shelter wasn't nearly as comfortable as the caves they had left. As soon as the sun began to rise, it shone in, waking everyone but Sawyer. Mike felt it sudden, hearing himself groan with longing for a few more hours. Walt was wedged into his left side, looking up at his face. He didn't want to get up, but hearing Jack he knew he had to.
"Sawyer? Sawyer come on man, wake up." Looking over Mike saw Jack with both hands on either side of Sawyer's face.
"Walt, I am going for more water, will you help me?" Sayid had sneaked up from nowhere, standing with the empty buckets and water bottles from the day before.
"I want to stay..."
"No it's ok son, just stay with Sayid, it's ok."
As he watched them go, Mike walked over to Jack. He didn't manage hello.
"It's getting harder to wake him. Look..." Jack put his fingers to Sawyer's neck, nothing happened, "that's the first time he hasn't responded to that. Feel his head..." Mike looked dubious, but nether less, he put his hand on Sawyer's forehead. It was almost too hot to touch.
"Oh my God. What does...?"
"Means we have to hurry. I need to wake him. Where's Walt?"
"Sayid took him to get water."
"Good," without second guessing, Jack put his hand on the outskirts of Sawyer's burn and gently pressed. Nothing happened. So he did it harder. Sawyer stirred, letting out a weak yell.
"What the hell are you doing? Stop!" Mike was alarmed by Jack's actions, angry and protective, things he didn't imagine feeling towards Sawyer.
"Pain is the only way to wake him, the infection and fever are too far gone," he looked down, seeing Sawyer look back at him, his eyes unfocussed. He looked at him like he didn't know who he was, "Sawyer? James? Can you hear us?"
"What... who..."
"He doesn't know what's happening," Jack glanced over at Mike, "He's delirious. James, it's Jack... do you know who I am?" Finally Sawyer's eyes focussed on Jack, a small smile on his face.
"Yeah... I know you..."
"Good, good. How are you feeling?" He asked, although he knew the answer.
"I... I don't know... what's..."
"It's ok. Don't worry about anything, we have you, we've got you. You need to stay awake. We're almost there, you're going to be ok."
Sawyer didn't look like he was following anything Jack said. Mike just watched the interaction, watching as Sawyer fades in and out of focus, not knowing what was going on around him. It was scary. He heard Sayid and Walt coming back, it was time to go.
