Chapter 34
Right, here we go. Getting to the third phase in this story... let me know what you think.
They had been walking for a few hours. The sun seemed stronger than the day before and Jack was struggling. He was exhausted. His arms and back ached with the weight of the stretcher. He felt his skin burn. Sawyer was lying oblivious to what was happening. The blanket acted like a tent and he was staring up at the sky, eyes half closed. Jack heard Walt, talking about something and nothing. Mike was quieter today, seeing Sawyer that morning scared him. He didn't say it, but Jack could tell.
As they walked, Walt appeared by Jack's side. He was staring at Sawyer, fear on his face. As he walked level with his face, Sawyer's eyes fixed on him. Jack watched as a smile appeared on his face. He moved his hand, managing to put it through a gap in the stretcher. He groaned in pain, but he did it anyway. He put his hand palm up. Jack watched as Walt smiled, putting his hand in Sawyer's.
More hours passed. The journey seemed endless. Jack was struggling to see the end of this. All he wanted was to made Sawyer ok. He knew it wasn't going to be that easy, but the security of being in the hatch would help. He was so engrossed in his own thoughts he didn't hear Sayid at first.
"Jack. Jack! Something is wrong." Snapping back to reality, Jack looked down at Sawyer. He was looking back, but his body was shaking, uncontrollably.
"Stop Sayid. Stop! We need to stop," they started to lower the stretcher, Jack looked around at Mike, "Take Walt to look for some fruit."
"No I want to stay..."
"Come on son, we'll just go over here," Mike looked at Sawyer, who looked back, he smiled at Walt. As they left, Jack grabbed some water, lifting Sawyer's head and tipping some in his mouth.
"Here, here have some water. It's ok," he saw the fear in Sawyer's eyes, "don't worry, we're here, we have you. You need to rest now. It's ok, just close your eyes, get some rest. It's ok. We won't leave you. You're safe. It's ok." He put his hands on each side of Sawyer's face. He watched as he lost his battle with consciousness. His body still tense and convulsing.
"What is happening? Why is he shaking?"
"He's... he's septic. The infection... it's in his blood."
"What do we do now?"
"We move. We need to get there, we need to get him antibiotics... Mike! We need to move, come on!" As Jack and Sayid lifted the stretcher, Mike and Walt appeared to their left.
"What's going..." Mike looked down at Sawyer, seeing his eyes closed and body shaking. Walt was beside him, already with his hand in Sawyer's upturned palm through the stretcher.
"We need to keep going. It'll be... it'll be getting dark soon... but... we can't stop. We stop, that's it." Mike just nodded in response.
The sun was setting. Sayid said they were close... but Jack wasn't so sure. He could feel the hope leaving his body, looking down at Sawyer, almost feeling the heat from him.
"It's gonna be dark soon." Walt left this statement in the air. It was clear what he was asking, but also clear he didn't want to ask it.
"We need to keep going son, but you'll be safe. I've got you." Walt just nodded, glancing around him, breathing harsh but trying to hide it. He stayed close to his dad.
"But what if..."
"Shhhh." Sayid brought silence to them all. They stopped walking. They were tense.
"What is it?" Mike spoke to Sayid, pulling Walt closer to him.
"I heard... something." The sky was getting darker. The wind was getting strong. It felt like a storm was coming. They stood, looking around them, listening to the rustle in the trees.
"Who do you think..."
Then they heard it;
"Kate! Stop... a storm it coming... you need to stop!"
"They're here! We have to find them!"
They had made it... Jack didn't think about it. He didn't worry about who might hear them. Or about what anyone else thought. He just shouted...
"Kate! Kate! We're here!"
"Jack?!"
And then she was there, coming through the trees, Hurley right behind her. They had made it.
