Chapter 36
Next... day late! Let me know what you think!
Jack sat with Sawyer, seeing him struggle for each breath. He put his hand on his forehead. He didn't seem as warm as before. He picked up the thermometer, his temperature was going down. Slowly.
"Jack, you need to get out from under the water. You'll freeze..."
"I need to be with him. I said... I said I wouldn't leave him."
"You'll be right here..."
"I need to stay..."
"He's opening his eyes..." John stopped what was about to become an argument.
Jack put his face closer to Sawyer, putting both hands on his face.
"James? James can you hear me?" He watched as Sawyer's eyes try to focus on his face. His body was still shaking. Then he smiled...
"I... hear... you..." His breathing was harsh. Jack heard Rose gasp at the struggle Sawyer was going through to speak, but he didn't look away.
"We made it. We managed. You'll be ok. I've got you," he had his face close to Sawyer's, brushing his hair off his face.
"Where's... the kid?"
"He's not here. He's fine," Jack hastily added this, seeing the expression on Sawyer's face, "we're at the hatch. I've given you morphine, how are you feeling?"
"I... don't..."
"It's ok. Shhhh. It's ok. I've got you," Jack looked at him, "but, it's going to be rough. The morphine... it won't be enough. But you'll be ok. I'm here, Rose and John, they're here. You're not alone." Sawyer looked past Jack to Rose, he smiled, "Rose... give me antibiotics and water."
Rose appeared by his side. She handed him two pills, but he took four, "Now you're awake, you need to take these. John, help me sit him up..."
Once Sawyer was almost seated – yelling out in pain – Jack started feeding him the pills. "You need to swallow these, they'll help. That's it...ok help me lift him to the bed. I have to clean the wound. One, two, three." They lifted him up, trying to be gentle as they placed him on the bed, but he yelled out in pain.
"Jack, are you sure..."
"We need to do this. We need to fight this infection. Get me anything in that cupboard that we can use. James... Stay with me. I'm going to have to... it's going to hurt. Hurt like hell. It's going to be... really bad. But... I'm here. I'm with you." He grabbed Sawyer's hand, feeling the weakened strength as he squeezed back.
Jack and Rose worked together to remove the waterproof sheet, making sure he was as comfortable as possible.
"Right, I'm gonna start... just try to stay conscious. John..." Jack turned so Sawyer couldn't hear him, "I need you to hold him down." He didn't meet his eyes.
John took hold of his legs, holding them in place. Rose was above his head, hands on his shoulders. As soon as Jack started cleaning the wound, Sawyer started yelling. The noise was loud, echoing around the room. Jack didn't see Rose finch, didn't see John pull his hands away before putting them back. All he saw was the pain on Sawyer's face, the veins in his neck bulge.
"Jack!" But he ignored her, remaining focussed on helping Sawyer. His strength was weak, but Rose hated having to hold him down. He looked up at her, through his haze of pain, and she knew he was trying to separate himself from what was happening. The longer Jack was cleaning the burn, the weaker Sawyer became. Then he passed out.
"Jack..." Rose went to check his pulse, but Jack beat her to it.
"He's alive. I'll keep going..."
"Jack..."
"It needs to be done, he won't get better otherwise," Rose just looked at him, almost in disbelieve at his detachment. She looked down, seeing Sawyer with his eyes screwed shut in pain, even though he wasn't conscious. She found herself putting her hand on his face, feeling the heat beneath it.
Once Jack was done, he covered Sawyer with a blanket. He was still shaking, but his temperature wasn't as high. He looked at Rose, seeing her sitting next to Sawyer, holding his hand. She glanced at him, he saw an odd look on her face, like she was scared, or ashamed.
He walked to the sink, washing his face. As he closed his eyes, he saw Sawyer yelling in pain. He could almost hear it. Everything from the last two weeks was catching up to him all at once. The taser, Sawyer bloody on the ground, the boat, the caves, the stretcher. All leading to Sawyer's scared face in the room next door. He felt someone behind him.
"What the hell happened?" Rose wasn't angry, or accusing. She sounded worried, confused and wanting to get answers. Jack knew he'd have to tell them.
