Chapter 39
A wee compact chapter for you. Let me know what you think!
Day 2
"Is he still asleep?"
"Yeah. Nothing's changed, so I just left him. How's Sawyer?"
"Em... he's as good as to be expected. His temperature spiked, I managed to cool him down. Gave him more morphine... not really supposed to but..."
"We're not exactly in a hospital. Think we'll let it slid." Rose just smiled. She continued to use a wet cloth on Sawyer's head to cool him.
"I managed to wake him. Long enough for him to have more antibiotics. He... should only have two, but Jack gave him four so... it's probably for the best... I hope."
Rose was sitting beside him, listening to his breath rasp in his throat. She was about to say something else, when Jack appeared at the door.
"How is he?"
"Doing ok. How are you?" Rose just looked at him. He still looked tired, more tired than the night before, if that were possible.
"Hum? Aw yeah I'm fine. Wait, how long was I out? He'll need..."
"I gave him morphine and antibiotics." Jack just looked at her. "You needed rest... and I didn't want him to wait."
"Thanks. He was conscious?"
"I woke him, after the morphine kicked in. He was pretty much out of it though."
"Yeah. He's been like that for a while." Rose saw Jack look at Sawyer, trying to imagine what he was thinking about.
Day 3
"Jack... Jack! Wake up." As Rose touched his arm, his eyes sprung open and he gasped for air. She quickly pulled her hand away. "Are... are you ok?"
"What? Yeah... yeah I'm fine. How is he?"
"His temperature is going down. The infection..."
"What? Is he getting worse?"
"No, no. He's... not changed. Are you ok?"
"Yes. I need to check on him..." He stood up and walked through the rooms. Sawyer was still shaking slightly, but it was definitely not as bad as the day before. He sat beside him, feeling his pulse. It was still fast, but it was slowing.
Then they heard the door to the hatch close.
"Where's John?"
"He's..."
"No one should see him. Not when he's like this..." Jack was up, striding towards the door. But it was Mike.
"Hey man. How are you?"
"Mike... I thought you... I'm fine. How's everyone?" Jack quickly shut the door behind him and Rose.
"We're all fine," Mike sat at the table, Jack and Rose joining him, John appearing from the food cupboard. "We're back at the beach. The storm passed. How's Sawyer?"
"Getting there. How's Walt?"
"That's why I'm here... Walt. He wants to see him. Spoke about it all day yesterday. I only managed to get him to stay there today by saying I'd come see him."
"Keep him away... for now anyway."
"He wants to see him... even if I bring him..."
"No. No, keep him away. Do what you have to, but keep him away."
"He just wants..."
"I said no." Jack caused silence around the table.
"Why?"
"Because... I promised Sawyer..."
"Promised what?"
"That I wouldn't let Walt... watch him die." They all stared at him, but he didn't look away from Mike. He didn't look at Rose as she spoke.
"He said that?" She sounded shocked, surprised or in disbelieve. But looking at Mike, Jack only saw understanding. After everything that had happened, this – at least – made sense.
Day 4
The infection was improving. His body wasn't shaking anymore and he was able to keep his eyes open for longer – although still short – periods of time. He wasn't talking much. Or moving. But he was able to follow what people said to him. Jack was coming out of the shower room. John was at the computer, Rose was with Sawyer. She had been spending a lot of time with him. But now he needed to clean the burn again.
As Jack walked into the room, Rose glanced over. She was sitting, watching Sawyer. She wasn't touching him, reading anything or doing anything. Instead, just sitting there.
"Rose? Are you ok? Have you slept?"
"Humm? Oh, yes I slept."
"Annd... are you ok?"
"Emm... no. No, I... I'm not." She said it so matter of fact. Jack stared at her. "I thought he had taken off. That he had walked away. That you four had been taken, but that he had left. Kate was adamant... adamant he was in danger. But... I just... I fought against her. And now... he's here and I feel so... guilty."
"There's nothing you could do. I mean... we were gone. You believing one thing instead of another wouldn't have stopped what they did. We were there, and we couldn't stop it." Rose looked at him. His eyes were dark, he seemed deflated.
"You call him James."
"Apparently that's his name. They kept calling him James. When he's... the times when he was in and out of consciousness, he would only respond to James. Then tell us to stop calling him that..." remembering this made Jack smile. He looked over at Rose, something between confusion and humour on her face.
"I shouldn't be sitting here. When he wakes, he won't want..."
"He'll be happy to see you."
"I doubt that. After what happened... when they were fighting on the beach."
"Ancient history. Right?"
"He saved Walt... of course it's ancient history."
"He was worried... that he wouldn't be welcome... that when we showed up people wouldn't want him back."
"We would never do that, he needed help..."
"They haven't asked about him..."
"What?"
"Mike told me, no one at the camp has asked about him. Not mentioned him at all. So, maybe he had a point."
Day 5
"He looks better."
"He's not better. He won't be better for a long time." Jack knew he was snapping, but John's intermittent appearances were annoying him.
"I know. I know that, I just..."
"I'm sorry. I just want him to be ok." Jack looked at Sawyer. His breathing was better, the infection clearing. He was still unconscious most of the time.
"You got him here. You got him here alive. That is the best you could have done. You did it for him. He knows that." Jack looked at him, a small smile on his face. John returned the expression, walking back to the main room. Rose was at the table. She looked at Jack.
"How is he?"
"He looks better."
Day 6
Rose sat with her hand on his, happy to hear his breathing improve and feel his temperature back to normal. She was saying what she had wanted to say for days, saying it before she noticed.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry we kicked you out, that no one looked for you... no one asked about you. I just..." Jack came in, he nodded at her. She started saying something to him, but stopped, eyes going down to her hand. Jack looked too.
"He moved his fingers..."
"James? James can you hear me? It's Jack and Rose... James... can you hear..."
"Stop calling me James."
Day 7
"Jack... you awake?"
Jack jerked upright. He had fallen asleep in the chair, neck at an awkward angle. At first he didn't know who had spoken. Then Sawyer continued.
"Take that as a yes."
Jack looked at him. His eyes were half closed but he was alert and smiling. It was the first time no one had had to wake him.
"Hey, hey how are you feeling?"
"I'm not really sure..."
"Are you in pain?" Jack was standing before Sawyer could stop him.
"No, no. No pain. That's what's confusing."
