Chapter 4
What Sayid had said about the two of them working together made sense to Abigail.
Sayid and Abigail spent most of the day walking and mapping out the beach. He was glad to have her there with him, and she was glad to be useful.
On the way back to their camp Syid noticed that Abigail was slowing down.
"Are you key? Do you want to stop and rest a minute. We have had a long day." Sayid asked concerned about the cough that Abby had picked up somewhere.
"No, thanks. I'll be all right. Just tired." Abby answered as her teeth chattered.
"No matter. Please rest when we get back. You don't seem to be breathing too well."
Sayid was starting to worry. Maybe he should tell Jack.
"Rest sounds like a good idea. I may be coming down with a cold. Hey, Sayid, would my chest feels awful heavy and it hurts when I cough. Would you please park your camel somewhere else other then my chest?"
"Sure, Abby." Sayid was glad that she still could have a sense of humor.
Abigail went to her sleep area and drifted into an uneasy sleep. Sayid was concerned about her. He stayed close to her and watched her throughout the night. He felt her forehead, it was hot with fever. Sayid wet part of a blanket and wiped Abigail's forehead to try to cool her. In the morning he would go find Jack.
The next morning Abigail's cough is worse .
"Abby. Wake up. It's Sayid. Time to get up."
There was no response. Abigail didn't move. Sayid was really worried.
"I'm going to get Jack. He'll know what to do for you. Abby, I'll be right back." Sayid really didn't want to leave her, but he knew that Jack could help her more then he could right now.
Sayid found Jack at the caves.
"Jack, please come to the beach. Abigail is sick and I don't know how to help her."
Jack walked back to the beach with Sayid.
"What are her symptoms and when did they start?" Jack asked Sayid.
"The cough actually started a few days ago, but it got worse yesterday and last night she asked me to move my camel off of her chest. She was shaking from chills. This morning she didn't want to get up and she was hot." Worry showed in Sayid's eyes.
Jack looked at him surprised. "A camel on her chest, now that's a first An interesting way to describe chest pain."
They arrived where Abigail was sleeping. Jack examined her.
"She has a high fever. I can't be sure how high without a thermometer. Her pulse is fast and she is still shaking. Sayid, I'm sure Abigail has pneumonia. Now the only thing that will help her is antibiotics like penicillin or Levaquin. I didn't even have those for the Marshall. Keep her comfortable and try to keep her cool. Make sure that she drinks plenty of water. I will see that see that she gets more. Sayid we could lose her. I don't have access to a hospital on the island."
"Jack, Abigail told me that she had some medicine double locked in her duffel bag that she carried for her and the others that she was traveling with. I know where she kept the key. I'm sure there must be at least one antibiotic in there."
Sayid opened the duffel bag and gave the medicine that he found to Jack.
Jack opened the medicine box. Sayid was right. There was a good supply of drugs especially penicillin. Jack gave Abigail a penicillin tablet.
"Give her one of these every six hours and let me know if she gets worse. I will be back tomorrow to check on her. I think that you just saved Abigail's life.
" Thank you, Jack." Tears welled up in Sayid's eyes. He couldn't lose Abby now, he had just found her.
Jack started back toward the caves. Sayid was alone with Abby. He could tell by the position of the sun , that is almost time for early afternoon prayer. He began the cleansing ritual to cleanse body and soul.
Sayid removed his prayer mat from his belongings and unrolled it on the ground near Abigail.
Sayid stood and raised his hands and said;
Allahu Akbar
Allahu Akbar God is Most Great
Allahu Akbar
Allahu Akbar
Subhana rabbiyal adheem Glory to the Lord, almighty
Sam'i allahu liman harnidah, God hears those who call upon him, Our Lord,
Rabbana wa lakal harnd Our Lord, Praise be to you
Sayid began a prayer for divine help.
Izhaja a rasra Allahi wa al fath
Waraita annasa yadkhuloona fee
Deene illahi afwaja.
Fa subbih bi hamdl rabbika wa e staghfirho,
innahoo kana tawwaba.
Sayid held Abigail close to him in his arms, and whispered. "I can feel this uncertainty start to burn, questions everywhere I turn. Trying so hard, all the answers are gone. Couldn't even tell you if I was right or wrong about you and me. It's strange so many things we could be, but I feel trapped in the past, the only thing that seems to last. I wonder if there's anything for us, or will we just turn into dust? Every time we get close, feels like I'm chasing a ghost. Maybe it's just the fear in me, that keeps us from everything we could be."