Chapter 22
Sawyer ran as fast as he could down the hall, and headed to a door that read "STAIRS.". He tore open the door to the staircase, and ran as fast as he could down the steps to the hanger deck. When he reached the hanger deck, he grabbed the door handle and bolted out of the door. He continued to run towards a large metal door where an armed guard sat at a booth.
"ID!"
"COMMANDER DELL!" Sawyer yelled out as he ran past the guard, holding up his badge. "OPEN THAT DOOR NOW!"
The guards opened the door and Sawyer ran as fast as he could through it and down the metal bridge. He ran up two flights of stairs to the maintenance bridge in Unit 1's gate. He stopped, breathing heavily and sweating where he saw that Hope's bioplug had just been forcefully ejected by a crew of five men.
"HOPE!" He yelled out as he breathed heavily with sweat running down his forehead. Sawyer ran over to the bioplug and grabbed the eject hatch.
"COMMANDER!" The Crew Chief called out.
"Damnit!" Sawyer yelled out as he yanked his hand away feeling searing, burning pain as he shook out his hand.. "Give me those pliers! NOW!" Sawyer yelled out as a maintenance man handed him a large pair of pliers that he fixed firmly onto the hatch's lock and clamped down on it. Twisting it and pulling on it, Sawyer released the lock and then watched as the hatch slid open.
Sawyer's eyes widened as looked in the hatch and saw Hope.
She was lying in the console chair, her eyes were shut, and she was not moving.
She wasn't breathing.
He looked at her and lightly reached down to stroke her cheek.
Sawyer's eyes flashed with sadness as he looked at her.
"HOPE!" He yelled out as he reached in with both hands and pulled her body out of the bioplug, setting it down on the maintenance bridge. "Oh no." Sawyer said as looked at her and cradled her in his arms. "Oh God, Hope." He said as he shut his eyes and crushed her against him. "I'm sorry." He whispered to her. "Forgive me. I'm sorry."
Then she breathed in deeply and exhaled slowly. Sawyer opened his eyes as he felt her breathe in against him. He gently pulled her away from his body slightly and he smiled down at her, "Hope?" he asked her gently.
Hope began to breathe normally, scrunching her eyes shut as she whispered. "Sawyer…."
"Yes!" he told her with a smile as he watched her open her eyes and smile back at him. "Hope, are you okay?" he asked her as he lightly stroked her cheek.
Hope nodded at him with a smile. "I think so." She whispered. "I….feel really tired though and a little achy."
He held her closer as he gently moved his hand over the top of her head.
"Hope, thank God…." He whispered as he kissed her forehead.
"Hey there, Sawyer." She said with a smile as she reached up and lightly touched his cheek, placing her palm against his face. . "Oh God, I…. ugh…. I feel really bad."
"Are you okay?"
Hope nodded. "Yeah, uh…. no…I don't know…. I. …Just feel…. sick."
Sawyer lifted her into his arms and stood, holding her close to him as she laid her head against him and he carried her. He walked down the stairs and then the metal bridge, holding her in his arms. Her arms came around his neckand she smiled as he carried her out of the hanger. .
"Where are we going?" She asked as she closed her eyes and nestled her head against his chest. "Are you taking me home with you?"
Sawyer raised an eyebrow as he heard her, thinking to himself. She's delirious. She's going to say strange things. Get a grip. "No, Hope. I'm taking you to Dr. Ibuki to get checked out." He told her as he looked back at her.
"I'm okay, Sawyer. Really." Hope said with a smile. "Take me home with you." She whispered with a giggle. "Let's catch up.".
"Uh…let Dr. Ibuki make that decision on whether or not you are okay."
"Sawyer…. you still…feel that way…about me?" Hope asked.
"Yes." He told her as he looked down at her. "It was just work, Hope! I'm sorry I've pulled away from you so much. I had to get prepared. We had to prepare. This mission could happen at any time. We needed to be ready! I had to get you ready!"
"It's okay, Sawyer. I just wish you told me more. Sawyer, I…" Her eyes rolled back into her head as her eyelids fluttered and then she lost consciousness.
"Hope?" Sawyer's eyes widened and a look of panic crossed his face as he ran to the infirmary with her in his arms as fast as he could. "Hope!" He called out with wide eyes. "HOPE!"
Sawyer held her closer to him as he ran through the hall with her in his arms, running straight into the infirmary. "Dr. Ibuki!" Sawyer yelled out as he ran into the infirmary and laid her down onto a gurney.
"Get her in exam room A." Dr. Ibuki called out.
Sawyer could only watch as the emergency crew wheeled her away as she lay unconscious on the gurney.
Sawyer exhaled. He sat down in a chair, bowing his head with his face in his hands..