"Kate!" Sawyer screamed, her shriek still ringing in his ears.
He had no idea what could have happened, one minute Kate had been standing in front of him trying to dig her way into his past as always, and the next she was stomping off in a huff. How had she gone from that to screaming her lungs out? She wouldn't be yelling like that just for the heck of it, and besides, that was not a noise you made out of anger, this was pure panic. Something must have happened, something terrible.
Sawyer took off in a run in the direction of Kate's cry, dodging trees as he went. Dawn was fast approaching but it was still dark enough to make it difficult to see. The rain was finally beginning to subside, leaving the jungle drenched.
"Kate!" Sawyer called, spinning about, but he got no answer. "Dammit Freckles, where the hell are you," He muttered to himself in frustration.
Sawyer turned and came to face a ridge he had not seen before and would have fallen if he hadn't pulled himself back just in time.
"Jeez" Sawyer said as he stumbled backwards, "I wouldn't want to be the idiot who falls down there."
He peered down over the edge of the precipice and a flash of white caught his eye. Something, or someone, was on the ground at the bottom. Sawyer squinted, trying vainly to see what the thing was. Then it finally dawned on him; it was Kate. There was no mistaking it; the white blouse she wore over her orange top, the same one she had worn when she went hunting with Locke and Michael, was visible from where he stood. His stomach dropped.
"Kate" he called again in a panic, his heart racing as he scrambled down the hill.
If only he had followed her instead of letting her storm off. He shouldn't have stayed where he was; it was far too dangerous for anyone to be alone in the jungle. How could he have let this happen?
Sawyer's head was swarming with possibilities but one stuck. Every fiber of his body was screaming that Kate was dead, and it was all his fault.
"Jesuschrist Freckles, what did you do," Sawyer said gravely. He approached her quickly, dropping his bag as he kneeled beside her sprawled body, turning her gently onto her back so he could inspect the extent of her injuries.
Kate's pant legs had tears in them and a little bit of blood was visible from where it had soaked through. Sawyer hoped it wasn't that serious. His eyes moved up her body, coming to rest on her abdomen where blood had seeped through her orange shirt and white blouse, and was continuing to spread. He hesitantly moved his hand towards her cheek as he finally came to her face. He prayed to God that she was still warm, that she was alive. He had never wanted anything more. Kate had to be alive; she just had to be. Sawyer's fingertips grazed Kate's cheek softly as he searched for some sign that she wasn't dead but her skin was pale and clammy.
He was reluctant to check her pulse, still clinging to the hope that maybe she was still breathing, that her heart continued to beat.
"Come on baby," Sawyer murmured softly to Kate, moving his hand slowly towards her wrist, "Open your eyes for me. You been through worse before, a little thing like this isn't gonna kill ya."
Sawyer finally put two fingers to Kate's wrist, searching for the pulse he knew wasn't there. His heart was in his throat as he searched for it frantically, trying to locate the steady thrum that would indicate that she still lived. It seemed like it had been hours, although in reality it had been only mere seconds, and still he waited. Tears came unbidden to his eyes and he let out a breath he didn't know he was holding; it was there, the gentle beat of her heart under his fingers. She was hurt, but she wasn't dead; she was only unconscious.
"Atta girl," Sawyer said with a smile, relief shining clear in his eyes even as he tried to control his shaking hands.
He couldn't leave Kate behind in the state she was in, not even if it was to get Jack. There were too many things out there; predators and guys who kidnap pregnant girls. Kate wasn't pregnant, but he still wasn't about to risk leaving her, considering what had happened when he left her the last time. He may not be Jack but he could take care of her to some extent, at least until she could move on her own. And, though he didn't want to admit it, he wasn't entirely sure where the beach was. Even if he did carry her they'd probably end up even more lost, then they already were.
Sawyer twisted his body around and grabbed his bag, thankful, now more then ever, that he had snatched it up before both of them got lost in the first place. He opened the flap and began rummaging through it for the extra blanket he had brought with him. Sawyer laid the blanket over Kate's legs, then turned his attention to the wound on her side. He needed to check to see how serious it was; he didn't want her dying because of an injury that he could easily fix. He lifted her shirt up slowly and focused his attention solely on the gash.
"Man Freckles, what else could go wrong with you," Sawyer said sarcastically.
Kate's right side was covered in blood, but as he used her ruined blouse to wipe it away Sawyer saw that it wasn't as bad as he had first thought. At least she wouldn't need stitches, as far as he could tell. Sawyer pulled a bottle of water out of his pack, and though it was only half filled he used a lot of it to clean the wound.
"Damn, there goes the water," Sawyer said as he tore Kate's blouse down the center so he could tie it around the cut, "You better be happy 'bout this."
At this Kate woke with a start, sitting forward abruptly and instantly clutching her side. She let out a stifled cry of pain, startling Sawyer who fell back as his hands were knocked from her stomach.
"Son of a… god Freckles, ya scared the hell outa me," Sawyer said, surprised but inwardly smiling; he was happy and relieved that she was finally awake.
Kate's side was killing her, but her head was the epicentre of pain. She had never been so sore. Kate leant her head heavily in her palm, rubbing feebly at her temples, even as her left arm cradled her aching side.
Kate opened her eyes once more and blinked at the darkness clouding her vision. Everything was black, and she couldn't see any light. Was it still night?
"Sawyer," Kate said, her voice wary, "What time is it?"
"It's mornin'," Sawyer said, "And I'd tell you the time but I don't have a watch."
Kate's hand shot out and clutched Sawyer's arm tightly, her nails digging into the skin.
"Damn Freckles, take it easy," He said, prying off the death grip she had on his arm, "You okay? My arm's starting to go numb."
"Sawyer, I can't see."