Chapter 5

Henry looked at Kate with a smile. "Looks like we've got a pair of lovey-dovey birds over here" he snickered. "Well I guess no harm in letting you stay, we have enough Apollo bars to go around." He motioned to the other guy, who put a hood over Jack's head and the three of them lead him out of the room.

Sawyer heard what Kate said. He knew that Kate is stubborn, and once she made up her mind, it's not easy to change it. But he also know it's better for her if she can get out of this place as soon as possible. The pain in his stomach has somewhat reduced to a dull ache, and he gingerly uncurled himself and pushed himself to a sitting position.

"Freckles, I ain't worth it…" he spoke weakly, but stopped when he saw Kate's expression. She was looking at him with fierce determination in her eyes.

"Don't say you are not worth it, Sawyer.. your life is just as precious as any one else's…" said Kate softly. She doesn't know why she did it either, why she gave up the chance to leave just to stay with him. She just couldn't bear to see him in pain and so helpless, she has to take care of him…

They sat that way silently for a few hours, each absorbed in his own thoughts. Then without warning, Sawyer suddenly doubled up in pain again. "Aaargh…." He groaned and fell to his side, curling up his body tightly, his forehead sweating profusely.

"Sawyer…" Kate gasped, rushing to his side.

At this point, the door opened with the middle aged woman came in with the usual chocolates. Kate caught her stealing a glance at Sawyer lying on the ground.

"Hi, I'm Kate, and this is Sawyer." she started, hoping to get a response from the woman. "Those guys injected some stuff into him, and he's in great pain. Can you help us?"

The woman acted as if she did not hear anything as usual. She put the chocolates on the table and was about to leave when Kate spoke again. "Look, I don't know what you are doing here, or why are you working for them. But is it right to subject one to such pain for the sake of some tests? Sawyer may not be the best person on earth, but he is still someone's child, someone's friend, someone's lover…. Do you bear to see your child, your friend and your loved ones suffer such pain?"

The woman stopped for a while near the door. Then she opened it and left.

'It's no use, Freckles, told you she's deaf…." Sawyer managed to say softly. The pain has reduced slightly and he has managed to straighten his body, and pushed himself to a half-sitting position. "Maybe you oughta learn some sign language." He continued, chuckling a little but soon realized that it is not a good idea as it caused his stomach to spasm in pain again.

Kate looked at him, noticing the pain-filled eyes. "We have to get out of here somehow."

The next day, Tom came to collect a sample of blood from Sawyer again. This time, Sawyer did not fight or protest. He seemed resigned to the fact that he was being made a guinea pig. The pain attacks came at about once in four hours. And Sawyer found that if he lied on his side with his body curled up, he could get through the ordeal easier.

But Kate knows if this continues, his body won't be able to take it much longer. His once tanned face now has a sick pallor beneath it. And his eyes were no longer bright, the shine replaced by pain. Even though he tried to joke after each attack, Kate knew it was wearing him out. He didn't even have the energy to finish the chocolates that she gave him.

Soon the middle aged woman came in with the chocolates again. Kate saw her stealing a glance at Sawyer who was lying on the ground resting. "He wont be able to take such pain much longer." She told the woman, studying her face as she spoke, trying to get some reaction. "Can you help us, please?"

The woman did not utter a word and turn to leave as usual. But Kate thought she saw a tear ran down the woman's face as the door was closed.