Sawyer carefully closed the door behind him and then ran down the hall. The beeping stopped just as he rounded the corner. He found Jack standing at the computer, shaking his head.
"Sleeping on the job, Sawyer?" Jack asked. He chuckled at the look of shock on the Southerner's face.
Sawyer let out a relieved breath and leaned heavily against the desk, catching his breath. "I had plenty' a time, doc. I'd 'a made it just fine, and you know it."
Jack laughed again and nodded. "Yeah, that's true Sawyer", he conceded. "So what was with the sprinting?"
"Just wanted to stop that damned racket. What are you doing here, anyway? I thought Hurley had the next shift?"
"He did, but he asked if I'd switch with him. Is that a problem, Sawyer?"
"No. No, it's not a problem". Surprisingly, Jack thought, Sawyer sounded sincere.
"It's good, actually" Sawyer continued. "Saves me the trouble of having to go get you. You've got a patient ' needs some lookin' after."
"Oh," Jack said, perking up, "what seems to be the problem?"
"Don't really know. She says it's just a headache, but that's bull if you ask me. I ain't never seen no headache like that before".
Jack sighed and rubbed his beard. "It's Kate?" he questioned, already knowing the answer.
"Yeah, how'd ya know?"
"She said something about a headache yesterday, came by looking for some meds," Jack admitted.
"Well, whatever you gave her sure didn't to jack, Jack" Sawyer quipped. Jack rolled his eyes and followed as Sawyer led him towards his patient. Sawyer stopped outside the bathroom door and stood between it and Jack.
"She's in there?" Jack questioned. Sawyer nodded and motioned for Jack to be quiet. "She wouldn't let me move her. Just be quiet and don't turn on the light, okay?" he warned before stepping aside and letting Jack enter. Jack nodded and took a deep breath before reaching for the doorknob.
Jack found her just as Sawyer had left her. She lay, curled up in the fetal position, atop a folded blanket. As Jack moved closer he saw that she had her hands clamped over her ears, as if trying to block out some sound only she could hear. She was still wearing the same clothes he'd seen her in yesterday, he noted, blue jeans and an orange tank top. Even her shoes were still on her feet.
Jack pulled the corner of the blanket over her torso, thinking she looked cold. He crouched down beside her, observing for a moment. He couldn't tell if she was awake. She was shaking slightly. He placed his hand on her forehead, finding no sign of fever. If anything, her skin was clammy and cold. She moaned at his touch and tried to push his hand away.
"Hey, Kate" he said softly, as if speaking to a child. "What's going on? Can you tell me?"
She remained silent for so long that he was startled when she finally did speak, although it was barely a whisper. "Jack?"
"Yeah, Kate. It's me", he confirmed. "Listen, I know you're probably pretty angry with me, you have a right to be, but I . . ."
"Jack", she interrupted, her voice pleading.
"What is it?"
"Please. Make it stop."