Thanks for all of the kind reviews. Sorry to keep you all waiting in suspense. To answer North's question, I think there will probably be one or two more chapters after this one. I'll probably post another one this weekend, but no guarantees. - Sam
"Please. Make it stop", she begged.
His heart clenched. "I will Kate, but you're going to have to help me out, alright? I need check you over, and I need to ask you some questions. Will you let me do that?"
"Mmm-hmm" she responded, drowsily.
"Good, that's good" he said, stroking her hair back from her face. Jack looked up to address Sawyer, who was still standing in the doorway. "Can you get me a glass of water?" Sawyer nodded and disappeared down the hallway.
Jack turned back to Kate. "I'm just going to take your pulse, alright?" She nodded, almost imperceptibly, and he reached for her wrist, counting to himself.
"Okay. Now, can you tell me what's going on?"
"Kate?" he pressed, when she didn't respond.
"Hurts" she finally mumbled.
"Can you show me where?" Kate splayed a hand over the lefts side of her face and head.
"Just on that side? Does anything else hurt?" Jack questioned. She shook her head slightly in response.
Sawyer returned, handing Jack a glass of water. "That for her?" he questioned. Jack nodded as he propped Kate up in his arms, despite her protests.
"I'm not sure that's such a good idea, doc" Sawyer warned, moving closer.
"She needs to stay hydrated" Jack assured him. He tipped the glass to Kate's lips and urged her to swallow. She drank a little, but then stubbornly refused to take more. Within seconds, Jack realized the problem. Together, he and Sawyer managed to get her to the toilet just in time. She quickly threw up what little she had drank and then collapsed against them with a whimper.
"See what I mean?" Sawyer said, as they laid her back down.
Jack nodded. "When was the last time she was able to keep anything down?"
"She hasn't, least not since I found her".
"Well, she's probably pretty dehydrated, then. We need to find a way to get some fluids into her." Jack thought for a moment and then turned back to Sawyer. "Can you get me some crushed ice from the freezer? Oh, and I could us a small flashlight too, if you can find one."
When Sawyer left, Jack made quick work of removing Kate's boots and set them aside. "You still with me, Kate?" He asked softly, while gently easing her onto her back, eliciting a moan. He knelt beside and grasped each of her hands in his own.
"I need you to squeeze each of my hands equally, okay? Good. As hard as you can, both the same, okay?" She did as he said, and he released her hands. Sawyer returned, carrying the requested items.
"What were you doing with her hands?"
"Checking the strength of her grip. Her left is weaker than her right," he explained.
"Tingles", Kate explained. Jack nodded, knowingly.
"What the heck does that mean?"
Jack didn't answer, but motioned for Sawyer to bring him the flashlight. "Kate, I need to take a look at your eyes, okay?" She shook her head slightly, refusing.
"I'll be quick, I promise. I need to check your pupils." Before she could protest again, he gently opened one eye and shined the light in quickly. She cried out and tried to move her head from his grip.
"I know. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Without warning, he pried her other eye open and repeated the process. She cried out again. He felt horrible.
"Okay, all done. No more, I promise" he assured her.
"Was that really necessary?" Sawyer questioned.
Jack glared at Sawyer. "Do you think I would put her through that if it wasn't?" Sawyer didn't answer, and the two men just stared at each other for a moment.
Jack felt the weight of the accusation. He had, after all, been purposely hurting Kate since that day in the woods, the day when she kissed him.
"It was necessary" Jack finally spoke. This time, Sawyer seemed to accept the answer. Jack continued his exam as Sawyer watched silently.
"Here, hold this for me?" Jack said, handing the flashlight to Sawyer.
After first shielding Kate's eyes with his hand, Sawyer switched on the flashlight, directing in where Jack indicated. He watched in curiosity, as the doctor pinched the back of Kate's hand and then nodded to himself.
"What the heck does that tell ya?"
"See how her skin sort of stays for a second after I pinch it?" Jack demonstrated. Sawyer nodded. "Well, normally it shouldn't do that. The skin should bounce right back".
"And that means?" Sawyer prompted.
"It means she's dehydrated, which is not surprising. It just means we need to get some water into her". Kate, who had apparently been listening, moaned in response.
"And how do you suggest we do that?" Sawyer questioned.
"Oh, I have a plan or two" Jack assured them both. Sawyer cast a doubtful look.
"Kate. You're pretty dehydrated. We have to get some fluids into you, alright?" She started to protest, but he assured her.
"I know, but we're going to start slow." He reached into the bowl and grabbed a small piece of ice. He rubbed it over her parched lips, and they opened slightly.
"That's not so bad, huh? Now, I'm just going to put it in your mouth. Just suck on it and let it melt, okay? We're just going to sneak the water by you stomach, a little bit at a time, so it doesn't even notice."
Kate nodded slowly and opened her mouth, letting him put the ice in. She sucked on it for a while, and then let out a small sigh.
Jack smiled. "Kate, why don't we move you down the hall to the bedroom, where you'll be more comfortable? Then we'll see if we can't do something to get your pain under control. How does that sound?"
"No" she whispered.
"We'll turn off all of the lights, alright? This floor has got to be pretty hard."
"No," she pleaded again, "please". Jack looked to Sawyer, who shrugged in response.
"Alright, Kate. We'll stay," he conceded.