"Damn. That must be some strong stuff" Sawyer remarked. Jack nodded.
"Hey, what were all those medications you were asking her about before?"
"Most of them are pretty standard for treating migraines," Jack explained.
Sawyer didn't seem satisfied, so Jack continued. "Let's see, Topamax is a beta blocker. It was designed as an anti-seizure medication, but it can also prevent migraines, when taken daily. Imitrex and dihydroergotamine are both vasoconstrictive drugs that are used routinely to treat vascular headaches." Sawyer nodded, although he wasn't quite sure he understood. Jack continued.
"Those two are generally used to stop a migraine in its early stages. Phenergan can be used to treat nausea and has a sedative effect. That probably would have been my first choice to give her, if I had any of that on hand. Now Stadol, that's the big guns. It's a narcotic analgesic, a really strong pain reliever."
Sawyer nodded again. "It sounds like a lot of drugs for a headache, don't it?"
Jack agreed. "It does, but as you saw, migraines can be pretty severe. It's clearly been a long-term problem for her. Unfortunately, I think it's going to continue to be, especially now that all of her medications are gone, and the morphine won't last for ever." The two men were silent for a moment, contemplating the implications.
Finally, Jack turned to Kate. "Are you still with us, Kate?"
"No," she replied, sleepily.
"Okay" Jack laughed. "Well, we're going to move you to that nice, soft bed so you'll be more comfortable. How does that sound?"
Kate shrugged in response. "'kay".
"Can you give me a hand, Sawyer?" Jack asked, moving to stand Kate up. They each grabbed her under an arm and pulled her upright. She sagged, letting them support her weight.
"Come on, Kate" Jack urged. "Just stay awake for a couple more minutes, then you can sleep for as long as you want."
"Tired" she mumbled. Jack shook his head.
"Think you can carry her?" Jack asked Sawyer.
"'Course I can" Sawyer responded, lifting her into his arms.
She let out a startled cry and threw her arms around his neck, clearly fearing she'd fall. "Don't worry Freckles. I've got ya," he assured her as he followed Jack out of the bathroom.
Jack turned down the sheets when they reached the bedroom, and Sawyer moved to lay Kate down.
"Hold on a second" Jack said as he fumbled through a drawer. "Let's just get her changed first".
Sawyer sat down on the edge of the bed, still holding the dozing woman in his arms. "I don't know. I don't think she'll be too pleased about that".
"You afraid she'll hit you, Sawyer?" Jack teased.
"She might" Sawyer admitted.
Jack approached the bed, t-shirt in hand, and helped Sawyer sit her up. "She's been in the same clothes for over two days," Jack explained, making quick work of removing her tank top. "I expect she's going to be asleep for quite a while, so we'd might as well make her comfortable". Jack pulled the oversized t-shirt over her head and down over her torso before reaching beneath it to unhook her bra. She whimpered in protested as he removed it and tried to push his hands away.
"You're okay, Kate. I'm just getting you into some pajamas, okay?"
Kate opened her heavy eyelids, her gaze meeting Jack's, and let out a sigh of relief.
"Yeah, it's just me" Jack assured her. "I'm just getting you changed, alright?"
Kate nodded, letting her eyes close again, and leaned back against Sawyer as Jack maneuvered her limp arms through the shirt's sleeves. Removing her jeans proved slightly more challenging, but Jack managed to get them off too.
Kate muttered something under her breath as Sawyer lay her down on the bed.
"What did she say?" Jack asked.
"Don't know" Sawyer replied as he drew the blankets over her. "Girl's not makin' a lick of sense".
"It's the morphine" Jack explained. "I give her a pretty strong dose."
Sawyer still looked concerned. He pulled the blanket higher, tucking it around her shoulders.
"She'll be fine." Jack assured him. "She just needs some sleep".
Sawyer let out an exaggerated yawn. "Yeah, me too. I guess I'd best be headin' back to the beach," he said as he turned to leave.
"Sawyer," Jack called, "thanks for your help".
Sawyer nodded in acknowledgement. "Yeah, it's been fun, doc".