Keeping Watch: Dream Walker Part One
This Chapter gets weird at the end but there is a reason for it. The Erykah Badu song I played for myself to right the beginning is called Bump It. As always enjoy and review.
The room was dark. The furniture had been pushed along the walls and in the center was a tight group of people dancing. Erykah Badu music was pumping through the house. The crowd swayed in various directions. Some were coupled off but others were alone in their own groove. In the middle of the crowd swayed Ana Lucia. She wore tight jeans, three-inch heels and a backless shirt that was loose in the front revealing plenty of cleavage. Her friend had talked her into it wearing for the party.
Her arms were raised and her eyes were closed as she rocked back and forth. In her right hand, a drink dangled loosely as her head tilted back and forth to the beat. She slowly moved her hips in a gyrating motion. After dancing a few beats, Ana would lower her arm, taking a drink before lifting it up again. Eventually, she finished the drink and as she danced past a table, she dropped off her cup, then resumed dancing without missing a beat.
Somewhere during the song a strong hand placed itself on her stomach and pulled her up against a hard male body. Her eyebrows arched in appreciation at feeling his strength. They moved in unison as the music pulsed through them. Ana's left hand reached up behind her sliding up to the man's neck, stroking the hair resting there. He leaned forward, his warm breath causing bumps to develop on her skin. The man reached for her left hand taking it in his and then spinning her out.
Ana smiled brightly, but never opened her eyes, even when he pulled her close again. They were chest to chest, his strong hands on her bare back as they grind into each other. She rocked against him leaning back. He braced her as she leaned back into an arch and then slowly rose back up resting her head against his firm chest. As they moved together his left hand cupped her butt as his other hand went into her hair.
They danced close for the rest of the song. Both rested against each other's neck. She felt his stubble jaw rubbing against her cheek at one point, tickling yet enticing her. A small sigh came from her mouth has he held her even closer. He smelled like musk and leather as she deeply inhaled. Ana had her arms lazily over his shoulders every so often taking the silky hair in her fingers. There was an intimacy to the dance that both welcomed.
Some time later, the song changed and they were face to face. Ana still hadn't opened her eyes. She instinctively knew his lips were coming towards her and she received them hungrily. They kiss intensely for a long time. Ana felt like she should need a breath of air, but it was like he was breathing for her.
It was at that time that she felt something was odd about her memory. She didn't remember kissing anyone at her friend's party, but here she was kissing the man. When the kiss ended, she didn't feel winded in fact she felt like someone had been giving her precious air that before she didn't have. She felt she needed more.
The next kiss was more passionate than the last, but it was also desperate. The man cupped her face and it seemed like he was willing her to react. But she didn't understand why. She was freely kissing him. In fact, when he pulled away again she almost screamed in frustration.
The next kiss was even hotter, but something had changed. She felt like coughing. She felt like someone was placing pressure on her lungs. She pushed herself away and struggled to breath on her own. She was taking gasping breaths for a long time before she realized that the man was talking to her.
"Look at me. Come on baby, you can do it. Look at me."
Her eyes fluttered open…Like a rushing wind in a vortex, images of what transpired after her escape until the beach rushed forward making her vision blurry. After taking a loud wheezing breath, her eyes focused. Sawyer was looking down at her, his face determined, but fear glinting in his eyes. Ana squeezed her eyes closed and when she opened then again she saw Jack too. Frowning, she tried to ask what they were doing until the worst type of pain she ever experienced gripped her. It was like her whole body was on fire. Cramps and muscles spasms coursed through her, but her left shoulder seemed to be radiating pain the most.
She vaguely heard Jack say that they needed to get her back to the hatch. She felt someone trying to gently pick her up but the pains made her howl something terrible. It hurt so bad to move and the pressure on her arm where the person was gripping her made it worse.
"It hurts." She whispered.
"Sorry, Xena. But we gotta run and I can't afford to drop ya," responded Sawyer.
Ana blacked out again.
FlashbackSawyer swam back clumsily, trying to hold onto Ana while keeping them both from drowning. It took him some time, constantly slipping under water and having to shift Ana in his arm to get a better grip, but eventually he felt solid ground under him. He could walk back to the beach. Eko came to the water realizing who Sawyer was carrying.
He laid her down, realizing that she wasn't breathing. Jack moved to help, but Sawyer stopped him.
"NO," he snapped. He cocked his head next to hers as he placed his fingers on her neck, checking for a pulse. "Shit!"
He placed both of his hands on her ribs and began to push down, mumbling a count to himself. "One-and-two-and-three-and-four-and-five-and-six-and-seven-and-eight-and-nine-and ten-and-eleven-and-twelve-and-thirteen-and-fourteen-and-fifteen."
He then moved to her head and placed one hand cupping her chin and the other pinching her nose shut. He breathed twice into her mouth, then moved back down to her chest and resumed giving the contractions. Sawyer repeated this cycle for what seemed like forever. He started to feel desperate, and was yelling at her in between his counts.
"One-and-two-and-Ana c'mon! Five-and-six-and Ana, breathe dammit! Nine –" Ana's body suddenly jerked and she started coughing. Sawyer gently rolled her over onto her side as she vomited up what seemed like a mini-ocean of salt water. He then rolled back onto her back placing her head upon his lap.
"Come on, baby. Breathe, sweetie. You can do it," he said to her. "Take your time. Breath for me."
Ana kept gasping air and her eyes opened. She stared at him a long time before closing her eyes again. He was afraid for a moment that she stopped breathing again, but he saw her chest rise and fall evenly as her breathing started to calm down.
"We've gotta go," Jack said.
Sawyer picked her up as gently as he could. He didn't argue with Jack. Locke was helping an injured Scott. Eko had slung Clark's body over his shoulder. Jack was providing as much cover as he could. Kate and Sayid had already gone back with Michael and the kids.
End of FlashbackThey quickly walked the only safe way to the Hatch. Sayid had placed deadly snares and traps in the surrounding locations and if you didn't know exactly where they were, you were liable to get seriously hurt, if not killed. The group was worried about the Other's following them and attacking. Surprisingly though, the Others didn't trouble them again.
Jack banged the code knock on the door. The door opened with Jin and Charlie standing on either side with guns in arm. The group rushed in and Hurley slammed the door shut.
"Out of the way!" Jack shouted, as the group rushed to the back bunks.
"Sun, Rose. I need you."
The women followed behind Jack. Once they entered the bunks, they saw Ana being laid gently on the bed. Locke was helping Scott sit. Sawyer stood up and looked around until his eyes landed on the bottle of alcohol Jack saved for medical emergencies. He snatched it and strode back to Ana.
"What are you doing?" Jack grabbed his arm.
Sawyer jerked away. "I'm gonna clean Ana's wound. You go deal with Scott."
"Let Sun do it…"
Sawyer leaned forward eyes hardened. "I said, I'll do it."
From the corner of his eye Jack saw Rose, Sun, Locke, Eko, and a barely conscious Scott watching them. One of these days…Jack thought to himself.
"Fine. Do that, until I take care of Scott. Everybody else, out!" He turned around and began working.
Sawyer found a clean towel and poured some liquid on the cloth. He glanced briefly at Ana before applying the cloth. He cleaned the wound as much as he could as the bleeding continued. As he studied the wound, he could tell it was bad. He applied pressure to it trying to stop the bleeding. When the cloth got soaked called for another and Sun handed him one instantly. He applied the new cloth on top of the old on her shoulder and actually said a little prayer.
Please God. I don't ever ask for much. And I know I deserve even less. But let her be okay. Don't let her die.
He looked over his shoulder as Jack worked with rapid precision on Scott. Sawyer willed him to work even faster. He knew Ana needed stitches, that was obvious. But what wasn't obvious was the rest of her. She was so battered and bruised he was amazed that she was alive. She could have bruised or broken bones, or worse, internal bleeding.
Suddenly, Ana began to convulse. She bared her teeth as pain racked through her. Her breathing became erratic. Sawyer leaned over murmured to her.
"It's okay. You gonna alright." He fingers stroked her damp hair. He frowned as he realized how hot her forehead was. The bleeding of her shoulder wound had slowed a little but, Ana continued to shake violently.
"Doc!"
Jack was wrapping Scott's waist. Thankfully, the bullet had passed clear through his body without hitting any major organs, but he would be sore and out of commission for a while. He was asking Rose to finish the job when he heard Sawyer yell. He turned to him and saw Ana shaking as Sawyer sought to keep her head cushioned.
"Move," he commanded. Sawyer stepped back without comment. Jack removed the cloth looking at the wound.
"I'll have to take care of that later, fever is too high. Sun, go turn on the water in the showers. As cold as it will go."
He turned to Sawyer, "Help me with her."
They picked her up and quickly strode out of the room. When they reached the showers, both men went right under the water with Ana. Jack gently dropped her feet and leaned back against the wall. He looked at Ana face, watching for a change in pallor, but after a moment looked at Sawyer, who was lovingly stroking Ana's hair. The two men's eyes locked. They stared at each other with unspoken emotions in their eyes. Sun stood on the side waiting not sure what to do. There was something fascinating in seeing the two men normally antagonist standing in the shower together both working to help Ana. Eventually, she cleared her throat.
"Is there something else I can do?"
Jack snapped back into reality. Taking his eyes off the man that deemed him an enemy he nodded to Sun.
"Pack up any ice you can find and take it back to the bunk. Then get containers and fill them with cold water. Have someone help you bring it back there too."
She nodded leaving.
Jack turned his attention back to Sawyer who was Ana holding close. The water poured over them both like a waterfall. Sawyer was shaking fiercely from the water and the strain of holding her, but Jack noted that Ana wasn't convulsing any longer. He reached out and felt that she had cooled down.
"We need to get her back so I can deal with her arm."
Sawyer dipped down and picked up her legs. He walked out the shower, leaving Jack to handle the water. Jack turned it off before slowly walking back to the bunks wondering when Sawyer's feelings for Ana became deeper than he thought.
After he took care of her arm, Jack had Sun and Rose undress Ana while he kept his back slightly turned. From the corner of his eye he saw Sawyer leaning in the doorframe head down quiet. He thought about asking the man to leave, but he knew it would be a waste of breath. When the ladies finished their task, he went to the task of inspecting the rest of her body. Jack found three broken ribs that he had to bind. By the discoloration of some of the bruises, he knew they went to the bone but there wasn't much he could do for it. He cleaned up both old and new cuts, making sure none were infected. He checked her temperature again. It was still high, but not as bad as before. Taking a deep breath he turned to face the people in the room, but his eyes focused on Sawyer.
"From looking at the outside of her, she will make it. However, she could have internal injuries that I can't determine. We just have to hope that it's not bad and can heal itself. When she has rested some, I'll give her some antibiotics." He turned back to her momentarily staring at her hurt form. The anger that he had suppressed came forth. How could they do that to someone?
"She'll be out of it for a while." He spoke to Rose but his eyes were on Sawyer.
"Look out after her. I'll be back in couple of hours to check on them both. If she wakes before I get back, try and get her to take the medicine if she can. Use the ice packs if her fever spikes again."
Sawyer studied Jack. Then pushing off the wall, he grabbed a chair and walked over to Ana as Rose went to Scott.
Jack sought out Michael. He was in the lounge sitting at a table with the kids. Jack walked over to them.
"It's good to see you again."
Michael nodded. "Yeah. You too." He paused, glancing at the kids. "How's Ana?"
Jack sighed head falling a little. When he looked up at Michael he said, "I don't know. I fixed her arm, wrapped her ribs…"
"If the fever breaks then she has a good chance of pulling through, but the problem is I don't know what else is wrong with her. And since she can't speak for herself, it's all guess work." He stepped closer to Michael. "I was hoping you could help me out with that."
"How?"
Jack looked at the kids then out at the crowd. He spotted Claire and beckoned her over.
"Claire, do you mind taking the kids to Rose? Help her get them cleaned up. Maybe find something for them to eat."
"Sure. Come on, luvs." She opened her arms, waving them away from the table. They all turned to Michael, who looked at Jack. Jack tilted his head in a plea and Michael nodded. The kids left with Michael telling Walt that he'll talk with him later.
Jack examined Michael and saw some minor cuts and bruises. He reached into his pocket and withdrew some supplies.
"What happened out there?" Jack whispered, as he dabbed at some of Michael's cuts.
"Hell happened out there. We'd been running for almost three days. Ana…she was in no condition to do it, but she fought to get here."
Jack nodded, "I know. From what I've seen, she took a good beating." He drew back as Michael winced. "Sorry."
"It's okay. Yeah, she did."
Jack finished his job and put his supplies away.
"Let's go talk about this somewhere else."
Meanwhile
Sawyer stared at her, every so often moving a stray hair or just gently stroking her bruised cheek.
"What did them bastards do to ya, Chica?"
He raised her right hand examining her knuckles noticing the criss-crossing of scars. A faint smile formed on his lips. "Bet you knocked a few them boys on their asses." He lifted her hand cupped it in his own to his lips.
"You gotta be strong, Ana. You have to fight. You didn't come all this way just to die." He whispered. He kissed her fingers before laying her hand down.
"Besides, we're a matchin' set." His hand touched the wound on her shoulder tenderly.
He glanced over his shoulder and saw Jack walking with Michael. He turned back to Ana touching her cheek again. He leaned down whispering in her ear.
When he finished, he stood up pushing the chair back as he did so. Rose turned towards him. He said nothing. She watched him leave before facing Scott again.
"What was that all about?" asked Scott.
Rose smiled, "It's about something I don't think even he is ready to admit aloud yet."
Michael and Jack made to the 'Meeting Room' with Jack explaining how they discovered it. They entered and Jack offered Michael a crate. Michael sat down glancing around the narrow room feeling slightly claustrophobic. Moments later, Eko, Locke, Sayid and then Sawyer, in dryer clothes, entered.
Michael felt surrounded. His mind flashed back to when he was presented to the Others at the camp. His uneasiness increased because of it. He wanted nothing more than to run out the room and reassure himself that his son was okay but Jack caught his eyes. The concern present there calm Michael some.
"We need to know what happened, Mike. We really need to know. Yesterday they took another one of us and then today you show up with Ana half dead, two kids beside your son, and quite a few Others on your tail. How the hell did you escape? How did Ana get like that? What happened to you all?"
Michael sighed as he looked at each of them. He noticed Sawyer's eyes were on the floor. He saw the man's jaw clenched tightly before he looked up with eyes demanding answers.
Michael sagged. "I can't tell you much…"
"What can you tell us?" said Sawyer gruffly.
Michael shrugged and sighed. "Man. Look, they dragged me to their camp blind-folded, dumped me into a building, and left me there for I don't know how long. When they finally pulled me out, there was this…this dense fog. It was so thick I couldn't see my hand in front of my face. The man took me to this other building. Inside were some more people, but I really couldn't see them. Then the man from the boat that shot at us out on the water spoke. That's when I saw Walt.
"Walt was looking half dead. I didn't know what to think. At first he wouldn't speak to me but then I got him to snap out of it. It was then that the bearded guy from the boat basically he told me he was gonna keep me alive as long as I could keep Walt cooperating with them.
"He let me go with my son and again there was this fog outside. I couldn't believe it. I mean how could there be fog like that and so thick. The man escorting me walked in it like it wasn't there." He thinks a moment. "Come to think of it so did Walt."
He was silent for a long stretch. Just as he is about to speak again Kate came into the room. She blushed mumbling sorry before moving to stand next to Sawyer.
Michael continued the story telling them about how he saw Ana hanging from a pole. How two days later she was thrown in the room with him in a catatonic state. How he had tried to coax her out, get her to eat, sleep but she didn't.
"It wasn't until Walt spoke to her that she snapped out of it."
"Why?" asked Locke.
"I don't know. He was whispering to her, but I couldn't make it out," he lied. He didn't want the others to know what he did hear Walt say because he didn't understand how Walt would know that Sawyer was waiting for her. It had to be Sawyer he was talking about because it made sense considering what Ana told him.
"Then what happened?" asked Jack.
"We planned and then took off. It was then that Ana wondered about the fog because it seemed like we couldn't escape it. The girl Emma, I think that's her name. She told Ana that there wasn't a fog. A second later, the worst pain in the world shot through my head. When it finally faded, the fog was gone."
"Gone?" said Sayid.
"Yeah. Gone. Like it had never been there. I can't explain it but it was. And then we ran like hell. We only stopped once and the next day kept going. We weren't sure which way to go but the boy…I think his name is Zack- He knew the direction.
"I mean they knew where to go and how to get there and they also knew when the others were close. I …it was like they could sense them. I don't know how or why. But I know this. They wanted the kids and I think it has to do with their abilities."
"How do you mean?" asked Jack.
"They were testing Walt. Trying to see if he was psychic or something. They wanted to use the kids against us."
"Against us how?" asked Sayid.
"They were going to use them to pick out who was good so they can take them and then kill the rest of you. I don't how but they thought they could use the kids…"
"How do you know they ain't using them now?"
Everyone looked at Sawyer who has a very cool expression on his face.
"Hey man. What are you tryin' to say?" Michael said standing up.
"I ain't trying to say anything. I'm askin'. How do we know those kids ain't working for the Others?"
"Because they helped us. They brought us back here…"
Sawyer rolled his eyes muttering to himself.
"Say what?" snapped Michael.
"Nothing man. I was just askin' a legitimate question."
"Ana didn't complain…" responded Michael angry.
"I guess we have to take your word for it considerin' she ain't in the position to speak right now."
Michael just shook his head. Jack took that moment to intervene.
"Okay. That's enough. If they wanted to get us, they had plenty of time to do it. Right now isn't the time to start distrusting each other."
"It's not about distrust. It's about the fact that every one in this room swore up and down that they'd NEVER come back. As recently as yesterday, someone was screaming that in my ear." He glanced at Kate who looked away. "Then suddenly they came bursting through the trees at practically the same place where they first took her. And how convenient at a time when I was there to witness it. No man. That was no damn coincidence."
"So you think they set it up? That Ana wanted to get beat up and stabbed! That we came all the way back here just to get everyone SNATCHED!" Michael screamed at Sawyer.
Sawyer stared at Michael calmly before saying, "No. I don't think that. I do think something else is goin' on. I don't understand why they beat her like that. If they wanted revenge they could have just killed her. We've seen what they can do. They ain't got no qualms about takin' us out. Hell, they took someone yesterday. Those kids…"
"Are what those others want," said Locke. "They were willing to kill to get them back. They chased all them all the way back here. Now maybe it was a set up, but I don't think it was. I think they were really trying to get them back. I think we need to really learn why."
Michael shook his head, "Ain't no one gonna be experimenting on my son and those other kids either…"
Locke stood trying to calm down Michael.
"Michael. Locke's right. If the others want them, we have to learn why. You can help us with that." Said Jack.
"Just like them," he said bitterly.
Jack looked at him solemnly. "You know it's not the same. Mike, we can't stay ignorant of what they are doing. I don't mean that we lock the kids up. But we have to know what they were doing to them so that we can be ready."
"For what?"
"For whatever they have planned," said Eko quietly.
Everyone stood quietly before Michael nodded. "Fine. But let them rest…"
Jack raised his head. "I agree. We need to make sure they are okay first. We'll talk with them later on tonight."
"But," started Michael.
"The sooner we know the sooner we can do something about it," said Jack.
Michael nodded curtly before heading out the door. Sawyer exited before him heading back to the bunks. Michael called to him.
Sawyer turned to him slowly staring. Michael walked slowly up to him. When he was close enough so that no one would hear he said,
"She knew you kept your promise."
Sawyer frowned. "What did ya say?"
Michael swallowed before glaring at Sawyer repeating himself.
"She said. That she knows you kept your promise. She made me swear to tell you if…"
"If what?" Sawyer said leaning down.
"Look man we didn't know if we were going to make it but Ana was bad off. At one point she couldn't walk. She made me swear to tell just in case she couldn't." Michael walked away.
Sawyer moved back into the bunks where Rose was sitting next to Ana checking on her. Jack was with Scott making sure he was okay. Rose looked up at Sawyer.
"You want to sit with her?"
"Yeah, thanks. Thanks," he said taking the seat Rose had just vacated.
When he turned back around he saw that both Jack and Rose had left the room. Facing Ana he touched her forehead and moved a strand of hair off of her face. A moment later he saw her shudder. Her eyes squeezed tight…
Ana jerked awake again. And once again the pain made her want to jump out of her skin. Her fingers curled from the intensity of it. She stopped moving, including her mouth because somehow her whole face hurt as much as her body.
"Shh, chica. Take your time." Said a husky male voice.
Slowly she opened her eyes. Hovering over her was Sawyer, face full of concern. She blinked slowly staring at him, wondering if he would fade out like a dream. But he continued to stare at her. Finally she said,
"You gonna get me some water or what?"
Her voice was scratchy, but was the best sound Sawyer heard in a long time.
"Alright, Xena girl." He stood and went to the pitcher of water left in the room. Grabbing a cup he poured her a glass. He took it back to her.
Ana was trying to sit up but Sawyer stopped her.
"Hold you horses, girl." He sat the cup on the shelf next to the bunk and sat down on the bed next to her. He gently helped her sit up, but she still gasped in pain making him grimace. Finally she was up and leaning against him. He retrieved the cup and placed it to her lips. She drank slowly and when she finished she turned away. Sawyer place the cup back on the shelf and they both sat quietly.
Ana listened to his heart beating slowly his chest providing her with the reassurance that she was not in a dream. She closed her eyes momentarily thinking about the past few days only to realize again that she was missing a whole chunk of her life.
"You okay there Ana?" Sawyer asked softly.
She smiled faintly. "Yeah. I think so."
"You wanna tell what happened to you?"
"I wish I could but I can't. I don't remember."
Sawyer frowned. Then he remembered Claire and she didn't remember either.
"I…I only remember being taken and then waking up in a room body achin' and bruised. I remember running her and seeing you. Lucky you were there, I guess."
"It wasn't luck Xena."
Ana moved some to get a look at Sawyer's face.
"What do you mean?"
He shrugged, "I mean I went there on purpose."
She studied him waiting for him to say more and noticed that he almost seemed embarrassed to say more.
"What's going on with you," she whispered.
Sawyer absently stroked her hair as he stared into her brown eyes trying to will her to understand what he couldn't bring himself to say. Realizing that she wasn't a telepath he said,
"I went down there to remember you. It was the last place I saw you and," he stopped and looked at the wall. "It doesn't matter."
Ana smiled at him. Then she laughed a little. "Did you miss me?" she murmured batting her swollen eyes at him.
He snorted shaking his head. "Ha, ha, laugh it up."
She reached up slowly touching his cheek her face suddenly serious. "Did you?"
They held each others eyes. Sawyer took her hand in his. He brushed his lips over them before placing back in her lap.
"Michael told me what you said."
"He did?"
"Yeah. You weren't plannin' on quittin' on me were you?"
She looked away then. Sawyer waited but she said nothing. He looked away then gaze staring out the door of the room watching people move back and forth.
"I didn't think I would make it. I didn't want to di-I wanted you to know that I knew you tried. That it meant a lot that you did."
Sawyer felt his heart lurch at the idea that she may have died if she hadn't made it to the beach. That idea of it enraged him. He wanted to make the others pay for even putting her in that position. He wanted them to pay for what they did do to her.
Instead he said, "Yeah well. You made it back, a little worse for wear…"
She laughed. "A little?"
He laughed. "Aw right, a lot. But I heard you had some beacons to help ya out."
"Yeah we did."
"Do you trust them?"
Ana slightly turned to look at him again. She saw the unease in his eyes.
"Yeah. I do."
He nodded. Her word was good enough for him. He trusted her so he'll trust her opinion.
"Okay then." He shifted, "I think you need to get some rest, chica."
"Yea, I know. I was wondering when you'd shut up and let me do it."
"Whoat. And here I thought you like my company."
She closed her eyes for a moment before saying, "I do."
He helped her lay back down and then stood to leave.
He was just about to leave when she took his hand.
"Hey. Stay with me."
He studied her. He saw the fear and vulnerability in her eyes.
"Okay." He sat in the chair.
"No," she said. She patted on the space next to her before looking at him.
He stared at her some more before slowly standing. He removed his shirt and kicked off his shoes. Then he got on the bed, stretching out. For a moment there was some twist and shift as he got in a position that was most comfortable for her. Eventually Sawyer was up against the wall on his side, his arm draped around Ana's middle. Ana lay slightly up against him. Her hand was covering his.
"Thanks, Sawyer," she muttered in her sleep.
"James," he whispered back.
She slit one eye open, "What?"
"Nothing. Go back to sleep."
Okay…James."
He smiled, "Don't worry, chica. I'll kept watch over you." He stroked her hair from her face before kissing it.
As Ana slept she kept hearing a whispering. At first she ignored it but it became persistent. She turned to tell Sawyer to shut up…
Ana was in a foggy area. She could barely see in ten feet in front of her. It wouldn't have matter because before her stood Sawyer, hand over a bleeding wound in his chest. Ana held a knife in her hand that she dropped like a second later.
"Why did you kill me?" He fell to his knees and then face forward to the ground.
She shakes her head, "Sawyer…Sawyer!"
Men began to appear through the fog speaking to her.
"He was just trying to watch over you, help you and you killed him. He's dead you killed him. This isn't all a dream. See his body on the ground."
Ana shook her head. "No he isn't. I didn't…"
"He was here to help you you killed him. He's dead."
Ana placed her hands over her ears screaming,
"Nooooo"
"Yes. Everything you touch is dead. You are a murderer. You baby…
"It was an accident!
"Jason…"
"He killed my child…"
"Whose fault was that, yours."
"You helped Goodwin kill one of your own…"
"Nooooo!" she screamed louder. Then she jumped up to punch the man. Before she could make it she got kicked in the back, landing on the body of Shannon.
"You killed her…"
Shaking her head she tried to get away but someone grabbed her by her hair pulling towards the other body.
"And the one person that wanted to help you you just gutted." The man tossed her on the ground next to Sawyer's body. His blue eyes staring back at her lifeless.
"I didn't kill him it's a lie!"
A man grabbed her by the neck pushing her face closer to Sawyer's.
"Does that look like a lie to you. You did this. You killed him and now you have to pay. You deserve to die. Everything you touch is poisoned. And everything we have done to you, you deserve!"
"No! I don't deserve this. I'm not a killer…"
"He's dead because of you."
"He's dead you killed him. He's dead you killed him. He's dead you killed him. He's dead you killed him."
The chanting continued. Ana tried to fight the words but as she stared at Sawyer's dead body she knew it was true she did it. She killed him like she killed Shannon, Jason, her baby. As they kept chanting a little boy came before her.
"You killed me mommie," he said.
She sobs, "I'm sorry. I didn't know."
The child turned vicious, "You did know you're just a killer."
Then Shannon appeared her face just as twisted with hate spatting her that she is a murderer.
Ana tried to get away from the images but then Sawyer came forward and she froze.
"I just wanted to help ya, chica and look what you done?"
"I didn't know…"
He grabbed her by the neck choking her, "You did know. You just didn't care."
He began squeezing the life out of her…
Ana twitched a moment then started shaking. Sawyer snapped awake trying to figure out what was happening when suddenly Ana shot up and screamed loudly, causing others to scream in various parts of the hatch. Her voice slowly faded out as her eyes glazed over and she slumped backwards.
"Ana. Ana!"
Sawyer shook her, but all she did was flop back against him, not responding. He shook her again, but she still didn't respond.
Jack came running into the room over to the bunk.
"What's going on?"
Sawyers shook his head, "I don't know. She was asleep then she started shakin'. Then she screamed and now she's like this."
"What!" said Jack taking Ana's pulse, "Sawyer…"
"I'm tellin' ya all I know doc!"
Jack took her pulse again shaking his head. It was even slower this time.
"Doc, what's wrong with her!" Sawyer shouted.
"I think she's dying," Jack replied softly.
"What!" Snapped Sawyer, fear building in his heart.
"I don't know!"
"Well, do somethin'!"
"Move."
Sawyer got out the way as Jack examined her, but her could not find nothing to tell him what's wrong. He tried talking to her.
"Ana. Ana come on. You have to talk to me. Tell me where it hurts so I can help you."
By then a crowd was around the room starting in as Jack frantically tried to help Ana to no avail as Sawyer paced furiously back and forth.
"Come on, Doc do somethin'" Sawyer pleaded.
"Dammit, I'm trying." He snapped trying to stay calm himself. He kept looking into the vacant eyes of Ana hoping that she would wake up.
Ten minutes later, Sawyer was sitting on the bed holding Ana in his arms and rocking her slowly. His were eyes red from tears that wanted to fall but wouldn't. The room was silent. In fact, the whole hatch was silent. Kate had her hand against Jack's back trying to comfort him. No one moved. No one knew what to say.
In the mist of the shocked adults were three children, their face almost inhuman. They stood in a group whispering softly. It took a moment before someone recognized the sound as the same one used by the Others.
Charlie stared at the children as they stepped forward, they seemed like they were floating as they moved. He wanted to say something but he couldn't find his voice. When he looked up he noticed a few more people witnessing what he saw.
The children moved through the people effortlessly until they reached the room and everyone had their eyes on them. Walt stepped forward.
You are her past. You are her future.
You are her past. You are her future.
You are her past. You are her future.
The words seemed to be all around them in a loud whisper sounding like a rustling of leaves. The boy moved to the left and the girl to the right. Walt stood right in front of Sawyer and Ana, hand extended. They formed a triangle. The other two face Walt, steadily whispering the chant as Walt stared at Sawyer.
Michael started to speak, but Eko caught his arm silencing him. Shaking his head he returned his focus on the kids, knowing something powerful was about to happen.
Sawyer stared at the boy in front of him who suddenly had the eyes of someone far older than his years. His features were still and emotionless. He spoke the words with the others but suddenly it was only his voice that could be heard.
"You are her past. You are her future."
Sawyer slowly shook his head. What are you talkin' about? "
Walt touched Ana's head blinking slowly before looking up at Sawyer.
"You saved her."
A choke laugh falls from Sawyer lips.
"Some save. She's dying, kid or didn't you notice?"
He slowly shakes his head. "She is not dying. They have her. They tried to keep her but they can't because you saved her."
"I don't know what the hell you mean!" snapped Sawyer.
Walt reached for his hand but Sawyer moved it away. Walt tilted his head looking at him.
"You're the one I want."
Sawyer's eyes get big. That was the exact phrase he whispered in her ear in what seem like ages ago before the meeting in the back room.
"What are you playin' at?"
"You don't have much time. You saved her because you are her past, you are her future. If you don't then we aren't saved either. You promised to save her."
Walt reached for Sawyer again. Sawyer slowly takes the boy's hand.
"Show her the truth."
"Wh…"
A blinding pain goes through Sawyer's head and then he passes out. Jack starts to move forward but finds there is an invisible barrier preventing him. The whispering the room increases, but the words were indistinguishable.
"What the hell is going on?" He asked to Michael.
Michael shook his head mouth in disbelief.