Thanks for the reviews ya'll! I'll try and have another chapter posted tomorrow. The little guys in kilts are called Nac Mac Feegle, and they belong to Terry Pratchett. You'll see lots more of them and get their back story up ahead. I own nothing, except for some of the plot.
Dawn didn't speak for the rest of the day. She sat quietly in the shelter next to the marshal, barely moving. She didn't respond to anything. Life for the rest on the beach just went on.
Dawn stared at the marshal, who was staring at Kate. Kate leaned over him, her face concerned. The marshal seemed to rise upwards in less than a second, and then he had his hands wrapped around Kate's neck, choking her. Dawn scrambled forwards, trying to pry the hands from Kate's neck without further injuring the Marshal. Strong hands covered hers, pulling her away, and then Kate was moving back, rubbing at her neck. The marshal went into convulsions.
"Just breathe, just breathe." Jack commanded, pushing Kate aside. He restrained the marshal with ease, and after the marshal quieted, her turned to glare at Kate. "What did you do?"
"I was just checking to see if he was breathing. He grabbed me. Is he.. is he ok?" Kate replied, shooting an odd look at the marshal.
"He's not.." Jack shot an unreadable look at Dawn, who was looking intently at him and Kate. "He's not responding to the antibiotics. He's got a high fever and his abdomen is ridged. He needs water." Jack ducked out of the little space, and Kate followed. Dawn moved to stand just inside the entryway, listening.
"So what are you going to do about him?" Kate asked Jack, waving her hand in the marshals general direction.
"I told you, he needs water." Jack said shortly, running a hand through his hair.
"Will he suffer?" Kate asked softly. Jack opened his mouth to answer, but he was cut off. "Will it be quick?" Kate added.
"No." Dawn said softly, stepping outside. "It will take days. Until the end, which always comes quickly."
"And he'll feel it?" Kate questioned, looking at Dawn.
"Yeah." Dawn said. "A hot pressure that doesn't stop. And it hurts and burns until there is only the pain." Dawn shook her head then and stepped away from the shelter. "And for those who tend to him, there is a smell. Sickly sweet as he rots from the inside out and the infection spreads." Dawn wrapped her arms around herself.
"Can't you.. can't you do something?" Kate asked, turning to look at Jack.
"I saw your mug shot Kate." Jack snapped, stepping towards her angrily. "I am not a murderer."
"There's blood on your hands." Dawn snapped at him, stepping in between him and Kate. "If not you, then who? You have a duty to ease that mans pain. To make the passing easier. You can't just step back and pretend that he'll be fine in five minutes."
"With the proper medication." Jack started, but Dawn cut him off again.
"With what proper medication? You have nothing. Nothing to heal him. You can ease his pain Jack. You can take it away." Dawn snapped her mouth shut and realized she was trembling. "Sometimes all you can do is be there, a helping hand at the end." And then she stormed away.
She spent the rest of the day crouched at the shoreline, watching the shelter. It seemed to be on the minds of everyone on the beach. Some were quiet about it. Others were not. Dawn fought the urge to slap Shannon after hearing the stuck up princess mutter that she wished the man would just die already. The sun set, and instead of heading toward one of the fires that dotted the beach, Dawn remained where she was, moving inland only a few feet. Sawyer approached quietly, a cigarette burning in his mouth.
"You said you'd explain later." Sawyer said gruffly, dropping to crouch in the sand next to her. Dawn nodded, not looking at his face. "It's later now." He added after a long moment of silence.
"Her name was Tara." Dawn said softly.
"Yeah I got that part." Sawyer snorted. "She disappeared?" It said it like it was a question.
"You saw her disappear with your own eyes." Dawn reminded him gently. "She was dead."
"Everybody in that plane was dead but you, me and Jack." Sawyer snapped. "
"She died 6 years ago." Dawn said carefully. "She was shot. The gunman tripped, the shot went wild, in through the window. And Tara died."
"And the gunman? Did the police catch him?" Sawyer prodded, Dawn shook her head. "So he's still out there somewhere?"
"He's dead." Dawn said shortly. "It was quick, in the end. Its all most of us can ask for really. That its quick." She gave him a quick glance in the dark. "If you can't do it, then give me the gun." She stood then, and walked across the sand to where Kate was entering the shelter as Jack walked away. Sawyer caught up with her, and then pushed passed her. He slipped inside the shelter. Dawn stood in the dark watching, waiting. Kate emerged and strode towards as Jack ran towards her his face wild with anger and fear.
The shot rang out. Kate walked away. Sawyer emerged form the tent, his face dark. Dawn shuddered, and then slipped inside the tent. She could hear Jack and Sawyer arguing. The Marshal shuddered, gasped quietly, and Dawn shook her head.
"Something's you have to do yourself." She said quietly.
end this part
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