Eventually Sun began to yawn. Michael looked at her, her eyelids were drooping and her breath was becoming shallow.
"You have to move, getting some sleep will help."
"I think I will sleep here."
Michael shook his head, "tide will come in, you'll drown" he hadn't realised what he had said until he had said it, and now it was too late to take it back. It seemed to work though, Sun stood up, swaying slightly after sitting for so long. Michael stood up as well, gently holding onto her arm to support her fragile frame as he guided her back to the tent she had shared with Jin.
Sun laid down, "thank you Michael," she appeared to fall asleep instantly and Michael walked out. Despite wanting to stay with her he was hungry and thirsty.
He walked down the beach, nodding politely to the people who gave him enquiring glances. He came to the bottles of water and saw Sayid was there.
"When can we bury him?" Sayid's voice had taken on a scratched, broken quality to it, the sorrow and longing for Shannon as visible in the sound as they were in the circles under his eyes or the newly acquired gauntness of his face.
Michael sipped some water, feeling relief as it soothed his throat. "I don't know, possibly tonight. She's sleeping that the moment."
Sayid nodded, "it is good she is able to do that. How is she coping?"
"Not very well, but she shouldn't be coping yet."
Sayid stood up, "if he is to be buried tonight I will start to dig the grave."
Sayid started to walk away and Michael found himself remembering how he had dug one for Shannon. "Don't man. You don't need to, other people can do it."
"No, I may as well."
Sayid walked off, leaving Michael alone. For a moment he almost fell asleep himself but then he heard someone nearby. Turning, he saw that it was Jack. The dreamy sleep-like state was replaced with boiling anger as he marched over to him.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Getting some water?"
"You had no right to talk to her like that!"
Jack just looked confused and exasperated, "what are you talking about Michael?"
"Sun, you told her she should stop grieving Jin. He was her husband Jack!"
"I am aware of that! And she's twisted my words. I said that the pills would help her with getting over him. She can't grieve forever, the island is a dangerous place and she needs to be able to take care of herself."
"He only died this morning! You don't careā¦"
Jack's face fell into a scowl as he snapped, "I do care Michael! But I have to be pragmatic because, otherwise, bad things could happen. And then the people whoa re sitting around mourning and sleeping will be the ones to blame."
Michael moved closer to Jack, fighting the urge to punch him. "I don't want you to be at his funeral."
"That isn't your decision."
"I'm making it my decision, you'll upset her."
"Fine," Jack practically spat the word as he stormed away.
