CHAPTER 8

Jack checked on Locke early the next morning just after he'd looked in on Sawyer – who he'd found to be sleeping soundly. He had heard that Locke had had a rough night and sure enough when he looked in on him he found Locke awake, laying down on his back staring off into space.

"Hey John." He said as he entered, Locke snapped out of his contemplation, "How are you feeling today?" He asked him.

"Better." Locke smiled. "Thanks to you Jack. I know what you did for me out there the other day can't have been easy, knowing how you feel about me at the moment."

"No…" Jack faltered. "Look if you feel up to it this morning I need to take a closer look at your leg. At the very least you'll need your bandages changing, and you may need stitches."

"Fine by me" Locke smiled.

Jack smiled back. "I'm afraid it's not going to be very pleasant." He explained. "I could try giving you a sedative if I need to cut away any of the flesh around the wound but there's no guarantee you won't wake up anyway as soon as I start the procedure."

"You've got to do what needs to be done Jack." Locke nodded. "I understand. I don't need a sedative."

After a while of examining Locke's leg Jack looked up.

"I think you'll be alright." He told him. "The flesh is pretty healthy and there's no lingering signs of infection. We may get away with just stitching it."

"Whatever you think best Jack." Locke replied – he seemed far too indifferent for Jack's liking.

"Do you have a favourite colour?" He asked him humorously.

"Pardon?"

"The thread… we have red or black?" He explained, holding both up for Locke to see.

"Plain old black." Locke smiled.

"This is going to sting a bit." Jack warned him.

"That's ok, I'm no stranger to pain…"

Locke flinched as the needle penetrated his skin for the first time and as Jack settled into the rhythm of stitching Locke's leg his mind began to wander.

Maybe it was the fact that this was a minor procedure he had carried out so many times before, but he started to think about the first time he and Kate had met. Had it really been destined destiny? He asked himself. Locke seemed to believe that everything currently happening on the island was meant to be.

Could their meeting have really been down to more than mere chance?

What if Kate was the reason Jack had survived the crash? He couldn't help but question what separated him from so many of those who had died – what separated any of them in fact? Luck must have played its part – at the end of the day they were all just statistics – those who had lived, and those who had died. He got to thinking about the events of the previous evening; the kiss they had shared had been a passionate one – more than just a moment of weakness. Jack remembered the feeling of his lungs about to burst as his body desperately fought with him to breath, yet not wanting to pull away from Kate. Her body had been solid and clammy against his, her skin soft and delicate. The night they had spent together out in the jungle had been exotic, their tongues reaching for each other, tied in knots. Their bodies bound by invisible rope wound from the silent understanding and acceptance they shared. There was something about Kate, Jack thought, something different. She could be vulnerable – there was no doubt that there were things in Kate's past that hurt her, scars that may never fully heal. But at the same time she was strong willed, an independent – and could be just the tiniest bit manipulative.

Things had been different with Sarah – she had been much more dainty, someone to protect rather than to make love to – Kate was both. Sarah had been into shopping, pretty dresses, make up, perfume, and getting her hair done – when she could afford it. She used to spend hours making herself look pretty for Jack whenever there was even the slightest suggestion of a party, or an outing - but he had loved her – intensely. It had torn him apart the day she had left him. Jack had never known pain like that he had felt in the months that had followed – but there was no doubting that the love he felt for Kate was different. She had chosen him over Sawyer, Jack could not forget that. He knew that if Sawyer cared for Kate as much as he himself did he would be going through emotional hell at the moment, and he did not envy him… But Jack did not believe in destiny…

"You know Kate asked me something very similar just after we crashed, when we first met out there in the jungle." Jack finally told Locke.

"What's that?" Locke asked.

"She asked me what colour thread I wanted." He said. "Out there in the jungle, just before she fixed me."

"And is that how you see what you're doing for me now? Fixing me?"

"I'm still here aren't I?" Jack shrugged.

"Argh…" Locke suddenly gritted his teeth in a pained grimace, and let out a breath so quietly - almost as though in hope that Jack would not hear him.

"You alright Locke?" Jack looked up.

"Yeah…yeah…I'm fine." Locke replied. "The needle just stings a bit that's all."

Jack gave Locke a dubious look. He suspected that Locke was still in more pain than he made out – he was certainly very pale this morning, Jack had noticed.

"I'm nearly done now." He reassured him. "Just a couple more stitches, it's a deep wound."

Locke went suddenly silent, turning his head away so he did not have to face Jack, and nodding in silent response.

"There, all done." Jack said as he tied off the last stitch. "You need to get some rest now Locke. I need to go and check on Sawyer again, and Charlie. I will be going down to the beach later, but Sun will he here to keep an eye on you, so no wondering off anywhere, you're still weak. If you need me send someone down to fetch me, I won't be far away."

"Hey what is this?" Locke strained to ask as he tried to sit up.

"I just don't believe you when you say you're fine Locke. You're too quiet – there's something you're not telling me."

"We all have things in our past that we would like to keep a secret Jack." Locke replied.

"The past does not matter, it's the here and now that concerns me."

"I'm fine."

"So you keep saying… look Locke I can't keep you here against your will. If you really want to go, go, I can't stop you, but you needed my help and I gave it to you, and in my professional opinion you still need to remain close to camp… there's still the possibility of a relapse… I could give you something to help you sleep." Jack suggested more gently.

"It's OK Jack, I'll manage." Locke replied.

"I'll be back to check on you later then." Jack said as he left. He didn't notice that as he did so Locke lay doubled up in silent pain.