"It's been two hours John," Locke ignored the objections, continuing to tread through the undergrowth; picking his pace up even though his legs were starting to ache. "We need a break."
"I don't need one." He knew that he was being idiotic, he did need a break, or at least to get a drink of water but he didn't want to appear weak. Rousseau had shown him up, appearing and attacking his faith before disappearing as usual. She hadn't had the right to; he found it hard enough to get people in the camp to respect him without this latest setback, "I don't care if they don't like me, it doesn't matter, there's something more important than them."
"What?"
"I said I don't need a break."
"No, you mumbled something else," Locke froze, he knew that he had said his mantra in his head, he usually did, it was something his therapist had taught him to do so that he didn't get depressed with being an outsider but he hadn't meant to say it aloud.
"I don't think I did."
Kate shrugged, obviously not interested anymore.
"We're taking a break now," Jack sat down and Kate followed suit. For a moment Locke considered continuing without them, letting them catch up but he didn't, sitting down as well, trying to ignore the pain that was starting to spread at the base of his spine. He still wasn't used to walking, too much work made it hurt like hell.
"I'm going to go and get some fruit," Kate raised her eyes to the trees above them, there were banana's a couple of meters away. Jack nodded his approval and she scooted off.
"We should head back to camp…"
"No."
"Chances are we're not going to find Aaron right now, Rousseau said…"
"No." Locke was surprised that he was arguing with Jack, something that he rarely had the courage to do but it was worth it. He needed to keep looking for Aaron, even if he didn't know why.
"Sayid needs medical attention."
Locke bit back a laugh, not managing to hide it completely, "if you cared about Sayid you'd have gone back with him when Sawyer did."
"You know what John? Maybe you think that there's something more important than me but I'm the leader around here and everybody knows it. We're taking this break and we are going back to camp."
Sawyer rubbed at his temple, he was starting to get a headache. When Sayid woke up he had been inundated with Charlie whining at him and Claire crying to him, asking why he could have left Aaron with the Others and come back. It had taken all of his strength not to say that he had tried to stay behind. He looked across the beach, seeing Charlie sit down next to Claire, handing her a bottle of water and wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
"Hey dude, Sayid's falling asleep again."
Sawyer sighed, hearing Hurley behind him, "son of a bitch," he stood up, walking a few steps to Sayid who was lying on his side, his arms cradled underneath his head. "Get up."
"I'm tired."
"Jack said that you had to stay awake and if you die I ain't taking the blame so get up."
"Jack said this over three hours ago and if you will not let me go back into the jungle to help them then you can at least let me sleep."
Sawyer rolled his eyes, smiling, as much as he hated what Sayid had put him through it was nice knowing that there was someone else on the island willing to challenge authority. "You want me to get you something to eat again?"
"I am not hungry. I have had concussion before and I know that I am safeto sleep now."
"Not until Jack says. I'm sure he's nearly back anyway. Now get up."
Sayid sighed, sitting up, "happy now?"
"Fucking ecstatic. Now can I get some peace yet?"
"You do not have to watch me."
"You're not going to sleep."
"Then get someone else to watch me."
"I'm the only one who can beat you up if you lie down again."
Sayid nodded understandably, "I suppose that you could."
Sawyer left him, sitting down and watching Charlie and Claire again, wishing that Jack would get back soon before Sayid drove him insane.