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Rachel x

Chapter 8

Once Jack was fashioned a sort of sling, he patched up my side and my head as best as he could. For my side he had to have Kate stitch me up. I have to admit that it was pretty daunting. She didn't have the steadiest of hands. Sawyer held my hand the entire time. It seemed to be familiar yet so new to me. I liked it. He was good in that he didn't look when Kate had to cut my top away to get to my wound. He looked at the trees, at my face, at anything till Kate helped me into a button up top. I took some Tylenol for the pain and that was that.
A few of us "cavies" slept in the jungle for the night; it was easier than carting everything down to the beach straightaway. There would be plenty of time the next day.

I woke early the next morning, sunlight filtering down through the leafy roof of the jungle.

"Where do we go now? The caves aren't going to be habitable till we sort out that rubble" I said to Sawyer once he was awake too.

"Back to the beach, that's where all you cave dwellers are going" Sawyer grinned "you're all migrating back to the mother country"

"Well if that's the case you're going to have to get my stuff for me" I said, giving him the puppy dog eyes.

"Yes sir!" he replied humorously, saluting me.

I chuckled lightly and waited for him to finish packing my bits and pieces. When he was done I gestured for Sawyer to help me to my feet. Gently, he pulled me up and wrapped and arm carefully around my hips to support me.

"This may take a while" I muttered after hobbling painfully for the past ten minutes without getting very far.

Sawyer chuckled.

I was right when I said that it would take a while, in fact it took Sawyer and I nearly two hours to struggle through the jungle to the beach. The beach was a lot fuller now than it had been since we moved to the caves. As we arrived, tents were being reconstructed, and Jin was once again in the water, fishing.

"I don't mean to be a burden, Sawyer" I said "but can you help me rebuild my tent?"

Sawyer laughed.

"Polite today aren't we, Sunshine?" Sawyer replied, rolling his eyes, "you don't need to rebuild your tent, you can share with me"

I stopped walking and looked up at Sawyer who had stopped when I did. He looked nervous. I remembered what Jack had said about how Sawyer didn't strike him as being one for commitment.

"You want me to move in with you? Is that what you're saying? Because I find that pretty hard to believe" I exclaimed "you've known me all of nine days, we don't know anything about each other"

"It's hardly moving in with me, Ollie. It's a tent, not a mansion for God's sake. You know me as well as you need to"

"And that's why I'm not sharing your tent with you, Sawyer. I've had enough of secrets; I don't want to deal with yours too. So I'm going to find Jack or Kate, or anybody"

I turned on my heel and walked as quickly as I could down the beach.

"Ollie!" Kate called from her new tent.

I smiled grimly, trying to hold back the tears.

"Hey, what's wrong, Ol?" Kate asked me.

"Nothing" I muttered "can you help me set up a tent?"

"Yeah, course. I'll get Jack and Charlie to help too. It'll be up in no time"

"Thanks, I'd do it but…" I tried to apologise but Kate held her hand up to stop me.

"Don't worry about it, Ollie, we don't mind"

"You haven't even asked Charlie and Jack yet"

"Pffft" Kate scoffed "like they can resist this face"

I laughed as Kate struck a pose.

"Maybe Jack can't but I reckon Charlie's more interested in our expectant mother" I grinned.

I didn't like not being able to help Kate, Charlie and Jack set me up a tent. I felt bad for just standing there. I was thankful for the help though, not only because they did it for me but also because it was ten times as good as my original tent.

When it was done I gave each of my helpers a thank you hug before going for a walk down the beach to the water. I sat down, supporting my side, and put my feet into the gently lapping waves. They were warm and calm on my feet. I wiggled my toes. I screwed up my nose and grimaced at the sight of my toenails. The pink nail varnish was all chipped and messy. I'd have to see if Shannon had any going spare so that I could tidy them up a bit.

I rested my head on my knees and sighed, looking out at the beach. It was about midday and I was starting to get peckish. I stood up and started up the beach. As I got closer I could hear Boone, Sawyer, Jack, Sayid and Kate arguing.

"Just give us the inhalers, Sawyer!" Jack shouted.

Sawyer smirked.

"I don't have your damn inhalers" Sawyer responded.

"You ransacked the baggage, Sawyer. You've got a hoard of medicine, you've got Shannon's inhalers" Boone accused, jabbing his finger at Sawyer.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"He won't give us Shannon's inhalers" Kate said.

"Do you have them, Sawyer?" I asked him.

"No, I don't have the inhalers" Sawyer grumbled indignantly.

I narrowed my eyes and scrutinised his face. I folded my arms across my chest and he held my eyes for a moment. I turned to the others.

"He doesn't have the inhalers" I sighed, turning to walk away from them.

"And we're supposed to just take his word for it?" Sayid demanded.

"Believe what you want, Sayid" I shrugged "I'll be helping out at the caves if you want me"

I walked away into the jungle. The pain medication Jack had me on was pretty strong, it was good at numbing the pain, but it made my brain feel a bit fuzzy. I knew that there wasn't much I could do at the caves, but I might've been able to do something to help.

When I got to the caves, Charlie and a bunch of the others were working under Michael's supervision. I smiled at him as I approached. The cave was looking good, I'd be able to move back in soon.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" I asked Michael.

"Nah; we're pretty much done here" Michael responded.

Rather than go back to the beach, I sat down on the floor of the cave out of the way of the others. I was glad that Jack and the others weren't here too. I wasn't in the mood for any inhaler related drama.

Unfortunately, it wasn't long before Jack pitched up at the caves with Sayid to help with the cave work. I ignored them and kept my position on the floor. That was until Boone came crashing through the jungle with Shannon on his arm. She was pale and struggling to breathe. She was sucking in hoarse, ragged breaths.

"Oh God, Shannon" I said, shooting to my feet and ignoring the pain it caused.

I stumbled over to where she had slumped onto a rock. Jack rushed over to her too.

"Just try and breathe, Shannon" Jack instructed, he knelt down in front of her.

He held onto her hands and made her copy him. Together they breathed in and out slowly until she managed to regain some normality in her breathing. Sayid and Jack shared a long look before Jack stood up.

"Watch her for me, Ol" Jack asked.

"Of course I will" I agreed "where are you going?"

"I've just got some stuff to do, Ollie. I'll be back soon, just try to keep her calm and keep her breathing"

"No pressure there, Jack" I muttered.

I watched as Jack disappeared with Sayid back towards the beach. I stayed with Shannon and Boone, helping to keep Shannon calm, but her breathing was getting worse and worse. I tapped my fingers reflexively on the ground. What was going on? Where were Jack and Sayid? What would I do if Shannon got any worse? These thoughts kept swirling around in my head until I had finally decided that enough was enough.

"I'm going to go find Jack" I told Boone "I'll be back soon"

Dread was filling my stomach and I just knew that something was wrong. I raced as fast I could through the jungle, clutching my side. As I got closer I heard a scream. It was Sawyer's. I gasped and made myself thunder through the trees faster. The pain was killing me but I pushed it to the back of my mind.

That's when I saw Sayid; Sayid torturing Sawyer. I saw Sawyer move and the knife went into his arm. Sawyer screamed once more as blood spurted out of his arm. Jack cursed and jumped forwards, pressing down hard on Sawyer's arm.

"Sawyer!" I cried, crashing down next to him, tears pouring down my face.

"Give me something for his arm" Jack yelled.

I pulled off my top, leaving me in my polka dot bikini top that I'd lifted from a dead woman's case. I handed it over to jack. He pulled it tight around Sawyer's arm. Sawyer groaned in pain. He sent Sayid to get his medical supplies from the caves. I held Sawyer's hand tightly. His face was pasty pale.
"He's hit an artery" Jack muttered to himself.

"Can you fix it? Will he be ok?" I asked.

"He's going to be fine, Ol. I promise"

We waited anxiously until Sayid skidded back into the tent with the bag full of medical supplies. Hack set to work. I leant closer to Sawyer. His jaw was clenched in pain.

"I'm sorry, Ol" Sawyer groaned "I'll tell you everything I promise "

"Hey! Don't worry about it" I laughed through my tears "no death bed apologies, Sawyer. Jack's nearly done, we're both going to be invalids together, ok?"

When Jack was done he gave Sawyer a sedative that would make him sleep till the morning. He fashioned a sling for Sawyer then disappeared with Sayid. He looked mad and guilty. I heard them shouting.

I lay down next to Sawyer, curling up next to him and wrapping my arms around him. I closed my eyes, sucked in a deep, steadying breath and went to sleep.