"How are you feeling." the doctor asked.
"Now ain't that the question of the day?" replied Sawyer. He stared at Jack for minute. "So if I say the boo boo hurts are you gonna kiss it all better?"
Jack shook his head and one corner of his mouth turned upwards in a mock smile. Sawyer just glared at him. He'd gotten good at keeping people at a distance. He wouldn't let anyone near enough to hurt him. He didn't need anyone else. You couldn't ever trust anyone but yourself and he knew it.
Sawyer allowed Jack to check his injuries, which seemed mainly to consist of a large cut on the left side of his head. There were a few scrapes in other places but those seemed to be minor. He was chafing under the attention the doctor was administrering and felt the urge to flee rising up inside him. He fought against his natural impluses and let Jack do what he had to.
*Sayid*
Sayid sat quietly in his tent. The waves crashing against the shore were the only sound. Perhaps I should leave, he mused to himself. It might be easier if he did. He wasn't exactly sure what to make of his feelings. Sayid had been with many people before, but none had been like Sawyer. Sayid wished he could put a finger on what it was about the infuriating blonde that drew him.
Sawyer was beautiful though. He revelled in his thoughts about the man before pushing them quickly aside. There was no way Sawyer would have anything to do with him now. Sayid frowned thinking about the things he'd done to Sawyer. Why hadn't Sawyer just said he didn't know where the asthma medicine was?
*Sawyer*
Sawyer walked to clear his head. Old memories kept resurfacing no matter what he did to push them away. He didn't want to think about what happened when he was on the streets. Didn't want to remember the people who had used him and thrown him away. Yea, well, won't ever happen again. For some reason his thoughts drifted to Sayid.
Sawyer made a habit of pushing everyone away. No one can hurt you if you don't let 'em near, he thought to himself. He hadn't given Sayid much of a second thought in the begining. The more he got to know the guy the more he reallized how much he wanted to Sayid to fuck him. He'd promised himself that would never happen again.
Still, Sayid was so sure of himself. The more he got to know Sayid the more he knew how much Sayid could hurt him. He shuddered at the thought. No, never again. It was a promise he intended to keep. He'd never be anyones whore ever again. Never. The trees cleared and Sawyer looked up. He'd made it back to the beach.
Sawyer walked into his tent and laid down. He tried to sleep but it evaded him. He tossed and turned for several hours before he dozed fitfully. His dreams kept returning to his days on the streets. He dreamed of all the people who'd hurt him before. All the people who'd used him and thrown him away like he was nothing.
*Sayid*
Sayid had decided it was best if he left. He had already packed his things and was almost ready to leave. All that was left was to tell someone. That way no one would be worried and come looking. That way no one would get hurt again because of him. He was walking down the beach to see who was awake when he heard a sound. Sayid paused and listened for the sound again.
There. He turned in the direction of the noise and frowned. It was coming from Sawyer's tent. Sayid walked to the front and waited. The noise came again.
Sayid peered cautiously into the tent. Sawyer lay tangled in his blankets, tossing back and forth. Watching him Sayid wondered again what it was that caused these nightmares.
"No. Please." Sawyer whispered in his sleep.
Sayid's frown deepened more. It wasn't like Sawyer to beg. Sayid glanced around the beach but no one was in sight. Quietly he slipped into Sawyer's tent and continued watching him. Watching Sawyer like this Sayid almost couldn't stop himself. He put one hand out and used it to gently pull Sawyer's hair away from his face and smooth it back into place.
*Sawyer*
Sawyer's dreams kept shifting. One minute he was being used and hurt. The next minute he was somewhere else and being comforted. Gentle hands softly caressed his face, fingers were running through his hair ever so carefully. He prayed this person wasn't going to hurt him again, he couldn't take any more.
"Please," he whispered to the person in his dream. The hand paused, and Sawyer tensed. He waited for the pain, but the hand resumed caressing his face and hair. The touch was soft. It made him feel safe. He relaxed into it and drifted into the sweet surrender of a sound sleep for the first time in ages.
*Sayid*
Sayid watched as Sawyer's breathing evened out. He seemed to be sleeping better now. Sayid smiled still running his hands down the side of Sawyers face as lightly as he could. Good, he thought to himself, good. While he was happy Sawyer was sleeping more peacefully, he was now unsure of his plan to leave.
He had no plans to hurt Sawyer more, but then, he hadn't planned to hurt him the first time. He thought about it for while. Could he really leave? He kept his eyes on Sawyer while he thought. If he left, who would even care what happened to Sawyer. Sawyer didn't let people in, and most people seemed content to hate him.
He knew he couldn't leave, not without knowing Sawyer would be safe. Staring at Sawyer sleeping it was almost easy to forget everything else. One more day, he thought to himself. One more day. Sayid stood slowly and backed away from Sawyer.
"Sleep well, my friend," he whispered as he retreated back to his own tent.