Sayid moved off of Sawyer slowly. He watched Sawyer turn over. Sawyer laid there for a while before sitting up. Sayid put a hand out to help Sawyer stand, and Sawyer eyed him suspiciously.

"Take my hand."

Sawyer did, and Sayid pulled Sawyer up. He bent down and help Sawyer get his pants back on. Sayid used a hand to gesture for Sawyer to sit back down. When he finally sat Sayid sat down across from him.

"I didn't do this to hurt you Sawyer. I did this because you would not listen any other way. I am sorry I had to do things this way. I never wanted to hurt you."

Sayid waited but Sawyer didn't speak.

"I need you to know that you can trust me. That I will not do what everyone else has done to you. That I will not hurt you like they have."

Sawyer held out his still bound arms. Sayid sighed and reached for the pack.

"I am sorry about that." He pulled out a knife and cut the ropes.

Sawyer rubbed his wrists and pulled his legs up. He crossed his arms over his knees.

"I could have done anything Sawyer. I could have hurt you. I could have taken you. I didn't though. I told you I don't want to hurt you. I care for you very much. I will never lie to you. I will never hurt you on purpose. I will never take you against your will. I need you to trust me Sawyer."

"You tied me up."

"You would not listen unless I did things the way I did them."

Sawyer didn't answer.

"Sawyer, I care for you. I want to help you. I need you to open up to me. I need you to trust me."

"You did something to me I specifically said I couldn't deal with."

"Yes."

"You want me to trust you?"

"Yes."

"No."

"I realize that you have a reasons not to trust people. I realize that you've been hurt before. I won't do that to you. I will never hurt you on purpose, but if you don't open up to me I may end up hurting you on accident."

Sawyer laid his head down on his arms and made no attempt to respond.

"Sawyer-"

"What is it with you people?" Sawyer jerked his head back up and glared at Sayid.

"What?"

"Why do you both think you can do whatever you want and I won't have a problem with it? Enough's enough."

"Both?"

"Nevermind."

"Sawyer, what do you mean by both?"

"Don't worry about it."

"Don't tell me not to worry about this! I spent most of my time here trying to find a way to get you to trust me! To open up to me! I've done everything I could to try to make you feel safe! You will tell me who is hurting you!"

"No, I won't."

"Yes, you will."

"No. You can't do anything about it. This conversation is over. Let it go Sayid."

"No."

"You can't do anything about it Sayid."

"What makes you so sure?"

"Because it's my fault it happened."

"How so?"

"I asked for it."

"Excuse me?"

"I don't know. I... I guess I was having a bad week or something. Maybe it was a nightmare. Maybe I just felt like I needed to be hurt for some reason." Sawyer shrugged his shoulders and paused. He knew exactly why he'd asked to be hurt. He felt bad about not telling Sayid he didn't have the inhalers to start with. If he had maybe Sayid wouldn't have had to feel guilty for hurting him. He didn't want to tell Sayid that just yet.

Sayid didn't move or say a word. He was afraid if he spoke then Sawyer might stop.

"Whatever happened, I asked him to hurt me. He didn't approach me first. I came onto him. I didn't think he'd fuck me. I thought maybe he'd beat the crap out of me for asking."

Sawyer paused again and Sayid waited for him to continue.

"I was surprised when he agreed but I figured, hey whatever, this works too. He asked me what exactly I wanted, and I told him. He did exactly that. It was okay for a while. Then he came back after a few days and wanted me to fuck him again."

Sayid struggled not to move. He wanted to do so many things right now. To ask so many questions. He also knew that doing anything right now would make Sawyer stop telling him what happened.

"I couldn't say no."

"Why couldn't you say no Sawyer?" Sayid asked softly

"I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"Because then you'd know who he is. Please Sayid."

"Tell me."

"No, don't do this Sayid."

Sayid frowned. If he pushed this Sawyer wouldn't tell him and he would lose any trust Sawyer had in him. Still, he had to find out who this person was. He stared at Sawyer while he thought about it.

Sawyer stood slowly and turned around. Sayid stood up and got ready to grab Sawyer if he ran. Sawyer didn't run though. He just stood there with his back to Sayid.

"Sawyer?" He kept his voice soft trying not to agitate Sawyer further.

"He said he'd tell you about us. That he'd tell you everything about what we did."

"What?"

"He knew how I felt about you. He said if I didn't agree he would tell you about me and him. I didn't want you to know I liked being hurt. I didn't want you to know I was with him. I just didn't want you to know."

"Why?"

"At first? I didn't think you'd ever want to be with me. Later? I don't know. I guess I just didn't want you to think there was something wrong with me."

"Who is it Sawyer?" Sayid asked gently.

"If I tell you, you'll hurt him."

Sawyer turned around and looked Sayid in his eyes.

"Please don't push this. Just... Could you just hold me? Please?"

"Of course."

Sayid gently pulled Sawyer down to sit on the ground then put his arms around him. Sawyer looked so fragile at that moment. Later he would figure out who hurt Sawyer. Later he would make that person pay. Later. For now he would comfort Sawyer.

"Sayid."

"Yes, Sawyer."

"Just so you know. I don't dream about lollipops and gumdrops."

Sayid smiled.

"Shhh Sawyer. It's going to be okay. Shhh."