Lost fic: Blue Lullaby [Jack, Sawyer]
Disclaimer: Lost is not mine.
Notes: Written for Lost Riffs, prompt: lullaby, blue, tremor; also fanfic100 #15, blue.
Summary: Moments after a nightmare. Jack, Sawyer, 420 words
Blue Lullaby
by eponine119
March 25, 2007
Too much bright sunlight reflecting off black type and white pages spiraled Sawyer into a headache. He'd stumbled into his shelter an hour or so ago. Jack decided it was time to check on him.
He slipped into the narrow tent. The late afternoon light filtered through the tarp roof, tinging everything with blue. Sawyer slept. Jack sat beside him, checking on him. He picked up the battered plastic water bottle to gauge its level, worrying about dehydration. He brushed Sawyer's forehead with the back of his hand. Warm, but no fever.
Even Sawyer, the great and powerful warrior, looked vulnerable in sleep. Jack half-smiled down at him. The expression faded as Sawyer whimpered terribly, and woke with a flailing start, sitting bolt upright. He gasped as his eyes shot open, and then he panted, still caught up in fear.
Jack waited to be turned upon with violence. It didn't happen. Sawyer's head dropped down between his shoulders, hair covering his face but exposing the pale nape of his neck. "How's your head?" Jack asked gently.
"Bad."
Jack passed the water bottle to him. "Drink this." Obediently, Sawyer tipped it up and swallowed. "Now lie back down."
Sawyer did as he was told, swerving his shoulder around so his back was to Jack. He scrunched his eyes shut tight but it didn't keep Jack from seeing the tear tracks drying on his face. Tentatively, gently, Jack put his hand against Sawyer's shoulder. "You're okay. Get some sleep."
Beneath his hand, Sawyer was humming, almost inaudibly. Jack wasn't even sure he was aware he was doing it. It was such a desperate measure of self-comfort, like a child left alone in the dark to cry it out. But it was Brahms' lullaby, something a mother would use to soothe.
He swept his hand along Sawyer's bare arm, stroking lightly. They all had nightmares here on the island. That Sawyer hadn't ordered him away spoke to how terrible it had been, and how badly he needed this now. Everyone else had someone they could go to, but Sawyer had kept himself unapproachable. Jack couldn't help respecting that.
Sawyer let out a breath with a tremor. Jack felt the tense body finally relax under his touch. Even in sleep, Sawyer hummed, a phrase here and there, with ease in between. Jack had other things to do, but in the quiet darkness of the tent, they didn't seem so important. He could stay a little while, fingers moving softly, seeing to Sawyer's rest.
End.
Notes: Written for Lost Riffs, prompt: lullaby, blue, tremor; also fanfic100 #15, blue.
Summary: Moments after a nightmare. Jack, Sawyer, 420 words
Blue Lullaby
by eponine119
March 25, 2007
Too much bright sunlight reflecting off black type and white pages spiraled Sawyer into a headache. He'd stumbled into his shelter an hour or so ago. Jack decided it was time to check on him.
He slipped into the narrow tent. The late afternoon light filtered through the tarp roof, tinging everything with blue. Sawyer slept. Jack sat beside him, checking on him. He picked up the battered plastic water bottle to gauge its level, worrying about dehydration. He brushed Sawyer's forehead with the back of his hand. Warm, but no fever.
Even Sawyer, the great and powerful warrior, looked vulnerable in sleep. Jack half-smiled down at him. The expression faded as Sawyer whimpered terribly, and woke with a flailing start, sitting bolt upright. He gasped as his eyes shot open, and then he panted, still caught up in fear.
Jack waited to be turned upon with violence. It didn't happen. Sawyer's head dropped down between his shoulders, hair covering his face but exposing the pale nape of his neck. "How's your head?" Jack asked gently.
"Bad."
Jack passed the water bottle to him. "Drink this." Obediently, Sawyer tipped it up and swallowed. "Now lie back down."
Sawyer did as he was told, swerving his shoulder around so his back was to Jack. He scrunched his eyes shut tight but it didn't keep Jack from seeing the tear tracks drying on his face. Tentatively, gently, Jack put his hand against Sawyer's shoulder. "You're okay. Get some sleep."
Beneath his hand, Sawyer was humming, almost inaudibly. Jack wasn't even sure he was aware he was doing it. It was such a desperate measure of self-comfort, like a child left alone in the dark to cry it out. But it was Brahms' lullaby, something a mother would use to soothe.
He swept his hand along Sawyer's bare arm, stroking lightly. They all had nightmares here on the island. That Sawyer hadn't ordered him away spoke to how terrible it had been, and how badly he needed this now. Everyone else had someone they could go to, but Sawyer had kept himself unapproachable. Jack couldn't help respecting that.
Sawyer let out a breath with a tremor. Jack felt the tense body finally relax under his touch. Even in sleep, Sawyer hummed, a phrase here and there, with ease in between. Jack had other things to do, but in the quiet darkness of the tent, they didn't seem so important. He could stay a little while, fingers moving softly, seeing to Sawyer's rest.
End.