Irukandji plot || January 30th

[more_flexible]

He'd been near the dock since he was feeling kind of lazy about dinner. Pulling mussels off the pilings was an easy compromise. Food for Helen and hardly any work for Jack. He was surfacing when he felt a sting against his ribs and he looked but didn't see anything. The jellyfish he normally saw were out near the reef and were definitely big enough to see and avoid. It didn't even really feel like a sting. More like a bite. Maybe something he'd disturbed as he filled the mesh bag.

He broke the surface and the sunlight was incredibly bright. His head hurt a little and he looked down to see a small welt, but nothing else. He dried off and dressed and started back toward the compound. By the time he was halfway to the Hamlet, his head was pounding. Every heartbeat, every step made him want to curl up in the dark. His eyes felt like they were being pushed out of his skull. It hurt bad enough that he headed for Logan's to see if he'd take the shellfish the rest of the way.

The bag never made it to Logan's. Jack dropped it when a wave of nausea hit him so hard he doubled over. It seemed like it took forever to get to the familiar hut and he ignored Linus's low growl and sharp barks as he stepped through the door and fell to the floor. Another wave of nausea hit and his back ached, too. He had enough sense to roll onto his side and he retched, sea water spilling from his mouth across Logan's floor. He hadn't even been able to call for the other man or check to see if he was home, but the way he felt, all he could think of was how much it hurt.

Comments

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

It was early, too early, and Logan had groaned and turned over when he'd first heard Linus growling and barking outside. He knew who it had to be, only one person got that sort of reaction from the golden retriever, and he'd started to move over just enough to make room in his bed for Jack to join him.

The sound of someone hitting the floor echoed through the stilted hut, the sound enough to make Logan's eyes snap open. He waited, half expecting to be ambushed in his own home by the man he'd somehow managed to get himself tangled up with- but all he heard was retching.

Drunk? No, it was too early- or too late for that, wasn't it?

Slipping out of the bedroom, he blinked himself awake, and then swore softly as he saw Jack on the floor.

"Shit," he gasped, grabbing the nearest towel and rushing over, dropping it into the sick as he knelt beside him gently tried to coax him into rolling over so he could see what was wrong. It was Friday after all, and all Logan could think was that he'd finally done it. The bastard had finally gotten attacked by one of those damn sharks.

"Jack," he said, checking for blood and looking even more concerned when he couldn't find any. "Jack, hey, come on, what's going on?" he asked, trying to sound calm as he swallowed the panic down.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

He brought both hands to his face in a vain attempt to hold his head together since it felt like his skull was going to split any moment now. He tried to answer, except it only came out as a low, pathetic moan and he rolled the other way, heaving since there was nothing to bring up. He never ate before he went diving, so maybe that was a blessing.

"Friday," he managed, rolling a little and stretching his legs to try to make his back more comfortable. He drew them back up almost immediately. "Diving. Think I...Oh fuck my back...hurts. Logan? Got stung. I think. Stung."

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"Hey, no, it's okay, you're okay," Logan insisted, as if saying it could make it true. "Come on, I'll- We'll get you to bed and I'll find a doctor. There's a clinic here now, Just down the path... They'll fix it. If it's just a sting, they can make it better."

Though Logan didn't even know what Jack had been stung by. It had to be a jellyfish, but- But were they really this bad? It was Jack after all. Jack who could take almost any amount of pain. What if it wasn't just a sting? What if something was really wrong?

"Come on, you need to lay down," he insisted, though in all honesty, he wasn't even sure he should be moving him.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

It was a struggle to get to his feet. He pulled himself up with Logan's help, his breath coming faster and shallow. If it was a jellyfish, it was unlike any Jack had seen here. He knew which ones would kill you outright.

"Clinic. Good idea," he agreed, holding onto Logan. He held on tightly, then his arm jerked away and his back spasmed. Jack grit his teeth and whimpered softly, trying so hard to concentrate and ignore the pain...but it was impossible. It was unlike anything he'd ever felt in his entire life.

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

Logan held on tighter, just to stop Jack from falling, though it was obvious he was trying not to hurt him. The last thing he wanted to do was add to the pain.

Hushing him softly, Logan hooked on arm under Jack's, holding as much of the other man's weight as he could manage and helping him back towards the bedroom. "Just lay down," he said again, keeping his voice soothing and low. "I'm going to take care of you, Jack, I promise. I'm going to get help and I'm gonna make this better. You'll be okay."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack nodded, pain written across his features as his whole body tensed. He wrapped his arms around his stomach and choked as another wave of nausea and pain hit hard. One leg kicked out and drew back, one hand left his gut to hold his head. He felt awful all over and it was getting worse.

"It's bad," he said quietly. "This is really bad. Need a doctor."

He didn't think any of the doctors could help, though. Not even House.

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"I know Jack, I know, Logan replied, still trying to sound calm even as the worry found its way into his tone.

His plan had been to lay Jack down and bring the doctor to him, but now he wondered if making Jack walk to the clinic might be best. It wasn't something he was used to dealing with, and Jack- Jack usually had all the answers. He felt strangely lost as he watched the other man clutch his stomach and practically double over.

"You're going to lay down, and I'm going to get you a doctor," he said firmly, making up his mind. "I'll bring the whole fucking clinic if I have to."

And he would have. In that moment his urge to protect and Jack overrode any sense he might have had. As he helped the other man to the bedroom and lay him down, he knew there was nothing he wouldn't do to try and fix whatever was wrong.

"You're going to be okay. I'll get whoever's in the clinic," he assured him, though Logan knew who he really needed to find.

Logan didn't trust many of the doctors on the island, but his gut told him that if anyone could help Jack- It was House. The only doctor he'd ever let anywhere near him when he was injured, was also the only man he trusted to look after Jack, no matter what had gone on between the two men.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack nodded and he tried to wave Logan away, his arm flailing a little in the process. He wanted to lay still. He wanted to go to sleep until the worst of this passed, but it seemed like it just continued to get worse. He was hot and cold, his stomach kept cramping and the nausea was unbearable, and his arms and legs rebelled at any attempt to control them.

Jack knew pain. He'd experienced a lot of pain in his lifetime. But this...this wasn't electricity or blunt trauma or heat or sharp. It was all of them, all at once, and getting stronger. He wasn't sure he could take it.

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

Looking down at Jack as he lay on the bed, Logan had to fight the panic that was rising quickly inside him, swallowing it down as he tried to keep a brave front up.

"I'm going to the clinic now, okay? But I'll be back, I promise, I'm just going to find someone who can help."

Reaching out, he hesitated, nearly touching the other man before deciding against it. A moment later and he was heading for the clinic, glancing back at his hut nervously before picking up the pace and heading into the clinic to find help.

[dumbassbastards.livejournal.com]

His time on the island hasn't dulled Rollie's reflexes any, not when it comes to emergency medicine, and as soon as he sees Logan come into the clinic he's on his feet and ready. He doesn't look like somebody stopping by for an aspirin or bottle of water.

"What is it?" he says, already reaching for his bag.

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"It's Jack, Jack Harkness... He turned up at my hut after being in the water. I found him on the floor throwing up. He- He's in agony," Logan said quietly, not sure how else to explain what was happening. "He's really sick, he thinks he was stung. I don't know what to do, but I don't think he can walk here on his own and I can't- I'm not-"

He wasn't strong enough to move him on his own.

"He needs a doctor."

[dumbassbastards.livejournal.com]

Rollie's medical bag is already stocked and ready to go, though on hearing that he stuffs a couple more things in before motioning for Logan to lead the way.

"How far is he?" he says. "Still at your hut? Any symptoms other than pain and nausea?"

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"My hut is right in the Hamlet, Logan said, forcing himself to calm down as he started to lead the way. "I- I dunno if there are other symptoms. Just pain and the nausea. I came straight here once I got him off the floor. I didn't know what to do. He doesn't- He has a really high pain tolerance, this isn't like him."

[dumbassbastards.livejournal.com]

"We'll find out what's wrong with him," says Rollie, not just because he thinks Logan needs to hear it but because it's true. He knows Logan's in the Hamlet just from proximity, but he's not a hundred percent sure which hut is his so he lets Logan continue to lead their way back to it. "Sounds like it could be a sting."

Sounded like it could be a few other things, too, but he'll worry about that when he gets a look at the patient.

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

Linus was still outside in his pen, agitated and unhappy. Logan paid the animal no mind though, too focused on Jack and the things Rollie was saying to worry about the dog.

Heading inside he led the other man back to the bedroom, hovering and trying to stay out of the way all at once.

"Hey," he said quietly, his voice tight as he reached out to gently stroke jack's hair. "I found someone at the clinic, he'd just going to look at you. Okay? You're going to be fine. Everything's gonna be fine."

He glanced at Rollie as he said it, silently hoping the other man could somehow confirm that for him. Needing to know it was true, that Jack really would be alright.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack's clothes were soaked through with sweat and he was breathing faster, sighing as he exhaled. He looked at Logan in the brief moment between waves of nausea and he nodded, then his face contorted in pain. He clutched his head and his other arm waved through the air like he was trying to brush everyone away before his back arched and he cried out.

"M'on fire," he whimpered. "Make it end. Just...stop it. Make it stop," he pleaded.

[dumbassbastards.livejournal.com]

"I'll do what I can," says Rollie, checking his heart rate and respiration, trying his best not to cause him even more pain. "Logan says he thinks you got stung in the water. Do you remember that? I'm going to check you for signs of bites or stingers now."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"Here," he drawled pitifully as he tugged his shirt up. It clung to his skin and he was cold and clammy even though he felt like his skin may as well be crisping. Along his ribs was a patch of raised welts that looked like little more than hives. Jack had barely gotten his shirt up when his fingers curled into a fist that he rubbed against his eyes.

"Didn't...didn't see anything. Shit, it hurts. Hurts like..."

Another wave of nausea hit and he curled a little, heaving again until bile rose in his throat. Every movement made the pain worse but he couldn't be still.

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

Logan had felt helpless more times than he cared to count in his life, but he couldn't recall the last time he'd felt like this. Standing there, useless, just watching as Jack curled up in pain.

"Can't you give him painkillers?" he asked quietly, keeping his voice low in an attempt to sound calm. "Look at him, he needs something, you can't leave him in- in agony. He's in agony."

[dumbassbastards.livejournal.com]

"I can't give him anything until I know it's not going to kill him," says Rollie, checking the patch of skin for any remnants of what stung him but finding neither tentacles nor remaining barbs. "All right, Jack, are you listening to me? You're going to be all right, but this probably isn't going to be fun. Here's what's going to happen. I'm going to flood the wound with vinegar to neutralize what toxin I can, then Logan and I are going to get you into a clinic bed. I have some painkillers on me that you can have now, then we'll get you something better once we've taken care of the sting. If you can answer me, tell me if you have any allergies we need to know about."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Snippets of Rollie's words cut through the pain. At that moment, Jack didn't care if what they might give him for pain happened to be made of lead and fired at a high velocity, as long as it made this unbelievable pain end.

"Nothing," he gasped. "No allergy. No diseases. No...please just kill me." It was sickening to hear that tone in his voice, the pleading. He was so much better than this, except this? Was so much more than he'd ever experienced. He couldn't be still but every movement hurt. His stomach rebelled and his head was pounding and he could hardly breathe. Every time he thought it couldn't possibly get any worse or hurt any more, a new wave crashed over him.

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

Logan stopped listening, all his attention focused on Rollie, waiting for the other man to tell him what to do. He couldn't help it, he just couldn't hear Jack talk that way. Couldn't watch him suffer. not without becoming completely useless.

So he simply blocked it out, eyes fixed on the doctor and voice oddly calm as he spoke.

"Are we going to take him to the compound clinic?"

[dumbassbastards.livejournal.com]

"No," says Rollie, shaking his head as he proceeds to do exactly what he said he was going to, as quickly and efficiently as he dares. "Not yet, anyway. We don't want to move him any further than we have to right now." It's extremely unlikely he's going to be able to take any oral painkillers and keep them down right now, but despite his obvious agony he seems reasonably stable. "You're going to have to help me carry him, Logan."

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, yeah, of course," Logan replied quietly, watching Jack a moment longer, and then bending over carefully and slipping one arm carefully under the other man.

"I'm sorry," he said softly. "We have to move you. You're gonna be okay though, Jack. I'm here. I'm gonna take care of you. I promise."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack whimpered softly as he got to his feet, holding on heavily to Logan and Rollie. Walking, just the thought of walking, was torture. Every step was agony and on the way he jerked and twitched, nearly falling more than once. He was trying, though. Even in his state he could tell Logan was scared and he knew he should have gone straight to the clinic. He should have realized how bad off he was. He should have spared the other man from having to watch him die.

"M'sorry," he whispered, over and over like a mantra. He was sweating and trembling even though he was trying to keep it together. The pain came in waves and he had to stop more than once to retch, then he pressed on, apologizing instead of caving and screaming in agony.

He had never been so relieved as when he saw the building they were going to.

[dumbassbastards.livejournal.com]

"We'll have you on a bed before you know it," says Rollie, and then doesn't say anything else until they do. It's probably not much relief for Jack at this point but it's relief for Rollie, who can now actually treat him as best he can. "Logan, I need you do... do you know Dr. Crusher? Uh, Bev. Beverly Crusher. She won't be at the clinic right now, she'll probably be close to home."

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

"I- Yeah, kind of," Logan said quietly, fairly sure he could pick her out of a crowd if he had to, but clearly reluctant to leave Jack's side for even a moment. "I- Should I get her?" he asked, looking down at Jack with mixed feelings of guilt and helplessness.

[dumbassbastards.livejournal.com]

"She can... she has access to stronger painkillers than we stock here," says Rollie. "It'll be all right. Jack, hang in there, I'm just going to make sure the toxin's neutralized and we'll have you feeling better soon. The sooner we get those into him the better, Logan."

[echolls-cursed.livejournal.com]

Logan didn't need any further prompting, and he whispered something softly to Jack before reluctantly leaving Rollie to do his job while he went off the find the woman who would hopefully be able to help.

[thedoctordances.livejournal.com]

It was probably somewhat twisted that Beverly, now that she was back to her normal self, was almost excited to be doing something, treating someone. She didn't revel in anyone's pain, but the adrenaline of figuring out what to do, and playing fast and loose with replicator programming...that was welcome.

The kid who'd come to get her looked like he'd seen a ghost, and Beverly, once she'd seen Jack, had been forced to agree. Rollie had said that he'd need something pretty damned good, and she agreed with that too. Like hell she was letting anyone but Julian touch morphenolog, though; she'd trust House with it about as far as she could throw him. She hated using it, but there wasn't anything else she could do. At least it wasn't half as addictive as anything twenty-first century medicine could provide.

"I'm a doctor, not a programmer," she muttered to herself, trying to get past yet another override--god knew how long this stuff would last, when they didn't even know what'd stung him.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

Jack was muttering to himself, not loud enough or clear enough for any of them to understand just how desperately he wanted them to just kill him and make it all stop hurting. The waves of nausea had slowed marginally but he was still sweating profusely. At some point he'd managed to pull off his saturated shirt and used it to wipe his face. The damp fabric gave him brief seconds of relief from the scorching sensation that burned every inch of skin.

He could hardly catch a breath and every exhale was a soft sigh. He laid down and writhed in pain, then sat up like that might make it better. Every movement was fluid as he tried to escape, but it was inside him, cramping and seizing and burning and aching and--fuck--he'd been tortured by master interrogators and it had never even come close to this kind of pain.

[thedoctordances.livejournal.com]

Beverly noticed--he was moving enough, quickly enough, that the noise was audible. "Jack," she said, wishing to hell she had a biobed, "Jack, please don't get up. It's not going to help."

What? She wasn't about to lie to him.

Fortunately, she'd prepped a half-dose of kayolane, not quite enough to knock him out, but enough to keep him sedated. Moving around would just keep his blood flowing quickly, which was the last thing they wanted. She hit him in the jugular with the hypospray, with a little more morphenolog for good measure.

He hadn't died or been paralyzed, though, which was a good sign.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

He wanted to do what she and Rollie were saying, but his body had other ideas. When he tried to control his movements, his movements became more jerky. His head was pounding and a particularly hard cramp in his leg made him whimper.

But then he felt something against his neck and suddenly it was easier to think. Or not think. It was definitely easier to be still and he could catch his breath for the first time in what felt like forever.

"You know I'm going to die, Beverly," he said softly, working to focus on her. "Just end it. Don't waste the medication."

[thedoctordances.livejournal.com]

Beverly was pleased, actually--if they wanted him to sleep at any point in the next day or so, they'd have to dose him up again, work past the adrenaline. Provided she could get the damn replicator to cooperate and not think she was a drug-seeker. "Actually, Jack," she said, leaning in and wiping the sweat off his brow with a clean swab, "if you were going to die, you'd already be dead."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"Oh, fuck," he said pitifully. If he wasn't going to die, all he had was this and who knew how long it would go on? "Can you fix it? Stop it? If you can't stop it..."

He left the rest off, figuring she'd understand. He couldn't live like this. He just couldn't.

[thedoctordances.livejournal.com]

"It'll be done soon," Beverly said, and was tempted for a moment to guilt the hell out of him by implying that if she hadn't been there he'd be in a lot more pain...but that just wouldn't be right. "I'm giving you what I can, or the withdrawal will be nearly as bad as this."

She got him a glass of water with a straw, though they might have to set up an IV if they weren't careful. She'd been practicing, though Rollie could probably do it better.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

He'd been by House's side as he went through withdrawal and although that was bad, he had a feeling this was worse. Unless whatever she'd given him was better than vicodin. When he moved to take the drink he realized that...yeah. Way better than vicodin.

"Okay," he agreed sedately. He still hurt. He could tell he still hurt. He just didn't care. Like it was painful from a distance. His features smoothed out as the burning sensation faded to nothing more than a warm tingle.

"Whatever you want. Do...anything."

[thedoctordances.livejournal.com]

Beverly wished she knew a better method to treat this--but Earth-based water animals hadn't exactly been her forte, and without a computer for diagnostic help, it could be any kind of jellyfish at all. The kid had said something about getting House, which would help. She was pretty sure he'd love this on multiple levels.

Yes, definitely not letting House near the morphinolog. "Can you tell me how it happened?" she asked, getting another glass of water before he was done with the first one.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

By the time she returned, the medication had taken effect and Jack was grateful for the ability to be still, even if it was hard to breathe and his heart kept thundering along.

"I went to dive like I do every Friday," he said slowly, working hard to speak clearly. It felt like a little sting, like a honey bee. No bees under water, though. I got on shore and my head hurt, so I got dressed and went to Logan's to lay down. He'd carry the...shit. I lost the mussels someplace."

[thedoctordances.livejournal.com]

"Someone will find them," Beverly said, and made a note of it on her PADD, mostly for show. Logan must be the young man, then. "Or get some more, there's plenty of food without it. Where were you exactly, so we can tell people not to dive there?"

As far as she could remember, humans that didn't die from stings would have to be doped up for days. There were unconventional treatments, but god knew what would work. "A little sting." Maybe House could figure this out, even if asking him made her feel like she was a first-year resident instead of someone with thirty years practice behind her. "That's consistent with these..." She lifted a brow and peeled back the sheet from his chest to enter a diagram on her notes. "Anything large and you'd be covered in welts. Or dead."

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"Under the dock. No one swims there," he drawled. Rolling onto his side, he pressed a hand to his lower back, the pain dulled but definitely not gone.

"I can't do this, Beverly," he sighed softly. "I've never felt anything like this. If you can't fix it..."

[thedoctordances.livejournal.com]

"Under the dock." Beverly kept taking notes, looking over his back. "Jack, it will go away," she said. "It's just a matter of you being in great pain for a few days, and while that's a huge concern, we sure as hell aren't going to euthanize you to deal with it. And I don't have the capability to put you out for that long without doing internal damage that I can't repair because I only have equipment that amounts to field triage at home."

She might have sounded a little frustrated about that.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

She was saying so much and it all whirled together. It was easier to just nod and agree. At least Beverly had a grasp of medicine closer to what he was used to, although he doubted any Chula tech or New¹¹ York sisters could take care of this given what was available.

"Okay. Okay," he said softly. "Just hurt. Hurts. M'sorry, Beverly. So sorry."

[thedoctordances.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry, Jack. I know it hurts" Beverly said, having realized that she had been slightly unprofessional. At least in consolation, he wouldn't remember it much anyway. "You don't have to apologize. I just don't know what else to do. It's hard." She set the glass of water down and took the other one away before picking up the replicator programming pad...thank god for Wes and picking stuff up.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"Not...really," Jack replied, managing a short huff of laughter. "You want it hard, gimme another shot then take my pants."

Even in this state, it was an impossible opportunity to pass by. Maybe he needed to quip, just to feel like there was something of himself still left. Humor, innuendo, some kind of resolve...because everything else, despite what she said, felt like it was coming to a slow end.

[thedoctordances.livejournal.com]

The only reason Beverly didn't smack him was because he was doped to hell. She gave him a scathing look from over the top of the screen and then returned to her work.

"I'd rather have my partners be in full capacity, thanks." She'd mostly gotten over not having much sex. Mostly.

[captainjack.livejournal.com]

"Okay. Sure," he agreed, the hand on his back falling away only to rise to wipe his face and rub his eyes roughly. The burning was gone and now all he did was itch. Itching was so much better than agony, though.

He opened his eyes and looked at her managing a wan smile. "You're so pretty," he drawled. With a slow roll of his head he repeated the sentiment to Rollie, and then to Logan who was standing out of the way.