Part 121: Old Soldiers

Tony made his way into the grassy hills of the jungle. Marita, Yolanda and Eddie were heading back to the caves to get the remainder of their supplies. The blind doctor decided to take a stroll by himself. His Latina girlfriend was worried for his safety but he assured her, he was certain their would be plenty of people around to help him if he so needed it.

The honest truth was that Tony did wish to be alone. The more he thought about Sayid’s voice, the more it brought back memories. Painful ones; ones he fought hard to forget. The blind doctor knew he had seen Sayid’s before but the more he thought about it, he realized he had NEVER seen him. But he did hear his voice. On the third day of his interiogation when he was taken prisons by the Republic Guard.

Tony managed to find a tree and quickly sat down, using it as a back rest. He couldn’t stop sweating. His hands and his wrists began to hurt for no apparent reason. He gritted his teeth and then banged his head back against the bark. “Get it together, Soldier.” He mumbled to himself, “It’s just Gulf War Syndrome. You beat it once, you can beat it again.”

“Hey!” Charlie called, “Are you all right?”

Tony heard the man fast approaching him. Charlie stopped before the blind man, kneeling. “Are you all right, sir?” he asked.

“I’m fine,” he took a deep breath,” It’ll pass like it always does.”

Tony then leaned forward, extending his hand. “Charlie, right?” he asked.

“Yes, nice to meet you . . Tony,” he said remembering his name.

“How are you doing?” the blind doctor asked.

“With all due respect, sir, I am getting sodding tired about people asking me how I am doing.” The musician said, sitting on his knees.”

“Relax, Charlie. They are just concerned. They are worried about the effects of killing Ethan will have on you.”

“I know that, but I am fine.”

“No, you’re not fine,” Tony breathed, “You can’t just kill a man and be fine. I should know.”

“You’ve killed men before?” Charlie blinked.

“You do what you must when you’re soldier. But it’s the ones you have to worry about when they start killing; the ones that offer no regret.”

“I don’t regret what I did.” The musician retorted, “He was an animal and I wasn’t going to let him anywhere near Claire.”

“I’m not saying he didn’t deserve to die. He was an evil man. You did the right thing.”

“I did?” Charlie blinked, not expecting him to say that.

“But make no mistake, when you kill a man, you got to regret what you did. Not who it was, but what you did. If you don’t, it’ll stick with your for the rest of your life. I’ve seen it happen to many good men.”

“What . .what should I do?” he whispered.

“Don’t focus on it, Charlie. Let it go. Be with the ones you care about and bask in their warmth.”

“Claire . .” he said, a single tear going down his eye.

“It will save you, Charlie. It . . . .saved me.” Tony smiled.

Then out of the twilight of the setting sun, came Sayid. The Middle Easterner was looking for Tony and finally found him. He had finally freed up enough time to have their conversation. Charlie looked at him and realized they were probably wanting to talk. He reached over and gently squeezed the hand of the blind man. “Thank you, Tony.” He whispered.

“You knew what you had to do,” The blind doctor shook his hand, “I just wanted to make sure you listened to yourself.”

Charlie smiled and then stood up. He motioned to Sayid, as he started to head toward the beach to find Claire. Earlier in the day she wanted to go for a walk. He figured he’d take her up on it. Sayid watched the small man leave. He couldn’t help but smile. He then turned and sat down in the grass next to Tony. “I am so glad you are here, my friend,” the Iraqi chuckled, “I wasn’t sure if anybody could get through to him.”

“You would have,” Tony breathed, “In time.”

“Perhaps. Now we can finish out . . .Tony, are you okay?” Sayid said concerned.

“I’m fine. It’ll pass,” he said, rubbing his hands.

Sayid placed his hand on his new friend’s head and was amazed at the amount of sweat that covered it, despite the ocean breeze. “Tony, you are sweating profusely, “ he said with alarm, “This can not be good. I will go retrieve Jack.”

“No, there is nothing he can for me.” He said, trying to breathe.

“Stay put, I will get him.” Sayid said, standing up.

“Sayid, wait!” Tony called to him.

“He’s in the caves, it’s not far,” he said, started to run.

“SUNNIT!!!” Tony screamed.

Sayid then paused, feeling his heart stop for a second, and a shiver of goose bumps caress his spine. He turned to face the blind man. Tony finally took a deep breath, and let his head rest on the tree. His breathing was finally starting to calm down. The moment he recalled what had happened to him, he was able to accept it and deal with. “His name . . .was Colonel Sunnit.” He whispered.

Sayid immediately approached him and kneeled beside him. He was starting to sweat profusely himself now. The Iraqi wiped his eyes gently. “Tony, how on Earth do you know Colonel Sunnit?” he asked.

“Because he tortured me for three days trying to find the location of a Missile Depot. He couldn’t understand that I was a medical officer and they had no reason to tell me it’s location.”

“Medical officer?” Sayid blinked.

“The things . . .that man did to me . . .On the final day of my capture, he was going to try one more thing. He . . .inserted . .metal rods in my wrists.”

Sayid then slowly reached over and took Tony’s hands. He then twisted them around and on the wrist right below the palm was a scar on each hand. The Iraqi’s heart was starting to pound outside his throat. “Allah be merciful.” He whispered.

“I begged him . .I begged him that I didn’t not . .and I told him that if he took my hands, he might as well kill me. A doctor was no good without his hands. He didn’t care; my begging only made him laugh even further. Then someone came into the room. The colonel called him . ..Sayid.”

Sayid then slumped to ground. He hadn’t thought of this incident for a long time either. He rubbed his face vigorously and then ran his fingers through his hair. “Colonel Sunnit was a mad butcher.” He whispered, “I was just . . .a communications officer at the time. I heard your screaming and came to check on you. I didn’t even know Sunnit was in the room.”

“It was you!” Tony gasped, “I can still hear your voice. I knew I knew you.”

“I can’t believe that you and I would meet again all this time.” Sayid whispered.

Tony rested his head against the tree again. For a few brief moments, he could finally feel the wind again. He let it wash over him, cooling down his body. Sayid stared up at the sky. He closed his eyes, listening to the ocean crash upon the beach. Tony coughed briefly; wiping the sweat from his mouth. “Did you get in trouble . . .for shooting him?” Tony asked.

“No, I was . .promoted.” he said, chuckling at the irony.

“You’re kidding me?” Tony grinned.

“The High Command recognized that you were not going to tell Sunnit what he wanted to hear. We were soldiers; not animals. The moment he said he would take your hands and pickle them in jars, I immediately shot him. My superior officer recognized my ability to take charge of a situation. I was think commended into the ranks of Intelligence Division.”

Tony shifted over slightly. He wanted to face Sayid, even though he couldn’t see him. “I have a hard time accepting certain things, Sayid.” He whispered, “There are days when I believe in the phrase God helps those who help themselves.”

“A good phrase.” Sayid pointed out.

“But what we are going through . ..what you and I went through . . the fact that we would meet again, HERE? After all this time . . . .It’s almost as if it’s fate.”

“You are starting to sound like Locke.” The Iraqi chuckled.

“Actually, I was going to say I am starting to sound like Mia.” Tony laughed, then took a deep breath.

He slowly held out his hand toward Sayid. The Iraqi soldier looked at the blind man. “I don’t pray to God often but I did pray after I was released from the compound, that I would meet you again someday,” Tony whispered, “If only to say . . .thank you.”

Sayid then shook his hand, smiling. “You are most welcome.”

The two men then leaned back against the tree, enjoying their silence. The wind made the trees sway into the open night as the sun finally was going down. Tony leaned up, feeling like a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He thought of Mia and her talking about aspects of fate and how certain things get healed on the island. He hoped to hook up with her soon to tell her she was right. “Sayid?” Tony smiled, “I was telling Sunnit the truth. They don’t reveal the location to Missile depots to medical officers.”

“I know that.” He sighed.

“But I did know where it was.” The blind doctor grinned.

Sayid opened his eyes, trying not to gasp. “Really?” he gagged, “How?”

“My stupid friend was a demolitions expert and he worked there. He told it to me over his loud mouth at a poker game. You know why I am really glad you saved my hands, Sayid?”

“Yes?” he listened.

“Otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to punch his sorry ass for compromising my safety.”

Sayid then burst out laughing. Tony started to giggle, and found himself laughing a long with him. Their laughter echoed into the night under the rising room. Just two old soldiers; sharing their war stories.