Chapter Eight: Confidence Man

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A groaning man caught her attention the very moment she entered the cave. Faith sat down her backpack and looked over to see Jack tending to Sayid, a cloth in one hand and a bottle of hydrogen peroxide in the other. He looked like he was having difficulty balancing all three tasks and Faith made her way towards them, taking the bottle without a word.

Jack shot her a grateful look before pressing the soaked cloth to Sayid's injury. He shook his head as the cloth came away bloody. "So they destroyed all of your equipment?"

Sayid nodded. "Whoever hit me came from behind right as I was getting a signal. I didn't even hear them." He swallowed as Jack pressed the cloth against his head again. "I'll find who is responsible that I do know."

Jack glanced at Faith and started to say something else when there was commotion outside the cave and they all turned just in time to see Shannon carrying a bloody Boone towards them.

"I need help! Help us please!"

Faith held up her hand as Jack started to react and she placed down the peroxide, moving to stand on the other side of Boone. Nodding at Shannon, she helped shift the injured man to a spot near Sayid.

"What happened?"

"Sawyer attacked me."

Faith looked over just in time to see Sayid and Jack exchange looks. She chuckled and shook her head. "One problem at a time boys." Faith motioned at Sayid. "Finish taking care of him and I'll look at Boone."

Jack nodded and tossed her an extra cloth and she caught it before bending down to pick up the bottle of peroxide. Faith looked to see Shannon hovering close by. "This isn't going to be pretty and there's not much you can do so why don't you sit?"

Shannon surprisingly didn't say anything. She simply moved away to sit by the water and grabbed an empty bottle to fill up. Shaking her head, Faith fixed her attention back on Boone, tilting his head before coating the cloth and dabbing at the cut on his left temple.

"Shit!" Boone hissed. "That burns."

"That means it's working." Faith smirked. She held his chin firmly with her hand and continued to clean his skin. "Why'd Sawyer attack you?"

Boone looked away. "He jumped me cause I was going through his things."

"Sounds like as good a reason as any."

"You don't understand Faith," Boone glanced towards Shannon, "Shannon has asthma."

Faith looked as well. "Oh?"

"She used to have an inhaler but ran out. I saw Sawyer with one of my books so I naturally assumed he'd have the refills to the inhaler as well. I mean, he steals everything else. Why not that?"

"You think Sawyer is holding your sister's refills hostage?"

"If she has a bad attack, she won't make it."

"We're gonna get her refills back."

Faith released Boone and they both glanced over to see Jack standing behind them with a stern expression on his face. She smirked. "What's the plan Superman?"

"I'll get them." Jack looked at Boone. "You stay here with your sister."

"You're not going by yourself." Faith sat the bottle down by Boone, shaking her head. "You and Sawyer are on thin ice as it is."

"And you being there is gonna help matters?"

She glared at him and nodded. "Trust me when I say I can hold my own in case you two decide to come to blows. Face it Doc, you're not getting rid of me so let's go. Sooner we do, the sooner Malibu Barbie gets her inhalers." Faith ignored Boone and tossed the rag his direction.

Jack simply shook his head and followed after her.

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Jack got in front of her just as they reached Sawyer's makeshift tent and he immediately stomped past a sitting Sawyer to begin rummaging through his suitcases. Faith crossed her arms, watching Sawyer who merely folded the paper he was reading onto his lap. He flicked his cigarette to the side just as Jack turned around empty handed.

"Where are Boone's things?"

"What's it to you?"

"Shannon, his sister's asthma medicine is in his things. Her inhalers, I want them, where are they?"

Sawyer shrugged. "Don't know what you're talking about."

"You beat up a kid trying to help his sister."

"You sure you want to make this your problem, Doc?"

"Damn right, I'm sure."

Faith moved forward to step between them, placing a hand on both of their chests and she shoved them backwards, ignoring the looks of surprise on both their faces. "That's enough boys."

"Exactly!" Kate stepped into the tent. "Get a hold of yourselves. What's the meaning of this?"

"Nothing."

"You better hope it's nothing." Jack spat. He shot a look at Faith and Kate then turned and marched back out of the tent. Kate immediately followed after him.

Faith stayed behind and she glanced back at Sawyer, an amused expression on her face that he noticed as he sat back down in the chair.

"And what has you so tickled Fire Cracker?"

The expression faltered slightly. "Why don't you just tell him you don't have them?"

He stuck another cigarette into his mouth and lit it. "What makes you think that?"

"Probably cause you didn't have a clue what he was looking for. I think you just like seeing Jack flustered because it makes you feel you're getting one up on him but Shannon could die if she doesn't get her medicine. I'm hard pressed to actually believe you'd like that to happen."

"Then you're thinking too much." Sawyer inhaled on the cigarette and let out a steady stream of smoke towards her. "Maybe I have them, maybe I don't but like I said to the hero before, finders keepers, losers weepers."

"For your sake, I hope the tough guy routine is an act." Faith turned away from him. "It's hard to ask someone for help when you have no where to turn."

"As if you know anything about me." Sawyer spat at her disappearing back. "Like you know anything about my life!"

"So here's the laugh riot. My whole life I've been a loner."

Buffy frowned over at Faith. "Is that the funny part or did I miss something?"

Faith rolled her eyes but continued. "No ties, no buddies, no relationships that lasted for very long." She shook her head. "Me, by myself, all the time. I'm looking at you, everything you have and, I don't know… jealous."

"I love my friends, my family my life; I'm very grateful for them. But in the end, they can't help me." Buffy replied. "In the end, they don't know who I am and they don't know a thing about what I am or what I'm going through. That's the price of being a Slayer."

"There's only supposed to be one. Guess that's why we never got along."

"That and you went evil and were killing people."

Faith paused. "Good point. Also a factor."

"But you're right." Buffy nodded. "Everyone's alone but being a Slayer? There's a burden we can't share. A burden no one will ever understand." She looked way. "You have to hide it from them cause they'll never understand who you are and why you're that way. We're alone."

"Everything okay?"

Faith glanced over at Locke from her seat in front of the fire. "Not really but no big." She watched as he sharpened his knife. "I haven't seen you around much."

"You've been busy playing nurse." He smiled. "I've been doing some solo hunting as well as group."

"Group?"

"A few of the men decided to start coming out with me. One man, Ethan, he's really good, you'll have to meet him next time we go out. He's been teaching me a few things."

Her ears took notice of Shannon coughing in the background. She opened her mouth to say something else when a shadow fell over them and they both looked over to see Sayid.

"Where were you two last night around sunset?"

Locke checked the sharpness of his knife. "Hunting." He pointed towards the boar that was roasting. "He'd give a statement but I'm afraid he's a little tied up at the moment."

Faith rolled her eyes and focused back on Sayid. "Whoever attacked you did it for a reason. I'm betting it's someone who has no desire what so ever to get off this island."

"I agree with that."

He squatted down in front of them. "Go on."

Locke glanced at Faith then shrugged before looking back at his knife. "My guess is it's a person profiting from being here… Someone like Sawyer, you two already don't get along, isn't that right?"

Sayid thought about it a minute then raised back up to his feet. "He was setting off rockets at the time, that's a solid alibi."

"Not if he delayed it with a cigarette." Faith shrugged. "Not saying he did…" She paused as Locke flipped his knife and offered it to Sayid, handle first.

"Just in case there's a next time."

Sayid look at the knife and began to reach for it but Faith beat him to it, snatching it away.

"I don't think so." She stood as well. "There's been enough violence for one day." Faith glanced at Sayid as she clutched the knife handle. "Even if Sawyer did knock you out, he wouldn't admit to it and you know that. My advice is to keep asking around but cool your head before someone ends up seriously hurt or dead."

"You're right. I shall continue to ask around. Thank you."

She nodded and watched as he spotted Charlie about to leave the caves. Sayid took off without another word and she turned her attention back to Locke who had busied himself with poking at the fire. Faith threw the knife at him, watching as it buried itself blade first between his feet.

He did nothing at first; simply letting his eyes lift to hers. "It would have made him felt more protected."

"Why'd you lie?" Faith placed her hands on her hips. "I was coming back from the beach around the time Sayid said he was attacked. We weren't together then. Why did you lie and say we were hunting?"

"Because as much as I don't know about you, I know you're not responsible for what happened to Sayid."

"You sound pretty confident about that."

Locke looked back to the fire. "You don't want to stay on this island anymore than the rest of us."

"Got that right. I'd kill for a beer and a fully loaded hotdog right about now." Faith's eyes narrowed at the sight of Sawyer entering the caves, the sound of Shannon's rough coughing now suddenly louder than before. She stood up and intercepted Jack as he started to move past her. "Whatever you're thinking, don't."

"Shannon needs her inhalers."

"I know but flying off the handle and jumping his case isn't going to get them any faster."

"I appreciate the advice Faith but I don't need it right now." Jack glared at her. "He has them, and I promise you I'm going to make him tell us where he's hidden them at any cost possible."

"You'll regret it." Faith stepped to the side to let him pass. "That's what I can promise you."

He ignored her and flew by. "Give me the inhalers!" Jack roared marching up to Sawyer at the waterfall. "I want them now damn it."

Sawyer stood with his water bottle in his and smirked. "I was wondering when you were gonna ask me nicely."

Jack said nothing in return and simply settled for punching Sawyer in the face just as he went to take a drink of water. The sudden move caused Sawyer to fall backwards and he wiped at his mouth slowly before glancing up at Jack.

"That it?" He taunted climbing to his feet. "That all you got Doc?"

"That is enough." Faith stepped between them again. "You macho men want to test how high your testosterone levels are, you can take this outside. This isn't helping Shannon stay calm and to be honest it's irritating as all hell." She connected her eyes with Jack's. "Make a decision. Now."

Jack nodded and threw his hands up as he backed away. He turned and it seemed everyone had gone silent at the moment, each moving to his or her own place in the cave while shooting Sawyer unsympathetic glances. Sawyer rubbed at his jaw and moved silently from the cave. It remained quiet even long after he was gone.

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"Hey." A hand pressed lightly against her shoulder before it disappeared. "Faith!"

The person nudged her foot and lifted the shirt from over her eyes to see Boone standing in front of her. "Go away, I'm busy."

"I see that." He smirked and glanced around. "I just thought you should know that Jack's gone."

She frowned, eyebrows furrowing as she sat up, and Faith looked around to find the cave vacant of not only Jack but Sayid as well. "Where?"

"Back to the beach." He answered. "I'm pretty sure he and Sayid are going after Sawyer again."

"Shit." Faith leapt to her feet and paused to bend down to retrieve the Jackal from her bag. "Do me a favor and watch my stuff will ya?"

"Are you sure you don't need me to go with you?"

"Boone?"

He turned to see Shannon who was watching them both.

"Don't leave me. Please."

Boone glanced back at Faith. "Yeah, I'll watch your bag."

"Great." Faith nodded and took off at a dead run, hardly apologizing as she almost collided with Hurley before exiting the caves.

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Sawyer's tent was empty and Faith cursed under her breath. She paused at hearing a male voice screaming in the distance and automatically moved towards it. Faith burst through a small area of bushes and skidded to a stop at the sight of Kate, Sayid, Jack, and Sawyer.

Sawyer was on his back, Jack hovering over him and her eyes narrowed at the sight of blood squirting from Sawyer's arm. Blood was on Kate's clothes as well but the woman hardly seemed to notice, her eyes wide and her hands shaking as she watched Jack scramble to stop the bleeding.

"He hit an artery." Jack muttered. "Keep still!" He glanced up at Sayid. "Sayid, I need my stuff from the caves. Go!"

Sayid burst into a dead run and Faith edged closer.

"Help me. He won't stop moving."

"You've already let the damn Iraqi torture me for nothing. It's okay to let go." Sawyer sneered up in Jack's face. "Just know that if the tables were turned ... I'd watch you die."

"That's enough from you Marlboro Man." Faith squatted down on the other side of Sawyer, applying pressure to his arm and chest while Kate moved to position herself at his legs. "All that talking," She muttered, "People are gonna start to think you're feeling sorry for yourself."

Sawyer snorted as Jack began to apply pressure to his wound as hard as he could. "Good one Fire Cracker. Always trying to figure me out, you women and your…." He hissed glaring over at Jack. "That doesn't feel… so good." His eyes began to flutter shut from the loss of blood and energy. "You…. jackass."

Sawyer submitted to unconsciousness and Faith looked over at Jack. He glanced up, their eyes meeting.

"Did he have them?"

Jack looked down.

She kept staring at him. "I'm surprised. I wasn't aware they taught you it was okay to inflect torture on people in medical school."

"Faith…"

She shot a warning look at Kate then directed her attention back to Jack. "I tried to warn you." Faith looked back down at Sawyer just as Sayid came bursting through the clearing with Jack's medical bag in hand. "But I guess we can't be perfect all the time Doc." She ignored Jack's eyes as they slightly rose and made room for Sayid to squat down with the bag. "Close but no cigar."

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Faith zipped up her bag and hoisted it onto her shoulders, mindful the entire time that she was being watched. She tucked her knife firmly in her belt and adjusted the straps before bending to pick up a water bottle. "Got something to say to me Jack or are you just gonna stare all day?"

"I'm not sure where to begin."

"Then it might be best you not even try." She filled up the bottle and capped it quickly. "How's Shannon?"

"Breathing normally again." Jack looked towards the back of the cave where Shannon and Boone were sitting, the girl inhaling something from a small bowl. "Sun, the Korean woman, made some ointment from Eucalyptus leaves that's helping her breathe. I'm ashamed I didn't think of it, it's like Vapor rub for your chest."

She nodded and stuck the bottle in her bag. "Good to know. And Sawyer?"

"He's going to be fine. Kate's watching over him." Jack glanced over her belongings. "Are you going out hunting again?"

"No." Faith shook her head. "I need to go."

"Look Faith, I know you…."

"Don't." She lifted a hand towards him. "What happened with Sawyer… It was ugly and it was a place I didn't want to be." Faith cleared her throat. "You let Sayid torture another human and in the end, he didn't even have the shit you were looking for. I warned you. The moment I stumbled onto Sawyer bleeding… It just reminded me of a place I don't even want to think about again. I need to clear my head."

"By doing what? Disappearing?"

"It's an island Doc, where exactly am I gonna go? I left my jet pack in my other pants." She moved past him without looking up. "Don't you worry about me Jack, that's the last thing I want from you."

Faith began to exit the cave, hesitating as she bumped into Locke coming in.

"Going somewhere?"

"Out for a while."

"Need backup?"

"Nope." She shook her head. "I don't know when I'll be back. Have fun while I'm gone."

"Be careful."

Faith smirked. "You know me Locke."

"That's why I'm saying to be careful."

She nodded and began down the path ignoring anyone that she encountered as she picked up the pace. She managed to reach the beach in good time, spotting Sayid as he took a step back from Kate and kissed her hand in a silent goodbye.

"And where are you going?"

He glanced over at her. "I was just telling Kate I think it would be a great idea to map the island."

"What a wicked idea. I'll come with."

Sayid shook his head. "I trust myself to do this alone."

Faith shrugged. "That's one thing we have in common. I trust my judgment when I say you shouldn't go by yourself. I also trust my decision to nominate myself so let's go. I won't take no for an answer and believe me, I will follow you." She threw a hand over her shoulder at Kate. "See you eventually K. Let's go Sayid."

He glanced one final time at Kate. "I hope we meet again."

She nodded watching in silence as he turned and followed after Faith.

Sayid caught up with her strides easily and shot her a puzzled look. "Why do this? You don't have a reason to be leaving, not like I do." He looked down towards the beach. "What I did today…what I almost did to Sawyer ... I swore to do never again. If I can't keep that promise, I have no right to be here. You on the other hand…"

"Have been exactly where you are now." Faith interrupted. "I don't agree with what you or Jack did but I've been there, trust me."

"Somehow I don't see that. It's not too late to turn back. Beyond this point, there are no second chances."

Time was, I thought humans existed just to hurt each other. But then I came here. And I found out that there are other types of people. People who genuinely wanted to do right. And they make mistakes. And they fall down. You know, but they keep caring. Keep trying. If you can trust us, Faith, this can all change. You don't have to disappear into the darkness.

"That's where you're wrong."