A/N: Here's another update. House wise, they're packing our things, we have to get out during the time they put the wood and carpet back in and sand it down so we have to relocate until the dust settles so to speak. Story wise, I'm going out of town again on Friday so this will be the only update this week. Look for another update next week, probably Thursday.

Thank you for all the suggestions and comments. Winners of the Here's a Stake Made by Faith prize goes to RavynJensen for the lovely idea about the castaways seeing the First. Several of you added on to that and suggested it as well. I will see what I can do about that to weave it into the story. Each of you though gets a big ol' cookie for your ideas, they were great and keep those eyes pealed, you may see them yet.

EDIT: Also, I will have this season finished BEFORE three starts of LOST so there will be a period of waiting till I can update. I am going to try to write something Tabula Rasa related while we wait for the new season. My idea is to try to write on topics or questions, scenes, etc that weren't given much thought either in the show or this fic. If you have any suggestions or ideas on what you'd like to see written about, here's the time to tell me. It can be anything since each update will be separate snippets from this story but related to it all the same. Hope that made sense. Get those ideas in.

As always, read, enjoy and REVIEW.

Chapter Twenty-Five: And Found
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She hadn't planned to stop but Sun's voice was so stressed that it caught her attention right away. Immediately Faith knew something was wrong and inched closer to listen, not looking at Sun directly as she squatted down on her haunches and proceeded to look busy by digging her water bottle out of her bag.

"It's rattling in my sock drawer at home. Um, I can help you look if you want."

Sun shook her head but shot Jack a small smile of gratitude. "No, thanks. I'm sure I'll find it eventually." She turned away and headed up the beach without another word.

Faith quickly zipped up her bag, the water bottle now in her left hand.

"I know you were listening."

Faith swept her hair back from her face and squinted against the glare of the sun as she looked up at Jack. "Um, no I wasn't."

Jack smiled, shaking his head, and extended his hand.

Positive that the gig was up, she accepted the offer and muttered quick thanks as he pulled her to her feet.

"She lost her wedding ring."

Faith glanced over her shoulder in the direction Sun had disappeared. "Oh, I thought something was wrong."

"Something is wrong, her ring is missing."

She turned her attention back to Jack, eyebrow cocked. "I heard you the first time Doc, I ain't deaf. Forgive me though if a ring isn't just as high on my list as say, surviving our version of Gilligan's island."

Jack frowned at her; his reaction so expected that she almost chuckled at seeing it on his face. "Everyone has that one thing that they would hate to be apart from. Don't you have anything like that you'd hate to lose?"

He had her there. Faith frowned too but quickly wiped the expression off her face. "Yeah, I guess." She shifted to step around him and approach the water container. Jack followed, another reaction she expected.

"I haven't seen you at the hatch lately."

Faith peeped at him from beneath her eyelashes as she dipped her bottle in the water. "Aw, that's cute," She almost laughed at the sight of his face flushing, "You miss me."

"Faith…" He cleared his throat and tried again. "I haven't seen Locke either. Is there something I should know about?" The tone of his voice was suddenly serious. "Something you need to tell me?"

"Yeah, you need your eyes checked." She slammed the cap back on her bottle, twisting it roughly. "Cause I do my shifts, same goes for Locke. It might be news to you but we don't have to report to you every hour of the day and frankly Jack, what I do in my spare time is none of your damn business."

"I didn't mean to-"

"No, you never do but somehow you keep pushing my buttons. If we were any where else but here I would have dropkicked you already."

He seemed taken back by her admission but to his credit he didn't back down. "On any other subject Faith I'd trust your judgment but when it comes to Locke I'm not so sure you know what you're doing."

"He's one old man, I can handle it."

"He's not so old and it's not his physical nature you need to worry about, I don't trust him not to try to get you to lie and hide things from me again."

Not his physical nature, she almost died laughing but held it back. "And why is that?" She focused her narrowed eyes fully on his face. "You think Locke is some evil mastermind out to sabotage your campaign of justice or something? He believes this island is special, that it has some power, and if he wants to be delusional about it, let him Jack. Let him as well as the rest of the people around us pretend things are better than they really are because it's all they have left."

"At this point, I'm not worried about them Faith, I'm worried about you." At some point during her rant he had managed to reach out and rest his hand comfortably on top of her shoulder, comfortable at least for him. It took everything she had not to grab his wrist and snap it back as hard as she could. The idea hit her so fast she hesitated and almost stepped back.

For some reason, the thought bothered her. It wasn't that she wanted to hurt Jack because he was Jack but a part of her wanted to get out the frustration festering deep in the pit of her stomach, the seething anger that needed room to vent and needed it as of yesterday. There was no explanation as to why it was there, why she felt that way, but she did.

"You should worry about someone who wants the attention Jack, like Kate for instance." Faith shrugged off his hand and finally did take a step back. "Look, I appreciate the gesture but I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself."

"I noticed."

She forced her expression to reflect innocence, brown eyes flashing. "That I'm a girl? I'm flattered." Faith chuckled as he flushed again, this time it being him that was uncomfortable.

"Keep in mind what I said Faith and if anything changes, if something comes up, I hope you know that you can always come to me, no matter what it is." Jack didn't leave her time to respond and merely turned away.

She stood there watching as he made his way up the beach and her fingers unconsciously tightened around her bottle. The force instantly crumpled the plastic, and it went unnoticed as the water splashed all over the sand at her feet.

&&&&&&&&

"Let's take a break."

Faith watched as Locke wiped the sweat from his forehead and moved to squat down on a log behind them. She kept her hands on her hips, glancing around the forest. "I'm beginning to think our luck is running out."

"Nonsense. We can't give up, you said yourself that-"

"Six stations total John. First off, we have no clue how big the island actually is. It could be days before we even come close to another hatch and secondly, even if we do manage to find one, there's no guarantee these Others won't try to hack us up into tiny pieces, honey glaze our bones, and eat us." She noticed him shoot an amused glance her way and she shrugged, still looking around. "It could happen, I saw it in a movie once."

"If we give up now, if we don't keep looking then you'll never find out what's on that tape Faith. Is that what you really want?"

She ground her teeth together but after a minute shook her head. "No, I want to know what's on it. I have to know."

"Then we keep looking."

"Say we find another hatch and it has a VHS player." Faith finally focused on Locke. "What if I don't like what I learn?"

"I don't know the answer to that."

She nodded. "Strange thing is, neither do I."

"Why do I have the feeling you might know more of what's on the tape then you're letting on?"

"Maybe cause you're a curious bastard?" Faith flashed him a quick grin. "And sometimes you manage to be right." She shrugged and paused to scratch her forehead, eyebrows furrowing. "Do you believe in demons John?"

"You mean like things that go bump in the night?"

Faith nodded and focused her attention back on the older man again. "Pretty much."

Locke studied her, face not once betraying anything that was going on inside his mind. He nodded. "Personal demons definitely, otherworldly type stuff…." He hesitated before continuing. "I didn't use to."

"And now?"

"And now I do."

"What changed your mind?"

Locke stood up from the log and adjusted the straps on his backpack. "The island."

"Ah, the island, of course."

He ignored the sarcasm that dripped from the words. "Why do you ask?"

"Maybe I'm just curious."

"Maybe you're a horrible liar."

Stalemate. Faith watched him carefully, taking note he wasn't moving and he was remaining silent. The frustration and anger in the pit of her stomach swelled and burst in a wave of heat up her throat.

"When we first met you asked me what I do for a living John and I didn't think you were ready for the answer. I didn't think anyone here was ready for the truth but I think if I'm going to get any answers, I have to tell someone." She kept her eyes glued to his as if waiting for the reactions he would try to block from her noticing. "Truth is John, I don't have a real job, not in the sense of nine to five but I do have a job. My job is to make sure that those very demons I believe in, the ones you now claim to believe in as well, stay away from those that aren't aware of them, those they could hurt. I kill the very same demons that would kill you, Walt, and Claire's baby. That's my job."

Locke swallowed and stayed quiet for only a minute. "Is that what it means to be a Slayer?" As soon as the question escaped him, he knew he had made a mistake. Locke had no time to react before he found himself flat on his back, the wind knocked out of him and the sole of Faith's black boots was pressing him down to the forest ground by the neck. He didn't struggle at seeing her eyes blazing down at him and settled for lifting his hands in a silent truce.

"What do you know about that?" Faith snarled. "Who are you?"

"I never lied to you about what I was." Locke licked his lips, nervous as he answered. "Charlie told me that's what Ethan called you. He told me Ethan seemed to know exactly who you were and that even he could see it made the other man nervous. Whoever you were Charlie said was enough to scare a man so far gone that he'd kill for what he wanted."

Faith let up slightly on the pressure but didn't remove her boot completely from his neck. "So now what Locke? Is this where we part ways and when I return to the beach, I'm greeted by pitch forks and torches?"

"No. It isn't. I swear it." He shook his head. "Nothing like that Faith but I'm trying to understand what's going on, I'm trying to understand you."

She took a step back from him, watching with careful eyes as Locke stumbled back on his feet.

"What you are or what you can do isn't the debate here Faith, I've seen too many good things come from your selflessness whether or not you realized it, and just like a lot of people from the plane, I trust you."

"I feel a 'but' coming on."

"But…" Locke chuckled. "I also realize that whatever it is that makes you who you are, it also makes you different from the rest of us in a way that I'm positive many won't be able to understand or embrace. I think the island, destiny, whatever you want to call it; I think that's why it put us together. We can help each other and most of all, I know you'll keep my secret just like you hopefully know I'll keep yours."

"How can you say that when you know I don't completely trust you?"

"Because right now Faith, I'm all you have." He rubbed at his neck. "And we want the same thing, the truth."

"I wouldn't be so sure of that." She took her hand off the handle of her Jackal, not even realizing until that very moment she had been squeezing it with a Vulcan like death grip. "Stab me in the back and not even Jack will be able to save you from the world of pain I'll put you in. I think you understand me, don't you John?"

Locke nodded. "Crystal clear."

Faith forced the smile on her face, eyes still watchful for any sign that he was being less than honest. She found none. "Good."

&&&&&&&&

She hit the Execute button and watched as the numbers reset. Faith leaned back in the chair and chewed on her bottom lip as she swiveled it from side to side.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say your mind was elsewhere."

She twisted the chair to see Sayid at the entrance to the dome, an amused look on his face. "You're one to talk Mr. I've been gathering supplies all week for my secret love get-away." She grinned, "Don't think I don't notice when stuff goes missing from here."

Sayid chuckled and held up his hands. "I am only borrowing a few things, no need to worry."

"Borrowing for what?"

"I made a tent for Shannon down on the beach."

Faith let out a low whistle under her breath. "Not even two months and you're already moving in together, nice."

"Dude, that's so what I said." Hurley proclaimed as he walked up behind Sayid, clasping a hand on the other man's shoulder. He slowly removed it at seeing the look Sayid gave him. "But I mean, like in a total non-violent, I'm just teasing and please don't hurt me kind of way."

Sayid wiped the expression of irritation from his face and let out a loud laugh, shaking his head. He made his way towards the exit, throwing her a quick wave before he disappeared.

"He seems happy."

"He does." Hurley glanced around; eyes lingering on the counter and then the computer. "Want me to uh, do that?"

Faith swiveled the chair around and pushed away from the desk, sliding directly up in front of Hurley. She eyed him warily. "Why?"

"Dude, have you seen yourself lately?" He took a step back, "I mean, not that you're ugly or that you – Okay, look." Hurley cleared his throat. "You and I both know you haven't been sleeping all that well and being that you like to do lone ranger stuff and go out into the forest for days, well, I just assumed that getting some rest wouldn't be such a bad idea."

"It's not."

"Yeah, it's… not." He paused. "It isn't?"

"Nope, definitely not." Pushing with her feet flat against the concrete floor, Faith slid the chair back towards the computer and waited to stand up until after it had come to a complete stop. "I'll take a nap and you sit at the computer and imagine it has dirty pictures on it or something." She laughed at seeing him blush almost beet red. "Or not, that's so up to you man." Faith almost skipped by him, pausing to lean over and press a quick kiss to his cheek. "Thanks Hurley, you rock."

She made her way to the bedroom and swore underneath her breath at the sight of a person already lying on the bottom bunk. "Who the hell is…" She approached and stopped a foot away from the bed, hands on her hips as she eyed Jack. "Don't you have medicine to create from guacamole seeds or something?"

He didn't open his eyes and merely continued to lie there on his back. "Nope, all out of guacamole seeds."

"Mango maybe? Helpful and it smells so good!"

A corner of his mouth tilted upwards but his eyes still remained closed. "I'm taking next shift so I thought I'd prepare myself." One of his eyes popped open and focused on her. "Isn't it your shift now?"

"Hurley ordered me bed rest and here I am. Well, there I was gonna be," She pointed at the bottom bunk, "But you're there already and golly, I just don't sleep with boys until they buy me something fancy."

Both of his eyes were open by this point and she grinned before jumping up and sliding her way onto the top bunk.

Faith leaned her head over the side so she could peer down at him. "I'm just kidding Jack-"

"I know." He nodded. "You were just-"

"They really don't have to buy me anything at all." Faith flipped over onto her back, staring up at the ceiling. "Did Sun ever find her ring?"

"I think so."

"Ah, that's good. I guess." She said nothing else, folding her hands onto her stomach and listened to Jack shifting around on his own sheets. "Need me to sing you a lullaby?"

"No."

"Good, I don't know any. How about a bedtime story? I have an awesome one about a girl who fights vampires."

"Uh, no." What was probably a pillow muffled his reply and what she was positive she heard, his laughter as well. "Thanks."

Faith chuckled. "Your loss, it's a good one."

&&&&&&&

"Come. I have something to show you."

Faith looked up from her bag, squinting at the sight of Danielle standing by the edge of the forest. She straightened hoisting the strap to her shoulder. "I'm not exactly sure I want to right now. You and I have some serious issues to work out, issues like me not pummeling you for the baby incident."

Danielle glanced around then motioned for her to hurry. "You must come. There is not much time."

She disappeared into the trees leaving Faith standing there shaking her head. "I'll never figure out that woman, it's like she doesn't understand a word I say." Grudgingly she followed after the Frenchwoman.

It wasn't long before they stopped near a clearing of forest and Faith looked around. "Okay, now what?"

Danielle shushed her, pressing a finger against her own lips before she pointed towards the tree line opposite them. "There. Do not see it?"

Faith squinted, leaning forward and her eyes automatically landed on what Danielle was so hard pressed to show her. A net was strung up in the trees, a heavy object obviously caught within the swinging ropes. "Who or what is it?"

"It is one of them." Danielle whispered as she stared at the net.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's start with the violence." She made the move to go forward but Danielle caught her arm.

"No, you must wait."

"Why?"

"That." Danielle pointed again. "That is why you must wait."

Faith stood there, Danielle's hand still on her arm and she watched as a thick trail of black smoke began to pour out from the trees. The person in net began to struggle even harder and scream but it was to no avail. The black smoke growled and hissed, completely engulfing the net and the person inside.

"What the-"

The smoke roared, a familiar sound, and the trees shook from the impact of echo. It drowned out the screams moments before the sound stopped indefinitely. She continued to watch with wide eyes as the smoke began to morph into shapes, never staying in one true constant form. It flashed before her eyes, images she recognized as the cross, gravestones, and weapons but it was the images of Kakistos, the one demon she had truly feared, that made her stumble back and fall to her knees.

"What is this?" Faith looked around to find Danielle gone and when she looked forward again the net and smoke had disappeared as well. There was nothing left but endless miles of sand. "What is this?"

"It's death."

Her head jerked to her left, finding the first slayer standing there, the dark eyes staring her down relentlessly.

"War is coming to your door." She hissed. "And with you, you bring death." The first slayer snarled and before Faith could react, the dark woman tackled her to the ground, her cold fingers wrapping easily around her neck. She struggled but couldn't breathe and the fingers tightened, shaking her into a black unconscious nothing.

"Faith!"

The hands continued to shake her.

"Faith!"

She jerked awake, eyes shooting open, and Faith glanced around to find herself still on the top bunk in the hatch. The hand that had been shaking her slid away and she rubbed at her head as she leaned up on her elbows and peeked over at the person still waiting beside the beds.

"Is everything okay?"

She nodded and looked away. "Yeah Kate, I'm fine. What are you doing here?"

"It's almost time for my shift."

How long had she been sleeping?

"Are you sure you're okay?" Kate frowned. "You were screaming. I've never heard anyone scream like that before, it was…" She licked her lips as if suddenly nervous, "You sounded like you were struggling for your life."

Faith flopped back down on the bed and rubbed her eyes. "I'll be fine, it was just a dream."

Kate looked like she was going to argue, the look of disbelief obvious on her face but instead she moved away and disappeared back towards the dome. Faith continued to lie there, staring up at the ceiling but for the first time, not really seeing it.

And with you, you bring death.