A/N: You guys are bloody fantastic. Thank you for the reviews! I'm always glad to see what you think, what you're confused on, suggestions, it just really helps the story. If you haven't left feedback and I noticed some of you haven't in a good while (I'll list names next chapter... just kidding) please do so. I'd love to hear from you. Seriously. However, if leaving me a little something about whether you liked it or not (flutters eyelashes) just isn't you, I do hope you are still reading and enjoying the direction the story is taking.

Since I received well over 10 replies for the last chapter I will update again as promised with two chapters this week. Here is Chapter Sixteen. Look for Seventeen on Wed or Thursday.

I look forward to your comments. Enjoy!

(Note: Flashbacks are in italics!)

Chapter Sixteen: In Translation
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She had just cleared the trees, pausing to drop the dead boar at her feet, when she spotted the group of people in front of her. No one had even noticed her arrival, and Faith wiped her hands on her jeans, shifting her attention towards the direction they were all looking. The Korean couple stood on the beach arguing loudly, Jin trying in vain to drag Sun back to their tent.

"You think we should do something?"

"Like what?" Jack looked over at Claire, the fish he was gutting in his hand. "We don't even know what they're arguing about."

"She's wearing a bathing suit." Faith came up behind them, motioning to the still arguing couple. "Too much skin, men can see her; get it?"

Jack shook his head, glancing over his shoulder at her. "Hey, you found more boar."

"It found me actually." Faith grunted with a lazy shrug. "Came running straight at me screaming, gut me! Gut me!" She nodded as she looked back at the bloody carcass. "I was more than happy to help him out, I'm pro-choice. Fun stuff."

"Dude," Hurley shot her a weird look, "Just… Dude."

"What? You want boar meat or not?"

"Yes," Jack cut in, "We're grateful. Thank you."

She held his gaze for a minute then nodded and turned her attention back to Sun and Jin, eyebrows raising as she spotted Michael trying to wedge his way between the two. Any comment that rested on the tip of her tongue was automatically swallowed as she watched Sun slap Michael soundly on the cheek before taking her husband's hand and stalking away.

Jin shot Michael a suspicious look before following after Sun, and Michael just stood there as if dumbfounded at what had just happened.

"Aw, dang." Faith snorted, "Show's over and I didn't even get any popcorn."

&&&&&&&&

"One of these days someone's just gonna tackle Sawyer and beat the crap out of him."

Faith looked up from cleaning her knife to see Jack and Sawyer by Michael's raft, Sawyer obviously teasing Jack about something and the doctor looking highly annoyed by it. She watched for a few seconds then looked back down at her knife. "Probably. Sawyer likes to run his mouth."

"You would know right?"

Faith turned her head slowly to glare at Charlie and immediately the man took a step backwards, raising his hands in mock surrender.

"I didn't mean it like that." He glanced nervously at Claire who was frowning as well. "I just meant that, well, that you'd know cause you hang out with him sometimes."

Faith shrugged and slid the jackal back into her hip sheath. She stood, shooting Charlie another look and she smiled sweetly. "Do me a favor Charlie and get me some more water?" She tossed her empty bottle at him and he nodded.

"Claire, will you…"

"She'll be fine, I'll stay here."

Charlie nodded again and took off towards the water container.

"He cares a lot about you."

Claire took a second to watch Charlie then fixed her attention back to Faith. "I know. Little by little, I've been remembering what happened since the crash and he's the one thing that has stayed pretty consistent. I guess I'm lucky in a way, to have someone like that… He makes me feel safe." She rubbed at her stomach. "Listen to me blabbering at you, I bet you feel safe all on your own."

"Our situations are a bit different Claire but believe me, I know what it feels like to be scared."

"You're right, our situations are different." Claire nodded. "You don't have people looking at you funny and whispering god knows what every time you walk by."

"You'd be surprised." Faith took a seat next to her and watched Sawyer and Jack still talking. "Hey, maybe we should put them in a huge pit of mud and let 'em duke it out."

Claire giggled. "Definitely an entertaining suggestion. For some reason, I don't see Jack going for that idea."

"Me neither." Faith smirked as the doctor shook his head at something Sawyer said. "Jack's more the three piece suit kind of guy, I don't particularly see him as the loin cloth and club carrying cave man type myself. Sawyer though…" She paused to glance over at the blonde who was still rubbing her stomach. "Everything okay with the little one? Do I need to get Jack?"

"Oh no, everything's fine." Claire shook her head. "I just… Sometimes I think I'm gonna wake up and the baby will just be gone. I won't know where I am or where my baby is... Like it was all just a dream or something."

"Ethan's not coming back Claire. Nothing else is gonna happen to you, I promise." She looked away as Claire tilted her head to study her. "I'll make sure of it this time."

"Why?" Claire questioned. "Why does helping me mean so much to you? And not just me, you've gone out of your way several times to help people. It's like you're on some mission."

"Maybe I am." Faith shrugged. "I don't like feeling useless that's all. This island, wherever it is, it makes me jittery. I can't just stand around, gotta get into the action or I'll go crazy."

"Well, I for one am glad. Charlie said I could trust you and I do."

Faith's lips flattened but she said nothing, watching as Jack turned away and headed back up the beach. Sawyer tossed Michael some wire and he climbed up on the boat with a saucy grin.

"Oh!"

Faith's head swung back towards Claire and she froze at the look on the woman's face.

"Oh, the baby's kicking." Claire giggled and smiled, reaching to grab Faith's hand before she could stop her. "Feel it? That's a strong kick!" She pressed Faith's hand down on her round stomach and laughed. "Wow, that's amazing."

Faith stared down at her hand as she felt the baby kick against it. She was at a loss for words but nodded and as swiftly as she could, she pulled her fingers free from Claire's. "Yeah…" Faith stood up and busied herself with brushing the sand off of her pants. "That's…" She cleared her throat. "Yeah…"

"Everything okay?"

She looked over to see Charlie glancing between them and nodded as she snatched the full bottle from his hands. "Five by five."

"The baby was kicking!" Claire chuckled. "Strong little bugger."

Charlie grinned widely and it was almost so bright Faith felt like turning away. She tilted the bottle towards him.

"Thanks."

"No problem." He nodded. "Well, I gotta… get going." Faith jerked her thumb over her shoulder. "Gotta… See ya."

They both frowned as they watched her rush off, and Charlie snorted before he glanced over at Claire with an amused expression on his face.

"Sometimes I really wonder about that girl."

"Me too but I like her." They exchanged a soft smile and Charlie nodded glancing down at Claire's hand still on her stomach.

"Yeah, me too."

&&&&&&&&

Faith ran her hand along the side of the boat, pausing to tap the metal, and she stepped back as a tall shadow fell across the sand beside her. "And pretty soon it'll have its very own karaoke machine."

"Who knows; maybe Michael will even put a working toilet on it."

She smirked at Sawyer. "Congratulations; I hear you weaseled your way onto the passenger list."

"You bet I did Sweetheart. All that stuff I saved came in handy after all."

"Let's hear it for the pack rat." Faith looked at the boat again. "Of course, it's still on sand… Combined with your big ego and the fifty thousand fish Jin is bringing, it might not float on water."

"Don't be talking bad about my baby." Michael grunted as he moved past them. "She'll float, no doubt about that."

"Ah, she. What'd you name her?"

Michael frowned as he exchanged a look with Sawyer. "Name her?"

"Oh come on," Faith rolled her eyes. "You men name everything: cars, tools, body parts. What'd you name the boat?"

"Can we name it Vincent Dad? Can we?"

Faith chuckled as Walt appeared beside her. "Hate to break it to you Kid, but the boat is a she."

"How can a boat be a she?"

Walt and Faith looked back at Michael simultaneously, both with their eyebrows raised and a look of expectancy on their faces.

Walt titled his head with a frown, "Dad, did you really name a body part with a girl's name?"

"Well I… See…" Michael glanced between them, confused panic clearly on his face, and he shot a pleading look at Sawyer for some assistance.

"Don't look at me Hoss. I just supplied the tools, I'm not the brain here."

"You got that right."

"Hey!" Sawyer shook Faith a look of irritation, his eyebrows furrowing and lips pressing flat, and Faith couldn't help but imitate him, causing Walt to start giggling uncontrollably.

"She's getting pretty good at that." Michael chuckled turning to climb up on the boat.

"Women. I expect a big thank you when I help get us rescued." Sawyer muttered climbing up after Michael. "Ain't you got something better to do then stand around all day? Go saddle up a boar or something."

"And where is your mind at?" Faith made the move to cover Walt's ears and he ducked away, smiling. "There are children present!"

"We've got work to do." Michael threw her a look over his shoulder. "So unless you have something important to say…"

"Nah, not important." She shrugged and threw Walt a grin. "But uh, ya mind if I take Junior off your hands for a bit?"

Michael frowned. "I'd rather he stay close so…"

"Dad, please? I'll be good I promise. Come on, please!"

He studied Faith for a few minutes. "Fine but leave Vincent here and as soon as it starts to get dark…"

"I'll bring him back safe before the sun even begins to set, I swear." Faith grinned and poked Walt on the arm. "Let's go Big Man."

&&&&&&&&

"So what are we doing?" Walt asked excitedly as he trailed a short distance behind her. "Are we gonna go explore something? Did you find a cave or…"

"Kid, seriously." Faith smirked, shaking her head. "Calm down for one second." She glanced around then paused and squatted down on her haunches beside him. "I need a favor."

"What kind of a favor?" He eyed her suspiciously before his eyes lit up and he grinned. "Is it dangerous?"

"Sure." Faith shrugged. "See Locke behind me?" She nudged her head and Walt nodded as he looked past her to see the older man sitting on the beach and staring out at the ocean. "I need his water bottle. Think you can get it for me?"

"Why can't you-"

"I just can't. That's why I need your help." Faith stood up. "Just tell him you'll refill it for him or something. Be creative."

"What's in it for me?"

Faith chuckled and reached into her bag. "My endless thanks, not to mention respect… And I'll even throw in this oh so cool mind scrambler of death that I took off of Sawyer. How about that?"

He looked at her skeptically, glancing at the object in her hand. "It's a Rubik's cube."

"I know Kid, work with me."

Walt paused as if debating then nodded. "Okay."

&&&&&&&&

The sun was beginning to set, and Faith glanced around one more time before she approached Boone standing by a huge woodpile. He glanced up at her and tossed the chopped log from his hands onto the rest of them by his feet.

"Hey…"

"Hey yourself." Faith shoved her hands into her pockets. "What cha doing?"

Boone motioned with his hand at the pile. "Building a bonfire for tonight."

"Either that or it's a really shitty attempt at a log cabin."

Boone smiled and wiped his hands on his pants. "Everything okay? Where's Locke at? I thought I saw you talking to him earlier."

Faith's fingers drifted over her now empty pocket, what was left of the sleeping pills now hidden safely in her bag. "He got really tired and decided to lay down a bit. You know Locke, always with the go, go, go mission until its time to rest." She pointed over her shoulder. "He's down there by the rest of the tents asleep."

Boone nodded and bent down to grab another log. "Is there something you needed? I figure it has to be important or urgent if you're taking time out of your busy schedule to talk to me. I'm sure you want to make it quick so you're not seen with me."

"What the hell does that mean?"

He shrugged. "Shannon has a way of getting what she wants and she doesn't care who she hurts in the process. When she tells people to stay away, they tend to listen to her."

"Well then it's a good thing I usually block out her voice when she's around." Faith threw him a stern look. "I wasn't really coming over here to talk about your sister but since you brought her up, I guess now is a good a time as any."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"I don't believe I asked what you wanted." She motioned at him with her fingers. "Come on. Let's go."

"To where?" Boone looked at her suspiciously and shook his head. "No, thanks Faith. If you don't mind, I just want to be alone right now."

Faith moved forward, striking out at him with a solid punch, and he landed on the sand by her feet with a groan. She watched his eyes flutter shut and grunted, bending down to grab him by the shoulders. "What a fantastic idea Boone, you must have read my mind."

&&&&&&&&

"Ouch, my head." Boone moaned as he attempted to sit up straight and rub his aching skull. His eyes opened quickly when he realized he couldn't move and cursing, Boone looked down to see his hands and legs tied, his body propped up against a wide tree trunk. "This can't be happening again."

"From my experience, most boys like being tied up."

Boone looked up to see Faith sitting across from him on a log, the Jackal in her hand as she picked nonchalantly at her nails. "Sounds like you hung around the wrong crowd growing up." He motioned at the ropes. "What is this Faith? Untie me."

"Not until we've had a little talk first." Faith put her knife away and clasped her hands together. She propped her elbows up on her knees and leaned forward.

"Faith, this isn't funny, untie me and…"

"I talk, you listen." She interrupted sharply. "That's how this game works. Play nicely and I'll untie you."

"And if I don't feel like playing nicely?"

Faith shrugged. "I'm not gonna threaten you with bodily harm cause, well, that's just boring but that doesn't mean I won't strip you of all your clothing and make you walk back to camp completely naked."

"You wouldn't dare-"

"You don't know me that well." Faith smirked. "So be good and listen, that's all I ask."

"Fine." Boone forced himself to relax and leaned back against the tree. "But answer this question first, was Locke really tired or did you do something to him too?"

"Ah, so glad you brought him up. Yeah, sure, he was tired." Faith shrugged. "Especially when I gave him some Lunesta but no worries, it was just enough to make him drowsy. He'll be fine in a couple of hours, I swear it."

"Why are you doing this?"

"I do believe that was two questions but I'll let it slide." Faith sat up straight. "Something your sister said about you made me think, something along the lines of how you're doing this to prove yourself. She had a good point."

"Prove myself? To who?"

"She seems to think me but I know that's not it. Maybe to her?" She studied him, "Maybe you're playing Rambo all the time to prove that you're not just some lazy rich boy? Coming from your sister, that observation was pretty smart." Faith smiled. "I have to hand it to her, she's pretty observant but I don't think that's solely the reason right Boone?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Why were you in Australia?"

Boone's jaw muscle jumped and he narrowed his eyes at her. "Why were you?"

"Oh Jesus!" The man cried out as he was thrown against the bar and twisted around, his face meeting the solid surface of the counter. Glass went flying and he cried out. "I swear! Oh Jesus!"

"I've been called a few things in the past but that's a new one." Faith applied more pressure onto his head. "Let's try this again, the right answers this time." She leaned over and shoved the picture into his face again. "Have you or have you not seen this girl?"

He blinked, face twisting in pain as she applied more pressure, but he licked his lips nervously, eyes glued to the 8x8 image of the young redhead staring back at him. "About a month ago!" He wheezed. "She came in here, looking all out of it, almost as if she was in a daze! Couple of the blokes tried to, you know, approach her and…"

"And what?"

"She busted their heads, that's what! Place was a mad house!" The man grunted as Faith let up some of the pressure. "Had to call the cops and it took a whole bunch of 'em just to get her down! Ended up shocking her and everything!"

"Where'd they take her?" He went quiet and Faith pressed down again, a scream coming out of him when the broken glass on the bar began to dig into his face. "Where?"

"To the loony place! Girl was plain out of her mind!"

"Loony place?" Faith leaned forward again. "Where's that at?"

"Kalgoorlie! The psychiatric hospital!" He cried out, "Only place they send all the crazies around here! I swear that's all I know."

"Okay, I believe you." She stepped back and shoved the paper into her back pocket. "All of that could have been avoided if you'd just answered me honestly in the first place." Faith watched as he scrambled backwards, wide eyes watching her in fear. "What is it about everywhere I go that people want to lie to me?"

"Please. I don't want any more trouble."

"Good." Faith pulled a couple large bills out of her jeans and tossed them onto the counter. "Here, for your troubles." She motioned at his face. "And uh, keep the change."

He eyed her warily but nodded and snatched up the money before rushing off towards the back room.

"Looks like you need this more than I do."

A shot glass full of whiskey slid up close to her hand and Faith looked over to see a middle-aged man in a business suit sitting at the bar, an empty bottle in his left hand.

She nodded and picked up the glass, downing the liquid automatically. "Thanks."

"Good luck with your search."

Faith stepped away from the counter, shoving her hands into her pockets as she moved past him to go out the back. "I could say the same to you." She pushed through the door at the same time the front door chime announced another person's arrival into the bar.

The door shut firmly behind her with a firm click and she glanced down at her watch. "4:23." Faith slid on her sunglasses and headed for her rental car. "Next stop, Kalgoorlie."

"I was looking for something." Faith concentrated on Boone again. "But it turned out to not be what I thought."

"I came to Australia for my sister. I thought she needed my help but…"

"Only needed your money?"

"Right." Boone let out a dry laugh, "I should have seen it coming. I drop everything to come… save her and now I'm stuck on an island in the middle of no where."

"Am I right?" Faith asked, "Are you doing all this because you want to show her up?"

"No. I'm doing what I can because I'm tired of being useless. I'm doing this because helping Locke makes me feel important, as if I contribute. When we get rescued, I want people to look at me not look past me."

"They're not gonna look at you at all if you keep this up Boone." Faith grunted. "Locke, this hatch, the island… Everything's just a little too randomly fitting don't you think? You have to trust me on this, following Locke and not questioning anything he decides is going to get you hurt or worse."

"And suddenly you care?"

"I've seen what happens when someone becomes obsessed with something bigger than them," She stood up from the log and squatted down next to him, sliding out her knife as she pulled his bound hands towards her. "You find something you think you can control or that is there for a reason and it turns against you. False hope Boone," Faith easily cut the ropes lose and then did the same with his feet. "I'm beginning to think that's all Locke has left. If I'm right, don't let him drag you down with him."

Boone stared at her, rubbing at his wrists. "You don't trust him anymore do you?"

"No, but I'm starting to think he might be right about the island." She stood up and offered him her hand. "We survived the crash because we were meant to." Faith pulled him up then stepped away and sheathed her knife. "It didn't have a damn thing to do with luck."

"Faith…"

Boone attempted to reach out to her, her eyes connecting with his again, but she stepped back just as his fingers brushed the side of her face.

"Don't trust him Boone. When the time comes, we have to tell the others." Faith turned away to lead them back. "Even if he tells us that we shouldn't."

&&&&&&&&

"We need some help!"

"Get some water!"

The alarmed yelling was almost deafening when they came out of the woods and Boone and Faith stared as people rushed by them.

"Oh my god." Boone pointed ahead of them. "The raft, it's on fire."

They jogged towards it, the night sky filling with black smoke as the flames continued to leap and engulf the raft. Charlie ran past them with Kate and the two joined the others who tried valiantly to put out the flames with sand and water.

Faith stared at the disaster, a frown on her face as the fire swept uncontrolled over every inch of the boat, burning it past repair. She glanced over to see Locke standing a few feet away, the same expression on his face as he watched. He turned his head towards her and his gaze lingered on hers until her attention was wrenched away by the sound of Michael's angry cry.

"No! Oh my god!" He grabbed at his head, watching in anguish as the boat brightly burned. "I can't believe this! My boat!" Michael noticed Sun standing near by and immediately charged at her. "Where is he? I know he did this! Where is your husband?"

Sun didn't answer and Michael continued to shout, each time even louder, until Jack maneuvered his way between them and shoved Michael back several steps.

Shaking her head, Faith blocked everything out and made her way towards the caves, the people around the boat still trying with all they had to put out the fire.

&&&&&&&&

"Everyone gets a new life on this land, Shannon. Maybe it's time you start yours."

"Whatever Locke, just tell him to stay out of my business!" She turned away from Locke, eyes flashing angrily, and she shoved past Faith who was standing behind her.

"Yeah, let me get out of your way." She watched Shannon stalk off, the blonde not once acknowledging her, and Faith snorted as she focused her attention back on Locke, tilting her head at the sight of him gutting a rat. "Now that… looks tasty."

He paused and glanced over at her, eyebrows raised.

"What?" Faith shrugged her shoulders and glanced at the rat again. "Okay, I can't lie. I agree with Miss Teen USA, it looks gross."

"I take it you heard all of our conversation." Locke focused on the rat again with his knife.

"I heard enough." She shrugged. "She certainly isn't happy with Boone is she?"

"That's the least of my concerns right now."

"Right. I'd say at this moment you're more concerned about what to do with the fact that you know Walt burned his dad's raft." She grinned as Locke paused again, raising his eyes back to hers. "Yeah, I figured that out all by myself too. I deserve a cookie."

"How? Michael seems to think it was Jin."

"Jin? Get real." Faith snorted. "He wants off this island so bad I wouldn't past him to swim all the way back." She glanced around. "I couldn't help but notice Walt wasn't all that thrilled about his father's constant skyscraper ramblings. If you ask me, the boy likes it here… almost as much as you do."

"And you Faith?" Locke studied her intently. "Do you like it here?"

"It's a little too bright for my taste." She stared back. "Besides, how long can a girl really go without cable television?"

He smirked and finally turned his attention back to the rat. "What do we tell the others?"

"I thought you'd already have that covered."

"I was gonna say the same thing about you."

"I'm not much for public speeches so I'll let you deal with that." She fingered the knife handle absentmindedly. "And I think it would be a good idea to say something to Walt too. He really likes you and I think he'd be more open to listening to a guy." She made the move to step away when his voice made her pause.

"Do I blame him for whatever was in my water too?"

"Nah," Faith shook her head, "That was all me chief. You looked like you needed a break."

"And just when I was beginning to think you didn't care about me."

She removed her grip from her knife completely and tucked both of her hands into her pockets. "There are times I don't trust you Locke, times I can't get my head around what you're thinking or the reasoning behind it and that makes me kind iffy. Hell, sometimes I don't even trust myself." She chuckled, "I'm cautious, I'm careful and most of all, I'm paranoid about other people's intentions. Being that way has gotten me this far and I don't plan on stopping just because you tell me I can believe you."

Locke nodded. "All I can do is show you."

"When that time comes, I really hope you can." Faith stared down at him. "And you better hope I like what I see."

&&&&&&&&

The smoke from the previous night's campfires drifted up into the sky as Faith continued to sit there on the beach. She clasped her hands together and rested them against her bent knees, the light breeze tickling her skin.

"So it turns out Sun can speak English after all, imagine that." Boone took a seat beside her and looked down the beach.

"Yeah," She smirked, "Imagine that."

He motioned to where Sun stood by herself, her feet in the surf and her bathing suit back on her skinny frame. "All this time and the first thing she says is how Jin didn't burn Michael's raft."

"He didn't." Faith shrugged looking back out at the ocean. "She had the right to protect him."

"Kind of funny how that worked out. Jin's helping Michael rebuild the boat but he's not speaking to Sun now."

"Everyone has their own problems." She watched his side profile with the tilt of her head. "What about you? How are you doing?"

Boone grunted and dug his fingers into the sand. "Nothing I can really do about it. Sayid's gonna see Shannon whether or not I like it."

"She's an adult Boone, perfectly capable of making her own decisions."

"I realize that. I just wish it didn't hurt so much."

"I know what you mean." Faith stared at the waves rushing into the shore. "But I've always been told you just gotta deal with the cards fate hands you, even if you're always a few short of a full deck."

"I guess." He was quiet for a few minutes then cleared his throat and glanced at her from the corner of his eyes. "So if Jin didn't burn the raft, who did?"

"Beats me."

"I think Locke's right about it being someone from Ethan's camp, whoever they are." Boone nodded and glanced over his shoulder to what remained of the boat, Michael and Jin working hard to rebuild it. "I definitely think Locke is right."

Faith watched him as the determination and trust floated across his face and she sighed as she fixed her attention back to the endless ocean. "I know you do."