A/N: Alright people, CHECK THIS OUT. Here are story stats... I couldn't believe it when I saw this. This story has received 28,171 HITS. I mean WOW. 61 of you have said it's a fav and 67 have put me on your alert list. BUT WHERE ARE YOU:( It makes me sad, esp since this website tells each one of your names. LOL. I'm gonna turn into a serious stalker if you don't start leaving me some feedback. JUST KIDDING. But please review, only reward I get out of this other than the satisfaction of seeing it complete.

For those of you that have been leaving it, THANK YOU. I cannot tell you enough how much I appreciate all that support and comments you have given me. I'm blown away by your thoughts and the time you take to send those comments to me. It keeps me going.

So here we were, as promised since I'm going out of town, Chapters 21 and 22, the finale to TR Season One. If you guys could be gracious enough to leave me feedback on EACH chapter, I would love it beyond words. I really need the feedback on these to see what you liked, what you thought, if I got things right/wrong and what can I improve on? Believe me, even criticism helps a writer grow a lot. I hope you enjoy the chapters and as soon as I get back from vacation (I plan to write all of Season Two while gone) I will start posting again. It would thrill me to see my mailbox lit up when I get back! Especially from you lurkers, next season I'm putting your names up on this thing. JK. Take care and until next time! Enjoy.

Chapter Twenty-One: Born to Run

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

"Penny for your thoughts? Well, I'd give you a penny if I had one at least."

Kate looked up from the tiny airplane in her hand and she smiled softly at Faith standing in front of her. "Just thinking, that's all."

"By the looks on your face," Faith took a seat next to her on the sand, "You were thinking about something awfully heavy."

Kate's eyes drifted back to the airplane. "Do you ever have vivid dreams about what you've done?"

Faith watched as Kate twisted the plane in slow circles. She cleared her throat and flicked at a blade of grass that had managed to stick to the side of her jeans. "I don't like to talk about them but I guess that comes with the territory."

"Deep down I know I'm going to have to face the consequences of my actions and I know that as soon as we get rescued, they'll lock me up and throw away the key but…"

"It doesn't stop you from wishing you could change things."

Kate nodded. "Exactly. I think about what I did everyday of my life and each time I struggle with what I should feel worse about; the fact I took someone's life or the fact that I don't feel the slightest bit guilty about it."

"At first I didn't feel guilty about what I did either." Faith wrapped her arms around her legs. "But the funny thing about nightmares and guilt is that neither of them go away."

"What'd you do?"

She swung her gaze back out to the ocean. "I killed someone I can't make peace with."

Kate wrapped her fingers tightly around the plane, clutching it in the palm of her hand. "I guess we're not as different as I thought after all."

&&&&&&&&

"Sure, you can absolutely wait a few weeks before you launch. I was just assuming you didn't want to die."

Faith shoved her way in between Kate and Sun, watching as the unfamiliar person kept talking to Jack and the group standing on the raft. "What's going on?" She glanced around. "There a fight?"

"Is that all you think about?" Kate smirked.

The corner of Faith's mouth twitched and she shrugged. "No… Sometimes I think about fluffy bunnies that carry around grenade launchers."

"I won't even ask." Kate pointed to the man in front of them. "Leslie Arzt, he's telling Michael that monsoon season is gonna start up soon and if they don't launch right now, there's no chance of them getting picked up in a shipping lane."

With a nod, Faith focused back on the group as Sawyer and Leslie began to argue.

"Because I'm a doctor, and you are a hillbilly."

"You're a damn high school science teacher." Sawyer snarled back.

"What'd you listen to that." Faith remarked loudly with a smirk, "They're both right!"

Jack smiled at her with a shake of his head and Sawyer shot them both an irritated look as Leslie continued talking.

"Can anyone tell me what is the only piece of land that's south of us?"

"Antarctica."

"That's right's correct Jack, very good."

"Yeah, that guy is definitely a high school teacher." Faith grumbled at Kate. "Should I even act surprised that Jack knew that answer?" She turned towards Jack and catching his attention slowly clapped a few times. "Way to go you educated bad ass you." Faith shrugged as Kate chuckled. "I would of known that too if I'd stayed in school... Maybe."

"I guess we better get a move on then." Michael glanced at the raft, a serious expression on his face. "We'll be pushing it but I think we can do it."

"Good." Arzt nodded. "The sooner, the better."

"I'm not sure I like this guy." Faith whispered glancing back at Kate again. She paused as she noticed Kate was no longer smiling, her dark gaze focused on the raft. "Yo, Kate, you alright?"

Kate blinked quickly and took a step back, shooting her a small smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. I've gotta go do something so I'll catch you later okay?"

She took off before Faith could even nod and Faith continued to stand there watching as she made her way up the beach in the direction Michael had disappeared.

"Do you need me to check your bandages?"

She broke from her thoughts to see Jack standing there and shook her head. "Nah Superman, I'm alright."

"I figured you'd say that. Last time I looked, you were already healing quite nicely."

Faith grinned. "I'm just all sorts of special."

Sawyer snorted as he walked past them. "Couldn't have said it better myself sweet cheeks."

"I don't doubt that Sawyer, your vocabulary isn't very extensive." She shot back quickly. "Oh, wait. Extensive, is that too big of a word for you? I can spell it if you want."

"Irritatin' woman!"

"Smelly hillbilly." Faith turned back to Jack, wide smile on her face. "What were you saying?"

&&&&&&&

It was just as she remembered, massive and to the outside world, impenetrable. Faith squatted down on her haunches and studied the hatch, looking over the deep trench she and Locke had managed to dig around it. Wide-bamboo sticks stood along the sides to expose the long steel cylinder and the sides that extended downwards. From what she could tell, there was no way of getting in it except for the door at the top and that wasn't coming open anytime soon.

Faith titled her head to study the steel door and cracked her fingers together. Deep down she knew with a little bit of pressure she could probably get the door open but she wasn't going to let Locke know that. Her gut instinct was telling her there was definitely something in the hatch not meant to be found and she wasn't sure she wanted to know exactly what it was anymore.

"So what did you tell Jack?"

"About what?" Faith stood up and glanced over to find Locke watching her. "About the hatch? Nothing."

"But you told Sayid."

"That's right." She placed her hands on her hips. "I also told him there's a group of dancing leprechauns that live in Alaska and he believed me about that too." Faith glanced back at the hatch. "Actually, there might be, I've never thought to ask but the point is, we kept this damn thing a secret for too long Locke. I had to tell someone."

"We don't even know what's in it."

"Right again and I'm betting if you already knew what we're gonna find, you would have kept that a secret too. The thing about lying Locke is that it eventually catches back up with you." She looked at him again. "But you already know that for a fact."

He kept his gaze on her but she knew by the look in his eyes that he wasn't entirely with her at that moment. "Yes, I know that."

"Then get off my back about it Locke. What's done is done and if I'm gonna keep risking my life, I want all the cards out on the table." Faith grunted. "Wait, maybe that should be, if I'm gonna keep dying since well you know…"

Another look flashed across his eyes. "Faith, I said I was…."

"Oh my god, what is this?"

They both looked over to see Jack and Sayid as they cleared the trees, the doctor's gaze glued to the hatch. He stepped to the edge of the ditch, staring down with his mouth hanging slightly open.

"Surprise!" Faith chuckled. "It's a giant rotisserie."

"Faith." Sayid shot her a scolding look. "This is not the time for jokes."

"Geez, my bad Giles." She muttered as she rolled her eyes but then shut her mouth, watching Jack continue to look at the hatch in amazement.

Jack covered his mouth with his hand and the minutes crept by as they all waited. Finally he nodded and cleared his throat. "It's definitely not a giant rotisserie." He looked up and directed his gaze straight at Locke. "So what is it?"

&&&&&&&

"Jack…" Faith weaved through the people and tents, following Jack as he continued making his way towards the raft. "Jack, slow down." She barely missed colliding with Hurley as he passed. "Slow down before I make you!" Faith grumbled. "Jack!"

"What Faith?" He stopped near a blue water cooler positioned by the side of the raft and squatted down, shifting through the bottles. "I'm a little busy at the moment."

"You can't be serious about the hatch. I'm with Sayid on this one. We should leave it closed."

Jack lifted up an empty bottle, tilting it up towards the sun so he could view the bottom. "I really don't think this is the best time to talk about it."

"Doesn't matter, don't care." She reached down to grab his wrist and waited until he swung his gaze to hers. "The hatch needs to stay closed Jack."

"Why? Do you know something I don't?" Jack stood up, her fingers still wrapped around his wrist, and he stared down at her with a cocked eyebrow. "Well, I mean, something else other than all the other things you've forgotten to mention you knew?"

"What was it you and Locke were cock fighting about not too long ago? Oh yeah, something about best discretion I think." Faith released his wrist with a quick flick of her fingers as she stepped back. "I hate to break it to you Jack but you're not the king of this island and you're definitely not the boss of me. We all have things we don't want to share and some of those should never ever be mentioned. You need me to pee in a cup for you so you can solve all my health issues, fine, but don't expect me to spill my guts every time you act like you care."

"There's nothing wrong caring about someone Faith."

"Yeah? Tell that to Boone." She snapped back. "From the first day I met him he wanted to help me and get to know me as a person. He stuck his neck out to show me the kind of man he was and look where that got him."

"Faith, I can't even begin to know what you're-"

"Look, forget it." Faith shrugged him off as she stepped back. "You do what you think is right Jack, you're going to anyway, but if what you find in that hatch isn't what any of us expect… Let's just say I don't plan on dying again anytime soon."

"I won't let that happen Faith, I promise."

"Wow, I'm touched, really." She slid her gaze over to where Michael sat resting near the boat. "So let me guess, Michael's sick because someone poisoned his water."

Jack frowned as he glanced over his shoulder. "How'd you know that?"

"There's white stuff on the bottom Sherlock." Faith smirked and pointed to the bottle still in his hand. "Nice to see those seven years of college really come through in a pinch."

&&&&&&&

Hurley tossed the water bottle in her direction and Faith caught it easily from her sitting position on the back of the raft. She slanted her gaze to Kate who stood beside her, the dark-haired woman shifting through her backpack, lower lip caught between her teeth.

"Lose something?"

Kate shook her head continuing to search and Faith shrugged as she paused to take a sip of her water.

"Get your hands off of me, boy."

The bottle froze tilted to her lips and Faith looked over to see Sawyer heatedly staring Jin down. He threw an irritated look at Michael who stood behind the shorter man. "You're kicking me off cause I what?"

"You heard me man! You poisoned me and now you think you're gonna secure a place on my raft with my son just because you've stolen things off dead people!" Michael tossed the tiny bottle of Pepto-Bismol back at Sawyer. "I don't think so criminal."

"Criminal?" Sawyer tossed the bottle to the ground and twisted around, eyes darkening as they landed on the site of Kate still oblivious to what was going on. "I think it's about time we set the record straight on the who the real criminal is around here."

Faith slammed her bottle down on the raft and jumped onto her feet as he approached them. "Sawyer, no."

"Out of my way Short Stuff, this doesn't involve you." He stretched around her, jerking Kate's bag clear out of her hands.

"Give that back!" Kate followed him immediately but her attempts at regaining her belongings failed. "I mean it Sawyer."

"You mean it? That's rich. Why don't you tell the man the truth! Why don't you tell all of us the truth for once?" Sawyer smirked as he tilted her bag upside down and the contents spilled onto the sand as everyone around them watched.

Kate attempted to snatch up something from the ground but he beat her to it and held it up.

"Now look what I found. Says here this belongs to, what a surprise, not you Kate! What in the world are you doing with someone else's passport book?" He tilted his head as he smiled and flashed it around for everyone to see. "Looks to me like you're trying to use it for a new identity for yourself! Now why in the world would you go and do a thing like that?"

"Sawyer, that's enough."

He flashed an angry look at Faith, snorting. "Why am I not surprised that you're taking up for her Faith?"

"This is low even for you man."

"You don't know how low I can go sweetheart but by the looks of it," Sawyer raised his voice, "Kate's got me beat by a long stretch. Ain't that right convict?"

Kate swallowed as everyone turned to stare at her. "I didn't-"

"She didn't poison anyone." Faith took a step forward to come up beside Kate. "And I think it's about time you shut your mouth Sawyer. Unless you feel like it's share time for everyone and in that case, maybe we should start with you?" She glanced at the people around them. "I was the one handcuffed to the marshal."

"Faith, you…"

She ignored Kate and shrugged as she continued looking around. "You can believe what you want about me, about Kate, but not a single one of you has the right to say a damn thing. I'd tell you about glass houses and stones but I'm not all that preachy and it's just not the same without a bible to hit you with." Faith stepped up to Sawyer and smiled as she plucked the passport clean out of his hand. "I'll take that back now, thanks."

The others that had gathered around them began to move off, some shooting leery glances at her, but Faith ignored them and tossed the book back to Kate who then bent down to pick up the rest of her stuff.

She looked over at Michael and he moved Walt to stand behind him.

"Don't come near my son again." He grabbed Walt's hand and turned to Sawyer as he started to walk off. "You're back on the boat."

Faith bent down to help Kate pick up the rest of her stuff; both of them mindful of Sawyer still standing there. After a few minutes, he stalked past them and she lifted her eyes at the same time she handed Kate the small toy plane.

"Well, that went well don't you think?"

Kate smiled softly as she took the plane and stuck it into her bag. "You didn't have to do that you know."

"I know," Faith shrugged. "But what would my life be without drama? Damn boring, that's what and I can't have that." She stood up and brushed at the sand off her jeans. "Don't worry Kate, they'll get over it. It's not like they can vote me off the island." She snorted. "How dumb would that be?"

"Well it is a reality show on television last time I checked so you can't be too sure." Kate stood up and zipped her bag.

"Eh, I haven't watched a lot of television in the past few years." Faith smirked. "The correctional facility I vacationed at wasn't too keen on letting us watch anything other than Spanish soaps. Though, I did get to see Glitter that one time. That sure did burn my brain."

Kate chuckled and they headed back up the beach.

"What would you say if I wanted to tell you the truth?" Kate turned her head towards Faith, her bag slung over her shoulder.

"I'd say it's a start."

&&&&&&&

"Everything looks good."

Faith lowered her shirt and stood up, watching as Jack wiped his hand on a towel. "So we're good? No more Dr. Jack check ups for me anymore?"

He shook his head as he tossed down the towel, glancing at her from the corner of his eyes. "You seem to have by-passed any infections and even your scars are beginning to fade a little. In all, I'd say you were-"

"Lucky to be alive?"

Jack went quiet for a few minutes. "I've never seen anyone heal that fast before from an injury so severe. You died Faith, I mean, it seemed like you were gone and the very moment I started CPR, you just came back."

"Some people would call that a miracle."

"I don't believe in those." He kept glancing down at her waist, to the bandages now hidden there by her shirt. "You don't strike me as the kind of person that does either."

Faith chuckled as she zipped up her pants. "Doc, some things just aren't worth taking the time to dwell on. No matter what answer I give to you, no matter what you can make up in that doctor's brain of yours, it won't be good enough for you. Just take it as fact that I heal fast. From day one, it's been like that." She threw him a slanted smile. "Guess that's why I'm such a cool person."

Jack chuckled as he put away what was left of his bandages and rubbing alcohol.

"And I'm pretty sure if I told you everything there is to know about me, I wouldn't be much of a mystery would I?"

"You seem to like that." He smiled. "Having that mystery edge."

"Don't we all?" Faith motioned to his shirtsleeve that was missing, his tattoos visible. "I don't like sharing every tid bit about me just like you don't seem to ever want to talk about your tats."

"Do you like talking about yours?"

She glanced down at the band on her arm and shrugged. "I was young, it was cute, I like pain. That pretty much sums it up." Faith grinned as she looped her belt together. "Well, since it seems like I'm gonna live after all, I better-"

"Faith, seriously, don't… Don't talk like that."

She opened her mouth to say something else when Hurley popped up from around the infirmary curtain Jack had set up for her check up.

"Hey Jack, what do you think about-" He stopped at seeing Faith and Jack, his eyes glancing down momentarily to her unbuckled belt. "Dude, I so just came in at the wrong time didn't I?"

"Oh yeah Hurley, you caught us. Jack and I, secret lovers and all that. But don't tell Kate, she likes me you know." Faith chuckled as she finished and stepped around him, patting the bigger man on the shoulder. "Have fun boys."

Jack smiled as he shook his head. "And where are you going?"

"To the beach." Faith threw over her shoulder. "It's a beautiful night and the stars are calling my name. Sleep tight!"

&&&&&&&&

She poked at the fire with her stick and watched the flames leap higher as Kate continued to sit beside her, chin resting comfortably on her left knee. Faith leaned back on her elbows, tilting her head to stare up at the night sky. She took a few minutes to study the stars then turned her head away from Kate.

"So does Jack know the poison in the bottle trick was Kate's idea?"

Sun shook her head as she stared into the flames. "No. I told him I did it because I wanted Jin to stay and he promised not to tell the others."

"Did you happen to tell him I was the one that put the ingredients in the bottle?"

"No. You were only trying to help."

"Yeah, true. I guess it's best we don't tell him then." Faith looked back at the fire, "That wouldn't have gone over too well I don't think. Though I doubt that'd change anyone's opinion of me. It's pretty much living in the negative category now."

Sun glanced over at her. "What was the reason you decided to help me?"

"Seeing as how you were there every time I opened my eyes in the infirmary..." Faith watched as the smoke continued to float up into sky. "I figure I owed you the favor."

"Then I thank you." Sun focused her attention back into the fire and let out a soft sigh. "I used to believe that when I found the man of my dreams I would be happy... forever."

"Yeah. Me too." Kate nodded staring at the flames as well.

Faith picked up her stick again. "Not me," She whispered poking at the burning wood. "There's no such thing as being happy forever."

"Not even in your dreams?"

War. War is coming to your door.

She shook her head, watching as the stick caught fire. "No, especially not in my dreams."