A/N: WOW! I think that about sums up my reaction to all of your reviews. Thank you SO MUCH for that. It was fantastic to see coming back from my vacation because it was HORRIBLE coming home. My house was flooded and practically destroyed. For a few weeks now we're going to have to redo the walls, carpet, you name it. Geez. But seeing your reviews in my inbox really perked me up a bit. So thank you again. I'm hard at work though while cleaning up my house writing since there's not much else to do around here. I have a few ideas, some twists and what not I think you'll like. The ending to Season Two blew me away and I'm not sure yet what the finale of my story will bring seeing as how we're unsure where Season Three will begin. We shall have to see. On the same note, I have decided to alter things BUT keep some things similar for those of you that have said you enjoy seeing how Faith fits into the actual show. I think it's a good idea and it helps you keep up with what is going on time line wise. There will be changes esp with what the Others' role is on the island and why the hatch, etc is there, what not...

On another note, I want to comment to a review. It was mentioned they didn't see a reason why Jack and Faith should be clashing so much. Both DO have the hero complex, that is correct to say. One because to help like a doctor does is to play God and a Slayer has that ability too but in the gift of death, this in itself is a contrast if you look closely at it. They would clash a lot because Faith wants to do things that would contradict with the way Jack would want to do them. It's like Faith and Buffy's relationship. It doesn't mean she doesn't like Jack but she's not going to get a long with him very much either because they're just TOO different. No worries though, the two will get a long more I promise and I will make things more clearer in the future as to why and how they clash so much.

Anyway, I've blabbered enough. Thanks again for you reviews and here is another long update. As always, comments and suggestions are welcome, if not, ENJOY!

Chapter Twenty-Three: Man of Science, Man of… Faith

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"4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42. 4, 8, we're dead, 15, doomed and dead, 16, 23, 42..."

"Hurley!" Faith shot him a look. "Now is not the time for that."

"Dude, sorry." He coughed as he shifted uneasily on his feet. "Can we go now? Like away quickly from the burning hole of death?"

"This isn't going to work." Jack stepped away from the hatch. "It's not big enough to get everyone down there safely especially with a broken ladder."

Faith watched as Locke picked up a rock and let it fall down the hole, several seconds passing before it hit something solid.

"50 feet I'm guessing. We could rig…"

"No." Jack shook his head. "We're packing it up and going back to the caves. What you decide to do in the morning is your business but for now, we need to wait and tell the people at the cave something. They're waiting on us to come back with a plan."

"Go on ahead then." Faith nodded. "I'll stay here with Locke for a little bit."

"I don't think that's entirely safe." Jack stared at her. "Especially considering your last outburst."

She opened her mouth but was surprised when it was Locke that spoke up first.

"I was disrespectful to Boone's memory Jack. I made a mistake and I'm sorry, Faith knows that. Right?"

She didn't look at him, her gaze still on Jack but slowly Faith nodded. "Right." She gave Jack a tight-lipped smile. "Head back, we'll catch up in a minute."

"I second that." Hurley interrupted Jack as he made the motion to speak again. "Let's just get back okay Jack? Please?"

Jack bit back a sigh. "Okay." He tugged hard on his back straps. "I'll pack up what's left of the dynamite and then we'll head out."

"Are you sure you're gonna be okay?" Kate whispered shooting a look at Locke who was busy peering down into the hole again. "I can stay if…"

"I can handle one old man." Faith smirked. "Just make sure Jack and Hurley get back to the caves in one piece, especially Hurley. He is seriously freaked right now." She checked to see Jack wasn't listening and leaned in closer to Kate. "I need you to bring cable and rope back for the hatch."

Kate's eyes went wide. "You're going in tonight?"

Faith shot a look at Locke from over her shoulder. "One of us is, maybe even head first if they're lucky." She glanced back at Kate, the amusement obvious in her face. "Can you do that? It's no pressure if…"

"No, I can do it. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Faith watched as Kate followed quickly after Jack and Hurley. She turned to stare down at the hatch door from where it lay, the word 'quarantine' stenciled on the metal. "I certainly hope so."

&&&&&&&

"She should have been back by now."

"Maybe she changed her mind," Locke stepped away from the hatch. "I'm sure we can find something else to use."

Faith cocked her eyebrow as she continued to lean against a tree and stare at him. "Like what? Oh yeah, how about I make a flower necklace and then I can lower you down?"

"Actually, I thought you'd want to do it." Locke chuckled, his eyes meeting hers. "Besides, you're lighter and can fit better in case the hole gets narrow towards the bottom."

"That's assuming there is a bottom." Faith muttered. She let out a sigh and looked around again. "Damn K, where are you?"

"Jack has a way of being very persuasive Faith. I can only assume he talked her out of coming back."

"He's gonna find out how persuasive I am with my fist. I want that rope."

"It sounds like you want down this thing as bad as I do." Locke smiled. "Any particular reason why?"

Faith snorted. "No reason as romantic sounding as yours, trust me. I just am one hell of a curious pussycat." She shoved away from the tree and walked over, leaning to peer down the hole. "And besides, I really like surprises."

"Whatever it is." Locke joined her. "It's good, I just know it." After a minute, he cleared his throat. "I crossed a line when I talked about Boone earlier. I cared for him very much and I am truly sorry Faith."

"You already said that."

"And I meant it. It was never my intention to-"

She swung her head towards him, glaring as hard as she could. "That's just it John, I don't know what your intentions are." Faith straightened and took a step back. "You lie and you knock out Sayid. You want us to let you go when some… thing is after you and then you act like a crazy person just to get this hatch open. And now you can't even wait until sunlight to get into this thing! Should I go on?"

"It's because I'm tired of waiting Faith. I'm tired of being told to be patient. The time is now; we have to do this. It's what brought us here."

"You don't have a damn clue what really brought us here." She growled backing up some more. "If you did, you'd sure as hell be running the other direction."

"What do you mean?" Locke frowned straightening up as he watched her. "Do you know something I don't about this hatch?"

Faith shrugged. "Nothing more than you do." She glanced around impatiently. "Let's go Kate; I'm not getting any younger."

"I'll head back." He dropped his bag. "Hopefully I'll meet up with her halfway." He eyed the hatch then glanced at her. "Are you gonna be okay here by yourself?"

"You better be joking right now."

"I guess I am." Locke checked his knife to check that it was resting comfortably in his hip sheath. "Be back as soon as I find Kate."

"Sure thing Boss." Faith muttered as she watched him disappear into the trees. She waited a full five minutes before stepping towards the hatch again and glancing downwards. "I'll just wait here…" She frowned as her eyes focused into the darkness of the hole.

A light flickered at the bottom.

"I've waited long enough."

&&&&&&&&&&

Faith landed flat on her feet, her fists clenched and ready. The water from the puddle at the bottom of the passageway coated the bottom of her shoes, the spray hitting her pants as well, and she bit back a grunt of irritation. She peered down the long corridor, the sound of dripping water echoing between the walls.

Glancing around, Faith noticed the pipes lining the ceiling and sides of the tunnel, each square inch formed from concrete, the floor included. Only a few lights were lit and even those flickered on and off, casting the tunnel in an eerie glow. She continued forward, the rubber soles on her shoes not making any noise.

Faith's eyes went wide at the sight of a giant bio-dome greeting her at the end of the tunnel. It was filled with electrical equipment, printers and other machines including what looked to be a very old Apple computer.

"Talk about ancient. Total Giles speed right here." She stepped inside and moved around the desk, peering down at the screen. It was dark, blank besides the rhythmic flashing from the curser button. At a side angle, it reminded her of an angry smiley. Oxymoron. The thought made her smirk.

Faith started to take a step backwards when the clicking sound of a gun made her pause.

"You want more coffee sweetheart?"

Faith shook her head at the waitress standing behind the counter. "No thanks." She shoveled another forkful of beef into her mouth, chewing quickly, eyes downcast towards her plate.

"You act like you haven't eaten in forever! You sure you don't want Steve to cook you up some more? Won't take but a sec."

"Long flight. I'm fine." Faith placed down her fork and took a sip form her coffee mug, knowing without looking up that the older woman had been watching her eat. Reaching for a napkin, she turned her head and her eyes caught sight of the headline on the newspaper next to her.

The waitress noticed, nudging her head. "American, like you." She quipped. "Local farmer turned her in for 23 large, supposedly the woman's wanted for murder."

"Multiple from what it says here." The man who had been reading the paper lowered it to gaze at the waitress. "Says he found her sleeping in his bloody barn! She's a looker from the mug shot." He grunted as he looked back down. "Can't say I'm surprised the bloke offered."

Faith looked back down, wiping her mouth and she dug out her wallet as the door to the restaurant opened and shut, the chime breaking the sudden silence of the small diner.

"Not saying you're all the same sweetheart but some of you Americans think you can just run down here and escape. Afraid not, we have laws down here in Australia same as anyone else." The waitress grabbed the coffee pot, motioning at Faith's cup. "More?"

"No."

The woman nodded sliding the pot back onto the hot burner and wiped at her hand with her dishtowel. She directed her attention back to the paper. "I can't even imagine what it's like to be that woman, to have killed someone, it's terrible. You'd think if she was smart enough to do it, she'd be smart enough not to get caught."

"Hands up." A masculine voice ordered her, accent heavy as the words were spat, breaking the silence. "Turn around very slowly."

She did as she was told, turning away from the computer, and Faith kept her hands by her head as she came face to face with a dark haired man. He couldn't have been any taller then six feet, long stringy hair covered parts of his face. Dark brown eyes suspiciously watched her as the man adjusted the rifle held firmly in his hands to a more comfortable position against his arm. Faith studied him as they stood there, taking notice immediately of the light brown jumpsuit he wore and the black and white emblem positioned on the breast pocket.

"Are you them?"

"Is that the island nut greeting for hello?" She cocked an eyebrow, hands still up. "Cause I gotta say, your version of the welcome party really sucks."

His eyes quickly flashed with panicky anger, the gun shifting forward as if it were pointing at her for confirmation. "Are you them!"

"No, I'm me." Faith slowly lowered one hand and pointed at her chest. "See? One person, that's single… Not that me being single is what I meant or that it's a bad thing, I just think that-"

"Shut up!" The man shifted on his feet, glancing towards the computer, his attention diverted for only a split second. He directed his gaze back towards her just as quickly. "You're not her, you're not them."

"Who were you expecting? I don't think pizza joints deliver this far out." Smart-ass in times of crises, her? Never.

"I said shut up!"

Faith ground her teeth together in irritation. She stood there watching as he took a step back, the gun not once wavering in his grip.

"Where are the others? The others that were with you?"

"We should probably start off with who the hell we are." Faith lowered her hands slowly as to not alarm him any further.

Thankfully, he seemed to understand by the tone of her voice that she was making a statement, not a suggestion. "Desmond. I'm Desmond."

"Okay Desmond, I'm Faith." She continued to watch the gun. "I'd like to share with you a little about me Desmond. See, I'm not a big fan of guns and I'm definitely not a big fan of people who pull guns on me so how about you lower the blaster before things get really nasty."

Desmond hesitated; spotting the underlying threat but the gun didn't lower.

"Or you could just keep it up, whatever." Faith motioned to the room around them. "Where are we?"

"A place you're not supposed to be." Desmond backed up again, motioning at her with the gun. "Come on."

"Oh goodie, a field trip?" She smirked as she took a step forward to match his backwards.

"The others, did they come with you?"

"If by others you mean the incredible duo and the bald prophet then no, it looks like it's just you and me for now Desmond." Faith shrugged pushing back the feeling of impatience at it gnawed hungrily at her insides. "But I have to warn you, it won't be this comfy for long; when they notice I'm missing, they'll come down here looking for me. Being superheroes is kinda their thing."

"Who are they? Who are you?"

"I already told you, I'm Faith."

They had backed up until they were free of the dome, Desmond continuing to motion her towards the living area in the hatch. He nudged the gun at the couch near a wall of records and reluctantly Faith lowered herself down onto the comfortable fabric.

"Nice digs you got here Desmond. Did you do all this by yourself?"

"You don't get to ask the questions." He paused to glance around as if listening for something and then focused back on her. "Answer me, understand?"

"We're survivors of an airline crash that happened 40 something days ago." She propped her head up with her hand almost as if she was already bored with the conversation. That about summed it up actually.

"How many?"

"Let's just say I have a lot more people backing me than you do Desmond. Four of us sailed out today on a raft to try to get help, and the rest of us stayed behind to wait. The bald guy and myself found your little secret hideout a couple weeks ago. We managed to find some dynamite at the local island store and tada, here I am."

"Why just you?"

"I'm impatient." Faith straightened up against the sofa cushion. "I don't like being jerked, I don't like being lied to, and I definitely don't like being ordered around."

"You're not supposed to be down here."

"I see that now."

Desmond inched to his left slowly and perched himself on the end of the single lounge chair in front of her. The gun remained directed at her, still steady in his hands. "But you're not scared."

"I haven't been scared for a long time Desmond. You on the other hand, you look like you're barely hanging on."

He swallowed hard, the act jerking his Adam's apple up and down roughly in his throat. "It's been three years since I landed on this island."

"Why are you down here?"

"I was chosen."

Faith blinked and immediately leaned forward. "Chosen, by who?"

"Kelvin, them; I don't know." He shrugged. "It doesn't matter."

"Is it the Others?"

Desmond's face clouded with confusion and she knew the answer to that question right away.

"You don't know what I'm talking about do you?"

"I've only seen Kelvin and he died." His eyes glazed as if he was remembering in his mind the image of Kelvin but the moment lasted only a few seconds before he blinked, eyes flaring. "I thought I said no questions!"

Faith smiled and leaned back against the cushions again. "But you forgot didn't you? I can see how easy that would be for someone who hasn't talked to another human being in three years." She motioned towards the direction of the dome. "What's the computer for? Outside interaction?"

He scowled at her but shook his head nonetheless. "I punch in numbers, the timer resets itself back to 108, and I wait."

Buffy's voice floated in the back of her mind. How can it always be 1:08? Faith narrowed her eyes. "What are the numbers?"

Desmond opened his mouth to say something else but the moment was disrupted at the sound of a loud alarm ringing through the hatch. His head jerked towards the dome and it was then she made her move.

She shoved off the couch and leapt easily over the table, reach out to jerk the gun straight out of his tight grip with just one hand. Flipping it around with ease, Faith stuck the butt of the gun against her shoulder and trained the barrel directly at his face.

"Don't even think about it."

"You don't understand." Desmond's eyes flew from the dome to her and then back again, the panic look showing clearly on his face. "I have to go, the computer-"

It was almost as if he didn't see the gun anymore, that he was completely oblivious now to the danger of the stranger who had invaded his make-shift home, and had focused all his fear and concentration to whatever was making the irritating beeping noise.

Faith pointed the gun towards the ground. "Go."

Desmond pushed away from the chair without hesitating and broke into a dead run. She followed him at a leisurely pace, turning the corner to enter the dome just as he hit several keys and leaned back; a look of extreme relief on his face.

The sound of something flipping caught her attention and she glanced to the wall on her right to see a timer counter reset itself back to 108:00. Faith lowered the gun to her side. "4 8 15 16 23 42."

Desmond turned his now wide-eyes towards her. "I thought you weren't her."

"I'm not exactly sure who you're hoping I am Desmond."

"One of them, someone to take my place and help save the world."

Faith stared back at him for a minute and then couldn't contain her laughter. "You must be kidding me."

"No. I'm not." His expression was completely serious; the tone of his voice level and monotone, and it was the way he said it without fidgeting or blinking that made her believe him. He wasn't embarrassed or elaborating, it seemed to be that he was merely stating what he thought to be the obvious truth.

"You think by punching a series of numbers into an old Apple that you're saving the world?" She snorted. "Being down here has warped you man, you need to get out and get some fresh air."

Desmond shook his head. "Sometimes you get sick from being out there if you don't have the right medicine. It isn't safe."

"No one in my group is sick and there are other people on the island. They don't seem to be sick either; not in the sense of dying anyway."

"You've mentioned them again. Who are these Others?"

"Now that is the million-dollar question." She shrugged and took a second to remind herself to maintain a firm grip on the gun. Desmond had calmed down, the conversation and answers were finally flowing between them, but it didn't mean she trusted him not to try something stupid. A part of her hoped he would. "There are others on this island Desmond, others that are trying to harm my group."

"And you thought fighting them would be easier if you knew what was down here? That maybe there would be something here you can use."

Her eyes narrowed. "What makes you say that?"

"Because of the way you talk." Desmond answered without hesitation. "You talk about them as if they're a pack, a group needing protection, and you're the leader, their lioness."

"If that was the case Desmond, I'd be right about the making it easier part wouldn't I?" She motioned with her free hand at the shotgun resting by her left thigh. "How many of these do you have?"

"There's a gun cabinet by the records." His eyes slanted momentarily to the doorway as if expecting at any minute to be thrown off guard by something else unexpected. "There are enough weapons if I need them."

"If you didn't know about the others then what good is having an arsenal? You act as if you hardly leave this place and I'm assuming by your answers that no one comes to visit so I'd say it's pretty lame to be keeping fire power just sitting around."

"The guns were here when Kelvin brought me to the hatch. I don't know."

Faith backed away from the door as sounds began to echo down the tunnel towards them. "Looks like our little one on one might be interrupted soon Desmond, that's a shame, really. We were having so much fun." She took a step towards the table and without looking at him, lowered the gun to lie beside the computer.

"You're not like them are you?"

Faith turned her dark eyes towards his again with a face of stone, and for a few minutes she said nothing. It was unclear exactly who exactly he was talking about but she didn't waste her breath asking. "No. I'm not."

"What does that make you then?"

"Something much worse."

"I knew it." Desmond's eyes lit up and it took her completely by surprise. "I could tell the moment I saw you. You are her."

"Her? Who is that?" She leaned up against the table, crossing her arms as she waited for him to answer.

He was slow to open his mouth again. "I wouldn't even know where to start."

"Desmond, this isn't a game. Remember when I told you I was impatient?"

"I can't explain things, I don't even understand everything myself. I push the button because without it they tell me we're all in danger. Whether I believe it or not, that's all I need to know, their word is all I have to go on. I'm sorry Faith." It was the first time he had spoken her name since learning it and the way he said it, her name whispered with such a mixture of sympathy and understanding, it made her pause.

Desmond seemed to sense her hesitation and it was then that he pushed the chair back and ran full speed towards the hallway.

"Oh, goodie, a runner." Faith tackled him just as he was about to exit, and she grunted as they collided on the floor. She managed to roll him flat onto his stomach and shoved her knee as hard as she could into the small of his back. "Down boy!" Faith gripped both of his hands and jerked his arms to further immobilize him. "I could tell you I didn't want to have to do this the hard way but who am I kidding, I love doing it the hard way." She grinned in satisfaction at hearing the grunt of pain escape from his mouth. "I know what could make this even more fun Desmond!" Faith smiled down at him broadly. "Rope!"

&&&&&&&

"Faith!"

"Faith, can you hear me?"

"Faith! It's Jack!"

Jack, Kate and Locke inched down the long tunnel, the doctor holding a gun firmly in his hand. They took turns calling out but their voices were drowned out by loud music echoing through the hatch.

"What is this place?" Kate whispered. Her eyes caught sight of one wall covered in graffiti, a discarded bucket with rags propped beside it.

Jack cocked his head as he heard the wall humming loudly. He leaned towards it, watching as the key hanging around his neck floated towards it. "Wherever we are, it has plenty of electricity."

"It could be a bunker Jack."

Jack ignored Locke and raised his gun as they approached the entrance to the dome. "Faith?"

Loud clanging noises came from their left and they all turned. Jack's eyes widened at the sight of the longhaired man tied down in the chair, his mouth gagged with a cloth. He took a step forward, his eyes glued to the man. "What the-"

Something slamming shut made him jump and they shifted again just as Faith stood up from messing with something below the sink. She looked up with wide eyes, her cheeks puffed out and her hands full of food. "Wam tmk yogwayo lwan?" Faith swallowed and couldn't help but grin at the looks on their faces. "What took you guys so long?"

&&&&&&&

"Explain it to us one more time."

"My boat crashed here three years ago." Desmond rubbed at his wrists, nodding his thanks as Jack took a step back and dropped the ropes to the floor. "Man brings me here, shows me how to use the computer and the beeping stopped. Says we're saving the world so I stay and we push the button together. He died not too long ago and since then it's just been me, saving the world."

"A button that saves the world," Faith snorted as she leapt down from the kitchen counter. "No matter how many times I hear it, it's still funny." She tilted her head, ignoring all of them as she spotted a bedroom off to the side.

A bunk bed was set up against the wall and to the left of it; there was a small closet. Faith opened the wood doors, finding Desmond's clothes and she glanced over her shoulder to make sure everyone was still occupied.

"That's crazy." Jack argued, "You think that by staying down here and simply pushing a button that you're saving the world?"

Faith snorted as she turned her attention back to the closet and began shifting through the clothes hanging there. "Pushing a button was definitely not in the slayer handbook."

"Watch the film brother." Desmond shrugged. "It explains everything you need to know."

Locke nodded as Desmond instructed him on where to find it and Jack watched in amazement as the older man disappeared into the living area.

"This is just… ridiculous." He turned to glance at Kate. "Are you believing this too?"

"I don't know Jack." She looked around. "We found a hatch with electricity in the middle of a supposedly deserted island. We've seen things the last few days I can't explain and now I'm expected to believe that by pushing one little button the world is saved. I really don't know what to tell you."

"Well, I'm not buying it."

"Believe what you want brother but I'm getting out of here." Desmond stood up from the chair.

"No, you sit back down." Jack pointed at the chair with his gun and Desmond had no choice but to do as he was told. "No one is leaving until we figure out exactly what is going on."

"Good idea." Kate nodded. She paused as she looked around. "Hey, where's Faith?"

"Guys check me out!" Faith popped out of the bedroom area and motioned down at her outfit. She was dressed in a beige jumpsuit, a black and white emblem on the breast of it that contained a swan in the middle of it. "I'm Desmond."

Kate hid her smile with her hand and a cough, shooting a glance at Jack from under her eyelashes as he glared at Faith.

"Now is not the time for jokes Faith."

"Why? Is the world ending?" She chuckled and entered the kitchen again, eyeing Desmond as she jumped back up on the counter. "I don't hear any beeping so I guess not."

"Can we focus?" Jack yelled. "What are we gonna do?"

"I don't know about you," Desmond spoke up, "But I'm getting as far away from this place as possible. Kelvin's replacements didn't come for him but now that you're here…"

Faith ignored the fact that Desmond was looking directly at her.

"Jack, you should come see this." Locke came back, motioning towards the sitting room and Jack reluctantly followed him.

Kate shifted, her eyes going from Jack's retreating backside to Faith and Faith shrugged, motioning with her hand as she noticed.

"You sure?"

"Yep." Faith nodded, "Go ahead. I can watch him." She turned her attention back to Desmond as Kate disappeared into the living area as well and she tilted her head, tapping her fingers against her legs. "Who brings you your supplies? Your food and the ammo?"

"They drop supplies every few months."

Faith sighed. Back to square one again it seemed. "They?"

He motioned towards her chest, at the logo. "The same people from the film strip."

Ah, progress. "And you're not in contact with them?"

"Would I be here if I was?"

Dead end. "Good point." Faith nodded and looked around. "Say, where's the rest of the food?"

"I need to show you something else." He glanced around, as he stood up slowly, eyes very serious. "There's something I think you should see."

Her eyebrows shot up, and she leapt off the counter. Her eyes were watchful though she was smiling at him. "No thanks Desmond, I've seen one before. Besides I think I should wait until they-"

His face flushed but he shook his head. "I don't think you want your friends to see this."

Faith hesitated for only a moment then slowly nodded. "Okay." She continued to eye him but motioned him forward. "Show me what you got brother."

&&&&&&

She just stood in the doorway of the food storage closet, glancing over the stacks of food, and listened as her stomach rumbled noisily. Faith chuckled, shaking her head. The closet was packed with cereals, quick dinners, chocolates, and anything else a person could possibly desire, especially one that had been stranded on a seemingly somewhat deserted island for weeks. She immediately noticed that every single one of the boxes and jars were labeled with the same Dharma logo as the jumpsuit she still had on.

"Faith?"

She rolled her eyes, turning to find Jack coming up behind her. "What?"

"Desmond! He's gone." Jack's eyes were wide and filled with panic. "Where'd he go?"

"Oh, that." Faith turned her attention back to the closet. "I let him take off."

"You what?" Jack popped up beside her. "Why did you do that?"

"I'm not his keeper Jack!" She snapped her head back towards him. "I can't tell him what to do and neither can you. The man wanted to leave, so I let him leave. Deal. Besides," Faith stepped back and shut the door, "Unless he has a jetpack he forgot to tell us about, where exactly is he gonna go? The man knows where we are, and if he wants to come back or needs to, he will."

"But what if we-"

"Jack, just… let it go man. We have bigger things to worry about now." Faith motioned around the hatch. "Like this place. Everyone's gonna be curious about what we found down here and when they hear this place has electricity and food, it's gonna be one sick mad house."

Jack crossed his arms over his chest. "You seem to be on top of everything Faith so what do you suggest?"

"For now everything in this place needs to be kept a secret until we sort things out and ration the food. We're also gonna need to do shifts for the computer."

"You can't seriously tell me you believe what Desmond told us."

"I hope he's delusional Jack. I hope deep down that he's just clinging to something bigger than him because it gives him hope he's doing something to make his life worthwhile." She shrugged. "I really don't know but if it'll keep certain people occupied, it really can't be all that bad."

"You mean like Locke. You seem comfortable enough to still hang around him."

Faith glanced down the hallway to make sure they were still alone. "Keep your friends close…."

"And your enemies closer." Jack rubbed at his forehead and nodded. "Fine. We'll set up shifts and ration things out."

"I knew you'd see it my way, good for you." Faith patted him on the shoulder and turned away.

"I've met him before." Jack fell in step beside her. "Desmond. Almost four years ago, I was running and he was at the same stadium as me. He tried giving me advice about Sarah, my ex-wife."

"I'm guessing whatever he had to say wasn't good?"

"Actually he was right at the time but I didn't believe it."

"And now?"

"As Locke likes to tell me, I'm a man of science. I stick to what I can see and logically explain. I don't have time to believe in miracles."

They entered the main area of the hatch again and Faith watched as Jack walked into the dome, Locke already sitting by the computer.

"I have a really bad feeling about this place."

Faith cocked an eyebrow at Kate as she moved to stand next to her. "The hatch or the island?"

"You make it sound like it's a trick question."

"No tricks." Faith shifted her attention back to the dome. She looked for her bag and was satisfied to see it still where she had left it in the kitchen. "But I don't think the question really has an answer… at least not one we'd like anyway."