A/N: Well guess what, I'm in Texas right now and my brother has internet I can piggyback on to so here I am, updating you! Vacation is going well and I hope the day/night finds you good when you read this and a little better afterwards. For those celebrating in America, Happy Fourth of July.

I didn't hear from a lot of you, even the regular reviewers, so I hope you're just busy and happy doing other things and couldn't review because of that NOT because you hate the story now or disliked the update. I'm sorry if it wasn't up to par with the other chapters or a bit slow but I promise (or at least will try very hard) to not let that happen.

For those that did reply, THANK YOU as always. You help keep this story going with your kind thoughts, good criticisms, and wonderful suggestions! I've decided that I will be writing another Faith story too while we wait on Season Three so be on the look for that. No clue yet as to what kind but it will most likely be a crossover. Once again, here's the update. Read, review, and have a great week!


Chapter Twenty-Nine: 23rd Psalm
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"The red… connects to the blue and…" Faith leaned over the appliance, fingers tangled in the wires near the back. "And when they go to the green at the bottom…" She grabbed the hammer off the coffee table. "I smash them to pieces and laugh."

"Faith?"

The hammer froze in midair and somehow she managed to look sheepish. "Uh, hey Locke. What's going on?"

He frowned at her, Michael behind him. A rifle was in the other man's hand.

Faith coughed as if embarrassed and lowered the hammer back to the table. "I was just… uh, looking at stuff. Look," She lifted up the small appliance, "It's a VCR I found in the back of the… uh, food pantry."

Locke's eyes lit up right away. "I thought they were supposed to destroy it."

"Well it looks like someone didn't like being told what to do, imagine that." Faith smirked and lowered it back on the table. "It's not working though. I'm gonna see if Sayid, the electronic wonder boy, can help me out." She nudged her head towards Michael, "What's with the fire power?" She grinned, "You having fun without me?"

"I want to learn how to shoot," Michael answered, "You know, for when we go get my boy."

Faith nodded. "Sounds like a good idea."

"Do you want to come?"

"No thanks Big L. I have a video player to beat into submission."

He chuckled and they disappeared towards the exit.

Faith sat back against the couch and stared at the VCR. She had a feeling some of the answers she needed were on the tape now located in her bag and making the player work was the only thing standing in her way. Like Locke, she had been a bit surprised to see the player in the tiny hidden room but who was she to question it? She needed all the luck she could get, in any shape or form.

Finding the hidden compartment in the room had been by pure accident when she had been looking around earlier. Whoever had been in the room previously had made a small slot in the wall under the cot and had stashed the broken player there. Maybe he or she was trying to fix it. Faith doubted she'd ever find out the answer to that question.

&&&&&&&&&

"Turn back around!"

"I can cut my own hair woman! Give me the damn scissors!"

Faith dropped her bag down in front of Sawyer and Kate, a smirk already on her face before they noticed her. "Well, if this isn't the cutest sight ever." She tilted her head, "Before you know it, she'll be tucking you into bed."

"You act like that's a bad thing."

"Sawyer!" Kate laughed and tugged at his hair.

He yelped, scowling at her before turning back to eye Faith. "Of course, the both of you tucking me in would be an even better idea." He grimaced as Kate yanked his hair again. "So what can we do for you Spit Fire?"

She shot Kate a look over his head, "You're right, it was more peaceful when he was gone."

"Hey now!"

Faith chuckled. "Have either of you seen Sayid?"

Kate shook his head as she concentrated again on cutting Sawyer's hair.

"Saw him the other day when he dropped by to say how much he missed me," Sawyer joked, "but since then, I don't think he's even been back to his tent."

"Hmm…" Faith scratched at her chin. "I checked all the usual places and couldn't find him."

"He's probably still a little depressed about Shannon, Faith." Kate looked up again. "I mean it hasn't been that long since we buried her."

"True." She eyed Sawyer. "What can you tell me about that Ana-Lucia chick?"

"She's a pain in my ass. Ow, Freckles!" He flinched. "Her and that damn group came running out of the jungle like a bunch of savages and then stuck us in a damn pit she'd made."

"Resourceful."

"Annoying is the term you're looking for."

Faith grinned. "Sounds like to me she managed to get a heads up on you during your time together. What happened, did she insult your manhood?"

"Damn woman tricked us into thinking she was a hostage and then took my gun." Sawyer huffed crossing his arms.

"I'm surprised she didn't leave you behind and that she was able to get her group all the way over here."

"Except for the Cindy woman." Kate stepped away from Sawyer.

"And trust me Fire Cracker, she wanted to leave my ass behind several times but the rest of her group, Michael, and Jin weren't having it. The woman has serious issues."

"I'm starting to think we all do." Faith hoisted her bag up onto her shoulders. "If you see Sayid-"

"We'll let him know you're looking for him."

She nodded at Kate then looked back at Sawyer. "I did miss you Sawyer."

"See Freckles, even she-"

"Now, I have someone easy to beat up on again."

He went quiet, frowning even deeper than usual at her, as Kate started to laugh and Faith threw them both one more smile before she took off down the beach.

&&&&&&&&&&&

Faith stopped as she heard Aaron crying in the distance and she frowned, spotting Claire rocking the baby in her arms. A frustrated look was on her face and she was pacing back and forth. Faith continued to walk closer until she stopped at the tent, waiting until Claire had stopped moving as well and turned to face her.

"I don't know what to do! He's been fed, his diaper's clean, I've been walking for hours it seems, and he just keeps crying."

Faith reached out to place a hand on Aaron's forehead. "He's a little hot."

"It's a little hot you mean." Claire sighed, raising her free hand to fan her face. "With the sun and the sand, it's a miracle people aren't passing out every day."

"Why don't you go up to the caves?"

"The caves?" She snorted, "No thank you. I had enough trouble there and besides, I've got too many things to drag back and forth now."

"If you want, I'll go find Jack. Maybe he has something he can give Aaron."

"Would you?" Claire's eyes lit up, "That'd be great."

Faith nodded but didn't move. "What else is bothering you?"

"What'd do you mean?"

"I'm not a baby expert but if you're stressed and tense, it may be rubbing off on Aaron a little bit."

"I just…" Claire rocked Aaron back and forth, the baby's cries now softer than before. "Charlie's been carrying around this statue of the Virgin Mary and today I found it-"

"Has drugs in it?"

"Drugs! Exactly! I mean-" She paused narrowing her eyes at Faith. "How'd you know that?"

"The plane that Boone, Locke, and I found… The statues were in it."

"He must have found the plane afterwards. To think I trusted him around Aaron, how could I have been so foolish?"

"You didn't know Claire, don't beat yourself up about it."

"Well from here on out, I'm not letting anyone tell me how to raise my baby. It's my baby and no one is gonna take that right from me."

"Good girl." Faith muttered. She glanced around. "Where is Charlie by the way?"

"With that Eko fellow. He's the one that showed me about the heroin in the first place. He made Charlie go with him so he could show him where the rest of the drugs were. He was pretty upset so I'm guessing he's gonna go destroy whatever's left."

"How long ago did they leave?"

"Maybe twenty minutes ago?" Claire frowned. "Why? Is there a problem?"

She eyed the both of them, almost smiling at the sight of Aaron now asleep, but shook her head. "No, nothing for you to worry about. Stay right here, I'll go find Jack."

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

She bumped into him coming out of the hatch.

"Hey."

"Hey back."

Both shifted and Faith cleared her throat. "Claire wants you to come down and take a look at Aaron, he's really fussy and might have a fever."

Jack nodded. "I was heading that way actually. I need to check Sawyer's bandages and give him some medicine."

"Great." She turned to start past the hatch and stopped at hearing him call her name. Faith turned back around but didn't come any closer. "Yeah?"

"You haven't seen any horses around have you?"

"Uh, no." She shook her head, "I haven't seen any giraffes either."

"I'm being serious." Jack couldn't help but chuckle. "It's just that… I had to ask seeing as how we found a polar bear and we've been seeing some other weird things."

"Why a horse?"

"Kate said she saw one."

"Ah, Kate. She's down there with Sawyer."

Jack hesitated. "After we brought him in, she sat by his side for hours until he got better. Do you think she-"

"I don't know the answer to that question Jack. That's something you're gonna have to ask her." She turned away again.

"She kissed me."

Faith stopped but didn't make the move to face him. "That's usually what happens when a girl and a boy like each other Jack. You're old enough to know that."

"I'm not sure it meant anything to her."

She shifted again to face him. "And you? What'd it mean to you?"

"To be honest, I don't know." He scratched at the back of his neck. "My marriage to Sarah ended because all I was more interested in being a doctor than a husband. My job has always gotten in the way of the things I wanted but if I can't help people, what else do I do?"

"Sometimes Jack you have to sit back and let other people do the work for you. They might surprise you if you'd just let them." She shrugged. "Kate likes you but a part of her connects with Sawyer."

"And what about you?"

"My job has always gotten in the way of the things I wanted." She walked away without looking at him again.

If I can't help people, what else do I do?

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"Why does your Jesus Stick have blood on it?"

"That's a good question actually." Faith shoved through the bushes and swatted at a bug before she glanced over at Charlie and Eko. She eyed the larger man with a calculated smile. "So let's hear it."

He glanced between the two of them and nodded. "When we crashed on the island, the Others came and took three of us the first night. They attempted to take me and I beat them to death without hesitation."

"Yeah, I hear that's a real popular method with the Catholic priests up North."

Charlie chuckled but you could tell by the way he kept dropping his gaze to the large stick that he was nervous and possibly even scared of the other man.

"I told you I have not always been a priest."

"That you did, Eko-Eko." Faith placed her hands on her hips and looked around. "So what are we doing out here?"

"This does not concern you."

"Actually, you see, it does. I know all about the drugs and the statues." She shrugged. "I found them before Charlie did and that woman Ana-Lucia killed? Her brother died not too long ago from falling off the cliff in the plane you're looking for." She kept her eyes evenly on his. "I died too but the Powers that Be love bossing me around too much to let that happen permanently so here I am. I'm pretty sure all of that gives me the right to be here."

"You say died again, do you not consider this a miracle?" Eko frowned. "Why do you not use the proper name and say it is God that chose to save you?"

"Cause I hear he sends postcards and gosh darn it, mine just hasn't come yet."

"Guys, maybe we should-"

"Charlie." Faith rolled her eyes and glanced at him over her shoulder. "How about you just wait for one second while I-" She paused as she realized she no longer had his attention and frowned. "Charlie, are you-"

The hairs on the back of her neck stiffened at the exact moment a dark growl came from the forest behind her and Eko.

"I really am beginning to hate that noise." She turned slowly and her eyes widened as a black cloud of smoke drifted from the trees and came towards them. Immediately Charlie backpedaled in panic, scurrying as fast as he could to get up the tall tree on their left.

Both Faith and Eko froze as the smoke got closer, the growling echoing through the trees and becoming louder with each passing second.

"Are you guys nuts! Run! Run away!"

Without realizing it, her hand drifted towards her Jackal but Eko grabbed her wrist, his eyes still locked on the smoke as it stopped inches away from them. Faith kept her eyes forward as well, watching as the cloud began to flash images, some she recognized and some she didn't. Soft lights appeared, the growling continuing, and Faith jerked her hand free from Eko's grip.

She took a step forward, hand rising and just as she touched the cloud; it pulled away with a hiss and flew back into the trees. The woods became quiet again, neither of them moving and they were both barely aware of Charlie approaching them.

"What the bloody hell was that?" He glanced between the two of them. "What did you two do?"

"You were not afraid." Eko eyed Faith. "Why?"

"Why weren't you?"

"I do not fear death."

"Yeah, that's just great mate but I do." Charlie cut in, "That thing kills people."

"Only if you let it." Faith turned her attention towards him and clasped him on the shoulder. "Did you happen to see the plane while you were up there pissing in your pants?"

"Ha, very funny but yeah." He shrugged off her hand with a smile. "It's about a kilometer from here."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Faith looked at Eko. "Do you thing and lead the way priest."

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She stood there watching as the plane burned but her mind was still focused on the image of the smoky creature. It had been the same one from her dream but somehow being that close it, she had felt a pull she couldn't explain. It was almost if she knew the cloud personally. What a stupid idea.

Faith snorted under her breath and crossed her arms. She watched as Eko adjusted the cross he had taken off the body inside the plane more comfortably around his neck. The body he said had been his brother. He had not said why or how but the look of sadness in his eyes was enough. Beneath the cool exterior laid a man who was deeply troubled and more dangerous then he led others to believe. Whatever he had been before becoming a priest was not someone you wanted to mess with. The Others had found that out the hard way.

Her eyes flickered to Charlie, spotting the statue he still held in his hand as Eko began to pray. She said nothing, making sure she was looking away when his eyes flashed to hers. She had no choice though when he approached her, motioning towards the priest.

"Don't you want to pray?"

"Would it make you feel better if I said yes?" Faith tilted her head. "Less guilty maybe?"

Charlie fidgeted with the statue. "You're going to tell Claire aren't you?"

"Charlie, I think you're gonna have a hard enough time with Claire as it is without me sticking my nose in it but keeping that statue around isn't the smartest idea you've had to date. Get rid of it while you have the choice."

He gazed down at it; thumb stroking the red heart painted onto Mary's chest. "I don't know if I can. I'm not using Faith, I swear it, but in a way I feel like if it's there, if I can touch it, I'm in control of what I do with it."

Eko was finishing up the prayer.

"You're never in control Charlie, not when you cling to the things that hold you back." Her hand unconsciously rubbed at the Jackal handle. "Believe me, I know."

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"What do you think? Can you fix it?"

Sayid tilted the VCR in his hands, dark eyes looking at it intently. "It is quite old Faith."

"Old but fixable, you mean? The damn apocalypse computer still works, why not this piece of crap too?"

"I'll have to see what I can do but I cannot guarantee anything."

She nodded as he sat it on the table in front of his tent. "By the way, where have you been all day?"

"I was with Shannon for a little while and then I went for a walk."

Faith wisely ignored the first part. "Must have been some long walk." She stuck her hands in her pockets. "It's gonna be a big pain in my ass if I'm gonna have to start worrying about you too."

"Then don't." He started to move away but stopped when her hand grab his arm.

"I need your help."

Sayid turned back to face her, allowing her hand to rest where it was. "How may I be of service to you Faith?"

"Loaded question." She cracked a smile as she drew back. "I'm worried about Michael, that he might try to do something foolish. Earlier today, Locke was teaching him how to shoot."

"You are afraid he will go after Walt again."

"Exactly and I know I'm not the only one." Faith glanced around. "I can't let him go out there by himself. I need to be ready when it's time to move."

"I doubt very much he will let you tag along."

"That's why I'm not asking his permission."

"And where do I fit in?"

"I'm getting lazy." She chuckled. "We've been here for almost two months now and I haven't concentrated on anything really besides hunting boar and playing Christopher Columbus. I want someone to help me start training that has the right background, say a military background, like you." Faith watched as he nodded again. "I need to know if I can count on you to help me."

"Of course Faith, we can start tomorrow if you wish." Sayid glanced around. "I believe it would be best if you met me where I took Shannon, that way we can have some privacy."

"I agree." She flashed him a relieved smile. "I'll bring the goods, you bring yourself." Faith took a step back. "Uh, thanks."

"No problem Faith, good night."

She nodded again as he ducked into his tent and turning, she let her eyes scan the beach. The sun had almost set, several torches were being lit, and everyone was fixing up their beds for the night. Faith paused, her eyes narrowing at the sight of a torch weaving its way just beyond the path to the caves. It looked like someone else had abandoned the idea of counting sheep as well.

&&&&&&&

Charlie bent down, the torch still in his hand, and for a few minutes, he stared down at the hole by his feet. Slowly, he lowered the Virgin Mary statue that had been resting in his hand and slid it into the hole.

"Got any candy stashed in there?"

He cursed, standing up quickly, and whirled around to see Faith standing behind him. "Bloody hell woman."

She nudged her head towards the hole. "How many?"

Charlie fidgeted. "Seven."

"That's a lot of heroin for one recovering addict to be harboring." Faith took a step forward and glanced into the hole at all the statues. "Makes me think that speech you gave me today at the plane was bull hockey."

"No!" He shook his head and lowered his voice. "No, I promise Faith, I'm not using."

"Then why keep them?" She argued, "Why not just toss them out to sea and be done with it Charlie? You've kicked the habit and you're doing just fine on your own. You don't need this shit and you know it!"

"I just…" He lowered himself down on the log beside the hole, staring down at it. "I don't know." Charlie wiped at his eyes. "I don't know what I'm doing anymore. I thought I was and I just don't."

"What about Claire?"

"What about her?" He raised his head. "She kicked me out, told me she didn't want me near her or the baby. What else can I do, she won't talk to me."

"I don't blame her! You lied to her man."

"I know but I just… I didn't think."

Faith grunted as she turned around. "Well then I guess you have a lot of time now to do exactly that don't you?"

His surprised voice stalled her. "You're not going to tell?"

"You know my secret Charlie and now I know yours." She shook her head. "I'd say that makes us pretty much even." Faith continued to walk away, blocking out the sounds of Charlie as he began to cry behind her.

&&&&&&&&&

She was halfway to the beach when she realized she was being followed. Faith cursed at herself and stopped on the path, letting out a huge sigh. "I know you're there."

The bushes shifted and she raised her eyebrows at seeing Danielle.

"This better not be one of your 'you're all in danger' visits. I'm really not in the mood right now."

"I am merely checking my traps and happened this way."

"I bet." Faith grunted. "Run out of babies to steal on your side of the island?"

Danielle's eyes flashed but she didn't look away.

"Why'd you do it? Do you honestly think they would have traded with you?"

"I had to see. For sixteen years I have done nothing but search for Alex. I know she is still alive and I will not give up hope until I find her."

"I'll ask you again, why did they take Alex and not you?"

"Alex is a very special child." Danielle whispered. "I knew it from the day I laid eyes on her. That is why they took her."

Faith sighed. "Special, what do you mean?"

"She is not like them." Danielle shook her head. "They are capable of dark things."

"Trust me, they won't be capable of even walking when I get done with them."

"They will come again and you must be ready."

"I'm working on it."

"I wish to help you."

Faith's eyebrows rose again. "Do you not remember that you kidnapped Claire's baby and knocked her out?" She chuckled. "I get that you're upset about Alex, and I understand you being very Rambo about it, but if you think for one second I'm going to trust you, you're crazier than everyone thinks."

"I have weapons and ammo. Anything I have that you can use is yours."

She eyed Danielle suspiciously. "Why?"

"I cannot get Alex back without you."

Faith went quiet, studying the Frenchwoman until finally she nodded. "Alright, you've got a deal."

Danielle turned back to the forest and immediately Faith followed after her.

"Hey D, you wouldn't happen to have a working VCR would you?"

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