A/N: Aaaand I'm back home again! Texas was HOT and interesting to visit but I'm glad I'm at least back in TN. For now, we're in this rented townhouse until they finish our wood floors and put in the carpet. They're behind so it doesn't look like the house will be done when they said after all. Oh well, at least this place has internet so HERE'S another update!

A big thank you to the people who reviewed Chapter Twenty-Nine. I personally wish to thank: TypoKween, W1cked Angel, White-Witch-Sakura, Chosenfire28, DavidB226Morris, Kai-Dranzer, Night Essence, Loner2008, Silent Me, Ravyn Jensen, Wispr, Ozma914, Leanne17, Luckybear101, Shirarock, Cathy-Bloom1, Enchanted Light, Golden Shadows, and Unspoken faith. Also thanks to Joe and M for continuously bugging me (hehe) to write and update and for always giving me great brainstorming sessions.

Well, that's it for now! As always, read, enjoy and review!


Chapter Thirty: The Hunting Party
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Her muscles burned. Her bones ached. And it felt like she'd almost broken her toe on that last kick.

"Again."

Faith spun and kicked at the tree, watching in satisfaction as splinters of wood flew into the air.

"Again." Sayid ordered from behind her. "Harder. Again."

She gritted her teeth but duplicated the move as he instructed, more of the tree falling to the ground.

"You're holding back. Again."

"I am not…" Faith kicked the tree, "…holding back!"

"Maybe you're right. You did say you were out of shape and lazy."

Faith stopped, dropping her hands to her side and shifted so she was facing Sayid. She spotted the amused look on his face right away. "We've been at this all morning. I've done the running thing, the sit-ups, the rolling around… that made me feel silly by the way, but this is all warm-up crap. I mean, we are doing other things. Aren't we?"

"I don't see the need to waste my time when you cannot even do simple tasks."

Faith snarled and side-kicked the tree as hard as she could. She stepped back, watching in satisfaction as the entire tree, even the roots, fell onto its side.

"Yes," Sayid nodded as he stepped up beside her, "We are doing other things."

&&&&&&&&&&&

"I see myself at a packed club, sipping on a cocktail and tearing up the dance floor... with at least four guys." She grinned broadly at Sayid as they made their way back to camp. "That would be total heaven to me right now."

"And what is this game called again?"

"Anywhere but here." They both chuckled. "I can't believe you never played that."

"I did not have time growing up in Iraq to play make-believe games."

"To busy playing the real ones right?"

He nodded shoving his hands into his pockets as they continued walking. "I often imagined what it would be like to grow up in a place like America, a place where I did not have to worry everyday if a bomb would destroy my home."

"How'd you end up in Australia?"

"That," He sighed, "is a story for another time." Sayid paused and directed his gaze forward. "It seems there is something going on we do not know about."

"Like that's anything new." Faith looked in the same direction to see Kate talking quietly to Hurley, Sun and Jin watching from not too far away as if they could tell something was wrong. Kate said a few more words to Hurley and then wandered off, and he talked to Sun and Jin before taking off as well.

"If I had to guess, I'd say whatever it is, it isn't good."

They made their way toward the Korean couple.

"Hello." Sun smiled and her eyes briefly scanned over the other woman. "Faith, you are soaked! Are you alright?" Jin looked over too, his eyes watchful. He didn't speak much English but she was well aware he understood things that happened around him quite clearly.

Faith wasted no time and jabbed her thumb over her shoulder. "What was that about?"

"It's Michael." Sun confessed. "He took off after Walt again."

"Damn it." She almost stomped her foot in frustration. "I knew it!"

"Do you think he will be okay?"

"Yeah, nothing to worry about. Was Kate going after him?"

"Yes. Hurley told me a group already left as well."

"Jack and the others," Sayid filled in the blank. He glanced quickly at Faith. "Do we follow?"

She shot Sun a brief smile of thanks and turned away, grabbing Sayid's arm to pull him after her. "I follow, you stay here."

"You'll need the backup Faith, there's no telling-"

"I can take care of myself. It's Kate going out there alone we need to worry about." Faith glanced around. "If Jack and Locke went after Michael then that means Sawyer probably did too. If that's the case then there's no one else here I trust that will look after the camp in case something goes wrong."

Sayid nodded as he began to catch on to what she was saying.

"If you need it, I have a gun you can have."

"I still have the rifle I took off Danielle." His eyebrows rose. "May I ask where exactly you got a loaded gun from?"

She chuckled. "The same island store where I got the crossbow. If I didn't know any better, I'd say Danielle has a crush on me," She joked. "Look Sayid, I need you to do like I ask, can I count on you?"

Sayid didn't even hesitate to answer. "Of course."

&&&&&&&&&

The trail had gone cold. Kate swore under her breath and stood up, shielding her eyes with her hand as she looked around. Seeing nothing helpful, she rolled her shoulders and momentarily closed her eyes.

"You're almost as bad as Jack."

Kate turned to see Faith coming up behind her.

"I mean, you're a better tracker but you've come close to going in a circle almost twice now. It's a lot easier tracking boars, ain't it?" Faith glanced around. "It didn't take me as long as I thought it would to catch up with you."

"I couldn't stay behind."

"I know." Faith grinned. "Me neither, I guess we're just nosey like that." She paused and extended a 9mm handgun towards Kate. "Here."

"Where'd you get that?" Kate took it without hesitation and after checking to make sure the safety was secure, she stuck it snugly into the back of her pants. "I thought Locke had changed the combination on the closet before he left."

"I didn't get it from the hatch."

"Don't you need one?"

"No." Faith tapped her knife. "I have me and this. It's all I need." She looked down at the ground. "So what do we have?"

"Trail's cold." Kate muttered. "I had it up until right now. I don't get it." She scratched at her forehead. "It looks like Michael's heading North."

"And?"

"Sawyer told me they had come from the East. Why head North then?"

"He's either lost or he knows exactly where North is gonna take him." Faith looked around again. "I think we both know which one of those options is correct."

They started to head further North, walking side-by-side.

"So why'd Jack ban you from the hunting party?"

Kate hesitated. "I don't know."

"Is it because you kissed him and then took off?"

Her eyes were immediately zeroed in on Faith. "How'd you know that?"

"Oh please, everyone on the island knows about it, right up there with you seeing a black horse." She chuckled at the look on the other woman's face. "Easy there, I'm just kidding." Faith continued looking around as she began to pop her knuckles into her open palm. "He told me. Looked real torn up about it."

"I'm not sure I did the right thing."

"Kissing him or running away?"

"I have to pick one just one?"

Faith chuckled. "Me? I'd say the running part, that option's never been a favorite of mine. Kissing on the other hand…"

"Do you want Jack?"

"Huh? Good ear this time, say what?" She was glad at the moment she hadn't been chewing or drinking something. It no doubt would have come straight out of her nose.

"From the way you two talk and spend all that time together, I thought you-"

"Kate. No." Faith shook her head. "I like Jack in my own special way but I have no plans to jump his bones, trust me." She chuckled. "I like my men a little darker and definitely not as helpful."

"Like Sawyer?"

Faith shot her a look. "Hey, that love triangle thing is your problem, not mine; quit trying to drag me into it."

"You can't honestly look me in the face and tell me you haven't thought about it. I know he has."

She couldn't help but laugh. "I wouldn't be surprised if Sawyer had thoughts about every attractive woman he's ever come across." She shook her head. "There's not much I need to know after getting jiggy with a guy, I mean, after that, you've pretty much got all the info. I don't need the added stress of having to see him everyday and worry if he's gonna try to come back for unwanted seconds. My life's complicated as it is without having to deal with a relationship, no matter what type it actually is."

"Have you ever been in love before?"

They stood there facing each other, neither saying a single word. Faith felt another jolt of pain from where she was digging her fingers into her palms but she didn't stop and she didn't move.

"Your plane leaves in two hours."

"Is this where we cut our losses then?" Faith looked at Robin with narrowed eyes, "You just gonna end it here and not see me off?"

"I would have called you a cab but Buffy insisted on driving you herself. She should be here at any minute."

"Buffy's driving me?" She tried to crack a smile and the joke at the same time. "I'm not sure I'll even make it to the airport."

Robin continued to stare down at her. "I want you to promise me you'll be careful." He looked as if he was struggling to decide what to say and finally he reached out to cup her cheek with his right hand. "Watch your back out there."

"Don't worry, I'm-"

"Five by five, I know." His hand lowered. "You always have been."

Faith nodded and bent down to grab her bag just as the front door bell rang. "Guess that's me." She turned without another word towards the door.

"If things were different…"

Faith stopped in her tracks but didn't turn around.

"If they were different, would love have been enough to make you stay?"

Her eyes found his from over her shoulder. "To love you would mean I'd have to give up who I am and I just can't do that. I'm not sure I ever can." She shifted her bag as the doorbell rang again. "But for a while, yes. I would have stayed."

Faith blinked back the memory, shaking her head again. "No."

&&&&&&&

It was dark but the burning torch was a dead giveaway that they had found Jack, Locke, and Sawyer. They weren't alone however, an unfamiliar male voice floating towards them. Faith pressed her finger to her lips and motioned with her fingers to make a circle. Kate seemed to understand the suggested maneuver and she slipped the gun out of her pants as she nodded in agreement.

Faith watched her move quickly in the opposite direction before she began to take small steps towards the group. She crouched down the very moment her eyes landed on a figure with his back to her, a rifle hanging at his side. She resisted the urge to take out her Jackal and inched closer another step.

A gunshot rang out and she froze, holding her breath. The man didn't turn around and she took another step forward. Her progress was halted again however as she felt the nozzle of a gun stick into her lower back.

"Don't even think about it girlie."

Faith watched the man she had been approaching turn around and position the gun in his hands as the one who had poked her inched around her left side. They were roughly her size, both dirty with unwashed clothes and no shoes on their feet.

"Whoa guys, it's called soap."

"Shut up." The man who had spoken before jerked the gun. "Move back."

"What about her?" She pointed past them and couldn't believe her luck when both glanced over their shoulders. Faith grabbed the gun closest to her, twirling it to smash the butt of it against the man's face, and when the other turned to her, she tossed the gun to the ground. He swung his gun at her and she ducked, pulling up straight to grab the gun as he held onto it.

Faith smirked, deciding instead of yanking it away that she'd smash her forehead into his. He crumpled to the ground and she tucked the gun butt under her arm, approaching the group after she made sure the safety was off.

"Sit down. Nobody's gonna hurt you." The speaker glanced around, his arms crossed. "That means you too Faith."

She paused at the edge of the group, not lowering the gun, and kept her eyes forward as Locke, Jack, and Sawyer spotted her as well. "Tell that to your buddies back there." She smirked. "Well, after they regain consciousness I mean."

"You're not gonna need the gun Faith. Put it down and let's have a sensible chat."

"Strange word to use. Last time I checked, sensible didn't cover shooting a gun at someone."

"The bullet just grazed Sawyer, it didn't kill him but the next one will. Put down the gun, all of you, and we'll talk."

"How do you know our names?"

He ignored Locke's question, his eyes still steady on Faith. "Do you really want to get these people hurt Faith? Think about it."

"Shooting you might take care of that problem."

The leader chuckled. "This is our island sweetheart. You're the guests. You don't do anything unless we let you."

Jack snorted drawing away his attention. "Yeah, you're so powerful you needed a spy to find out things about us. To me that's what a coward does, not someone who's in control."

"And I'm pretty sure I have enough bullets in this thing to take that so-called control for myself." Faith agreed.

He looked at them and smirked. "Is that so?" The man raised his hands. "Light 'em up!"

Faith took a step back as a number of torches lit up around them, enough to form a complete circle. She couldn't see anyone but by the positions of the torches, she could bet that they were outnumbered by roughly fifteen people or more.

"And if that's not enough…" He kept his eyes on them as a man suddenly came out of the bushes, a person with their hands tied and a bag over their head stumbling in front of him. The leader jerked the bag off and Faith swore at the sight of Kate, gagged and wide-eyed in fear. "Drop your weapons and we don't kill her." He stuck a 9mm under her chin. "Don't make me count, it's childish."

Jack immediately tossed his gun down in front of the leader and one by one everyone followed his example. Faith hesitated but threw hers down finally as well.

"The knife too."

Her back stiffened instantly. "You don't want that. Trust me."

He smiled, eyes glittering in the torchlight held by the person at his side. "You're right, I don't but until I get what I really want, it'll do for now." He pressed the gun even harder against Kate's cheek and she whimpered. "The knife. Now."

Faith didn't move.

"Faith! Please."

A jolt of pain shot down her spine as she roughly ground her teeth together but she ignored it and slipped the Jackal out of the sheath. With a flick of her wrist, she threw it and it landed, blade deep in the dirt beside the man's foot. The man shoved Kate towards them and Sawyer caught her, holding her to him as the man bent down and gathered the guns. He took his time pulling the knife from the ground and held it firmly in his right hand.

Faith growled as he ran a finger over the blade. "Don't get too comfortable. I'll be back for it."

"I'm counting on it Faith." He nodded. "A very wise man is interested in meeting you and discussing a few things first."

"I don't like to talk. I think I'd rather settle for pounding on your face instead. How's that?"

The leader laughed, motioning with his hands and all the torches around them flickered out. "Patience is virtue Faith. We're not ready for you yet but when we are, you'll find us." He took a step back.

She started to go forward as if to follow when Locke caught her arm. She swung her eyes to meet his and he shook his head, squeezing once before he let go. Faith returned her attention back to the forest but the man was gone.

There was no one else around except for the five of them.

&&&&&&&&&&

A shadow floated over the sand at her feet and Faith looked up to see Kate standing beside her. She quickly looked away back towards the ocean.

"He's not talking to me." Kate squatted down beside her. "I can't say that I blame him."

"If it makes you feel any better, he's not talking to me either. Only difference is, I don't really care."

The woman's eyes studied her intently. "There's no telling how many of them they actually had surrounding us. What were we supposed to do?"

"Not get caught, there's a start."

Kate visibly flushed, her eyes hardening as she continued to look at Faith. "I'm sorry okay? They snuck up on me before I even saw them."

"You don't have to recap, I was there."

"Faith?"

She glanced over her shoulder to see Jack standing there. He barely even looked at Kate, eyes only flickering to her in the briefest of acknowledgments.

"Can I speak with you for a minute?"

Faith didn't answer verbally and she shot a quick glance at Kate as she pushed up from the sand and turned to follow Jack down the beach. She shoved her hands into her pockets and waited until they were further on down from the camp before clearing her throat. "What can I do for you Doc?"

"Our problem is a lot bigger than I thought."

"I'm guessing you have some kind of plan now then."

Jack cleared his throat and stopped walking. He waited until she had paused as well. "I want to train an army."

The thought was so random and out of the blue that it made her laugh.

"I'm serious." He scowled. "How long do you think it would take?"

"Train an army? Jack, have you lost your mind? These people aren't soldiers. They're stockbrokers and insurance salesmen, fast food employees; you name it!" Faith protested. "Look me in the face and tell me you honestly believe that giving them loaded guns is going to help us get Walt back."

"We have to do something Faith! We can't just sit around and wait for them to take someone else. We're not even sure Walt's still alive, do you really want to live with the thought that you didn't care enough to try to get him back?"

Her eyes flashed angrily. "Don't ever say that to me again Jack."

"That man, he knew who you were. How?"

"I don't know, I'm trying to figure that out myself, but in case you missed it, he knew all of our names."

"But yours especially." Jack stared hard at her. "They want you, maybe for the same reason they wanted Walt or Claire, maybe not, but what I do know is that we can't let it happen." He looked over his shoulder and it was then she noticed Ana-Lucia had been standing behind him. "Ana used to be a cop."

"Congratulations." Faith crossed her arms over her chest. "I've had the honor of being arrested by your kind before. It was a pleasure."

"I had nothing to do with that so don't lay your shit on me." Ana spat taking a step forward. "Jack asked me to be here, same as you."

"She wants to help us."

The comment made her smirk. "You mean when she's not shooting at us?"

Jack reached out to grab Ana's arm in order to stop her from moving forward again. Faith remained where she was, dark look on her face, the smirk still there. "Faith, I need your help on this. The people we need trust you. We can't do it by ourselves."

"And what does she think?" She nudged her head towards Ana.

"If Jack trusts you, I don't see why I can't for now."

"Wow Jack, she hasn't even been here an entire week yet and you've already got her jumping through hoops. Nice." She chuckled watching Ana's eyes flash again in anger. She focused her attention back on Jack, her smirk fading. "Find out how many people are actually crazy enough to go along with your little plan and then I'll see what I can do."

"Great. As soon as I-"

She glanced between them and cut him off. "But let's get one thing straight. These Others are dangerous, I know I don't have to tell you two that. They've infiltrated us both, taken our weapons, kidnapped our people, and killed without a second's hesitation all in order to get exactly what they wanted. If you find people willing enough to accept a loaded gun in order to save a kid two months ago they didn't even know, you better hope they're willing to use it."

&&&&&&&&

"You seem to have something on your mind."

"Trust me, you don't wanna know." She shook her head and continued looking down at the maps on Sayid's table. She traced her finger over a mountain sketch, not looking up. "Jack wants to build an army."

"You cannot be serious."

"Oh, but I am." Faith sighed and raised her eyes to his. "And surprise, surprise, Ana-Lucia's helping him."

He said nothing at that. "These people aren't soldiers."

"These people aren't killers, you mean." She looked back down at the map. "And that's exactly what we need."

"Is it?" Sayid questioned. "Do you really expect any of these people to willingly kill another human being and be without remorse for the rest of their lives? All for a young boy?" He noticed her eyes narrow at the mention of Walt. "I want to get him back too Faith but I do not think these people could survive with the knowledge of having blood on their hands."

She looked away, almost as if the words had distracted her from the conversation at hand.

"What did you tell him?"

"I told him as soon as he found enough psychos, I'd see what I could do." Faith folded the map. "It won't get that far. These people are upset Walt's gone, true, but as long as they continue to find food and have a safe place to sleep at night, they won't put themselves in any danger."

"The lie however is that they are not as safe as they would believe."

"Exactly. They're not." She leaned back in the chair. "I waited too long. I should have been ready."

"Faith…"

"I know, I know."

Sayid watched as she propped her chin up with her right hand and momentarily closed her eyes. "I managed to fix your VCR. At least, I believe I have."

Faith's eyes automatically flew back open. "You're shitting me."

"No." Sayid chuckled and reached under the table, bringing out the appliance to lay it between them. "It took me all night but I think I managed to fix the wiring in the back. It may explode when you use it but-"

"I'll take my chances." She grinned, eyes focused on the device. "They teach you how to hotwire VCRs in Iraq?"

"Not exactly."

"I never graduated to the level of kitchen and tv appliances, hell I never really graduated anything actually, but I did manage to boost a couple cars back in the day." Faith sat back in her seat still grinning. "It's amazing the stuff you learn in Juvi."

"Aren't you the least bit interested to see what's on your tape?"

"Well, yeah." She shrugged and remained seated. "But I need to wait. Jack said he was gonna show Ana-Blahcia around the hatch and take a shift too so I don't expect them to come up for air for another four hours. I don't need the hovering if you know what I mean."

Sayid almost smiled. He studied her for a minute then nodded. "I see your point. Maybe now would be a perfect time to get some practice in then?"

"I thought you'd never ask."