A/N: Thanks again for the reviews and Cathy-Bloom, your comment made my day. Nothing funnier than the image of Jack being Buffy in a blonde wig. Thank you. DavidB226Morris? Where you at dawg! Just kidding (not the wondering, the whole calling you a four legged beast deal), I just felt like doing a couple random shout outs. Reviews that tickle or interest me will always get comments back, esp through private messaging...
BTW, speaking of DavidB226Morris, you need to check out his Faith story: Dark Knight of the Soul. It's a Batman crossover and he's done a great job so far, it's off to a good start. I'm always willing to support fellow Faith writers (if you've got one you want me to see or advertise, send it on down!) so be dolls and go check out the story and leave some fb while you're there too. Here are the numbers to the story in case you don't find his name on the review list, WHICH you should cause David rocks like that but nonetheless here you go... /s/3019238/1/
Also, GAME TIME! There's a nod towards one of my favorite movies in this chapter, a special line that's been used, cut up and given new life but similar to how I loved hearing it the first time. Confused yet? Here's a hint: Space, the final frontier! And no, it has NOTHING to do with Star Trek. Internet cookies and special shouts to all who catch it and tell me!
Enjoy and please review.
Chapter Thirty-One: Fire + Water
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
The mango wasn't ripe enough but she swallowed it anyway and stuck another piece into her mouth.
"Just make yourself at home there Sweetheart." Sawyer stepped out of his tent, the flap lowering back down as he took a seat on the airline seat adjacent to her. "Admit it, my mango tastes good."
"Your mango isn't juicy enough for me." She tossed the half-eaten fruit at his left side and watched him fumble with it. "Oh right, you're an invalid, my bad."
"Yeah, thanks for the concern." He dropped the mango onto the sand. "Glad someone else remembers I dug a bullet out of my shoulder."
"Kate remembers." Faith smirked at him. "She's over here all the time, petting and feeding you, it's wicked cute."
"You jealous Fire Cracker?" Sawyer threw her a slow smile. "You know you can always come over and rub my shoulders if you want. I won't stop you."
"How about I put another bullet in your other shoulder and you show me how you got it out? I've always been interested to see that trick."
Sawyer scowled at her and then smiled again, gaze shifting over her right shoulder. "I just can't imagine what Jack and Ana-Lucia could find so damn interesting in the forest."
She followed his gaze to see the two of them as they headed down the beach.
"If I didn't know our good doctor, I'd say they were having some fun rolling around in the leaves."
"You jealous Sawyer?"
He snorted. "Hardly. I owe Rambina one for punching me in the face."
"Hmmm, I just might like her after all." She turned her head to watch Ana go a different way then Jack, the doctor heading for the cave path. "But I doubt it."
Sawyer glanced over his shoulder to peek inside his tent. "You wouldn't happen to know where the hell all of my stuff went would you?"
"Jack and Locke divvied it up."
The look on Sawyer's face could have stopped the traffic in New York. "And what did you get?"
"Nothing Packrat. I didn't have a need for any of your junk, sorry." She paused and unzipped her bag, tossing him a pack of cigarettes, which he caught easily in his right hand. "But I did happen to take these from you the day I borrowed that rope. Was gonna blackmail you with 'em but it just doesn't seem like it'd be much fun right now." Faith tossed a lighter as well, watching as it bounced harmlessly off his chest and into his lap.
He growled under his breath as he began to unwrap the pack slowly, still muttering the entire time.
"Nice way to thank you for risking your life, huh?" Faith watched him closely. "If I were you, I'd do something to get back at them."
Sawyer's eyes widened before he chuckled. He stuck a cigarette into his mouth and paused to light it. "Well, well, looks like you and I are similar after all." He extended the pack towards her and she took a cigarette, lighting it as well.
Faith didn't answer and turned away as she let out a steady stream of smoke, spotting Charlie sitting by himself away from the camp.
"I hear Claire slapped Short Stuff a good one last night. Took her baby and was found standing out by the water with it."
She continued to watch Charlie, the hood of his pullover positioned now over his head to where no one could see his face. Faith took another pull from the cigarette.
"Said he didn't have a clue what he was doing. Imagine that."
"It just occurred to me that we never went through with our bet."
"What bet?" Sawyer narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously. "I don't remember ever agreeing about any kind of bet Sweetheart."
"Forget the shaving crème, forget the batteries, forget anything else Jack and Locke took from you while you were gone." She studied at him intently. "What's the one thing in the world you want most right now?"
"That damn Other shot me and I want to return the favor but it's hard to do that when Doctor Giggles and Mr. Clean have all the guns locked up." He stared back, eyes watchful and knowing. "I got a feeling he ain't your favorite person either right now."
"He's high on my list." Faith snubbed out the cigarette as her fingers drifted where her knife used to rest. "But Jack's trying to build himself up a little army and I can't repay that asshole the favor either with the Calvary coming up from behind us with their guns blazing."
Sawyer chuckled again, eyes glittering now in amusement. "And to think I once believed you and Jack had a little something extra going on the side."
Faith snorted and stood up to brush the sand off her pants. "You don't know me as well as you think you do then."
"Indeed Sweetheart, that I definitely don't." He flashed her a wide smile. "How about we get to know each other a little better? I'd say it's about time."
"I couldn't agree more myself."
&&&&&&&&&
The tarp fell harmlessly by her feet and Ana just glanced at it before directing her attention to the person who threw it. She cocked an eyebrow as she paused, "What is it?"
"I thought that'd be obvious." Faith sat down her bag, studying her. For some reason, one she couldn't put a finger on just yet, there was an automatic clash instinct that hit her whenever she was around the woman. "It's a tarp and you use it to-"
"I know what it is but what is it? What do you want?"
"Somehow I know you won't fall for the girl talk routine so we'll just skip over that and get to the real issue." Faith looked around, spotting a few people watching them as if they noticed the tension and turned back to motion at the tarp. "Come on, I'll help you put it on top."
Ana still eyed her warily but picked up the tarp and unfolded it. She handed Faith one end and they began to tie it down. "So… what do you want?"
"What does every little girl want? Husband, picket fence, the 2.5 kids and three dogs." Faith chuckled as she tied down one end. "Well most girls anyway but I'm guessing neither of those have that in mind. No, what I really want is for you to turn Jack down about this whole army idea the next time he brings it up."
"Why would I do that?" Ana tied her end and they alternated corners. "We need to be ready for them and preparing people is the best way to do that."
"Then how come Jack hasn't mentioned the idea to Sayid or Locke yet?" Faith finished and took a step back. "Sayid has a military background and Locke knows this island like the back of his hand. You want to play General, you have to be willing to use all your men."
"I don't know, that's something you're gonna have to take up with Jack."
"I'm taking it up with you."
"Look," Ana glared at her. "I don't know okay? But that crossing the line stuff the Others fed you was bullshit. They're animals and once they get bored, they'll come for blood whether we like it or not."
"So you figure why not draw blood first?" Faith chuckled and picked up her bag. "I'm pretty sure you already did that." She glanced out of the corner of her eye to see Charlie walking into the woods. Faith slung her bag onto her shoulder and glanced at Ana one more time. "Think about what I said."
"Yeah well…" Ana concentrated on tying her corner and looked up again. "I'll…"
Faith was gone again.
"What the hell man?"
&&&&&&&&&
If she thought the tension was bad with her and Ana, she was almost smothered to death by it when she came upon Locke and Charlie in the woods by his heroin stash. Faith stopped to lean against a tree to her right, and watch as the two argued, Charlie vouching and pleading his innocence but the older man refused to believe him. He stuffed the statues into his bag as Charlie continued to beg him.
"That's what this is, John, at test. This is my test."
"I don't think so Charlie. You put them there, don't be ridiculous and blame it on the island."
"He sounds a bit like someone I know." Faith made her presence known but stayed where she was. "But I guess the island excuse only works for special people."
"Faith, tell him I'm not using! He thinks I'm going bloody crazy! Tell him!"
She glanced between them. "You're on your own on this one Charlie, I tried to warn you."
"Please, I…" He glanced between them in panic. "I don't want to hurt anyone, you have to believe that. Claire has to believe that."
"The only thing she believes right now is that you took her baby in the middle of the night." Locke glared at him. "That's what she believes and just like you put the statues here on your own, it's the truth." He turned to walk away and spared a glance at Faith. "Be careful."
"You more than me old man." Her dark eyes were laughing. "I wouldn't want you to fall on those things and break your back."
He left them and for a several minutes, Faith continued to lean up against the tree as Charlie cried. She waited until he finished, wiping his face and sniffling.
"Feel better?"
"I don't know what I'm gonna do Faith. You have to help me."
"I don't need to do anything when you can't even do it yourself. Locke is right." She ignored the hurt look on his face. "Don't look at me like that, I'm your friend Charlie, but there comes a time when you have to take responsibility. It was by your choice to stick those statues here despite the fact you knew what would happen if you got caught. Locke tried to help you when we first crashed here and it looks like you haven't listened to a word he said."
"But I have!" Charlie shrieked. "I'm not bloody using! I don't know what happened the other night!" He waved his hands around. "But the one thing I do know is that I never would have hurt Aaron or Claire, ever."
"I hope that's the truth Charlie because if you ever want to be trusted by anyone here again, you better not." She turned away.
"That's it? Are you gonna go talk to Claire for me? Are you gonna help me?"
"I need to go, Sayid fixed my VCR so I can watch my tape and it's important I get it from him before it turns dark."
"You care more about your bloody stupid player than helping me!"
"At this point, yeah." She looked back at him one more time. "You got yourself into this and I'm positive you can think of a way to get yourself out."
He glared at her, his fists clenching, but he said nothing else. With that, she disappeared to head back to the beach.
&&&&&&&&&&&&
The hatch was unusually quiet and she kicked off her shoes by the door. Faith ventured slowly down the hall and glanced into the dome to see Sayid sitting by the computer. "Hey, I was looking for you."
"I drew the short straw." He motioned at the computer but turned his chair towards her. "What do you need Faith?"
"I went to your tent but the VCR wasn't there. Did you bring it here?"
Sayid frowned. "No, it should be at the tent where we left it the other day."
"Weird." She scratched at her forehead and pulled out the roller chair from the opposite desk. "I must have skipped right over it. I'll look again." She shrugged and glanced towards the hallway just in time to see Hurley go by with a lanky blonde woman.
He looked over and saw her, pausing to wave and after saying something to his companion, he entered the dome with her behind him. "Hey Faith. I heard about the other day, glad you're okay."
"Thanks H, you're sweet." Her eyes were looking at the woman though she directed her words at him. "Who's your friend?"
"Oh, this is Libby. Libby, this is Faith." His face flushed as he introduced the two.
Libby smiled and nodded, and Faith returned the greeting.
"We were doing some laundry."
"Ah," She directed her gaze back to Libby again. "What'd you do before buying a lucky plane ticket?"
"I was a clinical psychologist, what about you?"
"I killed things." Faith smiled brightly aware that Sayid was looking at her, a small grin on his face. "It was nice to meet you Libby. You two be good and play nice."
Hurley blushed again but nodded and she kept her eyes on them until they had disappeared back down the hallway.
"You're terrible."
She directed her smile at Sayid. "I know but it's fun." Faith slid back the chair. "I think I'm gonna get some shut eye for a little bit. How much longer do you have?"
"Another three hours." He muttered. "And then I think some of the guys and I are going to try to move some debris and build a large shelter."
"Sounds good."
"Want to help?"
"Giving you the chance to beat me up and call it training isn't enough, now you want to me drag around your trash too?" She smiled again to let him know she was teasing and followed it up with a quick nod. "Wake me when it's time to go."
&&&&&&&&&&&
"I'm serious!" Faith took a position on the other side of the huge piece of metal as the small group of survivors and Sayid laughed, "There I was, butt naked and wrestling this alligator. It was wicked crazy."
Sayid shook his head, motioning to the metal. "Let's lift this on the count of three." He started to count but paused as he noticed Faith hadn't picked up her edge and was looking around, a frown on her face. "What's wrong?"
"Yo, you smell that?"
He stopped as well and they all sniffed at the air. Sayid looked past her shoulder. "Fire!" He yelled, "Form a bucket line! Fire!"
Faith was right behind him as they ran towards the giant blaze, the fire just inches away from the main part of camp. The heat slammed against Faith's skin as she caught the bucket tossed her way. They formed a quick line, others joining as the flames continued to lick at the sky.
"Help! My baby!"
Faith froze, eyes going towards the water to see Claire chasing after Charlie, a bundle that was obvious Aaron in his hands. "Damn it!" She glanced towards the fire and saw it was slowly going out, everyone pouring sand and water on the flames. She didn't hesitate to throw down her bucket and break line, nearly crashing into Locke as he raced past her for Charlie as well.
A group had already gathered around Charlie and Claire as Faith and Locke broke through. She stayed near the edge as Locke moved closer, his hands out. Charlie was clearly panicked, eyes darting as he clutched Aaron to his chest and tears rolled down his face.
She watched as Locke managed to calm him down and sobbing, Charlie released Aaron. Claire didn't hesitate to take the screaming baby and she glared hard at Charlie before making her way up the beach.
"No, Claire, wait! I-"
He didn't have time to finish his sentence when Locke blocked his path, slamming his fist into the younger man's face. Charlie stumbled back and fell to his knees, the waves crashing into him. Everyone watched as he got to his feet again and just as Locke pulled back to punch him again, Faith caught his wrist easily with one hand.
"Break me off a switch son, you want to keep that wrist or not?"
The people around them glanced in shock at her then at Locke but when they saw nothing else was going to happen, they started moving away. She squeezed a silent warning before letting him go and Locke threw one more scathing look at Charlie before he followed after Claire.
Faith watched Charlie as he dropped back down to his knees and let the waves hit him. "I just wanted to help him," He muttered as she bent down and helped him to his feet. He swayed, the tears still rolling down his cheeks. "They told me to help him."
"Who did?"
"The people in my dream. They told me the only way to save Aaron was to take him and do it myself. They said they wouldn't understand until after it had been done, but now… God, I screwed up Faith, I screwed up so badly, but they told me I had to do it." He wiped at his eyes and looked up at her. "You believe me right?"
The people in my dream. Slowly she nodded, wrapping her arm around his waist and they continued to make their way in the opposite direction of camp. "I believe you Charlie."
&&&&&&&&
Faith bent down and poked through the ashes where the fire had raged the night before. She wiped at her forehead and barely glanced up as a person walked through the burnt trees to stand beside her.
"I hear you baptized Claire and Aaron today."
"That is what she wished." Eko nodded. "She was worried should something happen to them that they would not be together in the after life. She asked me to help her and as a priest I could see no wrong in this."
Faith stood up swiping her hands on her pants. "Nothing like the fear of Hell to make some people jump on the bandwagon."
"It is not often Hell itself but what waits for them that people fear. If you want, I will tell you a story about a boy and his dog."
"I'm not much for stories." She grunted, eyes scanning the ground. "Especially the ones where there's a moral and you're supposed to live by it or you're considered a sinner."
"It is ironic one would be named Faith yet have so little of it." Eko continued to study her, "Perhaps instead then I could help you search for whatever it is you are looking for."
Faith shot him a look but shook her head. "I'm not looking for anything, I'm just looking. Some of these trees are marked, I'm curious as to why."
"I did that." Eko looked at a tree close to him, a carved X deep in the burnt trunk. "I was thinking of building a church."
"A home away from home," She muttered. "How nice for you."
"Salvation can be found everywhere, you only have to look for it."
"Does that ever get old?" Faith narrowed her eyes at him then looked back at the ground again. "It's like you're spewing out constant fortune cookie sayings but ones that are made in the Vatican. Vatican fortune cookies that never go stale and-" She paused as her eyes landed on something strange.
Eko noticed right away. "What is it?"
Faith took a step towards the object and bent down, hands brushing away the ashes that covered it. Her top and bottom lip pressed flat against each other as she tilted the destroyed object up in the air. It was beyond ruined.
"What is that?"
She tossed it back on the ground. "It's a VCR player."
"I did not see that there before."
"No," Faith shook her head as she turned to walk away. "You wouldn't have."
&&&&&&&&
"You'd be amazed at how fire proof VCRs are… not made to be."
Sayid looked up from the papers on his table. "I take it you found it."
"What was left of it anyway." Faith glanced over her shoulder to nod at Sawyer as he walked by then directed her gaze further out to Charlie who once again sat by himself near the shore. "Looks like he killed two birds with one stone, my VCR and Eko's church."
"Church?" Sayid's eyebrows rose. "What do we need a church for?"
"Salvation." Faith smirked as she took a seat next to him and slid her bag onto the table. She pressed her hands together as if she was going to pray. "Us sinners need saving from the evils we wallow in, oh save us Lord!" Faith dropped her hands. "You're not living a good life unless you praise the Lord and bless others by bringing them tea and dumplings."
He laughed. "You sound as if you are mad at God for some reason Faith."
"No, not mad." She cupped her jaw with one hand and let out a sigh. "Just tired of doing all his dirty work." Faith stared down at her zipped bag as if she could see the video box that lay inside. "Looks like I'm back to square one again."
"We'll find a player Faith."
"I hope so. What if I'm missing a really good episode of Friends on this thing?"
Sayid grinned back at her, shaking his head for a minute before another look crossed his face, this one serious. "What do you think should be done about Charlie?"
She kept her gaze forward, still able to see the man in question from where he sat. Jack was bending down in front of him, checking the battle scars he had collected from Locke the previous night. "I've got a few things in mind. He'll be a new man." She whispered. "You won't even see it coming."
A/N: I've done my thing, now you do yours. :) Thanks again!