A/N: Thank you for the reviews. I will be updating twice this week so enjoy this chapter and the thirty-three will be up shortly. I have managed to get several chapters done, my muse has decided to come back and honor me with her presence so I hope you guys will enjoy what is to come. I am pretty certain you will expect some parts, not see some parts coming at all and hopefully you will enjoy everything you read. As always, comments, suggestions, helpful critique IS accepted.

I will hopefully be adding a new Faith story soon (I just can't stop playing with her you know) so be on the look for that as well. I will be taking breaks from this story until Season Three of LOST starts up again and so far I have decided to expand this story to Season Three and then end it there. Especially since LOST seems to be on a plot decline from Season One and the fall schedule so far is LESS than acceptable. I have no clue what JJ and the others are thinking but is anyone else with me in being disappointed in things since Season Two? Maybe it's just me. Hopefully Season Three will be better despite the chunks in air time.

Anyway, enough of my blabbering on and on. Here's the chapter, an additional AN is at the bottom. Thank you again and enjoy.


Chapter Thirty-Two: The Long Con
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"Are you ready to do it again?"

"I think I should try it with my fist this time." The look on Sayid's face made her sigh. "Or we could do it your way again."

"This is about concentration and precision Faith, not about making a mess."

"But my way is fun!"

"Hey guys, what are you doing?" Hurley walked up and froze, his eyes widening at the sight of Faith standing there with a sword in her hands. "Dude! Where'd you get a katana?"

"Attila the Hun. It's on loan." She raised it up over her head, nodding at Sayid and the very moment he backed up, Faith swung the sword and she smiled as it cleanly sliced the top off the coconut. "Get your straws, drinks all around!"

Hurley took a step back then focused his attention on Sayid.

"Uh hey, you know Rose's husband Bernard? We were talking and I noticed something."

Faith cocked her head as Sayid positioned another coconut on the trunk and she raised the sword again. "The white guy?"

"Dude, I noticed that too." Hurley nodded. He started to smile then shook his head. "But other than that. It turns out he found this on the other side of the island," He shook the handheld radio in his left hand at them, "and he told me that he managed to pick up your and Boone's distress signal with it."

Faith lowered the sword.

The static on the line wailed loudly again as someone responded back.

"-----survivors of Flight 815, copy."

Boone looked over at Faith, a look of surprise and shock on his face. "Did you hear that?"

"And what do you expect me to do about it Hurley?" Sayid motioned towards the coconut with a stern look on his face and Faith blinked out of her daze, raising the sword again.

Both watched as the top severed clean without resistance and fell to the ground, the rest of the coconut remaining in its upright position.

"Well, I thought maybe we could use it somehow."

"I very much doubt it."

"Dude, you can at least try." Hurley placed the radio down on the sand and threw another look at Faith. "You, uh, only do that with coconuts right?"

Faith grinned as she lowered the sword. "And people who ask too many questions."

He nodded and took off, his steps quickly carrying him as far away as possible.

Sayid removed the coconut, shaking his head. "I was right, you are terrible."

"Oh, H-Man knows I like him." She wiped at the sweat dripping across her forehead. "He's right you know."

"About what?"

"You could at least attempt to fix it."

"And do what with it exactly? It's a walkie-talkie Faith. Even if I managed to make the connection stronger somehow, the only thing I'd pick up is Danielle's distress call again."

She shot him a look then gripped the sword with both hands again. "Whatever you say grumpy."

"I am not grumpy."

"Whatever you say pessimist. Better?"

Sayid chuckled. "Where did you get a sword from anyway?" He bent down and positioned another coconut onto the dent in the log.

"Steve."

"Steve?"

"Yeah, you know Steve. Mr. they keep calling me Scott-Steve. He was so surprised that I called him by his name the other day he almost talked my damn ear off." The sword rose swiftly. "Turns out he's an arts dealer and just happened to be in Australia at an uber antique weapons convention. This was the only piece that managed to wash up on shore, imagine that."

"You look as if you handle it quite well."

"What can I say?" She swung and the top exploded off the coconut. "I'm a natural."

&&&&&&&&&&

Faith ran her fingers over the fabric of the black hood. Sawyer stood beside her but his attention was on the crowd gathered around Sun and Jin's tent, the Korean woman finally waking up from unconsciousness. Kate appeared from behind them moments later, taking a stand beside Faith.

"So Sun didn't see a thing?"

Kate shifted to lean closer to Faith as if there was a need to whisper. "Nope but everyone thinks it was an Other."

"What about us?" Faith whispered back, "What do we think?"

The other woman's eyes flickered to Sawyer's and he nodded. "Whoever it was left a trail, the Others, they don't. The hood is wrong too, a different fabric."

"Stick your head in a bag once and you know it for life."

Kate socked her in the shoulder but it didn't wipe the grin off of Faith's face. "I'll bet you anything it's not them."

"Bet me what? A mango? A week's laundry?" Faith frowned, pausing. "And if not them then who? Who'd attack Sun and then just leave her in the middle of the jungle?"

"My money's on someone trying to scare up fellow castaways into joining an army." Sawyer muttered, his attention back on the group again. "That's worth a week's laundry."

Faith followed his gaze and snorted as she spotted Ana-Lucia. "People always blame the bad girls."

"You don't think it could be her?" Kate questioned heatedly. "I've heard the rumors and Sawyer told me you said they were true, about Jack and Ana trying to raise an army. It seems perfectly logical that Ana would do anything to trick people into joining, even hurt one of us."

"Hmmm, maybe. She does know her way around a gun after all."

Kate's gaze hardened as she stared Ana down and as if sensing the action, the woman shot an equally hot glare back before turning her attention to Jack and saying something.

"Oh my god."

Both Sawyer and Faith turned to stare at Kate who was standing there, her eyes wide and mouth hanging open in shock.

"That's her plan."

"What plan? Who's plan?" Faith glanced at Sawyer then Kate. "Are we guessing again?"

"Ana's." Kate muttered. "She wants to build an army and what do you need for that to happen?"

"You need people scared enough to join."

"You need weapons." Faith stepped back as Locke, Jack, and Sayid moved away from the tent to form a circle. "Looks like there's a town meeting, you two better see what's up."

"What about you?"

Her gaze drifted over to where Ana was already walking down the beach. "There's something I have to take care of."

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"Her money's on you."

Ana stopped mid-stride and turned to see Faith. She crossed her arms over her chest and waited. "What?"

"Kate." Faith motioned over her shoulder. "She's telling everyone you attacked Sun because you want the guns."

Ana's eyes flared, her mouth twisting in anger. "She's crazy."

"Probably but people are listening to her." Faith shrugged. "Especially Jack. He's known her a bit longer than you so he's more inclined to trust her."

"And why should I believe you?"

"I saw the look Kate gave you just a few minutes ago." She smirked. "And I'm taking a wild guess and betting Jack's already questioned you as to where you were when the attack happened."

Ana's gaze flickered past her again. "And why are you telling me this?"

"I've been where you are before, blamed and no one to believe me." Faith shrugged. "Besides, we both know black hoods aren't your style. I'd watch my back Ana. Jealousy has a way of bringing out the worst in people."

"I somehow seriously doubt you care."

"Nah, not really but I do care about Jack getting carried away about this army idea. Tell him to cool it for a bit before another innocent person ends up dead." Faith tossed her the hood. "We don't want that again now do we?"

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She swung her legs back and forth against the arm of the couch, watching in silence as Locke continued to pull the books off the shelf and thumb through them. As soon as he was done with one, he threw it on the table and moved on to the next.

"Ever read this?" He showed her the cover of the book in his hand. "Owl Creek Bridge?"

Faith shook her head. "I'm not much for reading. Even manuals make me sleepy."

Locke chuckled, turning his attention fully to the book in his hand as he thumbed through the pages. "It's about a soldier who is about to be hanged. He gets free and makes his way to safety only to find out he's already dead."

"Bummer. So what's the point?"

"That your imagination can be a powerful tool in helping you block out what's really going on if you let it."

Faith grunted. "Hmm, so maybe we're dead and just imagining all of this."

Locke threw the book onto the table. "Well, that'd be silly wouldn't it?"

"Yeah, silly. Right up there with silly smoky black creatures and island savages that vanish into thin air. Denial ain't just a river in Egypt Locke." She ignored his gaze and looked over at the doorway. "Ah look, a visitor. What brings you to our little island hideaway?"

Locke looked over at Sawyer as well but didn't hesitate to grab another book. "What can we do for you James?"

"It's what I can do for you actually, came to warn ya. Everyone's thirsting for payback and Jack's on his way over here on a white horse to get the guns and charge into battle." He looked between them with a wide grin. "Unless you think of something fast, if you've never played Cowboys and Indians, you're about to get your chance."

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Faith said nothing as they moved through the forest, both of them with several guns in their hands and on their shoulders. They continued to go deeper until finally Locke stopped and began to lower his weapons.

"We're here."

"Uh, where exactly is here?" Faith lowered hers slowly as well and glanced around. "And tell me why again I couldn't stay behind and do the button?"

"Because I trust James to do the button and I trust you to help me move the guns." Locke started shifting an area of grass in front of them, pulling back a brown tarp and dark blanket to reveal a hiding place. "And I didn't want him to know where I am hiding them."

"I don't have any need for them."

"And that's why you're here and not James." He began to pile the guns together, Faith bending down to hand them to him. "Jack and I had an agreement, we'd make the decisions about the guns together, and tonight he was going to break it. If we give him a gun, where does it stop? Who gets one and who doesn't?"

"I'm more worried about who'd shoot who Locke. These things are dangerous in the wrong hands, we've already seen that, not to mention the problems they're causing between people who need to learn to work together."

"My thoughts exactly so we're gonna bury them here and not tell a soul where they are, not even Jack." He placed the last two guns in the hole then stepped back and covered them back up. "Agreed?"

She stared down at the grass and blankets. "Agreed."

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Ana continued trying to make a spear, attempting to carve the wood into a point at the top of the long stick. It kept slipping with the small knife she had in her right hand and she grumbled, the index finger on her left hand already bleeding.

"Here." Faith stepped over the log to sit beside her and extended her hand towards the stick. "I've had some practice with this kind of thing."

Ana cocked an eyebrow but handed it to her, sitting back to watch as Faith took a long knife from her hip sheath and held the middle of the stick steady between her legs.

"You have to hold it slanted and run the blade out like this. Use long strokes, forward motion only." She started chipping away at the end of the stick, slivers of wood falling off but the point began to form, becoming sharper each time the knife hit it. Faith repeated the action a few more times before handing the stick as well as the knife back to Ana. "Try the knife Locke gave me, it's sharper."

Ana nodded but didn't express any thanks and for a few minutes, Faith watched as she began to sharpen the stick.

"I thought about what you said."

"Really?" She crossed her arms over her bent knees, shooting a look at Locke across from her before directing her attention back to Ana. Locke was lost in his own thoughts, staring at the fire blazing between them. "And what'd you decide?"

"Everyone here hates me."

"Wow. How long did that revelation take you?"

Ana's dark eyes flashed at her, the knife slowing down. "Everyone here hates me except for Jack."

"Jack has this smothering level of nice running through his veins. He's all butterflies and rainbows, and that's saying something for a man who isn't gay."

"He doesn't hate me but he doesn't trust me either." Ana continued carving the wood. "Not the way he does you."

"I think you've got me mixed up with someone else. Where's this going?"

"Jack was right though, about the army and about you. We need you to be able to do what we planned."

Faith snorted. "While it's really touching to hear you say that, I doubt you'll have much trouble getting together some soldiers especially now that it looks like we're under attack."

"I don't believe that now any more than you do."

"That so?" She cocked an eyebrow then nodded as Ana held her gaze. "And how exactly do I fit in again with this brilliant war plan?"

"Trust. Locke trusts you, he'll believe you if you say we need the guns."

"I hate to burst your idea bubble but see, guns and me, we-" She was interrupted as Jack came storming up from behind Locke and she watched along with everyone around them as the two men began to argue.

Faith stood up at the same time as Ana. "Jack, you should-"

He turned on her in an instant. "You helped move them Faith! I thought you of all people would know what needs to be done."

"We did do something. Let's just calm down and-"

"Unless you want to tell me where they are," Jack interrupted, "then shut up."

Faith clenched her fists, fighting to stay calm. "If we don't calm down, someone is going to get hurt or killed. I can't let that happen again."

Ana flinched from beside her but she didn't look away from Jack.

"I want two guns John, I'm done playing around with you. I want them and I want them right now." He moved closer to Locke, getting directly in his face. "Tell me where they are or I'll-"

Faith slid between them and shoved Jack back a couple steps. "I'd be careful who you give ultimatums to Jack. Let's not bite off more than we can chew."

"Faith, please."

She ignored Sayid moving to stand adjacent to her. "I've had just about enough of you Jack." She sneered. "From day one, you've been walking around like you've got some big gold star on your shirt and I hate to be the one to tell you, but I don't see it. You're not a sheriff, you're a doctor and when the times comes, we both know you don't have what it takes to pull the trigger."

The gun blast started all of them as it split the suddenly quiet air.

"I couldn't agree more Fire Cracker."

They all turned to see Sawyer coming out of the jungle behind them, a rifle in his hand. Everyone was shocked, gazing at him in surprise as he grinned.

"I thought you hid them." Jack hissed at Locke.

"I guess it turns out ol' Locke here ain't exactly the brilliant savior ya'll led yourself to believe he is." Sawyer chuckled. "I'm sure you're wondering exactly what happened while you had your heads in the sand, well let me fill you in. You're all a bunch of idiots, letting these two losers boss you around. You're so scared and positive you can't make a decision on your own that you're letting these two do it for you. We'll I'm tired of being told what to do."

Sawyer raised the gun into the air. "New rules ladies and gentlemen. You want a gun? You're gonna have to come and beg me for it." He grinned at Faith. "No one and I mean no one is gonna get one without my permission. You don't like it, fine, torture me, kill me, whatever makes you civilized." He glared at Sayid then chuckled. "But I won't give them up and then you'll really be screwed. Either way, I win."

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"I can't believe I fell for it."

Faith poked at the fire as Kate continued talking beside her.

"The whole time he led me to believe it was Ana but in the end he…"

"Tricked all of us."

"Yeah. He tricked us."

"They call it a long con." Faith poked at the fire again. "Buddy of mine in the correctional facility used to do 'em all the time, was the reason she was in jail. You find a target, let them in on what you do and soon enough, they start to think the ideas you're agreeing to are ones they actually thought of first."

"And then you're in the hole before you even realize it."

"Exactly." She nodded. "And they're on top pouring the dirt in at the same time they steal your shit."

"He's just... miserable. He wants everyone to see him as this miserable, mean person." Kate rubbed her arms for warmth against the wind. "But I'm not sure that's what it is. I think he wants people to hate him, to not trust him. I've never known anyone like that."

Faith blinked. "Me neither," She lied and poked the fire again.

"His father killed his mother and then himself all because of a con."

"I know."

Kate's wide eyes went to hers. "How? Did he-"

"I read the letter." Faith threw her stick into the fire, watching it catch and burn along with the other pieces of wood. "You can't change people when they don't want your help. Just a fact of life."

"Let me help you Faith. We'll get through this together." Buffy's eyes were filled with so much hope and honesty as she continued to plead one last time that it hurt for Faith to look her directly in the face.

"I don't want your help and I never will." She slammed the door between them and thrust the lock into place. Faith remained standing there for a few minutes before she flung open the door again but it was too late. Buffy was already gone, and salvation it seemed had left with her.

"It doesn't mean you should just give up on them."

Faith blinked and directed her gaze back to the fire. "Maybe not."

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It was bright enough in the jungle to be able to see without the assistance of a torch, the moon doing its job to light the way. Sawyer stopped, pausing to look around, and he shifted as Charlie came out of the bushes beside him. The two shared a look then glanced around again.

"You're sure she never saw you?"

Charlie shook his head. "She was too busy concentrating on her garden." He twisted the ring on his finger nervously. "You can't tell anyone it was me."

"Don't worry Hoss, I won't say a thing." Sawyer grinned. He lifted up his hand and the moonlight bounced off of the Virgin Mary statue. "I believe this is yours."

"I don't want them. I got what I wanted already."

Sawyer nodded, his arm lowering. "And how does revenge on Johnny Locke the Fool taste?"

"Good but I'm still not confident he won't find out."

"Locke has other things to worry about now, things like Jack that should keep him busy for a long time."

Sawyer shifted his gaze as the person he was also waiting on appeared. "That's right Fire Cracker, everything's going according to plan." He chuckled. "I have to admit, didn't think it'd work at first but you were right. They never even saw us coming."

A/N: A couple people wrote comments and asked about Charlie and Faith. As you can see from this chapter, Faith realised from Charlie's weakness, the distrust of others, and his dreams that he would be perfect in helping Sawyer and herself get the guns from the other guys. I apologize if this is unclear or strange but I for one think Faith would rather she know where they are and keep them to one or two people than allow Jack to get overexcited and allow nervous, scared people to have the weapons. As Buffy always says, guns never help and LOST has also (just like Joss) done a great job of showing exactly how that's true.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please review and I shall update you again ASAP.