DISCLAIMER: I own nothing and am making no money from the creation of this fanfic. Do not sue. All I own is Ramen and my textbooks (and trust me, you don't want those).

A/N: Well, hello gentle viewers. Welcome to another episode of Faith's crazy adventure into Lost Land. Who will she insult this week? It's anyone's guess but it's funny when it's Sawyer! (chuckles) I apologize for the delay in this chapter, it was one hell of a BITCH to write. Every direction I took I hated because the episode in itself didn't give me much to work with. Regardless, I have finished (though I still don't like it. Eh, what's a girl in college to do?) and now there is only ONE more chapter before the conclusion of Season Two. I hope to update the next chapter faster than this one and after that point, I will go on a short hiatus (couple weeks perhaps at most) to regroup and outline before starting the FINAL season of this story. Yes, viewers, I shall only be progressing into Season Three and that is where it shall end.

Thank you as always for reading and leaving feedback, I'd love to hear from a TON of you I haven't heard from before and of course, the familiar faces, I always enjoy hearing from you. Comments, suggestions and marriage proposals are always taken into consideration. Enjoy the chapter and REVIEW (bats eyelashes).


Chapter Forty-One: Three Minutes
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Faith lingered in the doorway watching as Michael continued to clean up Libby's blood from the floor. Wearing a sling made from a bed sheet Jack had dug up, he was refusing to acknowledge anyone's presence as he worked.

Libby's sheet covered body was lying less than ten feet away as she came up behind Jack who was tending to Ana on the lower bunk bed. She leaned against the doorframe and Jack moved away from the bed, shifting so he caught her gaze. The awkward, unsure tension lingered in the air and she almost laughed at the realization that they were both trying to ignore it.

Faith finally cleared her throat, her attention drifting to Ana lying still on the bed with her eyes closed and her hands positioned limp at her sides. She spotted the tin pan near the bed, the retrieved bullet visible from where she stood. "How's she doing?"

"She's hanging on." Jack ran his hands over his head. "I gave her everything I could think of that would help but I'm not sure she's going to make it."

"She'll make it."

"Ana's been unconscious since yesterday Faith." The doubtful look on Jack's face never wavered. "She's lost a lot of blood and if she starts to convulse or the antibodies we have don't fight infection, I don't have the proper tools to…"

"You've done all you can Jack. Don't be so hard on yourself, you can't save everyone."

Jack surprised her by turning away and Faith straightened up from the doorway as he smashed his fist into the closet door. "Jack…"

"I should have seen this coming."

"How so? You're not psychic." She ignored her uneasiness and reached out to clasp his shoulder with her right hand. "She'll make it and so will you." Almost immediately, she released him to take a step back. "Take a break Jack, I'll sit with her."

He nodded but didn't move. "Locke told me you had found another hatch."

"Yep, abandoned." Faith shrugged. "We found another tape too. Locke thinks all the hatches might be experiments in obedience and control."

"And you? What do you think?"

"It really wouldn't surprise me. I have a feeling the Others have been here for so long that anything's possible. Take a break Jack." Faith sat down in the vacated seat by the bed. "I'll let you know if we need you."

Jack nodded again, sparing a final glance at Ana before he disappeared into the living area, and Faith turned her attention back to the bed. She studied Ana, watching her chest move slowly up and down, randomly Ana's eyes shifting behind her closed eyelids, her facial muscles flinching as if she was dreaming. Clearing her throat, Faith leaned forward to take Ana's right hand in hers.

The contact sparked feeling in her fingers and Faith frowned, her eyes darkening. She squeezed Ana's fingers. "Ana-Lucia, I know you can hear me." She squeezed the limp fingers again. "You have to come back. You can't give up, it's not worth it." Faith licked her dry lips. "The darkness isn't a comfort Ana, it's a trap. You're not finished yet, come back." Ana continued to be unresponsive and Faith leaned back with a sigh. "I can't do this alone."

"You're not alone."

Faith hesitated before glancing over her shoulder to see Sayid in the doorway. He remained standing there, his eyes locked on Ana.

"We've made it this far. We'll make it right."

"Fight fire with fire huh?" She released Ana's hand. "Big surprise there, that's all I know."

"It's part of who you are Faith, but that doesn't make it evil. It doesn't make you evil."

"I used to believe that." Faith smirked. "That being evil was easier, more useful even. I wake up every day knowing it could be my last. I realize that more than most because unlike others there's an expiration date on my forehead for a reason." She shifted her attention to Ana again. "I thought this place was different, tabula rasa or some shit, a place to start over but I was wrong."

Sayid shook his head. "Locke says there's a difference between coincidence and fate."

"Is there?"

"Do you really believe you were destined to survive that crash on this island?"

"All the signs point to yes." Her lips twisted in amusement. "The things that happen here, they involve me even if it's not about me."

"Faith, you're not at fault for what happened to Libby or to Ana. You didn't kill Boone, and it wasn't your fault that Shannon…" Sayid cleared his throat. "Their blood isn't on your hands."

"Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it's not there." Faith stood up from her chair. "I thought I could handle things differently here, actually be different but I was wrong. We're at war with these people. You and I both know what that means."

"In war, there's always causalities."

"Is that how you view Shannon's death?"

Sayid's eyes flashed dangerously but he merely tilted his head. "Fire with fire Faith. Things happen whether we want them to or not." He glanced over his shoulder. "I need to talk to you about Michael."

Faith nodded and stepped towards him. "We can…"

"Not now." He interrupted. "After Libby's service. We must talk alone while the rest are busy and then talk to Jack."

"Something tells me you already have a plan concerning…" Her gaze lingered momentarily on Libby's covered body. "Whatever it is, I'm in. Count on it."

Sayid smiled grimly. "I knew you would say that."

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"Check out the leg." Faith eyed Locke as she approached him on the beach. "Looks like the good Doc was a few weeks off on the recovery."

Locke chuckled and shifted his bag onto his back. "Perhaps the island took care of it."

"The island?" She snorted, "The island seems pretty hell bent to kill us off one by one."

"It's the only thing keeping us alive. The people on it however…" He glanced over at the funeral in progress. "I hear Ana might make it."

Faith nodded and began to walk with him back towards the hatch. "You heard right. She's a fighter, more similar to me than I first thought."

He stopped in his tracks so he could focus on her. "You mean she's…"

"Like me? I'm pretty sure of it."

"How is that possible?"

"The story I told you, about Buffy and her friend Willow…"

He nodded. "The Witch?"

"Exactly. Well, when she activated other slayers, it must have reached not only the younger generation but anyone still capable of being called in other ones as well. It makes sense, just because a girl is never called and ages past twenty-one, doesn't mean she's still not Slayer material."

"It's all a bit much to swallow Faith but you know I believe you." Locke clasped her shoulder. "I trust you."

She was quiet for a few minutes before she nodded. "So where you headed?"

"Back to the hatch."

"Back? I thought…."

"Someone has to stop Eko and check in on Ana. I have a feeling that person isn't you."

Faith wanted to argue but she knew it was pointless. "You're right, it's not me, not right now. I have something else to take care of." She glanced over her shoulder to see Michael standing beside Jack as the funeral progressed, Hurley saying something as he stared into Libby's open grave. "Keep on eye on Ana for me."

"You've got it." Locke shifted his bag again and began the long trek back.

She waited until he had disappeared into the trees before turning her attention back to the funeral as it drew to a close. She spotted Michael talking heatedly to Hurley and took a step forward only to stop as Sun began to yell.

"A boat!" Sun pointed towards the ocean, "There's a boat!"

Faith turned to the direction she was pointing, eyebrows furrowed as she covered her eyes and looked out to see a white boat floating near the shoreline. "What now?" She grumbled, watching as Sayid, Sawyer, and Jack immediately took off towards the water. With a sigh, she plopped down on the sand and waited, content for now to just wait.

"You're not going out there too?"

Ignoring the sarcasm, she shrugged off Kate's question, still watching as the three men swam towards the boat. "Nah, think I'll just wait and see what the musketeers bring back."

Surprisingly, Kate took a seat next to her and they did just that.

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Faith blinked at the sight of Desmond lying on the beach, a bottle of rum in his hand as he talked to Jack.

"This is unbelievable. How does a man with a boat wind up in the exact place he left?"

"Maybe Scottish people can't drive boats."

Claire giggled, cuddling Aaron close to her chest. "Makes sense, them being on an island and the fact they're so good at golf. You know, all that free time."

They shared a grin and Faith glanced at the baby, eyebrows rising at the sight of Aaron's eyes glued to her face. She waved with two fingers as she took a step back at the same time, smiling weakly. "How are things with… you know, you?"

"Alright." Claire shrugged, eying her. "I was going to ask you that. I just can't believe Libby's gone, I mean, I didn't know her that well but what happened to her could have happened to any of us. It still could." She held Aaron tighter to her, the move making him wiggle uncomfortably in the small blanket. "Do you think it could happen to us?"

For whatever reason, she didn't feel like sugar coating her answer. "It could." Faith watched as Claire visibly swallowed. "But it won't."

"You sound confident about that."

Faith couldn't help but snort at that. "I'm not. I'm one hell of an actress." She managed to flash a weak smile and glanced around, pausing as she noticed Jack and Sayid approaching their direction. "You'll be fine Claire."

"Before the crash, back in Sydney? I went to a man that told me everything would be okay as long as I came to Los Angeles and gave up my baby." Claire shook her head, eyes lingering on Aaron's face. "Told me it was the right thing to do but you know what the funny thing was? He was the same man that told me without me Aaron would have nothing, that he'd never know what true love was and would never be safe. How can that be possible? How can I be bad but good for him all at the same time?"

"You act like it's a choice to love someone."

"Isn't it?"

Robin chuckled as they lay there, both staring at the ceiling, his right arm thrown casually around her shoulder. "Some people say love isn't a choice but something that hits you, like a feeling of being complete."

"Sounds like something you find in the inside of a fortune cookie. I've never been a fan of those things." Faith grunted and pushed away, slinging her legs over the side of the bed. Completely at ease, she ignored the fact she was bare from the waist up and restlessly popped her knuckles as she glanced at the clock on the nightstand. "It's about that time."

"You're changing the subject again." Robin raised his upper half up on his elbows. "Every time I talk about us you do this."

"I know. Maybe you should take it as a sign that I don't want to talk about it anymore." She stood up from the bed and grabbed her tank top off the floor. "We've been through this a million damn times. I'm not good for you Robin, I'll only get you into trouble or worse, you'll end up dead."

"I was fighting the forces of darkness long before you came around Faith, don't act like I'm some rookie on the scene and give me more credit, don't act like the time we've spent these last few months hasn't been good for the both of us."

"You're right." She snatched up her boots. "You're not a rookie but neither was your mother and look what happened to her." Faith knew the blow was unnecessary and low but she continued to get dressed without looking at him. If she had, she would have had to deal with the look of hurt that rested on his face and resounded loudly in his eyes. "I need to get some fresh air. You coming?"

"No." He shook his head and leaned against the headboard. "I don't feel like fighting right now."

Faith caught the double meaning behind his words but didn't acknowledge them, instead choosing to grab her jacket and sling it on quickly. "Will you be here when I get back?"

Robin was silent for a few minutes until she reached the door. "You may be bad for me Faith but the good outweighs the bad. That's what makes it worth it."

The door slammed shut behind her and he continued to lay there, dark eyes locked on the place she once had stood.

"Trust me. I've asked myself that question numerous times."

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"We must continue to act like we believe Michael."

"Why the hell would we want to do that?"

"Because it's all about control." Jack and Sayid glanced over to see Faith approaching them, her hands stuck casually in the pockets of her dirty jeans. "Hell, let's even give him a gun, not loaded of course. We can't trust people again we shouldn't."

Jack looked between her and Sayid in amazement. "You both act so positive that it's Michael to blame for all of this. Henry sure didn't stay around to plead his case if he's innocent."

"Call it a hunch." Faith quipped lightly. "I doubt Henry wanted to stay around for the aftermath. You know, places to go, other people to kidnap or kill." She shrugged nonchalantly then directed her attention to Sayid as they continued walking up the beach. "What's the next step? My vote is to suit up and follow but I have a feeling you have something else up your sleeve."

"Something like that." Sayid nodded with a small smile. "It has been brought to my attention that Michael wants a few choice people to go with him to get Walt back."

"Obvious double cross."

Jack shot Faith a look immediately. "I don't see what he gets out of killing Libby and Ana."

"You're kidding right? It's typical leverage if you ask me." She looked around to see Michael talking to Sawyer near his tent. "The Others won't give something for nothing, if they wanted Henry back, they were going to have to do it in a way that would give them the advantage."

"And what better way to do that then kill two of us off." Sayid nodded. "While we're busy trying to collect ourselves, they're preparing for us to just come walking into their trap."

Jack nodded looking towards Michael as well, the man so intent on what he was saying to Sawyer that he didn't notice anything else around him. "That makes sense but there's one thing that doesn't. These Others, they know you both pretty well, especially you Faith." He glanced at her. "Why aren't you on the list?"

"Bummer, I'm not?" She chuckled and shot Sayid a curious look. "You're not either? Hot damn, we're so not wanted."

"This isn't funny."

"Damn right it isn't." Faith focused back on Jack immediately. "I always get picked second for everything." At his blank look, she quickly shook her head. "Inside joke, don't worry about it."

"Fine. Let's worry about what we're going to do then."

"Buzz kill."

Sayid ignored Faith's mumbling, the look on his face one of total seriousness. "Faith's right."

"I know, he's a total buzz-"

"Give Michael an unloaded weapon and let him lead us to wherever the Others have instructed him too but when he does, let's be ready for him. Faith and I will take Desmond's boat and scout their camp." He glanced at Faith to see her nod. "Once we have their numbers, I'll build a fire and we can merge on them together."

Jack hesitated for only a split second before he nodded. "Alright, but let's keep this to ourselves. We're going to need the element of surprise when dealing with these people." He took off down the beach and Faith paused, Sayid falling in line beside her.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"That every Tuesday that passes I'm missing yet another episode of House, M.D.?" She smirked at his confused look then shifted to watch Jack approach Michael. "Black smoke with the leaves, it's a nice touch. They'll see it and know that it's us this time that's coming for them. It should be fun."

"Fun is an interesting choice. I'm sure I don't have to remind you that we need to go into this together Faith."

"I can try though patience has never been my strong suit." Faith shrugged flashing him another smile, "However, when the time comes to get down and dirty just don't forget who's on top."

"I doubt anyone would forget with you around Faith."

"Damn straight."

TBC...