A/N: My apologies for the delay. I had serious writer's block and I had to finish school. I'm now a college graduate (yay) and while looking for employment (boo) I decided to write a little more on this. It's quickly coming to a close. By my calculations I should be done in three more chapters perhaps. We shall see! Excuse any typos and I look forward to hearing what you have to say. PLEASE READ AND REVIEW! Thank you and enjoy!

Chapter 49: One of Us

The Others set off across the island with tents and scattered belongings, walking until it grew dark and they had no choice but to set up camp for the night. Faith warmed her hands on the fire that blazed brightly in front of her, but kept her eyes roaming around the camp. Every so often people would meet her gaze; their own filled with curiosity and interest instead of the hatred or the fear she expected.

A metal cup was lowered in front of her and she raised her eyes to see Richard. "Go on." He smiled and shook it. "It's water."

Faith eyed him but took the cup to cradle it between her hands. He sat down beside her on the log and she made no move to bring it to her lips. "They keep staring at me."

"They've been waiting a long time for this moment; you're very important to us."

"And how does Locke play into all of this?"

Richard turned his head and smiled as their eyes met. "The island picks people for different reasons." He sipped at his water, his eyes still on hers. "There is not a single person here that doesn't belong. Each of them contributes in one way or another to the survival of the island."

"And those that don't?"

"Life is about sacrifices Faith. Sometimes you have to sacrifice the few to save the many."

She snorted and raised her cup to her mouth. "I imagine that's easy to say when you never have to worry about being the sacrificial lamb."

"Life does hold its certainties. I've lived long enough to learn that first hand."

She watched as some people looked away as she met their eyes. "Where's Ana-Lucia?"

"Two of the children from her part of the plane were very excited to see her again."

"You took them."

"We rescued them." Richard corrected. "It has never been our intention to hurt innocent children."

"And what exactly is your intention?" She questioned heatedly. "Why did you take them? Why did you take Walt from his very own father only to let him go?"

"Walt is a very special boy; he could have been a very valuable asset to us here and what we strive to accomplish but Ben made a deal to give Walt back in exchange for his freedom and to go back on your word is something we simply do not do here."

"Did you know? Did you know that he'd kill people just to set Ben free?"

Richard slowly lowered his cup. "I assure you that it wasn't my idea to-"

The punch she connected sent him into the dirt, his cup rolling several feet away from him. The entire camp went silent, no one moving. Faith rose to her feet and popped the knuckles of her hand as she stared down at him. "I don't care whose idea it was. Libby was a good person." She spat. "And you're lucky Ana-Lucia survived or else you'd be getting a bigger ass whoopin' then that."

"Faith…"

"Don't make me change my mind." She walked away and found Ana-Lucia talking to two small blonde children, a girl with pigtails and a boy with short cut hair. They were both quite animated as they talked to the dark-haired woman who watched in amusement.

Ana-Lucia was holding a small brown teddy bear but upon seeing Faith approach, she handed it to the girl and stood up. "When they told me you had decided to come along, I thought it was a lie."

"I figured it'd be amusing if nothing else." She looked down at the kids. "Fans of yours?"

"This is Emma and Zack. They were on their way to meet their mother in Los Angeles."

Faith ignored the way they were staring at her, Emma clutching the bear tightly to her chest. She glanced away and caught Kimberly and Shannon watching her from where they sat on either side of Amelia at a distant fire.

"Fans of yours?"

She brought her eyes back to Ana-Lucia. "They're apparently the epitome of island poster children."

"They're why I agreed to come. I… I think they might have a point."

"A point about what exactly? Dharma being evil, that we somehow connecting to this place, or that Ben could sell ice to an Eskimo?"

The other dark-haired woman smirked. "Maybe a little of all three."

"Well, I don't trust these people and I definitely don't trust Ben."

"Then why did you come?"

"Someone has to watch your back." Faith returned Ana's smirk and shifted again as she noticed the eyes of the potential were still on her. "I'll catch you later."

"Don't do anything stupid."

"Who, me?"

Amelia looked up from placing more wood on the fire to smile at her as she approached. "Faith, do sit down Child. Would you care for some water?"

"What, no cookies this time?"

"I seem to have forgotten to pack the stove for the trip. Please sit down." The two potentials rose and Amelia patted the vacant seat next to her.

Faith didn't move from her position. Shannon and Kimberly remained standing behind either side of the elderly woman and after a few seconds of silence, Amelia reached calmly for her cup to sip.

"Very well." Amelia cupped the container in her lap. "I see you and Richard are making progress."

"If that's the way you want to describe it, sure."

"He's taken quite a liking to you Faith. I haven't seen this much determination in him since Marissa."

Faith didn't miss the way Shannon and Kimberly shifted uneasily. "Who's Marissa?"

"She was a very special woman. If you'll sit I'll tell you all about her."

"I'm fine just standing."

"Must you always be this stubborn?"

"It's a part of my dazzling personality." Faith replied dryly. "Who's Marissa?" She repeated.

Amelia motioned over her shoulder and Faith watched the two women walk away without a word. The elderly woman sipped at her water. "Richard brought Marissa to the island many years ago because she was very special."

"Special in what way?"

"She had... abilities that were beneficial to us."

"What happened to her?"

"She died." Amelia's unflinching gaze met hers. "Richard was devastated."

Faith snorted. "You really expect me to-"

"He never fully recovered from losing her or their child."

The retort died in her throat and Faith stared down at Amelia for several seconds without saying a word. "How many women and children have you lost?"

"More than I care to mention."

"And you think I can really make a difference?"

"Yes." Amelia answered without hesitation. "I do and even if there was doubt, is it not worth the effort? You could save the lives of so many; is that not worth the chance?"

"Amelia."

She looked past Faith immediately. "Yes Richard?"

"Ben wants to see you."

Quietly she rose with her cup and moved past them without another word. Faith watched her go before she slowly shifted her gaze to Richard who lingered behind.

"Is there something you need?"

"It would be a good idea to get some rest Faith; we have a long trek ahead of us tomorrow. There is a tent set up for you when you're ready."

She turned to face him and studied his face. "If you wouldn't piss me off so much, I wouldn't hit you."

The corner of his mouth quirked upwards. "Is that your way of apologize for earlier?"

"No."

"Apology accepted."

"Amelia told me about Marissa."

The smirk disappeared from his face. "I see."

"Do you? Because it kind of confuses me as to why she'd tell me something so personal about you unless there was a reason behind it."

"It's not my place to defend Amelia's actions. Try to sleep Faith. If you need anything, don't hesitate to find me."

She didn't say anything to that, merely standing there and watching as he walked away.

4949494949494949

Morning came faster than she would have liked and not without incident. It was raised voices that woke her and she flipped open her tent flap to see Richard and Ben talking heatedly in the middle of the camp with the man known as Mikhail. He was obviously upset, raising his voice and waving his arms.

Her first step towards them was hindered by the sleeping bags littering her doorstep. Several bodies had lain down in front of her tent but it was anyone's guess if they were guarding her or afraid she would try to escape. Escape: the word almost made her giddy with laughter or would if she was capable of a reaction anywhere close to giddy.

"I am telling you Ben; they are on their way. We must go."

"How many did you see?"

Mikhail spared her only a quick glance as she came up beside Richard. "They had a woman but she came from a freighter. There is no telling how many will be here by nightfall."

"Who?" Faith questioned.

"We should continue to move towards the Temple."

"I agree." Ben nodded at Richard. "You should lead them Richard while I go to the camp."

"Who?"

"Intercept, are you serious?" Mikhail sputtered. "They will kill you. They believe this woman has come to rescue them; she has a communications device! And even if they do not believe her or hold their own suspicions, the ones they have of you are much greater."

Ben smiled thinly. "I'll just have to make them believe me, won't I?"

"And how do you suppose to do that?"

Grinding her teeth, Faith reached out and snatched his cane from him. "First off, who are we talking about and secondly, how the hell are you out of the wheelchair?" She shot him a look when he opened his mouth. "Never mind, the island blah blah blah; I get it. Now who are we talking about here?"

"We're talking about very bad people Faith; people that would destroy this island and every living thing on it, including your friends."

"So what's the plan?" She ignored Richard watching her closely. "What do we do?"

Ben studied her. "Are you saying you're on our side now?"

"No, I'm saying I'm on my side." She tossed him back the cane. "I want a closer look at these people. I want to see what it is that a grown man like yourself is so afraid of Benjamin."

"I never said I was afraid."

"You didn't have to."

He continued to stare at her until finally he nodded. "Fine but first we have to go see Jacob. He'll tell us what to do."

"You can't be serious."

"He is." Richard nodded. "We have to discuss this first with Jacob."

"You two can discuss with Jacob all you want but I'm going to find out what's going on. I'll cut off my people and see if-"

"Your people?" Ben scoffed. "They're not your people Faith. If I remember correctly you left them to come with us."

Richard shifted his position the second Faith posture stiffened. "The only reason I'm here is so I can keep an eye on you." She responded heatedly. "Because if it was really up to me, you'd be strung up by your toes somewhere while the rest of us went on our merry fucking way."

Ben shot her a thin smile. "As much as I appreciate your honesty it still doesn't change the fact that you left them willingly in order to travel with us. We are your people now and the faster you realize that the better off everyone will be." He glanced at Mikhail and Tom who had appeared, coffee mug in his hand. "It's time. Go to their camp. Do whatever means necessary in order to retrieve that phone."

"What-" Faith stepped forward but Richard grabbed her arm and gave it a light squeeze.

"What about the woman?"

Ben settled his unflinching gaze on hers. "The woman is not important to us. If she gives you any trouble, kill her."

Faith jerked her arm free. "Kill anyone and you'll have me to deal with."

That thin smile returned to Ben's face. "You don't seem to understand Faith. This woman and her people, they are coming to kill every living person that lives on this island. It doesn't matter to them if it's men, women, or children; everyone will die. Is that what you want?"

"You don't have the right to decide who lives and who dies."

"I'm no different from anyone else Faith. I do what I'm told and if it was really up to me, I would have handled this in an entirely different way from the beginning but now I have no choice. War is coming and there's no way to avoid it. You can think badly of me all you want but if those people reach this island, you're going to wish you had listened to me."

"Why are you so scared?"

"What part of my explanation did you not hear?"

"The part where you suddenly give a fuck about any of those people when weeks ago you could have cared less!"

He blinked calmly at her. "I have always cared about this island and the people that belong here. The fact that I do care is the only reason why you and your friends are still alive." Without another word of explanation he turned back to Mikhail and Tom. "You know what to do. Report back when you've learned something useful."

The two men nodded, several others in the camp nodding as well, and Faith watched them go aware of Richard remaining at her side.

Ben waited until they had disappeared into the forest before he returned his attention to her. "Are you coming with us to see Jacob or not?"

"Us."

"I thought you could use the backup."

Faith glanced over her shoulder to see Locke. "And here I thought you had changed your mind about tagging along at all."

He adjusted the bag on his back, small smile on his face. "I had a few things I had to take care of first. So what do you say?"

"Why not?" She replied dryly. "It'll be just like old times."

In a few short seconds she was ready to go but she stopped short at the sight of Kimberly and Shannon standing just outside her tent. "If you're looking for a group hug or something I'm fresh out of those today."

"We wish to come with you."

"Oh yeah? And what did your master say?"

Shannon and Kimberly exchanged long looks. "We didn't ask Ben."

Their answer made her crack the smallest smile. "Good for you, I never did much like answering to the man myself." She shrugged her pack onto her bag. "But I think it'd be better if you stayed here." Her eyes caught Ana-Lucia's as the woman appeared. "All of you; someone needs to be here to protect the others."

"And what about you?" Shannon questioned. "You will need the backup if something was to happen to your friend."

"I do just fine on my own, thanks. Seriously, stay with the group."

"We want you to have these." Kimberly extended forward a crossbow at the same time Shannon pulled an automatic handgun from her belt.

"Christmas already?" Faith quipped. She took the crossbow. "I don't do guns." The weapon fit her hand perfectly, metal and tight string rolled into one. "This, this I definitely do." A raised voice had her looking over at Ben's tent to see him arguing with Rousseau's daughter. Alex didn't look pleased at all, Ben shaking his head.

"She wishes to go as well."

Faith shot a look at Kimberly. "Figure that one out all by yourself did you?" She stepped forward and cursed as her foot caught on the edge of a sleeping bag. "And for future reference, don't sleep this close to me."

Both girls actually blushed. "We were merely setting up a perimeter."

"Well, set up a wider one next time."

"Be careful."

She flashed Ana a grin. "Careful is my middle name, didn't you know that?" She moved past them, eyes locked on Alex as the young girl continued to say something heatedly to Ben before marching off in a hurry. "Problems?"

"Nothing I can't handle." Ben readjusted the glasses on his face. "Shall we?"

"After you." She replied mockingly.

He cocked an eyebrow but began to head in the opposite direction. Locke followed, carving a mango as he went and looping the crossbow over her neck, she started after them.

"Faith!"

The sound of Richard's voice had her pausing and she ground her teeth together as she turned to face him. "What?"

"Take this."

She shook her head at the sight of the gun in his hand. "I don't want it."

"Ben has one."

"Good for him but I still don't want it."

"Faith…"

"Richard, I have to go." She started to turn but he grabbed her arm. Her gaze went to his grip. "Richard…"

"It wasn't coincidence, that night we met." He kept his eyes and grip steady. "But it wasn't a lie. I just want you to know that."

"That's where you're wrong. Your entire life has been nothing but a never ending lie. You try to act different but when it comes down to it, you're no different than Ben."

"If it's the last thing I do I'll prove to you how wrong you are."

Slowly she extracted her arm from his fingers. "You're more than welcome to try but if there's one thing from my life I've learned it's that good things don't happen to bad people. It's not the world but what you do that determines who you a really are."

"Marissa believed that once…"

"Are you saying she ever truly changed her mind or do you just wish she had?"

"I wish a lot of things, especially things I wish I could change."

She ignored Locke calling her name in the distance. "Wishing never did anyone a bit of good. Wishes, hopes, dreams? Those things don't matter to in the end. In the end, all that exists is the now and what you do with it. You, you follow someone like Ben and hide behind some twisted idea of what's right and wrong but me?" She shook her head. "I can't live like that."

"That's what makes you special Faith; that's what makes you belong here, that will you have to survive and inspire others to change." He took a step back as if knowing she wanted space more than anything else at that moment. "Be careful. I'll be waiting for you when you come back."

"What makes you think I'm coming back?"

He smiled. "Because I know you."

No." She shook her head and turned to walk away. Her eyes flashed black to brown. "No, you really don't."