(A/N: This takes place many years after PB, so...to reassure everyone...Jack is an adult in this story.)
"Coffee?" Every morning same question, every morning same answer.Extra cream, extra sugar.
"Uh…n-no."
"No?" Well, that's new
"No. Just don't seem to have a taste for it."
"Uh huh." One eyebrow raises. Weird.
"What?" Please don't look at me like that. Suspicious.
"Nothing." No not nothing. Definitely something.
"O.K." They eat in silence; she, pushing her food around the plate.
"Not hungry?" You usually inhale French toast. I know it's your favorite. I make it just for you.
"Yes…no…I dunno kinda queasy I guess."
Pause.
"Maybe you're getting sick, flu season." Bullshit.
"Yeah…maybe…probably." It's the middle of July. And, you know I take immunity boosters. I take them because you make me .Because you're always looking out for me ,keeping me safe.
Silence. More uncomfortable than it had been for weeks.
"I'm going to pick up a few supplies. Do you need anything?" Like me? Do you need me anymore? Or even want me?
Hesitation, and then , "No. No, I'm fine." I need you to hold me.
"Sure?" No sweets, no smokes? Fine? Doubt that
I'm not sure of anything, Riddick. Where we stand, what you want "Yeah." Metal slides on metal as she pushes the chair back. "I'm going to lie down."
"Alright." No everything is not alright.
No energy. No appetite. No…no coffee?
"Sir?"
Nauseous…not so strange. But when we're grounded?
"Sir?"
Possible? No. No fucking way.
"Sir?!!" Riddick grunts.
"What?" Concentrate.
"Your total is 150 creds…sir." An impatient glance, mixed with fear.
Cred chips were thrown onto the counter, the bags snatched up.
One night. Just one, three months ago. Mercs attacked, rough landing. People died, but not them. One too many celebratory shots. They didn't talk for days afterwards. Impossible? No, not really.
He sets down the bags and pushes the goggles back onto his head.
Their eyes met from across the galley. Hers red and swollen, his squinting in the dim light.
He only took them off for her. So he could see her truly. Because she always seemed to want to see him too.
He sits across the table from her. Funny, we've sat here, at this very table, hundreds of times discussing how to take people out, to end lives…and yet I've never, once, felt this…anxious…scared?
He reaches across the void and grabs her hand. The question was asked in silence.
"Jack." Jesus Christ. Not impossible, not at all.
A nod, tears falling from the green eyes.
"Riddick?" Please, please give me something. Hold me, kiss me…yell at me, get angry…but please, please don't just sit there.
"You're sure." Of course she is.Of course. Think about it. The moods, the appetite...the new scent. The scent shoulv'e told you everything, you idiot.
"Check the med-unit yourself." What did you expect? Him to be happy?
"No." No, Jackie. I trust you babe, I trust you more than I trust myself right now. For the first time in my life I don't know what to do.
"I understand." I understand that you don't want this. Want this life…with me. I understand that it was just sex to you.
"Understand what?" Do you understand how hard it is, how much it hurts, for me to sit this close to you, and know that I can't ever have you, that you'll never want me that way ? To know that you would never want this life…with me…with a killer, an animal. To know that you regret giving yourself to me, that night. No, Jack, you don't understand anything.You don't understand and I can't bring myself to tell you, because I'd die if I scared you away.
"That you want me to … 'take care' of it, right?" God, Riddick tell me 'no'. Tell me I'm wrong. Tell me that night wasn't a mistake. That it meant as much to you as it did to me. That you love me too.
"It?" You mean this baby? My baby? Maybe a daughter, with your eyes and your laugh? Or a son. My son. Is that what you mean by 'it'...Jack, really?.
"Yeah." Riddick I'm dying inside. I'm dying, please save me. Just touch me, tell me it'll be ok.
"Is that what you want?" Say 'no', kid. Kiss me, Jack, tell me you want this. Make me know that it's okay to feel. Let me know that I'm not a monster.
"Yes." NO! What I want is to wake up to you every morning. What I want is to watch you play with our baby, our son, our daughter. What I want is to tell you that I love you, that I've always loved you But to you…that's weakness. To you...it's a liability. So I'll handle it. Anything so I won't be a burden. So you won't leave me. I'll do anything to stay with you
He lets go of her hand, sits back in the chair, pulling the goggles back down, covering his eyes. Shutting her out.
"Okay, then." Funny, I didn't know that having your heart broken could actually hurt. I didn't know that you could actually feel it tearing in two. I didn't know a monster like me could feel. A mistake…it won't happen again.
"Okay." Anything Riddick. Dying a little inside…I'll do it every day, just to be with you.
(A/N #2: LO SIENTO!!! I'm sorry but this story ends here...xx ...that's how I intended it.)