Chapter 7: Face the Future
Fry ran down the hall spewing what little contents she had in her stomach. When she finished she screamed and ran towards the rest of the survivors.
If she would have stayed a minute later she would have seen Riddick wipe the blood on Johns' shirt; would have seen Jack burst into tears and would have seen Riddick clutch her close to his chest, wiping away her tears, kissing her forehead and telling her she was safe with more tenderness than could have been expected from a man that had just taken another life.
"Sshhh…it's ok…it's over now."
"I know…I dunno why I'm crying, you know I wanted the fucker dead."
"I know."
"Part of me still wishes it was me that did it…wishes you didn't have to."
"I know."
She broke the embrace staring back up at him. "You know they're gonna freak now, and try to ghost you or lock you up."
"I know."
"Can you say anything other than "I know?'"
"I dunno."
"Shut up!" she said smacking his chest and smiling.
"Hey, at least I made you laugh."
She smiled again, hung her head and whispered. "Thank you."
"No problem. So you think we should hide out here, or go face the inevitable?"
She looked back up at him, rising on tiptoes and placing a kiss on his cheek, causing a hitch in his breathing.
"We're gonna have to sooner or later."
He grunted his agreement.
"Thank you Riddick. I mean it."
"I know…I said I was gonna protect you."
"You meant that?"
"I guess."
She gave him a small smile. "You're not an animal."
He sighed and pulled her into another hug. Finally admitting to himself that no matter what happened, no matter what his previous plans had been, Jack was getting on that skiff with him when he got off this rock.
"You ready?"
She sighed. "Not really, but sulking around here isn't going to make it easier."
"True."
She gave him a slight nod, and he hesitantly held out his hand. After an awkward moment of glancing at his hand and then him, Jack tentatively put her hand in his, lacing their fingers together.
She received a slight smile and a squeeze of her small hand and then they turned down the hallway, leaving the pale, bleeding body of her demon behind, and going out to face an uncertain resistance from the rest of the survivors. They knew not what to expect, but that didn't matter. They were allies, friends and they were facing it together.
