Thanks for all the great Revs! ! I'm so glad you like the story!

Jhalya: you made my husband jealous; I had to share the chocolate bunny with him ;-) :-)

And another BIG THANKS to Honey76 - she knows why

Since my Computer broke down and the Notebook I borrowed doesn't 'like' me (I'm afraid that's mutual) it will take a few time for the next chapter to come up but I'll be back as soon as possible

And here we go:

X.

Hope buried her face in Riddick's chest She was exhausted, mentally and physically. The last days had been a roller coaster. Her whole world was turned upside down. But what had her freaked out the most was the excitement she took out of it. How she enjoyed the adrenaline highs. And how she enjoyed being near this man. She loved his scent, his hands on her, the way he looked at her. She even enjoyed their quarreling. He enraged her in seconds but also was able to calm her down in no time. He held her tight after her breakdown, rubbed her back in soothing circles. But not for a split second she thought he could feel the same way she did.

She didn't believe her ears when she heard his whispered offer. She looked at him with wide eyes. "What?" Did he really want to take her with him? "But, I .."

Riddick shook his head. "No, you are right. Stupid idea. Forget about it." Riddickcursed himself. 'What gave you the idea she actually would come with you. Leave everything behind to join someone like you'.

She nearly fell when he abruptly stepped back and released her. She was totally dumbfounded. She couldn't get it. Did he really ask her to come with him? She didn't haveto think about it. There was nothing that held her back on this planet. And she wanted to be with him. She managed to grab his sleeve.

"Riddick, wait. Did you really mean it? Aren't you afraid that I would slow you down, put you in more danger?"

He looked at her for a moment. Did he mean it? Yes. Was he sure it's the right thing to do? Hell, no. He would have to train her. She had to be able to defend herself, to fight. He couldn't have a weak and untrained woman at his side that totally depends on him.

"I meant it. And no, don't get me wrong it will be hard. I'm not the easiest person to live with and you've got a lot to learn. You have to trust me completely. And there are a few rules you have to follow strictly. When I tell you to do something you'll do it without asking, like it or not. Don't ever challenge my decisions, I won't discuss them with you. You've got no clue how to survive out there and I have to teach you everything necessary. It will be hard and the workout might be painful but crying won't make me pity of you. If you don't want to learn don't ever doubt it that I will dump you on the next planet. Are we clear on this?"

Hope held his gaze. Did she trust him enough? Could she surrender to him? Follow his orders without asking?



She beamed at him "Yes, I'll come with you".

"You really sure? There is no way back. You'll have to leave everything behind, can't say good bye to anybody. And you will be with one of the most wanted convicts in the whole universe. We'll always have mercs on our necks and because you are with me they'll treat you like me. And that won't change. Are you absolutely sure that's what you want?" A really long speech for Riddick but she had to understand what she'd have to deal with.

Hope nodded. She had thought about that. She wasn't that blue-eyed to think it would be a walk in the park. But she knew with his help she could deal with it. She had a chance with him she wouldn't have if she stayed. "There is already no way back when I take you to the ship. The truth is I wanted to go with you since coming back from Gramps. And I'm aware of the consequences."

"You knew that there would be no way out for you and still wanted to help me? Why?"

Hope shrugged her shoulders and looked down to the floor. "If they get me I possibly don't even go to jail. They need my knowledge and skills. If they get you, you are dead." The thought of a dead Riddick nearly let her loose her control again. She had to fight back tears before she could continue "They have to kill you because of the statistics. Runaway convicts get shot on this planet. The government wants to shut down the jail. It is old and safety can not be guaranteed anymore. Convicts shot on the run don't scramble the statistics and prevent the jail from getting shut down. I'm sure they've killed each of the others that escaped with you by now."

For minutes they sat there in silence, lost in thought. Then Riddick gave her a gentle shove. "Get ready. Just take what's absolutely necessary. It has to fit in the backpack or it has to stay behind. Get a move on, we've got to go."

Hope turned around. He couldn't be serious! The backpack was way too small to get everything in. She was about to start an argument when she saw his face. It showed his 'don't' fuck with me' expression she already knew and she decided not to discuss his order.

Riddick smiled inwardly. He knew that she would be a fast learner. "We'll get everything you'll need as soon as we are safe. Now go on and I'll get something to eat."

Hope had a hard time to decide what she should take with her. She had a close look at the things in the apartment, took an item, put it back. She never would come back here. They would search her apartment, touch her belongings. They would ransack her whole apartment in search of evidence. The very thought of it let her stomach twist. All of a sudden she wasn't sure that she was doing the right thing and she was short of telling Riddick that she had changed her mind when she felt him behind her. He had sensed her mood and turned her around.



"Listen, I know it isn't easy. I know you are scared. You should be. But I promise to keep you safe. Everything will be all right." He tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear and for a moment lost himself in the thought of loosening the braid she always wore. He wondered how it would feel to comb with his fingers through her long hair. 'Stop it Riddick, don't go there!'

Hope would have given a fortune to read his thoughts. She could not exactly read his expression, but by all means it let her knees get wobbly. His confidence pacified her and she started to look around again. She took the few pictures of her family she had and the necklace her mother had given her when she left Aurelius. She then had to swear to take good care of it, to never leave it behind. "It is part of your origin" her mother had told her. The pendant was heavy, made of a metal she couldn't identify. Strange symbols mingled with each other. She somehow thought that she should know their meanings. That buried deep inside her the answer lied dormant. She put it around her neck and took a last look. Except of her beloved books the necklace and the pictures were the only things that really meant something to her.

She took out the clothes she would take with her and with the shirt and trousers she would wear she vanished into the bathroom. On board of the ship there would be a sonic shower and she really wanted to feel hot water streaming down her body just one last time. When she exited the bathroom Riddick had already packed the clothes she had laid on the bed.

"You ready? You didn't pack as much as I thought."

Hope smiled at him "I've got everything that matters". She sat down to put on her shoes.

Riddick contemplated her shoes and kicked them with his boots. "Don't you have shoes that are more useful than ….. those?"

"Of course I do. I always pick out my wardrobe to be appropriate for a shipnapping." She muttered to herself, prudently very low. She went for her working boots, heavy army boots she wore while working on the balcony with her plants. She bought them after nearly squashing her toe beneath a heavy flower pot. After lacing them up she adjusted the strap of her computer and was ready to go.

"I told you not to take more than you can get in the backpack" Riddick growled. "Put it in here or leave it."

"Riddick, I have to carry it. It's the key that will open up all doors. I can hack in each system with it. And I can't leave it behind. It's important for me. All my inventions and projects are stored on it."

Instead of an answer he turned around and went to the door. "It will slow you down. You are responsible for it. Don't whine it's too heavy because I won't carry it for you."



"Jerk" she whispered. Again very low.

"I did hear that. No come on!"