Without revealing anything want to make note that pretty soon we are going to be getting these two out of slam and see what lies ahead. Hehe! But first, I believe this is the chapter you have been waiting for. :)

Chapter 10:

With tears still stinging her eyes and stained on her cheeks, Rynn slowly made it back to her cell. Her wrist a non-concern. Riddick didn't do anything major. What was a concern was that he wasn't going to taker her back. He made that perfectly clear. She has lost him forever.

As soon as her bottom touched the bed she heard footsteps approaching. They were Ben's. He sat down next to her, putting an arm around her shoulders, trying his best to comfort her.

"He didn't mean any of that."

"You heard?" She sniffed a few times, eyes on the floor.

"The whole slam did."

"I bet that just tickled their jollies."

"Don't worry about them."

"I'm not!" Stating harshly, looking over at him, wiping away the tears and fixing her hair a bit. "I want to be alone."

Ben tried to object.

"Don't! Just don't." She stood up and faced him, arms outstretched. "What do you see when you look at me?" She didn't give him time to answer, she answered for him. "A pathetic person that's what you see. A pathetic person who used to be a killer. A strong, cold blooded killer, who used to be able to hold her own. Now all I am is a junkie who has lost everything. No wonder Riddick doesn't want anything to do with me."

He tried again.

"Eh!" She held up her index finger. "Leave. I don't want company." She took a couple of steps to turn off her light. "Last warning, Ben."

When she heard no movement, a clinking sound started. She was tapping her knife against the bulb.

Ben sighed. "I got it, Rynn. I'm going. You don't have to threaten me."

"Don't let the bars hit you on the way out."

"You know something-"

"Are you wanting to be introduced to my knife? 'Cause I could have sworn I told you to leave."

"He loves you, Rynn. Don't give up now."

Ben was walking back to his cell when he noticed someone ahead, someone in all black. "Hey!" Ben yelled, approaching the most dangerous man in all the galaxies. "Don't leave her, Riddick. If you do, put her out of her misery. Kill her before you go."

"Ah!" Riddick smirked, lifting his goggles to get a better look at him. "The boyfriend of my woman. Isn't this sweet."

"I'm just her friend." He corrected.

"Just a friend, huh?" The auroa around them quickly changed. Even more darkness was radiating from Riddick. He took a couple of steps forward, forcing Ben to take a couple back. "Sure 'bout that?"

Ben gulped hard.

Riddick could smell fear coming from him, from the mind fuck. He was loving it. It was almost like an aphrodisiac. Almost.

Luckily, for Ben, Riddick knew he was telling the truth, that he and Rynn were just friends. He didn't smell him on her...not in that way and Riddick would know. After all, he isn't just a Furyan. He's an animalistic one.

Ben was going to do his best to try and not let Riddick intimidate him. He stood his ground, stood his full height, squared his shoulders. "She's not in a good place, Riddick, you know that."

He started circling Ben this time, continuing to toy with him. "No longer my fight."

"She's hurting more emotionally rather than physically, on count of what you said."

"Meant every word." Cold. Stubborn.

"Did you?" Ben countered.

He stopped circling Ben cold, tilted his head, accompanied with a look. A look that showed Ben was getting to Riddick. Close to infuriating him. Close to crossing a line. Not wise at all when the animal looses control.

"She's my friend. My only friend in here. I care for her."

Patience gone.

Line crossed.

Riddick snapped.

He grabbed him by the arms, slamming him against the brick wall. In that same fluid motion, a hand went tightly around his throat. Death like. Ben's feet dangling. Riddick could easily snap his neck with a flick of his wrist.

That sudden and powerful impact made Ben's eyes go blurry for a few seconds but he still continued to test Riddick, along with his life. "If you don't care for her. If you don't love her. Why are you getting so defensive? Possessive? Jealous even?"

"Stupidity or possibly balls?!" Riddick roared, keeping him there, enjoying watching him struggle. After a few seconds though a frustrated growl escaped him. He threw Ben aside and out of his way, not wanting to waste anymore of his time with him.

It took Ben a minute to catch his breath and get to his feet.

Riddick gave him a cocky full blown smile, showing teeth. "Didn't know who you were truly fuckin' with, did ya?" He stormed away with that booming, deep, bone chilling laugh.

Despite the attack, Ben's scratchy voice still managed to shout one last thing to him. "I know you love her, Riddick. The whole damn universes' know! You wouldn't have come back if you didn't! She needs you. SHE WILL DIE IF YOU ABANDON HER NOW!"

Rynn switched her light back on and practically jumped out of her skin. She didn't know Riddick was there, leaning against the bars, shined eyes locked on her.

"When was the last time you ate?" Getting right to the point.

"Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" Her hand went to her chest.

"Amswer me." Unfazed with startling her.

She snorted. "What's it to you?"

He was still standing, arms crossed over his chest, still leaning against the bars, waiting for her answer.

"A day or two ago. Why?" Her voice sounding annoyed.

He uncrossed his arms and took a couple of steps inside her cell, pulling out the needle from his pants pocket.

"What is that?"

"Antibiotics."

"There are no antibiotics here." She exclaimed.

"Gotta know where to look."

"Are you sure that's what it is? Not some lethal dosage to kill me?"

He looked her dead in the eyes. "If I wanted you dead. You would be. You know this wouldn't be the way I'd go about doin' it."

True. That's why she had to look away.

"Gonna get you something to eat."

"Why? Do I gross you out now?" Her attention back to him.

"Have you looked at yourself lately, woman? Close to knockin' on death's door."

"Well that should be a good thing to you. 'Cause once I'm dead, I won't be a problem for you anymore."

"Don't start, Rynn." He warned.

"Or what, hmm? You thinking of actually doing something this time? Maybe thinking about going for the sweet spot?" She stood up abruptly, turned around, lifted up her shirt. "I'm making it easy for you."

"Sit. Down. Before you fall."

She collapsed back down onto the bed, noticing the veins that popped out on either side of his neck relax.

"Now...I'm going to get you food and you are going to eat!"

"If you say so." She mummbled.

"I do say so, Rynn. Your a walkin' toothpick. You need to put about twenty pounds back on."

That would put her weight back to where she should be around one hundred and thirteen pounds, give or take a few.

"Plus you gotta eat so I can give you this." He placed the needle next to her. "Better be here when I return." Sternness to his voice as he secured the door to make sure she indeed stayed put and not get into anymore trouble, like eariler.

"Don't. I won't go anywhere. Don't have the strength anyway."

He still secured the door, not because he didn't trust her, but because she was still in a vulnerable state. "Rest while I'm gone."

He returned about an hour later with a bucket full of food.

Rynn got up from her laying position, in amazement at what her eyes were seeing. "Where did you find all this food?" Getting ready to get to her feet.

"Don't." He came to her, sat down and placed the bucket inbetween them.

It contained some package tuna, fruit, crackers, bread and a piece of chocolate that Rynn badly wanted. She reached for it but was stopped. "Not yet. You haven't eaten in awhile. Sweets isn't the way to go first." He made her a sandwhich with the tuna and one slice of bread. "Start out with small portions." He handed her the sandwhich and Rynn took a bit of it. Savoring the taste. Savoring every bite. Loving it.

"Okay..." She asked while chewing. "Where did you get all this?" She finished the sandwhich, an apple was next.

"Told ya, baby. Gotta know where to hunt."

"Did you bring a drink?"

He handed her water and she gulped it down.

"Take it easy."

She was gulping the water down so fast that he took the cup from her before she choked.

She finished the apple. "It's amazing how food can make you feel better." She was swigging her legs back and forth. "So, can I have the chocolate now?"

"What do I get in return?"

Rynn laughed. She actually laughed. Something she hadn't done in months. "Are you serious?"

"You know I am." He teased.

"Playing hard ball, huh? Okay. What do you want?" She teased back.

"For now I'll settle for a kiss."

"A kiss, huh?" Rynn's teasing vanished and was replaced with sadness, clearly visible on her face. "I really thought I lost you." She was starting to choke up. Remembering...

Riddick placed the bucket on the floor and scooted closer to her. His arms going around her, holding her securely. "Your never gonna loose me." He kissed the top of her head. "Even though there are times when I like to drop your ass off somewhere."

Rynn looked at him with a how-dare-you-look.

"What?" He shrugged his shoulders innocently. "I'd eventually come back for you."

She playfully slapped his chest before practically throwing herself into his arms. Taking him in. Never wanting to let go.

Riddick's hand went to the back of her neck, maneurving her head so she was looking at him. Her hand cupped and caressed his beautiful face. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything. For leaving that night. For ending up here. Most importantly, I'm sorry for not being strong enough. Not being able to not get addicted to that stupid morphine. I let you down."

Riddick wiped away a tear that had escaped the corner of her eye with his thumb. "No apologizes, babygirl. You haven't let me down." He bent down and softly kissed her lips, more than once. Next came the long embrace between the two, until she spotted that piece of chocolate. "Can I have it now?"

His dirty mind thinking otherwise. "Not sure if you can handle him right now."

Another playful slap to his chest. "You know I can but I was talking about that chocolate." Her eyes were fixiated on it.

"You'd rather have chocolate than me, huh?"

"Right now, yes."

With a warm smile he handed her what she wanted but not before teasing her with it, making her reach for it. She finally snatched it from his hand and gobbled it down, licking her fingers clean. "What about the medicine?"

"Give your body time to absorb the food. In the meantime lay down and rest."

She scooted back on the bed. "Will you turn the light off?"

Riddick got up from the bed to do just that, cascading them in darkness.

"Your staying, right?"

"I'm staying."

He woke her up about an hour later to give her the much needed antibiotics.

"Come back to bed." She groggily mummbled.

She felt the bed dip as Riddick slipped in under the sheets behind her. He didn't want to move her so he scooted closer to her. One of his arms outstretched for her to lay her head on, the other encircling her midsection. Spooning her. It was their favorite way to lay with one another, not just because of the closeness but because they both could rest a little easier, knowing they were safe and at peace in each others' arms. He looked down at her, seeing a content smile, which brought a smile to his face. He kissed the top of her head and soon followed her into a good night's sleep.