Return to Darkness

by cricket71

Riddick faces his worst nightmare after searching in vain for years. Jack is gone. He must contend with the loss and carry on with his own life, never expecting that he'll eventually chase a ghost. Updated July 2018

14. Chapter 14

Thanks again for the great reviews!! What an incredible motivation they are...the abusive ones in particular. LOL! I hope I didn't make you wait too terribly long and that it's worth the wait! My responses are at the end of the chapter. Read. Enjoy. Review, please!!

Disclaimer: Not mine unless they were never in the movie
Warning: Violence (M/F, M/M)
Pairings : (M/F, F,F,M - it's brief it is makes you squeamish)

---

Chapter 14

Jack's fork clattered as it hit the almost empty dessert plate that she and Micah were sharing. "Ugh! I can't eat another bite or I swear I will bust out of this dress."

"Don't look now but every man in this room is hoping for just that." He pointed his fork at her boobs for emphasis.

"I was referring to splitting the seams at the hips, not my tits popping out. Besides, whoever designed this dress knew what they were doing, so there isn't a threat of a wardrobe malfunction."

"So no surprise appearance from the twins?" he smirked.

"No. They're tucked in nice and safe and that's where they are staying." Jack took the last sip of her coffee and glanced at her watch. "Shit! It's five after ten. I'm late."

"Relax, the boss isn't going to fire you."

"No, but he'll be plenty pissed if the Queen of the Damned doesn't make her appearance on time."

Micah dropped his fork. "You're going on stage?"

"And walking right off of it with the same amount of clothes I had on when I got up there. JP talked me into introducing a group act that some of the girls are doing."

"You ready for the cat calls you're gonna get?"

"Absolutely. I had the kitchen crew rig a hose hooked up to a cold water line that is coming with me onstage. They start asking for it and I'll give them a cold shower they won't soon forget."

"And what if I'm the one heckling you?"

"I highly suggest you refrain from the temptation unless you want to be pulled on stage."

"You wouldn't."

"Oh, wouldn't I? They want me to choose a guy to sit in a chair in the middle of the stage and you can only imagine the kinds of things they'll be doing to him, and how the crowd will expect him to react. Unless you're a closet heterosexual, I suggest you keep your mouth shut."

"I won't say a word."

"Yeah, we'll see how long that lasts. You ready to go?"

"Sure am."

Micah rose and helped her out of her seat and kept his hand rested at the small of her back as they exited. Once they were out of the restaurant he took full advantage of the solitude their short walk provided and brought up Riddick again.

"Dinner is over so I get to ask more questions."

"Wonderful," she drawled.

"And I shall begin by asking why you don't want him at the club tonight. Don't bother to deny it either."

"You can't guess?"

"Let's see…him in a room with dozens of half naked women while you're forced to work and watch?"

"I'm definitely not looking forward to him being there. With any luck, he will have come and gone before we get there so I don't have to witness anything I'd rather not see."

"And if he hasn't?"

"Damn, but you're turning the screws into me tonight!"

"It's one of my little pleasures, and you're not avoiding the question. What will you do if he's there?"

"I'll do my job Micah, like always." And hope I don't completely lose it if I do see him with another woman.

"Mm-hm. And make sure you do everything in your power to put him on edge, too no doubt."

"A little harmless flirting never hurt anyone, especially you."

"So I'm in the middle of this whether I like it or not?"

"Consider it a favor returned for what I did for you back in school."

"But it would be so much easier if you would just tell him that I'm gay."

"You're okay with that?" she asked, half shocked.

"Who is he going to tell?"

"True. But you would be okay with that?"

"I made the offer didn't I? Besides, he isn't JP. We didn't have to do much to fool him, but Rick? No way. He'll start getting suspicious when all he continues to witness are harmless public displays of affection between us."

"You have a point. But not yet. It isn't time."

"Just make sure you don't tell him when it's past time."

"Past time?"

"Yeah, after he's already come after me in a jealous, possessive rage and kicked my ass. Do keep in mind that my body is my meal ticket. Bruises don't photograph well."

"Don't worry. It will never get that far. Besides, I just don't see the man getting in some kind of a rage just because of me, and he wouldn't do anything to piss me off like that." Micah looked dubious, so she added, "At least I doubt he would."

"And that makes me feel so much more secure!"

"Anything for you, sweetie."

"Yes, I'm sure. Oh, speaking of sweeties…shouldn't Steven be lurking around somewhere?"

Jack's eyes got big and her mouth formed a perfect 'O'. "I completely forgot about him."

"Don't let him hear you say that."

"Which 'him' are we talking about?"

"Steven, of course. But does Rick know about him?"

"No. I haven't told him. There really wasn't a reason to anyway."

"True. So is he here?"

"He should be. His shuttle always arrives around eight, but he never comes to see me right away. The trip wipes him out, plus he likes to get unpacked and cleaned up beforehand. He knows it's 'Saints and Sinners' night, which means he'll look for me at the club. Knowing him, he'll probably show up some time after eleven.

"Have you considered how you're going to tell him?"

"No. Since we talked, I haven't thought about it at all. I have no idea how I'm going to do it either. Any suggestions?"

"Well, you can't do it in the club as nice as that might be. But then again, I wouldn't get him completely alone either. You said he can get pretty upset and in case he doesn't it take your news well, make sure you have at least a few people within earshot."

"I'm liking the idea of breaking it off with him less and less. Wouldn't it just be easier if I let you do it?"

"Not happening my little chicken shit. More than likely he'll see me as the reason you're dumping him."

"I would never use you as my excuse for ending the relationship, but you're right. Given how rude he was about you in the first place, once he realizes that you beat him here by two days, he'll assume it was you that did it."

"But what if he gets a look at Rick?"

Jack's eyes lit up. "Micah, you're a genius! That's it! If I can get them introduced or find a way for Steven to see Rick and-."

Micah put his hand over Jack's mouth. "Hold on!! I was only joking!"

"All joking aside, the idea has merit. If he won't accept my decision, then I'll mention Rick." Micah started going through the front entrance so Jack tugged his hand. "Back door, baby."

The door had no sooner shut behind them when Jean-Pierre appeared. "Mon Dieu! Kyra! Where 'ave you been? You're set to go on in five minutes and the girls are about to panic!"

Jack patted JP's cheek. "Pas de panique! Je suis ici et prête.

"Va! Va! They're waiting!"

"Okay! I'm going!"

Jean-Pierre only let her get a step toward the dressing room. "Wait! I forgot something!"

"What now?" she exasperatedly whined.

"I forgot to tell you how beautiful you look, ma petite! Love the dress!"

Jack kissed his cheek. "Thank you, it was a gift from Micah."

"Ah, but you make it what it is!"

"Exactly what I told her," Micah added. "I knew she would look fantastic."

Jean-Pierre good naturedly clapped Micah's back a couple of times. "You've always had exquisite taste, my boy. Something a woman can appreciate."

"She's here!! She's here!!" Jessie excitedly squealed, her naked breasts bouncing as she happily hopped around the room.

Jack groaned and rolled her eyes, but ended up laughing at Jessie's exuberance. What else could she do when faced with such a scene? "Okay, fess up! Who gave her chocolate? You know what that does to her!"

"Nobody gave me chocolate, Kyra. I'm just pumped about our little number."

"And speaking of pumped," Nikki drawled. "Jessie tells us you have a third absolutely gorgeous man in your life? I mean how many does one woman need?"

Nikki, in spite of her venomous tendencies, was still a gorgeous woman with long brown hair, chocolate eyes, and tan all over. Her coloring gave her an exotic look that was quite popular among the men. And at just under six feet tall, she was an Amazon among the dancers and easily towered over Jack, which she was taking full advantage of at that very moment. For some reason still unknown to her, Nikki had taken an instant dislike to Jack when she was hired eight months ago. The woman was a viper and took any opportunity she was presented to try and worm under her skin. And if that failed, then she at least attempted to prick at her to draw a little blood.

For the most part, Jack had ignored her. She refused to engage in her tactics, preferring to kill her with kindness, which always resulted in making Nikki even more of a bitch. In spite of her less than stellar attitude reviews, she was one of the club's most popular dancers, which meant money. For that reason alone Jack refused to let Jean-Pierre fire her. They were running a business, and as long as Nikki's antics didn't interfere with that, morale, or cause friction among the dancers, she would keep her job.

But the mention of Riddick was all it took to make Jack's blood begin to simmer. Even the many times Nikki alluded to having an affair with Steven hadn't produced this kind of reaction in her. It wasn't that she believed Steven would never cheat on her, but fucking one of her own dancers? If he screwed a woman behind her back, she knew it wouldn't be one of her dancers. He would have to be a fool, or consider her to be one, to think that she wouldn't find out. Jack took a deep breath, resolved to keep her calm.

"I know half the girls aren't here at the moment, but since Nikki brought this up, I'll address it and leave it to you to tell the rest. As you know, I arrived on this planet when I was sixteen and have no memory before that time. Two nights ago, the man you're referring to showed up. He's known me for years and he's here to help me remember who I am. In truth, the only man I have is Steven. Micah and I have been close friends for years and we aren't a couple."

Nikki was less than pleased that Jack refused to take the bait. "So let me get this straight. This guy and you aren't a couple, and neither are you and Micah?"

"Yes."

"Good," she smirked, "then you won't mind if we spend some quality time with either of them."

The taste of blood filled Jack's mouth when she bit the side of her tongue. She didn't want Micah harassed by the women, even if he could handle himself, and she definitely did not want any of them near Riddick though she had no claim on him.

"Quality time? By all means. Not that I can speak for either of them, but I doubt they would mind the offers." Then with a smile she guilelessly added, "Just remember Nikki that you can't expect a man to pay for quality time if you're the one offering it. Who knows…they may charge you."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Nikki glared a hole through Jack, who simply smiled, showing no indication of how completely pissed off she truly was. But beneath that beautiful veneer, Nikki was seething. She had already met Riddick earlier in the evening and it hadn't gone well.

---

Flashback

Always one to go after what she wanted, it took Nikki exactly two seconds to decide Riddick would be hers. Dressed all in black with a long sleeve shirt worn open over a tight black tank, he fit right in with the night's theme. Sitting at a table draped in white only emphasized his size and presence, not to mention setting of the beautiful caramel color of his skin.

"My god he's a delicious man! Nikki, you've been such a good girl lately why don't you go get dessert."

She found out who was assigned to his table and told the girl Jean-Pierre needed to see her and that she would handle her new table. She watched and waited, noticing he was scoping out girls in the club.

"Good, he's looking to fuck. That makes two of us." She had to admire the man for taking his time before calling her over. "At least he has standards, and I'm about to set the bar."

When he finally motioned for her she smiled, nodded, and slowly walked over. She looked good tonight. Better than good. The little dress she had on was special ordered for the night and has just been delivered that afternoon. The bottom of it fell just beneath her ass, showing off her shapely, long, tan legs, but the rest of her was covered although barely. The tightly woven black mesh material of the dress clung to her like a second skin, and was so transparent that it revealed every inch of her body, except for what her small thong covered. There would be no question what she had to offer, and from personal experience, no man had turned her down.

Once she reached his table, instead of standing to take his order she slid in and slowly ran a hand up his bicep to his shoulder, smiling at him appreciatively. Liking rough sex, with the way he was built, she was already imagining the things he would do to her.

"Hi there. I'm Nikki. Whatever you'd like, I'd love to make it happen."

Riddick had taken a good, long look at his sever as she maneuvered her way through the tables to his booth. Tall, tan, and dark hair? Oh yeah, she was most definitely his type and she was fucking hot. She was absolutely ready to fuck, too. He caught the scent of her pheromones as she sat and they were off the charts. No doubt she would be wet and ready for him if he said the word. But it wasn't gonna happen. Although they looked nothing alike, there were enough similarities to remind him of Jack – not what he wanted. Tonight he was looking for the furthest thing from her.

"Yeah, I had my eye on two girls over there. I need you to send them over."

Nikki's smile faltered for a moment. "Oh? Baby, I can be anything you want." She took his good hand and placed it between her legs, moaning as rubbed his fingers down her satin covered center. He had been right, she was wet. Sure, he was tempted, but more resolved than ever to have the other two women. Much to her shock, he pulled his hand away.

"Thanks, but I'd like to talk to them."

Her beautiful face turned into a mask of rage as she jumped out of the booth. "Fine," she ground out. "I'll send them over, but you have no fucking idea what you're turning down. I'm amazing in bed and I like it rough, something neither one of them is into."

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind," he drawled, "but send the girls. The red head and the blonde."

End flashback

---

Nikki was fairly good at reading body language and had a feeling there was more between Riddick and Jack than what she had owed up to. His rejection of her, coupled with wanting once and for all to break Jack, gave her an idea.

"Oh, I almost forgot. The angel wings I have are broken. There are some others upstairs, but Jean-Pierre doesn't want any of us leaving the dressing room until we're to go onstage. Would you-."

Jack held up her hand. "I'll get them. Just tell me where they are."

"Last room on the left."

"Last room on the lef-. Why there? That's one of the guest rooms."

"We needed room to go through the inventory and the boxes were too heavy to bring down here."

"Okay. I'll be back in a few minutes."

Nikki evilly smiled as Jack walked off. The last room on the left was the one Riddick and the girls were in. None of the rooms had locks so the body guards could get in quickly in case a guy got too rough, which meant that Jack wouldn't have a problem entering the room. And when she did, she was going to get the shock of her life. Jessie walked up beside Nikki and grabbed her arm.

"What are you up to, Nikki? You know that guy of hers is in that room with Cat and Ginger!"

Nikki tore Jessie's hand off of her and pushed her into the wall. "You just keep your fucking mouth shut Jessie! I've had it with her high and mighty attitude. She thinks that just because she's JP's daughter that she so much better than us. It's bullshit and it's time she was taken down a peg or two. She's a whore, Jessie. Just like the rest of us. The only difference is she doesn't get paid for it."

Nikki left the room and watched as Jack walked down the short hallway. Once she had turned the corner to go back into the club she ran down the hallway herself to follow and watch.

---

Taking a hold of her dress with one hand so she wouldn't trip, Jack grabbed the handrail with her other and mounted the fifteen steps to the second floor. She turned the corner and briskly walked down the hallway to the room, trying her best to tune out the somewhat muffled grunts, moans, and squeaking beds that were knocking against the walls. She made a mental note to herself to have all of the beds oiled and moved. Reaching the door, she was about to put her hand on the knob when Jean-Pierre appeared at the top of back entrance staircase, frightening her to death.

"Dear god! You scared the shit out of me!"

JP, breathless himself from running up the back staircase, tried to smile. "Désolé, ma petite. Jessie sent me up here for more angel wings and you're due onstage in but a few minutes."

Jack frowned. "Jessie? That's odd. Nikki asked me to come up here for the same thing."

"Really? Why didn't she come get them herself?"

"She said you told them not to leave until it was show time."

JP immediately frowned. He knew he had given no such order and the lie on her part was enough for him to terminate her employment. He had long suspected she had something against his girl, and if his suspicions were correct, Nikki was trying to start trouble by having her walk in whoever was behind that door.

"You go back down. I'll get them and bring them. Where did she say they were?"

"In here." She pointed toward the door and then kissed JP's cheek. "Thanks."

"Pas de problème," he smiled jovially.

After he was sure she had gone back down, JP poised his hand on the doorknob, but noises behind it halted him from entering. Instead he walked to the closet at the end of the hall and found the box of wings and took three pair with him. As he was leaving to return downstairs, he heard a woman's muffled scream of pleasure followed swiftly by a man's deep groan in the very room he almost entered. He silently counted to thirty, waiting patiently to see if he would hear anything else. Two seconds shy of walking away, he could distinctly hear Cat's voice, which meant Riddick and Ginger were also in the room. Nikki had wanted Jack to walk in on them.

As for the conniving bitch, she watched and waited for Jack to come running down the stairs, flustered, angry, hopefully crying at what she had found behind the door. Although she couldn't see the stairs, she knew about how long it would take her to find Riddick and mentally tracked the time it was taking. So when Jack rounded the corner well ahead of time without so much as a frown line to mar her features, she was livid.

"Where are the wings?"

"Relax. We have time left, and JP is getting the wings."

Nikki's complexion visibly paled. "Then I'll go back to the dressing room and wait."

Jack thought she was acting rather contrite all of a sudden and went back out to find JP. Maybe he would know what was going on with her. She was half way up the stairs when he appeared at the top.

"You found them."

"Of course. I'm old, not blind." Jack held her hands out for the wings, but he refused to hand them over. "No, no. I'll take them myself."

"You don't trust me to deliver them?"

"You know better than that. I only wish to speak with Nikki before the show."

"As moody as she's been tonight, she needs it."

"Ne t'inquiète pas. I'll take care of her."

"Woah! Take care of her? What has she done now?"

Jean-Pierre deftly avoided her question. "It's time to go onstage."

"If it's that bad, she shouldn't have dressed as saint."

Jack gathered the girls and they took their places. Nikki was noticeably missing, but this wasn't a routine that required precision, not with the kind of dancing they would be doing, so she would not be missed. The music started and Jack held up her skirt and mounted the back steps to the stage. The curtains were pulled and she walked out to crowd of inebriated, rowdy, and avaricious men who made her feel as though she was standing in front of them without a stitch of clothing. She swallowed her sudden onset of nervousness and quickly scanned the crowd for a familiar face and found Micah leaning against a column. Focusing on him helped calm her nerves so she could say what she needed to say and then leave.

She took a breath and began her rehearsed speech, only being forced to stop a couple of times by a few drunken patrons who couldn't keep their mouths shut. One of whom was escorted from the club. All in all, everything went fine. Jack was smiling as the girls sauntered on stage and began their dance, and then she told the crowd one lucky man would be selected to join them on stage for some special treatment.

Using a laser pointer that resembled a magic wand, she began to scan the crowd. It had three lights; white, red, and a flickering blue strobe light. She used the white light to select her victim, the red light she flashed to signify that he didn't make the cut, and the flashing blue light would be used when she had made her choice. Small piles of credit chips were growing on various tables as men placed bets as to who Jack might choose. Jeers and groans echoed around the room when men were 'hit' with her light and then it turned red, Micah even had a moment under the spotlight, just to make him sweat a little.

Finally her light settled on an unassuming man at a corner table. Jean-Pierre told him that the man's friends desperately wanted him chosen because his fiancé had just dumped him after a seven year relationship. This trip was to have been his bachelor party. All eyes turned to him, when the light hit his forehead, rested there, and all of a sudden began flashing madly. All of the men at his table cheered and clapped him on the back, dragging him out of his seat and up to the stage. Once seated, that was Jack's cue to leave. Two of the bouncers led her down the front steps and to the bar where Micah was waiting.

"Well, that was interesting."

"Hmm. Would have been far more interesting had it been you up there. Want a drink?"

"Sure. Blackberry martini?"

"Yummy. Good choice. I think I'll make myself one, too."

"Thought you weren't supposed to drink on the job?"

"Shhh. I can do what I please as long as the boss doesn't catch me."

"As long as the boss doesn't catch you doing what?" Jean-Pierre demanded.

Jack glared at a chuckling Micah who had no doubt set her up before she turned to address JP. "Nothing that will get me fired, I assure you. And speaking of fired-."

"You needn't worry about Nikki. She is no longer in our employ."

"Are you going to tell me what she did?"

"Lied one time too many, and let's leave it at that. I've already notified immigration, too."

He kissed Jack on the cheek and walked to the front door where he posted the opening for a dancer. Jobs were scarce in the settlement. Those wanting them far outnumbered the ones that existed because a job meant automatic citizenship. Without a job, no one could remain on Syrellas-3 indefinitely regardless of how wealthy they were. It was a necessity in order to control the population. Only so many people could live in a cave after all.

The fact that JP had already called immigration meant two things. One, whatever she had lied about, he had taken it very personally. And two, it gave Nikki an incredibly short window of time to secure another job or face being deported. Finding someone to replace her wouldn't take long at all though.

---

At Steven's hotel

Steven knocked on the door that adjoined his room with Marilyn's. Thinking they were together, the front desk had put them in rooms with a connecting door, something he planned on taking full advantage of. He soon heard the lock disengage and watched as the handle turned before it opened. Marilyn was standing there in nothing but a white, fluffy towel and damp hair. His intent had been to tell her he was about to leave to see friends and that he would see her in the morning, but catching her in that state of undress had once again caused his dick to grow hard. Marilyn knew it, too.

"Yes, Steven?" She took a step closer. "Did you need something?"

"I did. I need to meet some friends, but-." He hooked his fingers in the front of her towel, tugged once, and it dropped to the floor. "-they can wait a little longer."

He pulled her body flush against his as his mouth descended on hers. Marilyn moaned into him, looping her arms around his neck and allowed him to pull her into his room. Her back hit his bed seconds later. Like a ravenous man, he attacked her breasts, holding each globe with his hands as his mouth moved from one to the other nibbling each distended nipple before sucking it deep into his mouth. Marilyn was squirming beneath him, pulling his head closer as her back arched into him.

"Oh, god Steven!" she whimpered, and then gasped in pleasure as his fingers parted her wet folds and plunged two of them into her. "Fuck!"

She bucked against his hand, and pushed her breasts together so he could again worship them with his mouth, which he did. Soon he felt her muscles flex around his fingers, signaling her approaching orgasm, but this wasn't about her. Preferring to feel her grip his cock instead, he pulled his hand away, laughing as she protested the loss.

"Patience. It's coming." He straddled her on the bed. "Take it out."

Without hesitation her hands went to his pants, undid them, and released his erection. He moved back off the bed, pushed his pants down around his knees and beckoned her closer. However, she was moving too slowly and he had a certain woman to meet. Impatient, he grabbed a hold of her leg and pulled so her ass was at the edge of the bed. He then hooked her legs in his arms and leaned forward, but didn't enter her. Steven loved making women beg, and he had yet to reduce Marilyn to it. Holding his erection, he slowly stroked it over her, circling her entrance, and when she tried to pull him forward, he moved it up to tease her clit. Although she whimpered, it wasn't enough for him.

"Say it, Marilyn." She frowned, not understanding. "Tell me what you want."

"I want you, Steven."

He shook his head. "Not good enough. Tell me."

"Inside me. I want you inside me!"

"You mean like this?"

He inched forward a little, but pulled back before she could pull him in entirely, making her shriek in frustration and fruitlessly claw at him. It was a futile effort on her part really. Considering the position in which he had her, she had little leverage to pull him toward her. He began to tease her all over again, tormenting her until she couldn't take it any longer.

"STEVEN! God please!"

"That's what I was waiting for."

And he surged forward, thrusting deep, pinning her completely to the bed until she whimpered again, her need to feel him move making her wiggle beneath him. He pulled out almost completely and then thrust back into her harder than before, his quick, but hard strokes forcing Marilyn to hold tightly onto his arms to somewhat steady herself.

Steven, eyes closed, mercilessly pounded her body. In his mind's eye it was Jack who was beneath him, gasping and moaning in pleasure with each penetrating stroke. The louder she grew, the more aggressive he became until he lost all perspective about where he was and who he was screwing. Without warning he slammed into her body one final time as he came. Although he hadn't cared about whether she finished or not, it happened to be enough to send her over as well. Quite pleased with his performance, he smirked to himself at how easily he was able to manipulate her body.

"Amazing, my dear."

"I have to agree," she sighed.

He lightly kissed her lips as he eased himself out of her body. "I'll see you tomorrow, then?"

She nodded and he kissed her once more before leaving her to clean himself up so he could meet Jack.

---

Back at the club

"Either this bar is far busier tonight, or something else is going on."

"It's the tits, Kyra," quipped Marc, one of her fellow bartenders. "This is the first time you've worn somethin' like that and if you haven't noticed, it's mostly the regulars who are comin' to get their own drinks just to get a closer look."

"Are you complaining about the way I dress?"

"Have you taken a look at your tip tally compared to mine lately?" She peered at the receipt monitor and saw that his tally was a third of hers and they were both serving the same amount of people.

"Sorry! Tell you what. Since I have certain assets that you don't possess, what do you say we pool the tips and split them?"

Marc finally grinned. "I was only kidding around, Kyr."

"Yes, but you'll take an equal share of the tips, right?"

"Hey, I do what the bossy bitch says."

"Is that a fact? Then toss me the Grenadine. I'm out over here!"

"Wait in line, woman. I've got two drinks to go before you get it."

"Ass. I'll go in the store room and get some myself then."

"We're out. You're gonna have to go in the kitchen store room."

"You want me to go get it?" Micah offered.

"No, but thank you. Besides if Marc was the one to put it away, you'll never find it. He has a rather warped sense of organization."

Jack took off for the kitchen and while she was gone Micah took the opportunity to scope out a little eye candy. The club was overflowing with it tonight, and although she would never believe him, there had been a guy or two checking him out. Yeah, just wait 'til I tell her that! But as he scanned the men, one in particular both caught his eye and managed to piss him off all at once. It was Rick and he was standing at the top of the stairs leading to the bedrooms flanked by two of the club girls.

"Son of a bitch!"

Micah remembered Jack and his eyes darted to the kitchen entrance. He left his stool with the intent to head her off, but he was too late. The door swung open and out she walked with two large bottles of grenadine, one in each hand, and Riddick in her direct line of sight. What happened next passed by as if in slow motion even though he rushed to get to her.

Initially, she stopped dead still, the fun-loving smile frozen on her face. However, the sight of Riddick standing at the top of the stairs so painfully clenched her heart that stinging shock soon replaced it. There wasn't a question in her mind what he had been doing upstairs, what all men did up there, but seeing him with his arms around not one but two girls and with a satisfied smile on his face was more than she could stomach. Micah watched helplessly as her face lost all its color while she remained rooted in place, too stunned to move, speak, or do much of anything. The bottles of grenadine soon slipped from her now sweaty palms and crashed to the floor sending glass and the sweet smelling, bright red syrup everywhere including all over her. Still she didn't move, but the noise was enough to draw Riddick's attention, and they locked eyes.

Fuck!

He hadn't wanted this. As much as he hated her being with Micah, he didn't want her to see him like this, especially since she had always hated this about him when she was younger. But she had seen him, and with not one but two of the strippers. Even at a distance the pained look on her face made him feel guilty, and he fucking hated it. Why the fuck should I feel guilty? He had absolutely nothing to feel guilty about, he reasoned. They weren't in a relationship, hell, he didn't think he could even call them friends yet, so why the fuck did he feel like he had done something wrong? It wasn't like she didn't have someone of her own. She had two men for fuck's sake!

But the sight of syrup looking so much like blood forced him to shelve his guilt inspired anger. He feared she had cut herself and tore away from the two girls, getting to her before Micah could maneuver his way through the crowded room. With one hand, he took her by the shoulder and gently shook her.

"Jack?" But she didn't respond right away. "Jack!" He yelled a little louder and she finally blinked. "Are you hurt?"

She was trembling and two solitary tears streamed out of the corner of either eye. It floored him how two little drops of salty moisture could cut through him more painfully than a shiv, but he wouldn't walk away. He had to know if she was hurt.

"Dammit, answer me!"

Finally her brow furrowed, first in confusion and then anger. "Hurt? N-No! No, I'm not hurt." She struggled to get out of his grip, but he wasn't ready to let go of her yet.

"You weren't cut?"

"Let me go!"

Although not cut, she was hurting. The pain settled in her chest, weighing so heavily on her that she found it difficult to breathe. Given the choice, she would have preferred to be cut by glass. Angry at herself, at these feelings she didn't want, and at him for being such an insensitive man whore, she jammed her elbow into his arm to break his hold as she yelled, "I'm fine, Riddick!"

It wasn't her well placed elbow that broke his hold, it was hearing his name. Shocked beyond belief, he wanted to laugh, almost did, but knew it would mean her elbow in his face, or worse, her knee in his groin. Besides, now wasn't the place to discuss this newly discovered piece of her memory. Regardless, Micah had managed to get to her and was feverously checking her for injuries.

"Baby, you okay?" Jack couldn't do anything but nod and Micah, who had never struck a person in his life, wanted to kill Riddick. "You couldn't have planned that any better had you tried," he sneered at him.

Riddick's hand went to his shiv and he took a menacing step forward. "Mind your own fuckin' business, pretty boy."

"She is my business, or is your skull too damn thick to get it?"

"Your business?" he roared. "She's been mi-."

"STOP IT!! Both of you!" Jack screamed. "I'm going home. Micah, will you please tell JP and Marc I'm leaving to change my clothes."

"I can come wit-," he began to offer, but her hand silenced him.

"No. Thank you, but I need to be alone."

Riddick stepped up and took her arm as she turned to leave, which she tried to jerk out of his grasp. "Haven't you done enough to me for one day?" she demanded.

"I didn't set out to do shit to you! I didn't do anything wrong and you fuckin' know it!"

"Maybe not, but most people, for that matter even dogs don't shit where they sleep."

She tore her arm away and walked off leaving both men to glare at each other for a moment before Micah left to find Jean-Pierre. Cat and Ginger returned to Riddick's side and led him to an out of the way corner booth, but his eyes remained on Jack until she disappeared out the door. Although they weren't able to hear the words exchanged, their body language had made it clear that the argument was rather heated. Seeing how edgy he appeared, she ran her hand down his back, over his thigh, ending by drumming her fingers along the inside of his leg scant inches from his crotch.

"Ginger, he's tense all over again."

She nodded understanding what Cat was trying to do. "And here I thought we fucked that right out of him." Ginger reached over and took Cat's hand and placed it on Riddick's crotch and gently squeezed. "Anything we can do to help?"

He needed help. Needed it bad. Pissed off at Jack for making him think about her in ways he didn't want to, and for putting him through an entirely undeserved guilt trip, he had a little aggravation that needed to be let out and worked off.

"Yeah, there's somethin' you can do."

Ignoring her surprised shriek, he wrapped his arm around Ginger and positioned her to straddle his lap. He pulled her into a kiss as he moved his legs apart, thus spreading hers apart as well. He then took Cat's hand that had been stroking him through his cargoes, bent all but two of her fingers down, and plunged them and one of his into Ginger's wet entrance. Her body jerked from the sudden assault, and Riddick's mouth absorbed her small scream of pleasure. Before long she was whimpering into his mouth and eagerly riding their fingers.

Riddick broke the kiss, turning his attention to Cat, who had discretely bared one of her breasts and was pinching her own nipple. Ginger noticed as well and gently moved her hand out of the way and took over, pulling a gasp of pleasure from her as she rolled her nipple between her fingers. Riddick then covered Cat's mouth with his own, growling when she nipped his lower lip. He pulled back, licking it, and smiled at her, then at Ginger who was about ready to come.

"Kiss her," he growled.

Neither woman knew who the order was directed to, but they wasted no time locking lips and hungrily feasting on each other. Watching them kiss on top of smelling their arousal had swiftly brought his erection bounding back. He needed to get inside of one of them and the sooner the better. With the thumb of his bad hand, he managed to expose one of Ginger's nipples and drew it into his mouth sucking hard. She screamed into Cat's mouth as her passage contracted tightly on their fingers and continued to buck against them until the last of her spasms had passed. She broke from Cat's kiss and took their fingers into her mouth to taste herself. Riddick looked at Cat with a hungry glint in his eyes.

"You're next."

Cat shot her eyes up at Ginger. "What do you say, sweetie? Upstairs again?"

Ginger pulled the last of their fingers from her mouth. "Mmmm. My thoughts exactly."

"Same terms?" he asked.

The girls exchanged conspiratorial glances and they both shook their heads. "We're both on duty in ten minutes, so we only have time for a hard, fast fuck. But you make Cat come like you just did me and it's on the house.

"And that's the kind of challenge I love."

---

Down the street from the club

Steven was nearing the club when a tall, sexy brunette exited and began to walk in his direction. She noticed him right away, smiling as she got closer. And when she got within arm's reach, she threw her arms around his neck and sealed her lips to his. Steven pulled his hands up between them, pushed the woman away, and then quickly looked around to see if anyone witnessed the embrace.

"God dammit, Nikki! What the fuck do you think you're doing?"

"Relax lover, no one saw us. On your way to see Kyra?"

"Yes, I am."

"Hmm. Go join her little fan club then."

He grabbed Nikki's upper arm as she tried to walk off. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing much. Just that you won't have her to yourself. Not this trip anyway."

Steven's face darkened and Nikki screeched as his grip became painful. "Who is it?" he demanded through clenched teeth.

"I don't get it. Why do you pant after her when you know what I can offer you? What she will never do."

"I've scratched that itch, Nikki, more than once. Now answer my question. Who is it?"

"Or what, Steven? You'll squeeze my fucking arm off?"

He released her arm, unaware of the bruising pressure he had held her by. She massaged it as she considered whether to leave him hanging or not, but decided in the end that giving him the bad news would be far more satisfying.

"Fine. Micah is home. He came back a couple of nights ago-."

"Son of a bi-."

"And I haven't seen her so thrilled like that in…well, certainly not any of the times that you've come home. They were all over each other, too; flirting, kissing, touching, and smiling. It was sweet enough to make me want to throw up the way they fawn over each other. And he ain't all. There's someone else inside and he's from her past. He showed up around the time Micah did and apparently has been her shadow ever since."

"Someone found her?"

"That he did. Big, gorgeous, sexy, bald guy, too. Kind of makes you wonder what kind of relationship the two of them had before she came here."

"I'm sure your imagination is running wild with speculation."

Nikki smugly smiled. "And now yours is, too."

"So why aren't you in there trying to fuck the new guy?"

Nikki's smug smile faded. "JP fired me or I would be. Have a nice night, Steven."

"Good-bye, Nikki."

Steven seethed the rest of the way to the club although he half doubted Nikki's words. Less than a block away he saw Jack leave and turn the first corner to walk down the side street to her home. He quickened his pace and followed her before calling out.

"Kyra!" But she didn't stop or show any signs of hearing him. "Kyra!"

Instantly recognizing his voice, Jack cringed the first time he called her name, but kept walking hoping she was wrong. The second time she had to stop though. Fuck! She put on her best smile and turned.

"Steven!"

"Hey, baby. I was heading to the club when I saw you walking out. Lucky me, eh?"

He pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her, delighted to find the back of her dress completely open from her neck to the base of her spine. Too focused on the expanse of open skin, he didn't notice that she wasn't truly hugging. His hands roamed her back a few seconds longer before he slightly separated from her. She knew what was coming next. A kiss. In spite of her decision to break up with him, after what Riddick had done to her, what she had perceived him to have done, she needed to prove to herself that she didn't care. That he didn't matter to her.

So when Steven's fingers threaded into her hair to cup her head, she didn't resist. In fact, she leaned into him when their lips touched, grasped the back of his shirt when his tongue entered her mouth and pressed into her own, and showed not one sign of reluctance as his other hand lowered to smooth over and grope her ass, pressing her into him. All of that she allowed him, but her actions were devoid of any emotion or passion, something he failed to notice or perhaps it was that he simply didn't mind. Regardless, he kissed her until he was ready to stop, and then slowly released her mouth, moving his hands to her shoulders so he could get a look at her.

"Wow! I knew it was 'Saints and Sinners' night, but you went all out. Sexy, very sexy. You're positively stunning." He trailed a finger from her throat down the open center of the dress. Shocked that she didn't recoil, he softly stroked the skin between her breasts as he leaned in for another kiss, not seeing the rather blank look in her eyes. "Beautiful, baby."

"Thanks. It's a new dress for tonight."

Steven finally noticed something was a little 'off' about her. He had taken everything Nikki had said with a grain of salt, not entirely trusting her, but now he wondered. "You okay?"

She brushed her hair behind her ear and nodded. "Aggravated, tired. I was going home to change because I spilled Grenadine all over myself. It's been a very long couple of days."

"Really?" he asked, slightly chuckling. "Nothing changes around this place so what could be so tiring?"

Quite happy with her life, his somewhat demeaning remark pricked at her. "A lot Steven. Someone found me. A friend from a long time ago, so yes something changed. Everything has changed."

He ignored her irritation and hugged her, but mainly to shield his aggravation that Nikki had been telling the truth. "Baby, that's great!!" He secured his arm around her waist and led her in the direction of her home. "Come on. Let's get comfortable and you can tell me all about it."

In the back of her head she could hear Micah warning her about being alone with him, but as it happened she was too tired to argue, so they went to her house. Once inside she went straight to the sofa and flopped down after kicking off her shoes. Steven sat as close as he could get and pulled her legs to rest over his.

"So, I guess this is why I haven't heard from you?"

"It's been pretty crazy to say the least."

Jack went on to tell him most everything, though leaving out the discovery of her feelings for Riddick, and how much he irritated her. Micah she told everything to, but Steven didn't need the details. Once she was finished, Steven casually laid one hand at the side of her face while his other went to rest on her leg just above her knee where the slit in her dress had fallen open. She successfully steeled herself against flinching only because he was looking at her in a way that she had not seen in a very long time. Like she was the center of his world, but the longer it went on the more it bothered her knowing she was about to break up with him.

"Baby, I can't tell you how happy I am for you. Miss. Audrey Jacqueline Meadows or Jack? Really either suits you."

"Well it's all he calls me, so I've had to answer to it regardless."

"You haven't really said much about the guy," he commented off handedly, though fishing for more information.

"I don't know much about him. Well, that isn't entirely true. I probably know everything about him, but I couldn't tell you even if I wanted to. I seem to be remembering more each day, but it's so frustratingly slow."

"Well, you've had a couple of days with him so far. How do you feel about him? What did you say his name was? Rick?"

She nodded. Rick…Richard…Riddick. The names drifted through her mind like a whisper, but the effect was anything but soothing. Her heart began beating a little faster, and she swallowed the sudden lump in her throat. She had no idea why names other than the one he had given kept coming up, but they meant something. They had to or they wouldn't keep haunting her. Did she used to call him something other than Rick? If so, then why didn't he tell her that? Not wishing to share this newly found memory, she averted her eyes, which in Steven's mind sent him jumping to the wrong conclusion, especially when it took her so long to answer.

"Well?" he demanded, rather testily.

Jack's eye snapped back to his. "I-I don't know," she mumbled. "It's difficult to decide after only two days. He expects me to be the girl he remembered, treats me like that, but I'm not her and I can't pretend to be either. Because he's having to learn me all over again, it's been…difficult….for us both."

"Who gave you the dress?"

"What?" His sudden jump of topics sent her reeling and she was oblivious to the fact that he was setting her up to reveal that Micah was home. "What makes you think someone gave it to me?"

"Come on. You and I both know there isn't anywhere here to buy a dress like that."

She shrugged. "Maybe I ordered it."

He snorted. "A dress like this? No. It's nothing you would have picked out for yourself."

His attitude was pissing her off, but he was right. She would have never chosen the dress herself. "It was a gift."

"Was it from him?"

"Rick?" she laughed and he nodded. "No. As you pointed out, there's no place here to buy a dress like this and he wasn't even sure I was 'me' until he got here."

"Then who is it from?"

She paused, hesitated actually, but realized that she couldn't avoid revealing who it was from. That and she got the odd sense that she had been led to it. "Micah brought it to me."

Steven's anger stiffened his body, and his hand on her leg tightened almost painfully before he released it. "So he is here."

Jack frowned. "Yes, and you just got back, so how did you know?"

"I saw Nikki leaving the club and she mentioned he was inside with you. That he had been back for a couple of days."

Fed up with the cat and mouse game he had just put her through, she got off the sofa in a huff. "So what was all this shit about, huh? If you knew he was here already then why not just ask me instead of dancing around it?"

"Because I wanted to know if you would come out and tell me. That's why."

"Given how you've reacted about him in the past, not to mention right now, you should understand my reluctance."

"When another man gives my woman a dress like that, you should understand why I'm angry!"

Jack grabbed fistfuls of hair and growled. "God dammit Steven! How many times do I need to tell you that we're just friends?"

"I'm afraid it will be a cold day in hell before I can fully believe that, especially after what Nikki told me she saw."

"Nikki? Sounds like the two of you had a rather detailed conversation. Just how well do you know her, Steven?"

"What are you trying to insinuate?"

"Insinuate? Nothing! I'll ask instead. Have you slept with her since we've been dating?"

"Is that what she said?"

"No, she insinuated it. I'm asking."

"Maybe she's jealous o f you. Maybe that's why she said it."

"Right now I don't give a shit about Nikki. JP fired her so she's out of my life, but I would think that a simple 'yes' or 'no' would suffice as an answer to my question. Did you sleep with her since we started dating?"

"This is ridiculous! You're avoiding the issue of Micah! That's what is important!"

Oh my god! He did sleep with her. She released her hair and shook her head as she took a few more steps back to distance herself from him. "I think you should leave."

"Just because we're having an argu-."

"No, it's not that. This isn't working. Not for a very long time, but I've been stubborn and held on, hoping it would get better."

He took a few steps closer, but she backed away holding her hand up in an effort to stop him from coming closer. "You're simply fatigued and stressed out. I won't let you end this just because you've had a bad week and you're taking it out on this relationship. Think about it."

"I have thought about it. I should have ended it when you left the planet six months ago."

"I apologized for how I acted and I meant it."

"I know. And I'm apologizing now for not ending it back then. For letting this go on as long as it has."

"Wait. You said you've thought about this? Since when? Since Micah got back? Since Rick showed up?"

"Neither of them have anything-."

"Bullshit!" he roared, causing her to jump. "I'm sure Micah was just dying to get you to break things off with me so he could have a clear path!"

"I'm not going to argue with you anymore. The decision was mine and mine alone. Did I talk to Micah about it? Yes. But only like any girl with talk with her best friend. The only thing he did was help me see everything that I'm not getting out of this….relationship, if that's what you want to call it. We're over Steven, and now I want you to leave."

"Leave? You've got to be fucking kidding me!" He began walking toward her, the menacing, predatory glint in his eyes sent a frightening chill down her spine. "After all the time I've invested? After all the money I've spent on you? And after I've traveled all the way here you think I'll turn around and leave? Absolutely not. Not until I've gotten what I bet you've already let Micah have a million times over!"

"Steven, NO!"

He lunged for her as she screamed and shoved her into the wall that he had backed her into. His mouth came crashing down on hers a heartbeat later with such force that her head slammed into the wall. The shock of the impact pulled a painful moan from her, which he mistook for pleasure and invaded her mouth with his tongue. Regaining her senses, she twisted her head to the side to break the kiss and began screaming at him.

"STOP THIS!!!"

"Stop, baby? No, you want this as much as I do. Why else would you have dressed like this for me?"

She gasped in disbelief. "No, I didn't! It wasn't for anyone! God, please stop!" she screeched.

Jack clawed at his face, drawing blood, but it didn't deter him. If anything, it emboldened a personal fetish of his. He wasn't too fond of an always eager bed partner, and nothing got him more aroused than woman who put up a little struggle, even if just role playing. Those who weren't simply playing? Well, according to his beliefs, they were all willing in the end once it got down to it. And Jack's thrashing and squirming had him so hard it was almost painful. With her body firmly pinned to the wall with his, he seized her wrists in one hand and drew them up over her head while he lowered his other to unbutton and unzip his pants. With her dress slit up as high as it was, getting to his prize wouldn't prove terribly difficult. Although he would prefer to have her in bed, the wall would do just fine.

Hearing the jingling sound of his belt buckle sent her into a panic. Her anger flared and she jerked her hands as hard as she could. On her third attempt, she broke free and struck him, but he only laughed. Grabbing her by the hair, he pulled against it sharply enough that it brought tears to her eyes.

"Don't do that again," he growled.

"No!! Steven please don't!"

"Shut up!"

He pulled Jack off the wall and led her back to the sofa. Positioning her hands behind her, he lowered her down and pinned her once again with his body, wisely keeping her legs outside of his so she couldn't knee him in the groin. With no other way to fight him off, she began to scream, beg, plea, and curse at him in. Not that she thought it might do any good, but no matter what she refused to easily submit.

---

Back at the Club

The girls left Riddick to get back to work, but before he could get out of the booth Micah sat down across from him. He cocked his head to the side and slowly looked him over as if appraising the worth of an opponent. Such scrutiny made Micah nervous and barely managed to swallow the growing lump in his throat. Good, he's nervous. Not about to make this easy on the fuck whatever he wants.

"Well?" Riddick drawled. "Don't leave me in suspense, pretty boy. What the fuck do you want?"

"Look, I'm just gonna lay this out on the table. Your arrival has set off certain things…certain changes in her. I've seen it, and she's admitted it to me, which means it's really bothering her. She's coping with a hell of a lot, and I'm trying my best to help her through it, but there's only so much I can do." Micah allowed for Riddick to interject a comment, and when he didn't, he carried on. "She's remembering tidbits here and there, but it's nothing compared to the feelings that she's been forced to face. That's what's really distressing her since she doesn't understand where they're coming from. Dealing with them hasn't been easy for her in the least." Micah took a deep breath before finishing his thought. "And your actions tonight didn't help."

Riddick's mood, although already in the hole, took a nose dive fast after that last comment. "And what the fuck is that supposed to mean, Micah? What I did tonight wasn't anybody's business but my own."

"I won't argue that." Micah suddenly felt uncomfortable sharing her private remarks with him. He had to find a way to answer the man's question without revealing too much. "But if the look on her face and her actions were any indication, it mattered to her a whole hell of a lot. You really hurt her."

Riddick considered this piece of news for a moment. Knowing how Jack had felt about him when she was younger, he wondered if all of that was coming back. I thought she still might feel somethin', but not like this. Fuck! That guilty feeling that had pricked his skin earlier came back full force accompanied by a small surge of inexplicable anger. How the hell was he supposed to deal with this? She didn't even remember anything important yet, so it wasn't like they could discuss it. Maybe it would be better for them both if he simply left. Give her some time to be alone with everything and then come back later. The idea was sounding better and better because he sure as hell wasn't the type to tip toe around anyone.

"Do you see where this is going?" Micah asked, his voice strained by his concern. "Can you fathom how seeing you with those w-."

"I get it," he snapped back, and then ready to take the offense he leaned forward and launched into a question of his own. "What I'd like to know is what this is doin' to you and her. Can't be good news havin' your woman getting' all jealous over someone else."

Micah wanted to laugh. Riddick definitely thought they were together. "She's hardly my woman. We've always been close, but I'm not home often, so whatever she's willing to give me I'll accept." There, he thought, nice, vague, but truthful and still leaves the illusion that we've got something between us.

"Interesting."

"For lack of a better word I guess, but it works. So, do we have some kind of an understanding?"

"About doin' the women here?" Micah nodded. "Yeah. I get it."

"Thank you, and I'm sure it will be easier on her, too." Micah got up to leave but Riddick wasn't quite finished yet.

"She know you're talkin' to me about this?"

"No, and I'll probably be fucked if and when she finds out, but after this episode tonight I couldn't stand around any longer and say nothing though. Good night."

"Later."

Riddick didn't leave right away. Instead he sat there trying to piece everything together. He still didn't like Micah putting his hands all over her, and he wasn't sure if he even liked the man, but he had to respect him. It was easy to see how much he cared for Jack, and he couldn't condemn a guy for that. Leaving might be the solution. He could take on another small run within the system, be gone a week, and then come back after they both had some alone time. He flipped open his communicator and dialed Drake to see if he could point him toward a load he could pick up, but there was no reply. He closed it and then left the club to go back to the house to pack.

He slowly walked up the front steps, dreading the idea of running into her again. Even if he did, he wouldn't tell her he was leaving. No, it would be far better for everyone if he packed, left her a note, and then left in the middle of the night. No complications, easy out, his kind of exit. But Jack's screams coming from within the house made him forget everything.

"What the-!"

He scanned his thumb print to unlock the door and ran inside. The sight of Steven pinning a screaming Jack to the sofa jolted his animal to life. Deep inside him an bestial roar of fury unfurled as he seized Steven by the hair, violently jerking him back before he threw him across the room where he hit the wall. Although dazed from the impact, he scrambled to his feet as quickly as he could. A rumbling growl to his left caused him to turn and that's when he got his first look at his attacker.

"Who are-."

"Your worst…fucking…nightmare," he growled with a slight smile. Then Riddick unsheathed his blade and Steven took a quick step back, running in the wall again. He whimpered as a knife was pressed against his throat, cutting into his skin. He couldn't move, struggle, anything because he was firmly pinned to the wall from the full body contact.

To Jack, it was as if the very hand of God itself descended with a growling feral roar to answer her screaming plea as Steven was suddenly jerked back and completely off of her. Before she could react she heard something hit the wall and hard. She scrambled up from the sofa and saw Steven pinned to the wall with a knife held to his throat by Riddick.

"TELL me you're deaf!! TELL me you're hard of hearing!! TELL me you at least have too much wax in your FUCKING ears that keeps you from hearing like you should. Tell me anything to make me understand WHY she was screaming, telling you no, telling you to get the fuck off her, but YOU. DIDN'T. LISTEN! Tell me anything that will keep me from slitting your fucking throat for what you were about to do to her!"

Steven had it in him to terrorize, and yes, rape, but faced with Riddick's wrath, he was reduced to nothing more than a sniveling coward. He knew Riddick was waiting on an explanation and he began to babble incoherently, trying to form at least one complete comprehensible sentence that might keep his throat intact. But there was nothing he could have said to defend himself even if he could have spoken. He knew it and completely believed Riddick's threat.

"I-I-I-," he babbled.

Enraged and knowing full well he couldn't gut the fucker, he dragged the knife along his throat only deeply enough to make him bleed, but not threaten his life. Steven began to sob and Riddick backed off, sheathed his blade, drew back his fist and slammed it into Steven's jaw as hard as he could. The sound of cracking bone was unmistakable, and the force of the blow was so powerful that it spun him around as he fell to the floor.

Before he could do anything else to Steven, Jack came to stand next to him, but said nothing. He frowned at her as she roughly brushed against him. She turned, their eyes met for the briefest moment, and he didn't like what he saw in them one bit. She headed straight for Steven and with a guttural scream kicked him in the head with the heel of her bare foot as hard as she could. Tears of fury streamed down her face as she began to kneel down, and that's when a quick glint of silver caught Riddick's attention. He fingered the side of his pants where he kept another blade hidden and it was missing. She had slipped it out of its hiding place.

"What the fuck? NO!" He jumped and seized her wrist before she could bring the blade down into Steven's chest. Jack began thrashing against him, screaming to let her go, but he refused. "Drop the blade!"

"NO! He's just like them! I won't let him get away with it! He won't hurt me again! NEVER!"

Jack fought to free herself, but even with only one good hand she was no match for him. Exerting just enough pressure on her wrist to cause discomfort, she finally dropped the blade and he kicked it across the room well out of her reach. Riddick wrapped both of his arms around her, effectively pinning her own arms to her chest, and let her struggle, scream, and curse at him until she finally broke down in tears. Her gut wrenching sobs were killing him, and he wished he could take her pain away, completely erase everything that had hurt her so much. He leaned his head down next to her bowed head and spoke softly against her ear.

"I'm not gonna let him hurt you, Jack. Not him, not anybody ever again. And any fuck that tries will wish he never laid eyes on you. You hear me? I've got you. No one is gettin' past me, because you're m-." He halted himself before he completed the word 'mine', but it was too late. In his mind she already belonged to him, always had, even if it wasn't the way he really wanted her to be his. "You're my…responsibility," he finally finished, although uncomfortable with his own choice of words. Calling her his responsibility didn't nearly cover it.

Gaining a little control, she slowly raised her head and leaned back against his rock wall of a chest. It was funny how simply leaning against him like this made her feel stronger. She took an extra moment to indulge herself before responding. "Thank you. If you hadn't showed up, he-. He would have r-." But she couldn't say it. That would make it real. "I dated him for a year. H-How could I not see that in him? H-How could I be that blind?"

If this had been them six years ago, he would have turned her around and hugged her, but he hesitated unsure if it was the right thing to do. Fuck it. He let her go and with his good hand on her shoulder gently turned her around.

"C'mere."

That was all the encouragement she needed before wrapping her arms around his middle with a heaving sigh. She closed her eyes as she wept and rested her head on his chest. He didn't say a word, and she didn't need him to. Holding her was enough. She soon became attuned to the sound and feel of his heart beating. It was strong, loud, and soothing. All of this felt so familiar…safe. After a while, and now devoid of tears, she pulled back a little and he reluctantly loosened his hold. She fingered the dampness on his shirt where her tears had soaked it.

"I got you wet."

He looked down at it. "Ain't the first time." Needing to assure himself that she was okay, he caressed the side of her face and gently tilted it upward. "You okay?"

She didn't answer right away causing him to frown. It was what she unexpectedly saw in his eyes that had her at a loss for words. Without a doubt she saw concern, but it was tinged with fear. She swallowed and nodded, still staggered by it and the overwhelming urge to comfort him. She slid her hand over the one that held her face and leaned into it. His nostrils flared, but other than that she saw no reaction.

"I will be."

Hearing her words, he finally blinked and breathed. He didn't know what the hell was happening to him, but all he wanted to do at that moment was crush her to him and never let her go. He wanted to eradicate any damage that Steven had done. That all of them had done. He wanted to help make her whole again. He wanted to make her understand how special she was. He wanted to do all that and more, but he didn't have the words. Not that he ever had them, but this one time he would have been willing to try. But he was the type of man who let his actions speak for him, and that would be the only way he could get his point across – to show her how she should be treated.

Those worry lines that had been running across his forehead went away to her relief. She saw his eyes drop to her mouth, and return to hers. He lowered his head only by the smallest amount, but she noticed it and knew what he wanted. A kiss, and deep down inside she wanted it, too. What he had done at the club and how it had hurt her was quickly set aside, replaced by this desire she felt in every fiber of her body. It scared her, but at the same time she was dying to have his lips meet hers, to experience what it would be like to be wanted by him. As if a fog had burned away, she knew this was a desire that had affected her for years. Anticipating the kiss she parted her lips, he lowered his head a little more until she could feel his breath fan her face, and then the communicator beeped. The spell pulling them toward each other was broken. Riddick immediately backed off and completely avoided her eyes.

"Get that. I'll take care of him."

Still dazed by what had almost happened, it took her a second or two to come back to reality. Then she panicked not knowing what 'take care of him' meant, but feared the worst. "Please don't hurt him. Not anymore than you already have, I mean."

Shit! Why'd she have to go and say that? "I won't."

"Bu what will you do with him?"

Riddick thought for a second and it came to him what to do. "I'm putting him where he belongs."

Jack answered the call, only half listening to the person on the other end as Riddick hoisted Steven over his shoulder and took him outside.

---

Riddick walked to the back of the club and promptly dumped Steven's unconscious body into the closest open dumpster. According to the schedule on the side, the trash wasn't scheduled to be incinerated for two days giving Steven plenty of time to crawl his way out. Too bad I can't bump up the schedule a bit or lock his sorry ass in there. He then headed out toward the main street for some needed space. There was no way he could have gone back in that house. He could make all the excuses he wanted, but it all came down to one thing. He was too chicken shit to face her after that moment between them, and he certainly didn't want to put up with the awkwardness of it. The best course of action was to pretend that it never happened. That he never held her, never touched her face, never almost kissed her. Forget it all.

Fuck, who am I trying to kid?

However there was more, and this he could never ignore even though he hadn't kissed her. He instinctively knew that had he done it, he might not have been able to stop. He knew he wouldn't have been satisfied with just a kiss. Not after the way he had been reacting to her scent, and by simply looking at her. He shouldn't get close like that again. The darker side of him, the beast, had reared its head in the club that first night, and ever since he had to work to keep it in check by keeping her just beyond arm's length. Today he had broken his own rule.

But the way she had looked up at him with her lips slightly parted, waiting for his kiss almost stripped him of his last shred of willpower. She wouldn't have pulled away. She wanted him, he could smell it on her, and it was unusually strong. As fierce as she got when he pissed her off, he reasoned she would be just as passionate in her desire, and he groaned thinking what she might be like. After all lust and anger were often flip sides of the same coin, and they weren't having any problems with the latter.

Right now he was filled with both. Angry as hell that he couldn't deal with the fuck Steven the way he wanted, and thinking about what 'could' be was making his balls ache. How was that possible? He had just gone several rounds with not one, but two girls in the club and usually a good, hard fuck did it for him, but not this time. All it took was having her in his arms and being a hair's breath away from kissing her to completely fuck him up all over again.

What the hell is she doin' to me? Fuck this! I need a drink!

Fortunately, he didn't need to walk far. Not bothering with starting a tab, he got himself a shot glass and a bottle of tequila and found a nice, quiet corner booth. It was right after he downed his second shot that his communicator beeped. He flipped it open and saw that Drake was calling him.

"Hey, Rick? You called again. Did you need something?"

"I did, but changed my mind."

"What's up? You sound…funny."

"I thought about cuttin' out of here and takin' on a run, but now I ain't."

"Takin' on a run, huh? Things turn that sour that fast?"

"Shut the fuck up."

"That was a definite 'yes'. So what is it?"

"Nothin man, I just fucked up."

"And?"

"She caught me, we argued, so I was gonna leave."

"And who was it that you fucked that pissed her off?"

Riddick snarled even though Drake couldn't see it. The damn man was too perceptive for his own good sometimes. "Not who…how many."

"Oh, shit you did not!"

"I did. Screwed two girls in the club. She took it real personal and freaked. Gave me some line about shittin' where I sleep."

Even Drake knew that choosing girls in her club to fuck wasn't the brightest thing to do, but he figured Riddick didn't need to hear that from him. He also bet that he had done it on purpose, self-consciously at least, but again he wouldn't touch that topic with a ten foot pole. "But even after all that you're not leaving…why?"

"Steven."

"Her…oh, sorry…Marilyn's boyfriend? What did he do?"

"Fucker almost raped her. Had I not gone back to the house to pack when I did, he woulda done it, too."

"That's some shit! Is she okay?"

"She says she will be, but I dunno. She was always the type to hide it."

"Well if you're not running, I take it you didn't kill the guy."

"Wanted to but she wouldn't let me, although she tried it herself. Woman slipped a shiv out of a hidden pocket I have and almost stabbed him with it."

"Woah! Hidden shiv? I thought she wasn't into knives. I thought she didn't remember!"

"She's remembering. She even called me Riddick when she got pissed off at me in the club."

"Not so loud for people to hear, I hope?"

"No."

"So you're stayin' to protect her?"

"More or less."

"Yeah," he chuckled. "My bet is on the less part now that she's minus one boyfriend."

"Whatever," he growled, not liking one bit that Drake was becoming aware of his not so platonic interest in Jack.

"How about a night or two on the town? I'm still in the system. After I drop this load, I can be there in two days and stay for probably three."

Riddick considered Drake's offer for all of two seconds. "Yeah, come on. But she knows about you, and I know she'll want to meet you."

"Why the fuck would she want to meet me?"

"She says she can get to know me better that way or some bullshit like that."

"Well this will be fun," he drawled.

"Behave Drake."

"No fun."

"And we can't fuck in her club."

"Make that absolutely no fun."

"See you in two days, man."

With a small smile, Riddick shut off his communicator. In much need of an ally of sorts, Drake couldn't get his ass back there soon enough. But for now, he needed to kick back a few more shots and then return to the house. He couldn't just leave her there alone indefinitely to deal with everything as much as he didn't want to face her. Plus he needed to find out what she remembered. Oh yeah, the rest of the night was going to be...interesting.

---

Glossary:
Mon Dieu: My God
Desole : sorry
Pas de Panique: No panicking
Je suis ici et prête: I'm here and ready.
ma petite : my little one
pas de problème: not a problem
Ne t'inquiète pasdon't worry

---

Review Responses

jensen's Angel ok so you know this story is awesome, i love it :D
"an i think if you were my teacher at school i wouldve wanted to learn french :D" – Yep, you would have! Ha ha!
"i really liked the fact that jack is teasin riddick to the point of him wantin to rip her clothes off an fuck her against the wall lmao which is soon right? Lol" – Umm. No comment at this time, but thanks for the 'downstairs' comment. It worked great!
"and good god will marilyn ever get the picture and just leave riddick alone" – Yeah, not likely, but the vide may come into play at some point. I haven't quite decided if or when. No need to apologize for short reviews. I consider reading my story at 1:35 am a sign of true dedication!! Thanks babe!!!
PrincessYente: I can sympathize with RL!! I try and write during my lunch breaks but there hasn't been time lately at all! "Can't believe Riddick didn't see the whole Marilyn coming though."
- Yep, he was completely blindsided by that one. She's more pissed that she was abandoned than anything else and no, she's a bit dim in the 'hint getting' department. Thanks Princess as always!
Wannabanauthor: "good lord, riddick is possessive!"
- Yep, that's when he's at his yummiest, too. Thanks for the review!
1elena1: "lots of laughs and tears at the right spots"
- I really liked that. It made me smile!!
"i loved 11 the most.also the dialogue between riddick/jack is amazing."
- Thank you, I agree 11 is my favorite so far, too. Hopefully another will come along and become your new favorite. Thing in the love triangle will be resolved, just not sure how soon though. Thanks Elena!!
unknown beedee: "aw, poor rick can't handle the temptation."
- He's just a weak mass of hunky mush! Gotta love that! Poor guy is gonna have it hard…no pun intended. Hee hee. Thanks UB!!!
FitMama: "I love the way you build the anticipation in every chapter."
- Yeah, I love that part!!
" Steven and Marilyn are back and together. Some shit is sure going to hit the fan. That's awesome!"
- No, what is awesome is that you're anxiously awaiting the shit to hit the fan! LOL! I love it! Thanks FitMama!
J3w3ll: "I can't take waiting for Jack and Riddick to hook up any longer so move it!"
- Patience!! Just for that, I took the hook up scene out of this chapter…no, really it'll come but not yet. Feel free to PM me any errors you find. Word finds most of them, but sometimes I edit within the browser last minutes things. As for this quote: "Jack was aghast, and shrieked, "Richard B-." - "What?" He came close to roaring, partly out of anger, and partially to keep her from continuing on with his name in case she blurted the entire thing out without thinking." She said that - but she doesn't remember who he is yet, right? (Correct me if I missed a step). She said that, but she's thinking his full name is 'Richard Bryant." You know how a parent will call a kid 'Will' but when they're in trouble it's "Willliam Last Name". She wasn't about to call him "Richard B Riddick." In her dream she knew, but it wasn't in her conscious yet. In the club she calls him Riddick, but it's just a name to her – beyond that she still doesn't know who he really is.
"You also have Jack thinking of him as "Riddick", when so far, she only knows him as "Rick"."
- When someone is thinking about him, I used the name "Riddick" because it's referring to their thoughts. I only have someone refer to him as "Rick" directly or if it's dialogue thoughts then it will be in italics. Hope that makes it a little more clear. I haven't had time to chat at all. Wish I did, but I'm slap wiped at night unfortunately. Maybe soon. Thanks for your comments as always!!
iluvriddick: My only regret is that I don't get to hear those growly-screams of frustration. You think maybe you could record yourself and upload them as a podcast? LOL!
"riddick can be a complete flippin idiot. going to jack's club? moron!"
- But he's not thinking with the right brain. Keep that in mind. : )
"flicks riddick in the nose and runs away really fast"
- Oh the picture you just put in my mind with that one! LOL! Love it!
"so, uh, what's riddick wearing to the club? come on, you have to tell us how hot he looks. you know he dressed for sinners right?"
- Put in a brief description for you. You know him, he's not going to go all out.
"did jack forget he was coming to town? or does she not care?"
- she forgot, oops.
" you're really an awesome, though aggrivating, writer"
- I do try to live up to your expectations
"but if it's protests and abuse that you prefer dear cricket..."
- oooo, loved the abuse!!! Better than sweets any day! LOL
PS - As for the PM you sent me….I think you've got something brown on the end of your nose! Ha ha! But yes, that pleases the teacher!! Thanks so much!!
vinlovedroolwish: "Argh! What are you doing? Riddick is going to get caught and Jack is going to kill him!"
- Well, yes he did get caught, but I think he would have preferred her to yell, scream, and hit over how she did react.
"And Marilyn, the blonde bimbo, is going to show up just to make it worse!"
- Yes, I can't wait to see how she'll add to things. Hee hee.
"All and all, you are steering us readers straight into some serious bloodshed here!We love it!"
- Yes, isn't it great!! At least I hope it will be. Keep your fingers and toes crossed.
" Also I love the way Jack remembers Richard B. Riddick, but doesn't. That has to make Riddick nervous. She could blow his cover without knowing she was doing it."
- Exactly!! Calling him Riddick in the middle of the club for instance? She's recalling things, but not realizing it in some instances and in her dreams she can be aware, but it's gone when she wakes up. That in itself has him on edge.
"I love Drake and how he gets Riddick so well. He needs to come back for a visit, he keeps things interesting."
- Your wish will be granted. I missed him myself, so it's all good. Thanks sweetie!!
FluidDegree: " I love that you had Stevey and Marilynn on the same shitp. Priceless :) You aren't going to have her find him like that."
- Yes, I thought it would be fitting to put the two of them together. As far as Jack finding them together…we'll have to wait. Not even I know what will unfold as of yet. The anticipation is killing me! Ha ha! ThanksF D!!!
greenfaire: "im back again to bribe you with reviews!"
- Oooh, you know my weakness! LOL. "jack is soo dead for her mind games" – It will be fun to see what Riddick does to her once he finds out.
"riddick is gonna get an ass whoopin for the whors too!"
- He would have preferred the ass whipping over the guilt trip any day. Pain yes, guilt – has no clue how to handle it.
"Love the way you managed to invent a whole load of new characters in this one before you just adapted eron and vaako now you're going the whole hog and its brilliant."
- You know, I never thought of that! Odd. I guess they've already become so familiar to me that I didn't think of them as being originals. Fancy that! I am having fun with them, especially Drake and Micah and their respective relationships with Riddick and Jack. A cute little hell hound in a box with a bow? Now there's an image! LOL! Thanks Greenfaire!!! I'll be on the lookout when a puppy could worm its way in there!
dogo."what the fuck! you build this up to probably the highest possible climax and make me wait for MORE!"
- Insert evil laugh here….here… and here.
"Absolutely drenched in drama and smut and i cant get enough of it!! fantastic as always!"
- Why thank you, I added some smut in this chapter just for those needing a quick fix, although I'm not sure how it will help since it wasn't Riddick and Jack. No nookie for them….yet. So patience my dear, Dogo! Thanks!!
Running-Wild22: "CAN'T WAIT TILL THE NEXT CHAPTER!" Yes, but was it WORTH the wait??? Thanks Kia!
NightmareMonster: I'm glad the French translation helps. The French teacher in me screams 'no' when I do it,but I understand.
"ah man, marilyns back, i was wondering if something like this was going to happen."
- Yes, she's back to make Riddick's life hell. Isn't it great? JP is a bit confused about how Riddick might feel about Jack. He knows he cares for her and perhaps suspects that he may feel something more but just doesn't know. Don't apologize for the review!! I always love receiving them no matter what! Thanks NM!!
Vampiress-06: "just because rick has an injured hand DOES not mean he can't use his other one...he's such a fucking man whore.."
- LOL! Yes, I couldn't agree more! But the fact that he's got such access to women the way he does, he's not going to turn down that availability. Glad you liked the dress. It was something I saw on a show once, but can't remember from where. Thanks sweetie!
NotAfraidToLive: "when i was reading and when it said she was there i was like " oh hell no, not that bitch again!"
- You know I couldn't let poor Marilyn just languish there! Ha ha ha Yep, she'll be in play for a little while here. Just to make Riddick's life a living hell. I'm thrilled you love the story, but killing Steven couldn't happen here. Believe me he wanted to, but there is always next time. Thanks NATL!!!
PagingDrHouse-Furyan Goddes..."Hum... Riddick is gonna get his ass in hot water OR he's gonna back out... I just having a hard time seeing that."
- Like he would back out? Not thinking with the brain he was using at the time.
"This sexual tension is driving me CRAZY! I just don't even know what to say."
- I have a feeling it will get worse before it gets better, too. Sorry, but it just isn't time yet.
"Jack is paying with fire... she has no idea who shes F-in' with... "
-Yes, and more than likely it will come back to bite her in the ass. She has NO idea who or what for that matter that she's dealing with, but she'll learn. Thanks FG!!

Updated September 10, 2007