Part XIV
It had been a few hours since they were thrown out of Brian's nearly destroyed room. They sat in the mess hall across from each other. Jacklyn nibbled on a piece of dried fruit as she looked at him with a grin on her face. Riddick couldn't help but chuckle. She looked like a sweet, little, innocent kitten as she nibbled on the fruit.
"You know I think I like the new you."
"Oh really?," she toyed with a curled strand of hair.
"Mmmhmm…," he nodded, leaning his forearms on the table.
"What do you like about the 'new' me?" She smirked, she couldn't wait to hear what he'd say.
"Well… you're not scared of me anymore. You know how to protect yourself, but mostly I think I'm in love with those glow in the dark eyes and those nails."
She laughed a bit shaking her head. "You forget… My fear of you is what drew me to you. Besides… after a while you stop fearing other people and you fear what you're becoming."
He frowned a bit to her. "I'm sorry they hurt you Jacklyn. If I would have known—"
"Hey," she reached over and touched his arm, "No one could have known. And I traded myself for the kid willingly. I don't have any regrets… neither should you."
He nodded lightly to her. She had changed in so many ways, yet she had stayed the same as well. Her compassion made her a sacrifice for someone else. And it seemed his stubbornness and logical thinking rubbed off on her; helping her to endure and later escape.
And she had rubbed off on him. It was quite obvious to everyone now that 'the big guy' was sweet on her. He didn't, and wouldn't hide his feelings around her. Though he did keep himself guarded around others.
A beast to a human. And she went from a human to a beast and back again. You are strong Jacklyn, whether you know it or not. And I love you all the more for that strength.
What she hadn't told him had been gnawing at her for the past few hours. He had a right to know and she wouldn't let him turn away from her. She glanced down to the tables metal top. Riddick raised a questioning brow as he sensed her mood change.
"You need to know something Riddick. It's about how I turned into the monster—"
"You don't have to tell me. I know how places like that can be."
She looked up to him, a sad expression on her face. One that reminded him of the sad, scared girl she had been when they escaped the planet. "You need to know this… so just listen please. When I was out because of the splicing… the doctor did some kind of tests on me…"
She paused and glanced down then back up to him. "I was told I was pregnant and well before Phil transported me."
Riddick looked at her in astonishment. A kid? They had a kid out there somewhere? He smiled lightly to her. "Don't worry. We'll find our kid, Jacklyn." He had never dreamed before that he'd want a family. Hell he wasn't sure he knew what a family was. He swore that he'd never have one in any way, shape or form. Now though… with her back and this news… he wasn't sure if he wanted to live his life without a family.
"Riddick… there is no kid.," her voice wavered and broke as she continued, "It would have jeopardized their experiment…. So they got rid of it."
All expression and emotion faded from his face. All his happy thoughts disappeared as a new pain sprung to life in his heart. Jacklyn noted that he even seemed to pale a bit.
It took him a moment to snap out of his daze before his eyes fixed on hers. He understood now why she had acted so cold to him at first. She was afraid to trust him with this secret. In that same instant the pain doubled as he thought about her carrying it around and trying not to tell him about it. He frowned deeply and stood up, moving around the table quickly. In the next moment his strong arms were wrapped tightly about her. She leaned back into him and rested her head on his shoulder. She turned her head to look at him, swallowing a lump in her throat before she spoke. "You okay?"
"Mmmm…," he just nodded to her as he gazed down at her. "Did they suffer long?"
"Unfortunately not the Doc, but the guard that drugged me before the operation did."
He nodded silently then and rested his chin atop her head. "You know what…? I think you're the strongest damn woman I've ever known. So many others would have just broke."
She laughed softly up at him. "Hey I had to be strong. I didn't wanna stay there forever."
He smiled faintly at her as the pain in his heart began to fade as he held her tight. "You have no clue how shocked I was when you tackled me in the transport."
She grinned to him slightly. "You don't know how surprised I was to see you."
"I have to say… You are the first woman that's ever pinned me and kept me down."
"Only 'cause you let me keep you pinned…. But I'll take that as a compliment." She leaned her head up and kissed his cheek.
He laughed softly down at her. "Believe me… it is one."
Nova watched the two holding each other. She'd paled because she knew she had a snowballs chance in Hell of getting Riddick to be hers. Boy do I have some major begging to dish out. Not only to Brian but to Riddick and Jacklyn too. I can only hope they'll forgive me. But right now Nova didn't feel strong enough or stable enough to approach them. She'd wait a while and come back when she was feeling better. Nova turned and hurried out of the Mess Hall and back to her room.
