Riddick… he confused me. I didn't know him. I can't say I ever knew him. The first time I met jail, when he said he didn't kill my family, or the girl, Jack, as he called her. She was so pretty, bright green eyes, short black hair, and a beautiful smile. That's what I wanted my daughter Gwen to be like. Pretty, happy, loveable. Every parent does. Something to look at and be thankful that you were given something so precious to have, to love. Not to say I wouldn't have loved her if she wasn't pretty, but you want your children to be happy, it's natural.

He… he sometimes looked sad, not an outward sad though. His face, even though it was hard and he tried to convey no emotions, there was something about him. The way his eyes always lowered when I mentioned Jack. I suppose the thought of her brought him down. The thought of my family brings me down, still.

Detective Whitesel, I respect her and her work. She's good at what she does, but then she's uncaring. It's true that they have at least fourty murders placed on Riddick, but not my family. He couldn't killed my family; it just didn't seem like he would do that. Kim told about his murders, who he killed, most likely WHY he killed. They were all scum. Nothing of importance to anyone. Wife beaters, rapists… other murderers. I supposed that he had his reasons, but, at that time, I still felt unsure. I went to visit Riddick one day before his trial, which was going to be quick.

Kim met me before I went in. Her eyes were tired and she looked destroyed. She brushed her hand back through her hair. " Why do you keep visiting him? You know he killed all those people…"

I opened my mouth for a second, watching her. I shook my head. " I don't know, I really don't. Something about him… it compels me to know more about him. I have to know… I have to truly know if he killed my family. If I leave that unturned before he'll most likely be killed, I won't live with myself. I would never be able to."

Kim simply nodded. She understood the want of closure. Everyone in this city had lost someone close to them, and no one wanted to not know why and how, even as disturbing as it was. Once, when I was young child, I had a dog that was killed. I loved him more than the world, and I knew he was dead, my mother didn't want me to see him, but I had to… I just had to know that he was truly gone. I saw him dead, and it didn't shock me. I just needed to know. It's just that feeling of closure when you know they're at peace, and there's nothing else to do.

I walked into the small room, with him on one side in a cell. He was leaning against the wall, his eyes closed. " Riddick?"
He didn't say anything, didn't make a motion, but I knew he was awake. I don't know how, I could just sense it. It was like he was letting me know that he was aware of me.

" I… came to talk."

" How am I not surprised," He drawled, laughing a bit and then leaned his head forehead, his eyes still closed, but his face directly towards me.

" Are you not going to look at me?" I asked, sarcastically.

He smirked. " And burn my eyes? No."

I furrowed my brows, but didn't ask. He never opened his eyes much, I thought it was the unearthly shine that was to them. It was human, but I wasn't going to pry this time. I had other questions I wanted to ask him. I needed to know. " My family… why would anyone kill them like you had killed before?"

" To frame me, to destroy me… does it matter?"

I frowned again. " I don't want to believe you did it, Riddick. Something about me tells you gave up part of your soul not to go back to those slams." I said quietly.

He laughed. " I don't care about living in a slam, I can get out. I've gotten out before, but I would give my life to have Jack back, just for a second--"

" Just to hold her in your arms and know that you'll never have to worry again?" I finished for him.

He opened his eyes, and looked at me. A smile appeared of his face. " Yes."

I stared back at him through the bars. I looked to his arms. They were both chained to the wall, as were his legs. He was like an animal in a cage. It was awful, I couldn't think of ever doing that to a human being… Except the one who killed my family. I could see that rage, but not him. He didn't kill people that anyone loved. He killed those scum that destroyed others. A misplaced hero in a world that didn't care. I sighed and shook my head. " They're going to kill you if they can't place the murderer on anyone else you know…"

He nodded, closing his eyes once again, and leaned his head back against the wall. He didn't even seem to care anymore.

" You don't care?"

" What do I have to live for?"

" I--" I stopped. He really didn't have anything. " Well, so you don't have the girl anymore, but I'm not going to give up because my family is gone. I may cry, I may feel empty inside most of the time, but I'm not going to let myself die over it. That is the last thing any of them would want, and bet she wouldn't either."

" Don't speak like you know her." He growled.

I hit a nerve. He really cared about that girl. " If you cared so damn much, you should try to find who killed her, in stead of sitting in here waiting for your sentence. I was trying to help you, but since you don't want it, I'll leave."

He simply shrugged.

I growled and left. He didn't want my help. Riddick was a bastard sometimes, but I'd never dealt with murderers before, and I didn't really want to again. I lied to him, I really did. I wanted to die when my family was first killed. After the initial shock is gone, you lose yourself. You forgot who you are, and you don't care anymore. Then you want to die. You want to just fall off the face of the earth, and I did, I truly did. But I started thinking about Scott and he would want me to stay alive, I don't know why he would, but he would. I hate Scott for putting something good in me, otherwise I would've turned into a prostitute like all the other, usually, unmarried girls on these streets.

I returned to my house. It had been a month since they were killed and the police, being good professionals for once, cleaned everything up. It wasn't like a home, it was… just a place. It had become nothing that I loved. I didn't like being home. I had been hired by a small business to be a secretary, just to stay out of the house. I couldn't stand being in there without crying, knowing the love that once used to flow so freely. It drove me insane. I was never home. I would just sit outside of the door until I got too tired to keep my eyes open, then I would drag myself to bed. I really hated being alone. It's so frightening to not have someone protect you when you can't, and I couldn't, even though I wanted to. I wanted to be able to stand up and fight, but… it wouldn't happen. Not by me, not here.

I went to sleep that night, exhausted, almost glad it was Friday, but not. That would mean I had the next two days off, and I would have to get out of the apartment just to keep myself happy for the little while. I didn't expect to be waken during the middle of the night by an unwanted visitor. I groggily opened my eyes to see a pair of bright shined eyes. A hand covered my mouth.

" Shh, it's only me."

I remembered to breathe and gulped. It was only Riddick, he wouldn't hurt me, I hoped.

He sat back down on the bed, sitting on his haunches. " Don't scream." he hesitantly took his massive hand off my mouth.

I sat up instantly, pulling the sheet close to my chest, struggling for breath. " What are you doing here?" I asked.

" I decided to do something about my life…and help you."

" Me?"

He nodded scratched his chin and moved off the bed, slowly walking to the foot of the bed. " I figured you need help finding your murderer… and you helped me… remember Jack." He quieted on her name.

I watched him. " That's all nice and good, but don't you think the police might be after you since YOU'RE out, and they're going to come HERE first."

He nodded. " I planned for that. You get up, and we're leaving soon. They'll notice me gone, and think of you."

" But if I'm gone, then they'll blame me for my families murder, thinking I was in on this the whole time." I said quietly. I didn't want to be blamed for that, that was more guilt than I could take.

Riddick looked up at me. His face was serious. " Either we go, or you never find your murderer."

I closed my eyes, debating for a moment. " Fine, we'll go as soon as I get some stuff." He simply nodded and I got up, moving around as quick as possible. As soon as I had dressed and grabbed everything I needed, we were almost out there, but something caught my eye. I looked back and saw a picture of Gwen, Paul, and Scott. I grabbed the picture quickly and shoved it in my bag.

Riddick looked back and nodded.

He understood.

Note: Everyone… you're so cool…. All your reviews, Ames, Ariel, Sherricka, Cheeziepooh, Netanya, Czyndi, Devil, and Lola… oh mi god, they made me so happy beyond belief. I can't explain how grateful I was to EVERYONE who reviewed. I'm really really sorry for the extremely long wait for this… I really didn't know what I wanted to do… but well, the block finally broke and well, looks like this story is back online with the others. I hope to write more for this soon, but this is one of the hardest stories I've ever written, I hope you all like it. I really really do. Anyways, please go review. I'm doing this for y'all anyways. : ) - Saphi