Disclaimers:  Oh, how I wish I owned it... but alas... tis not mine

Author's Notes:  Had to up the rating here... uh.. stuff happens... ::grin::  This fic is coming so quickly, it's cutting in on my studying time!  Oh well.. enjoy!

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Surviving Comes First

Chapter 2

They?  They were here.  They who?  I stared at Riddick, saw my own face in the reflection of his goggles, clouded with confusion.  "Lights off." he said.  The room was thrown into darkness.  He pulled the goggles off and dropped them to the floor.  "Carolyn.  They're here."

I looked directly into his truly beautiful silver eyes... and knew in that moment exactly what it was that he was referring to.

"They're here?  How?  Why?"  A stupid panic rose in me, and I nearly collapsed... would have if Riddick wasn't holding me up.  My breath came in gasps, and it felt like those things from the planet had their talon-like claws around my throat and were squeezing the life out of me.  I shut my eyes, willed the feeling to go away.  He said they were here.  They... the damned things that nearly killed us all... did kill some of us.  What were we going to do?  My throat felt like was getting smaller, and my breath started to get more laborious.  Until I felt Riddick's arms wrap completely around me.

"Breathe, Carolyn.  You have to breathe."

I opened my eyes.  I wasn't back on the planet, I was in a hotel room... and for the moment I was safe.  As I thought the words, the air rushed back into my lungs and I coughed, taking deep gasping breaths.  When I was steady again, and could stand on my own volition, I took a step backward, feeling Riddick's hands slide off my waist.  I almost missed the contact.  "What are we going to do?"

"Well, they need the dark, so chances are they're somewhere underground."

"How the hell did they get passed the atmosphere of the planet?"  My logic was finally kicking in, and I was suddenly aware that those things being here made absolutely no sense.

Riddick's eyes blazed.  "You have Johns to thank for that."

"What?"

"The bottles... the alcohol bottles that you filled with those glowing things?  Those glowing things were babies.  Good ol' Johns brought his aboard, and the damned things grew and went somewhere underground."

I sat on the edge of my bed, feeling less than happy about the situation.  "How do you know?" I whispered.

"When I ran out the hatch, there was one lying on the ground frying under the sun.  I was half the size as the ones on the planet."

They were that big already?  "They must reproduce like crazy."

Riddick nodded.  "Which means we have a problem.  You'll never guess what's coming up here in a few days."

I groaned.  Please don't say eclipse, please don't say eclipse...

"A total eclipse."

"Shit."  I flung myself backward and stared up the ceiling.  All I wanted to do was sleep in an honest bed, eat some real food, and move on with my life.

"There's more."

I propped myself up on my elbows.  "More?  What else could possibly be happening?"

"Johns.  He's after both of us."

All this time, I hadn't realized that Riddick hadn't moved from his spot on the floor.  He just stood there, watching me with an obscure look on his face.  "Can't we feed him to those creatures?" I asked sarcastically, flopping backward again.

I heard Riddick chuckle softly.  "Honey, if it were up to me, Johns wouldn't have gotten off that planet."

"If it were up to you," I told him, coldness creeping into my voice.  "No one would have gotten off that planet."

He was kneeling on the bed in seconds, face frighteningly close to mine.  "And if it were up to you, you'd be the only one left alive as well."

I hated him.  No, I hated myself.  He was right, as usual.  Dammit!  How the hell did he manage to make me look like the bad guy?  He was the fucking murderer, not me.  "Get off me, Riddick."  My voice was weak, and I silently berated myself for it.

A sadistic grin spread across his face.  He leaned down so I was pinned under him.  "Why?"

I felt my resolve begin to melt away.  There was something so... primal about this man, something that made me want to give myself to him and tell him to do what he wanted to me.  And I knew, if he lay there long enough, that's exactly what would happen.  "Because I said so," I replied,

He grabbed my arms, pinned them above my head with one hand.  God, he was strong!  His other hand stroked my face, my neck, over my chest, stomach and down to my leg.  The touch send tiny spinules of electricity through me, and I couldn't repress the shudder that hit me.

Riddick looked back at me, his eyes fixed on mine.  "That's not a very good reason, Carolyn," he said.  "In fact... that makes me wonder if you really want me to get off you at all."

I whimpered, but stayed completely still.  If I moved, I wasn't sure what would happen, but I had a feeling it didn't involve him getting off me.

His face came closer, closer, closer, until he paused.  Our noses touched, but he wasn't looking at me anymore.  He seemed to be listening for something.

"Ridd – "

"Shh!" he whispered fiercely.  I listened, and then heard it.  The doorknob of the hotel room, turning.  Apparently, Riddick had locked the door when he came in, so the door wouldn't open.  Suddenly, the wood splintered and the door flung open.  Riddick grabbed me around the back and rolled me with him, across the bed and onto the floor.  We landed with an "oof!"... I was on the bottom.  He laid a finger across my lips, commanding my silence.  I felt around on the floor beside me, until my hand closed around his goggles.  Whoever was at the door said "Lights" at the same moment Riddick put the goggles on.

"Carolynnnnnnn..." he called.

Johns.  He came after me first, the bastard.  I felt my anger begin to rise, but Riddick stared at me in such a way that I simply lay there, with him still on top of me.

"Come on, Carolyn... I know you're in here," Johns said.  I heard him walking slowly through the door, and into the room.

Riddick pushed himself off me a little, pointing for me to roll under the bed.  I did as he said, and as soon as I was under it, he jumped up to face Johns.

"William J. Johns.  How wonderful to see you again."

"Riddick.  What the hell are you doing in here?"

I felt the bed lower as (I guessed) Riddick sat down on it.  "I'm looking for Carolyn, too.  Fact is, she ain't here."

"Really."  The suspicion was evident in Johns' voice.  "Well, then... maybe I'll just take you in and come for her later."  A heard a click, recognized the cocking of a gun.

"Tsk tsk tsk.  C'mon Johns, you know me better than that.  You really think I'll just go with you?"

The bed moved again, I supposed that Riddick had stood up.  I heard them scuffle, punches landing, then the gun discharged.  I jumped, nearly screamed.

A few moments of silence ensued, and I began to get nervous.  Then, Riddick's head appeared at the side of the bed.  "Let's go," he said.

I rolled out, and climbed to my feet.  Riddick paused at the door.  "C'mon."

"Riddick... I'm wearing a fucking bathrobe."

He reached outside, pulled a black backpack in with him.  "Here."  I caught it as he threw it at me, and opened it.  Inside were a pair of jeans, a navy blue tank top, and a pair of black boots, all in my size.

I pulled the new clothes on – wondering only a little how Riddick knew my sizes – in the bathroom.  When I had dressed, I ran a comb through my hair and left, carefully stepping over the still unconscious form of Johns.

"Let's go," Riddick urged as I joined him outside.

"Where are we going?"

"Someplace where I know we'll be safe.  I have to think."

He led me down creepy, narrow alleys, around blocks and blocks of the city.  Finally, after it felt like we had been going in circles, we stopped.  We were standing in front of a building that looked like it hadn't been used in decades.

"Here?"

Riddick cast a glance at me.  "I lived here for a while when I was runnin' from the cops.  It ain't a mansion, but it's nicer on the inside."

I felt a cold chill work its way up my spine just looking at the building.  This meant I had to be alone with Riddick... truly alone with him.  I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to ward off the cold that I knew was coming from within me.

Riddick was standing at the door, waiting for me patiently.  "You comin'?" he asked.

I shook my head, hurried after him.  "Yeah."

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The inside was nicer than the outside.  Riddick had fixed up the loft, turned it into an apartment.  There were couches, a table, and the bedroom had a king-size bed in it.  One bed... just one.  That meant someone was sleeping on the couch.

... I hoped.

Once we got inside, Riddick wandered off to be alone and think.  I didn't know quite what to do, so I sprawled out on the couch and tried to get some sleep.  Unfortunately, my mind, being in a state of utter chaos, wouldn't allow it, so I just lay there, and thought.

Those things made it to this planet... this planet, where a total eclipse was going to take place in a few days, besides there being night.  Our only defense against them was light, but it seemed that they mass produced.  Beside all that (as if that wasn't bad enough) we had Johns after us, being disgruntled and bitter.  I felt like screaming, or beating something up... but there was nothing, so I resigned myself to the couch.

I dozed off eventually, trying to ignore the hunger gnawing at my stomach.  A short while later, I was lulled out of sleep by the smell of food.  I opened my eyes, and was greeted by a sight I never expected to see.  Richard B. Riddick was standing in the small kitchenette, cooking.

"Riddick?"

He looked up, the tiniest hint of a smile playing at his mouth.  "I told you you knew nothin' about me."

Walking over the counter, I plopped into the stool there, rested my chin on my hand.  He divided the food into two equal portions, set a plate in front of me.  "Hungry?"

"Famished," I answered, picking up the fork and shoveling food into my mouth.  "Damn Riddick.  This is good."

"Mmm," he answered.

We ate the rest of the meal in silence.  It was pork with potatoes and carrots... a pretty normal meal.

When we were done, I took it upon myself to wash up the dishes.  "So, did you figure anything out?"

He was sitting on the counter behind me, watching me like a cat.  It was a bit disarming, to be honest, being under the scrutiny of the man like that.

"Yeah... it's just us against those things and Johns."

I turned to him.  "Us?  The two of us against all those things?  How the fuck are we gonna do that?"

He shook his head.  "Don't know."  In that moment, I wanted to hit him. I sighed, turned back to the sink.

"Riddick, we need help.  We can't do this alone."

I heard him slide off the counter, begin slow steps toward me.  "Oh, I dunno, Carolyn.  We both have a hell of a desire to live... I think we can make it."

Oh shit... here we go again.  I tensed up, waiting for the inevitable strong hands to go around my waist, or shoulders, but they didn't.  Riddick was just behind me, I could feel his breath on my neck.  "C'mon Carolyn, you don't think two tough people like us can beat these things?"

I took a shaky breath, let it out.  "Riddick, get a grip.  These things are strong, flesh-eating monsters that are producing like crazy.  There is a drugged up, asshole after us, and you... you're just so damned confident in yourself."

Riddick said nothing.  When he spoke, his lips were right at my ear.  "Carolyn... I am a monster.  And Johns... well, I'm sure those beasts will take care of him soon enough.  But us... we can make it."

As he spoke, I felt another chill slide up my spine.  I was pissed at myself for what Riddick to me when he was close like this.  I felt all self-control begin to bleed away, and I was quickly turning into a puddle of jelly.  I tried again.  "Riddick... I know you are strong, I know you can survive... but I don't think I can.  Why did you even get us involved in this?  Is it really our problem?"

"Believe it or not, it is.  We brought them here."

That confused me.  This man... a murderer, was taking responsibility for this?  "You have killed so many people... and yet... you still want to fight these bastards.  Why?"

"I never denied the responsibility of those I killed," Riddick admitted.  "And this is different.  My life is in danger, as well."

I stood at the sink, hands gripping the side of the counter to steady myself.  I took another deep breath and spun to face Riddick.  "This is crazy.  We can't do this... not alone, not without help."

He took a step forward, trapped me between him and the sink.  "You know we can.  I see it in your eyes."

"And yours, Riddick?  What do your eyes show?"

He pulled his goggle up to his forehead, blinked a few times to adjust his eyes to the light.  "You tell me."

I gazed into them, passed the silvery surface, deeper.  In those hypnotizing eyes I saw sheer determination.  Riddick wouldn't allow himself to die, not by these creatures.  I also saw that he wouldn't allow me to die... not if he was still alive.  When I saw this, I gasped.  Without really knowing what I was doing, I reached up to touch his face.  He caught my hand, held it.  "What did you see?"

"We can do this, can't we?"  I scarcely believed the words that were coming from my mouth, but I knew I spoke the truth.  We really could do this.  He and I could get rid of these things... and Johns in the process.

Riddick smiled.  "That's my girl."

"I'm not your girl Riddick," I said, pulling my hand from his.

He smiled wider.  "Yet."

"What time is it?"

He replaced his goggles, looked out the window.  "About five hours 'til sunset."

I sighed, relieved.  "Good, then I can catch some sleep before we go killing nasty things."

"Go ahead and crash on the bed," he said.  "I'll take the couch."

Walking toward the bedroom, I paused, turned back to Riddick.  I didn't even know what I was going to say, but I suddenly found myself looking at him the same way he looked at me.

"Somethin' on your mind?"

I started.  "Uh, nothing.  Just, um... thanks."

The feeling of sleeping in a bed when it had been nearly a week since having one is something not to be taken lightly.  I never realized how much I took advantage of things like that.  The cool, clean sheets invited me in, sucked me into their comfort.  The pillow was soft, and my head just sank into it.  I was asleep in no time.

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I awoke slowly, languidly.  I stretched, feeling like I had slept for days and not just a few hours.  The room was bathed in night, but I felt something... or someone.

Riddick... leaning against the doorframe, eyes glowing.  His arms were crossed over his chest, and he was looking at me.  I sat up, arms draped over my knees.  We stayed like for a few minutes in silence, just staring at each other.  He stood upright, walked to the foot of the bed, his eyes never leaving mine.  "You're beautiful when you sleep," he said.

"I – uh... "  My voice wouldn't work.  I tried to speak, I really did... but then I realized I had nothing to say.  Riddick crawled onto the bed... moving closer.  I swallowed, felt my breath begin to cut again.  Oh, stop it, Carolyn... get a fucking grip.  I forced my lungs to expand, taking in a huge gulp of air.  Riddick had reached me now, lifted his hand, and just barely touched my face.  I closed my eyes, relished the slight contact.

"Open your eyes," he whispered, his voice harsh, guttural.  I did so, just in time to see him surge forward, capturing my mouth with his.  A white-hot fire began to burn in the pit of my stomach.  It spread out, enveloping my entire body.  Our kiss deepened as Riddick pushed me back, encasing my body with his own.  My arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer.  His hands roamed over my body, caressed me with a gentleness one would not expect from a murderer.  Riddick's mouth moved to my neck, his hands slipping up my shirt.  I grasped at his, pulled it over his head, and ran my hands down his chest.  He was so muscular.. well defined pecs, washboard abs... everything was beautifully formed on him. We rolled over, me on top, still kissing.  I sat up, breaking the kiss, to pull my own shirt off, then leaned back down him.  We turned over again, Riddick pressing his body against mine.  He kissed a trail of butterfly kisses down my collarbone, to my chest.  When he began kissing my breasts, I let out a moan of pleasure.

He moved back up to my mouth, his tongue diving in and out of my mouth.  He tasted sweet, like a rich, ripe fruit.  I kissed his neck now, and down his chest.  I stopped at his nipples, swirled my tongue around one.

"God, that feels good," he groaned.

I kissed my way down his stomach, stopping where his pants started.  His hands grabbed around the waist, pulling me back up to him.  We pulled at each other, and it seemed as though we were trying to become one.

Suddenly, Riddick stopped.  "Listen," he said.

I stayed quiet, straining my ears for something.  I heard a clanking sound... one that was frighteningly similar to the sounds we heard in the compound.  "Oh shit!"

Riddick pushed himself off me, threw my shirt at me.  I shoved it over my head.  I crawled of bed, walked over to the window.  "They found us?"

He nodded.  "I told you on the planet, they know our blood."

"We better buckle down for a long night."

The response was a grin.  "Don't you mean unbuckle?"

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To be continued... ^__^