22. Welcome Home

"Well, that was messy," Ven commented as they threw the last shovel of dirt over James' shallow grave.

They'd dragged his mangled corpse deep into the woods and buried him there. Local wildlife would pick up his blood scent soon, and then he'd be steak.

Jack stood near Brand, both of them leaning back against a tree. "That was gross," she murmured.

"You didn't have to watch," Gin said, looking at the teen as she hitched her shovel up on her shoulder.

The girl looked up, her jaw clenching tight. "I wanted to watch."

Gin stared at her for a moment, seeing the steel in the girl that had pulled her through a hell planet and any number of other trials. She nodded at Jack, understanding that she'd had to see James dead, too. "Let's go home," she said.

The rag-tag group walked through the forest, ducking branches and staying silent. No one spoke and the only sound was the whisper of the grass underfoot. Even Jack walked with the silent gait of a predator.

When they got to the house they all sat around the kitchen table. It was still mostly covered in dust, but no one cared. Gin felt worn but strangely complete as she looked at her brother and sister. Riddick moved to stand behind her, his hands dropping to her shoulders.

"You okay?" he asked, bending over to place his mouth near her ear. She nodded slowly.

Brand looked at Jack. "Are you going to be all right?"

Jack looked at Brand, a slight smile quirking the corner of her mouth. "I'm fine. Just haven't seen anything like that since-" she trailed off and shuddered.

Riddick nodded. "Yeah, kid, I know what you mean."

"But he deserved it," Jack added, her eyes narrowing to dark green slits of anger. "He went the way he deserved. Too bad you couldn't have hanged him by his guts instead of just wrapping 'em around his neck."

Gin ground her teeth together. "He messed with my family. That was too much. He went too far. I don't want to ever have to do that again. I'm sick of the killing." She dropped her head to her arms on the table and closed her eyes.

Ven reached out and grabbed her sister's hand. "I think we all are."

Brand nodded, agreeing silently. He shuddered at the memory of what James had looked like when he finally died. Gin had learned a lot of things while she was gone, and Riddick had some interesting knowledge of how much injury and pain the human body could sustain, too. Brand shuddered again.

"Well, it's over now," Ven stated and Gin raised her head slowly and smiled wanly. Riddick squeezed her shoulders.

"Over," Gin repeated. "Finally over."

------

Riddick stood on the front porch. Ven, Brand, and Gin were all staying here. They'd stay here forever or until more Rangers came. Whichever came first. He didn't know about Jack, but he was sure she'd be welcome here. Where he went from here was still a mystery to everyone, including himself.

He really cared about Gin. There's nothing out there for me, he thought, staring beyond the atmosphere to the stars he knew lay ahead of the blue sky. And he liked this place. It was quiet. No one knew him, the light wasn't bright. He could almost walk around without his goggles in midday.

It has been three weeks since they'd landed on Crip and everyone seemed to have relaxed. Riddick hadn't realized how tense Gin had been until she began to unwind here. She smiled, laughed, teased. Acted almost completely like someone who hadn't dealt with so much in her life, hadn't lost so much, killed so much. He could feel the change in himself, as well. Riddick had let his defenses drop bit by bit, and now he was comfortable. It was like being free, completely uninhibited. He was reluctant to leave, but Gin hadn't asked him to stay.

Riddick started when he felt warm hands circle his waist from behind and a slight body press against his back. He relaxed again when he recognized Gin's familiar scent. Even that was a change. Before, if anyone had gotten the jump on him like that he's have cursed himself for being soft, but only after the person behind him was on the ground with their throat slit.

"Mornin', sexy," Gin purred against his throat before flicking out her tongue to taste his skin.

Riddick placed his hands over hers and leaned back slightly, enjoying the warm feel of her body against his, savoring it. He chuckled and arched slightly forward when one slim hand slid below his waistband and stroked him sensuously. "Mhmm... Mornin'," he growled back.

They stood there together for a long time before Riddick turned and pushed Gin backwards until her back was against the wall. Then he proceeded to drive her mad with his hands and mouth. "Stop that," she moaned, "unless you're going to do something about it."

"Who said I wasn't?" Riddick rumbled against her throat.

"Here's not good. The others..." she trailed off into a low groan as he slid low then slid back up the length of her slowly, pressing very close to her.

"Fuck the others," he answered. "They're out for another hour." Then he adjusted his pants and hers and lifted her up until her legs were around his hips before sliding into her slowly.

"Oh, God," she breathed and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, arching her back so her breasts plumped against his chest.

"Look at me," he commanded, sliding out of her slowly before pressing back in. "I want you to look at me." The shade there, with his back to the sun was sufficient and he pulled off his goggles and dropped them to the ground.

Gin locked her eyes with Riddick's and slid a hand over his head slowly. He thrust into her hard over and over again, bringing her to orgasm quickly and letting his own come over him at the same time. Her head fell back against the wall and he leaned against her heavily, pressing her tight to the wall.

They didn't move for a long time, locked together like that. "Please..."

Riddick lifted his head, hearing Gin's voice against his ear. Her eyes were misty and she clung to him.

"Please," she repeated quietly.

"Please what?" he asked, worried. What did she mean? Please go? Please move? Please stay? He found himself praying for the later.

Gin shook her head and looked away. "No, Gin, look at me," Riddick demanded but she shook her head again, avoiding his eyes. He grabbed her chin in his hand and forced her to look at him. She closed her eyes and a tear slipped out to trail slowly down her smooth cheek. "Gin, please-." Riddick froze. He'd never said please in his life.

"Please, Riddick," she finally murmured, opening her eyes to stare pleadingly into his. "Please, don't go."

Riddick's chest expanded with his breath of relief before he crushed her to him, his arms squeezing her like bands of iron. "I've been waiting for you to ask me that for three weeks."

"Thank God," Gin groaned and pulled his mouth to hers for a passionate kiss. "I was so scared you were going to leave here without me." She looked at him intensely. "I'd have followed you," she confessed. "I'd have left them again to get you back."

Riddick wanted to jump tall buildings, fly, and in that moment he stopped hating God. He let it go to become a man. Pure and simple, but above all, this woman's man. "Thank you," he growled. "Thank you for asking me. I'll stay, because you're here."

"I love you, Richard B. Riddick, and if you ever run off, I'll track you down and drag you back kickin' and screamin'," Gin told him.

Riddick laughed. "Same for you, Gin. I love you too much to let you go... Ever."

FINIS