Chapter by: Saphrin

Riddick followed Jack all the way to the hospital, like every morning. Each and every morning Riddick kept people from killing her, as she walked through the barely lit morning. A sneer appeared on his face, as he thought about when she yells at him about blood on his pants. Luckily, this morning was quieter and Riddick just had to keep quiet following her. No one looking for a sweet little girl to taste. His girl. Riddick growled, a low deep, feral growl, as he watched her enter the hospital. He hated every single last one of those chickens in there. He had no idea how Jack could work with them. They were whores, almost every last one of them, and they wanted him a little bit too much for his comfort.

Sneering again, he remembered the first time the women had saw him. Their mouths dropped and they tried to fix themselves up before he walked by, just to see if he would give them a second glance.

He didn't.

Riddick really didn't want Jack working, but shed liked it, so he allowed her. Riddick could almost here someone saying, "You let her? She ain't your property", but she really was. In every way, Riddick owned her and protected her. He let her have her fun, with his supervision. He liked to let her think that she had control over him, but she had none. He did what he wanted, when he wanted, and that's just the way it was. He loved Jack, of course, but he couldn't let anyone have control over him. Too many problems would arise if that happened, not that it ever would.

Riddick watched from the outside for a few moments, then sat down to take a rest and clear his head for a moment. Hehad to do that, almost constantly. If too many things filled his head, then, well, let's not go there Riddick frowned. He didn't know how much longer he could keep this charade up to keep his family…happy. Jack could never understand that. She was always bouncing and on the go. Riddick could never be like her, or as stupid as that. She didn't understand about the world, and it was awful. She was ignorant, but he couldn't help but love her, with her naïve view of the world.

Riddick remembered a year before they got married… He looked up at the sky, the darkness still covering the sun that would blind him in a moment. They were so happy back then. He didn't know where it went wrong.

***

"I can't wait to marry you Riddick. You're going to make me so happy." Jack twirled her hair around her finger.

Riddick looked at her, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Neither can I. You're going to be beautiful, you know that…"

Jack peered around. "Do you want children?"

A choke grabbed at Riddick's throat and he didn't answer for a few moments. "I don't know, Jack. I might hurt them like I did others."

"But you're okay now, Riddick. We're going to be a family!" Jack paused for a moment. "Would I-- I mean, do you think I would be a good mother?"

"You'll be wonderful, Jack." He held her close, his hand digging into her hair. She would be good, if she didn't abadon them. He wouldn't. He destroyed everything he loved. He just hoped they had enough sense to leave before he did something he would regret.

***

"C'mon Riddick, back to reality." Muttering to himself, he looked around, peering at the hospital again. Time to stalk. Riddck never ceased to gain pleasure from watching Jack. Something about her vulnerable side aroused him. She was a weak animal, and Riddick only had to gain from watching her.

Riddick easily entered the compound, and watched as Jack walked down the hall, straightened the starch white hat planted on top of her thick head of hair. She was probably going to talk to Cindy, or to cheat on him. Maybe the twins weren't his, maybe they were one of those doctors… Riddick's eyes narrowed as he saw Jack turn down another hallway. Good, he thought, going to see Cindy just like always. Good ol'e predictable Jack. Gotta' love her. Never fails to dissapoint me. He smiled. A simple, happy smile that she would be his forever, whether she knew it or not.

Riddick walked up the corner and peered around.

"And how is daddy? Is he ready to have these little ones come into the world?" Cindy. Jack's supervisor. An oddly sweet woman with such a harsh life
"He's just fine. He's, he's, he's. . ." Riddick watched as Jack suddenly burst into tears. Damn her and her hormonal pregnancy crap!

Cindy rushed to Jack's side and hugged her, "What's wrong sweetheart? Is something the matter at home."

Riddick's eyes narrowed as he watched Cindy comfort his wife. He should be the one holding her, not some obscure woman, but he was the problem and he could only make it worse. He slowly moved the side and slunk down into the chair. Nothing was going as planned. Nothing seemed to be right anymore.

He sided, rubbing a hand over his freshly shaven head. He'd watch her a bit more, then probably leave. He didn't want to watch her anymore, it hurt him, and he didn't like that. Not when he didn't know why it hurt. It's not like he really loved her, he said he did, but he just liked someone around. He loved her, like a friend, a good one, but he never could love someone so much that he needed her until he died. No, she wasn't that; he knew that. But he didn't know why her tears now made him hurt so much.

***

Amusing bitch. Riddick's glare on Karrie would have frightened her until she pissed herself, but he was only glaring at her back, the best he could do with Jack on close quarters. She always seemed to smell him. The one smart trait Jack had picked up from him.

After the confrotation with her boss, Jack had put up a fit about lifting. He would've intervened, but he had to keep a distance. But maybe… maybe he felt like being a little bit nasty to her. Maybe it would make her realize just how safe he kept her.

Riddick followed, leaving a gap. A grin appeared on his face as he saw her enter the slighty ajar broom closet. His steps quickened, aiming to be quiet, then as soon as he walked back, he slammed the door. She would come home and be scared-- and run to him. He wanted that now. At least she was a comforting friend/wife. More like a friend. Not… He sighed. He didn't know what love he did have for her anymore.

***

Riddick could never sleep. Maybe take light cat-naps. People thought of his as a beautiful panther, he thought of himself more as a polar bear. Mean, nasty, and killed anything it saw. Made more sense in his mind. Couldn't see that in a snow storm either, but he would probably be visible. He stretched out on the bed, and looked over towards the window. It wasn't noon yet. Jack would be home soon. She always had brunch with some "friends". Granted, she hated them all, but she probably wanted to get away from him. He would.

Riddick stretched out his arms, tensing the muscles, then slowly letting out a long breath. A scratching sound quickened his stretching and he sat up instantly, almost instinctively. He grabbed the shiv under his bed and stepped towards the door, his feet padding on the stone floor. "Jack? That you?"

No answer.

Louder scratching.

No, it wasn't scratching, moaning.

Who the hell would be moaning in his house?

He trampled down the stairs, and his legs stopped as he saw the blood on the floor. "Jack?"

Hearing a cough, and drawn out sob, he ran towards the kitchen and saw Jack lying on the floor. An intense maelstrom of fury raged through his body. "What happened? Jack? Jack?" He bent down to her side, cradling her in his arms. "Baby, Jack, can you hear me?"

Her eyes rolled around in her head. "I… ugh…" Blood spilled out of her mouth and onto her starch white gown. "Help me… Riddick, please… I love you…"

TBC….

Thanks to Ames & Ariel. Our great faithful reviewers. And look, you other 100 people reading, review, or no more story. I'm not kidding; I'd really like to know if you like this. It took me forever to write this because I had no motivation. Sorri about the wait, moving and weird stuff going on. But if I get some reviews, the next part by Dev. Should be up soon. Thanks for reading and please go review

-Saph & DevilWithTheAngelWingsOn