Riddick hesitated at Jack's door almost afraid to enter. The lights were low but he didn't notice, all he could see was Jack laying on a bed covered with blankets, tubes coming out of one of her arms. His mouth went dry and his heart froze in place. She looked as if she was comfortably sleeping but he knew what kind of sleep it was.
Finally making it to her bedside he pulled up a chair just as the anger welled up inside him. This was all his fault. If he hadn't gotten this stupid idea for this job, his sweet loving Jack wouldn't be dying right before his eyes.
As gently as he could, he carefully took her hand in his and pressed the back of it to his cheek. It was still warm as her fading life flowed beneath the skin. Emotions of all kinds began rising up as his body trembled with the feeling of utter helplessness. The pain he was feeling was far worse than any injury he's ever sustained. The ache in his chest was so foreign to him that it brought the animal rushing up to the cage he had put it in, roaring and clawing for a way out. Jack's hand on his cheek was his only anchor to reality which was as dark as the beast inside.
Life wasn't fair and he always knew that and for the most part accepted it but now, holding onto Jack's hand as she slipped away, he realized that it wasn't life that was unfair, it was death.
That thought angered him because he used to be the bringer of death; a cold heartless killer out there doing what he had to do to survive…to take care of only him. And because he's finally found a reason to put his past behind him and become the man he's supposed to be, he's going to lose the one thing in his life that he truly cares about…Jack.
Riddick closed his eyes against the sting of tears that surprisingly sprang up. This was something he's never felt as far back as he can remember and the burning sensation continued in his eyes and moved to constrict his throat as sorrow wrapped its icy fingers around his heart.
Riddick put Jack's hand on the bed, leaned forward so he could rest his forehead on her hip and draped an arm over her legs. 'Let the sorrow take me' he thought. 'If I don't have Jack, I have nothing'.
"I'm sorry," he whispered aloud, not feeling the first tear slip past his barrier and splash silently onto Jack's unmoving hand. The heart monitor beeped quietly in the corner, lulling Riddick into a light sleep.
***************
Ellie found Taylor and updated him on Jack's condition; the bad news seemed to rest heavily on his shoulders and his eyes clouded over with sadness. Everyone was holding their own sense of guilt about what happened, even Ellie.
"Our first run and it's a disaster," Ellie said as she and Taylor stood outside the medical facility.
"No, Ellie, it wasn't. Our job is to protect and that's what we did. Everyone did exactly what they were told to do except the stupid-ass Senator," Taylor told her, folding his arms over his chest and leaning against the wall. "The Senator wasn't hit…Jack was and that's because she was doing her job."
"You're right," Ellie said resignedly, joining Taylor at the wall.
"So, what's gonna happen now?" Taylor asked.
"They're running all kinds of tests to see if there's something they can do but I haven't heard anything."
"Hmmm," Taylor said thoughtfully. "How's Riddick handling it?"
"I don't know, I haven't gone in there yet," she said, feeling a flutter of nervousness in her stomach. "I thought I'd give him some time alone with her."
"I'm not sure you should tell him we caught the guy because we can't afford to have him end up in prison for murder. But on the other hand, if I were him, I'd want to meet him, maybe rough him up a bit…"
Ellie smiled. "I would too."
"Let me know if you need anything and if you do decide to tell him, let me know when he's comin' so I can be there with him."
"I will," she said, pushing away from the wall and heading inside.
Ellie had been debating whether or not to tell Riddick about the baby. Would it hurt him more knowing that he was losing two people he loved; there was no doubt in her mind that he would love that baby. As she was walking to Jack's room she decided he deserved to know.
A nurse stopped her on her way there and handed her something of Jack's that had been taken off her during the exam. Ellie held the item tightly in her hand and proceeded down the hall.
She pushed the door open slowly and peeked in, squinting in the dim light. Riddick was sitting in a chair, elbows on his knees and his hands covering his face. Jack was on the bed lying motionless but the heart monitor let Ellie know that she was still alive.
She stepped all the way into the room and let the door shut behind her.
"Riddick," she said just above a whisper. Riddick moved his hands from his face to look at her and the sadness in his eyes was actually painful to see. "I need to speak to you for a minute."
Riddick didn't question her; he just got up and walked to the door. Ellie followed him out into the quiet hallway and walked with him until he decided to stop.
"Make it fast," he said roughly, turning back to her. Ellie swallowed hard trying to build up her courage. She reached for his hand and opened it, palm up and placed a silver ring in it that was attached to a silver chain. It was the ring he had given Jack and the sight of it tugged sharply at his heart.
"Jack was going to tell you something important tonight and I think you should know what it was," she said as she closed his hand around the necklace. Riddick looked intently at her as he folded his arms, waiting for her to continue. Ellie rubbed her hands together and glanced nervously around the hallway. Her breathing was a little out of control and she had trouble finding the right words. How do you tell someone something like this?
"Okay, uh, Jack found out something this morning that she was a little worried about…"
"What did she find out, Ellie?" Riddick pressed. Ellie managed to meet his eyes before she continued.
"She's pregnant…with your child." With that revelation Riddick's arms dropped to his sides and he fell heavily against the wall, the impact forcing the air from his lungs. Pregnant. His baby. These things just didn't happen to him and for a reason. Nobody has ever gotten this close to him before…before Jack.
He finally understood where her strange behavior was coming from; being sick most of the time, tired, the sudden lush curves of her body, her sexual appetite…he was a father and for the first time in his life he was afraid and happy at the same time. His heart felt light as the sorrow loosened its grip but reality slapped him harshly in the face. He was going to lose them both.
Ellie watched the different emotions play about his face, watched the darkness disappear from his features. He looked happy for a second there but the sadness returned to his eyes as he slip to the floor. His focus was elsewhere as he looked at something that wasn't there, staring into a void that his life had become. He was giving up…surrendering to a force in this battle that was stronger than he ever would be.
Ellie was speaking to him but he barely heard her voice or the words as the pain in his chest rose to an overwhelming degree, demanding his full attention. But his brain was still functional and her words slowly formed sentences in his mind that he could comprehend. And when they made sense to him his blood began to boil and he willingly unlocked the cage.
They had caught the guy and it was now time for Riddick to share the pain he was feeling.
Suddenly he was on his feet and moving to the closest exit, the one Ellie had come through. She managed to step out of the way as he barreled past her. Reaching for her com link, she radioed Taylor.
"He's on his way."
Taylor ran to intercept Riddick but when he got to him Riddick said, "Show me where he is, Taylor and don't try to stop me. I'll find him with or without your help." He continued walking, slipping the necklace over his head and Taylor caught up with him, not saying anything, just leading the way.
The man was being held for questioning and Taylor quickly cleared a path to the room for Riddick, knowing that nobody would be safe if they got in his way. He opened the door for him and they both stepped inside.
Riddick stopped just beyond the threshold and eyed the man with a look that should have killed him where he sat.
"Shader, you bastard," Riddick growled. Taylor's eyebrows shot up in surprise and he looked over at Riddick, wondering how he would know this guy. Riddick read the question on Taylor's face and decided he should explain. "The Senator wasn't the target…I was," he directed to Taylor before turning back the man. "But it's hard to believe you would be such a lousy shot. Unless I was the target and you decided to handle it a little differently."
To Taylor he said, "Shader was one of the guards at Slam City." Riddick moved closer and placed his palms flat on the table. "Broke his nose a couple times, both arms and what…" he leaned in close, "a few ribs, was it?" The man barely nodded and shrank back in his seat. Riddick sneered at him as he moved around the table. Taylor took a few steps to him but stopped when Riddick gave him a warning look.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Shader was about to answer but he held back. The scent of fear permeated the room only enraging Riddick further. "Did they can your sorry ass?"
"Yea," he answered abruptly. "The same day you escaped, actually because you escaped."
"So you decided to track me down," Riddick said, tapping a finger to his chin thoughtfully. "Why?" Riddick's calm questioning had Taylor on edge. His control was beyond anything he's ever seen before under these circumstances. But he kept his distance and watched the exchange curiously while keeping a watchful eye.
"My career was ruined because of you," he spit out hatefully. Riddick laughed hard and loud, the rough sound of it bouncing off the metal walls completely surrounding them in the insanity of it.
"No," he said once his laughter ended. "Your career ended because you couldn't handle yourself down there and I was just the proof they needed to give you your walking papers."
"Fuck you!" he yelled. Riddick's hand shot out and wrapped tightly around Shader's neck. With seemingly little effort, Riddick threw Shader to the wall and pushed in to him.
"Why Jack?!" he yelled into his face. Taylor stepped up but didn't intrude; this was Riddick's fight and he was only there to make sure no one died.
"I knew if I got her it would hurt you more than anything," he choked out.
"What would you know about me and Jack?" Riddick asked, shaking him. Shader's head hit the wall dazing him for a second. "I asked you a question," Riddick said. His voice was deep and calm once again.
"I've been watching you for a long time now," he sputtered. Riddick reached back to the waist of his pants and pulled out his shiv, bringing it to the guy's face. Taylor jumped at the sight of the blade and figured now would be a good time to interfere even though Shader deserved the painful death Riddick would grant him.
"Riddick," Taylor said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Don't do it." Riddick ignored him and trailed the tip of the shiv down Shader's cheek drawing a thin line of blood all the way to his jaw. "It's not what Jack would want," he continued.
"Jack's gone," Riddick said, clenching his teeth together.
"She isn't dead yet." Riddick began another cut parallel to the first. Shader was visibly shaking in Riddick's grasp but moved as little as possible out of fear of being cut deeper. "You'll regret it the rest of your life if you kill him," Taylor said, squeezing his shoulder. Riddick stopped the movement of the blade but remained poised to slice.
"I have no life," he said quietly, his voice cracking slightly with emotion. "Not without her." He downcast his eyes and loosened his grip as the sting of losing Jack inched its way back in, growing more intense with the thought of losing his baby.
"He'll get what he deserves," Taylor said, pulling at his shoulder. "That I can promise you." Riddick moved the shiv away as he stepped back but he kept his hand around Shader's neck.
A commotion at the door brought their attention around just as Ellie stumbled through.
"Riddick," she gasped, out of breath from running. "It's Jack." Riddick's breathing hitched and his heart stopped but he found enough strength to punch Shader in the face, sending him to some unconscious world before rushing out the door with Ellie.
**** Don't be despaired, I'm not through yet. Thanks for all the wonderful comments. =)
