Ch9-Rising From The Dream

Kara Martin woke with a blood- curdling scream. Her hair was plastered to her face and she was shaking. 'It was a dream' She thought to herself as she gasped for air. She smoothed the hair off her face and searched for some clothes. She pulled on a pair of jeans of battered denim, making them soft against her sensitive skin, and a blue sweatshirt. She had to make sure that it was really a dream.

Jack was still unsure about what Kara had told her to do, but she took a deep breath and unlocked the door. She saw him sitting there, his head resting on his hands, at first she thought he was asleep, but when the hell of her needle thin shoes clicked against the wood and he looked up. "Jack" He whispered, he looked different. He had his contacts out, but something was off about him. 'He looks so sad, he looks human' Jack thought to herself. She took a step towards him and he eyed the clothes she was wearing. "You look so beautiful Jackie" He said and shifted uncomfortably. "Thank you" Jack said softly. He reached a hand out for her and she gingerly took it. He rose and looked down into Jack's pure green eyes. "I wanted to come after you, but after what happened, I didn't have the right to touch you, or to see you" Tears filled Jack's eyes. Riddick had scared his hands with burning hot water. "I wanted you to" Jack whispered. Riddick nodded. "I know, but the blood was on my hands, and I never want to have to have it on you" Tears softly flowed down Jack's face and Riddick reached out and caught it with careful fascination. "I would never hurt you Jack, I really need you to know that" Jack smiled through the tears and wrapped her arms around his neck. Slowly, he put his muscled arms around Jack's thin hips and she rested her head on his chest. Riddick inhaled her scent, she smelled like tears and vanilla. "I've got a confession Jack," He said pulling her away from him gently so he could look at her. "What?" She asked in a whisper. Riddick touched a piece of her loose gold hair between his fingers and said. "I'm in love with you" He said it in a way that made Jack gasp and it sent shivers down her spine. "Really?" She asked. Riddick nodded. Jack's mouth dropped open and Riddick softly pressed his lips against them. Jack gratefully accepted his kiss and whispered in his ear. "I love Richard B Riddick" Riddick jolted and said to her quickly. "No, you can't" Nothing could have shocked Jack more. "What do you mean 'I can't of course I can, I've loved you for years" Riddick took a few steps away from her and said slowly. "It's no good for you to love me Jackie" Jack gave him a look of utter disbelief. "You know, I wish everybody would just stop telling me what's good for me, I had to take it from my mom, my dad, Kara, and now you?" Riddick rolled his head to the side as he tried to release some of the tension in it and said, "Maybe you should've listened to them" Jack couldn't believe what she was hearing. Riddick lowered himself into the chair. "They didn't know what I wanted, I do, and I want you" "You don't know anything about me" Riddick said almost bitterly. Jack walked over to him and straddled his waist and said softly. "Sure I do," She said looking into his dark eyes. "You're just Riddick" Her face was filled with such compassion that Riddick had to avoid looking at her. He did love her, more then probably safe, "Jack," He began to say, before he could finish, Jack covered his mouth with hers and said. "I don't care about what you used to be, but I love you, and I'm not going to stop just because you think it's a bad idea. You can't just tell you that you love me like you did, then not expect me to say it back" Riddick had to smile. "You really are stubborn," He said affectionately. Jack threw her head back and laughed. "I'm about as stubborn as you are" Riddick kissed her forehead and then her lips. "You're an amazing person Jack" He said and hugged her to him. Jack felt his muscles ripple under his shirt as he lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist. "How old are you again?" He asked her. "17" She said. He carried her to doorway of his room and said. "Well that's close enough" Jack laughed and kissed his neck.