As much as Riddick hated to admit it, he needed Jack. He's never needed anything before in his life. Her smile could melt an iceberg; everything about her was his definition of perfect. He knew he wanted love, but sometimes love was the scariest thing in the world to him

Kathleen had just driven Rozi and Matt to school and Mark had gone to work. Jack was sitting in the kitchen with a hot cup of coffee when there was a knock on the door. Assuming Mark had forgotten something, she went to the door and opened it.

She turned to go back to the kitchen to let Mark do whatever he needed, but she didn't make it was far at the doorway. A thick calloused hand grabbed her by the back of her neck and smashed her back against the frame.

She tried to scream, but the way the man had his hand around her throat, it only came out as a rusty squeak. "Hey cutie, I've been watching you" When Jack's eyes widened, the man snickered. "Oh yes my darling, I've been watching you for a very long time" Jack struggled to get away from him, but he was strong, almost inhumanly so.

She kicked at him, but he took it all in stride. Her lungs began to feel like they were closing in on each other and betraying her. Living for Riddick for a long time, Jack tried not remain as calm as possible, but this was something she had never expected.

"I'm going to let go of your throat, you're not going to run and you're not going to scream. I'm not going to kill you, but if you try to run away, I will. Do you understand me?" Jack nodded meekly and gasped for air when he let her go.

"What do you want with me?" Jack asked as she rubbed the soreness on her neck. The man laughed hoarsely. "What do I want? Hmm" He looked around the house then back at Jack. " You're ring" Jack's eyes welled up with tears at last as she looked down at her diamond ring. She ran her fingers over the cool gold band one last time before she slipped it off and handed it to him with a shaking hand.

"Thanks a lot darlin, now, I wouldn't go calling the police if I were you, I have all the phones tapped. You should consider your self very lucky, but no matter, I would never dream of hurting Matthew or Roselyn, not until you give me reason to" Panic clawed hot and fast at Jack's throat as he said those words so casually. He gave her a smile that other women would have considered charming and left the house as the door slammed shut and the wood splintered.

Jack's tears ran down her cheeks in hot rivers as her legs slowly gave way under her and she half fell to the floor. Her ring, the ring from her only love. She felt numb all over and didn't try to stand. She simply at on the cool floor as tears flowed down her face and the bruise around her neck became a hideous dark yellowish purple.

That's how Riddick found her as he came through the door. "JACK" He cried and quickly gathered her in his muscled arms. "Riddick" She said softly and traced his lips weakly with her fingers. "You came back" Riddick didn't smile but checked her over for any extreme damage. Except for a few bruises, Riddick couldn't see anything wrong with her.

"He took-" Jack said weakly. "He took-" "Who took what?" Riddick asked brushing her fine hair away from her pale face. "My ring, he took my ring," She gasped quietly and her eyes darted around the room, looking for possible hidden danger. "Who took the ring baby?" He asked. "I don't know" She curled against him and said into his chest. "I'm just going to take a little nap, seeing as I'm so very sleepy" Then she was asleep.