Chapter 25

Kody rolled her eyes and sighed. The bigger they are, the harder they brood, she thought with a twinge. Hell, when did I get so god damn emotional? She frowned, a pensive expression taking over as she pondered. Usually I'd just tell him to suck it up and be a man, but… shit, I actually feel kinda sorry for him. She thought back to the day Jack had latched onto her…

"Hey." Kody's eyes sprang open, and she leapt from the chair, unaware she'd dozed off. A short, skinny, green-eyed kid was tugging on the tail of her sleeve.

"Get the fuck away from me," she snapped, stooping to snatch her bag and toss it over her shoulder. The kid obviously didn't listen, from the slaps of the soles of her shoes following closely behind. Kody stopped suddenly, trying to bite back the chuckle as the kid rammed right into her back, nearly keeling over backwards at the impact. "I thought I told you to leave me the fuck alone."

"I just wanted to ask you if you knew where a motel was around here," the kid said sheepishly. "I don't have a lot of money, and, uh, I don't really know where to go." Kody sighed, scrunching her eyes shut tightly. Do not take in strays, she told herself. Her cold, blue eyes opened again, the anger replaced.

"I don't know. Sorry, kid," she snapped, whirling back around to resume her steps.

"Well, fuck you, then." Kody's foot hovered above the spot it was about to take as she froze.

"What did you say to me?" she growled, turning slowly. The kid didn't back down.

"I said, 'fuck you, then'," the kid repeated, eyes equally as angry. Kody didn't try to hide the smirk.

"You're not really my type." The kid's eyebrow rose. "Jailbait and all," Kody added with a shrug.

"Not really observant, are you?" the kid spat at her. Kody glared, looking the kid over again. Something wasn't right. "Look, I just got sent to this place by the guy that I was staying with. Didn't see it coming, and didn't have time to prepare. I just grabbed my shit and left, so I don't have a fucking plan yet, and I'm tired." Kody took another long stare. Convincing guy to a passing glance, she thought, slightly impressed.

"I don't take in strays," she said quietly. "Liability and all." Unintentionally, Kody looked around their surroundings, looking for anyone watching or listening. Habit, really. But the kid's eyes lit up.

"So you're running then." Kody didn't answer, but the look on her face told all. "I'm Jack."

"Really," Kody snorted.

"Yeah, really." Jack shoved her hands in her pockets, shrugging her shoulders to shift the backpack resting there. "I just need a little help." Kody sighed. "Just one night."

"You really don't want to associate yourself with me," Kody warned.

"I've done worse and made it through." The kid's tone held an air of truth, and it intrigued the tall, slender killer standing before her. Hell, if she'd gone to the lengths of pretending to be a boy, maybe she wasn't as much of a liability as Kody thought.

"Prove it." The girl's eyes fell.

"I can't right now."

"Why not?"

"If you're running from trouble, it's a name you don't want spoken in public," Jack said quietly, trying to make sure no one else heard. "'Specially if it's mercs." Kody's eyes narrowed, but the girl just stood there. With an exasperated growl, she turned and left the bar, heading to the motel she'd scouted earlier. The girl followed, and she knew it, but she didn't try to make the kid go away. Somehow, she knew she'd end up letting her stay for the night, no matter how hard she rationalized shutting her out. Jack stood down the hall, just a couple of doors away, as Kody slid her keycard into the slot on the door.

"One night, kid, and don't fucking test my patience," she said quietly. The girl nodded and walked through the open door, watching as Kody closed it behind them.

"Which bed do you want?" Jack asked quietly.

"A bed's a fucking bed," Kody said with a shrug. Hell, she said 'fuck', so why should I try to be polite? "So who's this worse than me person anyway?"

"You wouldn't believe me even if I told you," Jack responded, digging through her backpack for a bottle of water. "So let's not waste breath here." Kody shrugged. "My real names Jacqueline. Figured since everyone called me Jackie back home, I wouldn't have trouble remembering to turn around when someone said 'Jack'."

"Smart," Kody said, watching the girl's bag for any insight. "Who's the guy that dropped you?"

"I already told you you wouldn't believe me."

"So you were living with someone more dangerous than me, which, by the way, has yet to be confirmed, and managed to live through it long enough for him to decide he didn't want you around anymore and send you away?" Kody asked sharply. Jack's eyes grew angry.

"He didn't drop me," Jack spit. "He sent me away because he wanted a better life for me. He wanted to protect me."

"From what?" Kody asked, slightly amused at the girl's defiance.

"Everyone chasing him."

"And you're not going to tell me." Jack only shook her head.

"As long as no one knows, I'm safe and he doesn't have to worry about someone getting to him through me," she explained quietly. Kody fell silent, not sure whether this girl was in denial or actually understood the situation. "So who are you?" Kody's eyebrow rose. "I told you my name, and divulged more information than I probably should have, if I wasn't so god damn desperate for a place to stay." Kody sighed.

"I'd rather not tell you my name for the same reasons you won't tell me his." Jack nodded, seeming to understand. "Look, just so you know, I'll be gone before you wake up. Why don't you call up for some food." Jack's eyebrows rose. "I'm gonna shower."

Jesus Christ, I'm a fucking softie, Kody thought, twisting the handle on the faucet, testing its warmth. Not hot, but not cold, either. It'll do. I mean, God, this kid's barely fifteen and already has secrets for what seems to be a damn good reason. She thought for a moment. Okay, who got out recently. She mentioned mercs. Someone with a nice bounty. Couldn't be Farcy Mays. Fucking pedophile. She seems too attached to this guy. Um… Marty Pegs? Nah. Too heartless. Riddick? Hell, he's probably the coldest mother fucker ever. Didn't I hear somewhere that he drank blood and killed just for the sheer pleasure and excitement? She couldn't help but smile. Then again, people say the same about me. She undressed, dropping her dingy clothes into a heap on the floor. A contented sigh moved the steam in swirls as she stepped under the water, which had finally gotten hot enough to satisfy. I don't know. Everything I've heard has been that he works solo and for himself. No one else. Hell, I don't know who the fuck it is. Might just be some asshole trying to impress. Some no-name that thinks he's all badass. Shit. Who fucking cares? She heard the holovid on when she turned the water off, quickly toweling dry to see if the kid was watching the news, and, if she was, if anything was said about her. She wrapped the towel around herself, pulled her hair back into a long, braided pony tail, and went back out into the main room, smirking at young Jack, totally taken with the television. She blushed slightly under Kody's gaze, and shrugged.

"We didn't have a television," she said quietly.

"I prefer the news feeds myself," Kody responded. "They usually have more information." Jack just nodded, and Kody continued to watch. "Why don't you take a shower, kid." Jack's eyes met hers. "Relax a little, get some sleep. You look like shit." The girl grinned, nodding slightly.

"Food should be here in a minute," she said as she stood, heading into the bathroom.

"What'd you get?"

"Cheese pizza," Jack answered. "It was the cheapest thing on the menu."

"I got it, kid. Don't worry about it," Kody said quietly. Jack smiled, seemingly embarrassed at not having much money. She didn't say she was completely broke, but if she ordered based on price, she had to be getting tight on fundage. Kody snickered. She kinda missed those days.

The pizza had come, and they'd both eaten greedily, as though it would be their last meal for years. They just watched the holovid, flipping between channels, until a news broadcast caught Kody's attention.

"Wait. Stop there," she commanded quickly.

"You're on the news," Jack said quietly. Kody only nodded slowly, mesmerized. Naturally everything that was said was false or embellished to a great degree, and once the segment was over, Kody snorted. "Nice to meet you Dakota," Jack offered.

"Call me Kody, and once I'm gone, you never knew me, understand?"

"More than you know," she agreed quietly. Kody's eyebrow rose, but Jack didn't offer any more. Shit. Might have been a big fish after all.

"Did he teach you not to believe anything you hear that comes from Company?" Jack nodded. "And you do know that Company censors every news broadcast in their jurisdiction, right?" Another small nod. Damn, had to be a big fish. Usually people don't think of shit like that unless it's serious. "Did he teach you to defend yourself?" Jack grinned, reaching into the backpack she'd laid at her side. Kody just grinned as Jack revealed what looked like a hand made prison shiv. "Score." Jack replaced the weapon and yawned. "Get to sleep, kid. You've got the room until three tomorrow afternoon. Unless you want to pay for another night, you gotta be checked out by then."

"Yeah, I know," Jack said sheepishly. "Been in a lot of hotels recently."

"You got enough money to get somewhere you can start over?" Kody asked gently.

"Yeah." Kody's eyebrow rose. "But I'm a damn good pickpocket if I have to resort back to that." Kody nodded and adjusted the pillows behind her head. Her bag was packed and laid next to the door, just in case something happened. She had alternate plans, just in case, as well. She drifted off into a light slumber, and when the sun threatened to peek over the hills, she woke and left silently, pausing to glance back at Jack. Just as she was about to shut the door behind her, the girl's quiet whisper gave her a reason to pause: "Riddick?" She winced. That had to hurt. She shook her head and closed the door quietly, waiting until she heard the click and beep of the lock, then went down the hall, taking the back stairs to the main desk.

"I'm going to go ahead and pay. My sister's still sleeping, but she'll be checked out before three." The man's eyebrows rose. "I've got some business in town this morning, and didn't want to make her wake up so early," she lied through a winning smile. "She's going to meet me for lunch later on, after she checks out." The man nodded, and processed the room. Kody remembered to thank him, and left, praying Jack didn't get caught in the crossfire.

Kody woke with a start, surprised she'd fallen back to sleep and kept the memory going. She sighed and rubbed her eyes. Well, might as well get up and pee, she thought with a sigh. With a stifled groan, she stood and shuffled out the door, trying to remember where she'd seen a bathroom.

After handling business, she returned to the kitchen, thankful Riddick had left the pot of coffee on. She poured herself a cup and sat at the table, staring into nothingness as she thought. He's obviously still not over her. Hell, I don't know if he ever will be. But he's got to move on eventually or he's going to tear himself apart in the long run. And Riddick going insane – for him, compared to his usual self – would not be a good thing.

"You're up again." She smiled, still staring off into space, hearing him pour himself another cup and sit next to her. "And you're off in la-la land from the looks of it." He waved his hand in front of her face, smiling as she blinked a few times in surprise before turning her eyes on him. "You okay?"

"Mm-hmm," she said quietly, nodding slowly. His eyebrow rose. "I was just thinking."

"About what?"

"You probably don't want to know," she said gently, hoping he'd drop it. He nodded, focusing on the steam rising from his mug. "You know, this ship is big enough, if you wanted to work out a schedule for who gets the kitchen and bathroom, that's fine with me." His eyebrows furled, and he glanced up at her quickly. "I can go on my way as soon as you need me to," she added quietly. "I don't want to be an imposition."

"I like the company," he insisted, raising his mug to his lips. She watched, entranced. Those lips… Good god, stop thinking about it, Dakota. Get a fucking grip! She forced herself to look away, and he did the same. The air was charged with electricity, both feeling it and wondering if it was just them.

"I missed you," she said quietly. He didn't say anything. "I couldn't stay though. Not after the thing with Chris. Had to make it obvious I went about my business on my own so he wouldn't go after you, too."

"You didn't have to do that."

"Yes, I did," she insisted. His eyebrows rose. "It's one thing for you to work out a plan to save me, but I don't think I could pull off saving you." He smirked, but it didn't last. "Did I ever thank you?"

"Now you have," he said quietly. She smiled up at him. "Were you, um…" He stopped, and she could see the wheels spinning as he tried to think of something to say, or how to phrase it – she wasn't sure which. "If Tim hadn't shown up at the bar, would you have, uh…"

"Does it matter?" she dodged.

"Not really, but I'd like to know."

"Why?"

"Because then I'd know what my next question would be," he said, a hint of a smile breaking into his voice. She fought the smile.

"What if I said no?"

"I'd ask if you were planning on coming back or just going solo for the rest of your life," he said quietly.

"And if I said yes?"

"I'd ask what he had that I couldn't give you." She looked over at him, taken aback, but he was just staring at his hands cupping both sides of the mug, running a thumb back and forth over the lip.

"I don't know if I would have come back," she answered after gathering her wits.

"So you weren't planning on running off with him." She wasn't sure if it was a challenge or a question, so she didn't answer. "Kody?"

"Are you asking or assuming?" she asked quietly.

"Both." Her eyebrow rose. "I'm assuming and asking for confirmation." A small smile.

"Things didn't play out that way, so it doesn't matter."

"It matters to me," he pressed.

"It shouldn't," she sighed, scratching an eyebrow with her thumb. She felt him staring at her, but didn't indulge him.

"But it does."

"Look, Riddick, all that matters is that I'm here right now, and I'm grateful for that. Hell, I don't think about what could have happened to me if you and Tim hadn't gotten me out because it doesn't matter now. You did. All that matters is what's happening right now," she said.

"Look at me." The tone in his voice made her think twice about disobeying, so she complied. "What does he have that I couldn't give to you?"

"Safety," she said quietly, still holding his gaze. His eyebrow rose, head cocked to the side.

"From what?"

"Emotion," she said, averting his eyes. "I could never fall for him."

"So you'd run off with him just because you'd never fall for him," he repeated. She nodded slowly, seeming distant and detached. "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" She didn't answer. "How the fuck will that keep you safer than being with me?"

"Because I wouldn't have to worry about whether or not I'd look out for number one." His eyebrows rose, the wind suddenly taken from his sails. "I wouldn't have to think about whether I'd risk myself for someone I loved or keep myself alive."

"And now?"

"I don't know," she whispered, staring off into space again. He felt like someone had just dropped him into a jar of molasses.

"Kody?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you scared of me?" he asked after a beat.

"Yes," she said quickly. His eyes closed.

"Why?"

"A lot of reasons," she said with a dismissive shrug, blinking out of her trance to take a sip of coffee.

"Such as?"

"Shit, Riddick, you really think you want the blow-by-blow? I sure as hell don't think you do."

"Humor me."

"Riddick…"

"I'll worry about the kickback later, just fucking tell me," he insisted, his voice suddenly edgy.

"Because I've seen you kill, and I've seen you walk away from a kill you could have taken easily, and for what reasons I'll never know." His eyebrow rose. What the fuck is she talking about? "Because you've survived things that no one else could ever survive even with God sitting on their shoulder. Because you're full blooded Furian, and I'm only half, and I know what I'm capable of." His eyebrows rose. I'm Furian? How the hell does she know that?"

"How do you know I'm –"

"Because I could fall for you and really have to think about what I'd do if the shit hit the fan and I had to make a quick decision. Because if I chose to protect myself I don't know if I could live with myself for letting you die, but if I chose to protect you I don't know if I would survive and how you would react to that. Because you're everything I've ever wanted to be and I don't know if I can live up to that." She was talking at full speed now, the reasons she was afraid of him spewing forth rapidly, no holding back. "Because I don't know if you could ever love me and I don't know if I could take the chance on loving you if it wasn't returned. Because I don't know if you expect me to be Jack and I know I'm not." His eyes closed, head dropping into his hands. Shoulda known better than to ask, he chided himself. "Because I've never loved anyone other than myself before – truly loved someone – and… and… why the fuck did you have to ask me that?" She turned her gaze on him suddenly, her eyes enraged and terrified all at once. He lifted his head slowly, eyes equally as torn, and heaved a sigh.

"I don't have any answers for you, Kody," he said quietly, leaning back in his chair. "But I can tell you I know exactly how you feel." She sighed. "I felt the same way about Jack, and…" he paused, watching her eyes close. "Yeah, why the fuck did I ask you that?" Nervous chuckles broke the tension. She blew at a curl hanging in her eyes, and he watched as it bounced off the top of her head and back into the same place. She quickly tucked it behind her ear.

"Tell me something," she said quietly. He nodded. "Do you believe in soulmates?"

"No," he said quickly. He'd thought about it before, and he truly didn't believe in soulmates.

"What do you believe in?'

"As far as…?"

"Anything. Generically," she said with a shrug. Good, he thought, conversation is heading in a much more safe direction.

"Survival."

"Well, duh," she snickered, prompting a smile.

"Uh, well, shit, I don't know," he sighed. "Evolution." She smiled.

"Fate?"

"I don't know, really," he murmered, scratching his chin meditatively. "Hadn't really thought about it. I think things happen because of decisions we make, like a big chain, but I think you can be a catalyst in your own life as well."

"So you don't blame your foster parents for the way you turned out?" she asked playfully. His eyebrow rose.

"How did you know I had foster parents?" She opened her mouth and took a breath, but he interrupted. "And how did you know I'm Furian? Hell, I didn't even know that."

"Well, the Furian thing is educated speculation, based on the files I hacked into while on my little vacation. Had to do some digging around anyway, and I got bored with Anders, so I moved on to more interesting subject matter."

"Really," he pressed. "What else did you find out?"

"All the lies Company made up to make you look bad." He snickered.

"Hate that," he chuckled. She nodded knowingly.

"They, uh…" she trailed off and paused, glancing at him nervously. "Hell, I probably shouldn't tell you this, but…"

"I killed Jack, right?" Her nod prompted a grimace. "Figures," he spat, shaking his head.

"Yeah, hacked into my own files, which are full of bullshit as well," she said, lifting her coffee to her lips.

"Like what?"

"Like I killed my parents." His eyebrow rose.

"Did you?" She shook her head. "That's right. You said back in slam that you'd found them and never bothered to figure out who did it." The quick flash of guilt in her eyes piqued his interest. "Did you hack into that, too?" he asked quietly.

"I knew all along." His brows furrowed.

"So you lied to me."

"Hey, it was your first day in there. I had to test the waters before I could tell you too much," she said defensively.

"So what else did you lie about?"

"Nothing. I just didn't want to get into the gruesome details right then, so I dodged it." He grunted, but didn't press the issue.

"So who did it?" She was quiet, chewing on her bottom lip. "Okay… are you sure or do you just have a suspect?"

"No, I know," she insisted.

"Without a shadow of a doubt." She nodded. "How?"

"I was there." His stomach dropped.

"Shit," he breathed. She nodded. "How'd you get out of it?"

"I was in the attic, hiding from my dad." She was staring off into space again, eyes clouded over, just the way they'd been when she first told him the brief version of her background in prison. "He'd come home drunk, beat my mom, and when he'd had enough of her, he'd lay into me." Riddick grimaced. "I took it, unless I could hide before he got home, if I was even there. Most times we'd know if he'd been out drinking. He'd come home late, or I'd hear him screaming from downstairs and have enough time to get up into the attic before he'd see me. He just assumed I was out." She shook her head, and he noticed her lip quiver slightly. "Mom hated me."

"What do you mean?"

"She'd always hated me. I don't know if it was just a Furian thing or what, but from the day I was born, she cursed my existence. Never laid a hand on me, but she let me know how unwanted I was." She sighed, scratching the back of her neck. "Their deaths were a way out for me. Wasn't easy, being on my own and all. I told you about that. But it was better just knowing that my mom wasn't a live to hate me and my dad wasn't alive to beat the shit out of me. I guess I owe you another thank you," she said quietly. His eyebrow rose.

"For what?" Her pause made him nervous.

"Giving me that way out." His breathing stopped.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" he asked slowly, not really wanting to hear the answer.

"I was in the attic, looking down through a crack in the tiling. Dad was screaming at Mom. She would have died that night anyway. He'd gotten a hold of a lamp cord and started strangling her with it." Riddick's eyes closed, fingers rubbing his forehead. "Guy walked in the door Dad left open when he barged into the house. Neither of them saw him. Well, not until Dad had his throat sliced. Mom couldn't move. He turned to go, but she said something that really pissed him off, and he killed her too."

"'I've got a daughter in the attic you can take care of too'," Riddick whispered, just as she said the same thing. He winced painfully, hoping this was just a joke – that she'd read it somewhere in a file or news feed.

"So he killed her, too. Jabbed his knife in the side of her neck and looked into her eyes while she died." That was a detail that wouldn't have appeared anywhere, and it was all the confirmation he needed. "I wanted to run down and hug him, but I was too fucking scared," she continued with a slight laugh. "Wouldn't have been a good idea, because he just kept on. Gave me a good lesson on how to mutilate with style, so that's another thank you." He shook his head, wishing he'd wake up and be back in slam or on T2 again. "I couldn't stop watching, but I couldn't go down there because I was too scared you'd just kill me too." Her voice cracked. "But thanks," she said quietly. He forced himself to look up, and she was staring down at him, tears streaming down her cheeks. She nodded slowly, as though it would make him really believe she was thanking him.

"I'm sorry," he choked.

"Don't be," she said with a small laugh, which sounded like a cross between a laugh, a snort, and a sob.

"Kody—"

"I'm uh," she interrupted quickly, standing, "going to go back to bed now. Tired again already," she added with a shrug and a small smile. He stood as well, watching her walk past him.