Chapter 13

Bobby read over the data several times, but it hadn't changed. She was still pregnant. She got dressed and hurried down to the Med Bay, the folded pad in her hand. The door slid open and Doc came out of his office, she took one look at him and burst into tears. He took her in his arms and held her as she cried.

"Oh sweetheart. I take it this wasn't planned?" he asked.

"Hell no. We never even thought that this could happen."

"I'm guessing Riddick is the father." Doc said and she nodded. "How are you going to tell him?"

"I don't know. I just found out. I'm scared Doc, I'm really scared."

"Do you want to keep the baby?" he asked seriously and she looked at him again.

"You know my views on abortion."

"That it's justified murder I know. So abortion is out."

"Absolutely out." She said pulling out of his arms and wiping her tears away with the tissues he had pulled out of his pocket. She paused suddenly and looked up at him. "I'm going to have a baby." She said, the full severity finally sinking in. "I have to go." She said in a hollow voice, walking to the door and leaving the pad behind.

"Bobby, if you ever want to talk about it I'm here." He called after her but he didn't even think she heard him.

Bobby got back to her room and curled up on her bed, her hands to her stomach. She closed her eyes and fell to sleep without meaning to.

She woke to Riddick climbing onto the bed behind her and putting his arms around her. She started to cry silently but she knew that he could hear her.

"What's wrong Bobby?" he asked gently but she shook her head. "Did Doc have the results to your blood work done?" she nodded. "Did it upset you?" she nodded again. "What was it that made you so upset?" she just shook her head. "Please tell me Bobby."

"I can't, not yet." She sobbed and his arms clenched around her momentarily.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Still not very good." She said and felt him nod against her shoulder.

"We kinda finished the book."

"Could we just lie here? Just lie here?" Bobby requested and felt him nod again. "I love you Riddick." She said and heard him pause.

Riddick thought for a long moment, the full weight of her words finally sinking in. Did he love her? Could he love her? Love has been absent from his life for his entire life. It wasn't even in his vocabulary. Then again, she is the first thing he thinks of when he wakes up in the morning and the last thing he thinks of before he goes to sleep at night. Was that love? Damnit to hell, it was. Now all he has to do is tell her, form the words and tell her.

"I...love you too." He said and gave a huge mental sigh. He laid his head on her shoulder and held her in his arms. She grabbed his hands and laid them flat on her stomach. Her breathing slowed as she slipped back under and he kissed the back of her neck, closing his eyes. His body felt heavy and his muscles were sore from a good day's work, physically he was fine but mentally he was tired from taking care of Bobby and worrying about her constantly. Her door chimed and she squirmed but didn't wake. He slipped from the bed and went to the door, sliding it open.

"Thought I'd find you here." Malcolm said and he put up a hand.

"Quiet, Bobby's sleeping." He said.

"Oh sorry." He whispered, looking past him and at the woman on the bed. "How she feeling?"

"Better, but she was crying when I got here." Riddick whispered.

"Do you think it's got anything to do with the test results?"

"I think it has everything to do with the test results, but she won't tell me, not yet anyways. Now what's up?"

"Captain wants to see you." Malcolm whispered and Riddick looked behind him at Bobby then back at him.

"Now?" he whispered back and Malcolm nodded.

"Now. He said it was urgent, top priority."

"He better not try to punish me again for being with Bobby. I've had it up to here with that little man." Riddick whispered raising his hand to his neck.

"Well I don't know what going on. If I did I'd tell you."

"Yeah I know." He said and went to Bobby's side, kneeling down and kissing her forehead. Her eyes fluttered open and focused on him. "I'll be right back sweetheart."

"Okay, love you."

"Love you too." He said and they kissed gently before her eyes closed and she went back to sleep. He went back to the door seeing a wide-eyed Malcolm.

"Did I just hear you two say the infamous L-Word?" he asked and Riddick nodded. "Well, I couldn't have picked better for her myself."

"Thanks man." Riddick whispered clapping him on the shoulder. He stepped out of the doorway and the door slid closed. "Now I gotta go see what the dear Captain wants."

"Yup, good luck man."

"Yeah." Riddick said and walked down the hall, Malcolm watched him go.