Authors Note:: I'm so sorry for the wait, and for a lot of the errors in the last chapters. When I wrote it I wasn't as focused as before, I was fighting writers block. Now I have gotten back into the groove and I'm pleased to announce I'm working on this story as we speak. I want to say thank you to everyone who read Alive and who've been by my side the whole way. Thank you for being wonderful! Now on to the story.::

Gentle silence wrap me in your secret embrace.
Let not the hatred of broken hearts consume my tired spirit.
Oh guardians of my sleeping refuge!
Take away the nightmares that threaten to rip my wounded heart.
I plead, I bleed.. That one day.. My dark angel would find me.
Let not the world fear the darkness as I drift deeper into madness..
Take me love, as I breathe my last breath..
And fall into the abyss of empty dreams.

The humming of the ship trembled quietly through the halls as Riddick and Jack made their way toward the mess hall. Not a word was spoken as they continued forward side by side. There was so much to say but that could wait, for Jack truly enjoyed the simplicity of his presence. Whether or not he uttered a word, with Riddick so close she finally felt at ease.

Riddick's mind was at a terrible dilemma… He couldn't stop the thoughts that ran amuck in his head. 'Why am I reacting this way? Ok so I haven't really been with a woman in a long time but this is Jack. Remember? The little girl with the fiery disposition? Get a hold of yourself and play it off. Besides, you have great self control.. Right?'

A low annoyed growl rumbled from his chest and slipped passed his full lips as they found themselves at a table. This really wasn't a good time to feel.. Excited. First of all, this was Jack. And secondly.. No. Not going to happen.

"Riddick.. You feelin' ok big guy? Her voice gently pulled him away from the current of thoughts that tormented his mind.

"I'm fine. Sit." He replied in his collected manner and motioned for her to take a seat in front of him as he did the same. "Been along time since we've sat at the table together. Thought we could catch up."

Jack narrowed her cat like gaze at him with a gleam he couldn't quite figure out, but he wouldn't need to.

"Went looking for you when I got tired of sitting on my ass waiting for you to magically appear. But wouldn't you know, I ended up in a mental ward that fucked with my genetic makeup." She replied in a icy voice and crossed her arms under her breasts.

Riddick leaned his arms on the table's surface and put his hands together, "You know I didn't have a choice."

He didn't like leaving her in the first place. But what the hell was he supposed to do with a kid while he had every Merc and bounty hunter in the universe on his ass? It's one thing to look out for ones own self preservation, but a teenager with no real life experience? There is no telling how long she would have survived if he had taken her with him.

Jack held a solemn expression on her face and sighed, "Doesn't matter anymore, I'd actually rather forget then dwell on it." Her mind swam with thoughts of the first day she set her eyes on Riddick.

He was chained up like some kind of animal while Carolyn was asking him questions. She remembered even then how beautiful he seemed, how magnificent a creature Riddick was. More then anything she wanted to be close to him, because out of everyone on that shit hole of a planet, he was the only one she Knew, wouldn't lay a hand on her.

Jack had seen something in him that no one else had. With young eyes, free of all prejudgment, she could see the soul behind the deadly gleam of his luminescent silver gaze.

The chains, the bit, the goggles, and the shiv's had no effect on her. Because in all honesty, none of that shit mattered. Jack saw something in him she thought was rare and unique; she had seen a small glimpse of herself.

A person running from a past that refused to be forgotten. That no matter what they did, everyone would always assume they were other then what they truly were. People can be real sheep sometimes. If only they knew how much it hurt when they assumed the lies that were fed so easily to them…

Riddick shifted in his seat while he examined her every move. Jack seemed to be falling back into her mind, a trait that he, himself, had done many times in the past. She seemed so calm and collected, untouched by her surroundings, and in a strange way, at peace.

He was never close to her, now that he thought about it. This young woman sitting across the table from him had only wanted to be close to him. This realization hit him hard nearly choking him as a lump formed in his throat. Jack at her most innocent had only wanted to feel connected to something, even if it was Riddick.

Why had he been so blind? He did care for the squirt, she was adorable and had a way about her that caused him to rethink some of his actions. Riddick never meant to hurt her, he just wanted her as far away from him as possible… He wanted her to be safe.

"So you going to feed me or do I have to start chewing on my arm?" Jack uttered softly, bringing Riddick from his never ending thoughts.

He furrowed his brow in an unimpressed manner and stood up. "You want food, follow me." His words were cool and aloof as he turned on the heel of his foot and proceeded to walk toward the kitchen.

Jack shook her head with a smirk and followed in his footsteps. She noted how large this ship truly was, "Think this ship is big enough Riddick?" She mused sarcastically while catching up to him.

He didn't answer, instead he brought her over to a large cabinet and opened its doors. It was filled with every kind of food and drink imaginable. Riddick stood back and watched in silent contemplation as Jack's eyes widened. A site he remembered well…

"Think you out did yourself old man." She chuckled and snatched a box of cereal and turned her gaze to him, "All I need is a bowl, spoon and milk and I'm set."

Riddick pointed to the right of the large cabinet where a frig sat. "It's in there." He replied in his usual growl of a voice.

Jack raised a brow and shrugged as she went to the frig and got the milk, found her way around the kitchen, where she also found a spoon and bowl and made her way back to the table they first sat at. After scarfing down at least three large bowls of the sugary goodness she let rip a mighty burp and grinned in pride.

"Fine dinning at its best." She murmured to herself. Full yes, tired? No. All that sugar was dancing through her system, not to mention the high amount of energy that already existed in her veins. Jack wanted to run around in circles, but that might not do well with Riddick.

"You got a Dojo right?" She asked finally while standing up.

"You're a sharp one." Riddick replied with a devious smirk planted on his face. 'This should be interesting, sparring with her. Maybe she can keep up. She may have all those abilities but she lacks style. We'll see about fixing that.'

Riddick thought to himself and led her from the mess hall toward his favorite room of the ship. Where he could go and get lost in his daily exercises and routines.

"This is where I'll teach you how to fight, if you can keep up." He taunted and watched her face distort into that famous teenage expression of, 'Try Me Asshole.'

Jack bawled her fists and got into a fighting stance, "I'll take whatever you dish out… Old Man." The reply was a hiss of rebellion to a man who could easily take down the biggest and worst of the universe and walk away with only a scratch.

He brought her out onto the mat, a grin flowing from his lips. "Lights to 0." The words drifted into the air as everything went pitch black. Riddick kept his orbs of liquid blue silver locked with hers and found himself slightly surprised as her focus was still on his gaze. "Enough light for you?" He chimed in a voice that would send most men running and most women into hysterics.

Jack flashed a seductive grin, "Perfect." Her tone had dropped three octaves, lower then humanly possible. "Don't make me wait, I lack the patience."

Before she could respond his body shifted and danced away from her line of sight, but to his surprise she had anticipated his move and dodged left, causing him to rethink his movements. Jack seemed still, collected, and very focused. Almost as if she was someone… Or something else.

Through the colors of brilliant blues and grays Jack could see into the sheer darkness as if it were day. Everything seemed calm and cool, beautiful is a word to be described. She loved this gift, this rare ability to look into the pitch black and no longer be afraid. No fear… No fear…

A strong steady heartbeat slithered into her sensitive ears as she focused her senses on Riddick. He was calm as always, void of any kind of emotion. Focused on her next move while calculating his. She waited, for that moment when he would step forward on silent feet and close the gap between them. She wasn't working on skills, she was working only on instinct.

Riddick made a move to her right then at the last second danced to the left, spun from the back only to come up from the front. His arms lashed out as he went to catch her off guard, but at that split second she sensed his presence and went to spin to the other direction. To her dismay he was still too quick with his lightening reflexes he stepped out, setting his foot under her leg causing her to stumble and fall to the floor.

A low hiss past her full lips as she leapt back into the air and landed on both feet, eyes narrowed, jaws clenched. Damn him for having the upper hand.

"You may be quick Jack, but what you have in strength and agility, you lack in style." His voice was all around her, surrounding her in an arrogant chuckle that only caused her to roll her eyes. That was another mistake.

The impact of his body slamming into her back caused her to buckle over and face plant into the mat. But this time she wouldn't be getting up so quickly. Over two hundred and thirty pounds of muscle pinned her harshly against the floor.

"Don't think you can cut it Jack." Riddick taunted knowing full well this would only antagonize her further.

Teeth gritted together as her lips twisted in a menacing sneer, "Get off Riddick." Her growl was more of a warning then a demand as every muscle in her well defined body twitched with strength. "I don't want to hurt you."

Riddick smirked and pressed himself harder into her tense form, "What makes you think I buy that? Leave the intimidation to me kitten."

Suddenly something snapped in the back of her mind… A vision of the hammerhead pinning her under a large bone in the consuming darkness. The fear and helplessness she felt as she called out to Riddick as he walked away. She almost gave up when he turned around and came back to save her… This time, who would save her from herself?

With a burst of tremendous strength she pushed up and off the ground with her arms and legs flinging Riddick back through the air till he hit the other side of the mat with a hard thud.

Standing with a grace of a feline she balanced herself on the balls of her feet and turned her menacing glare in his direction. Something had been triggered deep inside… One thing's for sure… Never piss off a woman on her period, no matter how small or fragile she might seem. Because honestly? You'll be in a world of hurt.

-End Chapter Six-