The apartment was once again warm, and feeling right. Everything was almost so normal that Riddick felt like something was almost wrong. It had been only three hours since they'd brought Jack home. Minx kept quiet and avoided him. Although he wasn't furious at her anymore.

He couldn't put her finger on it but something had changed between them, he could feel it. In that moment when he saw that Jack was okay he caught her eyes, and held them. Their gaze was intense, and it surprised him.

They'd been working together for about a week now, and she had proven herself over and over. They had talked a little about their childhood's, and their teenage years, and found that they had a lot in common. She had been through a lot of shit in her time, and survived it really well, for that he respected her.

She was pretty, and he couldn't help but notice. There were a couple of times when things got interesting for both of them. One that topped all, was when they had to work on the wiring under the control panels. The space was tight, and there was little to no air that circulated under there. But the sparks from the welding tools, and the amount of concentration that it required kept him preoccupied.

He was alone in the livingroom, lazily sprawled out length wise on the couch, his head resting on the arm of the couch. He had spent the evening and good part of the night keeping an eye on Jack, making sure she was comfortable. Minx was with Jack now. His mind drifted back to last night, he could only guess it was last night. The events of only a few hours ago had happened so fast he had lost track of time. He had to admit he never saw that one coming, when he had told Jack that he loved her. Call it ignorance, or denial, either way he never really thought that she would feel that way about him. He was going to miss her once she went to live with Imam, she was the one thing that wasn't screwed up, or wrong, she was justhis true friendJack.

The door to Jack's room slid open and Minx came through it, closing it behind her. She avoided him as she went into the kitchen. A moment later he found himself off of the couch, and walking into the kitchen behind her. She turned around and jumped slightly. There was only one way out of the kitchen, and it stood behind him. She waited. There was an awkward and unnerving silence that hung in the air, which was lined with tension.

Minx's body was still, her feet together, and in one hand a glass of water and in the other the bottle of pink pills that were for Jack. It felt like an eternity but in reality he knew it had only been a matter of seconds. He spoke first, "How is she?" He noticed how she jumped. When she spoke her voice was soft and quiet.

"She's tired but fine." He nodded. The picture of him holding his knife to her throat made him inwardly wince, he knew what he had to do.. apologize, something he hadn't done since he was a kid.

In slam you apologize by not beating the crap outta the other inmate, even then that wasn't considered sincere. But to really say sorry, and to a woman he hardly knew, but had saved Jack's life, this was the one time that he was at loss for words. She broke the silence. "Riddick." She paused, to move up to him. Her voice still quiet and soft, it sent an automatic chill through him. "I have to get these pills to Jack." He nodded and reluctantly moved aside.

In a flash she was gone, and headed down the hall. Everything was quiet once again. He should've just apologized, but he didn't. Returning to the livingroom he absently looked around, a splotch of color protruded from under his boot.

He looked down to find a silk scarf. Lifting up his foot he picked up the scarf, and with it came a cream colored card. He knew he shouldn't read it but he did anyway.

My dear Em,

I miss you so much. Even though we are not together, and you don't feel that you know mewe do know eachother. I've had this scarf in my possession ever since you dropped it in the drain that one Halloween night. I knew you'd love to have it back, even thought I was reluctant to give it up. I realized that the scarf mean nothing if I couldn't see you wear it. And soon I will. We will be together, and I'll take you away from where ever you are. Remember that I love you. Don't ask how, or why. Or even who I am. I feel like we've known eachother for the longest time.

All My Love.

He finished reading and put it back on the coffee table. For some odd reason he felt this sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Almost likebut he cut himself off, knowing that it couldn't be true. He couldn't be jealous. Shaking it off he gazed at the scarf. It was soaked in her scent and her perfume. It looked like it was made for her. He turned it around in his fingers, the silk soft and thin. Folding it up he placed it on the coffee table.

"Riddick," Minx's voice drifted up to him. Turning his head he saw her standing in the archway, her hand against the column. He stood, not taking his eyes off of her. Her eyes shifted from him to her scarf, then back to him. "Uh" She hesitated for a moment, seeming a little bit uncomfortable. "Jack needs her meds in another six hours. I'll give them to her so you can sleep." She said quietly. Moving to the coffee table to retrieve her scarf.

Riddick watched her movements. Then saw her eyes, they were moist with slight tears. She moved away, her shoulders and hips rotating gently, as she glided around the corner.

Sighing heavily, he shook his head. Since when had he ever been so tong tied?