Notes:

Totally blown away by all these reviews! Thanks to everyone who reviewed, and here are the lists.

Jen, tamekabu (I will definitely check out your story. Thanks for telling me. Everyone else! Check it out! Please, that is.), FitMama, d, NightmareWeaver, CallMeAdmiral and how could I possibly leave out Scouse? It makes me very happy that you're so into the story. And yes, Khan will return at a later date. Promise.

Chapter IX: Arrival of Jack

Riddick walked into Imam's house and almost became the runway of his wife who was running through the rooms, cleaning and readjusting every single object she could find.

Smirking, Riddick ducked behind her and entered the kitchen where Imam was preparing food. Leaning against the counter, he took in the smells and sounds of what was going to be very good food.

"Preparing food for Jack is like preparing food for a pregnant woman. She eats anything and everything within range of sight, smell and sound!" The holy man was almost yelling by the end of his sentence and Riddick wasn't too sure about the knife being waved around in the air.

"Who's gonna pick the little kid up?" He asked, his arms folded across his chest. "Don't say me, holy man, you know I've got a bounty."

"Of course not you, Mr. Riddick. Jack will come home by herself. She knows the city quite well."

"It's going to be dark, holy man. I don't…you don't want her walking around at night in any city."

"Well, my wife and I will still be preparing for Jack and her friend when her transport lands, so unless you will go, Jack will arrive home by herself."

Riddick bristled. The holy man got him again. He did not want Jack wandering around in the city but he didn't want Jack to know he was here. Frowning, he thought of a way to keep her safe.

"I'll follow her."

"Excuse me, Mr. Riddick?"

"I said I'll follow her. That way I can keep an eye on her but she won't know I'm there."

"But she will know someone is there. And so will her friend. They trained together in school so do not doubt their abilities." Imam reprimanded, as if reminding a child of bad habits.

"I think I can take care of myself, holy man. When is her transport due?" He asked, seeing that the bright sun was already setting.

"Roughly…thirty minutes I'd guess." Imam judged by looking at the old clock that hung on the wall. He was about to continue talking about Jack's appetite when he noticed the other man was no longer there.

Leaping over the drops between buildings, Riddick sprinted towards the transport docks. 'Half and hour! How the fuck am I going to pull this off!' Riddick growled as the port came into view.

Stopping at the edge of the last building, he looked down at the wide street that separated the building from the port. He figured if he couldn't recognize Jack, he would just look for two young women with loud voices and bad language.

He became more and more tense as the minutes ticked by and growled when it passed the thirty minute mark. Why was the transport late? Was it held up by mercs? Technical difficulties? Did Jack or her friend do something stupid and get arrested?

Thoughts and questions plagued his mind as she watched the doors to the port open and close with anyone but his Jack and her friend.

He was rewarded when two young women exited the port, the smaller one endlessly chatting while the taller, and seemingly older, scanned the immediate area.

Jack had changed, and all for the better. Smooth chestnut colored hair was braided back and just curled up above the base of her spine. Her eyes, which he decided changed color periodically, glinted mischievously at the people milling about on the street. Riddick found he had difficulty watching her body move gracefully and swallowed once or twice before he could finally push himself to view it.

Every part moved together as one smooth movement after another was executed. 'Jacks thin waist does wonders for that chest and ass' Riddick noted as he glared at the tight pants and shirt Jack was presently wearing.

He took note of the taller girl who wore loose pants, a white wife-beater and steel-toed boots. A little more muscled then Jack, she almost stood guard of the younger and smaller woman. Red hair was pulled back and pinned up with only a few strands resting on her face.

Hoisting her heavy bag, she slipped on her sunglasses and glared at Jack as she took forever and a day to find hers, which were lost in the depths of her shoulder bag.

The pair crossed the street and Riddick almost leapt from the roof when he saw an car speeding down the busy road, but her friend caught her and held her back just in time. He smirked as he heard Jack curse and yell at the driver who was too far away to even begin to hear her.

The rest of the way home turned out to be uneventful, much to his relief and the moment he saw the front door close behind them, he slipped into the house from his open window.