Keeping Faith 3

The next morning found Jack wide awake, sitting on her bed. As special treatment, Imam had made Jack pancakes and brought them up to her in bed. The tasty breakfast foods were long since eaten and the syrup sticky plate rested on the floor. She sat staring at the letters and numbers, while rubbing her thumb over the smooth handle of the shiv. Rubbing her temples, Jack growled at the sequences and combinations that tortured her. She was about to get up and shower when she saw it.

"HAHA! TAKE THAT YOU CODE!" Her voice rang through the house and she didn't miss the shattering of the plate that surely Imam had been holding just scant seconds before. Smirking, Jack scribbled down the name and jumped up to take a shower. She mused that she had never taken a shower that fast before. Ever.

Once she was dressed, she hid the shiv in her boot, kept the goggles around her neck and after scooping up the papers and card key, Jack proudly walked down the stairs. Hurrying into Imam's study, where she heard him humming religious praises, Jack deposited the papers on his desk, covering whatever other work he had been trying to attend to.

"I figured it out."

"I am glad. You also broke one of my plates." He said, not glancing at the paper. Jack was confused. Why was he being so cold? She had broken dozens of his plates when she was angry and depressed, so how did this one breaking bother him? Sitting in a chair facing his desk, Jack narrowed her eyes and observed his body language. Stiff, jaw clenched and short breaths…more like puffs, really. Damn, he was pissed.

"Geez, Imam, I'm really sorry. I'll pay for it if that is what's bothering you. I deciphered the code, the one that he wrote." She explained, concerned when he she saw the even, uncaring look in his eyes as he looked up at her.

"I can see that, Jack. And now you will go to him?" He turned back to his work. What was his problem! Suddenly it clicked. He wasn't angry with her, he was just worried and maybe a little sad.

"Imam, I know it's him. He left his bone shiv from T2 with it. That and I want to go with him. You know I'm happier, no offense." Jack offered, wondering how this would end.

"Very well, it is clear it is him. And I know very well that you are only truly alive when he is with you. Or you are with him. Whatever it may be." Imam immediately loosened up and stood, looking slightly parental in Jack's view.

"And…" she added, knowing he wasn't done.

"My child, you are young and innocent." She snorted at this but let him continue. "He will show you many horrible things, worse than the terrifying monsters of T2. Don't pretend they don't bother you anymore, I know you still dream of them. He may be able to protect from the monsters of your mind, but will he not be angry with having to look after you physically?"

"This," Jack picked up the card and the paper in one hand. "Is a direct invitation to join him. I think he knows what he is asking for. He knows what you know, cause it's also obvious he has been watching me. I can protect myself if it comes down to it, but hands down, Imam…if I die, I die. That's that." She ended, sounding more then determined. She wasn't going to let him stand in her way of happiness and freedom.

Sighing in defeat, Imam raised his hands with open palms facing Jack. Pleased with her victory, Jack quickly told him she was going to pack and leave in the evening. Turning on her heel, she was comforted by the hard feel of the shiv fitting against her leg. Jack debated whether she should really give Imam a proper goodbye and was nearly snarling in anger when she reached the door to her room.

Closing it behind her, she wondered what she should take. Sure she would have to take clothes and the basics for hygiene, but what about room accommodations? Did Riddick already make something up for her? She didn't know and she certainly didn't want to return to get something, so Jack compromised. When she had finished, she would be carrying one backpack with clothes, a double roll consisting of a blanket and rug and another roll with one half of her window curtain that she was attached to. She strapped one roll on the top of her backpack and the other on the bottom, making it almost look like she was hiking. Wisely she had covered the richly coloured blankets, rugs and curtains with canvas, so she wouldn't be picked out as a target in the docking area. Last but not least, she wrapped her laptop in extra padding and canvas, keeping it closed with two leather belts. When she had finished, Jack looked out the window to see that evening wasn't far away.

Deciding that some food would be in order and before or after that her apologies and goodbyes to Imam, Jack exited her room and made a beeline for the kitchen. Not finding him there, she made herself a sort of wrap. Munching through it, she figured she could fit some home-cooked meals for Riddick at the top of her bag. He would appreciate that, right?

Just as she finished, Imam strolled into the kitchen, looking a little ravenous himself. Barely cordial greetings were exchanged as Jack put her dish in the sink and pushed herself up onto the counter, watching Imam as she had done so many times before. Only difference was that in all those times before, there had been conversation. Small, but still there. Set to fix that, Jack sighed and tried to think of something to say but found that it was impossible.

"I'm leaving tonight…probably in five hours or so. What are you going to do?" She asked, cutting off the 'once I'm gone' part.

"Jack, my child, I do not know. You have been there as a sort of anchor, but now I can fully dedicate myself to my students and studies. Perhaps find a wife, have children…there are many possibilities when you are not housing an annoying and headstrong young woman." As he said this, he turned and faced Jack with a genuine smile.

"Kids, huh? Can't be much worse than me, that's for sure." Jack replied, sliding off the counter and walking into Imam's hug. He hugged like a real father should, like a large protective bear hug, but still giving off endless comfort. Knowing she would miss this, Jack pulled back before she changed her mind about leaving.

"Imam, I was wondering…" she trailed off, watching him turn back around to put the finishing touches on his dinner.

"Yes?"

"Could we make like…a four course meal for Riddick? I'm sure he hasn't had real food in ages and he would-"

"Of course, I was thinking the same thing. Let me eat this and we will create a feast fit for a king. Come, sit and talk to me of your findings and codes while I eat." Imam said, gesturing towards the kitchen table.

Jack sat down across from him and began to rattle off everything she had done. A blow by blow play from figuring out how to decipher the code, to actually discovering what the name was. Through the entire conversation, Imam listening eagerly, glad to see that Jack was very smart and that not some silly code could confuse her completely. He was aware that she did some hacking, but it wasn't something serious so he had never brought it up with her. As she finished, Imam congratulated her with a job well done and soon they began to cook.

Finally the hour arrived and Jack had just finished re-strapping her bag together after putting in the tons of food Imam had forced her to bring. This would last at least a few days, even with two people like Jack and Riddick, who had wolf-like appetites. Shouldering her bag, she gave Imam once last hug, who stopped her and removed the prayer beads from his wrist. Handing them to her, Jack knew it was useless to protest, so she looped them through a belt loop on her pants then pulled them through itself, letting it safely dangle. With a final smile, Jack left Imam's house, setting out towards the docking area.

Glad to be in the docking area as the sun disappeared, Jack looked for the ship, checking the hulls for the name. She saw this one pretty big ship farther down and she knew someone with a lot of money could only get that and doubted it was his. But as the ships thinned out and the name wasn't found, Jack figured he had just loaded up on money by various jobs. Many various jobs at that. Approaching the sleek ship, Jack stayed out of the force field area. This was the security field that had a standard around every ship, so it would alert the occupants to someone's presence outside the ship. But Jack had paid attention in class and carefully avoided it, still looking for the name. Finding it, Jack almost crowed with glee as she ran back to the front of the ship. But how to get on it without him knowing?

An idea burst into flames in her head and Jack immediately began to climb the wall nearest to the ship and when she had judged the distance, jumped gracefully from the wall onto the top of the ship, where, as Jack guessed correctly, there was no force field. That would be extremely expensive, creating a field in empty airspace, instead where it was easier on the ground because sensors that created the field would be cemented under the ground. Not so in the empty air space, Jack noted victoriously. Jumping down from the top, she took out her key and was about to slide it through when the door began to open. Stepping back, Jack was almost jubilant when she saw him.

His trademark smirk was no different, nor was his body that was still in perfect physique. Hanging onto the landing pole of the ramp, Riddick swung out and held out his hand.

"Welcome to Fury's Haven, Jack."

Thanks to these reviewers:

Ennaejj – glad you still like it.

satanicversus – your waiting has come to an end.

sara – glad you think this is the best. Any particular reason why you think so?

FluidDegree – god damn, that is (obviously) the exact name, you just missed the – 's – part, but good job. Seriously. Um… hands you cookie congratulations? I suppose I typed up this next chapter so fast because you deserved it. Kudos to you.