Riddick paused as Imam called his name, one foot on the stairs his hand rested lightly on the banister. Imam didn't show a reaction from the glare in Riddicks eyes. The shining silver from his pupils bounced the low light like a cats.

"Jack is not in her room." Imam worried his hands. Riddick only continued down the stairs.

"I know." Imam rushed after him.

"You know where she is?"

"She snuck out. She's at a dance club. Apparently she's a regular, Imam, she'll be fine." Riddick had convinced himself before he'd left her there. But apparently she'd be fine without him worrying anyway. He scoffed. She didn't need him anymore.

"What are you doing?" Riddick had entered his room and began shoving shirts into a travel bag.

"I told you I was leaving."

"So soon?" Imam asked.

"The sooner the better Holy-man."

"You are upset?"

"That's an understatement. Just keep Jack safe while she's here. While you can."

"You will be back?" Imam stepped forward, well aware that he was risking his life standing between the silently furious man and his packing, he crossed his arms over his chest.

"…" Riddick paused.

"Richard…"

"Time will tell."

Jack was still singing at last call. In fact she'd re-introduced a song that T felt was perfect for closing time. Ironically enough that was its title; Closing Time, and Jack sang it while sitting next to T in the booth.

"So girl-io, you sticking around for a while this time?" T asked as he started stacking his cases for storage.

"Hopefully. I'm not really in command of my own schedule." She shrugged.

"Jaquline, darling." T refused to cal her Jack, it was to masculine.

"That big guy…"

"The one who stopped the hearts of many patrons this night simply by being to gorgeous to be that dangerous?" T hazarded a guess.

"That would be the one."

"Well congrats." T tipped his hat to her, making her grin.

"Its not that way."

"And why not?" T locked up his music and took her hand, leading her from the booth.

"He still thinks of me as this kid who needs his protection."

"Ah…" T twirled her under his arm, and wrapped his other arm around her waist, waltzing to nothing.

"He's upset with me because I didn't tell him about the club. He's not going to talk to me when I get home."

"Then don't talk…" T leaned back a bit so he could look her in the eye, "Let your eyes talk for you. Let your hands express themselves…" he ran his own up her arms and cupped her chin delicately between two large hands. "Don't let him make excuses, don't give him time to think…" He was staring into Jacks eyes, sweetly his fingers twisted through her hair and he gave her a little tug to bring her to her toes. Their lips matched perfectly, he whispered, "just go for it." his tounge traced her lips delicatly, they were trembling.

As suddenly as a thought he let Jack go and held her shoulders as she swayed. She let out a deep breath that she wasn't aware she'd been holding.

"Holy crap!" Jack clenched his forearms and leaned her head against his chest. T chuckled deeply,his arms wrapped around her slight form,she felt the tremors through the muscle.

"Trust me Jaquline, that man has no defenses against you."

Walking home alone wasn't an option. Both Lilly and T has vetoed that. Instead they shared a cab, dropping others off along the way. T was the last person in the car when Jack was dropped off.

"Just remember, don't give him time to think." She'd felt pretty good when they'd left the club. But standing outside the house, with Riddick on the other side, trepidation wasn't the right word, she was terrified.

Jack was shaking as she opened the door and stepped inside. She'd noticed that the porch light was on, which meant Riddick had come home and Imam knew she'd need a welcome when she returned. Imam was waiting in the foyer, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Jaclyn." His voice held a hint of disapproval, but she looked up sharply at the pity she'd heard in his tone.

"Where is he?" she twirled and ran toward Riddicks room. The door was still open, signs of hasty packing evident.

"He will be back." Imam rested his hand on her tense shoulder. Her hand gripped the door handle until he noticed it shaking, the knuckles pure white. "He left you a letter." He pulled a folded piece of paper from his robe pocket and handed it to her. She took it carefully and looked up into Imams eyes.

"He won't be back. He doesn't have any reason to."