Chapter 3: Scars

Riddick could barely get the day's events out of his head. Lord Vaako had to repeat the ship's movements three times before Riddick really heard anything. Even at this moment, he wouldn't be able to repeat the ship's course.

He knew he would get to his room, take a shower, and, hopefully, fall right asleep. He was tired as hell. He would go see Jack in the morning. He would have gone to see her tonight, but, honestly, he didn't know what to say. All this time, he thought her to be deceased. But that had turned out to be far from the truth. The fact that it may not even be her was a possibility, but with the goggles and the way she reacted to Imam's death told Riddick he could rule out the thought that she wasn't Jack. He stopped at his doorway when Lady Vaako came out from the shadows. Her teal dress clung to her body. Sequins and a jeweled belt shimmered in Riddick's eyes.

"What do you want?" Riddick growled. He just wanted some time to himself, time to think.

"Who was our strange visitor today?" Her voice was liquid as she placed a hand on his biceps. Her touch made him want to shudder. She looked beautiful. She smelled beautiful. She was beautiful. That didn't mean that Riddick would allow her the chance to go all shiv-happy on his ass.

"It does when it affects you Riddick." Bad move. She was either extremely foolish or just plain impudent enough to say his name instead of calling him the Lord Marshall. "I hear you can't even keep your thoughts together." Her ice-like voice was bold. She was bold. A bold that Riddick didn't like, even though Riddick liked many kinds of bold people. But then again, Riddick wasn't the type to like people in general. And ever since he became the Lord Marshall, he knew lady Vaako would stop at nothing to kill him and have her husband in Riddick's position.

"It's Lord Marshall to you, Lady Vaako," Riddick gave the final statement.

"Yes Lord Marshall." Riddick watched Lady Vaako slink off to do god knows what… probably to go and plot another diabolical scheme to kill him.

Riddick turned back to his room and opened the door. He smelt burning candles and instantly, the hairs on the back of his neck stood erect. He shut the door slowly behind him and locked it. It was pitch black in the room. Just how Riddick liked it. He walked in vigilantly.

A grin came to his face as he caught a familiar scent. He stepped closer to the bed, pretending he didn't know anyone was there. He saw a lump in his normally very tidy bed. Riddick reached out for the sides. A gasp of surprise and laugher came from under the covers. Jack was ticklish. Riddick's body was over hers, pinning her down.

"Knew I wouldn't be able to keep you caged for long." His low voice rumbled.

"Is that why you only left me with one guard?" Jack spoke lazily from under the covers. "That was very insulting."

Riddick shrugged. "Didn't want to make it too hard for you." Her head popped out and she looked deep into his eyes. She punched him playfully. He sniffed at her, head moving to her hair as he took in her scent. "You smell good."

"Thanks to your gorgeous shower."

"Still think it sucks to be me?" Riddick smiled coyly. His smiled soon faded. He pulled at the covers and ripped off his goggles. "Is this my favorite shirt?" Riddick asked.

Jack smiled and curled her lower body out from under the covers. "This is too." She put her legs to the side.

"You little-"

"What? You didn't think I would stay dirty too long, did you?" Jack smiled, but then frowned. She moved to get up, but Riddick placed a strong hand on her chest and pushed her back down.

"I want my clothes back," Riddick demanded with a sly smile. "Now."

"No," Jack said it slowly in his face. She knew it was a challenge. Riddick threw her on her stomach and grabbed her hands and pulled them above her head so she wouldn't squirm. He lifted her shirt, that was really his, upwards. "No Riddick." Her feet kicked, but it was no use. "Stop!" She suddenly seemed serious. Riddick realized why.

"Jesus kid," he whispered. His fingers felt like flower petals as he traced the scars on her back. "Who the hell did this?"

Jack didn't say anything. She felt ashamed. She always told herself that she would be better than Riddick. But when she looked at those damn scars, Jack was no comparison. She didn't have the strength that Riddick had. No matter what he said, she would always be seen like a kid. "No one."

"Damnit Jack. Don't you dare say no one!" Riddick became furious. He flipped her back on her back and pulled her down so that his face was inches away from hers. Jack squirmed her way out of his grasp. Jack had the slight feeling that he let her go only because there was no way she would be able to get out if Riddick wanted her there. She leapt out of the bed and stood, back to Riddick.

"It was a long time ago," Jack said quietly.

"That's not what I asked."

"There all from different people, Ok?" Jack turned around and glared at Riddick, eyes brimming. God! Why can't I be stronger? Why is it the minute I talk to him, I just want to cry. It's him. He brings on these memories.

"Different people?" he scoffed.

"I told you Alexander wasn't a friend! I got some of them from bastards in the slams. Is that what you want to hear?" Jack's voice grew loud. "I got them from fighting fucking men. Killing most of them in the process. But you wouldn't know how it's like because everyone's scared shitless of you Riddick. They wouldn't come near you because they know you're deadly. But me! Me, oh no! They see a girl in the slams, figure she was framed, and try to fuck 'til she can't anymore; they end up fucking dead. Is that what you want to hear Riddick? You're stronger? Well here! I admit it. You are stronger. Always have been!"

Riddick sat on the edge of his bed. He held up his left hand and motioned her to, "Come 'ere kid," his voice was calm, collective. Jack inched her way towards him. She really is no longer a kid, Riddick. She's seen death, and even committed it. Riddick wasn't sure he wanted to know what those fuckers in the slams did to her. He felt almost sick for leaving her. Almost. The new Jack he saw made him feel things he had never felt before. He worried about her. Jack slumped next to him.

"They're awful. I hate them." Jack sighed. She threw herself back, head hitting the duvet cover. Riddick looked at her. Her curly brown hair outlined her face. It reached just a little past her shoulders. She changed so much. And her body. A woman's body had overtaken the twelve year olds' body he remembered.

He lightly brushed her shirt up so that her stomach showed. So toned. She definitely wasn't what you expected Riddick. She was… stunning. His fingers traced some scars on her sides near her hips. Most of them were now just white marks, but some still held a lifetime scar color. "Beautiful." The ends of Riddick's lips curved into a small smile. He bent down and kissed one. Then he pulled up, slapped her stomach, and got up.

"Ow!" Jack's hand went instinctively to where his hand had playfully slapped her stomach and stared at Riddick. "Where are you going?"

"Got to take a shower if I'm gonna be keepin' up with you." Riddick smiled and Jack's eyes followed him until he left behind the opening.

God I hate him! Just when I get the chance to be mad at him, he makes me love him all over again. I should have just slit his throat when I had the chance. Would have made all these emotions go away. Jack didn't want to feel the emotions. She didn't want to admit she did love him.

Riddick threw his clothes on the cool tile. He needed this shower more than he thought. Riddick sighed. He couldn't do this. He couldn't be around Jack and think straight.

Get a hold of yourself Riddick. That animal wants what you just saw. You can't have her. She wouldn't want a cold blooded killer like Richard B. Riddick. She needs something better. But… damn, she looked so good. Those damn eyes look into your soul Riddick. And her hairHe could just see himself playing with that hair while he made love to such a beauty. NO! Riddick forced his thoughts somewhere else, but just in case, he turned the shower on cold.

A/N: I'd like to thank all the people who reviewed me. Every time I get a review I'm forced by some godly force to write a whole bunch, so those reviews really help!

I'm so psyched! I finally saw Dark Fury and I have a plot! GO ME! I'm the worst person to come up with a plot that I follow through with. If you haven't seen Dark Fury or don't know what it's about you may be a little confused about future chapters, but I'm going to try and explain as much as I can so you don't become confused. And I was very upset to find out that Dark Fury is only half an hour long! ARG! Talk about annoying.

Totally Obsessed47: After much research and looking through many pictures, Jack's eyes are a bit green/olive color. I may suddenly change her eye color in the next chapter, and if I have time, I'll go back and fix it in the earlier chapters. Thanks a bunch for that!

Mytaintedangel: Thanks! I'm glad I can keep up some kind of suspense. Hurry up with resurrections!

Redneck chick - nice penname. Happen to be from Texas? Thanks for calling my chapter perfect! I never thought it could be perfect! –grins- if you keep up with that perfect stuff I may become very egotistic, but thanks for keeping up the self-esteem.

BananaGirl: AH! Thanks! I needed to know how I was doing on the character's personalities because I was so afraid I would blow it! Please hurry with Goodbye Jack, Just Jack and Familiarity! I love them all! You are such a great writer… and anyone who is reading this, go check her amazin' stuff out!

Hyper Vyper: Thanks so much for reviewing! I'm trying so hard to give long constructive reviews-Tears- school's been keeping my up 'til one! I think it helps when you write long chapters, and then I have more to go on. (and I love, love, love long chapters! –grins-) And if you don't update soon, I'll die of boredom because no one is hurrying along, but I did get a lot of emails from so hopefully one of them is yours!

Riddick's Sita: AH! I feel loved that you reviewed! It's a two way thing. The faster you post, the faster I post! I love the story too. Kudos to the person who gave me the idea (I'm not sure who or what did give me this idea) we were all waiting for Jack to be in Riddick's bed –mwahahahaha-

T. Fowler: I know someone with the last name of Fowler… random… thanks for the short review, but I'm glad I intrigued someone! –YES-

TotallyRiddickObsessed - in love with the pen! Yeah, I've heard her eyes are green. I've decided to change it during the chapter. If I have time later, I'll fix it! Thanks for catching the little things!

Adalon… Merci Beaucoup! For reviewing even though you've read it a billion times over! I wuv you! Thanks for being the best editor/muse/baldy/adalon every

Erm, that's all folks!

The loveable Moosey!