AN: Since I've been told it's now against the rules at to respond to reviewers in an author's noteI will NOT take the time right now to thank all those awesome people out there reviewing this story. I won't tell them that their patience and support has been exceptionally motivational and I'm not sure where this story would be without them. I also won't tell them they totally rock. But--if they're 18or older and they start reading and responding over at an sweet site called www rhiana-griffith com/forums IS NOT against the rules to tell them that, I just might be so inclined.


"How did you know that was the word I was looking for?" she asked, forcing her voice to work, forcing herself to sound calm. If she freaked her life would end.

"Hmm, I've been listening to you mumble that poem under your breath for weeks. Got it pretty much pieced it together. I like it, a lot. When did you make it up?" he asked, sounding very much at ease.

She swallowed, taking an even, measured breath. "My first night in a group home. I was eight. I said it like a prayer every day to remind myself..."

Not to fall into traps. Some good it did you now, Jack.

She jumped half a foot when he vaulted over the back of the couch and landed beside her, just six inches away. Running no longer seemed plausible in an emergency.

"Sooo," he said, looking around like nothing in the least was wrong. "I guess I sort of freaked you out, coming on so strong like that, huh?"

Jack tried to consciously relax her muscles. He hadn't noticed. She had a chance unless he was just playing her.

"Yeah," she said, trying desperately to think of something to say in response. "It would be my first time and obviously you've done this before. I just sort of, I don't know... Made me stop and think."

Dom nodded, a sympathetic smile shaping his features. Jack's eyes narrowed fractionally. Damn he was good. Give him a freaking award for this acting performance. He deserved it, she hoped... Why hadn't she listened to Riddick about him? Even though he was still somewhat impaired, his instincts were bound to be far better than hers on the subject of young men.

"Yeah, I know what you mean. I don't remember some of the girls either because I was too drunk or in too much of a hurry. I'd remember you forever, Jack, but there's no guarantee that one day you wouldn't just be another face in the crowd. You know the sort of life I lead. I've gotta live every free moment like it's my last, cause it might be. Might be the last of my life. I won't go back to prison. A morgue maybe, but not slam.

"You can't imagine how slowly a man dies in there, Jackie. Every day in there takes a year off your life. That's what they mean by burning a candle at both ends. Before you know it you're out of time, your light's gone out, and the scary things in the darkness start to close in for the kill," he said, his speech slowing and his stony blue eyes watching her like a hawk after prey.

Jack glanced at him briefly out of the corner of her eye.

He knows. He knows you saw the articles from the crash.

Time to do some fast thinking.

"So don't do anything with me you aren't comfortable doing, babe. I'll keep. Just relax, take a walk, do some thinking. I've gotta go to work soon anyway, so you'll have plenty of time. Maybe sometime later we'll hit a fast food place for a soda."

Jack nodded, forcing herself to swallow the cotton in her throat. "Yeah, that sounds like a plan. So, I guess I'll see you later?" she said, forcing herself to stand on shaky legs, willing them not to drop out from under her. She turned to back away from him, not wanting to be taken by surprise.

With her absence from the piece of furniture Dom had sprawled out across it, his arms stretching out to rest on the back of the couch. He looked like a big cat sitting there, a lazy smile on his face. "Yeah, babe, we'll chill. Tomorrow maybe. I'll stop by."

"Okay," Jack half-stammered, trying to smile and failing. She quickly turned and let herself out, too grateful to be allowed to escape the lion's den to wonder why.


When she was gone Dom sighed, getting up and fetching himself a brew from the kitchen. It really wasn't his style to leave so much of a job up in the air. To chance, almost.

You think this is a good idea, Domy boy? Letting her go like that? the beast questioned during his short beer run.

Dom shrugged, popping the cap off the bottle with his bare hands. "It's all part of plan B," he replied, taking a long slug of the bitter liquid before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Besides, if I don't start pulling some strings this thing'll drag out another three months. I just don't have that kind of time," he groaned, cracking his neck to each side.

You know, she would've made a great lay.

"Probably."

You didn't have to back out when you did. You seriously needed some action...

"Don't fuck before the big fights. Bad for the balance," he reminded himself firmly, walking back out to the living room.

All right, so what's next, cowboy? You still thinking about that big ending where you ride off into the sunset with the girl?

Dom bent down to pick up the jacket he'd practically ripped off of Jack just a few short moments ago. He'd stuffed it under the couch when she left to look for him. He'd been watching her on a monitor from the pilot's seat in the main cabin. Her scent remained fresh on the material and he inhaled it, growling almost inaudibly.

"I think I could handle that," he said. "Just not so sure the girl could. It's not like she's been properly introduced to my wilder side. She might find out she's in way too deep. But we'll see. Soon, we'll see..."