Okay guys, here is the big boom chapter. I hope you like it. I didn't go into much detail...you'll know when you read about it coughs If you would like me to I can revise it or something, but by the end I'm sure it will be out of your mind with you writing me hate mail. But no worries, I have more up my sleeve...

Chapter 17

Upon arriving at the hotel Kirby tossed Riddick's coat onto the bed and made her way to the bathroom. The door slammed shut as

Riddick settled himself on the bed. About twenty minutes later she came out wrapped in a towel while tousling her hair with another.

"I hope you don't mind but I forgot clothes..." she said making her way to the dresser.

Riddick made a grunting sound and tried to keep his mind off of her dripping body. He watched as she rushed back into the bathroom

with the pile of clothes and smiled thoughtfully. Rubbing his chin he found the place where a scar had taken form from when Kirby had

punched him. He had been so surprised at her strength that night and remembered the rage that had taken over him. He chuckled softly to

himself as she emerged once again from the bathroom. This time she had on a pair of briefs with a loose T-shirt draped over her torso.

"What?" she asked grinning a bit.

"Just thinking about old times..." he replied casually and kicked his boots off.

Kirby sat on the bed next to him, "Care to enlighten me?"

"Not really..."

She gave him a disappointed look and rolled over to her side of the bed. Crawling under the covers her arm reached out and turned off

the light.

"So about this Brad guy..." he said suddenly.

Immediately her covers flew off and she was sitting up. "What about him?"

"He's one of them on your ass..."

Kirby sat staring at Riddick speechless. He had mentioned mercs picking up her scent but didn't mention any names on the way to the

hotel.

"You didn't metion this WHY?" losing her temperament on the last note.

"I didn't want to have to carry you home."

"What would make you think that you would have to?" she almost screeched.

"The time when you told me about him?" he said trying not to lose his patience.

"YOU ARE SO..." she trailed off, gaining more and more anger as she tried to think of a word. Her body went ridged as she felt his lips

gently graze hers and the anger slowly melted away. Riddick seemed to enjoy the reaction, she obviously didn't realize how close he had

been in the darkness. His hand glided down the side of her face as she regained body movement. She pulled away, her mind reeling with

thoughts of Brad. Riddick felt a tidal wave of guilt wash over his body. Before he could turn away her arms wrapped around him and her

lips pressed against his. His hands immediately responded and pulled her closer to him. His body ached with lust and he easily pushed

her over so that he was in control. Something in the back of Riddicks mind was screaming no but he chose to ignor it, even when he

knew it would be his downfall.

Riddick awoke with Kirby laying on top of him. The contours of her body were brilliantly displayed in the flecks of sunlight that happened

to get through the blinds. He gently pulled her off of him and she groaned in her sleep but quickly cuddled the blankets going back to a

peacefulness. He quickly gathered his clothes off of the floor and made his way to the bathroom. When he emerged he noticed her laying

on the bed still naked with only the blankets covering her.

"Do you want to get dressed or something?"

"Why?" she asked innocently.

"Because you are turning me on." he said reaching for his goggles on the nightstand.

"Oh..." Kirby's cheeks turned a deep shade of crimson recalling the nights events as she got up and rummaged through her dresser.

The day went by in an uneventful way that consisted of watching T.V. and staring at the wall. There was a pressing silence between them

that lingered until Kirby was getting ready to go to work.

"I figured Brad would have er... prevented you from...yeah..." Riddick stumbled over his words trying to make a good conversation.

"I might as well move on I suppose..." Kirby said locking the door as they stepped out of it.

Riddick didn't press the issue further and the silence took over once more on the way to the bar.

The next few weeks went by awkwardly, also with no sign of mercs in the area. Riddick thought of moving on but decided against it. For

his own good he slept in the chair beside the bed and didn't get much sleep. He was always too busy watching her every movement. On

the way to work one night Kirby couldn't take it anymore and decided to break the silence.

"Did I do something wrong?" she asked looking at the ground.

"What do you mean?"

"You haven't talked to me since the night you slept with me. Oh wait, the morning after..."

Riddick stopped suddenly with a quirked eyebrow. When she didn't stop he took a few swift steps to catch up.

He grabbed her arm to stop her and she whirled around to face him, anger welling up in her eyes.

"I just don't think we should get into anything." he replied casually.

"You don't think!" she mocked him and ripped her arm from his grasp. With that she turned on her heel and ran the rest of the way to

work.

As Kirby scrubbed the bar she looked up to check and make sure Riddick was still at his table in the far corner of the bar. Her anger

ignited again and she scrubbed harder.

"Are you trying to scrub the paint off, champ?" asked Chris coming up beside her.

Kirby stopped, she hadn't even noticed him approach. Straightening up she poured herself a shot of whiskey. The smell didn't usually

nauseate her but it nearly knocked her over this time. Chris noticed and downed the shot himself.

"Thanks." she mumbled putting the bottle back and looking over at Riddick.

"I think you are obsessed." he commented.

"I am not, just pissed."

"About?"

"Personal issues." Kirby replied boredly.

At that moment the door swung open and she thought her eyes were goign to pop out of her head. Instinctively she dropped to the floor

to hide. Chris looked questionally at her but she put up a finger to shush him. He straightened out and acted as normally as he could.

Kirby felt tremors vibrating through her body. It was him...Her mind was racing even though she was trying desparately to keep it clear.

"Hey there," she heard from the other side of the bar. Brad's lulling voice only made her tense.

"What can I do for you?" asked Chris.

"I'm looking for this girl. Have you seen her?"

Chris took the picture and examined it. It was definantly Kirby. "Can't say that I have."

"Well thanks anyway." Brad took the picture back and tucked into his pocket. "That's interesting because people around here are telling

me she works here."

Kirby took in a sharp intake of air and held it.

"Like I said, I haven't seen her."

Brad nodded and took a look around. His eyes rested on Riddick who was trying his hardest to concentrate on a drink in front of him.

"Riddick! I never expected to find you here." Brad said greeting him like an old friend.

How does Brad know Riddick? Kirby thought trying to sort through answers.

A conversation ensued that Kirby couldn't make out. Chris looked down when Brad wouldn't notice and ushered Kirby toward the back

door. Chris grabbed a bag of garbage on his way out to make sure if he did he would see only him. Once outside he bombarded Kirby

with a dozen questions that even she couldn't answer.

"Look Chris, I... I have to go, thank you so much for not saying anything." She backed into the shadows leaving Chris with a look of

confusion on his face.

About an hour later Riddick walked out of the back door. Kirby was still in the shadows trying not to be noticed. Her stomach was tying

in knots and she felt as if she were about to vomit.

She heard him sigh and watched as he walked out into the night. Riddick had seen her, she was sure of it, so why did he just walk away?

Kirby followed him until he noticed. He disappeared faster than she could see where he went, leaving her to go by guesses. She saw a

silhouette of him in the moonlight making his way down a wire that was about 20 feet in front of her. A cloud covered up the moon and

she felt her way through the dark. Her hand touched the metal and she clung to it. Something hit her hard knocking her to the ground and

leaving her with no breath. A moment later a man climbed on top of her, muttering something. Riddick's smell... her conscience urged.

Her body went limp as his hand went over her mouth. She felt him lean down towards her ear.

"Don't move." he whispered.

Kirby heard footsteps nearby followed by some cussing. She looked up to see Riddicks eyes staring into hers, they made her feel calm

and sleepy. She felt herself fall in and out of consciousness. Finally the hand let off of her mouth and Riddick pulled her up beside him.

"I won't let you go..." he whispered hoisting her up so that he was carrying her. Not like Jack...

A flood of lights swept over them followed by a light chuckle.

"Got too close to her didn't you?" said a cold voice that snapped Kirby from her state.

"I told you, the deal is off." Riddick growled putting a protective hand on her back.

Sudden realization swept over her and she felt like kicking herself for being so stupid. Struggling to get free she made her best attempt to

knee Riddick in the balls. To protect himself instinctively he let go of her and she crawled away from him only to be intercepted by Brad.

He yanked her up to her feet and laughed haughtily. "You stupid, stupid bitch..." With one swift movement he produced a blade and

plunged it into her stomach. He pulled it out and let her drop to the ground.

Her hands moved to her stomach as the blood gushed from it. It's too deep... I can't stop it Everything seemed to move in slow motion.

There were people other than Brad, two familiar faces... Melany and Nikoli? Melany had a smile wiped on her face. Then as soon as

Brad had appeared, he was gone along with the others. Kirby hadn't noticed Riddick rush to her side and pull her to him. He moved her

hand and applied pressure himself.

"Don't you die on me Kirby!" was the last thing she heard as he pulled her to him. With that... everything went blank.