Chapter Four

As Jack sauntered through the corridors, back to her apartment, she contemplated this feeling she was having. She felt decidedly tingly all over. She thought to herself, 'So that was what the Doc had explained as an orgasm. And this is the after..whatever.' Jack supposes she should have paid more attention during their 'sessions', but she really hadn't felt the need. Originally she'd started showing up at the Doctor's office in Med Lab, in order to get everybody off of her ass. She didn't like being hounded on a daily basis about her mental health. "Nothing wrong with my mind. Nothing at all. Except that I'm walking down the hall, talking to myself. Other than that I'm just fine," she said out loud as a statement of fact.

Sure, fine now. But after Riddick had left the station 5 years ago, she'd been sort of a basket case. Kind of a scary, 'everyone walk on eggshells', kind of case. The doctor on the station, Dr. Monicor, was a middle aged man; nice enough guy, but not really someone Jack could relate to. But he'd told her in no uncertain terms, that if she didn't come in once a day, to talk with him about her 'problems', that he'd have her sedated and moved to Med Lab against her will. From Jack’s point of view that wasn’t likely to happen.

So she started showing up. At first it was just to push the Doctor's buttons. People were usually pretty easy to mess with, if you knew the right buttons. Jack was learning. Dr. Monicor must have had the patience of Job because come hell or high water, he'd sit there with Jack and patiently wait for her to spill her guts; eventually she did. She got so damn tired of listening to him drivel on and on about psychosis this and bad memory that, that she finally gave in just to shut him up.

When she first arrived at the station, at the age of 16, Jack had built up a surprising amount of resentment and discontent. It is a tough age, the doctor had agreed on that point, but he didn't want her to stock-pile the bad stuff. So he worked on Jack, his pet project. Jack figured he had nothing better to do. Well hell, neither did she. At least not for another year. She'd be legal age then, and able to buy her own weapons and live in her own place, get a better job. Better pay buys better skills. And that's where Jack was headed.

Eventually Jack and the Doc came to some understandings. He didn't screw with trying to change her name, and she wouldn't pretend she had 3 personalities. He wouldn't rag on her about her other 'activities', and she would keep showing up on a weekly basis. It kept the rest of the stations do-gooders off her back.

Once the Doc had touched base on most of Jack's past 'issues', he started digging into her present ones. And at that time, that would be Riddick and all the shit load of memories that dredged up. She refused. Jack flat out refused to talk about it. With anyone. It was her 'issue', she'd work it out. She knew the good Doctor figured she'd had pretty deep feelings for one of the men that had brought her to the station. And since one had been a holy man, who went by the name of Imam, and had caught a shuttle to New Mecca, it was a safe bet that Jack had a thing for the other one. Tough case. Tough luck.

He gave it his best shot. Jack had to hand it to Monicor. He really did try. Even tried having her talk about relationships Jack might be building here on the station. Jack denied it of course. Didn't want him digging into her private stuff. Not like that. Jack may have been placed living with one of the family's on the station, shortly after her arrival, but she wouldn't call what she had with them any kind of relationship.

Sex. Now that was an interesting subject. Seems like this particular subject embarrasses the Doctor to such a degree that he goes all red in the face, and has trouble with his breathing. The first time they tried to discuss the subject, Jack thought the doctor was passing out from a heart attack or something. She started pounding him on the back, ran and got water....she didn't know which thing he was most embarrassed about; the talk of sex, or when 5 people rushed into Med lab in response to the emergency beacon Jack had pushed, and asking if the doctor was all right. Jack had a good laugh over that one. She was surprised as hell that she found something worth laughing about.

After that, Jack would show up once a week just to talk about sex. Seems she just couldn't learn enough about it. The Doc humored her, even though he was pretty sure it was at his expense, just because he was glad she kept showing up.

Even though all the questions were just made up shit, Jack eventually got curious enough to try it. Monicor even gave her the standard 'safe sex' talk, a handful of condoms, and a booklet.....Unbelievable amount of crap a girl has to go through, just to have some sex.

The first time.....was awful. Jack guessed it was anyway. Not having anything else to judge it by, she knew at least that she didn't like it, so it must have been awful. The next day when she went to tell the doc all about it, he calmly asked her who she'd been with, and when she said she didn't know who it was, that she'd picked him up in the game room, the doc about had a stroke. He asked her if she'd been attracted to the guy at all, and when Jack said no, but that he'd been clean enough and not too ugly; the doc rubbed his hand over his face like he was really tired.......Jack didn't take it as a good sign. The doctor then explained the whole attraction thing and Jack was like, ok, whatever.

It never really got any better for her, so she just kind of had sex a handful of times, not even that if she bothered to count, and then just gave up on the whole thing. She really couldn't see what the big deal was.

******** [Present Day - Jack’s Quarters]

Jack unlocked the door to her apartment, went to the bed and sat down to think. So many thoughts ran through her head, one of which was the contemplation of her life here on this space station; a station which was more like a small city than anything else. She also thought about her job and how it would anger Riddick to know that Jack had become the one thing Riddick hated most besides Slam; a Merc. But she figured on that little bit of news being one of her trump cards in the deck she'd be dealing to Riddick. Yet more pay back.

And sitting here, on her bed, with thoughts of Riddick bombarding her, thoughts of having him do to her, what she'd let those other guys do to her....Jack actually felt herself blush.

So considering what she 'could' have been doing with Riddick in Cargo Bay 2, she had to admit it didn't go badly at all. She could have gotten a 'lot' more carried away. Hell, maybe she should have. Cause once she took those chains off.....he would no longer be hers to command. Jack laughed out loud, "Ha, that's a good one Jack." As though Riddick could ever really be commanded to do anything, by anybody. He just must have been a long time without sex, in order to get that easily worked up. At that thought Jack grinned, hopped off the bed and headed for the kitchen to get something to eat.

Just as she opened the refrigerated wall unit, she realized just how many hours it'd been since Riddick probably had any food or water. The Merc wouldn't have seen to it. Jack hadn't requested it. "Shit! Dumb ass broad!" She talked and muttered to herself as she gathered food and a bottle of water to take to the cargo bay. To her prisoner. It hadn't been her intention to be purposefully cruel. Not like this. She told herself she's not a mean person, she just gets very single minded about things. And getting her Pay Back had been her top priority. Right after the number one priority......acquire Riddick.

She left the apartment and jogged down the empty corridor to the cargo bay, thinking to herself......I have Riddick, I have Richard B. Riddick, in my cargo bay. Stopping in front of the cargo bay door, she touched the door control panel with the back of her hand, juggling things as she slid inside, quiet as a mouse.

"Shit!" She said, as she dropped a plastic bottle of olives and it rolled off under a storage shelf. She bent down to see where the damn thing had gone, and out of her arms went a glass jar of pickles which broke into pieces. "Son of a bitch!" And bending down to scoop up the pieces of glass she dropped a loaf of bread, which she then stepped on when she tried to avoid the broken glass.

"That's it. He eats what I have left, or he doesn't eat at all. I'm not the fucking maid goddammit," she said in a cranky tone.

As she rounded the pallets at the end of the walk, she received Riddick's greeting, "I hope like hell you're not the fucking cook either." And grinned at her like he had all day.

Eyes closed, how could he look so content while wearing all those damn chains. Jack had no idea. But then, that was Riddick; the unsolvable mystery.

Jack struggled with that thought for a second and said, "Uh, no. I'm not the fucking cook." And setting the food and water on the floor beside where she stood, a few feet in front of Riddick, she prepared to lay the deal out on the line. "I'm the woman who has the keys to those chains, and a deal for you."

Head cocked sideways, Riddick said, "I'm listening."

"You have 2 choices. I can leave you chained, for however long I feel like it. Or I can get your word on something, and remove the chains right now." She stated it simply, hands on hips, somewhat nervously awaiting his answer.

Riddick found these to be interesting choices, as he said, "My word huh? That's it? And you'll remove the chains." He threw his head back and laughed at her.

Jack drew her eyebrows together in confusion, wondering if she missed something. She cocked her hip, waiting for something more from an obviously amused Riddick.

Riddick knew how this went so he said, "You’ll just turn me loose, so I can break your neck, and then I’ll go back to wherever it is you took me from." Still laughing Riddick said, "I like it! Hell of a plan."

Jack was getting annoyed with his attitude on this, "Look, I'm sure of at least one thing right this minute."

Riddick's humorous facade dropped like an ax, as he too was losing patience. "And that would be?"

Jack dropped her hands at her sides and took a step towards him. "I know you won't break my neck." She said this with complete confidence. Almost.

Riddick's lip kind of twitched a little when he heard her say that. Just a little. Not really a smile. "And what's your guarantee?" he asked. He was kind of finding this entertaining.

Jack stood absolutely still, breathing evenly, muscles flexed, ready for anything. "Lights.....full dim," she said out loud, and waited for what felt like an eternity.

In that split second when Riddick heard her say it, he actually felt the lights dim, until he knew there was only a very soft glow left lighting the area.

Jack thought, 'What the hell is he waiting for?' Riddick hesitated long enough for Jack to tense up in nervous frustration, concerning facing this nemesis head on after all this time.

Riddick slowly opened his eyes and blinked once. His vision was slightly blurred now so he blinked again to clear it. Then cocked his head kind of sideways, like that would change the view at all.

Jack couldn't take the suspense of the moment and asked impatiently, "Well?"

Riddick didn't quite get what was expected here. "Well what?” he asked. " I see you. And you can see me. We're even. Game over." Then he straightened up and waited.

"This is no game, goddamn it. If it is, we’re playing by my rules." Jack was fuming. Hands on hips, she unconsciously tapped her right boot on the floor panel and thought, 'Why doesn't he say something? What’s wrong with him?'

Riddick lost patience with the cat and mouse shit, and thought, ‘It's time to end this.’ "Look, am I supposed to know you? Why don't you just say what you brought me all this way for, so I can get more shut eye." And just like that he closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall.

Jack was furious and asked herself, 'Is he just playing me, or does he really not recognize me? Shit. Hadn't counted on this.' But it had never been Jack's way to run and hide, or even back down. So she faced him square on and said, "I know one other thing."

Riddick, head still tilted back, casually asked, "And what's that?" Like he could give a rat's ass.

"I know you don't prep your emergency ship, unless there's a fuck'n emergency," Jack stated matter-of-factly. And waited.

Riddick's head was instantly filled with images he hated to be reminded of. And one thought, "Caroline?" was said out loud.

Reaching into her jacket pocket, Jack located the keys to Riddick's chains. Took them out and held them in her hand; just looked at them, wondering what else she should have fucking expected. That he'd remember her? That he would instantly recognize her when he saw her? That what...he carried a torch for her? One more bad memory to get rid of. One more piece of filth to be swept under the Doc's magic carpet of wisdom.

As she stood there, with Riddick's one comment echoing inside her head, she still chose to stand and fight, just like always. "You know Riddick, I don't know which is worse. A convicted murderer, or the one who loves him." She said it boldly, without so much as a quiver in her voice. She'd remember the strength of this moment; when she needed it the most.

And as he opened his eyes, lifted his head, and shiney blue met shimmering brown, something occurred to Jack. There's a very fine line between love and hate. In that moment, Jack believed that absolutely.

"Hmmm", Riddick kind of hummed out loud. Riddick knew, maybe had known from the start who it was who stood before him. Hell, he should have known. He also wondered how pissed off she probably was, but asked anyway, "You going to use those keys, or what?"

"Say it." Jack's tone indicated she wasn't budging.

"What are you asking?" Riddick asked calmly.

"Say it, or you'll sit there and rot." Stubborn as they come, she looked like she meant it. Jaw clenched, stance tight, stubborn to the end.

"You still going by 'Jack'?" Riddick asked, like it was nothing. Like she was nothing.

Jack generally considered herself a reasonable woman, but she generally had a zone where she goes when she's pissed. And right now she was way beyond getting to that zone. "You still a cold blooded murderer?" She said with contempt, as she curled her lip and arched an eyebrow. One thing was totally crystal clear to Jack at this moment. Riddick had at least one more thing to pay for on this trip.

"My deal is the same, regardless of who you think I am. I take the chains off, you stay here at the station for the next year. Offer not negotiable." She laid it out for him, while flipping the keys around on her index finger like, she could really give a shit what his answer was. Keeping him chained up would be a mere inconvenience.

Riddick wasn't sure of her purpose in bringing him here, or what she was made of, and so asked, "And if I agree, than leave once I'm loose?"

Jack grinned a nasty little grin which didn't exactly sit well with Riddick, "Then I send the Merc, who trained the Merc that caught your ass, to hunt you down like a dog, and kill you. Game over." She continued twirling the keys.

Riddick watched her play with those keys, weighing his responses, determining which ones would get him released before Jack blew a fuse. Cause he knew she was ready to. Timing is everything when it came to survival. And he may not have recognized her, but he recognized what he was looking at right this minute. It looked like death. And her name was Jack. 'Shit, really fucked that up,' Riddick told himself. He figured he couldn’t count on past association to dig him out of this one. It just wasn’t enough.

And Riddick was aware of one more thing. He did not know the woman who stood in front of him. She sure as hell wasn't the Jack he'd left here. But then, none of them had really known each other. Had they?

Riddick still wanted a guarantee. Even though he was sure he could take her, he didn't really want her hurt. "I have your word I won't go to sleep one night to feel your knife slicing between my ribs?" Riddick tried to talk her down a bit, make her see where her mind had already gone.

Jack thought about that. She thought about it really hard. "Yes."

"And my guarantee you'll keep it?" Riddick asked as he arched his eyebrows.

Jack threw her little brunette head back and laughed, unconsciously mimicking Riddick even now. Then looking him in the eye, her smile dropped from her face, faster than he could blink, "My word is as good as your's." Straight as a cutting edge.

Riddick nodded slightly, "Touché." And waited.

"This can go either way. It's up to you." Jack offered him another shot at this. "Your word."

Riddick said simply, "Given."

Jack nodded and moved forward with the keys. She looked into his eyes as she knelt down in front of him on one knee. He said nothing so she unlocked the left ankle cuff first.

Riddick looked down at the top of Jack's head as she knelt between his feet. He couldn't help but wonder who she'd become. A lot can happen in 5 years. Time and circumstance were strange things.

As Jack felt the lock click open she thought she must be insane to be doing this. Setting him loose. It rattled when if fell free. She suppressed a shiver and reached for the right ankle. Once that one fell off unlocked, she placed her hand on his muscular thigh to brace herself for standing. Half way to standing she looked up and met his eyes, watching her. She suppressed a blush as she stood and looked away.

She could feel his eyes on her as she unlocked his left wrist first. Out of the necessity of getting the key in the lock, her skin was touching his skin. She ignored those little prickly sensations she was picking up from the contact, and allowed the steel cuff to fall free once it clicked open.

Moving to his right hand she opted for ignoring the fact that the hair on the back of her neck was bristling. It had her wondering just what he was looking at so directly, that she could practically feel it. She was still thinking that, as she heard the last lock click open, and she followed it's decent with her eyes, until it hit the metal bench with a loud echoing rattle.

Riddick watched Jack like she was prey, and the second her eyes followed the chain's movement, he was off the bench and grabbing her right wrist. He jerked her up against him, her back to his front, twisting her arm up high behind her back, pinning her in place with his left arm around the front of her neck. He didn't believe in wasting any motion. And he was in no mood to play this thing soft.

Jack could barely breath with his arm pressing into her wind pipe. But she attempted a startled, "Riddick.....," in a harsh whisper.

Riddick only tightened his arm and hissed into her ear, "Listen! I don't know what kind of game you're playing little girl, but you just met the winner." And as she struggled to get her right arm loose, he jerked it up a little higher. "I'm only going to ask this once. I'm betting on you having the right answer Jack." And he loosened his left arm a bit so she wouldn't pass out.

Gasping in lungfuls of air, Jack took a second to catch her breath, and gasped out, "I don't know...." And she was cut off as Riddick tightened his arm again.

"Wrong answer," he said between clenched teeth. "Try again."

When Jack could breath again, she had the audacity to sound pissed, "Damn it Riddick! Just wait a minute and I'll tell you." She calmed herself and asked, "Mind loosening the arm a bit?"

Riddick had no idea what she was playing at, but not trusting her, didn't have to mean hurting her. Yet. "Mind telling me just what I'm doing here?" He'd give her a chance. It's more than she'd given him when she'd set that Merc on his ass.

Jack was pretty certain that Riddick wouldn't really hurt her. Mostly certain. She turned her head to the right, towards where she knew his lips were and answered him in her cocky way, "I always took you for a fairly intelligent guy Riddick. Looks like I'm just doomed for disappointment today."

Riddick grunted and placing his lips fairly close to hers he said, "Weren't disappointed earlier." Riddick had a sudden need to see this little girl squirm.

But Jack surprised him by laughing broadly and saying, "Hah! Are you saying I was actually satisfied with that?" If he wanted to mention what went on between them earlier, she was all for re-opening that discussion up. Then changing her tone she spat out, "I haven't even started yet." As cold as it could get.

Riddick unconsciously narrowed his eyes, moved his lips to her ear, and said with a great deal of conviction, "Neither have I."

The way he'd said that, nearly had Jack worried. She'd handled bigger than Riddick. She just had to play him right. Smooth things out until she had a chance to make a move on him. Couldn't allow him to have the upper hand. This isn't how she'd seen this happening. So much for well laid plans.

Jack made an attempt to defuse the situation, before somebody could get seriously hurt. "The way I see it, we have one option."

Riddick let out a breath into her ear and she couldn't help the little shiver that went up her spine. He felt it all the way up. And was somewhat surprised at his reaction, considering who it was he held. 'Time to end this,' he thinks. He laughed a little and said to Jack, "You really think it's that simple Jack?"

Hearing, feeling him say her name like that, right into her ear; all warm breath and vibrations, and she was ready to do whatever he asked. Then she mentally shook herself and said to Riddick, "It is that simple for me."

Riddick sighed and said, "Ah Jack. You know better than that. You didn't really think you could just turn me loose and there'd be no repercussions?" He took a breath, placed a brief kiss on the white shell of her ear and said, "I owe you."

As soon as he said that, Jack started really struggling. It not being her way to just go down without a fight. She was steaming mad as she yelled, "You sure do owe me you son-of-a-bitch! And don't even think that what I did to you earlier, even begins to cover that debt!" Squirming, her breath coming in panting, gasping sounds.

Holding a squirming Jack quite easily, Riddick nosed her soft brown hair aside and nibbled her neck then said, "Hmmm. Which debt would that be Jack?"

His voice all soft and vibrating into her skin, Jack thought, 'Shit. Bastard sure knew which of her buttons to push. She knew he was playing with her. She swallowed loudly then said, "You might want to consider turning me loose now Riddick. At my voice authorization to the computer, I can have a squad of security men bust in here inside of 2 minutes." Shit, sounded good to her, she sure wished it were true.

Riddick laughed and said, "You making this up as you go along?"

Jack said through a smile, "Yup." And felt his grip loosen on her arm and neck slightly.

"You’re a piece of work. You know that Jack?" Riddick asked as she turned her face towards him as far as she could and he looked at her. "We're not finished here, not by a long shot. I guess you know that." And holding her in place with his arm against her neck, he released her right arm so he could check her for weapons.

Jack felt the blood rush into her arm as it was released. She forced herself to not show any sign she was in pain. Show the enemy nothing. Good lesson. She was just beginning to feel grateful for her arm when she felt Riddick's rather large hand feeling her up and down. His hand traveling quickly but thoroughly as it skimmed over her slight curves. First the sides, then the inside of the legs, then the back, and last the front.

By the time his hand had moved to her belly she was starting to feel kind of warm all over. She knew he could feel her increasing body temperature, as quick as his inspection had been, it didn't take much from Riddick, to get Jack all heated up. She knew he must be thinking the same thing as his hand hesitated over her belly button then scooped up under her mesh tank, and skimmed across her warm skin. When she felt his hand near her breasts she held her breath, but when he simply did a quick tactile search of the area between her breasts, she said, "Hey!" in surprise. But she wasn't sure if she was saying she was disappointed he'd stopped there, or if she was protesting to being touched so freely.

"Sorry," Riddick mumbled and quickly turned her loose. All he'd felt was a knife on her hip. No gun. At least not on her body.

Jack quickly turned and instead of meeting his eyes, her gaze immediately dropped to the fly of his pants, and seeing no tell-tale bulge there, was strangely disappointed. She looked back up to see Riddick giving her a strange, confused look.

Curiously wondering what that look had been about, Riddick told her, "You can keep the knife. For now."

Feeling a bit peevish at his total lack of interest in her female form, Jack put a hand on her hip and said, "You're all heart Riddick."

Riddick simply grunted. Seeing the food on the floor he walked over to it, being sure to do a visual sweep of the room, checking for exits and hidden access panels. He bent down and picked up a package of some kind of sliced meat. Ripping it open he held it up to his nose and sniffed loudly.

Jack watched, and being offended by his actions over the food she so generously brought him, she said, "Please, by all means, go ahead and feast, your Worship." And did a cocky little bow, her arm sweeping out in front of her.

Riddick paid no attention but simply asked, "This all the food you brought? Who were you planning to 'satisfy' with this?"

Jack was sure he was making some sexual reference to what she'd said earlier, but she was unused to this kind of banter and so she stuck with the basics. Besides, his face was completely devoid of expression. Other than that annoying raising of the eyebrows he had going right now. "Well...," she started defensively. "I'm not used to eating in, so I don't just have a lot of food lying around, waiting for someone to drop by." She thought she was sounding a little bitchy, but she didn't really give a shit.

"Is that right," Riddick said it more as a statement of fact, than a question.

Jack refused to say anything in response. She just crossed her arms and waited. She didn't have to wait long.

"Where are my goggles?" He spoke around a mouthful of meat, as he chewed and swallowed then picked up the water. Looking at her expectantly, he tilted the water into his mouth and drank until it was empty. Some water escaped, and ran in tiny rivers down his chin.

Jack watched in fascination as that water ran over his chin, down his neck, muscles working as he swallowed. She continued watching the water as it got as far as his chest, then disappeared into his black tank top.

"Jack!"

Startled, her eyes darted back up to his and she yelled back, "What?!" Bastard had scared her. Sort of.

Impatient to get more food and some decent rest, Riddick had to get this little party moving along. "The goggles, where the hell are they?"

"Oh. Those are in my quarters." And she gestured in the general direction, in regards to her apartment.

"Quarters. Are you working here in some official capacity Jack?" Riddick drew his eyebrows together, confused at her choice of words.

"Official.....oh, no. That's just what they call the living area in this sector of the station," Jack said as she thought he was getting a little personal now. Some things, like her function here at the station, she wanted kept quiet for the moment. At least until she had the upper hand again. Sweeping her arm out in front over her towards the cargo bay door leading to the corridor, Jack asked, "Shall we go?"

"No goggles. You'll have to lead." And with that Riddick threw the empty water container and the empty meat package right there on the floor. He walked past her to the door, stopped, and looked back at her expectantly.

Jack threw up her hands, figured she'd come back later and clean up the mess, and went to join him at the door. She said, "Close your eyes, the lights in the corridors are dimmed at night, but not enough." And she watched him close his eyes as she reached for his hand. Closing her small fingers around his large hand felt strange and different. She looked, just so she could have the memory of how it was at that moment. A moment when Riddick was trusting her completely. After all, she could have slashed his throat right then.

"Don't think I don't know you're considering going for your weapon Jack. If I hear it clear leather, I’ll knock you unconscious faster than you can think where to stick me." He cocked one eye open and looked into her eyes. Then closed it again.

"Humph", Jack grunted, the moment gone completely. 'Typical,' she thought. And she opened the door and stepped through, leading a very large Riddick by the hand.

---

Chapter Five

As Jack led Riddick into her apartment and the door slid closed, the automatic lock engaged. She let out a sigh of relief. She hadn't realized how tense she'd been while getting him here. Lucky break that she hit the time of night when it was during a shift and not in between one. Otherwise the chances of running into someone in the corridors would have been greatly increased.

Dropping his hand at the door, Jack took a few steps into the room, to put a little breathing room between them. She figured he'd try to get his bearings before making a move.

Riddick said impatiently, "The goggles Jack, now." And put his hand out like she was just going to hand them right over.

Jack laughed briefly, "Not so fast Riddick." Crossing her arms, she enjoyed what would likely be the last moment of control she might ever have over him.

Riddick figured her lights would be voice activated, authorization coded, like in the cargo bay. So he didn't even bother trying the dim. And he hadn't really expected Jack to just give in easily. She'd obviously gone to a great deal of expense and effort to get him here. She'd want more of a guarantee that he'd keep their agreement. So he just stood there and waited on her. He knew she'd get to it in her own time. Trying scare tactics on her were probably a waste of his time. Besides, he figured she had her weapons locker here in her apartment. Kind of put him in a spot, not being able to see. He decided to ask, "Well, what'll it be Jack?"

Jack tapped a slim finger against her lips and said casually, "Well...let me think...."

"Jack.." Riddick warned her not to push it too far.

"All business then. Fine by me." Hands on hips, Jack once more gave him the deal. "Same deal. You agree to remain on the station, you get your sight back."

Riddick grunted briefly, "You saying you'll accept the word of an escaped convict, a murderer?"

"No." Jack said firmly. “But I'll accept your word. You haven't given it yet."

Riddick took a minute and thought, 'Stubborn. Should have figured that.' He tried to assess the situation. He didn't think Jack would physically hurt him, no more than she had up to this point. And if she were bent on turning him into the law, it would already be done. Although her motives were still unclear, he figured she'd get around to the reasons behind her actions soon enough. And so he agreed, "I'll stick. For now." Then he grinned, just to cast a little doubt over it. "You have my word."

It was Jack's turn to grunt, "Yeah, right. Hopefully that means more than anything else I've seen from you so far." She walked into the kitchen, opened a drawer, and fished his damn goggles out, thinking that this was probably another mistake. But it was either that or lead the big jerk around all over the station for the better part of a year. Jack wasn't all that comfortable getting that close to him while he was unrestrained. She shuddered briefly.

Riddick heard her moving about, then heard her getting into something in the other room. When he heard her close what sounded like a drawer, he thought, 'All too easy.' He just couldn't decide if Jack had more surprises up her sleeve, or if she was as foolish as she was appearing. He was counting on the latter.

Jack came back into the main room of her apartment and stood some distance in front of a waiting Riddick. She casually tossed the goggles over to him, aiming for his feet.

Riddick felt them hit his boot, and he bent down to retrieve them. As he stood back up he slipped them over his head, and at the same time as he opened his eyes he started towards Jack.

She'd figured he'd try a move as soon as he could see. So when she saw him step forward she smoothly reached behind her and pulled her gun out of her waistband. Pointing it directly at his head she stated firmly, "That's far enough."

Seeing that gun pointed at him, Riddick hesitated. It didn’t escape his notice that she held it like she knew how to use it. He stopped dead and held his hands up in a placating attitude. ‘Hell,’ he thought, ‘her hand doesn’t even shake. That little fact says something about the training she’s probably had.’ And he waited on her to make the next move.

Jack gave him a nod and a nasty little smile. “That’s what I thought you’d say. I thought we had an agreement?”

Riddick played along, “We do. I’m still standing here aren’t I?” He waited for Jack’s nod then asked, “Just what did you think I was going to do?”

Jack smiled, “Thought you were going for my neck. Or my gun.”

Riddick gave an answering smile and agreed, “I was. You had it right.”

“Shit Riddick. The way I see it is, I can hold a gun on you constantly, for the better part of a year, or I can trust you not to kill me.” She had no idea how this part should go. Not when confronted by Riddick. ‘Shit,’ she thought. ‘Tunnel vision. Should have seen this coming.’

Riddick grinned, all friendly like and spreading his arms out, palms up, said “Looks like you’ll just have to trust me.”

Jack gestured with her gun as she replied, “Sure Riddick. That grin on your face and your accommodating stance, instills confidence and trust. I can clearly see you’re a man of your word.” Then she shrugged fatalistically, saying “What the hell,” as she took her gun off of Riddick and stuffed it behind her back. Holding her hands out, mimicking Riddick in manner and smart-ass attitude, Jack said, “Everyone can relax now.”

Riddick put his hands down, but he watched her like a hawk. Squirrelly females made him nervous. Especially when they were in possession of a weapon.

Jack pretended not to notice as she casually gestured towards the kitchen, “Food’s in there, help yourself.” Then she walked over to the bed, sat down, and took her boots off, wiggling her toes around. She pretended not to watch Riddick as he walked into the kitchen. Then recalling that she hadn’t eaten in hours, hollered at him, “Grab something for me too.” Then she lay back on the bed, legs dangling off the end, and closed her eyes.

As Riddick entered the kitchen he looked back over his shoulder at Jack, and he watched as she lay back on the bed. ‘Interesting.’ Then he rummaged around until he found what he was looking for. Not finding a substantial meal, he placed food on a tray and figured it would have to do. As he walked back into the main room of the apartment, he wondered just how close Jack would let him get before she pulled the gun on him.

Regardless of how quietly Riddick moved, Jack knew the exact instant when he was about 3 feet from the bed, jumping distance if he chose to attack her. She quickly rolled off the opposite side of the bed from where Riddick approached, and in one smooth motion was on her feet with gun drawn once again.

Riddick raised an eyebrow and thought, ‘She doesn’t move like a green kid anymore. Seems like my Jack has had some ‘extensive’ training.’ He realized her movements were precise and fluid. No wasted motion, no give away signs. He nodded at Jack as he set the tray on the bed. “You going to attach that thing to your hand permanently? Or do you trust me long enough to eat?”

Jack shrugged, gun held steady. “Haven’t decided.” Then she gestured with the gun, indicating the table and chairs across the room. ”Put it over there.”

Figuring he’d spooked her enough for the moment, he picked up the tray and walked over to the table. Sitting down he ignored the gun and started eating.

“Throw that apple over here onto the bed.” Jack still stood, but as soon as Riddick obliged her, she put the gun back into its place behind her back, sat on the bed and snatched up the apple. As she brought the apple up to her mouth she watched Riddick eating. His motions and the movement of his lips fascinated her. Watching his throat muscles work as he swallowed, she absently bit into the apple, and it was at that exact moment when Riddick chose an orange from the tray, casually said, “Here, you might as well eat this too.” And tossed the orange in Jack’s direction.

Without thinking Jack held the apple in one hand, while catching the orange in the other. The second that orange landed in her hand with a soft ‘plop’, Riddick was out of his chair and flying across the room. His body met her smaller one with force, surprising a startled, “Oh!” out of Jack as he landed on top of her, fruit flying.

“NO!” She screamed as Riddick’s weight effectively pinned her gun underneath her.

Before she could protest further, Riddick was straddling her prone body, his hands effectively pinning hers to the bed. His face was dark with anger.

"Damn it Riddick, get off of ME!" Jack tried to buck him off, but it was a wasted effort. He outweighed her considerably.

Leaning down so that his face was close to hers he gritted out, "Dim the lights Jack."

Gritting her teeth right back at him she yelled, "No!" And she thought to herself, 'Stalemate.' Then in disbelief she felt Riddick release her right hand, and seemingly in the same instant pull Jack's knife from it's sheath and put it to her throat.

Holding the knife against her throat, he briefly wondered how far he'd have to go. He was prepared for backing up his threats. "Do it." And when she shook her head he pressed the blade into her skin. Riddick thought, 'She keeps it sharp,' as he watched a thin red line appear where the knife rested.

Jack held absolutely still. Riddick obviously meant business. She convinced herself that it would hurt nothing to dim the lights. "Lights...Full Dim," she said with as little movement as possible.

As soon as the lights were down, Riddick used his right hand to remove his goggles. Placing his fist beside him on the bed, he looked at Jack and said, "I wanted to 'see' you clearly while I do this."

Very carefully Jack started to say, "I can always---"

Riddick cut her off, "Don't think I hadn't thought of you turning the lights back up Jack. My guess is you think it would surprise me enough for you to get the upper hand." He grinned and shook his head at her, "Not likely."

Jack didn't panic. She forcefully controlled her breathing so it was slow and even. She relaxed her muscles; her hands still on the bed where Riddick had left them, palms up. This could be a long wait. Riddick could probably outwait anyone. She asked curiously, "Your next move?"

Riddick noticed her controlled breathing, felt her relaxed muscles, and thought, 'More training? I'll definitely have to find out about that some day.' To Jack he stated, "I want your word Jack."

That surprised a quick abrupt laugh from Jack, which she immediately regretted when she felt the knife edge again. Sucking in a breath she whispered, "Riddick."

He glanced at her neck, which now had a little blood dripping from the slight cut. He gave an apologetic grunt and moved the knife away from her skin, as he observed, “You bleed too easy Jack.”

Uppermost in Jack’s mind was the location of that blade, but secondly she felt the weight of him and the warmth of his body as he held her between his thighs. She didn’t reply back to Riddick, but closed her eyes. She couldn’t think with those eyes looking into hers like that.

Riddick watched her eyes close and he thought she’d passed out on him. He jogged the bed a little and said, “Jack, don’t you pass out on me.”

Her eyes flew open and shot sparks at him as she said, “You think a little prick on the neck is enough to make me pass out?” She snorted with laughter as she warned him in a singsong voice, “Don’t underestimate me Riddick.”

Surprised by her bravado Riddick replied, “I want your word you’ll keep the lights dim.” And he waited.

Jack smiled a crooked smile and asked, “What makes you trust ‘my’ word?”

“I’m figuring on you having a stronger sense of honor than I’ve got.”

Jack narrowed her eyes and said, “Don’t count on it.”

Riddick wouldn’t give. “I’ll risk it.”

Jack blew out a heavy sigh and said, “Fine. You have my word. Lights dimmed, permanently.” Then she licked her lips and asked, “There, happy now?”

Riddick grinned in a way that made Jack very nervous, his eyes following the motion of her tongue. “Not quite.” And Jack watched in astonishment as Riddick slipped her knife into the back of his pants, then his hands came back with a handful of cord rope.

“What?! Where the hell…..?” Then it came to her. While he’d been in the kitchen. He must have gotten it from her locker. Jack figured she should have locked it when she’d gotten her gun out of it earlier. Her hands came up too late; Riddick was faster and stronger.

He grabbed her right hand first and quickly wrapped the cord around her wrist twice. Then he grabbed the left hand just as it clawed towards his face. He tied that one to the right one, knotting it all tightly together.

Riddick held her bound wrists with his left hand, and scooted them both up to the head of the mattress. As he felt her thigh muscles flex, he leaned far forward, pushing her bound hands up over her head and into the mattress of the bed.

Riddick easily frustrated Jack, out-maneuvering her. She'd planned on an attack by raising her legs, hooking her heels into his shoulders or neck and then flipping him off of her backwards; but he'd out thought her on that one. "Bastard!" She yelled into his face with enough force to spray him lightly with saliva.

He laughed and leaning down rubbed his face off on her leather jacket. "Not playing nice Jack. You have one hell of a mouth on you." He laughed as he sat up and looked at her angry puckered up face. "I'll have to see if I can clean that up."

"You touch me you rotten bastard and I'll gut you like a fish!" Jack was furious.

"Tsk tsk tsk." Riddick shook his head at her. "You'll have to do better than that Jack. I seem to have all the points this round." He leaned closer and whispered, "Care to see how far this can go?" And jumped back just as she snapped her teeth at him. Laughing softly he said, "That'll cost you."

Jack tried for balls and brass as she spat out, "You think you’re man enough to do it? Go..ahead..and try." And with that said she turned her face to the side, not looking at him. Attempting to visually dismiss him.

Riddick was just getting warmed up. Figured he owed this little grownup-wannabe a lesson. He scooted down her legs a bit, effectively pinning them down, but leaving him easy access to the rest of her body. He looked her over and if he hadn’t known she was Jack, he'd be damn tempted to find out just exactly where this could lead. He shook his head at himself because he just couldn't get past the fact that this was Jack. Not sure what the problem was there, but figured if he stuck to their bargain, he'd have time to find out.

Jack felt him slide down her legs and she physically gulped past a huge knot in her throat. She refused to say anything. He had the upper hand. She wouldn't beg for anything from him, ever again. She lay still until she felt his hand on her belly, scooting up under her mesh tank. He still held her wrists down on the bed, so all she could do was wiggle fruitlessly.

He laughed as he nudged her top upwards, feeling her smooth, warm skin under his fingertips he tried to ignore what that did for him. He'd been oh so curious about this top she was wearing. He'd never seen anything like it. Completely made out of fine steel links, all meshed together, it was just like a tank except the neckline scooped seductively down, just over the breasts. "Hmmm. This is interesting Jack. Had this made special?" And he leaned forward and placed a soft kiss along the lowest point of the mesh, just above the tops of her breasts.

Jack couldn't help it, she shivered when she felt his lips there, and when he laughed she forced herself to hold still again. She would gain nothing by playing his game. The only way she could come out of this with any dignity, would be to not play.

Riddick knew he was getting to her. But he was looking to wring a stronger response from her. Recalling clearly the scene in the Cargo Bay, a few short hours before, he leaned his lips close to Jack's ear and said, "Want to explain that little number you did on me earlier?" And lightly bit her ear lobe.

Jack gritted her teeth and held absolutely still. 'Don't move,' she told herself. 'Just don't move and he won't get to you.' Head turned to the side, eyes shut tight. She tried to make herself believe that. Right up to the point where he sunk his teeth into the flesh of her delicate neck. Jack arched her back and gasped out loud, "Ahhh." And then as Riddick released her neck she turned a surprised look on him. He hadn't bitten her very hard. But it had been enough to leave a slightly red set of teeth marks on her white skin.

Riddick met her eyes and raised an eyebrow at her. "Anything else?" Then he looked down where his hand was resting on the skin of her abdomen and said, "Ah yes. I forgot." And relentlessly moved his hand up towards her firm breasts. He had to admit he almost felt as though this were incest. But pay back was due so he let his fingers graze the underside of first one breast and then the other. Looking into Jack's eyes the whole time he could tell when she'd crossed over and would now be a willing participant. Her eyes were slightly glazed, her mouth a silent oh, her breathing slightly erratic. He figured she was so easily aroused because of her young age. He really hadn't thought about it before. Whenever he’d been with other women, they’d been nothing like Jack.

Jack was beyond helping herself and had stopped struggling after Riddick had bitten her. 'A mark for a mark,' she thought hazily. 'That's fair.' She could feel the callused tips of his fingers moving lightly over her skin. They left little burning trails of fire wherever they went. She couldn't understand why she had such little control over her emotions. She'd never had such trouble before. Had never had Riddick looming above her before. Had never been touched with such...reverence before.

Riddick let his fingers trail down to the top of her soft suede pants. He observed, "Nice touch Jack. Always did like a woman in leather." And he let his fingers dip inside, just past the waistband. He looked at her and her eyes begged him to stop. He smiled at her and shook his head. "I owe you Jack. Never forget." And he withdrew his fingers, only to trail them down the outside of the cloth. Softly stroking her, gently wooing her. Coaxing a reaction from her whether she meant to react or not.

As she felt his fingers dip into the v between her legs, she could still feel, quite clearly, every motion he made, even though it was through the suede. Every part of her was highly sensitized to his movements, his touch. She tried to arch her hips towards his hand, to make the contact last, but he'd move away each time. She felt like she was burning up. This felt like more than what she had gotten when she’d played this way with him. Much more. She felt an ache and couldn't define where it was coming from, or what it might take to satisfy it. She closed her eyes in anticipation of what would happen when he removed her clothing. A soft sigh escaped her as she felt him rise from the bed, still holding her bound wrists in his hand. 'Now.' She thought. 'Now I'll know what I’ve been missing'. And waited.

As Riddick got up from the bed he kept her bound hands in his and moving along the side of the bed he quickly bound the end of the cord from her hands, to one of the metal bed posts. There wasn't much to bind them to, but it would do. Once he was finished he stood up, rolled Jack on her side a bit, grabbed her gun out of her waste band to tuck it under his own shirt, and looked over his handy work. Slipping his goggles back over his head, and covering his eyes, he called softly, "Jack..." Just enough to get her attention. She opened her eyes and found him standing there, off to the side. "This settles the debt from the cargo bay. I still owe ya for the Merc." And he walked over to the door, her eyes on him every step of the way, wide with disbelief. He gave her a cocky solute and a, "See ya later Jack." And just like that, he left.

Jack screeched in frustration and pulled on her bound wrists. That went on for less than a minute when she realized....'He just wanted some pay back. He didn't want me. Just some pay back.' "Bastard!" She yelled at the ceiling. Knowing what little she did about men, she figured he was probably headed for the only bar on the station. Damn thing stayed open all night to accommodate the different shifts. As Jack lay there in frustrated arousal, she could just picture him drinking and laughing with some bar bitch. Having a grand ol’ time while Jack lay here in misery. Settling in for a lengthy wait she shook her head and said out loud, "Yup, paybacks a bitch."

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