Chapter 3
Sam watched the pair for a bit longer. Gabe kept on patiently guiding her and when she got restless he had words of assurance for her. They belong together, she thought to herself. She'd only observed them a short time but it was obvious. How could the courts miss that? Anyone who'd question it has to be oblivious, she thought.
Oblivious or has ulterior motives in finding out more about him?, she conceded. What do the courts and Bureau care about him and this girl anyway? Just give him a slap on the wrist for having insurance cover on her and go on about your day. People normally didn't waste their time on this trivial shit unless there was a good reason for it. Her brain went into overload.
"Whose that woman?" Jack asked when she stopped to take a drink of water.
Riddick looked in the direction Jack was gazing. His eyes rested upon the woman he'd spoken with briefly before. She was watching them somewhat.
"I don't know, I spoke to her a bit ago. I've never seen her in here before, have you?" he asked.
Jack nodded. "Ya, but she's usually in here a bit later in the evening when I'm taking yoga" she answered. "She's pretty tough, may look small but from what I've heard the guys say she packs some punch" Jack commented.
"Ya she's a spitfire that's for sure" he said remembering her heated voice all to clearly.
"Something tells me you like that she's a spitfire" Jack said sitting her bottle down.
"Strong spirit is a good quality in a personal, its important for survival" he said back to her.
"Why is it that I get the feeling its not her spirit you're concerned with?" Jack said grinning.
"You've got an active imagination Miss Thang" he said.
"Oh come on, you haven't even glanced in the general direction of a woman in months, Dad" she said using the correct term for him.
He grinned knowing she was still flustered about her previous slip ups."I don't think we're talking about me here are we?" he said.
"What do you mean?" she said cocking an eyebrow.
"I think it's your hormones that are having a hard time these days not mine".
"What!" she cried.
He grinned wickedly at her. "Jack really it's fine, nothing to worry about, everyone has those feelings and by the time I was your age I had.... Never mind, we're wasting time. We need to get back to work" he said slowly, backing away from the subject.
"No this subject is of great interest to me Dad" she said smartly.
"Back to work" he said again.
"No, I think its time you talked with me about the more carnal side of life. You're suppose to you know" she said sweetly.
"I think you've known enough of your own for quite sometime" he said. He turned to walk back to the mat but his head snapped up quickly at the sound of laughter. He turned around to see Jack cracking up.
"What's so funny?" he said.
"You" she laughed back.
"What about me?" he said.
"I just find it really funny that Mr. Bad Ass himself gets uncomfortable just from trying to have a normal conversation about fucking" she said grinning.
"Watch your damn mouth girl or I'll give you a fatherly spanking" he said.
"You promise?" she asked sweetly
"You're pushing it Jack" he said tight lipped.
"Then stop making promises you won't keep" she said.
"Another word and I'll show you how much I meant that" he said.
She started to say something but was interrupted by loud shouting coming from the corner of the room.
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"Leave me the fuck alone, we've been over this already!" Samantha said to Browning.
"He's getting to you isn't he?" Browning questioned.
"Why the hell do you care?" she said.
"Because no matter what you think I do give a shit about you Sam. I know you alright. I know you better than you want me to, and that alone pisses you off. Don't get caught in this" he said more quietly.
"Like I said Browning, back the fuck off. I call the shots when it comes to my life and career" she said.
"Sam ..." he started when she shoved him back to the wall.
"Look" she said lowly "I don't know what the hell you're butting in about, this is a standard psyche evaluation not some life mission so leave it alone" she said.
"You know better Sam and don't tell me you don't" he said back to her.
"Know better?" she said questioning him.
"Its not a standard procedure. There's more to it and you know it" he said leaning closer to her.
"Why would you say that?" she said looking at his eyes.
"Because we're too busy with much more important things to take time out to run such extensive tests and go to psychiatric extents just to find out if he can have his baby girl. They don't give a fuck about that child. Their nose caught a scent for something deeper there and they're trying to see what it is" he said. She just looked at him. "Its no good Sam, I can feel it and you don't need this. Not now, you're better than this" he said leaning even closer. He could smell her shampoo and sweat. "Don't get lost in it, some people aren't worth saving" he whispered.
She could feel his breath on her neck and it sickened her. She knew his attraction, it was not at all mutual. His mentioning of her past struggles pissed her off as well. More than anything he knocked the foundation of her career with one sentence "Some people aren't worth saving". No psychologist could think that or they're out of a job. She grabbed his shirt collar and brought him up to standing position.
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Riddick watched the two of them. He had heard a bit of the words passing between them, a lot of it was muffled. She had backed him up against the locker room wall and spoke too softly for Riddick to understand her words. He understand her body language though. He saw her back muscles tense and her jaw set. If he could've seen her eyes clearly he figured he would have seen raw fury in them. The man she was speaking to leaned in to where he was a breath away from her neck, when she didn't back up Riddick thought Great, a lovers spat, you're losing your touch boy.
But his faith in himself was restored when the woman pulled the man up to stand and then delivered a hard and very painful blow to his groin.
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"Fuck Sam!" Browning said as his knees hit the floor. His face reddened and breathing labored he glared up at her.
"Don't ever touch me again or breath down my neck! As for your theory Browning, I believe the only person I've met that's not worth saving is you. And since you say you know me so well, then you know that's saying a lot if you factor in all the people I've known" she said menacing.
"You're digging your own grave" he breathed.
"I think I'll decide that" she said and started to walk off.
"He's not worth it Sam and in the end it'll be me who's grinning and you know it" he said.
She turned around to face Browning who was struggling to get up. She put her hand down offering to help him. He looked at her a moment considering things, then he put his palm in hers. She jerked him up quickly bring him face to face with herself.
"Listen you spineless fuck, you don't talk to me again and we'll see who has the last laugh" she said letting go of his hand.
"You may think you're better than me Sam but I'm the same as you, I taught you too much of what you know" he said grabbing her arm. She turned again facing him and brought her knee up to his stomach. As he doubled over in pain her elbow found his soft spot right above his kidneys.
As he fell again she leaned down and said, "Rule number one, don't have a weakness. They'll use it against you" she said.
She pulled him up... "Rule number two never assume you'll win, because you'll lose" she said and hit him square in the face.
"Rule number three" she said shoving him back onto the bench "Never assume the persons had a change of heart, because they haven't."
Rule number four" she said leaning in close to his face "don't assume you know me, you don't"
Then she grabbed the hand that had shot out to strike her and smiled as she heard the bones start to crunch. She stood up as he sat slumped in pain trying not to scream. A gym assistant came up looking at her cautiously.
"Don't worry I'm done with him, you can try to fix him but I doubt you can fix something quite that broken" she sneered.
"I'm sure your boss will be thrilled to know she did this" the assistant muttered wiping the blood off of the mans face.
"You forgot who you were fucking with" she said evenly staring at Browning. With one last hard look she stalked off to her locker.
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Jack blinked a few times then looked to Riddick. He turned and grinned at her. "I like this woman" he said walking towards the direction she had exited to.
"Oh holy hell" Jack muttered to herself.
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"Stupid son of a bitch" Sam muttered to herself pulling out a towel and some shampoo from her bag. She felt someone approaching behind her. Expecting it to be Browning she turned with both arms poised for attack but was blocked by two very powerful arms.
"What the hell" she said as she was slammed against the wall.
"Impressive performance" came the voice and her eyes again met a pair of silver ones.
"Let me go" she said.
"Not yet" he said. She startled to struggle against his hold though it was pointless.
"What was it about?" he asked his eyes penetrating hers.
"None of your fucking business" she said.
He looked at her eyes. Open wide but not in fear. Her body was humming with anticipation and something else he couldn't quite detect. Her smell was intoxicating and could make you dizzy.
"So are you gonna stand her pinning me against the lockers forever or let me go take my shower" she said irritably.
He stared at her again. Her eyes never broke contact. He seemed to be considering something but she couldn't tell what. His hands on her arms were warm and they both dripped with sweat. She was entirely to aware of his body inches from hers, her arousal was so prevalent anyone with in a mile probably could smell it. Just get the fuck away from him Sam, she thought to herself. She already knew she would have enough to deal with when he discovered who she was, she didn't need to add this to it.
Her eyes blocked all emotions as he looked into them. Who is this woman?, he thought.
"Are you going to do something?" she asked. He continued to stare.
"Fine, get then let me go" she started to push away when his mouth crushed on hers. She didn't struggle the way he thought she might. From the second his lips hit hers she became a live wire. Her mouth opened and devoured his. His arms pressed her harder into the lockers binding her from movement. Riddick groaned as he felt her hips slam into his. His tongue penetrated her exploring her as much as he could. He gasped when he felt her legs wrap around his middle and squeeze tightly. She took advantage of his momentary break and latched onto his neck. She savored the taste of sweat on her lips and let her tongue trail over his pulse then sunk her teeth into his flesh. Riddicks hands dropped from her arms and pulled her into him, feeling her teeth biting into his neck was to much and his hands slid down her back pushing her into his body as much as possible. A hand slid over her breast and kneaded it roughly and she gasped as her neck arched back. He let her slowly slide down his body till her feet touched the floor. He gazed at her sweat covered body arched against him with her head hanging back. Suddenly she jerked up looking at him in the eye
"How was that performance? ....hope it was as impressive as my previous one" she said coldly and bent to pick up her shampoo and towel. Riddicks arm caught her and she looked back at him. The sparks and fire were gone all that was there was a cold blank stare. He let her go.
"What the fuck?" he said watching her walk off. How can a person be practically vibrating with aggressive passion and so cold in the blink of an eye?, he wondered.
"Uh Dad" Jack said poking her head around the corner.
"Ya Jack" he said looking at her.
"Better go, the shrink should be at the house in about an hour" she said.
"Ya lets go" he said walking off.
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"Good Christ what have you done?" Samantha said to herself stripping her clothes off. She turned the water on and stepped into it. She couldn't get his scent off of her, her mind was racing and she still felt his hands on her and his body against her hard as a rock.
"AHHH!" she screamed knowing the damage she's created.
"How the hell was I suppose to react pinned up with him pressed against me?" she said shaking her head.
Chapter 4
You run in my viens, my bloods source
the muscle that brings me oxygen to breathe
I've never seen you but know you're there
how long will you wait to come to me
Riddick folded up the faded piece of paper and stuck it back in the drawer next to a picture of Carolyn. He picked up the picture and ran a finger over the photo. He could still smell her, almost felt her skin under his fingertips.
"God Carolyn I miss you" he breathed.
In the back ground he heard Jack swear as she dropped something.
"You'd be so proud of her" he spoke to the photograph. "She's so beautiful and defiant I think she learned that from you. Smarter than hell too. She misses you, she doesn't say it but I can feel it. She knows there's something missing from this make shift family as do I. You're the missing piece" he said.
He looked at the faded photograph memorizing it for the thousandth time. he was able to track down few memoirs of Carolyn Fry and he treasured every one of them. "There wasn't life before you" he said. He heard Jack yelling again and he smiled sadly. "Thanks for giving her to me, somehow you must have known I needed her" he said then put the picture back in its place.
He sat back reflecting. After they left that wretched planet they took Imam to New Mecca. He begged Jack to stay there with him but she wouldn't hear anything of it, and even though he knew it was wrong neither would Riddick. They drifted for a while place to place. The first few weeks were pure hell. He'd never looked out for anyone but himself and truly didn't know how to. Carolyn taught him about life and gave it to him....Jack gave him love and taught him how to love. He remembered the nights of Jack screaming and crying. He just lay there motionless not knowing what to do. So she showed him. She got up from her spot and curled up on his large frame. He tensed as she took his large hands and placed them around her and she snuggled closer to him for protection from the nightmares she knew would come. After some time it was Riddick who would get up in the night and seek refuge with her. He'd curl up to her warm body and let the serenity flow from her to him. She was his daughter. She may not have his blood or genetics but she was his and he'd be damned if he'd let someone take her away from him. He'd taught her and trained her, comforted and loved her and she did the same in return. She was his only family and it wasn't something he took lightly. He glanced at the clock and saw the shrink should be arriving in a few minutes. He walked into the kitchen and saw Jack waving pot holders wildly over some dish that had clouds of black smoke wafting up from it.
Jack heard a low rumbling laugh and saw Riddicks frame through the smoky room.
"I swear it'll be cleaned up and the smell gone before she gets here" Jack said frantically. She cringed as Riddick strode towards her quickly. He wrapped his arms around her and lifted her to him.
"Don't worry baby, they aren't taking you anywhere" he whispered as Jack gave way to her tears. He held her as she sobbed into his shoulder. His heart screamed and ached for her. No one would end this he promised himself. He set her down and smiled at her "I love you Jack, you know that" he said. She nodded and walked off. He cleaned up the mess and was done just as the door bell sounded. He quickly crossed the distance to the door and opened it. He saw a spark of red hair and big jade eyes. He grinned realizing it was the woman from the gym
"Well Irish" he said calling her by the only name he knew to "did you come by for an encore performance? It'll have to be postponed, I'm expecting someone" he said leaning against the door frame.
The woman stuck her hand out and smiled assuringly "Mr. Bryce" she said a bit over eagerly and Riddick sensed the first signs of something being wrong. He took her hand to shake it and she said "I'm Samantha Jones we spoke on the phone earlier today" she glanced at her watch. "I'm sorry I'm a tad behind I was unavoidably detained" she said sheepishly.