He Didn't Come

Self-preservation was paramount, but so was staying with Jack. Riddick really had been just joking at first, but when Jack took him seriously, and then had gotten pissed about it, he gave it a second thought. He really did have respect for Brand. It took a whole lot of man to get control over this crew, and Brand pulled it off. The man was nuts, but had skill, of a sort.

As for Jack, he didn’t know what the fuck he was going to do. What had gotten into him? This wasn’t his fight… but if Jack stayed, and he couldn’t get her to leave… she’d hate him for forcing her away from the only family, real family, that she has. There was no way in hell that he would leave her here, in the middle of this war, without his protection. Oh, fuck.

Jack was staring at the ceiling, muttering angrily. He didn’t know what it was she wanted from him. He had thought that she would want to stay with her sister, but she got infuriated with him when he alluded to that possibility. She was more like him than either of them realized. Self-preservation to the end.

Now that the chaos of the pirate assault was over and the stress of worrying about her shoulder had passed, Riddick had a chance to reflect on how he felt about their encounter on his ship. He still didn’t know if he was in love with her. He had never loved anyone before her, but his love for her was different when she was younger. That love had been the love of older brother to younger sister, of mentor to pupil. She had been his protégé, and he had been her teacher. How had that relationship changed so drastically?

She had liked it. She was getting used to the feel of his hands on her, and she wasn’t afraid. She was his brave, beautiful Jack, and he wanted her.

He couldn’t deny it any longer. He wanted her in a purely carnal fashion on one level, but on another level, an emotional level, he loved her. He was in love with her.

Gathering his courage (come on, Riddick. You’ve faced down mercs and ‘rats and escaped from slam after slam. You can tell Jack that you love her, can’t you?), Riddick opened his mouth to speak, but Libbie burst into the room. “Jackie, Riddick, I need you to watch the babies. Brand and I’ve got to go.”

“Wait, what? Where are you going?” Jack tried to get out of bed, but Riddick restrained her gently with one huge hand.

“Stay in bed, Jack.” He rose and approached Libbie. “What’s wrong?”

“The Alliance somehow got word of the plan. The force we were getting together over in New Germany was discovered. The Alliance has sent troops in. Brand and I have to go and sort things out.”

“Sort things out how?” Jack asked anxiously, again swinging her legs over the side of the hospital bed and rising unsteadily to her feet.

Libbie stared at her for a moment. “I don’t know,” she said simply. Her voice was shadowed. “Anthony, go see your Aunt Jackie, okay?”

She handed the infant to Riddick as Anthony walked over to Jack, coupled with a warning glare. “Take good care of them,” she said through clenched teeth.

“Don’t worry. The boys will be fine,” he answered.

“All of them,” she finished, and glanced once at Jack. Riddick suddenly understood. Libbie was giving him permission, in her own way, to watch over Jack.

Libbie still felt protective of her sister. Riddick understood why, of course. It was that whole maternal thing. If he remembered correctly, Libbie had acted as Jack’s surrogate mother for two years, and she had just gotten her back. He remembered how hard it was for him when he had to leave Jack in Donli. Libbie must have been going through hell.

Libbie hurried toward Anthony and caught him up in a big hug and kiss. “Be good, okay? Listen to what Aunt Jackie and Riddick tell you. I’ll see you soon, sweetheart.”

Brand knocked on the door. “Come on, babe, we’ve got to go. Anthony.” His son looked up, and Brand gestured for the boy to come to him. “Be a good boy, you hear me?”

“Daddy, where are you going?” Anthony asked.

“Momma and I are just going away for a little while. We’ll be back, but until then, I need you to do exactly what Aunt Jackie tells you. Help her with Nathaniel, okay?”

Anthony nodded gravely. He was only four, but his little face was the picture of somber comprehension. “Okay, Daddy. I love you.”

“I love you, too.” Brand picked Anthony up and crushed him in a big bear hug. “I’ll see you soon.” He took Libbie’s hand, and together they nearly ran out of the hospital room.

Riddick and Jack stared at each other. Anthony sat down cross-legged in the doorway and watched his parents dash for the docking bay. Nathaniel began to cry.

Jack sat back down on the bed with a thump, and Riddick knew exactly how she felt. “Is there something about my life that just attracts trouble or something?” he asked.

Jack shrugged weakly. “I don’t know. All I know is that the sooner we get out of here, the better.” She sighed. “This is bad, you know.”

Riddick nodded. “Yes, Jack. I know.”

“Aunt Jackie?” Anthony slunk meekly toward the bed. “What’s going on?”

Riddick groaned faintly. Brand and Libbie were as good as dead. Any time the Alliance ‘sent troops in,’ there would be a lot of dying before the day was out. He didn’t think it was coincidence that they went to New Germany first, either. New Germany’s system was as close to the Nebulus system as anyone was likely to get. The Alliance would be targeting the ‘rat stronghold next. He knew it.

Jack smiled weakly and held her arms out toward the small boy. “Come here, sweetheart.” Anthony crawled up and onto her lap. “I’m not sure when your parents are coming back. But don’t worry. Riddick and I will take good care of you.”

Nathaniel’s squalling grew more insistent, and Riddick looked at Jack, feeling helpless. Not a good feeling. “Jack, what’s wrong with the kid here?”

Jack said, “You’re holding him wrong. You need to cuddle him.”

“Cuddle….?” Riddick stared at her. He didn’t see how he was supposed to know any of this.

Jack rolled her eyes and said, “Yeah, you know… cuddle him. I can’t show you because of my shoulder. You’re gonna have to get used to holding him until Brand and Libbie get back.”

Riddick stared at her seriously for a moment. She didn’t really believe that Libbie would be coming back, did she?
Apparently she did. Shit. And he couldn’t sit down and explain the facts to her, because Anthony was in the room. Shit, shit! How did he get stuck babysitting, anyway?

A ‘rat knocked on the door. “Everything okay? The kid’s screaming his head off.”

Riddick looked at the taller man. “Everything’s fine,” he growled.

“Riddick, chill out,” Jack snapped. To the ‘rat she said, “Could you please show this moron how to hold a baby?”

The ‘rat shrugged. “Don’t know how. Libbie didn’t let anyone hold him much, ‘cept for her and the boss.”

Riddick groaned. “Okay, okay. Umm… stop crying, kid. It’s okay. Just stop crying. Shh.” He jiggled the baby gently in his arms. “Quiet, Nat. It’s okay.”

“Nat?” Jack looked at him quizzically.

“What, you think I’m gonna call this kid Nathaniel this whole time?”

“Well, it’s his name, isn’t it?”

The ‘rat, who had been following this exchange with an amused look on his face, interrupted and said, “We’ve got to follow the boss.”

“Wait—you’re all going?” Riddick glared at the man, who nodded.

“We’re in this for the long haul. We owe it to Brand. Anyway, just wanted to tell you that when you get to the station, there will be some guys to help you out. Jimmy’s a mechanic. He can help you put your ship back together. Libbie’s orders. There’ll be a medic there, too. He’ll make sure that her shoulder finishes healing up right.” He jerked his head toward Jack, who nodded.

“But… when will you be back?” she pressed.

The ‘rat shrugged. “Don’t know if we will be back. Listen, do either of you know how to dock?” Riddick nodded, and the ‘rat said, “Good. You won’t need to do much as far as piloting, but the computer might short out when the ship starts to dock at Neb 4. It’s been moody lately. There will be some people at the station who can walk you through it, just in case. You’ll be there tomorrow. You gonna be okay?”

Riddick jiggled Nathaniel absently. “Yeah.” What else was there to say?
As the last transport was launched from the ship, Nathaniel’s wails only got louder.