A Kid Like Her (A Riddick - Jack Romance/Adventure Story)

Recovery

"You kill me, kid. You're worried about me when you're the one shot."

He got her back in the ship and took her straight to the med bay. She had been shot through her left shoulder, but thankfully the bullet had gone all the way through. But being so near her heart was a huge concern, and she was losing a lot of blood. He laid her unconscious body down on the bed and took a step back.

"Computer. Scan injuries and prescribe treatment."

"Gunshot wound to left shoulder. Significant loss of blood, tissue and muscle damage. No major arteries compromised."

Riddick heaved a sigh of relief. "Thought I was gonna lose ya."

Although reassured, she wasn't in the clear yet and he didn't need the medbay computer to tell him that either. His shined eyes allowed him to see a spectrum of light her body emitted, an aura, and it was way off from what he was used to seeing. Working quickly, he followed each direction, administering an anesthetic, cleaning her wound, stopping the bleeding, and stitching her up. Only then did he treat his own injury. The bullet had passed through her and deeply grazed his right upper arm, carving a channel into the flesh.

Jack didn't feel a thing the entire time he was working on her, but Riddick wasn't so lucky. He felt a combination of rage and sickness. Rage that he couldn't prevent her from getting hurt and sick from seeing her with a gunshot wound, bleeding and unconscious. He strapped her down and covered her up with a blanket while left the port. Where there was one merc, others would soon follow and he couldn't wait to complete the deal no matter how sweet it was. Once he had programmed the autopilot for Helion Prime, he returned to her side and never left.

My fuckin' fault you're lyin' there with a bullet wound. Can't have you takin' hits because of me. Merc was after me and using you to do it. It's just not safe for you out there...not right to keep you here with me. This seals it. Taking you back to Iman. You're gonna fuckin' hate me. Don't want you to, don't want you to go, but it's for the best.

It would take two jumps to Helion Prime. The ship wasn't completely fueled and they would need to stop for more supplies. The total trip would take three weeks, bringing them to Helion Prime less than two weeks before her fourteenth birthday. Five weeks and they'd part ways for good.

Two hours later, he felt a hand on his head and he looked up, relief once again flooding through him.

"Hey kid."

"M-my mouth-. Dry."

He brought her some water and held the cup for her. "Don't gulp it. You'll cough."

She got a good look at him as he held the cup to her lips. The usually unshakeable Riddick looked like he'd been through hell and was still trying to get over it. She smiled at him, hoping to restore some of that infamous Riddick confidence she so needed to see.

"What's wrong? Girls at the brothel not like your pink briefs? You look like shit!"

She's fucking with me. Good sign. He smiled. "Wait 'til you see yourself. You remember what happened?"

Her forehead wrinkled in thought. "Merc. He knew who I was...not just Jack but Audrey. You showed up and he was scared shitless." She paused, trying to remember, then worry crossed her face. "You were shot."

He shook his head. "Jack, you were the one shot. He pushed you into me, shot you in the shoulder." The heart rate monitors were racing. "Calm down, you're OK. Just hit tissue and bled like a mother. The bullet passed right through and dug skin outta my arm. He ran and tried to get another shot off at me, but wasn't quick enough."

"How?"

He knew she was asking how he killed him. "Knife between the eyes. Mother fucker didn't suffer nearly enough."