From the start he could smell her. Her scent burned into his memory. He liked knowing her true identity. A girl. A woman. Somewhere in between the two. He liked the way she emulated him. Somehow, it gave him power over her. Power he wasn't looking for, but wasn't willing to turn away from.

The first time Riddick realized there was something wrong it was already too late. Back on that forsaken planet with those things when Johns had casually suggested killing her and feeding her to the monsters. A flame flickered inside his belly. A flame of rage, and possibly something else he didn't understand. He'd fought Johns. Just the two of them in the dark surrounded by monsters. The other man's blood on Riddick's hands. And even so she almost shed a desperate and frightened tear for his loss. For the loss of the man who wanted to cut her up and feed her to monsters.

Not as if she ever knew that, though.

"Don't you cry for Johns," Riddick whispered to her. His hand barely grazed against her back. His tone dipped low, "Don't you dare."

Every moment after that he fought this new sensation rising in him. He had killed for her. Because of her. Would he have eventually killed the merc? Maybe. Maybe not. He honestly wasn't sure. All he knew was that he did kill him. Because he was going to kill Jack. Feed her to those monsters and Riddick couldn't have that.

Then, it happened. Shut up and confined on that sorry excuse for a ship. He caught her staring at him. And he liked it. He knew he was sick, but nothing prepared him for the disgusting satisfaction he gained knowing the little woman had a crush. On him. A crush.

Most humans of the opposite sex usually had a very definite set of feelings towards him. They were either jumping his bones, or trying to slit his throat. Nowhere in between. All that was different with her. She was loyal to him. Something he never experienced before.

It wasn't one-sided either.

Oh no, once again, he hated that he felt it. There was a connection between them. It seemed as if a part of Riddick was lost a long time ago. A part he didn't even realize was missing until...there was Jack. A part of him. He had her now. It felt good. Strange. Annoying at times.

But God help him, he couldn't let her go.

Except he had to let her go...

For her own good. Not only had he killed for her, but she had killed for him. Even in the sick satisfying feeling he got from watching her do it he also was able to feel...worry. She was so much more than him. More than...whatever he was. No. The best thing was for him to get away from her. Let her grow up. Let her live.

And so he pushed down, burned out all those images of holding her close. All the inhuman thoughts that had played in his sick mind over the months they'd spent together. All the messed up hopes he had for her. Then he left. Left her and the holy man on the safest planet he could think of and he ran. She cursed him. She fought him. He stood and let her pound furiously onto his chest. When she was too weak to continue he scooped her up and carried her to the bed she'd be using.

Her eyes were swollen and red. Her voice was weak and desperate, "Please, Riddick."

"Sorry kid,"

Then he was gone.