A/N: Sorry for the delay everyone, but my husband broke his back in April so things have been super hectic. Thankfully, he's doing much better and his recovery is going well. That being said, I have some sad news…this is the last chapter guys! I didn't realize it until I was just about done. : ( I will be doing a Dark Fury fic, so Eris and Riddick will be back soon! I had kiddoes up my butt while trying to write this, so I'll go back through and fix any mistakes later. A huge thank you to everyone who reviewed, favorited, and followed. I'll post individual thanks shortly on the Tumblr account, along with updates (haven't updated that for a while either, the link is in my profile), so check it out. A quick disclaimer that I don't own Pitch Black or Riddick - now on to the last chapter for Under The Summer Rain!

Chapter 14

The rain continued at a steady pace, gradually rinsing away the remaining mud covering us as we stood staring out into the darkness. After the 'incident' we had cleaned up a little bit, Riddick thoroughly shocking the shit out of me when he announced that he'd be going back with us to get Jack and Imam. He didn't offer an explanation – Carolyn and I thought it wise not to ask. I didn't know why he had suddenly changed his mind, but with his help we certainly had better odds.

"You ready?" Riddick asked us, tucking his goggles into one of his pockets.

"As ready as I'll ever be," I muttered, grasping my new, empty bottle. Since I had smashed mine, we needed another one to take back with us to refill and we found it after a quick search through the cabin; Paris must've accidentally left it behind on our first visit to the settlement We each took a swig before, regrettably, dumping out the alcohol.

Conversation between the three of us had been short and to the point. Riddick laid out the usual game plan - follow him and try not to get ourselves killed. I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

"Let's go."

We started off at a brisk jog, retracing the route back to the cave. We maintained a constant pace, trying to keep things a bit more stealthy this time around, unlike mine and Carolyn's previous mad dash for safety. The perpetual downpour had made the path even muddier, which made the going more difficult. The only plus side was that it was helping wash away our scent. We could still hear the creatures flying overhead, but they hadn't noticed us. Yet.

I'd occasionally sneak glances over at Riddick as we went; our eyes met once and I was the first to look away. I wasn't sure who's argument had won him over, mine or Carolyn's. Maybe it was neither. The man caused my emotions to roller coaster and I was beyond frustrated.

We rounded a familiar bend and the blocked cave came into view. Seemed like it took longer last time. Riddick wrestled with the rock for a few seconds before it fell to the side. Carolyn looked in before squeezing through. Riddick leaned against the opening and smiled at someone inside, presumably Jack.

"Never had a doubt!" I heard her happy exclamation and couldn't help but smile, too. "Where's Eris?"

I tried pushing against Riddick so he'd scoot over, but it was like trying to move the boulder by myself - he didn't budge. I glared at the side of his head. I knew exactly what he was doing.

Fine.

I wriggled around his body to stand in front of him, his chin resting on my head in the cramped space because of his refusal to move. I guess this is his payback for throwing that bottle at him earlier.

"Right here," I assured Jack.

"Anyone not ready for this?" Riddick drawled, his breath ghosting through my hair and sending a shudder down my spine.

"That is my God, Mr. Riddick," Imam replied strongly. I hadn't really thought about it that way, but the holy man had a decent point.

"Here," I said, handing Jack my bottle. "Put more worms in it."

"What happened to yours?" she asked, Imam and Carolyn starting to fill it up.

I ignored Riddick's chuckle and tried to hedge around it. "Well, it's a long story and now really isn't-"

"She threw it at Riddick's head," Carolyn interrupted, unsuccessfully trying not to smile.

Jack and Imam grinned.

"Okay, or that. Whatever," I groused. "Hurry up."

I ducked back outside, not wanting to be so close to the man behind me anymore. I kept my eyes and ears open for any sign of the creatures, but nothing close so far. Riddick backed up a few minutes later so the others could join us. Jack held one bottle while Imam held the other.

"This is it," Riddick warned.

"Let's do it!" Jack's enthusiasm was contagious. We took off, all of us feeling the urgency to make it. The convict held lead while I was in my habitual position directly behind him, my heart sounding loud in my ears as we ran. Jack, Carolyn, and Imam followed, the pale light from the bottles casting distorted shapes along the rocks.

We came around a corner, skidding to a stop. Riddick threw his arm out simultaneously pushing me between him and the wall, and motioning the others back. We crouched against the rock, erratic movement up ahead. It was too dark for me to see clearly, but I made out dim shapes and could tell by the sounds that there were more than two creatures up ahead - they seemed to be fighting. Fuck.

"What's he doing?" Carolyn hissed, nudging my back. I glanced at her over my shoulder and shrugged.

"No idea," I mouthed back.

Riddick moved his arm downward to firmly grasp my hand in his much larger one.

Oh, shit.

I followed suite with Carolyn who I was certain did the same with the other two. The creatures' fight up ahead grew in volume and I swallowed. What were we waiting for?

Without warning Riddick took off like a shot, dragging us with him. I quickly regained my footing and tried to keep up with the man in front of me, trusting that he knew what the hell he was doing. Large shadows moved and I had to bite my tongue to keep from screaming as we ran right in-between them, the lot scattering like a flock of startled birds. Splashing through a knee deep mixture of water and soupy mud, Carolyn's hand was wrenched from mine. Riddick's iron grip was the only thing that kept me from falling on my face.

"Don't stop," Riddick urged, "Don't stop! Come on!"

He let go of my hand and we both reached for Jack, and then the other two, helping them out of the slop.

"Move! Go!" Riddick shouted, shoving Imam up the slick hill. Wait, what?

He turned towards me and before I could react, grabbed my arms, lowering his mouth to mine in a bruising kiss. There was no finesse, no warmth like our previous kisses, just desperation and something else, something I couldn't put my finger on. We broke apart and he all but tossed me up the slope.

"Go! You know the way!"

Finality. He was making sure we all made it, that we had a chance.

"You'd better not fucking die, Riddick!" I screamed at him as I clawed my way through the mud.

Reaching the top I stumbled to my feet, not daring to look back. I tasted salt and swiped at my eyes - I hadn't realized I was crying. Keep. It. Together. I sprinted after the others, finally catching up to them at the settlement. The ground wasn't as bad here, but if the rain kept on like this it soon would be. We zig-zagged around the buildings, Carolyn and I leading the way to the center. Angry shrieks split the night air and I mentally begged for Riddick's safety. Please, please make it.

When I thought my legs were going to give out and my lungs were about to explode, the buildings finally fell away to reveal the ship exactly as we'd left it: Ready to go and monster free.

"Get on board, go!" Carolyn gasped, holding her side. A quick scan revealed no blood, thank goodness. Noticing my examination, she explained, "Stitch in my side…hard to breathe."

Imam and Jack scrambled up the ramp, but I hesitated. Blinking away the rain, I stared into the darkness trying in vain to catch any glimpse of Riddick's familiar face.

"Where's Riddick?"

I jumped and swore. I hadn't even heard Carolyn join me.

"I don't know," I answered. Truth be told, I was starting to worry. He should've been closer by now, if not here. The two of us stood side by side, ignoring the rain as we waited for anything - a noise, movement, a shout.

"Carolyn, Eris."

I glanced over my shoulder while Carolyn turned to Jack and Imam who stood on the ramp. The holy man gestured towards Jack with a resigned look on his face.

"Come," he beckoned.

Carolyn took one more look into the dark before slowly turning, but I couldn't bring myself to follow her just yet. Riddick probably expected, maybe even wanted us to leave and get to safety, but it felt wrong, especially when he had sacrificed and protected us, me, and didn't have to. He made me feel things that no man had ever made me feel before - alive, safe…it was maddening how much I wanted him.

"Eris, come on," Carolyn said.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. The others wouldn't wait. It was time to go. Goodbye, Riddick. Slowly opening my eyes, I let out my breath and turned.

"Aaarrghh!"

I whipped around so fast I thought I was going to fall, Carolyn running to my side.

"Riddick," I breathed, hope blossoming in my chest. When he didn't immediately appear, I knew something was very wrong. "Imam, give me your light!"

For a minute it looked like he was about to argue with me, but seemingly thought better of it because he handed over his bottle without a word. I'm turning into fucking Carolyn with this hero bullshit, I thought wryly, checking to make sure the knife on my hip was still secure. Speak of the devil.

Carolyn held her light, determination written all over her face.

"You ready?" I asked. This was definitely suicide, but I couldn't leave Riddick out there to die without at least trying to help him.

"As I'll ever be," she replied with a tight smile, borrowing my words from earlier.

I sprinted into the night with Carolyn right behind me our bottles held high, the light bouncing off the buildings and temporarily illuminating the dark pathways. We weaved around containers and unknown objects, expecting a creature to be waiting for us at every new turn. Hearing no more shouts we tentatively started calling out his name, quietly at first, and then louder. Nothing. Where are you?

Almost back to back we slowly turned in a circle, searching. I choked back a scream as something flew past my face, barely missing me.

"Oh, my God! Riddick!"

My heart dropped when the Big Bad stumbled and fell to the ground, blood running freely from his shoulder and a large gash in his leg. He had a wild look in his eyes and his breathing was heavy, like he had just finished running a marathon. He grabbed onto a piece of metal, trying to pull himself back up to no avail. Without stopping to think I slid to my knees, narrowly missing his shiv and wrapped my arms around his front, trying to maneuver myself into a good position to hoist him up. Carolyn joined me and we managed to raise him, staggering under his weight.

"Come on Riddick, get up!" Carolyn shouted. The man was like dead weight and I was concerned with how bad his injuries actually were and if we would be able to get him back to the ship. Imam was too far away to help and I didn't want to risk him out here as well, so we'd have to figure this shit out on our own.

"Riddick," I ground out, "Please, get up!"

After a brief struggle we had him somewhat propped with an arm across each of our shoulders, but it was difficult and the mud made us clumsy. It seemed like every time we had good footing one of us would slip and we'd be struggling to keep him upright. I could tell he was gathering his strength and attempting to keep his feet under him as we went, but I was starting to tire.

We were starting to make decent progress when I slipped and went down on one knee, Carolyn grabbing Riddick's torso to prevent him from falling, too. Before I could stand, a sudden impact jolted the other two. I immediately knew what happened when I saw Riddick's face go from surprised to resigned.

Not daring to move, I looked up at Carolyn, and then closed my eyes, her shocked face permanently burned into my retinas. In a way I was happy that I didn't see, only felt, her body being yanked away from us. We had shared a mutual respect for each other at the end, there. We had made it.

"Shit, Riddick!"

With Carolyn's sudden absence and my awkward position, he had no support and we both went down into the mud.

"You have to get up." I begged, tugging on his uninjured arm. I scanned our surroundings - so far, so good. "Please!"

"Not for me," he muttered lowly, so low that I almost missed it.

"What?"

With great effort he got to his hands and knees, shouting into the darkness, "Not for me!"

Carolyn.

Stifling a sob, I slung his arm around my shoulder, straining to find my footing. Gritting my teeth and digging my heels into the mud I got us back up, Riddick finally looking at me.

"You," he wheezed, his arm tightening around me.

"Surprise," I answered, casting a regretful glance at Carolyn's discarded light. There was no way I'd be able to pick it up and Riddick was in no condition to help right now.

Every minute was agonizing; I constantly thought I heard one of the creatures behind us, ready to pounce as we labored on. Our height difference and Riddick's injuries made the going hard, but at last we made it back to the ship without further incident. Jack and Imam looked like they hadn't moved since I left, as the holy man rushed down the ramp to help support the convict from the other side.

"Carolyn?" Jack asked hesitantly.

I shook my head, not trusting my voice. We got Riddick into the ship and gently lowered him in a chair, Jack pressing the button to shut the ramp behind us.

"Jack, find me some cloth, rags, anything," I ordered, setting my bottle onto the floor. Kneeling in front of Riddick I assessed his multiple injuries, concluding that the only serious ones needing immediate attention were the lacerations to his shoulder and leg. Smaller, shallow cuts littered his body, but I wasn't worried about those right now. We weren't out of danger yet and Riddick was the only one who could fly this thing out of here.

Jack handed me two large towels and after thanking her, I speedily wiped most of the blood, mud, and rain from Riddick's body. I tried to be take it easy around his leg, but I caught him wincing more than once. Borrowing his shiv I set to work slicing the second towel, nimbly wrapping the long strips around his leg in a temporary bandage.

"Just hold this on your shoulder," I directed, folding the last two strips into squares. I handed them over, his warm hand engulfing my cold, shaking one. The adrenaline had worn off and I was completely exhausted, not to mention soaked in rainwater and sweat. He gently squeezed and I sent him a wan smile - I knew that was his version of a thank you.

"Eris, here," Jack said, handing me a smaller towel.

"Thank you," I said gratefully, wiping my face, hair, and arms. A bath would certainly be a must after all this. I scooted back so Riddick could stand, his gait stiff as he limped to the pilot's chair and gingerly sat down, prepping the ship for takeoff. Imam helped me to my feet while Jack took a seat behind the co-pilot's chair. Assuring the holy man I'd be right as rain, he sat behind Riddick and I joined the convict, sliding into the chair beside him.

"So much prayer to make up for," Imam said lowly. I glanced over my shoulder to see a pensive look on his face as he fingered his ceremonial rope. "I scarcely know where to begin."

Jack spoke up softly from behind me," I know where I'd start."

I sighed, watching Riddick push buttons and turn dials, the ship humming as it powered up. With a sudden whine, the lights went out and the ship went silent.

"Riddick, what are you doing?" Jack asked before I had the chance.

Something landed atop the ship startling us all. The creatures had finally found us.

"Can we just get the hell outta here now?" the young girl whispered urgently. I was inclined to agree with her as we heard more and more thuds and thumps, now accompanied by snarls and clicks.

"We can't leave," Riddick said simply, turning back to look at her.

There was a collective gasp as one of the bastards landed on the window, another one knocking it off and baring it's teeth at us.

"Why the fuck not?" I demanded, not liking how close those teeth were to my face, even through a glass barrier.

"Without saying goodnight," he continued, one side of his lips curled in that all too familiar smirk.

He pushed the throttle lever to the max, the creatures getting blasted left and right in our fiery wake as we took off. A few tense, shaky minutes later we were finally off the God-forsaken planet and back in free space. I let out a whoop, everyone breaking into relieved laughter. We did it!

We flew peacefully, everyone getting comfortable and beginning to relax. My eyes felt heavy and I was more than ready to take a catnap.

"A lot of questions, whoever we run into," Jack warned. "Could even be a merc ship. So, what the hell do we tell them about you?"

The convict was quiet for a moment, thinking.

"Tell 'em Riddick's dead," he answered, then turned towards me. "He died somewhere on that planet."

I couldn't describe the look he was giving me, but his tone of voice was the kindest I'd heard out of him yet. I felt my face heat up, but gave in to the warm fuzzies and sent him a big smile. I received a rare one from him in return and couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, things would turn out alright.

"Riddick and Eris, sitting in a-"

"JACK!"

Fin