Thanks to Toni and Donna! This is the final
installment in the series!

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Dancing With The Devil Part 7
by Christina and Donna

Grace faced her opponent, both were bruised, bloodied,
and breathing hard. They'd started with shivs, which
accounted for the numerous cuts the man still sported.
Grace's had healed. But expert moves executed by
both had removed the shivs from their hands and were
lost somewhere in the grass.

The contest had then moved to hand-to-hand combat.
Grace knew that the man's size would give him the
advantage, and if he got inside, she was done. So she
hit him fast and hard, her greatest asset was her
strong legs. She could do a lot more damage with a
kick than a punch, so that's how she attacked.

She was intent on her plan, so intent that she barely
managed to notice in time that he had found a stick
and was going to try to knock out her legs. Quickly,
Grace took out her cattle prod but didn't turn on the
electricity though. It would end this contest too
swiftly. And after all he'd done, this man deserved
whatever pain she could inflict.

She nailed him in the lower abdomen, and for her
effort she received a blow to the back. As she fell
to the ground, she swung her prod and took out his
knee. He fell as well and that was when she moved.
Straddling him, she leveled her prod across his
throat, pushing the weapon into it and choking him.
"You have no idea how long I've waited for this." But
there was no reply as not only the scenery, but her
opponent, disappeared. "Fuck," she said. "Next time,
I'll have to kill him faster."

She gathered her weaponry and slowly made her way to
the door. Looking back, she knew that she’d have to
come back here someday. This place was simply too
good of a way to reduce her stress. Rubbing her neck,
she regretfully stepped out of the holodeck and found
her charge waiting for her.

"You look like hell," he said, taking in her
disheveled state.

Patting his chest, she said, "But I feel better than I
have in ages. This holo-simulator is great."

Riddick nodded. "So, you worked out some
frustrations, did you?"

"And then some. It doesn't hurt to keep my skills
sharp either. Not that I'll need them, mind you. But
it never hurts."

He laughed at that. "I agree 100%. It is not smart
to let down your guard, ever." He paused and then
fell a step or two behind her, studying her. After
meeting her teacher the other night, he had been
pondering so many questions. First and foremost was
what to do with the information he'd gleaned from what
the woman had said, the way she'd acted, and the way
her breath caught during certain moments in their
conversation. It was like she knew what he was from
experience. The question was... Did Grace know? And
if she did, how much? It was a curiosity that was
eating away at him. He had to know. "Grace, how much
about Jasa's past do you know?"

Grace shrugged. "I know enough. She's one of the
best people I know. She's always come through for me.
And thanks to her, you have a second chance. She
told me about this place."

Riddick nodded. Her response told him everything he
needed to know. "I see."

She stopped. There was something he wasn't sharing
here. What the hell was he up to now? "Well, I know
she hasn't divulged any information willingly to you,
so what do you think you know?"

Sighing, he said, "I know the look in her eyes. I’ve
seen it on fellow inmates in the Slam. I saw it
reflected at me in the mirror. It's up to you who you
believe. But you should ask her how she knows so much
about what it's like to be me. Ask her how she knows
about the boundaries that shouldn't be crossed. As
far as I know, there's only one way."

She stopped and turned to face him. He had just all
but told her that the one person she loved and admired
the most had been the same kind of devil that he is...
was! But how did he know? He could be wrong. But
then, he was the best reader of human nature she'd
ever met. He may not know exactly what he was talking
about, but he was probably close. Jasa was... had
been like him! Maybe worse! It would explain her
times of moroseness. Times that she wouldn't share
anything with her student. But then, it couldn't have
been that bad. But what if it was? She needed to get
away... needed time to think without his scruitiny.
Was he deliberately trying to upset her? "I have to
go," she said, as she turned and ran.

Watching her run away, Riddick felt a slight tinge of
something he’d never felt before. Guilt. He hadn't
intended to upset her to such an extreme. But she did
need to know... she did need to talk to Jasa. It may
have ruined any kind of friendship he'd have with her,
but secrets always revealed themselves, and it was
best that she learn her teacher's right away. He
started to walk toward his home and paused. Since
when did he become so noble. Shit! She was
definitely his weakness. Her kindness had hit
something inside of him, and he repaid her by hurting
her. But then again, she needed to grow up. If any
of them were naive, it was Grace Hammond. The big man
walked back to his home still arguing with himself
over whether or not he had done the right thing.

Grace ran all the way to the park. This was hell.
The one person she felt she could trust beyond all
others had kept part of her past from her. Why?
Didn't she think that Grace would accept it? She
would. She did. Jasa's past... whatever it was, had
gone a long way toward making her the person she was
today. When Grace took a moment to analyze what she
was going through, it wasn't Jasa's past that was
bothering her. It was Grace Hammond that was
bothering her. It was that she herself needed to
change. Grace Hammond couldn't hide behind her morals
anymore. She needed to find another path for herself.
She needed to learn that people weren't what they
seemed and that it was ok. But how did she set her
feet on that path... on the path to accepting not
Jasa, but Riddick, his past, and her growing feelings
of friendship for him. That was the root of her
problems. How did she do that?

Sitting on the grass, she saw the ducks and swans
gliding serenely over the lake. Songbirds were up in
the trees, chirping and singing joyful songs to each
other. The place was an island of calm compared to the
turmoil in her heart and soul. There was only one
other person there, a man sitting cross legged on the
grass, gazing out onto the smooth glassy surface of
the lake, singing in some sort of soft, monotone
chant.

She had buried her head in her arms and was resting
them on her knees. She had to find a center
somewhere. She concentrated on the man's voice and it
helped immensely. What had Riddick said... 'Perhaps
you don't know her like you think you do.' Hell, at
this point in time, she didn't even know herself.
Unconsciously, she started to clench and unclench her
fists. This wasn't working! The chanting was
relaxing, but she was feeling the need to act out
again. Damn, but she should have saved her holodeck
time for later. Beating someone to a bloody pulp
sounded pretty good right now.

She was so immersed in herself that she hardly noticed
that the sound of the chanting had stopped until the
tingle of the man's quickening alerted her, making her
look up. He was squatting down in front of her, his
dark eyes studying her intently. "Why do you let these
demons inside of you continue tormenting you?" he
asked. It was just as if he was looking straight into
her very soul.

She shrugged and said, "Because they are always there,
and are mine to fight. I choose them because someone
has to do it. It just builds up inside me
sometimes..." She was going to say more but she
paused instead and gazed into his eyes. He was
immortal like she, but unlike she, he seemed to have a
depth of understanding unlike any she'd ever seen.
"How did you know?" she asked softly.

"I know because of who and what I am," he said simply,
easing himself down onto the ground in front of her,
crossing his legs once more. "I am Coltec." He then
went on describe that as medicine man for his tribe,
it was his duty to draw out the evil that was plaguing
his people, and take it into his own soul. "My people
have long since gone to be with the old ones, but
there is one here in this place I have helped in the
past. Perhaps you know him. His name is Duncan.
Duncan MacLeod."

Grace nodded. "Yes, I know him. It's been said that
he and I have some things in common. But you and I,
it seems we are opposites. You take others' evil upon
yourself in order to help others and I choose to
combat it. When I first came here, I thought I'd done
a horrible thing... bringing a murderer into the realm
and putting everyone in danger. But he's sending out
all kinds of mixed signals. And is he doing it to
throw me off guard or is it genuine. I've seen him as
evil for so long, how do I trust? Should I? Then
there's the fact that he's telling me things about my
teacher that are confusing me even more. Is that what
he wants? I'm so frustrated." She paused momentarily
and then apologized. "I'm sorry. I'm talking a mile
a minute and I'm sure I'm making no sense to you."
How could she, she wasn't making sense to herself.

"Actually, you are making very good sense," he said
gently. "Let me help you. It will help you see even
clearer, and put you in a better position to fight
this evil you face. Keeping it inside of you will only
make it worse. Ask Duncan. He will confirm this. Two
can fight evil much better than just one."

"I've seen a lot of evil. Duncan is just more open
about his fight than I have been. I appreciate your
offer to help, and a clear mind would help immensely.
But are you sure you want to take it on? How much
evil can one person take?" Unbidden, a tear escaped
and ran down her cheek. She absolutely hated crying
as it showed weakness. She rarely, if ever, did it.
But there was something about this man that made her
trust him instantly.

"I am capable of doing this without any danger to
myself," he said truthfully. After the dark quickening
had left him when MacLeod had taken his head and he
had reappeared alive and well in SIM City, he was a
clean slate, so to speak. Rising up onto his knees, he
took her face between his hands and started to chant
softly.

She felt herself go. Closing her eyes, she saw
flashes of things she'd done, people she'd chased and
those she had captured. The animalism that some
exhibited played before her. She saw the child killer
who she had chased in France when she first met
MacLeod. She saw the rapist who took great pleasure
in gutting his victims afterward. She saw the
cannibals, the torturers, and the serial killers.
Watching all this, it was a wonder she'd stayed sane.
The thing with this experience was that the
emotions... the hate, anger, evil... none of them were
present. And that's when she realized that this
medicine man... this Coltec was taking them from her.
Not the memories, but the evil that was associated
with them and a peace was being left in its place.

As his voice trailed off, and his hands left her face,
Coltec smiled at her. "Do you not feel better now?
Stronger, cleaner, and much more able to face the day
with whatever it hands you?" Then slowly, he leaned
forward, and after kissing her on each cheek, he
hugged her tight. "Remember this lesson. Two are
always more able to fight evil than one. One horse may
be able to pull three logs, and another just two. But
put them together, and they cannot only pull those
five, but six more besides."

She inhaled deeply and for the first time in centuries
she could honestly say that she felt whole. "I will
remember it always." Reaching out she touched his
face and quietly said, "I have no words that can
express my gratitude, Coltec. Thank you." It was
then that she realized that she'd yet to tell him her
name. He'd put himself on the line for a complete
stranger. "I am Grace Hammond. And if I may say it,
the woman who has chosen to be your OIC is possibly
one of the smartest in the valley." She felt a
closeness to him before he helped her, but then she
was drawing from his calm. Now, she felt a bond. She
didn't know if he felt it too, but since he'd just
experienced the hell of her life... She took his hand
and squeezed it.

He shrugged his shoulders slightly. "I am honored to
meet you, Grace Hammond. I do not have an OIC," he
said with a wry smile. "I have many friends though.
Duncan, Hudson, Wolf and Ranger for ones. And Miss
Charity has been nice to me, along with several other
women here in town. I am content here. When the walls
close in about me, I come to the park, and commune
with nature, or into the woods, or the hills beyond.
Sometimes alone, sometimes with a friend."

She smiled in understanding. "I've felt pretty
alone... until now." She continued to sit with him,
but stared down at her feet. "For whatever reason, I
seem to attract evil. Guys much like those you just
witnessed. But, I'd like... I'd like..." She reached
out and played with her shoe. She was definitely no
good at asking people for anything. Riddick, she had
told. And whatever other spawn of Satan crossed her
path who needed a watchdog she would tell too. But
Coltec was different. She wanted to ask, but instead
she looked at her shoe.

He reached out and took her hand in his, squeezing it
lightly. "You do not have to feel alone here in this
place. There are always people who are willing to sit
and listen, just as I am here now. Tell me what you
would like, Grace Hammond. And if it is within my
powers to do so, it will be done!"

She took a deep breath and said rather quickly before
she lost her nerve, "I'm not really good at this. I'm
not sure what I'm doing. But if you're of like mind,
I could be your OIC." Here she paused to take a
breath before continuing. "I understand if you'd
rather pass. I mean, I feel better than I ever have,
but I am a trouble magnet. It follows me wherever I
go." All that said in record time, she lifted her
eyes to his and waited on baited breath.

"Grace Hammond, you do me much honor to ask this of
me," he said, taking both of her hands into his. "And
if you are indeed the type to attract trouble, will
you not need a strong man at your side to help you
ward off the evil when it comes to your doorstep? I
would gladly stand with you in both the good times,
and the bad, come what may." He squeezed her hands,
his bronzed face breaking into a pleased smile.

The relief, the gratitude, and the peace she felt at
this moment caused her to drop his hands and embrace
him closely. The hug lasted several minutes and when
she pulled away, she couldn't hide the smile on her
face. It was one of the few genuine ones since she
arrived... in centuries actually. "I think we'll make
a good team. And I promise you, I attract trouble,
but my life isn't all bad. I have good times too, and
having a friend to share those with is priceless."