Disclaimer: I don't own Resident Evil, it's characters, settings, monsters, creatures and all the things that go bump in the night...

English

Rated T

Romance and Hurt/Comfort

Jill V. & Chris. R

What Unites Us

Chapter One

Jill Valentine dragged her luggage over the wooden flooring of the ship, the wheels on the suitcase imitated a train track as she pulled both her belongings and herself into the bowels of the ship. It stood tall and wide, a vast white beacon absolutely worthy of the name. The bright yet low sun bounced off the shiny white exterior, the windows filtering some of the light, but most of it was returned to the sky and her new passengers for the duration of their holidays. It's what she needed after all the hell she had been through. But it might not be as much fun alone.

Oddly enough, it wasn't one of the things that the medical professionals had suggested to Jill after her ordeal. Take these pills, see this doctor once a week, these tests will be done soon as possible... But no rest for her. The only R&R had come in the form of the rehab centre where she had spent the rest of March in the care of doctors and nurses and one so sacred visit from Chris. They had checked her blood and near enough told her everything she already knew. Wesker had already told her all about what was inside her by experimenting on her for as long as he did. Laying in the same room for hours on end with more wires within her than what she started out with at the beginning of the year. Even though he's a terrorist, was I in better care with him? The thought, at some point had crossed her mind.

Jill reached the door to her single room, leaving the salty, seagull filled air behind her. Spending a holiday alone is better than not having one at all, but nevertheless she had booked a room with a double bed. You never know what could happen at the all hour bar. Though something inside her just knew she wasn't that person. She was never that person.

After emptying her luggage into the wardrobe and small chest of drawers beside the bed, Jill reached over and switched on the lamp. Not that the late afternoon required more lighting, but it would be good to know what her room looked like at night. It was a thankful change from the white, clean and empty medical rooms and offices with only an in-house psychiatrist and herself, telling her the horror story of the past four years. Trying to leave out as little as possible, but equally not wanting to spend a second thinking about what had happened.

The room was illuminated by the small lamp as it cast a dark orange glow which gradually met with the daylight from out of the porthole. Slipping off her shoes, Jill patted across the soft, cinnamon coloured carpet which was another once granted, now loved necessity. Wrinkling her nose, Jill locked the door as more passengers filtered through the ship's many on top the fluffy white duvet, Jill pulled the bunched sleeves of her thin, beige top over the creases on her elbows. It wasn't her usual casual attire. But then again what does one wear after being a guinea pig, puppet and killer all against her will? The top hid the healing web of scars the device had given her on her chest and the pin pricks all over her arms from the countless injections over the many weeks of many, many tests.

Jill had used almost all her money from working at the BSAA to cover the trip. Buying everything she will need, clothes, suitcases and even the holiday itself. Surprised her bank account was still open after being declared dead for so long – after giving her statement, among other things to the man in charge back in England, the BSAA had her death certificate reprieved. It was close to the time Chris got his medal for his work and saving her in Kijuju. She had turned heads that day for sure, most of them looking as if they had seen a ghost. Soon after that when she had put the word in for the said holiday. It was met with little question from Chris who told the big cheese of the department himself that it would be good nature if she was to go away, after all the tests, appointments and pills of course, before rejoining the team. Quicker than what she had anticipated, they had agreed. Although it had taken a few more weeks before she could actually leave the medical facility. The people in lab coats had to have one last say in the matter though.

Turning off the lamp, she faced the pothole window after rolling onto her side, the clouds obscured the once blinding sun. Jill reached into her handbag, pulling out a small bottle of water and a tub half full of sleeping pills. In case of any nightmares, unwanted memories or anything that might creep into her consciousness and hurt her there. Swallowing one and half the bottle, Jill looked back out the window and saw the sun setting and being lowered into the open maw of the sea. The waves, a red oil on water beauty as the pinks and reds stretched out upwards also, and all around the darkening sky.

They would be setting off soon. Then the screaming children and families will file out of the main deck and into the depths of the large ship, leaving the couples and straggling sightseers on top as the first meal would be served some time after they set off.

The ship had everything her passengers needed to have an enjoyable holiday. But it didn't have the thing she most desired. Chris had wished her a safe journey, hugged her and jokingly told her to send him a postcard from every stop she makes and that if she forgets one place, he'll have her riding desk back home after her holiday. He had bid her farewell with an 'I'll see you later, partner' before she exited the BSAA Headquarters.

"Chris..." Jill muttered as the medication began to work its magic. She felt the pull of the first night of sleep deep in her mind. Far from the needles and tests as the sun set below the waterline and the ship began to set sail.

Happy brand new fanfiction story, readers! What's with those big-ass chapters, huh? Well, I've started reading novels a lot more, so I guess it's that. But, damn, I only hope I can keep it up and you like what I publish as much as I like writing it.

My first ValenField, hope you like!

DCIPHOENIX