It was around 3 AM when the thunder rumbling outside Sherry Birkin's apartment finally woke her up. The weather had been especially stormy as of late, leaving the days dark and dreary, to her dismay. The 27 year old never could get used to storms, they often knocked the power out in her small apartment, leaving her alone in the dark with nothing but her thoughts, which she never liked dwelling on too much.
Though, she was thankful for the thunder this particular night. She was having an especially nasty nightmare which was only getting worse; that September night in Raccoon City when she had lost her parents and everything she had ever known. Though, her nightmares were always of Raccoon. No, what made tonight's even worse was that she was her 27 year old self in Raccoon - no Claire or Leon - she was completely defenseless against the hundreds upon hundreds of zombies that roamed the streets. She immediately turned and ran in the direction of a road that seemed relatively empty, but zombies would always appear and block her way, like an almighty impassible wall. Though, as she approached the impassible hoard, they started to part, to make way for something.. something Sherry couldn't quite make out until it was too late. The big and bad Ustanak was as terrifying as Sherry could remember and her nightmare made him all too real to bare. Her legs instantly betrayed her by not allowing her to move an inch, trapped in Ustanak's charge. The thunder jolted her awake just as she was about to be torn to pieces by his chainsaw for an arm - which she silently thanked the thunder for.
She was shaking and couldn't quite control her loud gasps for air, and the even louder pelting of the heavy rain against the window was a clear indication that she wasn't going to be sleeping until either she calmed down, or the storm did. She was about to hop out of bed to splash some water on her face when she felt a stir in the bed. Glancing to her right, she couldn't help but smile at Jake Muller's loud yawn and how he readjusted the blankets to cover his bare chest. She was glad she hadn't woken him up, her nightmares were so frequent that she felt bad when Jake had to nearly be up at all hours holding her, reminding her every time that nightmares couldn't ever hurt her - that he wouldn't let anything hurt her, and she knew he really meant that. She was a little surprised when the thunder hadn't woken him though, but she remembered that Jake was a pretty heavy sleeper, and that she was the exact opposite.
She gently reminded herself of what Jake would tell her every time she woke up breathless from a nightmare, and with that, cuddled close to him and tried to ignore the raging storm outside, gently kissing Jake's chest, quietly thanking him in her own way. Yes, she was grateful that Jake was here with her. It had been nearly a year since they had returned from China, and thanks to Jake's blood sample - outbreaks (if any) were being contained, and infections were quickly dropping in numbers as more vaccines were being distributed everyday. Sherry honestly felt very proud of herself, and what she had managed to accomplish with Jake, if she were able to talk to her scared 12-year-old self, and tell her that someday, she'd help save the world and fight against bio-terrorism just like Leon and Claire - that the little scared and vulnerably Sherry would probably laugh at her. In all of Sherry Birkin's life, she never thought she'd ever so much as come close to saving the world, but here she was, a proud D.S.O agent, doing her part for the government in anyway she could, and she had honestly never felt more strong and capable in her entire life. Her finally thought before she fell asleep was her parents, and how she was fighting Bio-terrorism so no child would have to lose their parents in such a morbid way like she did, not if she could help it. 'Night mom, night dad.' she smiled softly and finally let herself fall completely asleep.
She awoke the following morning around 9 am. Her eyes slowly opened when she couldn't feel Jake near her, frowning slightly at the empty space, she sat up. Noticing the sound of the shower in her bedroom's bathroom, she decided to get started on breakfast. She thanked god it was Saturday, because she felt especially tired and lazy today. All she had to do today was take her dog Oreo for a walk, and drop off her latest assignment report to the D.S.O for review. She was taking more written assignments lately, and though she preferred to be out in the field, Jake preferred she take more written assignments, especially when he couldn't be out on the field with her to watch over her, though he knew she'd be fine, he didn't call her Supergirl for nothing. She began setting up for breakfast, cracking 2 eggs onto a frying pan. She was bent over searching for orange juice in the fridge when she heard footsteps behind her. "Mornin' Supergirl, anything i can help with?" she turned to see the usual smirk on his lips, with nothing but his jeans on and a towel around his neck, Sherry couldn't help her wide smile upon seeing him. "Sure, start setting the table and grab 2 glasses." She then turned back to her search but kept her head in the fridge a minute longer to hide her blushing.
Jake had been staying with Sherry in her apartment for about 3 weeks now, but she still couldn't stop herself from blushing when she saw that smirk on his face. He had been staying with her for some D.S.O related business, Sherry knew nothing passed that. Everytime she tried to ask what exactly he was doing, he would sarcastically reply with "Its confidential Sherry, It's for the benefit of national security." to which Sherry would slap him on the arm and roll her eyes. About 3 weeks ago, his playfully secretive attitude was cute, but it was starting to get on her nerves now, she just wanted to know what the D.S.O wanted with him - the rational side of her said that they just needed more blood samples, the more.. imaginative side came up with about 99 other possibilities.
The two weren't exactly involved, they hadn't even kissed, let alone anything else. In fact, the closest they had gotten was Jake staying in her bed with her on stormy nights, since when he had been in her spare room, he'd often wake up to hear Sherry screaming in the next room over a nightmare. He'd grown so protective of her since China that he couldn't bare to think of her being tortured in her sleep, and a simple hug often put her at ease which he was happy to give. Sherry was sure he saw her as kind of little sister - someone he needed to watch over, but Sherry felt more than friendship for Jake, and had ever since escaping from the underwater facility, though, she was too afraid to actually tell him how she felt, the fear of rejection overwhelmed her when she even thought about it. For now though, she was happy to be his Best Friend.
She served up the bacon and eggs, while Jake poured himself a cup of coffee and her a glass of juice. She decided to fill Oreo's dog bowl with some food before she ate herself, she hated eating when his bowl was empty. "So, i have to go into D.S.O's HQ for awhile around 11, want to drive me?" said Jake with a playful smirk. She took a sip of her juice before replying, "I have to hand in a report so sure, but.. what for?". Jake stuffed his face with some bacon and washed it down with some coffee, preparing his usual reply when she asked about his business with the D.S.O, but he was cut off. "Geez Jake, can't you just tell me what's going on already? It can't be that much of a big deal." He sighed and shook his head with that persistent smirk of his. "Fine, but you're gonna have to come into D.S.O with me today if you're that curious, i have a meeting with the Director about it, I'm sure she wouldn't get too mad if you tagged along." "Director Hunnigan," she corrected, "And will we be long? i was planning on dropping that report at the front desk, then taking Oreo for a walk, so.." Jake stood up, grabbing both his and Sherry's plates and putting them in the dish washer, "Nah, shouldn't be too long at all, and how did you even come up with the name Oreo?" She giggled at his question, "What, you don't like it?", he shrugged.
"Not that i don't like it, it's just.. random isn't it?" It was her turn to smirk at him, "I've only had Oreo for about a month, i got him because, even though this apartment is a bit small, it felt big and empty with just me.. you know? and by mistake, when i got him i forgot to buy any food for him, or anything really, so i just fed him Oreo's since that's all i had in the kitchen, thus the name Oreo." she smiled triumphantly at her explanation, but it slowly turned to a frown at Jakes distant expression. "What, what's wrong Jake?", he looked up at her with a genuine smile, something she rarely saw from him, but wondered why it was showing now. "Its nothing Supergirl, i hope you're not lonely now is all", he winked at her and started clearing the tablet without another word.
No, Sherry wasn't lonely now, not at all. Her cute little German Shepard had been keeping her on her toes, she wasnt aware how much work went into taking care of a dog until she finally had one, but she loved Oreo, he was a relatively quiet puppy and she tried to get him out for walks as much as possible, but her work kept her too busy for a quick walk sometimes. Though, Jake staying with her for the last month certainly improved her mood all the more. He surprised her completely saying he needed a place to stay for a few weeks, and that 50 dollars wouldn't cover a hotel, and he'd wanted to see her ever since China. He often surprised her with dinner or movies and even helped out with cleaning sometimes, though not very often. The man she had met at the start of her last field mission in Edonia was a cocky mercenary, with little regard for anything other than money, but the man staying with her now was completely different. He was a polite and handsome man, with a bit of a short temper and foul mouth, but everything about Jake was perfect to her, and she loved everything about him.
She finished off her orange juice and walked to her room, getting dressed in her favourite boots, skinny jeans and a red blouse - if she was visiting the D.S.O she had to look professional, she could change into her walking gear when she got home to walk Oreo anyway. As she walked out of her room she smiled over to Jake, "Ready to go then Jake?" he finished drying the last of the plates and picked up his jacket, and threw her her keys, "Sure am Supergirl, lead the way." She walked out of her apartment calling to him over her shoulder "Don't forget to lock it, i don't need to have anything stolen while we're gone." He let out a sarcastic laugh and shouted to her down the hall. "God help the guy who tries to break into your apartment with Oreo on watch." to which she giggled and replied with "Damn straight."
The drive to the D.S.O HQ was uneventful, Jake fidgeted uncomfortably in Sherry's car. Not that he didn't like her car, but she could tell he missed his motorcycle. He was forced to leave it behind in Edonia when he came to visit her a month ago. She wished she knew what Jake's plans were - if he told her he was staying in the states, she'd love to surprise him by having it delivered over, but now wasn't the time to ask him that, and for all she knew, Jake could be leaving for Edonia next week, but she selfishly hoped Jake wouldn't be going anywhere for a while, she'd grown too used to having him there in her apartment when she got home from work everyday that she'd feel more lonely than ever if he left, though she'd never actually admit that to him.
Sherry pulled up in her regular parking spot - another perk of being a full fledged Agent - and the pair both hopped out and walked toward the building side by side. "So.. what am i in for?" Jake glanced at her with a bemused expression, "Aw come on Supergirl, you waited this long, don't make me ruin the surprize." He scanned his ID badge at the door and walked straight through, leaving a slightly confused Sherry in his path. Surprize? she wasn't expecting to find out anything major, she was expecting they'd been asking him about the incidents in Edonia and China as they usually did, or taking more of his blood. Her mind began to run wild, coming up with scenario after scenario until Jake finally knocked her back to reality. "Sherry, you comin'?" she quickly nodded her head and followed him into Director Hunnigan's office
What in the world was she going to find out? she swallowed a nervous lump in her throat and sat in one of the two chairs opposite Director Hunnigan's desk. Jake lazily slouched in his while Sherry sat straight up with her feet together, funny how a persons sitting position reflects the person's personality in this case Sherry thought. Hunnigan disapprovingly stared at Jake's casual sitting manor in such a professional place, but ignored it, and even smiled slightly out of the amusement she got from Jake's 'Don't care' attitude, but decided against showing it too much. Sherry wasn't sure why she felt nervous, what do you think she's even going to say? she asked herself.
Director Hunnigan eventually cleared her throat and began with the meeting. "Hello Mr. Muller, and Miss Birkin, lovely to see you two." Sherry politely smiled at her "Likewise, Miss Director." Jake added a small nod in Hunnigan's direction, which, if Sherry and Jake weren't in such a high end building, she would of punched him on the arm for being so careless. "Jake, we've finished processing your request-" Jake raised an eyebrow, "And?" Sherry shot him a warning look Jake, quit while you're ahead. she thought, hoping he'd somehow hear her. Hunnigan readjusted her glasses to read over some files on her desk, "And, it's been accepted, though on one condition."
This time, Jake actually looked up at her, with a curious look, "What kind of condition?" She picked up the file she was reading, pulling 1 page out from it and handing it to Jake to read over, "Well, In order for Sherry to become a D.S.O agent, she did training for 4 years, you will too. Though we acknowledge you've been trained as a Mercenary in hand-to-hand combat and battle tactics, so our condition is that you-" Jake suddenly stood up from his chair with such force that it fell over, startling Sherry, but didn't jolt any sort of reaction from Hunnigan. "You want me to fucking babysit agents-in-training?" Jake barked with a sharp edge in his voice. Hunnigan slowly removed her glasses and calmly replied "No, Mr. Muller, not babysit. You've shown you are exceptionally talented in Hand-to-Hand combat and we believe your knowledge would be extremely valuable to new recruits. If you agree to train the new recruits for a full year, i will personally give you the field assignment you had your eye on, with Sherry as your permanent partner, granted the job is still available by then, and Miss Birkin accepts too." Jake stared at the piece of paper he was handed, with a full list of the duties he would have to handle, the skills he'd have to teach and the people he'd be teaching. Sherry was so surprised she wasn't quite sure what she was hearing
Jake was fuming, he didn't want to babysit a bunch of idiots for a full year, but if it meant he could get out with Sherry for field missions as her official partner, then what choice did he have? Jake picked up his chair and slowly fell into it once again. "Fine. When do i start." he mumbled with a depressed expression. To Sherry, he looked like someone had just hit him over the head with a hammer, and momentarily felt the urge to tell him it'll be fine, until she remembered what she had just heard from Hunnigan. Jake wanted to work for the D.S.O., no, he just agreed to work for the D.S.O., she was torn between the urge to punch him and scream "Why am i only being told this now?" and the urge to jump up and down in her seat screaming like a little girl. "Very good, Mr Muller, How does Monday at 8 am sound? we'll introduce you to your students and you have free reign from there, as long as that list of duties is carried out and taught. well." Hunnigan smiled at him and extended her hand to him for a handshake, which he accepted. "Sure, can't wait" he replied with a sarcastic tone, one both Sherry and Hunnigan were well used to. "And Miss Birkin?" Hunnigan added, "You will be his supervisor, since you did such a good job with the recruits last year, and you'll only be needed as a consultant from the recruits to Jake, so it shouldn't take from your day-to-day work too much." Sherry slowly nodded, while Jakes jaw clenched and then slowly loosened, "Well, at least i'll see you more now supergirl."
asdf; well there we have it, my first fanfic! ;v; like, ever. I'm happy its a shake fic though, i ship these guys incredibly hard. Hope you enjoyed the first chapter! and review if you have the time!
oh and the title is the song King and Lionheart by Of Monsters and Men, a song that means a lot to me and my boyfriend, and since hes kind of my Jake i thought it would kinda suit the fic! keke ;v;