Disclaimer: Resident Evil is property of Capcom. This story is my property.

            Side Notes: This story takes place several years after Umbrella's fall. Dates in reference to the RE timeline are guessed on. Background information for main characters is a cross between the games and the S. D. Perry novels.

Story Of Us

By: Striker

Chapter 1- First Met

Present

A couple sat across from each other at round table in a small dining room. The lights were turned off, the only light coming from several candles placed throughout the room. On the table were several plates filled with food. Two candles sat in the center, casting a romantic glow on the faces of the couple. Soft music played on a near-by stereo. An open bottle of champagne sat in a bucket of ice. The woman reached for her champagne glass and took it. The light from the candle twinkled off of a diamond wedding ring on her hand. She brought the glass to her lips and took a sip. The man played with his fork and stared at his wife, his wedding band shining in the candlelight.

The woman set down her glass. "Are you going to stare at me all night?"

The man chuckled. "Sorry Jill. I just can't help but notice how beautiful you look in the candlelight."

"You look pretty handsome yourself Chris." Jill replied. "Too bad we can't do this more often. Every other time we try either Claire, Barry, or someone else comes knocking on our door."

"Correction." Chris said. "The others knock, my sister comes barging in like it's her house. There's nothing like someone walking in on a romantic dinner to spoil the mood."

Jill glanced towards the front door. "I hope no one decides to pay us a visit tonight."

"They won't." Chris said, taking a bite of steak.

"How can you be so sure?" Jill asked.

"Because I warned them that if they did it would be the last thing they ever did." Chris replied.

Jill giggled. "I wish I could have seen their faces."

"Well, they did kind of know that tonight was special." Chris said. "Everyone, especially Claire, promised to leave us alone."

"You know, sometimes I find it hard to believe that it's been so long since we've known each other." Jill said.

"We've been through a lot together." Chris said. "Remember when we first met in Raccoon City?"

Jill smiled. "How could I forget? It was one of the most awkward days of my life."

Chris nodded. "Mine too. It was funny though."

"I hardly count what you did funny." Jill said.

"But you still remember?" Chris asked.

"Of coarse." Jill replied. "I remember it like it was yesterday. It all started…"


Raccoon City. June 18, 1997.

Jill sat at a booth in a small café. Her two friends, Tracy and Valerie, sat across from her. The three women were in their uniforms having lunch. They had eaten here for the last couple of months. At this moment Valerie was busy talking about a recent case.

"I heard they finally found the guy who was stealing those cars." Valerie said. "Turns out he was a seventeen year old boy. Kid said he was doing it for fun."

"So, I was breaking into cars when I was fourteen." Jill said. "It isn't that hard. All you need is one of those wire coat hangers."

Tracy chuckled. "I bet you did, with the upbringing you had."

"That's why I'm here." Jill said. "Like my father told me, either become a police officer or go to jail."

Valerie took a sip of her soda. "So when was the last time you spoke to your father?"

"Last month." Jill replied. "I still can't believe Dick's in prison."

"Why do you call your father by his first name?" Tracy asked. "It's not natural."

"We kind of had a falling out after he was arrested." Jill said.

Tracy sighed. "I would too if my dad got busted for grand larceny."

Valerie decided to change the subject. "So, did you see Eric today? I just died when he winked at me."

"So," Tracy said, "I was by the soda machine one the first floor and Eric bought me a Coke."

"You're so lucky." Valerie said. "What do you think about Eric Jill?"

Jill put up her hands. "Sorry girls, I have too much work to do instead of looking at boys."

"I bet." Tracy said. "I heard Captain Wesker is a real slave driver."

"You have no idea." Jill said.

Just then Valerie noticed a young man walk into the café and take a seat at the bar. "Check out that guy. He's cute."

Tracy checked the guy out. "I don't think I've seen him before. Maybe he just moved here?" The women watched as the guy looked around the café. Tracy almost fainted when he looked over at her table and smiled. "He's looking at us."

"Settle down girl." Jill said. "He'll think you're nuts."

"Hey Jill." Valerie said. "I dare you to go talk to him."

Jill shook her head. "No thanks. I don't like to hit on strangers."

"Are you chicken?" Tracy asked.

"No." Jill replied.

Tracy pointed at the guy. "Then go talk to him."

Valerie giggled. "Yeah Jill, you might get lucky."

Jill stood up. "Fine, I'll do it." Jill walked over to the man and sat down next to him. "Hey, how are you?"

The guy turned to Jill. "Fine I guess."

Jill was taken by the man's black hair and blue eyes. "So, my friends and I saw you come in. Are you new here?"

"I just moved here a few days ago." The man replied. "Hey, you three work at the police station, right?"

"Ah, yeah." Jill said. "How did you know?"

"Your uniforms." The man replied. "I couldn't help but notice that your uniform is different."

"That's because I'm part of the Special Tactics and Rescue Squad." Jill said. "We're a special branch of the RPD."

The man nodded. "I see. So what's your name?"

"Jill." Jill said. She looked over at her friends, who were giggling like crazy. "What's yours?"

"Chris." The man said.

"Well Chris, welcome to the neighborhood." Jill said. Suddenly her beeper went off. "Oh shit, I have to get back to work soon. Maybe I'll see you some other time."

"Maybe." Chris said. He watched as Jill went back to her friends. The women paid their bill and left. "Maybe sooner than you think." Chris said to himself, a smirk on his face.

"So, what did you think of him?" Valerie asked.

"He's nice." Jill replied.

"I think you're in love." Tracy said mockingly.

Jill smacked Tracy's arm. "I am not. I just think he's nice."

The S.T.A.R.S. were assembled in the meeting room on the first floor. Wesker stood behind the podium talking to Barry, who was standing next to him. The others were scattered around the room. Richard studied some of the flyers stuck to the bulletin board. Kenneth was busy reading one of his medical journals. Joseph was looking at the selection in the vending machines.

Joseph slammed the Plexiglas in frustration. "They don't have the peanut M&Ms." He said disappointedly.

"You know the other vending machine has them." Forest said.

"But it's all the way at the other end of the building." Joseph whined.

Jill rolled her eyes. "Well isn't that too bad."

"Maybe you should bring some with you from home." Brad said.

Joseph groaned. "You guys are missing the point. These machines should be filled every day. It's not fair for someone to walk to the other end of the building when they could get the same thing right here."

"Tell someone who gives a damn." Enrico said.

"Man, why is everyone picking on me all of the sudden?" Joseph asked.

"Because your complaining is driving us insane." Forest replied.

Wesker called the team to attention. "Listen up people. As you know we're getting a new member for our team. Barry personally requested that we take this man on. From what I have read he would make an excellent addition to this unit." Wesker looked at his watch. " He should be here any minute now. I want you to make him feel welcome." Wesker leaned over to Barry. "Where the hell is he? He should have been here five minutes ago."

"Well, he doesn't have a car so he's using the public transportation system." Barry replied. "He may also be waiting in the hall. I think he's expecting one of us to meet him outside."

"Then go outside and bring him in here as soon as he arrives." Wesker said.

Barry nodded. "I will Captain." Barry left the room, leaving the others to gossip.

"I don't know about you," Forest said, "but I think this new guy sure won't be on Captain Wesker's good side."

"From what I heard this guy is supposed to be some ex-Air Force guy." Enrico said.

Brad looked nervously at the door. "Do you think the Captain will have this guy take over my job?"

Richard chuckled. "I seriously doubt that you'll be replaced."

"Judging from how you do in a fight the only place you can be of help is in a helicopter." Edward said.

"I feel so much better." Brad said sarcastically.

"I hope he isn't a prick." Jill said. "From what I heard those Air Force guys are really cocky."

Barry barged through the door. "He's here."

"Finally." Wesker said. "Bring him in."

Everyone turned as Barry led in the new member. Jill was shocked to see the man she had met in the café. "I don't believe it." She muttered.

"This is Christopher Redfield." Wesker announced. "He's are new member of Alpha team."

Everyone introduced themselves to Chris, except for Jill who tried to distance herself from him. Chris lit up when he saw Jill. "Hey Jill, I told you I would see you soon."

"Hey Jill." Forest said. "You know him?"

"I met him earlier at a café." Jill replied.

Chris nodded. "We got along very well."

Wesker listened to the conversation. "Since you two obviously know each other then you two should have no problems working together. Valentine, Redfield is your new partner."

"But Captain…" Jill began.

"I expect you two to work well together." Wesker continued. "Now go show Redfield to the office and show him his desk. This will also give you some time to get better acquainted. Now go."

"After you Jill." Chris said.

Jill growled and led Chris out of the room.

"Nice building." Chris said. "How did the police get such a nice place?"

"It used to be the art museum until last January." Jill replied dryly. "It was thought that the RPD should have a bigger building. Here we are." Jill stopped in front of a door on the second floor. A gray plague with the word "S.T.A.R.S. office" was fixed to the right of the door. Jill took an ID card from her pocket and ran it through a card reader next to the knob. The red light switched to a green light and the door unlocked. Jill opened the door and stepped inside. "This is it."

Chris entered and looked around. "Boy, this wasn't what I expected." The room was large and spacious. To the right stood a locker next to communications equipment. In the back right corner stood some shelves and a first-aid box. To the left of the door were a fax machine and some more shelves. Along the back wall sat four desks. Three were full of stuff, but one was empty. Wesker's desk sat at the far left of the room, right in front of a large picture of the S.T.A.R.S. emblem. "So this is the office?"

Jill pointed around the room. "The big desk over there is the Captains. The desk next to Wesker's with the guns is Barry's. The desk at the far right is Enrico's. One after that is mine. There's the fax, the communications equipment, and the weapons locker. Any other questions?"

"Is the empty desk mine?" Chris asked playfully.

"What the hell do you think?" Jill replied coldly.

Chris walked over to the empty desk and sat down. "Hey, we're right next to each other. Isn't that nice?"

Jill rolled her eyes. "That's just perfect."

Chris noticed how different Jill's behavior had been from before. "What's the matter Jill? Earlier in the café we were getting along great. Hell, you walked up to me. Now you're acting like you don't want to be near me. Why is that?"

Jill walked over to Chris and stared him in the eye. "Look, what happened in the café was very different. First of all I didn't even know you were going to be joining this unit. Second, I only talked to you because my friends pressured me into doing it. Whatever little thoughts you had about what happened in the café you can just forget. I don't date co-workers. I never have and I never will. And don't get any ideas that you are going to be an exception, cause you won't. As far as I am concerned we are partners and that's all."

"Does that mean we can't be friends?" Chris asked.

Jill threw up her hands. "Jesus Christ. You know, I figured that you would be some idiot who thought that you could sweep me off my feet with your stupid charm. Well guess what, it won't work. If you don't believe me then ask half the guys here."

Chris stood up and glared at Jill. "Fine, I get the picture. I was only joking around. I took this job so I could get some money and maybe make something with my life. I didn't take it to pick up women. And as far as you are concerned, you don't need to worry about me hitting on you. Hell, I don't even date, nor will I in the near future. So maybe you should loosen up a little bit. Now if you'll excuse me I better go see what I need to get for Wesker." Chris left the room and slammed the door behind him.

Jill was caught off guard by Chris' sudden aggressiveness. She started to feel guilty for the way she had crewed him out. "Maybe I shouldn't have yelled at him like that." She said to herself. "I better go apologize." Jill took a deep breath and left the room.


Present

"We didn't exactly get off on the right foot, did we?" Chris asked.

"No, we didn't." Jill replied. "I really shouldn't have talked to you like that. I guess it was because I didn't want to get close to someone and then break up with him and then have to work with him. I saw that happen once and I swore I wouldn't put myself in that position."

"Yeah. I remember how you apologized to me outside of the meeting room." Chris said. "I shouldn't have joked around like that."

Jill played with her napkin. "Well, it was mean that you didn't tell me who you were at that café. That could have avoided our whole argument."

Chris chuckled. "Maybe you shouldn't have let your friends talk you into it. I was flattered that you did talk to me."

Jill smiled. "To tell you the truth I did enjoy it. I thought you were cute."

"Well, at least we got along after our little discussion." Chris said. "At least we knew where we stood."

"But that still didn't stop us from falling for each other." Jill replied. "That didn't stop us one bit."

Author's Comments: How was that for the first chapter? For this story I'm going for a cross between romance and humor. In case you didn't figure it out already, this whole story is about how Chris and Jill's relationship developed. We already saw how they met, and know we will see their friendship turn to something more. We also find out that things weren't so pleasant in the beginning. Both Chris and Jill made it perfectly clear where their relationship stood. Seems that in the beginning neither of them were looking to have a personal relationship, only a professional one. However, as we all know that will change. With that said, on to the next chapter.

In chapter two our happy couple continue to talk about the past. We'll find out just how Jill began to fall for Chris. We'll also see the others thoughts about Chris and Jill being partners. The romance continues in Story Of Us: Chapter 2- Getting Close.