-1Disclaimer: I don't own Resident Evil or any of it's characters (duh).
Synopsis: Life after the T-Virus outbreak for the Resident Evil survivors. This story is focused mainly on the Outbreak characters, but the others will make appearances later on. I've used Outbreak 1, although I'll borrow from the second game as I need to.
Author's Note: I'm not quite sure where this one is going, so suggestions and reviews would be greatly appreciated. I am by no means an expert when it comes to Outbreak, so if I get something wrong, please let me know. But also allow for a little artistic freedom here, as well. I hope you enjoy the taleJ
Resident Evil: Aftermath
Chapter One
The creature rose up before them, a macabre amalgamation of man and science. It only vaguely resembled the man it had once been; there was nothing human about the Tyrant designated Thanatos. Its exposed heart beat slowly, visibly, its claws clenching and unclenching in time with the overlarge organ. Its blank eyes glowed eerily in the darkness as he stalked them, a small group of survivors who had spent the night fighting for not only their lives, but their very humanity.
There were only five of them left, they had been separated from the others three hours ago. He had know way of knowing if they were alive or dead, though he hoped like hell they made it. Only two of the other seven were warriors, and even they were hard-pressed to defend himself in the dead man's land that was Raccoon City.
He gripped the grenade launcher tighter as he backed away, glancing to either side of him as he did so. Yoko and Kevin were firing at the monster from his left, their expressions showing fear and determination as they attempted to end this nightmare. Mark and Cindy were shooting somewhere to his right, the retorts of their handguns echoing loudly through the smoke-filled night air. Their faces showed the horror they all shared, and his own fear suddenly drained away. In its place was a bone-deep resolve, born of desperation and the steadfast desire to simply live.
He wasn't going to die tonight, David King swore to himself. None of them were. They were going to kill this fucking thing, and they were going to escape the hell that Raccoon City had become--together.
"Scatter!" he yelled, his deep voice booming out like thunder. "Keep shooting, but don't let it corner you!"
The Tyrant turned halted and turned towards him, those blank eyes focusing on him with predatory intent. David lifted the rocket launcher and pulled the trigger, his silver-blue eyes narrowed with hatred. The B.O.W. came at him in a rush, and he dove to one side, only narrowly avoiding being impaled on its sharp claws. He rolled to a stop and jumped to his feet, loading another round as quickly as he could. He closed the weapon with a loud click and took another shot, aiming for that grotesque heart.
The monster howled in pain and dropped to one knee, and he shoved another round into the grenade launcher. Kevin and Yoko appeared at his side, firing into the exposed organ. Mark and Cindy had flanked the bioweapon and were throwing Molotov cocktails at it. They had finally run out of their scavenged ammunition, and were down to the very last of their makeshift weaponry.
"Shit!" Kevin Ryman cursed at his side, reloading his own .45. "I'm almost out of ammo, too."
"Y-yeah, so am I," Yoko Suzuki stammered breathlessly as she braced herself for another shot. The modified handgun jumped in her tiny hands, and she fought to keep it on target. "We have to help them, David!"
"I will." David continued to reload and fire as he ran, desperate to reach his friends before the Tyrant did. He heard Mark yell at the monster in defiance, saw the older man grasp Cindy and shove her behind him, just as the creature turned and jumped at them.
"No!" He watched with shock and horror as Thanatos knocked them aside as though they were ragdolls. They were flew through the air, landing hard on the cracked pavement. "Over here, you piece of shit! You want it? Come get some!"
Once again, the Tyrant turned towards him, and David smiled with grim satisfaction. "That's it, asshole. I'm right here."
"David, what are you doing?" Kevin yelled, stopping Yoko when she would have joined him. "Are you crazy, or what? We have to work together or we'll never beat this thing!"
"You and Yoko get Mark and Cindy." David took another shot, the chilling smile widening as the creature focused on him once again. "I've got this one."
"David, you can't!" Yoko loaded the last of her ammunition, slamming the clip home with a loud click, her terror a living thing as she watched the monster advance on David King. "You'll be killed if you try to take on that thing alone!"
"Help Mark and Cindy, damn it!" He aimed for the Tyrant's heart and pulled the trigger. "Get them to the chopper! I'll meet you there!"
Thanatos dropped to its knees, and Kevin took her arm in a tight grip. "Come on, sweetheart. If we don't do what he says, he'll get us all killed."
"But Kevin--"
David barely heard her protests as Kevin dragged her away. He glared at the Umbrella bioweapon with pure hatred, all of his attention focused on the monster that had just tried to kill his closest friend, and the woman he loved. He reached into his tool belt for another round and cursed as his hand met only the smooth glass tube they had picked up in the university less than an hour ago.
The T-Blood had fallen from the Tyrant when they had managed to lure it beneath some exposed wires in the service passage of the college. They had electrocuted it, and bought themselves a few precious moments to escape. He glanced around him, spying the ampule-shooter lying on the other side of the lot, next to an abandoned car. Shit, he thought uneasily, that's a long way to go without a weapon.
David began to run, knowing that he wouldn't make it, but unable to simply give up. He was a fighter. He always had been. Surrender went against the grain. He was a warrior, dammitt, and he was going to die like one!
He heard the Tyrant's thundering footsteps as it gave chase and put on a short-lived burst of speed. Better to die on your feet than live on your knees, he reminded himself with fatalism. At least, Cindy and the others would make it out of the city. He had saved his friends. That's all that mattered.
He spotted a tall silver can with a gold label and felt the first stirrings of hope. He still had his J's Bar lighter. He could make a crude flamethrower, if he could just reach the damn pesticide can. That would buy him a little time. Maybe, enough to get to the damned ampule.
As he neared the can, Davd felt the monster's presence at his back. Lungs screaming for air, he dove towards it. He felt the rush of air across his back, heard the faint scream of air, as those razor-like claws slashed at his back and missed. He landed beside the can of pesticide spray and snatched it up. He shoved his free hand into his tool belt and grabbed the little gold lighter with his favorite bar's emblem etched into it. He opened it and held it out before him, just below the can's nozzle. He flicked thumbwheel three times before it caught, then smiled coldly as the Tyrant loomed over him.
"Eat this, asshole."
He pressed the nozzle down and watched as the pesticide caught fire. It leapt forward eagerly, engulfing the giant claws that reached for him. The monster let out another agonized cry and took a step back. David eased the pressure and rose to his feet, glancing hastily over his shoulder. The ampule laid not more than twelve feet away, sparkling in the faint moonlight. He just had to reach it, load it, and shoot the son of a bitch.
The ground shook as Thanatos followed, stalking him like the predator that it was. David continued to spray it with chemical flame, hoping to keep it at bay just a little while longer. The Tyrant began to shake and shudder, its distorted features showing an all too human rage, as the damage forced it to slow its advance. David backpedaled as quickly as he could, grimly aware that for every wound he inflicted, the T-Virus would only heal it at an accelerated rate. If he didn't reach the ampule-shooter, he was screwed.
The back of his foot his something, and he carefully stepped over it. The ampule now lay at its feet, dirty but unbroken. The pesticide can finally ran dry, and he had no choice but to abandon it. He shoved the lighter into his tool belt and retrieved the ampule, bending down to grab the shooter as he did so. Thanatos was already recovering, the burnt sections of flesh sliding away from the creature's body, only to be covered in fresh gray skin.
David shuddered as he shoved the ampule into the shooter. He'd never used a weapon like this, and he could only aim at the approaching monstrosity, and pray that this worked. While he could accept death, he was sure as hell going to fight it until the very end!
Thanatos raised its arms menacingly, its knees bending as it prepared to jump, and David pulled the trigger. The ampule caught the Tyrant in the right shoulder, the needle burying itself deep in the decayed flesh. The monster's response was as astonishing as it was immediate. The bioweapon froze in place, its blank eyes widening, before it simply keeled over.
David leapt to his left, narrowly avoiding being crushed. He land hard on his side and rolled to his back, blinking as he slowly rose to his feet. The B.O.W. lay still, apparently frozen in a death that David could only hope was final. He glanced around the empty University parking lot, stunned to realize that not only had he survived, but that the others had actually gotten away. What might have been the ultimate sacrifice hadn't been in vain. He had somehow managed to save his friends, as well as his own ass.
Euphoria swept through him, and he had to fight the primitive impulse to roar in victory. He wasn't out of this, yet. He grabbed the only weapon left to him, the small folding knife he kept in his tool belt, and flicked it open. He didn't know how much time he had before the government nuked Raccoon City, but they'd wasted too much of it fighting that damned Tyrant, and there was still a city of zombies lying between him and the rescue chopper.
He would make it. Of that, David had no doubt. His confidence in himself was absolute. He knew exactly what he was capable of, and just how deadly he could be when pushed too far. Nothing short of death would keep him from escaping Raccoon City, and he had no intention of dying here tonight.
He gazed at the bodies around him, the fallen soldiers that Umbrella had sent in to contain this nightmare, and shook his head at the waste. All these lives lost because Umbrella Inc. had tried to play God. It never should have happened.
David opened the gate that led to the city, his brown eyes darkening as he surveyed the carnage that the T-Virus outbreak had caused. Overturned cars littered the streets, the dark silhouettes of the town's undead citizens shuffling aimlessly around them. "Hunt, or be hunted," he murmured as he stepped back into the nightmare that was Raccoon City.
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Kevin Ryman sat on the floor of the rescue helicopter, his deep blue eyes focused on the parameter fence that the Army had erected. Fifteen minutes had passed since they had fled the zombie-filled streets of Raccoon City. David had yet to make an appearance, and they only had another twenty before the bombing would begin. If he didn't show soon, they would be forced to leave him behind.
Everything in him rebelled at the thought. There were only eight of them left. Well, seven if you counted--
He shuddered and pushed the thought away. He had watched too many of his fellow policeman--and his friends--die trying to save the citizens of their hometown. The citizens that he had sworn to protect had died, only to be resurrected as soulless zombies. They had devoured those who had been to weak to fight, as well as those who had so stubbornly tried to save them. They were the true heroes of Raccoon City.
He shivered as the memories ripped through his mind. He would never forget what he had seen this night. Too many lives had been lost needlessly, because Umbrella Incorporated had tried to create the perfect bioweapon. Marvin, Will, Raymond, Arthur, Mark, all just. . .gone.
Kevin shook his head and checked his gun, more out of habit than any real need. They were safe here--well, as safe as they could be while still in Raccoon City, anyway. Still, he didn't know if he would ever truly feel secure again. One thing was sure; he would never again take anything in his life for granted.
His gaze moved to the young woman he had spent most of the night protecting. He had met Yoko Suzuki at J's Bar last year, right after she had first started working for Umbrella Inc. as a data-entry clerk. Sure, she'd been young. Hell, she was only twenty, now. But she was a class-act. She was soft-spoken, a little on the shy side, but a good woman for all of that.
And she was crazy about David King, Kevin reminded himself glumly. He didn't know what she saw in the too-quiet, overly-macho plumber. He liked David well enough--there was no one else he'd rather have at his back in a fight--but the man was too damned quiet. He almost never talked. Kevin was a talker himself, always had been. Being around someone that uncommunicative was. . .unsettling. It made Kevin wonder if David had something to hide.
Not that it was any of his business, he told himself sternly. The man had saved all of their asses. He could keep as many secrets as he wanted. Kevin just didn't want to see Yoko banging her head against that particular wall, that was all.
Kevin watched her as she stood at the parameter fence, her hands clenching the straps of her backpack so tightly that her knuckles had turned white. He knew that she was worried about David. Hell, they all were. However, she was the only one he'd had to physically drag through Raccoon City because of her worry over the man. She hadn't wanted to leave David behind, and she had fought him the entire way here. It hadn't mattered that David was so obviously in love Cindy. Yoko hadn't wanted to leave his side.
He heaved a sigh and jumped to the ground. He kept his beloved .45 at his side as he approached her, unable to holster his weapon while they were still in the city limits. He came to a halt at her side, slanting her sidelong glance. "So," he said into the silence, "are you still pissed at me?"
Yoko shook her head even as she said, "We shouldn't have left him behind, Kevin."
"We really didn't have much of a choice, sweetheart." Kevin watched her lips thin in unspoken disagreement, and sighed again. "He's a tough son of a bitch, Yoko. He'll be all right."
"I know, he will. It's just that. . ." her voice trailed off as her dark eyes continued to scan the city below. "He saved our lives, Kevin. What if he doesn't make it? What if he dies, because of us?"
"It was his choice," he reminded her, placing a comforting arm around her shoulders.
She leaned against him, grateful to have such a good friend in Kevin Ryman. "I wish he hadn't sent us away," she murmured at length. "You saw that-that thing, Kevin. How many times did it try to kill us in the university? Five, six? What made him think he could take it on all by himself?"
He shrugged, squeezing her shoulders lightly. "He'll be here any minute now, sweetheart. He'll probably frown at us when he realizes just how worried we've been."
She snorted inelegantly. "He thinks he's so tough," she muttered under her breath.
Kevin laughed, grateful to see that spark return to her. "Yeah, like he's some kind of warrior or something. What a moron," he added for good measure.
She rolled her eyes before smiling up him. "Thank you, Kevin. You always know just what to say to make me feel better."
"It's a gift," he said easily, flashing her his most charming smile.
"The gift of b.s., maybe," she returned teasingly.
He flashed her a mock frown. "You know, I'd be insulted if that weren't true, Yoko."
She finally laughed, mirth dancing in her deep, dark eyes. "You can be such an asshole sometimes, Kevin Ryman."
"I try, beautiful." He spied a familiar figure running on the streets below, dodging zombies, his knife flashing silver under the weak glow of the street lamps, and smiled hugely. "Well, it looks like our warrior made it, sweetheart."
She stepped away from him immediately, getting as close to the barricade as she could without touching the razor-wire. "Thank God," she murmured with relief.
Kevin silently echoed the sentiment. It didn't matter that Yoko was in love with him, or that he might very well lose her to the other man. David was one of them, a Raccoon City survivor, and he was alive. That was all that mattered.
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David ran through the zombie-infested streets, dodging zombies when he could, using his knife to knock them to the ground when he couldn't. He didn't bother to kill them, he just kept going. He and the others had used the Daylight vaccine to cure themselves back at the university. He had no intention of becoming infected again on the way out! As much as he wanted to, he couldn't take out any more of his frustration on these poor bastards. Salvation was only a few, short miles away, and he wasn't going to jeopardize his escape for anything.
He finally spotted the rescue helicopter, two familiar figures standing near it. He recognized Kevin by the Raccoon Police Department uniform he was wearing, and nearly cried out in relief. The diminutive figure with the short black hair beside him had to be Yoko, who had rarely left either's side during this nightmare. A silver-blond head poked out of the chopper, and David smiled widely as he recognized Cindy Lennox. She had a blanket draped around her shoulders, but beneath it she still wore her Jack's Bar waitress uniform.
She looked good, David thought as he slowed to a walk. Dirty, but damned good. Sitting beside her was a well-dressed, urbane man. George Hamilton, the surgeon who had spent the night creating medicines for them when they were injured. A tall, slender woman with short blond hair was pacing near the nose of the vehicle, her fine features showing a combination of anger, relief, and arrogance.
David rolled his eyes at that. Alyssa Ashcroft, reporter extraordinaire, probably pissed because she hadn't had a camera handy while they were running for their lives. She was a tough little bit, but she was too bitchy for his taste. A short, dark-skinned man with dyed blond hair stood at the helicopter's tail, his dark eyes huge as his gaze darted nervously around him. Jim Chapman, the subway worker who had annoyed them all with his constant whining during their harried flight.
It was good to see them all, David thought, even Jim. Not everyone was a warrior, after all. He frowned as he realized that Mark Wilkins, the security guard who had fought so hard to help them all, was nowhere in sight. He cursed soundly and strode forward, pushing his way past the soldier who stepped into his path. "Where's Mark?"
"David!" Yoko came running towards him, her dark eyes showing relief as she hurled herself against him. "You made it!"
"Yeah, I made it." David returned the hug briefly, grateful to see her alive and well. He patted her on the back awkwardly before pulling away. He glanced past her, his light blue eyes locking on Kevin's darker ones. "Where's Mark?" he repeated tonelessly.
Kevin only shook his head, his features reflecting sorrow. "He's in the other chopper, but. . .it doesn't look good, David."
"Shit." David ran past the other survivors, ignoring their calls as he climbed into the second extraction chopper. Mark lay on one of the benches, blood seeping through his heavily bandaged chest. "Mark?"
"Hey, David." The older man managed a weak smile, his bronze skin pale. "I'm glad to see that you made it."
David knelt beside him, meeting his gaze evenly. "Thanatos?" he questioned roughly.
"Yeah," Mark said, his deep voice dangerously weak. "The bastard got me good."
"What are your chances?" David asked bluntly.
Mark smiled again. "No screwing around. I like that about you, David."
David merely gazed at him with steady blue eyes. "You didn't answer me, old man."
"The Army medic's done all that he can," he answered simply.
"What about George?" David said, his deep voice tinged with urgency despite his best efforts. "He's a surgeon, for God's sake. There's got to be something he can--"
"There's not," the other man cut in gently. "It's not just the wound, David."
"What do you mean?" Mark didn't answer, but his grim expression said it all. David inhaled sharply as comprehension dawned. "You're infected again."
"Afraid so." He extended his hand, his smile fading as the younger man grasped his hand tightly. "I'm glad I met you, David. You just keep on surviving, and take care of that girl of yours. You hear me?"
"Yeah, I hear you," David muttered thickly. He felt his eyes fill with moisture and hastily blinked them back. He lifted his head and glanced over his shoulder, his gaze falling on Cindy as she talked to Jim and George. "I'll take good care of her, Mark. I promise you."
Mark followed his gaze and grunted once in disapproval. "I wasn't talking about that one, kid."
A frown pulled David's brows together as he turned back to him. "Who, then?"
"Yoko." Mark nearly laughed at the surprise on the younger man's face. David was a good man, but he was little slow on the uptake sometimes. "Stick with that one, David. She'll take good care of you."
Denial flashed across his bold features. "I don't need anyone to take care of me," he stated flatly.
Mark merely sighed at his friend's stubbornness. "No man is an island, David."
The younger man glanced over his shoulder again, the look in his dark eyes one of speculation. "What about Kevin?" he asked finally. "He's crazy about her, Mark."
"Those are his feelings, not hers." The older man closed his eyes, his hand tightening on David's, as pain swept through him. "It's almost time, David."
"Mark. . ." David's voice trailed off as words failed him.
"I know." Mark released a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes, a wholly inhuman hunger reflected in their black depths. "You'll take care of it, won't you?"
David nodded, ignoring the heaviness in his heart. "I won't let you turn."
"I know you won't, David." The older man forced himself into a sitting position, unable to smile as David rushed to help him. "Get me out of here, kid. I don't want this chopper covered in my blood."
"All right." David shouldered the older man easily, despite his greater girth. He moved him a few feet away and sat him down as gently as he could. He heard the patter of footsteps behind him but didn't turn, all of his attention focused on the wily old veteran who had come to mean so much to him.
"You out of ammo, kid?" The younger man nodded silently, and Mark looked past him. "What about all of you? George, Jim, Alyssa? Do any of you have any bullets left?"
"Of course," Alyssa said with the inborn arrogance that had driven them all crazy. She pulled a box of .9 millimeter bullets out of the pocket of her dirty blazer and lifted one flaxen brow. "Now what?"
Mark smiled at that belligerent delivery. "Give them to David."
She snorted but slapped the box into his hand. "Done."
"Thanks. Now, someone give him a gun."
This time, it was Jim who stepped forward, setting a scavenged Beretta in his hand. His dark eyes were liquid with sympathy, and David managed a small smile as he silently loaded it. He didn't think he'd need all fifteen bullets, but he wasn't taking any chances. The T-Virus affected everyone differently. While it might take hours to turn one man, it could overtake another in a matter of minutes. He'd do as he promised, but he was damn well going to make sure that Mark was dead before he put a bullet in his head.
He pulled the slide back, chambered the first bullet, and lifted his head. "I'm ready, Mark."
Mark met his gaze evenly, damned proud to have survived with such a man. "Remember what I said, kid."
One corner of David's mouth quirked upwards in half-smile. "Yeah, I will, old man."
Mark laughed, ignoring the pain that increased in his chest. "That's the spirit, David. Never let 'em get you down."
David watched with sorrow as the older man closed his eyes, his breath rattling through suddenly slack lips. Mark Wilkinson, Vietnam veteran and Raccoon City survivor, went still as his long life came to an end. David bowed his head for a long moment, offering a silent prayer to a god he didn't believe in. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up swiftly. Yoko's tear-drenched gaze met his own, her gamine features marred by grief, and he covered her hand with his.
He should have known it was her, David thought ruefully. Yoko was the most compassionate person he had ever known. It was her best quality.
He released her and leaned forward, thrusting his grief aside as he forced himself to check for a pulse. He waited patiently, hoping against hope that somehow--someway--Mark would awaken as himself. His skin was still warm, though it had a grayish cast to it. His heart, however, had ceased to beat, and David knew that it was time to let him go.
He forced himself to stand, his hand flexing around the handgun he still held. He took a few steps back, forcing the other survivors to do the same. "Don't get too close," he advised in a quiet voice. "Just in case."
"Oh, God!" He glanced behind him to see Cindy covering her mouth with her hand, her bright blue eyes brimming over with tears. George was right beside her, his dark blue eyes full of grief as he placed an arm around her shoulders. She turned into him, hiding her face in his blazer lapel, and David quickly looked away.
He focused on the dead man before him, and the promise he still had to keep. God, but he didn't want to do this! David thought with a sudden, uncharacteristic reluctance. He was a realist, a man of action; the life he'd led had forced him to be. Yet, a part of him quailed at the thought of what he was about to do.
There was nothing honorable in this, damn it! He had just watched a man he respected die, and now, he had to desecrate his corpse to keep him from rising as a goddamn zombie. Umbrella would pay, David promised himself as he lifted the Beretta. Somehow, he would find a way to make them pay for all they had done to he and his friends--and their hometown.
David leveled the handgun on the dead man's forehead and slowly pulled the trigger. The stench of cordite stung his nostrils he lowered the gun. It clattered to the pavement as he turned away, unable to gaze upon his own handiwork. He'd done what he had to, not only to honor Mark's last wish, but to protect them all. He wouldn't apologize for it, though he didn't know if he would ever be able to forgive himself.
The other survivors didn't speak as he passed, merely touching his arm, or squeezing his shoulder as he swept past them. He walked to the first rescue helicopter and climbed inside, dropping his head into his hands. They had made it so far, he thought with anguish. Out of J's Bar and through Main Street, through the sewers of Raccoon City to Umbrella's secret underground laboratory, then Raccoon Hospital and that terrifying Leech Man that had nearly taken all of their lives, the fiery hell of the Apple Inn, and finally, Raccoon University. They had cured themselves of the T-Virus, only find themselves cornered by that damned undead Tyrant. They all should have died.
But they hadn't, David reminded himself. For some fucked up reason he would never fathom, the Fates had chosen Mark as their sacrifice, and it infuriated him that the older man had paid for their lives with his own.
He felt a presence at his side and sighed heavily. He opened his eyes to see Yoko sitting beside him, her smooth Asian features showing concern. Mark's words flashed through his mind, and he frowned as he pushed them aside. Now wasn't the time to dwell on such things.
"I'm okay," he said shortly, then winced at the harshness of his own voice. "I'm sorry, Yoko. I didn't mean to snap at you like that."
"I understand, David." Her smile was infinitely sad. "I liked him, too."
"Yeah," David muttered, looking down at his loosely clasped hands. "So, we're almost out of here, huh?"
She sighed and let it go, knowing that David wasn't one to talk about his feelings. "Yes, we're just waiting for one of the Ranger units that lagged behind. As soon as they show, we'll be leaving."
"How long do we have until the nukes show?" he asked tiredly.
"Fifteen minutes. If the Rangers aren't here in ten, we're leaving without them."
"It can't come soon enough for me." Mark's words echoed through his head once again, and this time, he couldn't ignore them. He tilted his head just enough to meet her gaze. "What are you going to do, once we leave here?"
Her expression dimmed slightly as she shrugged. "I don't know," she said softly. "I don't have any family out of state. Everyone was here, in Raccoon, and--and--"
Her breath caught on a sob, and he reached out to grasp her hand with his own. "I've got a friend who's holed up in Mexico. I figured I'd head down there, see what he was up to," he offered, smiling faintly at her surprised look. "I'm beginning to think that idle chatter has it's place, too."
Her lips wobbled in a smile that died as quickly as it formed. "Mexico," she murmured, her expression turning thoughtful. "I've always wanted to see the Aztec ruins there."
His eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion before he forced himself to relax. Yoko wasn't the kind of woman who would try to manipulate a man into doing what she wanted. If she said that she wanted to see some ancient ruins, then that's just what she meant. "I could send you a picture, if you'd like?"
"I'd like, David." Yoko's smile was genuine as she met his compelling gaze. "But how will you know where to find me?"
"I'll just look up Ryman," he said in a dry voice. "Wherever you go, he's sure to follow."
She blushed, rich color filling her cheeks. "Kevin is just a friend."
"Not by his choice, I'm sure." Her blush deepened, and he was surprised to find himself chuckling, even though the thought of the older man winning her bothered him. "Sorry, babe. It's none of my business."
"No, it's alright." She did her best to keep her feelings for him hidden as she settled back against the helicopter. She had already seen where his heart lied, and it wasn't with her. "It doesn't bother me that he's older than I am, it's just that I don't see him that way. He knows that."
David gazed at her doubtfully. "And he's accepted it?"
"He does his best," she said with a shrug. She tucked her hair behind her ears, fleetingly wishing that she wouldn't look ridiculous as a blond. Then, maybe, David King would notice her. "Anyway, he's become a good friend, and I value that friendship. He says it's enough for him."
David made a non-committal sound, knowing that Kevin wouldn't give up. Unless Yoko told him to take a flying leap, he'd be a part of her life for the rest of hers. "Well," he said at length, "you're lucky to have him. He might be annoying, but he's a damned good man."
Yoko merely nodded, her eyes sliding from his, at his endorsement of the other man. "What about you?" she asked in a quiet voice. "Are you going to tell Cindy how you feel before we part ways?"
His bold features closed completely. "No," he said flatly, and she knew that the conversation was over.
"I should join the others," she said in a soft, inflectionless voice that reflected none of her disappointment. "I--we'll all miss you, David. Good luck in Mexico."
David watched her climb out of the chopper with a faint frown, wondering just what he had said to upset her. Apparently, he was still bad at the idle chatter thing, he thought with a sigh. Well, at least he knew that Mark had been wrong. Yoko couldn't be the woman for him. She had let him go far too so easily.
He scrubbed his face with his hands, exhausted in a way that went far beyond physical fatigue. He didn't know if he would ever get the images out of his mind. Will, the long-time bartender at J's, being attacked by a stray zombie that had wandered in off the street. Watching the affable man die and suddenly come back to life, only to come after them as they attempted to barricade the front door. And Mark's friend Bob, who had killed himself on the roof of the bar before he could die and turn himself.
He thought of all the policeman--Kevin's co-workers--who had died attempting to evacuate Raccoon City. The hundreds of zombies that had infested Main Street, pressing against the police barricades in an undead mob, desperate for the flesh of those still living. He had seen so many go down beneath the zombies' sheer numbers, they're screams echoing through the night, always eclipsed by their attacker's unearthly moans. And the other monsters, creatures purposely created by Umbrella Inc. as they sought to dominate the illegal bioweapons market.
And, of course, there was Mark Wilkinson.
"Shit," David muttered, feeling as though he were about to jump out of his skin. He clasped his hands at the base of his neck, squeezing tightly as he fought the grief that threatened to overwhelm him. He could do this, he told himself forcefully. He could move on with his life, and once again attempt to move past the violence that had always marked it. Yeah, he would survive, but he would never forget.
Mark had been a tough old coot, and he deserved to be remembered for the hero that he was. He'd fought his battles in Vietnam and lived to tell about it. He shouldn't have had to fight for his life in his own country, in the very place that he had chosen to call home. He shouldn't have been injured, period. They had cured themselves of the T-Virus, dammitt! They should've been home free once they'd found their way out of the university. They shouldn't have been forced to fight that last battle, against an enemy they had already defeated once.
A headache pounded its way through his skull, and David growled with frustration. This was just what he needed, he thought as he shook his head. He pulled the rubber band from dirty brown hair and raked his hands through it. Almost instantly, the pounding eased, leaving only a lingering throb in its place.
Much better, he thought with another sigh. God, but he was eager to go. As much as he loved Raccoon, he wanted nothing more than to be gone from this place of death. He had moved back to Raccoon City after a seven year absence, hoping for a fresh start in his hometown. Instead, he found himself caught up in a nightmare that might never leave him. He had hoped for peace, maybe even a chance with Cindy, whom he had loved since first seeing her three years ago.
And for a time, he'd almost had it. Three blessedly quiet, uneventful years in which he had rebuilt his life to a tolerable degree. He'd worked hard during the day, gone to J's for a few drinks after work, and watched Cindy as she so effortlessly charmed the other barflies. Occasionally, a woman would be brave enough to approach the dirty brute who never spoke, and he would spend the night pretending that she was someone else. It hadn't been a perfect life, but he had been content with it. And now, it was all fucking gone.
This wouldn't be the first time he rebuilt his shattered life, but he knew that it would be the hardest. He wasn't the asshole that most people thought he was, but he was a hard man. He'd never wasted time with the idle chatter that was so important to most people. He hadn't seen the point. After spending nearly eight hours with the other survivors, listening to them talk as they worked together to survive, he was beginning to see why others found it so important. It was a way to reach out to people you might never see again, so that you didn't feel completely alone in the world. He hadn't minded being alone before, but he thought that now, he might.
Some things never changed, and sometimes, everything changed. David looked out at his newfound friends, smiling a little as he watched them interact. They were all grouped together now, looking dazed even as they talked and argued with one another. He wished that he were out there with them right now, but they had their limits, and he wasn't the easiest person to get along with. But they had accepted him, taciturn though he was, and he treasured that, even though were all about to go their separate ways.
He thought of his friend, Billy, who had moved to a little nowhere town in Mexico last month, and wondered how he was doing. Billy had had a few problems with the law here in the U.S., and Mexico had seemed the perfect place for him to run. Especially, since they wouldn't extradite a man who had been sentenced to death.
He and Billy had grown up in Raccoon City, running wild through the city streets, and generally getting into trouble together. Billy was four years younger than him, but that had never mattered. They had been like brothers, and David found that he missed him. Billy had joined the Marines eight years ago, a decision he had come to regret in the last year. David had moved to Philly, working as an enforcer for one of the local crime families, until it had simply become too much for him. He had returned to Raccoon for a fresh start, and Billy had gone on the run.
They had chosen completely different paths in life, yet they had managed to remain friends. David wondered how Billy would get along with the Raccoon City survivors, then laughed softly to himself. He'd love Kevin, who was cheerful enough to make anybody laugh, without being annoying. He'd kill Jim, who's incessant whining would drive anyone crazy. He'd like love bickering with Alyssa, who had an opinion on everything. He'd like Yoko, but he'd keep his distance. He didn't do nice girls. He wouldn't be impressed by Cindy at all. Unlike David, he didn't have a thing for girls who were. . .well, girly.
As for George. . .David shrugged once. George was a well-dressed, upper-class man. Not exactly their kind of people. He and Billy were blue-collar, all the way. And once he realized that the good doctor had homed in on the girl David loved, there would be no chance of friendship between them. Billy was unfailingly loyal.
"Hey, there!"
He looked up to find Kevin climbing aboard, his dark blue eyes twinkling with that hidden mirth that was simply a part of his personality. "What's up?"
"We're getting ready to leave," Kevin answered, ducking awkwardly in the helicopter's cramped confines. "I just wanted to say goodbye."
David looked at the hand he extended with a faint frown. "You're not going with us?!" he asked incredulously.
"Yeah, right," Kevin responded with a snort. "We're taking the other chopper, so we won't see you until we land. I just wanted to let you know what was up, man."
His instincts told him that something was off here, but he couldn't put his finger on it. "I thought we'd all go together," he returned slowly.
Kevin hesitated, tempted to tell the man exactly why Yoko had refused to ride with him, then came to his senses. Yoko would kill him, and he was trying to win her heart. "Sorry, man. There's not enough room for all us in here."
David watched the other man rap a knuckle on the roof of the helicopter and let it go. It would come to him, eventually. It always did. He reached out and shook the older man's hand firmly. "I'll see you on the other side, then."
Kevin rolled his eyes at the typically dramatic response and released him. "Later, King."
"Wait a minute!" He waited until Kevin had turned back to ask, "Did any of the Rangers make it?"
"No," Kevin responded simply.
David watched as the older man jumped to the ground and ran to the other chopper. He climbed inside, wedging himself between Yoko and Jim, who didn't really get along, and put an arm around her shoulders. She laid her dark head on his shoulder, her delicate features set in stark lines. Her gaze was locked on the chopper as Cindy, George, and Alyssa climbed on board with him.
She looks so sad, he thought with a pang. No surprise there. Like all of them, she had lost her entire family in Raccoon. The numbers weren't in yet, but he doubted any of their families had made it out. Not that he'd had any family to speak of, but he was that sure she did. She was too gentle not to have had loving parents.
"Move it, King. You're in my way."
David glanced at Alyssa and grunted, but did as she asked. He inched to his right, giving her as wide a birth as he could. She responded by giving him the finger and pulling her legs up onto the bench. He smiled faintly, unable to stop himself. Alyssa might be abrasive, but she was a survivor. He could tolerate her, and although he would never admit it, he actually liked her--just a little.
"You're a bitch, Ashcroft," he told her bluntly.
"Yeah, yeah, and I've got bigger balls than all of you," she shot back in return.
David chuckled, certain that she spoke the truth. Gall was something this woman did not lack. "I can't believe I'm going to miss you, Alyssa."
"I can," Alyssa returned haughtily, then ruined the effect with a grin. "Well, at least we didn't die out there, David. For a while there, I was sure that was the plan."
"I thought the plan was not to die." She scowled at him, and he grinned in return. He settled back against the chopper, absently noting the vibrations as the rotors started up. " To be honest, I thought we were goners a few times, myself."
"I still can't believe me made it," Cindy said from the opposite bench, her blue eyes meeting his briefly before skittering away. "I really didn't think we would."
David's lips thinned at the fear he saw in the depths of her brilliant blue eyes. For some reason, Cindy had always been a little afraid of him, and it pissed him off. "I knew I would," he said in a flat voice. "It was the rest of you I wasn't so sure about."
"Don't be a dick, King." Alyssa gave him a none-too-gentle nudge with the business end of her hard-soled shoe. "Not that it doesn't suit you, but you're scaring Lil' Miss Sunshine over there."
George frowned at her as he slid an arm around Cindy's shoulders. "That was uncalled for, Alyssa."
"So, sue me," she quipped carelessly. "It's not my fault lil' sista's so damned timid."
David uttered an exasperated sound and promptly shut his mouth. If he'd learned nothing else in the last seven hours, it was that there was no reasoning with Alyssa when she was like this. It was best just to sit tight and let her blather away. She'd get bored and shut up--eventually.
"Oh, look, the Army men finally decided to fly us out of this dump."
The pilot paid her no heed as he climbed into his seat. The co-pilot, however, shot her a dark look. She smiled as sweetly as she could before launching into a story about an investigation she'd done into military incompetence on the battlefield. David only hoped that the soldiers didn't lose their patience and dump her out of the chopper. She might take him with her as she fell.
The helicopter rose from the ground, and he narrowed his eyes as the wind tore at them, making them water. He gazed out of the open side, his eyes locked on the makeshift airstrip. Mark's body lay where they had left it, a single neat bullet hole gracing his forehead. David quickly looked away, focusing on the city below. Smoke rose in plumes in some areas, while the moans of the undead legions continued to rise in volume. Whole buildings lay in ruins, while those reanimated corpses stumbled blindly through the wreckage, hunting for their next meal.
"God, what a waste," he muttered, half to himself, as grief rose up to choke him.
"We're alive," George said, raising his voice slightly to be heard. "Concentrate on that."
David met his dark blue gaze and nodded once. He had surprised himself by liking George Hamilton, especially after Cindy had made her preference for him so obvious. But he was a good man, even if he wasn't a fighter.
"I'll do my best," he said with a shrug, wishing like hell that Mark were here with them right now. At the other man's alarmed look, he smiled faintly. "Don't worry about me, Hamilton. I'll survive. I always do.
"There's more to life than survival, David."
"Yeah," David returned cynically, "I'm sure that's just what you're ex-wife's lawyer told you before he took half of everything you owned on behalf of his client."
"David!" Cindy frowned as fiercely as her lovely features would allow. "Don't be so mean!"
George blinked, not sure if he should be insulted or not. "Actually," he said slowly, "she told me something similar herself just before she took me to court for the first time. How'd you know that?"
David merely laughed and shook his dark head at the workaholic surgeon's genuine surprise. "From everything you said about your ex tonight, I figured she must have done something to piss you off."
The other man chuckled reluctantly. "I do tend to go on sometimes, don't I?"
"And then some," Alyssa inserted dryly.
David glanced out of the open side, his pale eyes widening dramatically as he saw multiple streaks of fire blazing a trail through the night-black sky. "Shit, the bombs are here!"
"What?!"
"Oh, no!"
"Aw, fuck me."
"Brace yourselves!" the pilot yelled over his shoulder. "The bombs are coming!"
Alyssa cast him a dark look. "No shit, Sherlock!"
David grabbed hold of the drop-bar and held on tight, fighting a sudden impulse to laugh, when the situation was anything but funny. The rockets raced through the air, far enough away not to affect their flight. No, it was the pulse that would occur after detonation that would screw with the chopper's equipment. Hopefully, they would be far enough away that the EMT's wouldn't kill the controls. If not, they were all dead.
He shared a glance with Alyssa, who actually looked frightened as she took his hand with her own. He held her hand tightly and looked to Cindy and George, who were clinging to each other on the opposite bench, they're expressions mirroring one another's fear. He nodded at George, who returned the gesture, then glanced at the other chopper. He could see Kevin and Jim bracing themselves as he himself had, while Yoko was wedged between Kevin and the bench, her arms locked around his waist as she held on for dear life.
David found himself smiling, despite the grim circumstances. Yeah, Kevin would die before he let anything happen to Yoko, as he nearly had several times tonight. The man was a hero, no matter how hard he tried to hide it, or how often he denied it. That was his best quality.
He never heard the bomb detonate, but he did see the destruction that resulted from it. A huge mushroom cloud began to form even as the first shockwave hit. The chopper began to rock violently, listing to and fro, threatening to tear them away from their fragile handholds. It dipped suddenly, and Cindy cried out as she lost her hold on George. She skidded across the bottom of the chopper, screaming as she desperately scrambled for a handhold. David reached for her even as George did, stretching his body until his right arm screamed in protest.
He caught her hand in his own, fear crawling through him as he struggled to pull her to safety. Her high-heels clattered against the steel floor as she fought to push herself towards him. He clenched his teeth and pulled as hard as he could, her terrified blue eyes all he could see. She begged him to him to save her, not to let her go, and he heard himself yelling promises that he didn't know if he could keep in return. All of his attention was focused on saving the woman he loved so hopelessly, so that she could spend her life with the man that she loved.
"Hold on to me, Cindy! Don't let go!"
"David!" she shrieked with terror. "Don't let me fall!"
A second pulse hit the already faltering craft, and the helicopter began to lose altitude. David cursed soundly as Cindy shot towards the open side of the craft, her weight wrenching his shoulders as he battled to keep her from slipping. He ignored the pain, focusing on the rapidly approaching ground, and Cindy Lennox's panicked expression. George appeared at his side, his own features reflecting fear, as he grabbed her free hand and began to pull her inside.
The chopper was dangerously close to the ground when it finally began to level. Yes! David thought with triumph, releasing the drop bar and using both hands to drag Cindy towards him.George shifted closer even as he leaned towards her, and David knew that it was time to let her go. He released her, falling back on his haunches, and watched the other man as he pulled her to safety.
George wrapped one arm around her waist and hauled her to him, his face buried in her neck as he held her. David smiled, the gesture bittersweet, at best. Cindy was alive and well, and with another man. He didn't like it, but he could live with it. It was enough that she was alive, and that she would be happy.
He felt a presence at his back and stiffened instinctively. "Good job, King."
He glanced over his shoulder at the low-spoken words, shrugging a little as he met Alyssa's gaze. Relief and a lingering fear swirled in the depths of her indigo eyes, and he was sure that it was mirrored in his own. She ruined the moment by winking, then rolling her eyes at the kissing couple. He merely shook his head, keeping his gaze averted from the tender scene. As much as he wanted to see Cindy happy, he didn't actually want to witness that happiness.
He glanced at the open side of the chopper and carefully made his way towards it. He ignored Alyssa's concerned call as he reached out and began to pull it closed. The metal screeched in protest as it finally began to give way. He finally slammed it closed, praying that it would stay that way. He was not taking any more chances with their safety!
He was regaining his seat when a third surge of energy hit the helicopter. He was thrown to the floor, his forehead striking the cold steel. Cindy's scream mixed with Alyssa's startled curse, and George's hoarse cry. He managed to push himself to his knees, his silvery eyes widening as he watched the embracing couple fly across the vehicle's interior. George hit the closed door hard, twisting so that his body cushioned Cindy's.
He raised startled blue eyes, and David sighed with relief. Cindy lifted her head, her own eyes wide, and Alyssa began to laugh. George frowned at her before his lips reluctantly curled into a smile. Cindy glanced up at him before hesitantly doing the same. David smothered a laugh himself, knowing that if they didn't laugh, they would probably start bawling. It had been one hell of a night, to say the very least.
He watched as George crouched in the chopper's cramped confines and led Cindy back to the bench. The helicopter slanted warningly just before the side door slid open with a loud bang. Cindy fell back and was hurled out of the opening, leaving them scrambling after her.
David was there in a heartbeat, his hand grazing Cindy's, before she disappeared from sight. "No!" he screamed, instinct taking over as he lunged after her. "Cindy!"
"David!" George grabbed his arm and hauled him back into the chopper. "You can't!"
David glared at him as he shoved him away and turned back to the opening. "Oh no, you don't!" Alyssa grabbed him around the waist and jerked him back with all of her strength. "Are you crazy? Get your ass back in here, King!"
"Let go of me, damn it!" David grabbed her hands and began to peel them away from his body. She responded by digging her nails into his stomach and tugging even harder. "Get off me, you bitch! Or so help me--"
"Fuck you, David!" she yelled in return, tightening her hold until her arms ached. "You want to belt me one, you can do it once we've landed. Otherwise, shut the fuck up and quit trying to commit suicide, you dumb son of a bitch!"
He ripped her arms away and whirled around, his eyes narrowed menacingly. Alyssa saw the wild look in their pale blue depths, and the grief behind it, and cursed soundlessly. "Fine," she snapped, lifting her chin and tapping the left side of it with one manicured fingertip. "Go ahead, King. Give it your best shot. I can take it."
David was horrified to realize that he wanted to do exactly that. He shook his head, backing away until he came up against the bench. He stared at her with wide, dazed silver-blue eyes, unable to believe that he had turned on another survivor in such a way, and a woman, to boot! What the hell had he allowed himself to become?!
His gaze collided with George's, and he flinched at the tears in the other man's dark blue eyes. There was no recrimination in their watery depths, only a grief that couldn't be expressed in words. David lowered his gaze, unable to offer any words of comfort, for the loss of the woman they had both loved.
Alyssa watched with a combination of caution and concern as David bowed his head. His long dark hair slid forward to obscure his suddenly blank features, his too-long lashes dropping to veil his vacant blue eyes. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, then opened. He laid them on the cool metal floor, palms-down, and she could almost feel his emotional withdrawl. Gone was the rough-edged plumber who had spent the last eight hours spouting macho, survivalist bullshit as they ran for their lives. In his place was an empty, broken man, and Alyssa was afraid for him.
"David?" she questioned with atypical uncertainty. "Are you all right?"
He didn't respond, continuing to gaze silently at something only he could see, and her worry turned to outright alarm. She shifted closer--but not too close--and twisted to peer into his down-turned face. "Come on, King, snap out of it."
He didn't appear to hear her, and she turned her fear into something constructive. "Damn it, David! Don't pull this shit!" she hissed, taking refuge from her own pain in anger. "She's gone. You can't bring her back, and I couldn't let you die, too. You can't blame me for saving your ass. I sure as hell wasn't going to let you kill yourself after all we'd already gone through!"
He continued to ignore her, and she fought the urge to whack him upside his thick skull. Instead, she settled on the floor beside him, her shoulder touching his, and left him in peace. She knew that he'd been in love with Cindy; a blind man could've seen it. He'd done his everything in his power to keep her alive in Raccoon. Hell, to keep them all alive. Even as he'd talked about how he could survive anything, he'd put their welfare before his own.
Kevin, Yoko, and Mark had told them about that last battle they'd fought with the Tyrant Thanatos, and how David had distracted the monster long enough for them to escape. Cindy hadn't said much, but then, the twit had been afraid of big bad David King.
She looked at George, who looked lost as he wrapped his arms around his upraised knees. She felt for him and what he was going through, but she was damned glad he'd had the presence of mind to stop David from following Cindy into death. They had lost enough tonight as it was.
Alyssa sniffed, blinking back tears, as she thought of Cindy and Mark. They had all made it so far, gone through so much, only to die after they had made it to safety. It was so unfair, she thought angrily. Life really sucked sometimes.
--------------------------------------
Yoko clung to Kevin as the helicopter dipped and bucked, peeking around his shoulder despite his admonitions, her gaze locked on David's helicopter. His feet were spread wide, braced against the vehicle's uneven movements, one hand wrapped around the bar the ran across the top of helicopter opening. The wind whipped his loose hair into his face, giving him a wild look that she couldn't help but admire, despite the dire circumstances. Unlike the other survivors, she had no problem with his belief that he was a warrior. It was an opinion that she shared wholeheartedly.
Kevin glanced back at her, his handsome features atypically somber. "Are you okay back there, sweetheart?" he questioned loudly.
She smiling reassuringly. "I'm fine, Kevin."
"Good." He looked at Jim, who was pale beneath his naturally dark skin. "How about you, Chapman?"
"Are you kidding me?" Jim asked, his high-pitched voice even more shrill than usual. "I think we're all about to die, bro!"
Kevin rolled his eyes but didn't comment. He'd become used to Jim's bitching over the course of the night. It was just the other man's way of dealing with his fear. It might be annoying, but he couldn't help it. It was just Jim.
"Well, start praying or something, then!" he yelled in return. "We need all the help we can get right now!"
Jim looked past him, and his brown eyes widened even more, if that was possible. "Oh, my God, Kevin. Look!"
His head whipped around, and he watched with stunned disbelief as Cindy was nearly dumped out of the bucking helicopter. David there in a heartbeat, grabbing her hand and struggling to pull her back inside. George appeared a moment later, and he began to shout encouragingly. They probably couldn't hear him, but it was the only way he could help them from here, and it made him feel better.
They managed to get her back into the chopper, despite a second bout of turbulence, and he cheered as loudly as he could. Yoko was doing the same, her musical voice muffled by his shoulder. Jim was surprisingly silent, which was weird, but he wasn't going to bitch. The poor schmuck was probably still in shock at the near miss, Kevin thought sympathetically. A pacifist, he was.
"Thank God," he heard Yoko mutter, and he silently agreed. After losing Mark, another loss would have devastated them all.
"Well, sweetheart," he began jovially, "it looks like we're gonna be okay after--"
The helicopter dipped again, and he snapped his mouth shut. There would plenty of time to talk later, once they were safe back on the ground! He tightened his hold on the drop-bar and reached back with his left hand, keeping Yoko firmly in place. She didn't complain, merely tightened her hold and burrowed closer. Yeah, they were being tossed around in an Army chopper by nuclear kickback, but life was good, for all of that. They were alive, uninfected, and Yoko was at his side. A man couldn't ask for any more than that.
He watched David force the sliding door closed and smiled from sheer relief. The man wasn't as thick as he'd thought! He felt Yoko's arms loosen around him and inched back, tightening his own hold. He frowned over his shoulder, only to see her gazing past him with a horrified expression.
"Oh, God, no!"
He looked back at the other chopper in time to see Cindy tumble over the side, the chopper door sliding back and forth tellingly. "You've got to shitting me!" he screamed into the night. "No way! This. Is. Bullshit!"
David dove towards the opening, his intent all too clear, and Yoko cried his name. Kevin watched as George grabbed his arm and jerked him back, only to be pushed away. Then, astonishingly, Alyssa grabbed him from behind and began to wrestle the two-hundred-plus pound man back into the helicopter. David fought with her, obviously pissed at the interference. He finally got free and whirled around to confront her, and that was apparently the end of it. David sat on the floor of the chopper, like nothing had happened. Alyssa sat beside him, and it was just. . .over.
"Jesus!" Jim exclaimed shakily. "Tell me that didn't just happen?!"
Kevin didn't respond, all too aware of Yoko's tears wetting the back of his uniform. His eyes filled with tears, and he didn't even try to hold them back. Son of a bitch! he thought dazedly. She was really gone. Cindy, the ditzy waitress who had made fought so furiously over the course of the night, had just fallen out of a moving helicopter! One of their own, a Raccoon City survivor, gone, just like that.
"Goddamn it!" he whispered thickly. He twisted around, keeping one hand on the drop-bar, and pulled Yoko to him. She sobbed uncontrollably into his chest, and he lowered his face to her hair. "It's okay, sweetheart. Let it out."
She didn't answer, merely shuddering as sobs wracked her slim frame. He slanted a sideways glance at Jim, who was mumbling to himself as his own tears fell. The guy wasn't running scared anymore. Now, he was just as numb as the rest of them.
The pilot told them that it was safe, that they were out of the bomb's range now, and Kevin stifled a crude response. It wasn't the guy's fault that Cindy was dead. That one he blamed strictly on God.
He maneuvered Yoko onto the bench, sitting beside her and hugging her to him once more. She held him tightly, her sobs subsiding to small hiccups, though she didn't raise her head. He ran a hand through her silky cap of black hair and murmured soothing nonsense, his only thought to bring her whatever comfort she could. Not only had they just lost one of their closest friends, but the man Yoko loved had nearly killed himself trying to save her. As if they hadn't been traumatized enough by their perilous dash through Raccoon City, they had been robbed of two of their fellow survivors, two of their friends tonight, and it fucking hurt.
Kevin rubbed his damp, gritty eyes and choked back a sigh. Six, he thought with anguish. Only six out of six-hundred thousand had survived. Of course, the military could be wrong in their estimates. There might be other survivors out there, people who had managed to get out on their own. Maybe, he, Yoko, Alyssa, Jim, George, and David weren't the only ones.
Yoko heard Kevin smother what sounded like a sob and quickly lifted her head. He met her gaze and smiled crookedly, his blue eyes reddened from tears. She glanced past him to Jim, realizing that the man hadn't said anything at all in God knew how long, after complaining for nearly eight hours straight. That wasn't a good sign.
She brought her lips back up to his ear and whispered, "I'm worried about Jim."
"He's too quiet, I know," Kevin acknowledged in kind. "I'll keep an eye on him once we land. I promise."
"Thank you, Kevin." She drew back and flashed him a trembling smile. "You're the best, you know that?"
"Yeah, I know." Kevin saw a military installation in the distance and nearly cried again with relief. "It won't be long now, sweetheart. We're almost out of this."
Yoko saw the huge complex with the high mesh fence and was reminded of a prison. "Yeah, I guess we are," she said tiredly. "We made it, Kevin."
"Yep," he replied quietly, "we did."
They fell silent as the helicopter drew closer to the base. They needed food, sleep, and time to deal with all that had happened to him. The first two were easy. It was the last that he had serious doubts about.
They landed a short time later, the helicopter touching down in a gentle contrast to their rough flight. Kevin jumped out and immediately turned to help Yoko down. She thanked him in a soft voice, her gaze drawn to the other chopper. "Go on," he told her gently. "I'll take care of Jim."
Yoko met his gaze, flinching at the pain she saw in the depths of his sapphire eyes. "Kevin. . ."
Her voice trailed off miserably, and he gave her a small nudge. "Go to him, Yoko. He needs you more than I do right now."
"Thank you," she whispered before sprinting across the tarmac.
She slowed to a walk as she approached the other vehicle, her gaze meeting Alyssa's as the older woman climbed out. Alyssa shook her blond head and kept going. George merely gazed at her with dazed eyes as he followed, presumably to join the other survivors. Yoko didn't know, because all of her attention was focused on the man sitting motionless inside of the chopper. She climbed up to join him, kneeling beside him with careful motions. Not that he noticed. He was locked away in his own little world, his beautiful silver-blue eyes empty and vacant, his thick brown hair tangled around his bleak features.
"David?" He didn't respond, and her heart went out to him. She could only imagine how badly Cindy's death had devastated him. "Come on, David. Come back to us. We need you."
She reached out and pushed a snarled lock of his hair out of his face, and he suddenly came to life. He flinched violently as his hand shot up to capture hers. His head came up as his eyes swung to hers, feral look in their bottomless silver depths. She gazed at him steadily, hiding the fear that his unexpected reaction had triggered, as he finally focused on her.
"Yoko." David stared at her for a moment longer before releasing her wrist. "Sorry. You startled me."
Yoko merely nodded. "Are you all right, David?"
His gaze slipped from hers as he shrugged, feigning a casualness that he didn't feel. "I let her die," he said in clipped tones. "Cindy. I failed her."
"No, you didn't," she told him firmly. "You did everything you could to save her, David. Her death was not your fault."
"I couldn't save her," he muttered, his guilt obvious. "I should have been able to save her."
"Oh, David." Yoko smiled sadly and set a hesitant hand on his upraised knee. "There was nothing any of us could do. It was simply her time."
David's gaze returned to hers. "You don't believe that, Yoko."
This time, it was she who shrugged. "You saved Kevin and I," she said instead. "That may not mean much to you, but it means the world to us."
"Of course, it means something." His brows pulled together in a faint frown. "Is this your way of telling me to pull my head out of my ass?"
Color crept into her cheeks as she blushed. "I would never say something like that to you, David."
His hand came up to cover hers, his deep voice soft as he said, "I believe you just did, babe."
Embarrassment crept through even as she lifted her chin in defiance. "I'm not going to apologize," she told him defiantly.
"I don't expect you to, Yoko."
His hand tightened around hers, his gaze lingering on hers, speculation filling the pale depths. Why her? he asked himself. Out of all of the other survivors, Yoko was the only one who had been able to reach him. He had been aware of Alyssa's attempts to draw him out of his shell, but he'd found himself unable to respond, and she had eventually given up. Yet, Yoko had managed to pull him out of himself with very little effort.Why one and not the other?
"What do we do, now?" he questioned unexpectedly.
Surprise flitted briefly across her expressive features. "We go on, David."
"How?" he said with an undertone of desperation, feeling lost for the first time in three years. "How do we overcome something like this?"
Yoko managed a faint smile. "We live our lives the way that they would have wanted us to."
"And just forget them?" he questioned harshly.
"No," she returned swiftly. "We'll never forget them, David, but we can't change what's happened. If we give up now, they'll have died for nothing. That's something we can't allow. We go on, and we honor their memories."
David made a rough sound and looked away. "It's not enough."
"Maybe not," she replied quietly, "but it's all we can do."
He fell silent, mulling over her words, and the logic behind them. She was right. He knew she was right. He just wasn't sure how to go about starting over after such a traumatic event.
David thought again of Mark's words, of his certainty that Yoko was the woman for him, and wondered if the old man had been right after all. She had been at his side through all of this, helping him as even as he strove to keep her and the others alive. Like him, she had rarely asked for help during the long, hellish night in Raccoon City. Only when she had been hurt so badly that she couldn't defend herself had she called out to any of them. She was such a gentle girl, yet she had never shown any fear of him, as some of the others had.
As Cindy had. He winced and pushed all thoughts of the beautiful blond waitress aside. Cindy was gone, and there was nothing he could do to bring her back. Yoko was here with him now, and he suspected that if he asked it of her, she would be for a long time to come.
He heard her whisper his name and slowly lifted his head. Her fresh, youthful features were dirty, as his were his own, from their harried flight from Raccoon. Her compassionate black eyes were red, tear-tracks staining her cheeks, and his heart turned over.
"You've been crying," he whispered, lifting his free hand to her face.
Those eyes widened slightly as he cradled her face in his hand. "We all have, David, in our own ways," she managed in a breathless voice.
His thumb swept over her smooth skin as he continued to gaze at her. "You're not afraid of me," he stated with something akin to wonder.
"Of course not," Yoko frowned at the ridiculous notion. "Why would I be afraid of you?"
He nearly laughed aloud at the question. Everyone was afraid of him. The big, dirty plumber with the mysterious past who almost never opened his mouth. He didn't know if the kind of life he'd led had marked him in some obvious way, or if it was just something inherent in his personality that put others off. He scared people. He always had. It was that simple.
He glanced past her, to the other four survivors, who's expressions were anxious as they waited. "You were all worried about me, weren't you?" he asked slowly.
Yoko smiled at his obvious surprise. "Of course, we were, David. You're one of us, you know?"
"Yeah, I guess I am." David smiled for the first time since landing. It had been a long time since he had been a part of something greater than himself. He liked it. "I should probably thank Alyssa for saving my ass, then."
"Yes, you should," Yoko responded emphatically. "You probably scared her to death with stunt!"
He nodded, his light eyes trained on hers. "And you?" he questioned quietly. "Did I scare you with 'that stunt'?"
Yoko bit her lip as she hesitated, then covered his hand with her own. "Yes," she answered finally, "I was terrified that I--that we'd lose you, too."
David realized that he was still touching her with surprise. He had never been one for physical displays of affection. He cleared his throat, intending to pull away, but her soft skin continued to beckon him. He stroked her cheek one final time, tucking a lock of sable hair behind her ear, and forced his reluctant hand away.
"I'm sorry," he said in a too-quiet voice, "that I scared you."
"I'm just glad you're okay, David." She gazed at him for a moment longer before attempting another smile. "We should probably join the others, now."
"Yeah," he acknowledged with a sigh, "we probably should."
She gave an encouraging look before turning and leaving the vehicle. David ducked his head and followed, unable to keep eyes of her behind. She had a great ass, he thought almost absently, wondering why he hadn't noticed before now. It was small, but it nicely shaped, just like the rest of her. It would probably fit in his hands perfectly.
He grinned to himself. Of course, he hadn't noticed before. He had spent the last eight hours fighting his way out of Raccoon City, trying to cure himself of the T-Virus infection. He'd been a tad too busy keeping himself alive too notice how well Yoko Suzuki's jeans fit.
But was noticing, now, David thought with a rush of heat that left him wincing uncomfortably. Damn, but he was noticing!
He looked up to find Kevin staring at him, a combination of resignation and relief etched into his weary features. He returned the other man's gaze steadily, not attempting to hide his thoughts. Kevin might be in love Yoko, but until she made a choice, the field was wide open. He had no intention of backing down, unless she herself asked it of him. Somehow, he didn't think she would.
Kevin lifted his chin slightly as they approached. "You okay, King?"
"I'm fine, Kevin. Thanks." David glanced at Alyssa, who had raised one eyebrow in a skeptical manner. "Really, Alyssa. And I'm sorry for what I pulled back there."
Alyssa blinked at the unexpected apology, then scowled darkly. "Whatever, King," she muttered, adding, "Just don't let it happen, again. If you had clocked me, I'd have beat the shit out of you once we hit the ground."
He returned the gesture, quirking one burnished brow, before shrugging. "If there was ever a woman capable of kicking my ass, it'd be you, Ashcroft."
She let out a bark of laughter and swatted him on the arm. "I knew there was a reason I liked you, David."
He turned to George, who's arms were crossed over his chest, his gaze on the ground. "George. . .I'm sorry," he said at length. "I wish I could have saved her."
George merely nodded, his eyes trained on the pavement at his feet. "I want to go back," he said in a soft voice.
"Back?" Alyssa stepped forward, setting a hand on his arm. "What the hell are you talking about, George?"
"You're fucking crazy, bro!" Jim declared. "I ain't going back to Raccoon City! No way, no how!"
"Not Raccoon." The other man lifted his head, his bloodshot cobalt eyes meeting David's. "I want to go back to look for Cindy."
David inhaled sharply, holding his gaze for a long moment, before nodding emphatically. "I'm in," was all he said in return, any thoughts of Yoko's jeans gone in an instant.
"No!" Kevin stared at them in astonished disbelief. "You can't be serious! We're alive, George. We made it. We can't go back!"
"Cindy might be alive," George insisted stubbornly. "We were pretty close to the ground when that last bit of turbulence hit. She could be lying out there, injured, all alone. I won't just leave her there."
"No, you won't." David reached into his tool belt and pulled out his folding knife. He glanced at Kevin, the only one of them who had kept his weapon, and said, "Give George your gun."
Kevin snorted even as he took a step back. "No way, David. I'm not helping the two of you commit suicide."
"Damn you, Ryman." David took a menacing step towards him. "Give your .45 to George--now."
Yoko stepped between them, positioning herself in front of Kevin protectively. "What if you don't come back?" she asked in a deceptively calm voice. "We don't know that the outbreak was contained to Raccoon City. What if there are more of those zombies, or mutated animals, outside of Raccoon? What will the two of you do, then?"
"We'll survive," he stated, leveling cold silver-blue eyes on her. "If Kevin doesn't want to help, that's fine, but we need that fucking weapon, Yoko."
Yoko blinked rapidly, stung by the harshness of his voice. The man who had touched her so tenderly only minutes ago was gone. Whatever it was that had passed between them in the helicopter was gone, destroyed by his all-consuming passion for a woman who had been terrified of him. So be it.
She turned away, facing Kevin with an unknowingly stark expression. "Give him your gun, Kevin."
Kevin winced at the pain etched into her tired, pale features. "Yoko--"
"Please," she cut in softly. "Just give it to him, Kevin."
He hesitated for a moment longer before drawing his gun. He stepped around her and slapped it into the other man's outstretched hand, butt-first. "Here," he snapped, pulling the last box of bullets out of his pack. "Take these, too."
David handed them to George, who took them silently. "Thank you," he ground out stiffly.
"Fuck you, David." Kevin shook his head and ambled away, pissed at David King, and the world in general. "Friggin' moron."
Yoko watched him walk away with a heavy heart. He wasn't the only one convinced that this was a mistake. They had survived so much, yet David and George were going to get themselves killed because neither could let Cindy Lennox go. She sighed heavily and followed Kevin, already mourning the loss that would forever change her life, when a hand on her arm halted her.
"Yoko." David gazed down at her profile solemnly. "Thank you, for helping with Kevin."
She could feel his intense gaze on her but couldn't summon the courage to meet it. "Don't thank me, David. Just come back alive."
He frowned down at her, silently willing her to look at him. "We will, Yoko. So will Cindy," he added reassuringly.
She merely nodded and pulled away. She wrapped her arms around herself and half-turned towards him. "Good luck, and. . ." she swallowed hard, "be careful."
"Don't worry about me," he said, as he had so many times in the last eight hours. "Just take care of yourselves while we're gone."
She made a choked sound that sounded suspiciously like laughter. "Goodbye, David."
She walked away, leaving him frowning after her. "Women," he muttered under his breath, bewildered by her obvious disapproval. She knew him, damn it. Out of all of the other survivors, she was the only one who'd actually understood him. Why would she balk, now, knowing just how important this was to him? They had survived eight hours in Raccoon City. A few days on the road would be nothing in comparison. He and George were armed, and they'd already proven that they could take of themselves. Why was she so damn worried about them, now?
"You're an idiot. You know that, King?"
He whirled around to find Alyssa standing behind him, her expression sour. "And why is that?" he asked, his deep voice laced with menace.
"Because you're blind," Alyssa said with a shake of her blond head. "Must be all that testosterone, interfering with the thinking process."
"Explain," he demanded tersely.
She snorted inelegantly. "Forget it, King. If you're not smart enough to figure it out on your own, I'm sure as hell not going to tell you."
"Fine," he snapped angrily. "Keep your damned mouth shut, then."
Alyssa approached him and he took a step back, eyeing her warily. He half-expected to be punched, and was shocked when she drew him close for a quick hug. "Don't get yourself killed out there, David. You either, Hamilton," she threw over her shoulder before sauntering away.
"What the hell was that all about?" he mumbled to himself.
"They're just worried about us, David." George tucked the gun into his waistband and buttoned his dirty blazer over it. "Come on. Let's find a way out of here before the Army figures out what we're up to."
"Yeah, sure." David glanced after his friends one last time before turning away. "Let's get Cindy."