Jill Valentine was not afraid of showing emotion, but something inside told her to repress her emotions at the moment. A million things flying through her mind a minute, her ears still were ringing from the explosion of both the mansion and the tyrant. She sat next to Chris Redfield, one of her closest friends and coworkers. She glanced over at Barry and Rebecca sitting across from her. Barry was staring a picture he had, most likely of his family. Rebecca was laying across the rest of the seat, fast asleep. If anyone had been through hell and back, it was her. She kept her glance on Rebecca, such a peaceful look of rest on her face. Rather than sit and fight a new emotion with each thought, she decided to sleep. Besides, she would have to tell her side of things once they returned to the Police Department. She placed her head on Chris' shoulder, and closed her heavy eyes. As he placed his arm around her, she put her hand on his knee. From there, Jill drifted into pitch black, perfect dreamless sleep.

When Jill awoke, the helicopter was landing on the roof of the Police Station. She opened her eyes, still weary from sleep and worry. Chris removed his arm from her, and they looked at each other. It wasn't quite the gaze of lovers, but it meant more than a simple friendship. Jill smiled, and Chris helped her out of the helicopter. Again, Jill's mind began to race, screaming for answers, clawing for a hint of reason behind what she'd just been through. Before she became overwhelmed by her thoughts, she focused on other things. Chief Irons stood at the entrance to the Station from the roof. He had a strange look on his face, and without even asking what had happened, Irons muttered "Go Home. You will explain tomorrow."

Jill nodded, and the entire group shuffled past him. Jill walked closely next to Chris, nearly leaning on him. They walked past stares and "What happeneds!?" all through the Station, until they reached the exit. Rebecca and Barry said goodbye and left, while Chris and Jill walked farther to their cars. Jill had remained quiet, as did Chris, like they had some kind of profound silent understanding. They reached Jill's car, where they stopped. She looked up at Chris, with her keys in her hand. She felt a bubble of emotion come up, and her eyes started to fill with tears. "You gonna be okay?" Chris asked gingerly, acting as if he didn't notice for her sake.

"Yeah, I'll be fine." Jill smiled, lying through her teeth. They stood again for a moment, as she composed herself. "I'm fine."

"If you're sure..." Chris replied. "I don't know about you, but I could use a shower. I'm going home."

Jill smiled. "I'll say."

After light laughter, they looked at each other, the two of them sensing that there is so much more between them than what has been said. He steps in to hug her, putting his hands around her waist and holding her close and tight. She squeezes him back, with her hands around his shoulders. "I'll call you later to make sure you're alright."

"Alright, I'll talk to you then." Jill smiles.

Chris hesitates, as if he wanted to say more. "Okay."

Jill gets into her car as Chris watches her, waving to her as she drives away. The drive home to her is a blur. Lost in more thought than she believes possible, she walks straight to her bathroom and turns on the hot water. She looks in the mirror at herself. Her uniform looks as if she hadn't survived the mansion incident herself. Not only was she covered in sweat, but she had blood spots in too many places to count, her arms and face filthy, and nearly covered in dust. No wonder she had gotten so many shocked looks when she and the others left. Piece by piece, she removed the uniform from her body until she stood naked in front of the mirror. She looked at her face. She didn't look the same to herself, she saw a different look in her eyes. She saw fear, confusion...she saw death. She didn't want to look at herself any longer.

She stepped into the shower, pulling the lever on the faucet. There was a pause, then hot water sprayed down from the showerhead above, like a steamy cleansing waterfall. Jill let the water hit her on her hair first, soaking it and the water cascaded down her face and chest, falling off of her and onto the shower floor. She stood there, thinking.

Thinking. Thinking of what really just happened. She may be alive, but she has sealed her fate. She knows she will spend the rest of her life fighting Umbrella, fighting against these murders so that those civilians and her teammates didn't die in vain. She thinks more. She realizes how many people she's really lost in one night. Enrico, Forest, Edward, Joseph, and Richard, who gave his life to save hers. She had lost many friends. She had lost pieces of herself with each of them. She saw Joseph being eaten alive by those dogs, those horrible dogs. She saw his last moments. She saw Kenneth, and didn't make it in time to save him from those horrid zombies. She felt confusion, blindsided. She walked into a deathtrap, deception. Wesker had walked them into this. All for personal gain...and Umbrella, the corporation that had made Raccoon City what it was, is responisble for all this? She felt the rage build up, the grief and guilt that she had lived while the others died. With the hot water hitting her, she finally let go of her emotions.

She let out a small whimper, shuddered, and began to sob. She cradled her head in her hands, and screamed. "Why!?" She cried out. "They didn't deserve to die! They had families, people who loved them!" As the steam filled her bathroom, she cried a bit longer, washing herself and sniffling. She looked down at the murky water, wondering whose blood she had washed off of her. Finally, she turned off the shower, standing in the steam. She grabbed a towel and began to dry herself. She looked down at her uniform in the floor and stepped over it into the hallway.

She needed to remind herself of what she had to be thankful for. After all, she did survive. Even if the mansion was destroyed, she knew she and her allies would be able to bring Umbrella down. It was just a question of when. She still had Chris as well...and she didn't know how she would be if she didn't have good 'ol Chris.

Chris...she needed to do some serious thinking about him. They've gotten close lately, but she knows that this mansion fiasco has only brought them closer. She looked at the clock. "Jesus, nine thirty?!" She thought to herself. She wanted to go to sleep and let everything sink in a bit further. First, she thought she should call Chris.

She headed to her bedroom and sat down on her bed. She thought about yesterday morning when she had gotten up, how different she was. How she took everything and everyone for granted. She thought about being alone in her house. She knew she could handle herself, she was Jill Valentine! However, Jill detested the thought of being alone right now. She picked up the phone and dialed Chris' phone number, without even having to think about it.

"Hello?"

"Hey, It's Jill."

"I know. You doin' okay?"

Jill paused. "I'll be okay. How about you?"

"I'm fine, just worried about you. You had this look in your eyes..."

"Listen, I don't really feel comfortable being alone right now."

"I understand what you mean, I'm still a little creeped out myself. Do you want me to come over?"

Jill smiled. "I would love for you to."

That's why she liked Chris. No matter what, he always made her smile. He always knew what to say, he knew how to handle her. He protected her, he made her feel safe. Not to mention he was so cute...

"I'll be on my way in a few minutes then, now that I don't smell like the living dead."

Living dead...Jill had nothing to say back. It felt too soon to make any jokes, though she knew he didn't mean it like that.

Sensing the bad timing, Chris was quick to say something else.

"Er, I guess you could say I smell pretty good now."

She loved the awkwardness. "I'll be the judge of that. Have you thought about what we're going to tell Chief Irons yet?"

There was a moment of silence. "I think we should just take it all one day at a time. I'm not going to worry about it tomorrow. Anyway, I'll be over in a few minutes."

"Alright, see you then." Jill sighed as she hung up.

She wasn't quite sure what they were going to do once he got there, but she had plans for sleeping. She was sure he did as well. Jill chuckled to herself as she wondered where he would sleep. The couch wasn't that comfortable, but of course the floor wasn't any better. Well, he could always sleep in her bed. She wouldn't mind sharing...

She sat on her bed, already feeling a bit better with Chris on the way. She still felt as if she would never get over last night, but she knew with Chris by her side, she would be able to conquer whatever she faced.