STAY ALIVE

/Author's Note/: Yaayyyy, another fanfiction from yours truly. Hope you enjoy and let's hope that this will go as planned. And Piers Stays alive... I had in mind the stupid song from Bee Gees. "Ahhh, Ahhh, Ahhh, Ahhhh, Stayin' Alive!"

/Pairing/: Nivanfield (Because we all know they are gay for eachother!)

/Summery/: On Chris' suggestion, Piers commands half of his team to go across seas to Africa to deal with an infestation while Chris and what's left the team focus on the infestation at Australia. The chopper carrying Piers and his men was attacked and down the chopper went in a ball of flames. Piers is now stranded in Madagascar?! There are no friendly furry singing or dancing lemars this time... Poor Piers.

Chapter 1 [preparations]

This disease wasn't supposed to be exiting, let alone spreading.. Twisting innocence into something not even the younger youth can recognize as their own. There is a fine line between madness and what is right.. Chris should have known better.. The rest was becoming short on irrelevance.

"Captain.." The quiet voice alerted Chris in his wake of silent self destruction. The bar was lively that night and he could barely make out Piers' voice through the chatter of the rest of his squad. It pulled him from his thoughts, drawing them onto his Subordinate. He looked to Piers, letting him know with his stare that he was listening.

"Are you okay with this?" His voice was steady, very Piers like and Chris knew what he was asking in assurance of. The man gave a light chuckle as he lifted his shot glass to his lips. The light fixture that hung above them casted little light, so his profile was dimmed.

"I know you can handle it Piers, you know I wouldn't give you anything you couldn't, right?" He spoke into the rim of his cup. Piers silently stared at his steak then cutting out a small piece.

Chris had givin Piers an oppertunity to show him what he can do. Command a team on a mission in Africa. It was a light infestation problem that Chris knew Piers can handle by himself while Chris sorted out the growth in the viral outbreak here in Australia . Piers was to take a chopper flown by one of Chris' most trusted pilots, Ren Cross. The task itself was easy enough. Piers however was hesitant. It wasn't fear, no.. Chris assumed that Piers had a second nature of questioning his captain. Chris didn't mind this quirky side of Piers, gave him a challenge and some excitement in each mission... Not that every mission was exactly dull, it just wouldn't be the same without his snarky sniper keeping him in line.

"If you say so, Captain.." He raised the piece of steak to his lips, preoccupying himself with this task. Chris sipped at his drink, trying not stare at Piers' lips as they wrapped around the slice of meat. Why did he find himself so distracted in his young ace? He dismissed it as a sense of awe and amazement in Piers' actions. Piers had his own way of doing everything it seemed. Chris liked to observe being as attentful as he was.

"You'll be fine," Chris merrily chirped as he downed the rest of his drink, slapping the glass onto the table top. "You saved my sorry hide countless times.. This will be no different."

"Your hide isn't worth the effort." A voice clicked from behind Chris, he looked over his shoulder when a smiling Jill lowered herself to sit next to Chris. Piers quietly ducked his head into his plate as he took a bite of his steak.

"Oh, you wound me.." Chris grinned despite this. Jill shook her head in a 'Get Over Yourself' kind of manner, and that was when she noticed Piers trying to be invisible. This tactic may work on J'avo or the infected many times before, but Jill was slightly smarter.

"And who is this?" Jill had her sights on Piers, who looked up from his food, almost hesitantly. He reached for his water after swallowing. "Piers Nivans.."

For a moment there, Chris thought he'd have to speak for Piers, but luckily that wasn't the case. Jill gave her most friendliest smiles as she recalled Chris' plans.

"You're the one Chris talks about." She acknowledged with a glint in her eye. Piers' expression faltered, though it was fairly hard to read, there was something submerged in those honey glazed optics. Geez, when you put it that way, it was almost made Chris feel like an over obsessed stalker. Chris prayed Piers wouldn't take it the wrong way.

"I didn't realize Captain talks about me.." Piers slowly drew out, looking Chris' way silently observing. Shit.

"Oh, Chris regards you highly." Jill wasn't helping and Chris had a feeling that she was doing this on purpose. Damn her.. Piers nodded softly and looked back down at his food, carving out another piece. Not the type of reaction Chris was expecting, but it was better than a scornful scoff or a look of disgust. It wasn't like he had wild fantasies over the sniper... Not fully anyway. Chris does find himself admiring the youth as explained earlier.

"So, I take it the mission starts tomorrow?" Jill crained her head in Chris' direction questioningly. Chris rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. He was grateful for the topic change, treating it like a gift from the heavens.

"Guess it does.. We head out first thing in the morning."

Jill raised her glass above her head, which explained her previous attitude and actions, she was most likely buzzed and or drunk.. Whichever possible.

"Then let us toast!" She chirped. Chris raised his empty glass to humor her and looked to Piers. Part of him hadn't expected a reaction, but when Piers' glass joined the two in a clink there was a sense of ambition.. And determination. Jill was encouraged by this and chimed, "For victory!"

"And the off chance Jill won't suffer a hangover.." Chris added, even earning a small grin from Piers and Chris found himself savoring it.

The night air was cool against Chris' face. The motel next to the bar was gracious enough to allow the whole squad a room for each soldier at a reasonable price. So Chris couldn't complain even if the rooms were shitty. At least the balcony view wasn't as bad as he expected. He was almost grateful he got a top floor room. It was easier to smoke on the balcony without having to bother people with the smell. However, he wasn't expected to be joined anytime soon. So it was fair to say he was shocked when he saw Piers approach. It made sense.. His room was next to the Ace's..

"Can't sleep?" Chris tried for casual conversation, watching a sleepy Piers lean against the railing of the balcony. He hasn't known Piers for that long. They went on a few missions together but only enough to gather that Piers wasn't exactly one for small talk. It was becoming exceedingly obvious that work was the only thing he knew how to do.

"Something like that.." There was a sigh in his words as he rubbed the sleep out of his left eye with the back of his knuckles. Chris watched carefully out of the corner of his eye as he took a drag of his cigarette. "Just a dream.."

"Do you want to talk about it?" He flicked stray ashes onto the ground near his feet. He met Piers' gaze. He was watching the glowing end of Chris' cigarette intently.

"There is nothing to talk about, Captain.." Piers' guard went up. Damn.. It was worth the shot. Even if Chris should've known better. They shared an awkward silence then. Chris was trying to figure out how to break it when Piers beat him to the punch. "...it's seems so peaceful from here.."

Chris found himself staring at Piers... The male's face looked almost sad.. Broken at the seams as he stared ahead longingly. He followed Piers' stare out into the night sky of Australia. At that moment.. Chris felt as if he deeply understood his sniper.. Just for once.

"Hard to believe it's really chaos.." Chris hummed softly, balancing his cigarette between his lips.

"Hell on earth.." Piers agreed somberly. And Chris couldn't have said it more better. It was sobering in a sense.. Despite it all. Piers pushed himself off of the railing and stepped back. "Well.. Goodnight Ca-.."

"Piers.." Chris called out without meaning to. But when Piers turned, Chris was at loss for words. The words seized from his very lungs. Crap.

"Captain?" Piers turned after a long silence. Chris was quick to recover as Piers' expecting expression. It was now really just an awkward stare down.

"Get some good rest, you'll be needing it.." Chris hadn't expected a smile, but it was there, even if it was faint. Chris would take what he could get. He watched Piers retreat back into his room and felt a whole lot lighter. He was glad Piers decided to drop by..

Chris stubbed the burning end of his cigarette against the edge of the railing. He couldn't help but yield to a curious thought...

What was the dream about?

"Are you ready?" Piers had checked all of his equipment, patting himself down with gloved hands. He looked up at his captain as they neared the chopper. He had to raise his voice to be heard over the slice of the chopper blades.

"Ready as I'll ever be.." He adjusted the strap of his sniper and lowered his gaze. It felt as if he should be doing something.. Chris just wasn't his Captain after all.. Weither Chris knew it or not, he became some sort of a friend to the young Ace. But would that be appropriate? He felt a strong hand on his shoulder and lifted his head to look into the man's deep brown eyes.

"You know, you can back down.." Chris frowned softly. It sparked a sudden determination in Piers' stomach. He wanted to make the man proud...

Wanted to strive for this...

"I'll be fine.." He mumbled but the look on Chris' face was questioning, Piers leaned forward without thinking and spoke up louder next to the man's ear. "I got this!"

Chris nodded and patted his shoulder, before Piers could say or do anything more Chris placed something cold in his hand and closed his hand into a fist over the steel object, ushering him onto the chopper. Piers fingerless gloved hands squeezed and absorbed the object as he clumsily climbed onto the chopper with the rest of his men. Piers watched Chirs' figure shrink as the chopper lifted.

He waited until he couldn't see the man before opening his hand. His eyes widened.

Dog tags...

They were dog tags with Chris Redfield engraved into them. Piers fumbled for his earpiece, sliding it in, he pressed a button on his bluetooth, contacting his Captain.

"Captain.. Your tags, I-.."

"Just an assurance..." Chris' voice came in. He cleared Piers' silent confusion when he finished with an explanation. "You'll live to give that back to me.~"

Piers swallowed the lump in his throat, along with all his nervousness and uneasiness.. He looked at his temperare squad with a new found courage and nodded to himself more so.

"Yessir.." His words were a lot stronger than they had been since yesterday. He could do this..

"I'll let you get to it then..~"

Ren was grinning over his shoulder at Piers. Piers chose to ignore it and turned his attention to his men. They had already been givin' the briefing, but a pep talk wouldn't hurt. It's what Chris always did.. He was nothing like Chris but that didn't mean he couldn't give it a shot.

"We get in there and get out.. Remember, our goal.. What we are fighting for.." Piers had gotten their attention, all eyes were on him. He wasn't used to such attention and the tension was thick. "We die now and it'll all be in vain.. So let's make this count.."

Piers hadn't expected such an impact but it was there, strong nods and praises went around in that Chopper. Ren even threw a fist into the air.

The rest of the ride was in silence. Piers kept his stare out the window, watching the glistening water's surface. It helped him think. What he was getting himself into.. Making a difference. This was where he wanted to be.. Where he was born to be from the start. This was his first mission by himself.. Commanding his own team.. Even if it was Chris' it was his for this mission.. It could give him a leg up he really needed. And if it was one step closer on a safer world, hell he was all for it.

Submerged in his thoughts and coaxed in the scenery, Piers found himself being lulled. If it wasn't for the constant teetering, he would've drifted. The Indian Ocean was a lot bigger than Piers thought. He wasn't much of a traveler and when he did travel he was so focused on his work.. The mission, he was partly curious why he wasn't distracted on this one. Piers was dragged from his thoughts when the chopper suddenly lurched forward. Ren jerked from the front seat.

"Hang on!" He shouted. "We're under assault!"

Piers didn't have time to respond, he was thrown forward. It was as if everything went in slow motion. The smoke came first, spilling and choking the soldiers. Another jerk and Piers was thrusted further. He saw the windshield come closer than he could register and before he knew it he was crashing through it. The shock of being thrown and suspended through air overwhelmed him, squeezing whatever air he had left in his lungs.

On his way down, he felt his body being hurtled and thrashed against each tree branch, slowing his fall, but as soon as he hit the ground an immense shockwave of pain tore through him from his side. He choked on a strangled sound as the taste of copper flooded his mouth. His instincts told him to get the hell out of there when he heard a metallic crunch. Above, the chopper had swiveled and spun out of control. Piers had managed to drag his limp body out of the way before the chopper had landed on him and erupted in a big ball of flames. Without thinking, Piers stretched a trembling hand near the intense heat of the fireball. His men... Burned alive..

The heat was too strong he had to drag himself further out of the way, spitting up blood on his way out. His trembling figure was shaken and out of the shock his body was registering the pain. He couldn't bite back the pained scream. He lowered his blackening gaze towards his side where the source of his main pain was... A branch had caught and was sticking out just above his hip. He must've slammed harder into that tree than he would like to think. He gathered all the air he could take without much pain and grasped the branch. With a strangled groan, he pulled the branch out, the sound of splitting flesh deafened him as the bark was dragged out, blood spattered and stained the leafy forest floor.

"A-Aghn!" He croaked, throwing the branch weakly. The whole forest surroundings were spinning. He was alive... For now...

Piers' upper frame fell backwards with a few ached gasps. Everything hurt.. His head was pounding and he was still in a very great amount of shock. But he managed to crawl towards another tree, propping his mangled frame against it he fumbled for his first aid in his pouch. He could feel his life's essence drip down the side of his head warm and threatening.

He managed to bandage the wound with his medical gauze.. He tried to not use too much, he knew good and well he'd be needing it later...

With that out of the way, Piers reached for the button on his headset. The task itself was a lot more harder than it proved to be and Piers found himself blinking in and out of sleep.

"..Piers? Is everything okay?" Chris' smiling voice was distorted and grainy. Piers slowly drank in that strong voice. It gave him strength.. Hope.. God, he needed hope.. "Piers, it's only been four hours.. Piers? Answer me!"

"C-...Captain..." Piers croaked after a few deep breaths. He was struggling to find his voice through all his aches.

"Piers?!" Chris' voice abruptly changed for the worse.. He sounded afraid.. "Piers, what happened?!"

"I-.. I'm sorry.. Captain..." Piers panted, he threw his head back against the trunk of the tree, looking up at the wavering sky. He wanted to throw up.. He tried so hard, desperately clinging to Chris' voice. He weakly searched for the tags Chris had givin' him. A panic welling in his chest squeezed his heart in a tight fist.

Where was it?!

He patted his mangled body in a frantic search, a relief flooding him when he found them tucked in his pocket. His bloody hand squeezed them tightly; his lifeline.

"Shh, P-Piers, it's okay..." Chris' staticed voice came back to him. Cool water to a dry throat. "Just.. Just stay with me! Give me your coordinates!"

"I...I-I don't know.. The.. Chopper.. I-I..It crashed... I-I.. S..screwed up Captain.. I-I"

"Piers.. It's okay! Shh... It's fine! Okay? Please.. Stay with me.." Chris cutted through Piers' babbling. Though he sounded panicked himself.. Piers' eyes were feeling heavier by the minute...He slowly closed them with a sigh..

"I'm... sorry.. captain.." He couldn't stop himself from falling into the black.

/Author's Note/: There ya go, excuse the terrible spelling, this was a spur of the moment project. I'll try to update as much as I can, but It'll be hard, soooo.. Bare with me.