Chapter II

The news.

Chris was heading home from work. He was tired… No, even not tired. He was totally exhausted. You could place a stamp on his forehead: 'totally expired, battery's doomed', and he wouldn't mind because it was absolutely true.

It was 9:00 P.M. Usually Chris got home, watched TV, eating something, and then went to bed. But today he didn't even feel like watching TV – he just wanted to get home already.

While waiting for the green light to flash, Chris automatically switched on the radio. He lazily pushed several buttons, searching for some interesting stations, until a loud and clear voice erupted from the dynamic. It was a news wave. Yeah. Just his luck as ever, Chris thought, his expression quite irritated.

And now the criminal news. The police of Chicago finally caught the famous thief, Dick Valentine, whom they were tracking for already five years. Finally, the dream of the Chicago Police Department is fully accomplished. That's what the chief of the C.P.D., Oscar Clark, said: "Dick Valentine was a big catch; although he, maybe, isn't the thieves' leader, but he caused more trouble than any leader ever did. The Chicago citizens can now breathe with more liberty than before, when they'll be sure that their homes are safe and their stuff is under the reliable protection of the law". Oscar didn't tell us about the exact circumstances of Dick's catch, but I think soon we'll get more information about this case. And now the sports news…"

Chris turned the radio off and the car soaked in silence. Different people, different stories, different paths. You never know where your path ends, or where are all the rocks and how to avoid them. You just need to go as it goes, assume your life with all its twists and turns, unexpected holes and falls. Chris never was much philosophical – as a matter of a fact, he never was a philosopher – but that thought just pumped into his mind after that message on the radio about that thief. Parking his car, he turned off the engine and just sat there, in the cooling car for several minutes, a little bit startled by the emptiness in his head.

Suddenly, his sell phone rang. Chris looked at the display and grunted – it was Wesker.

- Yeah?.. – he answered rather sharply.

- Christopher, I need you to do me a favor. A very important favor.

Chris's features lit up. If Wesker was going to say that tomorrow they're having a mission…It was too long since they had something interesting. Mostly that month they had only paperwork, and for Chris (as he was quite an adventurous person) it was truly a torture.

- Yeah, cap, what is it?..

- Don't be late.

The line went dead. Chris put the phone away and cursed.

And he just called because of that!?..

Sometimes he just couldn't understand their captain. And every day he felt the gap between the team and Wesker widen more and more – and Chris just couldn't understand him. He was younger than their captain, but the difference wasn't really big. It was hard to say what Wesker liked to do and what hated – he was totally unreadable, like a machine or something. And the sunglasses that he constantly wore closed his eyes, making Chris's tries to understand them only tries.

When Chris entered the S.T.A.R.S. office, it was unusually loud inside. Wesker was absent, and at Joseph's table were practically all men from the S.T.A.R.S. BRAVO and ALPHA – Kenneth Sullivan, Joseph Frost, Forest Speyer, Kevin Rhyman, Brad Vickers, Richard Aiken, Enrico Marini and Edward Dewey. Fortunately, Barry wasn't in present too, or they all simply wouldn't get out – the office was too small for such a lot of cops.

Chris found it impossible to get to his desk with that much people in the room, so he just crossed his arms and asked:

- Hey, guys, why are you all here?.. Is something wrong with your office?.. Or you all are waiting for Wesker to sing to him "twinkle twinkle little Wesker"?..

Joseph waved to him with such energy, that accidentally hit Brad with all his might. Vickers yelped, rubbing his head, but decided not to complain – besides, he would have to shout to be heard, so Brad decided to play a shy little boy.

- Chris! Hey, Chris! Come here, I have something to tell you!

Redfield chuckled.

- I guess it's something you wanted to tell me yesterday?..

- Well, as a matter of a fact yes. But Wesker told me to write that report that was already written by Barry, by the way…

Chris got closer to Joseph, stepping on Brad's foot and pushing the others away so he could hear at least something. Brad squeaked, but again decided not to complain. Chris didn't even notice.

- Oh, so that's why captain is not at his usual place. You got the poor man, and he jumped out of the window because you asked him how to write the word "maniac" – with a "c" or a "k" on the end – for like twenty times?..

- It's not my fault that my grammar teacher at school was a cute young girl and had a nice ass. – said Joseph coolly. Chris lifted his brows.

- I knew you were a pervert, but I had no idea for how long.

- Since kindergarten! – blurted Kenneth, pointing his finger up in a "I-know everything-on-Earth" manner. Joseph eyed him maliciously, playfully punching Sullivan's shoulder.

- What? I just say because I know you since we were kids. Remember that Stacy girl, you were always so intent on lifting her skirt up. – Kenneth said teasingly.

Joseph made an offended face.

- No way I wasn't! Besides, her name was Lucy! How can you remember!? We were four!..

Kenneth grinned.

- I just have a good memory.

- Well then, I know how we can fix it… No witnesses! – Joseph emphatically looked at his fist with an unknown tenderness, and Kenneth suddenly remembered he forgot to write some report about the case solved a week ago and stormed out of the office, mumbling something.

Chris glanced at Joseph.

- What's it with him?.. – he said, waving his head at the direction of the entrance. Frost shrugged.

- I don't have any idea. PMS, maybe?..

- He's a man, you moron!

- Really?.. Oops. My mistake. If he tells his mom, I'm screwed! "Mommy, Joe wanted to punch me, and than he said that I'm a girl! Kill him, or I'll cut my veins in the bathroom while listening to Marlin Manson!" – parodied Joseph, laughing. Chris and the other laughed too, grinning widely – Joseph was a tease as ever. He always was the life of every party, that's why everybody adored him. His red bandana was legendary through the whole R.P.D., and rumors said that if Joseph dies, the Ghost of the Red Bandana would haunt the Department.

- So, what were you about to tell me?..

Joseph immediately put a serious look on his face, silencing. The others wickedly looked at Chris, smirking. They already knew that "something exciting" Joseph wanted to tell him yesterday, and they liked it that he still wasn't enlightened unlike them. They eyed him like they were all aristocrats and he was some sort of a plebeian.

- Okay, it's time to spill the beans. What is it?.. Brad lays eggs?.. Barry's beard is a fake? Wesker is cosplaying Neo?.. Irons is a pop-star?..

Joseph smiled mysteriously.

- Chris, Chris, Chris... – he shook his head, patting him on his forhead like a caring nurse would pat the patient to calm him. – Much, much better. A lot more better. Although I wouldn't mind taking a few pictures of Irons in the club singing. – he grinned. – But no. As a matter of a fact we have a new recruit. And most importantly – she's a girl.

- So, she would be the only girl in the team?.. - Chris didn't know why he asked that - maybe because his experience with girls never went further "excuse-me-what-time-is-it-7-30-thank-you-bye". Redfield wasn't shy. He just was happy the way he was - with his favorite guns and rifls, his sister safe at college and his team like a big family.

Joseph smiled like a predator, awaiting for his pray, his red bandana seeming to redden even more.

- Exactly.

I think there's quite a lot of Joseph in theese two chapters xD I don't know why I write so, I just... Well... Write O_o Or smth like that. So, this is my 2nd chapter. Review please! B)
And still there's no romance.... Will be! I promise! When I have inspiration... xD