If Things had been Different

Chapter Two: Before the Investigation

*R.P.D. S.T.A.R.S. Office 24 hours after Bravo team left to begin their investigation*

The office was nearly empty save for the members of Alpha team. It had been twenty-four hours since they last had contact with Bravo team. Their last message was informing Alpha team of engine trouble with the helicopter which was forced to make an emergency landing. The tension in the office was affecting everyone, as Chris and Barry who usually got along well had snapped at each other several times in the last twenty minutes. Jill noticed that Albert's jaw was clenched in irritation.

" God dammit, Marini! I better get a fucking update or I will deal with you myself once we go out there to look for you and your team!" Albert shouted while punching the wall next to the fax machine leaving a good sized dent in it.

A moment later, a fax was sent to the fax machine. Albert picked it up, it was another one from Umbrella, only it was from Dr. Marcus. Albert scanned the fax and it seemed like his refusal to inform Umbrella that he would comply with their plans to use S.T.A.R.S. to collect combat data and most definitely lead to the deaths of every officer had pissed Spencer off. One line of the fax hit a nerve.

' Wesker should you not comply. Expect that your son will pay for your transgressions.'

" Marcus, you've chosen the wrong person to threaten. Your days are numbered you son of a bitch." Albert thought.

" Captain?" Jill's voice called out to him snapping him out of his angry brooding.

" Yes Jill?"

" Are you alright, you've been very quiet since reading that fax."

" I'm fine, but I need to talk to you in private, Valentine." Jill nodded and followed Albert out into the training room.

" What's wrong Albert?"

" Jill, I have reason to suspect that Umbrella is behind the recent attacks. The fax was a threat from a scientist who wants me to do Umbrella's dirty work or Jake will pay for me not doing as they say."

" How do they know about Jake?"

" I'm going to guess that Irons found out that I'm his father and I have proof that he's been taking bribes from Umbrella. We will need to make sure that Jake is safe. I refuse to be used by those fuckers again."

" Again?"

" I'll explain later. Right now I am going to brief the team on our next mission. Umbrella has a lab in Arklay Mansion and I am sure that that is the source of where the dogs and monsters are coming from. "

" What are we going to do about Jake though?"

" I'll go with you to pick him up from school and we'll go back to my apartment and I'll make a few calls. He might need to stay with a family member until we get back from our mission though."

" Ok, I have a cousin that lives nearby who wouldn't mind watching him."

" Alright. Let's get back to the office." Albert said just as Chris burst through the door causing it to slam leaving a good sized hole in the wall of the training room.

" Redfield! What is the meaning of this. Now I need to report that there is a hole in the wall of the training room and Irons will have my ass!" Albert shouted.

" Sorry Captain, but you need to come back to the office, we have contact with Bravo team again." The second Chris explained himself, Albert and Jill sprinted back to the office. Barry was sitting by the communications system.

" Bravo Team to Alpha Team, come on someone answer me!" It was Enrico Marini, the leader of Bravo Team said panicking.

" We're here, Marini. What's going on?" Albert asked.

" We were investigating after Dooley landed to repair the helicopter engine. We all were chased by rotting dogs,homicidal crows, and what I can only explain to be zombies. Fuckin' zombies, Wesker! We're all hiding in Arklay Mansion until Vickers can fix the helicopter. Last I heard from him, he had checked the engine and found that someone had tampered with it."

" Ok, We're going to head out there tomorrow morning to give you guys some help until Vickers has the copter up and running and we can all get the fuck out. Stay safe out there." Albert said before turning his attention to his team. I want everyone to get their shit together to head into the mountains from here tomorrow morning. You all may leave once you have all your gear ready at your desks for tomorrow."

" Yes, sir." Jill started getting her tactical gear anBaretta ready at her desk the second Albert said so. It was getting close to Jake's dismissal from school and since Albert was also going to pick up their son, he too had to get everything together quickly. Barry was ready after them both and Chris was rummaging through his desk for his handgun which he managed to misplace. Albert, Jill, and Barry left the police department. Barry went home to his wife and daughters while Albert and Jill headed for Jill's apartment to pick up some clothes and things that Jake would need to stay at Jill's cousin's home and then headed to Jake's elementary school.

* Racoon City Elementary School No. 7*

Albert parked across from the school ten minutes before the kids would be let out for the day. They both walked out to the doors where other parents were waiting for their children. Ten minutes later, class by class teachers and kids walked out to meet the parents. When Jake's class was let out, his teacher spotted Jill right away. She walked up to jill to fill her in on how Jake's day went until she noticed Albert standing next to her.

" Oh who's this?" she asked Jill.

" Albert Wesker, I'm Jake's father."

" Well it's nice to finally meet you Mr. Wesker. Jake is a pleasure to have in my class. He's a bit of a loner, but he's remarkably intelligent for his age."

" I guess like father like son then. Albert isn't the most social person either, but is highly intelligent." Jill laughed.

" Jake, your parents are here!" the teacher called. Jake looked out the door and took off in a sprint when he saw his father.

" Dad!" Jake shouted as he ran to Albert who promptly picked up the excited seven-year-old.

" Jake, we're going to be staying at dad's tonight."

" Really?"

" Yes, you also will need to stay with my cousin, you know the nice lady who comes to visit every so often."

" Yeah, I remember her.I just want to know, why?"

" There are some terrible people who wanted me to do something evil for them and when I decided not to do it. They threatened to hurt you so your mother and I decided that we need o do everything in our power to keep you safe."

" Ok dad." Jake said as they walked towards the truck. Jill silently glared at any moms that oogled Albert. That was until Albert took her hand in his much larger one and pulled her towards him. They left the schoolyard to go back to the truck. Jake's excitement and joy caused the usually stoic Albert to let out a low chuckle while ruffling the boy's short chestnut brown hair. Once the family reached the truck, Jake got into the back seat behind his father. Albert adjusted the rearview mirror so he could keep an eye on his son.

" Jake, I want that seat belt in front of your chest." he ordered. Jake had a bad habit of moving the seat belt off his chest which was dangerous if God forbid they got into an accident.

" Yes, dad." Jake said as he reluctantly fixed the shoulder strap. Albert started to drive to his apartment making sure to take the side streets instead of the main roads just to make sure that if anyone had been watching Jake, they couldn't keep up.

" Dad, why are we taking this way?"

" Don't worry about it, Jake." Albert said. He was a little concerned that one day Jake may resent him for not telling him what was going on, but the last thing Albert wanted was his seven-year-old jumping at shadows because his life had been threatened. Though it took ten minutes longer than the direct route would've, Albert managed to get home. Albert had just shut off the engine and took the key out of the ignition when Jake unclipped his seatbelt and jumped out of the truck. Jake ran into the apartment building while his parents followed behind. Though Jake hadn't been to his father's apartment in a while, he easily found it having committed the apartment number to memory.

" Jacob Valentine-Wesker! You know better than to run away from us like that. I understand you're excited, but you need to calm down." Albert scolded his son. Jake jumped at hearing his full name being yelled out by his father. He'd never yelled at him like that before. Albert was just frustrated by his son's behavior and yelled only because of the threat made on his life. Albert would definitely need to make a call to someone in the Umbrella Security Service who owed him a favor. Albert unlocked the apartment door to let Jill and Jake in while he stayed outside to make the call.

" You two go inside. I'll be in in a minute." Albert said as he closed the door behind his son and lover. Albert pulled his phone out of his pocket and began to dial the number of the Umbrella soldier in question.

" Hello?"

" Johnson, it's me."

" You don't usually make casual calls Wesker. What is it?"

" You know the favor you owe me?"

" You'd never let me forget, asshole."

" Well, Marcus has it out for my son. I am no longer going to do shit for Umbrella and Marcus threatened him if I don't sacrifice my entire team. I need you to keep an eye on him from a distance to make sure nothing happens to him while his mother and I are investigating the Mansion. He'll be staying with his mother's cousin. I'll send you details later."

" Well, Hunk says we're on stand by for now and I don't expect anything to happen any time soon. So sure I'll keep an eye on your kid. I didn't never know you had one."

" Thnks Johnson. I'll keep in touch." Just as Albert hung up, he got a call from Birkin. Albert quickly accepted the call.

" What is it now Birkin?"

" I heard about the threat on Jake. I thought you'd want help in fixing the Marcus problem."

" I'm listening."

" Well Marcus has something planned that can affect all of Racoon City. I am sure our families will be caught in the crossfire of it. If we take out Marcus. I am sure we can end his plan and keep our families safe and Umbrella will be without the Arklay lab's top scientist."

" I see."

" Meet me in the labs once you can get away from the other S.T.A.R.S. members tomorrow."

" I'll see you there. Goodbye Birkin." Albert hung up and walked into his apartment. Jill was sitting with Jake at the kitchen table helping him with homework.

" Dad, can I have a snack?" Jake asked.

" Sure what do you want?"

" Can I have an apple."

" Of course." Albert said as he grabbed an apple from the fridge, washed it under the faucet, and cut it up. He put the slices on a paper plate and handed it to his son. Jake nibbled on the slices while he finished up his homework. Albert walked to his bedroom to change out of his uniform making sure to leave it out for him to quickly change into tomorrow morning. Once he was finished changing, Albert left hs room to rejoin his lover and son. He overheard Jill ordering pizza for dinner. Albert entered his living room to find both Jill and Jake on the couch flipping through channels eventually stopping on a true crime documentary. About halfway through the documentary, someone knocked on the door. Jill got up to get it, and made sure to look through the peephole. It was the pizza she'd ordered. She paid the young man who delivered it and brought the pizza inside.

" Come on. Time to eat." Jill said as she got out plates and set at the table. Albert turned off the tv.

" Jake, let's go." he said as Jake pulled himself up and followed his father to the kitchen table. Once everyone was seated Jill cleared her throat.

" Jake, when we finish eating. I need you to shower and get ready for bed. Dad and I have an investigation tomorrow early in the morning and I'm dropping you off at my cousin's apartment. I'm going to call the school to tell them you won't be in. Ok?"

" Yes mom." Jake said between bites. " I wanted to know what are you going to be investigating?" Jake asked once he swallowed.

" Well, There have been lots of strange things happening on Racoon Forest. Animal attacks and such." Albert explained.

" I heard some sixth graders talking about monsters eating people."

" Jake monsters don't exist. We also are going to look for Bravo Team. They're stranded at a mansion in the forest."

" How?"

" The helicopter engine broke down."

" So you're going to find them?"

" Of course and figure out what's going on out there." By the end of Albert's explanation, everyone had finished eating and Jill was cleaning up.

" Jake go take a shower I'll give you your pajamas in a minute." Jill said as she started washing dishes. Albert got up, walked behind her and wrapped his arms around her smaller frame.

" Dearheart, you didn't have to clean up."

" Well, we are guests in your apartment and I'm not taking no for an answer." she retorted turning and giving him a quick peck on the lips which Albert took as an invitation to deepen the kiss. The kiss lasted for about a minute when Jill remembered that Jake needed his pajamas and a towel and dashed into Albert's bedroom to get a towel from his closet and Jake's pajamas and a pair of underwear that she got from her apartment before she and Albert went to pick up Jake. Jill walked into the bathroom to set out her son's pajamas and put the towel within his reach and promptly left the bathroom. She changed in Albert's bedroom and relaxed on the bed until Albert entered the room to change into pajama pants and take his shirt off, Jill never tired of watching him get ready for bed. Albert settled onto the opposite side of the bed when Jake walked into the room drying off his hair with a towel and dressed in his pajamas. He climbed in between his parents and settled into bed. Albert got up and turned the lights off himself. That done, Albert was able to get some sleep with his family before facing the Hell that was unleashed just outside the city in a few short hours.

I'll stop there for now. Yeah my AU version of Wesker is a pretty good dad. Also you now see my explanation for why Chris doesn't have a gun during the Mansion Incident. I know that everyone is wondering why a police officer doesn't have his effing gun.