Giving his back a long, drawn out stretch, Chris reclined onto his couch. He turned on the TV with no interest in watching, his mind instead plagued by his boss. He hadn't meant to jeopardize his job, not at all. Perhaps he had enjoyed taking on the role of the cocky Alpha male too much. He'd let the jokes get in the way of his career, something he couldn't afford. After all, he was lucky being part of such a prestigious team. Fresh out of the Air Force and eager to serve, but the transition to a cop had been smooth.

He couldn't let some stupid argument with the Captain ruin it. If he could swallow his pride, come tomorrow, he would be excessively nice to the man. Maybe then the strange mind game he was trying to play would stop. It had been his Grandmother's favorite way to greet him throughout his childhood and early adolescence, a memory once tender, tarnished by the current situation.

All he could imagine was Wesker tapping a cane, motioning for him to come over so that he could pinch his cheeks.

Oh, dear heart, you've grown up so fast.

He cringed at the thought.


The sun beamed through the blinders, casting a pattern on Wesker's face. He was busy typing away when his least favorite subordinate showed his youthful mug in the doorway.

"Good morning, sir," said Chris, raising a tall styrofoam cup. "I brought coffee for you."

Wesker crossed his arms and eased back in his chair, staring the man down.

"Sir? Aren't you going to take it?"

"Set it down on the table, Redfield." He cocked an eyebrow. "And what makes you do this?"

Chris let out a small laugh. "Just figured you might appreciate it is all."

"There's something more, isn't there?" He pressed.

Sighing, he answered the Captain. "It's a bit of a peace offering, okay?"

Wesker nodded. "It's good to see you making an effort. Back to work, then."

"Great. Thanks, sir." With that, he left the room unscathed.

He was incredulous as he walked down the hall, overjoyed that he didn't have to endure Wesker's strange nickname any longer. On impulse he fist pumped the air as he turned the corner, but to his surprise he hadn't hit air at all. He had just knocked Jill out cold. He cursed and clasped his hands over his mouth, shocked at what he had done. He picked up her limp body and rushed her to the medical office.

"Oh god, Ed, thank goodness you're in." Chris gasped, setting Jill down on the table.

Ed jumped at his sudden entrance. "Chris! What the hell did you do?"

"I like how you assume I'm to blame!" He said.

"Fine, sorry, what happened then?"

He ran a hand through his hair. "Okay, so I might have accidentally knocked her out."

The medic glared at him. "Right. Well, while I tend to her, get the Captain would you? I have to notify him of everything, even a paper cut."

"What? Really?" He desperately did not want to have more of Wesker's attention.

"Yes, Chris. His exact words were 'I'll make sure you never find work in Raccoon again if you cross me.'"

Defeated, he returned to the Captain's office.

"What now, Redfield?" The man looked unamused.

Chris never thought he'd be so happy to hear Wesker say his name. "Uh, there's been an accident. Nothing big, just letting you know. Really, nothing to see."

The Captain was already brushing past him to get there. Chris followed anxiously. Before they got there, however, Jill came around the corner. Chris's mouth dropped as he saw her, sporting a black eye and clutching an ice pack.

"Valentine, what happened to you?" Wesker asked, causing Chris to feel ill.

"I'm not even sure to be honest. I guess I got hit pretty hard, I was unconscious." She said, eyes locked on Chris's.

Wesker noticed and looked back at Chris. "Do you know anything about this?"

"I... well, I was just walking and... and I had a spasm in my arm out of nowhere! Jill just happened to be there when it happened, really, you know I wouldn't do anything like that on purpose."

"How long ago did this happen?"

"No more than 10 minutes-"

"So you're telling me a spasm had her bruising within minutes? Must have been quite the spasm, hm?"

Chris frowned.

"It really was an accident, sir. I'm sure of it. Chris has no reason to hit me. I'm fine, anyway, Ed said so." Jill said.

Wesker looked as if he had remembered something and set off down the hall without saying a word. Chris was thankful for the distraction.

"Jill, I am so sorry! It doesn't hurt, does it?"

She was colder to him now that the Captain had left. "So, your arm just swung on its own, did it?"

"No, no, I had a spas-"

She shook her head. "I'm not buying it. Since when do you throw punches while walking down the hall?"

"Fine. It was kind of a... fist pump. Y'know, a celebratory kind of thing."

She laughed. "What the hell were you celebrating?"

He thought for a moment. Unsure of whether to tell her the truth or keep it his own problem. Perhaps he could work the situation to his advantage.

"Here, come with me for a coffee after work. I'll explain it all to you then. Sound good?"

"You can't just tell me here?"

"No. Also, I want to take you out." He smiled.

She laughed even more. "A date, Chris? Us?"

"Of course not Jill, it's simply the right thing to do after disfiguring you." He said smugly. "Unless you want it to be a date. I can do that, too."

She seemed to blush slightly. "Oh, no. Ha ha! No fraternizing in the workplace, jeez, you should know that. Well, my lunch break is cut short enough thanks to you, later."

She turned to leave.

"Pick you up at 8?" He called after her.

"Yep!" Without hesitation.

Feeling on top of the world, Chris strode back towards the board room. On his way, he could just barely hear Wesker yelling.

"I don't have time for failures, Edward. I ask one simple thing of you and that is to report everything to me! You're fir-"

Chris shuddered at the menacing voice and carried on his way, trying not letting it ruin his mood. Which proved to be unavoidable as a hand slapped down upon his shoulder.

"Thanks again for the coffee, dear heart." The Captain's voice snarled.