Disclaimer: IOOMOC

J.L: I seem to be in a melancholy mood right now, so I figured I would cheer myself up. After all, for every new chapter I write, people constantly comment on how much they like it and it does build a sense of pride in myself.

Several hours later:

The sun was bright, the heat was on, and I still had to wear some of Sheva's clothes. The local BSAA HQ representative started gathering the proper paperwork for me to fill out to remotely start getting my deceased status changed, while the American government, specifically the F.B.I., was alerted and asked to come question me. All the real work wasn't to begin in two days or so though, which gave me plenty of time to relax.

"Are you sure about this?" Chris asked as I strapped on my holster and slipped on a baseball cap. My old one…He kept it after my fall, it being the only thing they found, and the idiot actually held on to it and brought it with him here. I glanced over at him, and nodded.

"Well, like it or not, I'm broke. This is a great way of working on fixing that problem." I answered. Chris sighed out, his arms crossed and his eye baring down on me as I started loading my handgun.

"Going out and helping clean up Kijuju? Playing mercenary? You'll be putting yourself back in danger." Chris protested. I slipped the handgun into my holster and picked up my machine gun, reloading it.

"You really need to work on not contradicting yourself. Or at least making up your mind. You want me to come back to work for the BSAA, but you don't want me doing BSAA missions?" I replied.

"We just got you back, I don't want to lose you out there." He retorted.

"I'll be fine Chris. You and Sheva did well getting through Kijuju's crap, and I do believe I took both of you on." I reasoned, strapping the machine gun to my back.

"While under the influence of P30…who knows how well you can manage when not being Wesker's slave?" Chris argued. I huffed out air and glared at him.

"Chris, I need money. There is no other way I can earn money at this current moment and time. I am going out there, I am going to earn money and you're not going to stop me." I rebutted.

"Well I'm going with you then." He responded.

"That's fine, but stay out of my way if you know what will be good with you. I don't need you blocking my aim." I spat harshly and turned heel for the helicopter.

One Hour Later in Kijuju, Mines area:

I shot a Majini wielding a steel pipe in the leg and double knee doubled on him, flipping off him to shoot another Majini's head off. Something grabbed me from behind, but Chris was quick to punch the bastard off me, the body crumpling and bubbling away.

"Thanks." I muttered, taking the spare time to reload. A strange skittering noise scuttled slightly over the howls of the Majini. I barely registered the noise, but Chris's face showed slight worry.

"It's a Reaper." He said, and I grabbed hold of the ladder next to me. Not a thr-except I'm not in Wesker's best interests anymore, so it is a threat…Chris was climbing up behind me, the noise of the helicopter bleating close.

"ETA thirty seconds." Josh's voice came over the headsets. I reached the platform, spinning around quickly to see Chris pull himself up and onto the platform himself. He turned around just in time to have the reaper jump up onto the platform right in front of Chris. Chris brought up his shotgun, but not fast enough, the reaper had picked him up.

"No!" I demanded, firing a shot right through the leg that was about to pierce Chris, causing the cockroach to release Chris and fall off the platform. Chris ripped a grenade from his vest and chucked it down, grabbing me and pinning me to the platform as the blast took out the Reaper and the Majini below.

"I see you guys, hold on." Josh's voice spoke through the headsets. I drummed my fingers on Chris's chest, which was crushing me.

"Chris, could you?" I asked.

"Oh-yeah." Chris spouted quickly, pushing off the ground and I to survey the area quickly and make sure the Majini would not be attacking. I sat up just as the metal chain ladder was dropped for us. That Reaper will fetch a nice payout.

Later, WA BSAA Camp:

Night coated the sky, a few of the agents gathered around the bonfire, celebrating the Public Assembly area being declared clean. It wasn't enough to really celebrate, but it was a small victory. Sheva and Josh had hit the sack a little before, getting rest for their run through the Village. The rest of us not scheduled for early morning clean up were busy consuming alcohol and food. Chris, however, had not touched his beer.

"Alright, what gives?" I whispered in his ear as several of the other agents sung various songs in about three or four different languages.

"Huh?" He asked, his lips going to my ear to convey this.

"You haven't drunk your beer since you opened it." I commented.

"So? Maybe I want to drink it slowly." He responded. I wrapped my hand around the bottle.

"Warm?" I questioned. Chris rolled his eyes. I grabbed his hand, tired of fighting with him already, and pulled him from his seat on a log to the outskirts of camp before stopping.

"What-?" He asked gruffly.

"Cut the crap Redfield and talk." I commanded. His eyes were everywhere but on mine, a hand scratching the back of his neck.

"Talk about what Jill?" He asked.

"Anything, I'm listening." I suggested, keeping his hand locked in mine to keep him from walking off as his eyes were suggesting.

"Fine. You're right, you don't need me. You're completely competent on your own." He confessed, still not looking at me. I released my breath slowly, keeping myself calm. That's what this is about. He feels useless to me.

"I was pissed when I said I didn't need you in my way. You were treating me like you treat Claire." I replied. Chris's eyes found mine.

"Maybe because you're as important as her to me?" He reasoned angrily, Redfield temper showing.

"I'm not her though." I responded. I don't want to be a sister to you.

"Not like-ugh….The point is you don't need me around." Chris retorted. I bit my lip, glancing around, and then back at him, trying to keep my heart from slamming my foot firmly into my mouth.

"That's where you are wrong. I'm strong, I'm agile and efficient…but a machine can be those things too. Now come on, we're partners….regardless for what organization. You and I, we are a team. We got out of that hellhole of a mansion together, we kicked ass in Russia, paid a visit to old man Spencer and we're out here now. You know why we're a team Chris, do you?" I prodded, hoping to provoke him to be the first to make the move.

"I….I don't know, because no one else will team up with your crazy ass?" He answered, and I caught a hint of playfulness in his eye. That sly sonofabitch.

"And no one else will team up with your dumb ass." I retorted quickly. He smiled briefly.

"Sheva did." He said.

"They twisted her arm to do so….just wait until she finds out she was relying on Mr. Drops-my-gear-off-the-side-of-a-cliff. She'll definitely freak." I responded. Chris's rigid form relaxed.

"Whatever you say Ms. Tubetop." He teased.

"So we're friends? Everything good between us? You need me, I need you?" I asked, eager to wrap this up and get back to my now probably warm and piss tasting beer.

"Yeah…" He answered, nodding his head. I smiled up at the big idiot, before his eyes traveled down to where our hands were still together. He pulled his hand back, turning around and walking back to the fire briskly, but not before I caught a faint blush on his cheeks. Seems even after ten years and a change in hair color I can rile him.

J.L.: It seems that this story is getting a bit more attention than "Exhale before you do that" so, I'll probably focus on updating this more. My exams are this week though, so no promises on updates until after Sunday.