-1Disclaimer: I don't own Resident Evil or any of it's characters (duh).
Synopsis: Life after the T-Virus outbreak for the Resident Evil survivors. This story is focused mainly on the Outbreak characters, but the others will make appearances later on. I've used Outbreak 1, although I'll borrow from the second game as I need to.
Author's Note: I'm not quite sure where this one is going, so suggestions and reviews would be greatly appreciated. I am by no means an expert when it comes to Outbreak, so if I get something wrong, please let me know. But also allow for a little artistic freedom here, as well. I hope you enjoy the taleJ
Resident Evil: Aftermath
Chapter Three
Kevin crouched just outside the barracks door, a cigarette dangling from his fingers. He'd spent the better part of the morning chatting with the two boneheads guarding them, charming them into giving him this little bit of freedom. And the smoke, he thought with a grin. He could live without the booze, but he couldn't live without his smokes.
He brought it to his lips and took a deep drag. He held the smoke in his lungs for a few seconds before reluctantly releasing it. He watched the gray plume flow into the air before the breeze carried it away and sighed happily. He'd gone five days without a cigarette, and that was five days too long.
The door opened to his right, and he glanced up quickly, hoping it was Yoko. When he saw David coming his way, he sighed and dredged up a smile. "What's up, King?"
David ignored the less than enthusiastic greeting and hunkered down beside him. "We need to talk," he stated, his too-deep voice flat.
"Yeah, sure we do." Kevin took another drag and flicked the ashes off the end of the cigarette. "So, David, do you want to see other people, or what?"
David shot him a dark, exasperated look. "I want to talk to you about Yoko."
The former policeman only nodded. "After last night, I figured you would."
"For what it's worth, I'm sorry things didn't work out for you."
Kevin only snorted and continued to smoke, his deep blue eyes focused on something in the distance. "If you hurt her, I'll kill you," he said in an almost casual manner.
"I'd expect nothing less, Kevin." David leaned back against the building, his pale eyes locked on Kevin's profile, searching for smallest sign of reaction to his next words. "I'm going to Mexico when they finally let us out of here. I'm going to ask Yoko to go with me."
A slight tightening of the skin around his eyes was the only part of his response Kevin couldn't control. "Why Mexico?" he asked as calmly as he could.
David shrugged once. "I've got a friend down there. I thought we'd stay with him for a while, until I get back on my feet."
"Mmmm." Kevin finally glanced his way, wishing that he could hate this man, but knowing that he never would. "What about Cindy?"
The plumber shrugged again, a resigned look flashing through his eyes. "Cindy's not for me. Yoko is," he answered simply.
Kevin felt the first stirrings of anger. "Yoko deserves to come first, David."
"She will."
He gazed at the younger man's features, and the determination he found there had him shaking his head. "Only because Cindy chose George," he said in a low voice. "If Cindy were to come to you right now, and ask you to take her away from all this, you'd walk away from Yoko without a second glance."
David inhaled sharply, at both his words and the images they brought to mind. "No," he denied harshly, "I wouldn't do that to her, Kevin."
"Bullshit, David." Kevin took one last drag off his cigarette and tossed it to the ground. He stood and crushed it under the heel of his boot before turning to tower over the other man. "Did you ever stop to think that Yoko's not stupid? She knows how you feel about Cindy; hell, we all do. She loves you enough to overlook it for now, but that's not always going to be the case."
"What are you going to do when she finally stops accepting it, and starts asking you to love her?" he continued, the anger surfacing. "She might be young, but she's a smart cookie. How long do you think she'll stay with a man who's in love with another woman?"
David rose to his feet slowly, grateful for the two-inch height advantage, as he met the other man's heated gaze. "She doesn't love you, Kevin," he said, ignoring his words for the moment. "She chose me. I'm sorry, that hurts you but--"
"Shut the fuck up, David." Kevin tamped his anger down as fast as he could. He would never hit another survivor, but he desperately wanted to punch this one's lights out. "Yoko deserves to be happy. She deserves to be loved. If you can't give that to her, you should walk away now, before you do irreparable damage."
"I can't," David admitted with a touch of bewilderment. "I can't leave her behind, Kevin. I have to take her with me."
"Why?" he questioned urgently. "Why can't you just leave her be?"
David looked away, a million thoughts chasing themselves through his mind, not one of them holding the answer he needed. "I don't know," he answered roughly. "I just know that I can't walk away. I-I need her with me, Kevin."
Well, hell, Kevin thought with surprise, that was the last thing he'd expected to hear. The tough, dangerous plumber looked confused by his own words, and the conviction behind them. Kevin began to laugh, he couldn't help himself. The dumbass was already in love Yoko, and he didn't even know it. God, did life get any weirder than this?
David eyed him warily as he laughed like a maniac and took a cautious step back. "What's so damned funny about that?" he demanded with a scowl.
Kevin didn't answer, merely held his stomach as it began to ache. Well, at least he didn't have to worry about David breaking Yoko's heart anymore. Unless Yoko herself did something to ruin it, David was going to be with her for a very long time. He almost felt sorry for the man, Kevin thought as he wiped his eyes. Almost.
He leaned back against the building and grinned at the taciturn plumber. "So, are you going to invite me to the wedding?"
The scowl darkened immediately. "That's not funny, Ryman."
"Sure it is, man." Kevin reached out and landed a light, friendly punch on his shoulder. "Don't worry, King. I'm not going to find a shotgun and march you down the aisle or anything. I like you, but not that much."
David merely shook his head, mystified by the other man's behavior. And why the hell had he mentioned marriage? "So, you're okay with this, then?" he asked quietly.
Kevin sobered instantly, his blue eyes turning somber. "I love her enough to want to see her happy, David. If you're what does that for her, I can live with it."
"She'll be happy, Kevin. I promise you that."
Kevin nodded, his relief obvious. "We're good, then."
"Kevin! David!" George was rushing across the yard, his normally pleasant features pale and pinched, a large duffel bag in his hands. "We have to talk--now."
They traded a concerned glance before following the other man inside. George laid the bag on the his bunk and opened it, hesitating as he lifted his head. "Someone watch the door," he ordered, and Kevin immediately shifted to one side of it.
"We're in trouble," George announced as he began to pull various weapons out of the bag. "You guys have to get out of here. Now, if you can, tonight, at the latest."
"What's happening?" Jim asked, his voice wavering as he rose from his bunk. His dark eyes widened as they locked on the small pile of guns that was forming. "Where'd you get all those guns, George?"
"The armory," George answered tersely. He glanced up at Alyssa, who was watching him with curious cobalt eyes. "I saw him, Alyssa. Not more than an hour ago. He was speaking with Captain Rimmer. They looked quite friendly."
"Who?" David asked sharply, coming to stand beside him.
"That U.B.C.S. soldier." At the plumber's blank look, George hastily explained, "When we made our way to the parking lot outside of Raccoon University, we saw that Tyrant--"
"Thanatos," Alyssa promptly supplied.
George nodded. "We saw Thanatos tearing apart one of the Umbrella mercenary teams. There was one soldier who survived, and only because he was on the roof of the neighboring building. He shot Thanatos with something, some kind of sedative, I believe. That capsule is what held the T-Blood that you and the others used to create Daylight."
"Son of a bitch!" Kevin glanced at the door before stepping further into the room. "Are you telling us that one of Umbrella's mercs is here, making a deal with the U.S. Army?!"
"It appears that way." George, the mild-mannered doctor, pulled an armful of ammunition from the bag and dumped it on the bed beside the guns. "You should get out now, before they hand us over to Umbrella."
"Great," Alyssa muttered, crossing her arms over chest. "It's not bad enough that they've kept us prisoner in this box, now they're going to hand us over to Umbrella. This is such bullshit!"
"What about you, George?" Yoko, who had listened with growing horror, stepped forward. "You and Cindy are coming with us, right?"
"No." George shook his dark head negatively. "Cindy's condition prohibits travel. She and I will remain behind until she's well enough to--"
"No way, bro!" Jim shook his blond head, making a broad gesture with both hands. "We won't leave you behind. You're coming with us."
"No, I'm not," George stated flatly. He turned to David, who's brown eyes were dark with remembered horror. "I can't leave her here, David. You understand that, don't you?"
"Yes." David stepped forward and grabbed one of the guns, a silver Magnum automatic. He loaded it with calm, controlled movements, then reached for the only survival knife in the pile. He tucked it into his Army-issue belt and shoved the gun into a side-pocket. "I'll get them out of here, George, and then I'll come back for you."
George smiled faintly, even as he knew that by then, Umbrella would have moved then. "I know you will, David."
"Everyone grab a gun." David waved the others forward even as he personally chose a gun for Yoko. He loaded the small .9 millimeter pistol and extended his hand solemnly. "This one's yours."
Yoko looked at the gun and reached out, only to hesitate. If they did this, they would be fugitives. "David. . ."
"I know," he said roughly, meeting and holding her stunned gaze, "but we don't have a choice. Take it, babe. Please."
It was that last plea that did it. David King wasn't a man to ask for anything. That he was doing so now showed just how dire he believed their situation had become. She grasped the gun by the handle and turned it over, finding the safety and clicking it off. She wasn't an expert by any means, but Kevin had taught her enough about guns to carry it without accidentally shooting herself.
She glanced up to find David watching her, a hint of tenderness lighting his silvery eyes. She managed a small, trembling smile, and he returned it. He reached out and smoothed his hand over her cheek, and she grasped it tightly. He dipped his dark head, brushed his lips over hers, and pulled away. She let him go, knowing that now wasn't the time, no matter how scared she might be. Their fight for survival hadn't truly ended. It had only just begun.
She glanced at Kevin, who had reloaded his .45 and was shoving ammunition magazines into his pockets. He handsome features were grim, but he showed no sign of fear. Like David, he was fully prepared to do whatever he felt was necessary to keep them safe. Her warriors, she thought as her gaze moved between her best friend, and the man she loved. She was lucky to have them, and she was fully aware of it. She would do her best to help them in this, and not become a liability. She wouldn't be able to live with herself if anything happened to either of them.
David watched Yoko as she glanced back and forth between he and Kevin, and fought the urge to laugh. It would inappropriate, and it might hurt her feelings. Yoko was sensitive that way. She cared for Kevin a great deal, but she loved him. If she was worried that he would be jealous, she was doing it needlessly. He wasn't the least bit unsure of himself. For good or ill, he knew who was, and exactly what he was capable of. It was more than most people ever discovered about themselves.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the bunk, rejoining the other six Raccoon City survivors. "We're going to have problems if we try to do this during daylight," he stated in a rumble. "We should hide the guns, wait for nightfall, and make our escape then."
"And if Umbrella comes for us before then?" Kevin asked quietly.
"Yeah," Jim chimed in. "What makes you think they'll wait that long?"
"Rimmer will need time to cover his own ass in this," David told them bluntly. "He'll have to make this look like a legitimate transfer. That means destroying documents, getting the story straight with his men. That will take time."
Alyssa snorted and tossed her blond head. "And if he decides not to bother?"
"Then, we shoot our way out," he replied simply.
Jim adjusted the rim of his cap nervously. "Aw, man, we are so screwed!"
"We can make it." Yoko smiled at the subway worker encouragingly. "If we can survive Raccoon City, we can survive anything, Jim."
"I hope to hell you're right, girl." Jim drew a deep breath and finally chose a weapon. It was small machine gun which had obviously been modified. "So, what do you call this thing?"
"A Tactcial Machine Pistol," Kevin supplied with a grin. At the other man's blank look, he said, "It's a modified sub-machine gun. The TMP. I've never used one myself, but they're but they're supposed to be awesome."
"Ah, okay," Jim said slowly. He suddenly extended his hand, offering the weapon to the more experienced shooter. "I think I'll stick with something a little smaller, if you don't mind."
"I'll take it," Alyssa said immediately. She grabbed the TMP and tested it's weight before nodding. "Yep, this is the one. Now, where's the damn ammo?"
George smiled tightly and watched as Kevin chose several magazines and tossed them to her. He chose a small Beretta for himself, as did Jim, but he suspected that he wouldn't be able to keep it long. By the time David and the others managed to return, he and Cindy would be well on their way to an Umbrella facility.
So be it, he told himself fatalistically. He couldn't leave Cindy behind. If only they'd had a just a few more days, the antibiotics would've had a chance to do their work, and the infection might have subsided. As it was, he had no choice but to stay behind, and do his best to protect the woman he loved.
He knew that he could ask David to stay, and that for Cindy, he would. But after waking to find he and Yoko together this morning, he couldn't bring himself to do it. They both deserved the chance to escape this nightmare. He wouldn't rob them of it.
"George." He turned to find David standing behind him, his bold features somber. "Are you sure about this?"
George glanced at Yoko, who's pretty Asian features reflected concern, and smiled faintly. "I'm sure, David. You get them out of here, and I'll protect Cindy."
David nodded and extended his hand, knowing that there would be no time for goodbyes later. "It was an honor to fight with you, George."
George only chuckled, the sound forced, and shook his hand. "You're much too serious, David. Try to enjoy life a bit, won't you?"
"I'll do my best."
He merely sighed at the too-solemn response and turned to Alyssa, whom he had surprised himself by coming to like. "Well, Alyssa, you're going to get the chance to write that story after all."
"Oh, don't worry, George." Alyssa smiled maliciously. "I'll bury these assholes."
"I'm sure you will." He shook Jim's hand, surprised to find that he had become fond of him, as well. "You take care of yourself, Jim. Listen to David and Kevin. They'll keep you alive."
"They'd better, or they're the first ones I'll haunt!" Jim declared with a grin.
"For that alone, I'll keep your ass alive, Chapman." Kevin returned the grin and ignored George's hand, pulling him close for a bone-crushing hug. "We'll be back with the cavalry as soon as we can. You rest up, so you'll be ready when we do."
George smiled even as he struggled free. "I'll be ready, Kevin."
Yoko approached him and gave him a hug of her own, which he returned freely. "Please, be careful, George," she told him sweetly. "I don't want anything to happen to you."
"I will, Yoko." He eased back, his smile gentling. "You concentrate on taking care of David and Kevin. I'll handle things here."
She only nodded and stepped back, her ebony eyes glimmering with emotion. She glanced up at David, who took her hand in his own and pulled her to his side. "We should probably hide the rest of the guns, if everyone's done choosing what they want," she said on a sigh.
"Put them back in the bag," David ordered. "We'll take it with us when we go."
George raised one eyebrow at the imperious tone he was sure the other man wasn't aware of using. Never-the-less, he repacked the duffel bag and handed it to David, who shoved it under his bunk. It wouldn't be visible from the doorway, and that's all that they would need to hide it. Apparently, the soldiers stayed in the doorway when they actually entered the barracks. For some reason, they seemed quite wary of the Raccoon City survivors.
He couldn't imagine why, George thought facetiously as he watched them all look over their new weapons. With the exception of Kevin, they were all civilians. By all rights, they should have fallen in the holocaust. Instead, they had fought there way out of an unimaginable hell, while those trained in violence had fallen around them. Yes, he could understand why others might fear them.
What they would never understand was the bond that had formed between them. They were willing to die for one another, to kill anyone who threatened their friends. They had become a family, albeit an unusual one, and it was sad that they had to risk their lives to keep that family together.
"I'm going to spend some time with Cindy," he announced, moving towards the door. "If anything else occurs, I'll return with word of it."
"Wait." David approached him with a frown. "What about the .9 in your pocket?"
George only shook his head negatively. "They don't search me, David. It seems that someone told them I'm not a threat," he added pointedly.
David smiled faintly. "You weren't--then."
He only inclined his head and left the building, leaving David staring after him. "Goddamn Umbrella," he muttered under his breath. They couldn't just leave them alone, seven survivors of the nightmare they themselves had unleashed. No, they had to silence them to cover their own asses. It was bullshit, and he wasn't going to let it happen. They would stop Umbrella Inc., one way or another. But first, he would get the others to safety.
He went to his bunk and sat on the edge, running a hand over his face. He was still damned tired. Ten hours of sleep wasn't enough to make up for fours days without it. Unfortunately, there was nothing to be done about that. Just like he couldn't avoid leaving George and Cindy behind, he couldn't do anything to help his friends except arm them and pray that they made it out safely.
He felt the thin mattress dip and smiled to himself. Yoko. He tilted his head to one side and opened his mouth to speak. She put her arms around his shoulders, pulling him to her, and he changed his mind. He closed his eyes and laid his head on her shoulder, one hand coming up to grip her arm. She didn't speak either. She simply held him, comforting him with her calming presence, and he thanked whatever deity might be listening that she was here with him now. It could have turned out so differently.
"God, I hate this," he said suddenly. "We survived. We shouldn't have to fight anymore, not now, not like this."
Yoko laid her cheek on the crown of his head, hugging him to her. "No, we shouldn't," she agreed softly, "but we don't have any choice. I won't lose any of you, David. I'll fight to the very end if I have to."
"So will I, Yoko." David raised his head, bringing his hands up to cup her face. "Be careful tonight, babe. I don't want anything to happen to you."
"Oh, David." Yoko threw her arms around him, shuddering as his own wound around her tightly. "Promise me that you won't go off on your own this time?"
She knew him well, he thought with a wince. Maybe, too well. He drew back just enough to meet her fearful black gaze. "Yoko, I do what I think is best. I always have."
Her broken sigh tore at his heart as she closed her eyes and laid her forehead against his. "Then, where you go, I go."
David stiffened as the more dominant part of his psyche screamed loudly in protest. He didn't want anything to happen her, damn it! "Yoko, no," he said, his voice rough despite his best efforts to steady it. "We were lucky in Raccoon. We might not be, again. I want you to stay with Kevin, and let him protect you when I'm not there."
"I refuse to let you die alone," she returned fiercely.
"I'm not going to die," he assured her soothingly. "I'll take every precaution, Yoko. I have no intention of leaving you so soon."
She jerked away from, her disappointment clear in her set expression. "You've already risked your life twice, David. First to save us, then to save Cindy. Do you really think you can keep taking these kind of chances with no consequences?"
He rose to his feet, towering over her with irritated blue eyes. "I can take care of myself," he growled forbiddingly.
"Yes, you can," she said in a suddenly small voice. "You're good at that, aren't you?"
David frowned at that rapid shift in mood. It wasn't so unlike the woman he'd come to know. "Yes, I am good at that," he acknowledged in a too-quiet tone. "Keeping myself alive is the reason I was able to help all of you in Raccoon City."
Yoko smiled, the gesture shocking him with it's bitterness. "What is it," she asked in a soft, sorrowful tone, "that makes you believe you don't need anyone, David?"
Pale blue eyes narrowed intently on hers. "Because I never have, Yoko."
Pain lanced her heart at the flat, cold declaration. "I see," she murmured as she dropped her gaze.
"What?" he snapped as his patience began to wane. "What do you think you see, Yoko?"
"Everything," she whispered thickly. "I-I need some air. Excuse me."
David watched her practically run for the door with angry bewilderment. "What the fuck was that all about?" he muttered to no one in particular.
"Good going, moron."
He whirled around and nailed Kevin with a hot glare. "What the hell did I do?" he asked defensively. "It's not my fault she ran off half-cocked."
Kevin snorted and continued to play with his .45. "You just told her that you didn't need her, dipshit."
"Fuck." David made a frustrated sound and kicked the bunk as hard as he could. "Why did she have to choose now, of all times, to act like a typical woman?"
"Maybe, because she is one," Alyssa laughed. "God, you're such an idiot, King. Don't you know anything about women?"
"Apparently not."
David threw himself down on the bed and crossed his arms over his chest. He was not going after her. He wasn't going to apologize for being himself, damn it! He wasn't going to change himself for anyone, not even Yoko Suzuki. She either loved him as he was, or she didn't. It was that fucking simple.
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Yoko ran outside of the barracks, ignoring the call of the M.P.'s as she ducked behind another building. She leaned back against the wall, blinking furiously as she fought not to cry. She wrapped her arms around her waist, as though that would keep the pain away. It had hurt to discover that David, for all of his attention and gentleness, didn't need her as she needed him. She'd known that he didn't love her--how could he when he loved Cindy--but she'd honestly believed that he had come to care for her.
She laughed at herself raggedly. She should have known that it was too good to be true. She had never been the type of woman that men fell madly in love with. She was a friend, a buddy who listened to their problems, and offered comfort when someone else broke their heart. Until she'd met David, Kevin had been the only exception to that rule.
Why couldn't I have loved him? she cried silently. Kevin was funny and handsome and very sweet. He also loved her completely. He always put her needs before his own. Why couldn't she have fallen for him, instead of a man who was so self-reliant that he had no need of her love?
"Damn you, David," she whispered despondently. "Why won't you let me in?"
Yoko swiped at her eyes and sniffed, knowing that David wouldn't come after her. Unlike Kevin, he wouldn't feel guilty for upsetting her. He was probably pissed at her for acting so foolishly. And he'd be right to do so, she thought with a sigh. She'd known what he was like when he came to her. She could have swallowed her love and turned him away. It would have hurt like hell, but she would have survived. Why had she let him so close to her that she couldn't defend herself when he lashed out?
David had so much anger locked inside of him. She had seen it early on, during their harried escape from Raccoon. She had stupidly believed that she could help him heal. She had been wrong.
He knew himself well. He didn't need anyone, let alone someone as weak as her. What he needed was someone like Alyssa, who could give as good as she got, without getting her feelings hurt. She was much too timid for a man as strong as David King.
"Miss Suzuki, come with us, please."
Yoko head came up at the thickly-accented words. The men in combat gear stood no more than four feet away, their faces disturbingly expressionless. But it was the silver-haired man with the indifferent eyes that scared her the most. Those cold, ice-blue eyes locked on hers, and she shivered in instinctive response. "Who are you?" she asked, managing to keep the quaver from her voice.
"I am Sergeant Nicholai Ginovaef," came emotionless answer. "You must come with me--Now."
Her gaze darted from him two the two soldiers with him, who's weapons were pointed straight at her, with wide black eyes. "What. . .what are you going to do with me?" she asked with dread.
"I merely need to question you about the events you witnessed in Raccoon City," he answered in same flat monotone. "You will not be harmed. I promise you."
Yoko could tell by the glint in those empty eyes that he lied, but there was nothing she could do. As she allowed herself to be led towards the main building, she wished that she had been strong enough to take David's hurtful words and had stayed with the others. She prayed that David and the others did the smart thing, and stayed where they were. If they tried to rescue her, she would lose them all.
She shuddered at the thought. They had already lost Will and Bob and Mark. They couldn't allow themselves to be separated like this. Please, she begged silently, don't come for me. Get out while you still can!
Sergeant Ginovaef led her to a small, shadowy room. He gestured to a metal folding chair as he seated himself on the opposite side of a wide table. "Please sit, Miss Suzuki. I will try to make this as quick as possible."
Yoko seated herself gingerly, wincing as the cold metal seeped through her clothes. She grasped the edge of the table and forced herself to smile at the silver-haired mercenary she knew worked for Umbrella. "I don't know what more I can tell you, Sir. I've already told Captain Rimmer everything I know."
Nicholai nodded, folding his arms on the table, as he studied the girl. She had worked for the company, yet she seemed completely oblivious to what their employers had done. He knew that was a false impression. He had read Captain Rimmer's report, after all. Still, it was hard to believe that this girl--this child, really--was a threat to an organization as powerful as Umbrella Incorporated.
Of course, after his experiences will Jill Valentine in Raccoon City, he had learned to never underestimate a woman. They were such lovely, cunning creatures. "Tell me of the others," he said abruptly.
She blinked with surprise at the terse demand. "You mean, the other survivors?" she asked hesitantly.
"Yes."
"What would you like to know?" she queried timidly.
"How did you manage to survive?" Nicholai clarified as patiently as he could. "There were only eight of you, yes?"
Yoko nodded slowly, letting the smile die. "Yes," she said sadly. "Mark Wilkinson was a security guard. He died shortly after we reached the. . .extraction point?"
Nicholai tempered his response, smiling as kindly as his weathered face would allow. "Yes, that is what it is called. Did he change after his death?"
"No." She allowed a very real relief to surface. "David made sure that he wouldn't rise."
"That would be David King?" She nodded, her dark eyes full of innocence, and he pulled a manila folder out of his survival vest. He slid it across the table, wondering just what her reaction would be to the plumber's violent past. "You should reach that, child. You need to know what kind of man you and the others have befriended."
Yoko fought to keep her anger hidden as she reached for the file. Divide and conquer. Even she knew this one, she thought angrily. She hated the thought of violating David's privacy this way, but she didn't see any way to avoid it. If she had any chance of rejoining the others, it would be by placating this cold-blooded mercenary.
She opened the folder and bean to read, her interest peaked despite her best intentions. He had been born in Raccoon, she discovered with surprise. His parents were dead, and he no living relatives, something she had already suspected. There was a reference to a man named Billy Coen, a convicted murder who was apparently still at large. There was note attached to the page, ordering Ginovaef to garner any information he could regarding the fugitive.
Her stomach tightened as she realized that this must be the friend that David was going to join in Mexico. It wasn't David that they were interested in at all. They wanted his friend Billy!
She raised guileless brown eyes to his own, hoping that she could pull this off, and learn something that might help her friends. "Who is this Billy Coen?" she asked. "Why is he mentioned in David's file?"
Nicholai smiled encouragingly. "They are friends, yes?"
Yoko shrugged delicately. "David's never talked about his past," she stated truthfully. "None of us know anything about him."
"Really?" Nicholai leaned back in his chair, his expression becoming thoughtful. "I was told that he was. . .protective of you."
She blushed despite her efforts to control it. "David's been very kind to me, Sergeant. To us all," she added quickly. "We might not have survived without him."
"Ah." The girl was infatuated with King, not the other way around. A simple case of hero-worship. It was a pity that she couldn't be used to control him, but Nicholai would find another way. He had to find Billy Coen, and put him down for good. Convicted murder or not, he was a true threat to Umbrella Incorporated.
"I would ask that you finish reading, child. I will take you back to your quarters when you are through."
Yoko only nodded and lowered her gaze, hating the false kindness that this man was portraying. Still, she had to admit that she was curious as she turned the page and began to read. There were surveillance pictures of David, all black and white, showing a man who was very different than the one she'd come to know. He still had the same ponytail and the silver necklace, but that's where the resemblance ended.
In most of the pictures he wore what looked like dark leather pants and a matching jacket. The clothes were very expensive, from the tailored silk shirt to the Gucci loafers on his feet. He showed a sophistication she wouldn't have expected from a humble plumber. But then, he hadn't always been one, had he?
The accompanying pages gave a seven-year history of his employment by the Fratelli crime family in Philadelphia. He had been a known enforcer, one close to the Don Fratelli, the head of the criminal organization. He had collected debts at the end of a knife, and broken bones when payments weren't received.
David had been a thug, Yoko thought with a pang. While she was disappointed, she was exactly surprised by the knowledge. Jim wasn't the only one who'd watched with awe as David cut his way through a legion of zombies with only a large pocket knife. That dubious talent had told her more about him than he could ever have imagined.
Not that it mattered to her, she thought with a sigh. The knowledge that he had once been a criminal didn't change the fact that he was a different man, now. Yes, he had retained the skills that had once served him so well, but that was all he'd kept from that life. David king was a good man, despite his troubled past, and she loved him. Nothing would ever change that.
Certainly, not the callous soldier who sat before her with an expectant expression. Yoko closed the folder and pushed it away, letting only the disappointment show. "I--we didn't know any of this," she said in a timorous voice. "David never even hinted that he'd been a-a criminal."
Nicholai smiled with satisfaction. While his mission to collect the Raccoon City survivors wasn't complete, he had managed to plant the first seeds of doubt in this one's mind. Soon, they would all turn on King, and he would have nowhere left to turn but Umbrella. Then, he would personally handle the interrogation, and he would discover Coen's whereabouts. It was only a matter of time.
"I am sorry that I had to be the one to enlighten you," he said flatly. "Now, if you have seen enough, my men will escort you back to the barracks."
"Yes, please," Yoko murmured as she rose to her feet.
Nicholai opened the door, waving two of his own men forward. "Return her to the barracks." He looked down at the young Asian girl and smiled coolly. "Until next time, child."
Yoko only nodded and ducked her head, hiding her revulsion as she was led away. Thank God! she thought with a rush of relief. That had to be the most frightening man she had ever met! She would warn the others, and tonight they would escape together. She would rather risk her life with them than stay here and be questioned by Nicholai Ginovaef a second time.
She wanted nothing more than to return to the others--and to David. Never again would she let her own insecurities drive her away from any of them. It didn't matter that David didn't love her. He was willing to give her the chance to be with him, and that was enough for her. It had to be, because the alternative was far too bleak.
------------------------------------
The air in the barrack's was thick with tension as David continued to brood about Yoko's inexplicable behavior. He could have been more understanding, he finally admitted to himself with reluctance. Yoko was young. Her experience with men had probably been very limited. She was used to Kevin, who was open and honest about everything, and thought nothing of keeping her at his side at all times. A man like him, a loner who kept to himself and relied on no one, had to be a new experience for her.
But still, she knew him. She was the first woman he'd ever known who had looked past the façade he presented to the world and seen him as he truly was. The first time he'd realized it had been in the Apple Inn. He'd been exploring the first floor when he'd been attacked by one of the faster zombies. He'd killed the damned thing, but not before it had incapacitated him. He'd been injured so badly that he hadn't even been able to regain his feet. He had been trapped in that small length of hallway, rubble at his back and the fire creeping towards his front. As he watched his blood form a ever-growing pool beneath him, he'd finally swallowed his pride and called out for help.
And Yoko had come running. David smiled at the memory. She had been mixing and stockpiling those herbal plants they'd seen everywhere, in case one of them got hurt. She had knelt beside him and healed his wounds, her voice quiet as she implored him to be more careful. Then, she had helped him to his feet and stuck with him until they'd finally gotten out of that fiery hell.
Unlike the others, she hadn't been angry with him for going his own way. She had accepted his independence, and had simply done her best to help him. Which was why her behavior baffled him now. She wasn't a woman prone to histrionics. She was a loyal, trustworthy woman, and he just wished he knew why his words had upset her so badly that she'd run from him.
"Why did she take it that way?" he asked aloud, surprising himself with the question. "She shouldn't have overreacted like that. She knows that I respect her."
The other three survivors traded exasperated looks. Jim swallowed hard and spoke up first. "She knows that Kevin respects her," he answered pointedly. "You're really not one for talking, bro."
"Damn it," he muttered, knowing that the other man was right. Yoko had no idea how he felt about her, because he hadn't bothered to tell her. He had wanted to it be just the two of them when he finally asked her to go to Mexico with him. He had been waiting for the right time, which obviously wasn't going to come. Damn it all, he'd just wanted a little privacy with his woman when asked her to share his life with him!
He sighed heavily and rose to his feet. It looked like he was going to go after her, after all. "I'll go talk to her," he said with a reluctance he couldn't hide.
Kevin only snorted again, while Alyssa shrugged elegantly. "Try being nice to her, King. We women love that sort of thing."
He grunted. "You're not a woman, Ashcroft. You're a barracuda."
"I've been called worse." She waved him away and threw herself down on Kevin's bunk, smiling widely at his alarmed look. "So, are you up for another round, Ryman?"
Kevin's gaze followed David as he strode towards the door, then cut back to hers. "What did you have in mind?" he asked, resigned. "More poker?"
Alyssa leaned forward, trying not to laugh aloud as he jerked back so quickly that he hit the wall. "Relax, Kevin. I'm not going to eat you," she said lightly. She waited a heartbeat before adding, "Unless you want me to, that is."
His deep blue eyes widened dramatically, then crinkled at the corners as his lips curved into a slow smile. "Are you hitting on me, Ashcroft?"
"You're damned right, I am." Alyssa tilted her head one side, her thick blond hair swaying with the movement. "So, what do you say, Kevin? Do you think you can handle me?"
Kevin uttered a low, pleased laugh, his interest peaked as he looked her over. "Oh, I can definitely handle you, honey."
He reached out and took a strand of her hair in his hand, rubbing it between his forefinger and thumb. He met and held her eyes with his own, a speculative glint in their cerulean depths. "The question is, can you handle me?"
She raised one honeyed brow in challenge. "What do you think, Ryman?"
Kevin laughed again and crooked a finger at her. "Come here, sweetheart."
She shifted closer, and his deep blue gaze dropped to her lips. His voice was a low, seductive murmur as he slid a hand around the back of her neck. "Let's see just how much of that bluster is real, Ashcroft."
She made a low sound in the back of her throat. "You'll find out soon enough, Kevin."
She thrust her hands into his overlong hair and covered his mouth with hers. Kevin's laugh was muffled as he grasped her waist and hauled her to him. Oh yeah, he thought hazily, this was exactly what he needed! A gorgeous, willing woman who wanted nothing more than an uncomplicated tumble. This was what life was all about!
"Kevin!"
He ignored the deep, urgent voice that beckoned, too caught up in the heat Alyssa was generating in him to care about anything else. "Goddammitt, Ryman, get your hands off Alyssa's ass and help me!"
Kevin tore his mouth from hers, looking up at David King with an irritated expression. "You'd better be dying, asshole, or so help me--"
"Yoko's gone," David informed him coldly. "I can't find her anywhere."
He froze and shot a look at Alyssa, who's own frustration quickly turned to concern. "What do you mean, you can't find her?" he demanded as he leapt to his feet.
"We're trapped on an Army base in the middle of fucking nowhere," Alyssa pointed out with a frown. "It's not like she could have gone far, David."
"I'm telling you, she's gone," David snapped, masking his fear with anger. "I've looked everywhere and I can't find her!"
"Uh-oh." Jim stood slowly, pretty sure he knew where this was headed. "She's okay, David. She's probably just visiting Cindy or something."
The plumber spun around, his light eyes narrowed dangerously. "That's bullshit, Jim. Yoko wouldn't take off without telling anyone. She's gone because that Umbrella bastard took her. It's up to us to get her back!"
"Whoa, David! Chill." The other man turned to him with a menacing expression, and Kevin held up both hands in a classic sign of surrender. "Jim's right. We don't know that anybody has her. She might very well be visiting Cindy,or even just taking a walk."
David shook his dark head, his expression turning bleak. "You know better, Kevin."
"No, I don't." Kevin approached him warily, not liking the desperate look in his normally expressionless eyes. "The Army's been questioning us on and off for four days now. She's probably just being interviewed, again. Umbrella would never take her like this, knowing that her disappearance would make the rest of us suspicious."
"And if they have?" David questioned roughly. "Are you willing to sit here on your ass and take that chance?"
Kevin fell silent for a long moment, trying to imagine his life without Yoko Suzuki in it. "No," he said finally, even though he was certain that they were about to commit suicide. "No, I'm not. You're right. Let's go get her."
"Kevin." Alyssa set a hand on his arm, her sapphire eyes searching his. "Not now. Not like this. Wait for nightfall, like we planned."
He gazed at her with genuine regret as he grasped her hand and removed it. "I can't, Alyssa. I'm sorry."
She made a rude sound and turned away. "Sorry. . .right."
"Hey, wait!" Jim spread his arms out as he walked towards them. "You can't do this now. We're almost out of here, guys. Just chill the fuck out and think about this. If you go in there, guns blazing, you're gonna get yourselves killed. Who's gonna rescue her then, huh?"
The door opened and Yoko came running inside. "David!"
"Looks like she made it back on her own. I guess, she didn't need you to rescue her after all," Alyssa commented snidely.
Kevin shot her a sour look and closed the door firmly. "Knock it off, Alyssa."
"Go fuck yourself, Kevin."
David caught Yoko as she hurled herself into his arms. He lifted her off her feet, turning his face into her hair as his heart pounded furiously against hers. "Damn you," he all but snarled. "I thought Umbrella had taken you. Where the fuck were you, Yoko?"
"I was being questioned by Sergeant Ginovaef," she answered in a breathless voice. "David, were you really so worried about me?"
"Of course, I was worried about you." David set her back on her feet, his brows coming together in a fierce frown. "Don't you ever take off like that again, Yoko. I don't care how pissed you are at me. You stay where I can see you. You got that?"
"Okay." Yoko managed a smile and swiftly changed the subject. "We have more important things to worry about right now, David. Sergeant Ginovaef said--"
"No, we don't." He grabbed her hand and all but dragged her into the showers. He pulled her into the last stall, where they had talked the night before, and backed her into the wall. He placed his arms on either side of her head, his intense gaze boring into hers. "I have something to say, and you're going to listen."
Yoko gazed up at him with wide ebony eyes. "David--"
"Shut up, Yoko." She closed her mouth, a hurt look flashing across her face, and he groaned deeply. "Don't look at me like that, babe. Please, just listen to what I have to say."
She nodded, her expression showing confusion, and he released a harsh breath. "You were right, Yoko. I thought I didn't need anyone, that I could handle anything on my own, but I was wrong. I need you."
Yoko's breath caught at the words she'd never thought to hear. "But I'm not strong enough for you," she protested in a quiet voice. "You need someone like Alyssa, someone who can--"
"Never." David mimicked her earlier gesture and rested his forehead against hers. "I've always been alone, Yoko. I've never cared about another person enough to put their welfare before my own. It's different with you. I want to protect you. I want you at my side, where I can see you, touch you, where I can keep you safe."
Sadness pierced her heart, reflected in her glistening ebony eyes. "I'm not helpless, David."
"I know that." He cursed as he realized that she didn't believe him. He raised his head just enough to look down at her. "Damn it, Yoko. Help me out here. I've never done this before."
Yoko gazed up at him probingly. "And just what are you doing, David?"
He scowled darkly. "I'm trying to ask you to go to Mexico with me."
"Mexico?" she echoed with disbelief.
"Yes!" he hissed, angry at himself for doing this so badly. "I don't care that Ryman's in love with you, or that you might be scared of leaving him. He can come with us, if that's what you want. But I want youwith me when I go."
"Really?" Yoko reached up and touched his face wonderingly. "You really want me to go with you?"
"Isn't that what I just said?" David's heart beat a fierce tattoo in his chest as he waited for her answer. "Well, do you love me enough to follow me to another country?"
She smiled shyly. "I'll follow you anywhere, David."
David swept her up against him, crushing her slim body to his own. "And you do love me, don't you, babe?"
"You know I do," she whispered, clinging to him with all of her strength. "I'll be an asset to you, David. I won't ever slow you down, I promise."
"Jesus." He shuddered against her, hating hearing his own words thrown back at him. "I was an asshole back in Raccoon. I didn't mean any of that shit. You never slowed me down, babe. You only gave me the strength to keep going."
Yoko smiled happily into his neck. "Thank you, for that."
"Don't thank me," David told her intensely. "Just stay with me."
"For as long as you want me, David."
Relief flowed through him, dizzying in its intensity. "You won't regret this," he told her quietly. "I'll make you happy, Yoko. That, I promise you."
Her fine Asian features softened dramatically as she gently brushed his bangs away from his face. "Just being with you makes me happy, David. I don't need any more than that."
David smiled faintly, his gaze never leaving hers, as he turned into her touch. "I just want you to be sure, Yoko. I don't ever want you to regret this decision."
Yoko smiled as he nuzzled her hand, loving the gleam that appeared in his bottomless blue eyes. "I won't," she told him sincerely. "This is where I want to be."
"Good."
It was said with such satisfaction that she couldn't help but laugh. "You really wanted me to go, didn't you?"
"God, yes!" David slid both arms around her waist and pulled her body flush against his own. "I had no intention of leaving this base without you, Yoko. I would have talked Kevin into coming with me if you'd refused. I knew you wouldn't leave without him."
"But I'm going to," she pointed out softly. "To be with you, I'm going to leave him behind and break his heart."
He nodded, sobering immediately. "I'm sorry he'll be hurt, Yoko. I'd change that if I could."
"So would I, David." She laid her head over his heart, closing her eyes as it beat steadily beneath her cheek. "Kevin's a good man, but he's not for me. I hope he realizes that someday."
David thought of the clinch he'd interrupted between Kevin and Alyssa and thought that maybe he already had. "He'll be okay, Yoko."
"I hope so," she said with a sigh.
He ran a hand through her sleek black hair, hating that she had to lose Kevin just to be with him. "I could ask him to come with us," he offered at length.
Yoko raised her head, smiling faintly. "No, that wouldn't be fair to him," she said. "But thank you, for offering."
He returned the smile as a very real relief flowed through him. He had every intention of tracking Kevin and the other survivors down once they'd had a chance to settle in south of the border, but he wanted a little time alone with Yoko first. He wanted the bond between them to be complete before Kevin strolled back into their lives.
It wasn't that he didn't trust Yoko. He did. But a part of him worried that the intensity of what they had gone through in Raccoon City might be fueling her feelings for him. What if they got to Mexico, and she found that what she felt for him wasn't truly love? Living with him was going to be hard enough as it was. As Jim had pointed out earlier, he wasn't the most communicative person in the world. He was bound to make mistakes, and he didn't want those mistakes to kill her feelings for him. He wanted this to be real, damn it!
"David?" He blinked, focusing on the beautiful young girl who gazed at him with concerned sable eyes. "Is something wrong?"
David shook his head negatively, thrusting his worries aside. "Other than the fact that we have to shoot our way out of a military installation tonight?" he said lightly.
Yoko's eyes widened as she realized that she had forgotten all about Sergeant Ginovaef and his questions. "I have to something to tell you," she said, moving out of his arms and grasping his hand. "Come on, David. You all need to hear this."
David allowed her to pull him in to the other room, his long legs easily keeping pace with her shorter stride. She went straight to Kevin's bunk, calling Jim and Alyssa over as she sat down. David crouched before her, shrugging at the policeman's questioning look. He didn't know what Yoko thought she had discovered, but knowing her, it would be important. She took their safety as seriously as he did.
Alyssa approached with a small smile. "What's up, kiddo?"
Yoko shifted to make room for her, and the older woman merely shook her head. She took a seat on the cold floor, her dark blue eyes shooting daggers at Kevin, who glared right back at her. Yoko wondered what happened in the short time she'd been gone, but didn't let herself dwell on it. Alyssa was outspoken, and as easy-going as Kevin undoubtedly was, he had his own moments.
Jim sat beside her, keeping as much distance between them as possible, as Kevin and David both frowned at him. "Hey, I am not sitting on the floor, my brothers."
"You're fine, Jim." Yoko patted his hand before folding her own hands in her lap. "That man that George saw earlier is Sergeant Nicholai Ginovaef. He cornered me outside and took me to the main building for questioning."
"Son of a bitch," Kevin cursed softly. "Are you all right, sweetheart?"
"I'm fine, Kevin, but you need to know what he said to me." She turned to David and met his gaze steadily. "He asked me about you, David. He wanted to know what you'd told us about yourself."
He went completely still, his silver-blue eyes locked on hers. "What did he tell you?" he asked flatly.
"It's not really you he wants," she answered in a soft voice. "He's looking for your friend Billy. He thought you might have mentioned him to us."
David only nodded, a resigned look coming over his face. "He showed you my file, didn't he?"
Yoko nodded, her pretty features solemn. "He tried to get me to turn on you, David. I think he's going to do the same thing with all of us if we don't get out of here. He has orders to find your friend using any means necessary."
"Why would we turn on him?" Jim questioned. "Just what did he do?"
"Shit." David leaned back on his heels, his expression become guarded. "Yoko, what did you tell him?"
"Nothing," she said with a frown. "I told him that you hadn't told us anything about yourself, which was the truth. Divide and conquer is the oldest trick in the book, David. I knew that, and I kept my mouth shut. Your business is your own."
"Who's Billy?" Jim asked, perplexed.
"He's a friend of mine who had some trouble with the law a few years back," David answered reluctantly.
"What does Umbrella want with him?" Alyssa asked bluntly.
David hesitated a moment before answering. "He was involved in some kind of incident in the Arklay Mountains. I don't know much more than that."
"The Spenser Mansion incident?!" Kevin sat up, his expression one of disbelief. "And you never thought to mention this to us?"
"I didn't know," David snapped defensively. "Until Rimmer told me that he knew all about Billy's involvement in what he called the Arkham incident, I didn't know that Billy had had anything to do with Umbrella. He was a soldier, Kevin, not a scientist or anything."
"Great." The older man shook his dark head, an accusing look in his deep blue eyes. "Now, we know why they've been keeping us under lock and key. They want your friend, and they expect us to deliver him. Just friggin' perfect."
David rose to his feet and stepped past Alyssa, needing to get away from that accusing expression. The last thing he'd wanted was for any of his new-found friends to know about his checkered past. He'd been accepted for the first time in years, and damn it, he'd liked it.
Even worse, it was Yoko who knew what he'd once been. He shook his head as leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. He had planned on telling her eventually, but not now, not like this. He wasn't exactly ashamed of the work he'd done for Don Fratelli, but he wasn't proud of it either. It had simply been a job for him, one that paid well. Unfortunately, he didn't think the other survivors would be able to understand that.
Alyssa watched him shut down with a shake of her head. She glanced at Yoko, who was watching him with concern, and smiled to herself. Whatever it was that David had done, it obviously didn't matter to her. "Well, it's almost dark, King. Are you ready to bust out of here, or what?"
David's head came swiftly, his pale eyes showing surprise. "Don't you want to know what he told Yoko about me?" he asked with confusion.
She snorted and tossed her hair. "I already know that you're an asshole, David. That's enough for me."
Jim laughed, the high-pitched sound echoing through the room. "That's a good one, girl."
"And all too true," Kevin said with a reluctant smile. As curious as he was about David's past, he'd wait for David to tell them himself. "I'm ready to blow this joint, King. So, let's come up with a game plan, okay?"
David gazed at them broodingly, not quite sure he trusted their easy acceptance. "What about you?" he asked finally, his eyes meeting and holding Yoko's. "Are you sure you want to--"
"I'm sure," Yoko cut in gently.
She beckoned him forward with a wave of her hand, smiling as he slowly made his way back to them. She moved towards the center of the small mattress and patted the spot beside her in invitation. He sat down on the edge, looking as though he were going to bolt at any moment. She took his hand in hers, tightening her hold when he would have pulled away. "Let's get out of here, David. I really want to see those Aztec ruins."
David chuckled and allowed himself to relax. What she'd learned hadn't changed her feelings for him, and that was all that really mattered. He squeezed her hand with his and returned her smile. "Alright, then. Let's do this."