A chapter for Sherry and Jake.
Chapter 2: Mistakes and Promises
Sherry awoke to the bright sunlight that fled in through window pane and stretched across the hotel suite in attempt to reach her on the king sized bed. Her hand came up to her face and hovered over her eyes to block the glaring sun from her sight, but it was all in vain. She had already been awoken and there was little chance of her returning to her deep slumber she had greatly deserved. With a yawn she stretched her arms above her and ruffled the short blonde hair on her head. She turned to rest on her back and stared up at the ceiling, cringing to the aching in her muscles. The aches and pains could imprison her if she let them. They could wrap invisible chains around the bed and set heavy transparent weights on her body, but she too stubborn to let that happen. Even for a day. You have to get up, was the only motivation she could give herself and unfortunately she needed more than that. This was the most comfortable bed she had ever had the pleasure of laying on. Every bit of her body sunk into its memory foam and the silk felt like air that cascaded over her. The entire room smelled of lilac and every bit of the area was silent. More importantly, she didn't have to be paranoid of the omnipresent danger she was so used to waiting for. Everyone deserved at least one night like this to enjoy this comfort, and Sherry was one of those people that deserved at least a week's worth of it, especially after what she had been through in the past year. Fighting BOW's, running from the US government, finding out her boss was the bad guy, running from her former boss, not being able to have a solid night's worth of sleep, and dragging an arrogant, hot-headed, irrational mercenary through it all.
The sheets next to her began to rustle and slide back and forth along her body as the figure beside her began to stir. Her body jolted subtly when she felt a knee bump her ribs and rest there. She turned her head to look upon an innocent sleeping face. He slept on his stomach with his left cheek distorted slightly against the pillow, his knee embedded into her side and his arms lying across the empty areas on the silk sheets. Jake wasn't a graceful sleeping partner, but she couldn't help but giggle at how peaceful he looked lying next to her, naked and wrapped up in dark blue bedding. This had to be the best sleep he had experienced in a while. They both shared that desire for a comfortable place to sleep, even though this was the first time Jake had experienced such pleasures. Growing up in the slums of Europe made him taciturn, he never needed anything more than a blanket on the floor, and he had slept with less. Yet this time, the US government had funded their overnight home, but they didn't trust Jake in a room alone. Even worse they only had enough money to buy a one bedroom suite. And after months of dragging Jake around for the sake of humanity, Sherry didn't have the heart to cast him to the couch and Jake had more dignity than to take that offer from a woman. They bickered over it and bickering turned into arguing and arguing turned to name-calling. After they did they're typical fighting things turned for the unusual and somehow she ended up in his embrace and kissing him passionately. Then the rest of the night was spent without words and now here Sherry was lying next to someone she used to find completely aggravating, thinking about the night before with butterflies in her stomach.
The bridge of Jake's nose began to wrinkle and he began to stir more violently than before. Sherry's eyes ventured to the window pane, knowing that it was the sunlight that was agitating him while he slept. That in itself was enough motivation for her to get out of bed. Cautiously she slid from under the covers trying to avoid shaking the mattress too much. Once her bare figure was out from under the warmth, she was painfully aware of the cool breeze that hung about the room. Almost frantically rubbing her arms for warmth, she searched desperately for her clothes. To her luck, she couldn't find anything of hers on this side of the bed. There was very little clothing in that area of the room. She recalled the night before and remembered that most of her clothes didn't make it over to the bed. Not wanting to search the entire suite for her scattered clothing, she picked up Jake's black long sleeved shirt that was draped across the bedside table and slid it on. It, naturally, swallowed her thin figure and fit her like a loose dress.
Her body stiffened getting the feeling that there was a presence that was now aware of her. She glanced over her shoulder, meeting bright blue eyes that stared up at her fiercely. The harshness in his features seemed to replace what most people would call a look of surprise. Then again, she wondered if he was paranoid of her still. This couldn't have been the first time he had caught a woman sneaking out of his bed to do god knows what. Was that what the look was for? Suddenly, Jake's features softened as he rolled over on his back and sighed.
"I'm not a morning person," he groaned.
Sherry felt her breath that she was unaware she was holding release from her lungs. She stared at him for a moment considering rather they should have a talk what had happened the last night. After all they hadn't really spoken except for a few breathy phrases they managed to voice. Though she was still high off of the incident, she couldn't help but regret it at the same time. They were only together because of business, not so that he could get could in her pants before he was deprived of sex and alcohol to be a government lab rat. The idea of him using her was upsetting, but she couldn't deny that she didn't use him too. Even though they were for far more sensual reasons like the fact that she was attracted to him and felt safe with him and. . . . She shook the thoughts from her mind as she continued towards the window. She was convinced now that there was no need to talk about it, because there was nothing serious about the situation. It was only sex after all, they were stressed out and tense, it wouldn't happen again.
Once in front of the window, Sherry took in the radiance of the sun. Every color in the sky seemed to cool her mind of any concerns. She was calm and thinking back to times when she didn't have to stumble upon these moments. She could enjoy this every morning from her bedroom window, knowing that Simmons wouldn't let her go outside to truly enjoy it because of the dangers beyond her front yard. But that was okay with her, it was better than being in a lab everyday with her real parents. Sherry bowed her head and cupped both her hands over the center of her chest. She was still in mourning over Simmons' death, villain or not he was like a father to her. Suddenly she was nostalgic even though it had only been a few years she was missing. A few years without peace of mind felt like a lifetime.
A warm rough hand traced up her thigh and onto her hip under the black cotton. She raised her head and opened her eyes slowly. She was all too familiar with how his hands felt on her skin, yet she still had a tingling sensation trail behind his fingers. His other hand mimicked the one already placed on her hip and when he pressed his body against her back she became aware of the fact that he didn't bother getting dressed. Her eyes widened as she felt the tug in her chest. She wanted to turn around and lay down the rules, which were no touching, no affection, and he had to put in his clothes on. But she didn't have the strength to say anything. She was too entranced by the way he swayed slightly and adjusted to wrap his arms around her torso. There was so much of his bare skin touching hers and her body seemed to curve into him. Why are you doing this to me, she thought as continued to look out the window and pretend that her cheeks weren't getting warm.
"Not regretting it too much, are you?" he asked well-aware of what she was battling in her mind.
She was silent, not knowing what to say. Yes, because she had forgotten her responsibilities and let him take advantage of her. No, because it was one of the best nights of her life. She didn't know which answer was the most predominate in her mind. She knew what she should say, but wasn't sure what she wanted to say.
"I-"she choked on her own voice still stuck on the moment. She exhaled harshly and combed her fingers through her hair in frustration. "I can't do this, Jake. I shouldn't have let it go this far. I-"she paused feeling that tug in her heart grow stronger. She was starting to feel sick to her stomach from being on this emotional roller coaster. She placed her head against the window pane and crossed her arms over her torso wanting desperately for her emotions to stop toying with her.
"Hey," he beckoned in a smooth tone. She glanced over her shoulder at him and saw that he no longer looked amused like she had done something to concern him. She sighed as she stood up straight and turned to face him, avoiding his blue eyes. He placed his knuckle under her chin a forced her to look at him. "I didn't do it to complicate things; that was the last thing from my mind."
"Maybe it should have been the first thing on your mind, Jake," she interrupted her eyes filling up with tears. The shame and disappointment in her countenance caused him to downcast his eyes for a moment. Never in his life had he been so intimidated and that only frustrated him. He thought he'd be used to crying by now, it wasn't like he had never made a girl cry. Yet, when his eyes returned to hers that shine in her stare made him want to crumble. But he wasn't going to just roll over and let her continue doubting her actions and battle it out in her head. That wasn't in his character to let anyone win so easily. Suddenly, Sherry took a step back, about to pull away from him.
Upon seeing her trying to place distance between them, he grabbed her arm gently before she could get too far. She paused almost too afraid to move once she saw the way he was looking at her. It wasn't an threatening expression, the only thing that displayed any clear emotion were his eyes, and that was enough to freeze Sherry in her spot. Jake was the kind of person to feel with his entire body, even though his face was like stone, his stance was fighting for stability. Every bit of her felt regret in that moment, because he actually looked like he was hurt by the last thing she said. Was it really a surprise to him that last night was a one time thing? Sherry didn't think he would want anything from her after one night, that was his game. He even admitted to her that he wasn't sure he could give her anything more than his body. If she knew that, then why did she suddenly feel like the villain here? She continued to stare into his cold eyes wanting so badly to break his grip and continue on with what she was doing. Yet no matter how much her mind told her to move, her feet couldn't even take a step.
" You're not just going to end it like that, are you?" he finally asked. There was a pause as she thought hard about what to say to that. She really didn't want to hurt him. Come on, Sherry. He's a big boy, he can handle it, she told herself. " It should have never started," she answered. And just like that she watched his eyes shift into a completely different emotion, but his face stayed as still as ever. She could tell he was absorbing her words and thinking about them. When his eyes returned to her, they were displaying a completely different emotion.
"Fine," he shook his head before letting his arm fall to his side. A strange aura replaced him, he put on a show like he didn't have a care in the world. Yet, defeat lingered in his expression.
Sherry was oblivious to the look in his eyes and only paid attention to his words. With his sudden display of disconnection, Sherry grew more confident in what she had said to him. That one little word actually made her feel stupid to think that she had actually broken through his thick skin and hurt him. "It won't happen again," she stated firmly.
Jake shrugged at her, hearing that irritation in her tone. " I said fine, didn't I?" and just like that he was the old Jake Muller. His attitude challenged her, and that only made her feel more like an idiot. I can't believe I found him comforting. Sherry looked him up and down as she crossed her arms over her chest. " Are you going to get dressed?" Jake shifted and mimicked her stance. "Are you going to give me back my shirt?"
A sudden knock on the door startled Sherry into breaking their gaze and left him standing there with a look of annoyance in his eyes. Once she read the clock she began to panic more. "We were supposed to be packed already," she informed him as she ran to her bag by the couch, grabbing whatever bit of clothing she could find and brunching it up in a ball. From her bag she pulled out black slacks, a light blue blouse, and undergarments before throwing the ball of clothes in the bag. There was another more persistent knock at the door. "Just a second," she called to the door while she took off Jake's shirt and threw it at him. "Put your clothes on," she whispered as she continued to get dressed. Jake knew that it wasn't wise to rebel, but his protest was obvious in how calmly he redressed. By the time Sherry had gotten dressed, freshened up, and had the bag zipped up and slung over her shoulder, Jake was just buttoning his pants. "Jake, please," Sherry whined as she walked over to the door and opened it.
Her smile faded when she saw a uniformed BSAA agent standing there with his hands causally at his side. She was surprised to see that someone else other than Chris Redfield was at their door, he did after all inform her that he would be the one escorting both her and Jake to the government lab.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Ms. Birkin. Were you expecting someone else?" he asked suspiciously. Sherry shook her head. "No. Well, yes. I was told Captian Redfield was in charge of this operation."
" He had other business to attend to. Are you ready to go?"
Sherry nodded slowly and glanced over her shoulder at Jake, whom stood idly by for the BSAA's directions. He didn't care who got them to the lab where he was going to be poked and prodded at. He just wanted the day to end and it showed in his expression.
Sherry turned and gave a friendly smile to the soldier. "Yes, we are," she said as she began to walk out the door, Jake following close behind. They walked down the hallway, the soldier trailing behind them. Jake cautiously glanced behind him at the dark-haired man becoming even more wary of his presence. The man returned back a dark glare as he watched his every move. Jake looked back in front of him and leaned down over Sherry's shoulder. " This guy gives me the creeps," he whispered in her ear. Sherry didn't answer, she just rolled her eyes. Of course he did, the man was preying over Jake like a hawk waiting for him to do something hasty. He was a former mercenary and Chris had probably filled the government officials in on how unpredictable Jake could be.
Once they made it to the bottom floor, the three were all met by at least nine other BSAA soldiers waiting in front of the elevator, armed and ready. Jake's brows furrowed as he looked at all of their face. "You've got to be kidding me. Two would have been enough," he growled. Sherry shot a glare back at him and though the his defying aura never left him, he still obeyed her silent order.
There was A black truck with the BSAA logo plastered on the side of it waiting in the back of the hotel, back doors open with one soldier standing guard with a tight grip on his rifle. The first on in was Sherry, whom the guarding soldier had boosted up into the back. Jake was next, of course the soldier didn't offer a hand to him, all they shared was a glare filled with animosity. As Jake walked to the front of the truck he noticed handcuffs and a few syringes filled a light blue liquid sitting in a glass box held closed by a padlock. Tranquilizers, Jake thought as he took a seat next to Sherry. He bowed his head and chuckled lightly under his breath. She looked at him with a look of confusion, severely curious of him. "Why are you laughing?" she whispered. Jake looked up at her with a devilish grin. "Something tells me I'm a threat to them," he answered.
Sherry couldn't deny that he was a dangerous threat, rather he was armed or not. He did, after all, fight a twelve foot tall brute with interchangeable limbs with his bare hands. But she didn't want to put that idea in his big head.
"They're just being cautious, they can't take any chances with you," she answered.
"Come on," he teased as he placed his hand on her inner thigh "You of all people should know that I can be affectionate," he joked. Sherry was about to brush his hand away, but the skinny barrel of a rifle beat her to it as it hooked underneath Jake's hand and forced it off of her thigh. They both looked up at the soldier, the man's eyes shifting between the two. His eyes paused on Jake. "Keep your hands to yourself," he ordered. His eyes then looked at Sherry. " If you're uncomfortable, he can be moved." A low growl passed Jake's lips, the soldier's first impression made Jake want to rip his throat out. She nervously shook her head. "No, I'm fine. You know these renegade types," she joked. "They don't know how to keep their hands to themselves." Jake shot a glare at her, but bowed his head to reframe himself from saying anything out loud. "I could say the same for government agents," he said under his breath. His comment didn't go unheard by Sherry, but she ignored him and smiled at the man. The other soldiers all started to pack themselves in, taking their seats one by one. The last two shutting and locking the double doors. The soldier sitting across from Jake and Sherry slammed his palm on the front tin wall of the truck to signal the driver to go. Within seconds the engine roared to life and the truck began its journey
The truck drove through the abandoned highway, trucking it's way up the scenic road without a problem. It was the largest of it's kind, fitting ten armed soldiers, Jake and Sherry, plus the passenger up front with the driver. They had been driving for several hours, the truck seeming to rock more the further along it drove. On the sides of the truck two windows were small and rectangular, only big enough for a pair of eyes to look out of. Though Sherry was becoming restless, she didn't bother trying to crawl over these men to stand on the bench to feed her curiosity. Even though, it was killing her that she couldn't familiarize herself with the area. If there was anything she had learned from Simmons' betrayal, it was that she shouldn't trust so easily.
She groaned and bowed her head into her palms battling both confusion and frustration in the same hour. Slowly she shook her head, Only a little longer. Hold your composure, she thought. Sherry opened her eyes upon feeling a slight nudge in her side. She sat up straight and leaned back against the tin of the inner wall of the truck. She turned her head and met Jake's eyes.
"Getting cabin fever?" he teased though there was no emotion in his countenance.
"No, I'm just tired that's all," she lied. Jake shook his head and leaned forward slightly to place his elbows on his knees.
"Well, I am and I could really use a damn cigarette."
Sherry's brows furrowed " In the six months I spent with you, I've never seen you smoke a cigarette."
Jake chuckled lightly under his breath, but still stared down at the floor as he clasped his hands together. " That's because I didn't have a chance to scrounge a pack before I ran into you." Sherry smiled, feeling accomplished that she indirectly forced him to quit such a disgusting habit. The world has gone to hell, the last thing someone needs is to be battling lung cancer. Upon noticing the looming eyes, her smile faded. They all cradled their guns so tightly like sick children to their blankets, and instantly Sherry was aware of how nervous they were around the son of Albert Wesker. Most of these men had probably never had the pleasure of meeting such a villain, but it was the records of causalities he had caused that led their fear. Jake turned his head and looked to the far end of the truck upon hearing the clicking of a rifle being lifted up towards the ceiling. He met glares with the unnamed soldier that had met him at the door back at the hotel. There was a flame in both of them as they tried to strike fear in the other's heart, yet neither of them faltered. Sherry watched their silent battle and for a brief second felt her discomfort escalate. Finally Jake broke his stare and glanced over his shoulder at her "I might have to start again after all of this."
Suddenly the light coming through the windows faded to black and an artificial light lit up only the space under the window. They all sat in an eerie darkness as the truck came to a stop. Within seconds, the sound of boots could be heard running around the truck to the back entrance until it gradually grew quiet with the low rumble of a male voice giving orders. Sherry looked around all of the men, unaware that she was the only one anticipating anything monumental. Then again all of these men were used to military precautions, even Jake whom kept his head bowed like a somber prisoner.
The double doors swung open causing Sherry to jump in her seat and causing her body to settle into a tense posture, her eyes swelling with a look of fear. One by one each man on the truck stepped off into the loading bay of building, and Sherry watched them with an accelerated heart rate. A hand was gently placed on her knee, and her eyes were averted to the side of Jake's face. "I'll be okay," he assured her, his voice hinted with discouragement.
As his hand dropped to his side as he stood up and raised his arms to shoulder height. A new set of BSAA soldiers patted him down for concealed weapons or anything hazardous. Sherry just stared so dumbfounded in watching him cooperate so seamlessly with the no expression on his face. "Clear," one soldier announced to the other. They both nodded, the other man forcing both of Jake's arms behind his back before linking his hands together with reinforced cuffs.
Watching him be cuffed and led off the truck made Sherry's own memories return to her, when she was a lab rat to the U.S. government. They never cuffed her, because she was so willing to help at any cost. Yet she remembered the terror of being led to her torture by heavily armed guards like a prize. That's when she realized she was cautious not because she had anything to be afraid of. Her fear was for him. Every bit of her body feeling that very primal feeling for someone whom remained calm and accepted his fate. She shook the thought from her head and stood up from the bench, exiting the truck into an unknown territory.
Cliffhanger! Yeah, I know that's kind of a weird place to end it, but I decided to split this into two separate chapters. Mostly because I ended up with 8,000 some words and I wasn't even done writing it. With that said, I have about half of chapter 3 already written so that should be up fairly soon. Or at least I hope so. It will continue all of this and what not.
I want some feedback on this chapter, but on the subject of Jake and Sherry. I wanted to include their relationship just because I think that since Sherry and Leon sort of have a reunion in the game, he would really want to be there for her more. So she would be a huge part of this story. They kind of have like a brother/sister relationship, maybe more of a father/daughter I don't know it's all about preference. Either way I guess I want to ask, should I keep going into detail with Jake and Sherry like I just did or should I more skim over it? It's not like I don't want to go into detail, I'm just afraid I'll venture too far away from the main relationship which is Leon and Ada. So somebody please give me an opinion, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks to everyone that favorited and reviewed, it makes me happy and it also makes me more eager to write. So, thanks for the motivation to get this chapter up. I'll be seeing you all next week with the next chapter.
