((This one is long to make up for the last chapter being short… Enjoy!))

"Claire, are you alright...? Who is Steve?" Leon asked then knelt down next to Claire.

Claire shook her head and closed the file. She bit down on her lip hard, taking a few quick breaths then looked at Leon. He needed to know, it should not just be a secret between brother and sister any more.

"I'll be fine." Chaire whispered as she turned away avoiding eye contact. "Steve was a young boy who I owe a lot. I meet him in Rockfort when I was captured. He helped me survive every thing there. He saved my life" Claire stared at the ground "But he died saving me after one of the crazed people from Rockfort injected him with a virus"

Leon was a bit taken back, unable to say anything. The two sat in silence, a whine from Dodger was the only noise. Dodger snuggled close to Claire, his doggy instinct telling him to try to comfort his grieving owner. Claire shook her head and stared forward.

"Umbrella. Bastards. They will pay this time" Claire said with a dangerous look in her eyes and her fist clenched.

Leon looked at Claire, but we will make  stood up and put his hand on her shoulder.

"Trust me they will Claire and we shall get revenge for those we lost and those who we never known" Leon said with wisdom beyond his year.

Claire looked at Leon and smiled.

"Thanks Leon" Claire said and put her hand on Leon's.

Leon smiled back her just as the plane's landing lights came on. Leon took his seat behind Claire and they both buckled up.

Chris looked sky ward seeing a cargo plane slowing down preparing for a landing. He nudged Carlos and pointed at the plane.

"They are here" Chris pointed out to his new friend.

Carlos looked up ward and smirked. "So they are. See the plane was right on time, see I told you, your sister is fine my friend"

Chris sighed and shook his head. The plane skidded to a stop on the run way and stopped about a block away from Chris and Carlos. Chris and Carlos slowly made there way up to the plane. As soon as the door to the plane opened a median sized dog ran out followed by Chris's sister then Leon. Claire as soon as she saw her brother ran up and gave him a hug.

"Chris!" Claire said and hugged her brother happy to be with him again.

"Hey little sis" Chris said as he let go of Claire then smiled down at her. "How is my favorite crazy teenager?"

Claire rolled her eyes and punched her brother lightly "I turn 20 next month Chris I'm not a teenager any more"

Chris smirked "When why do you act like one?"

Claire just rolled her eyes and Chris knelt down.

"Here Boy, I'm guessing this is your mutt Claire?" Chris asked as Dodger ran up to him.

"Yep that is Dodger my replacement for you" Claire said smiling.

Chris rolled his eyes, Leon got Claire bike from the back then pulled out his jeep that he also brought with him. Chris took off and retrieved his and Carlos's vehicle. He came back with a beaten up old truck. He told Claire and Leon to follow him as Carlos got in the passenger side. The team's hide out was quiet far from the airstrip. The hideout was an old farm house with a red barn and a few random bunk houses. Chris parked the truck in the barn with Leon and Claire doing the same.

"Welcome to Berton Farm" Chris said as he got out of the truck. "It's not much but we have 9 fields of corn growing out in the back"

"Yeah. We also have 6 cows, 2 pigs, and a small herd of 10 sheep" Carlos said.

"Really?" Leon asked with a raised eyebrow

Chris nodded. "Unfortunately yes, we are trying to pretend to fit. So far our neighbors think we are just an average run of the mill farm. Claire's mutt with add some color to the place"

"He is not a mutt. He is an Austrian sheep dog" Claire said throwing her school bag over her shoulder then grabbing her lab-top case.

"What ever. Hey he fits, may be he can herd those sheep we have. Lets go inside the others are most-likely waiting for us" Chris said.

Leon also grabbed his bags, then, the 4 of them headed for the farm house. The farm house had a classic look to it and was painted to match the barn. Inside the house had the same classic feel except for the tense feeling in the air. Claire and Leon could hear a man in a thick British accent talking to the others about Nexter Island. Leon and Claire left their stuff at the door. Claire made a note to take her lab-top because she had the files and the disk she got from the mysterious man in there.

In the front room huddled around a coffee table sat every one that has ever fought Umbrella and got out alive, as far as Claire knew. Inside the small living room sat, Jill Valentine, Barry Burton, Rebecca Chambers, David Trapp, and John Andrews. The room fell silent as soon as Claire entered the room. Slowly a man that was known as David Trapp got to his feet and looked at Claire.

"Well lets see the reason we all are gathered here. Claire do you have the files?" David said in his normal clam voice.

Claire nodded then made her way to the coffee table. She handed David the files then took out her lab-top and booted it up. David sat back down and scanned over the files then handed it to Rebecca Chambers who was sitting to his right.

"That is what I got and I also got this e-mail form the disk that the man gave me.. The one Chris told about most-likely" Claire said bring up the word document for the group to see.

Jill picked up the lab-top and quietly read e-mail.

"How do we know this is not just a trap for all of us...? Do you think we can trust who ever this mystery man is?" Jill asked looking up from the computer.

Chris sighed and leaned against a wall, He looked directly at Jill.

"What little more do we have to go on. Mr. Trent has disappeared it seems this is the only clue we have to work with, and I for one just don't want to wastes my time here milking cows" Chris said then looked at David.

"Chris is right. We have very little to go on and with the book that Rebecca retrieved from Mr. Reston we should have quiet an advantage" David said

Jill nodded understanding. Claire remembered the keys cards she got with the file. She had put them in her pocket after they got off the plane so she won't lose them.

"We got more then just that book" Claire said then took out the two key cards and laid them on the table.

"What are those?" Rebecca asked and reached for one of the cards.

"Key cards. I got them in the files. One is a 2 level access key card the other is a  Laboratory card key. You guys should also read the file" Claire said

Chris paused and picked up the file that was still laying on the coffee table and read it. Chris gave Claire a look.

"T-Veronica? Isn't that Alexia's virus? How did they get it and who is this specimen?" Chris asked

Claire didn't answer; she just stared at the ground. She did know how to answer the question with out getting misty eyed. Lucky for her Leon piped in.

"They got Steve Chris; as they say in the file Umbrella is extract it from his blood" Leon said noticing Claire's discomfort.

Chris paused then looked at his sister then his comrades. Chris knew that Steve was always a touchy subject for Claire. And because it was such a touchy subject Chris never mention Steve after the base. But from the looks he got from his comrades; he knew he had to explain.

"Steve was a prisoner that escaped from Rockfort. He helped Claire on the island.. But when they both were recaptured by Alexia, She injected him with her T-Veronica virus. Claire found him then he mutated and tried to kill her. He almost did but at the last minute he remembered her and saved her from another monster. Steve got hit for a fatal blow from the monster before and he died and that ladies and gentlemen, sums it up" Chris explained.

Jill arched an eyebrow. "Well that changes the your little rescue story alot" Jill said softly looking at Claire


Claire let out a small sob but took a deep breath and shook her head free of the feeling of heart-brake. Claire quickly stood up.

"I'm fine... I'm soo over him. Excuse me I'm going to get a bit of fresh air and I left Dodger in the barn" Claire said and walked out, with every one watching her leave.

"Sorry guys I didn't tell you before but it pain's Claire to talk about Steve. After all Claire really did like Steve" Chris said watching his sister leave.

"Chris you should go after her. She needs you" Jill advised.

"I know but I was never good at these things. Gawd. After our parents died she acted so tough, but I knew she was hurting inside. I didn't know what to do so I sent her to live with our aunt. Please forgive me Claire." Chris sighed.

"I'll go talk to her.. Chris you could help the others more then I could" Leon said and got up from his place on the couch.

"You did what you could Chris. You where getting ready to go into the air force at the time, you couldn't get out just like that. Yeah Leon go, She likes you" Barry said

Leon nodded and walked out. Leon quickly found Claire she was sitting in the barn with her legs to her chest and her arms warped around her legs. Dodger lay next to her. Claire looked at Leon then back at the ground.

"I shouldn't have walked out like that. It was really immature" Claire said quietly.

Leon walked over and sat next to Claire. "Naah, I still get touchy when I havta talk about Ada. We both have our loves and losses" Leon said.

Claire looked at Leon "Yeah but you don't cry when ever you think about Ada and how she died" Claire said resting her head onto her knees.

"Some times I do. I only knew Ada for 4 hours, but something just clicked between the two of us" Leon said getting misty eyed himself.

"4 hours.? I guess I'm lucky I knew Steve for 26" Claire said trying to smile.

"Yeah, the RPD had its challenges but we blew through them. That reminds me I have to kidnap you, then bring you back to the states to see Sherry" Leon said smiling at Claire, and trying to get her off the subject of Steve.

"Sherry? I haven't had time to call her with all my studies. How is she doing?" Claire asked.

"Fine, they gave her an IQ test a few weeks back and she scored around 250. She is a genus so they put her in a gifted program. She been doing well there, I talked to her then she asked me to kidnap you the next time I saw you. I said I would do what I could" Leon said.

"Go ahead and kidnap me. Chris would be the only one with a problem. I should bring Dodger. Sherry would love him" Claire said and petted Dodger on the head.

"So then it's agreed. After this whole Nexter Island thing you will come with me to see Sherry?" Leon asked.

"Yeah, it's better then heading back to college, plus I would love to see Sherry again" Claire said with a warm smile.

"Claire I just want to let you know that well you can always talk to me. We have a lot in common and have more battle scars then we should have" Leon said and stares directly at Claire.

"Thanks Leon, you're a great guy" Claire said and stood up.

Claire reached down to help Leon up. Dodger also got to his feet and began to wag his tail wanting to play.

"Any time Claire! Any time. We should head back to the house. Your brother is worried about you" Leon said.

"When is he not any more?" Claire said rolling her eyes.

Leon chuckled and they both walked out of the barn with Dodger on their heels. Claire let Dodger into the house with them instead of keeping him out side. Dodger kept to Leon and Claire's sides. In the living room Barry was explaining the firepower they had. It seems they had a lot.

"As well as 2 assault shot guns each with about 30 rounds a piece. We have one grenade launcher with a set of regular rounds then we have some Acid. I don't think we are going to use the bow gun the arrows run out to fast with that. But we have about 12 handguns with over 1000 bullets. The mine thrower it pretty cool 12 mines for that. We also have 4 boxes of 6 frag grenades. Magnums, we have 2 different kinds. We have 3 of the revolvers and 2 of the regular kind. I'm also happy to report that we have 8 rounds for the rocket launcher" Barry said.

David nodded then ran his finger over the satellite map of Nexter Island.

"Yes we have enough firepower to blow up the place. The B.O.W.s if any they throw at us shall be no problem. We are going in during the night so most of the researches will be asleep. If all goes well, we will be in and out in a little less then an hour. Our two missions are as followed: Destroy the Mortalus and rescue Mr. Burnside. I think we should split into two teams each team has there own mission" David explained.

"Yes, when we pick up Billy on the way to Nexter that will make our full team 10 and it will be an even split" Rebecca remarked.

"We should split the weapons up tonight and check our gear. As stander gear we will each have at least 1 first aid pack, a side pack, a combat knife, grenades, and of course weapons" said Chris.

"Yes, the combat knife I'm sure Chris has taught every one self-defense with a combat knife" said David.

Every one in the small group nodded.

"I've hired two farm hands to manage the farm while we are way" Jill said.

"Alright every thing is in order, Barry if you would please decide who should have what weapons. John would you please help him with that task" David said and nodded towards the two large men.

Barry nodded and he and John left. Chris eyed Claire and she smiled back at him telling him every thing was alright now.

"Jill. Chris. please check the farm. Make sure every thing in order; we don't want things going to hell well we are gone. Rebecca I need you to see if you can get any more photos of Nexter Island. Carlos run a check on all of our gear, you know what we need. Claire, Leon, If both of you will please come with me. I think both of you could use some practice on the shooting range" said David as he stood up standing up.

Jill and Chris walked off and Rebecca walked off towards the computer in the corner of the room. David motioned for Leon and Claire to follow him. Claire told Dodger to stay then followed David and Leon. David led the two to a tornado shelter that was redone to be a shooting range. David gave them both Beretta and a few clips and told then to 'Have fun'. Leon was still a pretty good shot but Claire did need the practice. Leon made a few remarks about Claire's shooting that made her a bit mad and determined to do better then him.. and it did wonders to improve her shooting. After a while Rebecca along with Carlos came down and told both of them to get their stuff. They did as they were told and Leon was taken away by Carlos. Rebecca remained with Claire.

"Come on I'll show you to your room." Rebecca said heading up stairs.

Claire followed and Rebecca leaded her to a room at the end of the hall.

"Here you go; the bathroom is 2 doors down. Any thing you need just ask me or Jill" Rebecca said smiling.

"Can Dodger sleep in the house with me?" Claire asked

"Your dog? Yep I don't see why not" Rebecca said then was distracted by the sound of Jill coming up the stairs.

"Rebecca, David is going into town to get some supplies. He said he is going to stop off at the town hospital so you can pick up your stuff" Jill said.

Rebecca nodded and headed off down stairs. Claire turned and headed into the room. She took every thing out of her bag and put her extra clothes in the dresser. The room was not much but hey it was something. Claire lay down on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. She just sat there for what felt like an hour letting her mind drift. After a while there the door opened.

"She's in there Mutt" A voice said that sounded like Chris's.

Dodger bounced into the room and jumped onto the bed with Claire, his tail was waging fiercely. Claire smiled and petted her furry friend behind the ear. Chris walked into the room and shut the door behind him.

"Claire. You have some Mutt there. He was a major help today. He can herd sheep better then Carlos but Carlos can't herd sheep at all" Chris said and leaned against the door with a small smirk.

Claire sat up on the bed and looked at him. "So this is where you been for the past 4 months?" Claire asked.

Chris nodded "Yeah. It was a total dump when we first got here so we fixed it up and made all the modifications to make it our base of operation. Rebecca took up working for the doctor in the town, but we all seem fit quite well in this quiet little town. The only people who know about Umbrella are just us. Good thing too, but even if that is so we still have to watch our backs" Chris said.

Claire nodded "You did get my report card right? My teachers said I'm qualified to become a designer but they said I lack the drive"

Chris sighed then nodded "Straight As but there complaints that you were not as focused as you could be. Why Claire?"

Claire sighed and looked at Chris sternly "I'll give you three guesses"

"Umbrella. Steve. You're worried about me. That three" Chris said.

"You hit gold big brother all of the above are correct" Claire said in a slightly monotone voice.

"So you don't want to become a motorcycle designer and fulfill your child hood dream any more?" Chris asked.

"No. Not really I'd rather be here with you stomping out Umbrella. Chris dreams change. And mine is to stay here with you. But after this mission I'm heading with Leon to go see Sherry. I can help him with things there then I wanna come back here and help you. Chris" Claire said and got up walking towards her brothers.

"Well I can't force you to do any thing any more. If you really want to risk your life battling Umbrella with the rest of us, then I have no right to stand in your way. But I will always be at your side no matter what" Chris said.

Claire smiled at Chris then hugged him. "Thanks Chris for understanding" Claire whispered.

"Yeah I understand clearly know. I just wish I understood a lot more when you were younger. Please forgive me Claire" Chris said and looked down at his little sister.

"Let us start a new and put the past behind us. It all just the past" Claire said.

"Alright works for me but I just want to know something. What are your feelings as far as Leon is concerned" Chris asked.

Claire paused before backing away from her brother. "Why do you want to know" Claire asked.

"Because I'm your big brother and I want to know if I have to have a little talk Leon" Chris said sternly.

"A talk?! What's the matter with Leon?" Claire asked.

"Nothing is wrong with him dear sister. He is a very mature young adult male that can handle himself very well. I would have no problem if you where to date him. Claire do you know you are blushing" Chris said with a small smile

"Oh.. What! I'm not blushing" Claire snorted.

"Are too"

"Are not"

"Are too"

"No way"

"Yes you are"

"Chris."

"Claire."

"Chris"

"Claire."

"Dinner People!"

Claire jumped up and opened the door "Dinner Chris!" Claire smiled to herself happy to be way from the conversation.

Chris sighed "Alright but we will talk about this after dinner"

Claire nodded and skipped off down stairs. Chris followed but not with out looking at Dodger and saying "She likes him." Dinner was huge and every one was told to take it form the table; then go find some where to eat. The kitchen was too small to fit every one so Claire got her food and went outside with Dodger and sat on the steps well Dodger got out the last of his energy by running around chasing barn cats. Chris never did remember that he was going to talk to Claire after dinner.

Claire spent the rest of the night mostly training Dodger how to speak with Leon and Carlos help. Dodger really was not a good listener; he kept going after barn cats or anything that could run away from him. At about 10:30 at night Dodger finally mastered the trick but with one catch. Dodger would not stop barking after he was told to speak, Leon said they should teach him how to stay tomorrow. Claire agreed but the plan, but it was cut short by Carlos saying that they would be at the Umbrella's base tomorrow. Chris came out of the house and told every one it was time for bed then dragged Leon and Carlos off. Claire watched them head for the bunk house then went it to the houses with Dodger at her heels. Claire climbing into bed and Dodger snuggled up to her. Sleep came quickly for them both.