Piers sleeps for another 15 hours during which Chris observes him like a hawk, paces around as quietly as he can and finally speaks to Jane Lauren about the progress of the cure development.

"You are unable to go more than half a day without breathing down my neck, are you, Chris?" She asks him as she's finishing her coffee. Chris would think she's actually annoyed at him were it not for the small smirk on her face. "Luckily for me, Evans is currently finishing the first version of the vaccine and we can begin testing- " her beeper goes off and she checks it "well look at that. Now."

Chris follows her into the lab, barely containing his eagerness. If everything goes as it should, he thinks, the beginning of the end of this biohazzard will be upon them.

He watches closely as the doctors bring out a chimp, whose mutation has cost the bottom half of its body, which has mutated into bird-like legs, sharp claws included. Soon, the chimp is sedated and they prepare him for injection with the vaccine. Chris turns to Jane Lauren as they administer the medicine.

"Aren't you supposed to be testing this on J'avo instead of animals?" he asks, questioning how the monkey's mutation is in any way similiar to Piers'.

Lauren doesn't even spare him a look as she helps the other doctors transfer the chimp into a larger cage. "The cure is in development, Chris. Testing on J'avo is extra risky because we don't know how successful the vaccine will be at battling and beating the C-Virus. Have some patience." she says, taking out a note pad and scribbling down something as she watches the chimp trash around some in its cage in its sleep. Chris watches it for a moment, wondering how long it would take for results to be evident.

"How long until we know if this vaccine is the cure?" he asks, turning to Lauren. She's still writing down in her notepad, now even more animatedly so. Chris is about to call her name out when his arm is poked.

It's the young nurse again and she's pointing toward the chimp's cage. "Sir, look!" she says, her voice hushed as though she's afraid raising her voice might scare him off. He looks at the monkey which slowly appears to be changing - from half chimp half bird to a full chimp. The legs transform - claws into fingers, feathers falling off and skin growing fur. Chris has seen the C-virus transform people into J'avo much faster than this, but slower or not, the changes are happening right in front of his eyes.

"It's working." he says, barely believing it himself, heart racing already just considering that this might actually be the cure. He keeps watching, a part of him afraid that if he looks away the changes might be reversed and the virus might win.

There is silence for a long while as everybody in the room observes the mutation be reversed entirely until the chimp appears to be completely healthy, with no visible alterations.

"Is that it? This vaccine is the cure?" Chris asks anyone who's willing to answer him.

A tall doctor speaks up. "The chimpanzee is to be kept under observation for a minimum of six hours. If there is no sight of the mutation and no traces of the C-virus in his DNA we will be free to proceed testing on a human subject. If all goes well, tomorrow morning around this time we can administer the possible cure to Mr. Nivans." He explains before finally introducing himself. "Doctor James Evans."

Chris shakes his hand. "Chris Redfield."

"Oh I know who you are, Mr. Redfield. You're a legend in the B.S.A.A." Evans says, taking some of his own notes as he glances at the sleeping chimp. Chris eyes him, almost sarcastically thanking him for reminding him. If he was such a legend, Piers wouldn't be in this situation right now.

"So it will be another day until my partner can have the cure." Chris mutters, not really needing a confirmation. "I hope this is it."

Evans pats him on the shoulder awkwardly. "We all do, Mr. Redfield, we all do. Now return to your partner if you wish and we will invite you back in the lab if there is something you need to see."

Chris follows his advice, not having intended to spend much time away from Piers in the first place. On the way there he thinks about the possible complications and the differences between how the vaccine worked on the chimp and how it might work on a J'avo. He doesn't want to think about the possibility that this vaccine might turn out to be incompatible with human DNA which would turn them back to square one. When he enters Piers' room, he is unsure whether he's happy or worried to find the younger man awake.

"I thought you'd left." Piers mumbles at him, his good eye showing disappointment.

Chris scoffs as he pulls his armchair closer to Piers' bed and pats Piers' hand as he sits down. "As if." he says, giving his partner a determined look. "I've spend the majority of the time since we left Chinese waters here and that's not going to change until you're back on your feet."

Piers' disappointment disappears and is replaced by firm gratitude. "This is the Chris.. Redfield I remember." he speaks up, clearing his throat. "How long was.. was I out?"

"Don't strain yourself." Chris orders firmly, eyes trailing over Piers' face. He imagines it without the mutation, remembers it so youthful and handsome, so fierce. Then answers - "It's been about 16 hours."

Piers' eyes widen. "16 hours..." he trails off.

Chris nods. "You need a lot of rest to beat this thing. Especially until the vaccine is confirmed as a cure." He sees Piers begin to ask about it and signals for him not to, explaining straight away instead. "They developped a vaccine this afternoon and tested it on a primate. It worked. If it works on a J'avo as well, you will be cured." Just saying the words gives Chris a sense of strength, like they're about to win a battle.

Piers shifts on the bed, his expression darkening. "J'avo.." he mutters "That's what I am now."

Damn, Chris curses silently. He didn't mean to bring it up but now there it is. If he was to say that Piers is not a J'avo right now, he'd be bullshitting again. Instead, he settles for the truth. "Not for long, soldier." His voice is firm and unwavering. He can't let Piers go into a state of self-pity or rage, neither would be helpful in their situation.

He expects Piers to argue at least a little but instead the younger man shrugs his good shoulder. "I hope so." he says, sounding tired already.

"You can go back to sleep. I'm here." Chris says patting the bed next to Piers' side. The younger man turns a little bit sideways to look at him and holds his gaze mutely for a moment. Finally he closes his eyes, but Chris can tell he's not even trying to fall asleep.

They stay in silence for a while before Piers speaks again, quieter than before. "When I'm cured... If I'm cured.. I want to serve under you again." he says and Chris watches as Piers' tongue sneaks out to wet his full lips.

Chris lets out a shaky breath, unsure of how to answer. "Get better and you will." he says finally. Piers opens his eyes and stares at him and Chris can swear, he can see the build up of will and determination behind the green of Piers' iris.

"Yes, sir." the younger man says, and it literally sends a shiver down Chris' spine.

The doctors better be doing their testing and making the final version of the vaccine. He can't wait to have Piers back in his full capacity.

Chris leans back in the armchair and he and Piers share a long look before the younger man closes his eyes and relaxes into the sheets. Only when his breathing has evened out does Chris allow himself to drift off as well, his sleep semi-restless.