CHAPTER 10
Claire had just finished redecorating her parent's room when the phone rang. She wiped her hands and answered it.
"Hey baby sis what's happening?" Chris asked.
"Chris hey not much I have redecorated mum and dads room its my studio now." Claire answered.
"That's good anything else?" he asked.
"No not much my job's going fine and I think Vivian has a new man although she hasn't said anything." Claire answered.
"What about you?" she asked.
"We are going on team exercise it caused quite an argument Jill got arrested for firing her weapon." Chris answered.
'Oh who's Jill?" Claire asked.
"Someone from my team I have to admit she is very cute." Chris said. Claire smiled.
"Well ask her out then." She said. She could feel the heat from Chris's face coming through the phone or at least she thought she could.
"I couldn't do that she is a team mate." Chris said.
"I have never heard you be so nervous about asking someone out." Claire said.
"Well I suppose I have lost the magic Chris touch." He said. Claire laughed.
"Don't talk such rubbish just ask her out the worst she can do is laugh in your face and tell you no chance." Claire said.
"Thanks as usual you are a great help listen you will have to come visit sometime." Chris said.
"I could come tomorrow if you like Vivian is going on holiday with her mum and dad to see her relatives in Canada for two weeks and I am on holiday." Claire said.
"Well what are you on the phone to me for get on your bike and get here."
"When is your retreat thing I don't want to be on my own." Claire asked.
"Its not till next month." Chris answered.
"Ok then I will pack a bag and I will see you tomorrow." Claire said. She hung up and went to phone Vivian. Once she had told her she packed her bag. The next morning she went out to the garage.
"Hmm car or bike?" she thought to herself.
She got in the car and took off. It took her a while but she found Chris's house. She got out and went to the door and knocked. Chris opened the door.
"CLAIRE" he exclaimed. He pulled her into his arms and hugged her.
"God its good to see you baby sis." He said, almost crying.
"Its good to see you too." She said. He let her go and noticed her necklace.
"I have seen that before is that the one mum got you?" Chris asked.
"I think so I found it in her closet." Claire answered.
"I thought so I was with her when she bought it she couldn't decide what one to get you so I picked that one." Chris said. They went into the house.
"I don't have a guest room." Chris said, looking apologetic.
"Its ok that couch looks mighty comfy." Claire said sitting down on it.
"This will do." She said.
"Listen the team are going out tonight would you like to come with me?" Chris asked.
"Yeah sure why not I will get to meet Jill." She answered. They got ready and went to the bar. As soon as the entered Joseph had come to greet them.
"You must be the lovely Claire Redfield." He said taking her hand and kissing it.
"Yes I am and you are?" she asked.
"I am Joseph Frost and I would like to ask you if you would like to dance with me?" he said.
"I would love to." She said. They went to the dance floor. Chris sat down next to his teammates.
"Hey man is that your sister?" Brad asked.
"It is." Chris answered. He could hear the Bravo team sniggering and making comments about Claire. Chris ignored it.
"Chris are you ok?" Jill asked.
"Yeah I am fine." Chris answered.
"If that is the case why are your knuckles white." Jill asked. Chris loosened his hands.
"She is my sister I am worried about her that's all." Chris said.
"Listen I have spoken to Joseph and for all his bravado he is a nice guy." Jill said. Chris relaxed a little.
"I suppose she is an adult now." Chris said.
"Yeah she is now would you like to dance with me?" Jill asked. Chris looked at her and said.
"Yeah sure why not." They got up and went to the dance floor. He could see everyone in the team looking at them and whispering to one another. He looked across at Claire who was getting a bit to close to Joseph for comfort. Jill could see he wanted to go over so she held on tighter.
"She is an adult now and she wouldn't appreciate you going over there." Jill said. Chris watched as Joseph's hands slid down Claire's back. He stopped just above her waist. Chris sighed.
"Chris leave her alone and enjoy yourself." Jill said. Chris relaxed and started to dance. At the end of the night he went to get Claire.
"Chris listened I am going to go with Joseph I will see you tomorrow ok." She said.
"Sure thing." Chris said. He went to speak to Joseph. He grabbed him and held him to the wall.
"If you hurt her in any way I will kill you understand." Chris said. Joseph nodded his head.
"Good." Chris said. He let him go.
"Chris I wouldn't do anything to her." Joseph said.
"Sorry man god I am an idiot." Chris said.
"I understand she is your sister and you want to protect her." Joseph said.
"Yeah just don't hurt her ok." Chris said.
"You have my word as a gentlemen that I wont." Joseph answered. He took his coat and left. Chris went to get Jill.
"So what are your plans for the rest of the evening." Chris asked.
"Well I was going to go home and sleep." Jill said. She could see by the smile on Chris's face that he had other ideas.
"Then again if you say asked me back to yours I wouldn't say no." she said. Chris held out his arm.
"Well then Miss Valentine would you like to spend the rest of this evening with me." Chris asked.
"Why of course Mr Redfield." She answered taking his arm. They went back to his place.
"Joseph this is a nice house you have." Claire said sitting down on the couch.
"Would you like anything to drink Claire?" Joseph asked.
"Do you have any lemonade?" she asked.
"Well as a matter of fact I do." He answered. He went and got her some. He handed it to her and sat down across from her.
"Claire I would like to go out with you again." He said. Claire almost chocked on her juice, she put it down.
"I would like to go back out with you too." She said. He crossed the room and sat down next to her. He leaned in and kissed her. She kissed him back. He stopped.
"I think I should be taking you home now." He said. Claire got up and put her jacket on. Joseph drove her to Chris's house.
"Chris will probably bring you in to the office on Monday so I will see you then if he does." He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
"Thank you for tonight Joseph." She said. He waved and drove off. Claire sneaked into the house and into the living room. She could here noises coming from upstairs.
"Lost the Chris charm huh?" Claire thought to herself. She put on her PJ's and went to sleep. The next morning Jill came in and almost sat on her.
"Morning Jill." Claire said. Jill jumped in shock.
"God you scared me." Jill said sitting down at the other end of the couch.
"Not as much as you scared me I thought you were going to sit on me." Claire said. They both laughed.
"I thought you went back with Joseph?" Jill asked.
"I did we are going to see each other again." Claire said.
"So I take it you and Chris got together last night?" Claire asked.
"Yeah we did." Jill said. She smiled.
"Well I am starved would you like something to eat?" Claire asked.
"I would rather have a coffee." Jill answered.
"Yeah me too actually come on I will make some." They went through the kitchen. Chris awoke to the smell of his sister's coffee and the sound of her laughter and Jill's. He got washed and dressed and went down the stairs.
"Hey you two what are you laughing about?" Chris asked, sitting down at the table. Claire handed him a cup of coffee.
"Oh nothing." She answered.
"Oh really?" he said.
"Yes really." Jill said. Claire and Jill began to laugh again. Chris sighed and left the room.