Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

Give the Group a Chance

Chapter 10

The pleasantries soon ended. An all out argument ensued. Everyone was shouting. Only three in the group were keeping their mouths shout. Luther, Alice, and Claire watched as the new found group were erupting into a war of their own. Angie was the first to give up and go in search of the one person missing from the argument. Moving quietly up the stairs to first level of the prison she found the one she had been searching for when she peeked around the corner. Kmart was sitting with her back rested against the handrails staring into the cell that contained her unconscious lover. Angie's heart sank to the pit of her stomach. The sight before her made her instantly sad and guilty, that only a few moments earlier she had even bothered being involved in an argument of whether or not they should keep Cee within the group, even though she had begged for them to keep Cee within their ranks. It was the fact that the argument should never have even been contemplated. A small tear escaped and Angie just wanted to hug the young woman with all her strength. But with the guilt she felt, she couldn't will herself to move, she just stood silently at the top of the stairs unable to move forward and not willing to go back.

Kmart had never left the bars that separated her from her love. She had been crying and yelling, begging that they let her go. But the others weren't willing to take that chance. Kmart couldn't believe everyone had turned on her. Even Claire and Alice had thought her girlfriend belonged behind bars. Kmart didn't second guess and threw a punch squarely in Claire's jaw, however Alice's lighting fast reflexes caught Kmart's fist in her hand with a vice like grip, and with a small flick of the wrist Alice had her arms around Kmart as she fought against her. Alice just held her tight till Kmart gave up struggling and caved into the onslaught of tears. Claire went to hold her but Alice gave her a warning look to leave her alone. Pulling her away from the others she whispered something into Kmart's ear that made the shorter woman calm down slightly, enough to stop her fighting but not nearly enough to stop her tears. Releasing her hold on Kmart, Alice ushered everyone away, leaving Kmart to fall back against the handrails, sliding down Kmart wrapped her arms around her knees as she looked into the prison cell.

Kmart had been sitting slightly for some time, trying to ignore the argument on the floor below her, when she realised she was being watched. "What do you want?" It was barely a whisper. She was feeling completely torn apart.

Angie almost jumped when she realised Kmart had spoken.

"I... I just wanted to see if Cee and yourself are ok?" She responded her voice shaking visibly. She knew what Kmart was capable of. She'd seen it many times before. Kmart was strong and when corned would stop at nothing to save the ones she loved. Angie feared that her intrusion might provoke Kmart but that was the last thing she had wanted, Angie just wanted to show Kmart that she still had a friend. An ally, but really she just wanted to show her she still cared what happened to both of them despite the fact in earlier days Cee had almost killed her. Angie was one to easily forgive others, which is a trait that some would think a weakness, but to Angie, it just meant a little less hate in the world, and considering the world around them, Angie believed they could use it.

"She's breathing still, not that anyone cares." Kmart had still to remove her gaze from her unconscious clone behind bars.

Angie dared to take a few steps forward. When she stood at Kmart's side she looked through the bars to the motionless body on the other side.

"I care." Sliding down the handrail Angie gathered what little courage she had left and put her arm around Kmart's shoulders. "We'll save her. No matter what."

Kmart's tears that had once subsided had instantly resurfaced. Angie pulled her into her embrace. No more words needed to be said. Angie was relieved that the slightly older woman didn't put up any resistance. Angie just held her as the argument on the lower floor carried on.

Alice, Claire and Luther had almost had enough of the feud they were facing. Luther was the first to step forward.

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" He shouted over the top of the others, everyone instantly stopped and faced him. "She stays. Understand?" It was more of a statement then a question. As he continued defending the clone he had only just been introduced. It wasn't new to Luther to defend a 'new comer' in his days as a basketball player he knew what it was like for 'new comers' to be unaccepted. Although the stakes this time were a lot higher and the vibe he was sensing from Alice and Claire made him sure it was worth his while to try and save this one.

"Get your hands off my woman... Angela." Cee drew Angela's name out.

Kmart and Angie's heads both snapped up. There stood Cee holding onto the bars with a feral look and smile crossing her features. Kmart jumped out of Angie's embrace, she was about to run toward the cell bars when a strong hand held her back.

Alice, through the haze of Luther's speech heard a voice inside her head, recognising it she stepped back, and leapt to the first level of the prison handrail, like a cat she landed perfectly gripping the rails. Reaching out she only just grabbed the back of Kmart's shirt in time, pulling her back against the handrail. Kmart went to struggle but Alice quietly whispered in her ear "Look at her eyes."

Angie overhearing looked toward Cee. Herself and Kmart were shocked at what they saw. Cee's pupils narrowed slightly revealing the umbrella symbol in her irises.

Cee ran her fingers along the bars as she waltzed back and forth like a predatorily feline, enticing Kmart to approach. Yet it was really the feel of the cold steel against her finger tips that excited her, all the while testing each one for any signs of structural weakness.

There were only a few amongst the group silently praying Cee had yet to realise her full potential. However it was clear that Cee was unaware, because most knew with the powers Alice held that Cee would surely have them too, and all knew if that was the case, the bars separating them, were the least of their worries.

"I think we should kill her!" came a spiteful little voice, one more filled with worry and fear.

"Shut the fuck up you little gnome." Bette stood over the shorter and unkept looking man, he flashed her with his most threatening look, however Bette's look had him instantly cowering against the closest wall at his back.

"My boss is only looking out for our safety." Came the innocent voice of the Asian assistant to the gnome 'Kim'.

Jill instantly stepped in "I'm not sure you heard quite right! My Girl told you to back the fuck off you little shit."

Bette instantly had an ego boost after hearing Jill refer to her as 'her girl' and went to lay another punch in.

Luther stepped in between. "Look, this is not the time to start a fight."

"Well I believe it is." Jill swung another punch connecting with the one Bette referred to as the 'gnome' yet his real name was Bennet.

Bette instantly jumped over the top of her girlfriend and landed another one into Bennett's rib cage.

"You heard my bitch". Bette was so wrapped up in fighting she had yet to realise everyone had stopped.

"Bitch?" Jill wasn't happy with her new name. "Who are you calling 'bitch?'"

Bette instantly turned around, her face inches away from Jill's. A look of fury quickly diminishing into a look of love "That would be you babe." Wrapping her fingers hard amongst Jill's hair Bette pulled her hard against her lips "That's what I'm talking about."

Claire had made her way up the stairs in two short leaps and ran over to the bars ignoring call for her to stop. Reaching through the bars she grabbed Cee by the neck of her shirt pulling her up to her eye level. Growling low in her throat she made her intention clear "Alice, get Kmart out of here. Everyone else go NOW!" Everyone were quick to shift into the hallway they had entered through

Behind her Alice whipped Kmart into her arms as she leapt from the railing and landed on her feet on the ground floor. Kmart went to struggle, but her faith in Claire was stronger than anything she had in this world.

Once Kmart was out of sight, Claire reached through the bar with her other hand and slapped the other woman square in the back of the head. She released her grip on Cee with a shove and went and leant back against the handrail beside Angie, who was so frightened she had begun to hold her breath and wasn't sure if her eyes were open or closed in fear.

Cee's eyes were wildly dancing and flickering from normal to red and blue. An internal battle was brewing within. However in her mind Umbrella had the upper hand.

Claire smiled relaxing against the rail. "You really can't think you're going to win right. I'm going to be completely honest here. I fucking hate you. I don't trust you and you are far from worthy of Kmart's affections. But Kmart..." Claire shook her head "Kmart love's you. And you repay her by letting Umbrella win. God it must be nice to not even try. Guess if I'd given up like you obviously are. You would never have even met her. She would have died a horrible death in that shopping mall but it would have been better than her meeting you! And Alice, not only the woman you came from but the woman you are. Not only do you share looks and thoughts, but memories. You just going to stand there and let the company that pretty much raped your genetics, ran inhuman tests on you win. They made hundreds of other clones just like you and tossed them out like garbage when they failed. You stand there and taint their souls by letting Umbrella win. This is why I'm going to kill you!"

Cee was barely coherent, everyone of Claire's word sounded like a weak echoing, she mentally battled to hold onto them. Deep down in her soul she wanted desperately to hold onto her image of Kmart and the love she truly felt for her but Umbrella was dominating her every thought, a voice repeated the same words. "Kill them all. Repeat instructions. Kill them all." Cee finally fell to her knees unable to breath she wanted only to tell Claire how deeply sorry she was but despite all her strengths not one word would pass her lips.

Claire pulled her .45 from the back of her pants and aimed it at the crippled woman behind the bars and let her finger glide over the trigger "Good bye Alice."

Finally with a last breath Cee cried out "Just do it."

Claire closed her eyes a small tear rolling down her cheek, she squeezed the trigger. And the echo of the bullet leaving the barrel rang out through the silent jail.

Angie wailed out in pain.

Clair's eye's instantly flew open "No Angie what have you done?" Claire instantly ran to Angie's side

"I couldn't let you kill her." Angie smiled weakly through the pain. She moved her hand away from her stomach to reveal the blood stain beginning to pool there.

Kmart and Alice were the first to arrive at the scene. They barely understood what was happening.

"What the fuck?" Bette and Jill ran to Angie's side pushing Claire out of the way. Bette thumbled hestirical through her first aid supplies. Jill held Angie's hand tight in her own whispering in her ear all is going to be okay.

Angie's breathing that had once been erratic became slow and shallow. Jill looked desperately to Bette who's hands worked like lightening she had stopped the bleeding but couldn't remove the bullet. "Don't look at me like that Jill I'm trying my fucking best here!"

Jill looked back to Angie, her eyes glazing over.

"Don't let her die Medic!"

"I'm FUCKING TRYIN'!"

"Let me help her." A small whimpering voice asked.

Kmart snatched the gun from Alice's hand and pointed it through the bars aiming directly between Cee's eyes. "There's no way in fucking hell you are ever going to touch her! You're a fucking monster! You tricked all of us! You never loved me."

"Tell her the truth please Alice" Cee flicked a begging look toward Alice

"Sorry Cee not this time. You got to earn it." Alice shook her head as she turned her back.

Cee turned her gaze back to Kmart. "Bette doesn't have the skill, to save her, but I do. She'll dye with out me."

Kmart looked to Claire who hadn't lifted her head since shooting Angie. Tears steaming down her cheeks.

"Cee, you will never know this but someone once said 'this is to big of a decision for me to make for you.' This isn't my call this is Angie's call." Kmart without removing her aim from Cee, yelled to Angie "WAKE UP! Bette isn't sure if she can save you, and this piece of shit behind the bars reckons she can."

Angie opened her eyes her words coming out broken "give her... give her... a chance Kmart. Put me in there with her...!"