Okay kids, this is an odd update-because seriously things couldn't stay all pretty and simple too long or it would just be boring.
Cracks in the Motar
October 1996
Claire Redfield watched as her brother Chris eyed Khail warily while she kept an eye on the two of them as they sat in the Emergency Waiting room. Jill Valentine, her brother's partner-and, in her opinion, unofficial girlfriend- had been severely injured with three other S.T.A.R.s members. Joseph Frost, Barry Burton and Bastian Shaw had all been hit with huge chunks of shrapnel from the bomb their crazed target had been armed with while Frost, Forest, Vickers, Chris and Captain Wesker had all escaped with minor cuts and abrasions.
Claire sighed, turning to glance out the large glass doors of Raccoon Regional Hospital. She knew that the press would be here fairly quickly but she just really hoped that they showed up after they could get home. The group of STARS operatives had become pretty close in the four months since their camping vacation. And her brother was finally accepting that she was seeing Mikhail . . . even if they were arguing a little more than normal.
She turned back, shaking her head at Khail as he tried to coerce Chris into a conversation about cars and bikes. Something they both knew held her brother's interests . . . but that he was deliberately playing stupid on so he didn't have to talk. Maybe she shouldn't have ridden with Khail instead of riding her bike. It would've been a lot easier on her brother . . .
But the ride had given them the time to work out a good bit of their issues.
A dark shadow fell over her shoulder, causing her to glance back and meet her own gaze reflected in Captain Wesker's dark tinted glasses. She felt her heart race as the man raised a gold brow at the scene with Chris before nodding to her and turning to look out the doors, removing his chipped sunglasses and putting them in a pocket of his vest.
Claire shifted, slightly uncomfortable around the stoic man just because of his sheer size and silence as she turned to look out the windows as well. The man may not be the most talkative or personable . . . but she appreciated him and what he'd done for Chris enough to make the extra effort to cover and accept his social short comings. Especially with Khail's blue-green eyes watching her carefully from beneath his own longer bluish black bangs, as if he was gauging her reaction to the situation.
But then again from everything he'd told her he wasn't really Wesker's biggest fan these days. The man was shaping up to be one of Bastian's closer friends . . . and had-apparently-been sniffing around his own little sister.
"Captain Wesker. Any word on the others, sir?"
Wesker sighed, shaking his head as he leaned back against the wall, arms folding over his battered black S.T.A.R.s Kevlar and uniform. He kept his ice blue eyes, strangely void of his trademark sunglasses, on the world beyond the Plexiglas doors, watching something she couldn't see very carefully. His usually groomed blonde hair was still combed back, but a subtle wave was beginning to emerge, giving his already bruised and bandaged appearance an even more surreal appeal. Not that it mattered. The man was still more put together than any of the rest of them, including the ones who hadn't been through the explosion. Claire wondered if anything could make the man look slouchy . . . because even battered and bruised he looked like he'd stepped out of a bad business meeting. Not a full on riot and bomb.
"Not yet, Miss Redfield. Vickers has been cleared to be released within a few hours but as far as I know the others are still in surgery or Pre-Op. They refuse to tell me much of anything useful at the moment."
Chris growled, turning away from Khail and locking eyes with Wesker. Claire groaned, seeing this coming a mile away. Her brother could shoot someone at 1500 yards and not break a sweat . . . but endanger someone he loved and after the adrenaline was gone he was a wreck. She just prayed he would keep his mouth shut. He needed his job almost as bad as she needed him to have his job for her sanity.
"That's such bullshit, Captain. Why can't they just let us know? These people are our team . . . our family."
Wesker nodded, his full lips pressed in a tight, white line.
"I am fully aware of such, Redfield. And I know you all want answers. But I cannot answer them when they will not answer my own."
Chris deflated, nodding forlornly as Khail and Claire shared a look. Hesitantly, her boyfriend reached out and placed a comforting hand on Chris's shoulder; his kind blue eyes showing nothing but warmth and understanding as he looked up at him, shocked. Claire listened, awed as Khail proved why he was so highly thought of by their friends. His compassion was all encompassing and contagious-when he chose to actually use it instead of being a jerk. He could even get his sister to feel better about something if he put his mind to it.
"It'll be okay, whatever happens. I know it seems pretty bleak but we just have to have some faith and believe that they're strong enough to overcome what's been thrown at them. People have a weird way of overcoming the most impossible odds with some support and understanding. Besides, I know for fact that Bastian is too damned stubborn to let something like a bomb take him out."
Claire smirked as she ribbed him, neither mentioning the dark blush across his cheeks as he realized other people had been listening.
"So says the Psychology major. No wonder you did so damn well in your clinicals, hon."
Mikhail blushed darker as Chris watched him, reevaluating the worth of him as one of Claire's . . . friends by the merit of his words. He wasn't too thrilled that she was dating the man but hearing that he wasn't always the sarcastic, aggravating little shit he'd almost gutted when they'd gone camping made him feel slightly better. A loud noise brought their attention to the front doors where a lone woman came hurrying in out of the torrential downpour that had started suddenly.
At first-from the rain drenched trench and clacking heels- he'd assumed she was either a doctor or maybe a reporter. But when she stepped closer he saw it was actually Bastian and Mikhail's sister Chaosia. Her eerie light eyes scanned the group of them before she spotted her brother, her voice sounding relieved and fretful all at once as she called out to him.
"Mikhail?"
Khail moved away from them, walking quickly as he stepped forward to hug the drenched girl. He tugged her close, his arm going around her waist as he held her. She looked up at him through her lashes, the thick droplets of water clinging to her lashes and bangs making it hard to tell if she was really crying or if it was the rain.
Though her red and puffy eyes made it easy to see it was both.
"Hey Chaos. How was the ride?"
The girl rolled her eyes, flipping her hair out of her face before looking back up at him. Her bottom lip almost trembled as she spoke, her eyes searching his as she leaned a little heavier into her brother. Chris felt bad for her. She and Khail were close but-according to both Bastian and Claire- they bickered almost constantly. Bastian however was her rock; the one who'd pretty much raised her after her mother had passed away. And from the way she looked about ready to crumble, she wasn't as hopeful that everything was going to be okay.
"What are they saying? How bad is it? I heard on the radio and the news that it was a class 2 explosion-"
Khail shushed her, rubbing her arms; shaking his head at the water that wicked from the coat and fell to the floor in thick droplets. He sighed, stepping back from her before he motioned for her to hand over the thick black coat and her dark blue scarf.
"We don't know anything yet, Chaosia. Just breathe . . . everything's gonna be fine. Okay? You just need to breathe."
She stepped back from him, shrugging out of her coat and tossing it onto the back of one of the ugly hospital couches; dropping her scarf atop it as she reached up and smoothed her hair out of her face. She was dressed in a black satin pants suit, the blazer tailored to fit her; the long cuffs of the white tuxedo shirt peaking beneath the fitted sleeves. The long trousers tapered down her legs, resting above the gleaming black stilettos on her feet; the pointy toes and sharp heels catching the light with every move she made. But what kept drawing his eye was the long glittering silver key dangling from her neck; nestled right above her cleavage.
Chris shook himself, watching as Chaos stepped back into her brother's arms; making the size difference between them a bit more obvious. But even with their differences it was easy for him to see that they were related. And that while she was holding it together she wasn't going to be placated the way that he hoped she would.
"I'll breathe when I know he's okay, Mikhail. I've seen class 1 explosions mutilate people nearly beyond recognition. Even when the victims were over twenty five feet away. And from everything I've heard the squad was right ontop of the bomber. So I'm going to ask again. What are they saying?"
Khail sighed, looking over to Wesker before he repeated what the man had said. And Chris watched Chaos's eyes travel over his captain, checking him over before she turned to the rest of them. She nodded to him as he gave her a tired grin, her eyes traveling to Claire skeptically before she turned back to Khail. And Chris was happy that he saw the same flicker of aggravation there that he'd had when he'd seen her brother.
Even if it wasn't as pronounced as it usually would be.
Khail looked over to Claire, his sister moving to nod to Chaosia before she looked down at her shoes. He watched Claire inspect the gleaming crocodile skinned heels with unveiled interest before she shook her head, looking up to the older girl with a hesitant smile. She pushed her red hair out of her face, tugging her jacket tighter around her as Chaosia looked her over.
"How do you walk in those things, Chaosia?"
The girl blinked before shrugging, her lips spreading into a tired smile; her fingers pushing through her almost white blonde curls as she ducked her head. And he watched her make an effort to be polite to Claire. Even though he knew she was about as thrilled about the two dating as he was. Something Bastian had laughed over every single time he'd talked to him and Wesker.
"Habit. I have to at least be able to look Khail and Bastian in the eye or they think they can run all over me."
Claire laughed softly, looking to Khail knowingly as he blushed. But as he went to speak to defend himself the Doctor came out, calling for the S.T.A.R.s team members. Chris followed Wesker, listening intently as the man talked with the physician and asked a whole slew of questions he hadn't even thought of yet. And-from the way the scrubbed man stumbled- the doc hadn't really expected it.
"Is their condition stable?"
The doctor nodded, rubbing his neck sheepishly as he glanced down to his feet. Wesker raised a brow as Chris fought the urge to snap, neither of them very happy with the man's inability to answer a single question. Finally the young doctor looked up, his eyes locking on Chris's. Completely avoiding Wesker's even though he was the one speaking.
"For now, yes. Officer Shaw sustained fairly severe burns while Officer Valentine has cracked ribs and a sprained wrist. Officer Burton is out of surgery now, the nicked arteries in his legs cauterized and closed. We'll be keeping them overnight for observation and- if their condition is stable-may release them as early as the day after tomorrow."
"Shaw was the closest to the blast, Doctor. Are you sure there are no internal injuries or a slow bleed? I would hate for you to discharge him with a clean bill of health only to bury him in a few days' time. The same with Valentine and Burton."
The doctor went to glare at Wesker before he seemed to come to his senses, nodding as he removed his cap.
"We'll make sure to check them again, Captain Wesker. But for now there's nothing else you can do. I would suggest you all go home. We'll call you if there's any change."
Chris shrugged as the man turned on his heel and stomped away, turning to Wesker as he sighed and glared after him. He jerked his chin after the retreating surgeon, grinning at his Captain mean spiritedly.
"Gee Captain. I think you hurt his feelings."
Wesker snorted, giving him a pointed look before his eyes traveled over to the others. Claire was standing close to Khail and Chaos, all three looking after the fleeing doctor in confusion. Well, Claire and Khail were confused but Chaosia seemed to be getting angry; her eyes hardening as she glared at the man's back. Chris turned to Wesker, going to explain what he thought was going on before he stopped; stunned. Wesker stepped away from him and towards Chaos, extending his hand as soon as he was close enough to almost touch her. It didn't escape his notice that Khail watched with interest as Chaosia took the offered appendage . . . or that he seemed a little irritated when the girl stepped into him. But what really got him was the way Wesker was acting. Almost like he was concerned with how the girl had pretty much snubbed him.
He knew they'd gone out together a few times-that she'd visited him at the precinct-but Bastian would've said something if the two of them were actually seeing one another . . . right?
He moved over, listening to Wesker tell them-well actually Chaos- about what the idiot had just told them. And he watched the girl start to relax more and more, her fingers threading through his as she nodded.
"They're just coming out of surgery . . . and so long as they make it through the night then the staff is hopeful. They will more than likely be hospitalized for a few days just to be safe."
Chaos nodded, tucking stray curls behind her ear as she shifted on her heels; looking up at Wesker through her lashes. Even in the stilettos she was still shorter than her brothers . . . putting her right under Wesker's chin. Chris turned, raising a brow at Claire as she shrugged. She apparently didn't have a clue either.
"And Bastian? He's okay? No internal bleeding or possible organ trauma? Any systemic or nerve damage?"
Wesker nodded, his gloved thumb moving over her knuckles as he spoke to her. But Chris noticed-even as he told her about him dragging her brother out of the flames- he left out the slight detail that Bastian had been closest to the device. And that the only reason he wasn't back there being cut into was because Shaw had actually grabbed him by his vest and tossed him back seconds before the bomb blew.
"He's fine, Chaosia. Burnt and probably sore but fine. They're going to run another full body scan tomorrow just to double check. Redfield got us out before he had time for any damage to be permanent. They're saying that it's safe for us to go home for the night. And that should anything unexpected arise they'll contact us immediately."
Chaosia glanced back at Chris, never letting Wesker's hand drop as she gave him an almost bashful smile. Which was totally different from the way she'd just been looking at his Captain. What in the hell was going on here? Her voice however shook him from his thoughts.
"Thank you, Chris. For watching out for them."
Chris blinked, nodding as she stepped away from Wesker and back towards her family and friends. But even as Claire started asking about where they were going to stay he couldn't help but notice that Wesker was still glancing at Chaosia; her hand still in his. Chris shook his head, turning back to watch Claire move to help Khail get ready to leave. He sighed, moving to follow as the group started towards the door. He just wanted to go home, bathe, eat and then sleep. And maybe, just maybe when he woke up tomorrow he would find out all of this was some weird dream.
Hours later Chaos was throwing the last of her clothes in the stacked washer, relocating her sheets to the dryer. She knew it would mean she wasn't sleeping for a while but she couldn't stand the thought of sleeping on dirty, stale sheets. She'd been staying up at the lake for the last week; only coming back to go in at the morgue earlier today. And she hadn't had a chance to catch up on her laundry before she'd left. She shuddered, closing the lid as she shook her head.
God she just wanted to go to sleep . . . because she had to be at the hospital in about three hours.
She turned, going to leave the tiny utility room when she noticed something in the doorway. She jumped, clutching her chest before she realized who it was and glared; trying to steady her racing heart. She pushed by him, shaking her head as she grumbled.
"I see you let yourself in."
He sighed, catching her and pulling her into him; tugging her hips flush with his as he dipped and ran his nose down hers. She stilled before huffing, trying to turn from him before he caught her cheek; tilting her face back up to his. He ran his light blue eyes over her face, caressing her cheek with his thumb as he studied her.
"Are you alright?"
She rolled her eyes before she shrugged, glancing up at him through her lashes. And she had to admit the groan he let out when she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth made liquid heat pool in the pit of her stomach. It was a definite rarity for her dealings with him that he actually showed any concern or relinquished anything to her-intentionally or not. Usually he was the one with the upper hand . . . even in the bed they'd only recently begun sharing.
"I don't know . . . I just-ask me tomorrow after he wakes up okay?"
He nodded as he looked her over, his eyes searching hers before his lips spread into a tired grin. He dipped, brushing his lips over hers as he spoke.
"I must admit even under the circumstances I was relieved to see you."
He tugged her closer, kissing the corner of her lips as she blushed; her fingers tracing the lapels of his uniform shirt seemingly on their own. And she noticed that she actually had to keep herself from sliding her arms around his neck and just leaning into him completely. Maybe it was the shock and stress or maybe it was how badly she'd missed him but she just wanted to touch him. Before her mind started working again and she remembered why she was pissed at him.
"You haven't returned a single call in almost a week, Dear Heart. Would you care to enlighten me as to why?"
She stilled before she shook her head, trying to step away. He kept her close, refusing to let her loose before she growled. She stretched up and grazed his clean shaven chin with her teeth hard enough to let him know she wasn't playing; only to gasp as he growled and slashed his mouth against hers forcefully. After a few intense seconds he pulled back, his icy eyes scanning her face as he pushed her back against the doorframe; lifting her from her feet and positioning himself between her legs. Which easily wrapped around his waist as his mouth started working over her neck and exposed shoulder.
She sighed, threading her fingers through his honey blonde hair as he thrust his hips into hers. She closed her eyes, moaning as he nipped at the curve of her neck. But she knew she needed to answer his question before they got too far into anything. He might not have expected her to cut contact but now that she had she was well aware of how badly he'd want to know even the most miniscule detail of why. He was always analyzing; always plotting and thinking.
She shifted in his hold, leaning in to whisper to him as he continued his assault on her neck.
"I-I encountered something that I needed time to adjust to. I-can we just talk about it later?"
Wesker pulled back, looking her over as he raised a brow. Apparently he hadn't suspected anything like that. She sighed, rubbing her cheek against his as she continued. Secretly relishing the way he pushed against her even harder. If they could stay like this then she wouldn't have to think or feel about what she'd learned . . . she could just pretend she'd never found out and be happy in his arms again. Wesker however snorted, leaning back in to graze her neck with his teeth; nipping at the spot right below her ear before he answered her. His voice wrapping around her like warm velvet.
And completely crushing any hope she'd had of just being able to forget.
"No, no I think not. I would love to know what you could've possibly encountered to make you withdraw from me. Especially when you are the one that insisted we inform your brother we had begun a physical relationship."
She closed her eyes, trying not to flinch at the way he'd worded his response. Before it wouldn't have bothered her . . . but now-now it was like something was grating against her heart with broken glass. He wouldn't even say she was his girlfriend or his lover. She was the person he was in a 'physical relationship' with. It sounded like a polite way of saying she was a bedwarmer.
Just like the others before her-except apparently for her.
She stilled, reaching up and pulling his face from her skin; cupping his cheek as she searched his confused tired eyes. She knew Albert was a genius . . . egotistical and borderline manic sure but he was brilliant. And despite everything she suspected-knew if she was honest with herself- he might be capable of she cared for him. Far more than she should. But something in his tone made her worry. When he made up his mind he went through with it-usually-and it was rarely ever something that benefited anyone but him. And with the way he generally didn't conform to social convention-only following the strict etiquette of the upper caste when he was around other people- she knew that he was probably clueless/careless as to why what she'd found out had hurt her so badly. Which was exactly part of what had made her pull away from him to begin with. Finally she sighed, brushing her thumb against his cheekbone tenderly.
"Please Albert. It's been a bad day-a bad few weeks. I really just want to shower and crawl in bed. I don't want to fight. Not tonight. I almost lost Bastian. Almost lost you. I don't want to risk that twice."
He nodded, tugging her back to him before he kissed her; thoroughly and slowly. She fought him at first but as soon as his tongue pushed past her lips she melted; wrapping herself back around him. Damn him but she couldn't fight him. Not when he was being like this.
"I apologize, Dear Heart. I just find myself . . . puzzled. Mere weeks ago you could barely manage to keep your hands off of me. Now you just seem . . . distant. Withdrawn."
She froze, her eyes closing as they started to prickle with tears. She fought to recover before he noticed but to no avail; his grip on her tightening as he narrowed his eyes at her. When he spoke again his voice was no longer soft and caring; it was hard and commanding. And she knew she was going to have to answer him.
"What is wrong? I speak and you flinch as though I've struck you. What has brought on this change Chaosia?"
"I know about Ada. I-I talked to her. She told me everything-about your affair."
His face turned serious, all expression fading almost instantly before he frowned and shook his head. He caught her neck right below her jaw, forcing her face up to his as he glared at her. His eyes blazed with fury as he looked down at her, making her heart ache and twist.
"What do you know about that? About her?"
She gave him a pained look, shaking her head as much as his grip would let her.
"I answered your phone when you stayed-when you were here last. It was that woman. Ada Wong. I told her I would have you call her back-thinking it was something to do with your work but she asked who I was. I didn't know what else to say other than your girlfriend-even though you hate the label. She hung up . . . But later that night she was waiting on me when I left the morgue."
She dropped her eyes, closing them to keep the building tears at bay. She knew how he felt about tears and weakness, the very conversation one of the first they'd had once they were both back in Raccoon City. And despite everything else she wasn't about to let him think any less of her than he already did.
Especially since he apparently didn't think much of her at all.
"She told me that you've been sleeping with her, Albert. That you have been steadily for almost three years. Even after I-we . . . and that no matter what promises you were making me she knew you wouldn't stop seeing her. She was your lover."
He growled, squeezing before he let her go; pushing away from her and stalking towards the door. She sighed as he practically wrenched her front door open, pushing her hair out of her face as she watched him stop just inside the doorframe. Why had she said anything at all? She pulled her knees to her chest, resting her cheek on them as she closed her eyes. She didn't want to watch him wall himself off again.
It always left her heart aching.
"This was a mistake. Its obvious you refuse to adhere to the terms we set . . . and I am far too tired and involved to play games in the middle of the night to quench your childish yearnings for the illusion of romance. There is nothing between us but physical attraction. Pure chemistry and biology playing out in its basest form. I had hoped you understood that . . . but for once I was wrong. Good night, Chaosia. Do not meddle in my affairs again."
He moved again, pushing down the steps and through the rest of her house. And all she could think was how stupid she was . . . why had she said anything at all? At least when he was fooling around with Ada-and whoever else- she had him the rest of the time. Now she didn't have him at all. She pushed her face into her hands, finally letting herself cry. Over a man that had just stood there and told her he cared absolutely nothing about her.
God she really was turning out like her mother.
Wesker growled, pushing the sleek black 96 Jaguar XJ220 as hard as he could; listening to the engine gear and shift in time with his own movements. He knew it was only a few minutes to his own house but right now he didn't care. He just wanted to get home and make a call . . . then he could finally bury the issue of Chaosia altogether. He'd been worrying- fretting over her before he'd gone on that stupid assignment, trying to figure out why she wasn't answering his calls. He'd done as she asked, told her brother that he was sleeping with her. And then she'd up and disappeared, refusing to answer her cell or either of the phones at her home. When he'd gone to the morgue to check on her, to see if she was just overworking and had forgotten to call he'd been informed by Connors that she'd taken a week off.
He'd been flabbergasted, refusing to admit to Bastian that he hadn't known that Chaosia had gone out of town. Or why she wasn't talking to anyone. Only for her to stroll into the hospital tonight like it was nothing.
And even then she barely spared him a glance until he'd started telling her about her brother.
He snorted, turning into his driveway quickly before he cut the lights. He let the engine idle quietly as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He'd known going into all of this that the girl was younger-therefore naïve- and he'd need to tread lightly. But he'd never expected to have go to the lengths he'd gone to . . . or for her to be knowledgeable of his affairs outside of their partial relationship.
But they'd done both.
He sighed, shaking his head before he slumped back into the seat; trying to let the stress of the day dissipate. First the shit with Irons, then not knowing what to make of her going AWOL. Then the riot and bomb incident . . . God he hated to say it but after his shock had worn off he'd been happy to see her. Actually almost damn near thrilled.
And she'd been willing to indulge him anything he'd had planned until he'd asked her what was wrong. God and then she'd mentioned Ada. But now that he thought about it her tone hadn't been resentful or accusing. Actually it had seemed normal; her wording clipped and she'd refused to look at him but she hadn't screamed and carried on the way she did with her brothers. It was like she'd accepted it had happened- would probably continue to- and while she wasn't fine with it she knew she couldn't stop it.
And he'd gone and overreacted.
Maybe she wasn't the only one with grave misconceptions about the depth of their relationship. Because he'd been angry to have been discovered or mentioned . . . but not because he'd worried over his cover and his position. He'd been more terrified-even if just for a moment- that she was going to turn away from him. So he'd turned from her first.
He shook his head, turning his lights back on as he backed out of his driveway. He had to be at the hospital before six-and then the office as soon as he could-but work be damned. He needed to talk with William- who was going to help him fix this. Now. And he and Ada Wong were going to have a nice long conversation about what she could and could not disclose to his damned whatever she was.
yeah . . .
Chaosia rolled, trying to get comfortable in her big empty bed. She sniffled, fluffing another pillow before finally giving up and flopping back into the mounds of down and cotton. She might be distraught over what had happened with Alber-Captain Wesker but she was not going to lay here and not sleep because he wasn't here. So what if he'd pretty much taken to staying here every night he wasn't on duty . . . and so what he was probably out with that-that Ada woman. She might not like the idea but until he proved otherwise they were through. She whimpered, rolling again and burying her face in the nearest pillow and screamed.
She had to snap out of this! She was not going to end up like her mother.
Sighing to herself, she tossed the covers back and got up, heading to her bathroom to soak away her sorrows. It wasn't like she was actually going to sleep with everything she'd had happen the past few days anyway. She moved past her dresser, flinching when her phone rang. She picked the Star-tac up, flipping the thick black cell open to check the caller ID; nearly dying when she saw who it was.
But why was he calling her?
She almost hit the talk button when she stopped herself. The hospital would call her before they called him, meaning that this wasn't about her brother. This was him probably calling her to tell her they were through. And that was something she'd really rather listen to after she checked on her brother in a few hours. She hit ignore before tossing the phone back on the dresser, shaking her head as the phone started to vibrate again.
She moved towards the tub, running a hand down her face as she started crying again; trying not to let herself start fretting over it. Again. She'd lived before Albert Wesker and as much as it might hurt right now she could live without him. She just needed to live through the next few days first.
