Chapter XXXV
Albert Wesker made his way up the stairs of Sherry's apartment complex with a sure step. William had left him the key to the entrance before he passed, and because of this there was no need for him to ring doorbells. It seemed trivial to him anyway. He could not picture a man like himself ringing a doorbell.
He wondered if the girl would be angry to see him there. She would probably be more confused than anything, after all, she did not know what relation he had to the boy in her apartment at the moment. A smirk passed over his lips as he rounded the corner and stopped in front of her door. This would be an interesting evening.
Inside the apartment Sherry sat on the couch absent mindedly staring at the television. Every time silence reigned she was only reminded of her father's death. It hung over her like the worst type of cloud. Her own insignificance was weighing heavy on her mind. She had never experienced death. It had always been someone else's relative who had died, and while she knew that the day would come when he would be gone – she never imagined that it would hurt so badly.
Jake nervously watched Sherry from the other side of the couch. She looked dazed and very confused. It seemed to him that everything about her had changed. Her eyes were no longer wide and sparkly, but half lidded and dim, even her skin tone seemed less radiant. She was definitely depressed. There was no doubt of that in his mind.
A sudden knock on the door made Sherry jump, she frowned and then swallowed.
"It's probably Jill," she murmured, standing, but Jake was already pulling her back down to the couch.
"It's not Jill… it's my dad."
Her eyes widened and narrowed. His dad? "Why would your dad be here right now Jake?"
His eyes hardened for a moment, then it seemed that he thought better of something and loosened his expression, "it's just… important, okay?"
"What?"
Jake didn't bother to respond, he stood from the couch and made a quick stride towards the door. Sherry stood, crossing her arms. Infuriated at his short explanation and confused beyond belief. Why would he want his father there? And why had he not told her, it was her apartment after all.
When Jake pulled the door open Sherry felt her stomach clench.
"What are you doing here?"
He stood there like an iron and marble God. He wore all black from head to toe, his professional pants wore dark and so was his button down shirt. The sleeves were perfectly length to his wrists and there were no wrinkles in it at all. His blonde hair was slicked back, away from his face. It made it look like his features were sterner then perhaps he meant to look.
The man cocked his head in her direction from his son. And for a moment Sherry felt as if though the room was spinning, she gripped the couch arm and placed a hand on her forehead. What was going on here? That's how dad knew about Jake... his friend is Jake's father… he wanted me to stay with this man… oh God that would mean I'd be living with Jake… Oh god this man is Jake's father!
"Sherry?" Jake made quick strides in her direction and carefully sat her down to the couch, kneeling in front of her and then looking up at her as she blinked down at her lap.
"This is too much," she breathed, aware of the fact that the man had not walked in… Wesker, that was his name. Wesker had not entered. But Jake's last name is Muller… maybe it's just his mom's last name.
"Are you feeling faint, Miss Birkin?" Albert asked, stepping forward now and slowly coming to her side. She looked up at him and shook her head no. His monotone expression remained, "are you certain that you are not lying?"
"Yes," she whispered, looking at Jake, "Jake this is your father?"
"You know one another?"
"Yes," she nodded, looking up at Wesker, "you came to see my dad… dad wanted me to stay with you."
"What!" Jake's eyes bulged, then he stood up and glared at his father, "you know Sherry then? And you never thought to tell me anything-
"I was not aware that I answered to my son," Albert responded, moving in front of Sherry and dropping until he was at eyelevel with her. His sunglasses reflected her. Her eyes were tired looking, her hair was in disarray and even worse she looked like she might actually faint. "Have you made a decision?"
"About?"
"About staying with my son and I." Albert clarified, "your father was certain that it would be the best decision for you. He and I were colleagues for many years and he entrusted me with your care should he pass away. I simply cannot overlook the fact that you appear as if though you are sick."
"I'm not sick," she stated, looking up at Jake who was glaring furiously at his father. "Jake…"
"So did you know?" Jake hissed, "you knew her father was dying and you never thought to tell me!"
"It is not your business," Albert murmured, analyzing his dead friend's daughter carefully. Her color was off, it made him wonder if she had indeed ingested something. "Jake, step out of the room-
"What?! No!" He protested, "I'm not leaving her with you-
"Jake, its okay," Sherry whispered, looking to him with a quiet confidence, "really-
"No, I'm staying," Jake growled, looking at his father and then taking seat on the arm of the chair. A moment of silence passed and then Albert spoke again, this time to Sherry.
"What have you been doing since your father has passed?"
"I… I didn't do anything," Sherry's nerves were on edge, Albert Wesker could read her easily, more easily then Jake who thought it was simply Sherry being awkward.
"Are you lying to me Sherry?" Albert wondered out loud, making Jake narrow his eyes, "are you absolutely certain that you did not do anything-
"Why does it matter to you?" Sherry exclaimed, standing up and walking past him and Jake, "I don't even know you!"
"I beg to differ," Albert stated, standing and turning, "you may not remember it but years ago when you were using drugs I was the one who cared for you while your father was trying to keep himself from killing them all. I was the one that found you initially."
"That was you!" She gasped.
"Yes."
I-I don't remember that night very well," Sherry whispered.
"I remember it all, especially that vile man, Krauser. Your father broke his nose after finding him on you."
"What!" Jake exploded and jumped to his feet. Suddenly he was marching towards Sherry but his father put on hand on his shoulder, stopping him completely, "you told me nothing happened!"
"I-I—
"Sherry was mostly unconscious, he did not get very far. The man was too high to find the last buttons of her shirt." Wesker stated. Sherry gave a shiver at the thought and shook her head, "have you been using drugs again?"
"No!" She exclaimed, shocked, "I – I…" her eyes moved to Jake, "did you tell your father that I was?"
Jake looked rather sheepish suddenly, "I-
"You thought I was using drugs?! Did you think I had lied to you or something?!"
Albert smirked at Sherry's anger. It is rather kittenish...
"I just needed to get him over here and I said that, I know you didn't use anything." Jake said. Her heart clenched, "trust me"
"I just don't know what your father is doing here."
Albert turned to his son, "I agree. What am I here for?"
"What's your connection to her father," Jake glared, pointing out the picture of her father on the table, "he's in a picture from back home."
"William Birkin and I worked together," Albert explained again and fixed his sunglasses, "and it is because of that that Sherry is coming to live with us."
"Excuse me?" Sherry glared, "no I'm not."
Jake's eyes sliced to her, "Sherry… maybe it's best that you-
"I want to stay here. I'm not leaving. This is my home—
"Sherry it's best that you are around people, I mean… it's not good for you to just be here all alone, that can't be good," he murmured,
"I know that you think that it's going to be like… a wreck if I am left alone. But I promise you that I'm not going to do anything I shouldn't." Her voice sounded more confident then she really felt, but steeling her will she repeated herself, "dad's funeral is in a week… I'll make sure to call you Jake, so that you know that everything is okay."
"Sherry I'm staying here," he asserted with a look that made her feel strangely small, "you want me to don't you?"
"You can if you want to," her eyes skated over to his father who stood just as imposing as the first time she had laid eyes on him, or at least the first time she remembered laying eyes on him. "If that's okay with you of course."
"Certainly," he muttered, "however I do not think it is appropriate. Your father would not have tolerated such a thing. You will stay with us, your father wanted it that way and it is best that you are in a new environment for some time-
"You don't get to tell me what to do," Sherry whispered, "you're not family-
"On the contrary," Wesker smirked, "I am your God-father Sherry Birkin. I was there the day your mother brought you into this world, and I am certainly not going to allow you to wallow in your father's memory. Now pack a bag girl, you are coming with us," he shrugged, "your father gave me something he wanted you to have anyway, and it is in my home. If you want it, you will pack a bag for a week and come now."
"What did he leave me?" Sherry whispered, biting her lip, "what was it?"
"A letter. I am to give to you, but he demanded that it be under my own roof. The contents of the letter are of vital importance."
Her raged began to boil, "you can't just withhold my things from me! That letter was for me not for you!"
Albert sighed, the girl was stubborn, "pack a bag miss Birkin, I do not have all day to argue with you." Jake looked to her pleadingly as she stared at his father in outrage.
"Just come," Jake smirked, "you know you want to."
"No Jake, I really don't!" She argued.
Yet, thirty minutes later Sherry found herself in the back of Albert Wesker's car, clenching her jaw angrily at his stubborn attitude and Jake Muller's half satisfied smirk.
I might merge the 'last two' chapters into one... but I'm not exactly sure yet... I'm thinking really hard on how exactly I want to finish the last two or ONE chapter... i know how it's going to end, and I can't wait to show you guys! :) Short, but it is coming to an end, so I'm trying to tie ends together.
Review:)
On another note, I might do another Jake/Sherry store or a Dante/Kat (Devil May Cry) Story... I'm still thinking, what do you all think? :)