Chapter 2 : Awake

A week had passed and chris visited piers eveyday. Everyday he would sit near his bed, and talk about all the incidents that occurred during his time in the BSAA. Deep inside he knew Piers wasnt listening to any of it but he never gave it much thought. Chris pretended he was okay with it but jill, claire, fredericks and even he himself knew he was lying to himself.

Next morning. 8 days had passed since Piers had returned. Around 8 o clock the phone at Chris's apartment rang but before he could stand up the phone stopped ringing. He closed his eyes again wondering who it was.

Ring-Ring

The phone rang again, this annoyed Chris and successfully broke his sleep. Now he had to attend it. But standing up posed a problem as the beautiful blonde was laying on top of him and he didnt want to break her sleep as well. He slowly slided away from her, carefully placing her head on a pillow. Chris wore his shorts and slowly stepped out of his room to pick up the phone. He was in the mood to scold the bastard calling so early in the morning.

"Mr redfield?!" came a familar voice.

Chris didnt even open his mouth, he wasnt given the chance to.

"Hello? chris?"

It was doctor Fredricks for sure.

"Yes, doctor. What's going on?" Said chris quietly but was a bit confused.

"I didn't mean to disturb you but this is of the utmost importance. Piers... he has woken up and waiting for you as we speak" fredericks said quickly.

Chris didn't say anything. After a few seconds, he hung up and just stared directly into the abyss. His heart throbbed with fear and nervousness but why? Was he ashamed to face his former partner? was he sick of being tormented by his stupid thoughts?

"Babe? Is everything alright?"

A soft voice rang through Chris's ear, he turned around to see Jill in her robes with her head cocked slightly to the right. Chris stepped forward, apparently he wasnt shocked. He took a deep breath before wrapping his arms around Jill, burrying his head on her neck.

Jill hugged back and was about to speak when Chris interrupted her.

"He is finally awake, Piers is awake"

That was good new but why was Chris so frazzled? Probably because he was too tired of being tormented by his own thoughts.

Jill kissed Chris's fleshy cheek and whispered "Get dressed, he is waiting for you"

Chris always loved Jill being by his side and making him smile and right now she did it again.

During the short drive Chirs kept on thinking what would happen next when he finally gets to meet him. Since last week he kept on talking to an unconscious Piers but this time he would be listening and responding as well.

They both entered the sloan central hospital but didnt bother to speak to the receptionist and the receptionist became used to this.

Outside his room, Jill held the door knob and looked at the buffed soldier infront of her, who was clearly anxious. She took a deep breath and opened the door.

There he was, a thin, brownhaired soldier staring directly at them with the same expression as the couple that had barged in his room.

Chris wondered, before coming inside the room, "its too good to be true". But he was proven wrong.

A few seconds passed, silence surged throughout the room.

"C-c-captain?" Piers finally managed to utter a couple of syllables.

Chris moved forward and without speaking hugged Piers. The feeling was mutual as piers also hugged, but with one arm though.

"It is good to see you Piers, you managed to survive." Chris said after a few moments passed by.

Jill could only smile witnessing such a moment.

They let go, Piers noticed a gorgeous blonde staring directly at them.

Jill stepped forward still holding her smile.

"Miss valentine! It is--"

"It is good to see you too Piers. And i told you many times, call me Jill" said Jill interrupting the Young soldier while also rapping her arms around his thin neck.

Piers didnt see this coming, it surpirsed him enough to wake up not dead, meet his captain and now this.

As Piers smiled back at Jill he turned his attention back to Chris whose expression had changed suddenly. Without uttering, Chris gestured Piers to sit with him, which he did. This was between the two BSAA soldiers but Jill also sat with them, she was now a part of this situation.

"Piers, you know yourself that i lost my whole team twice in six months. I felt like a true failure : striving for revenge, being blinded by rage and anger, not focusing on my mission and pretending to be compassionate. Their deaths were on me. You were my partner, my only team left. WHY DID YOU DO THAT AT THAT MOMENT?!" Chris's frustration took over. "Why did you push me into the pod and stayed back? You know what that made me feel? It was like everything that i did, it didnt matter anymore, whatever i did someone died. Why didnt you come with me?! Why depend on miracles to save you?! Goddamn it, Piers!"

Piers felt Chris's frustration, he felt devastated. He looked away for a moment, closing his eyes, realizing Chris's trauma. But it wasnt a selfish act.

"I...uh..." Piers started speaking "Im sorry, captain. I never knew it would affect you this much, but what i did wasnt for myself" Piers looked up.

Chris and Jill both were now very curious to what piers had to say

"As soon as we eliminated that B.O.W, i felt my consciousness fading. At first i thought it was me getting tired but then i felt my insides becoming hard like stones, brown fluid starting to secrete from my scars and my mutated arm. I was becoming a cocoon like the other hostile we encountered, like...finn and our fallen comrades."

Chris remembered his old team and finn's face when he slowly transformed into a cocoon.

"It was just a matter of time and i knew if i went with you i would surely become a cocoon and attack you eventually. You wouldnt be able to take me down in such a cramped space and i doubt you would've fired at me. It was for your safety, Chris and...i didnt want to become a monster. It wasnt because i wanted to stay it was because i had to stay" Piers said with comfidence.

Chris realized at that moment, all his frustration was caused by his own mentality. He had become accustomed to blaming himself. Piers did the right and justified thing, Chris never even bothered to look at the bright side, which was why he always suffered. But he only wanted to save everyone, he was also right.

Chris was quiet at his spot, he had nothing to say. More like he didnt know what to say. He felt Jill's hand embracing his

" You're one brave soldier Piers, im glad you're Chris's partner. Thank you for saving this idiot and taking care of him"

Jill smiled happily at Piers.

Chris looked back at Piers and nodded in acknowledgement.

Just then Leon entered the room with Claire. Piers greeted Claire as did meet her before going to China with her brother.

The ladies left the room to get report from Doctor Fredricks

"Hello, Piers. My name is Leon kennedy."

Leon extended his left hand.

"Yeah, we've met before. You're with the secret service right?. Its an honour to meet the person who saved the presidents daughter" Piers shook his hand.

Both Chris and Leon gave Piers company until the visiting hours were over.

Outside his room, Fredericks gave the report to Chris and Leon regarding Piers. it showed that Piers is healthy and more than ready to be discharged. But Chris knew he couldn't take care of himself alone, he needed someone to be there for him. Piers would not agree to live with Chris seeing Chris has his own life now with Jill. But Chris was determined to sort out a way.

This didnt feel like a problem to Chris but more of a professional courtesy. Leon was determined to help, he knew what Chris was thinking but Leon wanted to be a support. His idea was certainly weird but in a way admirable.

"Chris? I think i know a way".

a long chapter this one, eh? so we all know who leon is suggesting, right?

Added some chris x jill as well hope ya'll liked it.