-Kill the Ones You Love-

Boulder Hospital, Boulder, Colorado

She woke in a hospital bed she was not supposed to be in. Hooked up to an IV and a heart rate monitor, she understood she'd been admitted. Her dad was loitering by the window. He must have done it when she fell asleep in the truck curled in on the unconscious form of her husband. Still tired, she was feeling more balanced anyway.

"Asshole."

"Good morning, Eva. It's been two days."

"What?! Shit."

Frustrated, she knew the facade was up. Wesker had been suspecting her flagging health for a while as they spent too much time together. One of the reasons to avoid him through the years. He'd have figured her out in a heartbeat. He'd judge her unfairly.

Speaking of heartbeat, she removed the pads one by one off her chest. She'd have to wash. Wesker moved from the window closer to the bed but did not try to stop her. He pressed a switch behind one of the monitors to silence the alarms and removed his sunglasses to meet her eyes properly. This was serious.

"The doctors checked medical records to understand what was occurring with your odd stats. Your diagnosis is classified unknown, although the nature of the illness was identified as a previously unseen form of cancer. Cells in your body are eating away at you. In time, your organs will fail."

She sat up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed, contemplating the IV needle. Normally she would rip it out with no second thoughts. Wesker wouldn't approve, which showed when he moved around to pull the line out himself. Her grumpiness got the better of her.

"They haven't discovered the R-Virus in case you're worried about that. Or its cure which is successful, only with a side effect of death."

"Eva."

"Okay. Technically with a side effect of a majorly shortened lifespan."

Wesker placed the IV needle and tubing on the pillow, applying pressure to the removal site. "Why wouldn't you tell me you were terminally ill? I could research a solution, a cure. You don't have to die. Is this some self-fulfilling prophecy?"

She couldn't hold in the laugh. "You gotta be kidding. You think this is some guilt-tripping? Redemption doesn't equal death, no matter how many morons seem to think that."

"Has your primary doctor given you a prognosis?"

Her fingers became very fascinating. "The official report? In a year my body will display symptoms of viral rejection. I have maybe three years left. Maybe."

Despair threatened to emerge and she swallowed it down with the ever-present grief. Finally finding Chris alive and hopefully okay was amazing. It didn't change anything though. She was still dying. Her kids would be left with an aging relative, a soon to be dead mother, and a probable psychologically scarred father who they never met. Yep, the future was just going to be the best.

Wesker's features softened, less judgmental, more care. "He hasn't woken yet, if that's what you're wondering."

"Is he okay?"

"Physically, he'll be fine."

"Is he still going to be all," she drew mimed lines of dark veins from neck to cheek. "Uh, different?"

"The chemical has left his body, along with the formula making him the weapon he was crafted to be."

She considered as she pulled her arm from his grasp. "Does that mean he's human?"

His eyebrows rose while he put the sunglasses back on. "I procured blood samples to determine his infection level. I would presume the variant R-Virus is his body's default. I cannot confirm at this time."

"Ugh. Talk to me about something else." She surveyed the room for her clothes. "How's everyone else? Have they been released?"

"They have. They're due to arrive in the afternoon. Plenty of time to feed you."

"Mm. Lunch. Let's. I'm starving."

"It's morning."

"It's time to visit Chris first I'd say," Eva muttered, distractedly watching two familiar people walk by her room. "He might be awake."

Forgetting her clothes, she paused to slide into a pair of white slippers. Out the door, she peeked in either direction before heading after the government employees who insisted on keeping this case. They should leave the investigation to her and the team brought together. It would be ideal for their health.

Her dad followed her into a room around the corner where the agents went inside. It was Chris's room as she thought, and he was awake as she hoped. Krauser was sitting in the corner behind the partially shut door seeming relaxed, but she knew he was perched to attack if required. Leon stood by the side of the bed, lowering the cup and straw in his hands to set on the table.

Eva moved to the foot of the bed, Nivans and Harper choosing to stand on the side of the bed opposite Leon. They looked prepared for an interview, for questioning. He wouldn't be arrested, would he? He was technically guilty of his crimes. He committed those crimes when he wasn't in his right mind. That meant they'd release him into secure custody, right? She would never let them quarantine him. He wasn't infectious. He wasn't a danger anymore. He'd be him again.

"Chris."

He didn't look at her, nor her direction. Avoidance was understandable. Eva's stomach clenched from the hurt of it anyhow. She loved him. She wanted to express she was here for him and cared so much. The agents stared between them as if waiting to hear what conversation they'd hold. They were shit out of luck then.

Acting like wandering away a few feet to sit in an available chair was what she wanted to do, she did that. Chris rested against the pillows more, staring ahead. Wesker positioned to look at him. He stepped backward and leaned on the wall, arms folding, continuing to stare with impunity. The shades made his intrigue less obvious, to an outsider perhaps.

"I'm Agent Harper and this is my partner, Captain Nivans. We're with the Division of Security Operations. Can you state your name for us, please?"

His stare switched to the lumps beneath the blanket that were his knees. "Chris Redfield."

"Our job is to ascertain culpability, Mr. Redfield. Whatever you can give us to lead to an end to the fear plaguing this country, would be beneficial to your cause."

Silence. Agent Harper tapped her pen to the pad in hand. "Alex Archer is priority number one. We've released a description to every agency. He gets apprehended, guy practically running the entire black market of bio-weaponry, there won't be many more questions after that. You understand?"

Krauser chuckled from the corner. "It's a mad world. Been that way for some time."

"Are you familiar with Nietzsche's work at all?" Captain Nivans asked Chris. "Because the issue in these cases lends to a popular quote."

They seemed to understand he was another victim, not a perpetrator worth punishing. Eva believed his past record could attest to Chris Redfield's good nature and strength of character. He was worth saving, even to those who were strangers.

"I won't get it exact, but it goes something along these lines. Should you fight monsters, you should take care not to become one yourself. You spend too long looking into the abyss, it'll see you right back."

"We can't go back," Chris murmured to the sheets.

Harper looked annoyed at her partner and struggled to pay sole attention to the admitted patient. "Mr. Redfield?"

The military one of the pair moved off from the bedside toward Leon. "Going by what we know, if you think you freed Chris, you freed Legend too."

"That's not helpful, Piers." Harper attempted to salvage the questioning. "We've been made aware a chemical was used to control you. Something similar was uncovered in a prior case. I believe you were friends with the woman, old partners. A Ms. Valentine."

Silence. Stare. Right. Eva started toying with the hospital gown she forgot she was wearing until then.

"If there's anything you could tell us? Anything we could use to find the man who hurt you?"

He wasn't talking. He didn't appear interested in his surroundings. His eyes were dulled.

Nivans wrapped up the visit. "Upon release from the hospital, you're free to go for now, in a manner of speaking. DSO Agent Kennedy will be charged with your supervision. Don't make me regret it."

It was surprising considering how Captain Nivans sounded in regards to Chris moments earlier. His tune now seemed trusting. Unexpected but she was thankful. Her father put a hand on her shoulder and she found her clothes passed to her. Rebecca jumped in to assist, appearing at the door in the nick of time to stop the pile falling. The jacket was a bit weighty.

Rebecca signaled the arrival of the other two, one wheelchair bound and the other pretty immobile as well. A short visit with Chris and they went for lunch in the cafeteria. It was dragged out. Separation from the unblemished, yet internally damaged man temporarily eased their souls. Once the break they allotted themselves was over, they were able to return to the hospital room feeling united. They left the hospital after Chris was discharged in the late afternoon.

The car hardly began motion when Chris asked for them to make a stop before arriving at the house provided to be their shelter. Leon had a couple rich acquaintances who felt they owed favors for help he'd given in the past. The extra stop wasn't a problem. The cemetery wasn't far from the hospital. They wouldn't disappoint Chris on a thing this easy anyway.

His resignation to be told what to do, when to do it, had been discouraging. Eva was delighted he made a request. A depressing request was better than nothing. She admittedly was also riding the high of Chris's release when she was sure they'd keep him from her, unfairly locked away.

Eva, Claire, and Leon went with him while Krauser waited in the car. They were family. Leon had to assist his soon-to-be wife. With her injuries, she would be doing more resting than walking around in the coming days. Today wasn't that day though, not yet.

Chris sank to his knees, appraising his own grave. It was quiet, no words exchanged. She tried to read his face. The effort only let her hate herself when she inevitably couldn't. He had blank eyes pretty much always.

She knelt at his side, just waiting for anything.

"I thought it would be strange to see my own gravestone. A proven lie."

"I'm sorry, Chris," she said, straining to stifle her emotions.

"The world never changes."

Eva choked on her tears and it pissed her off. She was never this emotional. Motherhood changed a lot of things.

"What do you do when you cross lines you never thought you'd cross? Done things you never imagined because it was terrible. Can you come back? Can you ever come back?"

This was the first time he was talking to her. The distance was perceivable despite the lack of actual physical distance, but she'd take what she could get.

"Of course you can, Chris. You did." She was useless. Maybe she should wait in the car. "I... I should have fought for you."

She was crying. Thought the tears were long dried and finished. Life was excellent at bringing fresh feelings. Any moment old memories could seem new and raw. Life could really blow.

Eva stood up when he did. Claire and Leon were standing behind them, waiting patiently. He continued to be entranced by his grave marker.

"I am buried here."

"Chris?" Claire looked at him in concern. "It's okay if you're not okay. Are you okay?"

He smiled. All mouth, no eyes. "Don't worry for me. There's a whole world to worry over."

Effort counted?

Eva punched his shoulder with the one good hand she had. "You're not responsible for the things they made you do."

"The past is past," he replied, agreeable. "The future is our..responsibility."

Chris didn't really look, offering more of a glance to her. He headed back the way they came. No look as he left to indicate awareness of their feelings, of their love for him. He could never forget what he meant to them. He remembered all that, right?

"Claire, he's not fine," Leon whispered loud so Eva could hear too.

"Never saying it was okay because we knew it wasn't. He still remembers that. He's still like that. That's my brother."

The three of them observed Chris walking the rest of the way to the car. There was silence for the duration and Leon stood in between the two women a moment. Eva could sense he didn't desire to say what he was going to, but he was going to say it.

"You can't always trust what people say."

Claire turned, expression hard. "Leon."

He kissed her cheek and moved on to the car, completing what he had to say. "And that includes Chris."

They got in the car and drove onward to meet the other half of the team. She was tired in spite of her lengthy sleep at the hospital. Sherry showed her where she was sleeping and she quickly showered before lying down. Naturally her brain had to light up with insufferable anxieties which prevented sleep for hours.

After the first night, she decided the home they'd been put in was gorgeous. Something she could never afford. If she was honest, this kind of house wasn't something she would buy. Smaller meant cozier to her. Eva entered the library where Chris spent most of his time. He still didn't talk to her, or anybody really.

He sat among numerous books scattered in the area surrounding him. Hours were spent going through these books. Leon and Claire were sitting together fake reading while on Chris babysitting duty. Agent Kennedy had to assume full responsibility should acts of terrorism be committed by the released into custody suspect. Basically, they needed someone to blame for past attacks, New York specifically. Unless they got that from someone else, it would all get blamed on the victim they had in conditional custody.

Wesker walked past the door and she controlled the glare appearing. Her father didn't come in. It was likely he knew she was there and thinking she would rather he stayed out. Chris would talk to Wesker when prompted by his old enemy. He seemed drawn to seek comfort from that jerk over her. She told herself it was because of their now shared experience as global terrorists. She told herself it was the shared history working as teammates in the former special organization based out of Raccoon City. Truth was, she had no idea why he preferred Wesker's company above anybody else. Maybe she shouldn't know.

"End of pain is pleasant," Chris whispered to himself.

Billy strolled in smiling broadly. Picture of positive energy to contrast Chris's lethargy and choice for solitude. It wasn't working for his target, but she appreciated the thought. Everyone else could use happiness while they figured their next move. Eva matched his step to approach Chris with him. She had a hard time attempting to bother the man alone. Since they saved him, he was just so despondent.

He stood and dropped a book on the table in front of them. "A lot of these stories end tragic. They don't get their happy endings. Sometimes you do something to stop the world from turning into a monster."

Billy tilted his head to read the book covering and she copied to see. Dream's End. She wasn't familiar with that one. The man beside her kept his smile on.

"Good read?"

"Good? No."

Chris looked her in the eye and then started for the doors. Leon and Claire slowly stood but Eva waved them off. She and Billy could babysit, stupid as that felt to do for the heroic former team leader. He went to the bathroom, where they did not follow, and his room second. They avoided going inside with him too. Nivans might have ordered they lay eyes on at all times, but they had no intention to do that to their friend.

Next he hung about the kitchen for no discernible reason. Billy greeted his wife seated on a stool at the counter, who cheerfully looked up from her laptop to wave. The woman appeared even happier seeing Chris among them. Movement of some sort was supposed to be good, right?

Eva hoped he would eat; he didn't. She hoped he would speak to her, something real. No such luck. Jake wheeled in to sit at the table, asking for food. Sherry and Wesker were with him. Chris walked up to her while she lingered near the refrigerator with Rebecca, pondering aloud what they should cook for lunch.

He bent to kiss her like she dreamed so many times. It was exactly as she imagined and nothing like it at the same time. Eva shifted to her tiptoes to ease the strain in her neck, gripping the front of his shirt and kissing him back. The kiss was tender and full of love. She wasn't certain she actually recalled how it was kissing him or if she merely convinced herself she could.

So stunned, it took her a moment to open her eyes when she lost her grasp. He had gone. She looked at Wesker, who looked back before moving to sit at the table by Jake. Billy was frowning, shaking his head in slow puzzlement. He seemed to be working something out. She thought what that could be and she just knew.

"Billy, what's wrong?"

Eva didn't want to be right. It was the last thing she wanted. Her heart felt like it was pounding, lungs panic breathing audibly. They brought Chris to safety, but he wasn't well in the head. His behavior in the hospital, how he was at the cemetery... It was the true reason they listened to Captain Nivans's order to watch the freed prisoner. He barely spoke to them and when he did it was worrisome.

"How do you stop the world from turning into a monster?" Billy asked.

Claire dragged herself across the wall to move faster to the kitchen. "Where's Chris? It looked like he was driving a van away from here!"

Leon came to stand beside her. "Does anyone have eyes on?"

She closed her eyes. They protected him for a few days. How pathetic was that? Chris was gone. They let Legend out after all. They'd have to stop him to save him.