Hello everyone! Three months and a day that I've posted. Sorry for the delay. I tried not to force the writer's block this time, but I don't know if it's made a difference or not. I hope you are satisfied with things so far. I have a lot of ideas...it's just making them appear on a screen. Let me know your thoughts. Was it worth the wait? Also I'd like to thank you all for such a warm reception with this story. Your words are so kind. Truly, they do mean a lot. Anyway, enough blabbing. Onwards!

No one says anything as they watch the presser going on a floor below them on the TV in the S.T.A.R.S office. A gaggle of reports are crammed into the room with few chairs, many forced to stand as the barrage the chief with questions that are essentially the same but phrased differently. No doubt hoping to trip up Irons.

Which is rather funny. Irons seems to be melting under the spotlights as they are shining directly on him. The team notices Irons has begun to fumble the answers he's been saying for the past twenty minutes.

'We want to assure the public that there is no immediate danger to them. I have my best people on this case.'

'Chief Irons? Clara Hunt RC Times, what about the other cases? This makes the fourth one with such similar patterns. Has the RPD connected them yet? Do the crime scenes have any clues you and the team can go on? The public wants to know they're safe.'

Irons wipes his forehead. 'The public is safe. You have my assurances.'

Chris frowns when he notices that Irons glances quickly at Wesker, stoically standing off to the side without saying anything.

'Those victims were eaten, Chief Irons.' Clara reminds him and Irons apparently disregards her comment, instead circling back to his previous comment.

'I have my best people working on this, Ms Hunt. Whatever the connections may be, my people will find them.'

'There have been rumours going around that this is the work of cultists, care to elaborate?' Clara wonders and Irons scoffs.

'I wouldn't listen to that gossip, Ms Hunt. This is the work of a deranged individual. Who will be caught!' Irons adds hastily and moves to cut Clara off the next time she opens her mouth to ask another question.

'What about the death of an apparent witness to the cabin murders, Jeremy Evans?' Another voice calls out. 'The police said it was suicide, but Jeremy's family claims otherwise. Are you going to call his death a suicide and close it or are you going to listen to the family and look into his death?'

Valid question. Chris, and to his surprise Valentine, didn't believe it to be suicide. It seemed off. They didn't have a lot of time to discuss it when they got back to the station, nearly ten hours after they arrived at the campgrounds.

Valentine looked as though she could fall asleep at any minute and slowly picked the pickles off the store bought sandwich Brad got her. Chris redirects his attention to the press conference and is rather amused by Irons and his performance. Er, lack thereof. He's squirming under the pressure of these reporters. A couple of times Chris saw the attitude Irons normally reserved for him show itself to the journalists. Though, unlike with him, Irons roped that back into his control very quickly.

Chris sighs and takes a seat at his desk beside Valentine. She doesn't even look up at him. Great. This is gonna be a long night.

Irons watches as Wesker heads towards the doors of the press room. That was tortuous. How did they manage to find out so many details about these cases? Is there a rat somewhere in the RPD? Add to the list of things he has to do.

All of that is moot. This shouldn't be happening to begin with. There were assurances, guarantees that this would all be contained. Now it's his ass on the line!

'Albert. A word?'

Wesker stops and turns over his shoulder. 'What?'

'What's the word with Umbrella? Have they found out where this...where these creatures are coming from? This is no doubt the work of the virus Bard has been talking about, right? Tell me they have this under control. More incidents like this that keep happening around the city and the fear will turn into madness will turn into chaos.'

Wesker folds his arms and Irons hates the glare that Wesker is giving him. Cold, unflinching.

'That is none of your concern. You have your role. Do not worry about what happens at Umbrella.'

'If we want to keep the peace between everyone then I need a little bit of information so that I can deflect the right people,' Irons reminds him and Wesker narrows his eyes behind the glasses.

'Leave S.T.A.R.S to me. You know what your role is. Do not concern yourself with what Umbrella is doing. All of these...unfortunate accidents are necessary to test the limits of what we're doing. If Umbrella needs anything more from you, they'll be in contact.'

Irons watches Wesker leave from the room, a lingering uncomfortable air behind him. Umbrella's word is worth its weight in gold in RC. They own so much. Have bought out so many people - himself included. The worrisome nature of these victims have caused the moral bone in his body to resurface. Huh. Perhaps that can be solved by asking for more hush money.

Raccoon City would be nothing without Umbrella. Their dark money is everywhere. They own everything. Every part of this city. Even the parts unseen.

Irons walks towards the door and flicks the lights off. The aching need for a smoke devours him. That scotch is upstairs. Yes, that sounds good. Something just...feels off. Something big is going to happen. Whether Albert agrees or not.

Things are going to get a lot worse. He just has to keep feeding the right people bullshit information and hopefully these will become nothing more than cold cases in a few months. That is to say...as long as there are no other...anomalies.

Claire pauses on the covered bridge overlooking the promenade. Her friends move ahead without realizing they've left her behind. Claire frowns, trying to make sure she is seeing who she thinks she is.

Yeah. That's her. Jill Valentine. Sitting outside a cafe with folders in front of her and a coffee in her hand. This seems like a great time to go and properly introduce herself. A couple of weeks have passed since that day, their first meeting at the house. Chris never brought it up again, even when she pressed him about it. All the complaining he did about Jill, and she didn't even get the vibe that Jill was as awful as Chris made her out to be. Chris just wanted something new to be mad at. He's always mad at something.

'Claire? You coming?'

Claire looks up to see her friends have crossed the bridge and are waiting on the other side with perplexed looks. She trots to catch up and smiles at them.

'I've gotta bail, guys. I just saw someone I haven't seen in awhile. I want to say hi.'

'All right. You still gonna meet us at Natalie's later? Her mom said she'd buy us some booze.'

Yeah, but Natalie's mom always buys the cheapass shit that tastes like paint thinner. The headaches Claire gets in the mornings are godawful. But, it's a chance to hang out with Lance.

'Yup, I'll be there. At eight?'

Natalie shakes her head. 'No. Make it nine. That's when the boys are coming by.'

Great, Lance is bringing those loser friends of his. She'll have to invent another series of lies for Chris. He hates any guy even looking in her direction.

'Sounds good.'

They part ways and Claire heads to the little French cafe. She can't wait, she's got a million questions for Jill. A little smile is on Claire's face. It gets bigger the closer she gets.

Jill blinks from surprise when she glances up from reading a couple of case notes from the coroner to see Claire Redfield sitting opposite of her with a cheeky smile on her face. Immediately Jill straightens up and looks around for the other one. She imagines Chris wouldn't let Claire out of his sight. Of course, she strikes Jill as being very much like she was when she was Claire's age.

Rebellious and smart. Well, come to think about it, she had no one to answer to. Claire did.

'Hi, Claire…'

'Relax, my brother isn't here,' Claire remarks and visibly sees Jill decompress a bit. She exhales and closes up the files. 'Oh hey, don't have to do that on my account. Chris is...forgetful sometimes. Working on the cabin murders from a few weeks ago?'

There is just a cool confidence that radiates off of Claire. Completely opposite of Jill who tends to be a bit more reserved around new people. Especially new people who are family to her colleague who loathes her. A part of her wonders why Claire is even bothering to speak with her. Maybe it's so she can report back to Chris.

Mm, no. Jill didn't get that vibe from Claire when they last met.

'Yeah, just trying to...see where it goes…'

Claire nods her head. 'Chris said you guys aren't having much luck.'

You guys as in S.T.A.R.S or collectively the two of them? She chooses to take it as the team. Bravo is still working on that massive drug case. Oftentimes, they don't have the manpower to spare. So, Alpha is on it alone.

'It's tricky. But we'll get the break. I'm sure of it,' Jill smiles a bit and puts the book she has on her lap on the table. Claire tilts her head to read the spine's title.

'International Law?' Claire wonders. 'Cool. You think there's an international connection?'

Jill shakes her head. 'No, just reading to pass the time. Or at least, when I need a break from all this…'

Claire raises her eyebrows. All this what? The case? This life, what is it? She delves deeper.

'You planning on taking the bar exam?'

Jill shrugs, wondering how Claire manages to make the topic of conversation all about her. 'I have partially completed my law degree while I was in the Army but...I don't know. Something just pulled me in a different direction.'

Yeah, like the fear of not living up to her parents and their infamous law careers. She worried she'd always be in their shadow and people in the field would only recognize her as Jean and Naomi's daughter. And she'd just never escape their shadow. How she'd be expected to get into the human rights side of things. What if she wanted to be a prosecutor like her mother? Or start off as a defence attorney like her father? Before they chose to team up and focus on human rights.

No, her indecisiveness kept her from pursuing a career as a lawyer. Took her a lot of wasted money and a stint in the Army to figure that out. Still...reading about statutes and all things law related came easy. And helped out her current career. If she could apply the law to certain cases, she knew what she needed for evidence. Sometimes it helped. Sometimes, it complicates things.

'Oh neat, you were in the Army? Chris was in the Air Force.'

That takes Jill by surprise because he never mentioned it. It just goes to show that the two of them have no idea about the other one. Claire must have seen the surprise on Jill's face. Wow. Her brother has made no effort to bridge the gap at all. He was just angry for the sake of being angry. Even if she told him he was only mad at Jill because she was paired up with him. And if anything he should have been angry at Wesker and Irons.

But like, actually, Claire decides, he shouldn't be angry at all. He's never been one for change, that's obvious. However she assumed he'd just...get over it. And then adapt. He was good at that.

Er, maybe it was time to focus on something else. Chris is managing to ruin their conversation and he isn't even in the vicinity.

'So, um, what grade are you in?' Jill wonders and Claire is internally relieved. Jill must have sensed the looming discomfort.

'I'm in my senior year. And just got accepted to Columbia University.'

Jill can't help but smile. 'That's incredible! Congratulations! What do you see yourself doing?'

Claire shrugs. 'I have no idea. Isn't that awful? I'm running out of time to plan my future. I just...don't know. All I did know was that I wanted to go home to New York City.'

'That's nothing to feel bad about, Claire.'

'Did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up?' Claire wonders, hoping for inspiration, though Jill shakes her head.

'Not at all. I think most people thought I'd get into law, and I guess I did too in a sense, but I was directionless for a very, very long time.' Jill admits. Why is it so much easier talking to Claire than Chris? It's night and day.

'You mentioned your parents were lawyers? They didn't push you into that career?'

'My parents weren't around to see me graduate. They died when I was quite young.'

Claire blinks from the shock and instantly regrets her words. 'Oh, shit. I'm sorry…'

Jill dismisses her concern. 'Don't be. It was a long time ago.'

Claire goes over Jill's words. Didn't see her graduate. Shit. They must have died when she was very young. Kinda like her parents. Jesus Christ. If Chris only talked to her he'd be surprised to see how much they have in common. What a friggen asshole.

Time to change topics again. And quickly.

'Do you, uh, have any siblings?'

Jill shakes her head. 'No. It was just me. Do you have any more besides-...'

'Fuck no. I can barely handle him sometimes,' Claire replies with a laugh in her voice. It makes Jill smile.

'You're excited to go back to New York? Did you live there before?' Jill wonders, she figures hey, if Claire is willing to speak so candidly to her, then maybe she can at least learn from her what makes Chris tick. Well, besides nearly everything. Maybe she can pick up something from her that she can use to diffuse situations.

God, she just really hopes that Claire won't go back to Chris and divulge all of this conversation. No. She shouldn't think like that. Claire is different.

'Chris and I were born there. And I'd never, ever tell him, but I miss it so, so much. We came out to this part of the country when Chris was stationed in the Air Force. He was taking care of me. Raising me since our parents died too. Well, and Barry's wife while he was away. New York City will always be home.'

'You're excited to get back there or to taste a bit of freedom?' Jill arches her eyebrow and she smirks when Claire looks away with a cocky smile. Busted.

Claire laughs. 'It's a bit of both actually.'

'Hey, the secret's safe with me.'

Claire rests her elbows down on the table. 'Don't get me wrong, Chris is an incredible older brother, but he's had to put a lot of his life on hold to bring me up. And any decision he's made in his life has had to include me as well. So, I figure, a bit of space and he can go back living the way he wants to. Without having to worry about me.'

'He'll always worry about you Claire.'

'Yeah. I know,' Claire has a sigh in her voice. 'You know, I'm sorry you don't know him like I do. He can be insufferable at the best of times but...I dunno.'

Jill is taken back by Claire's admission. She paints him as such a completely different person than that of the man she's been interacting with since she started with S.T.A.R.S.

'Maybe one day he'll warm up to me.'

'I dunno, Jill, you seem pretty done,' Claire remarks and Jill suppresses the sigh that's building.

'It is...getting more...difficult to try and remain positive. Hopefully that day is coming soon,' Jill smiles but it's hollow. Claire can tell.

Claire checks her watch. Shit. 'Hey, sorry to do this, but I gotta run. This was fun though. Can we hang out again?'

Uh what? Jill is surprised at Claire's request. She tries to hide it as best she can and hopes it doesn't come across her face. Why, why would Claire want to hang out with her again? Maybe it is because she's too mature for her age? Who knows. It would be rather nice to hang with another girl.

Rebecca is incredibly sweet and all, but just so painfully shy. And since she's with S.T.A.R.S. there seems to be a perceived arrogant air assigned to them from the rest of the force at RPD. They're looked at as elitists. So, sometimes it's been hard to find people who look past the air that doesn't exist, and talk to her.

'Um, yeah. If you really want to. I usually grab a coffee Sunday morning and wander around the park for a bit.' Jill offers and Claire lights up.

'That sounds amazing. What time?'

'Eleven-ish?'

'Which coffee place?' Claire can barely contain her excitement. It's noticeable.

'Le bar à pain?'

Jill can see Claire mouthing the words silently and then blinks, remembering where the place is located.

'Oh! Off Redstone street?'

'Yeah. That okay?'

'Of course!'

'No, I mean would Chris be okay with you hanging out with me? I just don't want to step on anyone's toes.'

'Ohh,' Claire feels bad that Jill even has to ask that, also she could give two shits about what Chris thinks. Screw him, he doesn't want to get to know Jill, fine. But she does. 'I don't need my brother's permission to hang out with people.'

With such determination, Jill doesn't argue. It is rather difficult to imagine that Chris wouldn't eventually find out. Maybe he'd come into work one day and tell her to leave Claire alone. Which is the most likely scenario.

And yet, Jill finds herself waving to Claire as she heads off, disappearing into the crowds on Ivy street. Jill finds it difficult to concentrate on the case after her little hangout with Claire.

Jill can't say she isn't annoyed with herself that she revealed so much personal information about herself to Claire. She believes that Claire wouldn't share it with Chris but she was rather candid with someone she just met.

Claire and Chris certainly shared that trait - the ability to simply be charming with someone and the information naturally falls out of whoever they're speaking to. Claire, wouldn't do so with a malicious intent. Jill believes she's just that gregarious but Chris...well, that could go either way. Depending on his mood.

Jill gathers up the folders and slips into the law book. She thinks it's time to go on home. Maybe she'll have an inspiration strike while she's at home. Then again...last night's dishes need doing. She sighs. This little interaction has completely thrown her for a loop. She almost dreads what tomorrow will bring. And if Chris will be suspicious or not.

Third weekend in a row. Well, third Sunday in a row. Where is Claire off to? Chris is currently too hungover to care much, considering the quiet house will be a welcome break - especially after last night. Claire has been blasting music recently, though he can't seem to get out of her what the problem is.

He glances up from the kitchen table, nursing the black coffee and hoping the scent will awaken him a bit more. Falling asleep on the couch was not the best idea in the world. Claire comes waltzing in looking for her backpack, swiping it off the back door hook while reaching to slip on her chucks. She comes back into the kitchen and throws him a pitying look that tells him she can't believe he's hungover again. Yeah, neither can he. Everytime he swears off the Jack Daniel's, another bottle seems to magically appear in the house. His or her's...fuck.

'Where are you going?'

'Meeting a friend.'

'Who?'

'Don't worry about it.'

'Claire, I'm too hungover to fucking fight about this. Where are you going? Who are you seeing?' Chris closes his eyes when Claire slams a cupboard. Every note ricochets in his mind.

'I am seeing a friend. We're going to get a coffee. And then go to the park.' Claire narrows her eyes as Chris motions for her to elaborate. She is not in the mood to deal with him right now. She's still mad from Friday's little revelations.

'Just tell me who the friend is,' Chris knows she's seeing some punk from school. Why else would she be so secretive? She's hiding the identity because she knows he wouldn't approve of this kid. It's so obvious.

'How about you fuck off and quit sticking your nose in my business. I'm meeting a friend. I don't have to tell you more than that,' Claire tells him and Chris stares at her. And her attitude.

'You done?' He questions, her little tantrum aside, Barry did warn him Claire was only going to develop more of an attitude the older she got. Doesn't help that she has the same rebellious streak he does. It's like arguing with himself some days.

'Are you? You've made me late. Now I've missed the subway.' Claire rolls her eyes and disappears down the hallway to the door.

'This conversation isn't done,' Chris calls to her and Claire glares at the door, hand hovering over the handle.

'It will be when I walk out this door.'

'Don't you fucking dare-...' his words are cut off by the door slamming shut. Jesus Christ what is wrong with her? What's she keeping secret?

It strikes him that she's nearly eighteen. What the fuck happened? Sure, she'll always be his baby sister but now...she's almost an adult. Got the mouth of one, that's for sure. Maybe it's the thought of losing her.

When she told him she was accepted to Columbia University, there was a sadness that struck him. Claire went on and on about plans she had been concocting without letting him in on them, also made him feel guilty. Had she not told him because he was busy with work or because she truly didn't want him to know played in his mind.

Was it control? He was being forced to give up a part of it while Claire claimed control of her own life for a change. A chance to make her own decisions. A chance to make mistakes - was that something she relished?

This is going to involve a serious talk. That is if she even wants to. The distance is getting wider. He wants to bridge the gap. Quickly.

Jill checks her watch. Claire is always early. Hopefully things are okay. But fifteen minutes is nothing to worry about. Maybe she just got caught up doing something. So she takes out her book again and starts to read.

Thankfully, Chris hasn't mentioned their little hangouts. Claire must be keeping things silent. Jill also can't help but feel awful. She feels like they're sneaking around but also, Claire is a wonderful person to be around. And they talk about everything in the world besides their current circumstances.

Glancing up to the window from the cafe, Jill quickly shuts the book and tilts her head as Claire comes stomping over to the cafe and opens the door with haste. The little bell chimes a couple extra times, garnering quick stares from other patrons, and when she spies Jill, Claire strides over and falls into the chair across from her.

Inhaling and exhaling a few times, Claire blinks away the rage before sighing. 'Hi.'

Jill only offers a weak smile in response. 'I was gonna say I like your shoes, but, seems like you've not had a good day…'

Claire tilts over in the chair and notices that she and Jill are wearing the same ruddy high top chucks. Jill's got good taste.

'Nice…'

'What's up?' Jill questions and pushes the coffee she'd bought for Claire towards her. She in turn directs her gaze out the window as she rests her chin in her hand.

'It was supposed to be my turn to treat you…' Claire whispers and finds her emotions getting the better of her. Fuck. Like Jill wants to see her cry. Get a grip. She clears her throat. 'Thank you…'

Claire accepts the coffee and holds it between her hands. She stares intensely at it.

'How did the party go on Friday…?' Jill winces when Claire frowns. 'Not good?'

'Well the cops didn't bust it, like we thought,' Claire remarks and her mind wanders.

Jill smiles at the thought of her colleagues busting an underage drinking party and seeing Chris's sister among the partygoers. That'd spread like wildfire in the station.

'How are things with Lance?' Jill wonders and Claire's face scrunches a bit. Oh no. The two of them just started dating about three weeks ago. Everything was so fresh and new. How could it go so wrong?

'Not great…' Claire begins and replays the scene again in her mind.

'Okay, so talk to me…' Jill offers and Claire suddenly relishes in the fact that she has someone with a bit of life experience to talk to...who is also a woman. She'll just understand. Jill will just get it.

'So, we go to the party and Lance is, like, acting weird. We hung out all day and he was distant like the whole day. So, I ask him what's wrong and he says nothing. Which, of course, is a lie. But whatever, I don't push it.

'We get to Nat's and he sees his friends, and he's gone. It feels like he's ditching me. I'm pissed but whatever, I've got my friends. Around midnight I want to go home because I'm already past curfew and I want him to walk me home. So I'm hunting around for him and I find his friends in the garage, getting stoned and Lance isn't there. And when I ask those idiots where he is, none of them look at me.

'This is annoying so again, I go into the house and ask my friends. Lucy thinks she remembers seeing him head upstairs a little while ago. I go upstairs and call his name. I hear some moaning coming from the bathroom and I instinctively know, you know? But I had to confirm.

'So I crack the door open and there he is. Fucking Jenny, the hottest girl in school. So I shut the door and bang on it. I tell him he's a fucking asshole and a piece of shit. And as I'm leaving, he calls me a bitch for spoiling the moment and all I can hear is Jenny saying she's sorry and that he told her that we broke up.

'I was so angry that I stomped home the whole time. And stayed out for another hour in the suburbs. I wanted to cry and scream but I couldn't. And I wanted to tell Chris he was right. He saw me drooling over Lance and he said that Lance was a piece of shit. But I defended him.

'Fuck, Jill, I feel like such an idiot. I let him make a fool of me…Chris is never going to let me live this down...' Claire buries her face into her hands and sighs.

It's quite the tale. And she feels so bad for Claire. She had been talking for a while about her crush on Lance and how elated she was when he asked her out. God, Jill hopes he wasn't a piece of shit the entire time. It was a short romance but not an easy one.

'Don't worry about your brother,' Jill tells her and Claire looks up with glassy eyes. 'I know it hurts, Claire, but I'm not gonna tell you that you were wrong for dating him. I'm sorry he just wasn't the person you thought he was.'

'I was so infatuated with him...it makes it worse…'

'Don't be embarrassed. We all have a story like that.'

Claire eyes Jill. 'Really?'

'Of course,' Jill smiles a bit and that seems to cheer Claire up. She turns her attention out the window and feels slightly more relieved.

'Thanks Jill. I really appreciate you hanging out with me. It's just nice to...hang with someone who has some experience in dealing with this shit. And it's a huge help that you're also a girl. You give better advice anyway,' Claire admits and it makes Jill smile once more into her coffee.

'Yeah, I guess I'm not coming at you as a sibling would.'

Claire leans back in her chair and folds her arms. 'Not that he's one to judge but whatever.'

She wants to defend Chris and his actions but she's certain that there had to be a better way of going about it. If he keeps telling Claire no, then she'll just keep pushing back harder. She wants to tell Chris to just listen and not judge but...this isn't her business. Except it is. In moments like this she already feels awkward that Claire is confiding in her and not her brother. And how the power dynamic tilts in her favour when things like this happen.

'I'm sure he just worries for you. And only wants the best for you.'

Claire shakes his head. 'He's got a funny way of showing it. And you know something else? Maybe the feeling is mutual. Maybe I worry for him too.'

'You can only help people who want to be helped,' Jill remarks and Claire nods her head before sitting up slightly. Seems as though something caught her eye. She makes a noise of surprise.

'Huh. Wow, he's awake and functioning,' Claire snickers. 'I thought it was going to be midday before he got his ass moving.'

Jill suppressed the urge to roll her eyes, knowing full well who they're talking about. 'Late night?'

'Yeah. He got home after me. You know the red headed bartender, Lola Bunn from Sara Lou Bailey's?'

Jill nods her head. It's a dive bar on the other end of town, it's actually been in Lola's family for generations. Jill doesn't want to question how Claire knows who Lola is but she supposes she'll leave that to her own imagination. Lola is a fantastic bartender - she's made some of the best cocktails Jill's ever had. Of course, she's drop dead gorgeous, curvacious and wit that can outmatch anyone.

'Yeah. I do. She makes great cocktails.'

'Oh god, I know. I mean...not that I would know…' Claire backtracks but sighs anyway. 'I came out of my room late last night after sobbing my eyes and I caught Chris coming back with her. And they polished off another bottle and a half of whiskey. They were loud - drinking I mean. If they did anything else they must have moved upstairs thankfully. I went to the basement to sleep, couldn't handle their voices anymore.'

Jill finds herself crossing her arms and rolling her eyes. Not the kind of stories Jill likes to hear. Especially since Claire was home. They couldn't have gone to Lola's? And what exactly did loud mean? Ugh, she'd rather not think about it.

'I'm sure that was extra stress you didn't need,' Jill replies and Claire shrugs. She notices the store that Chris just came out of and smirks.

'He doesn't usually do that. And look, he just came out of Angelino's. Best cannolis. He always gets them for me when he needs to apologize.'

Claire seems in much better spirits than when she first arrived. Jill is glad that she is able to help her in situations like this. Sometimes it is just better to confide in someone with no ties. Although, on the other hand, Jill really enjoys Claire's company as well. It's nice to make a better acquaintance? Are they friends? Maybe just an outlook of convenience to hang out with another person.

'Do you still want to wander the park, or do you want to head home?' Jill wonders and Claire shakes her head.

'Park. It'll keep my head straight.'

Jill smiles and nods her head. 'Sounds good.'

'Yeah and you can tell me about the cabin case!' Claire responds excitedly as they get up from the table and head towards the door. Jill eyes her and shakes her head.

'You know I can't do that,' Jill begins and Claire opens her mouth to refute her statement. 'Even if your brother has told you things already…'

Claire seems to accept this response. Chris is irresponsible sometimes. But not Jill, and she'll just have to abide by her wishes.

'Fine. But I'm gonna ask you yes or no questions.'

Jill laughs a bit at Claire's tenacity. 'I'd have expected nothing less.'

'Oh! Tell me about the guy that broke your heart for the first time! Please?'

'Well...I don't know…'

'Oh, please?! I just wanna know if boys ever stop being stupid…'

Jill smiles and shakes her head. The last thing she wants to do is remember that summertime romance in Paris. Ah, at sixteen, doesn't every teen think they have life figured out. Especially when it comes to love. Her grandmother warned her about that boy, Henri. And after that heartbreak, grandmare Adele reminded her of the lessons that came from it.

They head outside the cafe and Claire is already chatting away about everything and nothing. Jill is so immensely glad she was able to cheer Claire up, or, at least for now, take her mind off of the troubles she faced earlier.

Jill can tell she's definitely not over it, but she's in a much better head space. Again, though, there is a lingering feeling within her that she's doing something wrong by hanging out with Claire.

Secrets never stay secret for long.

Of course, they didn't stay bottled up - secrets that is and it was two weeks later that Jill found herself pulled back up to the third floor clocktower, watching Ken and Maria hastily leave that room, looking rather disheveled. Jill is surprised. Chris seems to be too as he watched them leave in record time.

'They're both married…' Chris reminds her and Jill absently shrugged, wanting to get this stupid conversation over with. What Chris doesn't know, maybe, is that Maria isn't the only woman Ken's been messing around with. There's Courtney from Forensics and Sylvie from Fraud. And of course, most importantly, his actual wife Meg. What a pig.

Not caring enough to even listen, Jill prepares herself for his little screaming match. She notes the door doesn't slam, he shuts it normally. Jill doesn't turn to face him. She instead listens to the gears of the clock winding themselves and crosses her arms.

'I'd appreciate a good morning before you drag me up here to admonish me over something trivial,' Jill states plainly and Chris frowns. Why won't she turn to face him?

'What makes you think I'm going to admonish you?'

Jill turns around with a blank expression. 'Why else are we here?'

Damn. She's hard to read right now. It also seems like she's running out of patience with him recently. She's been cold and direct. No longer trying to remain cordial, it's simply one word sentences. Yes or no. She's been downright frigid. To be expected, he supposes. Which is why this is so fucking hard to admit.

'We're here because…' Chris pauses and struggles to find the right words. Jill suddenly looks really bored. She drops her arms and motions for him to continue. 'Look. I just wanted to say-...'

A thunderous knock is heard on the door and they both turn to it. A muffled voice erupts behind it. It sounds desperate. But not a panicky desperate. Impatient is a better word.

'Yo! You guys almost fucking done?'

'No! Fuck off!' Chris shouts and Jill rolls her eyes.

'Yes, we're done!' Jill corrects and begins to head towards the door. Chris stares at her and holds his arms out. She is not waiting around for whatever he wants to tell her. Whatever criticism it is. Whatever nonsense it is, fuck it. She doesn't want to hear it.

'What the fuck, Valentine?'

'I just...don't care what you have to say to me. It's never anything good. So just save it for another day,' Jill responds and opens up the door. She blinks when she sees Scott and his rookie standing there. She is in tears and Jill passes her a sympathetic glance as she heads out of the room and towards the exit to the library.

Chris is all but shoved out by Scott and he can't help but wonder what's eating his rookie up that bad. He also watches Valentine open the door and shut it. Fuck. He just...wanted to…

He doesn't want to let this go. So he follows her quickly.

He calls to her once he's in the library and she's on the stairs downward. She stops and looks up to him, crossing her arms as she waits for him to continue. Why is this so goddamned hard?

'Why'd you just leave? I do actually have something important I wanted to tell you,' Chris tells her but she holds up her hand to stop him from speaking.

'No, you don't. It's just another complaint about me ruining your life, or something to that effect. I can't do it, Chris. I don't care. And we both know neither do you.'

Jesus fucking Christ.

'It isn't about me. I just wanted to say that I appreciated-...'

Jill cuts him off by laughing lightly. 'Good one. You don't appreciate anything, least of all anything I do. Stop fooling yourself.'

Her words leave him frozen in his spot and she walks out of the library. His resolve, while shaken, doesn't waver completely. He isn't doing this for himself. That's what he keeps telling himself as he decides he doesn't want to go back to the office and slips out to the front of the building for a smoke. Valentine usually cuts through the underground parking garage to catch the subway home. He'll meet her there.

Here come the consequences of his prior actions. It's a hell of a time when they show up.

Jill continues to search through her bag, trying to find her subway pass when movement behind her causes her to pay more attention to her surroundings as she scans her card to open the parking garage gate.

As she starts to walk up the hill to the sidewalk, she can hear footsteps behind her so she pauses and turns around with her hand on her hip. She blinks from surprise. Not who she anticipated seeing. Brad maybe but not Chris.

'What… are you doing?' Jill wonders and he frowns.

'I'm trying to finish our conversation from earlier.'

Jill rolls her eyes. 'Oh my god, Chris, I don't have time for this. I have to catch the subway.'

'Just, would you? Fuck, I'll drive you home if I need to,' Chris decalres and Jill shakes her head.

'Absolutely not.'

'Why can you not see...that I just am trying to have a normal conversation with you. I just wanted to tell you something. And you're just...blowing me off.'

She eyes him. Folding her arms and tilting her head. Ah fuck. What'd he say now?

'Yeah...it must really be awful to be ignored…' Jill replies slowly. Uh huh. He had that coming. 'Seriously. I don't have time. I have less than seven minutes to make the subway. I don't care. Whatever you have to say to me would only come off as disingenuous. So, I'll see you tomorrow. Have a good night.'

'It's about Claire!' Chris finally shouts impatiently at her. Fuck. Jill lets out a sigh and she turns around. 'I know the two of you have been hanging out.'

Double fuck. Does she pull back the attitude and ask for forgiveness or does she simply take a page out of Claire's book and tell him she can hang out with who she wants to. Oh there is simply no good way to go…

Tell the truth without telling the truth…?

'Yes, that's true. We have been.'

'Christ. That's all I wanted to talk to you about…' Chris sighs angrily. 'Claire said she saw you in front of some bistro a month ago and Claire being Claire, wanted to properly introduce herself. So apparently, you wouldn't think both of the Redfields were assholes.'

Jill turns away to hide her smirk. So true. 'Well, your sister isn't.'

'Very funny…'

However true that may be.

Chris watches Valentine hold her arms to the side before checking her watch. 'Are we done? Because now I have to wait a half hour for the subway.'

He doesn't know what to say. No, he's not done. He wanted to thank her. But she's making it so hard to do so. Then again, why is he blaming her? This is his mess. He wants to offer to drive her home but assumes she'd say no anyway. Though it is kinda late at night, he just wanted to be sure she got home safely. What if he offered to call her a cab?

'I mean no...but,' Chris begins and catches Valentine's look of impatience. And perhaps subtle bemusement.

'This really isn't easy for you, is it?' Jill suddenly wonders and Chris shrugs a bit. 'I'll take that as a yes. Well, seeing as I'm waiting for the next one, go on.'

'All I have been trying to tell you is that I appreciated, er, appreciate, you talking with Claire. She's going through...whatever right now and she won't talk to me. No matter how hard I try. She...really likes you. And says you give her some good advice. So, all I wanted to say was thank you for doing whatever it was you did for her. And thank you for being someone she can talk to.'

Chris can see that skeptical expression on Valentine. As though she's debating the sincerity of his words. He does mean them, did they not sound...genuine?

'Do you mean that?'

He frowns and Valentine's words confuse him. 'I mean, yeah. Did they not sound…? I tried to make sure they sounded genuine.'

Jill continues to stare at Chris, squirming under the pressure he's built for himself. He's boxed in from all sides. It'd be amusing if it were for different circumstances.

'I never know with you. And honestly I simply default to no. You don't mean anything nice you say. At least not to me.'

Yeah, she's getting very comfortable voicing her opinions now. While still acting cold and unfeeling towards him. That breaking point is coming. Has to be. Oh great...he's already imagining days when they don't speak to one another. Er, not that they do much of that now but it is getting worse.

'Right, well, I guess I'll try to work on that,' Chris admits and can't help but notice Valentine's skeptical look.

'Great…' Jill replies, unable to believe his words. He's just having a day. Things will be normal tomorrow. How could they not be? He softens his demeanour when it involves Claire, when that subject is finished then there doesn't need to have that side continue to show itself.

'Can I...at least give you a ride to the station?' He offers and Jill shakes her head. The least amount of time they can spend together, the better in her eyes.

'No.'

'You're sure? I-...'

'Drop it. No.' Jill states impatiently, interrupting him. Okay, okay. He gets it. She fucking hates him. She doesn't want to be around him. And she loathes the fact that she's had her time wasted.

'Okay, okay. Have a good night then,' Chris watches Valentine drop the tension and visibly relax. She doesn't say anything to him but merely closes her eyes briefly in acknowledgement.

Chris waits until she has disappeared around the corner before he searches around for his truck. Fuck. That conversation was awful. It was so awkward and to Valentine unconvincing. Having gotten into the truck, he sits there and slumps in the seat a bit.

Can't blame this situation on anyone other than himself. He just fucked up. His stubbornness got the better of him and now it's so fucking hard trying to doubleback on bridges he fucking burnt to the ground when interacting with Valentine in the beginning.

Guess he'd better start on it.

Chris sits up and turns the truck on, pulling out of the garage. Claire wouldn't be home tonight. Some project needs finishing at a friend's house. As Chris turns left onto the main street, he slows as he sees Valentine conversing with someone in a green truck parked alongside the curb.

She smiles and gets in. Chris slowly passes them and instantly realizes that he's passing Brad's truck. Oh, so it was a no to his offer for a ride but yes to Brad's offer? What the fuck? Brad follows him until the road Ts and there is only the option to go left or right. Home for him is left. Brad turns right.

That thought follows Chris home the entire time. It really shouldn't bother him. Why does it? Why indeed…?

This...wasn't really the idea that Jill had brought forth in his mind. The way she had said, come over to my place and we can work sounded much different in his head, er then again maybe he was simply reading too much into it. They were actually working. And not the fun work. Case work. Trying to solve the cabin murders and grappling with Dr Warren's assessment of the maintenance man. Shot but not by his own hand and the cannibalistic nature of the other victims in the cabin. Judging by the wounds from the other victims found, the cases could be considered linked.

This is boring.

This is not where he thought the night would be going. Jill finally let him into her apartment and it didn't lead to sex. So what the hell was up? He thought they were finally building on something good, something great. All those dinners and time they've spent hanging out, what was the point?

Brad glances up from some case notes she's made to see her absently staring out the window, as though her mind is elsewhere. Millions of miles away. Well his kinda is. Maybe she's thinking about what leads they can draw from this - she has the crime scene photos of the cabin murders and the other two vics found in the alleyway. Maybe she's thinking of the similarities.

What he hopes is that she's reconsidering this night. Maybe he can make an offer, or a proposal. If he keeps angling her...it could spark something. She could change her mind. He just has to be very, very careful with what he says. The last time he and a chick had something working for them that he exploited, it didn't go well. After they slept together, she became a clinging mess. Not that he gets that vibe from Jill but if something went wrong, then they still have to see each other every day.

He wonders if she's thinking about that interaction with Chris. She confided that she found it odd he wanted to thank her. He hadn't really had an answer for her.

Chris is just mad at everything and anything. Some days it's just felt more than others. Some days you never know what kind of mood he'd be in until he'd open his mouth.

And poor Jill was just along for the ride. He wanted to give her tips and tricks for dealing with Chris but even he was at a loss some days. That's why he figured that they'd eventually just dissolve that partnership and they both could move on. Didn't work like that.

'Are you okay, Brad?'

He glances up from the notes and blinks himself back to reality as Jill is eyeing him with a bit of a smile. God, those blue eyes...she just so fucking gorgeous.

'Yup. Sorry. Spaced out a bit.'

Jill leans over and realizes what he's reading. 'Sorry. I make detailed notes. They can get boring.'

Brad rises, suddenly feeling uncomfortable around her. 'You got a couple of beers?'

Jill frowns and nods her head. 'Yeah, just in the fridge…'

That was weird...what happened? She can tell Brad isn't into this. He's making it quite obvious. Albeit, very subtly. Why not? She just asked if he'd like to go over case notes and try to brainstorm some thoughts. Chris never wants to…

Brad had been so enthusiastic. Even as he picked her up in his truck and let her vent about Chris a bit more...Jill smiles when Brad comes over and hands her a beer. Though she finds herself staring out the window and pondering Chris's strange behaviour earlier.

She can't seem to get it out of her head. He tried to be decent with her. And yet she's been so used to his insincerity that she merely chalked it up to his fakeness. Though...he did seem frustrated that she wasn't giving him the attention or interest he wanted.

He physically didn't have a nice bone in his body so to her, what was the point? Maybe there is more to Chris than meets the eye.

Jill nearly laughs out loud. Now that's funny.

'Hey, Jill, I think I'm gonna head out for the night. Sorry, I can feel myself fading.'

She turns to Brad who is polishing off the beer with haste. Almost an awkward haste.

'Did I...do something?' Jill wonders suddenly and Brad pulls the beer away.

Yeah. You're not picking up my hints…who'd have thought work meant work?

'Not at all! But my mind isn't really here...and I have to meet Irons and Wesker tomorrow for a performance eval. Really looking forward to that.'

Jill smiles a bit but finds that she's rapidly retreating into herself. She's trying to think of anything she did that may have made Brad uncomfortable. She's tried to be a good host. Is it her apartment? The fact that there is no real space? Her bed is visible from the couch? What could it be?

She nevertheless gets up with Brad and walks him to the door. He thanks her for the beer and apologizes again for not being in a good headspace. Jill tells him he has nothing to be sorry for and that she'd see him at the office tomorrow. She calls out to him as he wanders down the hallway to wish him good luck on the performance eval.

She shuts the door quietly and looks around her apartment. What could she have missed? What did she do? She sighs and checks her watch. Yousef should still be awake. Her friend from California just moved to New York City to be with his boyfriend Peter. He always gives her good advice.

Jill flops onto the bed and reaches for the phone, dialing his new number and zones out while the inane ringing in her ears fades away.