Ah! Chapter Nineteen! Working is fun; it means that I can at least write stuff like this on my day off!
Disclaimer: I own nothing you see here-absolutely nothing-not even my monkey *pats stuffed monkey comfortably *
Btw- this chapter is MAJOR PG-13 for a bit of domestic violence.
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"Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without
and know we cannot live within."
-James Baldwin
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Los Angeles-
1986
The bowels of the Umbrella Faculty
William flipped through a couple of the folders, "This is everything?"
"Everything." Frank said quietly, "It's quiet awesome don't you think?"
William decided that he perpetually hated Californians and their use of common slang, adults and teenagers alike.
"You." He turned to Frank, "Really have something here." He tucked the files under one arm and winced. Every part of him still hurt desperately, it had taken all of his energy to muster up the desire to head up the stairs and back to the world of the living. When frank had accosted him in his hospital room, showing him plans to develop this particular…creation-William had been understandably skeptical.
"I understand that it'll take a few years for the project to approve," Frank followed him up the stairs slowly, "But you really think it has a shot?"
William winced inwardly as he came to a particularly sharp step.
"Absolutely." William said, If the technicalities can be worked out. He had to admit however that the idea was intriguing. Frank had given it to him completely, saying, "I just want to see this thing developed" and William had taken it.
He stopped before the top step and opened the folder again, admiring Frank's detailed sketches and body designs.
"Where did you get these?" he asked, as he flipped open to a second page, "They're copies-"
"Honestly? They belonged to my cousin." Frank shook his head, "Kevin thinks there might actually be something to this "Video-Atari…crap" that's been going on." He put a hand on a railing that appeared from nowhere, "He designed it as a game character."
All William knew about video games were that they involved tiny little computer-generated things shooting at other things. Pointless, especially when children should be focusing on their studies. This however…genius when put into the right hands.
He tucked the file back under his arm and grimaced when he saw the door. Although he was strong enough to walk about (Just barely, damn whatever anti-biotic he was on) his arms would still not cooperate when he required them to move. The doctors insisted it would go away in time…
Time, he thought as Frank opened the door and smiled apologetically, Is something that I do not have.
People parted in the hallways. The LA branch of Umbrella was used mainly for body disposal and waste disposal. Very little actual research was going on, so seeing "Bacteria Birkin" known scourge and developer of many horrible things beneath the earth was a horrible revelation. Let them run! William thought gleefully, Let them all see, William's back on his feet! Takes more then a virus to slow him down!
That was something that worried him.
The doctors said that the virus was completely out within his system. Progenitor was a weakling compared to the T-Virus, and the vaccine that they'd engineered (weak as it was) was enough to knock it out.
Supposedly.
There was a dangerous undercurrent beneath the sympathetic clucking and brave commiserations of his colleagues. Even Wesker hadn't been any help; he'd been inconsolable since finding out about Irene…working all the time…
Am I alone in the world?
He opened the door to his hospital room and was immediately wrapped in an embrace.
"What-the-Hey-"
"William? Is it really you? I thought-I mean when I saw the bed gone-I"
"I wanted to go for a walk." William's eyes narrowed, "What are you doing here? Marston said you had gone out-"
He eyed the pile of donut and coffee that was congealing on the floor.
"And apparently you came back-"
"I had a little accident." Annette laughed shrilly and collapsed into a chair, "I was really concerned for you when-I saw that-"
"I wasn't there."
Annette nodded quickly, like a child.
"Well, I'm back."
"Good to know." She leaned back against the wall, "Good to fucking know."
William sighed and sat on the bed casually. Dressed in his hospital clothing-it was much more comfortable to sit and sort of lean then layback. He stared at Annette, "I was talking to Dr. Marston. I know Frank's kind of-not in our league-but he had something that I want you to take a look at." He reached for the file and stopped.
"What?" Annette blinked at him owlishly, "Go ahead and show me."
"No."
Annette frowned, "Why? Is it top secret?" no hint of love or playfulness in her tone. When things were top secret in Umbrella-they were for a reason.
Be Firm. Work can wait; remember that it'll always be there for you. People die, your work will live on. Be Firm-
"Annette…We need to discuss the love issue."
Annette backed off instinctively a few feet.
"The…Love issue?"
"What I said back at Arklay doesn't have to be the end." He'd thought about this, lying down in his bed that evening-watching re-runs of some stupid cartoon, "I-Don't want it to be the end."
"Neither do I." Annette said quickly, "I mean-I-I guess with Wesker things just kind of happened." She tried a cocky grin, "Carnal instinct you know?"
"We're Human." Birkin said coldly, "We're above carnal instinct."
"Right." Annette said, Definitely must take note of that.
"Anyway…Annette when I was sick…I just kept thinking. I saw your face, your courage, everything about you-and I just wanted to survive." He did not look at her as he spoke, but his words rang with simple truth. He was no longer the scientist, simply a man confronting a difficult problem in his life.
"What, thoughts of dead people lying on tables and viruses crawling about in petri-dishes don't do it for you?" Annette said sarcastically, " You don't feel the urge to "Soldier on" when you think about those damn dogs, howling and growling and sniffling?"
"That." Birkin said coldly, was unfair.
The air conditioning in the room went up a notch as Annette whirled about to face him. The setting sun silhouetted her frame.
"William, I just can't see myself being with you when I know you'll always have another mistress." The words came tumbling out of her then, "Your work, and your religion. I see it, I want to be a part of it, but I can't just live on the knowledge that we'd be coming home to the same house that evening. I can't think about that I mean what if," Annette paused, "What if we were to raise a family? Two kids? How would they like it if their parents came home, didn't spend any time with them-and go about their business as if they weren't there?"
"THAT-won't happen." We won't be having children.
"Are you so sure of that?" Annette's voice cracked, "William-I need some conformation that I would have importance in your life as well." Please. She pleaded mentally, Give me that reassurance.
"The only way I know how, by making you a part of my work, my life." Because my work is my life. Birkin kicked himself mentally, Damn my parents, Damn Umbrella, Damn the whole fuckin' human race.
"That's not enough for Me." Is it? It could be, you're just as consumed as he is-
"Why do you have to be so difficult?" Birkin looked up confused, "Annette, I'm telling you the truth-by making you a part of my work, I'm making you a part of my life." He smiled then, "Isn't that enough?"
Without warning Annette drew back her fist and slammed it into the painting of the sunflowers. She screamed then, drawing back her hand quickly and biting back furious tears, Grandma Cass always said that I was a bit of a flake that hurt people for the wrong reason. The painting dropped to the floor.
"Let me see that-"
"No!" Annette drew back and hissed, "You'll probably do something-"
William took her hand in his gently, carefully turning it over to expose the palm. He winced, and gingerly touched the large piece of glass that had embedded itself in her.
"You're the doctor." His voice was quiet, "What do you make of this?"
You touching me, you saying this things-you wanting me to be involved-nobody ever wanted me to be involved-to be a part of something until you-
"I don't want to end up like Irene."
He hit her.
Annette sprawled off the bed and rolled down to the floor-her head connecting with the linoleum making a sickening crack.
Gods! William jumped off the bed and moved to her side, holding her head in his lap.
"Annette." She groaned slightly and twisted in his arms. Light draped across her face, shrouding her fine features in silk, "Annette god I'm sorry, I had no idea…" he hugged her head to his abdomen and ignored the tear sliding down his cheek, "Please Annette, I'm so sorry, I just-people always think that I'm like Marcus and it really hurts when they say things like that-"
She blinked at him, saying nothing. He did not notice her sudden return to consciousness.
"And, when you said that-I just-I lost control. Please Annette-you has to believe me! You just have to!"
" I believe you."
More things. Uncontrollable things. There's a chance of a relapse, this man-this boy… her maternal instinct took over and she reached up to stroke his cheek gently.
He's just like a child. Someone who knows exactly what they have to do but isn't willing to ask for help-a immature individual, in a different bracket from the rest of humanity. Thinking only of himself rather from others. He's like a child, trying to prove himself…and so am I.
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A frightened technician burst into the room.
"I-" she panted, "Dr. Marston-went-out-give-this-to-Birkin?" She glanced back and forth between the two of them. Her overly teased hair sprouted from her head like a weed, causing both William and Annette to grimace at the stupidity of their fellow humans.
"Is it what I asked for?" William's voice was sharp. He did not take his hands away from Annette's head, gently caressing her bruised scalp, "Dr. Marston brought me the supplies that I asked for?"
The technician managed a weak nod.
"Why are you so tired?" Annette pushed herself into a sitting position and sat "Indian Style."
"I-ran-from-car-" the tech gasped, "Woof! Can I have a drink of water before I go?"
"Sure." Birkin waved a hand dismissively, "I doubt I'll be drinking it. Give me what I asked for please."
The technician appeared confused for a moment-her blue eyes blinking like a doe confronted with a gun for the first time, then-she dug into the pocket of her coat and produced a small white box.
"How much do I owe Frank?" William took the box without looking at her. The technician crossed the room over to the side-table whereupon resided a pink water jug, a dead muffin, and a few flowers.
"Nothing." The technician took a swig of water, "He said that you taking that idea off his hands was enough. Long as you get it put through he's fine."
That was it? Birkin held the small box tenderly, I should have given him more.
Annette peered over, "What is it?"
The tech stifled a snicker, "I know." She coughed, spilling water all across her front much to William's satisfaction. She coughed again, "I-I knows."
"Absolutely. Fucking. Brilliant." William said sarcastically, "Now why don't you just go tell the rumor mill now so I won't have to worry about confirming any of it hmm?"
The girl went, chuckling.
William paused and pushed himself away from Annette, sitting on his knees. He stared down at the box ruefully, then back at her, his eyes nervous.
"Annette…when I first saw you-it was like Venus. I mean-" he sighed, "I can't-I'm not a poetic man Annette, I work much better with science." He smiled, "God! When you and I were in the lab, we were a team." He patted his hands on his thighs, "A good team, and a fast team. But-we were working to better people…"
His eyes lit up with a feverish glow, Annette wondered where he'd be taking this.
"I wanted- I knew the first time that I was pared with you-that I wanted you by my side. I made the moves," he paused and reflected on their first kiss, a century ago, "I made those moves because I-I-"
"Was going to back them up?"
"YES!" William smiled at her triumphantly, like a dog holding a duck, "Yes, you know me Annette-even-thorough hard times you know me-knew me." Wesker, they couldn't speak of Wesker now, not right at this moment, "The perfect partner."
The perfect Partner. Annette shook her head, How long ago did I say that I wanted one? Someone to stand beside me, to match my ideas with his or her own…
"Annette LeDour…" William handed her the box, his hand shaking. She frowned, she'd watched him do the zombies and the dogs, and his hands never shook…
"Will you grant me the honor, the privilege, of being my perfect partner-my wife-for life?"
Silence.
Shocked, stunned, pregnant silence.
Did he just-Did-I-am-who-what-
"I…" Annette's mouth opened and closed a few times. William's hand shot foreward and opened the box revealing an exquisite ring done in soft gold and three large diamonds.
He just hit me. He hit me.
"I do."
What? What the hell am I doing?
Annette got to her feet slowly; William was staring at her, expectant, begging her to say something-anything-
"Darling…" Annette pressed herself close to him and pushed all misgivings out of her mind, "I love you."
She'd nearly lost this man, this partner once, she was not going to loose him again.
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Outside the Umbrella staff was clapping loudly. The technician, as per the instructions of the senior researcher and therefore boss. Had gone off and immediately told everyone and anyone within a five block radius of the building. Wesker stood off to the side, watching the merriment.
So…
William proposed, good for him.
Was that what you saw? Irene?
He turned away from the merriment and walked off to his room to rest. There would be no sleep tonight, he could foresee it.
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Author: Aww…Poor Wesker! Join in the merriment!
Wesker: No thanks.
Author: But…Tis merry…
Wesker: You're the one who killed off my love interest remember? * Evil growling *
Author: Ah! Yes…but that was to provide dramatic tension and lead into the sequel…
Wesker: What sequel? Where's this sequel you've been hiding?
-Author Whistles innocently –
Wesker: That's it, I'm gonna wail on you like I'm gonna wail on Chris Redfield when I finally get a hold of him-
Author: EEP!
-Author runs off, being chased by Wesker-
(Birkin walks onstage)
William-Chapter twenty forthcoming shortly, thanks as always to reviewers, I think the author had something special involved for the sequel…audience participation or something like that.
(Annette appears beside him)
Annette-HE'S GOING TO MARRY ME! *Dances for joy *
Birkin: I believe we've established that.
Annette: Come back soon! Chapter twenty will be sad…but the epilogue will be fun! Right? Right?