CHAPTER 8
Efforts Prevailed
Working with Jill and Barry again was refreshing. It gave her some meaning again, something that to Rebecca seemed worth while.
Jill, and Barry, however, weren't the only two people she was now working with. She now had to work with Claire, Leon, and Carlos, all quite the unique individuals.
Claire Redfield was everything that Chris had talked about. A completely gorgeous girl Rebecca could immediately see the resemblance that she shared with Chris, but the two shared something beyond looks. Whenever she talked with Claire she would sometimes feel like she was talking to Chris. They had the same charisma.
Leon Kennedy was Mr. nice guy. Anyone could easily walk up to Leon and have a conversation with him. Rebecca might have even had a little crush on Leon if it wasn't obvious that he completely adored Claire. Nevertheless, Rebecca enjoyed Leon's company, and was glad that he was part of the team.
Then there was Carlos Oliveria, at first Rebecca was honestly a little put off by the Hispanic man. He came off too strong, but after a couple days she realized that was just his way of being friendly. Carlos could actually be pretty charming, and his devilish good looks didn't hurt anything either. As much as she tried not to Rebecca was a little captured by Carlos', how should she say, suave goofiness.
Under the dire circumstances, however, Rebecca forced herself to put impressions and everything that went with it to the side once they finally arrived at Jill and the other's apartment. Her main and only concern from that point on was finding an antidote for Chris.
Her first step was gathering as much information as she could on the viruses, there wasn't much to go on, but once she had a handle of the subject she was ready for the real work.
What Rebecca needed now was a sample of the virus. When she asked Jill if she would be able to contain any of the viruses she was shocked to hear Jill's answer.
"Sure," she said "just take it from my arm."
"What are you talking about Jill?"
"When I was trying to escape Raccoon City I was infected with the G- virus. Carlos was able to find an antidote to save my life, but if I'm not mistaken their still should be remains of the virus in my bloodstream."
"You were infected with the G-virus?" Rebecca repeated she could hardly believe it.
"Yeah, it was pretty awful, but here I am. I guess I couldn't ask for more then that-well I'll say that once we get Chris back."
"I'm sorry Jill." Rebecca blurted out. She could no longer take the guilt that was crawling inside her whole body.
"Why are you sorry?"
"I should have stayed, I should have never of left you guys to face the horrors while I was nice and snug in my own bed having the time of my life. Those were luxuries that I didn't deserve. I should have stayed with you guys."
Rebecca was looking down the ground when she felt a hand fall on her shoulder.
"Don't you waste a moment worrying about the 'should of's,' life's too short, we have too much to do to live like that. We 'should' only worry about the things that we can actually do something about. It's not a life if you senselessly worry it away. Trust me on this one."
Rebecca looked at Jill a little surprised. She says to the older woman. "I'm a little surprised to hear you say that Jill. I mean after all that had happened isn't it kind of a relief to worry?"
"Honestly at first that's all I could do, and truthfully I still constantly worry. The difference now is I'm sick of that worry controlling me. I'll never find Chris that way, after all this time I'm just starting to realize that."
"What do you do then, what do you do to suppress the hopelessness?"
"I work my ass off, I work because that's the only sure way I know of finding him, but I also do something else."
"And what's that?"
"I hope."
Rebecca gave into a chuckle. This didn't sound like her little pessimistic Jill Valentine. However, circumstance changes everyone. Maybe these horrible events have changed Jill for the better.
"Give me your arm Jill. I'm going to work my ass off so everyone's hope isn't in vain."
And that's exactly what she did.
She extracted Jill's blood, and spent hours upon hours studying it. And after two solid weeks Rebecca finally had something. It wasn't the cure, but it was something pretty damn close.
Afraid of getting Jill and Claire too excited about what she discovered Rebecca took her findings to Leon.
"What is it exactly?" He asked.
"It's a prototype."
"A prototype of what, Chris' cure?"
"Could be," she answered "From only Jill's blood sample it's hard to tell."
"Well how can you know for sure?"
"Jill's vaccine only took away the virus from taking over her body; it didn't take the virus away all together. I need a blood sample that's fully cured. Someone who had the virus and now has absolutely no traces of it. The problem is finding someone like that. Do you know any place where I would be able to get that type of sample?"
Hesitantly Leon answered. "I might." And without another word he walked away.
* * *
As soon as Rebecca said she needed another sample Leon knew where he
would have to eventually get it, but that didn't mean he liked it.
This war with Umbrella had taken a lot of things from a lot of people,
but robbery of a child's innocence, well in Leon's opinion that took the
cake.
Sherry, had seen the evils of Raccoon just as much as Claire and
himself had, more so if you consider what happened to her parents. Those
horrors, even to a full grown adult, let alone a child change a person.
Leon had been in contact with Sherry, and as much as she appeared to
be a normal thirteen year old girl there was something wrong. Leon saw it
in her eyes. They weren't the careless eyes of a thirteen year old girl;
they were the eyes of a burdened soul. For that alone Leon swore that
Umbrella would pay.
That's why Leon hesitated when Rebecca asked him for another sample.
He didn't want Sherry involved more then absolutely necessary in this
mess that consumed the rest of their lives.
When Leon went to Claire with the information Rebecca had just told
him her immediate reaction was the same as his.
"Leon, there's no way I'm letting Sherry get involved. There has to be
another way to get a sample."
"I completely agree Claire I just wanted to run it by you, since it
concerns you the most with Chris.with Chris in his current conditions I
thought you might want as many options as physically allowed to you."
Once the words had left his mouth, Claire's expression immediately
changed. It was no longer firm and strong, but soft and hesitant.
"And there are no other means for Rebecca to get a sample?" She asked
him.
"Well there could be somewhere out there," he told her "But it's
really no guarantees. Even if we do find a lab or facility that might
contain some samples there's no saying that they'll be the type we need.
So"-
"So it's a chance either way." Claire said cutting him off.
"That's pretty much the case."
Claire sat there for a moment thinking things over. At last she looked
up at him it seemed she had reached a conclusion.
"If you and I just go.maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Were not getting
her involved were just, just"-
"Just visiting." Leon said this time cutting her off.
Claire smiled hesitantly at him. "Is that awful? Am I putting myself
and my own needs in front of Sherry's safety?"
Leon shook his head. "Were just visiting, and taking a quick sample of
her blood. We'll be sure to check with Sherry's aunt and more importantly
Sherry before we go ahead with anymore."
"I really don't want to get her involved Leon."
"I know you don't," Leon told her reassuringly. "This is just
something that for Chris' sake must be done. I know it, you know it, and
soon Sherry will know it too."
Nodding to herself Claire says to him.
"I really want to see her too."
"We both do." Leon told her.
Together they got off from the bed they were sitting on to go find the
others.
Within an hour everything was arranged. They talked to the groups, and
all were of course supportive of the idea. Once they had everyone's
consent Claire went to call Ms. Lanely, Sherry's aunt, while he got
instructions from Rebecca on how to extract Sherry's blood sample.
When all was said and done Leon and Claire left their humble Seattle
apartment and boarded a plane to Atlanta.
Needless to say on the plane Claire was restless, Leon couldn't blame
her he was about jumping out of his skin.
Once arriving in Atlanta Claire wasted no time on finding a cab, they
arrived at Sherry's aunt's house two hours earlier then they expected.
Regardless, Claire knocked on Ms. Lanely's door anxiously.
A portly woman with curly blond hair that went all over the place
answered.
"Miss Redfield and Mr. Kennedy I presume?" The woman asked smiling.
Neither he nor Claire were given the chance to respond the woman's
question for at that moment Sherry came charging into the room.
"Claire!" She screamed running into Claire's embrace.
The two of them fell over in a fit of giggles. And for the one moment as
Leon watched them he forgot about all the troubles, all the danger, all
the anxiety. For that moment Leon simply enjoyed.
"My god Sherry, you've defiantly grown." Claire said as she struggled up
from the floor.
"Are you calling me fat?" Sherry said pretending to be angry, it hardly
worked.
"Yeah Sherry," Claire teased. "You're like a cow."
The two girls smiled at each other one last time before Sherry turned to
Leon.
"How's it going?" He asked the youngster.
"It's going." She replied embracing him in their own hug.
Leon held tighter then he intended to with the young girl, it caught him
off guard how much he actually missed her.
When they separated Sherry asked the two of them.
"How long are you guys going to be staying?"
Leon and Claire looked at each other, that moment that Leon had been
enjoying was gone. It was back to business again.
It was Claire who finally answered Sherry's question.
"I'm afraid not very long kiddo, there's other things that.well there are
things that are going on that Leon and I have to get back to."
And that was that. He extracted the blood sample from Sherry. After that
they enjoyed a nice dinner with Sherry, and her aunt. It was a wonderful
evening, but unfortunately all good things must come to an end.
They wrapped up dinner and regrettably said their goodbyes. Before Leon
knew it both he and Claire were in a cab making their way back to the
airport.
As they were traveling his eye caught with Claire's, he knew exactly what
she was thinking. Setting his hand on top of hers he said to her.
"We'll be back soon. I promise."
Claire simply nodded then continued to look out the window.
Leon hated not knowing what was going to happen, but if he knew anything
he knew this. He was going to keep that promise.
* * *
The wait for Claire and Leon to return was terrible. They hadn't been gone that long, but with ever passing moment it felt like an eternity. Jill was counting anxiously on the resolution that would occur once they returned; once they were home everything would change.
It had now been eight months since Jill had last seen Chris. Eight months since she saw his eyes look upon her own, eight months since she seen his warm bright smile, eight months since she felt the comfort that only Chris Redfield could give her.
Their first journey apart was horrible, but this was simply unbearable.
It wasn't supposed to be this way. She was supposed to be with Chris, they were supposed to be together. They were supposed to be so much.
What Jill was mostly feeling at the moment was regret. So many times Jill wanted to tell Chris how she felt; she wanted to tell how much he meant to her.
It wasn't fair what was happening to them. They should have had a normal life, not one riddled with constant chaos and danger.
Jill was wrapped in her damned thoughts when she felt a heavy body take a seat next to her on the couch.
"Penny for your thought?" Barry asked, his voice rarely ever leaving its positive tone.
Jill not in the mood for Barry's optimism simply answered.
"It's nothing."
"Nothing, right." Barry said skeptically.
The two sat there in silence. From her spot on the couch Jill watched Rebecca and Carlos' interaction in the kitchen. Rebecca was all giggles while Carlos' charming smile never left his face.
Jill didn't know what to make of the two. An odd couple it would be, yet not necessarily weird either.
Barry must have been watching them two, because with a hearty laugh he says to her.
"You know when you and Chris first met each other that you were exactly the same way they are."
It was Jill's turn to give Barry a skeptical look. "Chris and I were nothing, but professional towards each other."
At that Barry laughed. "Yeah and I'm a rock star."
Jill punched Barry in the shoulder a little harder then just playfully. That, however, didn't stop the weapons expert.
"You guys would always joke around with each other and sneak glances at each other when you thought no one else was looking. And don't think for one moment that none of us knew you two would stay after work with each other doing god knows what."
"We did work." Jill said defensively.
Barry gave her a half smile before going quiet again.
He was right, Jill was just too proud to admit it. She and Chris 'would' always joke with each other, they 'would' always steal glances at each other, and they 'would' always stay after work together. Unfortunately in those cases they were always working.
"I miss him so much." Jill said out from their silence.
"I know, we all do."
"It's so unfair," she cried letting the tears she had been holding on to escape. "Chris and I.Chris and I.we were never given a chance. I mean I'm not even sure how he felt, but god it kills me every time I think about what could have been."
Barry let out a long sigh, and after wrapping one arm around Jill in a fatherly manner he said to her.
"I don't want to hear you talk like that Jill. You and Chris will have your chance, it be too cruel if you didn't. As far as what Chris felt for you," Barry stopped for a moment letting out a wide grin. "Well like I said before I saw the way he looked at you. He adored you Jill, no matter what happens you should never doubt that."
Jill had said the same words in her head a thousand times, but hearing them from Barry, it made all the difference.
She gave Barry a big hug before getting off the couch to make a pot of coffee.
She was only putting the filter into the coffee maker when the door slammed open. A frazzled Claire and Leon came barging into the apartment. Jill's heart stopped at the sight of them, knowing what it meant.
Claire immediately locked eyes with her. At that moment Jill knew this was it; they were going to save Chris.
AUTHORS NOTE:
I really like writing the conversation between Jill and Rebecca and Jill and Barry in this chapter. I like giving Jill a connection with some people other then Chris. Anyways, thanks again to everyone out there reading. Always, Leah
Efforts Prevailed
Working with Jill and Barry again was refreshing. It gave her some meaning again, something that to Rebecca seemed worth while.
Jill, and Barry, however, weren't the only two people she was now working with. She now had to work with Claire, Leon, and Carlos, all quite the unique individuals.
Claire Redfield was everything that Chris had talked about. A completely gorgeous girl Rebecca could immediately see the resemblance that she shared with Chris, but the two shared something beyond looks. Whenever she talked with Claire she would sometimes feel like she was talking to Chris. They had the same charisma.
Leon Kennedy was Mr. nice guy. Anyone could easily walk up to Leon and have a conversation with him. Rebecca might have even had a little crush on Leon if it wasn't obvious that he completely adored Claire. Nevertheless, Rebecca enjoyed Leon's company, and was glad that he was part of the team.
Then there was Carlos Oliveria, at first Rebecca was honestly a little put off by the Hispanic man. He came off too strong, but after a couple days she realized that was just his way of being friendly. Carlos could actually be pretty charming, and his devilish good looks didn't hurt anything either. As much as she tried not to Rebecca was a little captured by Carlos', how should she say, suave goofiness.
Under the dire circumstances, however, Rebecca forced herself to put impressions and everything that went with it to the side once they finally arrived at Jill and the other's apartment. Her main and only concern from that point on was finding an antidote for Chris.
Her first step was gathering as much information as she could on the viruses, there wasn't much to go on, but once she had a handle of the subject she was ready for the real work.
What Rebecca needed now was a sample of the virus. When she asked Jill if she would be able to contain any of the viruses she was shocked to hear Jill's answer.
"Sure," she said "just take it from my arm."
"What are you talking about Jill?"
"When I was trying to escape Raccoon City I was infected with the G- virus. Carlos was able to find an antidote to save my life, but if I'm not mistaken their still should be remains of the virus in my bloodstream."
"You were infected with the G-virus?" Rebecca repeated she could hardly believe it.
"Yeah, it was pretty awful, but here I am. I guess I couldn't ask for more then that-well I'll say that once we get Chris back."
"I'm sorry Jill." Rebecca blurted out. She could no longer take the guilt that was crawling inside her whole body.
"Why are you sorry?"
"I should have stayed, I should have never of left you guys to face the horrors while I was nice and snug in my own bed having the time of my life. Those were luxuries that I didn't deserve. I should have stayed with you guys."
Rebecca was looking down the ground when she felt a hand fall on her shoulder.
"Don't you waste a moment worrying about the 'should of's,' life's too short, we have too much to do to live like that. We 'should' only worry about the things that we can actually do something about. It's not a life if you senselessly worry it away. Trust me on this one."
Rebecca looked at Jill a little surprised. She says to the older woman. "I'm a little surprised to hear you say that Jill. I mean after all that had happened isn't it kind of a relief to worry?"
"Honestly at first that's all I could do, and truthfully I still constantly worry. The difference now is I'm sick of that worry controlling me. I'll never find Chris that way, after all this time I'm just starting to realize that."
"What do you do then, what do you do to suppress the hopelessness?"
"I work my ass off, I work because that's the only sure way I know of finding him, but I also do something else."
"And what's that?"
"I hope."
Rebecca gave into a chuckle. This didn't sound like her little pessimistic Jill Valentine. However, circumstance changes everyone. Maybe these horrible events have changed Jill for the better.
"Give me your arm Jill. I'm going to work my ass off so everyone's hope isn't in vain."
And that's exactly what she did.
She extracted Jill's blood, and spent hours upon hours studying it. And after two solid weeks Rebecca finally had something. It wasn't the cure, but it was something pretty damn close.
Afraid of getting Jill and Claire too excited about what she discovered Rebecca took her findings to Leon.
"What is it exactly?" He asked.
"It's a prototype."
"A prototype of what, Chris' cure?"
"Could be," she answered "From only Jill's blood sample it's hard to tell."
"Well how can you know for sure?"
"Jill's vaccine only took away the virus from taking over her body; it didn't take the virus away all together. I need a blood sample that's fully cured. Someone who had the virus and now has absolutely no traces of it. The problem is finding someone like that. Do you know any place where I would be able to get that type of sample?"
Hesitantly Leon answered. "I might." And without another word he walked away.
* * *
As soon as Rebecca said she needed another sample Leon knew where he
would have to eventually get it, but that didn't mean he liked it.
This war with Umbrella had taken a lot of things from a lot of people,
but robbery of a child's innocence, well in Leon's opinion that took the
cake.
Sherry, had seen the evils of Raccoon just as much as Claire and
himself had, more so if you consider what happened to her parents. Those
horrors, even to a full grown adult, let alone a child change a person.
Leon had been in contact with Sherry, and as much as she appeared to
be a normal thirteen year old girl there was something wrong. Leon saw it
in her eyes. They weren't the careless eyes of a thirteen year old girl;
they were the eyes of a burdened soul. For that alone Leon swore that
Umbrella would pay.
That's why Leon hesitated when Rebecca asked him for another sample.
He didn't want Sherry involved more then absolutely necessary in this
mess that consumed the rest of their lives.
When Leon went to Claire with the information Rebecca had just told
him her immediate reaction was the same as his.
"Leon, there's no way I'm letting Sherry get involved. There has to be
another way to get a sample."
"I completely agree Claire I just wanted to run it by you, since it
concerns you the most with Chris.with Chris in his current conditions I
thought you might want as many options as physically allowed to you."
Once the words had left his mouth, Claire's expression immediately
changed. It was no longer firm and strong, but soft and hesitant.
"And there are no other means for Rebecca to get a sample?" She asked
him.
"Well there could be somewhere out there," he told her "But it's
really no guarantees. Even if we do find a lab or facility that might
contain some samples there's no saying that they'll be the type we need.
So"-
"So it's a chance either way." Claire said cutting him off.
"That's pretty much the case."
Claire sat there for a moment thinking things over. At last she looked
up at him it seemed she had reached a conclusion.
"If you and I just go.maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Were not getting
her involved were just, just"-
"Just visiting." Leon said this time cutting her off.
Claire smiled hesitantly at him. "Is that awful? Am I putting myself
and my own needs in front of Sherry's safety?"
Leon shook his head. "Were just visiting, and taking a quick sample of
her blood. We'll be sure to check with Sherry's aunt and more importantly
Sherry before we go ahead with anymore."
"I really don't want to get her involved Leon."
"I know you don't," Leon told her reassuringly. "This is just
something that for Chris' sake must be done. I know it, you know it, and
soon Sherry will know it too."
Nodding to herself Claire says to him.
"I really want to see her too."
"We both do." Leon told her.
Together they got off from the bed they were sitting on to go find the
others.
Within an hour everything was arranged. They talked to the groups, and
all were of course supportive of the idea. Once they had everyone's
consent Claire went to call Ms. Lanely, Sherry's aunt, while he got
instructions from Rebecca on how to extract Sherry's blood sample.
When all was said and done Leon and Claire left their humble Seattle
apartment and boarded a plane to Atlanta.
Needless to say on the plane Claire was restless, Leon couldn't blame
her he was about jumping out of his skin.
Once arriving in Atlanta Claire wasted no time on finding a cab, they
arrived at Sherry's aunt's house two hours earlier then they expected.
Regardless, Claire knocked on Ms. Lanely's door anxiously.
A portly woman with curly blond hair that went all over the place
answered.
"Miss Redfield and Mr. Kennedy I presume?" The woman asked smiling.
Neither he nor Claire were given the chance to respond the woman's
question for at that moment Sherry came charging into the room.
"Claire!" She screamed running into Claire's embrace.
The two of them fell over in a fit of giggles. And for the one moment as
Leon watched them he forgot about all the troubles, all the danger, all
the anxiety. For that moment Leon simply enjoyed.
"My god Sherry, you've defiantly grown." Claire said as she struggled up
from the floor.
"Are you calling me fat?" Sherry said pretending to be angry, it hardly
worked.
"Yeah Sherry," Claire teased. "You're like a cow."
The two girls smiled at each other one last time before Sherry turned to
Leon.
"How's it going?" He asked the youngster.
"It's going." She replied embracing him in their own hug.
Leon held tighter then he intended to with the young girl, it caught him
off guard how much he actually missed her.
When they separated Sherry asked the two of them.
"How long are you guys going to be staying?"
Leon and Claire looked at each other, that moment that Leon had been
enjoying was gone. It was back to business again.
It was Claire who finally answered Sherry's question.
"I'm afraid not very long kiddo, there's other things that.well there are
things that are going on that Leon and I have to get back to."
And that was that. He extracted the blood sample from Sherry. After that
they enjoyed a nice dinner with Sherry, and her aunt. It was a wonderful
evening, but unfortunately all good things must come to an end.
They wrapped up dinner and regrettably said their goodbyes. Before Leon
knew it both he and Claire were in a cab making their way back to the
airport.
As they were traveling his eye caught with Claire's, he knew exactly what
she was thinking. Setting his hand on top of hers he said to her.
"We'll be back soon. I promise."
Claire simply nodded then continued to look out the window.
Leon hated not knowing what was going to happen, but if he knew anything
he knew this. He was going to keep that promise.
* * *
The wait for Claire and Leon to return was terrible. They hadn't been gone that long, but with ever passing moment it felt like an eternity. Jill was counting anxiously on the resolution that would occur once they returned; once they were home everything would change.
It had now been eight months since Jill had last seen Chris. Eight months since she saw his eyes look upon her own, eight months since she seen his warm bright smile, eight months since she felt the comfort that only Chris Redfield could give her.
Their first journey apart was horrible, but this was simply unbearable.
It wasn't supposed to be this way. She was supposed to be with Chris, they were supposed to be together. They were supposed to be so much.
What Jill was mostly feeling at the moment was regret. So many times Jill wanted to tell Chris how she felt; she wanted to tell how much he meant to her.
It wasn't fair what was happening to them. They should have had a normal life, not one riddled with constant chaos and danger.
Jill was wrapped in her damned thoughts when she felt a heavy body take a seat next to her on the couch.
"Penny for your thought?" Barry asked, his voice rarely ever leaving its positive tone.
Jill not in the mood for Barry's optimism simply answered.
"It's nothing."
"Nothing, right." Barry said skeptically.
The two sat there in silence. From her spot on the couch Jill watched Rebecca and Carlos' interaction in the kitchen. Rebecca was all giggles while Carlos' charming smile never left his face.
Jill didn't know what to make of the two. An odd couple it would be, yet not necessarily weird either.
Barry must have been watching them two, because with a hearty laugh he says to her.
"You know when you and Chris first met each other that you were exactly the same way they are."
It was Jill's turn to give Barry a skeptical look. "Chris and I were nothing, but professional towards each other."
At that Barry laughed. "Yeah and I'm a rock star."
Jill punched Barry in the shoulder a little harder then just playfully. That, however, didn't stop the weapons expert.
"You guys would always joke around with each other and sneak glances at each other when you thought no one else was looking. And don't think for one moment that none of us knew you two would stay after work with each other doing god knows what."
"We did work." Jill said defensively.
Barry gave her a half smile before going quiet again.
He was right, Jill was just too proud to admit it. She and Chris 'would' always joke with each other, they 'would' always steal glances at each other, and they 'would' always stay after work together. Unfortunately in those cases they were always working.
"I miss him so much." Jill said out from their silence.
"I know, we all do."
"It's so unfair," she cried letting the tears she had been holding on to escape. "Chris and I.Chris and I.we were never given a chance. I mean I'm not even sure how he felt, but god it kills me every time I think about what could have been."
Barry let out a long sigh, and after wrapping one arm around Jill in a fatherly manner he said to her.
"I don't want to hear you talk like that Jill. You and Chris will have your chance, it be too cruel if you didn't. As far as what Chris felt for you," Barry stopped for a moment letting out a wide grin. "Well like I said before I saw the way he looked at you. He adored you Jill, no matter what happens you should never doubt that."
Jill had said the same words in her head a thousand times, but hearing them from Barry, it made all the difference.
She gave Barry a big hug before getting off the couch to make a pot of coffee.
She was only putting the filter into the coffee maker when the door slammed open. A frazzled Claire and Leon came barging into the apartment. Jill's heart stopped at the sight of them, knowing what it meant.
Claire immediately locked eyes with her. At that moment Jill knew this was it; they were going to save Chris.
AUTHORS NOTE:
I really like writing the conversation between Jill and Rebecca and Jill and Barry in this chapter. I like giving Jill a connection with some people other then Chris. Anyways, thanks again to everyone out there reading. Always, Leah
