New Horizons, XIII
By: Hotaru

Warnings: Steve bashing, strong language, RE: Code Veronica spoilers

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Claire pulled on her pajama's slowly, her legs aching from all the pedaling. Katie lay asleep in her crib, and the sun was just starting to set. Sighing slightly, Claire sat down on her bed and hugged her knees to her chest. /How long has it been since I've had a free moment to think? It was always worry…I was always worrying about what the hell I was going to do, how I would escape Steve's wrath and live a normal life. And now…I guess this can count as normal. I'm living with my friend until I get back on my feet, I don't fear for my life anymore. Well, that's not entirely true. I still can't be free of him. Where ever there is a dark corner, I'll see him there. Watching me, waiting for me to be off my guard./

Sighing deeply, she shook her head and stepped out into the hallway. Luckily she hadn't made a noise, or she would have disrupted the two love-birds. She hid in her room and peeked out into the hall way to watch. She could tell they were both nervous, afraid to touch one another, shaking as they did. Claire shook her head at her older brother who had always acted so experienced and mature. /I guess there are still something's he's afraid of./ She thought with a smirk. They broke their kiss and just gazed at each other. Then Chris said something and pressed his palm against the side of Jill's face.

She smiled and leaned into his hand, closing her eyes mystically. Chris smiled and rested his head ontop of Jill's, and they both sort of rocked back and forth on the radiator. Turning to the room, Claire gathered her dirty clothes and brought them into the hallway, making her presence known. Chris and Jill stayed where they were, so Claire smiled at them and sat down on the couch and put the news on.

"And in local news, a man wanted for murder has turned up dead. Police officials say that he was like a bomb waiting to explode and that we're all lucky that he's no longer endangering himself or others." A depressing reporter announced. Leon emerged from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. "There's some more towels in my closet, Chris or Jill, who ever's going next. I'll get 'em for you." He said, heading into his room. Chris and Jill conversed for a minute before Jill stood up and retrieved the towels from Leon.

The bathroom door closed with a click, and Chris joined Claire on the couch. "You probably shouldn't sit down, you're still wet." Claire warned, an instant before he sat down. "Yeah, you're right. Let me get some newspapers or something." Chris replied, rummaging around before finding a stack of them. "Two weeks old, I'd say he doesn't need these." He said, flopping down on the couch. "So what's up?" Claire asked.

"What do you mean?" Chris replied.
"What do you mean what do I mean? With Jill." Claire repeated.
"Oh…nothing. Well, something but nothing really."
"That makes so much sense Chris."
"Shut up. I don't really know what's happening. I hope something happens, but I'm not holding my breath."
"Why? Is something the matter?"

Chris sighed and shifted in his seat. "No, I'm just…ah, you know how it is! It's like, you've cleared the first hurdle of kissing her, now what? I don't want to just go and sleep with her! Doesn't our relationship have to strengthen and stuff?" He questioned.
"I'm hardly the one you should be asking about relationship advice. But I think that you already have a strong relationship. You both relied on each other in Raccoon, you work together, you live together, you sleep in the same bed. What other bonding is there to do?" Claire replied.
"I don't know. But it just doesn't seem right if we just go straight to that, you know? I don't want to jump the gun on anything. But…maybe I should find out more about her, you know? Figure out what she likes, what she doesn't, stuff like that."
"Oh, that boring stuff you talk about on dates? I guess that'd be helpful information. So I guess you don't really know Jill after all."

The door to the bathroom opened a crack and Jill called Claire over. "What's the matter?" Claire asked.
"I forgot to bring clean clothes in. Can you get them for me?" Jill asked. Claire smiled and nodded and went to retrieve her bag. She found it by the side of the couch and brought it to the other woman. "Thanks." Jill said gratefully, closing the door once again.

"So you feeling better?" Chris asked, pulling his younger sister onto him. "Ew, Chris! You're still dirty!" Claire squealed, pulling away, hoping that her new pajamas wouldn't be ruined.
"Sorry, sorry. But…are you?" Chris apologized. Claire shrugged and nodded.
"It's just about clearing hurdles. I've gotten over the whole feeling sorry for myself part. Now I'm just beating myself up about why I couldn't smell the ass on him a mile away." Claire replied. Chris chuckled softly.
"You were in shock, Claire. And I know you. You wouldn't let someone who was supposed to be dead, wander the streets without a place to go. Remember all those cats and kittens you'd bring home?"

Claire nodded wistfully. There had to be a dozen she begged him to keep. "Poor things. I gave them all false hopes that they'd be loved and cared for. I didn't trust those shelter people, you know." She replied.
"Well we couldn't keep them all." Chris reminded her.
"I know! But the one we did keep ended up running away and getting hit by a car."
"We don't know if that was Honey for sure. There were a lot of strays, and a lof of them looked alike."
"Yeah…but I just knew it was her. I shouldn't have left my window open."
"Don't blame yourself, we're over that hurdle, remember? Try and think positive."

Nodding, Claire closed her eyes and let her head fall against the back of the couch. "What about you and Leon?" Chris asked suddenly.
"What about it?" Claire replied.
"Well, what's going on with you? Are you going to get together eventually or…what?"
"I dunno. I guess so but we haven't really discussed it."
"Yeah? I know he really cares about you."
"I know."

The door to Leon's bedroom opened and the man of the hour made his appearance. "Hey guys, what's up?" He greeted, flopping onto a couch and turning the t.v. on. "Nothin." Claire replied.
"What are you putting one?" Chris asked as Leon settled the remote onto a table.
"Psycho. Great movie. Or movies rather." Leon replied.


TBC











TBC