No Balm For Grief 8

By: Hotaru

Notes: Because Utada Hikaru owns, I'll be using lyrics from Deep River. . By the way, does anyone actually listen to the songs I use? I need to know!!

To the reviewers:

Tek: You're always one step behind, in regards to....you....hell, first to review! Thank you! Teh english class hath warped my brain.

Panny: Wag. Yeah, I did that! I took Claire dooowwwwn. You don't know the pattern ha ha ha ha haa-ha!

Ota: The mystery....of the universe....is icing.

ScoobySnax: Eat the chinese, and eat it well.

Gruntyluv: Awesome, I love attracting new readers! Enjoy!

Is the finger that's drawing a line to connect the dots
tracing out the road I've come down, or the one I'm going away on?

Two people tie these lines together
one day everyone will arrive at the sea,
not scared because they'll become one.

"What? An accident...she was hit?" I questioned. He shook his head, and looked like he was going to throw up again.

"No. Some jackass was in the wrong lane, speeding around a slow car or something, and she had to swerve to avoid hitting him and was thrown off her bike. Leon didn't know what her condition was, just that she was conscious when the ambulence got there.

"Oh, God. Where are they taking her?"

"One of the hospitals on the edge of town. Presbyterian...something or other." Sweat was forming on his brow, and he was panting lightly.

"Well, she's alright. Come on, come wash your face, and we can get going, okay?"

Flowing through countless rivers
you don't have to accept everything with the name you're given
without ever asking 'why'?

Our pain just now flew away.

He nodded and I helped him stand up. He staggered to the sink and cleaned himself up. Poor guy. He's going through so much, trying to keep things in control. But no matter how hard he tries, it seems like nothing is going his way. "I'll go let your boss know we'll be leaving, okay?" I said, as he turned the faucet and leaned against the sink weakly. "Okay." He nodded.

I went back through the office, and knocked on the door to the lieutenant's office. He waved me in. "What's up?" He asked.

"Chris's sister was in an accident, and we're going to be going to the hospital in a few minutes. I just wanted to let you know." I replied.

"Oh, God. How is she?"

"Not sure, but she was conscious when the ambulance arrived so we're hopeful."

"How about Chris? How's he taking it?"

"Not well. His former boss and friend just died, this case...he's taking it hard."

"Alright, let him know he's got plenty of time to sort things out."

"Thanks. He'll appreciate that."

I left the office and got our coats from Chris's desk, and also grabbed the case files before going to meet him outside of the bathroom. He looked pale. "Are you feeling any better?" I asked, handing him his coat.

"No. Still nauseous." He answered, starting down the stairs.

"I'll drive, if you want."

"Sure. What'd the boss say?"

"He was concerned for you and Claire. And he said you have plenty of time to get through this."

We weren't entrusted with swords
just so we'd know how they sound when they clash.
Who can you protect with that kind of contradiction?

On our way out of the station house, we asked for directions to the hospital where Claire would be. It was about 20 minutes away, which would hopefully give Chris some time to relax, and settle his stomach. I didn't know what to say. My mind was racing, and as I drove down the highway, I had to wonder if there would be an attempt made on our lives every time I passed a car. In my head, I kept repeating that she'd be fine, but...why couldn't I believe it?

"How long until we get there?" Chris asked, tilrting his head forward.

"Just a few more minutes. How are you feeling?" I asked.

"A bit better. You okay?"

"Me? I'd be more worried about you."

"Why's that?"

"You're dealing with more...emotionally than I am." I explained.

"Still...I'm worried about you." He said.

"You don't have to be." That came out harsher than I had intended.

"...Jill...if I lose you I don't think I can go on."

"You're not going to lose me. I promise."

We got to the hospital, and went to find Claire in the recovery hall. Leon was in the room with her when we got there. "Claire! Claire...wake up!" Chris rushed to her side and took her hand. "Hi Leon. How is she?" I asked. He sighed deeply.

"The doctors say she has a bunch of broken bones and a minor concussion. Other than that, she's fine. No internal bleeding which is good." He replied.

"Wow, that's good. She didn't need any surgery?" I asked. Leon shook his head. I sighed thankfully.

"They're using medication to keep her asleep, Chris. You won't be able to wake her up." Leon said gruffly. Chris stopped shaking his sister. "Huh? Oh...oh. Okay. We'll wait until she wakes up."

You change shape so many times, floating down before me
Today I'm looking for you.
You don't have to be accepted everywhere.
Everyone was blessed with a blade called "individuality"

Chris faithfully stayed by his sister's side, barely moving. I got him cups of water, and food that he didn't touch. A doctor walked into the room sometime that night. "I'm going to turn off the medicine that's keeping your sister asleep. She may wake up now, or not until sometime tomorrow. The prognosis is good, Mr. Redfield. Your sister is very lucky." He said, fiddeling with an IV.

"Was there anyone else brought in...the driver of the other car?" Chris asked.

"I...you'll have to talk to the cops about that. I don't know which hospital the other victim was brought to." The doctor replied.

"I can call the boss if you want." I offered.

"Yeah, okay. I'm gonna stay here until she wakes up."

I smiled at him with encouragment, and went to the pay phones in the hall. Quickly, I dialed in the lieutenant's private number. After about a ring and a half he picked up the phone. "Hi, Lieutenant. This is Jill." I greeted.

"Hi Jill, how are Chris and his sister?" He replied.

"Alright. His sister's going to be fine, she has a few broken bones and a concussion though."

"That's not bad for being in a MVA." (motor vehicle accident)

"Yeah. Chris is hanging in there, but he actually had a question for you."

"Alright, shoot."

"The doctor doesn't know where the driver of the other vehicle was brought and we both think that this could be the person responsible for all the attacks in West Creek." I explained.

"That's...kind of a big leap." The lieutenant replied. "Do you have any evidence before I go searching hospital records?"

"Not actually hard proof, but it's the angle we're taking. If you can't do it, it's alright. But I know it would ease Chris's mind a bit anyway."

"....alright, I'll see what I can do."

"Thanks. I'll give you a call in about an hour or so."

"Okay, bye."

I hung up and smiled slightly, before heading back to Claire's room. She was still sleeping, but Chris wasn't hunched over her any more. "What'd he say?" He asked the minute I walked into the room.

"That he'd look into it." I replied, going to my coat. "I brought the case files along, if you want to take a look at them Leon." I handed the manila folder, and caught Chris sort of glaring at me. "I figured he might want to take a look at what we've got so far....which isn't much."

"Yeah, sure. If he figures everything out, after we've been having all this trouble..." He replied, shaking his head. Leon opened the folder on Barry's death and looked through it. I sat down beside Chris and put my hand on his knee to comfort him. Leon chewed on his thumbnail as his eyes scanned the documents.

"Hm. So he was out jogging when he had the heart attack?" He questioned. Me and Chris shrugged. Linda never gave us the details.

"I guess. When she called me, she said that Barry was having chest pain." Chris replied.

"Well, he wasn't exactly in shape, so the heart attack probably wasn't induced by someone else." Leon continued.

"Unless someone held a gun to him or something and scared him into one..."

"That's probably not likely. He wasn't robbed or carrying anything of importance..." He took Carlos's file and opened it on top of Barry's. "Nothing was stolen from his apartment, had no enemies..what's with the rings?"

Chris and I looked up. "Rings? What do you mean?" I asked.

"When Barry was brought into the hospital he was wearing a ring, and Carlos's ring was taken as evidence. And Carlos mentioned his ring before he died." Leon replied.

"Purple...Carlos's birthstone is purple. What month is that?" Leon looked down at the file.

"February."

"And Barry's ring had a blue stone..."

"Was it a sapphire?" Leon questioned.

I shook my head. "It was light blue." I said.

"Well, it says Barry was born in December. So it jumps from December to February. What about January?"

"Jill's birthday is in January." Chris said. And then it all made sense. "Holy shit...Claire's birthday is in April. Mine is in June. Leon, when's yours?"

"May."

"And Rebecca's is in September, remember she had a Labor Day/Birthday party that time? So it's by our birth months?" I asked.

Leon swallowed. "If that's the case, then I'd be next." He said. "But why start with Barry in December? Why not Jill first?"

"Barry's death might have been completely un-related, and just happened coincidentally. So technically it started with Jill." Chris replied.

"Okay. So...what now?" I asked.

"It's pretty simple. This guy has a pattern, and as long as I can avoid getting attacked, then everyone else will be safe." Leon explained.

"And you'll cheat death until you catch the guy?" I questioned.

He shrugged. "That isn't safe. Not that I doubt you can handle the guy, but you don't know what he'll do." Chris interjected.

"Well, there isn't much else we can do. We have no idea what the guy looks like, he's already killed one person, and attacked Jill...and maybe even tried to kill Claire. I'm willing to put myself in danger so that no one else gets hurt."

Sometimes the flow changes
You don't have to accept everything with the name you're given
without having anything.
The birds facing against the seabreeze just now flew away

"Chris? Is that you?" A small voice said.

"Claire...you're alright...thank God."