Sacrifices
Chapter 5: Revelations and Preparations
Claire walked, briskly, through the airport terminal, slowing her pace as she approached the baggage claim area. She scanned the large crowd of people, searching for someone.
"Claire!" A familiar voice called out, causing her to spin around. She recognized Leon Kennedy's smiling face in an instant and raised her hand to wave, until she noticed he wasn't alone.
Sherry…
She froze, hand in the air, as the young girl stepped out from behind him. Sherry spotted Claire in the crowd and began to smile. She broke into a run, oblivious of the shocked expression on the brunette's face. Claire's hesitation lasted only a few seconds as she stepped forward, reaching her arms out to embrace her friend. The petite blonde nearly knocked her over as she crouched down to scoop her up into a hug.
"Jeez, kiddo. I think you've grown a foot since the last time I saw you" she greeted, a slight grunt escaping her as she pulled Sherry off her feet. There was no response as Claire set the girl back down to the floor. Sherry still had her arms wrapped tightly around Claire's neck.
"Sherry?" Claire tilted her head back, trying to look at the girl's face. "Are you okay?" She heard a sniffle, feeling Sherry's body hitch as she took in a quick breath. Slowly, Claire came down to rest on her knees, squeezing her small friend even tighter. "I missed you, too, sweetie" she whispered, stroking the girl's hair, as she gently rocked back and forth.
"Is this a private hug, or can anyone join in?" Claire looked up to find Leon standing over them, smiling broadly.
"This was quite a surprise," she said, softly. A serious look flashed across his face, briefly.
"I know. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but there were no other options." They continued to stare at each other in silence while Sherry's sniffles began to subside. She pulled back a bit to look into Claire's face.
"Sorry." Claire placed her hands on the girl's cheeks, wiping away a few stray tears with her thumbs.
"Don't be. That's the best hello I've had in a long time." She smiled as Sherry wiped at her own face with the back of her hands. "Feel better, now?"
"Much", Sherry replied, as a smile created dimples in her flushed cheeks. She took a step back and looked up at Leon. "Your turn." Leon grinned, casting a wink at her.
"Thanks. Don't mind if I do." He stepped forward and hugged Claire. "I've missed you", he whispered. His warm breath tickled her ear and she suppressed a shiver.
"I missed you, too." She pulled back, the close proximity feeling a bit awkward to her. "You look good", she added, knowing how lame it sounded. He held her at arm length, studying her face. His eyes came to rest on the scar above her eye.
"How did this happen?" He traced it, delicately, with the tip of his finger. Claire flinched and pulled away from him.
"It's nothing." Leon narrowed his eyes.
"It doesn't look like nothing." His tone caused Sherry to look at her friend closely.
"It looks like it must have hurt", she added. "How'd you do it?" Claire looked back and forth between them. She was not ready to discuss the details of her most recent adventure.
"I took a tumble in a Snowcat. No big deal. Now, we better get going. Rebecca's waiting for us outside." It was obvious to Leon that the subject was closed, so he decided to let it drop, for now.
"I'll just grab the bags and we can head out of here."
As the trio exited the building, Claire pointed to a white van parked at the curb. "That's Rebecca, over there." They approached the vehicle just as a young brunette emerged from the driver's side door. Although her hair color was much lighter, she reminded Leon a little of Claire.
"Hey, there you are", she greeted, smiling. "I was beginning to think you'd gotten lost, or something." Claire looked apologetic.
"Sorry, we had to find their luggage." Rebecca came around the front of the van, extending her hand. "Well, you must be Leon." She shook his hand, squeezing firmly. "I'm Rebecca Chambers. It's nice to finally meet you. Claire's told me a lot about you." Leon cast a glance at Claire, a smile tugging at his lips.
"Really? Well, I hope that doesn't scare you off." Rebecca laughed.
"I don't scare easily", she responded, turning to look at their younger companion. "And, you must be Sherry." She offered her hand, and Sherry stepped toward her, shaking it enthusiastically. "I didn't realize you were coming, too." She shot a quick look at Claire, who could only shrug her shoulders.
"I know, but Leon said there was no other place that would be safe for me. And, I wanted to see Claire." She took a step closer to Claire, who reached an arm out and put it around her shoulders.
"Well, Leon was right. You're safe with us, Sherry." Claire gave the shorter girl a squeeze. Sherry looked up at the woman who had saved her life all those months ago, feeling a sense of security that no one else had ever given her before, not even Leon. She knew Claire would give her own life to protect her. She looked back at Rebecca, who smiled at her and pulled the passenger door open.
"Care to ride shotgun?" she asked, with a wave of her hand.
"Sure." Sherry climbed into the van, propping herself up in the seat. Rebecca closed the door and looked at Leon and Claire.
"Looks like you two ride in the back." She pulled the side panel door open. Claire climbed in and started to buckle herself in. Leon hesitated, turning to look at Rebecca.
"Thank you for calling me and letting me know she was okay", he said, softly.
"Your welcome. But, we're the ones who should say thanks. If it weren't for you, Chris would never have found her. He's very grateful…we all are." She patted him on the back. "Now, why don't you hop in and we'll get this show on the road." Leon saluted her.
"Yes, Ma'am." He climbed in and took a seat next to Claire. She glanced over at him.
"So, why don't you tell me what you've been up to." Leon reached over and put his hand on her forearm.
"That can wait. Why don't you tell me the plan you've come up with to save Jill Valentine's father." Claire turned away from him to look out the window. She let out a heavy sigh.
"It's a shitty plan, Leon."
***
Carlos emerged, bleary eyed, from the small plane. He waved to the pilot and trotted across the airfield, a worn backpack thrown over his shoulder. The hanger was relatively quiet, as he made his way inside. He glanced about at the small group of people milling around, until his eyes rested on one man. He looked around briefly, watching, as the man jerked his head in the direction of a red jeep parked near the door. Carlos acknowledged his gesture and made his way toward the awaiting vehicle. Both men reached it at the same time, and Carlos climbed into the passenger seat. The driver started the engine and pulled out of the parking area, rapidly putting distance between them and the airstrip. Carlos allowed himself a moment to relax and looked over at his companion.
"It's been awhile, Barry. How are you?" Barry glanced over at his young passenger.
"I've been better." Carlos frowned, turning to look ahead at the road.
"So there's no way to talk her out of this." It was not a question. Barry sighed, absently running his hand across the stubble on his chin.
"We've tried to come up with some other alternative, Carlos, but there isn't one. If she doesn't show up, they'll kill him." Barry clenched the wheel, tightly, his knuckles turning white. "It's gonna kill me to just sit by and watch this happen."
"Then don't." Barry looked at him, briefly, and turned his eyes back to the road. Carlos continued. "Maybe, if we take them by surprise, catch them off guard or something--"
"That won't work", Barry interrupted.
"Why?" Carlos persisted. "The deal is that they'll only bring a dozen or so people. They think we're outnumbered. If we position ourselves in the right place, we can pick 'em off in no time." Barry shook his head.
"First of all, we are outnumbered. Second of all, no matter how good a shot any of us are, we'd never be able to take them all out in time. They're not gonna be stupid enough to put all of their people out in the open, and all it's gonna take is one well placed bullet to put down their hostage."
"But, if we--"
"Carlos, this is exactly the kind of stuff the Tactics and Rescue Squad was trained for. We look over every possible angle, take everything into account. Chris, Jill, Rebecca and I went over this for hours. Each scenario ended the same way…losing the hostage. And Jill is not about to let that happen."
"So we're just gonna let them have her?" Carlos shouted, slamming his fist on the dashboard in frustration. "That's your plan?" Barry turned the wheel, pulling off the road as he brought the jeep to a sudden stop. He turned to face the former mercenary, his eyes blazing with anger.
"Let me tell you something", he growled. "I've known Jill a hell of a lot longer than you, and I understand a little of what she's going through. When the people you love are in danger, you'll do anything to save them. You'll sacrifice your own life…or someone else's." He paused, rubbing a hand, vigorously, across his forehead. "Jill knows the risks, and she is going to do this with, or without our help. At first, she didn't want any of us involved. But, I owe her. She put her trust in me at a time when it was the last thing on this earth that I deserved. And I, for one, am not about to let her sacrifice be in vain. She wants to see her father safe, and I plan on doing everything in my power to make sure that he is. We have all struggled with this, Carlos, more than you'll ever know, and we've agreed to do as she asks. Now, the question is, are you in or are you out?"
A look of uncertainty flashed across Carlos' face. He turned away from Barry's unflinching gaze, looking down at his red knuckles. He began to rub his other hand across them, absently. In truth, he didn't want any part of it. He and Jill fought so hard to stay alive, beating impossible odds, and vowed to each other that Umbrella would never win. He realized, now, how naïve they had been. And how fortunate he was to have survived this long. The reality of Jill's predicament was suddenly clear to him, and it strengthened his resolve.
"I'm in."
***
Chris stood atop a large rock, a few feet from the cliff edge, looking through a pair of binoculars. He was looking down on a heavily wooded area with a series of small cliffs overlooking a deep gorge. He adjusted his focus to concentrate on a clearing about 150 yards below him.
There was a dirt road leading away from it, winding down to the lower valley. He switched his view, searching the other side of the gorge. There was another clearing, similar to the one below him, with it's own access road. The only thing connecting both sides was a narrow bridge. It appeared to be a little less than two hundred feet, by Chris' estimation, and was only wide enough to accommodate one vehicle at a time.
This was the place. In just a few hours, Jill would walk across that bridge and straight into the hands of the enemy.
After she made the first call to Umbrella, there had been some intense discussion about the merits of her plan, which was only just beginning to form. She wanted to go alone, but her friends convinced her that was a suicide mission, and it certainly wouldn't save her father. Reluctantly, she agreed to let them help, so long as they understood that she was going to follow through with the exchange.
The first order of business was in selecting a location for the meeting. After much deliberation about what would be the safest surroundings, they decided that the ideal spot would be open, but isolated, and allow them safe and easy access.
Claire, who had been silent during most of the discussion, finally offered up an idea for the place they needed.
Franklin's Notch.
It was a large area of forest located in upstate New York, and had been a favorite camping spot for the Redfield family when Chris and Claire were young. The bridge over the gorge had stuck in Claire's mind because of a photo she had of her and Chris standing on it. It was the last vacation they took together before the accident that claimed the lives of their parents.
Chris heard footsteps approaching from behind him. He turned to see Jill coming up the wooded path.
"Everything looks clear down below", she announced, climbing up the rock face to stand beside him.
"I haven't seen any signs of activity from up here, either, not even campers." She looked over at him.
"Well, it is still pretty cold, even if most of the snow is gone." Chris chuckled.
"And here I was thinking it was so warm."
"After being in the Antarctic, I'm sure everywhere else seems warm." He shook his head, as if trying to dispel the memory.
"God, I hated that place." Jill ran a hand through her auburn hair.
"We should get going. There are still some other things we need to do." She pivoted, jumping off the rock, and landed, softly, in the dirt. After taking a few steps toward the path, she noticed Chris was not following. She looked back at him, only to find him staring at her. They stood there in silence, until Chris finally spoke. His voice was so soft Jill had to strain to hear him over the faint sound of the rushing river below.
"I don't know if I can do this." Jill sighed to herself, as she stuffed her hands into the pockets of her jeans. She kicked at a rock and watched as it bounced away.
"We've already been over this." Chris jumped down off the rock and walked over to her.
"How can you expect me to stand by and watch this happen?"
"Because my father's life depends on it." She started to turn away as Chris grabbed her by the arm. He spun her around to face him.
"And what about your life, Jill?" She could see the fear and sadness in his eyes and it made her want to run away. She was already scared to death about what lay ahead, and a lot of people were putting their lives on the line for her. She had been so obsessed with saving her father, that she was having trouble thinking objectively. She could end up getting them all killed, and that realization was beginning to hit home. She needed Chris to be strong, so her own weakness would not overwhelm her.
"Don't you think I've thought about that?" she yelled, shaking her arm loose. "Don't you think I know what's going to happen to me?" She dropped to her knees, her hands clenched into fists. Chris knelt down in front of her and took her hands into his, gently coaxing her fingers open. He pressed her palms against his cheeks. Jill lifted her head to look at him, her eyes shimmering with tears.
"I won't give up on you." His voice was hoarse, betraying his emotion. Jill straightened up and pulled his face toward her own, softly pressing her lips against his. Chris closed his eyes and allowed himself the luxury of tasting her lips for the first time. He slowly reached his arms around her back, pulling her body to his. Jill's hands drifted away from his cheeks as her fingers ran soft trails through his thick, dark hair. His tongue brushed against her tender mouth and she parted her lips. The kiss deepened as their tongues gently explored each other's mouths. The kiss lingered on, until Jill finally broke it. They looked at each other for a moment, breathing heavily.
Jill got to her feet and ran a hand through her hair. She held a hand out to Chris, who grasped it and stood up. Slowly, they walked back down the path, hand in hand. Chris made a silent vow to never let go.
***
The group had decided to camp out in the woods the night before, knowing Umbrella would probably check every hotel and motel in the area looking for them. When Jill and Chris made their way back, they discovered the campsite had been broken down and packed away. They also discovered everyone else had already arrived.
All of the introductions were made, including a brief explanation from Leon regarding Sherry's presence. The young girl sat quietly, feeling a bit out of place with this new group of strangers. Especially, considering the events that were about to take place. She wanted to help, of course, but thought it might be better if she just kept out of everyone's way. She was content to just sit with Claire and observe. Jill and Carlos drifted away from the group to speak privately, while Chris sought out Leon.
"I never got a chance to say thanks for what you did." Chris extended his hand to the younger man. Leon shook it, firmly.
"There's no need to thank me. I'm just glad you found her."
"I wouldn't have if it wasn't for you, and I'm grateful. She's the only family I have."
Leon shifted uncomfortably and scratched the back of his head.
"All I did was send an email. You're the one who rescued her." Chris' mouth formed a lopsided grin.
"She said you'd say something like that. You two got to know each other pretty well in Raccoon, didn't you?" Leon glanced over at Claire, who was watching the two men. He smiled at her. She smiled back and turned her attention to Sherry.
"Not really. I mean, we went through a lot. We were there for each other when it counted, but we weren't together very much." Chris shot a look over his shoulder, only to see his sister quickly look away.
"Well, it was good of you to come. We certainly need all the help we can get. This is going to be a very risky situation for everyone…" His eyes wandered over to Jill and Carlos, who were engaged in an intense discussion. "I think I'll go give Barry a hand checking the equipment." Chris made his way over to the van, while Leon made his way over to Claire.
***
Everyone stood around waiting, while Barry finished checking the transmitters they had put in Jill's clothing. Although, it was likely that Umbrella would check for such devices, they hoped that at least one would escape detection. Barry stood next to Jill as she fixed the collar of her shirt. The tracker he was holding began to beep, softly.
"Why is it doing that?" Jill asked, bending down to lace up her boots.
"Because your so close to the tracker. It makes that beeping sound if it gets within ten feet of one of the transmitters" Barry explained. She stood up and grabbed her black leather jacket from the van.
"Well, just make sure you leave it off while we're standing together." Barry smiled at her.
"Don't worry. Chris is gonna carry it."
When they were finished, the two friends made their way back to the group. Everyone was quiet, as all eyes rested on Jill. She shifted about, nervously, trying to think of something to say. She pulled on her jacket and took a few deep breaths to calm herself. Her nerves were jangling, but she didn't want to show it. Looking at their tense expressions, she suddenly felt like the coach of a football team, about to give a pep talk before the big game.
"I don't really know what to say to all of you', she started, "except…I couldn't have done this alone." Her gaze moved from person to person as she spoke. "I'm not sure what might happen today, but, I know my father will be safe with you." Her eyes rested on Barry. He nodded to her. She continued on. "This has been just as hard on all of you as it's been on me. And I realize the worst is yet to come." She looked at Rebecca. "But, I need you all to be strong, no matter what happens to…today." Carlos folded his arms across his chest and looked at the ground. "I wish there was more time. I hardly know some of you. And you're all taking an incredible risk for me…and for my father. I will always be grateful to you." She met Chris' gaze. "I don't want to say goodbye, so why don't we just get going." With that, Jill Valentine turned on her heel and walked away, ready to meet her fate.
Sorry it took so long to post this chapter, but I was feeling a bit under the weather. Anyway, the next chapter should be up pretty quick. Thanks for reading!