Chapter Ten

Standoff

They spread across the dessert, the four of them -- Chris in the lead, his teammates slightly behind. Jill shielded her eyes against the glaring sun, momentarily picturing an old Western. They were every inch the noble heroes riding out to meet the villain -- or they would be with cowboy hats. Jill would like a cowboy hat, she thought. Something to replace her old beret. Then she shook her head and forced herself to focus. Drifting throughts, great. She hadn't slept in almost two days -- Chris had seen to that.

She couldn't help noticing that, when it came right down to it, Chris generally made her life a lot more difficult.

He strode out in front of them, trying to project an aura of confidence, trying to make himself feel an optimism he didn't believe. Claire had to be there somewhere, because if she wasn't... God, don't finish that sentence. Please, he prayed silently. Please, please, let her be okay.

Damn it, he'd lost his home, his friends, his job... They couldn't take his sister too. If he got her back -- when, he counselled himself, when you get her back -- he was going to lock her in a basement somewhere and hire someone to feed her. He couldn't let her out because she'd find some way to get herself into trouble. Damn it, why'd she have to come to Raccoon City in the first place? Why couldn't she just go to university like normal girls her age?

Because of you, a voice in his head whispered. Because you took off without so much as a goodbye.

Which made it his fault she'd met Leon, too. Chris glared at the younger man, even though he didn't deserve it. Chris knew he didn't deserve it, but that did nothing to dull his anger. He didn't have anything specific against Leon, nothing more than he'd have against any man with the audacity to date his sister. In fact Leon seemed like a pretty good guy -- honourable, level-headed, decently tough but without too much attitude. There was one thing, though, that struck him right off Chris' list of eligible men for his baby sister: he was involved with freaking Umbrella. If Claire had to have a boyfriend, he'd better be someone who could take her away from all this junk, not draw her further into it.

He stood on top of a bluff and placed his hands on his hips, all too aware of the others staring at him. So he was acting like a crazy man. Okay. He knew that. What did they want from him? It was Claire, damn it; it was his sister.

Staring into the sunlight, he could almost believe he saw her.

He blinked. He did see her.

Shit, and Wesker too. "Claire!" he shouted, tearing through the sand.

Claire was already halfway to his side, having had the good sense not to alert Wesker as to her brother's presence. He'd made her climb the ladder ahead of him; as soon as she emerged into the blinding light, she'd seen Chris standing on the bluff, looking the other way. Wesker climbed up behind her and began callibrating the self-destruct system for the lab. Quietly, Claire edged away, making sure Wesker was thoroughly absorbed before breaking into a run.

But then Chris had to open his mouth. A slashing sound warned her she was caught even before Wesker's arm closed around her throat. With no warning, Claire slammed into him at full force, blinding pain streaking through her. For a moment she saw stars and sagged against Wesker's restraining arm, struggling to breathe. When she was able to see clearly again, Chris stood barely ten feet away, staring not at her but -- of course -- Wesker. Behind him, Jill, Barry, and Leon drew closer. Claire couldn't help noticing that Leon's was staring at her. He caught her eye and gave her a reassuring nod.

Claire wished she could be reassured. But she didn't see how they'd escape this situation.

"Wesker," Chris growled. "I thought you weren't going to show."

"I'm sorry, Chris, have you been waiting? And Barry! Still keeping your family in hiding, then? Probably a wise decision. You never know when I'll make a stop in Boston."

The blood drained from Barry's face and his big hands clenched into fists. "You stay away from my..."

"Your family, yes, yes. Honestly. Do you and Chris stay up at night researching cliches, or are these spontaneous performances for my amusement?"

Claire wished he would shut the hell up. She struggled against him, knowing it was useless but unable to resist the instinct. Wesker jerked her back, sending her into another round of coughing.

"Let her go," Chris growled. "You said you'd let her go if I showed up; well, I'm here."

"I believe I also said something about your little back-up crew." Wesker glanced at his watch. "As much as I'd like to kill you now, I really don't have time before the lab beneath us explodes. And I want to take my time, Chris. Killing you will be one of the few real pleasures left to me." He spun Claire in his arms. She jerked back instinctively, but he only smiled. "I'm sorry, dear heart -- my route of escape is open only to me. For now you'll have to go with your brother. But never fear -- I will be back very soon." He glanced at Chris over her head and added, "very soon."

And then he shoved her. Before she even hit the ground, he was gone.

Instantly they surrounded her, Chris hoisting her in his arms like she was a child. "Put me down!" she snapped irritably. "We have to get out of here! You heard him; the lab's going to blow."

"You're all right? You can walk?"

"Chris, you just saw me running! Come on! Let's go!"

Reluctantly, he set her down; Jill grabbed his hand and jerked him in the direction of the plane. Leon took Claire's elbow as they ran, not at all patronizing, only helpful and worried and kind. As they scrambled onto the plane, the first tremors made the ground shudder. "Buckle in!" Barry shouted. Claire lunged for a seat, but Barry already had the plane moving; Leon caught her arm and hauled her up beside him.

As they shot into the air, a burst of flames shot out of the ground, trying to engulf them. Instinctively Claire ducked her head. The plane shook like some ride in a carnival from hell, and she cried out in spite of herself. But then they were through it, and only gravity held her tightly against her seat as the plane skyrocketed into the clouds.

Hands trembling, Claire fastened her seatbelt. She didn't meet her brother's eyes, nor anyone else's.

What had Wesker said? I'll be back... very soon.

"My God," she whispered out loud.

Leon slumped back beside her. "My sentiments exactly."