14. Chris

Chris tapped his fingers on the table impatiently, earning a small glare from Jill. The woman elbowed his arm in disapproval, and Chris shrugged.

The start of the meeting was just like any other. Adams's face appeared on the screen to greet them, and he listened, silently, as they explained what had happened yesterday. Chris and the rest of his team told everything, from the attack on the medical center to the hacking of BSAA's server and the message that Mobius had left them.

The cleanup team had entered the building after Alpha Team took care of the B.O.W.s. They had found no survivors, so except for Claire and Leon, they had no witnesses from the attack. According to Leon, he would have been among the losses if Claire hadn't guided him through the whole ordeal. However, Chris omitted that little detail when he made his report on the case. Adams seemed quite relieved when Chris had confirmed that Claire was alive and, most importantly, safe.

"It's good to hear that." Adams said, "It'd be great to have Claire back with us, Chris."

"She is anxious to return to her work., sir."

"As TerrasSave's chief? I am sure she can take a break for a while."

"No, sir, her job with the viruses…"

Adams didn't reply. The man seemed slightly ashamed.

"So, you know. I had intended to tell you, but the situation was a little unsuited at the time. Claire's return to her research activities could be of use now. Dr. Chambers received a viral sample from the DSO, but it seems she's having problems with it. Claire might be helpful…"

"It's a new strain, sir?" Jill asked curiously.

"That's what Dr. Chambers believes. However, it seems that she's been having problems handling the sample, and that's causing her to have too little progress. IF Claire feels up to it, we would appreciate her assistance."

"She'll jump into it without hesitation…" Chris sighed.

"Hopkins called this morning. He told me about your request to put Claire under SVP."

"Sir, this new group, Mobius, has made clear that Claire is their target. These people are the ones behind the attack in MedCenter. I won't risk it. I am not letting my sister away again."

"I understand, don't worry. Hopkins and I agree that it is the best move and that putting agent Kennedy on the case is a wise decision. He's the DSO's best agent, after all. Additionally, a second agent has been assigned to assist him: Helena Harper. We considered that a female agent could come in handy in situations where Kennedy wouldn't be able to interfere."

Chris nodded. That seemed reasonable.

"Also, the DSO has prepared a new monitored apartment for Claire. She'll be staying with agent Kennedy until the threat has been taken care of, and we consider that she's safe."

Chris nearly choked. Claire would be sharing home with Leon? Aside from that, his brain told him that it was the smartest move. The closer Leon was, the easier it'd be for him to protect her. It made sense, but Chris couldn't help but feel uneasy about the idea of his baby sister living under the same roof of an agent with a reputation as a lady killer.

He caught on to Barry, and Jill's teasing smiles,and he rolled his eyes.

"Now, about your mission…."

"We are looking for any leads to the place where Claire was captive for the past eight months. It seems that Claire's memories aren't clear enough to give us a location, but we have high reasons that it is a place located between Ireland and Wales. It might be one of the islands in the Irish sea or a ship," Jill said, " we are tracing possible areas according to estimations taken from Claire's conditions at the time she was found. "

"Locating that is a priority. There might be other prisoners that might need rescue. And if there's a viral threat, we need to shut it down right away."

"Yes, sir."

"When is Claire coming back?"

"In a couple of days, most likely. I'll be coming with her and Leon to make sure everything is ok, and then I'll come back to Wales."

"I understand. I guess that should be all for now. Keep me updated."

"We will, sir…"

With that, Adams's face disappeared from the screen, and the three BSAA soldiers sighed.

"Well, that's done…" Barry said, stretching his arms behind his back, "So it seems Claire will get a new roomie…"

"For the life of me...if Kennedy ever tries a move on her, I swear. I will kick his sorry ass and castrate him."

"Chris...just let her be, would you?" Jill laughed " I seriously doubt Leon would do such a thing. "

"Yeah, besides Claire wouldn't hesitate to knock the fuck out of him if he even tried," Barry smirked.

"Point taken...still, I just…"

"Oh, come on…" Jill laughed, "And what if he does? Have you ever stopped to think that maybe those two could actually have something?"

"They could what?"

"I think they'd make a cute couple." Jill replied, crossing her arms, " I mean, Leon obviously likes her…"

"He WHAT?"

"You think?" Barry asked, "How the hell do you know that, Jill?"

"Call it female intuition…" Jill shrugged, "You, men, are just too hard-headed to realize that sort of thing. I mean, I don't think he realizes that himself…"

"Ok, stop right there…."

Chris shook his head at what Jill was implying. Leon couldn't like Claire that way. Jill was probably overthinking it. But what if she wasn't? What if Leon was indeed interested in Claire that way? Wouldn't putting them in the same place for an indefinite time be like throwing wood to the fire?

"Well...if you think it over, he is not quite a bad match for Claire, " Barry said, rubbing his chin, "Let's see...he's not that bad looking, so their kids would come out nice, besides, he has a good job with a good paycheck and most importantly, the man can use a gun…"

"That's what I was thinking…"

"What the fuck are you two talking about?"

"Oh, come on, Chris... Admit it. You wouldn't be that against that relationship." Barry laughed " Even my father's filter approves him…"

"You two realize we are talking about Leon Kennedy, right?"

"Of course we do, " Jill replied "so?"

"Ladies-man?"

"Ohhh, I see. It's not that Chris doesn't approve," Barry said, "He's not sure if the boy will break her heart. You're cute, Chris and I never imagined myself saying that."

Chris let out a frustrated sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. Barry and Jill were totally missing the point of the conversation.

"You know what? I'm not talking about this, end of discussion…"

"Or maybe he's scared that Claire will replace him with Leon…" Jill added, ignoring the older Redfield.

"Claire wouldn't do that…" Barry chuckled, "For god sake, the girl searched him for what? Six months? She loves her brother too much to change him…"

"Yeah, maybe you're right. There has to be a difference between lover and family, after all."

"Ok, that's it! You two stop it already. I know you're doing it to annoy me, and it isn't funny…" Chris groaned " Get a grip on yourselves. I'm going to call Leon and tell them to meet us at that restaurant by the pier. When I come back, I expect you two to be normal again…"

Chris walked out of the room irritated. Jill and Barry watched him leave before exchanging smirks.

"Who said we were joking?"

When Chris and company made it to rendezvous, Leon and Claire were sitting on a bench by the pier chatting cheerfully. Claire seemed to be laughing at something Leon had said, and Chris couldn't help but remember what Jill and Barry had said, and after staring at the pair for a few minutes, he hated to admit that they did make a nice match. In fact, if he didn't know better, those two could easily pass by a couple.

You're letting their words mislead you. You're seeing things, he kept saying to himself.

Claire was the first to notice them. She smiled brightly at Chris as she waved at him. He saw Leon tell her something, and she replied, giving him a friendly punch and laughing.

"Hey...how was the meeting?" Claire asked.

"Boring as usual...!" Barry replied grumpily, "You know lots of talking…"

"That bad?"

"Adams wanted a report about the events on Med Center." Jill said, "Not a big deal…"

The mention of the event erased the smile from the younger Redfield, replacing it with a grieving look. Chris saw Jill's regretful look instantly. They hadn't mentioned anything about the events in front of her for fear that it might trigger something, and Chris absolutely forbade everyone to mention anything about Mobius and the reasons behind their attack on her. The last thing they needed was to give Claire another reason to beat herself.

"Sorry. I wish I could have helped more people there…"

"Don't worry about it. You gave us data for future reference, and that's enough." Chris quickly said, shaking his head, "We are just glad you're safe, and now what's important is keeping that way."

"What are you going to do? Get me a bodyguard?"

"Actually…"

Claire looked at him questioningly, and then her eyes glared at him accusingly.

"You didn't…"

"It's for your safety…" Chris replied, "We all considered it'd be the best…."

"Seriously? Putting me with some random guy, I don't know at all to protect me?"

"Technically...he's not a random guy…" Barry snorted.

He and Jill stared at each other and burst out laughing.

"What?"

"He's sitting next to you, Claire…"

Claire frowned. She looked at Chris questioning, and then her eyes went wide in realization. She quickly turned to Leon accusingly.

"The girl from your new assignment! It was me?"

Chris frowned, staring at the pair. Claire had crossed her arms over her chest, and she was staring at the blonde with a pout.

"I told you you knew her well," Leon smirked.

"You totally tricked me! Whose idea was this?"

"It was mine, Claire. I offered for the mission." Leon replied, "Both Chris and I agreed that you need to be safe in case they came after you again."

"I would have done it myself, but still need to do some work for BSAA…" Chris sighed, "Leon was the best option…"

Claire let out an annoyed sigh in a way that reminded Chris of the tantrums she used to throw at him when she was younger. It was a small gesture usually reserved for him when he did things she wasn't pleased with him, but her anger wouldn't last too long.

Leon's phone started to ring, and he excused himself to attend. Claire glared at him accusingly, and he merely smirked at her as he walked away.

"He did it because he is worried about you, Claire. We have reasons to think that the terrorist that kidnapped you will try to abduct you again... "Jill said, "He's your brother after all and…"

Chris saw Claire look soften and let out a defeated sigh. She turned to Chris and locked her arm with his as they walked to the restaurant.

"I know, I know...my brother loves me," She whispered, "Fine, I guess I can live with it. At least it is Leon and not some foolish amateur agent."

"Yeah, at that, you're right…." Chris replied and added in a soft voice so that only Claire could hear his words, "If he does something that he shouldn't, let me know so that I can teach him a good lesson and…."

"I am a grown woman, Chris. You know I can take care of myself…" Claire replied in the same whisper, "Especially when it comes to Leon. We have a buddies' pact, don't worry."

"Buddies…?"

"Yeah, so your overprotective and over jealous brother brain can be at ease." she laughed, "I'll be fine. I know Leon, and he would never put "his" moves on me. He knows I will totally kick his ass…"

"Yeah, I know you can, but…"

Chris knew his sister was tough. He taught her everything he could about fighting, and she was smart. The proof of her strength was standing in front of him, after all, eight months supposedly dead; eight months in which she had probably gone through hell, and yet she was there. But she was his baby sister no matter what; it didn't matter if she was nine or seventy.

"I know...you worry, but I'll be ok, alright?" Claire said softly, "You focus on those assholes and stay alive. Then you can worry about my non-existent love life."

Chris down he knew he couldn't no worry, but Claire was right. Leon was unlikely going to try anything with her -he hoped-, but he would protect her. His goal now was finding Mobius and putting an end to their sick plans.

And Chris promised himself that he would find them; for Claire's sake and the world's.