: Chapter 13 - Homecoming :


When Albert Wesker turned 18, he had been offered a night away from the Umbrella training facility to 'unwind' with a friend (presumably William). At the time, he was much too invested in a project that Marcus had bestowed on him, so when he informed William he'd decline the offer, the scientist nearly had a heart attack.

William accepted the offer for Wesker, much to his distain, and they took the opportunity to have their first drink. Of course, Wesker had quite a lot of money from his work for Marcus, so the two scientists had no idea what the word 'limitations' even meant when they walked into the only bar the town close to the Umbrella facility had. That night, Wesker's curiosity of what a shot of vodka tasted like was satisfied, and after 10 minutes, found what it did to him.

He didn't particularly remember what happened that night. He knew that at no point was he 'out of control' though. No, that was left to William, who that night, had taken a woman back to their hotel room. Wesker was fit to throw him out the five story hotel room window when he walked in on the two as they had rented one room with 2 beds for their stay. When William took no notice of Wesker walking in that night, Wesker made a vow to never get so drunk to the point that he'd drag a woman to his bed and wake up the next morning not knowing their name. And to never take straight up shots of vodka ever again.

So why did waking up this morning feel so much like he'd done just that?

Claire shifted ever so slightly in her sleep, nuzzling Wesker's hard chest as she shifted in his arm that he just now noticed was wrapped around her waist. She sighed contently in her sleep and made no sighs of waking up. Glancing at his watch, he noticed the time was 6:30. He'd already let her sleep in, but he couldn't bring himself to wake her up. In fact, he found himself studying her and she slept.

Something strange had happened last night. Something completely unexpected. Claire had made him lose control. Claire. The juvenile, run of the mill alcohol fueled college student had made him lose control. As soon as she'd reached up to touch him, he'd felt different. Like a man that had just looked into the eyes of Medusa and turned to stone. From the moment those soft pink lips touched his, he was at her mercy.

But how? It certainly wasn't her looks, her brains or even her personality. At the most, Wesker could admit he had a fondness for her, but not in anyway close to going weak at the sight of her, or something even more stupid. Wesker couldn't stop himself from scoffing at the thought of a woman like her bringing him to his knees. He was destined for much bigger things. He was to be a god, not a damned knight in shining armor in a love novel. Not even for Claire.

So the only explanation was that it was G. He had pricked her finger and taken a sample of her blood when her sleeping had reached its heaviest point, as indicated by her breathing. They were leaving today, so he'd have to analyse the two blood samples once he was back in Raccoon. He couldn't help but think back to last night though, when he quite possibly saw a stitch in an otherwise perfect virus in Claire. If she got scared, or mad, would she grow violent again? Would she get to the point of killing someone?

"Mmmm.." Claire softly hummed and she stretched in her sleep, gliding her fingers up Wesker's free arm, and then going limp as she got comfortable against him again.

He couldn't kill her. Or let her die, for that matter. He needed his cover to be kept no matter what. If Claire died, her body would be examined for foul play, and if that virus was found, Umbrella would kill him for letting loose test subjects, and if Chris dug too deep, he'd be killed for blowing his, and Umbrella's cover.

He just couldn't win.

Just then, the hotel room phone rang out, and Wesker felt Claire jolt awake. As she rubbed her eyes and yawned, Wesker stretched across the bed and picked up the phone, finding that his other hand was still wound around Claire, and rubbing the small of her back as she awoke.

"Yes?" Wesker spoke softly, watching Claire's face as she watched him for a moment, then going completely red as she remembered where she'd spent the night. He couldn't stop himself from smirking, no matter how hard he tried.

"Mr. Wesker, there is a call here for you from a Jackson K, would you like me to transfer it?"

Wesker pursed his lips for a moment. Pulling the phone away from his ear for a moment, he turned to Claire. "Dear heart, I apologize but its a call from a family member, could I ask that you give me a moment?"

Claire nodded briskly and hopped out of bed. She barely even glanced at her suitcase as she plucked anything from it in her haste and retreated to the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. Wesker smirked at her haste. At least shes thoroughly entertaining.

Placing the phone back to his ear, he replied. "Yes, please transfer it."

There was a silence on the other end that lasted a few moments before a click resounded and he heard a man on the other end. "Wesker." he greeted.

Wesker placed an arm behind his pillow and chuckled softly. "Jackson now, is it?"

"Had to hide my name." the man said in quite a disinterested tone. "How am I getting paid?"

Wesker's smirk was wiped clean from his face. He despised when people demanded things from him.

"Jack Krauser, I assume you know the lovely Ada Wong?" Wesker teased. His smirk returned when he heard Jack scoff. "She will pay you at Victory City park once the STARS leave. Be there at 7 PM, she doesn't like being kept waiting."

"Great.." Jack huffed. "So did you kill that girl?"

"I did not, I need her alive." he answered, although was quite confused as to why Jack cared. He was a soldier of fortune, and was willing to do as he was asked for the right amount. Since when did he care if some girl was disposed of?

"She had a nice rack." Jack mused with an amused tone. He sighed with a laugh. "Can't promise I'll leave her alone when she's back."

Wesker sat up straight.

"What?" Wesker hissed, his tone dripping with malice.

He could almost hear Jack stiffen on the other end. "W.. well I me-"

"Make no mistake Jack." Wesker growled, making no attempt to keep his voice down as he heard the shower turn on and Claire hop in. "If you so much as approach her, I will have Ada sedate you and have you dumped in the deepest darkest pit Umbrella has. Full of hungry Cerberus. And you will not return, am I clear?"

Jack gulped and muttered a quick 'yes' before hanging up and high tailing it out of the mall payphone he'd made the call from.

Wesker felt a burning rage all of a sudden. Why was he suddenly feeling so angry with Jack? No, he wasn't angry with Jack. He was mad at the mere thought of him getting close to Claire. He didn't want anyone near Claire now, only him.

Where has this damned sense of animal territoriality come from? I need to test that blood and get answers. Fast.

When Claire appeared back from her shower in a dressing gown and her hair damp. She found Wesker gelling his hair and slipping on his sunglasses. He glanced at her as he combed back the blonde locks.

"Get dressed as soon as you can Claire, we need to be going."


When arriving at the training center, Claire wasn't really all that shocked to hear Chris locked in a fight with someone down the hall, verbal or otherwise. But what made her freeze in place as she walked through the door Wesker held for her, is that she heard Leon answer him back.

"That's not the point!" Chris screamed at Leon who, as Claire rounded the corner and found them both, was looking a little intimidated as Chris towered over him with an expression of pure anger.

"Look I-" Leon began, but was cut off as he saw Chris' expression soften at the sight of Claire, and as Leon turned, the two officers were silent.

Claire gulped and suddenly felt like a deer in the headlights as she watched the two men fixate on her.

"Claire!" the two men bellowed and instantly stopped their silly fighting and walked straight to her. They both opened their mouths to speak but Chris got there first. "Claire, where the hell did you go last night?!"

"I called your hotel room like 3 times and I got no answer!" Leon added as the relief on both their faces slowly melted into anger.

And that's when it hit Claire, she had never even gone back to tell Leon or Chris about.. well.. anything that happened to her last night. And I'm not about to.

Sighing to try and relieve the sharp pain in her chest from the lie that was about to leave her lips, she began. "Okay.. Okay I-"

"Was helping me last night." Wesker suddenly appeared, laying a hand on Claire's shoulder as he covered for her. Claire's eyes nearly jumped out of her head and rolled right out the door from the shock she felt, but was hiding pretty well in her opinion.

Neither Leon or Chris spoke up to question the Captain as he spoke. His voice had such an authoritative tone, Claire reminded herself as she shivered from Wesker's hand gently caress her shoulder.

"As all officers were off duty last night, I needed Miss Redfield's help reading the Miranda rights to the individual and documenting his arrest at the Victory City Police station." Claire gulped as Chris nodded slowly, but Leon was more hesitant to do so, and merely dipped his head at his words. "I apologize for not getting in contact with either of you but it was quite an.. eventful night, and Claire was very tired by the time we got back."

Oh fuck you Wesker. Claire seethed, but did nothing besides silently grind her teeth.

Chris sighed in relief and pulled Claire into a tight hug. The kind only Chris could give, that was so tight it stole the air from her very lungs. Coughing, she croaked, "C-Chris!" Realizing he was crushing her to his chest, he sheepishly put her down and laughed while patting her back. "Sorry Claire bear, but don't scare me like that!" Claire coughed from the relief and nodded with a small smile. He gladly returned it.

Wesker watched them with little interest. He really didn't care what Claire had come up with to lie to her brother and Leon, just as long as she lied convincingly. However, he really did need her co-operation for upcoming tests and such, so what was one little white lie to a moron like Chris? Though the hesitation to believe him coming from Leon was not lost on Wesker, but he highly doubted Leon would hold onto it. And if he did, there were ways to certainly keep him at bay.

Before the trio noticed, Wesker had swept out of the room. He had no intention of staying longer than what was necessary now. Because of what Claire had done to him the night before, it was imperative he get his answers, and he get them now, and their was no way he was going to get anywhere by wasting another hour here on some silly recruit trip, when he could of been at home, testing her blood and possibly getting William's opinions on the matter.

They, meaning himself and Claire, were going to be long gone before this trip was officially over. Both himself and Enrico had picked the officers in training they were willing to take aboard the night before, just when Claire had left the hotel. All he needed to do was confirmed the picked officers with Enrico, and leave it to him to announce the lucky few and leave him to get the teams back to Raccoon tonight. In fact, as he quickly approached Enrico's room, he knew it would be best to simply slide the confirmed list under his door and go. No use wasting time standing around talking when the answers he needed were best gotten sooner than later.

Just as he slid the sealed envelope under the door, he heard the door knob jiggle, and could of slammed his fist into the wall for this on coming hold up.

"Captain Wesker? What are you doing here so early?" Enrico asked sleepily as he opened the door, in a simple robe and a towel in hand, obviously getting ready to head to the showers. How inconvenient the facility couldn't even produce proper suites for their guests, only toilets and sinks.

"I apologize Enrico," Wesker began as he stood upright, towering ever so slightly over Enrico, who at this point, was well use to his presence to feel intimidated. "But I'm needed back in Raccoon as soon as possible, a family emergency has come up."

Enrico gaped for a second. "Oh, I'm very sorry Wesker.. I can handle everything here for you, please, go on back." Of course Enrico wouldn't ask too many questions, it was the perfect lie really. If it were the truth, it would of been rude to pry, so it never failed. Wesker adjusted his glasses as he prepared for his second lie.

"Claire Redfield has also requested that she be allowed to come back with me, as she has some sort of party tonight." he frowned ever so slightly in mock disapproval at his lie, to further signify that she was ever the party girl, which he also knew, Enrico wouldn't be surprised with.

"Oh.. does Chris know?"

Wesker scoffed. "I didn't ask." he said almost sarcastically.

Enrico shrugged and nodded as he picked up the envelope and casually tossed it on the night stand. "I'll post the list around 3 PM, we'll stay for dinner and then we'll head out."

Wesker dipped his head. "I appreciate it Enrico." When Enrico nodded, Wesker took his chance to take leave. He smirked as he retraced his steps back to Claire, picturing her face as he remembered the ever so brilliant lie he easily fed to Enrico, and one she'd need to be making to her dear brother. Oh how he hated to tear her away from her proverbial Romeo, in the hardly fitting form of Leon Kennedy.

But he needed his answers, much more than he actually needed her permission to take her away.


"You said I was going to a party?!" Claire growled as Wesker pulled out of the training facility and headed down Cherry street, south bound for the highway. "You couldn't of said I was going to a friends for dinner? That I didn't want to miss Sabrina the teenage witch? At the very least said I missed my bed?!"

Wesker's face scrunched up in disapproval at her tone as he came to a stop at a red light. "I said what came to mind, and was believable."

Claire realized that pissing Wesker off wasn't a good idea, so she quickly did a reality check and took a deep breath. Slowly she unfolded her arms and decided to focus her attention on smoothing the wrinkles out of her shirt. Instead of flipping out and winding her arm up for a bunch to his nose for his implications that all she does is party - that she quickly realized would most likely result in an early grave, or at the very least, her being thrown out of the car - she decided to go into the wimpering little six year old that, when she wanted a new my doll, was easily obtained with a quivering lip and and watery eyes.

Sighing and looking over to him with a slight pout, she asked, "Is that what you see me as? some kid who parties all the time?"

Wesker glanced at her for a moment, fooling her into thinking the sadness she had poured into her tone had gotten through to him, but was quickly deflated as he looked back at the road and chuckled aloud.

"My, Miss Redfield, you are quite the actor." he mockingly looked over to her and shook his head, unable to contain his chuckling as he looked over her embarrassed and blushing complexion. "You sold it quite well until the pouting lip came into the equation, perhaps disregard it for future performances?"

"I'm serious!" She protested, running fingers through her hair to get it out of her eyes, now showing frustration.

"Are you projecting annoyance now?" Wesker snickered.

"I really am annoyed actually. This is an authentic show of emotions, pay close attention." she seethed as she stared out the window.

"Careful dear heart." Wesker growled as he gripped the steering wheel a little tighter than before, Claire noticing his knuckles going a little whiter than before. "You wouldn't want to make me actually mad now, would you?" his voice was low, baiting almost.

"Why did we have to leave so fast?" Claire asked, attempting to derail his growing anger, portraying the face of a bored teenager as she stared out the window at the disappearing town and at rows of trees and empty fields, when really she was hoping he calmed the fuck down.

"Oh I'm sorry." Wesker growled. "Did I deny you a heart felt good bye with Mister Kennedy? Was their going to be a violinist present? Perhaps a man to release doves as you held each other?"

"You don't have to be such a fucking asshole you know!" Claire yelled, whipping her head over to him lightning fast. "At least Leon gave a shit about me! At least Leon doesn't think I'm a fucking teenager that would die without someone holding her hand! At least he fucking respected me! Instead of being the biggest fucking prick on the planet, at least he didn't scare or hurt me at any point!"

Wesker slammed hard on the breaks.

Claire's heart stopped as she shot forward, her seat belt slamming her back into her seat. She was terrified to look over at her boss as he breathed hard. Oh, bravo Claire, you've done it now.

She was about to speak, when she heard the click of Wesker's seat belt and the extra hard slam of his car door and he stormed off down the dirt path he pulled over on.

Claire's hands shook as she slowly clicked the seat belt and opened the door, following him to his place of standing in front of a weather beaten fence, staring out into the open field, his hands gripping the fence a lot harder than what was required.

Claire faltered a few times as she approached the Captain, desperately trying to think of something to say, but only one thing came to mind.

"I.. I'm sorr-"

"You think I'm an asshole?" Wesker asked, his voice devoid of malice or even disapproval.

"I.. " Claire gaped for a moment, trying to suss out weither or not he was seriously asking her, or if it was rhetorical. Wesker turned his head to her for a moment, still fuming, but not as bad as before.

"You think I don't give a shit about you?" His voice accusing now as he watched her. "You think I treat you like a juvenile teenager?" He started walking towards her. Claire took a step back out of pure fear. "You think I don't respect you?" He was toe to toe with her, his height towering well over her. He raised an accusing finger and jabbed at her collar bone hard. "You think I'm a prick that's only goal is to hurt and scare you?"

Claire's mouth was completely dry, and all she could hear was the loud beating of her heart in her chest. She was sure it was loud enough for Wesker to hear, but he showed no change in stance. "I.." that was all she seemed to be able to say right now, because nothing else made it out of her voice as it trembled and swayed with fear.

"Let me tell you something Claire." he brought his face close to hers, leaving only the width of a finger nail between their lips. "I am not here to baby a fully capable adult. I am not here to read you bed times stories and constantly reassure you that you're a precious little flower." He angrily spat as came in even closer, his nose touching hers. "And I am most certainly not here to be the big bad monster that's soul purpose is to scare everyone like some cartoon villain." His voice was steadily raising.

"I am a simple man who's job is to train a team of men and women how to properly serve and look after an entire city of people, surprisingly not to scare you and make you feel bad!" he was yelling now, and it was starting to make tears form in Claire's eyes, unbeknownst to her.

"And you know why-" Wesker stopped mid sentence as he noticed the tears slide down Claire's soft cheeks. The same cheeks he had softly caressed the night before. His breath caught in his throat as he realized how out of control he'd gotten, how close her was to her, how loud his voice had become. And over what? Over Claire being saddened she couldn't say good bye to that boy?

Claire opened her mouth to say something, but all that escaped was a startled whimper. Shaking her head furiously, she turned to run back to the car. Wesker reached out to grab her arm, but when his fingers brushed her bare skin, she inhaled sharply and wrenched her arm away, turning quickly to run back to the car, but instead of getting in, slide down of the car into a crouching position and quietly sobbing into her hands.

Wesker, not once in his life, had berated someone, and had them run off crying. Sure, the only people he'd ever reprimanded were idiotic scientists or his own team, but they took it and moved on, as how he expected everyone to take it when he corrected them. She's only a teenager, she's obviously not used to being corrected.

He quickly felt a sting in his chest when his thought finished. Looking at the woman in front of him, he saw a woman who was independent, clearly strong as he'd seen when she fought Krauser, and evidently brave as she was so intent on putting him in his place. He supposed he had been treating her as a child for a while now, when she had been slowly giving him evidence that went against all his preconceptions. This was the second time he'd ever seen her cry, but this time, he saw something in Claire. He saw that she wasn't so unbreakable.

Why did it hurt him to realize that he'd pushed her to this?

Silently he walked to her and crouched next to her. She either didn't notice him, or she was ignoring him as she continued to silently sob into her hands. Hesitantly, he brushed his fingers on her shoulder to gauge her reaction. She flinched as her head snapped up just enough for Wesker to see her watching him as she slowly folded her arms.

They watched each other for a moment, both curious to see what he would do. Eventually, he placed his hand on her shoulder and gently rubbed her shoulder. "I.. apologize." he breathed as he absently watched a car pass. "I didn't realize that you felt this way."

She watched him as he stared out onto the now silent road. "I.. well.. you know.. you can be scary sometimes." she gulped back her tears as they slowly disappeared.

"I suppose I can be." he admitted as a bird flying from one of the trees caught is sight. "It is not you though Claire. It is simply how I am."

Claire sniffed and wiped at one of her wet cheeks. "An asshole isn't just how someone is."

Wesker chuckled quietly at how she put it. "I suppose my job demands I act that way, so I often forget to leave it behind." he confessed. "I do forget that my attitude can sometimes come off as... asshole-ish." he finished awkwardly, closing his eyes as he felt a breeze roll in and gently rustle the trees around them. Claire seemed to notice how sincere he was being as she watched him with slowly red eyes.

"I will try to be less.. intimidating. For you." he finished, hoping she realized that when he said he would do something, he wasn't going to go back on it.

Claire's lips tugged into a small, but sincere smile as his face went stoic again. "I'd like that." she barely whispered.

Wesker nodded and finally looked over to her. Her tears had stopped and she looked once again like the bright and bubbly girl she always was. It did make him feel like they had made some description of progress in trust today. Weither that was good or bad for him and his goals on the horizon was still unknown, but he couldn't deny that he much preferred the woman beside him smiling at him than crying.

What an unsettling revelation.

Claire slowly came to stand, and smirked down at him. "So.. lets get going then, I have a party tonight, and can't be late." she smirked.

Wesker stood and opened her car door for her. "Of course, I wouldn't want you to be late." he chuckled.

Whatever had just really happened between them, they'd finally come to a common ground. As they sped away towards the highway, Claire realized that maybe not getting her romantic good bye with Leon was fine.

Because what she got in return - a little piece of Wesker - was worth it.


I am SO SORRY this took so long to come out! I've had a BEYOND hectic summer. I went to Germany and Austria, I babysat multiple families multiple days of the week, I saved and saved for my boyfriend to visit (He'll be here on monday!) and I got my results of my exams! (I DID GOOD!) I was just really busy, and it didn't help that I hate this chapter ugh. How many times did I rewrite this? lets say way more than I should of. At least the next chapter I pray will be good! Thanks for sticking with me! and in case you're wondering, I wont be abandoning this story! I have everything mapped out, its just a matter of writing it all down! Sorry for any typos!