7.38 AM
Chris wakes up in his comfy bed. Well rested after days. He gets a warm relaxing bubbly bath, as Jill suggested the previous day, to soothe his mind and muscles. Slowly sliding to the bottom, underwater, letting himself pamper for a while. Half an hour and he's out. Deodorant, perfume, a nice shave, some face cream. He goes to his room and takes a dark red thin sweater, worn out loose jeans, a leather jacket. Checking himself at the mirror, not bad. In the kitchen he packs lunch for himself and Jill. Black Dr. Martens at his feet, before going out he takes his acoustic guitar in his case. He hops on a bus and walks into a supermarket to buy some chocolate for her. Five minutes by feet and he's in the BSAA facility, waiting for the elevator. Last floor, he greets the doctors and nurses and asks about Jill. She's back in the ordinary room. Time to enter.
"Good Morning Jill."
"Dayum Chris! " Her expression is amazed, with glowing eyes. She's loving the way he looks, and that guitar.
Chris notices that she has a white foam neck brace on, making him worry.
"Hey, what happened? Did you fell?"
"No." She laughs. "I had another MRI earlier because of my headaches, it came out that I have a mild concussion that got worse after not treating it immediately."
"I'm sorry..." He lays his guitar on the floor and sits near her.
"I'm okay, I expected that since I hit my head multiple times while there."
"Yeah, I know. Did you slept well?" Chris lays an hand on her thigh.
"I did, what about you?"
 He smiles looking down.
"I had some troubles at the beginning, when you called me it went better."
"Glad to hear that."
The two take each other's hands.
"I brought you lunch and some dark chocolate."
Jill's eyes started to glow after hearing that.
"I'm hungry, let's share that chocolate."
Chris takes the chocolate bar breaking it into small pieces, he feeds her and then eats some of it.
"It's really good, isn't it? I've got rice and beef for lunch."
"Some decent food, I love it! I agree about the chocolate."
He puts off his leather jacket, she makes some space to let him lay down by her side. After eating they cuddle for a while. He strokes her shoulders, her hands stroking his thighs. He unties her long blonde hair, his fingers brush them and he makes her a side braid.
"We have a psychiatric visit later, right?"
"Yeah..."
"Cool." Heavy sarcastic Chris.
"Chris play something with that guitar."
Chris stands up and takes it, he takes some time to tune it right and then plays Otherside by Red Hot Chili Peppers. That song become his mourning song when she was away. Before that they dedicated it to their fallen S.T.A.R.S. teammates. She's delighted by his skills. The next song is Snow, one of the last songs they've listen to before the mission at the european mansion. So many memories. He sings along with his baritone voice, looking down at the floor. These things always made him a little bit uncomfortable even though he really enjoys doing that. The last chords and the song is over.
"Did you like? Want some more?"
"You are amazing Chris, I don't have any requests. Just come here." Jill pats down on the side of her bed to tell him where he has to sit.
Chris leaves the guitar on the chair and goes to her.
"Here I am." He looks at her.
"You look so good. What kind of body wash you used today? I love this smell..." She touches the fabric of his sweater near his hip.
"Thanks for the compliment. I don't know about the soap I used but it smells like cinnamon."
"That's good. I wish I could take care of myself as well. I miss the days when I looked good..."
"You're still good looking, by the way your beauty isn't the priority right now."
"I know but it would help me. Nice clothes, some makeup, get my hair done..." She snorts.
"What about the clothes I brought you?" He strokes her thigh.
"I don't wear those yet 'cause they might get ruined, I still have open wounds that may bleed. Also, it's not convenient if they have to put me electrodes."
"Right Jill. I forgot about it."
Jill wraps his hips in a hug keeping him close. Chris smirks because of her affection's gestures.
"So, Mister Redfield, you catch all the ladies' attention today."
"Shut up Jill." He answers her laughing.
"This answer proves that I'm right."
"Not at all."
"This tall, beautiful big man in his thirties, leather jacket, perfect big muscles, guitar on his back, walking through the supermarket aisles with those deep eyes..." Jill is daydreaming, Chris laughs.
"I'm sure they are giving you laughing gas instead of oxygen. Let me check that tank."
She laughs her ass off while seeing him actually checking the tank providing her oxygen.
"Why are you reacting like this after a compliment? You look amazing. Full stop."
"Let's get the facts straight Miss Valentine, I catch YOUR attention."
Jill avoids the eye contact looking around the room, Chris force her to look at him by catching her gaze every time. They both laugh like two idiots.
"I'm not going to comment, Mister Redfield."
He puts his leather jacket on and he sits near her again, attempting to provoke her with his gaze.
"What about it?" He smirks at her. She rolls her eyes.
"I already told you. I like the way you look. Nothing more, nothing less."
He stares at her eyes, as a challenge. He continues until she turns slightly red and bursts out laughing.
"I won. I gave you a taste of your own medicine."
"Come on, boy. I feel sloppy and unkempt, of course it makes me feel uncomfortable if you stare at me like that."
"Your eyes didn't change. Your features neither."
They just smile at each other. He cuddles her for a while after putting off his jacket again, laying down sideway on the edge of the bed. It was never enough, somehow wanting to make up for lost time. Her sweet scent, those big eyes of his longtime partner who's been by his side for years. The same Jill, the same safe harbor he thought he had lost.
She lets herself relax by his cuddles, her hands wrap his big biceps perceiving their hardness. They lose themselves in that vicious circle of tenderness. Chris lets his fingers slide through her hair, pulling each hair strand toward their ends. Her freedom, that beauty of hers constricted by those medical devices and by her pain. That makes him feel sick. Jill lays down completely flat on the bed, he's sliding his fingers down to her cheeks, nose, eyebrows. She feels completely free from any tension because of his touch, the tenderness he has when he wraps his hand on her shoulders, on her arms and then down to her waist. His warm, calm breath. The atmosphere is calm. They soothe each other with caresses, glares and smiles. That feeling of protection they're feeling like little kids. The both look deeply in each other's eyes, communicating without words. They tell each other that they will be always together, that they're doing great, a sense of accomplishment by staying all those years together as winners, lots of thanking each other. No words needed, they just let their eyes talk. Jill comes back to her sitting position with her pillow behind her back, Chris gives her another strong big hug.
"Time to eat, big boy."
He pulls the little table over her bed and puts the food over there: white rice with beef with some warm black tea. He's back sitting on the little corner Jill left for him.
"So yummy, I love this beef. Didn't know you improved your cooking skills that much."
"I'm happy that you like it. You need a lot of beef my dear Jill."
Jill's eyes become wider.
"Is this a joke?"
"A joke? Mmh, no. Why?" Chris is clueless. Jill laughs.
"Nothing." She's still laughing.
"Why are laughing then?"
"For a moment a thought you were talking about yourself."
"What?"
"You are a beefy man Chris..."
He sighs at her words, face palm.
"I've got no words, seriously." He laughs with her.
"Sorry..."
"No Jill, don't feel sorry for your terrible jokes." His arms wrap her and he lays his head on her shoulder.
"Now I have both. Let's finish this delicacy you've prepared."
"Yeah, try the tea as well."
The two finish their food, he puts all the empty food boxes into his tote bag and his guitar back in its case.
"Chris can you help me stand up please? I want to move my legs."
"Sure you can?"
"I don't care, I just want to move."
Chris does what she asked, he removes the tube in her nose and raises her up on her feet. She walks slowly towards the window while holding his hand, her IV pole is dragged by him. They enjoy the view of the city, some fresh hair. Cars passing by in hurry during lunch time, the trees are being moved by the wind, small figures of people walking on the sidewalk. Chris wrapps Jill's waist.
"There isn't such a beautiful view from our office."
"That's why I'm hospitalized up here. Genius."
"Yeah, smartass."
"I wish I could move a little bit more freely, though."
"Look at the positive side, you walk with your head held high."
Jill gives him an evil stare, standing there stiff.
"You're so funny Chris. It's so cool when I'm in bed and I can only look at what's in front of me."
He hugs her tightly from behind, both laughing because of their sarcasm.
"Come on Jilly, hold on for a while. If you keep moving your head you're not going to heal."
"Sure. Anyway, what time is it? We have the psychoanalysis session."
"I almost forgot, it's almost 3 PM. Let's pay a visit to Freud."
"I love this joke. We stay here, Freud is going to come here."
Jill goes to her bed, laying there with the oxygen tube back in her nose. Chris sits near her on the armchair.
The psychiatrist comes to visit them, both agreeing on staying in the same room together. They have to fill some paperwork, then they talk about their lives from the childhood to their present. Lots of things come out, suppressed emotions, hidden traumas, painful memories. They cannot contain their tears when they talk about certain topics. After that the psychiatrist asks them some specific questions to complete the diagnose.
After four hours they finish. The diagnose is not complete yet but it's comfirmed that both have PTSD. The doctor is gone, they're alone. Chris wipes out her tears, they comfort each other with a big, longlasting hug.
"Jill, how do you feel?"
"The same way as you do."
"We're going to get through this."
"It's not easy."
"I know but we always win."
"I'm tired, I want to sleep. Can you play me something?"
"Yeah."
Chris kisses her hand and takes his guitar. He plays slow tunes to help her fall asleep. First song: Californication. Both calm down after hearing the tune that resonate with their state of mind. Melancholy. Hope for something good to happen. Jill feels his soul through the notes played. That lullaby should never end. He's so good at playing. After that song he plays Wonderwall by Oasis. Another big classic that was part of their life playlist.
"Hey Chris, 8 of january 1998 in Philadelphia."
He smiles at her words, he keeps playing. In that date they went to Oasis concert. They flight from Raccoon City to New York and then took a cheap overnight bus directed to Philadelphia. The concert day arrived and they waited for hours at the queue, it was damn cold, they hugged most of the time with their heavy padded jackets. When they entered inside the theater the temperature became warmer, time to wait the concert to start and they were singing outloud with the crowd. Singing every song till they lost their voices, having a great time. Chris sings the last chorus.

"Because maybe
You're gonna be the one that saves me
And after all
You're my wonderwall."

Jill couldn't ask for more. Their minds are in synch, it's the same for her.
Chris stops to play and goes to cuddle Jill, once again. She falls asleep quickly. He decides to go outside for a short walk near the facility. Before leaving her he writes a little not on a ripped magazine's page.

"Hey Jilly,
I'm going for a walk, I also want to buy something good to eat at the supermarket.
I'll be back soon.
Take care,
Chris "beefy man" Redfield."