Note: The reference Jake makes to Sherry being 'It' is in relation to a playground game similar to what I think is also called Chase or Tag in other countries.

Chapter One.

Gunshots echoed off the walls as voices called out, shouting frantic orders. Snarls and the scraping sound of claws being dragged against the tiled floor caused the woman ducking behind a blown out pillar to shiver, even in the oppressive heat of the sun that beat down on the crumbling brick building.

"Come on Jake, where are you?" she muttered under her breath. Her partner had been gone too long. Much longer than the few minutes he'd promised it would take him to secure their target. Sherry began to feel the cold touch of dread in her stomach.

She should have gone. It had been risky either way, to lure away the creature that had stalked them through the city or fight through the remains of the mutated militia who'd secured the floor above them. Jake was fast both on foot and with a gun. He'd offered her a confident smirk and wink of his eye before declaring she was 'It' and disappearing down the hall, calling over his shoulder that if he wasn't back in ten minutes then dinner was on him; leaving Sherry to distract the skinless beast whose gleaming claws were attached to arms long enough that they dragged on the ground behind its lumbering body.

Luring it back toward their other enemy and letting them duke it out so she and Jake could pick off whoever remained had been a tempting idea. But that would risk the beast actually being killed in the fight. And they needed it alive. They'd promised their employer a sample of the new breed of BOWs that had been popping up around the globe. So, as Jake had duly pointed out, this was a 'two birds one stone' scenario. Win win.

As long as he came back.

The sound was drawing closer. Above her she could hear the voices still shouting with confusion and panic. Sherry was still struggling to pick up the language, unlike Jake who seemed to have an unnatural skill for such things and was already fluent. But what she heard through the floors, roughly translated, may have been, "Will someone shoot that asshole already?"

The corners of Sherry's mouth twitched as she heard the unmistakable bellow of her companion followed by a series of thuds. She counted the bodies as they hit the floor until... silence. Sherry resisted the urge to call out, to make sure Jake was okay, but with the BOW still sniffing at the air from the end of the long hallway she knew it unwise to give away her location.

It wasn't the first time they'd met a creature like this; one who seemed to fixate on Sherry's scent and track her relentlessly, similar to the Ustanak back in Edonia and China which had been used by Neo-Umbrella to seek out and capture the only kin of Albert Wesker. It had occurred to Sherry that this new trend of smarter, more focused BOW was no coincidence. But now was not the time to brain-storm conspiracy theories. Besides, if they finally managed to capture one of the new breeds and hand it over to their newest employer they might learn a thing or two that would actually be of use. Especially since these new creations had a bothersome ability. They rotted away upon death. Skin, flesh even teeth and bone. It was clever really, to leave no evidence behind. With no corpse there would be no opportunity for others to study its genetic make-up.

All gone in a matter of minutes in a stinking, steaming pile of-

"Crap!"

Lost in her thoughts Sherry hadn't notice the BOW lock onto her scent and begin its charge toward her. She rounded the corner, emptying a clip in its chest and legs. The bullets did little to slow it down. Its great hands rose into the air as claws uncurled themselves above its head, dragging along the ceiling. Above them Sherry heard Jake call out for her as she turned on her heel and bolted, reloading her gun as she ran. With a blood curdling shriek she heard the thing slide across the tiles and into the wall, its giant form scrambling clumsy in its haste as the bulging muscles and overgrown legs struggled to control it's own momentum.

"It's under control!" Sherry shouted back, hoping Jake could hear her. With a scowl she made a mental note to make sure Claire delivered them a new earpiece on the next drop.

Waterproof ones this time.

Sherry took the stairs two at a time and leapt from the last five. She had to keep the thing away from Jake and give him time to find their target. She turned once again and waited as the sound of thunderous footsteps came closer, her gun was raised as she wondered just what it would take to slow this thing down. She hoped, prayed, that the plan she'd formed as the window behind her had come into sight would work. If not...

With a snarl it came hurtling toward her, again Sherry took aim and waited... it reached the top of the staircase and tensed for the briefest of seconds as its legs braced themselves before leaping into the air.

Sherry dived forward. Its grasping claws had just missed her, and in the creatures efforts to claim its prize it failed to see the enormous stain-glass window that it was now hurtling toward. "Please break, please break!" Sherry chanted as the BOWs momentum sent it crashing head first into the glass.

It splintered and shattered with a satisfying crash. She heard the inhuman scream as the creature tumbled toward the ground below. Were they high enough that the fall would kill it? Sherry doubted it.

On legs that trembled a little more than Sherry cared to admit she made her way to the window. The street below was empty save for the rainbow cascade of broken glass and the twitching form of her attacker. She brought her gun up and waited. Its twitching stopped but the body did not rot. "Still alive." she thought tiredly to herself. They'd have to find a way to contain it and get the creature to their employer. Merely cutting off an extremity didn't work. They'd tried. The appendage simply dissolved into nothingness once separated from its main body. It had to be all or nothing.

The building appeared to be silent now. Sherry resisted the urge to call for Jake, pausing to listen for more footsteps. She began to make her way back up the stairs when she was given only the briefest warning as Jake's muffled voice could be heard somewhere just above her.

"Heads up!" he hollered before the ceiling exploded. Sherry crouched, covering her face from the flying debris. Her nose and throat filled with dust as she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand to clear them. "Jake!" she called. Had he triggered a trap?

From above a body fell with a messy thump, landing ungracefully on his ass halfway up the stairs before tumbling down with a string of inventive curses. "God damn..." Jake muttered, his eyes cracking open as he came to a stop at Sherry's feet. A quick scan of his battered body told her he was relatively uninjured, the blood covering his face and shirt was not his own. She couldn't help the half-smile as she cocked her head to one side.

"Will you ever get over the need to make an entrance?"

"Who me? Never." Jake said with a shake of his head. He took the hand Sherry stretched out to him and pulled himself to his feet. "Besides, my flair for the dramatic is part of the charm right? It's why you love me."

Sherry rolled her eyes as a devilish grin spread over his features. "Did you get it at least?" She asked. After everything they'd been through for the last few days, if this was yet another false lead she was just about ready to rip up the contract (figuratively of course, there was no actual paper trail for what they did) and take a long vacation somewhere with an abundance of mojito's.

Jake pulled something from his pocket with a triumphant flourish. "All this trouble for this little thing," he said to her incredulously, shaking his head. "S'funny what people will die over."

"Or kill for." Sherry pointed out.

"Way to kill my mood," Jake frowned, slipping the microchip back inside his zipped pocket, "Now, how about we blow this joint. I've got a craving for steaks."

Sherry smiled apologetically as she nodded at the shattered window. "We still need to take care of that."

Jake took a step forward and peered into the street with a scowl. "Ah screw it. Put a bullet to it and let's eat. We'll find another tomorrow, or the next day. We've got better things to do."

Sherry couldn't help the smile that spread over her face when Jake slipped his hand around her waist and pulled her toward him. He smelled of sweat and blood, but Sherry didn't care as she stood on the tips of her toes and stretched toward him. She pressed her mouth to his and the kiss was long, deep... aching. They hadn't had a moments rest for what felt like weeks and now, in the stillness of the bloody aftermath of their battle, she felt a familiar craving begin to burn...

"I'll take that as a yes?" Jake said hopefully when she finally fell back on her heels, breaking the kiss. He pulled his gun from its holster and aimed toward the ground.

"Fuck!" His eyes narrowed as he leaned further forward, his neck craning as he searched the now empty street. "It's gone!"

Jake let out another curse as Sherry almost pushed him out the window as she hurried to see for herself. "Maybe the fall did kill it..."

"Not if those claw marks are anything to go by." Jake pointed to a building slightly further up the road. Five deep lines had been left in the brick of the walls. So the creature had retreated... for now. Sherry was relieved the area had been evacuated already, but she knew they didn't have time to hunt the thing down. Their informants had told them the BSAA would be making their way to the town by the end of the week. Apparently the hundreds of civilians that lived here were expendable but the neighbouring, much wealthier city was 'top priority' as they worked to clear the area of the latest outbreak of BOWs.

"We should get going. The BSAA can have fun with that one." Jake decided. They needed to be gone by sunrise.

Sherry nodded, sighing in frustration as yet another BOW escaped them. "Who in the hell is making these things." she grumbled.

"I dunno, but whoever it is they know what they're doing." Jake placed his hand around Sherry's shoulders as they walked away from the carnage.

Sherry remained silent. She wondered if Jake hadn't yet noticed the pattern that was becoming clearer to her with every enemy they took down. Surely he'd noticed the way they stalked Sherry like a monstrous shadow. It was obvious in her mind just who was sending these things after them, after her.

There were few people in the world who knew what she was. About her unique DNA and all that it entailed. It shouldn't have surprised her the lengths some would go to in order to get her under their control once more. Or, as Sherry was beginning to suspect, eliminate her entirely along with the secret she carried in her veins. She knew the danger it posed in the wrong hands as much as they did. But...

But as she glanced up at Jake's face and caught the cloudy look of worry on his features before he caught her gaze and hid it with an empty smile, she knew her decision may have been selfish. Dangerous even. Yet she felt no regret at her choice to leave her home, her job and her country and be free.

Some things were worth the risk. And hell, she deserved some happiness.

It had been two years since Sherry had turned her back on everything she'd known. Claire had called in every favour owed to her and used every connection available to create a new life, a new identity, and keep her hidden. Sherry spent the first few months moving from place to place. Always paranoid. Trusting no one. Until one day when Jake had appeared at her door. Courtesy of another 'old friend', he'd told her with a wink.

He had been sent her way with explicit instructions to keep her from harm. Well, Jake could only promise so much. At least he'd tried to keep his promise for the first few months...

Sherry then spent the next half a year or so being shown the ropes on how to live off the grid and under the radar. While living under her new alias they'd worked together on numerous jobs, meeting a few like-minded people but never sticking around long enough to put down roots. They were at the top of the Most Wanted list in several countries. They couldn't afford to build too much of a reputation with people. They needed to blend in, work a job... then vanish. Something Jake had mastered years ago.

Perhaps it was this never ceasing threat of exposure, the exhaustion of constant fear and paranoia, that brought them just that little bit closer every day until one seemingly normal night...

Jake and Sherry were sat by a fire, sharing a beer outside an old hunting cabin which was formally a safe house used by Claire's associates. Before that night they had already shared everything there was to know about themselves. Their childhoods, their traumas...

It was this night they finally discussed the only topic not yet explored. Their meeting, and the shit storm that had followed those bullet filled twenty-four hours. Including the six months spent in captivity. The memories brought back a sense of loss and longing for Sherry. She'd been so sure of herself back then. Certain that she could make a difference. Carve out a life for herself. It had only taken a few days after their rescue in China for the truth to come out. Her 'employment' by the government had been a ruse. She was being used as a test subject in the field before her enhanced DNA would be transferred to other subjects in order to attempt to create a species of human/BOW super soldiers. Thank god Claire had been suspicious of Simmons' intentions for years. She'd been able to get a warning to Chris who had in turn informed Leon-

Sherry had almost broken down that night at the mention of his name. Of all the people to pay the price for her freedom, of course it was him. He had always protected her. He had accepted his job working with the government only as a bargaining tool to keep Sherry protected while in their 'care'. And again, when that same government broke their promise to treat Sherry as first and foremost a human being rather than contaminated property, he'd put everything on the line to save her.

"I should have been there..." Jake had told her softly as he pulled her closer, his chin resting atop her head as she nestled her face in his neck.

"How could you have known..."

They'd retired for the night not long after, but there was something hanging heavy in the air between them. Words unsaid, feelings unexplored and still pushed to the backs of their minds. There had been only one bed, and Sherry still wasn't sure if she'd known what was to happen between them when she pointed out it was big enough for two.

Had Jake? She'd never asked. The pair had been dancing around the unspoken feelings between them from the moment he turned up at her door months ago. Perhaps even before that...

Sherry had dropped everything and followed him without hesitation, without fear. After loosing everything she'd known, no matter how shitty the circumstances of her freedom had been, Jake had felt like the first solid thing in her life since... well, since she'd walked away from Raccoon City with her hands tightly wrapped within her new guardian's fingers.

For the first time in years, when she went to sleep on that first night, knowing Jake was sprawled uncomfortably on the couch opposite her, she had felt safe. Just for a few hours at least.

She told herself that was why, on this night, she felt so comfortable to let him pull off his boots and slide beneath the covers beside her. They were both fully dressed, as they often were, ready to run or fight at a moments notice. Jake had only gone barefoot out of courtesy for Sherry. He tended to move a lot in his sleep, or so he'd been told. He didn't think she'd appreciate a booted foot kicking her in the middle of the night.

So when Sherry had rolled on her side as she drifted off and pressed her head against the warmth of Jake's shoulder he didn't shrink away at her touch. Eventually his breathing began to match hers, slow deep breaths syncing as they slept. The next morning when they woke they knew something had changed, but neither had been ready to put it into words. Even when Sherry had followed Jake into the bathroom as he pulled off his shirt to shower. Without a word she'd done the same, dropping the garment on the floor at her feet as his eyes followed her every movement.

They made it into the shower eventually. Once all further clothing had been removed. Sherry had taken in the sight of Jake's battle scarred body. His youth seemed to contradict the story his skin told, it seemed impossible for someone so young to carry so many marks. But perhaps what was truly unnatural was the contrast of Sherry's own flesh. Her perfect unmarred body was almost doll-like. Not a scar or a blemish to be found. Jake had checked. Thoroughly.

Another eighteen months later and little had changed, except Jake had gained a few more scars whilst Sherry remained pristine. Jake often tried to picture her without her powers as his hands and mouth trailed over every inch of her.

This is where the bullet hit her thigh... he remembered with a pang of regret. That one had been his fault, he'd been sloppy and overconfident. Underestimating his enemy... and probably eager to show off.

His thumb brushed her sides. An explosion had sent glass hurtling toward them. Sherry had shielded Jake as best she could with her small frame. He'd spent hours picking the debris from her skin, watching it heal beneath his fingertips as he pulled each sliver of glass and wood from her body.

He remembered fire and the glint of a knife. Grenades and fists and teeth and claws...

His fingers traced the soft curve of her back. Without her powers Sherry would never have even made it out of Edonia.

Jake often wondered what life would be like if she had died on that mountainside. He wasn't the type that believed in things like fate or destiny, but it sure was a big fucking coincidence in his eyes that she, of all people, was the one sent to find him. Call it what you will, it didn't matter. Perhaps the universe was playing some twisted joke. The children of Albert Wesker and William Birkin falling in love and saving the world. If there was a God he had an ironic sense of humour, Jake decided.

There was an unusual silence between them as they made their way cautiously through the streets. It wasn't like they couldn't be silent in each other's company, but this uneasiness had little to do with the monster loose somewhere nearby. They were both deep in thought, putting the pieces together in their heads. The creatures they kept happening upon were not there by chance. They stood out from every other BOW Jake had fought, except perhaps one. But even taking a swim in a pool of lava hadn't slowed that one down, so whoever was developing these new beasts were smart, but amateurs. If you wanted to create the perfect killing machine it needed to be a little more durable. If getting tossed out of a window had the thing retreating to nurse its wounds then Jake wasn't too worried about taking it on a second time.

"I think we should leave tonight," Sherry said suddenly, interrupting Jake's thoughts.

"So that's a pass on the steaks then?" He asked with an exaggerated frown, only half joking.

"I'll make it up to you, promise." She smiled up at him sweetly, cheeks flushing a little when Jake cocked one eyebrow suggestively.

He loved that even after all these months, all the crazy shit they'd been through together... never spending a night out of each other's arms... she somehow still had that little spark of innocence that brought blood rushing to her cheeks with the slightest hint of innuendo. Side effect of a sheltered life, he supposed. "I'll hold you to that."

Collecting whatever supplies and few belongings they had was quick work. They were well practised in this life now. Moving fast, never getting too comfortable. Jake had been used to it since he was a kid and Sherry seemed to revel in the unpredictable nature of their lives. Jake remembered the monotonous, torturous months of captivity in China and supposed after more than a decade living as a lab rat he couldn't blame her.

He felt something twist in his chest. Jake had never imagined he'd be the kind of guy to 'settle down'. And really, he wasn't. He hadn't. This was far from the Hollywood dream of white picket fences and working 9-5 to provide for little Timmy and Susie to go to soccer practice, or wherever the hell normal people did. But he couldn't help but think that Sherry deserved more...

"Hello? Earth to Jake..."

Sherry's voice cut through his thoughts and he shook off the unwelcome intrusion of self pity.

"We should get the microchip to Claire. There's evidence in that thing that could shut down countless labs. It won't put an end to all this overnight but it'll be a pretty nasty thorn in the side of a lot of powerful people..."

Jake zoned out as Sherry chattered away. Her worry was slowly giving way to her excitement, her sense of accomplishment in what they were doing together. For over a year they'd worked as ghosts, clearing up the messes left behind by whatever corrupt corporation or government had unleashed hell on its enemies, or even its own people. They received no credit for their efforts, of course. Their lives depended on it as they spent most of their time evading organisations like the BSAA. But with every win Sherry still lit up with joy. Jake knew she harboured a sense of responsibility and guilt that wasn't hers to shoulder. She carried the sins of her father just as much as he did, if not more, regardless of what she'd told him all that time ago in a stuffy locker room in China.

But if what they did helped ease her conscious even just a little... well, it was worth it to him.

Time to move on to the next crisis.

XXX

Note: So, I hope the backstory for how Shake/Jerry came to be is explained enough! Some things may be a little vague because they're part of the plot; like who their 'employer' is, what happened to Leon and who has really been experimenting with BOWs...?

I am also aware of the paragraph that is sitting in the middle of the page. I have tried to correct it but for some reason it keeps going back... once I am off the App hopefully I can sort the problem!