Chapter Nineteen: Not-so- Happily ever after

Wesker spun, and kicked Chris hard in the stomach. The blow didn't send him back like it normally would have, but he was severely weakened from his fight with Kylie. But he was also still more then a match for Chris. Or so he hoped. He was momentarily stunned when Chris' fist connected with his face, and he stumbled back a bit. He recovered in a matter of seconds, and grabbed Chris by the throat, lifting him from the ground. He laughed coldly.

"I believe I've seen this situation before... The last time you survived...This time there's going to be a little script revision."

He squeezed Chris' throat tighter and tighter, all the while laughing. Chris started to go limp when something hit Wesker, making him drop his prey.

"Jill?" Chris rasped, his voice not working.

The broken arm hung uselessy at her side. In her good hand was the barrel of Chris' shot gun. The blood on the end told Chris what had hit Wesker, though he was surprised she'd been able to swing it with that much force. Tyler shouted out to them both, but it only distracted them, instead of helping them. Had Chris not looked towards Tyler, he might have been spared, but by the time he saw Wesker's hand, and the flash of metal, it was too late.

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As Ada walked, she began to think...Think about what she was going to do. Spencer was dead, and if Chris didn't dispose of Wesker, once she set off the self destruct, he'd be dead too. She wanted to get out...the others wanted to find Chris and Jill. Though Ada wanted to find Tyler, if he was still alive. He was the last of her team, and he was also probaby with Chris and Jill...so it was search for the others, or leave them to die... She had gone along with the search idea. Though she forgot to mention on little thing to them...if the Destruct system wasn't set off manually in a certain amount of time, it would start the countdown on it's own...it was a safety measure.

she'd mention that later, if it was neccesary. For now they didn't need to know. She hung back at the end up the line they'd formed, like she always did. If she need to slip away, it would be easy. However, the chances of her having to make a get away were slim to none. Leon was saying something, but she didn't hear what. It didn't seem to be directed at her anyway, otherwise he'd have turned to see if she was listening, which she wouldn't have been. She was in no mood to talk, and in no mood to listen to anyone. Even if it was Leon.

She looked at her watch. They had two hours tops before the system went off on it's own. Then they'd be screwed. If they didn't find the others soon, they were dead.

"They were on the third floor," she said suddenly, "I just remembered. I saw them on the security monitors in Spencer's office, they were on the third floor. That's where we should look..."

"Could have used that information s-" Billy started, when the floor dropped from beneath Rebecca and Leon, startling him into silence.

He dove to catch Rebecca's hand, and missed, but she and Leon managed to grab the edge of the still solid floor. Ada was about to sigh in relief when a silencer's shriek came form the hole. They sounded hungry.

"Oh shit, guys! Get us up!" Leon shouted, trying to pull himself up. But his injured hand lost it's grip for a moment, and Ada thought he was going to fall. She ran to help him while Billy tried to get Rebecca back up.

Ada managed to pull Leon up before the Silencer got hold of him, but Billy was not so lucky with Becky. The silncer dug it's claws into her leg, and tried to pull her down. She screamed in pain, and fear, and Billy tightened his grip on her and continued to tried to pull her up.

"Hurry Billy!" Ada called, "Get her up!"

the floor was starting to slide back into place.. Rebecca's arms would be cut off, and she'd bleed to death, if the silencers didn't eat her first. Which was likely. Billy pulled harder, and Rebecca shrieked again. The monster had a good grip on her.

Finally, it let go, and Rebecca barely avioded loosing her feet as Billy drug her up. All four of them sat on the floor. Rebecca leaned against Billy letting him embrace her. Leon looked at Ada putting a bandaged hand on her shoulder.

"Thanks Ada...," he said, "How many times have you saved my ass now?"

"You've saved mine a few times too. We're even," she replied.

Leon was about to say something else when Ada stood, and pulled him up with her. She looked at Rebecca and Billy, "You two unglue your lips an lets get going."

Leon tried to supress a laugh, and choked in the process. Ada smirked at him, but said nothing.

Billy helped Rebecca to her feet, with a sheepish glance at Ada, and kept an arm around her. She'd have to limp with her leg damaged as it was. Billy just hoped the virus wasn't transmitted through the silencer's claws.

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Time seemed to slow down for Jill, and all sound seemed to disappear as Chris slumped to the floor, Wesker's knife buried in his side.

"NO! CHRIS!" She screamed, though she didn't hear herself.

But to her amazement, Chris pushed himself back up as Wesker started to head towards her and Tyler. He swayed for a moment, then fripped the knife protruding from his side, and with one good yank, pulled it out. Wesker seemed to think her shock was from seeing Chris' body, and in a way it was, just not the way he thought. Wesker stopped in front of her, his inhuman eyes full of triumph, Jill heard Tyler swearing about now ammo, but Jill didn't think guns would be of much use.

"Time to get rid of you little cockroaches," Wesker hissed, and raised his hand to strike her.

She braced herself for the blow, but it never came.

Chris drew back his hand to stab Wesker a second time, when the blonde man turned around, he caught Chris' hand, keeping him from finishing off the blow. But in the end it was a matter of will, and Chris won. He twisted his arm just the right way and got out of Wesker's grip. His wounds slowed him down, so he would have to wait for just the right moment to strike, and in the mean time, bear a beating from his enemy. And a beating he got.
Wesker was angry, very angry, and he put all his anger into his blows, buit Chris never made a sound as he avoided what he could, and took the rest, until Wesker's fist hit the wound on his side. Then he yelled in pain.

Jill watched from the sidelines, fighting with herself. Part of her knew Chris wouldn't want her to interfere, and another said to hell with what Chris wanted if what he wanted was going to get him killed. When she heard him yell, it made up her mind. Barrel of the shotgun in hand she strode to the two men.

"Hey, Blondie!" she shouted at Wesker. When he turned, more out of surprise then anything else, she hit him, once again, with the end of the gun. this time however he didn't fall. He just stumbled a bit.

But all Chris had needed was for Wesker to turn his back to him. Before Wesker could do anything else, brought the blade down, burying it in Wesker's skull. The man stumbled forward, towards Jill, who moved out of the way, and fell face first to the floor. Chris, having used any bit of strength he had left, fell back against the wall, and slid down, struggling to breathe. He felt like he was trying to breath through liquid, and maybe he was...

Jill dropped the shotgun and ran to Chris, talking so fast she scarecly knew what she was saying, though it was something along the lines of asking if he was okay.

Tyler grabbed Chris' handgun from near the doorway, and carefully approached Wesker, looking as if he expected the body to get up at any second. Jill couldn't help but get some amusement out of this, mostly because she too was bracing herself for movement. She turned her attention back to Chris. He was awake, but Jill didn't get the impression that he was really there. Not the she could blame him, he'd taken a hell of a beating, so his mind would probly work on shutting down until the pain dulled out a bit. She glance ever her shoulder at Tyler, who was still acting like Wesker's body was going to spring up at him.

"Is he dead?" he asked, looking at her.

Sighing, Jill glanced back at Chris, then stood up, and aproached Tyler and Wesker. She took the gun from Tyler and fired several rounds into Wesker's body, making sure that at least two were fired into his head. She handed the gun back to Tyler, not looking away from the body.

"Now he is."

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All four of the little group stared in shock at the site before them. Wesker lay on the floor, and from all appearences was dead. The back of his head was destroyed by multiple bullets. About 30 feet aways lay the quite dead form of Kylie.

"Damn," said Billy, "Jill and Chris did a number on him, didn't they...Funny, I was beginning to think he couldn't be killed..."

"He was weakened first," said Ada, going to inspect Kylie. "She doesn't have a mark on her. Her back is broken. No human would be strong enough to get that good of a hold on her. She and Wesker fought it out, and the others took up where she left off."

"Are you sure you're human?" Billy asked, "Cuz you came to that conclusion rather quickly."

"simple logic," she replied, "I used my brain. You might try the same thing now and then," she added, not looking at him.

"Okay...so we know they're alive...What now?" said Leon.

"We find them," Rebecca stated.

"There's just one problem," said Billy, "We don't know which way they went."

"Yeah we do," said Ada, smirking, "look." She nodded towards the trail of blood leading away from the area, and down the hall, "They didn't come out unscathed...somone, my money's on Chris or Jill, is bleeding, or was, pretty bad."

They followed the crimson trail, and Rebecca couldn't help but hope that there was no longer a trail to follow soon. But the longer it went on, the more worried she got. Billy sensed her worry, or so she thought, since he pulled her closer to him. She still had to use him for support, but she was able to manage a bit better. Right now she was concerned about whoever had bled this much. If they weren't dead from bloodloss (or worse) yet, they would be soon. And she didn't want to loose another team mate.
Eventually there was no more blood to follow. Lack of a body so far gave Rebecca some comfort, but not much.

They continued making their way down each floor, and their passage was un-hindered by anything until they reached the main hall of the first floor.

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Jill and Tyler had finally managed to get Chris' bleeding to stop, but Jill was afraid it was too late. He was slipping in and out of conciousness, and Jill wouldn't have been surprised if he was bleeding internally, with how much and how hard he had been hit. Not to mention she had no way of knowing how much damage that knife had done on the inside.

They were resting now. They had gotten to the main hall, and decided to wait for the others. They couldn't keep moving. For one it wasn't doing much good for Chris, for another, it didn't help Jill much either. They where hidden under the main staircase, so they would be safe from any monsters, but so they could keep an eye out of the others at the same time. She knelt next to Chris, who was propped up against the wall. He was awake now, but she didn't know for how much longer. His eyes darted around, but how much he actually saw was debatable. Jill would have even said he didn't recognize her, if he hadn't said her name as she was about get up.

"Jill?" his voice was barely above a whisper.

"Yeah?" she replied, sitting back down.

"Guess I got myself pretty beat up...If I had known it'd end up like this, I'd have left Wesker alone," he said, laughing. But the laugh turned into a cough, and it took him a moment to catch his breath

"You okay?" she asked, though she knew it a stupid question.

"No, I'm not...and I'm not going to be, so don't start that." he told her sternly. Then laughed again, "I'm an idiot...I was waiting till al this was over..Until Wesker was gone, and we wouldn't have to worry about any of this anymore.."

looking at himw ith puzzlement and worry on her face, she asked the obvious question, "What were you waiting to do?"

"I was going to ask you to marry me...Now I guess I should have said something a long time ago...Should have told you I loved you."

Had she not been so worried about him, she'd have hesitated to speak, but she didn't, "Don't talk like that...We're getting out. And you'll be alive when we do. I promise."

But he didn't hear her, he was uncocious again. But as long as he was still breathing, things were semi-okay. She looked over her shoulder at Tyler, who seemed to be asleep. She couldn't blame him. She wanted to just lie down and drift off as well, but someone had to keep watch.

But she, and Tyler, were fully awake when a loud shreik echoed throughout the hall. Then another, then another. She and Tyler risked peering out into the room, and didn't like was they saw. Several Silencers had gotten into the room.
The door across the room opened, and Leon, then Ada, then Billy and Rebecca entered. This caught the monsters' attention, but they were to late to try and surpise the humans, since they had been spotted, and they knew it. At first Jill was wondering how it could possibly get any worse, when a dull mechanical voice filled the room.

"Warning. 5 minutes until detonation. All personell evacuate immediatly."

That was when Jill heard both Leon and Billy swearing. The silencers, momentarily phased by the voice, started for their prey.

"Look out!" Jill shouted to the group. She turned to Tyler, "Where's the emergency exit? Or will the main door's be unlocked?"

He shook his head, "No the emergency exit is in the basement. The main door will be open, bit the gates are padlocked...Tim and I made sure of that."

Gun shots drew their attention back to the others for moment before they continued.

"Alright," said Jill, "can you show us the way? Or maybe Ada? "

"I can" he replied, "I know where the tunnels are."

"Good, we'll get the others and get the hell out of here. In the meantime, you take Chris. and head down to the basement. I can't move him."

Tyler looked like he was going to protest for a moment, but he didn't. He gave her a short nod, and went to do as she'd asked. Jill stepped out into the open, watching the others. Rebecca and Billy were having extreme problems. Becky seemed to be unable to stand on her own, so along with having to try and keep the Silencers at bay, he also had to keep a hold on Rebecca. Leon and Ada were doing better. One silencer was already dead, bullets through it's eyes. There were two left now. Jill actually thought they might be able to kill them off, but Billy shouted in anger about being out of ammo, as did Leon, and shortly after, Ada.
The dull unfeeling voice alerted them that there were now three minutes until detonation.

"Guys! Come on!" Jill shouted.

Leon and Ada were quick to head for her, but Billy and Rebecca were having troubles. Finally, Billy scooped Rebecca up, and managed to catch up. With the creatures hot on their heels they ran, as fast as exhaustion and various injuries would allow.

When the got to the door to the basement the voice announced there were 2 minutes until detonation. Ada began to worry now. They could hear the silencers behind them, and two minutes would be pushing it to get out. and be able to get far enough away to avoid the blast. they turned the corner so fas they almost ran into Tyler, who stood next to an open trap door. No one bothered with greetings at the moment. They each went into the tunnel quietly, and quickly. At least the silencers would have a hard time fitting through the hole. Tyler was the last one in, and he saw the creatures heading for them. He would have closed the door if he thought they'd have time.

Now the voice warned that there was one minute until detonation, and that each floor would detonate squentially. Leon just hoped the basement was the last to go. Then they might have time to get out. There was light ahead, and a shadow. It seemed to be a person, but it was clear enough to see who it was yet. Thirty seconds to go, and they could see who it was. And it wasn't one person, it was two. It was Barry and Carlos, and Carlos' truck behind them.
Jill started to shout at them, hoping they'd hear her.

"Get in the truck! Get in tuck and get ready to drive!"

15 seconds. They hesitated a moment, but they did as they were told. Jill heard the erngine start.

10 seconds, they were out of the tunnel now, but not out of range. They clambered into the back of the truck, Tyler struggling with Chris.

5 seconds. "Get moving!" Ada shouted to the men, who were quick to listen. the passengers held on literally for dear life, since Carlos slammed on the gas so hard they were nearly thrown from the truck . Behind them a loud explsion signalled the end of the mansion, and as Carlos stopped the truck, they cheered. Rebecca caught Billy offguard, jumping on him and kissing him. Carlos and barry both got many thanks from everyone, and when asked how they had found them, they explained that it hadn't taken much searching to find out where they'd gone. Jill hugged Tyler, thanking him for his help, surprising him. Ada greeted her teamate, and though she showed no emotion at seeing him alive, he knew she was glad to see him again. And admist the "celebration" Jill realized that one person was missing. Chris.

He was still unconcious in the corner of the truck bed, or so Jill thought. When she clambered back up to check on him, she bagan to worry again. She sat next to him, and placed a hand on his cheek. She pulled the hand back as if she had been burned. His skin was cold.

"Chris?" she asked, her voice shaking, and she heard the chattering around her stop. "Chris, wake up." Tears built up in her eyes as she shook him with her good hand. No repsonse. He was gone. Sobbing, she tried once again to wake him, but with no success. But her mind refused to beleive that Chris could be dead. Finally she gave up and buried her face in her former comrade's shirt, still crying.

Rebecca turned her face away from the scene before her, also crying. All she had to do was look at Chris to know that even if he had still been alive, there was nothing that could have been done for him...Carlos was the one that risked approaching Jill. He place a hand on her shoulder, and started to speak.

"Jill...I'm sorry."

she paid him no attention except to shove his hand off.

Leon turned to look for Ada, but she wasn't there. he looked around a moment more, and spotted her walking away. he could barely see anything more then the reamins of her crimson shirt and blue jeans, but he knew it was her. He watched until he couldn't see her anymore then turned his attention back to the others. Jill had been peeled away from chris' body, and Rebecca was working on setting her arm. Tyler stood to the edges of the group, looking uncomfortable. He jumped a bit when Leon spoke to him.

"Feeling out of place?"

He nodded, "Yeah...You've all known eachother for so long...Shouldn't have been Chris that died. If I hadn't tried to help, if I had kept my mouth shut, he wouldn't be dead, and Jill wouldn't be going through this."

"There's not garantee of that," said Leon, "And at least he lived long enough to know that we got out. That counts for something I think. And Jill still has the rest of us, including you, to help her."

Once again, he got a nod in reply, "I'll be happy to help Jill at least, in any way possible." With that, he headed forward, to speak with Jill.

Epilogue

Rebecca oversaw things from the top of the stairs, watching everyone. She had gotten good at reading her friends' emotions in the year since the mansion. And she liked what she saw for the most part. Carlos was smiling as he talked to his fiancee, Carrie, whom everyone adored. Barry was with his two daughters and Leon, the girls laughing at something Leon had said. Jill sat near Carlos and Carrie, saying something to them now and again. and she was also smiling. It had been hard for Jill at first. She had been most affected by Chris' death, and it was only in the recent months that she had started to laugh again, and talk to them, instead of giving them the cold shoulder.

Tyler came in from the kitchen, and threw a smile in her direction, and to Rebecca's surpise, Jill beamed back at him. Rebecca smirked at this. Maybe Jill was finalyl starting to take interest in the man. He had left her alone for several months after the incident, but lately he had been going out of his way to get Jill's attention, and was succeeding. He was about as lovestruck as it was possible to be. But Jill's eyes passed over the shelf, where sat pictures of her, Chris and Claire, and her smile disappeared for a second, and her eyes took on the haunted look they'd had until recently. But something Tyler said cheered her up again, and the look was gone.

Becky looked for Billy down there, but saw no sign of him.

"I thought it was the hostess' job to spy on the guests, not one of the guests'," Billy said sarcastically from behind her, "Jill's house, and you're up here, spying on everyone else."

She faked an innocent look, shrugged, and headed down the stairs. Every now and then, they'd all get together, in whoever's home was available. Last time it had been her's and Billy's, now it was Jill's. Maybe it was because life hadn't been normal for 6 years, but Rebecca never tired of it. Normal, or as normal as it could be, was actually rather strange still. she heard Billy coming down behind her, and continued to watch what was going on. Life was good at the moment, and she hoped it stayed that way.

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Outside the house and across the street, and asian woman in a red dress sat on the curb, watching through the window. Ada kept an eye on them, just to make sure they stayed out of trouble, and didn't get in her way. That's what she told herself anyway. In reality she wanted to join them, but she couldn't. She still had things to do. She had approached Tyler, and had asked for his help, but he had refused. He was enjoying his "normal" life. He'd told her it was something she ought to try sometime. But she had smiled and shook her head. A quiet life wasn't for her. She wasn't one to settle down.

There were still Umbrella bases around, and she was getting rid of them. Though not in such a way that the others would have left her alone. She was making sure that any viruses they had in the bases were released. But she didn't stick around to see the results. She made sure the self destruct was set to go off, and she got out without anyone every knowing she had been there. There were few left now. In a year she had destroyed 6 bases. That left 3 more to go. And those would be the hard ones to find. They were run by higher ups in the company. There was, or had been, a new person in charge. She had gotten rid of her weeks ago. Hadn't been hard. The tiny woman hadn't even been able to put up a fight.

She glanced back to the window, and saw Leon looking out at her. He had seen her several times before and it was always the same. He would nod at her if the others were around, and wave if they weren't, and she would do likewise., though never a word was said. Ada felt that was a good thing. The less that was said, the better. He nodded at her, and she did the same to him before standing, and walking off down the street. She was heading back to her headquaters. Just because Tyler hadn't wanted to help didn't mean she hadn't found a new team. Hopefully when she got back, they would have some information for her. If not, there was always tomorrow.

The end...or is it?