Just Let Me Say One Thing, I've Had Enough

Title is from Bitter Taste by Three Days Grace.

I'm surprised I actually got this out so soon! But still I'm sorry for the delay, the warning was there!

Again, thank you to my supporters and the ideas for these later chapters are still Angelica Burrows's, because I'm as creative as a plain mashed potato.

"I have something to tell you..." Claire started. Chris removed the hands from his face so he could see her clearly.

He didn't speak, just pleaded with her to continue via his unnerving stare. Claire hesitated slightly, unsure of his reaction. Her pause was noticed by Steve, and within seconds a comforting hand had been placed delicately on her shoulder.

"You need to apologise to Jill... I was the one who took the card and photos." She admitted. Chris sighed and instinctively ran his fingers along his tuffs of hair, remaining silent.

"I'm sorry, Chris. I didn't have a choice."

...

Chris began to bite at his lower lip.

...

"Will you say something, please?" She begged.

"...Uhh, what do you want me to say?" He asked inattentively. Claire was shocked by his lack of interest, she was hurt. He wasn't angry, or upset, he just seemed to have no emotion.

"Wesker bribed me into it. He said he would get you arrested for withholding valuable information about the case... I have to get them back to him." She reached in her bag and retrieved the photos, placing them before Chris. He sighed, closed his eyes and breathed. He took the time to think. Everything had happened so quickly, and now finding out Claire was the one who took them, he just needed space to recollect his thoughts. Months ago he didn't even know a Wesker, and now his life had completely turned upside down.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me, Claire. I understand why you did it and all, but I thought we were closer than that... You should be able to tell me these things before they get worse."

"I am sorry, Chris. I thought I could handle it on my own...But obviously I was wrong. I'll hand myself in, and then you can get your job back." He felt sorry for her and reached over and squeezed her forearm reassuringly. Yes, she was in the wrong not to tell him, but he knew how controlling Wesker could be and at least she had reason to do it. Besides, they were siblings, mistakes are made and between siblings they are easily forgiven. They only had each other, and both fully understood the importance of that. Fighting wasn't worthwhile when it's only two against the world, they had to stay together – blood's thicker than water.

"No. I won't let you do that. I'll always protect you, there's no way you're turning yourself in." Chris said caringly.

"So, what are we going to do with this Wesker guy?" Steve piped up from the distance. He was just as worried as everyone else. He was scared of something happening to Claire if she didn't comply with Wesker's wishes.

"You're going to help us, kid?" Chris asked, taken aback by the hastiness in the younger man's voice.

"I'm not a kid, and of course I'm going to help. If he's got a problem with Claire then I have a problem with him." Chris smirked at red which appeared on his sister's face. He may be young, but Chris admired the boy's gutsiness and selflessness.

Steve moved around and got on his honkers opposite the sofa to face the Redfield's.

"I'm fed up with waiting; we're going stop Wesker once and for all, police or no police!" Chris couldn't wait any longer. Every minute he wasted an evil man was free to roam. He couldn't deal with living in fear. It bad enough he had to worry about if Wesker got to Jill, now he had to worry if he got to his own sister. Wesker was successfully destroying his life, the fear ate Chris alive.

"I agree." Claire nodded.

"And hopefully we can use this evidence to our advantage." Steve spoke.

"Jill?" The realisation finally hit the older Redfield. He'd hurt her and left her, for all he knew she was back in the grasps of the devil. Chris immediately produced his phone, and tapped in the number he had become so accustomed too.

"Shit." Chris mumbled when her voicemail came on. "Look, I'm going to go to Jill's apartment."

"Do you want us to come?" Claire asked concerned. Chris stood and started gathering his coat and keys.

"No, look, you two just stay here. I have to check she's alright. It might be too late already." He just wished she would pick up, so he could hear her sweet voice. All kind of ideas were running through his head, the worst being Wesker had finally punished her for disobeying his orders.

"You don't mind us staying here...alone?"

"Dear God, Claire! You two doing the nasty is the least of my worries!" Chris rushed out of the apartment leaving two very confused, embarrassed youngsters behind him.

Chris called for Jill and knocked on her apartment door. With no reply within a couple of seconds, Chris burst open her door and glanced around the room to catch sight of life. He heard running water and then a sudden thump. Automatically, he grabbed for one of her umbrellas in an attempt to give him some defence, all be it not very useful defence.

He tiptoed to the source of the noise, and in one swift action, jolted open her bathroom door.

"Chris!" Jill screeched and groped blindly to cover her private regions. Chris immediately yelled in response to her scream and threw a towel over his eyes so she wouldn't get any angrier than she already was.

"I need that, dumbass!" She squealed, snatching the towel from Chris's face and wrapping it around herself. He kept his eyes squeezed shut and placed his hands over them, once she was decent, he cautiously reopened his eyes.

...

"You know it's nothing I haven't seen before..." He said, smirking slightly as he watched the droplets of water trickle down her face and the crevices of her beautiful body.

"Yeah and you'll ever see it again!" She quipped, punching him hard across the arm. "What are you doing here?"

"Ow! I had to check you were okay." He took a more serious tone so she knew he was genuinely concerned for her.

"Yeah and you just happened to have to check on me while I was in the shower, naked?"

"Well I tried calling and didn't get a reply. Then I heard a bang and thought something might have happened to you." He started to make the sad, puppy dog look. The look that Jill couldn't resist; it melted her heart, and meant she couldn't stay mad at him for too long.

"It's called a shampoo bottle hitting the floor of the shower. Are you ready to apologise yet?" Chris hung his head and nodded.

"I'm sorry, Jill. I was wrong to blame you.

"Yes, you were."

"I know I can't make it up to you, but I am truly sorry. I don't want anything to happen to you, and I worry." He picked up her hand and placed a majestic peck on the back of it. "I have my insecurities too, you know?"

"I know...Apology accepted." His lips curved into a broad smile at her words. He knew she wouldn't stay angry, it wasn't a big argument, he was just stressed and she was on the receiving end of it. And deep down, she knew he didn't mean his accusations.

"Don't think that I'll be so easy to forgive again, Mr Redfield." She warned and brought him into a longing kiss.

"Come on, I have to talk to you." He broke their kiss and led Jill out of the bathroom and onto the edge of her bed. "It was Claire who took the photos."

"Well I knew it wasn't me... Why?" She asked.

"Wesker got to her too. Threats, she had no option." Jill nodded in understanding, and then sighed.

"I'm sorry, Chris, she shouldn't be involved. Hell! You shouldn't be involved."

"As I said to Claire, we are going to get this sorted...Now!"

"How? You can't keep making these empty promises." Jill asked. 'Empty promises', it was a concept Chris never understood. The one thing he was good at was keeping promises, and this was no different. He owed it to Jill; he owed it to Claire, even to Sheva, to everyone affected by Wesker's schemes, they deserved to be free of the man. As Chris promised, he planned to do it.

"I'm going to track him down, and deal with it myself." Jill sighed.

"But how, Chris? You gonna go in all guns blazing and terminate his ass? It's ridiculous."

"...I'll arrest him or something."

"But isn't that where the problem lies. He goes to jail, I could go to jail. Besides you're suspended." Jill said trying to knock some sense into him. She didn't believe it would be possible to take down Wesker; either do it and risk jail or do nothing and let a bad man walk.

"He doesn't know that. And as for jail, if it comes to the bit, I will fight for your pardon. He has to go down. Yeah I withheld information, but if it means I save you then I'll risk my job, I'll risk my life..."

Undesirable moisture appeared in the corners of Jill's eyes. Tears of fear for the future, if Wesker was brought down the future would be uncertain. Also tears of joy, life without Wesker would be idyllic, and she could have the life she always wished for.

"Okay. If you think we can stop him, then I have faith in you. You are a crazy fool Chris Redfield, but a crazy fool that I love..." He clasped her cheeks and brought her into a romantic kiss. He attempted to deepen the kiss, and began to fiddle with the small tie she had made on the towel.

"...I don't think so." She whispered, removing his hands and retracting her face. Chris pouted.

"Go outside, I have to get changed. And then we're going to talk to your sister and bring down the rat bastard." She told him. Chris chuckled and blew her a small kiss, while exiting to give her privacy.

In the wake of Chris's words, an awkward silence had fallen between the two young friends.

"You think he's stressed?" Claire joked, trying to break the quiet room.

"Yeah..." Steve giggled, but his face remained like a cherry. Claire signalled for him to join her, and he complied without hesitation.

"Thank you for coming here, Steve. And for defending me, it was pretty sweet actually..." She admitted, small blush lighting up her cheeks.

"Well I think we need to stop this dude, or who knows what he might force you to do."

"EW!" Claire screamed, playfully hitting him on his shoulder, while he tried to conceal his laughter.

"You know, you're kind of cute when you're angry."

"Shut up." Claire said with more red appearing on her youthful features.

"Just paying you a compliment, you could at least be gracious about it." He scoffed.

"Whatever!" She rolled her eyes. She was flattered, but what was she expected to do, shower him with compliments?

Steve laughed.

"What?" She asked frowning at his unnecessary outburst.

"No, nothing. Just you're even cuter when you're red..." He teased.

"Quit it!"

"Oh! Look over there." Steve said, pointing to a random object in the distance. As she turned to look, he quickly planted a soft peck on her cheek which was now turned in his direction. Claire snapped her head around to look at the culprit.

"Steve?" He just looked at her with a blushed face, and a goofy smile plastered on it. She let out a little smile which gave him the confidence to do more. He brought his hand to her face and led her face closer to his.

"And she's alive!" Chris exclaimed, barging through the door, interrupting the young love. Steve retracted his hand, and Claire jumped a mile, burying her face in a pillow to hide the rosiness.

Chris's smile soon faded.

"What were you two doing?" He quizzed.

"Nothing, and definitely not what you thought we were." Claire piped up.

"...Okay. Well I'm going to get some drinks, and then we will get our plan together." Chris said cheerily, leaving for the kitchen.

Jill sat down opposite the two youngsters with a coy smile on her lips.

...

"What?" Claire asked, getting agitated by Jill's continual smile toward the two of them.

"I'm not as gullible as your brother. I know what you two were doing." She teased.

"And what would that be, exactly? We weren't doing anything." Steve smiled slightly and began to blush once more.

Jill looked around her, ensuring Chris hadn't returned yet.

"You two were...smooching!" Jill giggled.

"Oh shut up, Jill! We were not and besides you make it sound like we're little kids." Claire complained.

"Sorry, can't grown adults smooch?" Jill quizzed, a playful smile still on her lips.

"You sound like a mother!" Claire groaned and buried her face in her palms while Jill continued to giggle.

"By the way, it's nice to finally meet you Steve. I saw you briefly in the bar." Jill introduced herself.

Chris entered the room holding a couple of bottles of beer.

"Well you two aren't old enough, so more for us Jill." He said chirpily, handing her a bottle.

Claire just sighed and maintained holding her face in embarrassment.

"Right, let's get down to it, shall we?" Chris suggested, sitting down next to Jill and opposite the other two.

"We need to know where Wesker operates from. Otherwise, we have to wait for him to make all the moves. You don't know where that is, do you Jill?" He asked, and she shook her head.

"No one knows, he's ominous like that... Well, one of the girl's knows, but that doesn't help us." Chris tapped his chin, and pondered how to get it sorted. Jill was right, he really hadn't thought this through well enough.

"Well couldn't we track him...?" Steve suggested, Chris shot up and looked at the younger boy, "I mean if we somehow could track him without his knowing, then we can find his whereabouts..."

"And then we can give the information to the police, and if they are willing to act upon it then they'll take him down. And we'll try to get Jill pardoned. And if the police do diddly, then we'll do it ourselves." Chris said.

"That's all well and good, but how do we put a tracker on him in the first place?" Claire asked, biting her nails. Chris slouched once more, not knowing an answer.

"Well, Claire has to return the photos, so in the envelope we could slip a device and he would be none the wiser?" Jill suggested. Chris smiled and patted her thigh,

"That'd work! You're smarter than you look." He joked and she began to shoot daggers at him.

"There's a GPS device I can enable on my phone, so we could slip that in." Claire said.

"Okay and I'll promise to buy you a new phone?" Chris bargained. She nodded reluctantly.

Chris and Jill excused themselves and went to the kitchen to dispose of their empty bottles.

"You know, I actually think this could work, Chris." She exclaimed with a broad smile on her face. For the first time in a while, Jill had hope. She believed in their plan, and was overjoyed with the prospect of finally leaving behind all connections with her old life.

"Yeah, me too. I have a good feeling about this. So long as Claire can play it cool, hopefully Wesker won't even realise we're on to him. And maybe if I give the police his position, then that'll end the suspension." He said, leaning against the kitchen bench.

"I think it would. It would break their case, and it'd all be thanks to you." She said admiringly, holding onto his arm.

"And you." Chris smiled and snaked his arms around her waist. She fully complied and nuzzled comfortably into his chest.

"You know, your suggestions were pretty good there." Claire said to Steve.

"Is that a compliment? From Claire Redfield? Surely not..." He received another punch on the arm for that remark.

"You're a gay boy!" She quipped.

"Are you serious? Claire you're twenty, I don't think you're allowed to use that comeback anymore..." He laughed. "Besides, I think my kiss proved otherwise..."

A blush appeared on the young Redfield. A small part of her kind of hoped he wouldn't bring it up again.

"Whatever, it was a peck on the cheek."

"Yeah, but it would have been more if Muscles McGee hadn't walked in..."

"You don't know that!" She giggled.

"Come on, don't play hard to get. Admit it; I have a way with the ladies." He kidded.

"Pff! You wish..." Claire mumbled, a smile playing on each of their faces.

As arranged, Leon stepped into the bar. The same bar, Chris had met up with the mystery woman, and the same bar that people claimed to have seen Ada Wong. Leon was ordered to go in, contact Ada and attempt to gain some information out of her. A location would be most useful, but even a name would help their investigation.

Dressed by Barry of all people, he was wearing a tight black top which insinuated his toned body and a leather jacket. Barry said the woman wouldn't be able to resist, and was partly the reason why Leon was the officer sent in. Barry admitted himself, he wouldn't be able to get any information from a beautiful woman like that, but perhaps Leon would have a better chance with his boyish good looks.

Leon eyed the area, and caught sight of Ada at the bar. He sidled up along beside her, and ordered himself a cola. Although undercover, he was still on duty so all alcohol was off limits.

"And I'll order whatever the pretty lady is having." He said.

"Cheesy..." Ada quipped, a devilish smirk appearing on her lips when she turned to look at him.

"Like what you see?" He asked and she scoffed in response.

"Please. You look like a cocky school boy, who's far too sure of himself."

"That's me in a nutshell." He turned on the stool to fully face her, "So what's your name?"

"...No comment." She said coolly. Leon looked confused.

"I know who you are, Officer Kennedy..." Ada whispered. How did she know? Leon had never met the woman in his life. And his plan had now gone to pot; she wouldn't open up to an officer. So he changed his technique.

"Well at least introductions aren't necessary then... Ada."

"How do you know my name?" She asked, playing with a strand of dark hair.

"How do you know mine?" Ada just rolled her eyes. "Am I going to have to arrest you or are you going to cooperate with me?"

"Arrest me for what exactly, handsome?" She said taking a sip of her mojito.

"The police are onto your job and the whole 'business', so do you want me to arrest you for prostitution or do you want to spill some details?" He threatened her.

"Well I don't fancy getting handcuffed by you." She winked, "You're lucky I like you."

"Shall we go somewhere quieter?"

"I thought you'd never ask." She whispered, and grabbed his hand leading him to a small booth in the back of the bar.

"Who's the man you work for?" Leon demanded.

"Whoa, you don't waste time do you?" She joked, but Leon refused to smile.

"Look, we have photographs and we know that there is someone controlling it."

"From what I've heard, you don't have the photos anymore..."

"So much for you cooperating..." He sighed.

"What's in it for me?" She said seductively, running her leg along his from under the table.

"Ada. Seriously, if you help us, we can shut this down. And no charges will be pressed against you; I'll make sure of that." He promised, "Come on, work with me here."

She contemplated her choices. He seemed genuine about helping her, but on the other hand touting on Wesker was risky business.

"...His name's Albert Wesker. That's all I'm saying."

"Ada, come on. I'm going to need more than that. Give me a location, please." Leon pleaded with her, and stared deeply into her eyes.

"...45 Addison Lane. It's in the back end of nowhere, in the outskirts of the city," She sighed. "That's where he lives and works from."

"Thank you... I promise I'll keep you safe." Ada nodded in agreement.

"Well I best be off, I have business to attend too," She stood up and reached over, placing kiss on Leon's cheek, "See you around, Leon..."

Leon smiled, they had got information. He couldn't fully believe her word, but right now her information was all they had. He now just prayed she spoke the truth.

Claire shuddered in the coldness of the night air. She was standing around the area that Wesker had got to her previously. Although she had no way of contacting him, she knew he would have tabs on her movement anyway, and hopefully he'd come to her.

The plan was arranged; she would hand him the package with the photos and phone. Then she would get the hell of there. No dilly dallying around.

Sure enough, Claire didn't have to wait long. A dark car pulled up next to her, and the window was drawn down.

"Congratulations on getting the photos. You took your time."

"Just take them and get out of our lives." Claire yelled, shoving the envelope into his lap.

He opened the envelope and smiled when he saw the evidence he asked for. She turned from the car and walked away.

"Leaving so soon?" He asked, stepping out of the car.

"You got what you want, and no one knows. So just leave us."

"You really think I'm that naive?" She ignored his comment and began to walk faster.

Wesker grabbed her from behind and held her neck,

"You should know by now, I'm always one step ahead." He whispered softly into her ear, silently dragging her back to his car.

I apologise if that seemed a bit rushed, a bit repetitive or a bit inconsistent. Still having real trouble putting pen to paper, but I hope it's slightly understandable. :S

Review, bitte! :D

Artichoke,

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