A/N;

Pfft short again. Why can't I seem to get anything more in? Eh perhaps it's better – I an update a bit more. I just wish I wasn't set on writing two completely different things XD I just wish this wasn't moving so damn slowly, arg.

ditto9 - Atlas puppeh ftw X3 Glad you like it so far, here's hoping I don't kill it :P

KT324 - You'd think it would be popular considering the type of character she is, lol. As long as I'm not making a Highschool one I'm happy to do something with her that age (Cause I would totally bugger up a HS one XD) Haha, I still need to finish Bioshock X3 Stupid schoooool.

Jill Valentine and the Resident Evil franchise belongs to Capcom.

So much for the weather picking up.

The weather outside only seemed to deteriorate, clouds gathering back in full force, the wind threatening to build back to it's gale force. Taking a glance up at the sky, Jill concluded she'd have an hour tops to remain dry. As nice as the fabric of her jacket was, it would do little against the impending showers of water that would be raining down in that time.

She muttered bitterly to herself before zipping her jacket up, pulling the collar up around her neck. She dragged the sleeve under her nose, sniffing loudly in a vain attempt to clear her airways.

In all honesty, she had probably never known what it was like to be in good health in her entire lifetime. Or, perhaps she had, for that very sort amount of time, but she rathered not remember such a time. She was always either sickly or lacking in something. Vitamins, Body mass, Protein… It was always something.

In between inwardly bitching about the weather, she was trying to pinpoint a place to go. Her brain needed a rest, but her willpower would not grant it that break. Her headstrong personality and inability to admit defeat would make sure of that. There had to be a way – She just hadn't thought of it just yet.

She sighed, breath appearing as a white cloud that hung in the air. Really, she was surprised there was no snow drifting down just yet. The cold weather, frankly, pissed her off. But there was something about snow that made her smile. Making everything some how seem more pure than what it ever was.

Then some how it hit her.

"… David's." She mouthed quietly, mind registering an image of a boarded up, single floor building about a four blocks away. He was a family friend, and hopefully would be able to help in some way, even if it was only a small in comparison to what she was pleading for.

She picked up her pace, shoving her numbing hands into her pockets. With her mind set, nothing was going to stop her. She took no notice of what she was passing, or where. She narrowly avoided being hit once or twice as she crossed roads, not even being shaken from her thoughts when horns sounded and abuse was yelled. Over the years she had learned to drown it out.

However, a hand on her shoulder, softened by the padded fabric, did manage to grab her attention – Even if it was only slightly.

A young woman of the same age, perhaps a bit younger, was the owner of that said hand. She seemed far more durable about the weather, not minding it too much at all. The girl's expression quickly dropped as Jill turned to face her. "What's wrong, Valentine?"

Jill gave a slight smile as a greeting, recognizing the girl as a friend with ease, and feeling somewhat embarrassed that she hadn't seen her first. "It's good to see you too, Emerald." She chuckled, shrugging the hand from her shoulder and turning her body fully to face her, "It's nothing, alright?"

"Jilllll, you're lying to me. You know I can tell." Emerald pouted, palms met behind her back, leaning forward as if trying to intimidate her friend into a confession – And failing quite miserably at doing so. A gazelle trying to frighten a lion.

"Something's just happened." Jill shrugged, taking a step away from her friend. "It's not for you too get involved with, least you feel like putting up with me even more than you already do."

Emerald was one of Jill's old friends, and a good one to have in a place like this town. She had a good heart, which was something that annoyed Jill – For the fact that when something was wrong, she was like a pitbull who wouldn't let go until she knew what it was about. And she had to help, always, even if it put herself out. It was as if Jill had done something for her years before that she felt she had to repay with her life. Nosey? Without a doubt.

"How can I not worry now?" Emerald asked, placing her hands on her hips and raising a brow. "At least soothe my curious soul by telling me what trouble you've dug yourself into."

"Em, it's not your problem. Keep your nose clean of it."

"If it's a problem of my friend then it's my problem, too. Tell me what's up, girl." Yep, she wasn't going to let this one go.

"Just money woes." Jill answered quietly, hoping not to be heard. Dragging her friend into the whole mess just didn't strike her as a good step, no matter how much she wanted to get involved. As good as her intentions could be, there wasn't anyway Emerald could be of help – She was having just as much difficulty living as Jill and her father were.

"Thought you and your dad were savin'." Emerald commented, scratching the back of her head, having to think about it for a moment. "Not that you ever told me what for."

"Apparently we didn't have enough for an emergency." Jill scoffed in reply.

Emerald frowned. The statement did not make her feel any better about it. An emergency now? There were a lot of things that could mean.

"Did your dad get hurt or something? Nothing happened to Atlas, did it? I love that dog." She quizzed, seeming quite distressed at the thought of either situations.

"No, no-one's hurt… Yet."

"… Cops?" Emerald sighed, taking a guess that wasn't as strange as what one might think.

"Sort of."

"Fuck me drunk..." She breathed, shaking her head. "Black mail again?"

"No, got caught. Well, Pop did. Leave it to him to trip over an alarm no-one else could possibly find even with a map to its location." Jill replied, a humourless laugh following as she talked.

"How short are you?"

Jill bit her bottom lip. She wanted to put her hands over her ears, singing 'la la la, I can't hear you', but she was acting childish enough already. "It's none of your b---"

"How short?"

"A friggin' Hundred."

"Maryanne and I can fix that."

"Don't you dare." Jill hissed, glaring at her friend, who cut in before she could say anything else to object to what had been offered.

"Don't be all 'I don't need anyone's help, I can do it on my own' blah blah blah, Missy." Emerald stated sternly, attempting to match Jill's distaste. "I'd be angry at myself if I didn't help, got it? You and your dad… You always had a couch to spare when me or one of the girls needed a place to sleep. I would be just like one of those arseholes on the other side of town if I didn't at least try to help."

Jill pinched the bridge of her nose, the whole situation taking a step she would have much rather avoided. She had it just about solved, she hoped, right before all of this. "Listen, Em…"

A familiar car horn sounded to interrupt the discussion, and the two girls looked to the road. A station wagon, a model Jill neither knew nor cared to pick. Unlike everything around, it seemed somewhat in tact, with windows slightly tinted. The horn sounded once again, making the girls jolt slightly.

Emerald's mouth once again twisted to a frown. She ran her tongue over her bottom lip, sighing. "That's my call, I guess." She stated, running her hands over the sides of her hair, trying to return some sort of style and tidiness that the weather had taken away. "Will you still be here in twenty minutes, Jill?"

"I'm ducking by David's place, but I'll try." Jill answered, giving yet another slight shrug. If she made it quick, she could get back by the time things had finished up. Emerald pointed menacingly at her friend in response.

"I'll hold you to it. You're not getting out of it." She warned, though a smile gave away any form or sternness she had worked into her voice. "Remember that!"

Jill gave a nod as her friend straightened out her clothing and walked off to the road. Jill turned to look away, picking up her walking pace again. She took another glance at the sky, pursing her lips together to avoid cursing once again. Her friend would be warm (though certainly not cosy), but if she didn't move quickly there was a downpour with her name on it.

Thankfully the travel only took her five minutes, give or take. Puddles still remained barely faded on the footpath, and only threatened to increase their collection of liquid within time. God, she hated the rain.

She bothered to take a glance both ways of the road, hurriedly jogging across to reach the path set off the corner. That side of the street looked practically abandoned, now unused, and the store she was seeking out was no exception. Just as desiccated, as lifeless as the buildings the packed it into the row.

Her hand rested gently against the door, fingers tapping a light rhythm against the splintered wood. Paint had peeled and rotted from the front of it, damage taken from the painful weather that appeared to love beating against the old store front.

There was masking and electrical tape placed over large holes in the windows, just managing to kept it together- One more crack in the fragile glass and it would shatter completely. Graffiti had been sprayed over the boards fallen from over the doors and areas around the windows – As well as the window itself. Jill faintly knew the tags and who they belong to, but chose not to dwell on it.

Dirt and dust had made it nearly impossible to see whatever was inside. Had a light been inside, there might have been a chance of catching a small glimpse of whatever occupied it. But it was pitch-black inside, warding off anyone who didn't know what it was actually used for.

She took a deep breath, pushing the door open and taking a few steps inside.