The Fight Never Ends, I Can't Face the Dark Without You

Title is from Without You, by Breaking Benjamin. Sorry sorry sorry for the delay! I tried desperately to write it, but I just couldn't get it the way I wanted.

Thank you very much for all the reviews, can you believe we got 12 for that last chapter? I was gobsmacked, thank you very much my friends! BearyBeary, as always thanks my lover! And Jane, I'm glad you liked Ada, she's a little fun character to shove in there every now and again I believe. As always thank you for your review and support! Enjoy! :P

Chris fluttered his eyes open, a shooting pain running along the back of head. He instinctively brought one had up to feel the wound, and immediately the hand was coated in a warm liquid. He let out a deep groan, and nearly fell back into unconsciousness until he noticed the form next to him was gone. Adrenalin kicked in and he pulled himself upright as fast as possible, ignoring the shooting pain coursing through his head. In the space where Jill should have lay, sat a neatly folded note. Chris immediately picked it up, smearing his own blood on the edges where he held it. His vision was blurred, but he was determined to read it, so through the squints he made out the writing on the note:

102 Lakewood Road,

Come meet your fate, Mr Redfield.

He knew the day would come eventually; he was finally ready for it. Alex had waited long enough for them. Of course, he would use everything he had to save Jill, but knowing Alex, he knew this would be the end of the road for him. The most important thing to him was Jill and their unborn son, but whether he was to succeed in his mission to save Jill or to fail, ultimately he was convinced he would die either way. It was a horrible feeling for him to have, but it was his gut instinct. He was less scared than he thought he would be, next to the life of his love and son, his own seemed pretty insignificant.

Chris tugged himself out of the bed, and began to dress into himself as fast as possible. He knew where the road was, it was in the middle of nowhere. He was pretty certain there were miles of nothing between one house and the next, a perfect place for Alex to be hiding. He didn't want to waste any time in finding his fiancée. Though, he also knew she wouldn't be the only one in danger.

As he got changed, Chris grabbed his mobile to ring the one man who would protect his sister.

"Luke...Please, they have Jill...Please just look after Claire..." Chris's words were slurred as he spoke, the wound to the head the most likely cause.

"...Chris? What is this? What are you talking about?" The worried voice of Luke came on the other end of the call. He had arrived at the airport, but turned back to step outside in an attempt to hear Chris easier. If he didn't know better, he would have thought Chris was drunk with the way he spoke.

"Someone...Alex, she has Jill and our son. I'm going to save her, but Claire could be in danger, please...please protect her..." Chris continued to plead, as he stumbled out of the bedroom, trying to counter the light headedness which threatened to consume him once more.

"Chris, what's happened? You don't sound right..."

"I got a hit on the head, that's it, I'm fine. Nothing some ibuprofen can't cure..."

"Chris. You can't be serious. You can't go after Jill if you yourself are hurt!" Luke interrupted. He wasn't a doctor, but he had a broad knowledge of biology and he knew the dangers of head injuries.

"Luke, nothing you can say will stop me from finding Jill." Chris bit back.

"I understand that, but let me take a look at it at least. You won't be doing yourself any favours if you go when you aren't in the right state, you could collapse at the wheel or something!" Luke tried to put sense into him. He was concerned for Jill too. But he knew as well as Chris, Alex wouldn't harm Jill, definitely not at least until the child was born.

"I'm leaving in ten minutes to find her, Luke. If you want to take a look at it, then fine, but I'm leaving whether you're here or not." Chris hung up the phone and continued to get himself ready.

Just as Chris was about to open the door, the door swung open by its self, revealing a very flustered Luke at the door. Luke pushed the much bigger man back well into the house, shoving his shoulders to make Chris fall back onto the sofa.

"Let me take a look at you, you're being ridiculous trying to go in such a state..." Luke shouted, pushing Chris back down whenever he tried to sit up. Chris was too baffled to speak, surprised by the strength within the visibly less muscular man. Chris bowed his head and let out a groan.

"What I am supposed to do? I can't believe this is happening..." Chris mumbled, and Luke moved around to examine the deep gash on the back of the older man's head.

"Do you have a first aid kit?" Luke asked, pushing the hair matted with blood away from the main body of the cut. Looking at it, he knew it would need stitches to hold the gap together. He knew Chris must have been exceedingly determined, because the injury was bad enough, he was surprised the man was still standing.

"Yeah, in the cupboard over there..." Chris grimaced, as Luke touched closer the raw skin. He quickly bustled over and retrieved the kit.

"I meant what I said on the phone, you're a good guy Luke. No matter what is going on between you two, I need you to be there and look after Claire." Chris said, as Luke took out some gauze to clean away as much blood from the cut as he could.

"Why are you saying this, Chris? Nothing is going to happen to you; I thought you were the optimistic one."

"Not this time... Alex has done enough waiting around; it's time for me to die." Luke was gobsmacked, completely unable to form any words. It was a side of Chris which had never shown to anyone before. He was always positive, always optimistic, but this time, he had admitted he was defeated. His words sent fear through Luke.

"You need to look after Anna too; she's really fond of you."

"Stop this, Chris." Luke snapped to him.

"I'm going to fight to the end for Jill." Luke sighed, and placed a couple of steri-strips across the cut, which held the gap closed as much as possible. He knew it wasn't the best, considering the hair made it hard for them to stick, but it was better than nothing.

"I think I should come with you. You're right, we have to save Jill." Luke said. He wasn't a fighter, but he had a heart and determination.

"No, Luke. Go to Claire, okay? I don't know what Alex has planned. Make sure she's okay." Chris insisted.

"But, you can't..."

"No. Go to her. I'll get Jill myself." Chris replied harshly, pushing both himself and Luke out of the house.

Regrettably Luke made his way to Claire's house. Although he hated to admit it, Chris was right. There was a strong possibility she would try to hit at Claire as well. Though Luke didn't fully see what his presence would do to help, he wasn't the strongest, in fact he'd never punched anybody in his life.

He got up to the front door, and luckily still had a key. Considering it was very early morning, and the sun had yet to begin to rise, he assumed Claire would still be asleep. Quietly but quickly, he made his way up the stairs, and stumbled into her bedroom.

"Claire, you have to wake up..." Luke began, as he shook her shoulder gently. Obviously thinking she was still dreaming, a sweet smile formed on her lips from hearing his voice again. As far as she knew, she thought Luke was leaving for good. The damp patch next to her on the pillow along with the deep smudges of mascara told Luke she didn't take it well at all. In fact, Claire was surprised she even got to sleep; she literally did cry herself into the slumber.

"Claire, quickly...This isn't a dream... Jill's been taken." Claire's eye shot open as he spoke. She clambered out of the bed as quickly as possible and poked in her wardrobe to grab a coat, swiftly wrapping it around her shoulders. She figured Luke had come to tell her they were going to save Jill.

"By who? Is she okay?" Claire asked.

"Alex we presume. Chris is going to get her." Luke replied, receiving a frown from Claire. Immediately she worried for her brother, she was also angered at him for not allowing her to help as well. Claire quickly tried to sprint past Luke to leave the house and try to find Chris. Of course she didn't know where he was, but she felt the need to do something, she couldn't sit around while they risked their lives. Luke put his arm out to stop her from leaving, wrapping it around her waist as she ran into it.

"What? What are you doing? We should be going to help." Claire said frantically, pushing against the restraint of Luke's arm.

"Chris doesn't want you there, Claire. It's too dangerous; I'm here to make sure your safe. That's all he wants for you." Luke replied calmly, attempting to settle the woman. She wasn't having any of it, she hated how Chris babied her. She wasn't allowed to fight; she just had to watch as her brother suffered.

"But we have to do something! Let go of me, now!" Claire screamed against him, as she began to lightly punch against her arm and chest. He might not have been the strongest, but he had the advantage of height over the young woman.

"Claire, he has to do this on his own. He's strong, Claire, you know that. But he can't risk something happening to you as well. God, he's already lost Jill and his child!" Luke shouted back to her, taking a firm grasp of her wrists to stop her punches and outbursts.

"He's going to die Luke!" Claire screamed as her eyes exploded with a build up of tears. She fell defeated onto his chest, and sobbed. Luke removed his grasp on her wrists, and instead held her up against him.

Luke could feel the damp beginning to penetrate through his shirt, so he began to pet down her hair in attempt to give some sort of comfort. If anything it made the situation worse for her. She was worried about Chris, and as far as she knew, Luke was leaving for good. His reappearance brought back all the unwanted emotion for her.

"You have to have more faith in him, Claire. He's the hero..." Luke soothed her.

"...He's too selfless, especially when Jill's involved. There are only so many times he can dodge death." Claire whispered back, pulling her head from his chest. She took a step back, disliking how close she was to him. "Please, we have to help him, Luke."

"I really don't think that's the best idea..." He began.

"Surely the more people we have the better."

"He specifically told me not to come with him...I need to protect you."

"Luke, how will you feel if something happens to him? At least if we're with him we can try together. Sitting here isn't doing anything." Claire argued to him. Luke was beginning to break; she did have a fair point...

"...Okay, we'll go. But dear God, be careful. Chris will kill me if anything happens to you. And I'd never forgive myself." Luke said. Claire's face brightened up as he spoke. At least now, she could attempt to help her older brother.

"I'm going to get changed. Do you know where we're going?" Claire asked, as she swivelled from him and began to bring out clothes. She quickly slipped out of her pyjama bottoms.

"Yeah, I saw the address..." Luke said, being the gentleman he was, he turned away from her as she dressed, and made his way to leave the bedroom.

Chris arrived at the address, his head still splitting from the wound. The house was bigger than he expected, but just as he thought, there were no other houses for as far as the eye could see. He retrieved his trusted berretta from the holster, and immediately reloaded it. He slipped out of the car, and made his way up the large yard and lane to get to the heavy doors. It wasn't the time to knock; Chris quietly turned the knob and stepped into the spacious hall.

It definitely wasn't what he was expecting. The house barely looked lived in; the majority of furniture was still covered with grubby white sheets. Portraits on the wall did catch his eye. He could have sworn the pictures bared resemblance to those in the Spencer Mansion, in fact he was almost certain it was the same woman in the photos.

Chris tip toed across the large hall, heading for the doors immediately in front of him. He tried his best to hush the loud noise his feet made as they collided against the marble floor.

Opening the doors, he found himself in a completely different decorated room. It was like a large conservatory, with windows upon windows looking out onto the impressive garden and courtyard situated at the back of the house. Chris went and opened the glass door leading back outside. Immediately his eyes were drawn towards a figure lying on the courtyard. Chris ran down the set of stairs and sprinted over to his pregnant fiancée.

"Jill? Wake up, are you okay?" Chris asked hastily, scooping her up into his arms. A smile of relief came on his face, as her eyes fluttered open.

"Chris? I'm so glad you're okay." She breathed huskily.

"And the baby?"

"I think we're okay...Please, can we get out of here?" She pleaded, her eyes threatening to fill with water again. Usually she was stronger than this, but the fear for her child was overwhelming her.

Chris gave a nod, and brought her to her feet. A figure emerged from the intricately cut fountain that sat in the middle of the cobblestone. Chris threw an arm around Jill's stomach, and pushed her behind his body, moving the both of them slowly away from the person.

"Nice to see you again, Chris..." Alex drawled, as she moved slowly closer to them.

Chris removed the gun from his holster and held up to her, receiving little but a chuckle from her devilish lips. He had wasted enough time, he fired three shots directly for her. Swiftly she dodged them, and continued to come closer to the two of them.

She began to gain speed, and immediately Chris fired round after round, each one being avoided effortlessly by the agile woman. In mere seconds, Chris was out of bullets, and Alex was right beside them. She brought her left leg up and quickly kicked Chris right across the face, her added strength throwing him across the courtyard. Ignoring Jill, she moved over to stalk Chris again.

He tried to recollect himself, and groggily pushed himself off the ground. By which time Alex was next to him. With speed more than a mere human, she began to repeatedly kick him in the chest, shoulders and arms. She deliberately didn't use enough force to send him flying, allowing her to continue her fury of attacks.

There was no messing around this time. Chris was finally seeing her in her element. Alex was done playing games; she was going to show him the complete power she possessed.

Jill ran over to them, and brought a low kick to Alex's back. The best she could do, considering her circumstances. It worked well enough that it stopped the attack, and gave Chris time to recover. Alex turned now to Jill. Chris, ignoring the bruising which was sure to come to his chest, unsheathed his knife from his back, and stabbed into Alex's shoulder. The woman didn't even let out a groan. She quickly removed the knife from her flesh, and threw the bloodied blade away.

She brought her knee quickly up to Chris's groin, and then her palm to his chest. The force throwing him away again. She now turned to Jill, and brought the back of her hand to slap her across her face. Jill was thrown back, and hit the back of her head on the cobblestone, sending her into a state of unconsciousness.

Alex let out a small chuckle; this was easier than she thought. Chris let out a couple of coughs, and spat out the blood formed in his mouth, as he stumbled onto his feet.

A sound of a car echoed through the courtyard, and brought fear into Chris. He saw firsthand the strength Alex possessed; he just prayed it wasn't his sister.

Alex beamed a sadistic smile, knowing full well the other Redfield had come to pay her a visit,

"Let the fun begin..."

Sorry again for the wait. I really hope I'll get the next one out sooner!

Artichoke,

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