Disclaimer; I don't own Resident Evil, or any of it's characters. I'm just a humble fan who's waiting impatiently for RE5(get on it, Capcom!).
Synopsis: I was playing REmake, and started wondering just what it had to be like for the characters between games. I mean, beyond the files and short endings. Not to mention, why they killed off some potentially decent characters so quickly. So, I did a little marathon with the main games, and this is what I came up with. This is what happens when I get bored. So, here goes nothing. . .
Author's Note: I've tried to stay true to the RE timeline, but I've found so many contradictions from different sources that I can't be sure I got it right. So, if I've made any mistakes, I apologize.
Chapter Seven
Leon sat in the old lawn chair Billy had left behind, absently rubbing his left shoulder, as he gazed at the town's biggest mansion. He wondered how Billy was doing up there, surrounded by all that opulence. Somehow, he didn't think the other man would be very comfortable. He knew that he wouldn't be.
He sighed heavily, guilt filling him as he thought of how they had treated the other man yesterday. If only Claire had told him what she suspected sooner. He could have taken Billy aside and asked him about his past in private. Instead, Claire had decided to confront him in the worst possible way. Had he been the murderer she believed him to be, he might have killed them all then just to keep his freedom.
He didn't believe that Billy was guilty of killing twenty-three people in cold blood. The man had given them money to help pay for their room, and had even shared his small supply of food with them. He'd even offered them a place to stay after Claire had treated him so badly. Those weren't the actions of a killer, no matter what Claire might think.
He felt a presence at his back and stiffened involuntarily. He glanced over his shoulder to find Claire standing a few feet away, her vivid cerulean eyes coming up to meet his. He managed a small smile and pushed his unease away. After what he had gone through in Raccoon, he didn't know if he would ever feel safe again, but he didn't want Claire to see his apprehension. She might have nightmares like he and Sherry, but she wasn't debilitated by them as they were.
She gazed at him for a long moment before coming to stand before him. "You're thinking about Billy, aren't you?" she asked at length.
Leon nodded even as he tilted his tawny head back to look up at her. "What we did was wrong, Claire."
Claire sighed at the guilt that crept into his too-blue eyes. "We have a twelve-year-old to think about, Leon. Trusting a wanted felon was a chance we couldn't take."
He only nodded again, his gaze dropping from hers. She gazed down at him with a combination of exasperation and affection. For all that he was a cop, Leon Kennedy was way too nice. She dropped into his lap, smiling at his surprised exclamation. She linked her arms around his neck, resting her cheek on the top of his head. His arms came around her, tightening as he pulled her closer, and she felt a sense of security that she hadn't expected to ever feel again. Leon Scott Kennedy made her feel safe.
"I feel bad about Billy, too," she told him. "But I won't take any chances with Sherry's safety. She's been through too much, as it is."
"I know, Claire." Leon merely closed his eyes and continued to hold her, dreading the day when word of her brother finally came. She would leave them then, and he and Sherry would be completely alone. It was a terrifying thought.
"You're not still made at me, are you?" Claire asked into the silence. "For Billy, I mean?"
"No, I'm not mad." Leon lifted his head, his angelic features taking on a stern cast. "Just talk to me next time, all right? We're a team, Claire. Don't forget that, again."
Claire looked down at him, wondering if she looked as surprised as she felt. This was a side of him that she hadn't seen before, and she wasn't sure if she liked it. It reminded her too much of her older brother, Chris, and his whole dominant, alpha-male attitude. As much as she loved Chris, she didn't want to be with man like that. She wanted a man who sensitive enough to listen to her, and not fight her for control at every turn.
"You don't own me," she said, unable to keep the irritation from her voice.
Leon felt his own hackles rise in response. "Of course, I don't," he returned, forcing a smile as he sought to keep the peace between them. "But you took a chance when you confronted Billy that way. If he'd been a killer, he would have killed you then. So next time, talk to me, and we'll decide what to do together. Okay?"
Relief filled her at his reasonable words. "Okay," she agreed, mollified.
His smile became genuine as she leaned down and brushed her lips across his. No matter how their relationship eventually ended, he was glad that he'd been given this time with her. He couldn't regret being with her like this, even though he knew she wouldn't stay. So long as she came back, as she'd promised, he could handle anything.
Like finding another job, Leon thought ruefully. He didn't know if his one-day stint with the R.P.D. would qualify him for work on the Stoneville police force, but maybe it would help him get a gig as a security guard. Provided that he could get proof of his identity, of course.
He still had his badge and his I.D., but that was it. His apartment had been just outside of Raccoon City, in the suburbs. Even if it hadn't been destroyed in the bombing, he wouldn't be able to return to it. The government had been busy building a parameter fence around Raccoon. Everything in a twenty mile radius was going to be included in the quarantine as a precaution. Unfortunately, that included his apartment.
Leon sighed again, shifting slightly as his shoulder began to protest Claire's weight. He saw Sherry standing in the doorway of their room, an uncertain expression on her gamine features, and he smiled warmly. He extended his hand and she flew to him, taking his hand gratefully. He tugged her closer, and she laid her head on his shoulder in a gesture of trust.
This was his world, Leon thought with a surge of emotion. Claire and Sherry were the only family he would ever need. Someday, after Claire had found her brother, they might have kids of their own. Even if they didn't, he loved Sherry like she was his own. He didn't need any more than what he had right now. As far as he was concerned, Claire Redfield was home.
Sherry listened as Claire began to speak, once again talking about the future. She had a lot of plans for them, including a big house that they could share with her brother, and his friend, Jill. It never occurred to her that she and Leon might be uncomfortable at the thought of moving in with people that they didn't know. She wasn't an only child like they were. She was used to having other people around, and she obviously liked it.
Sherry wasn't so sure that she would. Her parents had been scientists who worked tirelessly to cure the most horrible diseases. They had rarely been home, spending most of their time at work. She had been lonely, but she hadn't complained. They're work had been too important, and she knew that they had loved her, in their own ways.
Her mother had told her so just before she had died in the laboratory beneath the police station. Claire had been there for her, and after they had escaped Raccoon City, she had told her about losing her own parents. Claire had understood in a way that even Leon couldn't, and it had bonded them.
She had dreams of her father, where he called her name as she ran hopelessly through a maze, unable to find him. Just like real life, when she had heard him calling her name while racing through the Raccoon sewer system. She had searched for him, but she hadn't been able to find him. Sherry was afraid that the big monster that had chased her had gotten him. Otherwise, he would have found her by now. William Birkin hadn't been a man to be deterred by anything.
Claire mentioned her brother again, and Sherry couldn't help but smile. As worried as she was, she found that she was looking forward to meeting Chris Redfield. Claire made it sound as though he were ten feet tall and bullet-proof. It was obvious that she loved her brother very much, and Sherry wondered if anyone could be that wonderful.
She was going to have an uncle, she thought with excitement. She'd never had an uncle before, and she was looking forward to it. And an honorary aunt in Jill Valentine, she reminded herself. Of course, there was Barry Burton, too. Claire said that he was a big bear of man who was even more gentle than Leon. Sherry wasn't sure that was possible, but she was eager to meet him, just the same.
It was going to be weird, having a big family. But so long as Claire returned as she'd promised, it would be all right. She hadn't heard from her brother yet, but she went on the internet every day, using a computer at a local coffee shop to check her email, and search for news of S.T.A.R.S.. Eventually, she would receive news of Chris, and she would leave them. It was only a matter of time.
Sherry only hoped that it wouldn't be too hard on Leon. He had already lost one woman he'd cared for in Raccoon City. It would devastate him if he lost Claire, too. But Claire really seemed to love him, and she knew without a doubt that he loved her. Leon wasn't good at hiding his feelings.
She thought of the big man that Claire had verbally assaulted yesterday and winced. She didn't know if Billy was guilty of killing all those people, but she thought it highly unlikely. Sure, he hadn't smiled much in the two days he'd been with him, but he hadn't seemed the least bit mean. Even though Claire had treated him badly, he had continued to be nice to them. He had shared his food with them, had given them money to help pay for their room, and he had kept Leon from getting too depressed. He had treated them all well, and she regretted that Claire's overprotective behavior had driven him away. They needed all the help they could get, right now.
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Chris stared at the ceiling above him, watching as light from a single travel lantern danced across it. Rebecca had trouble sleeping without it, and though he would never admit it, so did he. The nightmares came regardless, but the light made them somehow easier to bear. It was ridiculous for two grown people, soldiers no less, to be afraid of the dark. But after what they had gone through in the Arklay Mountains, he thought it might be understandable.
Rebecca turned over and pushed her blanket away, a frown marring her smooth features as she mumbled something indecipherable. Yet another nightmare, Chris thought, sighing as he rose to his feet. He pulled the blanket over her, tucking it around her with careful movements. She stilled, her too-young features relaxing once again, and he bowed his head. She was so damned young. What had Wesker been thinking when he dragged an eighteen year old girl into his madness?
To Chris, their former captain's actions were still incomprehensible. For the sake of a bunch of man-made monsters, he had sacrificed the lives of his own men. In fact, he had formed S.T.A.R.S. just for the opportunity to collect combat data for his precious B.O.W.s. The lives of their comrades--their friends--had meant nothing to him. In Wesker's eyes, they had been a means to an end, nothing more. A way for him to sell himself and his services to one of Umbrella's competitors.
"Bastard," he muttered as he moved away. He laid back down on his own bedroll, his mind turning to the mysterious call they had received that morning. A woman's voice had come over the radio, calling his name until he'd been forced to respond. She had refused to give her own name, merely telling him that his teammates had made it out of Raccoon City before the government bombing. She had then added that Billy Coen was alive and well, and looking forward to seeing Rebecca Chambers again. The line had gone dead, and Rebecca had cried, tears of joy this time.
Chris hadn't had the heart to point out that it might not be true. He hadn't recognized the woman's voice, and Umbrella had to be looking for them. And, a part of him wanted to believe the voice, too. He needed to believe that Jill had survived Raccoon, that his selfish decision to leave her behind hadn't resulted in her death.
He squeezed his eyes shut tightly, praying for the first time since his parents' death. He couldn't lose Barry, who had become a surrogate father to both he and Claire. He even wanted Brad to survive, coward though he might be. And as for Jill. . .
"God, I hope you're okay, babe," he whispered with a shudder. It didn't matter that she was an ocean away, or that their friendship might very well be over. So long as Jill Valentine was alive and well somewhere in the world, he would be forever grateful. If she survived and returned to him, he would take whatever place in her life that she deigned to grant him. He would never again mention his love for her, except when he apologized for his desertion. He would make it clear that she owed him nothing, and hope that she forgave him for his own cowardice.
At least, Claire was safe, he reminded himself with a faint smile. She was probably worried sick about him, but she was safe at school, two cities away from Raccoon. He had managed to keep his baby sister away from Umbrella's insanity. He'd sent her an email that morning at her school account, letting her know that was all right, but so far she hadn't responded. He hadn't mentioned his current situation, nor told her where he was. He had simply let her know that he was all right, and that he loved her. Her studies seemed to be keeping her occupied, and if his luck held, she would never have to know just what her big brother had gone through in the Arklay Mountains.
"Chris?"
He heard the soft-spoken whisper and turned onto his side. Rebecca was sitting on her sleeping bag, rubbing her eyes with her knuckles in a child-like gesture. "What is it, kid?"
She wrapped her arms around her knees and rested her chin on them. "Do you think that woman worked for Umbrella?"
He should have known, Chris thought ruefully. Rebecca might be young, but she was far from stupid. "I don't know," he answered candidly. "I think it's possible. We won't know for sure until we hear from Barry."
"I want to believe her," she said, her voice very soft as she grasped the ever-present dogtags. "I want. . .I need to believe that Billy is still alive."
"I understand, kid." He smiled crookedly. "I feel the same way about Jill."
Rebecca knew her surprise showed as she lifted her head. "You never talk about her, Chris," she said hesitantly.
Chris only nodded. "She was my best friend, Rebecca. Right up to the moment I told her that I loved her," he added with self-recrimination.
"Do you regret telling her?" she asked quietly.
"Like nothing I've ever done," he admitted in a low voice. "You saw what she was like after Joseph's death. She didn't want anyone around, least of all me. We were friends for five years, and there was nothing I could to help her. She was so damned nervous, jumping at every sound, constantly looking over her shoulder. When I was with her, it was even worse. For some reason, she just didn't want me there."
Rebecca nodded, her pale green eyes thoughtful. "I thought she looked scared, Chris."
"Yeah, so did I," he said with a sigh. "But after what we'd gone through in the Spenser Mansion, we were all scared, Rebecca."
"Maybe, being around you reminded her of Joe," she offered haltingly. "The three of you were friends, right? Maybe, seeing you just made her miss him more."
And wasn't that just what I needed to hear, Chris thought caustically. He ran his hand through his hair in an agitated gesture, freezing as Rebecca began to giggle. "It's standing straight up, isn't it?"
"I'm afraid so," she replied, her voice wavering as she fought not to laugh. "I think you need a haircut, Chris."
"I know I do," he muttered, his voice tinged with exasperation. "Quit laughing, Chambers. It's not that funny."
"Yes, it is," she said, clutching her middle as she laughed. "You've got the weirdest hair I've ever seen."
Chris merely shook his head, which made her laugh even harder. He rolled his eyes, his lips twitching as he fought the urge to smile. He'd been teased about his too-thick hair all of his life, especially by Claire, who had been lucky enough to take after their mother. And he really didn't mind right now. Neither of them had had much to laugh about in the past few weeks. He was willing to be the butt of the joke, so long as it made things easier for Rebecca.
"You should try to get some more sleep," he told her once she had quieted down. "It'll be dawn soon."
Rebecca smiled faintly. "Thanks, for everything, Chris."
"You're welcome, kid." He stretched and turned over, folding his arms beneath his head. He heard his name and lifted his head briefly. "Yes?"
"I'm sure we'll hear from Barry and Jill by tomorrow."
Chris managed a smile. "I know we will," he said with a confidence he didn't feel. "Get some sleep, Rebecca."
"Goodnight, Chris."
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Jill glanced around the interior of the small Cessna, grimacing of as her shins hit the back of the copilot's seat. Barry half-turned turned towards her, a smile briefly lighting his tired features. She returned the gesture but didn't speak, not wanting to distract either he or the pilot, who were speaking of their escape in low tones. He turned back to the console, and she heaved a sigh. They had traded the rescue chopper for this tiny, cramped plane back at Warren Airport. They were currently refueling, so that they could join Chris and Rebecca in France, but it had been a bumpy ride. The plane was small enough to make the flight uncomfortable, but then again, anything was better than being in Raccoon City.
Or rather, what was left of it, Jill thought with a wince. She, Barry, and Carlos had watched the destruction of Raccoon from the evac chopper. It had affected them all profoundly. Even Carlos had fallen silent, unable to speak, as he witnessed the absolute destruction that the government had deemed necessary.
She glanced to her left, where Carlos sat, curled up awkwardly as he slept. She smiled fondly, glad that his slumber didn't seem to be troubled. The first time he'd fallen asleep, he had woken in a matter of minutes, calling to one of his fallen teammates. She'd held his hand until he calmed down, going so far as to let him flirt a little after he'd recovered. They had talked for a while before his exhaustion had overwhelmed him, and she'd waited until he was asleep again to free her hand.
Barry hadn't asked any questions about Carlos, or the Umbrella logo on the back of his survival vest. She had assured him that Carlos could be trusted, and he had taken her at her word. He still looked concerned, and Jill thought she knew why. He was worried about Chris' reaction when he realized that Carlos was a part of Umbrella's machine. She would have to explain that the younger man was just a mercenary, and that he had no loyalty to his former employers. Hopefully, Chris wouldn't be too angry with her to believe her.
He had to be worried sick, Jill thought, shifting to look out the window. He and Rebecca hadn't heard from them since their harried escape from Raccoon City. Chris had no way of knowing if they were alive or dead, and it had to be driving him crazy. Even though he'd been fired from S.T.A.R.S., he was still their captain, and he took his responsibilities seriously. It was one of his better qualities.
He and Barry had that in common, the need to take care of those they loved. The older man might not have the commanding personality that Chris did, but they were a lot alike. They were solid, stable, and utterly dependable. For them, there was nothing more important than family, and they had both included her in theirs.
Jill smiled to herself at the thought. No matter how angry Chris might be with her for hurting him, she knew that he wouldn't turn away from her. Even if he no longer loved her, he wouldn't turn his back on her completely. He knew how hard her childhood had been, with her wild mother and her despondent father. He had made up for that by introducing her to Barry and Nora, who had treated like one of their own, and he had given her a younger sister in Claire.
She hoped that Claire was doing well, but the girl was strong. With a brother as overprotective as Chris had been, she hadn't had much of a choice. She would be worried about him after hearing the news about Raccoon, but she wouldn't fall apart. And Jill was sure that Chris had contacted her by now. No, Claire Redfield was probably on a plane right now, just waiting to land and tell her big brother just what she thought of him hiding Umbrella's activities from her.
As for Jill herself, she just wanted to see Chris again. She no longer cared that he might be angry with her, nor was she mad at him for leaving Raccoon. If he hadn't gone when he did, he would have caught in that hell with her, and he might have died at the hands of Nemesis, as she and Carlos nearly had.
No, it was better that he had gone, and taken Rebecca with him. Rebecca was even younger than Carlos, and she had already gone through so much. Jill understood why Chris felt so protective of the younger woman. After all, she felt the same. She had surprised herself by warming to Rebecca as quickly as she did, but she really hadn't had much of a choice. The girl was tough as nails, but she hadn't completely lost her innocence. It was a disarming combination.
Rebecca was all that was left of Bravo Team. She should have died in the Arkham Training Facility, but she hadn't. Instead, she had escaped from one nightmare and immediately plunged herself into another. She had saved Chris' life in the Spenser Mansion when he had been attacked by Plant 42, and both had survived Wesker and the Tyrant he had released. As far Jill was concerned, she was family. She was sure that Chris felt the same.
Jill thought of the fugitive Billy Coen, and his obvious effect on Rebecca, but only briefly. The former Force Recon member might be alive and well, but the chances of he and Rebecca ever meeting again were slim. If they were ever reunited, he would be welcomed by S.T.A.R.S. with open arms. Rebecca firmly believed in his innocence, and that alone was enough to make him acceptable. But until that happened, there was no use dwelling on it.
Carlos stirred beside her, cursing fluidly in Spanish as he attempted to stretch. Jill choked back a laugh as he rubbed his knee, which had connected quite solidly with the back of the pilot's seat. He shot her a dark look, grumbling under his breath, before turning to face her. She smiled, unable to contain it, and he returned the gesture reluctantly.
"I feel like a sardine," he muttered, "and I must look worse."
"You look fine." Jill patted his hand, rolling her eyes as he brought it to his lips. "Knock it off, Carlos."
"Ah, come on, Jill," he cajoled, "You know you like it."
"I know that you're going to have a fat lip if you don't stop," she told him with exasperation. He dropped her hand like it was on fire, and she gave in to the urge to laugh. "Really, Carlos, you're too much."
His too-pretty features took on a smug cast. "So, I've been told, Jill."
"Oh, brother." Jill rolled her eyes again, batting his hand away as he reached for her. "Give it a rest, Romeo. I'm not in the mood."
Carlos merely chuckled and folded his hands in his lap. He watched Jill as she tugged at the hem of her black mini-skirt and mumbled something about never being adventurous again. Personally, he thought that she looked gorgeous. The skirt showed off the length of her unbelievably long legs, while the blue tube top hugged the curve of her breasts to perfection. Even though she was exhausted and dirty, she was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
She glanced at him, turning those big blue-gray eyes on him, and he was lost. He had the sudden urge to promise her. . .everything. He was crazy about Jill Valentine, and whether she knew it or not, she was crazy about him too. It was just up to him to make her see it, that's all.
No problem, Carlos assured himself quickly. He'd been charming women all of his life. He knew just what to say to make them comfortable, and how to lavish them with praise. Usually, it didn't mean a damn thing. This time was different. He was serious in his interest in Jill, even if she didn't realize it yet. He would woo her, and he would win her. Of that, Carlos didn't have any doubt.
He was looking forward to his new life in France, fighting Umbrella with the Special Tactics And Rescue Service. He was a little nervous about meeting Chris Redfield, Alpha Team's leader, but he was excited as well. Once he convinced the other man that he had no allegiance to Umbrella Inc., he would prove to Redfield that he could be an asset to the team. He might be young, be was already a seasoned soldier. Being drafted into the U.B.C.S. hadn't left him much of a choice. To survive in Umbrella's world, you had to be tough.
Still, he wasn't a bad person. He'd just made a mistake, once upon a time. Not that he felt bad about killing his fellow soldier. Even if it had ended up landing him in Raccoon City, it had been worth it. The man had been an animal, and he'd deserved to die. No, his mistake had laid in killing the man in front of witnesses. He should have had more patience, more self-control. Instead of beating the man into oblivion in the mess hall, he should have waited and picked a more opportune time. Instead, he gotten himself a death sentence, and enrollment in the Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Service.
He hadn't told Jill about that yet, but he thought that she would understand. She'd told him that Alpha Team was the only family that she had. She was very protective of them, and she would be able to understand why he had killed to protect his own. She would have done the same, he was sure.
His glance strayed back to her, his eyes lingering on the flare of her hips. He reached out and casually laid a hand on the smooth skin of her thigh. She immediately lifted his hand away, frowning darkly, and he chuckled. Undeterred, he tugged her hand and set it on his own thigh.
She jerked her hand away, her bluish eyes narrowing on his. "Quit flirting, Carlos."
Carlos merely laughed and shifted closer, placing his lips next to her ear. "Are you sure you want me to do that, chica?" he asked in a seductive murmur.
"Yes, I am." His dark eyes flashed as they dropped to her breasts, and Jill made a frustrated sound. "Are you fond of abuse, or what? Ogle me again, and I'll shoot you. You got that, Olivera?"
"I've got it, Jill." He sighed dramatically and slumped down in his seat, assuming a defected pose. He glanced at her through his bangs to gauge her reaction, and was chagrined to see that she wasn't fazed in the least. "You're a hard one, chica."
She echoed his sigh and turned in her seat. She met his gaze evenly, wincing inwardly as his handsome features softened. She'd seen that look before, and she knew precisely what it meant. Her mind flashed back to Chris' last night in Raccoon, when he had blindsided her with his confession of love. He had worn a similar expression, mixed with a hopelessness she hadn't then understood. She did now, and she was determined to make things right.
"Look," she began awkwardly, "what you're feeling is natural. We went through a horrible experience together, and--"
"Don't even," Carlos cut in, his expression darkening angrily. "I'm not a child, Jill. I know my own feelings."
"You don't love me," she told him in a soft voice. "You might think that you do, but you don't."
Carlos looked away as disappointment threatened to overwhelm him. "You're wrong, Jill."
"No, I'm not." Jill set a hand on his arm, bringing his angry eyes back to hers. "I like you, Carlos. I consider you a friend. But I'm. . .involved with someone else."
He jerked away from her, crossing his arms over his chest defensively. "Who?" he demanded, his too-pretty features turning hostile.
She hesitated before sighing once again. "Chris," she answered finally.
"Your commander?" he asked incredulously.
She nodded, her dusky hair swaying with the motion. "I'm sorry, Carlos."
"So am I," he muttered, even as his mind began to work on ways to win Jill away from her precious captain.
Jill saw his obstinate expression and was instantly alarmed. Carlos had a stubborn streak, as he had proven by taking on Nemesis alone in Raccoon. He had convinced himself that he was in love with her, and he wasn't the type to give up so easily. This wasn't over, not by a long-shot.
Her biggest concern would be Chris' reaction to Carlos' obvious interest. Chris was very protective of her. Even if he didn't love her anymore, he would still feel the need to shield her from harm. No matter how many times she'd told him that she could take of herself, he'd insisted on trying to protect her. It was simply the way that he was.
Well, they'd be in France, soon, Jill reminded herself. There was time enough to worry about all of that. For now, she just wanted to close her eyes, and not see a legion the of undead.
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Hunk's slid smoothly down the zip-line, landing lightly on the cracked pavement. He pulled his shiny new TMP off his shoulder and kept it at the ready, his hazel eyes scanning the ruins of The Agency's once impressive housing development. Only a few of the homes remained intact; most lay in a pile of blackened rubble, while bodies were strewn from one end of the street to the other.
Shit, he thought angrily, the government hadn't even bothered to send in cleaner crews. It had only been a few days, but Umbrella had already sent in several U.B.C.S. teams. They had orders to rescue whatever civilians they could, and to capture any B.O.W. they came across alive--if you could consider their reanimated state 'life'.
Hunk shook his head at the waste. Yeah, he couldn't wait to get the fuck away from Umbrella. They had gone way too far with this one. He hadn't spent much time in Raccoon, but he'd liked the place. Now, it was all just gone, and it pissed him off.
The trio of wounds on his chest twinged briefly, and he scowled beneath his helmet. He still couldn't believe that a goddamned scientist had nearly taken him out. Sure, he'd mutated into a huge friggin' monster, but still, he was Mr. Death. He should have been able to handle the damned thing!
He patted the shiny new semi-automatic Desert Eagle under his left arm reassuringly. Yep, he'd finally broken down and gotten a knew Magnum. After fighting his way out of the R.P.D. with that revolver, he knew he'd never use one again. No more reloading every six shots. It took too damned long, even with a speed loader--which he hadn't had. Nope, he'd stick with this one. It took at least a magazine to take down most of the stronger bioweapons, anyway.
"Alpha Team, contact us when you're ready for extraction. We'll be waiting."
Hunk flicked the switch on the side of his helmet. "Roger that. Alpha Team out."
He made his way through the neighborhood, eying the still corpses warily. So far, none of them had moved, but he wasn't taking any chances. If any of them so much as twitched, he was blowing their fucking heads off. He was here to find his brother, and he wasn't going to let anything stop him!
God, he hoped the kid was alright! Hunk thought with worry. Yeah, Billy was a tough a tough bastard, but he was still his kid brother. Even as an angry sixteen-year-old kid, he'd recognized Billy's innate decency. Sure, the kid had talked a tough game, but Hunk had seen beneath all of that. His younger half-brother had been lonely, and so had he.
Hunk smiled to himself as he cautiously stepped over a headless corpse. Once his own father had finally drank himself to death, he had packed a bag and headed for Colorado, where he knew his mother was living. Her asshole husband hadn't been happy to find him on their doorstep, but his mother had been ecstatic. She'd welcomed him with open arms, and encouraged him to get to know her other son.
Two years later, cancer had claimed her life, leaving him with no one but Billy. He'd taken his duties as a big brother seriously, and had done his best to keep Billy out of the trouble he himself had constantly gotten into. He and the kid hadn't had much in common, but Billy had worshipped him, and he'd surprised himself by returning the feeling. That kid was the only person he truly gave a fuck about, and if Billy Coen was dead, he'd dismantle Umbrella Incorporated himself.
Hunk's eyes narrowed behind his combat helmet as he approached the ruins of The Agency safe house. The roof had collapsed inward, and one of the walls had been completely destroyed. He ignored the tight feeing in his chest as he moved through the body-strewn yard. So far, none of these corpses had shown signs of life, but with the T-Virus, that didn't necessarily mean anything. They could reanimate quickly, and with very little warning. Or even worse, mutate as Birkin had. And wouldn't that be just his luck? he thought caustically.
He made his way to the front of the house and stepped carefully through the broken remnants of the doorway. He pointed the TMP at the west side of the house, where the wall had given way. Nothing stirred in the heap of rubble, and he quickly swung the machine gun to his right. The living room was covered in a thick layer of black ash, whether from the result of the government bombing, or the explosion that the R.P.D. had set up on Main Street, he didn't know.
Not that it mattered, Hunk reminded himself. It wasn't like he hadn't seen this sort of thing before. It was simply. . .disquieting to see a place he'd spent so much time in like this.
Hunk quickly finished his search of the first floor, pausing at a single door which he knew led to the basement. He uttered a frustrated sound, knowing that he had to go down there and check it out. After all, the basement would've have been the safest place for Billy to hide, providing that he'd made it down there without being eaten--or infected.
Hunk resolutely pushed those thoughts away and eased the door opened. The hinges squealed in protest, and he winced as the sound echoed through the quiet. So much for the element of surprise! he thought as he switched on his survival flashlight. He made sure it was securely attached to his belt, drew a deep breath, and stepped into the darkness.
He kept the TMP before him, his flashlight barely penetrating the gloom, as he slowly crept down the stairs. He could hear nothing but his own breathing as he finally came to the bottom, but what he saw made his blood run cold. A body lay propped up against the far wall, its booted feet splayed, its position awkward. Hunk swallowed hard as he drew closer, recognizing the cowboy boots as the ones Billy had been wearing when he'd first found him in Raccoon Hospital.
No! Hunk told himself sharply. It's not Billy. It can't be. The thought flashed through his mind even as he forced himself to turn away. He searched the rest of the large substructure, assuring himself that there were no B.O.W.s present, before returning to what he was very much afraid was his brother's body.
He knelt beside the corpse, his heart hammering in his chest, as he adjusted the survival light. It fell on the dead man's face--or rather, what was left of it. Most of the man's face was gone, making a visual identification impossible. His gaze moved to the corpse's right arm, which looked as if it had been skinned, and he grunted once. This was not his brother.
The dead man had a similar build, and longish brown hair, but this was just a little too convenient. Somehow, his employers had discovered his tie to Billy Coen, and were trying to convince him that his brother was dead. Hunk wasn't buying it.
He spied a glint of silver and smiled coldly. This was all the proof he needed. He reached out and snapped the silver chain around the corpse's neck, which gave way much too easily to have been true military-issue. He eased back on his haunches, his hazel eyes narrowing slightly, as he read his brother's name and serial number.
Bullshit, Hunk thought succinctly. Now, he knew for sure that this was a set-up. Umbrella had no way of knowing it, but Rebecca Chambers had Billy's dogtags. She never took them off. They'd fucked up here, and they had just turned their best asset into their worst nightmare.
He was still quitting, but he'd been willing to leave them alone before. Now, he was going to do everything he could to hurt these motherfuckers. Starting with S.T.A.R.S..
Hunk smiled hugely at the thought. Wouldn't his former employers be pissed when they learned that Mr. Death had not only left them in the lurch, but that he had joined forces with the only people who were capable of bringing them down. Yeah, to say that they'd fucked up was an understatement!
Hunk tucked the false dogtags into his survival vest and flipped the switch on his helmet. "This is Death," he said shortly. "I have a few more places to search, and it'll be a while. I'll contact you when I need extraction."
There was a pause, and then, "Roger, Alpha Team. We'll be waiting for your call."
"Good," he stated flatly. "Death, out."
He rose to his feet, glancing down at the poor bastard who had died in vain, and turned away. He would make his way through Raccoon City on foot. He'd studied the Umbrella reports on the Raccoon incident thoroughly, and he knew that survivors had made it out of all four major exits, by car as well as by rescue helicopter. Of course, Billy would have snuck past the barricades and laid low, but there were only three cities and the Arklay Mountains surrounding Raccoon, and he was sure that his brother was smart enough to have stayed away from the mountains. After all, he'd nearly died up there once. Stupid, Billy wasn't.
Hunk left the house and headed west, towards the city of Larsen. He'd search there first, then work his way south. He'd hit Stoneville last, and eventually, he would find his brother. It was only a matter of time. Then, Umbrella would pay.
-----------------------------------
Joseph sprang back, narrowly avoiding a fist to his face, his animalistic eyes narrowing dangerously on his opponent. Ada smirked, her expression one of arrogance, as she danced nimbly away from his answering swing. He watched her with predatory intent, drinking every fluid, graceful move that she made. She was good, he thought with admiration. She'd taken him down more times than he could count today, and she showed no signs of tiring. He didn't know whether it was the T-Virus fueling her agile body or not, but she was kicking his ass royally.
Talk about a turn-on!
They'd been sparring for nearly four hours, and he hadn't managed to best her, yet. And although he hated to admit it, he was the one beginning to tire. He finally held up one hand in an unmistakable sign of surrender, stopping her in mid-swing. "No more," he told her breathlessly. "You win."
"Of course, I do," Ada replied throatily. She sent him a typically seductive smile and grabbed a towel from a nearby table. She tossed it to him, her brilliant sapphire eyes studying him with amusement. "You did well, Joseph, if that helps."
Joseph grunted once. "It doesn't."
He wiped the sweat from his face and draped the towel around his neck. He watched her with shimmering red-gold eyes, unable to tear his gaze away, as she toweled off with unconsciously sensual movements. He knew that she probably wasn't aware of what she was doing; he had a feeling that the seductive way she moved had been learned so long ago that it had become second nature.
Unfortunately, that didn't help much, Joseph thought as his body tightened painfully. He wanted her like hell on fire, and he'd made his desire clear. Ada, on the other hand, kept him at a distance. She'd fed him a line about co-workers making horrible lovers, but he didn't think that would stop her if she decided she wanted him.
No, there was something else that kept her from succumbing to the call of his body. Or rather, someone else, he thought with a scowl. At first, Joseph had thought that it might be Billy, but the last two weeks had shown him that he'd been wrong. She treated Billy as a friend, almost a sibling, except for the rather risqué teasing. No, every once in a while she got this far away look in her eyes, and he knew that she was thinking of someone she had lost.
He wondered if she had lost a lover in Raccoon City, but he didn't dare ask. Ada was touchy as hell when it came to her private life. He didn't know much about her, and he was beginning to think that he never would. He was sure that Billy probably knew a few of her secrets, but the other man would never disclose them. Billy Coen was turning out to be an honorable, trustworthy man, for all that he was a wanted felon.
Joseph found that he liked Billy, even though the other man was still a little afraid of him. Of course, he had shot him, he thought with a wince. It had been an accident, but he'd still wounded him. And pretty badly, according to Ada.
What surprised Joseph was the fact that he wasn't jealous of Billy's obvious closeness to the woman he himself desired. After the debacle with Jill, he'd expected to be. Maybe, he'd been so jealous of Chris because, deep down, he'd known that he couldn't return to the life he'd led with her, while Chris would always be a part of it.
Joseph sighed heavily. He didn't know, and he was damned tired of thinking about it. Jill was gone, and he couldn't bring her back, no matter how much he wanted to. She was the past. Ada was the present. It was that simple.
Ada watched the big, muscular man with the gleaming eyes frown darkly, and wondered what he was thinking. His eyes were on her, but they'd taken on an inward cast, as though he were looking inside of himself. He did that every so often, and she wondered if it was his past that occupied him so completely. She hadn't asked, certain that he would expect a similar admission from her in return. She couldn't allow herself to become emotionally involved with Joseph Frost. Even if she weren't in love with another man, they had to work together. As she had told him, teammates did not make good lovers.
It was tempting though, she thought with a self-deprecating smile. Joseph's body called to hers on the most primitive of levels. She had never felt this sort of animal attraction before, and it disturbed her. She knew that part of it was the T-Virus that ran through both of their bodies, but another part of her was afraid that it might be more than that. Becoming attached to a man with his emotional problems could bring her to ruin, in more ways than one. He was a risk that she simply couldn't afford to take.
So far, he had accepted her decision, but someday that would change, and that was what worried her. She didn't truly think that Joseph would turn on her, but eventually he would lose patience with her, and he would force a confrontation between them. What scared her was what her reaction to that physical contact between would be. It was hard enough to think past her body's reactions when they were merely sharing the same space. What would happen if he ever actually laid hands upon her?
Ada shivered at the image that thought invoked and hastily turned away. She would never give another person that much control over her. She had learned her lesson the hard way, and she would never forget it. If the day came when Joseph did finally move in, then she would take control of the situation. If she found that she couldn't put him off any longer, then she would be the one to seduce him. Until then, she would continue to train him, and together they would learn to use their unique abilities. Then, they would kill Albert Wesker and bring Umbrella Incorporated to ruin.
Joseph saw the cruel smile that lit up her stunning Asian features and smiled himself. He knew that look. She was thinking of Captain Wesker, and the moment when they finally took his worthless life. She wanted it with a passion that he was sure few thought her capable of. Ada Wong might act cold, but a fiery heart beat beneath those magnificent breasts!
And he owed her everything, Joseph thought deeply. She had not only accepted him as he was, but she was helping him discover just what his body was now capable of, and how to control himself. She had taught him meditation techniques, which he had resisted at first, but had taught him to control his unruly emotions. He might not ever human again, but at least he wouldn't turn into a complete monster. And it was all thanks to the beautiful, inaccessible woman before him.
He cleared his throat and approached her slowly, giving her time to adjust to his advance. He knew that she didn't like having anyone at her back, and the last time he'd taken her by surprise, she'd nearly slit his throat. He didn't know why she'd been so jumpy, but it happened every once in a while. The last thing he wanted was to make Ada fear him. He wanted to win her trust, if not her heart, and someday be welcomed into her bed.
She turned to face him with an inquiring expression. "Yes?"
"I wanted to thank you," Joseph said in a deep voice, "for everything you've done for me."
She merely smiled. "Don't thank me, Joseph. I'm getting something out of this, too," she reminded him.
"But you aren't afraid of me," he told her in a too-quiet voice. "You know what I am, what I'm capable of, and still you were able to accept me. I'll never forget that, Ada."
Ada nodded her dark head, her expression becoming thoughtful. "I want you to do something for me, Joseph."
"Anything," he responded simply. "You know that."
Yes, she did, Ada acknowledged silently. Aloud, she merely said, "I want you to make nice with Billy."
He scowled. "Billy and I are getting along, Ada."
"I'm aware of that," she said, softening her voice slightly, "but you hurt him when you shot him, and I'd like you to apologize for that."
He crossed his muscular arms over his bare chest. "I've already told him that shooting him was an accident."
"It's not that." Ada sighed with a very real worry. "Everyone Billy has met since being court-martialed has treated him dreadfully, with the exception of his brother and I. It's. . .marked him, Joseph. He hates being alone, but he's afraid of being with others, because he fears their reactions to him."
Joseph made an inarticulate sound. "Have you read the Marines' report on him?" he asked bluntly. "I did, and frankly, it scared me."
"It's a very entertaining work of fiction," she returned, adding, "but that's all it is. Billy is innocent, Joseph. I'm sure of it."
"So," he said slowly, "you want me to apologize for the way I treated him after I found out who he really was?"
"Yes," Ada replied, taking a step forward and laying a hand on his chest. She looked up at him and smiled, praying that she wasn't overplaying her hand. "He lost his brother in Raccoon, Joseph. Hunk was all he had, the only person who believed in him. I want you to tell him that you believe he's innocent, and please, be convincing. Can you do that for me?"
Joseph's animalistic eyes gleamed as he laid a hand over hers. "You don't have to manipulate me," he told her in a gentle voice. "I don't think he's guilty anymore, and I have no problem admitting that I was wrong."
Relief flashed across her beautiful features before she could hide it. "Thank you, Joseph."
She stepped away, and he tightened his grip on her hand. Her dark blue eyes instantly took on a wary gleam, and he smiled knowingly. "You're welcome, Ada."
Keeping his gaze trained on hers, he brought her hand to his lips. He brushed a kiss across the smooth skin of her palm, then curled her fingers over it. "I'll talk to Billy as soon as I clean up," he said as he casually released her and strode from the room.
Joseph allowed himself a small smile as he strode from the room. He'd shaken her up a bit that last little bit, he thought with satisfaction. He was more than willing to let Ada set the pace of their odd relationship, but he wouldn't wait forever. If she hadn't known it before, she did now.
But Ada was a strong woman. Her guard would be firmly in place the next time that they met, and she would do everything in her power to control the situation between them. Hell, he might even let her, providing that she didn't try to completely shut him out.
For now, he had an apology to make.
He went to his room and took a quick shower, throwing on a pair of black fatigues and a t-shirt. He slicked his hair back and tied his favorite red bandana over it. He pocketed a pair of dark sunglasses, just in case, and went in search of Billy Coen. Billy wasn't in his room, but he hadn't really expected to find him there. The other man didn't sleep much, and he didn't like being cooped up. Ada had asked him to stay indoors for the time being, so Billy spent most of his time wandering aimlessly through the enormous house. He didn't seem to have a favorite spot, although Joseph had found lying on the roof once. He'd never seen the other man happier.
Joseph headed to the back of the house, and sure enough, he picked up Billy's scent as he neared the servant's quarters. Figures, he thought irritation. There was an access shaft that led to the roof, and of course, the scent got stronger as he entered it. Damn, but he hated heights!
He pushed the button to lower the elevator and scowled when he got no response. Of course, the lift was out, he thought caustically. He wondered if Billy had purposely turned it off, then discarded the notion. The other man didn't like to be alone, so he doubted that Billy would go out of his way to isolate himself.
Just his luck, Joseph thought as he turned to the access ladder. He glanced up, wincing at the bright sunlight that greeted his sensitive eyes. He pulled the sunglasses out of his pocket and covered his eyes with a sigh of relief. He climbed the ladder easily, exerting a small bit of power to get to the top quickly. He wasn't fond of heights, and he just wanted to get this over with. Thank God, this place only had three floors, or he'd be pissed as hell right now!
He found the other man sitting near the front of the house, his arms wrapped around his knees, as he gazed into the distance. He grunted loudly as he made his way towards him, careful not to look too closely at his surroundings. He took a seat beside Billy, who glanced his way with a combination of surprise and suspicion.
"Billy," he greeted evenly.
"Joe." Billy studied the other man for a long moment. "What are you doing up here?"
Joseph shrugged even as he said, "I owe you an apology."
Billy snorted and leaned back on his hands. "I know you didn't mean to shoot me, Joe. I don't need an apology."
"I didn't mean that, although I do regret it."
Billy sat up straight, tucking his legs under him. "What, then?" he asked curiously.
"I want to apologize for the way I treated you after I looked into your story," came the unexpected response.
"Oh. That." Billy looked away with a shrug of his own. "Don't sweat it, Joe. It's kind of what I'd expected when I first told you who I was. You just caught me off guard with the timing, that's all."
"Still, I'm sorry for the things I said," Joseph told him quietly. "I should have been smart enough to realize that you weren't a psychopath when you stayed around to help me."
"Yeah, after I'd already killed you once." Billy shook his head, frowning as his overlong hair slid into his face. He pushed it back impatiently, thinking absently that he really should start tying it back. "I was convicted of mass-murder, Joe. Your reaction was. . .understandable."
Joseph matched his frown. "Are you always this stubborn, or is just me?"
Billy laughed a little at that. "Look, it's cool, Joe. Apology accepted. Tell Ada that it was mission accomplished, and thank her for me."
"She's not the reason I'm apologizing," Joe said, an edge to his voice.
"You're telling me she didn't send you up here?" Billy asked wryly. "She didn't ask you to play nice with me or anything?"
"Of course, she did," Joseph answered with exasperation. "That doesn't mean I don't mean it, Billy. It just means that she gave me an excuse to make the apology."
"Uh-huh." Billy met his concealed gaze before nodding once. "Okay, then."
"Good." Joseph glanced around him, noticed how close they were to the edge of the roof, and surreptitiously moved back. "How can you stand being up here?"
"You're afraid of heights, huh?" The other man shot him a dirty look, and Billy hid a smile. "Sorry. I don't like being cooped up indoors, and since Ada doesn't want anyone to see me before my paperwork comes through, I figured this would have to do. I doubt anyone will notice I'm up here. I just like being outside," he added with a shrug.
Joseph nodded and looked away. After being locked up for three years, he could well understand the other man's need to be outdoors. "Are you claustrophobic?"
"Not really," Billy answered with a sigh. "I just. . .don't like feeling trapped. If I can get out into the sunshine every once in a while, the feeling goes away, you know?"
"I can imagine." He watched as the other man laid flat on the roof with a small smile. Billy might be a hard man--a dangerous man--but there was something almost childlike about him at times. He could see why Ada found him so. . .endearing. "I know we'll probably never be friends, Billy, but I'd like to try."
Billy quirked one eyebrow at him. "Really?" he asked with flat disbelief. "Since when?"
"Since I realized that the man I'm coming to know wasn't capable of murdering anyone."
He closed his eyes briefly, wanting nothing more than to believe him. "I was a soldier," he pointed out hoarsely. "I have killed, Joseph."
"As have I, Billy, but I have yet to commit murder." Joseph thought of Jill's death, and flinched violently. "At least, not intentionally."
Billy sat back up, doing his best to keep his expression neutral. "What do you mean?" he asked as casually as he could manage.
"Jill," Joseph said in an inflectionless voice. "Before I decided to escape Raccoon, I was watching her from the street below her apartment. I'd been running from some huge monster all damned night, but I thought I'd finally lost it."
Billy winced at that. "What happened?" he asked with dread.
"The B.O.W. found me," Joseph replied flatly. "It was smart, Billy. Damned smart. The fucking thing shot at me with a rocket launcher, and it hit Jill's building."
"Oh, shit!" he whispered, his cobalt eyes widening. "Joe. . ."
"I killed her, Billy." The other man looked down at his hands, which were fisted so tightly that his knuckles had turned white. "I led that huge motherfucker straight to her. I might as well have killed her myself."
"A Proto-Tyrant," Billy murmured, half to himself.
"No, this was different." Joseph sighed heavily. "I've read numerous reports on the Umbrella B.O.W.s, and this one wasn't in any of them. It shared a faint resemblance with the Tyrant, but it wasn't one. I don't know what it was. I only know that it killed Jill, and nearly killed me."
Billy shook his head at the guilt the other man didn't even try to hide. "You couldn't have known, Joe."
Joseph made a curt gesture with one hand, his voice ripe with bitterness. "I'd already fought it twice, and I hadn't managed to do more than stun it. I should have known that it would find me. I never should have gone to Jill."
"I'm sorry," Billy told him awkwardly.
"Yeah, so am I." Joseph sat there for a moment longer, mentally reliving the death of the woman he loved, before slowly rising to his feet. "So, are you willing to give me another chance?"
Billy stood and offered his hand. "I'd like that, Joe."
"Thank you." Joseph shook his hand and managed a faint smile. "I think I'll go inside, now. I'll be with Ada, if you want company."
"I'll be in soon." Billy turned back to the shining sun, no longer worried about having Joseph Frost at his back. "I want to enjoy my freedom for just a little longer."
Joseph nodded, then realized that he couldn't see the gesture. "Enjoy it, Billy."
"I will."
---------------------------------------
Ada stood on the second floor balcony, a pair of binoculars held before her eyes. She scanned the little town almost absently, her thoughts turning back to the man who had shaken her composure so thoroughly. Damn him! she thought with a flash of heat. He'd known how he affected her. He'd known all along, and he'd let her manipulate him anyway.
Fear came to her, the taste heavy on her tongue, but it was on a purely emotional level. Joseph could very well devastate her if she gave him the chance, and he had finally let her know it. While she was sure that hadn't been his intention, it didn't change what was.
She couldn't go through that, again, Ada thought with something akin to panic. While she hadn't loved John, she had become overly fond of him, and it had clouded her judgment. Instead of taking him to her superiors as she had been ordered, she had actually tried to help him expose Umbrella's viral experiments to the world. She had gone with him when he'd been transferred to from Chicago to the Spencer Mansion facility. Then, she had been ordered back to Chicago to give her superiors an oral report on her progress, and she had foolishly left him behind.
It didn't matter that he had insisted on staying and continuing his investigation. She should have taken control of the situation and gotten him out of there before the inevitable occurred. Instead, she had let him talk her into doing something that had ultimately cost him his life.
To this day, she had nightmares of gentle, affable John turning into a zombie in the bowels of that damned mansion. Not that she'd been there to see it, but her imagination had no problem providing her with hellish visualizations. Especially, after what she had seen in Raccoon City itself.
Then, there was Leon.
She sighed heavily. Leon was still in that disgusting hovel of a motel, no more than a short walk away, and she couldn't go to him. He was shacked up there with that little red-headed bitch and Annette Birkin's daughter. She had considered approaching him, and telling him that she was still alive, until she had witnessed a passionate kiss between he and that Redfield girl.
Ada made a rough sound and opened her eyes briefly. She had hoped that Leon and his friends would come here with Billy. When they hadn't, she had made plans to see him. She was going to go to him and offer him assistance. She had found herself standing across the street from the motel, rooted in place by a sudden sense of fear, when he and Redfield had come outside. She had nearly worked up the courage to approach him when he'd pull the girl into his arms and kissed her senseless.
At that moment, she'd realized that while she had fallen in love with Leon Kennedy, he hadn't returned the feeling. He had already moved on, a mere two days after her 'death'. That knowledge had hurt as nothing ever had before, and never would again.
She would see to that, Ada swore to herself. While she understood that Leon had a right to own happiness, it infuriated her that she had meant so little to him. And after she had sacrificed her life for him.
She scowled darkly. Leon didn't deserve to know that she was alive. She'd known from the very start that he was much too good for her, but she had foolishly hoped that he had come to care for her, as well. Now, she knew that he hadn't, and it was time to let him go.
Leon finally made an appearance, and she gripped the binoculars tightly. He stepped out of his room, taking a seat on the battered old lawn chair that Billy had left behind. He was wearing a pair of blue jeans and a plain white t-shirt, but he looked wonderful despite the plain clothing. He opened a can of soda and sipped it contently. His head turned in her direction, and she jumped before she could stop herself.
He couldn't see her, she reminded herself quickly. He spent a lot of time in that chair, staring off into the distance. She'd caught his gaze on the mansion numerous times, his youthful features reflecting guilt. She wondered if that guilt was for the callous way Claire Redfield had treated Billy. Perhaps, he felt guilty because he had failed to stand up for the other man.
Not that it mattered, she told herself with a mental shrug. Billy was among friends now, and she would allow no one to hurt him. Soon, he would have his new identity, and he would move on to better things. Ada hoped that he would allow her to be a part of his life after he did so. She so wanted to meet Rebecca Chambers in person, if for no other reason than to assure herself that he would be treated well. If anyone had ever deserved to be happy, it was Billy Coen.
She heard the suite door open and sighed again. She lowered the binoculars, and half-turned towards the room. Joseph removed his sunglasses as he approached her, those unusual eyes meeting and holding hers. He came to a halt in the open doorway, squinting slightly as he strove to stay out of the sun.
"I apologized to Billy," he announced quietly. "We're going to try to be friends. He wanted me to thank you for sending me to him, as well."
Ada found herself smiling ruefully. "Billy is a smart one," she murmured fondly.
"Yes, he is." Joseph stepped outside and cursed as his eyes immediately began to water. "Damn, but I hate this!"
She watched him shove the sunglasses into place with amused sympathy. "I can only leave my eyes bare for a short amount time," she offered.
"At least, you have the option of doing so," he muttered disgruntedly.
She couldn't help but laugh at his frustration. "Forgive me, Joseph."
He couldn't help but chuckle in return. "I did sound like a petulant child, didn't I?"
"Just a bit." Ada beckoned him forward, her expression sobering as she tilted her head back to look up at him. "About what happened earlier--"
"Stop." Joseph leaned against the railing, keeping his eyes on her and away from the two-story drop below. "I'm well aware that you don't want to get involved with me, Ada. I can respect that, but I'm going to try to change your mind."
"I won't hurt you," he continued calmly, "but I refuse to walk away from this."
"Joseph. . ." Ada gazed up at him and hardened her heart. He had to understand where she stood. She held the binoculars out in silent invitation, her expression daring him to take them. If nothing else, he would understand at least a part of her reluctance.
Joseph took them slowly, pondering the their significance. He raised them to his covered eyes and scanned the surrounding town. There weren't many people around this time of day; most of the towns populace were at work. "Okay, what am I looking for?" he asked with impatience.
"The motel where we found Billy."
He grunted and zeroed in on the Stoneville Motel. There was a an older man in coveralls crossing the small parking lot, a teenager hanging out with another at the bus stop on the corner. A blond man sat in a chair outside one of the rooms, talking with a well-stacked red-headed girl. He looks familiar, Joseph thought with a frown. He couldn't place him, but he knew that he'd seen this guy somewhere before. Maybe, during his race through Raccoon?
"Who are they?" he asked abruptly, lowering the binoculars and turning back to Ada. "Why did you show them to me?"
Ada leaned back against the railing with a veiled expression. "The man's name is Leon Scott Kenney. He is one of the few surviving members of the Raccoon Police Department."
It came to him in a flash. This was the man he'd seen behind Emmy's Diner, surrounded by so many zombies that Joseph had known he wouldn't make it. The young cop he had left to die in that dirty alley was the same man that held Ada's heart.
Joseph gazed at her broodingly. "He's the one, isn't he?"
She met his gaze squarely. "Yes," she answered simply.
He inhaled sharply and looked away. He considered keeping his mouth shut. There was no need to for Ada to know that he had left the man she loved to die, he told himself quickly. The cop hadn't seen him, and it would only work against him. But if he lied now, and she found out later, she would kill him--literally.
"I saw him," he admitted in a low voice. "In Raccoon."
Ada drew a deep, startled breath. "Did he see you?" she asked urgently.
"No." Joseph shook his head negatively. "He was surrounded, and there were so many of them. . ." his voice trailed off as he sighed. "I kept going, Ada. I was tracking this huge monster that had been hunting me all night, and I didn't want to die saving some idiot cop who hadn't been smart enough to get off the streets."
He turned his head just enough to meet her gaze. "I'm sorry. If I'd known. . ."
Ada ran a hand through her sable hair, relieved that he had kept away. Leon was tough, but Joseph was a different animal altogether. "It doesn't matter," she told him plainly. "I just want you to realize that a relationship wouldn't be a good idea for a number of reasons. Leon is merely one of them."
Joseph nodded even as he reached for his wallet. "I understand, Ada, more than you know." He flipped it open and pulled out his favorite picture of Jill. He handed it to her with a self-deprecating smile. "Her name was Jill. Unlike your Leon, she didn't make it out of Raccoon."
Ada glanced down at the picture and hoped her surprise didn't show. It was a picture of S.T.A.R.S. member Jill Valentine, whom had not only survived Raccoon City, but had destroyed the super-Tyrant Nemesis before her escape.
"She's lovely," Ada murmured as she returned the picture. She watched him tuck it back into his wallet with a reverence she wouldn't have believed him capable of. "You must miss her very much."
He merely shrugged, crossing his arms over his chest, as his concealed gaze dropped to his feet. "She's the reason I was tracking that big, ugly monster. It found me outside of her building and destroyed it trying to take me out. I'm the reason Jill is dead."
She hid a wince at the flat, emotionless tone he used. She eyed him speculatively, wondering just how he would react to news of her survival. "What would you do if you discovered that she was alive?" she asked carefully.
Joseph made a rough sound and pushed away from the railing. "Not a damned thing," he spat with obvious anger. "Jill knew I was alive, Ada. I went to her right after Billy and I separated. I was having trouble controlling my more. . .predatory instincts after I first came back. She was grieving over my death, and our friend Chris was helping her through it, and--"
He broke off abruptly, and began to pace. "Chris was in love her. He always had been. It hadn't bothered me before. But once I came back, everything was different. It was like all of my negative emotions were being amplified or something. I was angry and jealous. And scared, Ada. So damned scared of what was happening to me."
Ada watched as he paced the length of the balcony with animal-like grace. She could only imagine how violently the T-virus had affected him. Unlike her, he'd had no prior knowledge of the virus and what it could do to the human body. He'd had no way to prepare himself for his resurrection, no one to help him deal with the changes wreaking havoc in both his mind and body. It was a wonder he was sane at all.
He stopped before her, his big body fairly vibrating with energy. "I threatened him, Ada. I told Jill to stay the fuck away from Chris or I'd hurt him. That was the end of our relationship. She never forgave me for threatening him, and I never apologized. And now, it's too late."
"No, it's not." Ada prayed that she wasn't about to make a huge mistake even as she smiled gently. "Two S.T.A.R.S. members escaped from Raccoon City by helicopter just before the bombing. Barry Burton and Jill Valentine are probably in Europe now with their commander, and Billy's Rebecca. She is alive, Joseph."
Joseph stared at her with disbelief, his eyes wide beneath the sunglasses. "Alive?" he questioned with astonishment. "Jill is alive?"
"Yes." Ada crossed her arms in a habitual gesture, praying that she wouldn't have to fight him to keep him here. "I can't allow you to contact her now, but I can set something up later. You could accompany Billy to when he leaves to join Chambers, and see her then, if you'd like. Or I could take you later, once my assignment here is finished."
"Jesus!" Joseph blinked back tears as he turned away, his mind whirling frantically. He hadn't killed her! he thought with an overwhelming sense of relief. He hadn't killed Jill! She was alive and well, and she had escaped Raccoon with Barry!
"Joseph?" Ada approached him warily, wishing he would remove the damned sunglasses so she could read his expression. She drew a deep breath and laid careful a hand on his arm. "Would you like to see read the report?"
Joseph glanced down at the slender, petite woman who had done so much for him and nodded. "Yes," he responded hoarsely, "I would."
"Come, then."
She led him to a large desk and pulled a manila folder out of one drawer. She slid it across the desk and settled back to wait. He sat on the edge of the desk, and she suppressed a smile as his weight caused it to creak alarmingly. He was taking this much better than she had expected, for which she was infinitely grateful. She'd spoken the truth when she told him that she couldn't allow him to see Valentine now. Her superiors wanted Joseph right where he was, under her guidance and supervision. She did, as well, though for different reasons.
She couldn't allow Wesker to discover Joseph's existence. He would put Joseph in a treatment tank, and turn him into yet another monster. She couldn't let that happen. She had promised Joseph a chance for revenge, but more than that, she had promised him safety. She would do everything in her power to keep that promise, even if it meant going against her superiors to do so.
She watched as Joseph removed his glasses and read the rather short report. His strikingly unusual eyes were tawny today, more gold than red, and they shimmered with a telling moisture. That he had loved Jill Valentine was obvious. She understood completely. She felt the same way about Leon.
He closed the folder and met her gaze, his expression more serious than she had ever seen it. "Thank you," he said at length, laying the folder on the table between them. "You can't know how much this means to me."
Ada merely shrugged and put the file away. "Would you like to see her, Joseph?"
"No."
She raised one sable brow at that. "Alright," she said easily, rising to her feet in a graceful motion. "Are you hungry? I can have the cook prepare lunch."
"Not right now." Joseph stood and turned away, preparing to leave. He halted, keeping his back to her, and said, "Don't think I've forgotten what we were discussing before you blindsided me. We'll finish our discussion later."
Ada watched him leave the room with a sense of foreboding. She hadn't used Jill Valentine to distract him, as he seemed to think. She was good at manipulating others, but even she had her limits. Using another's grief was not something she had done, nor would she. The next time they spoke, she would make that clear.
For now, she had a few calls to make. Joseph's future wasn't the only one she had promised to secure.