-1Disclaimer; 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. This is what happens when I get bored. So, here goes nothing. . .
RESIDENT EVIL
Chapter Nine
Chris sat on the cold concrete, shifting as the wind began to pick up. He shivered and zipped his jacket to his chin, thinking that it was going to be a long four hours. He and Rebecca were handling tonight's watch, so that Jill, Barry, and Carlos could rest. In four hours, he would wake Rebecca, and she would take over his vigil. Until then, he had to keep himself awake and alert, in case Umbrella finally came for them.
At least, it wasn't just the three of them anymore. Jill and her new friend would be able to help with the night watch, which would be a relief. Barry would never admit it, but the night watches were hard on him. He was thirty-eight, now. And after all he'd been through this summer, he deserved a break.
Chris thought of everything Carlos and Jill had told him about the horror they'd seen Raccoon and shuddered violently. The crush of the reanimated citizens, eating anyone who wasn't fast enough to get away. A giant super-Tyrant called Nemesis, which had been programmed by Umbrella to hunt down the remaining members of S.T.A.R.S.. The perfidy of Carlos' U.B.C.S. captain as he tried to collect the bounty on Jill. They had gone through a nightmare greater than any he had been able to imagine, and they had survived by relying on one another. It was no surprise Jill had brought Carlos with her. He had won her loyalty by first giving his to her, and there was nothing more important to Jill Valentine than loyalty.
He should know, he thought ruefully. He had given her his unfailing devotion, and made her a part of his family. She had made he and his her only family in return. Yeah, he could accept Carlos, even though he was proving to be extremely taxing, for Jill. It was they very least he could do for the woman who had given him so much.
"Hey, Redfield," the woman in question said softly as she joined him. "Do you have room for me?"
Chris looked up and smiled faintly. "Always," he told her sincerely.
He watched her shiver as she sat next to him, a thin, dirty white sweater her only protection from the wind. He immediately unzipped the fleece-lined B3 bomber jacket and began to pull it off. She halted him with a hand on his arm, her rich brown hair swaying as she shook her head.
"No," she told him, "It's too cold to sit out here without a coat."
He frowned at her. "Jill, you're freezing."
"It's not that bad," she argued, then shocked him by lifting the side and pulling it around her. She snaked an arm around his waist, turning her body towards his, and sighed happily. "Perfect."
Chris blinked as she laid her other arm across his chest, her head finding the hollow between his shoulder and his neck. He pulled the jacket around her as best he could, unable to believe that she had initiated this. She hugged him in return, and he couldn't help but tighten his own hold, even as he wondered at her motives. After the way he had left her in Raccoon, he hadn't expected this kind of closeness. At least, not until they'd had a chance to talk!
"Jill?" he questioned tentatively.
"Mmmm?"
"Why are you--" he swallowed hard, "why are you doing this?"
"You said that you loved me, back in Raccoon." Her body tensed against his as though bracing for a blow. "Has that changed, Chris?"
"God, no!" he exclaimed, startled.
Jill relaxed against him, closing her eyes as relief made her light-headed. "Then, we're good," she said simply.
Chris gazed down at the crown of her head as confusion filled him. "But, don't you want to talk about what I did?" he asked hesitantly.
She shrugged and burrowed closer, lulled by the steady thud of his heart. "If that's what you want."
"Jill. . ." his voice trailed off, his bewilderment clear. "I lied about my feelings for you for five years. I left you when you needed me the most. Nemesis infected you with the T-Virus because I wasn't there to protect you. You almost died because of me."
"Bullshit." Jill raised her head, her classic features taking on a stern cast. "Don't ever say that. I almost died because Umbrella wanted me dead. It had nothing to do with you. In fact, I was grateful that you were here with Rebecca, and that Nemesis couldn't get to you, too!"
Chris looked away from the anger that leapt into her eyes. "Jill--"
"Oh no, you don't. Look at me." She placed her hand of the side of his face and urged his gaze back to hers. "I had a lot of time to think after you left, Chris. I realized that I'd taken advantage of you and our friendship."
His hand came up to cover hers, his somber midnight eyes searching hers. "No, you didn't."
"Yes, I did," she insisted softly. "I've always found you attractive, Chris, but it was safer for me to keep you as a friend. That way, I wouldn't lose you when the relationship ended, as they always do."
"I was afraid of losing you," she continued huskily, "so I set limits on our relationship. I convinced myself that the interest you'd shown the first night we met was gone, and that you didn't see me that way anymore."
"I've always wanted you," Chris admitted in a whisper. "I couldn't help it, Jill. I still can't. After what happened in the Arklay Mountains, I just couldn't hide it any longer. I'm sorry," he added miserably.
Her expression softened dramatically. "Don't be," she murmured, stroking his cheek with the pad of her thumb. "You made me realize just how much I had hurt you when I shut you out. I'm the one that damaged our friendship, not you."
He shook his head negatively. "I knew how much you missed Joe. You were grieving, Jill. I shouldn't have insisted on spending so much time with you. I should have been more understanding."
Jill winced at that. "No, you don't understand, Chris."
"Then, tell me," he entreated softly. His hand tightened on hers as the other began to stroke her back. "Make me understand what it was that I didn't do to help you?"
"Oh, Chris, you did everything right." Jill closed her eyes for a moment, reliving the moment when Joseph's inhuman rage had forced her to put this painful distance between them. "I have something to tell you, and I need you to promise me that you won't lose your temper."
Chris merely nodded and continued to soothe her. "You can tell me anything, babe. You know that."
She smiled involuntarily at the reproach in his rich voice. "Yes, I do," she acknowledged wryly. The smile faded as she thought of all she had kept from him in a misguided attempt to protect him. "I want you to know that I did it for you, Chris."
His gut tightened with alarm, even as he forced himself to remain silent. Had she made a deal with Umbrella, back in Raccoon City, to keep him and the rest of S.T.A.R.S. safe? Is that why Carlos was with her now, acting so possessive? What if it wasn't simply a case of a young man with a crush? What if the U.B.C.S. soldier was actually here to keep her line?
Jill drew a deep breath and said, "Joseph isn't dead."
"What?!" That was the last thing he'd expected to hear. He stared at her with wide blue eyes. "Jill--"
She cut him off, desperate to make him understand. "Those voices you heard in my room the day we escaped the Spenser Mansion? It wasn't just me having a nightmare. Joseph was there, standing right in front of me, and he was different."
Jill shuddered at with fear as she remembered the inhuman rage glowing in his changed eyes. "He was furious that you were there. He threatened you, Chris. He told me that he'd hurt you if I didn't stay away from you."
"Son of a bitch!" Chris drew her to him, stunned by her words. Joe was alive?! "How?"
"The T-Virus," she whispered. "It brought him back, Chris. Not as a zombie, but as something. . .different. His eyes were reddish-gold, and the pupils were slitted, like an animal's. And he was so strong. He jumped out of my bedroom window and landed without hurting himself."
"Then, he began to call me," Jill continued, clinging to him as she shivered. "If you were there, he'd threaten you. If I hesitated when he asked me to meet him, he threatened you again. I didn't know what to do, Chris. I was so scared," she added in an atypically small voice.
"God, I wish you'd told me!" Chris threaded his fingers through her hair and held her to him, frantically trying to keep his promise and not lose his temper. "It's alright," he told her hoarsely. "You're not alone, Jill. We'll get this through this together."
"I'm sorry that I didn't come to you." She burrowed closer, turning her face into his neck. "I was terrified that Joe would follow through on his threats, and it would have killed me to lose you. Please, believe that."
He shut his eyes as pain raced through him. "I believe you, Jill."
No wonder she had returned like this, perfectly willing to give him what she thought he wanted, in order to keep him in her life. He could only imagine how hard it must have been for her, losing the man that she'd loved so much, only to have him return to her as a monster. Then, for Joseph to threaten him, when he was practically the only family that she had? Yes, to say that she had been terrified was a massive understatement!
"Jill, listen to me," he said urgently, placing his lips next to her ear. "Our friendship is enough for me. You don't have to worry about losing me. Not ever. I'm here for you, and I always will be."
Her head came up quickly, a hurt expression shaping her beautiful features. "That's not why I came to you," she said thickly, blinking back tears. "How could you even think that I would use you that way?"
Chris smiled tightly and tucked her hair back behind one shapely ear. "It's all right, Jill," he told her in a gentle voice. "I accepted that you couldn't love me a long time ago. There's no reason to do this now, when you don't need to. I understand--"
"You don't understand a damn thing, Chris Redfield!" Hurt turned to anger as he rejected her oh-so-gently. She jerked away from his touch, her eyes narrowing furiously. "I love you, Chris. I always have. I'm sorry that I let my fear of losing you keep us apart, but I won't let you do this to me. If you don't love me anymore, then at least have the balls to say so!"
Chris stared at her in amazed silence, not sure how to respond. The woman he loved had just told him that she loved him in return, and he didn't dare let himself believe her. He had spent five long, agonizing years watching her build relationships with other men. He had loved her so hopelessly, for so damned long. It had hurt, but he'd learned to live with it. And now she stood there, looking so damned vulnerable, claiming that she loved him?
"Since when?" Chris asked finally, his too-quiet voice unable to completely conceal his mistrust. "You didn't love me two months ago, when I practically begged you to. Now, you suddenly say that you're in love with me, and I'm not supposed to question it? It doesn't work that way, Jill."
Jill looked away as shame filled her. She'd known that she'd hurt him, but she hadn't realized how much. "After Nemesis infected me, Carlos carried me into the chapel in the St. Michael Clock Tower. He left to find a cure, and all I could do was lay there and think."
She raised glistening blue-gray eyes to his, determined that he understand exactly how much she loved him. "All I could think of was you, Chris. I was dying, and my biggest regret was that I would never see you again. I was going to be resurrected as a zombie, and all I could think was that you'd never know just how much you meant to me."
Chris' heartbeat doubled at the tumult of emotions he saw in the depths of her haunting eyes. "Jill. . .?"
"Do you still love me?" she asked, suddenly wondering if she had killed his feelings for her, after all. "I know that I've hurt you, and I'm sorry. I never meant to."
"I know that, Jill." Chris raised a trembling hand and cupped her face tenderly. "Are you sure," he asked hesitantly, "that I'm what you want?"
Jill managed a shaky, hopeful smile. "You're all that I want," she told him simply.
"Then, you have me." Chris pulled her to him, shuddering as her supple body touched his. He lowered his face to her hair and closed his eyes as peace flowed through him. "I love you, Jill."
Jill clung to him tightly, loving the feel of his hard, masculine body against her own. This was the only home she would ever need, she thought happily. "I love you, Chris."
His arms tightened around her as he whispered her name, and she smiled into his neck. "Now, do you think you could kiss me, again?"
Chris uttered a low laugh and eased back just enough to look down at her. "You liked that, did you?"
Jill grinned at the smug, teasing tone he used. "Shut up and kiss me, Redfield."
"Yes, ma'am."
---------------------------------
"Oh, it's so romantic!"
Barry opened bleary eyes at the breathy exclamation to find Rebecca and Carlos standing at the top of the stairs. Jill had gone outside to talk to Chris a little while ago, and Rebecca had insisted that they keep an eye on them. He briefly considered reprimanding her for her snooping, but a part of him wished that he had the energy to watch, too. He had been hoping for this since he'd first realized how Chris felt about Jill three years ago. Jill had been a little slow to catch on, but it looked as though she finally had.
Thank God, he thought as his eyes drifted close. Chris would definitely stop drinking, now. Jill wouldn't tolerate it, and he'd do anything to please her. Things were finally beginning to look up for S.T.A.R.S., again. Now, if they could just find a way to keep Umbrella from finding them, they could put a stop to the madness, and get on with their lives.
He missed his family, Barry thought with a sigh. Nora hadn't liked his decision to follow Chris to France, but she had understood. He hated that he'd been forced to leave her and the girls, but he truly hadn't seen another way to keep them safe. Chris, Rebecca, and Jill couldn't do this on their own. They needed him, and he needed to redeem himself in his comrades' eyes. It was that simple.
And that complicated. Barry sighed again and rolled to his back, wishing that he had been brave enough to defy Wesker in the mansion. But no, he'd been too terrified of Umbrella to go against his captain. Instead he had betrayed Jill, whom he considered a daughter, and left her to die in the tunnels below the Spenser Mansion.
Then, she had shown up on that weird crypt, and he'd been forced to pull his gun. She had disarmed him immediately, and he had fully expected to be shot where he stood. A monster had come in then, the remnant of a little girl in chains, and Jill had shocked him by returning the weapon. Without it, he had no doubt he would have died in the battle that followed.
She and Chris had forgiven him for his deception, and while he was grateful, he found that he couldn't do the same. Enrico might still be alive if he had worked up the courage to kill Wesker, instead of instead of walking away when as he had been ordered. He'd been torn between his duty to his comrades, and his love for his family. He still was.
But staying with S.T.A.R.S. was not only the right thing to do, it was the only way he could assure himself that Chris and Jill would be alright. Without him, his adopted children might not survive Umbrella's revenge. That was a chance he simply couldn't take.
Rebecca glanced over her shoulder, watching as Barry turned over yet again. He had to be exhausted, she thought with sympathy, yet he didn't seem to be able to sleep. It was a feeling she knew all too well. She hadn't slept more six hours straight since leaving the Spenser Mansion, and she always had nightmares.
She glanced at Carlos, who threw a wink that he obviously thought was charming, and barely refrained from rolling her eyes. He wasn't nearly as good-looking as he thought he was, although he was cute. He just wasn't her type. Billy, however, was.
She sighed soundlessly at the thought. She missed Billy so much that it hurt sometimes, but she'd done the right thing by letting him go. If he'd stayed with her, he might have died trying to protect her, and she wouldn't have survived that. She still didn't know how Jill had survived losing Joseph the way that she had.
Rebecca looked out of the open hangar door, her eyes widening as she watched Chris and Jill embrace. Maybe, she knew after all! She leaned over the railing, gripping it tightly as she watched her new commander finally kiss the woman he'd loved for so long. "Carlos, look! They're kissing!"
"What?!" Carlos tore his eyes from her rear end and rushed forward, craning his neck to get a better view. "Mierde!"
She giggled at the Spanish-spoken expletive, her pale green eyes dancing as they met his. "I'm sorry, Carlos, but this is fate. Chris and Jill were meant to be together."
He snorted even as he leaned out farther. "Fate, my ass," he mumbled disgruntledly. He spied a pair of silver dogtags dangling from her neck and shifted closer. He reached out and grabbed them before she could stop him. "So, do these belong to the boyfriend?"
"Yes, they do," Rebecca told him with a frown. "How did you know I had a boyfriend?"
"Jill told me." She brought her hand up to cover them and Carlos batted it away. "Let's see," he murmured, taking a step closer. "A Marine, huh? Good choice. Lieutenant Billy Co--"
"Madre de Dios!" He dropped the tags as though they were on fire, taking several steps back. "You're boyfriend is Billy Coen?!"
Rebecca covered the tags in a defensive gesture. "What of it?" she asked defiantly.
Carlos swore profusely as he realized just who it was he had been hitting on. "He's a murder," he exclaimed clumsily. "He killed twenty-three people, Rebecca!"
"No, he didn't," she returned heatedly. "Billy's innocent!"
"Yeah, sure he is." Carlos shook his head negatively and took another step back. "You just be sure to tell him that I never touched you."
Coen wasn't innocent. Carlos knew better. Coen had almost become a member of his unit. Innocent men didn't end up in the U.B.C.S.. Coen had turned Umbrella down, or so the rumor went, but he had still been approached. Whether he was a cold-blooded murderer, or just a guy who'd fucked up royally, he was still a killer.
Rebecca blinked back tears as her new teammate looked at her as though she were a monster. Poor Billy, she thought, sniffling. No wonder he had been so surprised when she'd covered for him with Enrico. If this was how others had reacted to him in the past, she could see why he'd watched her as though expecting betrayal.
"He didn't kill those people," she whispered unevenly. "He tried to stop the man who did. That's why they put him in jail, to hide what really happened."
Carlos winced as tears crept into her big green eyes. "I'm sorry, Rebecca. I didn't mean it," he said quickly. He didn't know which bothered him the most; making such a nice girl cry, or Billy Coen finding out that he'd made his girl cry. Either way, this was not a good thing.
"I'm sure he's really a nice guy, chica," he lied in a more gentle tone. "He'd have to be, to have a girl like you, right?"
She sniffed again, averting her gaze as she swiped at her damp eyes. "You don't know him, Carlos. He really is a nice guy. He worked so hard to protect me in the Arklay mountains. If it hadn't been for him, I would have died that night. He's not a criminal," she added in a soft voice. "He's a hero."
Carlos nodded vigorously in agreement. Whether this guy was a killer or a hero, he wasn't going to say anything more against him. Rebecca was obviously crazy about him, and he already felt like shit for making her cry. He wasn't about to do that, again!
"Why don't you try to get some sleep?" he suggested in a desperate attempt to end the conversation. "You have night watch in a few hours, don't you?"
Rebecca ran a hand through her short honeyed hair as she nodded. "Yeah, I could use the sleep," she said with a sigh. "What about you? Will you be all right on your own for a few hours?"
Carlos stifled the urge to laugh. "I'll be fine," he assured her with the barest hint of dryness. "I'm good at keeping myself entertained."
"Okay." She smiled sweetly and patted him on the arm. "Goodnight, then."
"Goodnight, chica."
Carlos waited until she had settled down in her sleeping bag to pick a spot in the corner. He pulled his M16 out of his waist pack and began to take it apart. After all the shooting he'd done in Raccoon City, she needed to be clean and ready for the next mission. With Umbrella on the offensive, he was sure that would come sooner any of them would like.
He pulled out a little bottle of gun oil that he kept for emergencies and began to clean his beloved machine gun. Mikhail had given this to him to commemorate his first mission with the U.B.C.S., and he had always treasured it. The older man had taken a liking to him, and the feeling had been returned. He'd hated leaving him behind when Nemesis had stormed the tram, but he hadn't had a choice. If he had stayed, Jill would have insisted on staying with him, and she might have been killed. That was a chance he simply couldn't have taken.
He didn't regret his decision to cooperate with her. Yes, he missed Mikhail, but the older man had made the decision to confront Nemesis on his own. He had given his life so that he and Jill could get away, and Carlos would always be grateful to him for it, because his sacrifice had saved the woman he was crazy in love with.
It really didn't matter that Jill didn't love him. Sure it hurt, but he'd live with that. At least, she'd forgiven him for being a suck a prick with El Capitan. And she had stuck by him in Raccoon City, even after Nicholai had had tried to kill her. She could have easily blamed him, but she hadn't. Instead, she had kept him at her side, and taken her with him when she'd escaped. He owed her his life, and he would never forget it.
He reassembled his gun with a happy smile, but didn't bother to put it away. Now that he and Chris had declared a truce, he wasn't going to worry about making a good impression. He would prove that he was an asset to the unit, while still being himself. The other S.T.A.R.S. would become accustomed to his ways in time, just as Jill had come to accept his flirting as simply a part of his personality. It was just the way that he was, and he wasn't going to change himself for anyone.
He didn't know how long he sat, engrossed in his own thoughts, when he heard footsteps on the stairs. He was up in an instant, his M-16 trained on the open doorway. Jill entered the small office, looking flushed and incredibly happy. His new commander came in next, and although Carlos didn't really know him, he thought that the older man looked happy too. He ignored the pang in his heart and mustered up a smile as he lowered the gun.
"She hasn't been asleep very long," he said, gesturing towards Rebecca with the barrel of his gun. "I'll take her shift tonight, if that's all right with you, El Capitan."
Chris frowned habitually. "Have you slept at all?" he asked.
Carlos shook his head, ignoring his bangs as they slid into eyes. "I don't sleep much," he said, thinking that his new teammates couldn't know what an understatement that was. "I'll take the next shift, and sleep in the morning. Is that acceptable?"
Chris traded a glance with Jill, who turned to study him with too-serious eyes. "Are you sure, Carlos?" she asked with concern.
He smiled crookedly. "I'm sure, Jill."
She gazed at him for a moment longer before returning that smile. "Thank you," she said with voice gratitude.
Carlos shrugged as he pushed himself to his feet. He wasn't doing this just to give her time with Redfield. He had nightmares that he'd rather not try to face right now. "You didn't tell me that Rebecca's boyfriend was Billy Coen," he threw out casually.
Jill mimicked his shrug. "Does that make a difference to you, Carlos?"
"Yeah, right." He rolled his eyes at her before becoming serious once more. "You do know what he was convicted of, don't you?"
"Yes, we know," Chris answered for her. He leveled steady blue eyes on the younger man. "Rebecca believes that he's innocent, and so do we. If he ever comes to S.T.A.R.S., he'll be welcomed by all of us."
Carlos took the hint and dropped the subject. "Well, I'll see you in four hours, El Capitan. Try to get some sleep, Jill," he added before leaving the room.
She blushed and darted a quick glance at the man she loved. Chris merely shook his head and took her hand in his. He glanced around the crowded room with a rueful smile. "I wish we could be alone," he said in a hushed voice.
"So, do I," she whispered in return. "We can still share the bedroll, though."
Thank God, he thought with relief. Aloud, he merely said, "I wouldn't have it any other way, babe."
Jill uttered a low, quiet laugh as she bent over to remove her boots. She could feel Chris' gaze on her as she set them aside and slid into the sleeping bag. She looked up to find him watching her with tender cobalt eyes as he removed his own boots. She smiled and extended her hand, silently inviting him to join her. He set his shoes next to hers, grasped her hand, and slowly lowered himself to the floor.
Chris stretched out beside her, swallowing hard as she immediately moved into his arms. His arms closed around her convulsively, and he had to remind himself that they weren't alone, and wouldn't be for quite some time. It was enough that she was here, holding him as though she would never let him go. It was more than he had ever expected from Jill Valentine.
"I love you," he told her in a quiet voice.
She closed her eyes as the steady sound of his heartbeat lulled her into sleep. "And I love you," she murmured in return.
Her breathing became steady, her lush body relaxing against his, and Chris shook with silent laughter. Just like that, she was out, he thought with a combination of humor and warmth. He'd seen her do it before; hell, he'd even held her as she slept. But never like this, with the knowledge that he was free to give into his feelings if he felt the need to. He could kiss her senseless if he wanted, and she would actually welcome it, although she might be a bit grumpy.
Life was good, Chris told himself as he closed his eyes. Claire was safe at school, Barry was here with him, and Jill Valentine was in love him. No matter what happened from here on in, he would never forget how he felt at this moment. He was at peace for the first time since his parents' death, and for that alone, he would always be grateful to the woman in his arms.
----------------------------------
"He'll see you, now."
Ada looked up from the magazine she'd been flipping through and tossed it aside. "Thank you," she said coolly. She rose to her feet, ignoring the secretary's sour look. This woman's opinion didn't matter to her. It was the man behind the impressive set of sliding steel doors who's opinion actually meant something.
She passed through the doors with a confidence she didn't feel. Ever since her. . .difficulties in Raccoon City, her standing in The Organization had become slightly more precarious. As expected, Wesker had been angry over her little disappearing act, and he had gone to his new superiors and revealed things she would rather have kept private.
Like the fact that she had died and been resurrected, Ada thought angrily. None of that anger showed as she dropped gracefully into the cushioned chair provided for visitors. She crossed her legs, showing them off to their best advantage, and leveled a cool look across the impressive walnut desk before her. The man on the other side met her gaze evenly, his rather plain features impassive.
He tented his hands under his chin, his faded blue eyes locked on hers, as he sought to read her expression. "Wesker has requested your services, again," he announced at length.
Sapphire eyes flickered at the name, then went flat. "And your response was. . .?"
"The same as before," he replied simply.
Ada smiled coldly to hide the relief rushing through her. "Albert can be quite persistent," was all she said in response.
"So I've noticed." He leaned back in his chair, folding his hands over his stomach, as he continued to study her. "You omitted some very important details from your Raccoon City report, Lily."
Her slim shoulders rose and fell in a casual shrug. "Surely, you can understand why?"
He exhaled harshly, the first sign of emotion he'd shown. "You should have told me," he said severely. "If I'd known, I might have been able to convince the board of directors to rescind some of the privileges he's been given."
Ada looked away briefly. "I needed time to come to terms with what he had done to me." Her eyes came back up to his, and she made no attempt to hide her hatred. "He infected me with the Tyrant Virus, Victor. He told me that I belonged to him, now."
Victor laughed at that. "He doesn't know you very well, does he?" he asked in a deceptively light voice.
"Oh, he knows me." Her midnight eyes narrowed dangerously. "I don't know where he got his information, but he knew all about my assignment to bring John in. He hadn't been involved in the scientific side of Umbrella's operations for years. He shouldn't have even known John, yet he knew him well enough to know about me."
"John was crazy about you," he murmured with a poignant smile. "He talked about you constantly. He even kept a picture of the two of you in his wallet. Of course, word of you would have reached Wesker."
Ada thought of the smug look on Wesker's coldly handsome features as he'd mocked John's feelings for her in the underground lab. "No, Victor. He knew exactly who I was, and why I was with John, and he didn't have the security clearance that he has now."
Victor's smile disappeared instantly. "We've got a leak," he admitted abruptly. "I don't know where, but whoever they are, they're good. I haven't been able to find any trace of them."
"You could have told me this before you asked me to work with him," she said in a furious voice.
"I couldn't take that chance, Lily." Victor sighed heavily at her dark expression. "There is too much at stake here. You, of all people, know how important undermining Umbrella has become."
"He infected me, Victor!" Ada leaned forward in her chair, praying that she would be able to control the rage flowing through her. "I have given my life to The Agency; I died trying to help you ruin Umbrella Inc.. The least you could have done was warned me that Albert Wesker really had died in the Spenser Mansion facility and used the T-Virus to revive himself. At least then, I would have known that he wasn't human, and I could have taken precautions."
"Perhaps, I should have, Lily." He inclined his dark head once in acknowledgement. "We both heard the reports pouring in from Raccoon. There wasn't time to take the proper precautions. We had to go in and get John out of there ASAP."
"Yes, that worked out well," she drawled bitterly. "That Birkin bitch told me that John died months ago in the mansion. She said that he'd turned into one of those zombies, and I couldn't do a damned thing about it, because I was here, instead of in the Arklay Mountains, where I belonged!"
"I know," Victor returned quietly. "That was in your report."
"We failed him, Victor." Ada closed her eyes briefly, frantically thrusting the anger away. It wouldn't bring John back, but it could cost her her life's work, if she weren't very careful. "We failed John, and you failed me."
He winced visibly. "Lily--"
"I'm not human anymore," she threw out harshly. "Wesker took that from me, just as took--"
"Enough!" Victor roared, his patience finally giving way. She subsided, though her stunning features still showed rage, and he made a curt gesture with one hand. "I know exactly what he's taken from you. I'd give anything to bring John back, but I can't. He's dead, and you're not. Live with it."
She made a rude sound and tossed her head in a universal gesture of feminine ire. "I don't want to end up in one of Wesker's stasis tubes because of what he's done to me, Victor. If the board finds out--"
"They already know," he cut in impatiently. "I've taken care of it."
Alarm shaped her beautiful features at his words. "How?" she asked, fighting off a sense panic.
"Wesker told them." Victor rounded the desk, coming to stand before her. He looked down at her with hidden affection, knowing that she wouldn't appreciate any displays. "I told them that you came to me after the incident, and that I hid your possible infection until it could be confirmed."
Her slender body tensed as she slowly rose to her feet. "And?" she questioned in a low voice.
"Your test results came back negative for Tyrant Virus infection."
She hung her head in obvious relief, and he laughed softly. "As far as The Board is concerned, you are as human as you ever were. If they ever test you again, they will receive the same results."
Ada lifted her head slowly, her blue eyes stark. "If they ever discover the truth. . ."
He shrugged as her voice trailed off meaningfully. "I've been straddling this particular fence for a very long time, Lily. I've become rather good at it."
"Still. . ." She drew a deep breath, and concentrated on calming her racing heart. "Be careful, Victor. If they ever find out who you really are--"
"They won't." Victor leaned forward and pressed a light, socially-acceptable kiss her to cheek. "Human or not, I'm glad you survived, my dear."
Ada smiled slightly as she shocked him by returning the gesture. "Thank you, Victor, that means a great deal to me."
He raised on dark brow in response. "If this side of you is a by-product of your infection, I am almost glad it happened."
She thought of Billy's words a few night ago and laughed huskily. "Is there anything else you need to know before I go?" she asked pointedly.
He'd overstepped his bounds, and he knew it. He took the hint and backed off, rounding the desk and seating himself behind it. "How about a verbal progress report on our newest acquisition?"
"Joseph is coming along nicely," Ada said with satisfaction. She remained standing, crossing her arms over her chest in a habitual manner. "He is managing his more. . .predatory instincts quite well. He is going to be quite an asset to The Organization."
Victor nodded. "And the rest?"
Her smile faded slowly as she shrugged. "He refuses to be brought in, Victor. He'll work with me, but he won't trust anyone else. He'd kill whoever was sent for him."
"Perhaps, that's for the best," he said. "After all, the last thing we need is Wesker discovering his existence. He'd become yet another experiment, instead of the tool we so desperately need."
"My thoughts exactly." She tilted her head to one side consideringly. "He's become. . .attached to me, Victor. If The Agency ever does come for either of us, he'll fight to the very end. You should be aware of that."
He only smiled wryly. "You tend to have that effect on most men, my dear."
Ada merely shook her head, fighting a similar smile. "The T-Virus has made him very much the animal. He considers me his, and he won't let anyone harm me. He is very protective."
"Ah." He leaned forward intently. "And how do you feel about that?"
She sighed. "While it's flattering, I'm not the type to be dominated by anyone."
"Truer words have never been spoken." Victor allowed himself to relax. The woman who called herself Ada Wong was all too capable of protecting herself. If she wasn't worried--as she so obviously wasn't--then neither was he. "You continue preparing him, and I'll continue to do what I can from my end."
"That will work, Victor." Ada sent him a genuine smile and sashayed to the door. "I'll see you next month, then?"
"Unless something happens in the meantime, yes. Take care, my dear."
-----------------------------
Joseph paced the length of suite Ada had given him restlessly. She had left for Chicago this morning to speak with her superiors, and she hadn't returned yet. He hadn't liked being separated from her, but he known that he didn't have a choice. Ada was independent as hell. She did what she wanted, when she wanted to do it, and she refused to take shit from anyone.
And he owed her, he thought with a frustrated sigh. If she wanted him to remain here, then here he would stay. He was still new to the world of bioweapons and espionage. He didn't know all of the rules yet, so he had to follow Ada's lead in this. That didn't mean he had to like it.
He glanced out the wide bay window with longing. He was really beginning to hate being trapped indoors. He was coming to understand why Billy spent so much time up on the roof. Still, it wasn't bad enough to drive him up there. Not yet, anyway.
Joseph covered his eyes and went to window. He glanced down at the fancy seat there with distaste, then dropped onto it. He leaned back against the wall and merely gazed outside, missing the sun that he had once loved so much. He would never be able to go fishing, again, he thought mournfully. His eyesight had improved, but not by much. He couldn't go outdoors for more than a few seconds without sunglasses, and not more than a few hours with them.
He knew that he should be grateful to be alive at all, but it just wasn't the same anymore. Even if he hadn't been instantly attracted to Ada, he would have cooperated with her, just for the chance to pay Wesker back for what he had done to him. He had stolen his life--in more ways than one--and Joseph hated him for it. When Ada finally gave him the permission to take Wesker out, he had the horrible feeling that he was going to lose all of those self-imposed restraints that she had helped him put in place.
As much as the thought of losing control terrified him, a part of him wanted--no, hungered--for release. The chance to let loose all of his anger and frustration was so damned tempting!
And Ada knew that, Joseph thought with a sudden smile. She had seen the darker, more predatory side of him from the start, and she hadn't been scared. She'd known instantly what he was, or guessed, and she had offered to help him. Oh, he knew that she had her own motives for doing so, but still, it was enough that she had taken him in. She hadn't killed him, or walked away. She had given him more than he'd ever expected to have again, and he was damned grateful.
But even without the gratitude, he would still want her. Part of it was the T-Virus, but the greater part of his desire was simply for her. She was the most beautiful, enigmatic, maddening woman that he had ever known. She worked very hard at being mysterious, and she pulled it off well. She had her weaknesses though, like every other woman. Her feelings of friendship for Billy, for one. Her love for Leon Kennedy, for another.
Joseph scowled at the reminder. He hated knowing that his competition was a twenty-one-year-old rookie policeman who was still wet behind the ears. Kennedy was a child, damn it. According to Billy, he was a nice kid, but Joseph didn't believe that he was good enough for Ada Wong. He hadn't even tried to take her body out of the underground laboratory. He'd just left her there, and gotten his own ass to safety. She had died protecting him in Raccoon City, and he had repaid her by first deserting her, then falling in love with another woman a mere two days later.
The kid was obviously stupid. That's the only explanation Joseph could come up with. Why any man would choose a girl--admittedly, a well-stacked one--over a woman like Ada was a mystery to him. There was something incredibly sexy about a woman who could kick your ass without breaking a sweat. Some men were intimidated by that sort of thing; Joseph wasn't one of them.
It was one of the things that he had loved most about Jill, that iron will. She had lived her life as she saw fit, and she hadn't cared what anyone thought of her. It was a trait to be admired, so long as it wasn't taken to extremes. He had the feeling that, if he pushed her too far, Ada would.
Joseph sighed heavily and leaned forward to open one of the glass panels. Fresh air rushed to greet him, and he drew it in eagerly. There was a chill to the autumn air that was invigorating, and once again he had the urge to go outside and simply run free. He knew that he couldn't; Wesker worked for The Agency now, and he couldn't risk being seen. Such a mistake could cost both of them their lives. But it was hard to sit here, soaking in the sunlight, a prisoner of his own making.
He caught a glimpse of movement and quickly focused on it. His enhanced eyesight caught every detail of the black Jaguar that entered the front gate and coasted up the long, wide drive. Ada sat behind the wheel, a tense cast to normally inscrutable features. She was upset about something, and for once, she was unable to hide it.
Possessiveness streamed through him in a rush, and he had to struggle to keep himself from leaping out of the window. She wouldn't appreciate the genuine show of concern, and she would be furious if he revealed his presence here that way. It was hard to hold himself back, though. Every instinct he possessed, human or otherwise, was demanding that he go to her and protect her from whatever it was that had upset her. He absolutely hated that he couldn't do it, because she wouldn't welcome it.
"Dammitt!" he whispered to himself fiercely. It infuriated him that she continued to deny what was between them. She had acknowledged it, but refused to go any further. He wanted nothing more than force a confrontation between them, so that she would be compelled to accept him as a lover. Unfortunately, he was too afraid of losing her to risk it. She was his life now. Without her, he might very well revert to the emotionally disturbed madman had been well on his way towards becoming a mere three weeks ago.
No, Joseph told him sternly, he couldn't allow that to happen. He had found his center here. He had learned to control the changes wrought in him by that damned virus, and he refused to lose that control. Somehow, he would figure out how to deal with his feelings for Ada that didn't include driving her away.
Joseph sat there in under the warm rays of the sun and waited. Eventually, Ada would come looking for him, if only to assure herself that her investment was safe and sound. He hated that she was able to compartmentalize her emotions that way. She was fully aware of him as a man, but she also saw him as a tool, a powerful weapon to use against the man who had devastated her life. While he wanted Wesker dead just as badly as she did, he didn't want to be a mere tool. He wanted so much more from a woman who insisted that she wasn't capable of it.
He knew better, Joseph thought with a sigh. Ada was capable of love; She loved Leon Kennedy. She just wasn't willing to take a chance on him, and a part of him knew that she was right to be wary. There was always a chance, no matter how slim, that he might lose control of his emotions. He'd done it with Jill, after all.
Joseph's ears picked up the sound of voices in another part of the house, and he scowled darkly. It was Ada and Billy, their words muffled, as they talked in serious tones. She'd chosen to go to the other man, rather than come to him with her problems, when she knew that he would understand.
He uttered a frustrated sound and left his seat, following the sounds of their voices until he came to the source. Billy's bedroom, of course, he thought caustically. While he wasn't exactly jealous of the other man, he did envy Billy his place in Ada's life. He was important enough to her that she had mortgaged a very comfortable future to buy his freedom. That kind of devotion was rare, and something he was sure very few believed her capable of.
Joseph ran a nervous hand through his overlong brown hair and pushed the door open. Billy looked up from the photographs he held in his hands, a smile lighting his fine features. "Do you still want to see Rebecca?" he asked with an eagerness he couldn't hide. "Ada brought me a few pictures."
"Yes, Joseph, do come in." Ada crossed her arms over her considerable chest, a shrewd expression shaping her beautiful features. "I'm sure you'll enjoy them."
Joseph frowned faintly and slowly removed his sunglasses. "Why would I enjoy them?" he asked as he stepped into the room.
She shrugged casually. "These are recent photographs, Joseph. Taken by an Agency surveillance team in France just two days ago."
His breath came in audibly. "Jill?" he questioned roughly.
"Yes." Ada dropped gracefully into a chair, crossing her legs to show them to their best advantage. She waved a careless hand in Billy's general direction, her sapphire eyes glinting as they met his. "I thought you might like to see her, again."
Joseph's eyes narrowed slightly on hers, suspicion swirling in their tawny depths. Ada was up to something, and he didn't like it. She was screwing with his mind again, trying to keep him off-balance, so that she could retain control. He was sure of it, especially when she smiled ever so sweetly at him.
He scowled even as he moved closer to Billy, shifting so that he stood beside the other man, his back to the woman who's favorite hobby seemed to be pissing him off. He glanced at the first photograph, and suddenly found himself smiling. It was the same young girl who had replaced him in Bravo Team, her green eyes full of innocence, as she touched what appeared to be a pendant hanging from her neck.
"She's cute," he said with surprise. "I don't remember her being that pretty."
Billy cut him a startled glance, then relaxed as he remembered that Joseph had seen Rebecca before, even if he hadn't actually met her. "Yeah, she's beautiful, isn't she?" he asked in a surprisingly soft voice.
Joseph only nodded as he took in the details of the picture's background. An airplane hangar, he thought, his eyes sharpening as he recognized the man standing beside her. "Chris," he murmured, half to himself.
"That's her new captain, right?"
"Yes." Joseph waited impatiently as he tucked the picture at the back of the stack, revealing another image of the same hangar, only from a different angle. "Chris Redfield's a good man, Billy. If Rebecca's with him, she'll be safe."
Billy only nodded, his midnight eyes locked on the diminutive figure of the woman he loved. "Is he the one that--" he broke off, not quite sure if he should finish that question.
"That's him," Joseph answered quietly. "He was one of my best friends, before I. . .died."
"He looks like a good guy," Billy said at length. He moved to the next picture, then winced at the sight which greeted them. "Ah, sorry about that. I'll just--"
"No." Joseph studied the image of Chris and Jill kissing with a heavy heart. His shoulders dropped as he shook his head negatively. "I think I always knew that she loved him. I didn't want to believe it, but deep down, I knew."
"Have you seen enough?"
Joseph glanced over his shoulder at the cool query. Ada wore her best blank expression, but he could see her satisfaction in the depths of her brilliant eyes. For reasons he would probably never fathom, she had wanted him to see this picture, even though she had to have known that it would hurt him.
He tamped down a surge of raw anger even as he replied, "Yes, I have." He turned back to Billy with a tight smile. "I'll look at the rest later, if you don't mind. I've got other things to do right now."
"Sure thing, Joe." Billy waited until he was out of the room before turning on Ada with an angry expression. "Was that really necessary?"
"Yes, it was." Ada's voice was flat as she rose to her feet. "Joseph's love for this woman jeopardizes everything we're working so hard to achieve. It is imperative that he understand just where his loyalties must lie."
"You mean, with you." Billy shook his dark head. "That was fucking cruel, Ada. I don't care why you did it."
She only nodded, her lashes dropping to veil her eyes. "I know," she returned in a quiet voice. "I regret that it hurt him, but it was necessary. Joseph will see that, in time."
Billy thought back to that night in the Arklay Mountains, when Joseph had pulled Jill Valentine's picture out of his wallet, and shook his head again. "He knows that he can't go back, Ada. He hates it, but he understands that. What you did was not kosher."
She sighed heavily and walked towards the door. "I'll talk to him," was all she said in return, and Billy only hoped that Joseph's self-control had improved enough to keep him from doing something that they would all regret.
-------------------------------------
Leon stood in the doorway, his clear blue eyes narrowed as he scanned the motel's darkened parking lot. The only cars he could see belonged to the other residents, but his instincts were telling him something entirely different. Ever since leaving Billy's house last week, he'd felt as though he were being watched. He knew that it wasn't Billy. The other man wasn't the type to skulk around. If he wanted to talk to him, he'd come by, whether Claire was there or not.
No, he thought uneasily, there was someone else out there. Someone who wasn't willing to reveal themselves. Claire hadn't believed him when he'd told her, but he was sure that someone was watching them. He only prayed that it wasn't Umbrella. They still had the few weapons they'd escaped Raccoon with, but this room would be all but impossible to defend from an outside attack. There was no other exit than the one he was standing in right now. There was a window in the bathroom, but it was so small that even Sherry wouldn't be able to fit through it.
Leon considered calling in sick tonight and staying with the girls, but he knew that they couldn't afford for him to lose any hours. They were barely making it as it was. He didn't mind working--in fact, he enjoyed the time to himself--but he hated that Claire and Sherry were left virtually defenseless in his absence. After all that they had gone through together, the thought of losing either of them absolutely terrified him. He'd already lost so much to Umbrella. His family, his home, Ada. . .
"Shit," he mumbled under his breath, unable to stop the memories that flashed through his mind at the thought of the beautiful Asian woman who'd given her life for him. It still surprised him how often she crept into his thoughts. Especially, those last words of love.
Leon would never understand just what it was about him that had attracted a woman like Ada Wong. She had been beautiful and sophisticated and everything about her had screamed 'class'. It had been obvious to him that she came from money. From her inborn arrogance to the expensive manicure on her delicate fingertips, she had literally dripped with refinement.
At first, he'd been too busy trying to keep them both alive to think about his feelings. It wasn't until she'd been injured by William Birkin on the tram that he had realized just how important she had become to him. He couldn't honestly say that he'd fallen in love with her, but he had cared for her a great deal. Although he'd still had Claire's safety to worry about--he hadn't known she'd found Sherry yet--Ada had become his first priority.
If only she had stayed in the security room, Leon thought with a deep sigh. Instead, she come looking for him, and she had paid the ultimate price. He had nightmares where he relived her death, being forced to watch helplessly as Mr. X slammed her into the self-destruct console, just as it had really happened. He would never forget the feel of her skin as he gathered her in his arms, the fragrant scent of her perfume mixing with the metallic tang of blood, as she told him that she loved him.
And that kiss, he thought with a bittersweet smile. He still didn't know what had moved him to kiss her, but he had learned a lot about himself as her lips had moved under his. He had discovered that he didn't know himself as well as he'd thought. He had always believed that you needed a firm emotional bond, rooted in friendship, to truly desire another person. Ada had shown him that, while he hadn't loved her, he had wanted her more than he'd ever wanted another woman.
As he'd released her and she had closed her eyes for the last time, he had finally understood just what had driven all of his friends back in school. He had never understood how they could hunt girls with no thoughts to their feelings. He'd been raised to respect women, and that meant putting their feelings before his own, no matter what his hormones might want. Once he had held Ada in his arms, he'd understood just how powerful sheer lust could be.
Leon glanced over his shoulder quickly, guiltily, relief filling him as he saw that Claire was still in the bathroom. She was good at reading him. Too good, most times. She could usually tell when he was thinking about Ada, and she didn't like that he still did it. He didn't know if it was just jealousy, or something more, but she'd been vocal in her displeasure.
As she was about most things, he thought with another sigh. He loved the fire, that spark that was an essential part of Claire Redfield's personality. He just wished that she were a little more understanding. She was one of the strongest people he'd ever known, but a little patience could go a long way, and they had a hard road ahead of them. After all, it was up to them to take down Umbrella.
Once she found her brother, they were going to join up with the Special Tactics And Rescue Service, who they knew were fighting Umbrella somewhere else. He had found her brother's journal in the S.T.A.R.S. office in Raccoon City, and it had stated as much. It hadn't said where Chris Redfield was going, only that he was, and he hoped his sister would forgive him for not telling her.
They had also found several other files about that incident in the Arklay Mountains. The outlandish stories that had been circulating all summer about cannibalistic murders and inhuman monsters had been more than tall tales. Of course, from the moment he and Claire had been forced to shoot their way through the zombie-filled streets of Raccoon, he'd known that. It was hard to be skeptical when a reanimated corpse was moaning as it went for your throat!
Leon shivered and hastily stepped back into the room. He closed the door and locked it, knowing that it wouldn't stop Umbrella if they came for them. He thrust the thought aside and wandered over to the double bed, where Sherry sat, engrossed in a book on pre-calculus. She looked up and smiled, her crystallike blue eyes sparkling happily. He returned the smile even as he marveled that this lovely little girl could not only understand the complicated math equations, but that she actually enjoyed them.
"How's the studying coming?" he asked, nodding at the thick text-book.
"It's going well." Sherry carefully marked her place and set the book aside. She watched as Leon settled back against the age-darkened headboard, then curled up beside him. His arm came around her shoulders in an automatic gesture, and she smiled up at him adoringly. "You're the best, Leon."
He only laughed and ducked his head, his blue eyes dancing even as he blushed with embarrassment. "Well, thanks," he said with a little laugh. "What did I do to earn that?"
"You're you," she said with a shrug. "You take such good care of us, Leon. You got me the book that I wanted, even though we really couldn't afford it, and you do your best to get along with Claire, even when she's being difficult. I want you to know how much I appreciate all that you've done for me--for us both."
Leon squeezed her shoulders in a gentle hug. "And I appreciate you, Sherry."
"Thank you, Leon." Sherry laid her head on his shoulder, her eyes taking on an inward cast. "You're so different from my dad. Daddy was always working, even when he was at home. Mom was the same. They never seemed to realize just how little time they spent with me. You go out of your way to make time for me, even when I know you're exhausted. You are a very good person, Leon."
He found himself blushing again at the unexpected praise. "Okay, okay, so I'm a nice guy. Can we change the subject?"
She giggled and nodded even as she snuggled closer. "Okay, Leon. What do you want to talk about?"
Leon hesitated, not wanting to alarm her, but wanting her to be aware of her surroundings. "I want you to be careful when I'm not here," he said finally. "I'm still getting that funny feeling, and I don't want anything to happen to you or Claire."
"And she won't believe you." Sherry sighed heavily. "I know, Leon. I feel them, too. They're watching us, waiting for. . .something."
"Yeah, they are." He shifted until he was gazing down at her. "I'm going to try to talk Claire into taking Billy up on his offer. She's not going to be happy with me, but I'd feel safer up on the hill, than down here in this motel."
"I agree, Leon." Sherry glanced around the small, dingy room. "We're too vulnerable here. There's no way out if. . .anyone comes for us."
Leon stifled a laugh at that. Yep, his adopted daughter was a smart one, he thought proudly. Aloud, he only said, "I just don't want you to be too upset if Claire and I start fighting. I'm doing this to ensure our safety," he added.
Sherry nodded her tawny head, her gamine features much too solemn for such a young girl. "I love Claire, but I'm not blind to her faults. I'll do my best not to get too upset when she starts yelling you, Leon. I promise."
"Thanks, honey." Leon ran a hand over her hair in a fond gesture before glancing at the clock. He sighed heavily and released her, swinging his legs to the floor and rising to his feet. "I've got to get ready for work. Do you think Claire's done with her bath, yet?"
"She should be." Sherry rolled her eyes. "She's been in there for nearly an hour. She will survive being disturbed."
He sent her a smile that didn't quite conceal his nervousness, and Sherry's heart went out to him. Leon was such a nice guy, but Claire definitely wore the pants in their family. Not that he was a complete pushover. He wasn't. He just seemed to be the only one of them willing to back down to keep the peace. He loved Claire enough to make all the compromises when she wasn't willing to.
Sherry still expected Claire to come to her senses. Once she found her brother, Sherry hoped that she would calm down and be able to relax. She'd never seen Claire relaxed, but she wanted to. They all deserved to be happy, after all.
She watched Leon knock on the bathroom door and slip inside. Instead of the sharp greeting she was expecting, she heard a high-pitched giggle on the other side of that door. She grinned to herself and hastily reached for her book. When Claire was happy, they were all happy, and she wasn't going to be the one to ruin it. When they finally emerged, they would find her completely engrossed in the wonderful world of math, and blithely unaware of whatever it was they had just done in there. It was the least she could do for the two people who had taken her in and made her one of their own.
They were her family, now.
Sadness filled her as she thought of her parents, and she quickly blinked back tears. She had loved her mom and dad, and she always would, but they were gone. Leon and Claire were here with her now, and they loved her. She couldn't ask for any more than that.
---------------------------------------
Hunk sat on the side of the road, the plain gray sedan he'd bought idling, as he wolfed down a cheeseburger. His was the only car on this lonely stretch of highway, although ever so often a semi would rush past, rocking the mid-sized vehicle. So far, he'd seen no sign of the Umbrella agents that had sent him rushing out of Larsen early that morning. He knew that they were still looking for him, but for these few minutes, he was alone and all was calm.
Not that it would last, he thought as he crumpled up the paper wrapper and tossed it into the back seat. After the sensation caused by the four bodies he'd left in that alley last week, the company would be even more determined to being him to heel. Umbrella was pissed as hell at him, but even more, they were scared. He knew enough about them to bring down nearly every member of their Board Of Directors, including Sir Oswald E. Spencer.
Hunk grinned to himself as took a quick drink of his soda. Thanks to Lily, a.k.a. Ada Wong, he had enough information to bury the old man and his precious company. Honestly, he'd never expected to have to use the information. Spencer was a recluse who never went out in public, a mysterious, eccentric old millionaire that the press could do no more than speculate about. Few knew the truth of him; the old man had a bad habit of eliminating anyone he even suspected might know his secrets.
If Spenser knew about his connection with Billy, then it stood to reason that he knew about Hunk's relationship with Ada Wong. If she hadn't died in Raccoon City as reported--and Hunk had his doubts about that--then Spenser would be gunning for her too. He hoped to hell she had made it. He hated to think that a woman as tough as Lily had died as easily as every other schmuck in Raccoon. Especially, since she had been watching over his brother.
Hunk released a harsh breath and pulled back onto the two-lane highway. He knew that Billy was alive. Umbrella's attempt to fake his death was proof enough of that. He didn't think that they'd gotten their hands on him, either. Billy had this thing about being taken alive. He'd sworn that he'd never be taken prisoner again, and Hunk had believed him.
Personally, he was hoping to find them together. He hoped that Billy was smart enough to keep thinking with his head and not his hormones, but even if he'd slept with her, Hunk would be grateful to find him alive. After those few heart-stopping moments when he'd believed that his brother was dead, he'd developed a whole new appreciation for his willful sibling. So long as Billy Coen was alive and kicking, he could put up with just about anything.
Including the kid's mood swings, Hunk thought with a sigh. Whatever had happened in that military looney bin had changed Billy, and not for the better. He didn't like knowing that his brother had bouts of depression so serious that they bordered on suicidal. Not that he blamed him, but he damn well didn't like it. The kid's fear of being alone had intensified in the three years since his imprisonment. Ada had seen it and done her best to keep him entertained during Hunk's frequent absences. Yeah, he definitely owed her one.
A car cruised up the road behind him, and Hunk's eyes sharpened as he gazed at it in the rear-view mirror. A plain SUV, dark blue in color, it's windows tinted to conceal its occupants. He smiled grimly and reached between the seats, popping open the small compartment and retrieving his shiny new Desert Eagle. He hadn't used it yet, but he almost hoped that these assholes tried something, just so he could test out his new toy.
The SUV stayed a good three car-lengths behind him, keeping pace with him, when they could have easily gone around him. Further proof that there were probably there for him. He snorted as he brought a knee up to steady the steering wheel as he chambered the first bullet. Just like those morons back in Larsen, these guys were already dead. They just weren't smart enough to realize it, yet.
Hunk pulled a black suppressor out of the same compartment and carefully screwed it into place. Perfect. He clicked the safety off and set the .45 in his lap, where it would be easily accessible. Now, he wouldn't have to worry about the gunshots attracting any unwanted attention. He gripped the wheel tightly and concentrated on his surroundings. There wasn't much out here, only the occasional sign or billboard. He knew that there would be more buildings the closer he got to Stoneville, but that didn't help him now. If these guys decided to make a move, he'd have to do some fancy driving to get away.
Of course, they were driving what basically amounted to an oversized coffin. SUV's weren't known for their stability. The tended to tip over while negotiating sharp turns. He grinned to himself as he observed the straight stretch of asphalt before him. He'd just have to create that turn, that was all.
"No problem there," he said humorously. "You guys are toast. You should never have messed with Death."
Oh well, Hunk thought philosophically. There would be that many less stupid people in the world once he was done with them. There were too many as it was.
He pressed down on the accelerator, increasing his speed by a paltry five miles an hour. The SUV immediately sped up, but kept the same distance between them. Hunk rolled his eyes and gunned it, pulling away with a swiftness that they probably hadn't expected from such a ordinary-looking vehicle. It didn't take long for the SUV to catch up to him, which was good. They were closer to Stoneville now, but not so close that he wouldn't be able to get away before the authorities showed up.
He spied a narrow, long gravel road up ahead to his right, and his smile widened. "Just what I was looking for," he muttered to himself. The uneven path would be hard on his undercarriage, but he didn't intend to be on it long enough to do severe damage. He just had to lure the assholes behind him onto it. Physics would take care of the rest.
Hunk waited until the last possible moment to jerk the wheel to the right. The mid-sized sedan turned sharply, the tires screeching in protest, the back end fishtailing slightly. He sped onto the road, watching as the SUV struggled to make the turn and follow. He laughed aloud as he watched it teeter precariously on two wheels before falling onto its side.
Hunk merely shook his head, his grin firmly in place, as he palmed the Desert Eagle. He climbed out of the car and strode towards the van, lifting the gun as he approached. One man had already climbed out of the side door was helping a second man down. Hunk didn't speak, merely lifted the Desert Eagle and pulled the trigger. The man--obviously a merc like himself--went down and didn't move. Hunk killed the second even as he lifted his own weapon to retaliate. The back of the man's helmet exploded, showering the underside of the van with blood and gray matter.
Hunk lifted one eyebrow and glanced at the gun in his hand. Oh yeah, he loved this one! The sound of breaking glass drew his attention, and he saw that two more men were crawling out through the newly shattered windshield. They were whispering to one another, planning their next move, when he stepped into their line of view and plugged them both in the head.
He stepped around to the back and put three evenly spaced bullets into the back. He waited for a few moments before kicking the window in and crouching before it. Nope, no surprises here, he thought with a shrug. He stood and went back to his own car not even bothering to check the bodies. He had enough weapons and ammunition. He didn't need any more, and he already knew why they'd come after him.
He removed the silencer, wiped it down to remove his prints, and tossed it into the grass. He put the .45 away and backed up, giving the wreck a wide birth as he pulled back onto the highway. He didn't want to accidentally pick up anything that could tie him to this. He just wanted to find his brother and get out the fucking country. They had a lot of work to do if were going to take Umbrella Incorporated down.
Of course, Billy might want to settle down with his Rebecca and forget the fighting. That was all right, too. Hunk wouldn't blame him if he wanted to live a normal life. After all he'd been through, Hunk would be surprised if he chose differently.
S.T.A.R.S. was still investigating Umbrella, though. That's where he would offer his services. With his intimate knowledge of the company, he would be invaluable to them. And while he was willing to work with S.T.A.R.S., but not for them. He didn't take order from anyone.
It would all come together, Hunk assured himself. He was good enough to keep himself--as well as Billy--alive long enough to hit France. After that, he'd have help keeping them safe. Which was a damn good thing, because that's where Umbrella's main headquarters was.
Redfield had balls, Hunk thought as he spied the Stoneville exit sign. He'd give the man that. He'd gone straight to the heart of Umbrella in his attempt to make their illegal actions public. It wouldn't work, but it showed that he was committed to Umbrella's downfall. Hunk would just have to convince him to do it his way.
Unfortunately, that didn't include going public with their findings. If S.T.A.R.S. ever came close to actually exposing them, they would be terminated with extreme prejudice. Old man Spencer didn't fuck around.
Hunk pulled into the nearest gas station and parked at one of the pumps. He'd gas up, hit the nearest motel, and start searching once again. He would find his brother. It was only a matter time. And woe to anyone stupid enough to try to stop him. Mr. Death didn't fuck around, either.