Chapter XVI

Sherry

"Sherry," the voice behind her was monotone, unsure. Jeff's approach was imminent she knew – and she despised him for it. He would still dare approach her? She wanted nothing more than his death at this very moment. Jake had left her, he had left her with the cruelest words she had ever heard in her life, and now she was stuck in an apartment with the man who spurned it all.

"Get the fuck out of here." Sherry hissed with more venom than she had ever been able to conjure.

"I… Sherry please get up you have me worried." His hand went around her forearm and Sherry's hand whipped around automatically and caught him in the cheek.

Jeff stumbled back in shock as Sherry stood, seething. Her hand stung and for a moment she was going to apologize but she remember with bitter hatred everything he had just put her through.

"Get out. I don't ever want to see you again. Call whoever the fuck you want Jeff, tell HQ! Tell them how you stalk me and get in my bed without permission! How you manhandle me and threaten me and the son of Albert Wesker! Do it!" Sherry roared at him and threw out her fist which came into contact with his cheek. Jeff's face whipped around mechanically and blood spurted out as he stumbled backwards and into her living room.

"Sherry!-

Jeff was silence as Sherry raised her fist to him angrily. "Get out!" He did as she screamed and ran out of the apartment quietly with a bleeding cheek. The sound of the door closing behind Sherry shocked her out of her anger and she was left only with a silence so profound that it was almost as intolerable as the yelling match.

For a long time the only thing Sherry could do was stare at her hands, the knuckles were bruised and try as she might she couldn't bring herself to get up and rinse the blood away. Had she hit Jeff so hard? She hoped she broke something.

Maybe I cracked his tooth and he will never be able to get it fixed, she mused hopefully and morosely.

Sherry picked herself up off the floor and her lips trembled as she looked to where her cats sat watching with interest as to what she would do next.

Jake, oh Jake if you only knew what was going on…

Angry and hurt Sherry moved to her couch, she didn't want to lie in the bed – there were too many memories of Jake there, too many happy memories of him. And Jeff had invaded that room.

She wished of nothing else but to go to Jake right now, he needs time to think, to collect himself, if I go there now he won't listen to me.

With that Sherry hoped to go to sleep, but to her dismay she didn't sleep at all for the rest of the night.

Jake

Jake drank his sixth beer for the night in a hurry. He was dying to get drunk. The idea of being completely out of his senses never seemed appealing, but now he saw why people turned to alcohol in times of distress. Too bad I can't get drunk all the time and maybe then I might escape this fucking hell Sherry has caused.

The idea of Jeff's arms around her petite frame played over and over like a bad song in Jake's head. The thought that she might actually enjoy it was even more horrible. Never in all his years did he think that a woman would affect him, especially not Sherry. Sherry was his friend at best and then things just… changed.

"I hate you," he murmured angrily. But as the words escaped him he felt a certain pang in his forehead, a dull throb that told him he shouldn't be saying that at all, especially when he yearned for nothing more then to be in her arms, listening to her reassure him that nothing like that could ever take place, that it should be the farthest thing from his mind because it never happened.

But it did happen, and the knowledge was driving him crazy.

Jake took out his cell-phone, determined to not be alone tonight, as he sifted through messages he found the number of the girl he had met at the bar last time, what was her name? Andrea? Rebecca? Julia? He didn't remember, but her number was there so he dialed her.

"Hello?"

"Hey," Jake grinned mechanically, trying to transfer the fake pleasantness to her somehow, "are you busy?"

"I'm not, actually, what's up?" She giggled; he resisted the urge to roll his eyes and took another swallow of the beer glass before him. "Do you want to come over my place? And hang out a little bit?"

"I'd be delighted," she laughed, "what are we going to do? Is it a party or something?"

"Why would it be a party?" He asked.

"Well, silly it's New Year's night."

Jake frowned, thinking of the date, he had not realized how fast time flew when he spent it with Sherry and not in his own company. With a shrug he answered, "It'll just be you and me, if you have family or friends to spend it with I get that you won't make it –

"I will be able to make it, don't worry. What's your address? What time should I be over?"

"You should be over right now," he replied huskily, then gave her his address promptly. She told him she would get ready in a teasingly sulky voice and he promised to meet her when she arrived there.

Drunkenly, Jake walked to his apartment. He would have this girl, whose name he didn't even know, and he would make sure to put Sherry from his thoughts and see only the girl before him.

When he got to his apartment he saw that the girl was already there, she had a beautiful grin on her face and her eyes were twinkling brightly as he approached.

"Hey," she smiled softly, she threw her brown hair over her right shoulder and grinned even wider when he wrapped an arm around her waist and dragged her body up along his and crushed her lips to his. The girl melted under his touch and moaned into his mouth as he pulled back slightly.

"How are ya'?" He asked her, she giggled again and cast her blue eyes up at him.

"I am well, and you?"

"Much better now that you're here, come on, let's go upstairs."

Jake led her up by the hand to his apartment, and led her through the doors. Upon entering she raised a brow at how empty the apartment looked, there was a black leather couch and the place had a muddy color to it. He didn't notice the distaste in her face as he instantly grabbed her up again and kissed her neck feverishly as he pulled her into his bedroom.

"You really want to do this don't you?" She giggled and tore at his clothing, "we barely know each other. I don't even really know your name."

"Wouldn't ya' rather it was that way?" He asked with his accent perking forth. She blushed as he eagerly pulled her shirt over his head and looked down at her.

He seemed to barely really see her as he fidgeted with the clasps of her bra and he struggled to remove her jeans. She grinned at his drunken behavior and pushed him onto the messy bed. "I'll take care of everything tonight." She told him softly.

"Mhm," he agreed gently and allowed her to pull at his pants.

Sherry

In the morning Sherry stared at herself in the mirror with disgust. She looked like a mess. Her eyes were red and they felt sore. Her shoulder hurt from the blow she had thrown at Jeff, her knuckles were bruised and swollen and her hair was haggard. This isn't me. I am not this weak person who lets the love of her life leave her… who breaks at the slightest threat. Its Jake, he's weakened me, my love for him has broken me…

She felt an odd discomfort at the realization. She always imagined that love would make someone stronger, that love would make her realize things about herself that she never knew, but she had just discovered with distaste that it was not so. Love broke; love destroyed everything one thought they were.

With a sigh Sherry jumped into the bathtub and bathed, even when she came out of the shower her eyes remained red from lack of sleep.

She took her cell-phone, checking for any calls and found nothing.

"I should call him," she murmured out loud as she stared at Jake's face on her face, "I should explain myself… but no – I should do this in person. He will just disregard me on the phone." But what makes me think that he wont disregard me if I do it in person…? Jake's not exactly the most reasonable individual.

The thought made her remember what he had called her last night and with a sigh she ran her fingers through her hair, "maybe I'll call him first, and then go to his house."

Jake

In the morning, or what Jake believed to be the morning, he felt a stirring at his side. "Sherry… what time is it?" He groaned as he turned to his right and pulled her to him. Then he stiffened.

This was not Sherry. Her body was harder than this, more muscular and skinnier, petite and fragile but sturdy.

Jake opened his eyes. His eyes came into contact with brown hair and he frowned, struggling to remember who this was he came to the realization that this was in fact not Sherry and that he had met this girl last night at his apartment. A growl escaped his throat but he didn't kick the girl from his bed like he wanted to.

Being alone with his thoughts was the last thing he wanted.

He lay in silence beside the strange female for a long time. He wondered if the sun was out yet, it probably was, but his blinds were so dark that he couldn't be sure that it was really there, it was possible that it was the middle of the night. He wouldn't have any idea of that, he hated to wake up to the sun blaring in his face so he always made sure no sunlight could touch the room.

His cell-phone started ringing from his bedside. Jake stirred and reached for it absent mindedly, upon seeing Sherry's grinning face he frowned.

He could remember with perfect clarity the day he took the picture, or better yet the day she forced him to take the picture. They had been sitting on her motorcycle outside of burger king and she was blabbering endlessly about all the reasons why this food was so bad for her, but so delicious at the same time.

"Jake, take a picture of us." Her tone was playful as she slurped on her coke.

Jake had turned to look at her with a glare, "are you kidding me?"

"Why would I be kidding you?" She laughed at him and took his phone from her pocket where had had asked her to keep it, "one of you and I?"

"This is stupid." He growled and took the phone from her grasp. She pouted at him and continued to whine for a picture until he relented and aimed the camera at her.

"No! I want you to be in it."

"I don't want a picture."

"Pretty please?" She asked him with her pleading gaze, he was unable to say no to her when she looked at him that way and so he relented and aimed the camera at the two of them. He didn't smile, but she did, and then there was a flash, and now here he was.

The phone vibrated in his hand again and he simply pressed ignore. He was not in the mood to talk to her; the sound of her voice would destroy him. The sound of her voice would make him angry again, and he did not wish to repeat last night's scenario.

Jake could now see clearly in his mind's eye the look on Sherry's face when he had cursed at her. He felt guilty; he didn't know how he could even think to bring those types of things to his mouth, especially the part about her father. What had he been thinking?

With a groan Jake pressed ignore immediately as Sherry called again. He completely turned the phone off after that.

Sherry

"Hello?" Leon's voice caused a shiver to run through Sherry. That familiar rusty like voice always warmed her heart so much.

"Leon," Sherry's voice was relieved through the phone, she heard Leon's smile in his voice as he spoke.

"Sherry, how are you?"

"I'm… not doing so well, and you?"

"What's wrong?" he asked selflessly, she heard him chewing and wondered if he was having a sandwich; he was a very simple eater.

"Its Jake," she tried to keep the cracking out of her voice, "I… we're not in danger or in anything like that… do you have time to talk?"

"I have all the time in the world for you, what's going on?" His voice was more serious now.

"Well," she bit her lip, "this guy, his name is Jeff he's been stalking me-

"what?"-

"let me finish please, I have to get this out if not I will just start crying and I won't be able to finish." She pleaded. When she heard nothing in response she continued, "He came over last night, Jeff- and he started threatening me, well he actually found me in the street and bashed my head pretty good," she heard him take a deep breath, "but I healed it. It's fine now. It's just that – he threatened Jake and me and in the moment I was forced to just break it off with Jake. But he came over and then Jeff got into my bed and took off his clothes, Jake thought… I was sleeping with Jeff. You can't imagine how angry he was at me. He said things to me that I never… ever thought he could say, even at his angriest." Her lower lip started trembling, "and I realized last night that I gave him too much of myself."

"What do you mean?" His voice was confused now.

"I love him, Leon, and Jake does not love me." She heard his sigh, "My biggest regret is that I told him."

"Why would you regret that Sherry?"

"Because of the way he spoke to me last night Leon. Even if you were angry at whomever it was that you were dating would you call them a slut, or bring up their dead father? Ever? The amount of disrespect he exhibited last night was appalling," tears started to brim, "but you know what the saddest part is? That I still want to go over to him and apologize for something I didn't do!" Her voice broke off and she dropped her head into her hand.

"Do you want me to come over? Maybe I'll bring Claire… or Sheva?"

"Can you come with Chris, I think I need you guys, Claire would just worry too much, and Sheva would probably go over there and knock him out."

"What makes you think I won't? Or Chris?" Leon chuckled.

"The fact that you know me well, you know I wouldn't stand for either of you hurting him."

With that Leon promised her to be there that evening and that he would call Chris to see if he was up for it. She thanked him gently and hung up the phone.

The entire day passed before Leon actually came.

The doorbell rang and Sherry ran towards the door clumsily. Her eyes were alight with happiness when she saw him at her doorstep she thought she would break down into tears of joy and sorrow but she said nothing and only hugged him; no tears escaped her as he pulled her to him much taller much stronger frame.

"God Sherry, you look terrible," he told her honestly when he set her down and held her face, examining the weary gaze she held. He still looked the same, handsome and lean. Often Sherry was asked if he was her much older brother, but she would have to confess with a strange pride that he was more of a father figure, "Have you eaten anything? Happy new years by the way."

Sherry froze. "New Years? Oh… wow, yeah, Happy new years to you too." Her voice had a slight edge to it… wow, she hadn't spent it with Jake. "And about the food, not really," she told him gently. Leon's face took a hard look to it which she ignored, "thank you so much for coming, you have no idea how much this means to me." Shutting the door behind them she turned back to Leon.

"Anything for you, I am on vacation right now, Chris couldn't make it but said that he wishes you the best and that you shouldn't let Jake treat you like that," Leon smiled, "and then he threw in a few threats in there."

"Lets go to the living room," she said softly. He nodded and followed her.

Leon was dressed as he usually was, she noticed the black leather jacket and blue button down shirt beneath that. He also had black boots on his feet with jeans. His hair was shining and perfect as usual. "How's Claire?" She asked conversationally. Leon smirked.

"She's fantastic, she's mad at Chris."

"Why?"

"Because he's always working. He didn't return home for Christmas, or New Years. He just works all the time and she's getting fed up with it because she never gets to see him." Sherry frowned.

"I can understand her anger at it… that is annoying. But Chris is a grown man and he loves his work. Claire needs to just accep that that's the way he's always been."

"I agree, I told her that. Now imagine how she reacted when I did." Leon grinned handsomely and leaned back on the couch, giving Sherry a look that she knew all too well, it said 'stop beating around the bush'.

"Jake hasn't answered any of my calls. I've called him five times now, and I know he's seeing them." Her eyes watered so she looked away, Leon took her much smaller hand in his. It sometimes frightened him to know that she held a weapon in these dainty things, "I left him a message asking him to call me back. I want to go there tonight; I need to talk to him."

"Maybe you should give him some time."

"Isn't a day enough?"

"Not really," Leon said softly, Sherry bit her lip. "Do you really think he'd let you in anyway? He'll probably just ignore your knocking, so just relax for a bit. Tonight let's go out to a bar, just you and me. I'll call him to see if everything's okay with him-

"he doesn't like you very much Leon, you don't even like him."

"Well I won't like anyone you date, that's my role here." He joked gently, and then became a bit more serious, "and it's not that I don't like him, I just don't know him very well. And he's very reserved which makes it hard to know him any better."

She nodded, agreeing. "His mom's dying from cancer." Her voice was a croak, "I want to go to see her but I'm afraid it won't be appropriate."

Leon agreed with a nod. He noticed how her body was starting to rock and pulled her into his arms as she resisted giving into the sobs she had been struggling to hold in. Instantly she folded up against him, her small frame fit perfectly into his embrace. "Cry, Sherry, if you need to. Everything will get resolved, don't worry."

"Why couldn't he just listen to me when I was trying to explain myself." Sherry whispered, "Even the things he did hear, he wouldn't.. listen!"

"He loves you Sherry, he only saw betrayal."

"I didn't betray him!" She exclaimed.

"I know that Sherry, but he thinks you did."

"And he doesn't love me Leon," she added morosely with embarrassment, "he doesn't love me at all."

Leon tightened his hold on her and kissed the top of her head gently. "We'll go to a bar tonight. I will call him at some point. And tomorrow morning you and I will go to his apartment. I'm going to stand outside when we do – you should do this in private. I only want to be there in case he gets violent or something…" he noticed the look she gave him, "you never know Sherry."

"He wouldn't hurt me-

"Except he called you a slut, and mentioned your father. He already did." Leon's voice took a rough edge to it that made her stiffen. "Did you do anything to deserve those words Sherry? Does he have a right to disrespect you whenever he simply thinks you did something against him?"

"No," Sherry whispered gently.

"Listen, if things don't work out the way we want them to there is a mission I need to check out. Do you want to tag along? It's a bit under the radar if you catch my gist. There is a facility that might be engineering BOW'S. What do you think?"

"That sounds perfect. But hopefully i own't need to go."

"Agreed," Leon smiled.

She sighed. "Okay. Tomorrow I'll go see him."

Finally Jake and Sherry will have their confrontation. OR WILL THEY?!

So tell me what you think about what Leon said to Sherry. I was surprised by a lot of the reviews saying that Jake was in the right to call Sherry a slut and bring up her dead father all because he thinks she was doing something against him, furthermore I was very shocked to see that people said that Sherry was playing Jake out... which I don't see how she is - but i ma curious about what you guys think about these reviews and further more about what Leon said to Sherry.

Does a guy have a right to call you a slut all because he thinks you're cheating on him, and if he did do you forgive and forget, or forgive but never forget?

It's interesting to me that people (not all) say that Jake was in the right to disrespect Sherry so harshly, I think that if it were the other way around people would say Sherry was in the wrong.

SO THOSE ARE MY TWO QUESTIONS FOR YOU GIRLS AND GUYS TODAY:

1. What do you think of people saying that Jake was in the right, and if you DO think he was in the right can you provide a through explanation of why he was in the right. (Taking everything Sherry's done and Jake has done into account).

2. Do you agree with Leon about Jake's words to Sherry, that they were uncalled for and disrespectful?

AND THE BONUS: Would you forgive and forget? or Forgive but not forget.. or never forgive?