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Between Ashes and Pain.

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Jill touched her abdomen when Chris turned to her. But instead of looking at her he looked down and she realized that there some blood on the floor. And when he turned around completely, she saw he was the one who was actually bleeding, not her.

The left side of his waist was cut and Jill came up close to check it.

"Damn it. It's bleeding again." he said annoyed.

"What happened?" Jill got scared.

"Some logs fell over my legs when I was scraping them and I cut myself with my knife. I was pretty distracted today. But it's nothing serious."

"How come it's not serious?" Jill grimaced looking at his wound "It seems a very deep cut."

"It's nothing."

"It is, Chris. If it's bleeding again you know you cannot leave it this way, you know what to do."

"It's not a big deal, it will stop bleeding again soon." He walked out the door, leaving drops of blood on his path.

Jill scratched her head in confusion and then she followed him. She could not leave him that way. Losing a lot of blood was dangerous and the cut was too deep to expect until it stopped bleeding by itself.

"Let's stop it, Chris."

"There's no danger."

"Ah! Why do you have to be so stubborn?" She sounded annoyed.

"Stay quiet, go drink your water, eat fruits and relax. I'm fine."

Chris continued walking and Jill followed him. When she approached a little she stared at his arm and hesitated. She wanted to hold him and make him stop, but she didn't want to touch him. She raised her hand feeling breathless and after a deep breath she grabbed his arm, finally making him stop from walking.

Chris stopped and Jill approached him still panting, putting herself in front of him and getting next to his face. They were so close they both could feel and hear each other's breathing. Jill realized she was trembling, she opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out of her lips at the first attempt. Then she took a deep breath for air.

"Chris..." She swallowed hard and squeezed his arm with her fingers "Stop it!"

"Why are you concerned?"

"Because ... huh ..." she released his arm "Who likes to see somebody hurt?"

"That's alright, I'll do something."

"I'll help you" both stared at each other for some seconds.

"You don't need to do this, Jill."

"I need and want to."

"Ok"

Jill gave him a half-smile. She knew that what was to come would be very difficult for both, but it would be the best for him. She'd seen her mother do that before, it wasn't a pleasant experience. Now she needed strength, courage and calm.

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Excella was pacing restless around the room when Lana came in. With her scared and usual look Lana sat in the chair as Excella ordered her to, looking at the floor.

"Lana."

"Yes, ma'am."

"I need you to tell me something."

"What is that ma'am?" By the look of her face, she seemed to guess what Excella would ask her about.

"I'm not telling Wesker that you told me, that will be our little secret."

Lana said nothing, just nodded to Excella wide-eyed.

"Calm down, Lana. I will not do anything to you. I just want you to tell me what's in the basement." Lana looked around and said nothing. "C'mon, out with it. I won't tell anything to Albert."

"It's nothing, ma'am."

"C'mon, I know you're the only one he asks to clean that place."

"Well... There are only comfortable furniture and books down there. He just likes to spend some time away from everything up here, the noises, the sun."

"You're not telling me the truth, Lana." totally annoyed, Excella grabbed Lana's arm forcefully. "He put you up to this, didn't he?"

"I swear, ms. Excella. It's all I see when I'm there." The woman's voice trembled.

"It's not possible. I know Albert better, there's something else there. Tell me, useless woman."

"Please, lady Excella."

Excella opened her hand and slapped Lana's face.

"You're just his rat. You do whatever he wants you to do. Get out of my way now, you filthy."

Lana stood up hastily and went out the door crying.

Excella ran her hand over her dresser throwing everything on the floor and screaming furiously.

Even very angry she wore the robe over her nightdress and left the room. Wesker was waiting for her and she would not miss an opportunity to stay with him. After so long without any invitation from her cousin, she could not waste it.

She knew she needed to calm down so she began to breathe calmly to do this. She didn't want him to discover her suspicion and jealousy.

Excella opened the door and saw Wesker calmly lying on his bed. She came and sat by his feet.

"What was that noise about?"

"Those incompetent servants irritate me sometimes." Wesker smiled when he saw her playing with his toes "You asked the dancer's sister to have visions about the captain?"

"Not yet. I want to know first if Spencer really believes in my good intentions."

"And what about the captain with your map?"

"I'll ask the guards to take the boy to his house to get one of the captain's belongings. But first I wanna know my enemy better so I can study my next steps."

Excella bent down at his feet and kissed them.

"You know what to do, cousin. You always do."

"And you also know what to do now, Excella. So stop talking." He smirked.

Excella smiled at Wesker while thinking 'You'd better don't play with me, Albert. I'll find out about your secret and whatever it is that is keeping you away from me, I will destroy it.'

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Jill took a palm leaf and placed on the ground, with another one she picked some burnt ashes and put on it. Chris was on the floor leaning against a tree. She approached him, bringing the ashes.

"It's very hot."

"Better this way."

"It'll hurt."

"I know, I'm used to pain."

She put a small roll of cloth in his mouth, and he bowed his head looking at the wound.

"Don't you wanna look to the other side, Chris?"

He shook his head in negative meaning.

"So let's go."

Jill took a deep breath, approaching the leaf from his skin. She swallowed hard as she felt her heart racing. Even having never suffered a cut like that, she could imagine the pain he was feeling and that he would feel at that moment.

In a swift motion she placed the leaf with ashes on his wound. Chris bit the roll tightly and picked some sand with his hand. Jill could not breathe, praying to his pain to go away soon.

Chris was sweating and panting, but even facing such a strong pain he didn't scream. After a few minutes she pulled the leaf back and he release his body on the tree looking at the sky, watching the sunset.

Analyzing his wound, Jill realized that the bleeding had stopped really, but Chris seemed very tired and pale. She brought water and fruit for him.

"I'm feeling nauseated because of the pain, I will not be able to eat. I'm sorry."

Jill just nodded.

"It's nightfall, we'd better go in the hut." She said putting an arm around him to help him get up.

She realized he was dizzy, so she helped him walk until they reached the hut and Jill tried to put him to bed.

"No, Keep the bed for you."

"C'mon, the bed is large enough for both of us and the way you are now you don't represent any danger." She smiled "You need a comfortable place and I want you to stay close to me."

After placing him on the bed, she also lay in front of him. Jill realized he was looking at her with surprise, although very tired.

It was getting dark really fast and in the last moments of light she saw his eyes watching her and even a with half-smile on his lips. Soon the darkness took place and it was not possible to see anything anymore.

"We're gonna sleep now?" She asked.

"With this darkness, we don't have many choices."

Jill was relieved to see him safe, but she knew she would only know that for sure the next day when they woke up, if he slept.

The night with its silence and its noises could also be mysterious and frightening. Jill felt a little afraid for the first time in a place like that, maybe because they were alone. She slid down her hand on the bed to reach his hand.

Chris's skin was cold and she felt penalized. Without thinking, she intertwined her fingers with his and clutched his hand tightly, getting a little closer to him. She could not see the captain's eyes, his surprise, his reaction. But she realized that he started stroking her hand with his thumb.

That simple gesture showed her who the tall captain of strong arms was indeed. She had to admit he was the biggest and kindest man she ever met. For the first time his touch did not frighten her, perhaps because she could not see those deep eyes, or maybe because she knew he was completely vulnerable and nothing could happen.

'If feels so wrong, but so right...' she thought feeling him so close.

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A/N: Hello buddies!

In my opinion Excella is freaking out. What u think?

You really thought Jill was injured? :D That was my plan, to make u guys believe that, but it was time for the big man to be supported :P. How did you like this scene and the holding hands? :) Hope u guys like that?

kisss kisssssss

xxChris Redfieldxx: Wow renny! Thanks a lot for your detailed , we have genius Wesker back I thats a big challenge to write about him. Thank you sooooooooooooooooooo much for all help with english and for your compliments, its means a lot to me. Hope u keep on coming. Kiss kisssssss renny!

Mister Valentine: I love when you say "I can say if I liked this chapter" and then on the next chapter you say "This one was excellent ". As I know you, I know you're being honest so I know all compliments are real. Thank you so much for this. To be honest, you cannot say thank for the cold atittude, because when you asked I was already translating chapter 8, remember I told you? So this was just another "Mind reading" you do sometimes or I do :D LOL. Deborah can really dream about the future and the past, and I loved your idea, I'll really do something about that. And about Chris feeling... Oooh. I also feel so bad for him. He's such a nice guy and he thinks hes not good enough. She is the only one who can proove he wrong ;) kiss kiss

xjillvalentinex : I'm só glad you liked it, sis. I love Wesker too, bad vilain of all times :D

NerdGirl4Life: Thanks my ficfriend. It was me trying to fool you. But now we see that Chris is okay :D

TheWill95: I was really looking forward for a character to stay with Piers and she was supposed to be a gypsy and I loved you told me about Deborah, thank you very much for this. I just had to make her a gypsy somehow, hope that made sense. About Piers, well.. you already told what kindda guy he really is. LOL. Thank you very much for your support dear ;) kiss