Soft Sounds and Hard Impacts
I can see the patterns on your face.
I can see the miracles I trace.
Symmetry in shadows, I can't hide.
I just want to be right by your side!
- Say You'll Haunt Me, Stone Sour
"Okay, your turn." Jill passed the dice over to Chris and smiled. "Be careful. I'm about to win." He bit his lip and rolled the dice.
"Four spaces..." he mumbled. He moved his mouse those and swore. The mechanism activated, the marble moved, and the small plastic cage closed on Chris's piece.
"Ha! I win!" Jill exclaimed happily, clapping her hands together.
"I've never been good at Mousetrap," the marksman chuckled. They both sat crosslegged at opposite sides of the bed, a game of Mousetrap balanced between them. They had already played Candy Land and Chutes & Ladders. "Wanna play Monopoly? You'll beat me at that too."
She smiled. "If you wanna play."
"Hey, I'll play any board game with you."
Betty entered the room before Jill could make any response other than a light blush. He had too much effect on her that she didn't need. "Chris, you're officially free to go!"
He looked over at the nurse. "It's two o'clock already?" He let out a laugh full of disbelief. During the week and a half in the hospital, he had been itching to leave. He felt trapped. He was rarely allowed from his room. But now, he'd be living at Jill's for a while. He couldn't go back to work as of yet (he was cleared physically, but Coulter had yet to okay it).
"Two o'clock on the dot. I thought you'd want to get out as quick as possible, so everything is ready. I hate to see you go, but then again, I don't. You've been here over two years." She gave the two on the bed a warm smile. "Some of the best people I've met in my days as a nurse. This isn't good-bye, though. You've still got to come in for check-ups."
Getting up from the bed, both Jill and Chris went to hug the woman. "Thanks so much for your help, Betty," Jill said. "I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too. And if you don't mind me saying, you should drop that boyfriend of yours. You can find someone better." Betty winked and gave a small motion towards Chris. Jill frowned, looking down and biting her lip. "And you, Chris. Take care of Jill."
He nodded. "Always."
"You can sleep here. I never use this room, and the bed isn't very good, in my opinion, but it's better than the couch." She flipped the light on. "We can go pick up some of your clothing too, if you want."
He shook his head. "Claire said she'd drop some off."
"Oh, okay." Claire. Jill frowned. She missed her friendship with the redhead, but the tension between them had snapped, turning into an awkward avoidance. "Tomorrow, if you want, we can go start your training at the RPD."
"I'm not allowed back yet," he reminded. "Coulter hasn't said yes yet."
"You're not allowed back at work. But I'm allowed to bring one other person to the gym there as long as they have some relation to the law. You were in the Air Force and STARS. I can bring you." She was dead set on that. The sooner he was back at work, the more she would look forward to everyday.
"Sounds like a plan."
"Wanna have movie night tonight?" she suggested. "Like we used to. You, me, and the tv."
He smiled and nodded. "That definitely sounds like a plan."
She smiled back and nodded her head towards the living room. "We can just start now with the movies and I can order food later. Or maybe have a marathon of one of our favorite shows. That still includes ordering food."
His smile grew. "Anything you want."
She sighed and rolled her eyes, but smiled too. "No, Chris. Anything you want. You're the one who was in a coma."
"Well, I want to do what you wanna do." His eyes met hers, mischevious. He took her hand, rubbing the back of it gently with his thumb.
"Family Matters marathon it is," she huffed. "But we're ordering food that you want."
He smirked. "Chinese food then." He didn't like it much, but he knew it was one of her favorites.
She growled and walked away towards the living room. He caught up with her and hugged her as she sat down. "Why do you do this?" she asked quietly, succumbing to his hug.
"Do what?" he asked, looking her in the face. "Hug you?"
"All of it... I don't get it."
"Jill, I love you. I know that you probably think it was all in the dream, but it wasn't. I really do love you. Even if you don't back. I wanna make you feel better in any way I can. Does it make you uncomfortable? If it does, I'll stop." He dropped his arms and waited for her reply.
She shook her head no. "No, I'm not uncomfortable." She sighed. "I just don't get it."
"Doesn't Payton do this kinda thing?"
"No. He's not the cuddling type."
Chris frowned. "Well, I'll cuddle you then. But I won't do anything more. I just want to make you feel better."
She kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Chris." She didn't know why, but it truly scared her how easily he saw through the mask she wore over her sadness.
Jill woke. At first, she wasn't sure what woke her. The overbearing feeling of dread as she woke from a dream told her the reason. Nightmares again. It was around three in the morning. She sat up and yawned. The floor of the hallway was cold as she walked down it. She heard a small noise. A voice. Chris. She pushed his door open some. He was tossing and turning, all while muttering in his sleep.
She frowned and stepped inside. She approached the bed and set a hand on his arm. "Chris... Chris, wake up." She shook his arm gently. In half a moment, she was met with wide eyes as he woke, frightened.
"Jill!" He caught his breath and looked up at her. "Oh God, Jill..."
"You're safe, Chris. Go back to sleep," she whispered, rubbing his arm in a circular motion.
"It's not me I'm worried about..." He took her hand and squeezed it after rolling over to shove his face in his pillow.
"It's fine. Everything is okay." She rubbed his back with her free hand, trying to comfort him back to sleep.
He murmured her name, his eyes closing again. His last thought before slipping back into sleep was his love for her.
She stayed for only a few minutes more, not wanting to torture herself with their possibilities.
"C'mon, Redfield! You can take her!" the yell came from one of the police officers gathered at the side of the mat.
He swore under his breath as Jill flipped him for the second time. He stood and rolled his shoulders before returning to ready position. Jill smirked and they began to circle each other. "I'm letting you win," he lied.
She half rolled her eyes, keeping them mainly on him. "Please, Bearfield. I could beat you at arm wrestling at this point."
"Yeah right. I'm still stronger than you."
"But I'm faster than you." To prove her point, she did a swift low kick, knocking him off balance. She followed by grabbing his arm, twisting it behind his back and pushing him to the floor. He swore as she pressed a knee to the center of his back, holding him down.
"Goddammit... Jill..."
"Say mercy."
"What?"
"Say mercy, and I'll let you up."
"Jill, come on..." He was embarressed. She was blatantly toying with him in front of the other cops. That was just plain mean.
"Say it."
"... Mercy..." he muttered.
She smirked. "I'm sorry. I couldn't hear you. Louder."
"But, Jill..."
"Louder."
"Fine! Mercy!" He spoke loud enough for the others gathered around the mat to hear. They all chuckled.
Jill stood and allowed him up. He caught her off guard, turning the hold around. She swore. Her flexibility helped her slip out of the hold, rolling so she had his shoulders pinned back. "I win."
She stood and walked away. While she was no worse for wear, Chris had to catch his breath. He let his head fall back on the mat. Barry approached and held out a hand. "C'mon, Chris. You can make it."
Chris sighed and grabbed the older man's hand. He stood and rolled his shoulders followed by stretching his arms. "I remember that a lot different," he admitted.
Barry chuckled. "Jill's focused on training more than anything else for the past two years. She kicks Joeseph's ass pretty often. Never as intimate as that, but you are her partner."
Chris rolled his eyes with a small smile. "I wish I could be more to her than that."
"I can see that. But doesn't she have a boyfriend?"
The marksman nodded. "Yeah..."
"You're a lot better than him."
"You've met him?"
Barry nodded. "Once. He came in to see her once, but that was a few months ago. You've got more chance than he does at a good relationship with her."
"If only."