X. This Is Only the Beginning
'A spider web and I'm caught in the middle. I turn to run, the thought of all the stupid things I've done.'
—'Trouble' by Coldplay
Kijuju, Africa
March, 2009
This had to be the most awkward elevator ride that Sheva had ever taken. After that grand fight with the drugged Jill, Chris stood beside her as the elevator slowly made its way up to the top floor. They both had managed to get that device off Jill's chest, but Sheva knew that she'd be left with the ugly scars. It was forever going to be a reminder of the things she had done under the influence of whatever Wesker was feeding her.
When they got the red spider shaped device off her chest, Chris had held her in his arms as she regained consciousness, all the while as Sheva looked on, feeling as though she should give them some time alone. But Jill had called to her, keeping her from sneaking away for a moment. Almost instantly, Jill started telling Chris that he needed to stop Wesker. He refused at first, trying to help her, but she continued to encourage him to go after the enemy. Sheva was sure that he was going to downright refuse and drop the subject when Jill pulled the 'partner' card.
That was the point Sheva really wanted to get away from them and the tense situation that she would rather not be a part of, but as her foot began to take a step back, Chris looked to her. She froze, transfixed by his stare. It was as if he was searching for reassurance in her eyes and all she could do was stare back at him. Finally, after what felt like a lifetime but really on a few seconds, he nodded to Jill and started making way for the elevator.
Before Sheva could turn to follow after him, Jill stopped her.
"Take care of him," she told her.
Seemingly mute, Sheva nodded and followed him into the elevator, feeling as if her feet weighed a ton each. And now she was in the cramped space of the elevator with him as the deafening silence surrounded them. She combed a hand through her ponytail and smoothed her lavender camisole, trying to busy herself until the elevator doors opened and released her from the tension filled box.
"She'll be okay," Chris mumbled quietly.
Sheva had to study his face to see if he had actually said something. When his eyes moved from the metal floor to her, she knew he had spoken.
"Of course she will," she assured him, taking a small step in his direction. If she took too big of a step then she'd press up against his chest. "Maybe she'll find Josh and they can get to the BSAA setup base."
She could see his jaw clench for a moment and then release. He looked away from her and started moving towards the opening doors as a small 'beep' sounded in the elevator. Not completely understanding what he was thinking, she followed him out. It wasn't until she felt the sunset on her cheek that she realized she had passed him up and he had stopped walking. Turning around to him, she wasn't sure what was wrong.
"Chris?" she called him softly.
He had seemed to be in different place when he looked up to her and his glassy eyes roamed her face. He parted his lips to say something, but instead shook his head and started walking ahead. As he was about to pass her, she put a hand on his chest and stopped him from going further. He looked down at her small hand on him and the electricity went through his body again, despite her fingertips being separated from his skin by the fabric of his shirt. After pushing back the urge to hold her hand in his, he looked to her angel face.
"What's wrong, Chris?"
When he shook his head again, she stepped to stand in front of him and block him from walking on. He swallowed hard as she leaned on one leg and rested her hands on her hips, looking up at him with inquisitive eyes.
"It's nothing, Sheva. Really."
She couldn't help but sigh at his stubborn attitude, but she wasn't going to drop this until he talked about it. "Chris, she'll be okay. She said so herself. Do you want to go after her?"
He shook his head sternly, not taking his eyes of her lips. He seemed to be mesmerized by the way her lips would pucker, smile and make 'o' shapes as she talked. He blinked a few times after her lips stopped moving. "I know she'll be okay, she's strong."
A warm smile appeared on her face as she began to turn around. "Exactly. Now let's get moving."
He grasped her shoulder before she was out of arm's length. She looked over her shoulder at him, waiting for him to speak. "Sheva, I need to know something."
"Yes?" she urged for him to go on, turning to face him again.
Should he really be asking about her relationship with Josh? When she brought him up in the elevator, something seemed to make him tense. It was silly to have such reaction when she said the captain's name, he told himself. His voice was stuttered and shaky as he tried to get the question out.
"About Josh…uh. A-are… Is he—"
Sheva watched as he tried to form the question, but she could only assume what he was asking. "He'll treat Jill fine, Chris. He's very respectable and he'll be very careful with her. I can promise you that."
Chris shook his head, frustrated. "That's not what I'm asking."
Furrowing her brows, Sheva looked away from him when she felt herself getting slightly angry that he didn't trust Josh. Josh was a good, gentle and calm man; he was the best man to handle Jill right now. He was like a big brother to her and Chris being skeptical of him felt disrespectful on her behalf.
She took a step away from Chris and looked over the railing of the balcony they stood on. She noticed Wesker and Excella walking a few hundred feet away.
"Chris, look!" she cut him off as he tried to form whatever that question was again.
Scoffing under his breath because he was angry with himself, he looked to where Sheva was pointing and caught sight of the evil duo. Sheva started walking away from him and he felt like a lost cause. He tried asking her if she and Josh were something more than coworkers and friends, but he couldn't bring himself to ask. And to make matters worse, he could see she got a little ticked when she thought he was questioning Josh's character. It made his body heavy as he told himself it was obvious that she and the Delta captain were an item.
She felt guilty for walking away from him like that and as he passed her going down the steep stairs, she set her pride aside and laid a hand on his shoulder, fingertips touching the collar of his shirt. She almost frowned when she felt him stiffen for a quick second, but wiped off the downturned smile from her face as he looked up at her. She stepped to the stair he stood on and gave his shoulder a squeeze.
"Whatever it is that you want to ask, I'll answer it once we're done with this and stop Wesker. Fair?" she cocked her head to the side, forcing a small smile to her lips.
He gave a quick nod and offered a tight grin at the corner of his lips. "Fair. Let's finish this, partner."
Partner? The word made her mind go back to his former sidekick, Jill. It occurred to her then that throughout the mission Chris had been keeping something from her. And now she knew that the entire time he was actually looking for his former partner.
Does he care for the people that are suffering here? she asked herself. Or did he just come here to find his old partner?
Something inside her seemed to break as she realized that Chris and Jill were probably together. He came to Africa to find not only his old partner but his lover, too. Her heart felt like it was in a vice that wouldn't be unlocked as she stared at the back of his head.
He was probably asking about Josh because he doesn't want him making a move on Jill. Ugh, why am I feeling like this? Sheva placed a hand over where her heart was and told herself to be strong. It was his business and none of hers. End of story.
Making a conscious effort to chew with his mouth closed and listen attentively, Chris found himself reading the golden plaques that read his achievements with the BSAA on the far wall as Claire talked all about TerraSave. As time went on in Claire's young life, she seemed to grow more and more interested in office gossip. She knew all about who dated who, who slept with who, and even more unimportant things. While Chris had no interest in this sort of thing, he did his best to listen to his sister ramble. But as she flung her fork in the air and looked out the window without interest, she spoke the chinwag of the workplace.
"Elza says she's not interested, but she stares at his butt all the time when he's walking away," Claire tattled, crossing her legs on the Chris's desk as she stabbed another piece of lettuce with her plastic fork.
At least twice a week Claire would come over to the BSAA office and meet Chris for lunch. Whether it was going out to lunch or picking up something to eat and then coming to his office, they always made a matter to spend some time alone together and catch up.
Claire could see the way Chris threw his burger wrapper into the trashcan that he was trying to entertain himself with playing a lonesome game of basketball with his waste bin. Closing the lid on her salad, she made a point to clear her throat to get his attention.
"How's Jill doing?" she probed while squinting at him. She had forgotten to put her contacts in today and everything looked slightly blurry unless it was right up in front of her.
Chris pulled his feet up to rest on his desk by Claire's sitting figure. "Fine. She's doing fine."
"And you?"
He looked to her when he felt the heaviness of her question. "I'm fine, Claire."
"You don't look fine. You look like you're going through calculus all over again; all stressed and your mind elsewhere. Wanna talk about it?"
"There's nothing to talk about," he explained, shrugging while settling into his chair.
"There's plenty to talk about. Have you talked to her anymore about the…you know?"
He wanted to reply that he didn't know what she was talking about, but since he was the one to confess to her about the empty kisses he had shared with Jill the past few times, he wasn't going to be able to get out of it easily. He wanted to laugh when he looked up at his sister to find that her nose was scrunched up as she tried to make out his blurry expression. "No. And if I did, she'd probably run off because of the topic. I'm sure she can feel what I feel when I kiss her, Claire."
"Or maybe she doesn't," she hinted. "How can you feel something if it was nothing?"
"That's deep, Claire," he sarcastically replied.
Claire brushed red hair behind her shoulder. "I'm a deep person, Chris. Didn't you know that?" When all she got was a chuckle from him, she went on to more serious discussions. "I just want you to talk about it. You called me yesterday talking like someone had revealed to you that the Mona Lisa is actually a man."
"She's a man?!" he exaggeratingly inquired, trying to veer off topic.
"Stop with the distractions, Chris. I want to talk about this."
"You always want to talk about this," he mumbled. "I just needed to talk to someone, Claire. It freaked me out, okay?"
"Alright, but why did it? Hadn't this happened before?"
He wanted to tell his sister to bugger off, but he would never say that her. Okay, he said it once when they were kids and she wouldn't leave him alone. But Transformers was on and she kept shoving her Cabbage Patch Doll in his face. He blamed it on her that Optimus Prime died and she ended up crying and running to their mom. Boy was that a long time ago. When Transformers was still a cartoon, when Cabbage Patch Dolls were still relevant and when their parents were still alive.
"I guess it did," he finally answered. "I just really wanted to feel something this time."
"Why?"
Sighing in the back of his throat, he stood from his chair and looked to his clock on the far wall above his achievements. "Isn't it time you get back to TerraSave?"
She looked to the clock on her phone and growled. "You got out of it this time, Redfield. But I'm going to ask more questions later."
"You always do, Redfield."
Walking his little sister to the door, he could just hear the questions building in her head. If he didn't want to be interrogated then he better keep his distance from Claire for a while. She tried asking questions as he opened the door but dodged them easily. As she stepped out of his office, she could see a familiar face down the narrow hallway of office doors.
"Sheva!" she called out, leaving her brother high and dry. Walking closer, she could make out the exotic features of Sheva's face. She also noticed another figure leaving her side. Dammit, why couldn't she just remember to put her contacts in? She made a mental note to tell Leon that if he was going to be keeping her up all night while under the sheets to make sure it wasn't the nights before she'd go have lunch with her brother. She smirked at the idea of Leon's expression to put her brother and their sex life in the same sentence together.
"Hi, Claire," Sheva smiled warmly to her redheaded friend as she strode to her. She grabbed Claire's shoulders when she didn't stop soon enough and almost kissed her by accident. "Whoa, Claire, are you okay?"
"Peachy," she recovered, blowing her bangs away from her eyes. "Forgot the contacts today. Things are closer than they appear."
Sheva snickered as she squinted at her. "Maybe you should keep a pair of glasses with you."
"I usually do. But I had them out last night and then I was running late because of Leon and I forgot them."
"Sounds like Leon," Sheva murmured, straightening out her friends pink top as Claire tried reading the font on the office doors beyond.
"Who was that you were talking to?"
"Huh? Oh, no one."
"Psh," Claire snorted. "I may be blind but whoever it was, they were walking off because I was coming."
"No, it's not like that. He's not supposed to be up here while his training is going on." Sheva clapped her hand to her mouth. She said too much to the one person that would bombarded her with the world's most intrusive questions.
"He? Who's he?" Claire quickly inquired, trying to understand Sheva's blushing expression.
"He's no one, Claire. Don't worry about it."
"Please tell me he's like a brother to you?"
That caught Sheva off guard. "Why would that matter?"
Claire 'uh'ed and 'um'ed while looking everywhere but her friend's hazel eyes. She realized as she tried to make an escape plan that she had left her brother alone. Looking back, she could see his hulking frame in the blurry distance. Before Sheva could ask again, Claire looped her arm with hers and started walking to Chris with Sheva on her arm. She could feel her stutter in walk as she realized they were approaching Chris. Ha, she was still weak in the knees for him.
"Come now, Sheva," Claire ordered, her nose high in the air. "You must guide me and my blindness."
Sheva knew exactly what Claire was doing. She was forcing her to talk to Chris because that's just what Claire did. Somehow, she had managed to get out of revealing to Claire who she was talking with and turned the questioning around on her. If Claire knew that she was talking to Piers Nivans, she'd have a fit. It was obvious that Claire was trying to set her up with Chris, but she refused to have any part of it and so did he. They just let Claire think she was doing a good job at getting them to talk.
The only reason Piers was up here was because she was scheduling the interview with him. Next Monday after lunch. Then they had started talking about nothing in particular. She found that he was able to get her talk about life in Africa without feeling like she was on a date or something. She didn't tell him much. Just that she was part of the West African branch in Lagos and had been with the BSAA for a few years now. He didn't say much about himself despite being asked a few times. He seemed to be more interested in her than talking about his self.
Chris didn't say anything as the women approached him. Claire was inspecting the distance between her body and Chris's so she didn't run into him and Sheva was trying to pull her arm away when Claire tugged her along.
"Claire, I can walk myself, you know?" Sheva protested.
"Yeah, but I can't," Claire replied. "At least get me to me brother."
Complying, Sheva let Claire pull her along. She didn't mind talking to Chris, really, but she could walk to him herself. When they got closer, Chris stood straighter and laid a hand on Claire shoulder when she was arm's length.
"I guess I'm lucky I got dad's eyes," he boasted as Claire blinked a few times.
"Stop bragging."
Finding a good opportunity to make an awkward moment, Claire shifted on her feet and "tripped". She made a fake 'oof' sound and pushed Sheva forward as she "regained" her footing. The push was effective; it forced Sheva into Chris's chest.
He caught her easily. She fit perfectly in his arms and against his body, but he quickly helped her stand straight and away. Memories began to flood back of when she had been in his arms before and it wasn't an accident how she got there.
"Oh man, I'm sorry," Claire pouted and cupped her hands to her cheeks.
They both knew she was faking it. However, neither was really all that comfortable to talk about in front of each other, so neither said a word of it. Sheva tucked hair behind her ear and gave Chris an apologetic look.
"Sorry to, uh, fall into you."
Feeling her nerves, he shook his head gently. "It's not your fault. Was it Claire?"
"Of course not!" his sister exclaimed. "I guess I got mom's clumsiness, too, huh?"
That urge to tell her to butt out rose again, but he pushed it back. He didn't want to argue about this kind of thing in front of Sheva. "Uh huh, sure you did."
Looking at her watch-less wrist, Claire huffed exhaustedly. "Oh, look at the time." When she realized how silly she must have looked looking at her blank wrist, she shoved her hands in her pockets and started walking away from Chris and Sheva. "I'll see you later, Sheva. Pick you up at normal time?"
"Actually, I have a lot of work. I won't be done until late," Sheva informed her retreating back. "I'll just get a cab."
Claire was going to tell her that she didn't mind picking her up later when she realized that Chris had a lot of work, too. So they both were going to be working late and in the office. "Okay, be safe. Bye!"
Shaking her head, Sheva thought Claire was going to offer to pick her up. A cab it was.
"I can take you home, Sheva," Chris offered, trying to make up for his sister's poor manners. He was taking the bait, he knew, but it wasn't fair that Sheva was ditched a ride.
"Oh no, it's okay. I can really just take a cab, or I can even ask Rebecca to give me a ride."
"It's fine, Sheva. I'll be here late anyways."
Knotting her fingers together, she nibbled at her bottom lip in a nervous habit. "Are you sure? I'll be here late, like, until eleven. I don't want you to have to go out of your way."
"We're friends," he announced with a shrug. "You go out of your way for friends, right?"
Friends? That's all she'd been wanting with him. She gave him the most wonderful smile and nodded. "Right. Thank you."
His breath caught in his lungs when she smiled like that at him. It made his heart flutter and break all at once.
"Hell yeah!" Claire whispered excitingly as she peeked around the corner at her best friend and brother talking. Her eyesight was nothing to brag about, but her hearing was the best around and she could hear that Sheva agreed to take Chris's ride. She began walking away and to the exit of the building when she patted herself on the back. "Looks like I got mom's genius traits, too," she said to no one.
Author's note: Oh, Claire. You sly, little, cute devil, you. Apologies if this chapter seems short at all. With the flashbacks we will get shorter looks to what's going on in the present. But that won't go on forever. Once the flashbacks are over (maybe seven more chapter of those), then the present chapters will be longer again. And the interview with Piers will be a little ways ahead. I wanted it to be in sooner chapters, but my pacing is saying otherwise. Bear with me, my fellow Piers fans. :)
HolleringHawk64: Chris: the hopeful guy that puts his efforts into the wrong things! Oh, I'm glad. I love Rebecca and I'm finally getting to add her into a story. And thanks for the review on 'It Never Ends'!
Sheva Redfield: I'll put After Earth on my list of movies to see. I don't really travel sadly, but someday I'd like to just go around the world without a care. Do you travel? Oh Piers, gotta show the skills to the ladies. Haha, I think snorts are cute, but embarrassing, that's for sure. I think it's say Chris does not approve of Piers' liking to Sheva. Haha, yes, the humidity was a little high that day so Chris was a little slower is all. XOXO :)
borismortys: Oh Chris, what are we going to do with him? Haha, Claire is in the process of masterminding!
Guest: Sorry it wasn't the Piers interview, but we're working up to it!
Lollipop Lolli: Piers is hot, right? I'd like to think the figures are Omid and Christa, but this may sound crazy, but I think it might be Molly and Kenny. I know, I know. But they never showed them actually dying. I'm probably wrong, but I still can't wait for the next season! I have played The Last of Us. I actually wrote a one-shot on the game. It was such a good game!
wolfspiritqueen: Thank you, dear. Thank you for reading them!
JustSomeGirl17: Haha, caveman language ain't easy! Piers is a great possibility for Sheva's baby daddy. ;D I think a punching bag would be very good, and maybe a punch to his face to wake him up and realize the Jill ship has sailed! Sorry senses the jealousy along with Brit-ta-knee! On REwiki, it says that Piers was born in '87 and Sheva was in '86. So probably a few months difference. Hamburglar is part of the McDonalds cartoons and I always stared at the plastic of him in the play-place as a child… :O Arrivederci, my sweet pudding cup!
Fujisawa Loser: Long time, no see. :) I hope your well, and thank you for catching up. I never read the manga series, but I've heard good things about it.
ShevaGiulia: Chris is just a raging (hot) ball of jealousy! Jake is a hottie, but I'm jumping for the Piers boat. So many hot buns in RE it's just overwhelming! Best wishes from America. :)
toby7400: I think it's decided that Chris needs to take anti-jealousy pills, if those were real. Matchmaking rivalry between Rebecca and Claire has begun.
Mss. KB: I think it's you that's allowing the emotions to come in, I'm just there feeding you words. ;) It's fair to say the attraction is mutual and approved between us! It's time for Chris to move on and see the colors as they are. And the colors are red when it comes to Jill. Let her go, Chris! The determination of Chris and Jill's relationship is sad, but it has to happen… Sorry that this wasn't the interview with Piers, but I promise it'll come and I'll do my best to make it good! :)
Potiphar's Wife: Nivans and Alomar are approved, that's all that's needed! Hey, if you want to write these for me then by all means, I'll update sooner. :P Piers always gets the target. ALWAYS! Chris needs a good shaking and therapy to realize the romance is gone with Jill. Hope the headaches are better!
I just wanted to say that I really do appreciate all of the reviews you leave me. It makes me beyond happy to be able to talk to my readers. I don't want anyone feel obligated to review, but I just wanted to let you know that. If it seems I've neglected this story (I say this because I'm still getting used to not updating every two days) I do apologize. I've been taking a tiny break from writing and doing my other art forms. I did write a one-shot for Creva in case you haven't checked it out, and those who have, thank you very much!
In the next chapter, Chris gives Sheva a ride (but like driving, get your mind out of the gutter ;D) and he offers her something. As for the flashback, it's right after RE5's ending and what was going on in the helicopter as Chris, Sheva, Josh, and Jill are going back to safety.
-Sarai
