Chapter 2: The Meeting

The next few days passed by and Claire settled into Chris's guest bedroom. The siblings caught up and hung out whenever Chris wasn't working. Claire had the house to herself until Chris came home in the evenings. She spent her time alone shopping downtown for Christmas decorations and gifts, and also picked up a real tree at a farm outside the city. The one night Chris got off early, they spent putting the decorations and tree up. Jill showed up a bit later to help and visit.

She looked tired; much like Chris did from all the overtime, and complained about the infinite stack of paperwork on her desk. The three decided to go out to dinner afterwards. They went to one of the better bistros uptown to enjoy a relaxing evening.

"So, Claire, how have you been?" Jill asked.

"Well, I was gonna say super busy from school, but you guys looked as though you've been dragged by a horse. So, I'll just go with I'm doing just fine."

Jill picked at her food with a fork and grinned. "Hmhm. It's always busy this time of year. Not only is it our time to catch up on paperwork, but this time of year, crime goes through the roof."

"Yep, and I have to go in at freaking three in the morning!" Chris groaned.

Jill gave him a look. "You're not the only one."

"Three? But you've been going in at five already, and that's earlier than your normal shift as it is!" Claire stated, looking between them. "That's bullshit!"

The three ate their meals, discussing upcoming Christmas and New Years as well as Claire's college courses and Chris and Jill's work. Jill parted ways from them after Chris paid for the meal, saying she had to go pick up a few things before going home.

Chris drove him and Claire home. He immediately prepared for bed once they arrived. He walked over to her while she watched TV on the couch, a throw blanket over her legs. He had showered, shaved, brushed his teeth, and looked ready to drop dead.

"Well, I'll see you tomorrow."

Claire sat the remote down, looking up at him. "Going in at three in the morning is insane."

Chris rubbed his hair, still lightly wet from the recent shower. "Hey, the good news is I should get off earlier. Goodnight, Sis."

"Night, Bro."

Claire sighed with a grin, her breath materializing in a white wisp as she stood near the curb of the street staring at the house. The Christmas lights looked great. The white and blue lights blinked in a pattern, rimming the roof and the beams of the front porch. She walked back inside to check out the tree. It was decorated with the same colors, white and blue. Claire wasn't fond of the multi-color lights. These two colors were elegant to her. Simple. Pretty. She was proud of their handy work with putting up the decorations and lights.

She checked her watch, wondering where Chris could be. He went in with Jill at three this morning, hopping a ride in Jill's Mustang. He had called her around lunch time to let her know that he should be off by three or four.

It was nearly seven. She started to worry. It was dark outside, and she could see that other houses on the block had their Christmas lights on as well. "C'mon, Chris."

Just as she thought over whether she should call the police station for Chris or not, the phone rang. It had to be him calling again, so rushed to the kitchen to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Claire, hey. Something came up. I'm stuck at a crime scene with Jill and Brad until ten tonight. Don't wait up for me, alright?"

"What? Ten o'clock?!"

"Yeah, I know. We had a damn store robbery earlier, but the investigation is still going on. We're just staying until Richard and Forest are able to take our places."

Claire leaned on the kitchen counter. "Do you know how many hours that will be that you've worked?"

"I know! Don't sweat it, Sis. My day off is in a couple of days. Trust me, I'm used to working these hours this time of year."

"Fine. Just be careful, okay?"

"I will. You too. Love ya."

"Love you too."

Claire hung up. She placed the phone back on its receiver, miffed and upset about Chris's hours. She came here on her holiday break to visit with her brother, not stay in his house alone!

She tapped her fingers on the counter, thinking with a scowl. She suddenly felt like driving down to the RPD to give this Captain Wesker a piece of her mind. The thought didn't last long before she acted on it, grabbing the keys to Chris's truck and charging out the door. She recalled Chris didn't want her to talk to him for the sake of his reputation. He knew how his sister could be when she was angry.

I won't do anything to hurt Chris's reputation. I'm just gonna go in, talk to his captain, and see if we can figure something out. I'm not going to let my brother become a mindless, drooling zombie from working so many damn hours when I'm trying to spend time with him!

The grand hall of the police station was crowded and busy with officers and citizens. Phones rang constantly and the foot traffic was heavy. Claire could hardly hear from all of the commotion. She had been here a few times, but had never seen it so busy and had never been upstairs where the STARS office was located. She looked around for a familiar face and just about jumped in joy when she saw Joseph Frost talking to another cop. He stood out with his red bandana on his head, and wore his STARS uniform as well.

"Joseph!"

He looked around the crowd after hearing his name. He brightened with a big grin when he recognized her after she came over. "Claire! Hey, girl! What're you doing here? Chris didn't call you?"

"Yeah, he did. But I'm here to speak with Captain Wesker."

The color drained from Joseph's face. "Huh? S-Say that again?"

"I need to talk to your Captain. I'm not very happy with these hours Chris is working."

"Oh…" The STARS Alpha member scratched the back of his neck, clearing his throat. "Well, uh, good luck with that, sweetheart!"

He attempted to slip by her, but Claire snagged his arm. "Not so fast, Joe! You're gonna take me to him!"

He groaned. "Alright, fine, but it's your funeral! C'mon, this way. I'm just taking you to the STARS office. You're on your own after that. I've got too much other shit to deal with right now."

"That's fine by me, Joe. Thanks."

The Alpha Team member led her through the police station and up the stairs into another lobby. Claire looked around, nodding at friendly officers while taking in the sights of the hallways and rooms around them. The Raccoon City Police Department used to be an art museum years and years ago, and she could see some of the old leftover exhibits hanging on walls or stuffed in the corners of rooms.

Joseph brought her to a door in another hallway. On the left was an emblem in gold that read: STARS: Special Tactics And Rescue Service.

"Here ya are! Good luck, sweetheart!"

She hardly had time to thank Joseph before he sped away, waving at her over his shoulder and disappearing around the corner. Claire rolled her eyes, looking back to the door. She took a moment to gather herself, taking a deep breath. She wasn't nervous; she had a knack for dealing with people no matter what position they were in. She knocked on the door with a few strong raps.

She waited, listening for a voice to call her inside. She never heard one. She was about to knock again and then the door swung open. Claire took a step back, a man stepping out into the hallway.

Claire blinked, surprised and very much not expecting the man she saw before her, heart doing some sort of strange flip she never felt it do before. The man was tall, handsome, and strong-built. He wore a dark STARS uniform and a pair of sunglasses. His blond hair was slicked back, and a small headset rested on one ear. And though she was expecting an older, completely different looking man to be serving as Captain of STARS and one of Raccoon City's Finest, she knew this had to be the prominent Albert Wesker.

He peered at her, but Claire couldn't read his expression because of his shades. "May I help you?"

Claire almost forgot what she came here to do.

"Wait a minute. You are Redfield's younger sister, correct?"

She looked at him in surprise. "Yeah, how did you-?"

"He has a photo of you on his desk," Wesker interrupted. "Chris isn't here. He is on an investigation. Is there anything else I can do for you? I'm quite busy."

Claire sucked in a breath, glaring at him. "Yes, you can, actually."

A light leer her way, and he moved to allow her entry into the STARS Office. "Of course there is." His tone dripped with sarcasm.

Claire hesitated outside the office and he glared at her. "Well?"

She passed by him into the STARS office, catching the scent of his cologne. Wesker shut the door behind her and slipped into his office just to the side of the room's main door. Claire glanced around, spotting several desks for Alpha and Bravo Team, all of which had stacks of paperwork and folders, as well as personal items. There was also an armory in the back, blocked by a metal gate and a computer card access. When Claire joined the STARS Captain in his office, he offered her a chair that sat right on the other side of his desk before he sat down himself.

"So, Ms. Redfield. I take it you have a problem you'd like to discuss with me."

Claire sat, taking in the decorated officer trophies and organized office. "Yes, there is."

Wesker took off his sunglasses and tossed them onto his desk before rubbing his eyes. He leaned back in his chair, staring at her with intense steel-blue eyes. "Well, go on then."

His eyes made her heart catch in her throat, and she almost coughed. For a moment, she felt like she was being eyed by a wolf. A wolf with alluring eyes...

"I think…it's unfair that you are making Chris work all these hours."

The STARS Captain didn't say anything at first. He slightly cocked his head and smirked. His chuckle made her shiver. "Unfair? And you think he is the only one suffering?"

"No, I don't," she answered calmly. "But 3 a.m. to 10 p.m. is a little too harsh for anyone, wouldn't you agree? I'd think that you would have more members to divide the work between."

Wesker crossed his arms. "Let me put it this way, Ms. Redfield. Raccoon City has a population of over 100,000 people. At this time of year there are more crimes, more accidents, and this is also the time of the year that the federal government and state require more paperwork. I cannot help any of this, but as Captain I do what I can to make these long hours fair between my two teams. Senior officers with a family tend to get more time off than those who do not have a family. That explains why Chris, Jill, Brad, Joseph, and myself are here most of the time. Does that make sense, Ms. Redfield?"

He made a valid point. Claire, depressed, kept his gaze and mumbled, "Yes, sir."

Wesker studied her quietly, rubbing his fingers together. Claire felt on the spot. The air around this guy was not quite like anything she had felt before. The stories she had heard from Chris and his teammates were starting to make sense now.

Sighing, the STARS Captain finally rose to his feet, and Claire got up as well. "I'll tell you what, Ms. Redfield. It slipped my mind that you were in on holiday to visit Chris. I will inform him that he has the next two days off. And I will try to keep him from working so many hours while you are here. Fair?"

Claire couldn't believe it. She smiled at him. "Thank you, Captain."

Wesker escorted her to the door, opening it for her. "You have a pleasant evening, Ms. Redfield."

"Yeah, you too."

He shut the door behind her, leaving her out in the hallway alone. Claire made her way back to the main hall of the police department. She thought over the conversation she just had with Wesker. He came off as a strict yet respectful leader, but Claire couldn't help but notice the darkness that were in his eyes. Her body screamed danger and mysterious and attractive. She told herself that it was normal for an experienced officer like him to come off with somewhat of a dark side. She was sure that Wesker had seen things in his line of work that no one would wish to see in their lifetime. Still, she couldn't shake the strange feelings until she returned home.

She made a snack and read a motorcycle magazine while waiting for Chris to get home. It wasn't long after ten o'clock before Jill's Mustang pulled into the driveway. Chris got out, and then the Mustang backed out and left. Chris entered the house without having to unlock the door. Claire forgot to lock it, and grinned as she sat the magazine down, knowing exactly what her brother would say about it.

"Claire, you forgot to lock the front door! Someone could break into the house! Don't put yourself in such a situation."

Always the protective big brother. Even though Claire knew how to take care of herself. He knew that, of course! Chris taught her how to defend herself and handle numerous weapons.

"Chris, I think if someone was going to break in, then a simple locked door wouldn't stop them. I'm sorry. I forgot, okay?"

With a huff, he said, "Fine." He took his belt and weapons off of his STARS uniform and sat them on the dining table.

Claire followed him in there, noticing her brother's suspicious yet playful glare her way.

He leaned on the table. "So…the Captain just informed me before coming home that I get the next two days off."

"Really?" Claire feigned surprise. "That's great!"

"What did you say to him, exactly?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about!"

"Nice try, Sis. He told me you stopped by."

Claire held up her hands in defense. "Alright, you got me. I just told him that you deserved more time off, especially with your sister visiting. Don't worry, Bro. I highly doubt I ruined your reputation."

"No, but I'll never live it down that my little sister came to my rescue and talked my Captain into giving me a couple days off."

Claire laughed. "See? Your teammates should be lining up begging me to be their sister!"

"You must've caught Wesker in a good mood, that's all I gotta say," Chris replied. "Now, I'm taking a shower. I guess tomorrow we can actually go do something together!"

"If you don't sleep in all day. You look like a zombie," Claire joked, shaking her head.

"Thanks. And I was trying to keep myself looking good."

"For Jill?"

"Hey now, that's uncalled for!"

In her first week down, Claire was finally able to enjoy "Chris's Awesome Breakfast". Her brother was a great cook, didn't matter what it was. Chris always told her that women wanted a guy who could cook, and that was one of the main reasons he learned to cook well. She could care less; it was a nice break from her simple, quick meals and protein shakes that she lived on in her college dorm. It also didn't matter that he made this breakfast a little after noon, since he slept in. Claire knew he needed the rest.

"So? What do we have planned today?" Chris asked.

"Hmm…how about we go see a movie? Then I can help you pick out a gift for Jill since I know you're dying to find one. Oh! Tonight, they're having a festival for the city's Christmas tree and lights in downtown, too. At Clock Tower Plaza."

"A movie sounds great…as long as it's not a chick flick."

Claire glared at him from across the table as they ate. "Am I the kind of girl that watches those?"

"No, but I just had to say it."

"That new thriller that we both wanted to see is out finally."

"Oh, then I'm game!"

Their schedule had been set. The Redfield siblings got ready, and left the house. They went to the theater and watched a movie, then headed to the mall to find Jill a gift. Chris had no luck, even with Claire's help, only because he was unsure of everything. They left empty-handed because of it. Claire told Chris that she would stealthily ask Jill what she wanted for Christmas. With a little time to spare before the festival, the two stopped by their favorite coffee shop to have some hot cocoa and talk.

Chris tried to avoid talking about work, but did tell her a funny story how Forest had tried to pull a prank on Edward that backfired and got Vice-Captain Enrico instead. Claire laughed at that. Being one of Chris's best friends, Claire knew Forest quite well.

By the time it got dark, and they arrived at the Clock Tower Plaza, it was crowded. They wore thick coats for the icy wind that blew. The city had salted and cleared the roads mostly, and so only snow was left on various parts of buildings, cars, and some of the sidewalks. Chris and Claire watched as they lit up the city's own tree that towered in the center of the plaza. Main Street was then lit up as every business showed off their own decorations that bathed the street in an elegant, magical glow.

The siblings stayed for awhile, listening to the carols play. By the time they arrived home, it was late. They decided to stay up to watch an old horror movie before going to bed.

"I think Jill is off tomorrow, too. Maybe if we all three go do something, you can talk to her?" Chris asked, looking hopeful.

"Of course! And don't worry, I'll be sneaky about it!" Claire winked.

"Great! Oh, by the way. When I go back to work, Jill has to go in earlier than me. Do you mind giving me a ride to the station? I want to keep the truck with you in case you need to go somewhere."

"Sure."

"Good. Well, we better head to bed so we can maybe have breakfast on time."

Claire laughed, also getting up off the couch. "Yeah, you're right." She kicked him in the lower back when he turned away from her. "Goodnight, ya big oaf."

"Ow," Chris feigned being hurt, holding his back and hobbling away. "G'night, jerk."

A/N: Chapter 2 is now finished with revisions. I will try and update as quickly as possible. Thanks for reading! :D

I decided to use the updated STARS office from the RE2 remake. I love allllll of the character redesigns for the RE2 remake also, especially Claire's!