Now in all fairness, Claire was well aware her distrust of Chris was both well and ill-founded. The man claimed to be her brother, but she had no recollection of him. Not even a glimpse unlike she had with Alice. No fleeting memories. No voice in her head. A figment of their time together. Nothing. So, when he said to everyone, that they were brother and sister she had no way of knowing if that was true.
But Alice did. She quickly interrogated him on things only he would know. Not basic knowledge that Umbrella probably has locked away on her. But specific questions. Questions she didn't even know the answer to but what Chris said seemed to convince Alice enough to let him out of that cage. To let him wander freely around and give him a weapon.
However, to Claire all she had to trust in this situation was Alice's knowledge of her life and Alice's ability to read people. So, it's fair to say that she didn't trust Chris during their stay at the prison.
That little amount of faith she had in him was enough to keep her distance from him. Like almost everyone else in the Prison. Everyone but Alice. Alice who went out of her way to talk with Chris and make sure he was ok. Chris in return started to follow Alice everywhere and always partnered with her much to everyone's but Claire's relief. It was like Luthor all over again. Only worse.
If he really is her brother then Claire knows she will be so relieved and thankful that Alice was there for him when she couldn't be. She knows that. She really does. But it was during one of their night shifts that Claire first started to notice the admiration Chris had in his eyes whenever he looked at Alice.
The first time she saw it was there for only a second and she convinced herself it was just a trick of the light. That maybe it wasn't admiration she was seeing. Alice had been telling a story on one of her youthful adventures and everyone was laughing. Alice had just said something and Claire had burst out laughing unable to hold back her amusement anymore. It was then everyone turned into uncontrollable laughter. Everyone but Chris who was looking at Alice who was perched up next to her with admiration. Claire tells her it was just amusement or something else.
But then that look kept popping up when Alice told Chris and her of their time in the desert. All the horrors and obstacles they had overcome. All the joyous moments that made life worth living. Parts of her memory came back after hearing certain stories. Helping to fill in a lot of the gaps in her mind. Memories of K-Mart, Carlos, LJ, Betty and Mikey driving through the endless desert push her to work with Chris to get out of here and on to the Arciada. Because someone on that ship her people might be waiting. They might be in danger. K-Mart could be in danger.
Alice has her suspicions that the ship is a trap. Why else would Claire have been attacked with the scarab and left behind. But a trap for what. Claire has spent the past few nights wrapping Alice in her arms trying to help her to sleep. To fight the demons that are nipping at her thoughts. She said it was her who found the diary. Who told and pushed them to go to Alaska. If something had gone wrong it was her who made it possible. Who put everyone at risk. Who left them in a dangerous situation and didn't come back till months later.
Claire had argued venomously against that. Yes, Alice was the one to find the journal, but they all voted on Alaska. They decided the risk was worth it. Claire had agreed to the risk. The desert was harsh, and they were fighting a losing battle to survive there. Alaska was their best bet. But not even Claire's soothing words could do much to her love from drowning in guilt.
With her memories returning she remembers more of her relationship with Alice. The ups and the downs. The moments she doubted herself and Alice. The times she let jealousy take a hold of her. How she held back. How Alice always looked at her to be some divine deity. With nothing but love and affection even when she was mad. How Alice wore her guilt as a shield around her. How Claire had the privilege of being let through Alice's defensive walls.
But nothing of Chris.
Now Claire will admit that she may struggle with jealousy. Carlos faced the brunt of it back in the convoy. Luthor used to have it here. Hell, she even cursed Jill Valentine whenever she was brought up by one of the original Raccoon City group. She knows it's not her best trait and in the past has caused far more problems than good. Claire never considered herself a jealous person. Not until she met Alice anyways. It doesn't help that everyone seems to develop a crush on the woman that belongs to her. And that's her problem with Chris right now. It seems yet again someone is trying to get with her girlfriends... partner... Alice.
Her own brother. How does she handle something like that when she isn't even sure if he is her brother. She thought about talking to Alice about it but she didn't want to seem crazed and controlling. She trusts Alices and would never want her to think she doesn't. So she had been trying to think of a polite way to tell someone to leave her Alice alone before Alice's sword is shoved down his throat. Brother or not.
Which brings them to now. She Alice and Chris were all taking the night shift keeping an eye on the Arcadia. Originally it was just meant to be Alice and Chris but sue her she didn't want them to be alone. And she also may have missed Alice and wanted to spend some more time with her without the eyes on everyone watching them.
She had thought Chris would get the hint and leave. But he stubbornly refused to leave. Alice has just left under the disguise of going to the bathroom. Claire had almost followed her until she saw the pleading look from Alice which she relented to. If Chris wants to talk, he can but Alice will be in so much trouble for leaving her alone with him later.
Chris had bounced from foot to foot as the air around them became tense. He rubs the back of his neck, and he tries to find the words while Claire does nothing but glare out to the sea wishing this conversation was already over. "I know you don't remember me, Claire." Chris starts nerves lingering in his voice as he tries to cough them away. "And I don't blame you for mistrusting me I would as well if the roles were reversed. But I want you to know I'm not a threat to either you or Alice."
Claire lazily drags her eyes from the sea to the apparent soldier next to her. She almost laughs at the absurdity of his statement. "Oh, I know that. If you were Alice would kill you faster than you utter oops." No one can deny that Alice is freakishly talented when it comes to combat and could easily kill everyone here in the prison before the first body had dropped to the fall.
No Claire has never been physically threatened by Chris. If he even dared try Alice would be on him in an instant. Besides she can look after herself just as well. So, no he was never a threat to her in that regard.
Chris lets out a sad laugh at that. "Yeah, she probably would." The words quietly die on his tongue clearly not the reaction he was expecting and he now how to figure out what to say. To fix their relationship which has been one-sided since the day they reunited. "You and Alice are close." He asks looking at her with a weird look on his face. There is a softness and almost eagerness to it.
Claire feels herself bristle at the question though. Is this why he wanted to talk to her alone. To figure out if he had any chance with Alice and was hoping his little sister would help. Well, that's not happening. Claire grits her teeth turning back to face the water. "We are." Not giving him anything to work with.
Next to her Chris sighs rubbing a hand down his face seeming crestfallen at her words. Good. "I've been locked up in her for nearly six years now. And Alice was the only one to show me kindness and release me from my cage. I owe her a lot for that."
Is that supposed to make her pity him and decide to help him out. "Yes, you do. So, you better be right about those guns still being in the armoury." The warning was clear in her voice. Alice may trust Chris, but she doesn't. Nor does she enjoy the idea of Chris and Alice diving down two floors to reach the armoury. Two floors underwater where if something goes wrong no one can help them. If they didn't desperately need those guns Claire would never have allowed Alice to agree to such a dangerous proposition.
She would have gone down with them, but she knows she isn't right for the job. Both Chris and Alice are trained in underwater combat and diving. They are the only two who could pull something like this off. Crystal offered to help but Alice said the first dive would be them making sure all the guns were there and set the route out. The second dive she can come along. If there are as many guns in there as Chris says there are it will take multiple trips. Crystal was a little put out but agreed to join then on the second trip when it was determined to be needed.
"But I owe her a lot more for being there for you when I couldn't be." Claire blinks not having expected that. Slowly she turns back to face Chris. He gives her a weak smile before continuing. "Growing up it was always my job to look after you. But in the end, you ended up looking after me more. And when the world ended. When you needed me, I got myself locked up here and left you all alone." His grip on the railing tightens as his voice wavers. "You needed me and I wasn't there. And then you didn't need me. You built the convoy. You became a leader to so many people. You had Alice to watch your back and protect you when I couldn't. And I both love and hate her for that." He takes a deep breath trying to steady himself. "When she's told us stories of your time together, I'm amazed at the woman you have become and I owe Alice everything for helping to take some of the weight off your shoulders."
"What do you mean," Claire asks having an inking to what he means but doesn't want to confirm anything to the man.
"You love her. And she loves you. That much is obvious to anyone with eyes." Clearly not if Luthor is still sending Alice side glances. "I'm grateful you two have each other. Out of all your exes. She is the only one I like and trust with you. I've never seen you more at ease or happy than when she's around. So as your older brother, I'm saying this with as enough love and conviction as possible. Don't let her go."
Claire reels back from the realisation of his words. He knows about her and Alice. He knows and is happy for them. a part of her heart sings loudly at this and a sense of relief washes over her. Feelings she wouldn't get from some stranger. "Never," Claire swears. She has no intention of losing Alice again.
Something else also becomes clear in her head. Chris was never interested in Alice. All the time she saw him looking at the dark haired woman with admiration was when she had done something to make Claire laugh or smile. Chris was looking at Alice like that because she was the one to make his little sister happy. And he respected her all the more for it.
"Don't worry I've already had the same talk with Alice which involved a lot of threats from me and blank unamused stares from her." Claire can't help but laugh at this. Threatening Alice never goes well. The amount of people who have wanted her dead has made her immune to any threats like that. No wonder Alice was insistent on them having this conversation. Always looking out for her and no doubt seeing that Chris made her uneasy hinted to Chris they should talk.
Oh god, Alice probably hinted to Chris that she felt threatened by him hence the start of their conversation. but didn't tell him in what way she felt threatened. Claire shakes her head at this. Of course, Alice would notice her jealously. The older has always seemed attuned to what she is feeling.
"I may not remember you, Chris. But I do hope you are my brother." She admits. She would like to have that familiarity with someone other than Alice. She would like to have a member of her having here. She doesn't want to be alone.
When Alice comes back out a few minutes later Claire sends her a half hearted glare at her actions receiving a proud shrug in return before Claire is pulling Alice into her body holding her close as the three of them resume watch duty.