Screams echoed all around. Machine guns from osprey as well as missiles slam into the ship rocking side to side. The deck is littered with fire blood and bodies. And throughout the chaos, Claire Alice, and Chris are bunked down behind a shot down osprey. Their only refuge from the massacre around them.
For a little while they had thought they were finally safe. That they had finally escaped the never-ending fight for survival. Stored safely away from the infection that ravages the world they believed they could finally breathe.
It didn't take long for Umbrella to come and once again destroy their dreams of peace.
The few survivors left standing are trying to fight back against what seems like an endless amount of Umbrella soldiers who are dropping down on to the deck. Some firing indiscreetly into the crowd. Mowing down unarmed former prisoners. The others fire nets wanting to take away what little survivors remain for God knows what.
Maybe death is a better option than whatever Umbrella has planned.
"Where's K-Mart." Claire desperately shouts over the sound of screams and gunfire. The Arcadia has fallen. There is no doubt about that. The idea of trying to flee has crossed the three of their minds but it's the fourth member of their family that stops them from running.
Out there in all that destruction is K-Mart. The sixteen year old is nowhere to be seen. Alice tries her best to locate the blonde amidst everything but even she can't seem to locate her. Claire woefully tries to fight past her own panic to find a way out of this situation, but nothing is coming to her.
Even Alice the one who thrives in situations like this. Who always has a plan. Who can always find a way out no matter the odds looks defeated and so unsure of what to do. That is until she looks towards Claire and Chris. A look of acceptance flashes across her face and Claire feels her stomach drop at the passing look. From the memories that have returned, she remembers the last time Alice looked at her like that.
A helicopter hovering in the air rising higher and higher away as Claire can do nothing but watch as hundreds of dead surround Alice as she in a vain effort kills infected after infected after infected. Claire watches as Alice's pistols run out of ammo leaving with her only her kukris. A last desperate effort to survive. Alice fights her way from the herd of undead towards the Umbrella base.
Alice is giving her the same look here and Claire hates what she knows is about to come. "You two need to get out of here," Alice states popping out of cover and firing a few kill shots at Umbrella soldiers. "There's a mini submersible in the moon pool. You can use that to escape."
Shaking her head Claire reaches her out grabbing hold of Alice's arm pulling the older woman to face her. "Not without K-Mart and not without you." Claire hates how her voice is tinted with desperation. Her heart hammers painfully in her chest and not even Alice's soothing smile can do anything to calm her down. In fact, it has the complete opposite effect.
"Claire," Alice says her name so softly that it's almost enough to forget the war that rages around them. The forlorn but loving smile Alice gives her is enough to shatter her racing heart. "Dorogoy, you and Chris need to get out of here." Claire goes to argue with her. But Alice gently cups her face bringing them closer together. Behind them, Chris is trying to give a moment to themselves looking away and focusing on gunning down any Umbrella soldiers that try to get closer. "I need you and Chris to be safe. I will find K-mart and get her to safety. But I need you and Chris to get out of here first. No matter what happens we will find you two again. I've traveled the world in order to find you once already and I will do it again. But you need to go."
Claire wants to scream at her. Wants to stay with her and fight. Wants to find K-mart and all four of them escape together. Instead, all Claire can say is, "I can't lose you again." Holding back her sobs the rest of the battle fades away leaving only the two of them. Even without all of her memories, Claire knows without a doubt that she is hopelessly in love with the ex-Umbrella soldier. And she would rather go down fighting with Alice by her side than be separated not knowing if the other woman is alive or dead.
"Never," Alice promises leaning down closing the distance between the two of them. The kiss is soft and loving yet filled with a wild desperation. Both knowing full well this might be their last time together. Claire grips on to Alice never wanting to let go. But eventually, the two of them break apart gasping for air not yet letting go of each other. "I love you more than anything Claire. And I promise you me and K-mart will find you." Alice pulls back and everything inside of Claire is screaming at her to not let go. To hold on for a little longer.
She can't do anything in that moment. It's like her entire body has just shut down. She tries to say the words back but her words are lodged her in throat. She can't remember if she has ever told Alice she loved her. A part of her argues she must have before she lost her memories. But ever since they reunited in Alaska, she hasn't been able to say the words. And now this might be their last chance to express their feelings to each and Claire can't find the words to do just that.
Alice being the stronger of the two breaks away from her hold giving her one last look before turning and charging back into the fight drawing all of their attacker's attention towards her and away from her and Chris.
Typically, it's as soon as Alice is out of hearing range that Claire regains control of her body. "I love you too." Her declaration is lost to the wind. No one but her and Chris hear her pledge of love. A rage builds within Claire aimed at herself. Why couldn't she have said that when Alice was here. Why did she wait until the dark-haired woman was already out of her grasp.
Chris is behind her pulling her onto her feet and dragging her away from the conflict. The siblings try and shoot their way back inside the ship. She catches a glance of Alice and a blonde woman dressed in purple facing off against each other. That is until Alice turns drawing her quarter filled shotguns and takes aim at one of the low hovering Osprey's. The coins shatter the pilot's window and Claire can do nothing but watch in horror and anguish as the Osprey spins out of control crashing on to the ship's deck exploding on impact. "ALICE." She screams her voice reaching a higher pitch than normal as the fiery ball engulfs the area Alice was standing. A huge shockwave erupts throwing metal and Alice off the side of the ship into the water below.
Claire tries to take off running after Alice. But someone grabs a hold of her. A flash of purple and blonde hair flashes across her vision before something sturdy is rammed into her head and then everything goes dark.
Pushing away that memory Claire and K-Mart chased after Chris wanting to get Alice set up in the infirmary as soon as possible. The sooner they can assess just how badly Alcie is injured and help get her back on her feet the faster they can regroup with everyone else and undergo Christians and Razor's interrogation.
The faster she can find out what happened after Umbrella attacked the Arcadia.
Chris carefully lies Alice down on the hospital bed and K-mart wastes no time pulling out supplies from her bag. The bandages come out first and wordlessly K passes her the roll before pulling out a radio. As Claire begins to wrap Alice's ribs she watches the hesitation in K-mart with the radio. She glances between the radio and the door before putting the radio down and reaching back into the bag for something else.
Looking over to Chris her brother's eyes have narrowed on the radio. He picked up on the hesitation again. The way it looked like K-Mart was going to use the radio but stopped herself at the last moment. When K-mart pulls out a box of taped down syringes she finally meets Claire's eyes but looks away from the woman asking the silent question.
Instead, K-mart turns to Chris. Almost in a business like tone K-mart gives them the information Razor was looking for. "You may want to tell your leader to prepare for a siege." Both Redfield's eyes widen at the new information K-mart tells them before injecting something into Alice. A siege. A siege means they are about to be attacked. Claire wants to probe for more information, but K gives her a small shake of her head she pulls out a small torch turning it on prying up one of Alice's eyes clicking the light into her eyes before repeating this with the other one before nodding to herself and dropping the torch back into her rucksack.
Claire is also taken back by the similarities K is now sharing with Alice when she goes into what she called guarding mode. The emotionless cold almost detached way of speaking and focusing on the task at hand blocking everything else out. The scene is such a far cry from the young seventeen year old she had helped raise. It's almost soldier like.
Again, she asks herself what could have caused such a shift in K-mart.
K looks back to her brother. "Three Umbrella tanks are on their way. And behind them are tens of thousands of infected." Hearing that once again Umbrella is coming with an army of infected has Claire's heart dropping into her stomach. Why does Umbrella always seem so hell bent on coming after them when they start to have hopes again. She just got K-Mart and Alice back and now they have to fight for their lives again. How is that fair. K-mart doesn't need to voice her words but they help to hammer the point home. "They plan to wipe this place out and everyone in it."
"How do you know this," Chris asks rubbing his hands down his face. His own disbelief and frustration at once gain finding themselves back in the same situation as they did nine months ago. The last time Umbrella came at them they didn't stand a chance. How will this time be any different.
K-Mart doesn't seem as perturbed at this as she and Chris do by this. In fact, at Chris's question K's face breaks out in a smile as she seems to be holding back a laugh. "We caught a ride with them for a while. Ran with them for a bit before taking off on our own." Seeing as neither she nor Chris find the situation as funny as K does K-mart's face softens dropping back into the same carefree smile Claire came used to seeing in the desert. "Alice won't let anything to the people here Mom."
Some things never change. Like K-Mart's unwavering faith and trust in Alice. The thought of Alice being the one to lead them against the upcoming attack does relieve some of the fear. But even still Alice is just one person. Even with her powers back, the odds aren't in her favor.
Even if everyone here helps Alice to fight back, they don't have the ammunition to stop a full on assault. They don't have the numbers with the majority of the members here being either too young, old, sick, or injured to fight back.
Their primary defense could manage to slow down the infected but with the numbers K-mart has told them it wouldn't be long before they were overrun. Never mind having to fight back an endless horde of infected while also dealing with Umbrella.
Sensing that Claire isn't as reassured by her words K reaches over Alice taking hold of her hands. "We have a plan." K tells her taking Alice's heartbeat. "A good one. It's why we were heading here. But for this to work we need you to trust us."
"I do trust you." Claire looks towards Alice. Her face has more color as her body rapidly heals all the damage. "I trust the two of you more than anyone else." She honestly states. At the beginning, she might not have trusted Alice but now there is no one she trusts more than the older woman who stole her heart.
The fear of what is to come reminds her far too much of the last time the four of them were all together. The urge to just say fuck it and leave the settlement behind to fend for themselves builds within her. She lost K-Mart and Alice twice already to Umbrella. She can't do it again. The idea of grabbing her two girls and her brother and running as far away as she can is nearly as overwhelming as it should be.
The worst part is she doesn't even feel guilty at the idea of abandoning everyone here to their fate. Not when Alice, Chris, and K-Mart's lives are on the line.
Claire is almost grateful that it's Chris to responds to K-Mart. She doesn't know if it was her that she wouldn't have made the suggestion to flee. Instead, her brother asks, "What do you need from us."
For a moment K looks panicked as the weight of everything seems to fall upon her while Alice is out. A weight she shouldn't have to carry but accepts without hesitation. And Claire can't help but be filled with pride as K takes control of the situation. Even when she wishes the almost adult didn't have to carry this burden.
Fighting back her nerves K-mart answers Chris's question. "When Alice wakes up she will need to have full knowledge of everything. The layout of this place. The amount of people who can fight. What weapons you have. How many bullets. Every defense you have and every weakness this place has. She needs to know everything that could help turn this place into a fortress." K-mart takes a deep breath after running through her mental list. "But most importantly she needs to have everyone listen to her. We don't have the time to deal with infighting or people trying to fight against her control. She needs them to do what she says when she says."
That will be a little harder to produce.
After what happened before she knows the people here won't be as trusting or accommodating towards Alice. Chrisitan no doubt will be the one leading the opposition to what Alice has in mind. He already hates Alice and K-Mart. Hates the fact that he isn't in charge. That Doc has more say with people here than he does. That Razor holds the mantle of the tower's leader. So, for Alice to come in and take that role will drive him crazy.
Cobalt will follow what Razor says so getting him on board with Alice will have to take president. With Razor supporting Alice's plan everyone else should follow. If he doesn't then Claire will need to convince Doc and Abigail to back up Alice. With those two supporting her then Razor will come around.
Abigail will side with Alice. Anyone who pisses off Christian is a hero in her books. So, they will have her support which is very important given that no doubt Alice will need Abbey to create stuff for her or help her reinforce certain areas.
Doc on the other hand might be more of a challenge given everything that is going on. Looking towards Alice Claire pushes all thoughts of Doc away. Those are issues for later. Much much later.
Instead, Claire looks towards Chris. "Would you mind going and filling Razor in on this." The silent message of can you let me be with my two girls for a moment is very easily picked up on by her big brother.
Understandingly he nods his head. "Sure." He turns back to K-Mart flashing her a warm smile as he reaches out and ruffles her hair. She bats his hand away affectionally reminding Claire of a younger version of her who did the same whenever Chris tried to ruffle her hair. "It's good to see you again kid."
"You to Uncle Chris." K returns his smile brightly. Claire sees the delight in her brother's eyes when K-mart calls him uncle. The way he tries to hide his growing smile as he leaves the room. Back in the desert all Claire really wanted was for her people to be safe. For her to be reunited with Chris and bring their little family back together. This may not be the desert. But for the first time in a long time, Claire can relax knowing her family is safe and with her once again.
She can't wait to watch as Chris and Alice tease K-Mart. How K will back up Alice in any argument against Chris. How K will hide behind her as she teases Chris. How Alice will continue to train K who will follow her around like a puppy seeking her approval and Alice will just smile pulling the younger girl into a hug. How Chris will groan and complain while K smiles and giggles whenever she and Alice are being in K-Mart's words cute and couplely.
"We've missed you," K says quietly when she's done checking over Alice. Her soft voice pulls Claire out of her fantasies. Claire wastes no time pulling the girl into a bone crushing hug. One K sinks into returning just as tightly. Nine months was far too long a time to be apart.
"I've missed the both of you too." Once this latest threat with Umbrella is taken care of, they can start being the family they were always meant to be. "So so so much." Some days it felt like she couldn't breathe not knowing what happened to Alice and K. Thinking they were dead destroyed her. Chris was the only one keeping her together for the first few months. Then she started getting closer to the people here and that made life more barely.
She won't lose them again. She can't. She can't go back to living like that. At times it felt like she wasn't even living. Alice had once told her there are those who survive and those who live. Without K-Mart and Alice, she survived every day was a battle to survive. But she wasn't really living.
Finally having some time Claire looks over K-Mart. She's grown a few inches since she last saw her. Her hair has darker highlights making her have a dirty blonde colour in comparison to the bleached blonde she had back in the desert. It's shorter than before but nowhere near as short as Alices. The tips come down to brush against her shoulders. It's a good look for her really.
She's wearing green cargo pants with a knife holster on one side and a gun holster on the other. Her boots are a light brown color and look in a surprisingly good condition. A dirty white tank top with a dark green hooded long jacket. Kind of like the one Alice used to wear but shorter. The one Alices used to wear came down to her ankles. K's only comes down to a little past her waist. Which has another gun holster on it and from what she can tell there is a third one on her ankle. On top of her head is an old red cap. The logo of whatever was on it has completely faded by now.
A perfect mix between Claire and Alice's outfits when they were last all together properly. She looks more grown up than Claire would have liked since the last time they were together properly K was barely sixteen so different to that twelve year old she found hiding in K-mart under a pair of fallen selves covered in blood and muck.
A small groan pulls their attention to where Alice seems to be slowly coming back to the real world. No doubt the use of her abilities has left her with a killer headache. The few times she could remember Alice using her powers she would always complain about the throbbing pain that came with it and the annoyance at the constant nose bleeds.
"It never gets easier." K-Mart states sitting down next to Alice and holding her hand. Whenever Alice overused her powers to the point that she passed out K-Mart would always sit at her side holding her hand waiting for her to wake up. Claire had stayed at her side for as long as she could before some leadership duties called her away before coming right back.
When Claire had told her she should take a break after sitting with Alice for seventeen hours K-mart had shaken her head. She had tried to reassure the girl that she would be here should anything happen, but K-mart still refused to budge to do anything other than go to the bathroom. K had later told her that one night when Alice was on watch K-Mart went to join her sitting by the campfire. Here Alice told K that she appreciates how K is always by her side when she wakes up from her mini coma's. That every time she wakes up like that she can't tell where she is, what happened, or sometimes who she is. Sometimes she will wake up but still be trapped in her own body left in the darkness.
But she can remember waking up in those Umbrella facilities. Remember everything they did to her. To her friend Matt. How they killed her and brought her back to life over and over again in their sick experiments to see how much her body could take before giving up. How the infection would react to different scenarios. How she can hear their voices around her all discussing what to do next. The pain she feels comes secondary to the overwhelming fear she has that she has been captured again and is back to being an experiment. But that panic fades the moment she senses K-mart next to her. K holding her hand grounds her and helps her fight to come back to herself. With K by her side, she isn't as scared.
In hearing this K-Mart made it her life mission to always be next to Alice when she overexerts herself. K takes pride in how she can help Alice.
"No, it doesn't," Claire replies taking the seat on the other side of Alice taking her spare hand in her own. No matter how many times they have seen Alice go down like this it never gets any easier. The dread continuously builds in their stomach as every minute passes and Alice is still out cold. Her advanced healing ability working overtime in order to fix the self-inflicted damage all in order to protect them.
Even though Alice hates her gifts, and everything associated with them she did tell Claire once under the cover of darkness tucked away in the back of the hummer that she is also thankful for them. Because with them she can better protect her and K-Mart. If she has to suffer for the rest of her life in order to keep them safe, she will take that deal without hesitation.
"I thought after what happened outside of Vegas would be the worst of it. But Russia was bad. Washington was worse and now this." K wafts her hands towards Alice and the tower as a hole. "This is already bad and it's just beginning."
Claire nods along processing the information K-Mart let slip. After the Arcadia, the two of them ended up in Russia before making it to Washington. But how. What happened. And why are they here now. Those questions distantly ring in her head. But it's the Vegas that lingers the most. A hidden memory launching itself to the surface.
Alice slides her Kukris back into holsters before meeting Claire in front of the Hummer. The others have started getting out of their vehicles and establishing a perimeter. Claire would prefer to be out of here before more undead get attracted to their scent. Hopefully, this stop will get them enough supplies to keep everyone fed and watered until they hit Vegas.
"I can sense a few undead not far from here. Probably around five to eight of them if I had to guess." Alice's face scrunches up at whatever it is that she is sensing before shaking her head. "I'll deal with them then run a permitter to make sure there aren't any more skulking around."
"Something wrong," Claire asks stepping closer to the shaggy blonde whose eyes keep getting drawn to the same point behind them to the right.
Alice shrugs shaking her head once again. "I don't know. Something about them smells wrong."
Claire raises an eyebrow at that weird remark. "The undead smell wrong." She jokes lightly trying to push off the uneasy sense about what Alice just said. It's never a good sign when Alice feels unnerved by something and from the tension in her body Alice doesn't like what she's sensing. Not at all.
"Undead smell like decay, musk, metallic and rotten," Alice explains her hand stretching out before clenching again. Like she's physically restraining herself from ripping out her guns and charging over there. "These have that scent but it's different."
"How." Claire knows she should let Alice go off and investigate this. But her own curiosity of knowing more about Alice's powers overrules all logical thinking. Besides, if Alice really felt and threat from the weird smelling infected, she wouldn't be standing here talking to her. She would be over there slaughtering anything that gets in her way.
Alices eyes come back to hers. "It smells sweeter. More human like but it's buried under the musk." So, she takes it that means humans smell sweet. Is that why the undead are so intent on devouring them. We're their version of a chocolate sundae.
God, would she kill for a chocolate sundae. Or anything chocolate related.
Is that how the undead sees them. But instead of it being a saying they would actually kill for that sweet treat. Do the infected all have different tastes. Do some people smell better than others. Is there a human blood rating scale. Wait Alice thinks people smell sweet. Can she tell who someone is by the scent of their blood. Is it like a perfume to her. Can someone be too sweet.
Some many weird questions pop through her head that she isn't sure she really wants the answer to.
Instead, she tries to focus on the matter at hand. "Could they have a new type of infected animal." In theory that would make sense. Whatever it is might be strange to Alice since she hasn't come across it yet. "You said dogs, wolves, birds, and humans all smell different to each other."
Alice glances back in that direction. "Could be." She agrees neutrally before sighing. Whatever it is it's clearly bothering her. "I'll know more when I see them." Alice turns to head towards the potential threat but is stopped when Claire grabs her arms forcing Alice to face her again.
"Take Carlos, Jie, Ari, and Gwen with you." If this is something new and dangerous it would be safer for a small group to take the threat on. Alice has no idea what it is that's she walking into. It could be an infected rabbit or a giant earthworm looking to swallow her whole. It could be something like what Matt turned into or something even worse.
She's not going to let Alice walk off into an unknown danger alone. She knows Alice can look after herself and handle most threats on her own, but she would still prefer Alice not going alone when neither of them have any idea about what it is she is facing. Any other known undead threat she would let Alice handle her way. She is their expert on the undead after all. But this. No. She shouldn't go alone.
Naturally, her protectiveness of her partner doesn't go over well with Alice. "Claire," Alice utters softly but she won't let Alice talk her out of this. It's too dangerous to go alone.
Shaking her own head Claire steps into Alice's arms as they wrap around her waist. She rests her head against Alice's closing her eyes and just taking in Alice's calming presence. "Please. You said it yourself this is new."
"Which is why I should go alone. I work better on my own and not worrying about everyone else." She knows that. Deep down she knows it's more dangerous to send more people off into an unknown threat. But the thought of sending Alice going alone terrifies her.
As the leader of the convoy, Claire knows her priority should be the protection of the convoy. That the needs of the many come before the needs of the few. Risking one life is better than risking five. She knows that. She really does. But she can't do that anymore.
At the start it was easier it was just her. The weight of leadership was hard, but it didn't matter. She was everyone's leader before their friend and could afford to make certain choices. But then she found K-Mart and the young blonde latched on to her refusing to let go. Claire's priorities were then split between the convoy and the girl she adopted.
Yet even then it was somewhat easier, and K was just a kid and stayed back with the rest of the kids on dangerous missions. She was always fed before Claire because she could afford to do that. She knew there would never really be a choice to make between K and the rest of the convoy as K was always with everyone else. She was safe.
Alice is the complete opposite.
Whenever a dangerous situation arises K would be shuffled back to the safety of the group while Alice would charge head first into the danger. Every threat they have come across both human and infected Alice has been the one to act first. The amount of times Alice has been hurt during this reminds Claire that as much as Alice likes to pretend otherwise, she is still human. And therefore, can still die.
Claire knows that someday she will have to make a choice between Alice K-Mart and everyone else. K-mart will always stand with Alice. No doubt about it. And as the leader Claire needs to do what's best for the convoy. But how can she do that when the two people she loves most are at risk. As much as she hates to admit it to herself if a decision has to be made to risk the convoy to keep Alice and K-Mart safe she would do it without hesitation.
Her priorities are K-Mart, Alice then the convoy. Just as for Alice, her priorities are K-mart, her, Carlos and LJ, and then the Convoy. As a leader, it shouldn't be like that. As a human. How can they be anything else.
Sighing deeply Claire concedes to Alice's wishes. "I'll give you ten minutes." Ten minutes of anxious waiting to see if she has made a mistake. If her trying to be a good leader will cost her the woman she loves.
Alice smiles softly at her planting a chaste kiss on her lips helping to settle some of her nerves about this. "Thank you." Alice understands her better than anyone. It's no surprise that Alice can understand her trepidation about this and will do what she can to relieve that burden from her.
"If you're not back in ten minutes, I'm coming over with everyone," Claire warns half joking half extremely serious. If Alice isn't back in ten minutes, she will lead most of the trained personnel over to her location. And should Alice be perfectly fine she will kill her for making her worry like that.
Chuckling quietly Alice presses another small kiss to her lips before removing herself from Claire's grasp. "I'll see you in ten minutes."
"Try not to get into any trouble." Claire jokes wanting to get rid of the worry building inside of her.
Alice gasps walking a few steps backwards away from her. Her hand going over her heart in mock pain. "Me. Dotogoy when have I ever got into trouble."
A small smile breaks out on to Claire's face at hearing this. "Basically every time yo-"Something warm and wet splatters against Claire's face followed almost instantly by a loud bang vibrating in the air.
Claire's ears are ringing loudly repeating the sound of the bang over and over again. Something starts to strip down her face, but she can't figure out what it is.
Alice's entire body shudders forward before she pulls herself back up to stand straight. The smiles fall off both of their faces as a red patch seems to grow out from Alice's left shoulder. Everything seems to happen in slow motion as Claire and Alice stare at each other neither being able to comprehend what is going on.
Alice wavers on her feet before she forcibly takes in a deep breath. The action seemingly to take everything out of her as she drops to the side looking terrified and confused. Claire barely has the time to blink before the ringing in her ears fades to the sound of people screaming around her and Carlos magically appearing in front of her tackling her to the ground behind the Hummer as another loud bang collides with a metal surface.
She hears Carlos screaming out orders to everyone but the only thing that Claire can make sense of is Alice's prone figure on the floor staring at her from the other side of the hummer. Blood pooling around her as she struggles to breathe.
"Sniper," Carlos yells next to her. "Everyone stay down." The words barely register in her mind as she watches Alice roll on to her back. Her head falls back to face Claire. She looks paler than normal. Alice looks disoriented with what's happening just as Claire is.
Another loud bang smacking off of metal snaps Claire out of her confusion. Her blood runs cold and her heart stops as the realization of what is happening hits her like a bus. Sniper… Gunshots… Alice is Bleeding... Alice has been hit… Alice has been shot… Alice is bleeding out a few feet from her.
"Alice." She whispers the sound lost to the wind as everything is so much louder around. Yet Alice seems to have heard her as she focuses on Claire. A bit of her disorientation is lost as she tries to say something, but her body won't work with her. "ALICE." She screams out pushing Carlos off of her.
Or at least trying to. The former Umbrella soldier won't let her go. "You can't Claire." He mutters into her ear over her screaming of Alice's name as she tries to fight him off of her. "You can't get to her without being shot."
Rationally she knows that. It's suicide to step out from behind the Hummer right into the sniper's line of fire. But she can't think rationally. Not when Alice is lying there alone. Her blood staining the sand red.
"Claire." A high-pitched voice calls to her and she looks behind her to see K-Mart drop down next to her. Horror marking her frightened features. "Are you ok."
"I'm fine," Claire replies inspecting K for any sign of injury. K shoots her a disbelieving look. "I'm fine K."
"Your covered in blood," K-mart says much to Claire's surprise.
"I am." She reaches up to brush her fingers against her face. When she pulls away and looks at her hand it is smeared red. Blood. There is blood on her face. Alice's blood is splattered all over her face. Oh god. "Alice." She whimpers looking back under the car to where Alice lies unmoving on the floor. Eyes staring off into nothing.
"Oh My god Alice." K-mart sobs next to her. Her hand comes up to cup her mouth to silence the cries as both of them watch as Alice dies in front of them unable to get to her because that sniper is still firing shots at them. "Claire… What do we do."
What can they do. Until the sniper is dealt with or runs out of ammo they can't move without the high possibility of being shot. All they can do is watch as Alice clings on to life. Carlos is shouting into the radio next to her. That should be her. She should be taking charge and getting people into a better position to protect themselves. But she can't. She can't do that. Not when Alice is dying next to her, and she can't reach her.
God, she wishes she could just reach out a grab her. Pull her into her embrace and keep her safe from all harm. Why does she have to be in front of the hummer and not behind it with her. Why isn't there more cover so she can get to Alice. Why can't she reach her.
Alices blinks some of the haze away as she blinks in recognition of Claire and K-mart lying across from her. Helplessly she reaches her hand out to them in a stopping motion. The message is clear. Don't risk yourselves for me.
She's so close to the Hummer. If Alice had more energy, she might have been able to crawl under the front of the hummer to safety. To them, she might be able to-
...
...
Wait.
Alice's hand almost reaches the front of the hummer. She's so close that all Claire has to do is reach out and grab her. Determination floods Claire's body as a plan forms in her head. She turns to K and brushes back her tears. "You need to get Betty here." She orders K who frantically nods her head looking around for the nurse.
Without wasting another second Claire shuffles under the hummer. It's a tight squeeze but she manages to army crawl her way towards the front of the Hummer. "Alice. Alice hang on I'm coming. Stay with me." Alice has gone back to stare vacantly towards her. The virus in her obviously trying desperately to heal the bullet would but can't heal fast enough to fix the damage. Only slow down the time it takes to die.
When she manages to pull herself to the front of the hummer Claire reaches out latching onto Alice's outstretched hand and tugs with everything she has. Alice groans in pain at the force ripping her shoulder out of the socket where she has been shot but Claire keeps going. Alice may be in pain, but pain is better than death. Or at least that's what she tells herself as she desperately drags Alice under the Hummer with both arms. The sand offers some resistance to her but adrenaline gives her the strength to pull Alice out of the sniper firing range just as another bullet dents the sand next to them. Clearly, the sniper didn't like Claire's improvised rescue.
Carlos, K-Mart, and Betty help both of them out from under the Hummer. Betty starts giving Carlos orders on how to help and K is pushed away as to not to get in the way. Betty tries to get her to move but she can't. she can't leave Alice. Not like this.
Betty comes to understand that her leader wouldn't be budged and aims to work around her. Alice's shirt is torn open, and Betty is pressing gauze into her wound. The slowing of blood flow brings Alice back to them. A pale clammy and very slurred Alice looks over eyes widen. "Are you hurt."
Alice's words are slurred, and she can barely make them out. "What."
"Are you hurt." Alice repeats a bit stronger this time. Her hand weakly gestures to her face.
Right her face is covered in blood. "No." Claire shakes her head grabbing Alice's hand and pulling it to her lips placing quick kisses on her hand. "No. It's not mine."
"Oh... good." Alice nods to herself before closing her eyes and passing out.
"Stay with me, Alice. Please stay with me."
The memory ends with her begging Alice to stay with her. K-mart is still talking to her something about wishing Val was here. Claire nods not really understanding who Val is but guessing it's someone they met in either Russia or Washington.
"If Star girl was here, she would kill me," Alice mumbles earning a light laugh from K and a sigh of relief from Claire. Being able to see Alice somewhat awake and talking is all she needs to relieve some of the tension in her body. Claire was so relieved just hearing Alice speak that the words she said didn't register in her brain.
"No, she would kill everyone here for harming you then kill you for putting yourself in that position," K-Mart argues back gaining a weak and breathless laugh from Alice. These words did register with Claire who is now once again feeling some unease about the conversation.
Whoever Val is she seems to be close with Alice. But just how close are they.
"Our secret then," Alices says weakly but sounding almost hopeful as she says them
K's grin grows shaking her head. "Nope, I would totally sell you out to Val."
"K" Alice's hand comes over to cover her heart. Exactly in the same manner as her flashback making her wince. There was so much blood coated Alice that day. And right now, there are stains of blood on Alice's top. Is this how it's always going to be.
The blonde raises her hands in mock surrender. "She scares me."
Alice scoffs at this pushing herself up into a sitting position. "Says the girl who glared at her for months on end."
K-Mart was glaring at someone for months on end. K-Mart. The same girl who was terrified to get angry at people. Who only lashed out at people when she felt they were being attacked and wanted to defend them. And then would go and hide in the hummer petrified she overstepped, or everyone would hate her now. K-Mart who is not a confronting person. Who would normally have either Claire Alice or Carlos deal with people she felt were having issues with her.
That K-Mart spent months glaring at someone. Blatantly and openly expressed her dislike or even hatred of someone. Someone she said she was scared of. What the fuck has she missed in nine months.
The same K-Mart who now looks guilty at Alice's words and shrinks into herself. "There were reasons for that." She mumbles pulling her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around her legs.
Alice's voice loses her humour turning far more gentle and comforting. "You know that wasn't her fault. It was Umbrella's."
K shrugs in response. "I know. But it still happened." Her words say one thing, but her attitude says another. Whoever this Val is K still seems to have some issue with her.
Something Alice can just as easily pick up on as Claire can. "Are you still having doubts." It was accusatory or blaming. It was a gentle probing for understanding as to what the problem is.
"No... yes... Sort of... I don't know... I like Val. You know that. She's awesome. But still sometimes I…"
"You are my eldest daughter K-Mart. And I love you. I'm not going to abandon you." Alice quickly assures her. But Claire wonders why K-Mart seems to be doubting this. During their time together K never seemed to doubt Alice's affection for her. So why now. What happened.
A question she seems to be asking herself a lot.
K-Mart deeply sighs avoiding both of their eyes. "I know. It's just sometimes I…" She trails off unsure of what she is actually trying to tell Alice. And whatever it is even K seems to struggle to understand it.
But not Alice. Alice seems to understand exactly what K is trying to say. What she's feeling. "I know. Trust me I get it. Which is why when I say that nothing could replace or remove you as my daughter Solnyshko. Nothing."
K-Mart and Claire watch as Alice budges over on her bed making room for K to lie down next to her. Alice keeps K in her embrace a gentle reminder that Alice is going anywhere and her love for the blonde.
As much as Claire hates to break up this sweet moment she knows Chris won't be able to keep everyone at bay forever. "Alice K, what happened to the two of you." The silence that follows is far from surprising. What is surprising is the guilty look on both of her girl's faces as they turn to each other having a silent conversation.
"A lot." Is Alice's vague reply.
Raising an eyebrow at them neither of them feels comfortable expanding on those two words. So, she has to push for more information. "Can you be more specific. What happened in Russia. How did you end up in Washington. How did you get here."
K-Mart looks nervously between her and Alice. Alice stays silent looking anywhere but at her. After shooting a small glare at K clearly not happy with her bringing up Russia or Washington. In the end, it's k that breaks first. "After the Arcadia, we were taken to a facility in Russia. From there we had some help and escaped. We went to Washington but the group there was wiped out in an Umbrella attack. Me and Alice were out scouting when we ran into some trouble. Got captured by Umbrella again. Alice saw an old enemy. They fought we escaped and made it here. The rest you know."
No. No, she really doesn't know.
And she doesn't like this at all. Since when do either of her girls keep secrets from here. Because that is what is happening here. K told her absolutely nothing and Alice was glaring towards the door. Why are they keeping things from her. Surely, they know they can trust her with anything.
They do know that right.
Before Claire could question them further Alice asks her own question. "How long have you and Doc been a thing." It's quiet. Quiet and emotionless. Alice refuses to look at her but Claire can say the way she grits her jaw.
It's being hit in the chest with a sledgehammer. She should have known Alice would have brought this up. As much as she wants to avoid the subject neither of them can pretend that what Doc said doesn't change anything between them.
Is this why their whole dynamic seems off. Why Alice is acting distant from her and why K has been just as vague with her explanation as to where they were. The shift in their relationship has changed everything. But they have to know that no matter what if it came down to a choice between them and Doc she would always choose them. That what they saw here won't be repeated to anyone else.
It's always been the three of them as a team. They have to know that hasn't changed. Right.
"Oh. Right, him." K pulls herself out of Alice's arms sitting forward turning her body away from Claire. Her words come out far more bitterly than she ever expected. The anger hidden in her words was easy to hear. "When did you decide to replace Alice with him."
Try as she might Claire can't seem to come up with an answer to the question. Alice being pissed at her for starting a relationship with Doc is fair. She was ready to have that talk. No, she wasn't. She is nowhere near ready to have that talk.
But Alice wouldn't show her anger. Alice drops into her emotionless mask. It's cold but it has always allowed for people to say what they need to say. Alice never interrupts. She lets people talk until they are done. Then she will make her argument back before leaving to cool off. To let out all the emotions she was burying before coming back to finish the conversation.
K normally would talk it out with her. More confused about her own emotions and looking for reassurance. But the pure anger in her voice takes Claire off guard. Claire can understand k being outraged on Alice's behalf but not this. This is something different. Something she doesn't understand.
The tension in the room rises as K-Mart refuses to meet her eyes instead burning a hole into the ground. Alice nods more to herself than to either of them. "Claire, could you give us the room please."
Swallowing the lump in her throat she staggers up. Both thankful for the ability to escape this mess and disappointed that Alice seems to be the one to comfort what's bothering K. "Oh… Oh yeah sure." Maybe taking a break will be good. It's been a stressful day so far. And emotions are high. They all just need a break from each other to get their heads on straight and then they can talk properly.
"Thank you Dorogoy" Claire freezes as the familiar term of endearment slips out of Alice's mouth. Claire expected it to be awkward that when she looked back at Alice, she would be looking shy or unsure of herself like the first time Alice called her that. Instead, Alice doesn't even look in her direction. Her entire focus is on a very tense looking K-Mart. Does Alice even realize what she just said.
Then again to Alice calling her Dorogoy was used just as much as Claire's actual name. Maybe she doesn't even realize the effect one simple word could have on her. What it means to Claire to hear that again.
"Solnyshko." Alice starts tugging K-Mart to sit down next to her. The blonde rested her head on Alice's shoulders closing her eyes and savoring Alice wrapping her in a side hug. K sinks into Alice's embrace as if Alice's arms were forming a shield between her and everything K is struggling with.
As she's shutting the door Claire catches the K-Mart's infuriated words. "How can you be so calm about all this. Claire is basically cheating on you and you don't seem to care. She's betrayed us." The closing of the door stops Claire from hearing any more of their conversation. Not that she wanted to hear anymore. K's accusation felt like a dagger to the heart.
She hadn't meant to betray Alice. It didn't even come to her mind that they could have seen her and Doc together as a version of cheating. And in a way they are right. Fuck. Fuck. No. they were dead. She thought they were dead. She never would have gotten with Doc if she knew they were alive. She didn't. Does that still make it cheating.
What the fuck is she supposed to do now.