She shouldn't be watching them. She really knows that. There are a hundred things to do. Elderly people, kids and injured are trapped in this tower while an army of dead marches towards them. An army led by Issacs hellbent on wiping out humanity. So, she knows she should be doing something to help out. Anything but watching Claire and Doc.

But she can't make herself look away. No matter how her head and heart scream at her to look away to avoid the pain that seems to be the only companion who sticks around with her. Watching the two of them together leaves her with nothing but hurt and unreasonable feelings of betrayal.

She shouldn't feel like that. She knows it. But she can't shake it. After everything she and Claire have been through together she thought… It doesn't matter what she thought. Clearly, she was wrong. Claire wasn't into her the way she was with Claire. Yet the burning feeling of jealousy fills her veins knowing that Claire is with Doc. That she is happy with him.

Clearly, she misread some of the signs Claire was sending her. Made them into something else just to soothe her own loneliness. Because it's only been five months since they last saw each other, and Alice has spent all of that time free from Umbrella looking for ways to find Claire again. All the while Claire has been moving on with her life. Finding love with Doc and making a life for herself here. And she wants to be happy for her. She really does. But all she feels is the heartbreak of a relationship that never even existed.

Longing for someone who doesn't want her. Who wants someone else. Covetous feelings have overwhelmed her since that discovery in the makeshift infirmary. Her mind split between figuring out how to save everyone and desperately trying to figure out how she got everything between her and Claire so wrong.

She feels someone come and stand next to her. A quick glance makes her feel even worse because of course out of everyone it had to be Chris who would come and stand with her as she is acting like a lovesick fool towards his sister.

Surprisingly Chris doesn't say anything as the two of them remain leaning against separate pillars watching Claire laugh at something Doc said. She sends him that smile. The one where her whole face lights up highlighting her beauty. The one she tried so hard to bring out back in the desert and the prison. A feeling of triumph filling her every time she managed this goal.

Only Doc doesn't have to work for it. Not like she did. When Claire is around him that smile is always prominent. Which just feels like another stab in her heart.

She can feel Chirs gaze upon her and when she turns to meet it there is a sympathetic tint towards her. And she knows why he's giving her it. She hates that he is looking at her like that. With pity and understanding. Hates how he knows when Claire doesn't. "How long have you known," Alice asks breaking the silence.

Chris draws his eyes away from the happily in love Claire back to her. "From the moment you got her to not snap my arm back in the prison." At the time she had gently stroked Claire's shoulder in order for her to release Chris before offering her comforting words of assurance making sure that Claire knew that everything would be ok. She might have lingered a little longer than necessary but Claire was more then happy to be calmed by Alice leaning back into her body seeking comfort from the brunette.

Alice scoffs. A painful annoyed breathless laugh escapes her at this. "So, the whole time then."

Chris shrugs apologetically in response. "You didn't hide it well."

"Because I was never hiding it from her," Alice admits sounding more defeated than anything else. She has never hidden how she feels about Claire. Carlos, LJ and K-Mart used to joke and pick on her for it, but she didn't care.

"Yet she still doesn't know," Chris remarks his gaze going back to Claire for a moment. Alice shrugs not entirely sure if he's right or not. Like she said Alice has never hidden how she feels for Claire. It's obvious for everyone to see. It's why Wesker targeted her. Why Jill made both Redfield siblings high-priority targets for capture. Why Issacs is bringing such a large army to the Tower. They all knew how much Alice cared for Claire. "My sister has never been good at noticing when people are hitting on her," Chris says as if trying to reassure her on the matter.

But there was no way Claire didn't know Alice was hitting on her. Not with what happened between them.

Once again Alice shrugs. "It doesn't matter now anyway. She's with Doc. There's nothing else to say."

Chris's eyes narrow at her. "Doesn't she at least deserve to know that she has a choice."

"I don't know anyone who deserves to have their relationship shattered because their friend is also in love with them." Chris seems almost taken aback when Alice says the words that have been at the tip of her tongue for so long. Words they both know are true. It's the first time she's said them out loud. She admitted it to herself a long time ago. Back while they were still trapesing around the desert. But never out loud.

She never would have thought that the first time she would be saying them out loud never mind to someone else wouldn't be to Claire. No, it's to her brother. That thought almost makes Alice laugh at how pathetic it sounds. Laugh or cry. She's not entirely sure which one would win at the moment.

"Claire is happy with him. Me going over there and confessing everything to her will just hurt her more. She will be forced to choose and like you said I never hid it well... she knows I care for her. And she still picked to be with him." That confession hurt more. Claire knows how she feels and still hooking up with Doc.

Again, Alice has to internally scream at herself that she and Claire weren't anything to each other. So, what is there was always this tension between them. So, what if their eyes always sought each other in the convoy. How they would always be close to each other. How every touch and gesture between them lasted a little too long to be friendly. If their words were more flirty then kind.

So, what if they kissed before going to steal the helicopter.

The desert was hell. Every day a battle to survive. Never mind the stress Claire was under to keep the forty people under her protection fed watered and safe. It's stressful. She can forgive Claire for looking to have a moment where she didn't have to think about everything.

Is that all their kiss was...

Does Claire even remember it.

"She didn't pick. She didn't know you were an option." Chris argues back and Alice can agree with him on that. When Claire was telling her about Doc it wasn't the way you tell someone you're letting down. Or Alice assumes that is how people would do it.

In Claire's eyes, there was no reason to pick out of the two of them because there was no Alice and Claire. Only Claire and Doc.

"We have an army to defeat, and I then have to go and face the horrors of the Hive. Why kick the hornet's nest and mess with everyone's head." Chris goes to argue with her again. "We don't need any distractions going into this fight Chris. Claire can't be distracted during this battle. It's too dangerous to not be focused." Seemingly it seems like Chris concedes to her point by going quiet. Nothing like getting his protective instincts over Claire going to get him to shut up. It's nice to see that hasn't changed in the few months they have been apart. "Besides... I'll probably be dead in a few hours. Best not destroy a relationship in minuscule chance I manage to survive."

"Alice." Chris goes to say more. Maybe argue or plead with her. Give her a grand speech on why she shouldn't look at it like that.

But in the truth, she's tired. So, tired. One way or another this will all be over soon. "I've accepted. I've made peace with it. Please let it rest." She hates how there is a pleading in her voice. Almost begging. The last time she had begged someone was Jill. Alice playfully nudges his shoulder. "Come on. We have work to do."

Chris nods and with one last look towards Claire, she and Chris go back to setting up the traps.

If she had looked back for a few more seconds she would have seen how Claire watched her leave.