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Jill watched Chris a moment, noting the way he kept an arm thrown protectively over his stomach even while asking Sherry if she was okay. The girl had been glued to Chris’s side since they left the tunnel and found their way to a small, rundown gas station on the outskirts of Stoneville.
Jill was lucky enough to be able to use the pay phone outside to call them a ride, but only thanks to Claire having procured a few quarters from the station owner.
“He said he didn’t mind as long as we kept him out of whatever we’ve got going on,” she said with a shrug, dried blood still stuck in a clump along her hairline.
Jill found her way back to Chris and the other’s afterward. They’d stuck to the side of the small building, not wanting to scare anyone off or draw unwanted attention with their appearance. She surveyed their group, noting the dust, dirt, and other bits stuck to each of them, and let her lip quirk at the reminder of how close they’d almost come to not making it out.
“So,” she said suddenly, seating herself beside a quiet Chris. He had one arm around Sherry’s shoulders now, allowing her to watch him and the space around them quietly, most likely still processing everything that had just happened. Jill felt a small ache in her chest at what would become of the girl, once they got out of town. “Still want to die peacefully in Wesker’s arms?”
It was still raw between them, the betrayal, their teammates deaths, but her and Chris had been working together too long to not be comfortable opening up to each other about those things. Joking around to approach the subjects that might be too hard to bring up otherwise.
Knowing all of this, it wasn’t a surprise when Chris only grimaced, a small spark of amusement in his expression.
And then the Rookie opened his mouth.
“I mean, if his arms are anything like yours, I get the appeal,” Leon said with a lazy, appreciative look at Chris before the implications of his words seemed to hit him. His expression quickly fell into one of embarrassment as he turned his gaze downward, effectively hiding beneath his dark curls.
Barely a moment of silence passed before Chris was laughing. A loud and sudden noise that seemed to come naturally, as if they were back in the S.T.A.R.S office riling each other up before a shift, and Jill couldn’t help but smile. Even Claire’s ever serious expression softened at the sound.
Unfortunately, the action had Chris grunting in pain not long afterwards, clutching once more at his stomach. Jill knew a fractured rib when she saw one, and she didn't envy him the pain.
“You’re funny, Rookie,” Chris said with a huff as he settled himself once more. He spared an apologetic glance at Sherry, having jostled her in his amusement, before looking back at Leon, expression unusually soft and open. “I like that.”
Leon seemed to perk up at the words, smiling shyly with a pointed nod before drifting his eyes back to the road in front of them.
Jill couldn’t help but raise a brow, pushing at Chris’s shoulder as gently as she could. “Looks like you found yourself a volunteer, Redfield.”
Chris only rolled his eyes in return, but Jill didn’t miss the way his gaze flickered back to the rookie, now talking to Claire as she pointed out a piece of something most definitely flesh on his uniform. Leon responded by brushing the offending chunk to the ground, glaring at it in disgust.
Chris didn’t say anything after that, but Jill could still read him like a book anyway. This time, however, she kept quiet, and looked down to Sherry instead, who’d curled closer into Chris, eyes closed.
Jill felt a similar exhaustion wash over her then, and she let her head fall back, eyes skyward. The morning sun was warm on her skin, and she closed her eyes, reveling in its embrace.
Maybe they'd be okay after all.