Chapter 18: Unresolved Issues

Chris stood outside the bathroom door, seething. He felt the old anger welling up inside of him; and barely restrained himself from battering the door down and yanking his sister out of the shower and away from that monster. If they were trying to be quiet, they were failing miserably; Claire's moaning could be heard by anyone walking through the hallway. Pushing his hands against his ears to block out the noises, Chris walked into the living room with his teeth grinding in his mouth, thoroughly annoyed and disgusted. Sheva was awake now, although barely; Chris felt bad for her. Before she'd picked them up in New York three days ago, he knew that she'd been on surveillance duty outside of a Tri-Cell hot spot; and probably hadn't slept until last night.

Still, she smiled at him as he walked into the room, only raising a thin brow at the sight of his hands cupped over his ears.

"Morning, tiger," Sheva said sweetly, fluttering her thick lashes at him. Chris' stomach gave a queasy lurch as he lowered his arms and plopped down on the couch beside her. Sheva snuggled in close to him, and he kissed the top of her head lightly.

"Good morning, sunshine. Get enough sleep?" Chris asked her, trying to forget about his sister and Wesker in the bathroom. She giggled, and sat up giving him an amused grin.

"Why are you wearing nothing but your shoulder holster and boxers?" She asked, brushing her bangs back.

"What? I think I look damn good like this!" Chris chuckled as Sheva rolled her eyes.

"I wasn't complaining; you do look sexy... I was just wondering." She stood up, and stretched, and Chris let his eyes wander over her curves in appreciation. Even just wearing simple plaid pajama pants and a black tank top, Sheva practically oozed sex appeal. He was happy to note that she wasn't wearing a bra, either; and that made him smile.

Rebecca walked into the room, her face an odd shade of red; she looked embarrassed. So she'd heard them, too.

"I know. It's disgusting," Chris said to her, and Sheva gave him a confused look. "Go into the hallway, you'll know what I'm talking about." Sheva did as she was instructed, but instead of turning away from the sounds, she followed them to the bathroom, and after a moment's hesitation, burst through the doorway and they all heard the toilet flush. Racing back out, giggling, Sheva quickly sat back down on the sofa; and Rebecca and Chris began laughing.

There was a startled yelp from his sister, and they heard the water stop. After a few minutes, Claire walked out, totally red-faced and bewildered, followed closely by Wesker. Neither one of them looked the least bit amused, which made all three of them burst out with laughter. Claire gave a loud, "HUMPH!" before stalking into the guest bedroom, and Wesker just gave a small smirk as he walked into the living room uneasily; he looked unsure of what he was supposed to do.

"That was...amusing." Wesker said, brushing his wet hair back with his fingers. "Does anyone have a cigarette?"

"I do. I'll come with you; we have to smoke outside here...the Nazi's have their rules," Chris said, standing up. He was in a better mood, after Sheva's shenanigans, and Rebecca stuck her tongue out at him as they disappeared through the front door; probably for the Nazi comment.

Swinging his coat over his shoulders, Chris shivered as he pulled out two Marlboros and lit them simultaneously before handing one to Wesker. They stood for a minute, Chris blowing smoke rings absently.

"I didn't know you smoked," Chris began, trying to break the silence.

"I don't, actually. I needed to talk to you about your sister. I heard your teeth grinding outside the bathroom door; you still don't like this, do you?" Wesker said more than asked.

"Can you blame me? After all, we've never liked each other, have we? Even when you were my captain, you hated me and I hated you. I wasn't even that fond of Kennedy with my sister, but you? You poisoned my sister, Wesker. I don't know why she feels like this about you, I don't know what went on between you two a year ago, but I know that everything you've ever touched turns to ashes. I'm concerned for her well-being, not to mention Allie's.

"But," Chris said, before drawing on his cigarette. "I love my sister. Kennedy bailed on her last night, shortly after we got back here. I wasn't going to stomp on her heart by telling you to get bent and fuck off with my nine mill. What I'm doing isn't for you, it's for her. If you hurt her, in any way, Wesker, I'll kill you." Chris' eyes were icy as they bore into Wesker's fire-red orbs, but the tyrant didn't look away.

"I can't change the past, Christopher. But I can give you my word that in the future I will not repeat any mistakes. I love Claire and my daughter. During the time that she was in cryo-stasis, I had so many hopes for our future. Uroboros was the worst mistake of my life; my biggest failure. Making an enemy of you was another. For the record, I never hated you when you were my point man. Despite your complete and utter disrespect of my command, I was quite proud of you," Wesker paused to draw on his cigarette, and his eyes followed a passing car. "I came here hoping to find forgiveness from you."

"That's asking a lot..." Chris said, his anger level rising.

"I realize that," Wesker sighed. "Yet I can't take Claire and Allison from here without your consent. All my life, I was led by others unknowingly. Spencer made sure that I was made to be as I am today; with only a small portion of my humanity intact. Everything I've ever done was mapped out carefully for me, years before I ever made the first steps into becoming something less human.

"If it hadn't been for your sister, I would have lost the last shreds of my humanity forever." Wesker looked thoughtful for a moment, but if he had something else to say, it never came from his lips.

"So you want me to forgive everything you've done, all the hurt and pain you've caused, and then smile and wave while you disappear with my sister and niece? Just because you say you're sorry?" Chris lashed out suddenly, his face flooding red with anger. "Forest, Enrico, Kenneth...Bravo team, half of Alpha team; they died because of you! There is so much blood on your hands, and so many lies on your tongue! I don't trust you." Chris tossed his cigarette over the railing, and stood nose to nose with Wesker, who immediately mimicked the posture.

"I'd step back, Christopher," Wesker's voice was low and menacing; but Chris didn't back down. He felt his nostrils flare, and the adrenaline was coursing through his veins fast and hot, like a venom. Stepping forward, Chris used his wider shoulders, tottering forward and swaying slightly back and forth, causing Wesker to step back.

"Make me," The challenge that issued from Chris' lips was strained, his barely contained rage burning in the ice blue of his eyes. Wesker brought his hands up and shoved against Chris' large torso, and in return Chris shoved the smaller man against the railing. Everything was in slow motion for a moment, and then all of a sudden Wesker swung a fist into Chris' chin, sending the bigger man sprawling to the ground.

Wasting no time, Chris was on his feet again, his body lunging forward. Catching the tyrant off-guard, the pair tumbled over the railing into the snow-covered lawn, fists swinging and tempers flaring. Wesker wasn't using his full strength, which further irked Chris. It was as if the bastard were toying with him, giving a small turn of his lips as he once again bested Chris with a devastating blow to his face. As Chris staggered back, he heard his sister scream Wesker's name.

Chris paid Claire no mind as he once again vaulted himself off the ground at Wesker, but instead of engaging the charge, Wesker side-stepped easily. Again and again, Chris swung at the tyrant's form, only to find the space empty. Chris was panting, sweat dropping off him in rivers; but he wasn't finished with this!

"Hold still, you fucking coward!" Chris growled out. Claire's screaming had brought Carlos and Barry out of the house, and the pair were holding his sister back.

"Chris!" Sheva screamed as she burst through the door, and before anyone could stop her, she had vaulted herself over the railing and effectively placed herself in front of Wesker. Walking forward, Chris made to push her aside, but the stubborn girl stood her ground against him, bringing her hands to rest on his chest. "Chris, stop this!"

His senses coming back to him slowly, he grabbed her hands off his chest, and pushed her back slightly. Still, Sheva didn't seem swayed by his refusal to listen to reason as she again stepped in his way. When Chris went right, she stepped in front of him, when he went left, it was the same. Pissed, but a little more in control of himself, Chris pointed over her to Wesker.

"This isn't over, Wesker," Chris said, his breath coming out in great white clouds in the cold winter air. Stalking back up the stairs, Chris didn't bother to look behind him as he shouldered past the crowd on the porch and into the house. He could sense Claire following him, feel the anger emanating from her.

"What the hell was that about, Chris?!" Claire asked angrily. Rounding on her, Chris could feel the residual anger rising again, and before he could control himself, he'd backed his sister against a wall.

His eyes burned down at her, and he put a hand on either side of her head against the wall, leaning in close until their noses were touching. "I want him out of my sight, Claire," His voice sounded foreign to him, too harsh, but he didn't care right now. "Go. I'm done dealing with it, done!" He could tell that the words had hurt her as he watched her eyes, so like his own, flood with tears, but Chris' anger refused to ebb. Turning, he walked down the hallway and closeted himself in the bathroom, locking the door behind him. Looking in the mirror, he examined his face.

Chris' jaw was clenched tightly, lines of fury etched on his usually happy face. Chris tried to make them retreat, focusing on his breathing as he gently touched the bottom of his chin. A small bruise was starting there already, and he cursed. His blood was starting to cool in his veins, and he felt guilt start to encroach in on his senses. Hands shaking slightly, he turned the cold water on, and splashed his face.

Chris raised his gaze back up to his reflection.

He didn't like who he saw looking back at him.