(You are) The Reason

Catching up

"Sherry, Jake.. why don't we all go and sit down, we all need to catch up." Claire offers after Sherry pulls away from hugging Jake, she was a little too shocked to see Jake that she didn't even register what Claire even said. "Sherry?" she turns around to look at her raising an eyebrow in question and Chris shakes his head at the look on her face. She wasn't even close to listening to what Claire had just said. Jake smiles shaking his head as well. "I agree, we should definitely all sit together to talk and catch up." He says and Sherry realizes what Claire had originally asked as she rubs the back of her neck sheepishly. "Yes of course we should, sorry I didn't hear you mention it the first time Claire." she says as Claire smiles shaking her head. "No it's okay. I often don't listen well if I'm too busy staring at the boy I like." She says and at this both Sherry and Jake turn shades of red looking away from each other, she wasn't sure if Claire was right or if they were both just not expecting her to say that.

However, Jake.. meant a lot to her and she was falling apart thinking about him, Leon, and Claire. Guess she'd have to see for herself when they spend more time together.

After Sherry and Jake recover from their shy reactions to Claire outright exposing Sherry's behavior, the four of them find a four chaired table to sit at. Sherry looks at all of them still surprised that they're even here with her, she'd felt like it was just a very good dream. "So, sherry. How's the agency treating you?" Claire asks looking at Sherry who shrugs holding her iced coffee in her hands "Well, much better now that I have a new boss. Lately I've been off my normal work ethic though, I've been clumsy, forgetful... I haven't slept well in weeks." Sherry explains and Jake feels warm all over, he isn't the only one who's suffering from missing her. She feels the exact same way, he turns to look at her unsure what is coming over him but his hand lightly cups her hand and she meets his eyes. Claire looks in between the two of them before she looks at Chris "This is the way two people who are in love and not together because they're too afraid to recognize their feelings act." She explains to which he nods before he rolls his eyes with a smirk earning her attention and she raises her eyebrow in amusement "What? Why are you smiling?" She asked to which he shakes his head "Reminds me of you and Steve, you two were very much the same way they are now." Chris says and Claire smiles in more of a reminiscent way as she remembers Steve, he was only 17 when they'd met and he was the first and only man she had interest in before Leon.

Chris notices the look on her face and he hugs her close with his arm around her shoulder resting his chin against her head "I know sis, you miss him. I know exactly how you feel." He assures her to which she smiles softly looking up at him leaning against him, she looks back at Sherry and Jake who realize where they are and finally stop the staring contest they were having between each other. "Claire, how have you been since Raccoon City? I imagine it was so strange returning to normal life for you." Sherry says and Claire smiles shaking her head at Sherry's complete wonder "Hun, after me and Leon assured you were safe I continued to fight off these monsters and me and Leon met up after shortly after saving my brother here." Claire explains and Jake looks at Chris "So, you were kidnapped? How did you meet Leon then Chris? because you two seem very close." Jake comments and Chris gives a tight smile "Yeah, we are indeed close but we did have a fallout in 2013 when he stopped me from killing Ada who was responsible for infecting and killing all of my men. Leon knew what Ada was doing and he still protected her." Sherry frowns softly as Chris knowing he and Leon were stronger than a girl coming between them. "However, it passes as Leon said 'Look Chris, me and you want the same thing... I know you'll do the right thing.' and from there it was a tense atmosphere but we were okay, Ada wasn't gonna be the reason me and Leon stopped talking." He says and Sherry is relieved to hear this, Jake leans forwards in his chair earning all of their attention.

"What's up Jake?" Chris asks seeing the look of deep rooted confusion on his face, Jake thinks about what he's gonna say for a moment before he looks at Chris and Claire looks at him wondering why he looks so familiar. "The woman you were chasing.. was she wearing a blue dress with a red scarf around her neck by any chance?" He asked and Chris furrows his eyebrows at him "... Yes. It was Ada." Chris says, he's sure of it. Jake shakes his head at that further surprising him "Mm.. Sorry, that's not true chief. That lady with the blue dress isn't Ada, Ada would've never caused you your men." Jake says to which Chris narrows his eyes "What are you saying, it was Ada. Same face and voice. Unless you're suggesting it was a twin." Chris says to which Jake nods his head mulling it over "Or a clone.. it is Simmons who was behind all the disaster in China." Jake says to which Claire has a flashback to when she said she didn't believe Simmons ever had good intentions, she looks at Sherry offering her a hug. "Oh, sherry. I know exactly how hard this must be for you." Jake looks at Sherry wondering if there's more to her background with Simmons that he didn't know yet. Chris thinks about what he says before he takes his phone out of his pocket pressing the call button.