•Lighter Than Air•

•Chapter 25•

Though, tensions were rising back in the rental home of Leon and Claire. It seemed as though Chris was getting more and more tense as time went on. Genevieve had begged Leon not to tell Chris she told him about the mission, in fear of Chris becoming upset with her before he left on that very important mission. Leon was reluctant, but still obliged her wishes. He understood that Sherry and Genevieve shared similar struggles with anxiety, but they handled it in very different ways. He kept quiet.. waiting for Chris to say something.

Chris, on that particular day, was more anxious than normal. He had his things packed, which caught the attention of Claire. When she realized, she got up and went to the living room to confront her brother. He was standing by the window in the living room, looking out into the nature of the outside world. Leon was sitting at the counter in the kitchen while Genevieve and Sherry were talking on the couch together.

"Chris. Your things are packed. Are you planning to go somewhere?" Claire questioned him.

For a moment, Chris was silent, but he would respond to her. "I've been called for a mission." After the days of silence, he finally broke the news.

"A mission? You're not going to be here for Billy's court date, then? What's the mission? Where are you going?" Claire asked, stepping forward to place a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm going back to Spencer's Mansion with Jill." Chris stated plainly.

"What? You mean that place wasn't taken off the map with Raccoon?" Claire's eyes went wide at what she was hearing. Leon finally looked over his shoulder towards the pair. Genevieve and Sherry's talk had gone mute. "What about Genevieve? Isn't she going with you?"

"No. I'm leaving her here with the both of you. She's only nineteen, I'm not willing to expose her to something like Spencer's Mansion yet." He said. "Jill is going to be arriving here to come get me. So, we can leave for our mission."

"You're serious? And you just told us about this today?" Claire's voice had risen, which was an indicator of her frustration. Everyone in the room knew that sign very well.

"I didn't need any of you guys to know about this just yet." Chris said. "You've been busy with your mission for Billy and Rebecca. I wasn't going to take your focus off of that for something I can handle. Jill and I handled Spencer's Mansion before and we can do it again. Her and I can get through anything at this point. It shouldn't be anything to worry about. All I need you to do is look after Genevieve while I'm gone." Chris told her, putting on his stern military sounding voice. As though he was trying to shut down his emotional side. He became very technical under certain stresses, especially when it came to family.

"I  just wish you had told me sooner. It's not that I don't trust you or your strength. I don't like it when you keep these things from me, Chris. This is serious. You could really get hurt out there. I don't know why you would have waited until the last minute." Claire sighed, squeezing his shoulder. "Be careful out there, okay?"

"You know I will." Chris stated.

There was a heavy silence that came over the group as the Redfield siblings finished their back and forth. Leon was surprised things hadn't gotten louder with the both of them. It seemed as though the only person Claire would back down to was her brother. She respected him too much to nag him as though he were a  child. Although, it was clear there was another person who was heavily affected by these changes. Genevieve had been clutching the fabrics of her pants so tight that her knuckles lightened in color.

"Genevieve, are you alright?" Sherry asked quietly, wrapping her cousin up in her arms.

The girl in purple didn't even take a moment to respond with her words. It was as though she wouldn't be able to speak without letting her tears run free down her face. She buried her face further into Sherry's shoulder, clinging to her while her body trembled with anxiety. She couldn't imagine this being her final reaction with her father. It very well may not have been. However, there was always that anxiety when Chris left for missions. Chris was her only parental figure and the thought of losing him was earth shattering.

The moment Chris heard Sherry ask Genevieve that question, he finally turned around to face them. He saw his daughter shaking and trying her best to keep her breathing regular. A tight frown crossed his face while he moved forward, sitting besides the two girls. Chris made a motion for Sherry to let go of Genevieve. She obliged and Chris took her place. Genevieve seemed to pause when it happened, slowly lifting her reddening eyes. They were glossy with tears , almost reflecting as though they were mirrors or made of glass.

"Listen, Vieve. I'll keep in contact with you. Keep your phone on you, okay?" Chris pressed a kiss to his daughter's forehead.

"You better not die on me, dad.." That was all the girl had managed to say to her father.

"Are you kidding? I'm a Redfield. I'll never die, you hear me?" Chris cracked a smile toward her, trying to get a humorous reaction.

Though, Genevieve didn't seem to budge at his joke. She knew death was a serious thing ever since she was a little girl. Ever since the first loss, she was made aware of just how possible it was for anyone to die at any given moment. That realization horrified her and rocked her to her very core.

"I trust you, dad... Just please. Please, be careful." She told him.

Chris was about to respond, but there was a knock on the door before he could. He looked up for only a moment, then gave his daughter's shoulder a firm squeeze. Then, he got up and moved to the door, opening it. The one there was no other than Jill Valentine herself. Chris's iconic partner in... well, anything but crime. Genevieve stood up and looked at her, walking over and standing besides Chris while they greeted her.

"Chris, Genevieve. Good to see the both of you." Jill greeted them, looking over their shoulders. "Also hey, Claire, Leon, Sherry!" She waved at them.

The other three family members gave short waves, all seeming a little too shaken to actually speak.

"Jill?" Genevieve reached forward and took her hand in hers. "Take care of my dad for me, okay? Can you promise me that?" Genevieve asked, squeezing her hand in hers.

The woman paused for a moment, before chuckling and smiling at the daughter of her partner. "Of course, Genevieve. I always do. You can trust me." She returned the squeeze of her hand as though to make that promise to her.

"Thanks, Jill..." Genevieve pulled her hands back, looking to the side while she backed away from Jill and Chris.

"Well then. Ready, partner?" Jill looked towards Chris with that signature smile on her face.

"I was born ready." Chris responded, sending a salute goodbye to Genevieve before leaving the cabin with Jill.

Once again, silence fell over the group. The first sound that was heard was Genevieve taking a deep breath. She raised her hands and let them fall with her exhale. She turned back to Leon, Claire, and Sherry. The only thing she did was give them a smile as she retreated into the room that her and Sherry were sharing for the time being. Claire moved to go after her, but Sherry took hold of her arm.

"She just needs some alone time right now. Let her be.." Sherry whispered.

Claire paused, but gave a quiet nod, looking back towards the window as she watched the car Jill and Chris got into drive off. This was going to be an interesting event... a sense of dread filled her chest as though she knew something bad was going to happen. This was a really serious mission if Chris didn't let Genevieve follow. There was more to this. She just knew it. Something was right around the corner.