•Thicker Than Blood•

•Chapter 21•

"We've got to make sure this place stays dead. Put an end to this. One step at a time." Chris spoke, Genevieve clinging to his back with her arms around his shoulders.

"Crazy that a medical facility could have weapons to harm people. And I thought I'd seen the worst the world could throw at us..." Claire mumbled, hand in hand with Sherry who was between her and Leon.

"Medical facilities are just a cover. At least in the terms of Umbrella. They've been creating bio weapons. Even after the T-Virus outbreak. We should get rid of this place before they start up again. While we still can." Chris moved into a room, using Wesker's keycard he snagged off of his corpse.

"Suppose that's for the best." Claire said, squeezing Sherry's hand.

Once they got into the room, there were a series of different buttons, keyboards, cameras, monitors, and pretty much anything technical that could be imagined. Chris stepped forward, scanning over the various buttons and commands. Soon enough, he would find what he was looking for. Self destruct. In case of deadly emergencies. Just like the situation back in Raccoon City. Yet they hadn't had the chance to destroy it before the entirety of the staff was mauled and undead.

"We've got ten minutes. Fall back and head out." Chris typed in the command and clicked the button.

Just as the timer began to tick, the group headed out of the control room. Red lights began to flash as the iconic Umbrella Corporation sirens began to cry out. The building cried in agony through the bright red lights as they rushed. Leon quickly scooped Sherry into his arms and took Claire by the hand as they ran. Despite the ache in his shoulder, he pulled both of them. Determined to keep them safe.

Chris followed close behind with Genevieve on his back. She weakly squeezed his shoulders, her head between his shoulder blades. Tears weakly dripped down her cheeks as she squeezed her eyes shut. Her body shook with the shock and fear of the entire situation. Where was she to go? After multiple halls and stairways, they finally made their way out of the building. They crashed through the entrance and booked it down the various streets and alleys in an attempt to find the pickup.

Once they found it, Claire got into the driver's seat. Leon got in the passengers. Sherry, Chris, and Genevieve managed to pile in the back despite it being a tight squeeze. Chris sat behind the driver's seat, Genevieve was in the middle while leaning on Chris, Sherry sat behind the passengers seat. She reached her hand out the middle to hold Leon's hand while she sat behind him.

While they set off down the road, the facility burst into flames. It first broke at the bottom, then the middle came crashing down with the top of the building. As it fell, it crumbled into nothing but a pile of rubble and flaming ash. All of the equipment was broken. All of the bodies were incinerated or crushed beneath the rubble. Sherry, Genevieve, and Chris watched as the building crumbled into dust.

"This won't stop Umbrella completely. But, it's surely a stepping stone in doing so." Chris said, his arm wrapped around Genevieve.

"...what's going to happen now?" Genevieve asked. "Where am I going to go?"

"I think it's best you stay with us for a little while, Genevieve. Till we figure something out for you." Claire told her, glancing at her through the rear view mirror.

"You would do that?" She asked, her eyes widening in disbelief.

"I mean. You know us. We wouldn't leave a freshly orphaned kid behind." She made a head motion toward Sherry. "Besides. You seem to get along with my brother."

"Oh. Chris? Yeah... he was the first one I saw when I got to the cell. Sherry was still unconscious, so we talked... he didn't blame me for what was happening. When I didn't have the words, he talked to Sherry... I guess I felt safe." She explained.

With those words, Chris rubbed her arm lightly, to which she leaned into it. The girl hadn't felt a genuine parental connection in so long. Even with her mother having her revelation  at the last moment, she had been scared all of those years. Horrified of what was to come. Horrified of what Umbrella could have done to them. Even if that could still happen after this... Chris made her feel safer. Based on his stories, he survived them so many times. It gave a feeling of comfort to know that.

Claire watched them in the rear view mirror. Smiling, she reached over and set her hand on top of Leon's. Leon didn't say a word. Raising his eyebrows, he finally took a glance over towards her. Claire had a smile on her face and a sparkle in her eye while she watched the road. Things may finally start looking up after this. In a quiet motion, she entangled her fingers with his. He could feel his face erupt into a gentle warmth.

Despite the rough situation, they had been brought closer once again. There was something new between the both of them. Something neither of them seemed to say out loud. Everyone else seemed to notice it right away. Other people seemed to see it more before the two of them would. A bond that was unspoken and unbroken. With her fingers tangled within his hand, Leon gave her hand a gentle squeeze from beneath.

Sherry seemed to perk up, looking at their hands before glancing between them and Chris and Genevieve a few times. As if she was asking if they were seeing the same thing she was. Chris glanced toward them, giving a playful eye roll and a side smile. Another nod was shortly followed by this action. Genevieve covered her mouth, covering a small giggle that dared to escape. Sherry pumped her fist in silence, as a quiet "I knew it!"

"Don't think I won't see you back there." Claire suddenly said.

"Eep! Sorry, Claire!" Sherry laughed as soon as she was caught.

"Hah. Don't be, Sher. I understand. Trust me. I do.."