Thunder crashed somewhere near the mountains, illuminating the dark sky with a short flash. It wasn't that late yet; the sun would set in half an hour but the clouds kept light away from the area. It was already raining in the mountain area and it was just a matter of time before the storm would reach the forest. Weather forecasts had said that the storm would miss Raccoon City, but at the moment, the forecasts appeared to be wrong. The clouds were moving in the direction of the city.

"Oh man... If that thunder comes this way any more, I'm so out of here."

Wesker glanced at Brad who was sitting next to him, flying the helicopter. The STARS captain had ordered a team to investigate the area after some locals had complained about hearing strange noises from the mountains at night. His team included himself, their pilot Brad Vickers, Barry Burton and Chris Redfield. Barry and Chris were in the back of the helicopter, keeping an eye on the forest beneath them.

"We have time," He replied calmly to the pilot. "The storm is advancing faster than I expected, but we can complete this investigation and get out before it hits this area. Just relax and concentrate on flying."

The blond turned to look at the two men behind him. Barry was staring out from the window on the left side of the helicopter, scanning the area with binoculars. Chris was sitting next to the open door, also looking down.

"Anything yet?"

Chris didn't react, but the other man turned, shaking his head. "Nothing, captain. I can't see anything out of ordinary down there. Maybe we should check closer to the mountains?"

Wesker adjusted his radio receiver. Due to the noise of the helicopter, they couldn't speak normally.

"How about you, Chris?"

The dark-haired man still showed no reaction to the question. The captain waited for a moment, then tried asking again. When he still got no answer, he removed his seat belt and moved carefully to the back of the helicopter.

"Chris? Didn't you hear me?" He yelled next to Chris' ear.

The younger man spun around, looking startled. "What? I didn't hear anything..."

He glanced at his radio, then cursed something that Wesker couldn't, of course, hear. He tried pressing something on the radio, but then shook his head, moving closer to the captain.

"Sorry, my radio seems to be dead. What did you say?" He yelled back.

"I asked if you'd seen anything down there!?"

"No, sir! There's nothing on this side!" Chris yelled over the noise. Wesker nodded, moving back to his seat.

"Barry?" He called over the radio, grabbing his seat as the helicopter shook violently in the strong wind.

"Chris seems to be having problems with his radio. Could you relay my messages to him if needed?"

"No problem," came the reply. "I'll take care of... Wait, what's that?"

Wesker glanced at the back of the helicopter, only to see Barry pointing down at something. Chris had obviously also spotted the same thing as he was leaning outside the door a bit. The STARS captain turned to stare through the front window, trying to see. The visibility on the area was bad, but then the thing caught his eye. On the ground beneath them lay the remains of something.

"I'd say that was a deer," Barry commented over the radio. "But... what the heck did that? It looks like some beast attacked and ate it, but what kind of beast does that kind of damage? Take a look at this, captain."

Wesker took the binoculars that Barry offered and studied the scene below them.

"I have no idea. Too bad we don't have time to land and take a closer look. I still want to see what's on that hill there," the captain said, pointing at a small hill in the forest further away.

Brad looked a bit nervous. He wanted to get back to the base as fast as he could, and was ready to turn back to the city immediately. Unfortunately for him, his boss was quite determined to check something, and Brad really didn't feel like objecting to Wesker's orders while the man was sitting next to him. The storm scared him, however, so he decided to at least give it a try.

"Captain Wesker, sir..." He started carefully. "If we go further, the storm will get us..."

As if to confirm Brad's words, the wind suddenly grabbed the helicopter. It shook violently, making Barry drop the binoculars as Wesker was handing them back to him. The captain glanced behind his seat, only to see Chris apparently cursing something and trying to stay in his seat.

"All right. I think I'm starting to agree with that. Contact headquarters and tell them we're heading back soon. And fly another round over that dead deer. I want to check it again..."

The expression on Brad's face showed relief. He didn't have much time to think about getting back, though, for the wind continued pressing at the helicopter, pushing them lower.

The pilot fought with all his power, but a big three suddenly appeared under the helicopter and almost hit them. Barry's binoculars went flying across the floor, hitting Chris on the ankle before flying out of the open door.

Barry yelled something Wesker could barely hear over the radio. The captain frowned slightly, turning to look behind him again.

"What? I can't hear! Just tell Chris to close that door before he falls!"

The other man nodded, obviously trying to pass the message to the younger man. He didn't get a chance to really do so, as Brad lost control of the helicopter. It had suddenly started to rain, and the visibility went from bad to zero.

"Captain! I can't control...!"

Wesker didn't hear the rest. He stared calmly into the rain, holding himself still in his seat with one hand. He evaluated the situation, and came only to one conclusion.

We can't get back in this storm, he thought, still keeping a cold expression on his face. And even if we could, Brad is probably too scared to try. I do know he's skilled enough to land this thing in any condition, though...

His gaze found an opening in the darkness, and he pointed it out for Brad.

"There are no trees over there. Concentrate. Get us down in one piece."

Brad looked mostly terrified. "Land? There? But, I... We can't land here! Weren't you and Barry just talking about... that there's something down there and..."

A cold glare from the older man silenced the pilot. He didn't have more time to argue anyway, for another strong gust of wind threw the helicopter around like a dead leaf.

Wesker glanced at the two other men again while tightening his seat belt.

"Barry?" He said over the radio. "Tell Chris to tie himself down. We're going to try landing."

Barry answered something, then tried to move to give the message to Chris again, with no real success. The younger man hadn't even heard the order to close the door, but with the rain beating against the helicopter, he was trying to close it anyway.

Chris cursed his dead radio again while struggling with the door. He couldn't reach it too well and loosened his seat belt a bit to give himself more room to work. He could see Barry yelling something at him, but due to the storm and the helicopter's noise, he couldn't hear a thing.

He clung to the door as the helicopter shook again. He glanced down, then spun around to yell at Brad's direction.

"Hey! Can't you see the damn trees, you idiot? We'll hit those if you don't get this thing back up! UP! Now!"

Wesker noticed the trees too, and said something into the radio. This gave Brad enough time to evade, but the wind caught the helicopter again, throwing it at the ground.

"Oh shit, we're gonna crash!"

The STARS captain leaned over, grabbing Brad's shoulder. "No we're not. We're past that area where I told you to land, but you can try that area there... Just get us down. Now."

Brad took a deep breath, preparing to land. Outside of simulated situations, he'd never landed a helicopter in such bad weather. This time it was for real, and he was very sure they were going to die. The only thing that kept him from totally panicking was the fact that Wesker seemed to trust him. He grabbed the controls tighter, trying to concentrate.

You can do this, he told to himself. This is what you're good at, and you can land this thing anywhere...

The wind seemed to stop for a moment, and it gave him enough time to try to land. However, just as he got them to about 20 feet from the ground the wind picked up again, throwing the helicopter violently to the side.

There was a snapping sound in the back of the helicopter, and then Barry yelled "Chris!"

Wesker grabbed his seat with both hands, quickly turning to check what was happening behind him. All he had time to see was that Chris' seat belt had snapped, and the man was now hanging from the door, his feet outside the helicopter.

"Get him back in, now!"

Barry was already trying to move to grab the younger man, but the wind shook the helicopter again, and Chris' hands slipped. He hit himself against the door, then dropped.

Brad was fighting to regain control, and partly succeeded. The wind died for a second again, giving him enough time to land. When the helicopter hit the ground, he finally breathed again. He hadn't even noticed he had been holding his breath. Slowly, he turned the engine off and let go of the controls.

"...Wow... We're still alive?"

Then, the ground seemed to give away, and it felt like they were sinking. Wesker glanced around hastily, then grabbed his seat belt and opened the buckle.

"Congratulations on the good landing. However, we seem to be in the middle of a swamp. Everybody out, now!"

Barry yelled something about Chris while climbing out into the rain. The ground was indeed giving way, and muddy, thick water was flowing into the helicopter. Brad didn't need orders - he was trying to get out already.

Wesker climbed out, only to find himself knee-deep in the swamp. He stared through the rain, noticing the trees they'd barely evaded earlier.

"There's stable ground that way... Move! Get over there!"

Barry was about to object, but the captain wasn't done yet. "I'll find Chris! Get yourselves out of here already!"

Before the other man had time to answer, Wesker had vanished into the rain. Barry shook his head, then grabbed Brad - who was looking quite shocked - by the arm and dragged him towards the direction the STARS captain had pointed out.

Wesker made his way through the swamp to the spot where they had tried to land earlier. The rain was beating him hard, drenching him, but he ignored it. His clothes were already wet from the waist down due to the water that had gotten into the helicopter.

Chris... He thought. Hope you're still alive... I'm so not going to lose any of my men now... Especially not you...

He tripped on something, causing him to fall into the muddy water. He tried to get up, seeking support from some solid object that was lying near him... Except that the object moaned in pain when touched.

"Chris? Are you all right?"

The younger man stirred a bit, but didn't get up. "...Arg... Hurts..."

Wesker sighed, moving closer. "Don't move. I'll get you out of here..."

The STARS captain checked the younger man quickly. It appeared that Chris hadn't broken any bones when falling, but it was obvious that he was too incoherent to get up or walk.

I'll have to carry you then...

Barry sat under a huge tree - one of those they'd almost hit earlier - and stared into the darkness, waiting. He was worried about his friend, and his captain was also out there somewhere. Brad had collapsed as soon as they'd gotten out of the swamp, and was lying nearby.

The rain didn't penetrate the thick layer of leaves above them, but they were both wet already. The sun had also set a moment ago, and the storm had turned the air freezing.

The older man was just about to get up and head back to the swamp to search for the others when a dark figure emerged from the rain, carrying something over its shoulders.

"Wesker? Thank gods... You found him..."

With Barry's help, Wesker placed Chris carefully on the ground under the tree. He checked the younger man's pulse, then studied his left shoulder. Then he ripped a piece off of his shirt and tied it around the STARS member's upper arm.

"He's wounded. Have any first aid sprays? If you do, use them. If Brad has any, use those..."

Barry nodded, then gave the captain an inquiring look. "What are you going to do?"

Wesker glanced around, stopping to look at the unconscious Brad for a moment. Then he got up, turning to stare back into the direction he'd just come from.

"I'm going back to the helicopter. I'll see if I can contact headquarters and request help. In any case, we won't survive here without equipment. I hope there is something we can use... If not, we're unlikely to make it through the night."

Barry didn't answer. He just shook his head and watched as the blond vanished back into the rain, then grabbed his first-aid spray and turned to take care of the younger STARS member.

The thunder was above them now, lightning occasionally giving its pale light through the rain. One of these flashes shook Brad awake, and he jumped up, startled.

"Where... what...?"

Barry waved his hand, signaling the other man to sit back down. "In the forest. The helicopter fell, remember? Chris is wounded... Wesker went back to the helicopter. He's going to try to call for help and to find something useful."

The younger man pressed his back against the tree, then sat down slowly. His hand went for the gun he was carrying, and he stopped to study the weapon. It appeared to be working.

"B... Barry...? What if... You know... Whatever killed that deer there...?"

"No use worrying about that at the moment. We have more serious problems here... Move closer or you'll freeze to death. We have to stay warm."

Chris stirred a bit, then opened his eyes. His head hurt badly and his side was aching. The world around him looked black, and when he tried to move his left hand, the sudden pain made him see stars.

"Aarg... ...fuck, Barry, kill me... Hurts like hell..."

The older man smiled slightly. "Glad to see you're still alive. Don't waste your strength - just try to rest..."

Chris mumbled something unclear, then closed his eyes. He was slowly becoming aware of the fact that his clothes were wet. He was also cold, and realizing that he was lying against the roots of a tree only made him more uncomfortable.

What... How the hell did we end up here? What happened to the others?

His eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, and as the lightning flashed, he could see Barry and Brad sitting under the tree next to where he was lying. His ears were ringing a bit, and the headache didn't help, either.

The thunder crashing again nearby finally cleared his hearing. After the loud crash faded, he could hear the rain beating the ground a few feet away from them, and Brad quietly ranting something about dying.

"...Brad.... Shut up or something... I'm in pain here, and don't feel like listening to that..."

The other man ignored him, clutching his handgun and staring into the darkness. Barry shook his head. He wasn't sure how long Wesker had been away now, but it felt like eternity.

Finally he got up, starting to pick up fallen branches from under the tree. He piled them nearby, then moved under other trees to find more. Some of the wood was a bit wet, but he didn't have the luxury to be too picky. They were all cold, and there would not be much left for the rescue team to find if they didn't do something soon.

After a while, Barry decided he had enough wood, and moved next to where he had been originally sitting. He piled the wood carefully, placing thin branches at the bottom. Then, he searched his pocket until he found his lighter. It took him several tries and a lot of patience to get the fire started, but after several minutes, they had a small fire.

The slight warmth shook Chris out of his half-conscious state, and he tried to crawl a bit closer. However, his body refused to respond.

"Damn it..."

Barry turned to check his friend again. "Everything okay?"

"...Do I look okay? Hurts like hell... got any painkillers?"

The older man shook his head, checking Chris' wounds. The younger man wasn't bleeding, but had nasty bruises all over his body. The wound on Chris' left hand was the worst, though, and without proper care, Barry feared that it might cause an infection.

"Ow... Don't touch me. That hurts... The fire is nice though..."

Barry smiled a bit and helped Chris closer to the fire. The younger man sighed, then closed his eyes.

"Did... Wesker...?"

"Huh?"

Chris opened his eyes, looking around carefully. "The captain's... not here... ...So, is he...?"

Barry shook his head. "No, I think he's fine... He went back to the helicopter, but... It's been a while. Maybe I should go look for him..."

The younger man closed his eyes again, trying to breathe slowly. He hadn't known Wesker for too long, for he'd only recently gotten his transfer to the STARS unit in Raccoon City, but Barry sounded convincing enough. Also, he suddenly had a faint memory of Wesker carrying him away from the swamp.

"Maybe... We can't just leave him there, he's the captain and all..."

Barry sighed, getting to his feet. He hoped that Brad would guard their little camp while he was away, but wasn't too sure if the younger man could be trusted, especially when the man seemed to be afraid of everything - including his own shadow. At the moment, the pilot was staring into the fire, still holding his gun.

"I'll be right back. I'll go check there..."

He stepped into the rain again, this time heading away from the trees. His eyes weren't too adjusted to the dark, so he had to wait for a moment... and then someone pointed a beam of light at him.

Brad was on his feet a second later, pointing his gun at Barry's direction. He couldn't actually see Barry standing there, only the rain and a beam of light hitting something.

Then, the source of the light came into view. The light came from a flashlight Wesker was holding.

"Brad, put your gun away."

The younger man blinked, not really realizing what was happening. Then he reluctantly sat back down, but kept the gun in his hand.

Chris was alarmed by the sounds and tried to sit up.

"Wesker... So... Did Barry find you...?"

Wesker shook his head. "I think it's the other way around. I almost got lost when heading back, but then I saw that fire..."

He knelt down next to the fire and placed several items down. Barry moved closer too, putting down something Wesker had given him a moment earlier.

"Did the radio work?"

"Yes. The helicopter also seems fully operational, but at the moment, we have no way to get the water out of there. Anyway, I contacted headquarters - they'll send someone to pick us up as soon as the storm allows it. Can't fly in that weather..."

Chris raised his head a bit. "...Then could someone knock me unconscious? I don't... feel like lying here all night... I'm kinda in pain..."

The STARS captain searched through the equipment he'd brought and then handed something over to Barry.

"I found first-aid equipment, so you don't have to worry about pain, Chris. I'm more worried about staying warm."

Barry nodded, checking what Wesker had given him. Then he moved next to Chris, holding the item.

"There are some really effective pain killers here... Might make you a bit drowsy, though."

"...That would be kinda nice, really..."

Barry shook his head, then injected Chris with the painkiller. "If you say so. Just don't complain later that I didn't warn you..."

The younger man blinked tiredly. "Anything works... as long as this damn pain goes away..."

Wesker continued checking the other equipment. Finally, he found some antibiotic and moved next to Chris. He checked the younger man's wound, shaking his head.

"That might cause an infection... Chris, I'm injecting you with some antibiotics to prevent that from happening."

The younger STARS member mumbled something, obviously not really caring anymore. The painkiller was all he had wanted, and he was just waiting for the medicine to work. He didn't pay any attention when the captain injected him with the antibiotic.

Wesker checked the younger man again before sitting down next to the small fire. The rain around them continued whipping the ground, and the air was icy.

"I did find something for staying warm," he said to Barry, pointing at the equipment he'd brought. "There were two thermal blankets in the helicopter... But only two. This means we'll have to share. Take one and keep Brad warm; I think he might be in shock. Whatever that is, he's not able to take care of himself. Right now, he's just sitting there alone and freezing to death. Get some of your clothes off, too. You won't get warm with those on..."

Barry glanced at Chris, then looked at the blond.

"Wesker? Maybe... I should..."

The captain shook his head while picking up a few branches and adding them to the fire.

"No, Barry. He's my responsibility. I'm not going to lose the newest member of my team on a simple mission like this one was supposed to be. Just make sure Brad survives for now. I'll look after Chris."

The other man looked at his friend again, then moved over to pick up one of the blankets. He moved to sit next to Brad, who wasn't paying any attention to the other members of the group. The pilot was too out of it to even realize that Barry had removed his wet shirt. Then, after removing some of his own clothes, Barry wrapped the blanket around them both.

"You're right. Brad surely isn't kind of... here. He's clinging to that gun, staring blankly somewhere. He wouldn't make it alone."

Wesker nodded calmly while removing Chris' wet clothes. The dark-haired man's uniform was completely drenched, and the captain was forced to take off all the clothing Chris had. That applied to himself, too - after running around the swamp searching for Chris, and then back to the helicopter, the rain had really gotten him.

When he was finally done, he checked Chris one more time, then carefully wrapped the thermal blanket around them.

"...Your lips are blue, Chris. You're also shaking... Your body temperature is too low. Come on now... stay with me here."

He wrapped his arms around the younger man, intending to warm him with his own body. To keep them both alive, he really didn't have other any option than to discard all the wet clothes. Lying naked on partially bare ground didn't feel too comfortable, but it was all they had. Besides, at least the ground under the tree was dry, and covered by dead leaves.

Chris mumbled something silently. Obviously the painkillers were already taking effect, and the younger man was slipping into a half-conscious state. The blond sighed, closing his eyes for a moment.

"Barry? Is Brad sleeping? If yes, try to wake him. It's not too good an idea to sleep right now. Might get hypothermia while sleeping and not notice anything until it's too late. I don't think I can keep Chris awake, but..."

Barry raised his face, then shook his head. He didn't want to admit that he'd already almost dozed off himself. Brad was leaning against the tree, gaze still fixed into the darkness. The older man raised his hand and waved it in front of Brad's face.

"...Huh?" Brad blinked slowly, turning to look at the other man. Barry almost smiled, patting the younger man on the shoulder.

"He's awake all right... for now. In this situation, it's too easy to just give up and close your eyes..."

Chris moaned silently, so Wesker changed his position a bit. He moved to the younger man's right side, careful not to touch the blue-eyed man's left arm.

"Keep him awake, Barry. And yourself, too... Whatever it takes. I can't afford to lose my men in a meaningless mission..."

Wesker leaned over the younger man and added a few more branches to the small fire. Then he just stared at the fire, calm expression on his face.

No, I have use for you all later... Losing you now would really be meaningless. And Chris... The blond turned to look at the younger man, whose breathing had turned ragged. You are very valuable... So perfect for my plans. You will live through the night... And then...

A sharp, ominous howl interrupted his thoughts. The wailing sound was strong enough to penetrate the storm, and it made even the calm captain feel a bit uncomfortable. When the howling finally died, it seemed as if all other sounds had stopped.

Then, someone screamed. Wesker sat up, shaking his head. The cold air hit his bare skin instantly, and he frowned slightly. He could hear the rain again; it was still around them. However, it seemed that the storm was advancing towards Raccoon City, as the thunder's crashing seemed a bit more distant now.

"Barry? What is it? That scream... That was Brad, wasn't it?"

Barry was too confused to answer right away. The howling sound had made him uneasy as well, but Brad had reacted faster. At the moment, the pilot was clinging to the other STARS member, trying to hide behind him. In his shaking hand was the gun, pointed at a random direction.

The captain sighed silently. "He'll get himself killed if he keeps doing that. Keep him warm and don't let him leave."

"No worries..." Barry took a deep breath, then wrapped the blanket around himself and the younger man a bit tighter. "I don't think he's planning on going anywhere at the moment. Just... take care of Chris, and I'll make sure that you'll still have a pilot when the morning comes..."

Wesker nodded calmly, then slipped back under the blanket and wrapped his arms around Chris. The younger man seemed to be asleep, totally unaware of any possible threats. The blond, however, leaned over to check his clothes shortly, and made sure his handgun was nearby if needed.

I will protect you if needed, Chris. I doubt that anything will wander this far, but the possibility is there. Better not take any chances... The stakes are too high.

"Captain? What do you think that was...? What made that sound? Wolves... They don't howl during storms like this... And that didn't sound like a wolf to me."

The STARS captain caressed Chris' hair absently. "I'm willing to bet that it was the same creature that killed that deer. And the same creature people have reported about. The sound came from the direction of the mountains, though, so I think we're safe for now. But keep your gun nearby anyway. How's Brad? Still awake?"

Barry smiled a bit. "Mumbling something about getting eaten by beasts, but awake. I think he's warming up, too. His skin isn't cold anymore."

"Good. Keep things that way."

"I'll do my best. Problem is..." Barry shook his head. "This all is getting to me... I'm tired. Very tired. I'm afraid I might fall asleep."

"One of us has to stay awake. Might as well be me, then. I don't have the chance for sleeping here or I might lose Chris. It's okay if you fall asleep, Barry... But fight it as long as you can. Think of something you like. Your family or such."

Barry swallowed, then took a deep breath. Hearing Wesker tell him to think about his family sounded somewhat ironic - after all, his family's lives were in the hands of the STARS captain. He didn't want to think of a proper answer, so instead, he just nodded, staring into the darkness in silence.

Wesker lay next to the younger STARS member, not feeling like talking more, either. He knew too well his comment had landed on a weak area, and he didn't want to upset Barry more than necessary.

I have other things to worry about tonight. Like the survival of one of my men here... Hmm. Your body, Christopher... it's... perfect...

Chris mumbled something again, then sighed. He blinked incoherently, then lay still. The painkiller had worked, but it had made the dark-haired man unaware of anything that was happening around him.

The STARS captain smiled slightly, running his fingers through Chris' damp hair again. The younger man's skin felt a little warmer now, and he was breathing calmly. Wesker lay still for a moment, then removed his sunglasses and carefully added them to the pile of wet clothes near them. He was so used to wearing the dark glasses that he'd forgotten about them. Sleeping with sunglasses on wasn't a good idea.

Except that I'm not planning on sleeping.

Gray-blue eyes turned to the direction where Barry and Brad were, and after a moment of studying them, the blond was convinced that they had both fallen asleep. Brad was still clinging to his gun, leaning on the older man's shoulder. Barry's eyes were closed, and his breathing was silent.

Sleep. Hmm. They'll be fine...

He smirked, slowly changing his position until he lay on top of Chris. He glanced at the other two STARS members again; in case they woke up and looked in their direction, it would appear as if he were only trying to keep the younger man warm.

"Chris..."

The dark-haired man squirmed a bit, parting his lips as if to say something. Wesker moved away a little, shifting his weight off the gunman and leaning on his right arm. A calm half-smile rose to his face as he studied his sleeping subordinate.

"Christopher..."

His fingers played on the younger man's dark hair, then he quietly leaned closer and pressed a soft kiss on Chris' lips.

"...Mmm..." Chris moaned silently under the kiss, not having a clue about what was really going on. Wesker snickered, letting the kiss deepen. The younger man parted his lips more under the kiss, allowing the captain to explore his mouth.

Christopher... Finally I get my chance...

Wesker broke the kiss for a moment just to admire the younger man's face. Chris was quite handsome, but it wasn't the only thing that appealed to the captain. Chris had a lean but strong body, and Wesker had to admit that he'd been planning on this for quite a while now.

Hmm. He's not gay, though. Doesn't matter, neither am I... It's just that I find your body so perfect...

He brushed his lips over Chris' again, then moved a bit lower, nibbling on the younger man's jaw. The dark-haired man shifted slightly under him, hands searching for something to hold onto. Then, Chris' right hand found the older man's waist and held there firmly.

Chris mumbled something, opening his eyes a little but obviously not seeing anything. His skin was feeling quite warm now. The captain smiled, quite at this detail. At least he didn't have to worry about losing the younger man now.

Wesker's left hand wandered down the younger man's body until his fingers found Chris' thigh. He stroked it gently, making Chris part his legs a little. He turned to glance down, nudging the strong legs apart some more with his knee. Then he positioned himself between the gunman's legs, returning his attention to Chris' jaw.

He moved up a little, pressing a passionate kiss on the dark-haired man's lips. Chris moaned silently under the kiss, his left hand moving to grab Wesker's wrist in search of something to grasp for support. His fingers wrapped around the older man's wrist - the painkillers were effective enough to make him feel no pain from using his injured hand.

"...Jill..."

Wesker almost laughed, stopping to look at the younger man's face again. Jill. Well, I know well enough that you two have something going on...

He smirked, kissing Chris again shortly. His left hand wandered up the gunman's thigh, stopping between the parted legs.

Heh... Aroused already...

He wrapped his fingers around the younger man's member, calmly fondling the length. It turned completely hard under his touch, and made Chris sigh contentedly.

"Mmmh...?" Chris opened his eyes again. He wasn't really sleeping, and the fact that he was being caressed sure didn't make him want to sleep. The medicine was blurring his senses quite a bit, and his vision stayed blank. He tightened his grip on whatever he was clinging to, and pressed himself against the hand on his crotch.

Warm lips pressed over his again, and he answered to the kiss eagerly. He had some kind of faint memory of the air around him being cold, but at the moment, he was feeling quite warm.

Wesker stopped suddenly, remembering something. Hmm...

He stared at the younger man, his gray-blue eyes admiring Chris' bare skin. I have a pretty good idea of two men doing this, but I do think I'm forgetting something. Oh yes. Without a lubricant, it would hurt quite a lot...

He glanced around, searching for something he could use. There was plenty of water around them, for it was still raining, but he had the feeling that just water wasn't good enough. His eyes scanned the small camp, and then he remembered the first aid kit he'd brought from the helicopter. He reached to grab the small bag, checking the contents quickly. There was a small pack of hand lotion.

Perfect...

Chris sighed softly, almost annoyed at being ignored. The freezing air found its way under the thermal blanket, and he shivered. He tried to move a little, to press against someone very warm and close to him.

The STARS captain opened the pack and rubbed the contents on his hands. He then returned his attention to the younger man, smiling slightly as Chris tried to move closer.

"Relax, Christopher..." He whispered, then placed a short kiss on the dark-haired man's lips. "Just sleep. I'll take good care of you..."

He placed his hand on the gunman's hard member again and fondled it for a moment. He leaned to kiss Chris' neck, then proceeded lower, lips hungrily tasting the younger man's skin. His hand slipped between the dark-haired man's legs, caressing the sensitive skin. His fingers searched for a small opening between the blue-eyed man's buttocks. Upon finding their target, his fingers stopped to rub some lotion on the opening. Then he cautiously pressed his index finger inside.

Chris blinked, opening his eyes. The unfamiliar feeling made him frown and try to squirm away. The invading object pressed deeper into him, and he cried out silently.

"Aaaaah...?"

Wesker ignored the younger man's movements. He pressed his finger deeper, then withdrew it a little and pressed it in again. His lips still wandered on Chris' skin, but as he reached the dark-haired man's lower abdomen, he moved back a bit, staring at the other's crotch.

The hell with it. I already started this, so might just as well...

Chris blinked again, blue eyes widening when something warm enveloped his member. He glanced down, but couldn't see clearly. He reached down to find out what had caused the feeling, and his hands found someone's short hair.

"Mmm... Nnh..."

The captain continued pressing his finger into the younger man carefully while suckling on the hard length. He hadn't done it before, but had enough of an idea of how it was done. He could easily feel from Chris' body that the dark-haired man was enjoying it. The gunman still seemed to be feeling a little uncomfortable with the finger pressed into him, but at the same time, he didn't seem to mind it that much anymore.

Chris squirmed powerlessly, trying to press his hips against the warmth. He tugged the other man's short hair, needing something to hold onto. He moaned incoherently, not exactly sure what was happening. His lower body felt like it was burning.

Wesker stopped to consider for a moment before withdrawing his finger, only to add another one. Chris cried out again, not used to having anything inside of him. The previous feeling had been weird enough, and having two fingers pressed into him made him feel quite uneasy.

"N... no..."

Wesker raised his head and looked at the younger man. "It's okay, Christopher. Just relax... You'll feel better soon."

The gunman moved slightly, but as the warm lips captured his member again, he fell on the ground, losing all strength. The medicine was making him drowsy, and his mind wandered somewhere on the edge of consciousness. At the same time, however, his body wasn't ready to let him slip into the darkness, as it desperately needed something.

Chris tried to say something but his voice died, and all he could say turned into incoherent mumbling. His fingers kept their hold on the other man's hair, and he arched his back a little. His eyes were open, staring into the dark trees above them without really seeing anything.

"...Mmh..."

The captain's gray-blue eyes turned to catch a glimpse of Chris' face. The younger man was being ripped apart by two feelings. One was a strange, slight pain between his legs, and another was extreme pleasure. Wesker grinned in his mind; he could easily see which feeling won.

"Told you it would feel better soon, hmm, Christopher?" He whispered, raising his head. He glanced around quickly; if he wanted to do everything he'd planned, now was probably the time to move on. The storm around the forest was dying; the thunder could barely be heard now, and the rain had turned into a light shower compared to the earlier heavy rain.

When the rain stops, the rescue team should get on the way. This means I don't have all night after all... And I want you, Christopher. Now.

He shifted his position, moving to lie on top of the dark-haired man. He figured that the preparations he'd made weren't exactly the best, but it would have to do. He didn't have time or knowledge to do anything else.

Chris clung to the older man, desperately needing something his blurred mind couldn't figure out. He mumbled something Wesker couldn't hear, trying to press his body against the other man's. The gaze of his blue eyes wandered a bit, trying to concentrate on something but failing.

Wesker stared into those blue eyes for a moment, then kissed Chris shortly. He reached to grab the hand lotion package, figuring it was better to use some more before actually doing anything.

"This might hurt a bit, Christopher..." He smirked, adding some of the lotion on his own member. "But don't worry, I'll be careful. Wouldn't want you to feel too sore in the morning, would we...?"

Carefully, he nudged the younger man's legs apart as much as possible. He sneaked his right arm under Chris, holding the other man by the waist. He held the younger man off the ground, smiling slightly as he stopped to look at Chris' face.

He raised his free hand, touching the handsome face shortly. "Chris..."

Wesker closed his eyes, letting his left hand advance down the other man's body. He smiled to himself, enjoying the touch of Chris' skin under his fingers. He had to admit it - he had dreamt of touching the gunman like this since the first moment he'd seen him.

Strange obsession, perhaps. But...

The captain lifted the gunman's body a little more before pressing the tip of his sex against the small opening. He advanced carefully, still not wanting to hurt the other man. He took a deep breath, then pressed into the younger man.

Chris's eyes widened, then he cried out. He dug his fingernails into the older man's shoulders, shaking his head. Warm tears watered his blue eyes, and he writhed powerlessly under the blond. He wasn't sure what was happening but whatever it was, it hurt. The pain burned him from the inside, making him want to escape into unconsciousness. There was, however, no escape - he could only sob silently, clinging to the other man.

Wesker stayed still for a moment, opening his eyes to look at Chris. He moved his hand to caress the younger man's face again.

So... This is... what it feels like... I always wondered how this... would feel.

A strangely gentle smile rose to his lips, and he leaned in to kiss the younger man. Chris stopped moving, losing himself to the kiss. Despite the pain, he was quite aroused, and his body burned with need for release.

"...Wes...ker... please..." Chris mumbled under the kiss, then blinked, catching himself. He had no idea why he was calling the STARS captain's name.

The older man snickered silently. He wasn't sure if Chris knew what was happening, but it didn't matter. This was, after all, something he'd been planning, and he wasn't going to ask for Chris' permission. He placed another gentle kiss on the dark-haired man's lips as he started moving carefully, thrusting into the younger man.

Chris moaned silently when kissed, his hands still holding tightly onto the blond man's shoulders. His left hand felt a little sore, even in his incoherent state that the painkillers caused. There was, however, another, stronger feeling blinding his senses - something hard filling him, and that hardness brushing against something inside of him.

He still had no idea what was going on. His skin was flushed all over and burning, and he drew his fingers over the other man's shoulders, arching off the ground. He moaned silently under the kiss, clenching his eyes shut.

Wesker chuckled, studying the gunman's face. He knew enough of what he was doing to know that he'd hit something inside the younger man; seeing Chris squirm under him made him feel strangely good. He continued thrusting in cautiously, determined to stay calm during their lovemaking. He'd forgotten about the cold night air around them as it didn't matter anymore. It was quite warm in their current position.

"Christopher... You like this... I can see how much you're enjoying it..." He whispered close to the other man's ear, stopping to nibble the earlobe tenderly.

Chris squirmed under the older man, breathing heavily. He opened his eyes, his mind distantly registering that he was able to see something now. The world around looked dark, and it was raining. Close by, the flames of the small campfire flickered, red shades of light dancing on the STARS captain's blond hair as the man leaned in to kiss his neck.

The gunman blinked and then shook his head violently. "Wesker? Wh... Aaaah... Nnh...?"

"Shh, Christopher..."

Wesker smiled, stopping to plant a short kiss on Chris' parted lips. He continued his movements, running his fingers through the gunman's short dark hair before carefully forcing his hand between their bodies. He moved his hand lower until he found the younger man's erection, and stopped to fondle the length.

"Aah... Wesker..."

The dark-haired man felt his strength escaping him. He blinked a few times to get the tears off his face. He didn't know why he was crying; was it from the pain... or something else? All he could do was cling to the older man, feeling that warm length pressing into him again and again. He moaned the other's name again, wrapping his legs around the man.

The captain breathed calmly, controlling his every movement with the same calmness that could always be seen from him. His trusts turned a bit more rapid, but he kept the pace steady, wanting to enjoy every moment. His fingers worked on the younger man's erection, and he could feel how close Chris was to release.

"Christopher..." He mumbled, closing his eyes and moving to kiss the gunman again. Chris answered eagerly, his fingernails drawing blood on the older man's shoulders.

"...Wesker... Wes... ker..."

Chris pressed his head against the ground, arching off the ground again and crying out the captain's name when another flash of white stars blurred his vision. The burning in his body suddenly concentrated on his crotch, and the orgasm consumed him completely. It stole the rest of his power, and by the time he closed his eyes, his mind had already slumped into the darkness.

The blond man smirked when Chris wet his hand. "Enough already, Chris...?"

The younger man didn't answer. Wesker shook his head, the smirk turning into an amused smile. He moved his hand away, supporting himself as he thrust in a few more times before his control slipped away.

"Chris... topher..." He mumbled under his breath, keeping his eyes closed. The release exhausted him, and he fell on top of the younger man, panting.

Some time passed before he could gather enough strength to move away. He drew himself away from his subordinate, turning to his side and stopping to rest for a moment. He smiled, leaning to kiss the sleeping man's cheek.

"Thank you, Christopher... That was... better than what I'd imagined..."

After resting for another moment, he sat up and reached for the first aid kit again. He took some bandages, then leaned to the edge of their little camp and let the rain wet the soft fabric. He used it to clean himself and wipe the remains of his release off the younger man.

He hid the bandages under his clothes before moving to add several branches to the fading fire. Then, he glanced at the other two STARS members and smiled calmly.

Barry's eyes were open, and he was staring at the captain. He didn't, however, say anything.

After staring at Wesker's gray-blue eyes for a moment, he turned away, adjusting the blanket around him and Brad. He closed his eyes, not caring to look at his CO again. After all, what could he say? It hadn't looked like a rape. And saying something that didn't please the captain might lead to things that he didn't want to think of.

Wesker smirked, lying down next to Chris again. He wrapped his arms around the younger man before closing his eyes.

"Perfect, Christopher... So perfect..."

A random feeling of soreness made Chris groan, and he opened his eyes. Light mist floated around, giving the place an eerie look. The storm was gone. The campfire next to his resting place had died, waning embers giving their last warmth to the chilly night.

"Nngh... Ow..."

Barry looked up from his where he was sitting. "Morning, Chris. Feeling better?"

Chris sat up carefully, pressing his right hand over the wound on his left upper arm. He had some faint memory of being stripped earlier, but he was clothed again. His clothes were damp and clung to his skin.

"I've felt better... the painkillers aren't kinda working anymore. And I slept on top of some damn tree roots... My back is killing me..."

The older man shook his head and moved closer, checking the first aid kit that was lying next to the fire. He found a pack of 500 mg Tylenol and handed it to his friend.

"Take those. Better than nothing..."

Chris tried to smile when taking the pack. "Thanks. Hope this works soon..."

He opened the small package with some trouble and swallowed the painkillers, not caring to try and look for anything to drink. His head hurt a bit, and he lay back down. His blue eyes scanned the camp; Brad was sitting back against a tree, arms around his knees and still clutching his handgun in his right hand. His eyes were closed, and he seemed to be asleep. The STARS captain was nowhere to be seen.

"Where's Wesker?"

Barry nodded towards a direction away from the trees. "Went back to the helicopter. The storm is gone, so he wanted to check if the rescue team was on the way yet."

Chris smiled a bit, closing his eyes. He opened them only a moment later, for he thought he'd heard something. A helicopter was circling somewhere above them.

Barry stood up. "And I guess they are..."

The blond captain appeared in Chris' view a moment later, calm half-smile on his face.

"I contacted headquarters again. They had sent the helicopter 15 minutes before my call, so it's them up there. They know the area where we're in, but can't land here. Barry, come give me a hand here. I found some emergency torches from the helicopter - if I'm correct, the area where we originally tried to land is behind those trees there. If we go there and light these..."

Barry nodded, taking the torch Wesker gave him.

"Chris? Hang in there a bit longer. You'll get to a warm bed soon enough..."

Chris sat up carefully. "I'll be fine..."

He smiled, watching as Wesker walked away and vanished under the shadows of the tall trees. Barry glanced at him one more time before following.

The gunman lay down, closing his eyes again. He was hurting, but didn't really care anymore. They were about to get out of the cold miserable forest soon anyway.

His last memories before dozing off were of someone from the Bravo team talking to him, and the feeling of being lifted off the ground. And...

A very faint memory he couldn't comprehend nor understand. The memory of a dream about Captain Wesker lying on top of him, holding him as they made love.

Author's notes:

Fun random ideas good. Took long enough to write, anyway. I'm slow.

Well, this was... pre-game. Wesker wasn't that obsessed back then, but... he's weird. And no, I still hadn't played the first RE game when writing this, but who cares. I know enough.

- Lady Harken (December, 2002)