Chapter Text
Chris woke startled, his heart beating wildly. Violent images flashed through his mind. He was panting and struggling to get a hold of his breathing. A damn nightmare , he thought to himself. He took deep breaths as his therapist instructed, though he believed it not to work. It wasn’t until he felt a hand land gently on his chest that he felt his breathing begin to slow. He turned to see Jill looking sleepily at him. Her eyes were heavy with concern. Chris took her hand in his, gently laying a kiss on her skin.
“What was it this time?” She asked him softly. Visions of his latest mission in London trying to stop a bioterrorism attack came to the forefront of his mind.
“It’s nothing Jill,” Chris sighed, “go back to sleep.”
“Chris, you can not keep lying to me about this. I want to help you.”
“Jill, I’m fine I don’t need your-” Chris trailed off, as he and Jill turned to face the door to their bedroom. Little footsteps were heard approaching the room. The door opened a crack, revealing their daughter, clutching a stuffed toy in her arm.
“Daddy are you okay, I heard you yelling again?” The little girl yawned.
“Yeah, bubba, I’m okay. I’m sorry I woke you.” Chris whispered, helping his daughter into bed with them. Jill tucked her in, smothering her in kisses till her laughter filled the room.
“Momma?”
“Yes baby?” Jill said gently as she stroked her hair.
“Do you have to go on a mission tomorrow?” The child asked glumly.
“Yeah bubba, I do.” Jill responded.
“I hate it when you and daddy have to go to missions.” She grumbled. Both Chris and Jill stayed silent, not having anything to say to their daughter. So instead they kissed her goodnight, and laid together in silence.
“If you won’t talk to me about this stuff for you, do it for her, because I don’t want a repeat of Edonia, Chris. I can’t do this without you.” Jill’s voice broke as she remembered the six months that Chris had gone missing.
“It won’t happen again, Jill. I won’t let it.”
***
“Emmy, come on, I thought you liked bananas.” Chris groaned, sitting in front of his stubborn daughter who had her arms crossed, staring Chris down.
“Is she being fussy today?” Jill asked as she entered the room, gathering paperwork from the counter.
“No.” Emmy grumbled staring at the plate of cut up bananas that Chris just slid to her. She slid it back to Chris.
“Aw baby,” Jill laughed, leaning down to kiss her daughter on the cheek. “Be good for your daddy while I’m gone okay?”
Chris got out of his seat, walking Jill to the front door. He kissed Jill’s forehead delicately, taking her in. Her dyed brown hair with blonde roots because she hadn’t been able to get to the hairdressers, her bright blue eyes, burdened with seeing the evil from the world.
“Be careful, Jill.” His voice was low. He hated having to send Jill off on missions knowing that he couldn’t be there to protect, though he knew that she didn’t need anyone to protect her, and deep down he knew that it was often Jill that was protecting him, but since their daughter came along, one of them needed to be with her while the other was out saving the world.
“Always.” She offered him a smile.
“Well not always.” Chris scoffed.
“Yeah, when was I not careful?”
“Europe, Spencer Mansion, 2006.”
“Hey I did that to save you, I was being very careful thank you.” Jill rolled her eyes. “I’ll be careful, I promise. I won’t go jumping out of windows.”
“Thank you.” Chris sighed playfully. “Emmy say goodbye to mommy.”
Their bundle of energy came bouncing around the corner and launched herself around Jill’s legs. Chris bent down and picked her up, engulfing his girls in a tight hug.
“I’ll call later, Chris. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
***
Chris woke startled again, however this time it wasn’t a nightmare of the trauma he faced in his time fighting bio terrorism, it was a phone call. He looked at the time. The clock read 3:12, whatever the phone call was, it had to be bad news.
“Yes?” Chris answered groggily.
“Sir, it’s Valentine. She’s hurt, bad.”
Chris shot up in bed. His heart beating wildly, and with no Jill to calm him, he felt the fear paralyze his body. He could barely understand what was being told to him. Encounter with a B.O.W, being airlifted to HQ, unconscious. Chris’ world became a blur. He had no control over his body. He felt bile rise in his throat but he swallowed it down, he didn’t have time.
He threw on some clothes and ran down the hall. Emmy was sleeping peacefully, her hair splayed out on her pillow. It pained Chris to have to wake her, but he couldn’t leave her at home on her own at the age of 4.
“Bubba,” his voice broke as he gently woke up his daughter. “We have to go to mommy and daddy’s work.”
“Why?” Emmy groaned sleepily, rubbing her eyes.
“Mommy needs us.” Chris whispered.
Chris could have sworn he broke about 20 laws trying to get to the BSAA HQ, but he didn’t care, his only thoughts were of Jill. He ran down the clean white walls of the BSAA hallway towards the medical center, Emmy bouncing in his arms.
He found Rebecca tapping away at a tablet at the entrance to the medical center. Her eyes filled with concern as they met him. Chris felt tears stinging his eyes, yet he didn’t want to cry in front of his daughter, her own eyes brimmed with tears, frowning in confusion and fear.
“Where is she? What’s happening?” Chris’ voice boomed and echoed around the room. Rebecca motioned for one of the medical center workers to take Emmy from Chris, then motioned for him to follow her. He followed her down another hallway lined with glass windows giving him a view into rooms with people fighting for their lives after giving themselves to the cause.
“She’s in here.” Rebecca whispered as she opened the door to a room at the end of the hall. Chris entered and the sight made him feel sick to his stomach. The love of his life was hooked up to a million different wires and tubes. Her stark white skin was covered in bruises and scrapes from battle. It reminded him so much of how she looked after Chris rescued her from Kijuju. The thought alone made a sob catch in Chris’ throat. He fought the urge to break down, Jill needed him to remain his composure.
“What happened Rebecca?” Chris said at last.
“I’ll answer that in a minute, but first,” Rebecca paused, unsure of how to proceed, “did you know that Jill was pregnant?”