So slow to catch on

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Jill gave Leon a little push, then smiled. "Believe me, these things can last days." She assured him. "Besides, I want the chance to grill you myself."
"You doubt my suitability as a mother?" Claire asked thinly, folding her arms across her chest.

Jill slid her arms around Chris, his words more comfort to her than he would ever know. "Chris... You need to promise me something though..." She breathed. "if I lose control, and Uroboros tries to break free... Kill me. It's the only way to keep from happening here, what happened in Africa."

"No." Chris' answer came with no hesitation. He did his best to hold her back, making every attempt to pull her into his lap. "I don't care about anyone else. Not this time. I only care about you. We won't let it happen, Jill. We'll be okay."

Jill followed Chris lead and did curl into his lap, doing her very best to keep from hurting I'm, despite knowing he could currently feel very little. "You promise?" Jill breathed as she rested her head against Chris' shoulder.

"I promise." Chris whispered. "I will never let you down again, Jill. Do you hear me?"

"You've never let me down yet, Chris." Jill replied truthfully. "And no matter what was done to me, I would still do it all again to save you."

"Don't..." Chris shook his head. "I feel bad enough about the decision I made." He groaned. "I just...thought I was doing everyone a favor."
Leon opened the front door, his loud sigh echoing down the entrance hall. "Who eats frozen pickle juice?" He muttered. "And has to have it at midnight..."

Jill heard Leon coming and reluctantly pulled herself out of Chris' lap. "A pregnant woman, who you happen to love a great deal?" Jill suggested as Leon entered the living room.

Leon grinned at this, appearently not surprised to see Jill there. "I'm not saying I don't but...seriously...pickle juice in ice cube form?" He shuddered at the thought.
"Our mom used to do the same thing." Chris chuckled softly. "How is she? Is she doing better?"
Leon nodded. "She wants to kick your ass first thing in the morning." He chuckled.

Jill smirked at this, her slender fingers rubbing chris' powerful should gently where she was stood behind his chair. "Beaten to pulp by a pregnant woman, hmm... I can actually picture that." She teased gently.

"Well...if she plans to kick my ass anyway...Leon, I need you to do something for me." Chris said firmly.
"Anything." Leon replied with a smile, hoping this meant that Chris was finally starting to warm up to him. "You know that."

Jill was surprised to hear this request too. Her fingers were lightly brushing through the back of Chris' hair now as she moved around slightly to stand beside him.

"We suspect that Rebecca Chambers may still be alive. I was hoping you could help us track her down. She may be the only one that can help both Jill and myself. Will you do it?"
A tiny frown moved across Leon's face but was gone in an instant. He was nodding. "Of course I will. I'll start as soon as I can get Claire home and settled."

"No, Chris... We already talked about this!" Jill insisted. "Leon is staying here, Claire needs him. I'll find Rebecca myself. I'm faster anyway." She added, not able to bear the thought of something happening to Leon, as she knew it would destroy Claire.

Both Leon and Chris were already shaking their heads. "You don't have the resources I do." Leon spoke up. "But...if you want we could...no...someone needs to stay with those two..Damn...Maybe I could make a phone call or two and see what can be done..."
"No. I want Leon to do it." Chris said firmly. "I need Jill here. I've decided we're all moving."

"Moving? Now?" Jill asked, obvious shock in her black flecked eyes. "Why?" She asked, folding her arms across her ample chest, a gesture that usually meant she wanted a straight answer and wasn't budging until she did.

"I don't feel safe here anymore." Chris said as if it were that simple.
"No. No way. I am not moving Claire right now. She needs to feel comfortable and relaxed at all times." Leon was shaking his head firmly. "You've got to be taking too many pain killers, Chris. No way."

"I'm sorry Chris, but Leon is right. Moving right now could be far too much stress for claire and the baby. I mean... Do the doctors even know why she collapsed in the first place?" Jill asked Leon.

"Her blood pressure is high and so is her stress levels." Leon said wearily. "She may end up staying in the hospital for the rest of her pregnancy."
Chris sighed heavily, feeling the weight on his own shoulders get heavier. "Fine. We don't move. But you have to go Leon. I don't trust anyone else and I'm not letting Jill out of my sight. It's too dangerous for her."

Jill rolled her eyes at this like a petulant child. "Too dangerous? Seriously?" She asked. "Chris, I can get the job done in half the time Leon could!"

Chris shook his head. He had no intention of budging on this issue. "Leon needs to go. I can't imgine anyone else doing a better job." He muttered. "Besides, if Rebecca's defected I know you and you'll get all pissed off. No way are you going, Jill."
Leon groaned and ran a hand through his hair. "Don't worry, Jill. Besides, I feel much safer having you here protecting my family."

"Of course I'll get pissed off!" Jill shot back with an exasperated sigh. "If she has defected, I'll throttle the little mouse!" She added, then slumped down into the sofa. "also, I resent the thought that I can't do the job just as well as Leon."

"I didn't say you couldn't." Chris snapped, now frustrated. "I said I don't want you to. You've been avoiding me for six months. You're staying here and you're giving me answers. Leon has nothing that I want to know."

Jill sighed again, blowing her hair out of her eyes. "Only if you wiggle your toes." She told him, the ghost of a smile tugging at her lips.

Chris didn't answer this. He didn't even smile. "Jill can take the stuff to Claire. Leon, you need to get going."

Jill knew when she was being dismissed, and was sad to realise that who
Le she had remained the same over the years... Chris had grown far more serious, which she could hardly blame him for. "I'll tell Claire you're sorry." She breathed as she headed into the kitchen to grab the pregnant woman's craving.

Leon's shoulders sagged. He had wanted to tell Claire himself. But he truly needed to make sure that Chris walked again. If not, he would never leave them alone and eventually he would lose Claire for it. And now their child...

Jill was leaning hard on the counter, her fingers white with the force which she was gripping it. Uroboros was rising to the surface again, as it did whenever she lost check of her emotions. She was sucking in deep breaths, telling herself she could never have a life with Chris if she didn't learn to control this thing inside her.

"Jill..." Chris rested his fingers on the small of his lover's back. "Before you go back to Claire...come lay down with me. I haven't held you in so long. Please?"

"I'm afraid." She whispered, though didn't turn around. "What if I lose control? What if... I hurt you?"

"I can barely feel anything." Chris chuckled softly. "What are you going to do to me?" He kept his hands on her back, sliding them up to rest on her sides and up to her breasts. "Please? I need you too much to care about the small stuff, babe."