Work Text:
Sherry shot up, tears going down her face. Another nightmare…it was scary to think about. Right now, she wanted to check on the person who seemed the most hurt in her nightmare: her dad. She grabbed her dearest bunny plushie and went out of her room, looking down the hallway. Looks like his office door is closed and no light, the best bet is downstairs. She creaked through the hallway and stopped at the top of the stairs.
A relieved sniff left her seeing her dad behind the counter, talking to someone who came in while she was asleep. It took a moment for Sherry to recognize the slicked-back hair, even happier. Dad was with her uncle Albert, they were both okay. She sniffled again and came down the stairs, listening to their discussion of work. That’s what she guessed it was.
“I know it’ll take time to research it but, call me paranoid I know, I keep feeling like something bad is about to happen.”
“You know you’re being paranoid if you admit to it.”
“I know I know, I just-Sherry?” Sherry nodded, fast steps to behind the counter to hug her dad’s legs, “sweetie what are you doing up? It’s almost 1.”
“I had a nightmare…” she replied, feeling her dad’s arms wrap around her, kissing her forehead. She buried her face in his shoulder.
“It’s just a figment of your imagination, Sherry, that’s it,” Albert said. Sherry still cried a bit, even if it was just fiction, it felt so real.
“Shh…it’s alright sweetie I’m right here..” Her dad said, picking her up. Sherry knew he shouldn’t anymore, she was getting too big for it but she still treasured it.
“It was too real…”
“That’s how nightmares are.”
“Al, I don’t think that’s helping…” her dad sighed, rubbing her back as he kissed her forehead, “do you want to talk about it, Sherry?”
“…you won’t die, right dad?” She pulled away to look at her dad, wet tears down her face. Her dad was a bit surprised by that question, blinking a few times.
“No, I won’t die anytime soon, why?”
“B-b-because you did in my dream! And and and, something controls you with your bad shoulder and and and made you hurt mommy and then turned you into a train and and and” Sherry explained, sniffling throughout it. Albert snickered to the side, shutting up after getting a glare from her dad.
“Sherry, honey, that’s just all in your mind, none of that is going to happen, I promise:” He reassured her, holding her close, leaning against the counter. Her hands held tight to his shirt, still scared of it all happening, “None of it will happen, not now not ever.” Sherry nodded, letting one hand let go so she could rub her eyes. He kissed her forehead, humming softly.
“You sure?”
“I’m 110% sure.” The little girl giggled at her dad’s claim, smiling up at her dad. “Feeling better, Sher-bear?” She nodded, clinging to her dad. He hummed a tune, rocking slowly as he kept her close.
“It’s just a silly dream…nothing else.”
“Al, be nice, she’s just a kid.” Her dad sassed, eyes narrowed at Albert for a moment before going back to humming. Sherry yawned, cuddling even closer to him.
“She’s going to fall asleep.”
“Thanks, Captain Obvious of STARS.” Sherry giggled sleepily. She could hear Albert groan at the remark before walking over. The last thing she heard was her dad humming and what sounded like a kiss before falling asleep again.
“Sherry, baby..” Blue eyes flickered open, looking over at Jake, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. Oh…it was just a memory wasn’t it? She wasn’t the little girl who admired her parents anymore. “Hey, we’re at the graveyard now.” She nodded, checking the bouquet in her lap.
“Let’s go…”
“You mentally ready for this?”
“Mhm.” She said, getting out of the car and took a deep breath. She tries to come every year to visit, but her mom’s family placed her grave in a different location from her dad's, making visits harder on her. For now, it’s time to visit her dad with her boyfriend. The walk was mostly quiet, Jake staying by her side as they walked. It was a basic grave, just a simple plaque for her dad.
“Hi dad, it’s Sherry! It’s been a while huh?” She said, placing the flowers down right next to the plaque. She sat down in front of the stone, smiling, picturing her dad there instead. “A lot has changed…I don’t work for Simmons anymore, which I imagine you would be relieved, so now, I got a new job for the BSAA now and help with different antidotes for viruses,” she explained before motioning Jake to join her. “And I wanted to introduce you to someone…this is Jake Müller, my boyfriend. We met on my last mission for Simmons and…”
“Kinda just hit it up from there.” Jake finished for her, nodding at the stone, “I know we’ll never get to meet, Dr. Birkin, but your daughter is lovely, I can see she got it from you considering how much she talks about you and your wife.” Jake said, looking at Sherry with a somber smile. “I’ll keep her safe for you, sir.”
“Dad I promise I don’t get into danger enough to where I always need saving, Jake is joking.”
“Uh huh, supergirl…sure…maybe don’t lie to your dad?” Sherry laughed as Jake wiped away a stray tear from her cheek.
“Dad…I think you would find everything I do pretty fun, you always did enjoy working but more when you spent time with me. We sometimes go down to the medical section for a quick check on our blood and anything else. But,” Sherry said, sniffling a bit, “we’re helping people dad like you always wanted to do…I…I hope you're proud of us.”
“You would enjoy the lab work side, Dr. Birkin, it’s fun apparently from what Rebecca says.” Jake said, kissing Sherry’s cheek before whispering to her, “I think he’s pretty proud of you, Sher.” Sherry nodded, smiling at him.
“Yeah, you would, though I would have to drag you out of it often. You never did take care of yoursel-“ her phone started to ring, sighing. Jake took the phone and answered; getting up to leave her to her dad’s plaque alone for a moment. “Hey, dad? I know you can’t hear me anymore…but I hope wherever you are okay. And happy. And finally, finally, resting. I know you’ll get upset about me worrying about you but,” she said before rubbing her tears away, “I miss you a lot. I try my best to move on but it’s hard when all I remember is that you didn’t want it to end that way. Wherever you are, may it be better than here. And don’t worry about me, I got Leon, Claire, Chris…Jake…they’re all here with me. I’m not alone anymore…I’ll always keep our promise…” she glanced at Jake who sighed, “and I’ll always come back to talk to you.”
“I’m sorry we have to cut this short, Dr. Birkin,” Jake said, crouching down. “Unfortunately we have to go back to work, this time? France! Heard you had a French buddy back then so, I’ll see if Sherry got some French from him while we’re there.” Sherry giggled, lightly punching his shoulder. “But seriously, it’s a pleasure to meet you, sir, I know you raised an amazing daughter; even if it was cut short, you did a great job.” She smiled, laying her head on his shoulder.
“Work demands us…but we’ll be back soon dad, I’ll tell you more when we come back.” Jake offered his hand to Sherry, who took it, “I love you, dad, miss you always.” She finally said, taking a deep breath and walking away, silently crying. Jake held her close and let her cry, keeping her upright as they walked back to the car. Back to work…but I’ll miss you, dad.
The man watched the two walk away before walking over to the grave of William Birkin. It had been…years he supposed since he came to this grave. Long before he was declared dead. However, it never left him. He went down on a knee, placing a single object on the plaque.
“You know, William, it’s funny, she ended up acting a lot like you…hell she looks like you too,” the man said, a deep chuckle leaving him, “and she fell for my son. A son I didn’t even know I had before recently. But…it’s good to see them be better than us.” A faint smile as his gloved hand traced the lettering. “Though I need to make sure this new mission doesn’t kill them, I'll be back soon, old friend.”
With that, the man got up, looking back at the object he left before fully leaving. Next to the bouquet was a stone based upon the legend of Ouroboros, the snake that ate itself. This, the man pondered, is fitting for the two of them since, in the end, they both did end up destroying themselves.