.

Some Kind of Wonderful

Chapter One:

When the S.T.A.R.S. align

"Because, if you could love someone, and keep loving them, without being loved back . . . then that love had to be real. It hurt too much to be anything else."
― Sarah Cross, Kill Me Softly

Raccoon City - 1998

With a pile of folders in her hands, Rebecca Chambers raced over the shiny tile of the R.P.D. lobby. A small girl, she was nevertheless a veritable genius. Where she was often overlooked for a small stature and sweet angel's face for a more...Hollywood worthy of femininity, Rebecca stole the show with her intellect.

She'd graduated high school at 12 years old and gotten a doctorate in chemistry with a minor in biology by the time she was eighteen. While her friends had experienced crushes and gotten tattoos and gone off to start their lives, she was already into her third round of college to get a degree in virology. It was hard sometimes to be the smartest kid in class.

She'd been overlooked in college because she was too young to draw attention. She'd been overlooked most of her life in fact because she, quite simply, was a nerd. Rebecca paused to catch a glimpse of herself in the glass of the window into reception. She'd cut off all her hair before she'd left home for this job. It suited her face but had transformed her from adorable munchkin (as her dad called her) to pixie princess (as he now called her). She still looked about twelve years old in her opinion.

Albert Wesker, the Captain of S.T.A.R.S., had sought her out specifically for the job. Her credentials outweighed her lack of combat experience. Her expertise in field preparation of medicines and anatomy made her a valuable asset as a medic.

She'd thought she'd become a professor once upon a time. Instead? She was a cop.

She heard laughter and turned her gaze to the balcony. Her heart just slapped a sharp tattoo to remind her she wasn't twelve years old but eighteen and fully capable of mourning the fact that she'd never found a boy interested in relieving her of her virginity like the rest of the girls her age. She gazed in a little bit of awe at Chris Redfield as he paused to laugh with other members of S.T.A.R.S.

Claire's brother had somehow become quite a heartthrob. Although they'd grown up down the street from each other when the Redfield's had died and left a tender twelve-year-old Claire in the care of her eighteen-year-old brother, it had become harder to stay in touch. However, she and Claire had tried their best to spend every summer together between Raccoon City and Redfield, North Dakota.

Rebecca wondered if Chris had turned Wesker onto her for the job.

She wondered if she'd even be able to speak to Claire's brother without her face flaming off.

He was the same boy who'd put dog poo in her shoe when she was five and he was twelve. She wondered if he would still try to put shit in her sandals now.

Amused, Rebecca started to spin around to hurry to go talk to him...and ran right into someone else. It was a mess. Her folders scattered as she went to her butt with an "oof". The other person survived the collision much better and reached a hand down for her in shame.

"Shit! I'm so sorry. Let me help you up!"

Rebecca was trying to gather her files. "It's alright. It's my fault, I wasn't paying attention."

"Here..let me at least get your other stuff..."

She rose and turned, "I should really look where I'm g-"

I just died in your arms tonight by Cutting Crew burst into her head. The first dulcet tones had her freezing. If it was possible for hearts and glitter to appear around him, it would have happened.

Gorgeous. From the incredible stubby ponytail at the base of his neck to the perfect little cleft in his chin, he was clearly put on Earth to kill. Not with the gun strapped on his thigh, nope, with that face. He was a lady killer.

Was she dead?

Rebecca felt over her breast bone to be sure her heart was still beating.

Oh, it was. It was beating so hard she could hear it in her ears. It would burst soon enough anyway and she'd probably turn into a zombie or something to come back from the dead just to try to eat him.

But he was kinda staring at her like she might be retarded or something now. She'd been staring like an owl for the last few minutes. It was time to speak.

SPEAK!

"I'm REBECCA CHAMBERS!"

...oh dear god.

Around her, the lobby went sorta quiet to stare in her direction. She'd shouted. She'd shouted like a nut case. Her face flushed with blood so hard she was afraid she might just pass out from horror and embarrassment.

She backed up two steps from him where he stood with his eyes enormous, and beautifully sea water blue, and her files held out like a horrified statue.

She squeaked, "...I'm so sorry!"

Turning, she fled across the lobby at a pretty decent skipping run and ducked into reception where it was quiet. She was just gathering her will power to go find the S.T.A.R.S. office when the door eeked open and his adorable face peered in.

"...hey. You ok?"

Face still flaming, Rebecca stuttered, "...hah. Y-yep. Yep. I'm just great! Just setting myself up for a great first day at a new job. How about you?"

She gave him a thumbs up as she glanced around and joined her in the reception office. He held her files out to her. "I'm Leon S. Kennedy. It's my first day too. You a rookie?"

Rebecca shook her head, "Nope. I'm S.T.A.R.S. actually."

He blinked at her three times before he laughed, "I like a girl with a sense of humor."

Brows arched, she returned, "...I am. I'm on Bravo team."

He laughed again, "Sure you are. You're the mascot? Or the secretary or something?"

...seriously? Rebecca felt the flush die in her cheeks as she gave him a cool look. "No, I'm not. Are you?"

Leon stopped chuckling. He blinked at her again. He was cute, but maybe he wasn't too bright. "...what?"

Rebecca shrugged, "You're pretty. Receptionists are usually pretty right?"

After a long moment, his face split into a big grin. "I also like a girl who gives shit. Fair enough, Rebecca Chambers, what do you say we go find the S.T.A.R.S. office together?"

Rebecca tilted her head, "Are you S.T.A.R.S.?"

"Not yet, but give me a few days." He took her folders from her to carry them. Charmed by it, Rebecca fell into step beside him as they moved into the far hallway. It was bustling with cops and civilians that worked in accounting and payroll and the motor pool. She could hear Chief Irons giving a press conference as they moved toward the stairs at the back of the long hallway that would take them up to the second floor. They got turned around and had to cut through the library instead.

It was massive - lined on the walls with everything you could ever want to know about anything. The slideable shelves were always broken though, and maintenance was trying to repair them as they passed toward the top floor.

As they walked, Leon talked to her like they were old friends. She found with each step it was a little easier to be close to him. He was painfully handsome, almost like a cover model on a magazine or something. The R.P.D. uniform he wore snuggled his biceps in a way that let you know he was in good shape under the ugly blue shirt. He wore a white thermal beneath it and elbow pads that complimented the kevlar strapped around his chest with the department logo emblazoned over the dull black. Hooked to his shoulder was a chunky radio that was clipped to his belt. When it crackled, he touched it to silence it with thick tactical gloves on his hands with the fingers exposed.

Age wise, she was betting they were pretty neck and neck. He couldn't be much older than her. He kept talking about graduating like it was just yesterday.

Curious, Rebecca asked, "You went right to the academy after high school?"

"Oh, yeah. My Dad..." He trailed off and shook his head with a smile, "It's what he wanted for me. I'd have graduated sooner but...he got sick."

Pausing, Rebecca laid a hand on his arm, "I'm so sorry."

Leon smiled and shook his head, "S'ok. It was quick. Stage four lungs. He'd been a smoker all his life, ya know? He was gone six months after they diagnosed him."

Neither of them realized they'd paused in the hallway to talk to the other. Rebecca, sympathetic, squeezed his forearm. "Still- it doesn't make it any easier. You were close?"

He nodded, laughing a little, "Yeah. He was my hero. Most kids feel that way about their pop, but he really was. Growing up, I watched him drive my brothers crazy with how he was always right. He didn't even lord it over us, he was just...right."

Leon shook his head and shrugged, "Each of us took a swing at him at least once in our arrogant lives though, just because we couldn't stand the fact that he was so fucking smart."

Rebecca smiled to encourage him, "It's hard to accept someone knows better. Feels a lot like I told you so, right?"

He laughed again and nodded, "Yeah. Exactly, but he was just a good guy. Salt of the Earth, farmer. Couldn't have been prouder when I got accepted to the academy and started winning at everything. Sometimes I think he was living through each other us vicariously, ya know? I don't think he ever really knew that I'll spend the rest of my life trying to be half the man he was."

Rebecca felt something soft squeeze around her heart. He wasn't just a beautiful face, he had a beautiful spirit too. He was the guy with the whole wide world at his disposal and still called his dad his hero. It wasn't that face that would keep you coming back for more, she realized, that was just the hook to reel you in.

After a handful of seconds, his eyes widened a little, "...aaaaand apparently instead of work today, I'm going to monopolize you to tell you my sad life story."

Rebecca shook her head, "You kidding? This is the most anyone has talked to me in days. I'm glad I'm not the only person in Raccoon with verbal diarrhea."

He laughed and shook his head, "Me too. This is gonna sound weird, but I don't know a soul here. Would you like to..." He trailed off and shrugged.

She nodded, feeling her face flush again, "Be friends? I would like that. Can I..." She paused and shook her head, "...never mind."

"No. What?"

She rolled her lip under her top teeth and reached up to tug his ponytail. "Cute as that is, I think you'd look really good if you went with something shorter. Thor can pull off the long hair but a rookie in the RPD?"

Leon nodded, looking encouraged, "Yeah? Good point. Like military buzz or what?"

"...no. Hah. No." What a horrifying thought. Rebecca just knew that would be a tragedy, "...you wanna go get it cut after work? I could go with you and help you out. If you trust me to pick your hairstyle."

Leon winked at her, "Why not? You did a good job with yours."

"Yeah?"

"You bet, suits your face. What's the word...elfin?"

Rebecca flushed a little and blew out a hard breath. She had to get this blushing under control, it was making her light headed. "Yeah. I look like a little girl."

Leon tilted his head at her. He actually looked...amused? Something. "...I don't think that's true. Most girls use a lot of hair to hide their faces. You don't need to hide yours, you should keep that hair short forever. Your face deserves to be seen. I think it's timeless. Like Audrey Hepburn."

Oh.

That did it.

If she hadn't been half in love with him just by looking at his face, she was there now. Rebecca was pretty sure she was just staring at him with her mouth agape. She wanted to find out what he tasted like.

It was the right moment? Was it?

Someone called his name and he turned his head, she leaned in to kiss him, and she tripped on her own foot. It was a comedy of errors. She fell against his chest, he stumbled back and grabbed her to keep her from toppling over, and he tripped on the rolling bucket behind him left there with a mop in it by maintenance. He tried to stay upright, failed, and took them both to the floor in a heap.

The bucket overturned and covered them in dirty mop water. Someone laughed. Someone else hurried over to help them up.

Rebecca, feeling dizzy with shame, whispered, "...I'm a klutz."

Leon shook his head with a bark of laughter, "You kidding? This is like an episode of a sitcom or something. Is there a camera recording us right now?"

Rebecca felt her face flame, "I'm so sorry."

"Don't be," He shifted to help her up. Her files were a lost cause though as they lay in the water; ruined, "You ok?"

I just knocked us both over trying to kiss you.

"Besides being mortified, I'm fine." Rebecca shifted away from him with a shake of her head, "You sure you wanna be my friend? You might end up on your ass a lot."

Eyes twinkling, Leon's boots squeaked wetly as they slogged to safety. "I'll risk it. Everybody needs a good kick in the ass sometimes, right?"

Rebecca shook her head and told him, "A brave man, Leon Kennedy." She started toward the S.T.A.R.S. office. He followed after her as they both slurped in their clothes.

"I'm a coward, but tell anyone. They'll take away my man card."

Rebecca grinned at him as they moved instead toward the linen room to retrieve new uniforms. "I don't think so. I think it takes a pretty brave guy to join a police force in a city known for rising crime."

He opened the door to the linen room so they could go in and claim new uniforms from the shelves. "Don't you know? Every guy wants to be a hero. Best way to do that is to sign up for a job with a high chance of becoming one."

Rebecca took the medic uniform off and pressed it to her chest as she watched him select another pair of pants. "I should probably go report in, huh?"

He winked at her as he slung the pants over his shoulder and opened the door for her again, "Probably. Never cool to be late on your first day."

She paused the S.T.A.R.S. office door, "...you gonna try out for S.T.A.R.S.?"

"Eventually..." He flashed a wolfish smile and paced backward as he headed toward the lounge to change, "You put in a good word for me?"

Rebecca grinned at him and gave him a thumbs up. "Absolutely. I'll tell them you're really good at falling on your ass and getting back up."

He laughed and winked back at her, "There's my girl. See ya later alligator."

When he was gone through the door, Rebecca slumped a little against the one she stood by. Lord. LORD. Her heart was just thumping and bumping and quivering. He was beautiful. He really, really was. How did she get him to see her as a woman and not a girl?

Face flushed, she opened the door to her new job.

And spent the rest of her shift trying to pay attention to anything but big blue eyes winking at her.

As they returned from her first ride along, Rebecca caught sight of Leon in the lobby. She lifted her hand to wave and accepted her jacket from her trainer as they headed toward the stairs. Beside her, Jill Valentine was saying, "The most important thing is to remember that rear security isn't about the assault, Rebecca, it's about defense. Your pointman needs you to guarantee his safety."

Rebecca returned, "Got it."

Jill grinned at her, "It's really refreshing to have a trainee who is so eager. I gotta commend you on being so gung-ho today."

Rebecca started to answer and her name was hailed in the lobby. Leon came jogging toward her with a stack of files in his hand. A little breathless, he told her, "I saved what I could...there might be some stuff missing."

Rebecca smiled at him and shook her head, "You didn't have to do that." Touched by the effort, she patted his arm above his elbow pad, "But thank you."

"Sure," He shrugged, "It wasn't any t-"

He went quiet so suddenly that her brows arched up. She waited, but he was staring over her shoulder. Curious, Rebecca turned her head.

He was staring at Jill Valentine.

She was talking with Chris and Joseph Frost. She was laughing and shaking her head. She looked pretty gorgeous in that stupid hat she was wearing. Rebecca, feeling her heart lurch, remarked, "...she's pretty, huh?"

Shaking his head like a dog coming out of the water, Leon kept staring at Jill, "You kidding? I feel like the Captain of the Debate Club staring at the prom queen...is she single?"

Rebecca felt her belly seize in jealousy and sighed, "I can find out."

He nodded and patted her shoulder, "Thanks, pal. See you after work?"

She smiled at him as he moved toward the group of S.T.A.R.S. Rebecca watched him stop to chat. He flushed a little talking to Jill. It was like watching her talking to him.

Jill didn't seem interested, but she was polite and friendly. She laughed at whatever he said and nodded. Joseph and Chris kept smirking at each other and rolling their eyes. When Leon hurried away with a thumbs up at something they'd asked of him, Chris glanced at Rebecca and rolled his eyes.

She shook her head and moved toward him. He separated from Jill and Joseph to walk her back to the office, "...what a geek."

Rebecca laughed, "He's not. You just don't want him sniffing around Jill."

Amused, Chris opened the office door for her, "Maybe. But he's a doofus, Bec. He stuttered like an idiot."

Sighing, Rebecca set her jacket on the hook by the door. "That happens when you like someone, I hear."

"Jill won't go for it. Trust me."

As if he'd conjured her from the air, Jill emerged through the doors and was in mid-conversation with Joseph. "-Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She's supposed to be what? Sixteen?"

Joseph shrugged, "Don't care, I'd tap that ass."

"...sicko." Jill smiled over at them, "I think you scared that rookie, Red. He ran off like the floor was on fire."

Chris grinned at Rebecca, "I know. He's eager as a puppy. I'm gonna enjoy busting his balls."

Jill rolled her eyes, "Don't be hard on him. He seemed sweet."

Rebecca gathered her things off her desk to get ready to go home. "...he's nice looking, right?"

Jill nodded as she kicked over the rubber chicken that had fallen off Chris' desk to get to her own. "He's a nice looking kid. Young and green. But he seems pliable enough. He'll do well here."

Rebecca sighed. She had no clue. Jill was a blind as Leon apparently. Rebecca might have enlightened her about it, but why? She didn't want Jill to start looking back at the rookie.

Selfish, but true.

"You guys done with me for the day?"

Chris nodded and dropped into his chair with a squeak of springs. "You bet. Get outta here. Most of the new kids like to hang around J's Bar after work. You can't drink, but you might find Claire there shooting pool."

Rebecca nodded as she headed toward the door, "'Thanks, but I have plans already."

Jill grinned, "Yeah? Hot date?"

Chris laughed. Joseph snorted. Rebecca felt that familiar sting of hurt that men naturally assumed she wasn't dateable. So she said, "Yep. Wish me luck."

Jill winked at her, "You don't need it. Go get him, girl."

Chris called, "Tell him I'll cut his hands off if he gets fresh with you."

Of course. He always thought of her like she was his other sister. Rebecca scoffed, "As if I'd tell you anything about it. I saw what happened to Claire's last boyfriend."

He'd disappeared, mysteriously, and was rumored to have transferred schools.

Chris shrugged, "I warned him. The idiot."

He started talking about how Claire was only allowed to date men he approved of to "help perpetuate the long and prestigious Redfield bloodline" which made Jill laugh and slap the back of his head, and Rebecca closed the door on their goofing.

As she was heading down the hallway, she heard him shout beyond the door, "FOR THE BLOODLINE!"

And she heard Joseph, Jill, and Barry Burton exploding with laughter as Jill shouted back, "Fuck the patriarchy!"

Shaking her head, Rebecca headed into the locker room to change. She wished she had something cute and feminine, but she was just a jeans and t-shirt kinda girl. She put on a white one with a cartoon zombie plastered on the front beneath the phrase "Shoot them in the head".

Putting her little red purse over her chest in a crossbody style, she headed to the lobby.

She should have known he'd look even better out of uniform. He wore a blue button up beneath a darker blue windbreaker. It looked casually tossed over jeans and a pair of white sneakers. He was talking to one of the other officers as he headed toward her.

The guy in question swung his head toward her and shot a finger gun at her.

Rebecca gave him a stilted smile and a thumbs up. His name tag said: Ryman. Nice looking guy - five o'clock shadow and shaggy hair over a wrinkled uniform that looked slept in.

Leon paused again as his lieutenant stopped him to have a word. Everybody knew Marvin Branagh. He was the guy who made heroes out of baby cops. He patted Leon on the shoulder and made the other man grin. He reminded Rebecca of Denzel Washington in an RPD uniform.

Leon hurried toward her juggling his keys in his hand, "Sorry. Sorry. You been there long?"

"Nope." She waited as he opened the door. It was pouring rain outside and she'd left her jacket on the hook upstairs. "...frick. I should go grab my slicker."

She paused to head back to grab it and he said, "You kidding? Don't bother. Here."

He whipped off his jacket and slung it around her shoulders. He even took the hood to drape it over her hair for her. "Not much, but it'll keep you from looking like a drowned rat."

It smelled like him. Like some kind of cologne and...wood smoke? From a fire? Maybe. She tried not to snuggle it around her.

Glancing at her, he queried, "You ready, kid? My Jeeps right down the block there. The black one."

She laughed and shrugged, "Will I ever be?"

He winked. He slung his arm around her shoulders and guided her beside him as they ran for his Jeep. She had the jacket, and he still covered her so she'd get hit with as little rain as possible. As they sloshed up to the Jeep, he dropped his keys trying to open her door.

"...fucking turd on the tush of a tramp!"

Rebecca giggled at him as he laughed and grabbed for the keys under the Jeep. "I actually think I'd have to see that to believe it."

Leon grinned and opened her door. When she leaped in, he helped her get situated before closing the door and running around to the driver's seat. He was soaked by the time he joined her in the warm cab of the vehicle.

Giggling, Rebecca told him, "...who's the drowned rat now huh?"

Leon laughed and patted her knee before he stepped on the clutch and turned the engine of the Jeep over with a nice roar of sound, "Small price to pay for a lady's honor."

Rebecca shook her head, charmed, and settled back in the seat as he drove across town. The barber shop was close to J's Bar. Maybe she could invite him there when they were done.

As he found a spot on the street near the barber, Leon glanced over at her, "First day go good?"

She nodded, "Everyone was very nice. They treat me like I'm their little sister."

He grinned, "It's 'cause you're so cute."

Ugh.

She sighed, "Naturally. I'm always the cute one."

Not hearing the disdain in that comment, he answered, "I haven't met a girl as cute as you in a long time, pal. Embrace the cute. It works on you."

He leaped out of the side to run around for her again. Rebecca slid out and nearly fell over the curb. He caught her, laughing, and half carried her against his front to the sidewalk before he sat her down. Her hammering, she let him cover her again as they ran for the barber.

When they popped into the shop with a jingle of bells signaling their arrival, Leon caught her arms and shook his hair like a dog. She laughed, admonishing him, "How is that helping me at all here?"

He winked at her, "I'm a gentleman, not a pushover. Just sharing the wealth."

Shaking her head, Rebecca watched the rain slide down his face. She was kinda jealous of it. She bet his skin felt incredible.

He tugged the hood down on the jacket and studied her, "...yep. Worth getting wet for. Your hair looks perfect, m'lady."

Rebecca stared owlishly at him as he ruffled her hair with his hand, "I like the red mixed in there. Got some Irish in your family tree?"

She cleared her throat as he let go of her and turned away. Lord. He was stopping her heart just by existing. "Nope. You?"

He grinned at her as he took a seat by a mirror, "You kidding? Kennedy?"

She chuckled and the stylist joined them. A short discussion later and she was perched at another station watching the wonder of a brilliant mind. She didn't need the stylist to even finish before she saw the greatness of what she'd done.

Aloud, the stylist remarked, "Oh, honey, I think I deserve a medal here."

She was right about that. Her name was Roz and she had teased up bleach blonde hair and a huge bosom stuffed into her apron. She was slathered in cake makeup and smelled like cigarettes.

And she was a wizard with scissors.

She mused, "What's that kid in that Titanic movie?"

Rebecca laughed and returned, "I was thinking more Eddie Furlong in Terminator 2."

Leon pursed his lips, "...you sure? It's still kinda long."

Rebecca and Roz shared a grin. They said, in tandem, "We're sure."

Shrugging, he remarked, "Majority rules. I'll keep it."

After they paid and headed back into the rain, Rebecca was intensely aware that he was even more beautiful with that haircut. In the ponytail, he'd looked like he'd had a severe short cut. This? It framed his face in a way that left you staring and trying, desperately, to locate a single flaw.

As he steered the Jeep onto the road, he asked, "You wanna go grab some dinner or something? Or you want me to drop you at home?"

She should invite him to J's Bar right? It's what people did. To her surprise, she found herself saying, "You wanna go to the Zoo?"

And his eyes twinkled as he glanced at her and back at the road, "In the rain?"

"...right. It's raining." She felt like an idiot, "That's stupid. Forget I said it. There's a bar down the street we can go to...but I can't drink."

He laughed, "I don't drink either. "

She arched her brows. A cop who didn't drink?

Leon finally slapped the steering wheel, "You know what? I don't think it's stupid at all. Let's go to the zoo."

"...really?"

"Oh, yeah. Fuck it. You only live once. Let's go get jealous of the monkeys who are dry."

Two strangers in a new city willing to try out the unexpected. It was a really nice way to start a friendship. She stared at his profile as he angled the Jeep toward the Zoo. The gray light made him look somehow even better than the sunlight.

Or maybe she was just enraptured with him.

It wasn't healthy. She was a doctor, in a way, she knew it wasn't healthy. It couldn't end well. Girls like her? They didn't get guys like him. He was football Captain and heartthrob on the cover of Tiger Beat magazine. He wasn't a guy who picked the skinny little bookworm.

He picked girls like Jill Valentine with her perfect ass and pretty face.

He'd never look at Rebecca and see her as anything but a buddy. She knew that. It was stupid to want him.

But she just kept staring at him anyway.