Freak On A Leash

Chapter Two:

October 11, 2007

The time came to wake the sleeping princess. Wesker revealed Dahlia to Excella Gionne. For once in her life, the Italian was speechless. Her eyes roamed over Dahlia, this had to be the reason why... Her jealousy and hatred was instant. Their roles reversed, Excella was the teenager and Dahlia the adult. As the tank drained, Wesker stripped off his coat. He hadn't looked at Excella once since he had entered the room. When the door opened, he rushed forward to check her vitals.

Her pulse was strong, yet she looked so fragile in his arms. She had paled completely in her sleep. Her eyes had changed from hazel to a dark green, he noted as he checked her pupils. As the doctors rushed to get her on a gurney and down the hall, he followed in silence. He looked only away when they had changed her soaked clothing. She was still sleeping then, it bothered him. Though the doctor had insisted it was because she was sedated for a few more hours for testing.

Wesker waited with her, made sure she was warm with extra blankets. He held her hand, her cold as ice hand. She stirred some in her sleep, small jerks alerting him. And then it hit him, her voice soft and sweet like a lover. "Wes...ker..." she moaned.

His eyes caught hers. Dahlia struggled to speak, but couldn't. Atrophy had set in, her body was foreign to her. His finger rested on her lips and he told her to shush and that everything was going to be fine. Dahlia was unrelenting, her jaw kept moving as she tried to speak.

"Ho-h-h-o-o-w la-la-on-gah" she finally managed.

"A year and almost a month. You had brain damage, it was the only way. Your virus doesn't heal you as quickly as my own." he said it with regret for so many reasons. A year was a long time to be gone from the world. He had hoped her virus had the same healing properties as his own, but it wasn't even close. It was enough to keep her alive.

Excella watched them from the doorway. She was a ghost and didn't exist here. All of his actions with the girl, bothered her. Excella had never once seen Albert Wesker be tender. Yet here he was with this girl, oh she had to remind herself over and over that's all the blonde was, taking his time. He had never been gentle with Excella. Not once. He was working with her legs, moving them slowly hoping to reactivate the feeling. Her toes were starting to wiggle slowly.

Wesker switched legs when her knee was able to bend. Excella had left without making a sound, long forgotten by Wesker. Her body felt like silk to him. He didn't mind taking time with her. Dahlia was mostly quiet, watching him. Her concentration was with him and her body. The silence helped her think and piece together their fall.

She had remembered the anger in his eyes as they began their fall. The Devil softened as they got close, he cradled her like a mother with her child, absorbing all he could of the fall. She then remembered the pain, sharp, everywhere and then the darkness. She then remembered the light, his words, begging and pleading. The Devil kept her warm for a long time, she was in and out with pain, unaware of where she was. Then she felt the cold and her world faded to land of dreams.

After a while, he moved to her arms and she managed the courage to ask. "Why did you save me? I'm nothing to you." He looked up, offended. His eyes gleamed softly.

"Dahlia, you're smarter than that..." He wanted to correct her, he wanted to tell her that she was everything to him. He wouldn't, it wasn't in his nature to be sweet. While he had figured out a long time ago that she was his only weakness, he would never admit it to anyone. Not even her, not now anyway.

Even though she still look confused, she laid back in the bed. Her mind flickered back to the dark haired woman. The one that glared at her. She was very beautiful. Like a queen. Wesker's queen?

"Who was the lady? The pretty one with black hair?"

"No one important, just the means to fund the New World." he replied with a smirk.

"She looks like she's in love with you." Dahlia accused, tapping her fingers.

"Excella Gionne knows nothing of love, just of lust and possession." his voice was flat and annoyed. "She deserves what she's getting and will get better still." In reality, she was dead as soon as he released Uroboros. Excella was just a rich whore who funded his toys. He'd ride her until there was nothing left.

"Where are we?"

"Germany, I hid you here while you slept. We'll be going to our base in Africa as soon as possible."

"I'm not going home am I?" her eyes flashed to his.

"Your home is with me. You're dead to the world Dahlia."

The girl retired to her thoughts and confusion. Adjusting to the thoughts of never seeing her mother again bothered her. Though she hadn't been the happiest with Jill, she still loved her. As for Wesker, Dahlia was confused by his every action.

"Don't worry, you won't be alone. There's a surprise for you there." His voice seemed sincere to her. Over time she had long learned the difference between actual truth and twisted lies for his own amusement in his voice. His body language confirmed this, there was no malicious smirk that Wesker was infamous for. "For now, get some rest. I'll collect you in the morning to run some tests." He leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"By tests you know mean?" her voice was small, scared.

He froze with his lips to her cold skin. In a flash, she was seated on his lap. His hands held her face, studying her. "After everything, do you honestly think I would hurt you?" She gulped, "No, but you can't exactly be happy with me. I ruined your chance to end Chris." To her surprise, he chuckled. "There will be other times to kill him. He always turns up. We're lucky you even survived. Which spawns questions on why the T-virus is so weak within you..."

She looked down, guilty. "That's my fault, I've suppressed my viruses as much as I could."

"I fight to make evolved human beings and you fight against being one."

"I fight against being a monster, Wesker." Again, her voice was small. She couldn't look at him and instead buried her head into his chest.

"I save you and yet I'm still a monster?" He sighs after he says it, his arms tightening around her.

"If not for me, you'd have no humanity left. Either way you'd kill off six billion men, women, and children and not feel a thing. That's what makes you a monster. I'm your only saving grace." She spoke confidently this time.

He let go of her instantly, like her skin had burned him. Her words sunk in, and he didn't like it. The sixteen year old knew him. She knew him down to his very core. After all this time... Maybe Dahlia wasn't the only one who was frozen in time. Dahlia had changed over the years. He hadn't changed in any shape, way, or form. Wesker's mind was made, the only thing alterable was how he executed his plans for a new world.

Wesker set Dahlia back in bed, not saying a word. He left without even looking back at her, leaving her full of wonder. Part of her was scared, she didn't know how far he took her words and she didn't know what to expect in the morning. If it wasn't even night time... She had no sense of time at the moment. It was one of the things she usually never lost track of.

Later a middle aged blonde nurse came in. She was friendly to Dahlia, which made the teen smile. She missed seeing normal human life. Patsy put in an IV, and drew blood from it before hooking up to a hydration drip. An hour later, Patsy came back with food. She helped Dahlia with her motor function. Dahlia felt like an abomination, not even being able to feed herself properly. After the doctor, who didn't even bother to introduce himself, came in and examined her she was told it would be a few days to even weeks before she would be able to walk again. She would need physical therapy.

To Dahlia's horror, Patsy even had to help her bathe. Yet, her bath made her feel more human and helped her think. Patsy helped her with arms for more than a hour, before the doctor insisted it was enough. He then bluntly informed her, that it was time for her rest and that she would be given a sedative. Despite her pleas, he gave it to her. Dahlia didn't enjoy drug induced sleep. It reminded her of the night she murdered George Mason.

October 12, 2007

Wesker wasn't sure why he did it, but he found himself coming back to Dahlia's room at six AM. Her words had struck him hard. Even with the truth being said, he didn't necessarily like the fact she knew it, knew him. When he rounded the corner to her room, he heard screaming. Wesker ran with his inhuman speed, only to find her sleeping. Tears streamed down her face as she was begging. At first he didn't understand what she could possibly be dreaming about until she mentioned the name Nessa. Vanessa Hodges, the girl Dahlia protected the night she came into his life.

It didn't take long for him to gather her into his arms. His hand caressed her cheek and he began to rock her like a child back into reality. It was in this moment he regretted not bringing Leo with him to wake her.

"Dear Heart, wake up. You're safe." He cooed. She roused slightly and he rubbed her arm. "Wake up, I won't let anyone hurt you." His voice had never been so soft spoken in his life.

As her eyes opened, a fresh batch of tears littered her cheeks. His fingertips caught them and wiped it away. Dahlia just stared at him, confused and embarrassed.

"Nothing needs to be said, just go back to sleep Dahlia." He soothed as he moved her to his side. He then moved to his side so he could face her.

Weakly, she reached out to him as he covered her with more blankets. Her cold fingers traced his face and he let her. She traced his nose, forehead, cheeks, and finally lips slowly. She had never touched him before, and her own curiosity overrode her fear. When her fingers graced his sunglasses, he pulled them off without protest as he was enjoying this. Dahlia cupped his cheeks as they stared into each other's eyes. This was the now the third time, he had allowed her to see his eyes which was a record for anyone.

As he stared into her emerald eyes, his right hand caressed her cheek. His thumb ran over her bottom lip. Before Wesker knew it, he had leaned in and was kissing Dahlia softly. As he looked into her eyes, he didn't see panic or disguist. He seen need, and she was even kissing back. He kissed her chastely, a first for him as he knew this was her first. When he pulled away from her, she was silent.

"Sleep." He commanded once again. She nodded and curled into his body.

Dahlia didn't take long to fall back asleep. Wesker again repositioned them so she'd be more comfortable, with her laying on his chest and Wesker on his back. Soon after, Wesker felt tired for the first time in a long time. Instead of fighting sleep, he gave in.

As Wesker's eyes opened, he noted two things. One, he hadn't sleep this well in a long time. Two, Dahlia was completely wrapped around him and he was enjoying her warmth. He glanced his watch. While it had only been two hours of sleep, it was more than what he required. When the nurse came in to change Dahlia's IV bags. He asked that Dahlia wake up naturally. He also asked that she dress her in the black jogging pants and white t-shirt he had left and to take her to the lab for testing. After leaving, he returned only leave Leo in her arms.

When Dahlia woke, she felt better. The feeling in her arms felt almost normal. She knew Wesker wouldn't be there when woke, but was surprised to find Leo in her arms. Wesker always took care of her. It amazed her just how much attention he gave her when it came to even personal needs. Smiling, she hugged her teddy bear. Soon after, Patsy came in. The nurse helped Dahlia into her new clothing. Umbrella jogging pants and socks, she noted. As Patsy wheeled her to the elevator, she noted everything. Her room number 101D, the walls colors of red, black, white, and cinnamon. And how the floor was white with Umbrella's logo.

After reaching the basement, she was shocked to find it still looked like a normal hospital. Impeccably clean, but still completely normal with seventeen floors. The lab was different, everything was steel and shiny. They passed a biohazard door and Dahlia heard it lock in place. Chills went down her spine, but she maintained her composure. She was placed on a gurney as a lab technician started swabbing her arm. Unknown to her, Wesker was watching from the mirrored window. Her face remained blank, reminding him of the day she came into his life. He remembered it vivdly, her face blank and the cold stare to the floor. She held Nessa's hand as they were questioned.

There was something else that stood out to him. Dahlia was pale. In fact she looked ill. Wesker had never seen her sick before. As he watched the procedure, he thought back to Raccoon City. Memories from that time were also foggy. Memories of Dahlia and William were the only ones he could remember clearly. She looked up suddenly, catching his eyes. He held his breath, not knowing why. She really couldn't see him, but it felt like she could. Her eyes could burn a whole in him. As the needle was removed, he looked to her arm to see if the blood on her arm was bubbling. It wasn't, but Dahlia looked like death.

October 13, 2007

Her blood tested negative for any active infection and her DNA was that of a normal human being. Wesker stood in the lab perplexed. A normal human could not heal brain damage over a short amount of time like she did. In any case, he needed to get back Africa. Excella was calling excessively. He needed to remind her of her place again. It was on his list of ever growing tasks.

Though, truly, Excella wasn't even close to being on his mind. That place was reserved for Dahlia and Uroboros. Even now he debated which subject truly won the spotlight. With Dahlia awake, he was finding it almost impossible to think of anything else. Rounding the door to her room, he sharply inhaled as he seen a glimpse of Dahlia naked. The privacy curtain had been pulled, but not far enough. Something in his brain told him that he should be ashamed for the nature of his curiosity of the sixteen year old. Yet something else, deep inside told him that Dahlia was the only creature living on this Earth for him. The only one who understood him. Who could accept him. Wanted him… Or so her body told him yesterday. He wondered if it really was true. Did she want him, the way he so desperately wanted her? Could she accept him for the monster he was? Could the monster kind finally have found his princess?

Wesker pinched the bridge of his nose as he waited. He could not believe the words that were circling his usually calculating mind. The blonde nurse came through the curtains and let out a squeal of surprise.

"S-sorry Mr. Wesker. I had no idea you were… She's ready now." The nurse stammered. Wesker only nodded and made his way behind the curtain. Dahlia was now dressed in a black v-neck tshirt that held the Umbrella logo and a pair of jeans. Her hair was left down, and Leo left in her arms which made her look younger than she was.

After swallowing the invisible lump in his throat, Wesker finally spoke. "We're leaving for Africa." Dahlia sighed and nodded. "Ok." Wesker made his way behind her, noting her obviously sad demeanor as he began pushing her towards the helipad. After all this time, he had figured she would be happy with him.

When they reached the helipad, she smiled towards one of the mercenaries. The one with the biohazard mask, her own personal hero. "HUNK!" she called out. The man's back straightened and Wesker glared. "Oh yeah, so while you abandoned me for your work. HUNK made sure that I made it out of the city. I haven't seen him since, but I'm glad he's alive and seemingly well." Wesker's eyes rolled behind his sunglasses. As they passed, HUNK gave a small hug before helping her into the helicopter.

Finally in the private jet and alone with Dahlia, Wesker placed his sunglasses and gloves on the table. Without any warning, he grabbed Dahlia and sat her on his lap. Her heart sped up and he could feel it with his chest to hers. To his surprise, she complied by wrapping her legs around him. Her hands cradled his face as she stared into his hellfire eyes with such intensity that it worried him.

"What's wrong Wesker?" She asks softly, her eyes softening as she stares.

"I…" He thinks for a moment, not sure if he should expose himself to her or not. Staring back into her sweet eyes, he doesn't second guess his choice. "I want you. As sick as this sounds, I want you. You're all I think about. You're everything. Not a day went by that I didn't think about you. And now you're here and I'm not sure what to do."

A nervous giggle from the girl filled the dead air and she leans even closer with her forehead to his. "I'm glad I'm not the only one."

Wesker let out the breath he wasn't aware he was holding. "Dahlia. I want you to be mine. Do you know what means?" He wasn't sure why he was warning her, but it only seemed fair.

"Wesker, I have been yours the moment you set eyes on me." Her voice was a mere whisper. She was terrified by her own admission and subsequently submission.

Looking into her terrified eyes, he grabs her chin and kisses her. Not gentle, like their first kiss. He kissed with pure animalistic need as his fingers entangled into her soft hair. His tongue made it's way into her mouth like a serpent hunting it's prey. Quick, slippery, and wet. He knew she wasn't at all prepared by her reaction, yet he did not mind. She was not the whore that Excella was. She was pure and angelic. But most importantly, she was his. She was always his and would always be his.