Homecoming

Author's Disclaimer: WarCraft and Resident Evil are the property of Blizzard Entertainment and Capcom respectively.

Derek Graham may have been elected the President of the United States, leader of the most powerful and influential nation in the world, yet at this moment, the squat and grizzled man was a worried father filled with anticipation about the state of his only child. Despite all of his newly gained power and respect, deep inside the man was nothing more than a father.

He stared intently into the bright, crackling flames of the fire as he let all of the events over the last few months wash over him. He recalled the euphoria he felt when he received his nomination after a harrowing inner-party race and the sheer joy that had consumed him like a fire when he won the election, his greatest achievement.

No. His second greatest achievement. His first, and one that could never be compared, was the little girl who went missing all those months ago.

He had just delivered his Inauguration Speech the week before when he heard about Ashley. And now, two months after she had vanished, she was just outside that door, waiting to be in his arms again. The Spanish government was kind enough to allow him to meet her here in the United States Embassy, so that he could be reunited with her sooner. His excuse for the trip to Spain was to help reaffirm relations with this nation, and only a few people even within his cabinet knew the truth. His mighty, solid frame shook at the thought and his steely grey eyes quivered as he fought back tears.

The door creaked open and Chris Redfield, dressed in a fresh black suit, said, "Mr. President, they're here."

President Graham stood as straight as he could and regained his composure. He sniffed sharply to put himself back together and turned to face him. "Send them in."
Chris nodded and opened the door more before the meek, slender shape of Ashley Graham emerged through the opening.

The two Grahams locked eyes for the first time in three months, and after what seemed like an eternity, Ashley, finally found the strength to unfreeze and sprint into her father's waiting arms. President Graham wrapped his arms tightly around her and kissed her cheek fiercely as they released heavy sobs.

"Daddy!" Ashley whispered into his ears as she kissed his cheek just as fiercely. "I missed you!"

"I missed you too." President Graham whispered as he looked up and saw a new figure emerge. He recognized the young, tall blonde man in a black suit. "Leon…"

Leon Kennedy walked into the room and stared at the heartwarming scene as President Graham stared back at him.

"Thank you…" President Graham whispered to Leon. At last, Ashley and her father slid out of each other's arms and Derek Graham offered Leon a seat.

Leon accepted the offer and sat in one of the plush leather seats. President Graham sat in the chair opposite of Leon and crossed his legs with authority. He had read the report that the agent had given him, and struggled with his two most powerful emotions. As a father, this man had saved his only child and the reason he existed. However, as the President of the United States, the man before him had allowed a terrible plague to get into the hands of the most vile corporation to ever exist.

Leon and Chris watched the President with unease and discomfort. Leon found himself scratching the part of his chest where the remnants of the Plaga that was inside of him were removed. The scar still itched, and he wondered how his body would adjust to this new trophy from his latest confrontation.

President Derek Graham inhaled deeply and began, "Mr. Kennedy. When I gave you this position, I did so because I was informed that you were the best in the field. Someone who isn't only one of the best fighters we have to offer, but a man who knows the value of family and protecting others. No matter the cost."

Leon nodded as a great cold stone formed in his throat and toppled into his stomach. He knew exactly where this was going, and he was ready to take it.

"Now…" President Graham continued, "I couldn't be happier that you have brought my beloved daughter home to me. In fact, I feel I owe you my life. Yet… we cannot ignore the cost that you have paid."

"Mr. President –" Chris began to speak in defense of his friend, but Leon raised his hand to silence him. Chris's eyes darted to his comrade as if to ask him what he was doing.

"Mr. President." Leon began in a calm, even tone. "I understand what repercussions are coming from my actions."

"You cannot know how serious these repercussions are!" President Graham shot back. "You have willingly given an agent of the Umbrella Corporation a sample of a creature, which according to you, is capable of infecting vast populations in a short space of time. To make matters worse, it can be communed through liquids, physical contact, or in the form of spores, correct?"

Leon nodded softly. He had been careful to collect all of Luis Sera's notes and other files on Las Plagas and included them in his report.

"Daddy…" Ashley spoke out meekly, which caused every head in the room to turn to her, "Leon did what he could to save both me and everyone else. That cult was planning to use the parasite… and me… to infect you and everyone else. They were going to use me to help take over the country. And then the world…"

Derek Graham's eyes softened as his daughter's head sunk to her chest and she spoke softly, "He did what he could to save the world from that thing. And if he didn't give it up, that woman might have killed him. And then I'd still be on that island when it exploded."

A tear fell across Derek's cheek and caressed his neck at her words. He looked back at Leon, who seemed stunned that the President's daughter was defending him so well.

The President of the United States composed himself and said, "Leon… Mr. Kennedy… for the actions you have taken to ensure the safety of my daughter and the Republic, for the time being, you have my thanks."

Leon nodded and responded in a voice so soft it might have been cut from satin, "Thank you, Mr. President."

"What are we going to do about Umbrella?" Chris voiced the one thought on everyone's mind now.

President Derek Graham looked at the two agents, his mind swimming with thoughts and ideas as he looked at them. He knew that both of them were experts on Umbrella, and what he needed now were men like them.

"That's what we're going to discuss now." He began.

Three hours later

Agent Leon Scott Kennedy had just finished packing the last of his bags when the sun began to shine from his balcony. He stepped outside for a moment and looked out at the Madrid skyline. A smile crossed his face as he saw the city sprout to life as people walked around the winding streets, pedaling goods and shouting about the latest news.

The ringing of the phone broke him from the beginnings of his trance, and he turned back into the room to answer it.

"Hello?" He answered as he sat on the bed with the receiver on his ear.

"Hey, you." A sweet, soft and familiar voice responded, bringing a smile to Leon's face.

"Hey Claire!" He said in a voice saturated with relief and happiness. It had been too long since he had heard his friend's voice. Far too long.

"So how's the coat I got you?" She asked with a hint of humor and suspicion that made Leon realize that he was not her first call to Spain.

Leon smirked and said, "My coat is fine, thank you."

"No duct tape covering any mysterious bullet wounds?" Claire inquired playfully.

Leon laughed, "No but I have a roll here for your mouth."

Claire giggled and sniffled, "It's good to see you're still alive."

"Yeah… good to see you still living too." Leon returned the wish and looked around the room. "So what's up?"

Over the next hour, Claire brought Leon up to speed on all of the events happening back home. Everything from the results of the Mets Spring Training (To which Leon owed Claire thirty bucks) and who was sleeping with who on a Korean drama they liked, to Jill and Chris's daughter, Caitlin, who had just taken her first steps while her "Uncle Leon" was away. In between the gossip and chatter, Leon told Claire everything that he could about the events in Spain. He confided in her how he was going to be helping to get the old team back together, and how he was going to be in charge of a new special Umbrella task force agency and the direct liaison to the President of the United States. This meant that, as of now, he was officially off of his duties as bodyguard and protector of the President's family. Now he was the bodyguard of the President's country.

Claire sighed softly as he told her the news. He could imagine his friend walking around her apartment casually in her favorite jeans and a black shirt, her bare feet scraping the hardwood floor of her apartment as she went into the kitchen and looked around in vain for something to eat amongst her milk, mayonnaise and stale Chinese food containers. Leon always made a point to bring a bag of groceries to her apartment whenever he visited, which was nearly on a weekly basis before he was sent to the Academy and then sent on his mission. He wondered sometimes how she managed to sustain herself on milk and mayonnaise products.

"So… she was there?" Leon caught a hint of what sounded like resign and fatigue in her voice. He nodded as she asked, "Are you okay?"

It took Leon much longer to respond to her inquiry. Was he really okay after this? After meeting her again and dealing with her, what was he thinking?

"Yeah." He reassured. "I'm going to be fine."

Claire nodded in his mind and she asked, "I'll see you when you get home?"

Leon nodded, "Save a pint of Guinness for me?"
"I'll save ya three!" She chimed and her tone changed as she said, "Have a safe trip."

"Thanks." Leon said softly, "See you soon."

Two hours after the call, Leon was sitting in a plush seat on Air Force One with Chris sitting across from him.

"So, what's up?" Chris asked Leon, who was staring out over the carpet of clouds.

Leon turned to his friend and said, "Nothing. Just… thinking."

"Well," Chris began. "Who should we get for the team?"

"Bruce and Tom are out." Leon said, "They're working with the Secret Service now."

"And Billy's a drill sergeant for the Marines and Rebecca's getting her doctorate." Chris added with a sigh. "Everyone's already doing things."

"Carlos probably isn't." Leon threw in. "And maybe we could get Billy to transfer."

"What about…" Chris started to suggest as he looked out of the window, and frowned at the sight he beheld, "What the fuck?"

Leon looked outside and froze with fear as he saw an enormous black shape come flying towards them. If it hadn't been for the vast flapping wings, he might have mistaken it for another plane.

A great chill shot out of the base of his spine and shards of ice formed all along his spine and back as he saw the massive flying skeleton coming towards them. The plane shook violently as the F-22 Raptor jets charged with the defense of Air Force One flew overhead and under the belly towards the beast, who reared its head back and shot shards of ice that frosted over the first plane and ripped it to pieces. The other planes opened fire and tore the skeleton to pieces with waves of searing lead.

"What is that thing?!" Chris swore as another skeletal dragon appeared, flanked by swarms of smaller winged beasts that surrounded and ripped the armored plates and wings into scrap. One plane tried desperately to flee, only to have one of the flying monsters fly into the engine.

Leon watched in horror as the plane's engine erupted in a fireball. Chris cursed again as the Raptor veered wildly on its one engine as it barreled towards Air Force One.

Leon's eyes widened as the world came to a standstill. His life, and the lives of all those he loved began to flash violently through his eyes as the two planes collided in a tremendous fireball.