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Professional Challenges.

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Jill answered the call trying to seem natural. She was relieved when Chris began to tell her about a project of the Canadian government to build military cities to house survivors of biological accidents.

They were talking when Jill heard someone knock on the door.

"Chris, I gotta go. Anderson is bringing me reports of recruits so I can look them better because I'll need to redo the tests tomorrow."

"Wait, Jill."

Jill opened her eyes and pursed her lips. She had thought she would be free from the other subject, but apparently Chris actually had called her for that reason.

"I want to thank you for helping Leon for me. I am grateful for everything he did for Claire in Racoon City and then for helping me find her and I also greatly admire him for his work. I have..."

"Chris, I'm sorry. I will not be able to help him."

"How so?"

"Chris, I have my things to do and I need to be honest with you, I didn't sympathize with this agent. We are incompatible. I may not be the right person to help him."

Chris was silent, as if he didn't believe what he heard or didn't know what to say.

"Please hold on, Chris" she told Chris before lifting her head to the door and saying aloud "Come in, please."

Anderson entered the room carrying some folders and under Jill's orders he put them on the desk. Jill thanked the boy before he went out the door.

Just at that moment Jill looked at the computer screen again. Chris was still serious, but did not seem upset.

"All right, Jill. If you have things to solve I understand, I'll try to talk to Quint tomorrow, maybe he can help me. But I would not understand if you had told me it was just for this incompatibility. Not coming from you, cause you never had problems with partners and never put any differences over the goal to do right thing and to help someone. But anyway, if you're busy, don't worry, I understand."

Jill smiled at her longtime friend and for the first time she did not know what to say about it. She was glad he understood that so easily. Chris would never insist, but she knew it would be hard to say no if he tried.

"Thank you, Chris."

Both said goodbye amicably and Jill realized that he really understood her. Behind that strong and resolute captain there was an understandable friend and a sweet brother. He was an easy person to deal with. Anyone who knew Chris in B.S.A.A. would just be surprised by the way he treated his sister. Although he had big arms, Chris also had a big heart and a sweet look whenever he looked at Claire.

Chris was a stubborn person about the job but never harsh or rude. Even with Jessica, Chris had always been professional without sounding rude, even with all the differences between them.

Jill then remembered the people she had worked with since she was part of the US Army Delta Force training program. She didn't always meet people who she had good relationship with. Even in the Army you could find difficult people. Maybe it happened everywhere. In STARS Jill liked everyone besides Chris, especially Forest, Joseph and Richard, but she did not have a good friendship with Brad.

As soon as she remembered Racoon City, Carlos came to her mind. A undisciplined boy who liked to flirt and was conceited. He definitely did not have the posture that Jill admired. But Jill had no problem in dealing with him. They helped each other during that escape and she was thankful to him. She knew how to focus on what had to be done and forget everything else.

Jill stood up and walked to the window, where she could see Nothern Lake. That was her favorite landscape when she wanted to relax or think over something. Nature not only helped her to calm down but to look at everything from a different perspective.

She asked the reports to Anderson, but she knew that Mr. Garcia would return soon, so she would not have so many things to do. Although Chris had believed in that excuse, Jill felt that for the first time she was refusing any service or help for someone just because of some differences. That was not good, she was not being herself that afternoon.

Maybe it was the time to think over herself, about how she used to see an opportunity to help someone or projects against bio-terrorism. Maybe it was the time to be herself again.

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Leon walked observing his surroundings, though he was in the same city of his agency, that place looked like another city, perhaps because it was near the Nothern Lake. The weather was better, less heat than downtown and the buildings looked like lighter, it looked like everything was blue like the lake. The orange sunset made all that view look like a beautiful hand painted photography.

He walked two blocks to get to Double, the pub where members of the BSAA used to go after-hours, according to Carter. And that was what Leon really expected, finding Carter for a game of pool and a few shots of whisky.

Although he didn't know many people, because of the uniform he soon noticed that on the table to his right there was a group from BSAA and among them, Jill Valentine. When Leon saw her, he decided to sit on the counter. He didn't want to tease her and Leon knew he would be welcome at that table. He didn't need that.

Leon asked for a double scotch and glanced at the clock. Maybe after that, he should leave that place and go to the pub on the other side of the city he used to visit. There he would surely find someone to chat a little.

Leon looked at the table of B.S.A.A. Jill smiled and he realized that she was talking to a woman and a boy near her, everyone was drinking beer but her. Next to their table, another table where two women was talking and looking at Leon, one of them was also wearing the B.S.A.A. uniform.

The clerk served the drink for Leon and he raised his glass smiling at the two girls, who smiled back.

Someone patted on his shoulder and Leon looked back, it was Carter. The boy sat down on his left and called the waiter, asking the same as Leon.

"You really came, Mr. Kennedy."

"If you gonna drink with me, better call me Leon."

"No problem" Carter laughed.

"Carter, who are those two girls on the table on our right?"

"Hmm" Carter looked over Leon's shoulder "Miss Valentine and Sharon, Mr. Redfield's girlfriend."

"No, on the other table."

"Sure, you know who Miss Valentine is. I'm a dumb." Carter gave a light slap on his own forehead "The redhead is Rachael, the secretary and the brunette one is a friend of hers who works nearby."

"Interesting" Leon said, taking another sip of his whisky.

"Some interest, Leon?"

"I think the redhead would not be a good idea. But the brunette, who knows." Leon smiled.

"If you want, I can talk to..."

"Do you really think I need it, Carter?" Leon looked at him with an amused smile.

"I'm sure you don't, sir. I mean, Leon." Carter laughed.

Leon chuckled lightly before he asked Carter how he had ended up in the BSAA. Carter spoke for a few minutes, telling Leon that his family was poor, but he always liked and studied about guns until he had a chance to join a group of junior guards, where he drew the attention of his superiors by his knowledge. Then he underwent additional training to reach the BSAA.

So Carter stopped talking, Leon looked to his right. The two girls continued talking and as they realized his gaze, they smiled again. But Leon's eyes were quickly drawn to the next table, Jill was standing up. Apparently she was saying goodbye to those people.

Leon turned his face naturally, he didn't want Jill to see him watching her. He turned the glass giving the last gulp and then slammed it on the table trying to attract the waiter attention for another drink.

When the boy was pouring another shot for Leon, he noticed two delicate arms to lean on the counter on his right side. Leon pulled the glass closer and slowly raised his eyes to the beautiful woman by his side.

He looked at her through his hair, but this time Leon didn't smirk as usual. He looked curiously at her and waited for her to say something.

"Tomorrow, 8am in my room, Agent Kennedy. In case you still want my help, I'll glad to." Jill said and nodded.

She did not smile at him, but this time Leon realized that she seemed lighter, not tense. Leon shook his head as he watched her say goodbye to Carter and walk towards the exit.

"This is good" Carter said "Now it is normal."

After that Leon smirked. To his surprise there was she, going back on her decision. He wondered what made her change her mind.

"I wonder what happened" Leon told himself, but Carter answered.

"I think it has a name." Carter said shaking his head. "Chris."

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Of all interactions and entertainment that Leon had gotten that night in the pub, sex was the best. He was just an ordinary man whose mind was focused on sex most of his time when not working. Lying in his underwear in that hotel bed he was watching Patricia get dressed.

Leon decided not to return to his apartment, it would be better to sleep in a hotel near BSAA than face the traffic after drinking. Although Leon liked the night as much as any other unmarried men, he could never act irresponsibly. He knew if because of drinking he caused an accident he would never forgive himself. A person who cared about people's lives should care in all situations.

Leon's responsibility was also about women. Leon could not stay away from them, but he never treated them irresponsibly. Leon knew he did not want any kind of relationship and bond, so he never involved himself with women who were looking for it. Leon never made promises.

Although Rachael was very beautiful, since she working in the BSAA, that meant that Leon would not opt for her at that moment, she would have a chance only when he knew he was ending his job there. The same reason he never truly invested in trying something with Hunnigan because Leon knew he did not want a relationship and he would never hurt someone, specially someone he worked with. Although he had a reputation as womanizer, Leon never acted with disrespected.

Patricia was Rachael's friend, she had no link with the BSAA and since Leon had approached her, she had shown a great interest in him and in a moment of fun. She said she just wanted a good moment, it was important to him. Of course some women fell in love with him after a night like that, but Leon was looking for the most free and uninhibited kind of women to try to avoid it. If that happened, he would handle it with respect, but with sincerity.

Leon looked at Patricia happy to see her getting dressed so fast. No matter how good the sex had been, the following moment was always awkward. Leon was a man and he would never confess it, but he would like to skip that moment where two strangers with no feelings for each other had to look up and grin after an intimate moment like that. He could easily see how strange it was for both.

The drink helped a bit, it could make the moment less embarrassing for the two, but it could not hide the coolness of the moment.

Leon would not complain, however. The important thing for him is that he was satisfied.

He stood up and followed Patricia to the door. He didn't know exactly what to say and actually Leon didn't want to say anything, He just wanted to lie down on that bed and sleep until the other day.

He opened the door and watched her leave.

"Call me another time." She smiled and handed him a folded paper.

Leon smirked and shook his head.

"Thanks for the number, Patricia."

Both shared a grin before goodnight then she turn around and walked down the hall. Leon closed the door behind him, crazy to lie on the bed and sleep for long hours.

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Hi everyone! I'm really glad you guys are here with me in this story. This couple can sound so interesting that now I'm starting my first steps in digital arts, I'm using them both for my first arts. Yeah, they look great together. lol

Hope you guys liked this chapter. Although everybody says Leon is a womanizer and I agree with that in most part, I wanted to bring another perspective in the womanizer mind. Since he is not an irresponsible or empty guy. Hope you liked that.

Thanks dear. Cya soon!

All the faves , follows and reviews mean a lot to me.

Roseimagine: I loved the long review! Oooh dear. I agree with you, I think Leon's flirts come naturally, although he likes being this way. The way he smiles or jokes even in missions let us know he faces the challenges in a light way, not with tension. It doesnt mean he is not focused, but Jill may need a while to realize that. As you said, she is used to different kinds of professionals because of position.

Well, this chapter I brought a little of the sensitive man behind the womanizer. Hope you liked how I put Leon as a responsible man with women, although he clearly like women :D.

Thanks for the support sis. Kissssssssssssss.

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NerdGirl4Life: Hey dearrr. I think there is a possibility Leon would win, although we dont know how Jill is with her skills after Wesker, maybe everything's possible. :)

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krunf: Thank you honey. Kissssssssssssss.

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Mister Valentine: Thanks for the fave. I know you and when that comes to u I can say it means a lot to me. It means you are really getting into it.

I hope I can keep your attention and interest as the story goes.

You were kindda right about Jill, it was not Chris who really convinced her, but Carlos... lol.. I'm just kidding, I mean her own experiences, including Carlos. Lol

I hope you liked this chapter. Thanks dear. Kissssssssssssss.

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Mayra.713.g: I know what you mean, we get used to Chris and Jill only. :D Sometimes when I'm writing that also happens to me. Lol. But I'm enjoying this challenge specially because it can be new to write they both changing their opinion about each other, since they meet before. So I hope I can make it intesresting. Thanks for always coming dear.! kissssssssssssss