We arrive at Midway around 1:30pm, and I get into a black car with tinted windows. The driver greets me and we're off. We arrive at Santorini and I get out. I cautiously enter the restaurant and look around.
"Hello, welcome to Santorini. Just one today," the hostess smiles.
"No, thank you. I am actually meeting with someone."
"Ah, yes of course. You must be meeting with the handsome guy with the great hair," she grabs a menu and leads me to a back booth.
I choose not to push the subject further.
"Thank you," I smile, and scoot into the booth.
Leon sits across from me behind his menu.
"I think we could both eat one chicken each right? I don't want to fight you over the last leg."
"Why the hell did you have me come all the way out here," I was a little irritated and slightly jealous.
"This city was the half-way point for the both of us, and the chicken here is superb."
A waiter approaches our table, introduces himself, and tells us the specials of the day.
"No, thank you. We'll both have the Greek style chicken, two Caesar salads, and two diet cokes. And may we please have more bread sticks, as you can see my friend here is a tank," Leon smiles, as the waiter takes away our menus and walks off to place our orders.
I was pissed. He laughs.
"Jeez, Chris, lighten up. What is it you wanted to talk about?"
I tell him about what happened in Ireland.
"Hm, that's interesting. Look, I am deeply sorry to hear about what happened to your lieutenant. How is he doing?"
"He is fine," I am getting impatient.
"Claire told me you could tell me why the offender thought he was Piers and why he looked like him," I say hastily.
"Every time I talk to you, Chris, you're always so high strung about something," he pauses as the waiter places our drinks, salads, and breadsticks down.
"Ok so, you remember in Edonia, you met a woman that called herself Ada Wong."
"Yes, of course. I lost all of my men because of that bitch. Then Simmons' men killed her. What about it?"
The fact he was bringing her up made my blood boil even more.
"That was actually a woman named Carla Radames," he says, sliding a folder across the table.
I open it and start looking over the papers inside.
"So you're telling me that someone created a Piers clone, from someone that looked similar to him?"
I was confused.
"I knew this was going to be a little difficult for you to understand. Just finish reading the files. I wasn't able to find much else, but from what was left it appears that even a tiny sample from a host could be duplicated and grown into a clone," he says taking a bite of his salad.
"Carla's research and testing of the C-virus were very extensive. Unfortunately, a lot of it was destroyed. However, I was able to get my hands on some documents. Thanks to a friend. Due to the strain of the virus Piers was infected with it's possible that his already infected DNA did this on its own."
"Infected DNA. . ."
Leon laughs.
"I made those copies for you. Read them whenever. You're Caesar is getting soggy," he points to the untouched bowl of greens drizzled with a creamy dressing, and croutons.
"There is something about you that pisses me off," I grumble, as I shovel the wilted roman lettuce into my mouth.
"It's because you need to relax sometimes, Chris. We're friends right," Leon laughs
Friends? I never really thought of Leon that way. He was surely Claire's friend, and we spoke occasionally. I've read his reports, and he's tipped me off to things. We were defiantly fighting for the same cause, but never were too chummy.
"Yeah. Yeah, we're friends."
I don't see a problem with it. He's not a bad guy.
He smiles and continues to eat. We talk more, share war stories, and joke around. It was a good time. Refreshing almost.
"Let me grab the bill," I say, reaching for the paper.
Leon quickly snatches it.
"This is on the FOS," he smiles, waving a credit card in his other hand.
We laugh.
I left Chicago and Leon feeling happy. I was glad to call him my friend. For the most part, my mind was at ease. I check my phone to see a response text from Piers.
Hoping for a safe return. I will be in my quarters if you need me.
-Piers
I get butterflies in my stomach. The thought of him waiting for me made me smile. I get off the plane. Its late evening. I start to make my way to his room, but I am stopped by Jill.
"Where the hell were you?"
"I met with Leon, why what's the matter?"
"John needs you to answer some questions. They are saying something about inappropriate relationships."
"What? Did you say anything?"
"Of course not! Are you sure Piers didn't?"
"Maybe not this Piers," I say, leaving Jill behind.
I make my way to John's office and knock at his door.
"Come in," a voice on the other side calls out.
I open the door and take a seat across from him.
"You wanted to see me?"
"Ah yes, Captain Redfield."
John Novak was the human relations officer, and a complete douche-nozzle.
"It has come to my attention that you are becoming a little too friendly with some members of our team. I just wanted to hear it from the horse's mouth, so to speak," a fake laugh follows.
"I don't know what you are referring to."
"Of course you don't. The tape from Ireland, a certain lady spending the night in your quarters, then a young man spending the night in your quarters. Wow, who hasn't spelt with the great Chris Redfield?"
I wanted to beat the smirk off his stupid face.
"The Ireland tapes are from an unreliable source, and the other two incidents are rumors. John, do you always waste your time on hearsay," I stand up and begin to walk out of his office.
"No, I don't. That's why I will be keeping an eye on you, Captain Redfield. I know about your reputation with partners."
I walk out and slam the door. Damn him. Jill is waiting for me.
"What happened?"
"I guess I just got a warning. That prick is trying to take me down for misconduct."
"Chris you need to be careful. John doesn't take his job too lightly. Two years ago, he shipped Sergeant Lawrence from Foxtrot to the West African branch for fornicating with one of his new recruits. Then dishonorably discharged the recruit."
"I am not doing anything wrong, Jill."
"What about Piers?"
"Shh, be quiet. There isn't anything going on. Ok?"
"Ok."
We part ways, and I head to Piers' room. I know I shouldn't be doing this. I knock at his door.
"Come in."
"Hey, how are you feeling," I ask, closing the door behind me.
"Drained. Glad to see you in one piece. You finished up what you needed to, I presume."
"Yes! However, I did receive a warning from John, about misconduct, promptly after my return," I say, taking a seat on the bed.
"Yeah, he asked me some questions earlier. I told him he was delusional."
We laugh.
"You have nothing to worry about, Captain. I won't let him discharge you."
I didn't like the sound of that.
He pulls me to lay down next to him, and holds me.
A/N: I just want to thank everyone again for your support! You guys are awesome!