My friend was kind enough to let me use his computer while the power is out at my place. Enjoy!

Leon lay down in his bed getting adjusted to the new apartment. It had been two weeks since Helena and him even spoke to one another. Hunnigan called up a few times to get Leon's input on Helena's psyche, and he just made up stuff. He was angry at her still, but Leon still didn't want to jeopardize Helena's job just because of a spat. During the second half of the two weeks Leon had tried calling her. He even texted her his new address in case she wanted to come over, but he never once got a reply back. As he rubbed his forehead in frustration he began to feel terrible. He knew that Helena hit him right on the money about certain things especially about the two of them being messed up. Leon had his alcoholism and Ada, while Helena had her sister's death and PTSD. Leon closed his eyes and thought back to the fight.

"What the hell would you know about love? In Tall Oaks you were cold, and were even willing to sacrifice others just so you could save one person! "

"I loved my sister! That's all the love I ever needed and now it's gone! Deborah was my whole world; she was all that I had left! Don't you dare tell me I don't know anything about love! It's a hell of a lot better than what you have with Ada; at least I knew Deborah and I loved each other!"

Leon's eyes tensed up as he thought back to what he said to her. He felt like a hypocrite because he had done the same thing for Ada countless times. Helena also picked up another interesting bit about his life: Ada and him never have really told each other that they loved one another. Well, they did before but it was an awkward time for it. Leon rose up from the bed and sadly looked over at his phone. There a tiny bit of hope lingering in him that Helena would call him up and they'd be able to patch things up. As much as he didn't want to admit it, he was afraid that Helena would tell Hunnigan to call off their partnership. At this point Leon almost felt like he deserved it.

Leon's body shook as soon as he heard his cell phone ring. He quickly grabbed it and noticed that the number was different. His face grew sad momentarily after figuring out it wasn't Helena but he decided to go ahead and take the call anyways.

"Leon here,"

"Ah, Kennedy I was hoping to hear from you."

"Who is this?"

"Kent Withrow the new head of the CIA."

Leon's mind went away from Helena and he managed to get himself more serious.

"Nice to officially talk to you. Congrats on the promotion."

"Why thank you. It's an honor hearing that from one of the governments finest."

"Likewise. What's going on? Normally if this were James he'd be calling about a mission."

"You are quite perceptive Kennedy. Yes, this is in regards to the Middle East task force the BSAA sent in some time ago. Evidently the main HQ has lost contact with Chris Redfield and the rest of the team that was ordered to arrest Ivan Spokovitch. They were last heard the other day then their communication was kicked off."

Leon began to grow nervous hearing the news. Usually Chris was not one to cease communication let alone fall prey to an enemy. Leon's heart began to race a bit because of his worry for his friend.

"So what's the plan then?"

He could hear Kent clear up his throat before speaking.

"Well it has been decided that instead of sending in a cavalry to rescue Redfield and co, it would be wise to send in two agents into this mess and obtain Ivan. I'm assigning you and one other person to go to the Middle East within the next week or so."

"Why not now?"

"Well we are trying to see if any scouts within the area can let us know if Spokovitch is using the team as scapegoats or not. We can't afford to have hostages in the enemy hands right now. With the war going on over there, having headline go to the public about this mess and the risk of a B.O.W outbreak is intense."

"What if its determined Redfield and his team are taken hostage? What am I supposed to do then about rescuing them?"

Kent went silent for a moment and Leon could tell in his gut he wasn't going to like the response.

"As much as I hate to say it, if it turns out they are in Spokovitch's custody then they are a lost cause."

"What?!"

"We can't risk you or the other agent's life for the sake of the BSAA. Redfield and his team are in BSAA's hands, not ours."

"But the BSAA has helped out our causes for the last—"

"Kennedy, I know of the relationship the CIA and the like have with the BSAA, but it has been determined by me and a group of my colleagues that it's in our best interest not to get involved with that aspect of the mission. Retrieving Ivan is essential to catching many wanted bioterrorists and nothing is going to stand in our way of bringing that man to justice. I understand you and Redfield go back to the Raccoon City calamity, might I say that is tragic. His sacrifice will not be in vain though, once you capture Ivan of course."

Leon could feel his body tense up and his anger was rising. The first impression of Kent was bad and Leon could only assume things were going to get worse. Right now he would have given anything to click off his cell phone and throw it across the room. He couldn't believe that the new head leader would already pull executive orders such as this. Leon knew he had to talk with Hunnigan as soon as this conversation ceased. Leon quickly pulled his thoughts together so that Kent wouldn't become suspicious of his silence.

"I understand sir."

"Excellent. I'll have Hunnigan update you on the status of Redfield and co within the next day or two. Whenever we can determine their location you will be the first to know of it."

"Sounds good. Before we hang up who is the other agent I'm supposed to work with?"

"Give me a second,"

Leon could hear Kent rummaging through some documentation and perhaps a little bit of typing here and there. Leon was already nervous enough and the clatter of the keystrokes was getting to become irritating.

"It looks like agent Tucker will be joining you."

"He's only a rookie though."

"He's young but I'm sure he can get the job done."

"Kent, would it be alright if I could request someone else?"

"Well since this is going to be your personal side kick, I don't see the problem. Who would you rather have in Tucker's place?"

Leon closed his eyes and could feel himself gulp a little. He had no idea what the extent of their partnership was now but Leon had to trust his judgment on this one. He took in a deep breath before replying to Kent.

"Helena Harper."

"Harper?"

"You sound taken aback."

"Kennedy I'm afraid I cannot do that. She hasn't even been through any evaluations or checkups since she was discharged from the hospital facility. Also her records show that she is highly aggressive and even fired at a civilian just for her sister."

Leon was somewhat shocked to hear that last part. He knew that Helena had a record but never before heard what exactly it was she had done. Leon couldn't help but think that she really did have more problems than she led others to believe.

"There is no one else I'd rather be with."

"I'm sorry Kennedy but it can't be done. Until I see her go through some tests and what not she is a danger to you and to the mission at large."

Leon sighed a bit and nodded to himself.

"Understood."

"Alright, well you enjoy the rest of your night and take care."

With that Kent hung up and Leon immediately started to dial up Hunnigan's number. Leon's mind was going through a lot of questions and planning as he could hear the phone ring. He hoped that she'd pick up because he had a solid plan. Leon could hear the phone adjust in the background and then a yawn came up.

"Hunnigan?"

"Leon? Why are you calling so late, it's past two in the morning?"

"Did Kent tell you about what happened to Chris and the rest of the BSAA team?"

Hunnigan yawned again and slowly began to wake up more.

"Yeah, everyone lost communication with them. I also heard that we aren't allowed to rescue them…I take back what I said earlier about Kent being a good guy. You wouldn't believe the orders he has given the last couple of weeks."

"What has he been doing?"

"He already has been granted executive power based on a secret congress vote so therefore he can go ahead and change whatever he wants if he and a group of his peers deem the rules or regulations unfit. He just made is so the tests to becoming an agent is twice as hard, and he also stopped quite a few of our pursuits on some of the bigger global terrorists, and to top it off any agent who has had a problem physical or mental is immediately suspended until he gets this new psychological evaluation test up and running. I looked into Helena's records and she is suspended along with a couple hundred other agents. Leon it's been so chaotic over here I'm surprised you haven't heard anything until now. Didn't Helena tell you any of this? I called her up the other day and let her know about the suspension."

Leon shook his head in disgust as he could hear Hunnigan walk around. Leon knew he had to come clean about everything at this point.

"Hunnigan, the truth is we haven't talked in the last two weeks…"

"But Leon that would mean—"

"Everything I told you was a lie. I'm sorry."

"Leon, what the heck happened?"

"We had a problem…but I'm working on fixing it up."

"You better; you also better have a plan for rescuing Chris and all since you so kindly woke me up two hours ahead of schedule. I barely get enough sleep as it is nowadays."

Leon slightly smirked and pulled out his personal laptop from underneath the bed. He turned it on and waited for the computer to respond as he began to talk to Hunnigan.

"Well Kent is going to have me shipped over to the Middle East within the next week or so. He assigned agent Tucker to accompany me, but I want Helena to join me on this one. She's got more experience. Hunnigan is there any way you can switch around Tucker's and Helena's records with one another so that it looks like Tucker is going with me, but it's actually Helena?"

Hunnigan began to cough a bit after drinking something it seemed and she desperately tried to talk to Leon.

"You want me to what!? But you just told me you and Helena were having a problem why would you go through the trouble?"

By now the laptop was fully functional and Leon began to hack into some documentation. He pulled up Tucker's and Helena's identification and was ready to switch around the data, but he needed Hunnigan's personal signature for the remaining part.

"Hunnigan, you said so yourself. Helena and I can get a lot done together and I fully believe she can help me rescue Chris, the other agents, and arrest Ivan. I already did most of the work for you; all I need now is your seal of approval."

Leon could hear Hunnigan groan a little bit and she paused for a moment to collect her bearings. She took a long sigh and Leon could hear her typing away. He looked upon his screen to see that she had approved of the switch. Leon smiled big and took care of the rest of the information needed to make the switch believable.

"You owe me big time for this. Also don't forget this will only last about eighty two hours at the least. If you and Helena aren't over there in the Middle East ready to go, Kent will find out and have both your asses back here faster than you can say T-virus. He's already got a lot of people hung up by a noose, don't add yourself onto the list and don't drag Helena down with you."

Leon nodded to himself and then began to shut down the laptop.

"I promise you we'll be leaving together in the next three days."

"I'll go ahead and book you guys a private plane for it so that way Kent can't track it. I'll give you a call as soon as it's ready for takeoff so you and Helena better get down here."

"Thanks Hunnigan—"

"Leon, I don't know what happened between you and Helena but get it fixed. This mission is going to be dangerous since there is a war going on. You both need to have each other's backs one hundred percent."

"I'll take care of it, I promise."

Leon hung up the phone and already began to pack up some of his belongings, mostly weapons and rations. He didn't know how he was going to approach Helena and basically tell her that he was sneaking her onto the mission. Leon sighed a bit and hoped that she'd forgive him in the end as he continued to pack.