A/N: Thanks a bunch for taking out time to read and a little extra thanks to Shirahane Aikawa for reviewing the last chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't Resident Evil or any of its characters, they all belong to Capcom.

Chapter 21

(Kate's POV)

I studied my patients' charts, making a note here and there about their treatments or in response to the treatment. It got pretty busy when we got back, since there was a shortage of staff for past week with a few doctors away for the conference and it was kind of like all the patients piled up, so I had almost double the patients I usually have. The Dean was really going nuts these days, trying to maintain the reputation of his hospital. My phone buzzed and I looked at the text I just received, 'Think of the Devil', I couldn't help but think as I read the Dean's text asking me to hand him the report for my patients that I had already handed to him this morning. After sending a text telling him that I had got barely got back to my work when the room door bust open and an angry Josie stormed to her desk.

"I am so gonna kill that guy!", she literally screamed sitting down on her desk.
"Who?", I asked even though I knew she was talking about the Dean.
"That Dean, of course!", she yelled in an obvious tone and took a deep breath and said, "Sorry! I didn't mean to yell."
"Its fine, I understand", I said smiling getting back to my work, "He's going nuts lately with that ranking thing coming up."
"How do you handle it?", she asked me eating a huge bar of chocolate.
I shrugged, "I don't know, get lucky I suppose", I told her the truth. I didn't know how but for some reason I had all the things ready for him when he asked for or sometime beforehand.
"Well I have to go, I just came back from rounds because he asked for this case file", she said holding up a red folder, "You coming?", she asked me from the door.
"No, I just got back from the rounds 15 minutes ago", I told her smiling and she left.

I got back to old medical case I was reading and the door opened again but I didn't look up thinking it to be one of the doctors I share room with, "How come you are always here when I visit you", I looked up at the familiar voice.
It was Leon, "What are you doing here?", I asked a bit concerned checking for any visible wounds.
"I came to meet you", he said taking seat in front of me, "thought you must be busy but it doesn't look like that, you are free as always."
"I am busy", I said offended, "I am doing paperwork. Anyways how can I help you?"
"I told you I came to meet you", he said again, smiling.I looked at my watch thinking if I was dreaming all this, "Umm… isn't it your work time now?", I asked trying not to sound offensive.
"Yeah, it is. I am on a bit of break of about 1 hour", he replied and looked at his watch, "only 40 minutes or so remaining."
"So let me get this straight you took off from work to get here just to meet me?", I asked him.

"Not really", he replied and I gave him an explain-this-to-me look, "Well I was at work, with a friend of mine doing usual boring routine and stuff. So when we weren't doing much he got a call from his mom that his wife got into labor and they brought her here for delivery. So he went to convince his superior about letting him off for just a bit so he could see his newborn baby. It took some persuasion and he got like an hour but he wanted max time with his family and for that he wanted someone, who could drive fast."

"And you can drive like crazy, so he got you along", I concluded his story.
"Yes, just saw his daughter, she's really pretty as her mother", he told me, "And then I thought to leave him alone with his family and thought I should be with mine."
"Huh? What?", I asked him not really getting what he said in the end.
"I said I should meet my friend", he said smiling; "Did you hear something different?"
"Umm… No", I lied, telling the truth would be like acknowledging what I heard.

We sat in silence for a while, it didn't take me much time to get absorbed in my work again but I tried to shrug off the feeling that Leon's eyes were on me. It didn't feel creepy or anything but I felt nervous thinking if I did some mistake he'd think that I am so stupid and unprofessional, and thinking that wasn't really helping me either.

"You look so serious when working", Leon commented after a little while.
"So do you", I almost blurted and he smiled.
"But you look…", he didn't say what and left his sentence hanging there.
"What?", I asked him.
"For that you have to go on a dinner with me", he said smiling.
"Like on a date!", I asked surprised.

But before Leon could answer his phone rang, "Yeah", he looked at his watch, "Yeah, meet me at the parking lot, we can get there in 15 minutes", he said to the person on phone, "I have to go", he rushed out of the cabin and backtracked, poked his head back through the half open door, "Tomorrow at 8:00", with that he disappeared. It was after a considerable time that I realized that I was staring at the door blankly and smiling. The rest of the day I had that inexplicable smile on my face and things really seemed a little brighter in that dull hospital.

(Kate's POV)

"You going somewhere?", Chris asked me as I walked in the living room.
"Leon and I are going out for dinner, you know the payback for that dinner I cooked him", I told him, not really sure if I should tell him that Leon asked me out.
"Oh", Jill clapped her hands happily maybe catching up the hint and I shook my head vigorously as Chris turned to look at her, "alone time with my hubby. Read me and baby another story?"
"Okay, I'd go get that damn book", Chris said huffing walking away.

I moved to sit by Jill's side, "It's a date right?", she asked in whisper.
"I don't know, he didn't say when I asked", I told her.
"So you like him huh?", Jill asked me, in a tone that she knew it would happen.
"I think so", I admitted my feelings, "it's the only logical explanation of the things I feel."
"Oh Kate, I am happy for you", Jill hugged me, "So will you stay over at Leon's tonight, tell me so I can make an excuse."
"No, it's too early for that!", I told her standing up and looking through the window and then at the wall clock, "He's late!", I said turning back.
"He'd be here, he's kind of a busy person you know", Jill said and then there was door bell.

"It must be him", I said grabbing my bag, "How do I look, I am not over dressed or something?", I asked Jill trying to keep my composure.
"You look perfect!", Jill said smiling, "Have fun!"
"Be back before 10:00pm", Chris said as he stepped back with a children's story book and I gave him you-gotta-be-kidding-me look as I moved to get the door.

I took a deep breath before opening the door and then pulled it open. Leon smiled at me which I couldn't help but mirror, he looked different than usual. He was dressed more casually than usual, "Sorry for being late", he apologized, "Shadow was being a bit stubborn than usual."
"Its fine, you were just 2-3 minutes late", I said stepping out closing the door behind me.
"You're looking beautiful", he complimented me as we walked to his car.
"Thank you, you too look nice. Less professional than usual", I told him as he held open the car door for me. I got in the side seat and he closed it and rounded off to other side to get in the driver seat. The butterflies in my stomach were telling me this night is really going to be perfect.

(Kate's POV)

We sat in absolute silence as Leon drove me back, the events of the night going over and over again in my head. Him taking me to a nice a restaurant, something I had expected. What I didn't expect was us strolling down the shopping district with my arm wrapped around his laughing at his jokes, so much so that I cried laughing hard. And then going bowling where I almost cheated to win against him but in the end he let me win. I looked at Leon, I still didn't know if it was date. I didn't ask and he didn't say, some part of me wish it was while the other part wished it wasn't on the account that he might have not liked it.

"Thanks!", Leon said, "It was great that you could come with me tonight."
"You're welcome", I said smiling, and knowing that he enjoyed his time was the best feeling among all the feelings that I felt right now, "I had a good time too."
"So you think, we should do this often?", he asked me.
"Definitely!", I said it without a delay.
"We are here", he said pulling his car to a halt and I looked out, suddenly I didn't want to head back home but even then we both got out and he walked me to the house.
I turned to face him as we stood on the porch, "So it's a goodbye then", I said and for moment I stood their expecting something. Leon didn't move either, "Goodnight and umm… take care", I turned to unlock the door.
"Kate", Leon said and I turned to find out he had closed the distance. I closed my eyes as he leaned in and kissed my cheek, "Goodnight!", he said smiling and walked away. I watched him as he got in his car and disappeared around the corner.
"Such an idiot!", I couldn't help but say as I unlocked the door and got in the house. To my surprise the lights in the living room were still on.

I walked in the living area, Chris and Jill were sitting on the couch, "… and little red riding hood said", he was reading from the story book.
"Oh hey, you came back early", Jill said looking up at me.
I looked at my watch, "its 12:30 am", I said a bit confused, "You guys didn't sleep."
"Well we thought we could wait for you a bit and Jill wanted to hear more stories after dinner and then we didn't notice the time.
"Oh well, I am heading up to bed. I have an early shift in the morning", I said to them.
"We'll sleep too", Jill said getting up, "Goodnight and sleep well."
"Goodnight and sleep well both of you", I said climbing the stairs.

(Jill's POV)

We watched Kate climb up the stairs and then looked at each other. Chris let out a sigh of relief, "Phew it was a close call", he said, "Good thing she didn't notice", he added closing the book which was open at the Cinderella story.
"Yeah, we were so busted otherwise", I said as we too moved towards our bedroom.
"But honestly if they go on that pace, they'd be old", Chris said shaking his head.
"Yeah I thought he'd kiss her on lips for sure", I couldn't help but say.
"Yeah, they were so formal", Chris said and I was surprised he was not offended about the idea of Leon kissing Kate on lips.
"But him kissing her on cheek was cute", I said as I followed Chris into bedroom, "When was the last time you kissed me on cheek."

Chris kissed my cheek, "Now", he answered smiling and I smiled at that gesture too.
"I think Leon is more romantic than anyone of us could imagine", I said.
"Keep the girl talk for Claire", Chris said as we both climbed on the bed.
"I wonder what I will do when Kate too moves away", I said pouting.
"Well we'd be busy with our baby plus Kate would be living a few blocks away if everything goes as planned."
"Do you even have a plan?", I asked Chris.
"Nope, it's not like we need one, things are slow but smooth as they can be", he replied.
"Yeah agreed", I said snuggling in his arms, "Goodnight!"
"Goodnight, sweetheart", he wished me back as we closed our eyes to sleep.

A/N: Thanks for reading and I hope you liked the chapter. I apologize for any mistakes and typos that might have caused an inconvenience for you. You can tell me your views, if you like check out my collaborative piece with my sister-like best friend Shirahane Aikawa, its called Undercover and tell us what you think about it.