A/N: I'd like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the readers for following this story and Shirahane Aikawa for reviewing the last chapter.

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

Chapter 26

(Kate's POV)

I dialed Leon's number but instead of the ring I heard the automated message, that the number I was trying to reach did not exist anymore. I looked at my phone in shock and felt anger rise up inside me. Leon had changed his number and he didn't even bother to tell me about it. I called his home phone and as expected it rang once and the message on his answering machine played. I disconnected the call, got off my bed and exited my room, heading down the stairs. I needed to talk to him. I don't know what happened but I had a feeling that he was avoiding me on purpose, and the more I thought about it the more I felt infuriated at him, making me want to know the reasons for his sudden indifference towards me. I grabbed my coat from the coat hanger and pulled open the door.

"Hey Kate, where you going?", Jill asked me sounding a little bewildered.
"To see Kennedy", I told her as calmly as I could.
"Oh is he here to pick you up?", she asked happily following me to the main door.
"No, I am going to his house", I told her crossing the porch, "Don't wait for me, I'll be late!"
"Kate?!", she called as I stormed away towards Leon's home.

I don't know why but I felt a mixture of emotions bubbling inside of me anger, disappointment and fear were few of them. My heart was aching and I don't know if it was because of fast paces that I was taking to reach Leon's house or because of Leon himself. When I reached Leon's house I gave it a long look and took deep breaths to calm myself down. His car wasn't on the driveway so probably he wasn't home yet and I wasn't expecting him to be home either. I looked at time on my wrist watch; it was just 8:00 PM, so it was pretty early for him to be home now. I climbed the steps of the porch and sat down there to wait for him. I was determined not to leave the place without seeing him even if I have to wait till the morning.

(Leon's POV)

I sighed out of tiredness as I drove through the almost empty streets and lanes. I didn't know what was more tiring, my work or trying to keep away from Kate, when I wanted to do the opposite. I wanted to see her, even if it was for the last time but I, more than anything, knew that it was in her best interests that I don't do that. I was hoping for the tiniest possibility of her not being in love with me, contrary to what I had initially wished for. I couldn't help but laugh at how much ironic the situation had become for me.

Shadow whined from the side seat and I looked at him, "We'll be home soon", I said patting his head. And very unexpectedly it started raining. I slowed down my car as the visibility reduced even with the vipers. Although it was almost midnight and there weren't many cars but roads were slippery and I didn't want to take any chances. Plus it was not like there was someone waiting for me at home.

I turned a corner and I could see my house and as it drew nearer I saw a figure on the porch and at once I knew it was Kate, the person I wanted to see and at the same time didn't want to see. I sighed readying myself for the upcoming confrontation as I pulled my car on the driveway. I got out and let out Shadow, who greeted Kate happily. I slowly dragged my feet towards her as she stepped out in rain to meet me.

"You here?", I tried to say it with as little emotions as I can.
"Yeah", Kate replied looking up at me, searching for something.
I looked at my watch, it was around 11:45PM, "What brings you here?", I asked her.
"Don't you know?", she asked her voice cracking now.
"No", I shrugged acting oblivious, "Why you come here?", I asked her again.
"Why?!", she exclaimed, "What other choice did you leave? You don't take my calls, you don't reply to my texts, you don't have time to come see me anymore, and now you changed your number too."
"Well I am busy", I told her in an obvious tone.
"Is that why you changed your number, because you were busy?", she asked me, her eyes not leaving my face.
"I didn't pay up the bills for last one…", I began.

"Enough of your excuses; you tell me what's going on in your head?", Kate said in frustration, walking close to me, "Why are you doing this?"
"Doing what?", it took me all my strength to play dumb.
"You know what I am talking about", she said pressing on it.
"No, Kate I don't!", I put the same weight in my voice, "I really have no idea what you're trying to say here."
"I am asking you why are you avoiding me all of a sudden?", she said it very clearly and slowly.
"I am not avoiding you, I am just busy with work", I lied to her again, trying to make it seem all casual.
"So you weren't busy with work when you took me to work or for a coffee and then back home last month?", she spoke really fast.

"Kate, you're my good friend and I like spending time with you but I am just too much busy to do all of that at the moment", I tried to sound convincing.
"Good friend?!", she said in a tone of disbelief, sounding hurt.
"Yeah", I could only say as I too felt her pain.
"How many good friends have you kissed Leon?", she asked me in a confronting tone.
"It was a mistake", I told her clenching my fists as tight as I can.
"A mistake?!", she repeated in shock.
"I lost my mind, I shouldn't have done that, I am sorry", I told her as I felt a weight on my heart.

We stood there in silence; the pitter-patter sound of the rainfall was the only sound for some time. I tried not show any of my true feelings on my face and kept my expressions firm, while she stared at my face trying to read me. I saw her hope shatter and run down her face in form of tears, even though it was raining but I could make out that she was crying. I wanted to wipe them away because it was agonizing to see her like that, but I dared not move, I had to keep up my act. It was the only way to fix this mess.

"How convenient!", Kate said stepping back, looking more hurt than ever, "It's really easy for you to say that", she paused mustering all her strength, "it was a mistake", I didn't say anything but just look at her, "I am sorry that I wasted your time, I was stupid to think that…", she didn't complete her sentence faking a laugh, "I guess I'll head home now, Goodnight Kennedy!"
She started to walk towards her home, "Kate!", I called out to her and she turned to look at me hopefully, "It's raining I'd drop you home."
She again smiled that hurtful smile, "Its fine I am already soaked and besides you need to get some sleep, I guess it be a busy day tomorrow right?"

Kate didn't wait for my reply, turned her back and started walking back to her house. I stood there watching her as she slowly became a dot in the distance. I restrained myself from running after her and pulling her in my arms, and it was taking all of my strength to not do that. She didn't turn to look back at me, not even once, and that only meant one thing that I succeeded in breaking her heart. This is what I wanted right? Then why do I feel so miserable? Maybe because the only person that made me feel good was walking away from me and won't ever come back.

(Jill's POV)

I yawned as I made my way to the kitchen, I was too hungry to wait for breakfast and at the same time too sleepy too, that I bumped into the dining table, "You alright?", I heard Kate's voice.
I rubbed my eyes to see that she was sitting on the dining table having her breakfast with a huge book opened by her side, "You up early?", I said to her.
"Yeah have an early shift and a tricky case", she told me as I took a seat by her side, "Hungry?", she put said putting a plate of French toasts in front of me.
"Oh thanks!", I couldn't help but say as I started with my breakfast, "My baby wants me to eat every time", I commented to her.
"I figured", she said with a slight smile getting back to her book.
"So Kennedy's getting you today?", I asked her thinking maybe that's the reason she's up early. By the time I went to sleep she wasn't back from his place.
"No", she gave a short reply, not looking at me.

I had never seen her like this, her reply was almost cold. And she seemed to lack her happy-go-lucky aura; to me she seemed a little out of place. She didn't seem herself, "Did something happen at Kennedy's?", I couldn't help but ask out of concern.
Kate looked at me, "No, nothing really", she said shaking her head.
"Kate, you don't sound right. It's like you are saying one thing when you feel another", I said concerned.
"I'll be fine Jill", she said to me with the weakest of her smiles.
"Tell me what happened?", I asked her hitting the table with my fist.

"Leon and I cleared some misunderstandings", Kate told me with a deep sigh.
"Misunderstandings?", I repeated confused.
"Yeah", she replied and her pager beeped, "Ah I have to go now", she stood up seeing her pager, "Take care and see you later!", she bent down to give me a hug.
"Kate!", I grabbed her arms as she wrapped them around me.
"He doesn't love me", she whispered to me, "Don't tell Chris about it", she added and stood up straight, "Don't go bumping on dining tables, alright", she smiled and left.

I watched her leave the room and then Chris stepped into the room and it all became more clear to me, "Hey what happened with her and Kennedy?", Chris asked me taking a seat too, "I was listening but it felt like you women were talking in code words."
"Oh well they are just friends", I said getting to my breakfast; "I don't think anything is going to happen between them, I already dropped my hopes."
"It's a little slow but I bet there are flames of love there", Chris said pouring himself coffee, "But they're so slow it's annoying."
"No I am re-thinking it", I said trying to pull this thought out of Chris's head, "Leon is a forward guy, he would have confessed his feelings and even done more if he had those feelings for Kate."
"Well he took her to a date and kissed her", Chris said proving his point.
"It was just a repayment for the dinner she cooked him and that even wasn't a proper kiss, it was more of a friendly kiss", I said invalidating his points.
"Well but I still have this strong feeling he loves her", Chris said sighing, "But well we just have to wait and watch."

I hummed in response and at the same time couldn't help but think about what Kate told me. I still didn't get most of it but she did say he didn't love her, as shocking as it was it seemed to be a fact. I didn't know what exactly happened but Kate didn't want Chris to know that she was heartbroken and the reason was Leon, and I very well knew why it was so. And to honor her wish I'd do anything in my power to get this idea off of Chris's mind even if meant lying through my teeth.

A/N: Thanks for taking out time to read, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I apologize for any of the mistakes or typos that made it difficult for you to understand the context. See you all next week!