Leon:

I drew away from her slowly, feeling my pocket vibrating wildly. For a second I met her gaze, before stepping back and retrieving my phone.

Hennigan.

I looked back at Claire as she watched me silently. "Could you give me a moment? I just need to.. It's my contact. Hennigan, from work". I whispered as she nodded slowly.

"Sure.. I'll go check on the love birds." She turned away, her eyes flashing back over her shoulder at me as she walked.

"Damn". I whispered flipping the phone open and pressing it against my ear. "Yes Hennigan"? I started walking, in an attempt to escape all the noise. I hurried into the clubhouse and wandered down a small hallway and down a short staircase until it opened to fresh air.

"Hey Kennedy". She said brightly as I searched around me. I glanced back to find I was near the lake's edge and I could barely see Claire, Chris and Jill at our table. "Leon"? Hennigan said sharply.

"Yeah sorry".

"I said how are you"?

I shrugged as I shoved my free hand into my pocket. "Fine. Is that the only reason you called"? That seemed kinda rude.. After all its not as if Hennigan was interrupting intentionally.

"Well.." She paused. This is it. My mission. Now she'd be telling me that some new crisis had arose and I needed to get out to DC asap. Or maybe I'd skip DC all together and go to the location.

"Well I..." She began but then stopped. Okay.. Anytime now Hennigan. Tell me what I'd have to do, or at least that I could stay.. Right now I think I'd prefer the latter. I glanced back at Claire as she talked to Jill.

"Nevermind Leon.. It isn't important".

"Just tell me". I said as I clenched my fist.

"No. It isn't.. I'll call you later."

"Hennigan what is going on"?

"Leon.. I don't. I don't want to bother you with this".

"Just tell me, if it's important. If something is happening I'm going to find out anyway. Better that you tell me." I felt something pulling my attention away, and looked back at Claire who was looking at me silently.

"Are you alone"? Hennigan said as I looked away to the dark water.

"Temporarily.. I'm out with friends right now". I scraped my thumb across my index finger and started tapping my foot on the grass.

"Then this can wait till a later time". She said suddenly.

"Just tell me."

"No Leon. I'm not gonna burden you with anything right now.. We can talk later".

"Too late. You've already brought it up, and you've called me before.. What's going on"?

"Is she there"? Hennigan said quietly.

She? Who was she talking about? Claire.. Jill? No.. She'd never met either of them.

"What are you talking about? Who"?

"You're girl friend remember?" She said jokingly as she laughed. "Remember I told you to get one? Have you been working on that"?

"Why would you say that"? I suddenly felt nervous and almost sick. Was Claire my girl friend? No. Not officially. We'd never brought it up. But we were pretty much together, just without any titles.

"I don't know.. Something seems.. Different about you".

"Why do you think that"?

"Well Leon, considering I've spent quite a lot of time talking with you on the phone.. There's something different about your voice. It's like borderline happy, not so morbid as usual".

"Don't say anything that might jynx it". I said as she started laughing again.

"I wouldn't dream of it.. I'm happy for you, and whoever she is."

"It's Claire.." I said before I could stop myself. Hennigan and I never really talked about personal lives, we were friends but not that kind of friends. Our relationship was strictly professional.. At least it was. Good one Kennedy. "You know the Raccoon City incident years ago? I met her there. The two of us escaped together". I said quickly, feeling the sweat beginning to bead up on my neck. But why? I don't know. Maybe I was nervous about mixing my personal and professional lives. Or maybe because I was talking about Claire.

"Oh really.." Hennigan said slowly. "She must have been through a lot. I guess it's kind of good that the two of you have each other. Not a lot.. Not a lot of people would be able to understand something like that unless they'd been through it."

"Yeah." I said slowly.

She was right. Claire was the only one besides Chris and Jill that I knew of who could relate to the sitaution. Unless you were there you'd never understand. And besides I couldn't picture myself bringing that up on a date with an average girl.

Saying something like 'Oh you remember that big disaster in Raccoon City that happened back in 98? Yeah the one they tried for years to cover up, well I was there. Yeah nothing too bad. Just had to pop a few caps in the foreheads of the cities inhabitants as they tried to attack me. And oh there was also these mutated genetic rejects that I affectionately nicknamed 'Lickers', well they tried to kill me too.. But you know, all in a days work for a rookie cop on his first day. So what about you"?

Yeah that would have garunteed been a deal breaker.

"Well Leon.. I'm sorry I called you. I'll talk to you later about it. At a more appropriate time. Enjoy yourself". She said before hanging up.

I stared at the phone for a moment, debating whether or not to call her back. I mean it's not as if I could go back and enjoy myself when I suddenly felt like disaster was creeping up behind me. Something has to be happening.

But then. I probably could forget. For a while anyway. Claire would make me forget.

I shut the phone and returned it to my pocket. Slowly I walked back into the clubhouse, feeling the stress melting off me in waves. Maybe it was the prospect of getting back to Claire that did it.