Hope Never Dies

Chapter Four

Ok here is Chapter for Disclaimers apply
NOTES and WARNINGS: Since Christmas is coming future Chapters will be slow in coming. Now for the Warning Implied sexual abuse

I gazed over at Leon, giving him a nasty look. "You have got to be kidding me. This place is a dump!" I complained.

"Sorry dear, but this is the only place that Umbrella and the police don't know about," he said sheepishly.

I touched his cheek softly. "I am sorry that I snapped at you. I guess I am a little on edge," I told him.

That won me a smile. "Thanks dear. Want to go inside?" He reached behind him to grab the gym bag that had my cloths and stuff in it.

I nodded and let him take my stuff. I wanted to make it up to him for snapping at him. I didn't meant to be mean to Leon. It's just everything was starting up again with Umbrella bringing back old memories. I was afraid that he would die like Steve did. Steve died in my arms after he said he loved me. I couldn't go through that again. It would kill something deep inside me if Leon were killed.

I shook the memories off the best I could as I got out of the Jeep and headed inside. The inside was much better than the outside. The inside of the cabin was huge and clean. It had been well kept. I knew I had judged the place to harshly. Even though it was nice, the cabin was very cold. I wrapped my arms around myself. "It's freezing in here!" I said.

Leon nodded. "Yeah it is. I'll make a fire," he said as he handed me the gym bad. "The rooms are upstairs. Why don't you pick one and get settled?" The former officer smiled softly. I nodded and turned o walk upstairs. "Claire?"

I stopped and turned back to Leon. "Yes?"

"Don't unpack because we may have to leave in a hurry," he said softly.

I nodded in agreement and went upstairs. The room I chose was spacious. A nightstand was beside the large bed, which had a multicolored quilt. I sat the gym bag on the floor and poked around the room. I found the bathroom in the next room. The door to the bathroom was next to the closet at the end of the room. The bathroom was large and the shower looked nice. The luxury almost made me forget that Umbrella was after us.

I heard Leon come up the stairs and smiled as he hugged me form behind. Leon smelled of Blood, sweat and cologne. He didn't take a shower before he left I suppose. "I see you found a room," he said.

"Yes. I did." I told him. "Will you stay with me?" I asked leaning back into his warm, safe embrace.

"Are you sure? I don't want to push you into anything you are not ready for," Leon whispered into my ear.

"I am sure. Besides we are safer if we stay together," I told him. Truth was that I didn't want to be alone. I was scared that Umbrella would send something very bad after us and I just didn't want to face it alone. "Do we have any weapons?" I asked remembering why we were in hiding at last.

"Yeah. I have a stockpile of shot guns, hand guns, ammo even your favorite weapon, the grenade launcher." Leon grinned softly and kissed my cheek. "I'll show you where I keep them after we eat."

"Leon. You need a shower and to check out how wounded you really are." I let the concern creep into my voice; I was worried that Leon was more hurt than he appeared.

The ex policeman's arms tightened around me. "God Claire. It's good to have you in my arms. I thought I was going to die. I thought I would never see you again. I didn't want to die without telling you how I feel." He pulled away suddenly and his mood changed. It was like he turned off his feelings suddenly. "You're right. I need a shower. Could you make us some soup or something? Please?" He said please like it was an after thought.

"All right. But we will talk about what is going on with you. Ok?" I asked gently, not really trying to push.

"Sure thing my angel." With that Leon disappeared into the bathroom

Dinner was heated tomato soup that came in a can. The kitchen was very small. There wasn't much room to maneuver. Once the soup was cooked, I poured the red liquid into glass bowls and placed the soup filled bowls on the small round table. As I finished setting the table, Leon came in, wearing a soft blue bathrobe. I felt my heart speed up seeing his wet light brown hair hang in his perfect eyes. "Dinner?" He asked softly?

"Yeah. It isn't much though," I told him with regret.

"That's ok I'm not that hungry anyway," Leon said as he sat down. I looked at Leon. He seemed so lost. I wanted to make the hurt go away. Leon's eyes were haunted by some untold horror. It broke my heart to see it. I wanted to hold him and tell him that everything would be fine but ate in silence instead. Mostly because I knew damn well that it wouldn't help.

Leon didn't eat much, but he stared at his bowl until after what seemed like an eternity in silence he looked up. "Claire. If I tell you something will you promise to here me out?"

I frowned knowing whatever it was that he had to tell me I was not going to like it. "All right Leon." I said, looking into his eyes. "Whatever it is I can handle it."

Leon opened his mouth to speak, but before anything could be said, a zombie dog burst through the kitchen window sending a hail of glass everywhere. The undead thing landed on the tabletop. I heard myself scream as the skinless canine leaped into the air towards me. That is when everything went into slow motion. It seemed that I had all the time in the world to get up out of my chair. I stood up so quickly that the chair tipped over and I tripped over it as I stepped backwards to avoid the hound. I screamed again as the undead mutt landed on top of me going for my throat.

Several shot rang out from nowhere and I felt something we splash against my face. The pet from hell went limp on top of me. I lay there for a moment gasping for breath. My ears rung from the gunshots and my hearing was screwed up; I pushed the now dead zombie dog off of me. I saw Leon's mouth moving. He was saying something, but I couldn't hear him. I closed my eyes and rested for a moment. My hearing began to come back in stages until I heard. "Claire. Please open your eyes. You have to wake up!" He sounded frantic as he spoke.

I opened my eyes slowly and smiled. "I'm ok Leon. Thanks for your concern."

"Don't thank me just yet. Not until you have heart what I have to tell you," he said as he helped me up. "Are you all right?"

"I am fine, but I would feel a lot better if I were armed." I told him. My body still shaking from the adrenaline and fear from the attack.

Leon handed me his handgun. "We can get more ammo after you hear what I have to say," he said as he sat down again.

Whatever it was, it must have been important. I sat down beside the man who held my heart and took his hand. When Leon did not look at me, I knew that it had to be something terrible. "I'm listening," I said quietly.

Leon still refused to look at me as he spoke. "While I was in jail, the department transported me to one of Umbrella's strongholds. They did things to me to, trying to force me to tell them whom I worked with. When I told them nothing, they sent in someone who was more monster than man. I was still naked from the torture so it was easy for him to…." he paused for a moment, his voice cracked with emotion. "I was easy for him to rape me. He wouldn't stop unless I agreed to help them."

"Help them how?" I asked. Fear and dread bubbled to the surface. I knew what the answer was. I was afraid of it.

"By killing you," Leon said. Before he said another word, I got up and ran for the door.