Disclaimer: Don't own 'em, just use 'em.
A/N: So sorry about this taking forever to post but I had my wisdom teeth pulled and I haven't felt much like sitting in front of a computer screen. But, since I do hand write all my stories before I post them, I had tons of time to think about the direction of this story. So ENJOY!! )
When the darkness cleared Claire found herself in a world of fog. She heard voices all around her but had no idea what they were saying. As her senses returned the voices became more and more clear.
"...and she's living with Redfield?" a feminine laugh. "So sorry, A."
"Uhh...." Claire weakly raised her head.
"Claire, welcome back." It was the woman's voice again. "How are you feeling?"
Claire's eyes cracked open a bit and she looked up into two dark eyes. "Where am I?"
She trailed off as her eyes came into focus. Her gaze ended on the man lashed to a decrepit wooden chair. At first she thought she was dreaming, as she often did, but a searing pain near her temple cemented the reality of the situation.
"Leon. Christ, Leon." She panted trying to pull herself toward the chair.
The woman stood and kicked Claire swiftly in the side. Redfield gasped for breath which brought a smile to the wickedly pretty young woman's face. There was a familiarity that she couldn't place, but Claire thought she vaguely recognized her.
"Stop!!" Kennedy called out with a cracked, dry voice.
"Oh, Leon Scott, don't worry. She's okay! Do you think I'd let your girl meet her untimely end on a cold, dirty, cement floor?" Harmony laughed, touching Leon's sunken cheek. "Nah, lover, I've got bigger party plans than that. Much bigger. In fact, I was thinking of inviting all of your little friends to the bash – Chris, Jill, Becky." She paused. "Birkin girl, too. Sherry, is it?"
"No." Claire gasped. "Leave her out of this."
Harmony backed away from Leon to look down at Claire. "No, I think I'll leave her in it. I can't help it, since Agent Kennedy was so gracious to tell us her whereabouts."
A heavy silence descended. Redfield looked up at her lover. There was a visage of sheer defeat etched into his handsome face. His eyes betrayed her with the knowledge that Harmony spoke the truth. The knot in Claire's stomach tightened and she suddenly felt the urge to vomit.
From the shadows Albert Wesker emerged. He stared down at Claire absolute disgust. With ease Wesker reached down and jerked her to her feet. The girl swayed uneasily only steadied by his hand around her neck.
"Enough of your mind games, Harmony." Wesker hissed.
Harmony shot him a look. "Fine." She replied calmly. "Okay, Kennedy, last question. Either answer honestly or Albert here guts your girlfriend like a catfish. So, tell me, where exactly is Christopher Redfield?"
"I told you already...."Leon barely had the words out of his mouth when Wesker produced a knife.
He pulled the blade slowly across Claire's stomach. Small droplets of blood splattered down the front of her shirt and pants. She emitted a sharp cry and stared at Leon pleading for his help. All he could offer her was a single tear drop.
"No, you told us that Jill Valentine and Chris were living together but you failed to mention where." Harmony pointed out. "Again, I ask you, where is Christopher Redfield?"
"Don't say anything." Claire commanded and was rewarded with a tighter grip on her neck.
"Tell me." Harmony breathed in a sing song voice.
Conflicting emotions surged through Leon while he pondered his decision. In front of his very eyes the woman he loved life dangled. Deep down Kennedy felt that even if he told the truth, Claire would die. If he told them where Chris was Claire would die. If he stood his ground and said nothing, Claire would die. The weight on his shoulders was excruciating.
He sucked in a deep breath at last. "Palm Beach. They're in the phone book as Mr. and Mrs. Dresden. Christopher. Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Dresden."
A broad smile crossed Harmony's lips. She threw a look over her shoulder at Wesker. "See, Al? Now do you understand why they hired me to replace you?"
Wesker's jaw set and he threw Claire free. She hit the floor and stayed there, not a muscle moving. Silently, Leon was untied before the squad began to exit the cell. Harmony hesitated a moment, her guards halting behind her.
"Hey, guys, thank Leon for me." She purred.
The guards obediently turned and approached the unmoving young man. Claire, still prostrated on the floor, kept her head down. Tears flowed from her eyes as she heard a loud crack followed by a gut wrenching shriek from Kennedy. She waited until the footsteps and door lock echo ended before she looked up.
Leon was shaking. He was deathly still; his limbs sprawled out on the cement. His left ankle was positioned at a crude angle. Redfield cringed as she crawled forward laboriously to gather him up in her arms.
"You're hurt." Leon's dry voice was barely above a whisper.
She glanced at his broken ankle. "So are you. That needs set."
Leon's hand snapped out, grabbing hers. "No, stay with me. Please."
Claire's tears fell like the rain outside. "There will be time for this later. We have to get you out of here. And I need to look at that ankle."
Reluctantly Kennedy let go of Claire's hand and let her tend to his ankle. Neither spoke as Redfield examined the wound. Finally Leon's tortured voice cracked through the stillness.
"I am sorry... about Sherry. And Chris."
Claire looked up and replied smoothly, "Sherry's safe. She moved in with Chris two months ago. There was no way you could have known. Plus, the only reason Jill and he have a second phone line is for these situations. As soon as that phone rings, the Dresdens' will be on their way to our safe house. No one knows the location except Chris." She paused. "This needs set."
Painfully she stood and picked up the wooden chair. With all of the strength in her body Claire smashed the chair against the wall. It exploded with a dull thud and Redfield went to work finding a splint.
Leon spoke again as Claire was preparing his ankle for alignment. "I'm ashamed Claire. I've betrayed you, your brother and Sherry. God! Just leave me – find a way out of here. I'll only slow you down."
Redfield tore two strips of cloth form her tattered shirt. "No. We're leaving here together. I didn't spend six months wallowing in depression to quit now."
Suddenly Claire jerked on the misaligned bone, putting it back in place. Leon grunted and muttered a curse. Claire quickly finished setting the fracture, with the help of her and the chair, then settled back on her haunches to gaze at the man before her.
He was thin, his ribs showing through the dirty white t-shirt he wore. His jeans were also torn and worn, one leg nearly frayed through in places. But the most haunting thing was his eyes. Those beautiful blue eyes that had looked at her with passion and love now barely stood out from his sunken features. He was the epitome of loss.
"Oh God." Claire sobbed, her tough exterior exterminated by his mere being. "Oh God, oh, God, God...."
She threw herself forward, wrapping her arms around his frail body. Redfield kissed him on the cheeks, on the brow, on his nose, wherever she could. More tears fell from her eyes as Leon struggled to sit up. He clutched her tightly with silent tears.
"I've failed." Kennedy choked out. "I'm a failure."
"No, no, no." Claire stroked his chest. "Don't say that. You're so strong... six months in here and you said nothing. I can't imagine what you've gone through but you didn't say anything. Not a word." She paused to gaze down at him. "You've done nothing wrong."
Leon exhaled and it sounded almost like a sob. "I love you."
She smiled and kissed the top of his head. "I love you too."
The two stared at one another for a while. No words were spoken, only gazes exchanged but a million thoughts conveyed. At last Claire rose, not before gently kissing Leon on the lips.
"We have to leave. They'll be back soon." She hauled him to his good foot, supporting as much as she could.
Leon grunted. "It won't do much good. They've got cameras everywhere."
Claire glanced around nervously. She sighed. "Fuck it. I'll take my chances. Come on."
Kennedy didn't budge. "No. I told you – I'll only slow you down. Just get yourself out of here."
"Shut up." She snapped, leading him toward the cell door. "We gotta go."
"No...."
"Christ in Heaven, Leon!" Claire's voice bounced off of the tight space. "For six months I've crawled through sewers, stayed in tents and gone without indoor plumbing. All for you, just so I could stop crying myself to sleep at night wondering if you were alive. Now you're right here and I can touch you and... and I'm not leaving you so suck it up."
Leon stared at her, amazed. He reached out to brush a loose strand of red hair from her sweaty face. He didn't speak but the reaction in his face relented to her request. The two hobbled to the door and gazed at it, transfixed. Leon cocked his head to one side, a small, mischievous but familiar smile coming to his parched lips.
"Any thoughts on how to open the door?"
That's it for now!! Enjoy, please R&R!!! And keep reading, because that's important!