Chapter 26

Sorry I haven't updated recently guys, school's kept me pretty busy. Four classes in one semester can bring a lot of work and stress. I haven't really had time to do anything but read and work. Fortunately I had some time off and was able to finish this chapter. I don't know when the next chapter will be up but I'll do my best to work on it as soon as I can. In the mean time, I hope you enjoy this new chapter. Sorry if its not very good, it's a late night. Happy reading~

"I can't believe this happened" she spoke softly. "I can't believe she's dead." Sherry watched the defeated man rock on his knees, back and forth, back and forth whilst cradling Helena's body. His head hung low. Sherry had thought to approach him but opted against it. What could she say to him? Watching him she couldn't help but think how strange and unnatural it was to see such a strong man be so… broken. What could be going through his head? Would he ever be the same again? Could she blame him if he wasn't?

Leon looked down in utter devastation to the woman in his arms. His tears had long dried on his skin. Why had he broken his rule? Why had Helena been the exception? Why had he allowed himself to grow attached? Had he not learned? Love only brings pain. Why the hell did he allow himself to fall hard for her? She was gone. She was gone and what was he left with now? A broken heart. A void inside him that could never be filled. She was supposed to be his start. He was going to make her his new beginning, his eventual everything and his eventual end. But now she was gone! It was all lost now, gone with her! His hands shook in fury. Damn you, Helena! Why did she leave?! Why?! Why shatter him?! Why break him?! His mind released a guttural roar. Damn her! He hated her now. Hated her for dying. Hated her for leaving him. He sighed, eyes closing. He hated her and yet loved her with all his heart.

Jake looked about the vicinity, watching the crackling flames. Bodies of soldiers lay about in pools of blood and bullets. He looked up to the night sky, the smoke rising up. It was time to move. There was nothing for them here. "We need to go." His voice was soft yet firm. He stepped forward, his footsteps crunching underfoot. Sherry scoffed in anger, "Jake!" He turned back in question, "What?" Sherry's brows furrowed in scorn. "How about showing some sympathy? For fucks sake we just lost Helena!"

"Sitting here isn't going to bring her back!" Jake countered after moving past his shock of Sherry cursing. "It's unfortunate this happened but we still have a job to finish, a world to save, again." Sherry shook her head in disbelief. How could he behave like this? How could he be so calm and collected? As if the death of a teammate didn't matter? Couldn't he understand the concept of it? "You're unbelievable!" she exploded then. "Not everyone is as hard as you! Can't you be remorseful for once? Can't you allow yourself to feel? What if it had been me?"

Something inside of Jake snapped at the final remark. She spoke to him as if he didn't understand what it was to lose someone. As if he weren't human. As if he felt nothing. As if he cared for nothing and only himself. She spoke to him as if he were some kind of wretched animal. She accused him of being cold and heartless? He stepped close, coming inches to her face. "If it had been you I'd be out for blood." His voice was firm and strong. Never had it sounded so sinister. His face contorted in solemn ire. Sherry inched back in fear. Yes, it was Jake and Sherry knew he would never hurt her, but the fury in his eyes and the rigidness of his form was quite unsettling.

He sighed at the sight of her stepping back, "Sherry…" He breathed out in frustration. He hadn't intended to frighten her but she needed to understand that it was because he cared, because he felt, that he was being a cynical asshole. "Alright, yes" he began as he flailed his arms, "It's bad Helena is gone and it if had been you I'd be broken to pieces as well… hell, I'd hate you for leaving me, but no matter how much I'd hate you or how angry I'd be at myself it still wouldn't bring you back." He sighed again, shaking his head. This wasn't going as well as he had hoped. His words were not sounding the same as they did in his mind. "Look, I may not have known her well, but I know she wouldn't want us to sit around and not finish the job."

He held Sherry's gaze, looking her straight in the eye, "And I know you wouldn't want the same either. You would want me to get up and take down the bastard that took you down. You wouldn't want me wallowing around hating myself, you, or the world. You would want me to direct all off that anger and hatred onto the one who took you away from me. And that," He indicated Leon, pointing to him, "Is that what he needs to do!" He beckoned him, "Hear that hero! Stop the self-pity and get angry at him!" He gave a small grunt as Sherry pushed him in a rough manner. "Stop it Jake! Leon is not you! He can't just push away his feelings!" she hissed. "I'm not telling him to do that!" Jake retorted shrilly. "I'm-"

"He's right."

The arguing couple turned to the still figure whose low voice had taken on a dangerous tone. Leon lowered Helena gently to the ground and stood, a grim look crossing his features. "You're right, Jake" he spoke again as he turned to face the two. Sherry's eyes widened in shocked horror as she was unable to recognize him. His eyes had darkened grimly. His expression showed he no longer cared about life, for his or anyone else's. She could see that the fire, his fire within; the one that burned brightly, the one everyone knew kept him going and striving to survive, was out. Diminished. It was just gone.

Leon's form was stiff. He stood there with a blank stare. His voice carried no emotion as he spoke a final time. "Let's go get Paxton." He turned toward a different direction and walked. Sherry swallowed in angst. "No, wait!" She rushed to stand in front of him, blocking his path. "Leon, stop!"

She placed her hands over his chest. "You aren't yourself. This isn't you. Paxton will kill you!" She panted. Leon looked down to her taking in the fear stricken into her eyes. "It doesn't matter anymore" he said in a monotonous voice. "It does to me!" Sherry countered. A quick side step and he walked past her. Sherry gave a whimper of despair. How could she stop him? Leon was never one to give up on life or on anything for that matter. But now…

"What about what you always said!" she exclaimed in hopes to reach him. "About never giving up?" She could hear his footsteps stop. "You've always said that taking our own lives is no longer our decision to make" she continued after a quick breath. "And that's exactly what you're doing if you face Paxton in this state! You've always said that we owe it to those who die alongside us to continue living, which also includes you Leon! You owe it to Helena!"

"Shut up!" Leon screamed in fury. "Just shut up!" He charged forward in attempts to grab her, grunting from a sudden haymaker to the face. He spun and was pushed afterwards in which he fell back and onto his backside. Jake moved quick and stood hunched over the fallen man, repeatedly punching him. "Don't ever charge at Sherry again!" he growled.

Sherry hurried over and pulled Jake off, forcing him back and away from Leon. "You're going to kill him Jake!" He stood rigid and panted, hands at the ready. "He was about to hurt you!" She shook her head, "No. Leon would never do that. Can't you see he's not in his right mind?" Leon spat blood, panting as well. He gazed upon the two with anger in his eyes. "We need to leave him" Jake said, "We'll never get anywhere as long as he's this way."

"No!" Sherry exclaimed, "We can't leave him. We have to figure out a way to snap him out of this."

"We can't do anything!" Jake shouted. He gave a tired sigh. "He's the only one who can. It's up to us to bring down the guy who killed Helena."

"Killed?" a sultry voice spoke then. Heads turned in regard. Ada approached in a casual manner, her rifle still in hand and a small smile on her lips. "Helena isn't dead." Leon sat up with a pained groan as Jake and Sherry shared a confused look. "What the hell are you talking about lady?" Jake questioned glancing to Helena. "She looks pretty fucking dead to me."

The vixen stopped before them. "She's infected, probably in comatose because of it." She exchanged a quick glance with Jake and Sherry before settling her gaze onto Leon. "Paxton claimed you and Helena were both infected, but I believe it isn't true. It isn't how I would play things out."

"Play things out?" Sherry scoffed with a shake of the head, "Is this all just a game to you?" Ada was frank with her response, "If it was, I'd have won long ago." Jake cocked the handgun in hand and aimed at the woman's head. "You better start making sense before I blow your fucking brains out."

Ada snickered a soft snicker, "Calm down junior and listen." She paused a short moment before continuing, "Now listen, the dart my clone shot Helena with was filled with Paxton's new strain of the c virus. Leon's was filled with a simple tranquilizer." Jake scoffed, "That's convenient."

"If Helena has been infected all this time, why hasn't she turned?" Sherry queried. Ada's lips pulled into the tiniest hint of a smile. "What make you so sure she hasn't?" Both Jake and Sherry glanced to Helena as Ada continued. "Paxton infected Helena with a strain made specifically to bond with her DNA. He doesn't want to kill her. He simply wants to control her." Sherry looked to the vixen. "How do you know all of this? How do we know if you're telling the truth?" Ada chuckled softly, "It's my job and you simply have to trust me."

"Your job" a voice scoffed, tone still treacherously low. All eyes turned to Leon. His jaw had clenched, his brows furrowed and his body had gone stiff in wrath. "You…" he seethed. He slowly stood to his feet and turned toward Ada, pushing her against the nearest tree not caught on fire. "You" he said once more. He looked into her eyes, catching slight amusement and lust. "You did this!" He placed a firm grip on her throat. "It's been you all along!"

"Hey!" Jake exclaimed as he rushed over and punched Leon once more square in the jaw. He stumbled off with a pained grunt. Ada exhaled softly, gripping her sore throat. "Listen up!" Jake shouted, "I don't give a fuck about your lover's quarrel or who did what to whom or who killed who! I just want to get the fuck out of this godforsaken place! We're not going to do that if we don't get our rights mind and work together! We can kill each other when this is all over!"

Leon rubbed his pulsing jaw and straightened up from knelt position, glaring at Ada. He shook his head, spitting at the ground. Sherry moved to his side, kneeling beside him. She placed her hands on his back in a form of support. "Please Leon, listen to Jake. He may be an asshole but he's right. We need you out of this deranged state. We can't beat Paxton without you."

He sighed as her words reached his mind and settled. Sherry was right. Hell, even the boy was right. Helena wouldn't want him like this, not now. Maybe not ever. Paxton had to be stopped and it wouldn't happen if he were to continue on with a death wish. He needed to collect himself and focus, if not for his sake then at least for Helena and Sherry's.

Sherry studied him closely. His eyes were beginning to brighten and warm. His features were lightening. He no longer seemed distraught. She could see life in him once more, his will to fight returning. The heaviness in her heart lifted, Leon was coming back. "Leon, you're-"

"Yeah" he said, "You were right. You and Jake." He caught her gaze. Her blue orbs lit up with hope and joy. "Thanks" he said. "Go and find us a way out of here."

"No way" Jake countered, "I'm not letting you out of my sight." Sherry sighed and stood. "He's fine Jake." The mercenary shook his head. "He was literally suicidal a few seconds ago. Now you want to leave him and-"

"Just, trust me!" Sherry interjected, closing the space between them. She looked into his eyes and placed her hands over his defined chest. "Please, I know Leon. He'll be fine." He held her gaze, sighing reluctantly. "Fine. Let's make it quick." He took her hand and led the way.

Once he was sure the two were out of earshot, Leon set a glare on Ada. "You did this" he said with such malice. He stood to his feet, hands set in fists. Ada shook her head, "No. You're wrong. It wasn't me. I had nothing to do with it. My clone-"

"Bull!" Leon roared, "Why should I believe you?!" Ada stepped close, her expression sympathetic. "Leon…" She dropped her rifle onto the ground and planted her lips on his in one swift movement, stepping back seconds later. "I may have played you throughout the years," She paused to look into his eyes, "but I've never lied to you. I had nothing to do with this. I only got involved in this after I found out about the clone."

Holding her gaze, Leon pressed his lips against her. She gave a small moan as his hands roamed her body, resting on her backside. She wrapped her hands around his neck and kissed him hungrily, eagerly allowing herself to sink into him once again after so long of being apart. She had missed the feeling of his lips on hers. She had missed the way his hands felt on her body, his calloused fingers, and his firm grip. She felt elated to be in his arms again, they were after all kismets. It was only when he pulled back rather roughly that she began to question things.

"This is why you're really here" Leon scoffed as he looked upon her with malevolence and disgust. Ada looked to the syringe filled with red liquid in his hand, retrieved from the pocket of her backside. "You caught me" she said, "I am here for the sample but I'm also here to help you."

Leon scoffed yet again, "This is the only reason." He waved the syringe. "It always has been the reason of your presence." He pocketed the sample. "But you're not getting this sample. Not if I have anything to say about it." Ada's sigh was weary. "I'm going to return the favor you did me in China. You helped stop Simmons so I'll help stop Paxton, starting with Helena."

Leon scoffed and shook his head, chuckling darkly. "Helena? She's dead. How could you possibly help me in that?" He trailed back to her body and dropped to his knees, his head hanging. The vixen's heart sank, her throat welling. It hurt her to see the man she held close to her heart in this demeanor. She never believed he would be so broken over someone else. She always believed his heart would remain hers.

Closing her eyes, she swallowed and forced down her feelings of lament and anguish. "She's not dead" she said, eyes opening. "I know you don't have reason to trust me, but do so just this once. Do you really believe Paxton would let her die so easily, after everything he's put you both through? It defeats the whole purpose." Leon said nothing to acknowledge her. "She'll be waking up soon Leon. She won't be herself. You know that" Ada continued.

Leon pulled Helena's limp body into his arms. She was so cold. In cradling her, the action caused her blood soaked shirt to rise up her abdominal. He double backed, his brows furrowing in confusion. The wound from the bullet, it was… sealing? He lifted the shirt more and his mouth dropped agape. Helena's skin was closing up and for a second only a tiny scar was visible where the hole had been. The scar then faded to nothing leaving only smooth skin. He looked to her face. The bruises, the cuts, all of the wounds were fading. He felt for her ribs, finding them whole and set back in place. He gasped incredulously, instinctively placing his fore and middle finger upon her neck, feeling for a pulse. It was weak but it was there!

"Helena?" he breathed out. The top half of her body hunched back as he held her closer. "Helena?" Her eyes remained closed, appearing unresponsive.

Lifting her head up, Ada startled at the sight of rocks of all sizes lifting up into the air in a form of levitation. "Leon…" she called, swallowing, "Get away from her." He paid her no mind as he cried Helena's name once more, shaking her. The vixen kept her gaze on the shaking pieces of earth. "Leon…"

He jolted back as Helena rose with a sharp gasp. Ada hurried to him, pulling him down alongside her as the stones flew off in a force. The two drop with a grunt. He sat up in a flash seconds later and watched as Helena writhed on the ground, her hands on either side of her head, holding. Her pained whimpers were loud. His expression grew in worry and fear. "Helena!" he called. He crawled forth, stopping as Ada exclaimed a sudden, "Don't touch her!"

A guttural snarl escaped Helena's lips. Ada grunted in pain as a strange unseen strength threw her back. "Ada!" Leon cried in alarm as he spun back toward her. She was pinned to a tree, held by a sort of invisible force. "Ada?" At a growl, he turned, gasping as Helena lunged at him with a snarl, holding him against a tree by the neck with inhuman strength.

He inhaled as she squeezed, her grasp constricting. "Helena…" He strained, gasping for an ounce of breath. "Please…" Gurgled chokes escaped his throat. He looked into Helena's blood red eyes, recognizing nothing in them. She snarled, lips pulling back on her teeth. His eyes widen in shock. Her teeth! Canines! Long and sharp, like fangs!

"He…le…na…"

She squeezed tighter and his sight became spotted. "It's… me…" he choked out.

Ada struggled against the unseen power, to no prevail. Whatever was holding her was too strong. "Helena, stop! You're killing him!"

Hearing the distant voice, Helena scrutinized him, peering closely. A flash of memories filled her mind frantically.

"You're starting to grow on me" he said in a suave tone with a small smile as he gazed on her from across the table of the plane.

"Go after her." She stood at the window of the burning building, gazing down at him with sadness. He looked upon her with determination shone in his eyes and reaches to his communicator. "No, we're sticking together."

They stare upon the pictures on file, made available by Ada. Nothing but photographs of Simmons's wrong doings and inhumane experiments.

"It'll prove your innocence." She says. He looked down on her with a disapproving stare at her words. "Our innocence."

She gasped, her eyes returning to their normal hue. It's… its Leon! Her mind's voice cried. He felt her grip on his throat loosen and could see the recognition overcome as her eyes widened in horror. "Leon!" she exhaled, releasing him instantly. She stepped back, watching in fear as he slumped to the ground in a coughing fit. Ada dropped with a grunt as the energy upon her was suddenly gone. She looked to see Leon still with life panting with a hand to his throat. Color was beginning to return to his face.

"I'm- I'm sorry" Helena mumbled repeatedly as she retracted in fear. Her form hunched as she took several steps back. Her body shook irrepressibly. She whimpered, overwhelmed. Everything was so… sharp and… disarrayed. Her hearing, her sight, her instincts, her senses had become pristine. It hurt. Everything hurt.

At a strange sensation, one of pulling, she glanced down to her hands and gasped. Her nails… titanium… nine inches long… Her skin, slick and firm… what had happened to her? She could feel her canines pricking at her tongue and bottom lip. What kind of monster had she become?! The sound of a gun cocking, had her looking up to see the barrel of Ada's gun aimed at her head. "I'm sorry Helena" she said, eyes solid.

"Ada, stop!" Leon's shout was drowned out by the gunshot.

So what did you guys think? Don't forget to read the revised version of Fix You and tell me your thoughts on it!