Chapter 7-

"Damn it," Jake made his way through rubble carefully, his gun at hand. Gunshots had rang in the distant a while back and he had paid no heed to them, what with the armies advancing away from this area, but a loud crash had just sounded nearby.

Jake made his way carefully, hoping to avoid the center of conflict, with his paycheck just in this war was no longer his and he meant for it to stay that way. Before him the ground was broken up in patches, most likely unsafe to walk on so he looked around the building for an alternative. With an agility that rivaled none he quickly spotted a bar easily accessible to him so he jumped, swinging on it and landed on the other side of the building when before he could stand up right the floor gave in below him, "Damn!"

...

...

"I'm alright, Leon," Amelia tried to stand erect.

"No you're not and stay still," Leon commanded sternly. She hardly saw this side of him and she tried not to hate him for it, he was only trying to help and now with a broken leg she wasn't going to make things easier for either of them.

When the wall had collapsed above them they had only time enough to jump out of the impact, but her leg had caught on some thing and a chunk of mass had sent her in screams as it fell on her leg, but quickly she recollected herself lest whoever caused it heard them. It took a while for Leon to find her with the rubble separating them, but by the time he had she only breathed sharply and let out air loudly to keep her from wailing due to the overbearing pain. She was going to be alright, but now evacuation seemed daunting what with enemies lurking all around.

Leon peeked around them. The coast seemed clear, but where to go was what made him nervous. He tried to contact Hunnigan, hoping a path might be made, but she was out of range and therefore out of the question. Leon turned back to Amelia who only focused on her breathing and nothing else.

After a while Leon took Amelia's arm and put it over his shoulder and bade her follow him. They had to start sometime and time was not on their hands. At the first step Amelia suppressed any part of her from giving in, but deep inside her she felt she wouldn't make it, not like this, not putting weight on something already broken. However she did not complain. She had a high threshold for pain and Leon knew this. With every step and every suppressed grunt that sent his partner into a cold sweat Leon knew she was suffering and that he had to get her to safety and a doctor as soon as possible.

They made their way slowly but surely. Reaching the top from the basement had already been difficult amd even more so noe with a broken leg, but domehoe they made it and the two took a break. Amelia now in ragged breaths leaned against a piece of wall. The chill she no longer felt, only needles in her leg. She watched Leon try endlessly to contact Hunnigan when a shadow passed both of them and before Leon could react Amelia had her handgun pointed at the stranger.

...

Amelia stared off with the stranger with a coolness that did not betray her deteriorating body. The stranger, a tall slim man with cool eyes rivaled her's, but something betrayed him and this eventually made him lower hus gun, "You. You are..."

By now Leon had accessed the patch on the man's jacket, an enemy, most likely a mercenary, and mercenaries are often swayed. "Not an enemy, I'm Leon and this is my partner. We just need to get out of this area. We want no trouble." Leon spoke up in hopes that they may avoid an extra scuffle and attention given their current state.

The man thought for a few seconds, his eyes never leaving Amelia's and then, perhaps a bit unwillingly, hoistened his gun. "Well, neither am I." Through all this Amelia did not move an inch and neither did she withdraw her gun, but keeping the man's gaze eventually overwhelmed her and she grudgingly put down the gun acknowledging her state.

"Where are you guys heading?" Jake turned to Leon who discussed the urgency of needing to get away from that area. Meanwhile Amelia tried hard to think of anything else, but the pain. It didn't take long for them to become allies, even if momentarily.

"You cover-"

"Best if you do it. I'm almost out of ammo. I'll help your partner here." Leon agreed if only hesitantly. He knew Amelia never took to strangers that easily and he could feel her unwillingness.

"Thanks," Amelia managed as Jake placed one of her arms over his shoulder.

"I'm Jake, by the way."

"Glad to have you here." Leon responded from ahead of them. Amelia said nothing though Jake stole a glance at her when he introduced himself.

They walked five feet before Amelia mumbled, "I can't do this. I won't get anywhere like this."

Jake wasted no time, "Here, get on my back. I'll carry you." Amelia held her lips together, but did as she was told.

They made their way more swiftly this way. Despite the extra weight Jake remained nimble, at the prime of his youth. "There," Leon pointed to a checkpoint, BSAA troops were stationed there. "We'll be safe there."

"You'll be safe there." With a chuckle, "I don't see them throwing a welcome mat for me. I'll wait here with your partner until you get some help. After that we part ways."

Leon stared at the man. He wondered where'd he go, but finally nodded his head reasonably, "Alright." Chances were high that this mercenary would keep at his job and he didn't see the American government buying any mercenaries anytime soon.

Jake Muller waited with Leon's partner, rubbing the cold seeping through his bare fingertips. He fought off the urge to say anything to the woman beside him. She was delirious with pain, she'd forget if his question irked her strange, but he couldn't. In the end he could not bear himself to bring up an old ghost. He'd let her rest in peace, only allowing her occassionally visit him in his dreams and shattered memories. He breathed out deeply watching his breath evaporate before him. When three figures made their way towards them it was only when he could clearly identify Leon that he took one last look at the woman with a striking resemblance to one he had known and left without a word. Far off in the distance, sure no one had noticed him he watched two bsaa soldiers carry Amelia off in a stretch and Leon quietly following beside. He had done good by them and wished them luck. Though once fate could of made of each other enemies it hadn't and instead brought them together. They weren't such a bad bunch, those two, he thought, as he made his way through newly falling snow.

-end chapter-

Note: Excuse the terrible formatting. For what I lacked in formatting I hope I made up for in content. I had lost this chapter and alas I've found it below dozens of emails! :)