Snow had begun to fall thickly outside, but for the moment Jake and Amelia found themselves warm inside the cabin they had found. Their clothes dry they wore them comfortably and just waited for the snow to subside. Jake prodded the dying embers and they quickly went alight once more. Amelia found herself staring intently, deep in thought, wondering where Leon was in all of this. She wondered if he was safe, though surely he was, she wondered when they'd regroup again, soon, and most pressing of all, she wasn't sure what to do with Jake. Could she just take off? She felt gratitude and yet a certain annoyance of having to depend on him, and then there was loyalties, though, was he an enemy he would of tried to have hurt her long ago. She let her shoulders slump as she tried to clear her head and focus on priorities- finding Leon.

"What brought you two back?" Jake finally broke the silence.

Amelia stared at him, her eyes wide open.

"Or am I not allowed to ask?"

She hugged her legs tighter.

"Tsk," Jake stood up and walked around the cabin. Nightfall would come soon.

"If I asked what you were doing here, would you answer?"

Surprised she resumed conversation Jake found himself taking a seat beside Amelia again.

He hesitated for a moment, but confessed, "Work."

She chuckled, staring into the fire, "Of course." After a couple of moments, "We were here for work, too."

"I need to regroup with my partner," she stated.

"Right," he replied.

We can make our advance come nightfall. We'll remain undetected till then."

She nodded in agreement though she was eager to find Leon.

"How's the leg?"

"Better," she lied. It still ached, but she felt certain she could walk again.

He nodded in response. How familiar she seemed, he eyed her carefully without drawing attention to himself. He wanted to know more about her, but she shared no interest. He tried to diffuse his curiosity in fixing his thoughts on a plan. They'd have to head to the next closest town and hope to find help or her friend there.

"Tell me about your work," Amelia spoke up. Her large dark eyes stared straight at him.

"Will you tell me about yours?"

She bit her lip and said nothing.

"Let me see your leg," he said. She turned to him and extended her leg. He pulled at the fabric to reveal her swollen ankle. He stayed quiet. It was inflamed. She'd have trouble making it far. They were low on ammo. Odds weren't in their favor. Noticing he was done examining her she pulled back her leg and crossed them as she huddled closer to the fire.

"Government work. I do government work."

Jake nodded though taken aback that she'd confess to that. She had walls built around her and hadn't taken to him. He approached with caution.

"Mercenary."

She shook her head. "Are you currently employed?"

"You're in luck," he smirked. "I'm up for hire"

She smiled wryly, "I don't have cash"

"We can work up some sort of payment plan"

"Do you do this often?"

He stared at her seriously. "No."

She extended her hand out and he shook it.

Standing up she stared down at him, "there's something I need to do before"

Jake stared at her knowing he'd agree to whatever it was. Whoever this woman was, be it the uncanny resemblance, he couldn't imagine himself walking away from her, course he wouldn't admit it. But he wondered if he just asked, could she ever be the person he most longed to see. Even though everything about her seemed to be oppsoite angles of a hopeful charming girl he once knew.

:

Leon cursed himself as he made his way to the nearest town with a BSAA squad. Things had gotten nasty and out of control in Edonia. It had been a mistake to go back, but they still had so much to figure out- who was in the DSO stealing information, what had they uncovered that made this new knowledge coveted? Whatever it was it had to come from the source, Edonia. But now their plans were foiled. He debated whether to call it in or not. He'd figure it out once he reached the nearest town and if Amelia hadn't made it there, he'd have no choice, but call it in and wish they had time and Amelia was doing alright.

:

"You know your way around Edonia?" It was more of a statement than a question.

"Yeah, I was born here," Jake replied as he helped her up. They treked through the snow and luckily no life stirred in the dark cold night so they were allowed to keep a steady pace. Amelia didn't complain, but Jake could tell she would be stubborn to admit she needed to get to safety and fast. He wanted to tell her this, but when she was slowly opening up to him and had asked to visit a hospital in Edonia which he happened to know he couldn't refuse her. He'd look out for her, he knew this, just as he knew how much of a fool he was being, she wasn't Jennifer. Jen had been shot before his very eyes many years back.