Sweet baby Jesus, this one is so long! I was stuck for chapter 9, so I re-read chapter 1, then I realised i'd missed something, I was like 'Aw Hell!' But luckily there was enough time to add this in. Remember Hunnigan's email about the White House meeting? Well, here it is. I had a little of fun writing Jake in this one, I mean really, who would't ;D But thats beside the point, he goes all Agent in this chapter, I kinda think he'd look wicked in a all black suit. Anyways, enjoy my freaky darlings!

CHAPTER 9

Meeting at the White House

"Forget about it, hero. Your not going."

"Jake, I can't miss this meeting. I've been ordered to make an appearance by the President, this is serious."

"Well the President can take his meeting and shove it up his a-"

"-He signs my pay check. So if you don't help me out here, your not getting your cut."

Jake paused at that, thinking for a moment as he eyed the older man sitting on the bed. Clothes were hanging around everywhere, draws were open, various items were knocked over, frustration was evident, all and all, Leon's usually tidy apartment was looking a little on the rough side, and the cause of this was the man in question, struggling to get his Government suit on. The white shirt was hastily buttoned up, the black tie hung around the older mans neck, having not been tied up yet, though all that was considered the easy part. The other part, was getting the black dress pants on, and Leon was having painful difficulties with getting his injured leg thought the expensive material.

The fact that the older man couldn't even dress without pain was the reason why Jake was hesitant on them going to this meeting, because it was them, and not just Leon. Though the fact that Jake won't get his cut had him thinking again, despite his main concern being the agents health. "You can hardly even walk, so how are you going to go to the meeting?" Jake reasoned as he walked over to the struggling man, not making any move to help.

Leon winced when he managed to get his leg through, "I'll figure that out when I get there." He said breathlessly as he again struggled to pull the material up. "In the mean time, you can't go looking like a biker. there is a spare suit in the closet. Get changed." Leon ordered, finally succeeding in pulling the dress pants up properly, tucking the white shirt in then hooking and closing the belt, before he lent down carefully to put his shoes on, already polished.

"But they aren't supposed to know I'm here." Jake said as he walked over the where the older man said, already seeing the spare items due to the closet door already being open, with a sigh, he pulled them out, looking at them with a annoyed expression.

"About 95% of the people in the building won't know your face, or if you even exist. The other 5% will be in the meeting room, of which you won't be accompanying me." Leon looked at the man, seeing the pause. "It won't bite you, Jake. Surly you know how to put on a suit?" Leon said with a smirk, seeing the younger man glare at him.

"Huh." Jake growled, but proceeded, placing the clothing down on the side of the bed next to Leon, before he started to take his shirt off, picking up the black shirt that came with the suit, surprised that it wasn't white like the agents, but he didn't complain. White wasn't really his style. "So what will I be doing?"

"Nothing." Leon said, because really, he knew that trying to convince Jake to stay was out of the question, the younger man was stubborn. Looking around, Leon spotted his jacket on the table, wondering why he insisted on putting it there out of his reach, knowing that he'd have to get up and get it, he didn't want to prove Jake's point that he shouldn't be walking. Taking a moment to think, he sighed, slowing standing up and putting his weight on his good leg, before taking a step forward. To his surprise, he didn't stumble like he thought he would, only managing to limp heavily as he covered the short distance, feeling pride in himself when he reached his goal with no problems.

Picking up the black suit jacket, which had blue satin lined on the inside, Leon shrugged it on, glancing at his watch as he did so. 6:45am. "Shit. We need to hurry." He said, turning around and to his surprise Jake had changed almost completely, black dress pants were bordering on just a little short on the taller man, but it wasn't that obvious. Leon caught sight of a nasty scar that marked the younger mans lower back before Jake tossed the shirt on and started buttoning up the black material. "Tuck your shirt in, you'll look like the ugly duckling if you leave it out like that." Leon said, somewhat scolding.

Jake turned around, looking every bit annoyed as he did what the older man instructed. To his dismay, if Jake needed to blend in and become unrecognisable at passing glance, then he would need to listen to what the Government agent was saying. "This is horse shit." The ex-mercenary remarked.

Leon limped painfully over, seeing a look pass the younger mans face as he did so. "Maybe, but its important horse shit. I can't miss this meeting, Jake." Leon reasoned, taking the other jacked and giving it to the younger man then proceeded to mess with his tie, taking note that Jake had discarded his own. "No tie?" Leon asked, skillful fingers tieing his in a neat knot, pulling up at the collar before re-arranging it down again.

"Do I look like I do ties, hero?" Jake grumbled, shooting the older man a look as he adjusted his suit jacket, taking a note to unbutton the fist few on his shirt, that action making him feel better. "I still don't think you should do this." Jake said seriously, eyeing the older mans posture, seeing the carefully schooled features, but the pain was still evident. "It's only been two days."

Leon signed again, seeing that persistent stubborn look in the ex-mercenaries eyes. "It's not that I want to do this, it's that I have to. I'v been given an order, Jake, not a request."

Jake didn't really want to agree with what the older man said, but the life the agent was living was one he probably would never understand, someone like him with such a background, Wesker being his father, and also that Jake couldn't exactly follow orders. Jake's jaw tightened, not liking the idea at all. "So, the White house then? I'm driving." He added, the last making him feel like he had some control over the situation.

Leon nodded quietly, seeing that Jake needed to do something. This was going to be interesting.

{{Page Break}}

They were late, and Leon cursed when they pulled up in front of the white house after getting through the gate, there were security checkpoints they still needed to get through, and the agent hoped that they'd make it past the front desk without any questions. Jake turned the ignition off and stepped out immediately, trying to put up his best 'Jame's Bond' look, and he did look a sight to those who might have been looking in. The black suit fitted well, snug across broad shoulders, the black shirt, first two buttons undone, along with the equally dark shades over his eyes made him intimidating, if he wasn't enough already.

Jake looked around at his surroundings, resisting the urge to whistle, which would have been very un-agent like of him, and instead focused on Leon as he stepped out of the car, the man looked every inch of the United States Governments best agent, aside from the heavy limp he sported. Leon had shades similar to Jake's, hiding his blue gaze, the white of his under shirt contrasting with the black tie and suit, and when ever he walked, or limped in Jake's opinion, one could see the inner blue lining of the jacket.

Jake noticed the older man swallow and looked in the same direction, seeing what had the agent at unease. Right, of course the White House has a flight of stairs up to the front doors, and looking back at the other, Jake knew that such stairs would be a challenge for the injured man. "C'mon, hero. We're late." Jake said, seeing the glare shot his way again, which the ex-mercenary ignored, proceeding to walk close to the agent should he stumble or need help as they began walking up the stairs.

"You know the drill, Jake. Follow my lead." Leon demanded quietly as they continued, mentally cringing with each careful step he took that sent pain shooting up his leg.

"I won't be following all of it." Jake growled back, keeping his voice down as he could see the agent struggle up the stairs, but the man refused any help.

When they got past the first checkpoint behind the doors, all Leon needed to do was flash his badge at the men there, before they allowed him to pass. They've all heard of Agent Kennedy, so they didn't ask any questions about Jake's presence, to Leon's relief, and they didn't ask about why he was limping. When they got to the desk on the first level, the woman there looked up from her computer, recognising the agent immediately. "Special Agent Kennedy, they're expecting you. Operations room 12, second floor."

By the time they were standing outside two double wooden doors, the dark brown standing out in the hall way, Leon resisted the urge to lean heavily on either Jake or the wall, his leg was throbbing painfully with the flight here, and he hoped there were chairs in that room. "This is as far as you go." Leon said quietly, knowing that those doors were sound proof but keeping quiet non the less.

Jake signed. "What do I do?" He asked, keeping his voice low too, looking down the hall then back at the older man.

"Wait for me, hopefully this won't take long. Don't do anything stupid." Leon replied, not liking the idea either. Leon turned and faced the door, mentally cursing before masking his face and trying to hide his discomfort. Not waiting for Jake to answer, Leon lightly knocked twice before he placed a hand on the steel handle, turning the contraption and pulled the door towards him, stepping in the small space he allowed for only himself and entering the room.

The eyeless hallway was nothing compared until when he closed the door behind him, and Leon felt many pairs of eyes drawn to him.

"Agent Kennedy. Glad you could join us."

Leon looked across the suddenly quiet room from where he stood at the door, carefully keeping his face blank as he made eye contact with the new President Anderson, and mentally swallowed at the disapproving look that the older man discretely shot at him. Leon kept his back straight and his demeanor professional, clearing his throat slightly. "Mr President. I apologise for my interruption."

President Anderson looked at the agent from where he sat at the head of the table, which was occupied by 5 others who were seated. The room was dimly lit aside from the light coming from the 3D hologram in the middle of the table, which pictured the faces of all the victims in the last few weeks, information on the investigation. "I'll assume it's because you have something to add to this investigation." The President said, setting down his pen, making a movement with his hand. "So by all means, take a seat."

Leon knew this wasn't a good start, and he forced himself not to hesitate in moving over to the last remaining seat, the sound of his uneven steps breaking the otherwise eery quietness of the room, and he resisted the cringe that wanted to creep over his features. As he walked, limped, over to the chair, he took in account of who was in the room. Three of them he recognised, Chris Redfield was seated next to the President and along side the BSAA man was Jill Valentine. Across from them was Ingrid Hunnigan, and seated beside her were two men that Leon didn't recognise.

When Leon reached the empty chair, Jill seated beside it stood up, pulling the chair out for him and he gave her a grateful nod, whispering a quiet "Thanks." before sitting down painfully, giving a mute sigh when the pressure was relieved from his leg. After both he and Jill were settled again, the President continued.

"As I was saying, we might need to give the face of our suspect to the media. If we can have the whole country on the look out, I believe that we'll uncover the lost data immediately." The President said, pressing a few buttons on the in-built keyboard in the table, and bringing up a profiled sketch of the man described to them as the killer of the weeks recent victims.

"I disagree." Leon spoke up, drawing all eyes to him, some were waiting to hear what he had to say, Hunnigan looked at him in understanding, and Anderson looked taken back by the agents charge. "Sir. I'm under the impression that our killer isn't the one behind the theft of the data. Just a player." Leon spoke with a determined voice, choosing his words carefully as the President eyed him, the silence for him to continue, and so he did. "Events that have transpired in the past week lead me to believe that this isn't the act of one man, but of an organised group who'd been planning their steps carefully. While Benjamin hacked into E'World, he did it under protecting his family, and saying that, any employer at the company wouldn't know how to wirelessly track my movements in a public area using surveillance camera's or mobile phones."

"What do you mean, they're tracking you?" Chris asked, frowning.

Leon nodded, before clarifying his statement. "I came in contact with our suspect a few days ago after I got the email about this crisis. He was standing across the street waiting for me, and it wasn't a chance encounter. He knew when and where I was. A day later I was at Benjamin Dee's house, trying to gather a little more information, when the phone rang, the caller asking to speak with me."

Hunnigan looked at the agent through her glasses, having not known that detail, but then she hadn't had contact with Leon in a few days, where anything could happen. She gathered that much when the older man walked in the room. "What did the suspect say?" She asked, but in a tone where one would have to answer her.

Leon paused, his expression unreadable as he shook his head. "It wasn't our suspect on the phone, but who ever it was knew I was there. However, the man used a line of code, Marco and Polo." Leon left out the mans name, as for why, he didn't know, but something in him said not to mention it just yet.

"I've heard of that." All eyes turned to Jill in surprise, and she looked slightly taken back by all the stares. "It's a line that the Russian Secret Service use when doing undercover operations."

Chris too looked at her. "How do you even know that?" He asked in bewilderment.

Jill tugged at her jacket, unconsciously pulling it so that the material was proffesional. "I have my ways." She said lightly, seeing the smile that Chris gave her at her innocent words.

The President cleared his throat, silencing the others and drawing their attention. "If what you say is true, Agent Kennedy. Then what about the data? Who has it?"

Leon shook his head slightly. "I don't know, but I think we're focusing on the wrong thing here. Todays mobile phone registers your location every few seconds, but hacking into the system network requires skill, time, and resources. Our terrorist group have more than just the missing data, and its not the fact that they have it that should be concerning us, or even reclaiming it. It's the how. If we somehow manage to get back the data that was stolen, the terrorists will just take it back again." Leon argued, his point now clear across the room.

"Then how are they getting it? Through Benjamin?"

Leon shook his head at Chris, then eyed each person in the room. "Not through Benjamin." He said, and after a pause. "Through the Government."

"That's impossible." One of the two agents sitting next to Hunnigan scoffed.

"Is it?" Leon challenged, eyeing the man. "Then what about Derrek C Simmons, the National Security Advisor and his actions that killed the former President a few months ago? The cause of the outbreak in Tall Oaks which further killed over 70,000 people? The kidnapping of Deborah Harper and then framing Helena Harper and myself for his crimes? Perhaps even the Lab under the Cathedral with Simmons' air-loom everywhere? That same Lab where the C-Virus came from?" The man fell silent at his words, but Leon continued. "The planning and research that went behind the attack told us that it had been under our noses for months, dare I say years. 'Impossible' is no longer in the equation. Yet the how is still unknown to us." Leon finished, his words underlined with anger.

"Leon is right." Chris spoke up after the silence. "Too often has one of our own been the cause of Bio-Terrorism, and I'd hate to say it, but I'd need more than one hand to count the names." He said seriously.

"Then we have a mole hunt. What will that gain? It will only cause us to fight amongst ourselves, then the enemy will win." One of the other men seated at the table said.

"That won't happen." The President stated. "This hunt will be off the books, under the line. Our guy must not know we suspect him withing these walls. We won't point fingers, gather any information you believe to be strange, look into internet history and income charts, unauthorised logs and payments. These men must be getting their money and equiptment from somewhere, and no matter how much you erase something, there will always be a paper trial in the network. We will find it." With that, the President stood up, gathering papers and adressing an end to the meeting. "Your dismised." He said, before taking his leave through the doors.

After the President, along with the two other agents and Hunnigan left to room, Leon felt the tension in the air disappear, and he hoped that Jake had the right sence not to be standing outside the door where he would have been spotted. The meeting had gone on longer than what he thought, no doubt the ex-mercenary was going to be annoyed with him later. He was about to attempt at standing up when he paused, feeling eyes on him, and looking to his left, he found that Chris and Jill had yet to leave, something Leon hoped they would do so no one witnessed him limping.

Though the look on Chris' face told him all he needed to know.

"Aside from the circumstances." Jill spoke up, holding a hand out to the agent and smiling. "It's nice to finally meet you in person, Agent Kennedy. I've heard a lot about this seemingly ghost who fights Bio-Terrorism, and has helped in the past."

Leon took the offered hand, smiling in return. "Just Leon, will do fine. And I could say the same for you, Jill Valentine. You were in Raccoon City at the time of the outbreak?" He asked, curious to meet another survivor.

She nodded. "Yeah, although for different reasons. A lot of things have changed since then."

"Not everything." Chris commented, not sure which out weighed the good or the bad. Signing, the BSAA man stood up, along with Jill, and he eyed Leon as the man had yet to move. Because if it were him, he'd want to get out of this building as soon as possible, Chris never really liked Government. "You all right?" He asked, noticing how pale the agent looked. "Why do I get the feeling that you shouldn't have come here..?" Chris continued as he eyed the other man, remembering when the agent came into the room, sporting a heavy limp. Something Chris knew he didn't get from what happened in China.

"I'm fine." Leon tried convincing them, though he knew that there wasn't much point.

"Yeah, that's what they all say." Jill said, too eyeing the Government agent, before pointing at Chris. "It never worked for Chris, and It's not going to work for you." She pointed out, giving the agent a look to say that there was no fooling her, and she smiled in triumph when the man signed in defeat, before the agent gave up on waiting and stood up slowly.

Chris couldn't help but chuckle at that as he moved around Jill, standing next to the agent in case the man stumbled and noticing that Leon had a firm grip on his left thigh. Chris frowned.

"I need to speak to you, Chris. Before you go." Leon spoke up, causing the BSAA man to blink, before Chris slowly nodded hesitantly.

Jill looked at the two silently, they both looked tired, and she knew what Chris had been through in the last number of months, the man hardly slept anymore, and Jill was concerned, since coming back on the radar, Chris hadn't been the same. Too much loss, too much death, and the death of Peirs Nivans had been the one to set Chris on the edge, and Jill knew that should another fall under the grim reapers clutches, would be the final push. Although Jill wanted to help at this moment, she read the silent look on the other agents pale face, and she nodded. "I'll be just outside." She said, drawing their attention, she smiled at them. "Men and their secrecy." With a raise of one eye brow, Jill turned and walked out the room, closing the door behind her.

Leon gave Chris an amused look at that, and the man just shrugged, a smile tugging at his face. "That's Jill for ya. Sometimes I wonder if she'd been a Jedi in her previous life." Chris joked, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "Hows your partner doing? Helena?" He wondered out loud, remembering her from China.

"She's nearly finished her exams. After whats happened in the past few months, she had to re-sit them, to her annoyance." Leon replied with a small smile. After the whole incident in Tall Oaks, then in China, It was recommended that she needed to be in the right mind before she went back out into the field. Helena was given a few weeks for recovery, then under go some tests, and Leon signed in relief when he found out that she wasn't suffering from PTSD, something he was deeply worried about for a while.

"Yeah. We've all been there." Chris agreed, having gone through those tests more than once, especially after Wesker.

Leon could see the BSAA man become more distant, and he remembered what Claire said in her email. "How you holdin' up?" He asked quietly, eyeing the other, the pain in his leg for a moment forgotten.

Chris was silent for a while, glancing at the agent before he couldn't take the others knowing and concerned gaze any longer. "...I guess I'd be lying if I said I'm fine." Chris finally answered, "Everyone had been asking that lately." He added, slightly annoyed.

"They are concerned for you."

"I don't need it." Chris snapped back unintentionally, before looking away.

Leon smiled. "Now you sound like Helena." His smile widened when Chris shot him a glare, and Leon thought in amusement that if he had a few bucks for every glare that had been aimed at him in the past week, he'd be rich. The smile faded as he eyed the BSAA man. "I'm here if you need to talk, Chris." He said, before adding quietly. "The things we've been through are not all the different. I too have lost..." Leon trailed off, swallowing for a moment. "We can't ever come clean with what has happened, but we can't keep it locked up either."

Chris looked back at the agent, seeing aswell as hearing the truth in the mans words, and Chris couldn't help the guilt that washed over him. "I never pulled the trigger..." He said, seeing a frown creep on the agents face. "Simmons' men shot her before I could do anything, and then she fell.."

Leon was quiet, seeing the guilt on the other mans face, and realised he was talking about Ada. Chris thought she was still dead. Leon knew she wasn't, but he didn't know... Chris wouldn't lie about something like that, wouldn't make a mistake. There was no doubt, Chris witnessed Ada die that day, but Leon was struck in thought, frozen in its question. He knows Ada is still alive... but then who was it that was killed that day..?

"It's not your fault. Chris." Leon said after a moment, realising that the BSAA man took his silence as a bad sign. "You kept you word." Looking into the other mans eyes, Leon could see the acceptance, and at that, he pulled out a piece of folded paper from his inner jacket pocket, looking down at it for a moment before holding it out for the other, now back to business. "I'm going to need your help on this one." Leon stated, maintaining eye contact as the BSAA man hesitantly took the folded note.

"You know more than what you told us, about the investigation. Don't you?" Chris asked, reading the note briefly before pointing Leon with a stare.

"That's classified." Leon joked, seeing the pissed off look on the other's face, and Leon smirked at that, then continued more seriously. "The point is, with the possibility of a guy on the inside, I don't know who to trust. I trust you, Chris."

Chris nodded after a moment, pocketing the folded paper. "I'll see what I can find." Chris said, referring to the note.

Leon gave him a grateful tired look. "Thanks." Now that all was done here, Leon took a step forward, but stumbled with a surprised gasp to the side with the wake of the forgotten injury, hands coming to brace himself on the table as he winced. He'd been standing up too long. A weight on his shoulder drew his attention and Leon looked up into Chris' concerned gaze.

"You never really answered my question." Chris said disapprovingly, giving Leon the look.

The agent in question signed, shifting and taking nearly all his weight off his injured leg. "..I got shot two days ago on the investigation." Leon admitted, movement behind Chris drew his attention, and Leon looked as the door opened a little, though he knew who it was.

"How bad?" Chris asked, his back to the door and missing the glare Leon shot at it.

"I needed a blood transfusion."

"What?" Chris said in surprise, frowning down at the agent. "Why aren't you still in hospital?" He demanded, wondering what kind of idiot let the agent leave, because a blood transfusion was no light subject, not on a what looked like a serious gunshot wound.

Leon hesitated. "I.. never went to the hospital." He knew that if Claire was here, she'd be pissed as hell, and he would never hear the end of it. Such as it is, Chris was too a Redfield, and Leon knew that the older man would be equally furious, of not more than his sister. Leon hated it when he was right sometimes.

"The fuck, Kennedy?" Chris was glaring at the younger agent, anger at the others carelessness, because as a caption of his own team, he'd lost men due to their stubbornness on injuries being more serious, or hiding such injuries. Chris' first rule was such, do not hide any injury, no matter how small, and Claire is going to be so pissed. "Your coming with me to the hospital." Chris ordered like he would to a rookie on his team, despite Leon having more clearance that what he did.

"Chris-" Leon started doubtfully, though was cut off.

"Bullshit."

Both the Government agent and the BSAA Captain turned at the voice, one watching in irritation and the other frowning partly in surprise as Jake Muller let himself in, shades off, his glare settled on Chris. "What make's you think he'll do that?" Jake challenged, walking up to the two dressed in the black suit, and Chris' frown deepened at the resemblance to Wesker in the mans posture.

"Jake-" Leon warned, but again was cut off.

"I'm not giving him a choice, a wound like that, he needs a hospital." Chris said stubbornly, not taking his eyes of the ex-mercenaries, and Chris would imagine that if Wesker didn't have the red signature of the Projenitor virus, that the ex-STARS captian would have the same steel eyes as what Jake had. "Who was your mother?" Chris asked gently out of genuine curiosity, though wasn't prapared for the anger that shimmered in the ex-mercenaries eyes.

With his time in the Government and various training meant that Leon was fast. Very fast, despite his injuries. With slight stumbled and limped steps, Leon moved quickly in front of Chris and towards Jake as the ex-mercenary advanced rapidly on the BSAA man, though Leon put up a fight and grasped the younger mans shoulders, pushing him back and to the side. "Hey!" He raised his voice only loud enough so that it wouldn't reach the halls and there for draw any unwanted attention. Jake was still glaring heatedly behind him and Leon pushed back as the younger man tried side stepping the agent. "Jake! This is no place for a brawl!"

Finally Jake turned his attention to the agent, stilling his movements but the tension was still imminent.

Leon let out a frustrated sigh, daring to release his hold on the younger mans shoulders, but keeping his hands aside should the other act. "I don't know what's between you too, but don't settle it now, it is nor the place or the time." Leon said, glaring at Jake.

Jake was silent and fuming, but nodded, looking away from the agents piercing eyes.

Chris hadn't moved either, wondering just how and why Jake was in the white house, and also the fact that the ex-mercenary seemed to know the agent, even if they didn't look like they were on the same page. Chris was about to step forward when the agent stumbled again, but the angry ex-mercenary was closer and bet him to it.

"Though boy scout was right about one thing." Jake growled, taking hold of the agents shoulders in turn and steadying the older man. "I think its time you go to a hospital. You look like shit." This time Jake was the one stopping the agent from fighting or objecting and Jake grasped his arm, leading them from the room. Turning just before he was at the door, Jake eyed Chris with a look. "You and I are not finished." He promised, before he proceeded to help Leon back the way they came.

Chris wanted to follow, but didn't, and instead fumbled with the piece of paper in his pocket, a moment later Jill walked back in.

"Who was that?" She asked with a frown, having seen the other man supporting the agent, cool steel eyes piercing. Though Jill paused, seeing that Chris was in thought, distant like before. "Whats wrong?" she asked in concern, walking up to him and placing a hand on his arm, drawing him back to the present.

Chris signed tiredly, glancing at the door before he looked at Jill. "We're a team right?" He asked quietly, though his face was unreadable.

Jill nodded. "Of course. always have been, always will be."

Accepting her answer with a smile, Chris nodded. "Then we've got some digging to do." Holding out the node, he handed it to Jill. "Lets find out everything we can about this Demarko Alrichkov."

Ending for this one was a little lacking, but this chapter was long enough. I'll make up for it in the next one. I have an evil plan in mind... Mwahahaharrr. I'm a little on the crazy side, but you love it. Stay tuned for chapter 10! R&R!

And here is another teaser... enjoyyyy... :D

"Who's Krauser?"

Leon looked up at Jake, seeing the weariness in the younger mans eyes, they were both exhausted, having not slept in a few days. He resisted the urge to scratch his neck raw where the needle went in, mentally cursing the fact that he wouldn't be able to anyway, and instead pondered on an answer, trying to take his mind of other things. "He used to be my partner a number of years back, we did missions together. When I first joined the Government, I went to the base of the United States Special Operations Command for training, it was there when I first met him. Eventually we trained together, that was until I left for the Government, to start my services. I took orders from the president directly, and my first assignment was Project Javier, in which I was partnered with Krauser."

Jake thought for a moment. "Javier? That's right, there was an outbreak there, I saw it in the files you had me read." He said, cringing at that last part, he never liked reading.

Leon nodded, a ghost of a smile hinting across his face before it vanished. "During the Op, Krauser was injured, of which he was unable to recover from, so he was forced to leave the military. No one ever knew where he went, no one saw him. The man had vanished." Leon signed, remembering the last time he saw the other man, the glare shot his way. "It wasn't until a few months later when word reached that Jack had been killed in a crash."

"And let me guess, the bastard came back alive." Jake said in understanding when a look crossed the older mans face. The ex-mercenary frowned. "Why is it that nothing stays dead anymore?" He said in annoyance.

"You get used to it." Leon rehearsed, smirking when Jake looked at him.

Jake smiled, relieved to see that the older man was still in a sence where he was that hero he'd met in China. "You weren't kidding." Jake chuckled dryly.

Leon shrugged, before continuing. "It wasn't until when I was in Spain, rescuing the Presidents daughter, 2 years prior of that, when Jack showed himself, only this time, I knew we were on enemy terms. He was..." Leon suddenly paused, pondering whether or not he should continue with what he was going to say. "..He was working for Wesker. Your father." He finished quietly.

Jake lent forward at the mention of his father, questions coming to mind, along with what he'd been told about what Wesker did, how close the man had come to destroying the world. Though looking at the older man, Jake decided now wasn't the time to ask such questions. So he just nodded at Leon, accepting, letting the older man continue.

"We fought, kind of like our training, only I knew that if I slipped up, I was dead. I managed to gain the upper hand for a moment, but in the end, Krauser was able to disarm me of my knife, and I would have been dead, but... I had some help at the last second." Leon smiled ever faintly, not saying anything more or hinting at who helped him.

Jake narrowed his eyes, both of them knowing that there was more, both of them knowing that Jake wasn't going to get it, and both of them knowing that should they get out of here, Jake would demand it. Then the ex-mercenary looked at the older man curiously. "A knife fight, eh? And just how good are you with a blade?" Jake asked tauntingly, smirking.

Leon smirked back, "If we get out of here, maybe I'll show you." He said, the last part sounding dangerously challenging.

Jake could have laughed, but he didn't, only staring at the man with a equal challenge. "Your on, hero."

Leon was about to reply, when a sudden urge to retch filled him, followed closely by sharp pain in his chest and causing him to gasp at the sudden change, the familure feeling one he hoped to never feel again, and he paniced. "Jake-" Leon managed to choke out before the feeling intensified, leaving him groaning as the agonly left him speechless.

The older man wasn't the only one who was panicking. Jake pulled at his restraints, at first not knowing what was happening. "Leon!? What is it?!" The ex-mercenary didn't like the sound of the choked cries and gasps that he was hearing, and when the older man didn't reply immediately, Jake yelled again. "C'mon hero, answer me!"

Aaaand it ends there. Can't give away too much. Is Krauser still alive? Because we are all Resident Evil gamers here, and we know nothing stays dead...