Hello my freaky love struck Jake and Leon lover's darlings. Now I will add it is highly possible that your wish had been granted, so this story will end up being Slash! I've hinted it in the past incase I wanted it to convert, and now it's official. Thanks to the many reviews and votes. Though the slash won't happen until a while yet, because you gotta work your way up, but we'll eventually get there. Thanks to 'Fanboy'(Is Leon really your first name?), dude your review had me laughing so much I nearly fell of my chair... well, ALMOST :D

Again sorry for any spelling errors. Thanks to those who point them out, I do try to fix 'em, sometime's I over look things. O.o

I will most likely bring back Krauser because of his popularity, so I'll just have to come up with a explanation as to how this 'temperamental mofo' gets back in scene. Anyways, for now, enjoy!

Warning: Character death... :O

CHAPTER 11

To Feel Pain is to Be Human

The building shook with the blast, the sound of glass shattering and the muffled cries of scared people sounding.

Leon and Jake looked at each other in alarm before making a break down the hall way, everything prior forgotten as they dodged people who ran out of their homes in the chaos as the two men headed for Leon's apartment. Jake didn't know where the explosion came from, or what caused it, but for some unknown reason they both ran to the agents pair got the the end of the corridor, and Leon was just short of digging for his keys to unlock the door marked 101 when he noticed something.

Smoke.

The grey air particles were puffing through the gap of not his apartment door, but that of room the room next to his, room 100. Mr and Ms Smiths apartment.

The air suddenly grew thick and Leon covered the small distance with haste, cursing in desperation to open the door but the thick wood wouldn't budge, and Leon looked on with great concern as smoke continued to billow from under the door. The agent looked up as Jake stood next to him, both exchanging looks before nodding, and together they braced themselves before kicking the door open with brutal strength that had the door breaking free of its hinges.

The toxic grey particles rose like mist as they stepped in the destroyed room, ash gathering on a point of the floor and everything around it was blown in a circle, and Leon knew immediately it had been some sort of grenade that had gone off, shrapnel nailing in furniture as stray fires ate at wood and papers. Leon stood there for a second, his heart thundering at the sight of a battle field where it shouldn't belong.

"Oh thank god!"

Both Leon and Jake snapped their eyes up at the scared voice, and walking in small hurried steps was a very frightened and dirt covered Ms Smith, burns darkening her daisy apron, many small stray cuts littering her arms and cheeks, eyes watering with the smoke that stung. Her voice shook, and her fluffy slippers kicked through the wrecked lounge room on burnt carpet.

Leon's breath hitched, eyes wide with adrenalin and horror. "Angela-" Leon took a few hurried steps forward, though never made it even close to her.

Chaos escalated as sound rained down, what was left of the windows shattered as bullets broke through the apartment building, hitting everything in their path, including the elderly woman in her cooking clothes. Leon could only watch in absolute horror and terror as blood splattered on her chest, his scream of denial rose through his throat, but the agent did not hear it, all he could see was Ms Smith, looking at him with pained scared eyes before her body made harsh contact with the ground.

All else was cloaked in a dome of angst and Leon made to rush forward, not caring as bullets whizzed by missing him by mere millimeters. He could hear someone yelling, but didn't heed such, only time seemed to slow as his eyes fixed on his target. She wasn't moving. Leon suddenly found a pair of strong arms around his chest, pulling him back, and the agent fought them, yelling and cursing, desperate to get to Ms Smith, but the arms pulled him down with force that matched his struggles, pulling him from the shooters sights on the apartment building, pulling him from her.

"Get a hold of yourself! You'll be killed!"

Leon turned his nightmare striken eyes to the ex-mercenary beside him, giving the younger man a furiously burning, and horrid look. Leon stilled for a moment if not to get the younger man the release him, but the ex-mercenary didn't even attempt to, instead he looked at the agent with equal fury.

Jake could see the raging conflict that glistened in the older man's now story blue eyes, and knew that if the agent had another chance to run out in the open, he'd talk it. Bullets continued to rain down, clipping furniture and the couch that they were behind for cover, a number of meters stray of Ms Smith. Jake shook his head at the agent, before releasing one hold only to draw his gun, keeping his other hand in a strong grip around the older mans arm.

"Let me go."

The agent's growl was low, but could be heard over the sound that somewhat deafened the room, and Jake continued to hold the other, again, shaking his head, glaring at the older man. "Not about to happen, Hero. I'm not letting you." Jake said sternly back.

"Damn it! Let go!" Leon yelled this time, resuming his struggles.

Jake discarded the gun for a second only to grab the agent firmly by the shoulders. "You'll be no good to anyone if you're dead! You of all people should know that!" Jake continued to hold the others furious gaze, fingers gripped the others suit and into his arms to keep the man out of the bullets path and behind cover.

The two men had a stand off, eyes both burning into the others as smoke from the fires lifted to be carried out of the shattered windows, and when things came to a sudden still, the two were still glaring, both wills battling and neither gaining. Another moment passed the silence as bullets stopped raining down, the chaotic rush came to a whisper. Jake held the agents gaze for an agonizingly long moment later, before releasing the man completely.

Neither moved.

Jake shifted as he carefully looked over the back of the couch, the material shredded with the continuous bullets that previously thundered, his hand grasping the discarded gun despite a feeling that made itself known. They weren't the targets. Demarko wouldn't order a hit on them just yet, it was too soon in the game, and Jake knew that this attack was only to tell them who was the dealer, who had control, taunting them with the angst of how easily they could have been dead.

The angst that now someone else is dead.

Like he expected, nothing happened, and after another look in clear sights, Jake stood up. "They're gone." He said tightly.

Leon didn't even hesitate, not even sparing the ex-mercenary a glance, he rushed over to Ms Smith. There was no sight of Ben, and Leon desperately hoped the old man was all right. Leon fell on his knees next to Ms Smith, his heart clenching and breath hitching so much he nearly choked. She was still alive.

"Angela..." Leon's whisper was thick with emotion as he gathered the dying woman in his arms, cradling her gently and bringing a restrained shaking hand to carefully add pressure to the blood soaking her apron. She looked up at him through watery eyes, the corners of her mouth stained with crimson. "Y-you're gonna be alright, ok? Just hang in there. - Jake!" Leon forced his voice to remain calm before calling over his shoulder at the ex-mercenary, but soft words drew his attention back.

"I knew.. you would come."

Her words were ever cheery, if not quiet, and Leon swallowed at the extent of trust he saw in her eyes. "Shh, don't talk, save you strength." He said soothingly to her, before pointing his brief attention to the younger man who was behind him. "Jake, call an ambulance!" His words were lined with desperation, and he saw the younger man move quickly, only making out the dialed numbers before a cold hand on his arm redirected his gaze again.

"You remind me... so much of my son." Ms Smith said quietly, looking at the agent with watery eyes and bringing up a cold trembling hand to the mans cheek, who later grabbed it in a gentle hold, bloodied hands keeping it there. "He... was a cop, always dreamt of being a hero... All the cadets looked up to him. He... moved to Raccoon... City, to join.. the RPD f-for a promotion. We were... so proud.. of him."

Her words were soft, and Leon felt a aching pain in his heart, one that physically hurt him, and he swallowed as she continued.

"We.. lost him in.. 1998, w-with the incident..."

Leon could feel a sting in his eyes, her truth shocked him deeply as he fought with the information, the memory, his throat closing up thickly with the strain of fighting back mixed emotions, closing his eyes tightly for a moment before opening, tears brimming, and he was unable to say anything as she continued.

"E-everything was... destroyed. W-we couldn't.. even bury him. T-they never.. told us about what happened.. that day in Raccoon, d-deep down I... knew there was.. something more.." Ms Smith trailed of for a moment coughing lightly, and Leon squeezed her hand gently, rubbing his thumb over in a soothing pattern.

Leon swallowed, guilty eyes hesitantly locked onto her fading ones. "Angela, I-"

"I saw t-the news..." She continued, blinking tiredly up at him, thought there was no anger, only kindness and acceptance. "Y-you survived... the nightmare.. I could see it in your eyes, haunted."

"I tried to get as many people out as I could..." Leon said, forcing words past his restricted throat.

Ms Smith smiled faintly, sweet and simple, her hand still caressing the agents face gently, thumb smoothing over the tears that escaped. "Always the hero..." She said with a motherly care of pride and amusement. "Life is.. too short to grieve... son."

Leon stared into her eyes, seeing an acceptance that would forever haunt him, and he choked back a sob as her eyes drifted shut. "Angela..?" He dared to whisper, but he got no response from the elderly woman, her hand fell limply from his suddenly slack grasp, and all the agent could do was stare at her unresponsive form, tears running down his face at what she'd told him. Leon's hand shook as he brushed her hair aside gently away of her closed eyes, his face was scrunched up in angst as he bowed his head over her form, fighting back the overwhelming rush of emotions.

His head was throbbing, but the ache in his heart consumed him, sadness and guilt bubbling in his stomach, Leon didn't know how much time had passed, but he gathered that it wasn't much. He couldn't see anything but Angela, couldn't remember anything but Raccoon, the burglar, the taste of her cooking, the cheeriness she brought, the feeling of home, Leon didn't even feel the hand that was placed on his shoulder, didn't feel the presence of the ex-mercenary standing behind him.

After a moment, he did feel something, and after a moment, all he could feel, was anger.

"...Hero?"

Oxygen was breathed out his nose forcefully, his jaw clenched, eyes shedding their last tears before drying, and Leon gently placed the body of Angela Smith down on the carpet, his hand caressing her face gently before withdrawing. He stood up, not acknowledging his name being called carefully. There were flashes of blue and red lights outside the window, sirens blaring and people shouting.

Leon looked down, staring at his bloodied hands.

Jake stood behind the agent, his hand still placed on the older mans shoulder, a weight that was meant to be comforting, but the ex-mercenary didn't know whether or not it was his place to offer such comfort. When he called the ambulance, all he could think about was Leon, even though Jake was just as striken by the death of Ms Smith, he was more worried about the agent. If Demarko wanted to hit where it hurts, he succeeded.

"Hero... we need to go." Jake said after another tense pause, but it didn't gain any form of acknowledgment, the older man only continued to stare at bloodied hands. Jake glanced around, knowing police and other agents would soon be swarming the place, and the last thing they needed now was to be held up as suspects to the coming investigation. Swallowing, Jake moved around the other, placing himself in the older mans line of sight and placing both of his hands on the agents shoulders, gripping firmly to gain the others attention.

Leon felt numb to all else but the anger that was consuming him from every pore, and looked up at the weight on his shoulders, warm through the material of his jacket at the bitterness that made his blood cold. He stared into the ex-mercenaries eyes dully, and somehow identifying the look the other gave him.

"We need to go." Jake said again more strongly, taking node of the time that was passing.

Through the anger that was bubbling beyond the surface, Leon nodded mutely.

Jake too nodded at the agent, and after another short pause, he let go of the others shoulders, turning around and heading over to the door quickly, looking over briefly to make sure the older man was following.

The smoke was thinning out as the wind picked it up, fire's were dying down in the cold breeze, but the chaos was still evident. People were yelling outside, the wiry blare of sirens now parking out front of the building as local authorities began to make there way inside followed closely by doctors carrying equipment in response to the call.

The two men made it fast down the now empty hall way, heading for the fire exit. Footfalls were hurrying up the steps as the elevators were now out, and Jake pulled the fire exit door closed just as the group reached the third floor, heading down the hall and disappearing in room 100, the last resting place for a elder story, peacefully until the ink falls.

{{Page Break}}

They were walking down the back ally of the apartment building, heading around the corner and down another ally that lead behind the next block, Jake in the lead and Leon following silently behind, numb to his surroundings.

Around another corner and Jake paused next to a large covered object tucked away on the side of the building, the smoke grey cloth hiding it well from view to anyone casting a glance, the wind blowing the cover briefly and showing the roughness of a thick tire underneath for a moment. "We need to get out of this area." Jake said in way of explaining, not looking at the agent who stood a few feet behind him. Jake reached over and pulled off the dark cover, letting the material billow on the ground and revealing a large black Ducati motor-bike.

A jingle of keys sounded as Jake fished them out of his pocket, opening the back storage compartment before pulling out a jacket and a sleek black helmet. He tossed the helmet to the agent who surprisingly caught it despite the lack of attention, and Jake threw on the heavy leather jacket before hopping on the bike. "Jump on, Hero." He said after a moment, seeing that the older man hadn't made any moves.

Leon looked down at the helmet for another second, before giving a faint nod, stepping over to the bike, hesitating for another second before he swung a leg over the Ducati, seating himself behind the ex-mercenary.

"Ever ridden one of these, Hero?" Jake asked, trying to get the silent man to talk, because Jake hated this side of the agent, the man's silence troubled him. He pulled out the pair of dark shades from earlier and put those on, kicking up the bike's stand with a booted foot.

Leon snapped out of his thoughts again, still holding the helmet in numb hands as he sat behind the other. "Not really, car's are more safer." He finally said, taking a mental note not to tell the ex-mercenary how many accidents he'd been in driving a car, or a plane, or a bus...

Jake gave an amused huff. "It's easy really, just hold on tight." The ex-mercenary stated, his tone underlined with humor, but amongst that there was something else.

Leon could hear the humor in the words, and another unidentified meaning, something that he had started noticing since that night Jake gave the blood transfusion, something that the agent still hadn't pieced together yet. "Where to?" He asked in a way that was familiar to the younger man, and Leon allowed a smirk to cross his face even though the other couldn't see it, that was before he pulled the helmet over his head, closing the reflected wind visor and hiding his identity. Leon guessed that was the reason why he had the helmet.

"My place." Was all Jake said, before he turned the keys in the ignition and the Ducati rawed to life, and out of pride, Jake revved the engine causing the bike to pur. "Make yourself comfortable, Hero, she's got a good kick." Jake said over the noise.

Leon adjusted in his seat behind the ex-mercenary, sitting so that his chest was in contact with the other's back, and after another hesitant move that had him thinking Jake might have done this on purpose, Leon weaved both arms under the ex-mercenaries elbows and wrapped then around Jake's chest, indeed making himself comfortable and wondering if he'll survive this trip to 'Jake's place'.

With another rev of the engine, Jake turned the bike and headed out of the ally slowly, the rumble sounding and traveling through the seated riders. Once out on the road, Jake turned up the acceleration and the bike took off with speed down the street.

End of Chapter 11.

No I didn't! Yes I Did! I'm sorry darlings, I liked Ms Smith too, but someone needed to go for the story. Anyways, I hope the ending here lightened the mood a little. Until next time!

(I'm converting to PlayStation 4 because the new Xbox is such a cluster f*ck. And I grew worried thinking about my converted Gamer tag. Originally its ElfsDeathBox360, but that won't work, now would it?

So what do my freaky darlings think of Elfs-Death-Station?) :D

Elf out.