A/N: Once again my heartfelt thanks to Shirahane Aikawa and all the readers of the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Resident Evil or any of its characters. They all belong to Capcom.

Chapter 8

As if reading their expressions the blonde woman said, "Don't you recognize me, guys? It's me Sherry!", she gave them a moment then she understood something, "Oh how could you have recognized I won't recognize myself, after all its been ten years I was 12 then and now I am 22."
Leon took her words slowly but knew that she wasn't lying, the similarities were striking only hair had grown over the period and were now at an arm's length, "Sherry where have you been? We were looking all over for you and the time you were abducted…" Leon started to speak.
"Good you know each other now let's get moving, I saw that old coot, he must have gone to tell them that I am back", the woman said ruining their meeting, "We have to get out of here fast; come on from here!", she opened the window, there was fire escape ladder leading down.
"But Kathleen…", Sherry tried to speak.
"There's no time, just hurry will you", as she completed herself they heard footsteps on the lower levels of buildings, "Great they are here now please hurry up", she added jumping out of the window.

They all followed her John being the last one to jump out of the window. They quickly descended the ladder and started running deeper into the alley. Leon was trying to think of a plan, since he doubted that Kathleen have taught Sherry anything. John was probably thinking the same. For a moment Leon thought to call back up but given the situation, the back up might take too much time to get there, the best plan as of now was to run away and escape, whoever were following them.

"Look can you see the ladders up that building", said Kathleen still running and pointing at fire escape ladder of as different building which were same as that they used to just climb down. They all nodded. "I want you guys to take that ladder and go up to the roof, wait there till it's safe and then escape with your car. I will act as decoy and try to get rid of them because they know me not you so you can escape easily."
Leon thought, 'boy she definitely knows how to use her surroundings', and then said, "I don't trust you so John take Sherry and follow her plan and I'll stay with her and act as decoy", he tossed the car keys to him.
"Target sighted, sir!", somebody shouted from behind. Kathleen without taking a moment shot the men in head and John and Sherry began climbing ladders. Leon heard various footsteps and cast a glance at John and Sherry, they were halfway up.
"Are you coming?", Kathleen called for him from a nearby alleyway. He ran over to her just in time to see Umbrella's mercenaries hovering over their dead comrade.
Their chief barked at them, "Spread out and find them!", he ordered, "They couldn't have gone far and don't yell like this stupid, stay in shadows and speak in headsets", The men split to find them

Kathleen then grabbed Leon and pulled him to snap out of it and beckoned him to follow. Everywhere they went they could hear their footsteps thumping on the ground. They escaped from one and ran into another. Kathleen was fast in changing directions. They were running in just a couple of random direction but it was not that bad, since Leon was seeing the shopping district in front of him, they finally made it. Now they could escape, he move forward and now was in front of Kathleen, until now she was leading the way. When he notice he left her behind, he turned and saw her just standing there, maybe she was a little hesitant slip into the crowd.

"What now? Come on, we're out", Leon said a little confused about her behavior and then they heard sound of footsteps. At that sound she reached for his arm and pulled him on small alleyway just in the right to the long alleyway in which they were standing. They waited till the sound died down then Leon turned to her, "What was that all about?", he asked her.
"I don't want to get them involved", she nodded in the direction of shopping district referring to the civilians.
"They won't make their appearance there", Leon said even though he wasn't sure about it.
"And what makes you think they won't?", she shot back him, "I know them very well, its noon, they don't care for human lives and they always need subjects to work on. The crowd is thin and unarmed they can take them out all."
'Is she serious?! But then again it doesn't look like she's joking or making things up', Leon thought, if that what's going to happen if he stepped in the district he would rather die than to be the cause of several people's death.
"But wait…", she was now looking at the shopping district with a hopeful look in her eyes, "have you got money?", she asked him speaking fast.
"Uh… yes", he answered not getting her point so he asked, "Why?"
"'Cause we're going shopping", she told him with a smug smile.

At first Leon thought that she has lost her mind but then she told him what they were actually doing. Her plan if you can call it that, was to get new clothes from the boutique across the street so they can disguise and slip in with the crowd and escape. According to her they didn't know her face and his was no exception so if they slip into the crowd it was easy to slip through their hands. He didn't wanted to admit but it was a good idea. Although it wasn't that much crowded and she doubted if it would succeed but still she wanted to try it out anyways. So they walked to the shop and he was currently standing outside the trial room while she changed.

"You were supposed to change not guard me, I can take care of myself and they wouldn't just run into trial rooms when someone is using it", Kathleen told Leon coming out of the trial room.

To his surprise she was wearing a dress. It was sleeveless; she had her bracelet still on, which just a couple of moments ago cut his hand and her wrist. The dress was just above her knees. It fitted her nicely revealing her perfect figure; seeing her like that he couldn't help but think that he has seen or met her somewhere, 'Stop Kennedy what are you thinking!', Leon thought to himself but it was not his fault that she was so unlike her and was extremely beautiful which raised his heart beat, after all he was a man and she was definite one of the most beautiful woman. And just to increase his pulse and guys all around she had her hair down unlike before. It was for the first time that he was taking in her details or speaking in normal person's language checking her out. Leon thought what would have happen if they had met in a different situation and she was wearing this same dress then.

"Hey are you here", Leon was brought back to reality from his dreamland by her, "Look you have to change whether you like it or not, just grab something and change will you, we don't have much time", she said a bit of authoritatively and walked in front of him having her back towards him. He softly hit her on head to knocking her out.

"Sorry about that but I still don't trust you and after seeing that transformation from 'fighting machine' to 'girl next door'. I doubt it if you make any more transformation I would be able to recognize you", he muttered to her now limp body opening the door to the trial room from where she just had come and setting her on the floor, "By the way you do kinda look killing in that dress of yours", he talked to her unconscious form again and then came outside and locked the door. He grabbed random clothes that suited his personality and went to another trial room which was close to where she had left Kathleen unconscious.

Kathleen woke up when somebody sprinkled water on her face, her head hurt a little and she remembered what had happened. Someone helped her to sit up. She swore that she'd find that stupid agent who knocked her unconscious and when she would have found him she would drill a hole in his head.

"Are you alright dear do you want some water?", an old lady asked her concerned. Kathleen looked at her and gave her a nod.
"Here take the water, are you alright?", she heard the familiar voice of that agent a little concerned though, she still felt dizzy so she didn't notice that it was he who was holding as well as supporting her. She shot death glares at him; it was he who knocked her out why was he pretending to be so concerned? She didn't say anything however and the glass of water from him and drank.
As she drank water the old woman spoke again, "He was very concerned about you. You've got a great husband there."
After hearing these words she choked and coughed for a little while the agent rubbed her back and gave her an apologetic grin, "Are you okay now?", he asked her. As she took another sip of water the old woman asked the agent, "So how long she has been pregnant?"

Listening these words made Kathleen spat water on Leon's face as a reflex. Leon was definitely in trouble now; oh how he hoped that the lady hadn't mention about Kathleen being pregnant. Now she's definitely gonna kill him, from the way she was looking at him. The old woman was looking at him waiting for him to answer. Thank god she was not noticing the girl who was boiling in anger in his arms. "Ah… it's been 1 month I guess", he answered a little nervously, wiping his face with his handkerchief. He didn't want to make situation worse, "I think you're ok now. Let's get going", Leon said to Kathleen without looking at her.
She at once stood up and replied, "Yeah let's go!"

When they were out of trial room she didn't say anything to him but he could feel the tension. He paid for their clothes while she waited for him. Leon didn't want to admit it but she looked dangerous when she was angry, more beautiful one may add. As she moved to the door he couldn't help but ask, "Have you got everything?", as he noticed she didn't have her handguns which she had earlier. Even during their small fight in the alleyway she had them empty though, he knew this because if she had bullets she would have shot him and John long before they knew and wouldn't have tried to take his gun when he challenged her later. But while they were in her apartment she must have recharged her ammunition supply. But she was not carrying them now neither she had a purse or something nor there were pockets in her so revealing dress.

"Yes", was her short and simple answer she didn't make any effort to hide the anger in her tone.
"Are you sure?", he asked her once again. He didn't wanted the old woman to think that her gun was a fake one she found in trial room and giving it to her grandson to play with.
"Well let's think I've got me right here with my stupid husband standing in front of me and I am one month pregnant which I wasn't a couple of minutes ago", she stopped and mocked as if she was thinking then said, "I think we forgot our little 5-year old in the shop." Anyone could tell that she was mad from the manner of her speaking, Leon face had turned red with guilt after listening to her words.
"I am sorry. If I hadn't told her that, she wouldn't have let me in after all it was a ladies trial room", he apologized and tried to explain what had happened.
"The husband part, for one moment considering the situation, I can take but the pregnant part is unforgivable. What in the hell were you thinking?", she shot at him angrily.

"You know when I told them I was your husband they didn't believe me. So for confirmation they asked me to tell something only a husband would know. I mean how am I supposed to tell something that I don't know? So I told them about the cut on your hand", he said pointing to her wrist and then continued, "they asked me how you got it so I told them that I was holding your hand very tight that's how you got it, I mean it was not a lie was it? Then they asked me if I was beating you up or something and if you're unconscious because I hit you hard or something. Well that was the truth but if I had told them that, they would had me arrested", He took a long breath, "so I told them why would I beat you; you were carrying my child and you probably became unconscious because from the weakness every pregnant woman has. That's all. I'm really very sorry. I shouldn't have said that", he completed his explanation still red from the guilt he was feeling now.
"You could have said that you were my brother or boyfriend", she told him in a matter-of-fact tone.
"I don't want to be your brother and you can be my girlfriend and not my wife", Leon said sounding a little offensive about what she said and then he suddenly realized what he said and felt a little awkward for saying that. Kathleen was pretty much shocked as well to hear this from him. Her expression softened and Leon couldn't help but say, "You look really beautiful!"
"Thanks!", she said and they started to walk.
"Have we met before?", Leon asked her and she looked at him with an unreadable expression, "I mean your face is oddly familiar, its like we've met before", but before she could reply, someone shot at them.

Leon pulled her into another alleyway and couldn't help but think, 'out from an alley just to be in other'. He had his gun out, now no more hide and seek. He's gonna finish this once and for all he thought to himself as he was waiting for their previous shooter to show up with Kathleen beside him. He heard a gunshot very close to him. He turned and saw Kathleen putting her gun back in her holster which was on her thigh, which got exposed as she was doing this and distracted Leon for a moment.

"Please I don't wanna fight, let's go", she sort of pleaded him grabbing his arm. Leon didn't knew how to react, does changing clothes have some effect on her personality.
"Why?", he asked in a voice that sounded as if something was choking his throat.
"There is not much time, we have to hurry and get to your HQ please", now she squeezed his arm a little more.

Why she was so impatient to get to the HQ was she up to something. No, Leon could tell from her eyes which were now piercing him that she was worried about something. He put his gun back in his holster and stood up along with her, she was still clutching his arm tight. As they were about to leave, the men who were following them was now surrounding them.

"Well... Well… just look at the lovebirds", one of man said to his comrade.
"Sir we've got the agent but that girl is nowhere instead he has his girlfriend with him", his comrade said to his radio. There was no doubt he couldn't recognize Kathleen she was more like an ordinary girl now and not a combat expert. Within no time more men surrounded them. It was like they were in some human cage with them in between.

"Hey girl we mean no harm to you but this boyfriend of yours has to die now, I'll have to ask you to leave", their leader said to Kathleen.
"Boss won't she go and call police?", one of the men said to the ring leader.
"Even if she does, by the time she gets back we'd have shot the agent", he replied with a smug smile on his face, "get going woman before I change my mind", Leon looked at Kathleen. This was the perfect time for her so slip out of his clutches and save herself.
"I am not leaving!", she told him wrapping an arm around Leon's arm. Leon looked at her shocked, he thought she'd ditch him and leave him to die but she stood her ground next to him, as if she really was his girlfriend and he wasn't sure if she was acting or not.
"Then you've to die with him", he told her rather happily.
"Do what you want", she told him calmly.
"So you decided to die with him. Any last wish?", he asked her readying his gun.
"Yes, I wanna kiss him one last time", she told him plainly. Leon again shot looked at her in shock, not that it would be readable on his face but he was very shocked.

'Did I hear wrong? Did she say she wanted to kiss me? Was that her last wish? Well, If I'm gonna die like this I wouldn't regret it that much', he thought as she turned to face him and their eyes met and Leon felt his heart pounding ten folds.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed action sequences in chapter and they weren't too complicated to understand or imagine.