A/N: Thanks for reviewing, Shirahane Aikawa! I'd like to thank whoever gave their valuable time to read this story.

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

Chapter 14

It had been a month since their hospital incident and Leon was back to his more or less routine life. John was annoying as always. During the first few days in which Sherry had stayed with them she had gone nuts and was very much relieved when Claire came take Sherry to her apartment. Every day he went to work just only to babysit President's Daughter 'The Ashley Graham' who was much more annoying than John. He preferred John over her. His friends and fellow agents Bruce and Billy were better now and they reminded Leon the time after when he'd taken the bullet for Ada. Ada reminded him of Umbrella and Umbrella reminded him of 'her'. Leon had not seen her or heard from her throughout the entire month. He just doesn't know why but he missed her. Occasionally John would get in the mood and start talking about her and question how she would react to this or that? He certainly had a liking to her to talk about her whenever the topic came, after all Leon and he are the only ones who knew her better than anyone except Sherry.

"So Leon what are you making for us this morning", John asked him one Saturday morning.
"What will you like?", Leon asked him.
"Hmm… I think I'll have a cheese, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a cup of strong black coffee, omelets, pancakes and… ", he thought for a bit and said, "I think that should be all."
"Here have them ready for you before you ask", Leon said placing a bowl of cereal and burned toast and butter before him.
"Hey… this is not what I wanted", John said keeping down his news paper.
"C'mon John we both know I can't cook and you too can't cook either, so eat it or I am gonna have it", Leon said, "You know, we should do some shopping. Got to get some food and domestic supplies for us", he said chewing his breakfast.

"Yeah I think you are right. I think you should, today only and don't forget my stuff okay", John said acting like a father.
"I think I said 'we'", Leon said eyeing him.
"I know you won't need supervision plus your habit of shoplifting is long gone", John said joking.
"John you know I hate shopping", Leon told him.
"That's why I think I should get myself a girl. You know, to look after us", John said with a smile.
"Yeah you get one if somebody willing to take you exists", Leon said sipping his coffee.

"I could find Kathleen and get her to marry me", John said at this Leon spat out the coffee he had just gulped, "What you don't like her? Or think I shouldn't marry her?" he asked Leon innocently.
"No", Leon said wiping his mouth on a napkin.
"What do you not like her?", John asked again.
"Where are you taking this conversation John", Leon asked feeling a little annoyed.
"Oh I get it you want her for yourself", John teased punching his arm and grinning mischievously.
"What really makes you think that", Leon said not reacting to it much.
"Nothing just something I thought", John replied shrugging. After that he quieted and they both ate their breakfast in silence then John spoke, "You know I am perfectly fine with the idea you marrying her."

"John", Leon glared at him.
"After giving it a thought you know when she gets angry, I think she's better off with you than with me", John continued ignoring him.
"Okay so why are you remembering her all of a sudden?", Leon asked setting his coffee down looking at John inquisitively.
"I 'm only remembering her 'cause she called", John said pretty much casually
"When?", Leon asked him in an urgent tone.
"Did I forgot to mention", John muttered to himself.
"I asked when John?", Leon asked him again.
"Last night", John told him.
"Why she called you of all the people and why didn't you tell me then?", Leon asked barely keeping down the excitement in his voice, if she called then it meant she'd be telling them all sorts of things about Umbrella.
"I didn't tell you last night 'cause when I ended up her call you were fast asleep. And in all actuality she didn't call me, she called you and I picked up. And I wanted to ask you the same question you asked me", John said smirking.
"No if she'd call me I would have picked up, you know I am not much of a heavy sleeper", Leon said little confused.
"Well last night… ", John started to explain.

Well you remember when we got back from work you decided to have shower and sleep and I decided to watch TV and then go to sleep. So when you were taking bath, I decided to turn off TV and go to my room for sleep. When I was walking I heard your phone ring, I thought something important has come up so I picked it up.

"Hello", I talked in phone. I couldn't hear anything so I made my way outside where signal was clear I said "hello?"
"Hey tiger how're you doing", someone spoke from the phone and I knew only one person nicknames me and it was her.
"Hey Kat how come you call us", I asked.
"Well I still remember that I have some explaining to do and I don't remember my name was Kat", She said on the other side.
"Oh it's a nickname I gave you since you're like cat; inconspicuous, sexy and oh so appealing . Nevermind that when we're meeting? I can hardly wait to see you", I asked her excited about it.
"I think day after tomorrow; so prepare and decide the time and place and decide somewhere we can talk comfortably about everything in that briefcase and also bring it with you", she told me.
"What are you gonna shot Sherry with now", I asked her jokingly.
"Nothing, I promise. Look I've to go. I'll call you later. Bye", she ended her call with that.
"And when I got back to tell you were already asleep. So I put your cell phone where it was and decided to tell you today", John continued.

"Did you tell David about it?", Leon asked him.
"Well it was really late when she called, it seemed she was waiting for you to get home or something", John tried to imply something.
"Or maybe she just wanted to make sure we weren't around people that are Wesker spies", Leon said being practical, "Anyways you tell David about it, alright? I have to go to work."
"Yeah will do", John said as I stood up from my seat, "Oh she said she'd call again to know about what we decided, so keep your phone alive."
"And you tell David ASAP so he can make plans with everyone", Leon said grabbing his stuff, "Now I am getting late, see you in the evening."
"And don't forget to get us food", John yelled as Leon exited their apartment to head to work looking forward to meeting Kathleen, finally something interesting would happen after so long.

Leon parked his car in the parking and headed inside the store to do some grocery shopping. John had been calling him all day about it reminding him about it and telling him what he wants and then would scold him about not keeping his phone free in case Kathleen called him and then disconnected. Although it was super annoying for Leon at first 2-3 times but as John's call increased, he got used to it. He took whatever they need feeling a little bored that he yawned out of boredom and then he heard something.

"Hey sweetie shopping all alone", a man which Leon took to be drunk said. The woman didn't respond to him anyway, "Attitude! I like your type of girls", drunkard said.

No response and Leon felt his curiosity increasing 'Kennedy control yourself this isn't your business'. But I didn't have fun for about a month. He tried to fight with his inner-self whether or not to save the scene. He didn't know who the girl was. She could be trouble later but he so desperately wanted to kick someone's ass right now.

"Hey you've got a pretty… ", the drunkard was speaking as he snapped to reality.
"What did you say?", the woman finally responded.
'That voice... I know that voice', without even thinking for once he just decided to charge at the drunkard. Leon punched him hard and to his disappointment he didn't stood up again.
"You shouldn't have done that, you know", the woman said in all too familiar voice.
"I couldn't stop myself. Actually I was saving him from you, you know, I was definitely not trying to save you from him, Kathleen", he said grinning at her.

"Whatever", she said and started walking away.
"That's it. I mean no hi, no hello or no happy to see you", he said catching up to her.
"Hi, Hello and I am very happy to see you. Is that okay?", she said monotonously with a sarcastic smile.
"Aw… c'mon you could be better", he said and she just ignored him

Kathleen made her way to cashier and he did too as he had almost got everything on his list. They stood side by side as the two cashiers scanned their products respectively. She had less items so she headed outside before him and as soon as he paid, he ran after just to find nobody there. He sighed and went to his car, dumped his things in the backseat and drove through parking to get on the road. Then he saw the same drunkard from before holding Kathleen's hand this boiled his blood and he quickly found a parking spot and made his way to the Kathleen before she gets hurt. He reached just in time to find that Kathleen punching him and he was out cold.

'How could I have thought that I would save her that's so stupid' he thought to himself. He jogged towards them as people crowded the scene, "I think you really hit him hard I guess", he said to her.
"He was annoying me", she said crossing her arms over her chest like before.
"I knew you would say that, care to join me?", he asked her
She eyed him then said, "Whatever", then walked away from the crowd.
"Was that a YES?", Leon asked not believing his luck. She glared at him, "Okay I get it, sorry. My car is this way", he said taken aback by her agreement to go with him.

They walked to his car and Leon aimlessly drove on the road uncertain where he should take her,'It's not like date, is it?' he thought and when he stopped his car at signal he shot a glance at her, 'but what if it is', he thought to himself and then started to think about all the possible reasons why she would go with him, 'maybe she just want to hang out. Nah. Maybe she's bored. Nah if that was the reason she would not go out with you, you would probably bore her to death. Does she like me; I mean many girls have said I look good and all that stuff. Stop Kennedy if she knew what you are thinking she would throw you out of your moving car', Dropping the thinking process he again looked her, she was reading some book a novel he thought. He didn't notice her taking it out, 'well she must have taken it out when you were turning the cogs of your brain.'

For a couple of minutes he drove straight without any destination, then hating the silence he spoke, "So what are you reading?"
"A novel", she replied without looking up from it.
"I know that but what is it, adventure, drama or action?", he asked just to keep the conversation.
"Love story", she replied still deep in reading.
"What?!", Leon blurted out in astonishment.
"You have any problem?", she said now looking up from the book and meeting his eyes. Leon looked away and pretended to keep his eyes on road, he avoided her eyes ever since that night when he noticed their real color. It always attracted him towards her.
"No. No problem. I just thought that you liked action, adventure and all that", he said feeling the sweat drop at back of his head, 'Who'd have thought she would read love stories, I mean when she's reading that book who would say that she had just knocked a drunkard out cold', he thought.

"So where are you taking me?", she asked now closing the book and putting it her bag.
Leon hadn't thought about it yet and was driving aimlessly on the road, "Ah… depends what you like."
"What do you mean?", she asked cocking an eyebrow.
'Man I love when she does that', he thought looking sideways at her then spoke, "I mean what do you like? Coffee or Tea?"
"Coffee, I guess", she said.
"Coffee it is then", he replied with a smile.

Soon he pulled his car near a coffee shop at which he sometimes used to have breakfast and knew that they served an excellent coffee. They walked up to the shop and decided to take a table outside the shop. They waited till the waitress to come and take their order.

"What would you like to have, Sir?", the young waitress said cheerfully smiling at him flirtatiously.
"A coffee and some snacks, thanks", he said not seemed interested in the waitress.
She then turned to Kathleen and faked a smile it was more like she wanted a piece of her," And what would you like", she asked a little bluntly.
"Black coffee with a little milk about one teaspoon and one teaspoon of sugar, that'll be all", Kathleen said more bluntly than the waitress and Leon could have swore that the waitress scowled at her, "So what you guys have decided?", she asked to Leon when the waitress have left.
"Haven't decided yet", he answered and then he added, "And to tell you the truth I'm the wrong person to ask."
"Then why have you brought me here?", she asked looking at him confused. Just then the waitress came with their order; once she was gone Kathleen looked at him waiting for the answer.

"Maybe I wanted to spend time with you", Leon replied taking a sip of his coffee and grinning at her, 'Boy, she looks amazing when she's angry.'
"Are you flirting with me?", she asked taking a sip of her own coffee.
Leon realized as a matter of fact he was; so he said, "Maybe."
She again cocked a brow at him, "And I love that too", he said seeing her do that, "I just love it when you are furious", he added.
"What?! I do not believe that it's you who is saying all this to me", she said still a little annoyed.
"Why I can't say that. I mean I am a man and I know how to appreciate the beauty of this world", he said, happy that they were having a normal conversation.
"So how's tiger? I mean your friend?", she asked changing the topic.
"Still annoying; he's been thinking of getting married lately", he replied not putting too much weight on it, "So tell me about you", he demanded making himself more comfortable.

"What about me?", she inquired.
"Where have you been last month, your family etc., etc.", he said making himself clear.
"Well I've got my place and none of my family members are alive except my Dad", she replied monotonously setting her cup down.
"So what's he like?", he asked curious about her dad.
"I don't like to talk about him and besides its getting late", she said her anger rising as she started to stand up.
"Hey stop I didn't know", Leon tried to stop her; he wanted to talk to her, know her more.
"No, I have to leave", she said standing up.
"Ah… but your groceries are in my car and I can drop you to your home, if you want", he suggested hoping that she'd agree.
"Okay then", she said agreeing.
"Alright just wait here, I'll get my car", he said hurrying away.

'It's better that you don't know', Kathleen thought as she saw Leon run to get his car. She closed her eyes sighing; she felt really tired and hoped everything to end soon.

She opened her eyes when she heard a boy giggling. She observed him, while she waited for Leon. The boy was with his mother who was carrying a baby in baby carriage and he was playing with the baby showing him the red ball which he held before his sibling's face. Then suddenly with soft push from the baby, the ball bounced to the road and the boy ran to road and his mother yelled "NO" as she saw her son was about to be hit by speeding car.

The boy just stood there gazing at headlights and car was still speeding towards him 'move kid', Kathleen call out to the kid mentally but kid was too much scared to move, 'hit the brakes you idiot', she glanced at the driver of the car. Then without notice she acted fast and saved the kid before it hit him.

Leon saw Kathleen save the kid just in time from the car and ran to her to see if she was okay. She was carrying what Leon supposed to be a 4-year-old rubbing his back. She sat him down, "Don't you ever run down the road like that okay?", she said softly trying to console and at same time making him aware of the simple traffic rules.

"Okay", the boy said timidly.
"Promise?", she said smiling at the boy and holding her little finger out.
"Promise!", the boy said smiling sweetly and hooking his finger with hers.
"T…Th… thank…y…you", her mother thanked Kathleen between her sobs and hugged her son.
"Its no problem", she said to his mother, "take care kid", she said to the boy. The boy smiled at her and then walked away with his mother, Kathleen smiled at him too.

Leon saw her genuinely smile for the first time and thought, 'Man she's so beautiful'. She turned to him and her smile disappeared and her expressions got neutral again.
"Let's go", she said walking towards his car.
"Yeah", Leon followed her feeling the searing pain in his heart.
"So are you alright", he asked driving her home.
"Hmm…", she just nodded in reply.
"You seemed to love kids", he state making an observation, first with Sherry and then with this boy.
"Why do you care?", she asked coldly looking at him.

"'Cause somebody has to, this is not you. The real you was back when you talked to that boy, when you… when you smiled. Don't you want to be looked after, cared, don't you… want to be loved", he paused then said "don't lose yourself", Leon didn't know where it was coming from but he was definitely saying it with concern in his voice.
"Stop the car", she said in low voice.
"But?", Leon tried to speak.
"STOP THE DAMN CAR, I SAID", she shouted at him with teary eyes.

Leon did what he was told and stopped his car, as soon as the car stopped she grabbed her things and stormed off into the darkness. Leon got out of the car and tried to stop her, "Kathleen wait!", he called out to her and made to run after her.
"Sir, you can't park your car here", one of the police man stopped him from going after.
"You don't understand this is important", Leon tried to explain the situation to him.
"Yeah everyone has some important business going on", the police man said to him casually.
"It would just take a minute", Leon tried to move past him again, "Kathleen!", he yelled to her again and she paced up her speed.
"Sir, I am just doing my work just get your car off the road, its blocking the traffic", the police man said to him and Leon saw her get a cab, "Sir please!"

Leon got back in his car, there was nothing that he could do now. He didn't see the taxi number or saw where it went, 'Why do you have to say that', he thought as he punched the steering wheel. He gloomily drove to his apartment got his shopping bags and saw that John hadn't returned yet. He slouched on the couch and opened a beer bottle which was meant for John.

"Leon, are you alright", Claire asked as she tried to wake him up.
"Hey kid, what happened you never drink un-occasionally", John asked as he watched Leon get up when Claire poked him a little.
"What happened is he alright?", Sherry asked.
"Yeah I think he'll be fine. Sherry can you get aspirin and Claire just go into kitchen and get him some tomato juice. It would help him feel better after all he gulped what 71/2 bottles in mere couple of hours", John told the ladies and they at once went to get what they were told.
"So you wanna tell what happened?", John asked his best friend.
Leon looked at him, "I drank till I dropped", he kept it short.
"Did you met her today?", John asked just to confirm.
"Yep", he told him.
"Alright how's she?", he asked again taking a seat by Leon.
"Bitchy and inconsiderate as always", he told John plainly.
"Yeah she is arrogant, snob, selfish, cruel, cold hearted… ", John started to speak.
Leon yelled, "SHUT UP!", cutting him off. His sudden yelling made Claire and Sherry cast a quick glance at him.
"Why Leon you were saying yourself that she was bitchy and inconsiderate, didn't you", John spoke.
"Goodnight John", Leon only said and walked towards his room.

"What has happened to him?", Claire asked John.
"Something that we can't help him with", John said sighing.
"What do you mean?", Sherry asked.
"Ah… you two needn't think about that much", John told her.
"Why he's my friend too", Claire said.
"'Cause he'll feel better tomorrow at the briefing", John said grinning at the ladies.
"Yeah you're right, finally we'll be having answers to all our questions", Claire said happily.
"Yeah and well thanks for giving me ride and say hi to your brother and Jill", John said as Claire and Sherry started to move out.
"Will do goodbye", Claire said and Sherry did the same.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed this more laid back chapter.