Notes:- And here we have Chapter Six! Thanks cookiehour for your pointers. I would really appreciate another review or a quick PM if you know how to do paragraph breaks. I have them in the original Word document but when I upload it they disappear.
The Facility – Chapter Six
A dull throbbing ache brought Chris back to reality. He didn't remember going to sleep but he sure as hell didn't want to open his eyes. When he finally did he saw that he was in a sterile white room, which meant only one thing, he was in hospital. Chris sat up in his bed and saw that he was wearing a white hospital gown. His right arm was bundled up in a sling and he could feel the soft padding of bandages over his right shoulder underneath the gown. His entire face ached and he knew that it would be quite badly swollen.
He was in a side room alone. Was that the way healthcare worked in Spain or was it because only he had survived? He threw off the bed sheets and twisted round, shivering a little as his bare feet came into contact with the cold tiled floor. He fought the urge to gag when he got a nose full of sterile hospital smell. He'd always hated hospitals. He'd spent a lot of time in them as a kid for various broken bones and then, of course, the dark day when he'd been told that both of his parents had been killed in a car crash. He stood up on slightly uneasy legs, wondering how long he'd been asleep for. There was no clock or calendar in his room so it was impossible to tell. He figured that had he been in a coma he would've probably been in intensive care or at least watched but as he crept out of his room no medical staff came running. He moved slowly down the hallway feeling disorientated. The signs on the wall were all in Spanish so it was hard to tell where he was going. The bandages on his shoulder were itchy and the sling was just annoying. His hospital gown rustled as he walked but at least it wasn't one of those ones that showed your ass. Not that Chris would've cared anyway. He had a great ass. He wondered if he could find Leon by sheer determination. Hospitals were usually big places and there was a high chance that he would be discovered and ordered back to his bed before he could find his partner. That was, unless his partner was in the morgue. Chris shuddered and shook his head. Now wasn't the time to be thinking stuff like that. Besides, Leon was tough, there was no way he could be dead.
He checked clipboards hanging outside every door he walked past until finally he found the name he was looking for. He had a quick check around to see if the coast was clear before he slipped into the room quietly. The room was exactly the same as his had been except the person in it was a lot more ill. Leon lay on his back, the crisp white sheets pulled up to his chest. He was hooked up to various machines that created their own symphony of noises. Bags of liquid hung on metal stands dripping liquid through a tube that went into Leon's right hand. The thing that shocked Chris the most however, was the thick tube that went down his throat. It meant that Leon was alive but only just. A machine was breathing for him. There was a chair next to the bed and Chris sat down on it, hissing slightly as the cold easily penetrated the thin material of his gown.
"You're not supposed to be here," A gentle voice said from the doorway. Chris turned around to see Dennis standing there. It was the first time Chris had seen him wearing anything but a suit. He was dressed casually in black jeans and an expensive looking tan v-necked sweater. He had a plastic cup of coffee in his hands. "You should be in bed resting," He added as he crossed the room and proffered the cup. "You probably need this more than I do right now"
"How is he"? Chris took the cup and nodded towards Leon. He inwardly cursed as the absurdity of the question. It was pretty obvious to anyone that Leon was in a bad way.
"They're not telling me much" Dennis admitted. "I keep getting told that it's too early to tell. In my experience that means they don't want to give us false hope" He sighed deeply. "He's undergone surgery to remove the bullets that were lodged in his abdomen and thigh and they were removed successfully. That's all they've told me. Oh and, if anyone asks, I'm his Uncle"
Chris nodded and sipped from the plastic cup. The coffee was still hot and scalded his mouth but he barely felt it. He stared at the motionless figure in the bed. Leon had been a jerk to him from the day they'd first met but, over time, Chris had grown to respect him for everything he'd been through. Seeing him like this after all that was like some cruel joke. He half expected Leon to suddenly sit up and spit some acidic comment about how Chris was stupid for believing he'd be so unprofessional as to be comatose. He jumped when he felt a hand on his uninjured shoulder.
"You should rest" Dennis quietly suggested. "I'll let you know if anything changes. I think it's a good sign that he made it out of surgery" He gave Chris' shoulder a gentle but meaningful squeeze. Chris stood up and wordlessly handed the coffee back to Dennis. He'd come in to this room expecting to feel better, to feel safe in the knowledge that Leon was alive but, with Leon's machines and Dennis' words, he actually felt worse.
Chris managed to stay in his bed for roughly twenty-four hours before he decided that he'd had enough. He hated being forced to stay in his bed and the food was beyond dire. The nurses didn't speak very good English and the only one who did was a crotchety tempered witch. What did it for him however, was the smell. The horrible, invading bleach like smell that attacked his nostrils whenever he opened the door. It reminded him of comforting his sister whilst his parents were away in another part of the hospital. Another part that they couldn't go. Dying. And now it reminded him of seeing Leon.
He shrugged off his blankets and clambered out of bed. He removed his sling and stretched his arm out. His shoulder was still quite painful but it was nothing that he couldn't deal with. He found his clothes stowed away in a small cupboard by the side of his bed. His top was clean but still had the hole where Krauser's knife had penetrated the material. He dressed quickly and slipped out of his room, grateful for the absence of medical staff once again. It crossed his mind to go and see Leon before he left but he didn't want to risk being spotted by a member of staff.
He found the exit quickly enough and flagged down the first taxi he saw. The driver raised an eyebrow questioningly and Chris proceeded to explain in what was a mixture of very bad and slightly made up Spanish where Leon's house was. His luck was in yet again as the driver seemed to understand and sped away from the hospital. Chris didn't look back.
Chris tried his best to ignore his feelings of guilt as he let himself into the house. He knew that he should've stopped by Leon's room on his way out but his need to escape the confines of the hospital had far outweighed that. It wasn't like he was leaving Leon all alone. He had Dennis there and Chris knew that Dennis would keep him up to date with his partner's condition. Chris strolled into the lounge area and surveyed the room. He'd frequently been in the house when Leon hadn't been around but it seemed different somehow. Leon wasn't just out shopping or at the office. He was lying in a hospital bed, possibly dying.
Chris shook his head. He didn't want to think like that. What he needed was a good old distraction. He decided to be helpful and gather a bag of Leon's things for Dennis to take to the hospital. Not only would it distract him it would also make him feel better for deserting his partner. Chris climbed the stairs and let himself in to Leon's bedroom. He'd only been in once before and the shrine like tidiness was a little overwhelming. The cream carpet beneath his feet was plush and spotlessly clean. The room was just like the others in the house in that it didn't give much away about its owner. The black metal-framed double bed took up most of the space and had matching pine chests of drawers at either side of it. There was a large wardrobe in the corner and a soft armchair opposite to that. The armchair sat beside a pair of French doors. Chris could clearly see a balcony beyond them. He smiled as he imagined Leon sitting in that chair, probably with a mission brief, reading it as a gentle breeze came through the doors. He wandered over to one of the chests of drawers, pausing as he wrapped his hand around the handle. He wasn't being invasive. He had no idea where Leon kept his pyjamas and needed to organise some for him, that was all. He opened the first drawer and found a number of skin and hair products. He rummaged through them, thinking about Leon's perfect hair and his equally perfect skin. He thought back to his own basic well-used pot of hair gel with the slightly gummed up lid. He hadn't found a bag yet but grabbed a tub of hair wax and placed it on the bed. He figured Leon would like something for his hair even if he couldn't use it right away.
The second drawer revealed what he was looking for, clothes. There wasn't many and they were mostly black or navy blue and seemed to largely consist of the fitted t-shirts his partner seemed so fond of wearing. Chris delved deeper into the drawer, hoping to find some pyjama pants or shorts. He tossed the t-shirt aside idly; he'd sort them out later. His eyebrows raised in surprise as he came across the very last thing he expected to find. Leon's RPD uniform. He picked it up and held it aloft simply to check that it was actually real. The top was largely intact and smelt freshly laundered. Chris stared at the white RPD lettering that was emblazoned across the chest plate. There was a small ragged hole just under the right armpit. Chris poked his finger through it. It was obviously where he'd been shot. He wondered why the hell Leon would've kept something like that. The first thing he'd done when he'd got clear of the mansion and Raccoon was burn his S.T.A.R.S outfit. Chris folded the shirt back up as neatly as he could and put it back in the drawer. As he did so his hand brushed against something solid. He felt all the way to the back of the drawer and discovered what the something was as he pulled out a silver photo frame. Chris flipped it over and stared at the image it held. A small blonde girl was grinning at the camera in front of a wooden sign with 'miniature golf' carved into it. Leaning casually against the sign with his hand on the girl's shoulder was Leon. Chris stared at the celluloid image of his partner. Leon was smiling at the camera. It was a casual, easygoing sort of smile that said he was happy and relaxed. It looked strangely odd pasted onto the face of someone that Chris had been sure was actually incapable of smiling. It was a different side to his partner, a side that was most likely still there but hidden under a well-practised cold façade. Chris put the photo back into the drawer and closed it quickly. He'd wanted to learn more about his partner but not this way. The shirt and the photo exposed Leon all too painfully, almost as if he was standing right in front of him totally naked. Chris grabbed the hair wax and left the room, taking care to close the door behind him. He'd shove some of his own clothes into a bag for Leon or grab whatever was in the washing machine.
A loud trill almost made him fall down the stairs. The phone in the hallway was ringing. He hurried over to it, staring at the black plastic receiver as he wondered whether or not to answer it. He left it too long however as the ringing stopped at the answer phone clicked on.
'Leon Kennedy. Leave a message'.
Chris couldn't help but grin at that. That was Leon all over. Straight to the point. The answer phone bleeped and Dennis' voice came through the little speaker.
"Mr Redfield. I don't think that I'm wrong in guessing you're there. So if you would be so kind as to pick up the phone I would greatly appreciate it"
Chris gulped and picked up the receiver. Dennis sounded pissed.
"I'm here"
"I hope you know that the hospital are very displeased with your disappearing like that," Dennis reprimanded. Judging by the background noises, he was still at the hospital. "You've been discharged against medical advice"
"I guessed as much" Chris replied with a shrug. He didn't really care about the whole 'AMA' thing. He'd done it before and lived to tell the tale. He licked his lips and swallowed hard, trying to work up to courage to ask after Leon. He knew that he wouldn't be able to deal with the answer if it was bad.
"I'm leaving for the office now and in an hour's time I expect you to be there" Dennis continued, his voice slightly softer now but still matter of fact. "We have some things we need to discuss"
Chris nodded even though he knew Dennis couldn't see. All of a sudden, he didn't really feel like talking. Why did Dennis need to see him so urgently?
"You'll be glad to know that Leon woke up shortly after I discovered your escape. He's still in a lot of pain obviously but the doctor is much more confident about his condition. He's expect to make a full recovery"
"I FUCKING KNEW IT"! Chris suddenly yelled in a pure outburst of relief. He was glad that the phone was cordless as it was likely that it would've been yanked from the wall socket at that very moment. "Didn't doubt it for a second" He said triumphantly.
"Of course" Dennis replied smoothly. "I'll see you in an hour" He added, stressing the 'see you' before hanging up. Chris replaced the receiver back in its cradle. He felt as if a huge weight had just been lifted off his shoulders. Whatever this meeting with Dennis was about he could deal with it. Leon was alright!
Leon stared up at the strip light above his bed. He was finally alone. As soon as he'd opened his eyes he'd been surrounded by a flurry of doctors and nurses fussing over him. As soon as they were content that he was going to be ok he was left to his own devices. It had taken him a while to remember exactly what had happened. He kept getting flashes of images in his mind, the lab, the corridors, the zombies, and Krauser's blood exploding from the tank, Wesker's cruel smile.
He shifted in the bed a bit, trying to find a more comfortable position. A large gauze pad covered his abdomen with a small drainage tube coming out from underneath it. Bandages tightly bound his thigh. They weren't causing him pain; just a dull ache, which he figured, was down to the strong painkillers that were being dripped into his arm. The only real pain came from his throat, which felt raw, no doubt from the breathing tube that he'd had when he woke up. His head felt fuzzy and muddled. How long had he been out? He shifted in the bed once more, still questing after that comfortable position.
"Should you be doing that"? A familiar voice came from the doorway. Leon glanced over to see Chris standing there, a smile plastered onto his idiotic face.
"Moving"? Leon questioned as Chris entered the room and sat down on the chair beside his bed. "I am rather fond of it yes"
"Y'know, I think I preferred you comatose" Chris joked. He held a carrier bag aloft, dangling it triumphantly. "Got you some grapes"
"Thank you" Leon blurted the words out before he'd even had a chance to think about them.
"Well they were half price cos they're kinda squashed…" Chris explained delving into the bag.
"Not the grapes" Leon replied firmly. "For saving my life," He added quietly. He looked away quickly and appeared to take an interest in the light above his bed. He heard Chris chuckle softly.
"Now that wasn't too hard to say was it"? He asked teasingly. Leon turned to look at him. He had a cheesy grin on his face and judging by how swollen his cheeks were, a mouthful of the grapes that were supposed to be for him.
"Pig" Leon said, shaking his head. Chris started to chew, some of the grape juice dribbling down his chin. He wiped it with the back of his hand and threw the bag of grapes onto Leon's bedside table. "How's your shoulder"? He asked.
"Hurts a bit but it's fine" Chris answered. "Don't you want to hear my amazing story of how I single-handedly rescued you from a burning lab"?
"I don't remember any fire" Leon replied firmly. He didn't really remember much, but he definitely knew that there'd been no fire.
"Well ok…so maybe it wasn't a towering inferno or anything…but it was still pretty cool" Chris helped himself to the glass of water that was beside Leon's bed. "Ok…so…Wesker's running for his life and I'm in the middle of the lab. You're on the floor bleeding out so I grab a first aid kit…"
"I was conscious for that part" Leon interrupted. "And Wesker wasn't exactly running scared" He corrected.
"Oh he was scared" Chris said in an off-hand manner. Obviously not deterred, he continued. "Anyway…there I am, practically performing field surgery when this alarm goes off saying that we've got five minutes to get out of the place or it'll blow! I fling you over my shoulder and run out of the lab…I've got zombies chasing me…Wesker could be round any corner…" Chris stopped suddenly when he saw Leon wincing in pain, a strange noise coming out of his mouth. Was he actually laughing?
"Stop it…stop it…" Leon pleaded, hunched over in pain. "It hurts to laugh…"
"Sorry" Chris said sheepishly. He couldn't help but grin. He was so relieved that Leon was going to be ok that he was pretty sure nothing could ruin his mood. Not only had he survived yet another hellish encounter with Albert Wesker, the whole 'adventure' seemed to have strengthened his relationship with Leon. He snaked his hand through the bars of the bed and brushed it over Leon's, careful to avoid his IV. Leon didn't shove it away. He sank back onto his pillows, his eyes closed. Chris could've stayed there indefinitely but a quick glance at the wall clock told him that he had to leave. "I've gotta go and meet Dennis. He wants to see me at the office"
"Probably to debrief" Leon replied without opening his eyes. "Nothing to worry about" He added quietly. "Sleepy anyway…"
Chris made sure to close the door quietly on his way out.
"Chris how's the shoulder"? Dennis seemed chirpy as Chris walked into his office. There was a small silver tray on his desk with a plain brown teapot and two cups. A little jug of milk stood beside it. Chris stared at it as he took a seat in one of the comfy leather backed chairs.
"It's alright"
"Excellent, excellent" Dennis tapped at a few keys on his computer. The action reminded Chris of most of his doctor's appointments. Dennis turned away from his computer screen and leant back in his chair, watching Chris over the top of his glasses. "We'd like to thank you for the outstanding bravery and commitment that you've shown this agency" He said carefully. "I know that Leon is grateful for his efficient rescue…"
"Yeah, I've just seen Leon actually…" Chris interrupted. "I'm glad he's gonna be alright"
"As am I" Dennis continued. "Bearing that in mind" He leant forward, his elbows resting on the desk and his chin perched upon the tips of his fingers. "It's time that you were allowed to return to America to recuperate in familiar surroundings"
Chris frowned slightly and wondered what the hell Dennis was talking about until his words sunk in. He'd actually almost forgotten that he wasn't in America. Although Leon hadn't been the most welcoming of hosts, his place was starting to feel like home. He hadn't realised but he didn't particularly want to go home. At least not yet.
"I want to stay here," Chris said. He wasn't really sure why he wanted to stay so much but he had a feeling that it was something to do with Leon.
"I'm afraid it's not really a case of what you want Chris" Dennis replied with a slight edge to his voice. "My superiors believe that you have provided the service we needed and, for want of a more eloquent way of putting this, you're now surplus to requirements," He explained. "The government are no longed prepared to subsidize your living allowance"
"Hold on a second" Chris was confused. "You're telling me that I have a living allowance"? He blinked. Since when was he getting free money from the government and why hadn't anyone bothered to tell him? He figured that since Leon was putting him up, the only money he needed was for his food. Leon however, seemed to have been taking care of that. Or at least, that's what he thought. There was always food in the fridge and that was as far as Chris had thought about it.
"The government has been providing you with a small living allowance since your arrival" Dennis continued, one eyebrow raised, almost as if he was amused.
"So it's in my bank account now"? Chris asked incredulously. His eyes suddenly narrowed. "Can you take it away or can I keep what you've already given me"? He made a mental note to check his bank balance at the next possible opportunity.
"The point is Chris" Dennis said smoothly, obviously choosing to ignore Chris' questions. "The government is only prepared to pay for your flight home if you leave tomorrow morning"
"I can't leave" Chris said firmly. He wasn't sure why he was being so adamant. After all, he hadn't even spoken to Claire since he'd left and he was pretty sure that nobody was feeding his goldfish Maverick and Goose.
"I can assure you Chris, there's really no need for you to stay" Dennis said, calmly pouring himself a cup of tea. He proffered the teapot to Chris who shook his head and waved it away. "You don't have to worry about the debriefing. I'm sure Leon has all the required information to bring us up to speed as soon as he's recovered" He took a sip from his cup and smiled. "What I suggest you focus on now is getting yourself better. Go home, take some time off and inform Mr Burton that the BSAA will be receiving its funding. Despite the odd hiccup my superiors are satisfied with how you've handled yourself"
"That's great and all…" Chris scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "But what if I refuse to leave"?
"Well, obviously we can't forcibly remove you from the country" Dennis answered. He placed his teacup on the desk and pushed his glasses back up his nose. "But we wouldn't pay for your journey home. You would no longer be considered as working for us and you would no longer have access to this building or any of our equipment. In our eyes you would simply be another civilian"
"Hey that's fine by me" Chris shrugged simply. "I've had enough crazy shit to last me a while" He grinned. "I think I'll take that option"
"Indeed" Dennis nodded. He stood up and held out his hand. "Then all I have left to say is that it's been a pleasure working with you and I'd hope to do so again"
Chris stood up and shook Dennis' hand before leaving the office. As he walked down the seemingly endless corridors of the government building he couldn't help but feel relieved. He'd known all along that they couldn't make him leave the country but he'd had a little concern in the back of his mind that they might no longer allow him to see Leon. He was, after all, the whole reason why he was prepared to thumb his nose at Dennis' offer of a plane ticket home, risk the lives of his goldfish, the wrath of his sister and a couple of hundred bucks on a plane ticket to America.
He just wished he knew why.
Three weeks passed and Chris was still in Spain. He'd phoned Barry and told him the good news about the funding. He'd phoned Claire and she'd asked him lots of annoying questions about Leon and he'd phoned Jill who'd promised to take good care of Maverick and Goose. He'd then decided that it was probably best to stop making international calls since it was Leon's phone bill after all.
He'd been making regular visits to the hospital to see Leon and initially it had seemed that his partner was a new man. He'd been chatty and almost friendly, telling Chris that the doctors had been pleased with his progress and that he was doing well in physical therapy. The last couple of visits had been a different thing entirely. The younger man had been more like his old self, cold and distant. Chris wasn't about to be deterred, figuring that it was probably because he was bored of being stuck in hospital. He'd phoned last night and said that he'd been coming home the following afternoon. Chris had offered to pick him up but Leon had rather flatly refused saying that he'd get a taxi or get Dennis to get him. Chris decided that he was going to have a home-cooked meal waiting for him. It was a great idea except for the fact that the only things that Chris knew how to make were things like beans on toast or fried breakfast. He knew that Leon would want something a little more special after being forced to eat hospital food for three weeks. There was only one thing for him to do. He picked up the phone and called Claire.
Leon handed the taxi driver his money and ignored his offer of help to the front door. He'd healed well in the last three weeks and was now able to walk with crutches. His stomach wound had healed over and he'd been left with a long, thick scar just to the left of his belly button. The doctors were confident that after a few weeks and some more physical therapy on his leg, he would be walking normally again.
He limped up to the front door, fumbling in the pocket of his sweat pants for his house keys. Chris had been a regular visitor at the hospital, bringing him books and clothes and at first Leon had been glad to see him. As time passed however, his constant presence had becoming annoying. Leon didn't even understand why Chris was still around anyway. He wasn't really needed for the debriefing that was bound to take place and he knew that the government wouldn't be paying for him to stay when he wasn't doing any work. Whenever Leon had asked him about it, Chris had been cagey and quickly changed the subject.
"Welcome home"! Chris' voice bellowed out loudly. Leon closed the door behind him and made his way over to the kitchen. Chris was at his side in an instant, holding an arm out to help him.
"Don't," Leon said quietly.
"I bet you're glad to be home" Chris replied brightly. A big, goofy grin was plastered across his face. There was slightly spicy smell in the air with a stronger smell of burning on top of it.
"What are you burning this time"? Leon asked. His tone was a little more acidic than he intended but Chris didn't seem to notice. He was too busy stirring the contents of a pan on the hob.
"It's ok, it's not burnt" Chris sounded relieved. "I got the recipe from Claire. Old Redfield family recipe! Hope you like your curry spicy"! He stared to rummage in the cupboards for clean plates.
"I'm not really hungry" Leon said. He took a seat at the kitchen table and pulled a paper bag out of the pocket of his hooded sweatshirt. He opened it up and took out a box of strong painkillers.
"I thought you might want something halfway decent after eating all that hospital crap" Chris slapped a healthy serving of the orangey-red curry onto one of the plates and placed it in front of Leon. "And I bet you can't take those on an empty stomach"
"Fine" Leon picked up his fork and loaded it with some of the food. Despite a slight underlining burning taste, it actually tasted quite good. Chris sat down at the table opposite him, his own plate piled high. The older man didn't seem to feel as awkward and uncomfortable as he did. Leon ate slowly and quietly. It wasn't like he was ungrateful that Chris had saved his life or ashamed that he'd needed saving in the first place. For those first couple of weeks in the hospital he'd almost been looking forward to Chris' visits every couple of days but something had changed within him and he couldn't put a finger on what. It was times like this that he almost wished he had someone around who he could talk things through with. "Penny for them"? Chris suddenly spoke into the silence. Leon looked up from his plate, confused. "Penny for your thoughts" Chris explained through a mouthful of curry. "It's what my sister says"
"I'm just tired" Leon lied smoothly. "I need to see what's on that USB we retrieved from the facility. Do you have it"?
"Yeah. I kept it safe" Chris answered. He was concerned with how drawn and pale Leon looked and briefly wondered if Leon had actually been discharged from hospital or whether he'd discharged himself. He watched as the younger man pushed his plate away and struggled to his feet. It was obvious he wasn't going to get any further on the food front. He sighed deeply. "I'll get it for you"
Leon settled himself on the sofa, the laptop open on the coffee table in front of him. He was in process of going through the files that he'd downloaded to the USB stick. Chris was sitting in the armchair opposite him, flicking through a comic book.
"So" Chris spoke, startling Leon. "What was Wesker planning"? He asked in a hard voice that Leon hadn't heard since they'd first dealt with Wesker back at the facility.
"Well it doesn't make for pleasant reading" Leon replied. "From what I can gather from these reports he's been collecting virus samples. I don't know about you but I certainly recognise some of them…G Virus, T-Virus and Veronica"
"The T-Virus was responsible for the zombies back in Raccoon" Chris said with a grim expression on his face. "I dealt with Veronica in Antarctica" He paused as though he was going to explain but didn't. "Doesn't surprise me that the sick bastard is collecting them…"
"It seems like the facility was his own private research lab" Leon read from the computer screen. "He had a small staff of thirty doing his bidding" He paled suddenly when he came to the next page. "He's trying to achieve symbiosis"
"What"? Chris looked confused.
"He's been doing experiments to try and get the viruses to work alongside each other. Picking the best aspects of each one" Leon said. There was a sick, churning feeling in his stomach that he hadn't felt since that awful night back in Raccoon City. "It goes on to say that he's recently discovered a virus called Las Plagas. There's no info on it so I'm guessing this is his most recent work. He'd sent out a field agent to recover a sample but it doesn't say where from" He read on. "It looks like he was intending to modify it"
"Well at least we've put a stop to it" Chris said firmly. A dark and serious expression crossed his features. "I'd hate to think what would've happened if we hadn't have stopped him" The dark look became more intense. "I'm just sorry I didn't get a chance to put a bullet through his skull"
"What happened with this guy"? Leon asked before he could stop himself. He didn't make a habit of prying into other people's business but Chris looked so pained that he almost wanted to help. It was that same alien feeling that he'd felt when Chris had brought him breakfast in bed and he'd disposed of it, not wanting to hurt feelings.
"He was our Captain" Chris was staring straight ahead but not seeming to actual focus on anything, lost in his own past. "He led us into the Spencer Mansion and then he proceeded to backstab every last one of us for his own amusement. People died in that mansion Leon. My friends and team mates died horrible painful deaths because he's a twisted power hungry psycho" Chris stood up and headed for the stairs. "Mind if I use the hot-tub? I could do with a soak"
"Go ahead" Leon replied. He closed the laptop and watched as Chris left the room. He'd never known someone to speak so candidly about something so obviously personal and painful. He didn't know where it came from and he certainly didn't know why but all of a sudden he was glad that Chris hadn't gone back to America. And it scared the hell out of him.
END OF CHAPTER SIX.