No More Running…

It's time to stop running…and start loving.

Flashback

Leon and Claire rode the lift down into the bowels of the Umbrella facility. Leon dropped to one knee to reload his M249 SAW while Claire ejected the clip from her XM8 assault rifle. She dropped the empty mag and patted her vest for more. "I'm out." Leon paused and lifted a flap on his vest and handed her two more. "Those are my last. Make 'em count." Claire nodded and slid one clip into her vest, she tapped the other against the side of the gun to make sure the bullets wouldn't stick. She slammed the clip home and worked the bolt back, chambering a round. Leon finished his work and worked the bolt back on his gun as well.

The doors opened and they exited, they could distantly hear the sound of explosions and gunfire above them. Chris and his friends were really doing a number on the building above them. Two armed guards came out of a doorway and took aim at them, Leon stepped in front of Claire and fired his gun. The two guards were blown backwards from the numerous rounds that struck their bodies. Leon pushed the door open and Claire entered, Leon swung his SAW across his back and drew his Blacktail.

Three armed guards turned towards them and fired their submachine guns at them. Leon and Claire took cover behind seperate lab tables. Beakers and other instruments were blown apart by the small 9mm rounds. Claire stood up and fired off her entire clip, she took down two guards as Leon stood up and took the last guard down with 2 shots. Leon and Claire approached the tank which held Umbrella's latest creation. It looked a cross between Nemesis and Mr.X. It was bald and had two eyes instead of one, it's upper torso was bare and it's lower torso had black trousers on along with a pair of black leather boots.

It's right arm was a normal arm that had a black fingerless glove but it's left arm was a claw like the Tyrant from the Spencer Estate. Leon slid his backpack off and reached inside. He pulled two large satchels. He handed one to Claire. "There's a switch inside. Give it a flick." Claire nodded and did what she was asked. Leon pointed to two large tanks next to the Tyrant's tube which were marked "Flammable". Claire jogged over and shoved the satchel inbetween the two tanks. Leon left the room and went into the lab next door, this room housed all of the various chemicals used in the facility. Leon tossed the satchel into the room and left.

He entered the Tyrant lab again and saw Claire being held hostage. Claire's rifle dangled from her fingers, Ada's Punisher pressed against Claire's throat. "Sorry. She jumped me." Leon trained his gun on Ada's forehead. "You won't do it." Leon fired and the round just barely grazed Ada's ear. The round entered the tank and struck the Tyrant just above the knee. Claire quickly took advantage of the situation and drew her pistol, she elbowed Ada in the stomach then leveled her pistol at her. Ada followed suit. Leon heard a door open behind him and Steve Burnside walked in, he saw Leon and drew his Mac 11's. Claire and Ada dove to the side as did Leon. Steve fired at Leon but all he hit was the tank, the .380 ACP rounds tore thru the shielding of the tube as Leon rolled behind a lab table and drew his pistol on Steve.

Claire slowly exhaled as she kept her Beretta M93R trained on the person next to her. Leon stood across from her keeping his Blacktail trained on the person beside him who in turn had a Beretta trained on Leon. The person beside Claire had her weapon trained on Claire as well. It was a classic Mexican standoff. Nobody moved. Nobody breathed. Explosions could be heard above, Leon glanced upward then licked his lips. "Sounds like they're getting closer."

The woman beside Claire nodded then spoke in a cool voice. "You're right. We need to leave but who here should make the first step." The man beside Leon spoke, the gun in his hand shook. "I'll tell you who's leaving. Claire and me. You two can do what you want when we leave." Claire spoke still keeping her eyes on the other woman. "What makes you think I want to leave with you." The four people started arguing not noticing the large tube in the back start to crack from the various bullet holes.

Suddenly a claw shoved its way thru the tube and ripped it apart. Leon turned towards and dropped his pistol, he unslung the SAW from his back and fired at the Tyrant. Claire unfolded the small metal grip and fired at the Tyrant as well. The roof exploded and giant steel girders rained down from above, the girders smashed into the floor and broke thru. Claire and Ada dropped thru the broken floor, Leon dropped his gun and dove towards them. He grabbed Claire's hand with his right and Ada's with his left.

He grunted as he tried to pull them both up. Steve fired his pistol at the Tyrant who steadily approached Leon, the Tyrant raised its claw and swung it down. Claire and Ada could hear Leon howl in pain as the Tyrant's claw raked across his back, Leon bit his lip and tasted blood, the Tyrant swung with a backhand swipe and Leon howled again in pain as the claws tore thru his vest and shirt. Leon tried to pull up Claire but he couldn't, his eyes welled up with tears as he tried to pull both of the women he loved up but he couldn't find the strength.

Steve stopped to reload as the Tyrant plunged it's index finger claw into Leon's left thigh. Leon screamed in pain as it twisted it's finger then pulled it out. Ada looked up at Leon then over at Claire, she looked at Leon then. "Sorry Leon. Gotta go." And with that she let go. Leon managed to gather the last of his strength and pulled Claire up.

End Flashback

Claire sat on the edge of the bed, Rusty came in during her flashback and had rested his head on Claire's thigh. Claire acknowledged the dog and gently petted his head, the dog backed away from her and leaped onto the bed. He laid himself out over Claire's lap who continued to pet him. Claire glanced at her watch and saw it was getting late, she laid on the bed and closed her eyes getting lost in her dreams.

AN: To give you an idea what kind of dog Rusty is, he is sort of a mutt: a cross between a German Shepard and a Golden Retriever.