She lay in the bed listening to the gentle beeping, feeling the IV fluids flushing her system. So she was still alive, she didn't count that as a victory, death might have been better than this. Her body was weak, her limbs unresponsive. Her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth, and her throat burned from thirst. Death, would have been breathing was erratic, as if she had just run a marathon even though she had been laying in this bed for nearly 2 days. The door to the right of her slowly creeped open, and she turned her head. She was almost positive it was Jack coming to finish her off, Leon stepped inside.

"Claire, it's me." He said softly.

She wanted to reply her tongue moved silently behind her dry lips, nothing came out. Not even a whimper, blind tears clouded her eyes and Leon moved closer.

"We're going to get you out of here, okay? Just hang on until tonight. Arnold and I are coming back tonight and we're not leaving without you." He promised.

She worked her lips and a soft wail escaped.

"Don't try to talk now, you need to save your strength. Do you remember where you hid the case files?" He asked.

She managed a weak nod.

"Okay, we have to get those files infront of the board or Jack is going to own this place." Leon said. She winced knowing what that would entail.

"I'll be back, I promise." He said.

She tried to smile but she was too weak to even manage something that simple. Leon reached over and gently wiped the tears from her cheeks, then lifted a cup with a straw to her parched lips helping her get her first cool drink of water in hours.

"I have to go finish my shift, but hold on. We're coming for you." He said.

She managed a nod and then blackness once again took over, sucking her deeper until she only barely heard Leon leaving. She was so tired.


Arnold paced back and forth infront of his door. He checked his watch every four or five steps, while Helga watched him with interest from where she leaned against the bedroom doorway.

"You're wearing holes in the carpet."She pointed out.

"Leon and Irene should have been here twenty mintues ago." He said.

"They'll be here." Helga said, catching his arm as he paced passed her again.

He stopped pacing and took her into his arms letting her settle her head against his chest. He knew he had been on edge all day and that she still needed his devotion to get her through this transition between hospital and home, but as long as Claire was captive there he couldn't ever let go. He kissed the top of her head.

"I'm sorry if I've been anything but perfect for you today." He said.

"You haven't been. I know you're distracted and this is important." She said, looking up at him.

"Once this is over with Claire and Jack...we can talk about where this is going with us." He said.

"Arnold, I..."She wanted to say it, wanted to say the words that had been hiding at the back of her throat and the tip of her tongue since they were four, but even now she couldn't.

"What? you can tell me." He urged gently.

"I..."

The loud knock interrupted and she sighed heavily as Arnold went to answer it, Irene and Leon stepped inside.

"Okay, so if we go in the back employee entrance it will only have one gaurd, he'll be making his rounds. If we time it right he'll be in the mens wing" Leon said, not wasting anytime.

"We grab Claire, find the file and get the hell out." Arnold agreed.

"What do I do?"Helga asked.

"Stay here." Arnold said.

"I want to help." She argued.

"No, it's too dangerous. You and Irene stay here." Arnold said, putting his foot down on this issue.

Maybe it was a bad idea to bring her to his home, it was a bad idea to have sex so soon and it was a bad idea to be in love with her, but he could at least keep her safe by keeping her here instead of adding to the list and taking her with him.

"I want to help." Helga said again.

"Knowing you're safe will be a big help." Arnold told her.

"Fine." She said with a heavy sigh.

"You stay here where you're safe, my little cat burgalar." He said with a smile.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She asked.

"Just that breaking into my house when we were young might have been one of your best talents, but this is going to be a little tougher." He said.

"How did you know?" She asked.

"I told you, I learned everything about you after you were gone." He said.

"Boss, we really need to go." Leon said checking his watch.

"I'll be back as soon as I can."Arnold said.

"Be careful." Helga said.

"What can possibly go wrong?" He asked, with a smile.

Irene moved around them to Leon who wrapped a strong arm around her tiny waist and lifted her off the floor for a kiss. When he put her feet back down and pulled away she beamed back at him.

"I'll be back soon." He promised.

"Not soon enough." She replied and he grinned.

He gave her another quick peck before heading out the door. Arnold kissed Helgas forehead before hurrying to catch up.


The hospital was dark when Arnold and Leon parked a few feet away from the doors. Leon assured Arnold that the cameras weren't in the line of the car, and parking too far would make it tricky if Claire needed carried. They approached the massive building in silence, keeping to the edge of the bushes and out of sight. Leon used his card to open the main doors and after they both slipped inside he tossed it on the desk.

"Won't be needing this anymore." He said.

After hours there were only two nurses and two security gaurds on duty, Leon lifted a schedule and was sure they were in the womens ward at this time. The halls were lit by dim lights as they moved silently towards where Claire was.

"Are you sure they're at the other end?" Arnold whispered.

"Positive, one security gaurd will be checking the womens ward with a nurse, the other two the mens ward. Isolation ward is first they already checked it. They won't check until they do rounds again." Leon promised.

They reached the door and Leon pushed it open motioning Arnold inside. Leon closed the door behind them, watching out the small rectangular window.

"Claire."Arnold grabbed her hand, whispering her name.

"Arnold?" Her eyes fluttered open, but they were glassy and not focusing.

"I'm here, we're taking you home." Arnold said.

"Files."Claire said, drifting back to sleep.

Arnold dropped his gaze to the IV in her arm, and quickly pulled off the tape ripping the IV from her arm. He began working on the wrist restraints next. Leon glanced at his watch and when Arnold freed her ankle restraints he rushed forward.

"I'll carry her, it'll be faster that way."Leon said.

Leon lifted Claire gently into his arms and she looked up at him breifly.

"Files, my office." She said.

"Where?" Arnold asked.

"C...Couch."She managed to get out before passing out.

"You take her to the car, I'll meet you there." Arnold said.

"Are you sure?" Leon asked.

"Yeah, I can move faster alone." Arnold said.

Arnold opened the door and Leon moved down the hall quickly towards the exit. Arnold took a deep breath before heading towards Claires office. He turned the knob and was surprised when the door swung open. He stepped inside and froze, her once clean and perfect office was completely trashed.

Pictures hung crooked on the walls, her desk top cleaned off the drawers all opened. Papers were scattered and her cabinets all rifled through, Jack had been here. Arnold knew Jack had to be looking for the files Claire had hidden away, they were the only thing stopping him now.

The couch was knocked over and Arnold rushed to it, hoping he wasn't too late. He rolled the couch gently upright and pulled off the cushions and there under one red cushion was the folder. He grabbed it and ran for the door. He crossed the parking lot and slid into Leons car holding up the file.

"Good job." Leon said, starting the car and peeling out onto the road.

Arnold let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding, he slid down in his seat trying to relax, Leon had a death grip on the steering wheel and looked in the rearview mirror at least a hundred times. Arnold glanced back once at Claire and saw she was still sleeping. They parked at Arnolds apartment and Leon carried her to the door, Arnold held the door and Leon took her inside, Arnold directed him to put her in the guest bed and Leon did.

Helga immediately moved wrapping her arms around his waist, he kissed the top of her head.

When Leon emerged from the room, Irene launched herself at him. He kissed her passionately before turning to face Arnold.

"What's the plan?" Leon asked.

"You go home or a hotel, lay low for awhile." Arnold said.

"Then what?" Irene asked.

"In four days the board is having a meeting I think we will pay Jack a visit." Arnold said holding up the folder.

"If you need anything..."Leon said.

"I'll call." Arnold promised.

"Let's go home." Leon said softly, looking at Irene with a hungry look.

Helga locked the door behind Leon and Irene and smiled softly when she heard Irene giggling in the hall way. She turned to Arnold who had collapsed onto the couch.

"They're good for each other." Helga commented.

"Yeah, they are." He agreed.

She bit her lip and move hesitantly around the couch to stand infront of him.

"You're good for me." She said softly, and he smiled.

"Come here." He said motioning her to sit beside him.

Deciding to be bold she lifted a long leg and placed it beside his hip and eased down straddling him. Seeming to read her mind he sat up meeting her halfway and kissing her deeply. His left hand cupping the back of her neck and his fingers tunneling into her hair. She moved her hands to his chest her fingers making quick work of his buttons. When she reached his pants she slid his belt free and tossed it aside, he lifted his hips helping her pull the button free. He leaned forward taking her with him to the floor so he was ontop of her.

She was wearing a sweet pink sundress and it was so easy for him to slide it up her legs, he did so with ease. She took a deep breaht commiting it all to memory, the smell of his cologne, the taste of his lips, his gentle strong feelings and even the cold metal of his watch. As he made love to her on the floor she burned it all into her brain, she didn't know where this was going but she didn't want to forget a single minute spent with him.


Author Note; I know it's been forever, I'm sorry. I was having a personal/family problem. I'm back now and I'm going to finish this fiction plus pick up on THE LAST TEMPTATION as soon as possible.