For some reason I was under the impression that Derek Simmons was a scientist*-*. My lazy ass finally looked him up some days ago (after procrastinating for quite a while), and boy was I wrong ! So to those who know the Resident Evil lore well and are like, hmm this doesn't make sense, I apologize for my lack of research xD. I will stick to my nonsensical version, however, as I'm getting ideas from it and will eventually tie it back the original in due time. Hopefully the plot doesn't become too ridiculous, but at this point I don't trust myself lol.

Another thing I'd like to mention is...this chapter is actually supposed to be longer, buuuut I cut part of it out and saved it for the next chapter since it would've taken me that much longer to write - and I didn't want to make you guys wait any longer than I already have, so here it is !

Chapter 10. Time to Face the Music

Leon's mood had been deplorable ever since Ashley told him about her dream – if you could even call it that. He'd gone back into work mode, and two days had passed in tense silence. Only sometimes would she catch his concern slipping through the cracks, and he'd glance at her when he thought she wasn't aware.

At least he'd stopped asking about that night. Part of her felt relieved, and yet another part was also a little disappointed. But it was better this way…right ? What would have happened, anyway, if Leon had remembered their kiss – and everything else ? His reaction played out in Ashley's mind; him, closing up again and creating distance between them as the solution. No, she couldn't have that. She'd rather be friends with him than reduce their relationship to something worse than cold-faced strangers.

With a small sigh of resignation, Ashley stood up. "I'm going to change my clothes." She said as her bodyguard looked up. It was only eight in the morning – an unholy hour to be awake, if anyone asked her, but unfortunately they had plans.

Mr. Thompson had called just the day before, asking if Ashley had come to a decision…it hadn't brightened Leon's mood any better when she agreed to the plan, but here they were – waiting for the designated driver to arrive, and bring them back to the lab. Just the thought made her queasy, but the fact that Leon would be there with her this time, brought her some comfort.

Reaching into her side of the closet, Ashley pulled out a white sweater, a long denim skirt, a matching jacket, a cap to hide her face, and a pair of socks to go with her new sneakers; it was subtler than what she usually wore, but still pretty cute.

"What do you think ? Is this subtle enough for you ?" Ashley teased as she stepped out of the bedroom, twirling playfully, hoping to lighten the mood.

It seemed to work because Leon smiled. At least she thought he did, before his brows flattened into a straight line and he proceeded to examine every inch of her, skin tingling under his slow gaze. "Not nearly enough." He muttered, and then added in a louder voice – as if he hadn't meant for her to hear the previous statement, "It'll do fine."

She was about to tease him some more when the phone suddenly rang; the driver was here. Ashley's stomach knotted with dread as she looked at Leon, who lifted his eyes to meet hers at the same time. "You ready ?" He asked.

Not at all. "Yes."

As if sensing how nervous she actually was, he reached out his hand towards her, palm open in silent invitation. "Come on. I'll keep you safe."

He always kept her safe, but Ashley's brows drew together in determination as she took his hand – ignoring the palpitations of her heart. "This time, we'll keep each other safe."

He smiled at her, and together they walked out to meet their fate.

…

Even as they sat in the black car that was gradually leading them to Derek Simmons – the man that was very possibly a madman, Leon was amused. This time, we'll keep each other safe, Ashley had said so earnestly.

But what did he need protection from ? Simmons only wanted her. Still, her words made him want to smile.

However, he schooled his expression into a poker face as they reached their destination – the familiar building he'd driven to, when he'd pursued Ashley from afar on his motorcycle. The girl in question was frowning at the thing, and he said, "What is it ?"

"I didn't expect it to look like this." She murmured, looking at the fancy metal plating and reflective windows, giving the building a modern look – but nothing that screamed secret laboratory.

"Didn't you see it last time ?" Leon asked. When they'd taken her, he hadn't seen her walk out of the car, as they'd driven directly into the underground parking lot, where he'd been unable to follow.

Ashley pursed her lips, shaking her head. "No. I was…unconscious." She must have seen his eyes widen, because she quickly added, "It's a long story, but they didn't do anything to me… then, anyway."

He squeezed her hand. They hadn't let go of one another since exiting Leon's apartment. "Don't worry. I've got your back, this time – uh, each other's backs." He quickly amended when Ashley gave him a look. She smiled, and this time he couldn't help returning it.

People were already waiting for them in the parking lot – two of which he recognized, and Ashley must've too as she glared at them, while the other two stood at the back. Probably bodyguards, in case something happened. Leon swallowed the scoff of irony that wanted to make its way out.

"Hello again, Ashley." Said the woman with a friendly smile as Leon and Ashley stepped out of the car.

"…Emily." She replied to the woman, nonplussed.

"I know you must be angry – and you have every right to be, but we really were trying to do what's best for everyone. We apologize if that ended up causing pain for you, as a result."

If that ended up causing pain for her ? As if they hadn't all been watching, them and the rest of the scientists involved, as Ashley had screamed and thrashed in a device of their own making, knowing exactly what they were doing to her. Again, Leon tried to keep from scoffing, but the disdain was plain and obvious across his face.

Though Ashley had mostly recovered in the last three days, he would still catch her wince here and there from just moving around.

'Emily' nudged the man standing beside her, the one who'd previously tried to stop Leon from taking Ashley. His eyes zeroed in on his cold, pinched face – which was now making an effort to appear…apologetic ? He was doing a poor job of it as he said, "While necessary, our actions that day were regrettable."

This time, Ashley stepped forward. "Let me get this straight, Mr. Shepherd," His name dripped condescension as it came out of her mouth. "I'm only here to get to the bottom of this, figure out why I'm the way I am and what that implies – not for some twisted idea of the greater good, or any of you. So please, spare me the bullshit and let's get on with it."

Pride swelled inside Leon – and just as it did, Emily let out a soft gasp, blue eyes wide as they stared at Ashley. More specifically, Ashley's eyes, which had switched from green to bright red.

"Fascinating…" Shepherd muttered, as though transfixed by the phenomenon.

Ashley glanced back and forth between them in confusion. "W-What ?"

The two burly men behind the scientists stepped towards Ashley – as if to grab her, but Leon side-stepped into their line of view. "Hey, back off. She's fine." He growled.

"Are…are my eyes red ?" Ashley whispered from behind his shoulder. He opened his mouth to answer, but Shepherd was faster.

"Has this happened before ?" He moved closer, but stopped short as Leon glared down at him. "Mr. Kennedy. I'm assuming you'll be accompanying Ms. Graham, from now on ?" The man didn't sound happy about this, something that pleased Leon more than it should have.

"That's right." He didn't add all the things he wanted to say to him and his lot, keeping his reply short.

"Perhaps we should move Ms. Graham to somewhere more private ?" Suggested Emily, looking around the empty parking lot. "Dr. Simmons is sure to be waiting on us."

"…of course. Follow me." Shepherd turned around, and as they all began to move, Leon was hyper aware of the guards surrounding Ashley and him like wolves on the prowl.

…

Though the reflective, metallic walls were all new to Ashley, she definitely recognized the chirurgical feel of the place – something she hadn't missed, or wanted to remember. The cold seeped through the fabric of her clothes and into her bones, causing a light shiver to shake her limbs.

"You okay ?" Leon murmured, eyeing her from the corner of his eyes as they followed the scientists.

Ashley frowned, touching her cheek. "Why ? Are my eyes still red ?"

"No, you were just…never mind. Your eyes are back to normal, by the way."

"Oh. Why do you think they keep turning red like that ?"

"From what I'm guessing, it seems your mutation surges whenever your emotions are heightened. Am I wrong ?" The scientist piped in, looking over his shoulder to glance at Ashley.

It was a challenge to keep the pretense of civility, but she gritted her teeth and answered, "I don't know. The first time it happened, nothing was going on – I just happened to glance in the mirror."

Shepherd hummed but didn't add anything else. "Dr. Simmons will have the answers to any questions you might have." Emily assured with her air hostess smile. "We're almost there now."

Indeed, it seemed the group was finally heading towards a door, among the many homogeneous ones. Emily gestured for Ashley to go in first – and after a moment's hesitation, she did, followed closely by Leon.

There he was. They stood in a spacious room filled with a variety of beeping machines that displayed blinking lights, shapes, letters, and countless numbers, none of which Ashley could figure out in the moment. But at the center of it all stood Derek Simmons – or at least that's what she assumed, seeing as he was the only one here.

Ashley didn't know what she'd expected. Someone more evil-looking, perhaps. But then again, Saddler hadn't looked like some dark villain either. "Hello, Ms. Graham. I knew it wouldn't be long before you had a change of heart."

No apologies from him, huh ? Psycho. "You must be Derek Simmons."

"The one and only." He smiled, but his expression remained cold. Crossing the distance between them, he held out his hand to her. "A pleasure to finally make your acquaintance – properly, this time."

Ashley was finding it hard to swallow. Still, she looked the man straight in the eye and shook his hand. "Because last time I was treated as nothing more than a test subject, right ?"

"Ashley –" Emily started saying, but was silenced by the doctor's outstretched palm. She clamped her mouth shut.

"It's alright, Ms. Stanford. Ms. Graham will understand that what we had to do was for –"

"The greater good ?" She interrupted, unable to stop herself from sneering.

"National security." Simmons replied without blinking. "There's no telling what would've happened had your powers surged near the president or his entourage."

Ashley's father was never home – least of all his 'entourage', but she was too stunned to comment on that. "My powers ? What powers ?"

A smirk suddenly twisted the man's face, replacing the fake pleasantries. It chilled Ashley to the core. "As soon as I discovered your mutation, I was almost certain it would add new abilities to your otherwise human capabilities. Why wouldn't it ? The Ganados were altered in more ways than one by the Plaga – who's to say this situation is any different ?"

"Is that why you've taken such an interest in my case ? Because of these supposed powers ?"

"In part. As I said, it's important to ensure you're not a danger to those around you – especially the people who have a say in this country's wellbeing. But suppose for a moment that these new abilities could be harnessed." He was as hypocritical as Emily, but the manic glint of his eyes couldn't be hidden behind his performance.

Ashley crossed her arms, eyes narrowed. "I only came here to figure out what's happening to me."

"And I can assure you that's our priority. But if you do have new abilities – as I strongly suspect, then ignoring them would only worsen your situation. So what say you, Ms. Graham ?"

He wasn't wrong, displeased as Ashley was to admit it. She had already suffered the consequences to her willful ignorance…and not only that, but she and Leon had come here to do a job, and she would play the part that was required of her.

"Okay." Simmons lifted a brow at her response. "There's no denying I need your help, and you're my best shot at figuring things out. So let's do it, whatever you do."

He smiled coldly, palms facing outwards as if he was presenting something. "Then let the tests begin."

"Wait a minute." Leon suddenly stepped forward, attracting everyone's attention at once. "What happened last time, that's over. If she comes into any harm at all – we're done here."

Ashley blinked at him, wondering if he had the authority to make such claims – but regardless, it invigorated her to see him stand up for her.

But Derek Simmons regarded her bodyguard like he was nothing more than an insect. "Ah, Mr. Kennedy. I'm assuming you'll be staying by Ms. Graham's side ?"

"That's right. Her father hired me to protect her, and that's exactly what I'm going to do." Even Ashley could hear the underlying meaning in his words – that he would protect her from Simmons, if he tried anything.

"Like a loyal dog," The man in question smirked, and Ashley gasped at the veiled insult. Leon wasn't fazed though, scowling no more than he'd done since the moment they'd woken up – and the past few days.

"Shall we start then, Dr. Simmons ?" Asked Emily, glancing between her superior and Leon.

"Yes. Lead Ms. Graham and her bodyguard to the white room."

To be continued...

Another white room, yay...