A Caring Hand

Everything was so dark around me. Where was I? Why couldn't I move?

"Go Claire! Save yourself…"

Moira…I kept remembering over and over the moment I wanted to forget. I had to left her behind, when I was supposed to protect her. When I jump out I only thought of the chance I might not make it…and that maybe it was better that way.

I didn't deserve to be called a rescuer, not after failing a young girl who looked up to me. Not after I failed to realize who was the one who stabbed us from the back, when I always bragged about how perceptive I was with non-reliable people.

I let my feelings get in the way.

However, I survived, I ended up sinking in an old boat I found at the shore. I didn't know how much time I spent there, looking at the blue sky, trying to keep conscious.

I wanted to come back for her, I'd regret it all my life if I left her there. I got a second chance, I wanted to use it to make up for my mistake. I needed help.

Unknown people came to my rescue. My consciousness was struggling to keep on, I didn't know what I told those people. I only remember that a few hours later I was talking to a captain of a ship.

"Claire! Open your eyes!"

"Barry…"

"Was Moira with you?!"

"Barry,I'm sorry…I tried to save her…I should've…"

Barry…I didn't have the courage to look him in the eyes. He was against Moira joining TerraSave, but I promised him to take care of her, and I failed. I should have been on his side, no matter if Moira ended up hating me too.

Since that moment, only darkness was what I saw. I heard some voices, I tried to reply but my lips, arms and leg won't move. Sometimes I felt someone taking my hand, I could not know who it was, but the touch gave me a feeling of safeness in that imprisonment.

"Hello Claire. Came to see you again."

Chris!

I wish I could tell you I'm okay, but I'm not even sure about that.

That was what I thought when I recognized his voice. He should be worried about me. My brother was so caring when I needed it. He was a good mentor.

I couldn't be as good as him.

"Claire…come back…a lot of us are waiting for your return".

A female voiced talked to me. Of course I knew who it was, I've spent thirteen years hearing it, speaking to her. Sherry always looked for a way to see each other in spite of our tight schedules, specially hers, since she chose (or rather say she did not have any other option) to work for the government as an agent she was in constant training for the past two years.

I did not agree with that, but her freedom was something she was longing for at that moment, and I did want it for her too. I had no choice but to accept her decision and support her as much I could, even though Sherry was already a grown woman. I just couldn't help but keep an eye on her as if she was still that scared little girl in Raccoon City.

Sherry…I just hope you don't go through the same I did.

Everything was pitch black around me, but I suddenly felt a tremendous heat, as if something was on fire near me.

Few seconds later, I realized it was my own body that burned. A scream wanted to scape my mouth, but it would not respond to me. Fear was taking over me every second that passed, there wasn't anyone out there to help me. The heat would consume my whole being. I even started to shake.

And then, someone took my hand smoothly. I didn't know why, but the touch blew my fear away. It was a big hand, a bit rough. Its grip on me tightened, not so much to hurt me, but enough to give me strength. To make feel safe, assuring that nothing would happen to me, because someone was there to protect me.

"Calm down Claire, you'll feel better soon."

A male voiced called me. It was a known one, I had heard it before, some time ago. I just couldn't figure out who the owner was. But one thing was for certain; I had plenty of trust in that voice.

Don't let go of me yet, please.

I tried to grip that hand back, I managed to slightly do so. My body was still weak.

"Claire! Can you hear me?"

Yes, I could hear it, but even if I wanted to, my body would not obey me. I wanted to ask for help to the owner of that voice, but keeping the grip on the hand was the only thing I was able to do.

The heat disappeared slowly, I wasn't shaking anymore. A feeling of relief took over me. The touch of that caring hand went away too, I only felt numbness after that.

Thank you…

I told that voice in my thoughts, it helped me to recover tranqulity.

And then what? None was around me anyway. I couldn't even see myself. Only memories passed by. Some of them were happy, some of them I wished to forget.

I'm glad I met you…Claire…I lo…

Steve…I couldn't keep our promise either. In spite of that, he developed feelings for me. Did I really deserve them?

We didn't meet in the best of circumstances, but I'm happy we came across to each other!

Rani. She told me that after we reunite a few years ago. That time, I was taken aback by her statement, how could she still be happy for our meeting in a virus outbreak? Rani was so young back then and yet she had to lived terrible and bloody moments. I would have preferred to meet her in a more normal place.

…some place a little bit more normal.

Yeah, someone had suggested me the same. I couldn't remember who exactly, but I supposed it was a close friend, I knew it because my heart felt calm at that sudden memory.

I hoped to fulfill that promise at least.

"Claire, can you hear me?"

Barry! I hadn't hear him since I entered this place of darkness.

"If you can, I want to say this: I'm not mad at you, I know you took care of Moira as much as you could. What happened wasn't your fault."

Tears wanted to fall off my eyes after listening to his words. I thought he would never forgive for making Moira go through all that, because Barry tried all these years to keep his family away of bioterrorism issues.

"My daughter is stubborn as hell, you know it well. Our constant fights are enough proof of that. So, I refuse to think she just gave up. Let's find her together when you come back Claire."

Yes, Moira was a stubborn teen. She did not want to be buried in the same place as the woman who kidnapped us.

I'd buy a new motorcycle if someone gave me a penny every time Moira said bad words during our captivity. However, it was that acid humor of hers that kept me down to earth. Both of us.

It was true, someone like her couldn't not give up just like that.

I want to believe it, but my heart shattered into pieces when I saw her under all those debris.

My face got wet suddenly…

"Claire!"

Barry called me again. I was so eager to talk back…

Then I stopped listening to his voice.

No! I wanted to come back. I wanted to go looking for Moira with him. I couldn't give up either, not when there was a chance of Moira being out there trying to survive in a hell.

I have to get back. I want to get back.

A small white, bright spot appeared before me, it got bigger and bigger until I realized I was staring at a ceiling.

I finally opened my eyes. Where was I now? I could feel my body, and move it too. I move every finger of my one of my hands, until I could clinch my fist. I was still weak.

I was laying on a bed. I took a look around, as much as my position allowed me to. There were some machines, a sofa on the right side and a big window. Since I could see anything else, I got up.

Gosh, my body felt like a giant rock.

After bending straight I noticed I was wearing a white pajama, my hair was down, and that I had a serum in my left hand. The room I was in smelled like a mix of alcohol and iodine.

That was a hospital room.

Yeah. I remember they were taking me to a hospital. I saw Barry before entering an operating room.

With that memory in mind, I touched my torso to find any surgical wound. There was a slight pain on my right side, near the ribs. I lifted the blouse of my pajama and I saw three bruises, each of them with an incision.

They performed a surgery on me, but it did not look recent. In fact, the bruises seemed in an advanced healing process. How long has it been?

I heard a sound of a knob being turned. I look at my left side and saw a door being opened. A man with short, dark blonde hair wearing a black leather jacket appeared before me. When he saw me, his eyes went wide open. He stayed quiet, as if thinking what to do.

Or as if he was trying to believe that I was staring at him.

—Oh God, Claire! — the man exclaimed while closing the door behind him. He slowly approached my place, it seemed he couldn't believe his eyes. What was so incredible of see me waking up?

The man sat on the edge of the bed, and that was when I could see him better. Those turquoise eyes and that classic hairstyle took me back to the night I went looking for my brother in Raccoon City. When I started to get involved in bioterrism issues.

It's been a while since I last saw him face to face in Harvardville. He looked a lot older, especially with that morning beard.

I had to admit age suited him well, though.

What was he doing here?

—Claire— he called me again— do you remember who I am?

And why wouldn't I?

I smirked.

—Of course I do, Leon— I told him, and the seriousness on his face was replaced for a feeling of relief. Then I remembered something that was going around my mind during my sleep—. I also remember we promised to see each other in a more normal place.

Leon smiled.

—I'm glad your memory is intact— I didn't understand why he se said that. This was getting weird.

—Leon, where are we? What happened? Why are you here? —I questioned.

I saw a bit of hesitate on his face, but he knew me enough to understand that if he did not tell my anything , I'd do anything to find it out.

—We're at Langone Medical Center of New York— he said straightforward.

What? New York? But I was just in a lost island in Europe! I knew it was in that continent because the people of the place spoke Russian. This was disconcerting.

It seemed that Leon noticed my confusion.

—What's the last thing you remember? —he asked.

I looked down, his question made me remember the moment I had to leave Moira behind.

—I remember being sinking in a boat, some marines came to rescue me. I talked to their captain. Next day I felt of pain on my torso and had headache. They were moving me to a hospital on land. I was about to enter an operating room, then everything was darkness, until now.

I lift my sight and saw my friend letting a sigh out. I was getting anxious, so he should hurry and tell me everything.

—Claire, the assault to TerraSave was nationwide news, due to the way it was done. I just arrived to the country from a mission in Europe when I learnt about it. It was so outrageous that President Adam Benford had to take actions, he even agreed to a collaboration between the government and the B.S.A.A. I was assigned directly to the case because he knew I'm an acquaintance of one of the victims. You.

Holy shit! I never imagine this could get that big! A collaboration between the government and the B.S.A.A? I thought I would never see it happen.

So that was why Leon was there.

—We were informed by the Russian government that you were found sinking within the Baltic Sea, and that you'd be transfer to St. Petersburg. Barry Burton and I flew to watch over you. Your brother Chris was on a mission in Asia and could not be contacted, so he learnt about all after you were brought here.

So, Leon finally met Barry. I wish it was me the one who introduced them to each other, just like I did with Chris and him.

—By the President's orders, we brought you back to the US, to keep you safe. We didn't know if your kidnappers would chase you after your scape. We didn't want to take a risk to an inner conflict. The neighbor country, Eastern Slav Republic, was temporary being ruled by the US and Russia.

I was finally understanding.

—What happened to me? Why did I get surgery for? — I was curious since the moment I saw the bruises.

—You had a rib fracture that caused lung collapse. Luckily they didn't have to open your chest, everything was done through toracoscopy. You also had a few burns and a moderate hit on the head. But all wounds seemed to have healed completely, or they are in an advanced process of it.

I scowled.

—And when was the surgery performed? — because I was sure it wasn't lately.

Leon sighed.

—Six weeks ago. You didn't recover consciousness after leaving the operating room.

What the fuck?! Six weeks?! Was I unconscious that long? No wonder why Leon was so surprised to see me awaken and worried about my memory. But, what happened to the case? Were there more news? Good ones? Bad ones?

God.

Leon noticed my inner desperation because he placed a hand on my shoulder, trying to calm me down.

And he did.

—What happened with the case? —I asked, more tranquil.

—Only you were rescued. There has not been any more news about other survivors, but Russian government promised to watch over the coordinates where you were found. We were waiting for you to wake up so you could give us more details about what happened so we could do a better job.

So,Moira was still missing…I wondered how Barry was taking all this. I guessed not in a good way. I looked down again and sighed.

—How did you get those wounds? What happened? —he suddenly asked me.

—I had to run away from a tower that was collapsing due to the self-destruct system. When there was no exit, I had to jump out from a really high spot, directly to the sea. I guess that's how I broke my ribs—I answered.

I wasn't ready to tell more of it, I didn't want to mention Moira nor The Overseer and the hell we went through.

If I had been more perceptive with Neil, maybe we wouldn't have ended up like that.

—Claire, was someone known to you behind the incident? — His question took me aback. Was it so obvious that someone from TerraSave itself sold us out to some freak? Did anyone notice it but me?

Yeah, because I was the only one who had feelings for a traitor.

My eyes got wet due to the frustration that issue caused me. I clenched my fist on the sheets.

I felt a burn in my eyes…

Until a hand was placed on mine.

—You don't have to tell me now— Leon whispered.

I look at his hand on my own. It was the first time I see it as it is, everytime we bump into each other, he was wearing tactical gloves. They were bigger that they seemed, and a bit rough.

Rough…

I realized something. While I was unconscious I felt several times the touch of a person that gave me a feeling of safeness.

It's been him all along!

I couldn't be wrong, the touch of his hand at that moment was the same as the one I felt before. I knew because I felt safe now.

And the voice was also the same.

I stared at him.

—Were you here with me all this time? — I asked incredulous.

Leon raised an eyebrow, as if the question was weird.

—Yes. Since I'm in charge of the investigation from the government side I've been watching over your condition. Besides, I was personally interested to know what had really happened to you. Not only me, Chris,Barry and even Sherry have come to visit you.

Yes, I remember their voices.

—It must have been boring to you, being here watching a woman sleep— I said ironically.

—Your recovery was more important— he assured—. I've always helped you when you've been in trouble. But this time was so sudden I couldn't do anything. So the least I could do was watching over your recovery and safety.

That was true. Leon, somehow, had always helped when I needed it. Raccoon, Rockford and Harvardville. I kind of owed him part of my survival.

And it seemed a new debt was added to the list.

But it was so nice to have friends like him, someone who despised bioterrorism as much as I did. Someone who fought to maintain world wide security, even it if meant risking his own life.

Someone who, not matter what happened, would never betray me. Because he knew of first hand what was like to keep yourself alive while rescuing other people.

He would never distort that fact with crazy and stupid ideas about power.

—Are you okay? Do you feel pain somewhere? —he asked me worried. Only when I heard his question I realized that tears were falling off my eyes.

—It's not that. I'm just seeing some things more clearly— I told him while I took my hand to my face to wipe my tears.

But I couldn't done that because Leon wiped them with his own hand.

—Don't worry anymore. You're safe now, and you'll have a lot of support to continue this case— he said while wiping the last of my tears—. You're not alone in this.

I looked at him again, and I couldn't help to shed more tears. Leon got closer to me, as if he knew what I wanted at that moment.

I place my head on his shoulder and he wrapped his free arm around me. The other one was still taking my hand.

—Thank you,Leon.

First time in thirteen years I hugged my friend like that, and I wondered why I hadn't done it before. Leon was one of the people I trusted the most.

But as one of the four Hindu spirituality rules said: whenever it starts is the right time.

o-o-o-o-o

Hello everyone! Did you miss me? Hehehe

I'm so hype because Capcom is officially considering a Resident Evil 2 Remake! About damn time!

How could they leave the best RE for PS1 without a remake? I think the fact Claire returned to the series in REV2 helped a lot. Because, c'mon, you and I know it: Claire and Leon sell a lot, and if they're together it will be the money maker Capcom needs. They've pushed back Cleon reunion for so long! Don't they remember the promise of meeting in a more normal place? Lol.

I hope the project gets approved, and the producers take in consideration all fans' suggestions, especially the one about bringing back Alyson Court as the voice for Claire. I loved her role in Darkside Chronicles, that sarcastic tone when she talked about Ada is priceless xD. Besides,she's the only voice actor who had been there since the very beginning!

Anyway, here's the new chapter. Cleon moments finally start! What do you think? I hope it's not too corny for you xD, you might think so due to Leon's behavior. But as a Psychologist myself, I think it's part of his personality. What I've seen in the whole RE series (I'm 26,so I'm a veteran fan,lol) is that Leon gets attached to easily to the people he meets, mostly with women xP. So, imagine taking care of a friend he knows since long ago for six weeks, the attachment grows.

If I like Cleon and not Aeon it's because they are always there for each other, they never put their own interest over other people safeness. Claire saw that in Neil, and Leon goes through that every time he meets Ada. How can love be born when interests are above anything?

And also, I know some of you think there was nothing between Claire and Neil. And it really wasn't, but I do think she had some feelings for him. I read in an interview with the producers (I think) where they said Neil was the kind of man Claire felt attracted to. So,I'm assuming at least her feelings were beyond admiration. And let's see it that way for the purpose of this fanfic, okay?

Well, enough of author's note. If you like the fic please follow and favorite it, and leave a review to let me know.

Share it with more Cleon fans! We must be united for the high chance of a RE2 Remake :D

Til next time!

PS. Sorry for any typo, I'm just so eager to post it for you guys I forget to check it xD.