Indecent Proposal

—The heck are you saying, Adam?! —I shouted to the president by phone.

I was about to leave my hotel room to visit Claire, when I suddenly received a call from Hunnigan, she wanted to link me to the president because the mandatory wanted to inform me about something important. Adam's call was to notify the resolution he and the National Security Advisor had taken regarding the details of TerraSave incident that should be revealed to the public. They decided not to disclose the fact that CEO Neil Fisher was directly involved in the assault, they did took in consideration my idea of creating discontentment within people for reaching conclusions without solid evidence.

"When I said chaos, Derek accepted almost immediately. I know him enough to realize that he has a slight obsession with order, everywhere".

Adam and Mr. Simmons have known each other for almost three decades, they did knew each other trickeries. Or so I was told by the president in one of our conversations. During all these years I've been working for the government, I had never bumped into Mr. Simmons. Not a single time.

However, what caused my displeasure was the other resolution those men took: they wanted Claire in Washington to carry on studies on the virus she had in her body, since the ones they made while she was unconscious showed there were still traces of it. Besides, according to the data found in the bracelet, she almost reached the levels of adrenaline to trigger the virus.

—Exactly what you heard, Leon. We don't know if there is still a risk for that virus to be triggered and become a threat for all of us and for Miss Redfiled herself. Think of this as a preventive act for your friend —he said.

I couldn't deny that. It was true that not one of us investigating the case was aware of that possibility. We were so focused on Claire's physical and psychically recovery —so she could tell us everything she knew —that we forgot about the virus.

But still…

—Are you planning to do to her what you did to Sherry Birkin? —I tried to not sound upset, remembering the moment when a ten year old Sherry had to go through endless experiments made me feel impotence, like back then.

I heard Adam sigh.

—I know that remembering those times makes you feel frustrated, I witnessed your impotence back then, but I assure you it won't be like that for Miss Redfield. We have advanced so much in our research issues since the first bioterrorist attacks, your friend's case will not be the same as Miss Birkin. I will personally handle that matter, I value your friendship so much to not take in consideration your worries.

Adam sounded so honest about that. He was right, he wasn't as strict as his predecessors, I could trust his words, even though the decision as not a pleasurable one for me.

—Isn't there anything else that can be done? —I asked, resigned.

—This is the best we can do, Leon —he replied firmly.

I sighed deeply. There was no other way, after all, Adam was my boss and I had to obey his orders.

—Roger that. Should I inform Claire Redfield about it?

—It won't be necessary. Derek Simmons was with her a few minutes ago, he visited to tell her our decision about the case and her situation.

What? Did the National Security Advisor travel on one day to another just to tell a patient about her situation? That had not happened before, usually, the president and the advisor traveled together to any place where a catastrophe had occurred, and visit the victims. It was weird that Mr. Simmons did it alone.

—Is it part of your diplomatic visit to the victims? Why did Mr. Simmons come first? —I questioned.

—Derek offer himself to go first and take a step in advance, since I'm busy doing some stuff here in the White House. I will visit Miss Redfield in a couple of days. Derek told me she looked a bit undecided, but that, deep inside, she does know what she has to do.

A couple of days? So soon? I could imagine all the doubts she had in her mind. Claire had a lot of plans to do after she was released, and then, she faced this. I guessed she must be confused, with so little time.

I sighed again. There was nothing else for me to do.

—Got it, Adam. I'm going to visit her now, she might have a lot of doubts about what to do next. She wanted to do other stuff when she left the hospital — I said, resigned.

—Then I leave the rest to you. I will notify you my visit with anticipation. If Miss Redfield has any sort of petition regarding the case, I will listen to it personally that day.

—Roger. See you in a couple of days —I hung up.

I bent down my head. I scolded myself for not thinking about that beforehand, if I had, even the B.S.A.A. could have taken Claire in, and she would not have to be away from TerraSave.

I'm sorry, Claire…

Maybe I should apologize in person.

o-o-o-o-o

—Come in — I heard Claire's voice at the other side of the door, it sounded half-hearted.

When I opened the door, I found her sat on the edge of the bed, with her hear ducked. I closed the door behind me.

—Hello —I greeted, and I realized my voice was half-hearted too.

She lifted her head a bit, just to look at me briefly.

—Hi, Leon —she replied, fixing her gaze on the floor again.

I stayed quiet where I stood, waiting for a reaction from her. The silence was getting uncomfortable for me to handle, I felt responsible about it. I approached to her place, but she still seemed so impassive, was she mad at me?

The sole idea scared me.

I encourage myself and took a sit by her side, close enough that my arm touched hers. I felt relieved when she didn't move away from my contact. Maybe she was worried and not angry.

—The president called me a few minutes ago. He informed me of their decision about TerraSave incident, and…—I made a brief pause, I was afraid to touch a sore spot with my next comment —, that National Security Advisor came to visit you.

Claire closed her eyes and sighed deeply.

—Yeah, he came to tell me about that decision and my own situation —she said straightforward. It was as if she didn't like to talk about Mr. Simmons, even more than the resolution itself.

—Claire, I swear, I had no idea about…—I began, but Claire looked at me, scowling. Then she smirked.

—I'm not mad at you, if that's what you think. I'm pretty sure you that if you had known it beforehand, you would have told me immediately. I guess it was a surprise for both of us —she shrugged.

—Indeed it was —I nodded. Silence made its presence again, and I didn't like that, I was so used to the constant conversation between us, whatever topic it was —. What else did Mr. Simmons tell you? —I asked her, to keep us talking to each other.

—He told me that if I went with them , he would give me access to any source of information to keep myself updated in the investigation of TerraSave case, and that they would even "pay for my services" , in compensation for the time I'd be away from my job —she said, sarcastically.

Was that what Adam mean when he said Claire's case would not be the same as Sherry's? It wasn't a significant difference. Money would not compensate the trauma Claire might suffer during the process.

I got goosebumps at the thought of that.

—You don't want to go, or do you? —I wanted know, if she didn't really want to go, I'd do anything fulfill her wish, even if that meant losing my job.

—I need to go. They are right, we don't know what is happening with the virus inside my body, it could be dangerous. I don't want to spend the rest of my life trying to control my emotions just to not end up mutating in a horrid monster. And I don't want Moira to go through that either —she was right about that, I hadn't seen the matter from that point of view—. What worries me right now —she continued —is the situation TerraSave is in. I had planned to take care of some internal business there, but if I'm away I won't be of much help. If I don't find a solution for this, the time the organization has to prove its worth to society when the truth is finally revealed, will be a waste.

Claire rubbed her temple with two fingers, as if those worries were running around her mind so much that they caused her headache.

—Got it —was the only thing I could say, I couldn't think of any better idea than the ones that were creating chaos in Claire's head.

I saw her frowning while she kept on massaging her temple with her fingers. I felt sorrow to see her like that, so vulnerable, just like when she was unconscious. Then, I did something unexpected, it was almost like a body reflex: I wrapped my arm around her shoulders y pulled her close to me, placing my chin on her head, as if my weight could help her relax.

Claire startled a bit, and her body got tense, perhaps because my gesture was unexpected to her too. However, she didn't push me away.

—You have always made it through hard times, this won't be the exception – I whispered.

The tension I felt in her body disappeared, and then she did something unexpected as well: she placed her hand on the one I had on her shoulder.

—I made it through…with your help — she hid her face on my neck, and caressed the back of my hand.

My heart raised its heartbeats, so much that I was afraid it could explode any time, and I feared Claire might notice it, we were so close to each other, maybe the closest contact we've ever had these days. Feeling her warm breath on my skin made gasp, I was so aware of the really short distance between her lips and mine.

And my dick was aware of it too.

What would happen if I close the distance between us? What if I suddenly bent down more and more until my lips touched hers? If I kissed her, would she kiss me back? I didn't know why, but I was sure she would, I guessed she had enough confidence in me to let me do that. It could make her forget all her worries, even for a moment. I doubted she would reject me later.

And what if the kiss leaded us to another thing? What if we enjoyed it so much that we would want more than that? I could imagine her pulling apart, just to take a breath to continue our labor, but more intense, with a more intimate purpose: to lay her down on the bed and be on top, taking our clothes off, or some of them, so I could have her in my arms, making her sigh and moan every time I thrust into her, over and over again until she screamed my name out of pleasure. I would scream her name for the same reason.

Well, well, now you are willingly fantasying about her, just after your scolded yourself for that wet dream.

Yes, and I didn't feel bad about it. The feelings I was having with my own imaginations were marvelous, maybe because it was about making love in a hospital room, with the risk of someone entering without calling, something I had never done before, and I had already done some of my fantasies. What kind of sexual fantasies did she have? Had she done any of them? Which ones would she like to do? Too many questions were killing me, I wanted to know the answers, just out of pleasure.

Calm down, casanova.

Yeah, I needed to calm down, Claire had better things to think about, and I should be helping her in that, but my lips were so close to her forehead that it incited me to kiss it, just like that, any kind of contact between my lips and her skin would be enough. And maybe, it could lead us to another level…

No. Don't do anything that could be misunderstood. Don't get her even more confused.

True. I must not get her more confused, and I didn't want to confuse myself either. We had to be in our five senses to solve all the unsettled problems. We had little time, I was sure she would get discharged soon, and there was a high chance that the first thing she had to do after the release was packing her stuff to move to Washington, right to the facilities, where she would be living in a small room, getting in and out just for the test and meals, with restricted visits.

"Leon, I don't want to be here anymore"

I suddenly remember a young Sherry, crying while she held to my arm, a year after she was taken into the government's custody, I was just starting in the Secret Service, living in the facilities for rookie agents.

"I don't want you to be here either, but there is nothing more Claire and I can do"

I had explained the cruel situation to her, there was nothing else to say. I understood her frustration, we could only visit her a few times. If she got sick, we could not watch over her health, she was all alone in her room, only medical personnel could see her at those times.

Would Claire have to go through the same? Adam promised me it would be different, but what kind of difference? Even though Claire was already an adult, I didn't like the idea of her living alone, isolated, as Sherry was once.

I did not want that for her.

I thought of something, something everyone else would think I wanted to do to take advantage of a woman, but it wasn't like that. I thought of it as a way to help Claire, even though she might think of it as an indecent proposal. Still, I wanted to do it.

I might be ruining my plans to go back to my casual-dates life style.

—Claire —I called her, without pulling apart. She responded with a simple "hmm?" —. Are you really sure you want to go to Washington? —I needed to make sure of that.

—Yes, I'm going —she said, and her breath touched the skin of my neck. I made a lot of efforts to not lose myself in my erotic fantasies again.

—I was thinking —I began—, that if you have decided to go, why don't you stay with me in my apartment instead of living in the facilities?

Claire pulled apart abruptly, and I regret the end of our physical contact. She looked at me weirdly, as if I just had said something in another language, or just made an offer not so common of me.

Maybe she's thinking I want to take advantage of her.

Better clear that point.

—Listen, before you think of this as an indecent proposal, let me explain —I took a long breathe —. You know how much Sherry suffered those years she was in custody, she was practically isolated from everyone, we were her only visitors. We couldn't see her when she suffered the side effects of the experimental drugs they gave her. It was a bad environment, and I don't want you to suffer the same.

—But I'm not a little girl, Leon —she said, as if she complained about making my offer due to her being a defenseless woman.

Of course she was not, my suggestion had another reason behind.

—I know, and I'm not saying this because I don't think you can handle extreme situations. It's just that —it was worth being honest, even if I seemed corny —, when Sherry and I were rescued, we didn't have anything. The city that was supposed to be my new home, was vanished, and she had no one else in her life. I had to accept working for the government because I didn't have anything better to give her, I couldn't give her a home. I lived for a while in the facilities for rookie agents, while I saved enough money to get my own house. It took me two years to do so, but they didn't allow me to take Sherry with me. What I try to say is —I didn't care if I sounded corny —, I want to offer you what I couldn't give to Sherry back then.

Fuck all the compensatory human behavior.

Claire's expression changed, she didn't look at me weirdly, another emotion covered her face. It was a mix between sadness and sorrow.

She might think I'm corny.

—You don't have to tell me right now, if you want, you can take your time and tell me la…—I didn't finish my sentence because Claire wrapped her arms around me suddenly. She held me as if I was someone special.

And I wished it was like that.

—I didn't think you were more sensible than you look. It's very nice of you —she whispered to my ear, I felt my cheeks burn —. I don't want to have more stuff to think about, my head is spinning enough with the TerraSave issue. I accept your offer.

—Thank you —I hugged her back —. I hope you don't mind to live alone with a guy, but you'll realize I spent so little time in my home due to my job. At least you'll have someone to talk to at night, before sleep.

Claire pulled apart, staring at me suspiciously.

—We're not sharing a room, are we? —she asked, almost afraid.

I laughed. My last comment was misunderstood.

—We're not, unless you want it —I said sarcastically and she hit me slightly on my shoulder —. My apartment has a guestroom, you can use it. When I said "someone to talk to at night, before sleep", I meant we could have a conversation about our day before each of us goes to our respective rooms —I said as if it was the most obvious thing ever.

—Ok, I get it. Sorry for not catching it earlier, Agent Kennedy —she replied with a fake sarcasm —. Would the president mind this?

—The president is also my friend, and he promised me your case would be different than Sherry's. I'm sure that if he wants to fulfill that promise, he will allow me to be the one who watches over you.

—So, you won't take your eyes off me, huh? —she said with naughtiness. She might have been joking, but that comment made my heart beat faster.

I began to think that I was misguiding Claire in the use of sarcasm.

—It's part of the job, I can't complain —I shrugged.

—I don't think my brother agrees on this, I'd better omit that detail when I talk to him —she said, and her expression suddenly changed, as if she just remembered something important —. Chris!

—What about him?

—We have to tell him what happened today. Maybe he can help us to find a solution —she commented.

—You want me to call him? —I asked, and she nodded —. Then I'll do it. I'll be right back —I stood from my seat, and felt a bit of cold air, I guessed it was because I didn't have Claire's warmth by my side anymore.

I exited the room and took my cellphone out of my pocket, I dialed the number I had registered for Chris. The dial tone last for a few seconds until my call was picked up.

—This is Chris Redfield from the B.S.A.A. —he answered with a monotonous tone, as if he did that several times a day.

—Chris, it's Leon. I'm calling you in Claire's request. We want to talk to you, something unexpected happened today.

o-o-o-o-o

What's up, people!

Here I am again, sooner than later. My ideas are clearer now, I know exactly what to write next xD. By the way, I told you before that there was around 6 chapters left, right? Well, forget that, I don't know how many chapters are left anymore xD. I always have a limit of pages to write in Word for each chapter, and I reach that limit when I less expect it! But it is true we're past the half of the story, we're getting into the second half and the most important one for our beloved couple hehehe. It will soon be linked to Revelations 2, so, if you haven't finished the game or seen what happens, please do it.

Cleon moments are back!, I owe them to you, since last chapter was not romantic at all. Leon does not run away from his instincts anymore xD, but he still doesn't relate them to any feeling yet, men have that skill to perfectly separate sexual issues from emotional-sentimental issues, I know it's hard for us women to understand that because we do exactly the opposite ^^U. Claire is loving what she's discovering about Leon, and they're more open to physical contact now, without erotizing it…too much 8D.

By the way, have you seen or played Project X Zone 2 game? Leon,Jill and Chris are playable characters (and Ada makes a cameo e.e), and we're told more things about RE universe than the games themselves. According to the events in this game, Leon met both Jill and Chris after the T-abyss incident. Besides, when the three are about to fight together, they have this interesting dialogue:

Chris: "Well, well, who would've thought we'd ever form a team like this?"

Leon: "Seriously. You gonna call up your little sister Claire, too?"

Jill: "You joke, but I wouldn't be surprised if that happened one day."

Are they hinting us that they might be a reunion of the four of them in the future? :O Let's hope it's like that, if Capcom ever wants to fill their pockets with money again xD.

Anyway, you know if you like the story, please follow and favorite, but more importantly, leave a review, that would help me a lot to continue. And I would love to read every one of the followers of this fic, they are more than 40!

Til next time!