A/N: I would take this moment to thank all my readers, for all and the follows and favorites, and the reviewers, Shirahane Aikawa, hodhod2011danger and Orel Havi, for reviewing. I just want you guys to know that it's really a delight to know your views on the chapter and I always look forward to it.

Chapter 5

(Kate's POV)

I was preparing coffee for breakfast when I heard a hissing noise. At first, I ignored it thinking I might be just hearing things, since I was a little sleepy. But when I heard it a second time, I got a little scared thinking if a snake or something got in the house and desperately looked around to spot it. When I turned back tracking the direction of the sound, I found the back door opened just a crack and just barely enough so I could see just an eye and half of the face of a man.

I contained my laughter, "John?!", I could only say.
"Is she here?", he asked in a very low voice.
"No, she's not today", I answered him letting out a laugh and getting back to preparing breakfast.
"Thank god!", he said relieved opening the door and letting himself in, "I really don't like having breakfast with her, and she's been around here, a little too much lately."
"That's because she's Leon's girlfriend, isn't it? I mean it's pretty normal", I couldn't help but say concentrating on preparing breakfast.
"Normal… but definitely not usual", he made a point taking a seat on one of the kitchen chairs; "She wasn't here before this often."
"Well Leon told me that Shadow is not fond of her", I told him and Shadow barked in agreement, "And she's not fond of Shadow either."
"The only one she's fond of is herself", John said with a laugh.
"And Leon as well", I said with a smile, putting a plate freshly prepared breakfast in front of him.

John let out a muted laugh, muttering something under his breath, which I didn't quite catch. It had been a considerable time since I first met Lauren, and I could see that she was totally into Leon and Leon held the same strong feelings of love towards her. They were an absolute case of opposites attract; I couldn't really see some common ground or interests between them. She was a person who expressed her emotions and feeling very loud and clear, and Leon was very calm and peaceful kind. Leon was humble and modest, but she carried this air of superiority around her. But even despite those contrasting differences they were together, and seemed much like normal loving couple.

On the other hand, Lauren wasn't really friendly with John and although he didn't show it out that much, but it seemed he didn't like her that much either. Lauren always disapproved of how John was freeloading on Leon's money, which was often the topic of their breakfast squabble, since Leon didn't mind it as much as Lauren did. It was obvious that Leon and John were very good friends to let something like this come between their friendship. I could just say it was something like integrity in diversity.

Leon came down a little later and I served him breakfast, before sitting down to have mine as well. Leon and John discussed something about work, talked on trivial matters and joked with each other. Once they finished breakfast, I informed Leon about the low supplies and he gave me his card, so I could shop for the groceries and supplies. And with his usual warnings he and John left for work.

(Leon's POV)

I used my keys to get inside the house and unlike every time Shadow didn't come to greet me, which came as a shock to me. I called for him but he didn't show up, so I walked through the living room, into the kitchen just to check on him but he wasn't there. I checked out in the backyard and he wasn't there either. Kate didn't seem to be home either and I couldn't help but think if she left him out, and he ran away somewhere. I dropped the thought, since Shadow was a little too smart to run away like that.

I took out my phone and called Kate on her cell phone that I had to get for her, and which she agreed to keep after hours of convincing. I waited for her to pick up the call, "Hello?", she answered from the other side.
"Where are you?", I asked her looking around the house for Shadow just in case.
"I went out for grocery shopping", she replied and I heard a bark from her end.
"You have Shadow with you?!", I asked her astonished, rounding back to the kitchen once again.
"I know you said not to take him out on my own, but he was whining a lot when I was leaving, so I took him with me", she replied sounding a little regretful.
"He didn't cause much trouble or anything", I asked her surprised. The only reason I asked that of her was because Shadow never listened to anyone but me.

"Not at all, he was well behaved", Kate said and I heard the kitchen door open, and she entered the kitchen with her grocery bags and Shadow at her heels; the phone balanced between her ear and shoulder. I moved to help her, "Thanks", she said setting the bags on the counter, "You came home early today?"
"Yeah, I didn't have too much work", I gave her the obvious reply.
"Oh I see", she said in acknowledgement.
"Anyways I'd just go and have a shower", I said starting to move out.

Kate hummed in response, moving around the kitchen setting the consumables where they belong. I walked up to my bedroom, loosening my holster, and with Shadow following close behind me. I got a clean pair of clothes from the wardrobe and headed for a well needed hot shower.

(Kate's POV)

I had just done with putting away all the groceries, when I heard the doorbell. Usually we don't get any visitors, apart from John and Lauren, but it's probably because Leon is not home most of the time. But since he was home now, it was a possibility that someone came to meet him. I walked to the front door and had opened it just a bit, when recognizing the person at the door made me instinctively shut the door. It was the last person I wanted to be here. The man tried to push open the door and I threw all my weight on it to close it, but I wasn't any match for him as he finally managed to push open the door. I backed away from him in fear.

"Finally found you", he said with a mad smile on his face.
"How?", I could only manage, the fear was literally paralyzing me.
"Got lucky", he said throwing his arms wide, "Couldn't believe my luck, when I saw you in the store today."
"What do you want?", I asked even though I knew what he was after.
"I've come to take you", he said and with one swift movement grabbed my hand.
"Let go off me", I said struggling.
"Not in a million years", he said smiling happily as he watched me struggle. Then I heard a bark and looked up to see Shadow, "I knew this would happen, so I brought this", he took out a gun from his pocket and shot at Shadow but Shadow dodged it somehow and ran upstairs, "Now move!", he said pulling me along.
"Please let me go, I beg of you", I cried helplessly as he pulled me along, my strength was no match for his brute strength.

Then I felt someone grab my other arm and the man couldn't drag me with him anymore. He and I, both looked back; it was Leon keeping a firm grip on my arm. I was so scared that I had forgotten for a moment that he was home too, "Got yourself a new boyfriend", the man said displeased, "Back off before I shoot you", he aimed his gun at Leon too.

"That's no way to treat a woman", Leon said not letting go.
"My woman, didn't she tell you she's my girlfriend", he said with a victorious smile.
Leon looked at me inquisitively and I shook my head, "No", I managed to say somehow.
"She doesn't want to go with you", Leon said with a weight in his voice.
"You can't stop me from taking her away", the man said and shot at Leon.

I screamed in fear but Leon had bent his head in time to dodge the bullet, and was already throwing a punch at man's face. The punch landed hard on his face and he got knocked out. My heart was still beating like mad and I felt shiver run down my spine, paralyzing me. I couldn't comprehend any of my surroundings, couldn't hear a thing, couldn't make sense of anything I was seeing; couldn't even find my voice to say anything. My knees felt weak and I stumbled a little, not able to maintain my balance.

I felt an arm going around my waist as Leon moved to support me, "Hey?! Hey! You alright?", he asked me concerned and I gave him a nod, "The cops are on their way", he told me keeping his phone back, "Don't cry alright?", he added wiping my tears that I was totally unaware of, "You know this guy?"
"My ex, Max", I managed to reply to him somehow, "I didn't… I didn't know he was like that…"
"It's alright!", he said pulling me to himself and before I knew it myself, I was crying on him.

(Leon's POV)

I held on to Kate, she didn't seem to be able to stand on her own and anyone could see that she was scared and shaken to the core. I didn't know the reason why she was so terrified of this man but she was in no condition to tell me now. I didn't really realize when I pulled her in a hug to comfort her. I had held many women in my arms but somehow holding her felt really nice. She felt really warm and soothing somehow; it was as if I could hold on to her forever.

We pulled away from the hug, when we heard the sirens of the cop car. She looked back and dried her tears, "Are you alright?", I asked her.
She nodded not really looking at me, "I am sorry, I ruined your shirt", she apologized and I instinctively looked down at it.
"It's fine!", I told her smiling as the cops reached our door.

I explained the entire situation to the cops as I knew it and then they talked to Kate about it. Supposedly, she had restraining order against her ex for some reason. The breach of restraining order and me pressing charges on him was more than enough to earn him a trip to prison. When the cops left, things really became a little too quiet and this wasn't the silence one would like.

I watched Kate walk back in the kitchen and my feet followed her on its own. She started to prepare for dinner, and I couldn't help but appreciate her professionalism. It would have been completely normal, if she wanted an evening to herself to recuperate. From the way she was shaking in my arms just a couple of minutes ago, I didn't think that the first thing that she'll do, after the cops leave with the man, was to make dinner.

I stopped her, as she was about to chop a tomato, "It's alright, I'll order something tonight", I said to her in an understanding tone.
She turned her head to face me and smiled weakly, "I am fine", she replied releasing her hand and sliced the tomato in two.
"Are you sure?", I asked her concerned.
She gave me a nod, "Yes, it's not the first time this happened", she said concentrating on cooking.
"You want to tell me about it?", I asked her taking a seat on the kitchen chair.

Kate looked at me and contemplated about it a little, "I guess you'd want to know after this", she more of thought out loud and let out a sigh of tiredness, "Max and I met at a party. We talked about work, weather and stuff; he was alright. Next day he showed up at my work, said he wanted to know me better and asked me out on coffee. We started seeing each other and then eventually started to date. A few weeks later he brought me to show his apartment, and just a little while in there he tried to force himself on me", her voice wavered as she spoke these words, "I pushed him hard and ran back home", tears again streamed down her face, "After that he turned mad, followed me everywhere. He'd hurt himself and show up at the hospital and I quit my job to avoid him. But then he started getting drunk and make a scene at my door. The neighbors complained to my tenant about it, and he threw me out. I got a hotel room and a new job as a substitute teacher, so that I could get a new place, but he showed up at the school too. One of the student's almost got hurt because of him, and I had to quit again for their safety. I needed to hide from him and that's when you put up the advertisement."

"And you came to work for a total stranger", I couldn't help but say.
"I thought you wouldn't be worse than Max", Kate said with the weakest of her smiles, "to be honest I was really desperate for a home and a job; I was running out of all my savings."
"And you got adventurous", I joked hoping she'd smile more.
"Yeah something like that", she agreed smiling a little more, "Thanks for helping me back there!", she said gratefully.
"It's nothing", I told her casually, "I'll protect you as long as I can."

I couldn't help but smile a little at those sincere words. It was the first time someone has been this much considerate to me. This guy could've just turned a blind eye to my troubles but he chose to help me out, and I couldn't be any more grateful to him. I didn't know if he would keep his words, but I felt a lot more relieved and secure, sharing his company at this moment in time. I was glad that he was home today; otherwise I couldn't have imagined what would have happened to me.

"Hey!", I snapped out of my thoughts as I felt Leon's warm hand over mine, "You feeling alright?", he asked again.
"I am fine!", I told resuming to cook dinner.
"You don't have to do this, I can order something from outside", he said to me, once again.
"Well it would defeat the purpose of me being here", I told him moving to put the pan on the stove, "You just relax and watch TV or something. I'll call you when dinner is ready."

I was again taken aback by her commitment and dedication towards her work, "Well if you say so", I said raising myself off the kitchen chair. I started to move out and stopped at the door to look back at her just once. She was already busy with cooking dinner. I wasn't sure if she really was alright but if she wished to work, then all I had to do was to have faith in her that she could do it. I walked to the living room, sat on the couch and started the television to kill the time.

The rest of the evening went by pretty much normal; at least on the surface they were normal. Kate continued with her work as if nothing happened. She didn't delay the dinner and it tasted as good as it always did. She also took care of a few other trivial things before we both retired to sleep. She really was exceptionally professional as a housekeeper.

A/N: Thanks for reading this chapter. I hope you enjoyed the back story of Kate (not that impressive I know), and apologize for the grammatical mistakes or typos that might have caused an inconvenience.

Orel Havi, you deserve the mention! I just wanted to familiarize a little, so if you review in future I know it's coming from you. :D

See you all next Tuesday/ Wednesday!