A/N: I would like to express my gratitude to all the readers, for reading, following and marking this story as their favorites, and also hodhod2011danger, KenLalaLaura, Shirahane Aikawa, Dragonmaster789 and the Anonymous reviewer, for sharing their valuable opinions with me; I really look forward to those so please feel free to share your views and give me insights.

Chapter 7

(Leon's POV)

I listened to Hunnigan on the phone, as I descended down the stairs. She informed me about some last minute changes in my schedule and few other details, before hanging up. I crossed the living room and entered the kitchen, where Kate was busy preparing the breakfast, whose aroma was really appetizing and could make anyone's mouth water. She briefly spared me a look, as I took a seat on the kitchen chair, and got back to taking the omelets off the pan and on the plate.

"Good Morning!", I wished her getting the morning paper, since she didn't wish me like always.
"Good Morning!", she wished me back with a smile as she put the plate in front of me.
"Are you okay?", I asked her, since her voice sounded a little different.
She smiled pouring me a cup of coffee and replied, "I am very well, thank you!"
"You sound different and look a bit pale", I stated, noticing the difference from her usual self.
"Do I?", she said with a surprised tone and I nodded in affirmation, "Don't worry I am fine", she added casually with a smile.

And before I could say anything, the back door opened and very surprisingly Lauren entered the kitchen. It wasn't my off day or weekend, so her showing up this early was a little odd. Her visits sure had increased with Kate around, since she suspected Kate to make moves on me. She just wanted to protect me, since I was really naïve when it came to women and their web of seduction. At least that's what her explanation was on the matter, when I casually asked her about it.

Lauren visiting now of all times, was nothing less than a mystery. I didn't remember if I promised her something today, or if she said she wanted to talk to me about something. If we were supposed to go out, I am sure she would have mentioned it on the coffee meet yesterday. I was in middle of wondering all this, when I noticed a huge plastic bag in her hand, as she made her way towards me. It seemed like she was packing a dead body, from the way she was barely holding it up off the ground.

"Good Morning, sweetheart!", Lauren said smiling brightly at me.
"Good Morning!", I said to her and she moved to kiss me in a greeting. I expected it to be brief, but surprisingly it went on for at least a minute.
"Breakfast?", Kate asked her in a formal yet friendly tone, as she pulled away from the kiss.
"No, I already had some", she said waving her hand casually, "These are some of my clothes, they need to be hand washed", she said to her putting that plastic bag, which probably had her clothes in it, on the counter. The purpose of her visit was now more than clear.

Kate looked at the bundle and then to Lauren seemingly distressed, "You don't have to do it", I said before she agreed to it, "You don't have to work for Lauren."
"What are you saying?", Lauren said in shock and disbelief.
"I pay her and not you, so she's not liable to do your chores", I said to Lauren calmly.
"But you pay her more than she works for and I am your girlfriend, she can do a bit of my bidding", she said shooting an angry glare at Kate for some reason.
"That's none of your business; it's my money I'll spend it the way I want", I said to her clearly making a point, "She's employed to do my house work and not yours. She's not your slave", I gave her an angry stare.
"Okay if you say so", she said huffing, giving up on the matter but she didn't look too happy about it.

Kate was doing a great job looking after Shadow and the house, plus she was an excellent cook too. She was pretty much flexible with her work as well, if I told her to make me breakfast early, she would do it without fail; so even if I paid her more than usual, she deserved it. If I add the stuff Lauren was making her do behind my back all this time, then she deserved more than what I was paying her. Just because she's not complaining, it doesn't mean it's easy for her or we should abuse her hospitality.

(Kate's POV)

I was very much relieved when Leon saved me from doing Lauren's laundry, but Lauren clearly seemed very displeased with his decision. Although she agreed to it, but she was literally sending me mental signals that she wants her laundry to be done, by this evening and without Leon finding it out about it, all through the time we were having our breakfast. I just sighed inwardly, thinking that it would have been better if I was oblivious or dumb about these cues, or in the least could act that way.

Leon wiped his mouth on a napkin, finished his coffee and stood up to leave, "C'mon I'll drop you to work", he said to her in pretty natural tone. It didn't seem like they had a disagreement just a few minutes ago.
"I'd leave my laundry here", Lauren said to no one in particular, "I'll get it after work."
"Take care", Leon wished me like usual and walked ahead.
"I want you do that laundry by the time I return", she whispered to me so that Leon doesn't hear it, "Or I'd see to the fact that Leon fires you!"

I gave her a nod in response, feeling slightly down all of a sudden, and she left the kitchen slightly disgruntled. I knew if Lauren really wanted, she could make Leon pull me off the job. I sighed collecting dirty plates and cup, when I heard someone's footsteps behind me and I turned back to see who it was, "I'd really pull you off the job if you so much as washed even single cloth in that bag", Leon almost threatened me walking back in the kitchen, "You don't have to work for Lauren and she can't make me fire you!", he added with a weight in voice.

"Did you find your wallet, it's not in the bedroom!", Lauren yelled from the living room as I gave Leon a nod.
"Yeah!", he yelled back to her, starting to leave.

Leon gave me a meaningful look, before exiting the kitchen. I smiled again; he really was a very kind man. He was more than what meets the eye, just maybe he got unfortunate with Lauren. I laughed inwardly at that thought and moved to set the dirty cups and plates in the sink. Almost all of sudden my body felt heavy and there was a sharp pain in my head. I grabbed my head with one hand as the room seemed to be spinning, with a tremendous speed.

(Leon's POV)

I back tracked again to the kitchen, this time I had really forgotten my phone. I stepped in the kitchen just in time to catch Kate as she fell, "My god Kate! You are burning", I couldn't help but say feeling her temperature. This was the actual reason, why she looked pale and her voice seemed different, because she was really sick.
"I am fine", she said with her eyes closed.
"No you're not", I disagreed with her, "take an off today and rest", I said lifting her up in my arms.
"What the hell do you think you are doing?", Lauren yelled stepping into the kitchen, misunderstanding the situation.
"Helping her", I said moving out and towards Kate's room.

Kate grabbed the front of my jacket as I ascended up the stairs. Once in her room, I placed her on her bed and covered her with the blanket, "Thanks!", she mumbled to me weakly, with her eyes closed.
"I'll send a doctor for you", I told her tucking her in, "just rest for now."
"Hmm", she hummed in response and opened her eyes a little just to say, "I am sorry."
"Don't worry about it", I said standing up, "I have to head to work now, so you take care."

Kate barely hummed in response and I exited her room. I descended down the stairs and Lauren was waiting for me at the foot of the stairs. She gave me a displeased look and I couldn't help but shake my head in disbelief. I didn't say anything and exited the house, pretending not to notice her anger. She tried to get my attention at the fact by slamming the car door shut, but it only made me let out laugh at that childish behavior. She continued to frown at me and administer the silent treatment on me, but I really didn't feel fazed by it or anything. I guess I had too much experience with women's anger and their insecurity about me.

"I am mad, if you haven't noticed!", Lauren finally broke her silence halfway through the ride.
"Why?", I asked her in a monotone, even though I had some idea what it was all about.
"Because you sided with that hag", she said pouting a little.
"Housekeeper", I corrected her with a smile.
"Whatever", she said rolling her eyes, "The thing is she's not going to respect me if you keep siding with her."
"She respects you", I told her the truth, "And don't you think those clothes would have been a little too much for her."
"But baby you already pay her more than she deserves, you know", she argued with me.
"She takes care of a bunch of things around the house, and looks after Shadow as well. Now if we add the things you want her to do, then it would be just unfair and inhumane", I reasoned with her, "Kate's a human too; she has her limits. And you saw it yourself today; she got sick working like dogs for you."

"Oh she's only faking it", Lauren really surprised me with her sense of inconsideration.
"Lauren, she was burning with fever, the least you could do is not talk shit about her", I said to her calmly.
"See you're siding with her again", she said turning in her seat, and accusing me once again.
"Well if you see it that way I won't deny it", I really couldn't win an argument with her anyhow and I had already given her my points.
"That's just great! That's really great! You're my boyfriend but you never listen to me!", her voice wavered and I knew that she was about to cry.
"Well she's not my slave", I said losing my calm a little as well.

"I want her out of your house now!", Lauren demanded crying.
"What?!", I couldn't help but say, not knowing how else to react to her crying.
"I want you to fire her, this instant", she rephrased her plea clearly.
"I can't do that", I said totally revolted of the idea, "She does a lot of work around my house, and above all takes care of Shadow. Do you think I can spend so much time with you on weekends or off days or spends nights over at your place, if I am busy taking care of Shadow or cleaning the house?"

Lauren didn't say anything for a moment possibly thinking on what I said, "You should just get rid of the dog as well", she said crossing her arms, as the light turned green.
"Shadow is my best buddy, he's not going anywhere and I need Kate's help to take care of him for now, so she's not going anywhere either", I told her my final verdict, "It would be better for you, or more correctly us, if you try and understand it."
"I understand it!", she said in a whiny tone, "I just… just get so jealous when I see you with her", she expressed her insecurity.

"You don't have to be", I told her smiling a little, "I don't feeling anything for her, yet", I added just to tease her.
Lauren hit my arm, "Stop joking!", she said repulsed by the idea.
"I love you!", I told her stopping the car in front of her workplace.
"I love you too", she said with a gorgeous smile and I leaned in to kiss her.

Lauren returned the kiss with the same passion and we kissed longer than usual, possibly as a sign of forgetting our differences and reconciliation. I was really glad that I could finally make some sense to her and we could resolve this issue of Kate working for me, which had definitely been on her mind since the time she came to know about it. When we ended the kiss, she grabbed her things, fixed her lipstick and kissed my cheek before getting out of the car. I watched her get inside her office building, before heading to my work place.

(Kate's POV)

I filled Shadows bowl and he barked as if saying thank you and I said, "You're Welcome!" I moved to wash the dishes from the morning. As Leon had allowed me, I had rested all morning through evening. All my work was still pending and house was nothing less than a mess. So now when I feel a bit better I thought to take care of it, after all I was the caretaker of this place. I washed and dried the dishes and moved to tidy up the living room. I heard the doorbell when I was just finished with it. I moved casually to get the door, knowing it must be someone asking address or some sales guy or something like that, since Leon hardly gets any visitors besides John and Lauren.

I pulled open the door and recognized the petite woman, who is Leon's doctor friend, as she said, "Hi!"
"Umm… Rebecca right?!", I said remembering her name, "I am afraid Leon's not home."
"I know, I am here to see you", she said with a smile.
"Me?!", I said surprised.
"Yes!", she nodded, "Can I come in?"
"Yeah, yeah sure", I said opening the door wide enough, since I was holding her at the door, "I am sorry."
"What for?", she said stepping in the house.
"For being rude", I said casually, "Please have a seat, I'll get you some coffee."
"Oh please don't be so formal", Rebecca said, giving me a friendly smile.
"But you'll have coffee right?", I asked her returning the gesture.
"Yeah sure", she smiled and gave me a nod.

I moved to the kitchen and she followed me. She took a seat at the counter as I prepared coffee for her, "So how can I help you?", I asked her, after a while.
"By telling me how do you feel?", she said and I looked at her confused.
"I am doing fine", I told her pouring coffee for her, "You came all the way to ask me this?", I offered her coffee.
"Yes and No", she replied taking the coffee and laughed a little, "Don't be confused, actually Leon called me this morning asking if I could check on you, since you were sick."

I couldn't help but smile at the consideration that Leon showed towards me, "I see", I said sipping my coffee, things were clear to me now, "I am sorry for the bother but I am fine; he must have forgotten that I used to work as a doctor too and know how to deal with fever."
"Oh yeah he mentioned something about it before. It slipped my mind as well", she said bumping her fist onto her head, "By the way coffee is really great! I thought John oversells your culinary skills."
"You know John as well?", I asked her surprised.
"Yeah Leon, John, Claire, Chris, Jill and others, we are like pack of good friends", she said smiling proudly.
"Oh", I could only say in response, since the only people that she mentioned and I know are Leon and John.

"So anyways thanks for coffee", Rebecca said setting her cup down, "I have to go back home, my kid must be waiting."
"You have a kid?!", I said really surprised.
"Yeah, I married early", she smiled, "Life is kinda fast paced for me. Treat me and my family to a meal sometime?"
"Yeah sure", I agreed as I saw her to the door.
"It was great meeting you, I hope we can be friends", she said with a bit of doubt.
"Of course", I smiled; Leon and his friends were really down to earth people.
"See you sometime then", she said and moved away.
"Yeah take care on your way home", I wished her as she got in her car.

I looked at Shadow at my heels; he's been the only company I had for past two months, excluding the times spent with Leon, John and Lauren. Leon is a man of few words; John is friendlier than Leon but still I only see him for a very short duration of breakfast; and Lauren despises me, so I couldn't say I was having proper social interactions with them. But Rebecca visiting me today, made me feel like that one of my friends was visiting me. Although we didn't talk too much on a personal basis, but I guess it was more than enough for someone, who was as socially deprived as me.

(Leon's POV)

I used my keys to unlock the door and Shadow came to welcome me. I stroked his head once and straightaway headed to my bedroom, since Kate was not doing well so possibly there won't be any dinner waiting for me. And since I wasn't really a fan of restaurant food, I just decided to skip it, at least for today. When I pushed open the door, I saw Kate changing the sheets on my bed. I really wasn't expecting her to be in my room and it was a little odd seeing her there, so much so that for a moment I didn't know what to do.

"I thought I told you to take off and rest?", I said feeling a little annoyed for some reason.
Kate looked back at me, realizing my presence, "Oh God, you scared me!", I tilted my head waiting for my answer, "Well I took rest and was feeling a lot better by the evening, so I thought why not do house work", she replied and picked up the laundry basket with freshly ironed clothes, "How come you're home early today?", she asked me casually setting my clothes in the wardrobe.

"I was stuck with paper work today", I replied as I took off my jacket and threw it on the loveseat in my room, but it slipped and fell on the floor.
"You didn't bring Lauren today and she didn't came to get her stuff?", she said not looking at me, as I removed my holster and threw that on the bed.
"She said that she'll get it some other time. She had some urgent business to attend to", I replied her with a tired sigh, sitting down at the end of my bed undoing my shoes.
"It must be really important that she left you alone with me", she commented with a laugh, closing the wardrobe door.

"You're awfully chatty today", I couldn't help but say, starting to unbutton my shirt.
Kate didn't reply at once and I looked at her, "Oh… I am sorry for being too indulgent in your life", she said moving to pick my jacket, "I just…", she shrugged leaving her sentence hanging, "I am just sorry", she apologized again.
"It's alright!", I said standing up emptying my pockets.
"I'll go heat up dinner then", she said and I gave her a nod.

Kate set my jacket nicely on the loveseat and began to move out of the room, when I wondered what was she so apologetic for, "Hey wait!", I stopped her and she turned to look back, as I walked to her, "Did you think I was offended by you asking about Lauren?"
"I can totally understand, it's your personal business. It's just that I haven't had a proper social interaction for so long and then Rebecca came today and we chatted casually, so it put me in the mood, and now I am blabbering again", she spoke it really fast that it took me a while to process it, "I am sorry", she apologized, "I'll go heat dinner", she turned to head out again.

"Wait a minute!", I grabbed her arm and pulled her so that she faces me, "It's alright, although you work for me but we can still be friends and talk freely. I mean you don't need to be this formal, and it's fine if you want to casually ask me about stuff."
"Al… alright", Kate stuttered looking at me and I noticed something that I hadn't before, "but we are kind of close for comfort", she added and I noticed that indeed I was invading her personal space. I still had a tight grip on her right arm and her left hand was resting on my chest, and I immediately let her go.
"I am sorry, I didn't realize", it was my turn to apologize.
"It's alright", she said smiling awkwardly and I wasn't sure but her color changed a little, "I'll go heat up the dinner", she didn't even wait for my reply and moved fast exiting through the door.

(Kate's POV)

I hurried down the stairs, not knowing what was making me do that. My heart was beating ten times the normal, and it was not the first time this happened. It happened before, that night when he accidentally pulled me on top of him when I was trying to pull a blanket on him. It always happened when I looked into those breathtaking sky blue eyes of his. It always made me feel a million of emotions in mere fractions of seconds. His eyes communicated more than he did, or so I believed. I kept a hand on my heart asking it to calm down and took a few deep breaths.

I made my way to the kitchen once I felt closer to normal and began heating up the dinner. And by the time I plated it up, Leon came down to have it, "Enjoy your meal", I said setting the meal in front of him.
"Thanks!", he replied not looking at me, reading something on his phone.

I looked at his expressionless face and for the first time I noticed a frown, which made me curious about what was making this calm guy frown on. I looked at his phone and he was reading a schedule of some sort, was it his schedule? I again looked back at him as he let out a silent sigh, and I could see lines of tiredness on his face. And the more I paid attention the more and more I could read him, and I didn't need his eyes to tell me that he was irritated, exhausted and… pained.

Leon kept his phone aside with an audible sigh and looked at me, "Something on my face?", he asked noticing me, noticing him and I shook my head in a no, my throat felt too constricted to reply, "You were looking at me like that I thought there was some bug on my face", he added mixing his food and then having spoonful of it. He ate in silence and I just watched him and then he looked at me again, "You feeling alright?", he asked me concerned and I nodded, "You sure coz you're sort of turning red?", he stretched a hand and touched my forehead, "You have a slight fever I suppose. Go sleep for now and take off tomorrow till you get better."

(Leon's POV)

"I am fine!", Kate said and her voice was again a little different.
"You don't sound well", I said a little worried about her over working herself.
"I think I'm having a cough too", she said touching her throat, "But I'll be fine by tomorrow."
"So go and rest then", I said having a spoonful of my meal, "I'll put the dirty dishes in the sink; you can take care of it in the morning."
"Yeah", she said and started to move and my eyes followed her till she reached the kitchen door, and then I concentrated back on my meal, "Leon!", she called and I looked back at her. She was standing at the threshold looking at me, as if she wanted to say something really important, "Thanks for sending Rebecca to check on me!"
"No problem, you're my responsibility as much as this house is yours", I told her with a smile.
"You're really a great guy!", she said sincerely, "Good night!"
"Good night!", I wished her back.

Kate left and I was left to finish my meal on my own. I really felt super tired, so I finished it as quickly as possible and headed to my room to sleep. I lied down on my bed and Shadow jumped up on the bed, settling next to me and stroked his head while staring blankly at the ceiling, wondering about a lot of different things that happened today, till they all put me to sleep.

(Leon's POV)

"Good Morning!", I heard Kate voice as I entered through the kitchen back door after my morning jog. She gave me a bright smile, that I hadn't seen before, the one which even failed the sun and the one I couldn't help but mirror, "For a change I made juice, instead of protein shake", she said moving towards me with the tray, with a glass of juice set on it.

"How are you feeling?", I asked Kate reaching to touch her head, she backed away a bit, as I touched her head, and she seemed fine.
"I am fine!", she replied smiling again, as I withdrew my hand and took hold of the glass of juice.
"Tastes great!", I told her taking a sip.
"I am glad you liked it", she said pleased, "I haven't started with breakfast yet, so what would you like?"
"Anything", I replied finishing the juice, "I just want my black coffee."

Kate gave me a displeased expression, "Well just say whatever you want to eat, what's so much of a big deal?", she muttered audibly.
"Cheese omelets, butter and toast and of course my black coffee", I told her the first thing that came in my mind.
"Wasn't that hard, was it?", she said with a smile and started to prepare the breakfast.

I watched her work for a few seconds and shook my head out of what emotion, I don't really know. I moved out of the kitchen and headed up to my room to get ready for work. When I returned back to have my breakfast, I found John waiting for me and asking Kate about her health, since I had told him that she wasn't doing well yesterday. He wished me morning, as I took my seat next to him and Kate served us breakfast. The three of us sat together having breakfast. John and I discussed a little about work over breakfast, and left for work immediately after it.

A/N: Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed the comparatively lengthy chapter. I apologize for all the inconvenience and confusion that my typos and grammar might have caused. See you all next week, till then hope you have a great time!