A/N: I am really thankful to all the readers of the stories for their invaluable support thus far, and I'd also like to mention Shirahane Aikawa, hodhod2011danger, mlivingston1432 and Orel Havi, for sharing their views about the last chapter. Thanks a bunch for all the encouragement and I really look forward to hearing from you.

Chapter 8

(Kate's POV)

Somebody rang the doorbell like mad and I hurried to get it, and I as soon as I pulled open the door, a punch was thrown at me. It missed me by mere inches as a flaming red haired woman yelled, "Kennedy, you forgot me again!", but when she realized it was not Leon, her temper subsided but I was still a little scared that she'd explode any instant, "Oh I am sorry, I thought it was Leon", she said with a warm and friendly smile.

"I am afraid he's not home yet", I informed her still feeling a little alarmed, "He won't show up till very late."
"That idiot, he totally forgot I was coming", she cursed him out loud and then let out a sigh to probably calm herself down, "Anyways, you're his new girlfriend?", she asked me, smiling very sweetly.
I shook my head, "I am his caretaker", I informed her.
"Caretaker?!", she almost yelled out in surprise, "I thought they were old cat lady kind of person."

I couldn't help but let out a laugh at that comment, "Well if you have any message then I'd pass it on to Mr. Kennedy", I said to her politely.
"Well actually I am here to stay", she said pointing to her luggage that I hadn't noticed until now.
"Leon, I mean Mr. Kennedy, didn't tell me anything about it and I am not sure if…", I really didn't know how to handle this situation. Leon didn't tell me about any guests, but if she was really his guest then he might get mad if I send her away, "You don't mind if I call and confirm about you?", I asked her and hoped that she won't be offended by it.
"Yeah, yeah sure I understand", she said casually giving me a couple of nods, "It's not your fault that, that idiot forgot about me", she said rolling her eyes.
"Thanks", I said dialing Leon's number.

"Kennedy", Leon answered his phone in a monotone.
"Leon, there's a woman here", I told him smiling awkwardly at the woman.
"A woman?", he sounded puzzled about it.
"You forgot about me again, Kennedy!", the woman yelled loud enough so he could hear it at the other end.
"Yeah I know her, take good care of her. She'll be our guest for few days", Leon said to me, in an evident tone of urgency.
"Yeah will do", I said and then he disconnected the call, "Please come in", I let the woman in, "I apologize for the rudeness", I added moving to get her bags.
"I'll take it", she said lifting it on her own, "And it's no trouble, you were just doing your job."

I just smiled in response and led her to the only guest room, since the other was occupied by me, "I am sorry the room's a little dusty. Leon didn't say you were coming otherwise I would have definitely cleaned it", I said moving to the window and opening it, to let the fresh air in.
"Oh don't worry about it, it's always like this whenever I come here", the woman said flopping on the bed, "What's your name? I am Claire, Claire Redfield."
Her name sounded familiar and then I remembered Rebecca mentioned her just a few days ago, "I am Kathleen, Kate for short", I replied with a smile.
"Sorry for scaring you earlier", Claire said apologizing again.
"It's alright", I said dismissively, moving to change the sheets and pillow covers.

"It's just that Leon always says he'd pick me up at the airport and he never shows up. I feel like a left out puppy", Claire said pulling up a very sad expression.
"I am sure he doesn't mean to make you feel that way", I said to her pulling the pillow covers, "I guess he's just too busy that besides his schedule he doesn't remember anything."
"Yeah true", Claire agreed with a sigh, "I guess I'll go take a shower", she added raising herself off the bed.
"Alright", I said with a nod as she opened her bag, "I'll clean up the room, by the time you finish."
"Oh thanks", Claire said and went straight in the bathroom with a pair or her clothes.

It took me a few minutes to change the beddings and within another 10 minutes I dusted the room and the air was breathable again. I informed Claire that she could find me in the kitchen before heading out of the room. I prepared proper lunch for Claire and myself, usually I have anything or even skip it sometimes, but I couldn't keep Leon's guest hungry. By the time I plated it, she came down in her home clothes.

"Smells great!", Claire said it like a kid.
"Help yourself", I said keeping the plate in front of her.
"It's really yummy", Claire complimented me eating her meal, "I was so hungry, I didn't even have breakfast because I had to catch a flight", she added concentrating on her food.
"I can understand", I said with a smile, filling her a glass of water.
"Oh you're not eating?", she asked looking at me confused.
"I'd eat once you're done", I said, Leon let's me eat with him but I wasn't sure if I could do the same with her as well.

"Oh c'mon don't be so formal", Claire said to me casually, "Treat me as your friend."
I couldn't help but smile, she was more or less like Leon except that she was more expressive and lively, "Thanks!", I said and sat down with her to have my lunch.
"Does Leon treats you as such?", she asked me.
"No, he never treated me like a caretaker but more like a…", I was saying but I wasn't sure, if Leon and I were friends. Claire looked at me puzzled, "Friend?!", I said a little confused.
Claire laughed a bit, "Why so doubtful?", she asked still laughing.
"Ah well we are not really friends", I told her the truth, "I just work for him and he's really a considerate boss."

Claire laughed, "So you're saying that even though you live under the same roof, you don't know him", she asked me.
"Well I know him but not that well", I admitted feeling a little embarrassed, that it's been months since I started working here and still I couldn't say I knew Leon.
Claire laughed even more, "As expected", she said between the laughs, "He's barely home, no doubt you are not that well acquainted with him", she added, completely understanding the situation. It seemed she knew Leon more closely to have guessed the situation without me telling her about it in details.
"So he's always been like that?", I couldn't keep my curiosity down.
Claire thought for a bit, "Well yes and no", she answered, "I guess he has become more ignorant of himself and more stoic."
"Why so?", I asked her again, I wanted to know more about my employer.
Claire shrugged thoughtfully, "Well guess he's been lonely."

"But he has a girlfriend", I couldn't help but say and Claire laughed much harder than before, as if I had told her a joke.
"She's just gold digger", Claire said recomposing herself.
"But he really loves her", I told her, what I've been seeing for past couple of months.
"Unfortunately", Claire said almost bitterly.

Claire and I spent most of the day talking about various stuff; she even helped with some of the house work despite my protests. She told me a lot about Leon and I never thought this silent agent had such a story in his making. He seemed nothing less than hero; he was a far better person than I could imagine and the respect I had for him, just exponentially grew as Claire told me more and more about him.

(Leon's POV)

I unlocked the door and heard sounds of feminine laughter from my living room. I patted Shadow once, who had come to greet me happily, and made my way to living room. I found Claire and Kate sitting on the couch, talking and laughing about something. They both turned to look at me, once they noticed my presence.

Claire let out a tired sigh, "You're finally here!", she got off the couch and Kate followed the suit.
"Were you guys waiting for me", I asked them as Claire moved to hug me.
"No, we were waiting for the house to sprout wings", she stated sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
"You two catch up, I'll set the dinner", Kate said and moved to the kitchen.

"How have you been?", Claire asked me warmly.
"Same as always", I replied with a smile, "What about you?"
"I am good", she replied with a smile.
"So how's Chris and Jill?", I asked her with a friendly smile.
"They both are doing fine and sent their well wishes for you", Claire said, as I took a seat on the dining table.

Claire took a seat next to me as Kate brought a plate and started to serve me dinner, "So what brings you to DC?", I asked Claire, grabbing knife and fork to start with my dinner.
"Work", she replied in a really bored tone and I couldn't help but let out an amused laugh.
"You don't seem too happy about it", I commented as Kate filled a glass of water for me.
"Well I am not a workaholic, unlike you", she quipped back, "Besides I hate these diplomatic meetings. It's really boring!", she didn't try to contain her displeasure about it.
"Well true it's hard to imagine you all prim and proper like a lady", I teased her and she jabbed my arm with all her strength, "I mean biker Claire is way better than a corporate Claire."
"Aahh… you made me miss my old days", Claire said dreamily looking up at the ceiling, lost in her thoughts.

"So, anyways you had dinner?", I asked her since Kate didn't serve her dinner.
"Ah yeah, I couldn't wait for you. I was really hungry", Claire answered and her stomach growled in response, "I guess I am still hungry", she said and we both laughed.
"I'd get a plate for you as well", Kate said with a smile.
"Thanks!", Claire called after her with a smile, "You've got a really great caretaker", she added to me.
"I know", I agreed with her enjoying my meal, "And thanks it wouldn't have been so, if you hadn't suggested it then."
"You're welcome but really she's such a great cook", Claire said as Kate set a plate in front of her and started serving her as well, "But I am sure you must have told her a hundred times already", she added pulling her plate closer.

I stopped chewing my food and looked up at Kate, who was busy filling a glass of water for Claire. She looked at me, when she felt my gaze on her, "You want something?", she asked me and I shook my head, "Is it not good?", her brows furrowed in concern.
I gulped the food without chewing and replied, "No, it's good", and it made me cough a little. Claire laughed out loud and Kate rubbed my back, offering me a glass of water, "Thanks!", I said once my coughs died down.
"You never told her, have you?", Claire said once her fits of laughter ended and then continued, "He really takes you for granted", Claire passed her judgment getting back to her meal.
"It's nothing like that", I said it more to Kate than to Claire, "With Lauren around I just can't go on appreciating other women; she'd see it very differently."

"Speaking of her", Claire looked at me from her meal, "You're still dating her?!", she asked as if just to confirm.
"Yeah", I answered in an obvious tone.
"So, she's still the same?", Claire asked me casually.
"Yeah pretty much", I replied in the same tone.
"I don't really understand, why are you dating her?", Claire asked me in a tone of a mother, who was utterly disappointed in her son.
"I guess I love her", I replied her with a shrug.
"You guess?!", her voice raised a little.
"Claire, we have talked about this before", I couldn't help but say a little monotonously.
"Well I am trying to help you here", she reasoned.
"And I don't really get your reason", I told her with a weight on my voice.
"Oh really?!", Claire huffed crossing her arms.

And before I could say anything in my defense, "Please you guys should calm down, there's no point in this fight", Kate spoke and both, Claire and I, looked at her.
Claire laughed again, "Oh did it look like we were fighting?", she asked her and I wondered what made her think like that, it was a very usual discussion Claire and I had whenever we met.
"Yeah", Kate replied a little doubtfully.
"Oh it's nothing like that, it's how we discuss things", Claire told her casually, looking at me for support, and I nodded in agreement.
"You guys are really close", Kate said letting out a sigh of relief and smiled.
"We are", I affirmed.

"You thought of dating", Kate asked us curiously, taking a seat next to Claire.
Claire spat out the water she drank and we both couldn't help but laugh out loud at that, "No never!", Claire said emphatically.
"We are happy being good friends", I agreed with her.
"I don't know why people see us as potential couple", Claire wondered, looking at me thoughtfully.
"Possibly because we look good together", I humored her, "How about we give it a try?", I joked and she laughed whole heartedly.
"If that makes you dump Lauren then fine by me", she carried on that joke.

We again laughed together, and I didn't know how much time it had passed, since we had such a good time together. In the past, whenever she visited we were a little occupied with our work and didn't get to talk too much, but tonight we talked to ours heart's content, about various stuff and shared our lives with each other. She really justified the 'best' in the title best friend and lived up to it. No doubt my girlfriends got jealous of her because she understood me so well, but like we told Kate, Claire and I never saw each other that way ever. We were good friends, partners in adversities and allies in fight against bioterrorism. I knew I could count on her if things went down at my end and she knew I would help her out in any sort of tight situation if it comes to that.

It was only when we realized that we had work next morning we lifted ourselves from our chairs and headed to our bedrooms to catch a few hours of sleep. I took a shower and lied on my bed thinking about a something random and allowed the sleep to take over.

(Kate's POV)

I was busy cooking omelets, when I heard the back door open, and I looked back briefly to see Leon entering the house with Shadow at his feet. We greeted each other like always and I offered him his protein shake. He gulped it down in one go and headed upstairs to get ready for his work. By the time I plated breakfast Leon and Claire, came down discussing something.

Claire wished me morning and we ate our breakfast talking about trivial stuff, well Claire and I talked, Leon just concentrated on his plate or phone, probably going through his schedule. It was when Claire scolded him about it being rude to be on phone like that, he kept his phone aside but still he wasn't that talkative. From where I saw it Claire was doing all the speaking and Leon was listening to her, responding only when necessary. They really seemed very close, but now I could see that indeed it was nothing romantic. They were friends, very good friends at that.

The back door to kitchen opened again and John stepped in greeting Leon in his usual way. He welcomed Claire very warmly and shouting out loud in surprise, that we had to cover our ears and Shadow let out a bark in irritation. Leon's friends were both very different as well as very similar to him. Similar in the sense, they were all nice and considerate people, and different in the sense that they were far more expressive than him.

(Kate's POV)

I emptied the dinner in the bowls and set them in the refrigerator for Leon, and then moved to wash the dishes. Claire and John had made plans to dine out, and very generously invited me to tag along. I really didn't want to impose my company on them but Claire and John were pretty persistent and persuasive together, even when John was on phone. So, I agreed to go with them, it had been really long since I hung out with friends and honestly I was a little excited about going out, almost like a teenager. I locked the back door when I heard the doorbell.

I hurriedly move to open it thinking it might be John, although he usually uses the backdoor most of the times but maybe today he decided to show up at the front door for a change. I unlocked the door and was surprised to see Lauren. She had her arms crossed and was giving me displeased looks.

"What took you so long?", Lauren asked pushing past me.
"I was in the kitchen", I told her and Shadow came running barking at her.
"Keep that dog away or I swear I am going tell Leon that you let it lose on me", she almost threatened.
"Shadow, go back in the kitchen", I said to him and after a last bark he left, "Leon's not home."
"I know, he's not home", she said in a obvious tone, "I am here for my clothes, so get me my clothes."
"Your clothes?", I questioned in puzzlement.
"The bagful of clothes that I gave you to wash", she spoke as if she was talking to a mentally retarded person.
"Oh yeah, I'll get them", I said and hurried to Leon's room, where I had kept her clothes.

It had been more than two weeks that she had left those clothes here and never came to pick it up but just now. Now when I think about it, her visits had gradually reduced after Leon had asked her not to bring me chores; but well who am I to complain? I grabbed the bag of clothes that were sitting on a loveseat in Leon's room. I set them here so Leon remembers to take it to her but he always forgot. I hurried back down and handed Lauren back her clothes.

"I suppose you haven't washed them?", Lauren said looking inside the bag.
"Well Leon forbid me to wash them for two days and then they started smelling, so I had to wash it", I told her truth and hoped she won't be offended, "But he said this would the last time I am doing your work."
"I swear you just made up the last part", she said smugly not believing me, "Well whatever, I'll be off now."

I gave her a nod and Lauren started to head out, "Kate, John just called. He said to be ready, he's just around the corner", Claire informed me showing up at the top of the stair. She was getting ready for the outing in her room.

And before I could reply Lauren literally shouted at top of her lungs, "You!", and it literally made me jump and I turned to look at her. Her face had become red, her eyes were wide in shock, her nostrils were palpitating and she was shaking a little. She was clearly very, very, VERY Angry, "What are you doing here?", she demanded of Claire, who just smiled widely at her.

"Oh don't mind me I am just visiting", Claire said to her waving casually and rolling her eyes.
"Did I miss something?", John asked excitedly hurrying up to the scene.
"Nothing much", Claire smiled at him as well, "Shall we get going?", she asked John.
"Yeah sure", John said with a shrug.

Claire descended down the steps and Lauren was still giving her the same angry piranha look, "Excuse me!", she said squeezing past her since she was standing at the threshold and blocking the exit. In my opinion Claire was the bravest person ever at this moment. I wouldn't even think about approaching Lauren when she was like this, let alone pass by her, "Kate, come on! We'll be late."

"Ah yeah!", I said and it took a lot of my courage to step past Lauren, "I have to lock the door or do you want to babysit Shadow?", I said and finally Lauren stepped out on the porch.
"We'll wait in the car", John said to me and I nodded.

I moved to lock the house, as they headed for the car discussing Lauren's reaction as if she wasn't really here. John made very nice impression of her and they both laughed out loud, while she just fumed even more in anger. I couldn't really understand their casual behavior even in this heated atmosphere, maybe it was very usual for them. But for me it was just the opposite. I didn't really know what to do as Lauren stared at them. I just informed her of us leaving before hurrying over to join John and Claire.

As John drove us to the restaurant, they told me that Lauren wasn't really fond of Claire, but well I could figure it out from the way she reacted when she saw Claire. Claire said she was pretty much used to such behavior, and on the contrary, it really amused her and she especially liked to annoy Lauren, much like John. The rest of the evening they joked about how'd Lauren blow up to Leon about him not telling her about Claire, which involved Claire impersonating Leon and John impersonating Lauren. It might not have been that much accurate, but it did lighten up the evening.

A/N: Thanks once again for taking out time to read this story. I hope you all enjoyed it a little, if not much. I apologize for all the typos and grammatical mistakes that might have been troublesome in comprehending the context, and I'd really appreciate it if you could leave some comments about the chapter. See you all next chapter, have a great time!