A/N: I would really like to thank all the readers and reviewers, Dragonmaster789, mlivingston1432 and KenLalaLaura, for your continuous support. It's really delighting to know that you all love the story and enjoying. I hope you all enjoy this chapter as well.

Chapter 18

(Kate's POV)

Leon unlocked the door and supported me inside the house, as Shadow came to greet us. I was truly useless with a bullet wound in my leg, being literally unable to walk, and nothing more than a burden on Leon for past 4 days. He not only had to save me but he also went through the trouble of looking after me, when I was in the hospital. I didn't really get to have a proper talk with him after I gained consciousness. I just thanked him once and he just asked me to take rest. I guess he was still a little angry at me for putting myself and other people in danger, and I could totally understand where he was coming from.

I sighed; at least, it was all over and maybe Leon would overlook my mistake over time. I just concentrated on working with Leon, so I could step inside the house. We both stopped at the foot of the stairs and my eyes scaled those 15 steps to the upper floor. It seemed that it would require a very serious and tedious effort from both of us. I took a deep breath and started to move, when all happened very suddenly and Leon lifted me up in his arms.

I wanted to say something in protest, but I wasn't able to say anything once I turned my face to look at Leon. He kept his eyes on me and I didn't want to look away from him this time. My heart started beating fast, telling me to live this once in a lifetime moment and I grabbed him for support, so that I don't fall. Leon looked ahead and started to slowly move up the stairs, and I couldn't help but admire him more. Once we were at the top of the stairs I got a little sad that he would be putting me down but he didn't, and once again he turned his head to look at me.

Leon didn't move towards my room and just stood there looking at me, as if he wanted to say something. I looked into in his sky blue eyes and couldn't help but get a little lost in them. I just wanted the time to freeze there and then. I had this really wild urge to confess my feelings to him, but my reason told me not to, and my heart ached from the realization. But still I couldn't look away from his handsome face, not when he was looking at me so warmly and caringly.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?", Lauren's voice made both of us look in the direction of main entrance, where she was standing, glaring up at us, "I knew you were cheating on me!", she jumped to a false conclusion without wasting a minute, and Shadow barked at her angrily.
"We need to talk", Leon said to her in a monotone, "Wait for me in the living room."
"Fine! You better have a damn good explanation about all this", Lauren barked and stomped to the living room.

Leon's eyes followed her for a bit and he shook his head slightly. I again thought he'd put me down, but he didn't and carried me to my room. He asked me to get the door and I did without any questions. He put me on my bed very gently, and very cautiously put a cushion under my hurt leg, before taking a seat next to me.

"Thank you!", I said gratefully. I could have walked to the room but him carrying me to the room, was definitely more convenient for me.
"Don't mention it", Leon said shaking his head dismissively, "I'll go talk to Lauren first."
"Yeah sure", I said nodding, "I understand."
"Stay with Kate", he added to Shadow, raising himself off the bed.

Leon walked out of the room and I relaxed on my bed. I rested my head against the headboard cursing myself a little; again I had caused trouble for him. I just hoped Lauren would understand the situation like she always does. I opened my eyes, as I heard Lauren yelling at Leon at top of her lungs. She was blaming him of infidelity, calling him a liar and what not. I could just hear her voice but not Leon's, so I didn't know what explanation he was giving her, but just knowing that I was the reason for an argument between them made me feel like dirt. I felt very regretful to have caused this misunderstanding between them, and just hoped and prayed that they sort it out like they always do.

After some time, I couldn't hear Lauren's voice anymore, so I assumed that either they reconciled or she left. I was expecting that Leon might come up to my room to tell me what really happened but he didn't. He wasn't really obligated to tell me everything about his relationship; after all it was something very personal. I grabbed my book on the bedside table and began reading it, to distract myself from thinking about all the blunder I have been causing in Leon's life.

After an hour or so into the book, I heard some sort of movements outside my room door. I looked at it, and Shadow raised his head to look in that direction, as the door opened revealing Leon. He stepped further inside the room, carrying a food tray; it seemed he went and bought us something to eat. I tried to read him, in attempts of figuring out if all went well with Lauren or not and really hoped that I didn't cause any damage to their relationship. His expressions were pretty normal and I couldn't really figure out if everything was okay.

"I thought you might be hungry", Leon said clearing his throat and taking a seat next to me, and keeping the tray on my bed.
"I am really sorry", I couldn't help but feel apologetic.
"Why are you sorry?", Leon asked me in a confused tone.
"For causing you so much trouble", I said in a very regretful tone, "I should have been careful but…", I took a pause, "I don't know what I was thinking. I am just… sorry!", I repeated once again hoping he'd forgive me.

"I am the one who should be sorry", Leon said in a very serious tone and turned his eyes down, "I was supposed to take care of you but I failed. I am sorry, Kate. I should have been more vigilant."
"Leon, it's not your fault!", I said grabbing hold of his hand, realizing why he wasn't really talking to me. It was because he was guilt-ridden that he had caused me harm, "You warned me it was dangerous and also not to accompany Tony to his lab but I was being stupidly adventurous." I didn't know how else to describe my own short comings, "I thought if you were able to secure a solid evidence against him, it would be great and that's where I went wrong. I should've known better that I am not an agent. So, please Leon, don't blame yourself because I don't blame you and won't blame you ever in future."

Leon let out a laugh, "And I suppose you took a bullet for me because you were feeling adventurous?!", he asked me raising his brows. I felt a little speechless, I couldn't really tell him that I did that, because I love him and didn't want to see him die or even get hurt, "I shouldn't have let my guard down."
"Leon, what has happened, has happened, we can't change it", I told him making my grip tight on his hand, "We can only take responsibility for what we have done, and you're doing a really great job in taking responsibility", I looked him in the eyes, "Our life is too short to live with regrets", Leon opened his mouth to argue, "The important thing is that we live to tell this tale to our children!"

Leon smiled slightly and I knew I was successful in lifting his mood up, "Our children?!", he asked suggestively.
I blushed a little for saying that, "I mean you'll tell yours and I'll tell mine", I cleared it out to him, "Anyways let's eat, I am hungry", I added unwrapping my burger.
"Yeah", Leon agreed getting his burger as well.

We ate silently for a while and it was pretty awkward silence, especially when Leon wasn't really busy with his phone, "So… umm… did Lauren get pretty mad?", I broke the silence asking what I really wanted to know, and speaking as casually as I could.
"Yeah, weren't you able to hear her?", Leon replied with a laugh.
"Yeah", I said sadly, "Sorry about that!" I added regrettably, pulling up an apologetic expression.
"You don't have to worry about Lauren", Leon told me casually, putting some sauce on his burger.
"So you guys sorted it out then?", I asked him hopefully, just to confirm.
"Yeah", he replied with a confident nod.
I sighed in relief, "Thank god!", I said looking up, feeling really glad about it.

I didn't need to know the details of their discussion, so I didn't ask much on the topic; after all it was their private matter. The fact that it was all well between him and Lauren was more than enough for me. Leon and I talked casually about different stuff, as we ate our lunch together. After lunch, he had to report back to work so he left me on my own, but not before telling me to call him if need be and warning me to not do any work even if I was really tempted or just itching to do anything. I agreed to his wishes because it would be a lot better if I could get better as soon as possible.

(Leon's POV)

I checked my schedule while descending down the steps. It had been a little over two weeks since Kate was shot and she had recovered completely. If it was someone else, they might have quit working for me but Kate worked as if nothing happened. And true to her words she never blamed me once for it and took care of the house, Shadow and me like before. The few times I had crashed on the couch since then, I always woke up with a blanket on me. She has always been the person whose actions spoke louder than words.

Just as I turned to head to kitchen, somebody rang the door bell and I backtracked to get the door. I was a little surprised to see Claire and she was a little surprised herself, "You opened the door for me so quickly", she stated in surprise, as I let her inside the house.
"I was just passing by the door", I told her with a smile.
"Oh", she said in realization, "I was very surprised to see you getting the door after I rang the doorbell just once."
"Yeah it was obvious from your face", I told her with a smile, "So, what brings you here?"
"It's weekend Kate and I decided to go shopping", she replied, as we entered the kitchen, "So I thought I'd help her with the housework, so we get more time."

"Oh you're here already?!", Kate stated surprised and John greeted both of us.
"Yeah I thought if I was early, I'd get to have breakfast with you all", Claire said with a smile, as we took our seats on the counter.
"Good thinking", John said, as Kate served us coffee.

We talked among ourselves, as Kate prepared breakfast for Claire as well. She quickly served all of us breakfast together and sat down to have breakfast with us, "This really tastes so good", John complimented her cooking once again and she smiled at him, "You sure, you won't marry me?"
"No, I won't marry you, John", Kate replied already used to his joke.
"Then how about you marry Leon?!", Claire said and it made me spat out the coffee, I just drank.
"Hey that's a great idea!", John agreed with her, as Claire laughed.
"Isn't it?", Claire said in an excited tone, "We'll always get to eat her cooking.

I looked at Kate and she looked equally perplexed, "Hey shouldn't the ones whom you are getting married have a say in this?", I couldn't help but say to them.
"Why? Do you have a problem in marrying her?", Claire asked raising her eyebrows, "She's better than all your girlfriends combined so far."
"Agreed", John took her side, "Think about it buddy, you'll always have a great cook as your wife."

I don't know why but for a moment I thought about what John and Claire was saying. I looked at Kate thoughtfully; she really was good at everything she did, if not perfect. She cooked well, cleaned the house, did laundry, paid bills on time, and took care of Shadow and even me, at times. There was no doubt that she could be a good wife, considering that if we get together she might even love me. So, yeah my friends were right.

I let out a sigh looking at Kate and smiled. She smiled back in confusion, "Would you like to marry me?", I asked her in a very serious tone and everyone became very silent.
Kate looked at me for a while before she smiled very beautifully, "You might break someone's heart if you joke like that", she said shaking her head. I was really surprised that she saw through that.

"You were joking?!", Claire asked me in surprise and I gave her nod, earning myself a punch from her.
"Well you two wouldn't stop", I couldn't help but say, helping myself with the breakfast.
"What I am more amazed about, is that you saw through it", John said to Kate, who was drinking her coffee.
"Oh well it was way too random to be serious", Kate said to him with a shrug, "And plus it was very similar to the time when he asked me to marry you, so I was sure he was joking."

Our chat turned more random from there and fortunately we didn't upset Kate this time. I guess she got used to such jokes; well good for her since with John around there was no end to such jokes. It had been countless times that he got me and Claire married, very much to our annoyance. And now he had Kate as Claire's replacement, and of course since Claire gets to dodge out of it, she'd naturally side John in pulling our legs.

After breakfast, John and I said goodbye to the ladies and headed for work. As we exited the house and were walking towards the car, I realized that I had left my phone in the kitchen. I asked John to go on ahead and turned to head back inside. As I was about to pull the main door open, it was opened by Kate. She smiled and held out my phone to me. I thanked her with a smile taking my phone back from her. She wished me good day, as I started to leave, and I wished her the same.

Once I turned to finally head to work, I spotted a taxi stopping in front of my house. Even though it was a little odd, but I wasn't really too much surprised to see the visitor. It was Lauren; she smiled at me and hurried out of the cab. I waited till she paid for the cab and watched her, as she hurried to me.

(Kate's POV)

I should've minded my own business, but I don't know what made me, but I stood at the threshold of the door watching Leon and Lauren. She greeted him with a quick hug and they talked for a little while, before Leon gave her a nod and headed to work. Lauren waved him goodbye, before turning to look at me. Her expressions hardened once she laid her eyes on me. It was the first time I was seeing her, after she saw Leon carrying me to my bedroom when I was hurt.

I was hoping that Lauren would leave, now that Leon wasn't here, but she started to move towards me, "We need to talk!", she said in a very business-like tone, standing in front of me and then walked past me into the house.
Shadow came rushing from the kitchen and started barking at her, which made Claire follow him to the living room as well, "Kate, what's taking you so long?", she asked, as she entered the living room. She stopped dead in her tracks, when she spotted Lauren.
Lauren gave her a look of contempt but didn't say anything, "Quiet down, Shadow", I tried to calm him down and then turned to Lauren, "How can I help you Miss Pryce?"

Lauren looked at me and let out a sigh. She walked to a couch and dropped herself on it, which for some reason made Shadow growl at her, "I believe you're all well now?", she asked surveying me from head to toe.
"Yes", I replied with a nod.
"None of your injuries hurt or anything, right?", she asked me once again in confirmation.
"I am perfectly fine", I told her with a slight smile, "Thanks for your concern."
"Well I can't go in circles, so I'll just skip to the point", she said looking at me sternly, "Now that you're all well, you should leave!"

"What?!", Claire said revolted, "Who are you to decide that, it's Leon's decision!"
"I am not talking to you!", Lauren said to her with a weight in her voice and then she again looked at me, "Look it'll be better for Leon and me if you quit."
"Speak for yourself", Claire spoke up again, seemingly revolted.
"I said I'm not talking to you!", Lauren repeated herself angrily.
"If you have a problem with Kate, go complain to Leon", Claire made a point to her.

"Like if I hadn't asked him to fire her already", Lauren gave me a demeaning look, "I told him to fire her every time I got a chance but he just doesn't want to fire you! Since the time you came our relationship is a mess, we are having more fights and I'm on verge of losing him. Do you know why?", she asked me and her eyes were filled with tears, "All because of you."
"Don't blame Kate for your failing relationship", Claire argued with her, "Don't believe her Kate!", she added to me crossing her arms.

"Look whether you believe it or not, I am very serious about him. I see my future with him but he'd never see me more than a girlfriend as long as you are with him", Lauren said to me crying now, "No matter what I do, he'd always compare me with you, because you are already doing those things for him and that too perfectly, that's why he doesn't want to replace you. But as long as you are here Leon and I cannot progress because you're filling the place that I am suppose to take. So, please I am begging you to please quit before it's too late for me and Leon", with that Lauren broke into tears, "I really love him and I don't want to lose him please!"

I looked at Claire, who seemed really shocked to hear this confession from Lauren. I guess she never thought Lauren was this serious about her relationship with Leon that she'd put her ego aside and literally beg me to quit, in hopes that it would improve her and Leon's relationship. Although, she didn't really need to worry since Leon was already thinking of proposing her but I couldn't just break it out to her, otherwise it would just ruin any surprise that Leon might be planning.

I took a deep breath, "Alright Miss Pryce, you don't need to worry. I'd quit as soon as possible", I said to her with a smile and she looked up at me in surprise.
"Kate?!", Claire called out my name in utter shock.
Lauren wiped her tears and composed herself, as she stood up, "Please don't tell Leon about it", she requested of me, "He would get mad and…"
"I won't", I assured her cutting her speech in between and she looked at Claire hopefully.
"I won't promise anything", Claire said crossing her arms.

Lauren became a little sad but didn't say anything, "I'll take your leave then", she said to no one in particular.
"As you wish", I could only say and she started to move.
"I have to get a few of my things", she said all of a sudden, looking up at the stairs.

I gave her a nod and she headed up the stairs. I looked at Claire and she gave me an annoyed look but didn't say anything. I knew she didn't want me to quit, knowing the whole situation, but now that Lauren had personally requested me to quit, I really didn't have too many options. Lauren descended downstairs with a bag of her things and exited the house without saying anything.

I let out a tensed sigh, as I watched Lauren leave silently. This was the first time I had seen her, this much weak. I guess love really makes you vulnerable in different ways. At least she loves a guy who loves her back. I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked back to see Claire looking at me kindly. I smiled at her slightly, non-verbally telling her that I was fine and moved to close the door.

"You're really going to quit?", Claire asked in a very soft and concerned tone.
"Yes", I gave her my short reply, holding the door handle.
"Why?", Claire asked sounding utterly dismayed.
"You were there, right?", I asked looking back her and she didn't meet my eyes, clearly she wanted to avoid it, "Lauren is really serious about her relationship with Leon and thinks I am just getting in between", I closed the door of the house and also to my feelings for Leon, "I never wanted that and so if my quitting the job makes things better then I must leave."

"Leon would never let you leave", Claire said, as I moved towards the kitchen.
"He cannot stop me from quitting", I said firmly looking back at her, "I can't work for him forever. It's better that I leave now, before I make things anymore worse."
"We're not even sure if you're the one making things worse for them", Claire tried to reason with me, following me in the kitchen.
"It doesn't matter if I am the real reason", I told her starting to wash the dishes, "If Lauren thinks I am a reason than that makes me a reason, since because of me she's insecure and her insecurity affects the peace of their relationship."
"Oh c'mon she's insecure about everybody, even me", Claire said out loud in frustration.
"But she never asked you leave her boyfriend alone, did she?", my voice raised too, as I made my point clear, and Claire looked away in realization, "She was insecure of you but she knew her relationship wasn't in immediate danger because of you. Maybe she is just a little jealous of your and Leon's friendship, and how well you understand him."

"Kate, you don't have to do this", Claire said to me, shaking her head slightly, still not favoring the decision of me leaving.
"I don't, but sooner or later I have to go", I said hoping that she would understand, "The sooner, the better; because every day I fall more and more for him", I remembered all the things that I love about Leon, "But I can't afford that anymore", I closed my eyes and tears streamed down my face and my heart ached, "Not when he's planning to…", I stopped abruptly opening my eyes, I had said a little too much.
"Planning to… what?", Claire asked me, as I wiped my tears.
"Never mind, forget what I said", I said to her, getting back to washing dishes.

"Kate, tell me what is he planning", Claire asked turning me to face her.
She gave me an intense demanding look and I sighed in defeat, "He's thinking to propose Lauren", I told her the truth.
Claire let out a laugh of disbelief and took a step back, "How do you know? Did he… Did he say something to you?", she asked me in a tone of urgency.
"Not directly", I replied and told her the conversation he and I had on the airplane.

"That doesn't prove anything", Claire said to me, shaking her head and sounding annoyed.
"You can act ignorant about it, but the truth is that they both are thinking on the same tangent", I couldn't help but say, "And if something goes wrong then I'd blame myself for the rest of my life. So, please try to understand that it's not easy for me but I have to do it."
Claire sighed in distress and nodded looking down at the floor, "I understand", she spoke in low tone of sadness.
"Thank you!", I smiled at her a little, "Now let's get some work done. We have to go shopping!", I tried to cheer her up.

Claire nodded and helped me with the few dishes that were there. We didn't talk initially, as we worked together around the house. The atmosphere was still a little tense for us to talk about normal and trivial stuff. I guess Claire was giving me time, as well, to recuperate and I appreciated her silent support. After a while, we got talking about random stuff, but still it was far from normal. Once we were done with housework, we went for shopping, hoping that it would miraculously lift our mood somehow.

A/N: Thanks for reading the chapter. I apologize for any grammatical mistake or typing errors, which might have caused an inconvenience in comprehending the text. Let me know how you found the chapter or what do you think about Leon's reaction, when Kate breaks the news to him, or whatever you want to comment on. Hope you have great time, see you all next week!