A/N: Thanks to all the readers and I am highly grateful to Shirahane Aikawa, Tealz, LoneWolfOFAForgottenForest and Mercenary Nemesis for their encouraging reviews.
Disclaimer: I don't own Resident Evil or any of its characters appearing in the story, they all belong to Capcom.
Chapter 26
(Leon's POV)
It's been 2 days I haven't heard from Kate, it's not like she could call me and tell me how things were going, if she was alright or not. For the very first time I wanted to know how she was. Every night I remembered the night when she told me that it hurts her whenever they touch her, she feels filthy and she's not able to get the filth off her no matter what. If only their touch made her that way, I couldn't imagine how she would feel if somebody… I shook my head and tried to stay focused on my job, which is to protect the President here in Chicago.
"Welcome to our Green Royale Hotel", the manager said and it really felt welcoming when I saw her smiling at me. I thought I wouldn't get to see her for another 5 days but seeing her here made me feel a lot better.
'You'll know soon enough', her voice rang in my head and I smiled at her.
"She is Miss Denise Jones, the Hospitality Manager of this hotel, especially appointed as you wanted Mr. President", the hotel manager introduced her with her alias for this mission, "Mr. James Dough, is responsible for the security here."
"Nice to meet you both", the President said, "Thanks for acting on my request I didn't want other guests to be disturbed because of my presence."
"We all be at your service if you ever need anything", the manager said.
"That's great", the President said being a bit Jovial.
The President and his family were lead to a VIP suite by Kate, "Report Agent", the President asked.
"Everything is nice and perfect, I confirmed it myself. Installed spyware cameras all around the room and main areas of the Hotel, suspicious people are on surveillance and I know all the possible routes in and out of the hotel.
"Very good as expected from you", the President, "Now go before anyone suspects you."
"Yes Sir", she said and left the room.
"That woman I tell you knows how to get things done in short time", the President said impressed.
"Sir if you don't mind I'd like to go and have a look at the security preparations", I said and he agreed. And I left to get to the place where actual security cameras were.
(Kate's POV)
"Ma'am everything is ready for the dinner party", the Chef told me.
"Did you get everything I told you, for dinner, don't miss anything the President himself gave me this file about what he'll eat while he stays here", I said to him.
"Yes", he said.
"Good, get them on the table when prompted", I said and asked him to leave.
"Did you get everything for the President's family's entertainment", I asked my hotel assistant.
"Yes ma'am", she replied.
"Okay I just need to speak with the Security Head now", I said and moved to get to the hotel security room, "How's everything going?", I asked the head.
"Smooth as your skin", James replied, smiling at me.
"Good", I smiled a bit authoritatively, "Just stick to your business while you are at it", I said to him leaving the room.
"Everything's clear, you can get him down", I spoke in hidden microphone as I made my way to the event area just so I could welcome the President with the manager as an assistant Manager. The President and the Royal family met and had a formal dinner, with a little bit of entertainment.
In the middle of all this my phone rang and because it was a phone that was given to me for this mission only, so I suppose it is one of the hotel staff. I moved out to receive the call but it got disconnected and just then somebody pulled me in a small space. I threw a punch out of reflex and he blocked the punch out of reflex, "You scared me you idiot", I said to Leon it was he who did all this.
"Why didn't you contact, it wasn't a undercover mission", he said to me.
"You pulled me here to ask me this?", I asked playing with him a bit, maybe because it was a part of my job.
As I expected his expressions changed and he asked, "Are you okay? Are you hurt or something?", he asked concerned and when he asked if I was hurt he didn't mean any physical injury.
"I am fine", I told him, "How are you doing?"
"Terrible", he replied leaning back on the wall, but he didn't tell me why, "Let's get back before anything happens", he added not giving me any time to ask anything more.
(Leon's POV)
Both of us walked back to the party but not together but one after the other taking a time pause. I joined the President and Kate went to have a seat with hotel staff, "Come on Leon let's dance", Ashley said pulling me and I took her to the floor. Kate joined a moment later with the guy who was security head here and my blood boiled seeing him with my wife.
I have been having a close eye on him and he was totally the wrong guy to be dancing with Kate. I saw him perversely staring at the woman by the pool side and flirting with women staff. The thing that ticked me off the most was that I heard him saying something about getting Kate laid and right now his hand kept sliding down, "Keep your hands properly", I heard Kate warn him one time but he smiled and didn't heed it and again did the same thing and Kate pushed him, "I am not dancing with you."
"Yes you are", the guy said grabbing her hand and pulling her roughly to himself.
(Kate's POV)
"Leave me", I just said and I was immediately pulled away from the guy by someone else and whatever happened after that was really fast for anyone to register, since a full-fledged punch from Leon made the guy literally fly a noticeable distance. I looked back at Leon horrified as he moved to James and again punched him hard breaking his nose.
I didn't know what to do, if I tried to stop him I'll blow my cover, if I won't stop him nobody can stop him. James threw a broken piece of furniture at Leon, which he dodged easily. As his last resort he pointed his gun at Leon and it was my cue and I stepped between him and Leon and said, "That's enough", I yelled at him, "You're fired", I said to him and held Leon's hand so he doesn't move and then turned to him, "Sir, please stop destroying the hotel property", I said sternly to him, trying hard not to get crushed under his cold icy stare.
Leon didn't say a word, he jerked his hand off my grip and just walked out, he was still angry, "Leon", Ashley called but he didn't stop and she looked at me for an explanation of some sort.
(Kate's POV)
"I am sorry sir", I apologized to the President for what happened it was partially my fault, "I could have stopped the guy but I was afraid of blowing up my cover."
"There is no need for you to apologize", President said looking out of the window, his back was towards me.
"Kennedy, wouldn't have stepped in if I had stopped him earlier", I defended Leon.
"You stopped him, I couldn't be more grateful", the President said still not turning to look at me, "You know I have never ever seen him this angry. I thought he was a calm and well composed agent with too much patience."
'He is', I said mentally.
"But I was almost surprised to see him this much angry and from my experience Agent that was just a part of it, isn't it", he turned to look back at me and I didn't want to answer, "I asked you a question Agent", he said, his experienced eyes piercing me, "I know you know otherwise you wouldn't have been able to calm him down at that moment."
"We have worked together so many times that I know when he would listen to reason", I told him.
"You know him too well", President said sighing, "I see why you both do so well on mission. Its simply because you know each other like the back of your hand and understand each other without having to speak a word", he waited for my reply, "its late Agent Cornor and I think you're tired, go and have rest. I don't think discussing this would help. I think Leon would get better tomorrow", he said when I didn't answer him. I was glad that he took the matter really casually.
"Good night, Sir", I said and walked back.
"Good Night Agent", he wished me back and I turned to head out of his suite, "Uh… Agent, I think you know but Leon's anger was for good", he said and as I started moving. I turned and nodded with a fake smile and then headed out.
(Kate's POV)
I turned to my other side and couldn't help but notice the clock by my bed that said it was 1:00 AM in the morning. I had been in bed for more than 2 hours and all I did was twist and turn trying to get comfortable. Many times I thought of going to have a look at Leon, being the manager I had the key to his room which was a floor above mine near to the suite in which the President was accommodated. But I knew him very well; when he's angry he won't be in this hotel.
I sat up and moved to the window and stared out, when my phone buzzed and I saw that I had received a message from Leon. At first I thought not to even read it but then I did read it, it stated, 'Meet me on the roof, right now.'
I sighed heavily, not sure if I should go or not. Although I know he won't hurt me or anything but I really hated seeing his angry side, I was almost gravely afraid of his that side. Just thinking about that gave me the chills; I wrapped my arms around myself rubbing them to feel a bit a warm as the cool winds, flowing from the window hit me.
(Leon's POV)
I waited for Kate to show up even though I knew that she won't come. I knew she was mad at me and that she won't be showing up and by waiting here I am proving that she doesn't care a damn about anything. Nothing matters to her and if anything does then I wanna know what it is, since nothing that I do makes her happy. If only we could understand each other a bit better then life would have been so simple for me. My chain of thought was broken when somebody stepped on the roof.
"I thought you won't be coming", I said not looking at Kate.
"You guessed wrong then", she said softly.
"Guessing is not my cup of tea actually", I stated bitterly still not turning to look at her.
"I figured that out long time ago", Kate said and from her voice it appeared that she had moved closer.
"What else did you figure out, then huh?", I asked her.
"I am not here to have another useless argument with you", she said with the same tone of harshness.
"Too bad since it's the only thing you're good at", I replied fumbling for cigarettes.
"Look I am not here to argue with you…", she was saying.
"Then are you here to listen to my apology?", I yelled turning to face her now, "If that's what you are looking forward to then I am really sorry, because I won't apologize for something I didn't do."
"You are saying as if it was all my doing", her voice raised too as again I faced away from her.
"Yes it was all your doing", I turned and yelled it at her face, "It was all your fault and yours only."
"That's totally ridiculous", she said looking away.
"Look at me and say that", I shouted pulling her face to make her look at me.
"It was not my fault", she yelled now pushing me away from her, "Its all because of you can't control your damn anger."
"It would all be perfect if you didn't accept his offer to dance", I said still angry.
(Kate's POV)
"Do you have any idea how it feels when they touch me", I yelled gripping his shirt shaking him.
"Do you have any idea, how I felt", he shouted shaking himself lose from me.
"The only emotion you feel is anger", I screamed louder than him, "Other emotions are just for namesake", I looked at him my eyes burning to cry, maybe tears were already running down my face but the cold wind dried it away, "Its been five years and you've managed to increase you level of anger, congratulations", I said sarcastically clapping.
"I don't wanna talk about it", he said.
"Do you think I love talking about it", I asked him, "I hate every damn bit about it."
A cold and sarcastic laugh escaped Leon's lips as he turned his back on me, "She hates it yet she manages to get it all the time, ironic", he said looking at me over his shoulder, his eyes full of anger, bitterness and hatred for me. I didn't reply to it and watched him sit on the roof wall his legs hung outside like the time when I came here seeking him, "You are free to leave now", he said, "You weren't welcomed in the first place even though I called you."
I didn't say anything and turned to walk back to my room but halfway back I got this feeling of restlessness, feeling of being suffocated and I felt like as if a big boulder is crushing me, as if someone is choking me. I looked back at Leon he wasn't looking at me. The chilly wind blew and I pulled my shawl tighter but Leon hardly moved a bit. He was cold, cold like this weather. I felt tears streaming down my face as I looked at him sitting there alone minding his own business, 'But that's what you wanted right for both of you', the voice in my head said.
I started to walk again but something was pulling me back and I looked back at him again and then I don't know what took over me. I stretched my hand to reach out to him and then pulled it back again. I didn't know and I was never able to figure out what he was thinking when he was angry it was too hard for me to think that way and it was the main reason why we didn't get along. I stood there for how long I don't know and for what reason I didn't seem to get it. I was getting worse by each passing second. I felt cold, I felt sick and I was still getting that feeling of inevitable restlessness. I needed someone's loving warmth to soothe my restless heart and my body, which was getting numb because of the cold wind. Him smoking a cigarette wasn't helping either because it was getting hard for me to breathe.
(Leon's POV)
I threw away the wasted cigarette and lit a second one and then I heard soft sounds of coughing a little into my second cigarette which made me realize that Kate was still there. I looked back and she was coughing madly and was trying to suppress her coughs with her hand. She looked at me, looking at her and turned and hurried towards the door. I watched her stumble as she pulled the door open still coughing and disappeared from my view. I looked at the cigarette which I was holding and then chugged another lungful of it ignoring her.
(Kate's POV)
I coughed as I descended down the stairs, the coughs were getting worse and if I didn't do something about them somebody is bound to find me but I just couldn't control those coughs. I coughed loudly as my lungs started to ache; the more I was trying to suppress those coughs the painful it became. I collapsed to the cold floor coughing and I heard somebody yelling, "Who's there?", and I saw searchlights headed my way, if somebody found out that I was here to meet Leon then I would blow my cover. I somehow managed to get to my feet and stumbled to hide myself and in the process I left my shawl behind but I didn't care since it was not enough to find me. I turned a random corner hardly aware of my position and coughed louder as I held on to the wall for support; I knew I gave away my position as I heard footsteps but just then someone pulled me in some room and I knew it was Leon.
He was keeping his one hand on my mouth while his other hand was on my waist. My hand involuntary grabbed his hand which was on my waist and I gave myself to him, "Just try to breathe", he whispered in my ear as we stood with our back against the wall next to the door inside the room I don't know, it was dark to make out anything. He let go of me and I collapsed to the floor coughing. Then he pulled my shawl over me which I had left behind and I looked at his face for the first time now and he looked concerned, "Relax try to breathe", he said removing his jacket and pulling it over me and then pulling me in an embrace, "Relax, I know it's hard and painful but breathe", he said but I coughed even louder.
(Leon's POV)
I knew Kate was allergic to cigarette smoke and I only realized it when I heard her loud coughing. I knew because I almost killed her one time because when she told me this I didn't listen and she was like this that time too. To have coughs like this she must have inhaled too much of it and that too knowingly. Her condition was bad and the cold weather was making it worse now. I pulled her close to me to give her the warmth. She coughed a bit more and kept her head on my chest; she gripped my shirt as she coughed more and then all of a sudden her coughs stopped and she became limp. I pressed my lips against hers and gave her some of the needed air, "Come on breathe", I muttered helplessly pulling away but she was still limp and then again I pulled her close taking her lips giving her air, 'Please' I thought and then felt her hand as it moved over my chest a bit and my CPR became a kiss. I kissed her for a bit and pulled away, "That's my girl", I muttered to her as she coughed a bit and collapsed to my chest breathing heavily.
A/N: Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed. I apologize for any inconvenience due to any mistakes in the text.