A/N: I got bored of waiting for my update day to come so here's an early update, for all of you who are supporting the story thanks a bunch and special thanks to Shirahane Aikawa for her reviews.

Disclaimer: I don't own Resident Evil or any of its characters; they belong to Capcom.

Chapter 33

(Leon's POV)

I grabbed my head as I felt a pain surge through it, this was one of the worst possible situations of my life. I struggled really hard to get through it but deep down I knew I was not getting out of it, at least not today. I took a deep breath, 'I can do this. How hard can this be? I defeated zombies, Ganados, tyrants and every other BOW, so this is just mere paper work!', I thought to myself. I scribbled down the due report on Havardville and after what seemed like hours I looked up to find its only been 30 minutes, "Come on you have to be kidding me", I said frustrated. I had been sitting here since morning, doing all the pending paper work, switching from one report to another and all I managed to do was complete a report on Havardville. I was having a terrible headache, all because Ashley had flu and I had too many paper work pending. I cursed loudly throwing my pen in frustration.

"Hey", Kate said as she batted away the pen flying towards her with a file as she entered my cabin, "That's no way to greet the people coming in your cabin and I did knock you now."
"I am sorry", I apologized, "all this paper work makes me go crazy."
"That I can see", she said suppressing a laugh.
"What do you want? Are they sending me on a mission now", I asked rising from my chair hopefully.
"No", she replied and I slumped back down.
"Well I am very busy", I told her pulling another pen and another file, "so state your business."
"Well you accidentally got one of David's file, so I am here to get that", she told me.
"Help yourself", I said pointing her to the files on my right.

Kate moved to the files, as I started scribbling reports again. I heard Kate suppress a laugh again as she began going through the bundle of files, "I've completed that one", she informed me and I looked at her , "We were together in this one so I did the paper work for this one", and just like that she found out files that were not actually pending. I was relieved to know not much of work was suppose to be done and like always Kate had lifted off a huge burden off my back.

"Phew! That's lot of work", I said finally relaxing rubbing my head.
"None of the files in here is the one I want", Kate said reading the last file.
"How can that be possible?", I said and she turned to look at me but she accidentally hit me in the eye.

"Oww…", I screamed in reflex holding my hurt eye.
"I am so sorry, I didn't do it on purpose", she said keeping the file down and bending down to me, "don't rub it let me have a look", she said pulling my hand away. She blew air in my eye, "Feel better."
"A lot better", I said looking down her cleavage, "White how boring?", I couldn't help but comment, "then again you're wearing a white shirt so it's logical."
"I'll gouge your eyes out, you pervert", she said furiously standing straight adjusting her shirt a bit, "David said you accidentally brought a file having info about new recruits and transferred personnel, so you have another bundle of files?"

(Kate's POV)

"Yeah I… Uh oh…", Leon said and I gave him an inquisitive look, "I put them in the Shredder machine."
"WHAT?!", I couldn't help but scream in astonishment, "Tell me you are kidding."
"I am kidding", he smirked and gave me the file.
"Idiot", I said taking the file from him and looked inside as I walked out, "It's not the file", I said turning to look at him.
"I know", he said to me, "It's here", he showed me another file and walked towards me.
"Give me that file", I said to him moving to take the file but he pulled it away before I could get a hold of it.

"Only one condition I'll give you this file…", he said rotating the file in his hands and I read boyish features on his face. He wasn't going to give that file until I do what he tells me to do, something that would be near to impossible or so I think. He seemed to be totally in mood for playing, teasing and flirting. He looked really happy, almost like a teenage boy who was going on a date.

"What?", I asked him crossing my arms playing his little game.
"You'll have coffee with me", he said smirking and before I could answer David came in.
"It was taking you long to get the file so I decided to come and see if you were fighting", David said getting in the office.
"Mr. Kennedy is busy laying down his terms and condition", I told David, "Its better if you negotiate with him."
"What conditions?", David queried.
"Nothing, here's the file", Leon quietly gave him the file without any terms and condition.

"Oh yeah I wanted to tell you there are a few new recruits and two new transferred personnel joining us from tomorrow. Recruits are no problems 4 people a pair of married couple and a pair of twins. Couple specializes in intelligence reports while the twins are good at keeping watch. I am thinking to put them on Ashley's security detail. But there is a bit of problem with the transferred personnel, one from New York and other a careless Agent, you might know both", David said to Leon.
"Who are they?", Leon asked.

(Leon's POV)

"Uh… if I am not needed, can I go I have work to take care of", Kate said interrupting in between.
"Oh yeah sorry Kate", David said and I just glared at her for making that comment.
She pulled the door to get out but then she looked at me, "I forgot something… but you guys carry on", she said moving towards the table and my eyes followed her as I half listened to David. She took a pen and wrote something on the paper and folded it and then walked back and gave a slight smile to David and slipped the note to me when David was not noticing and pulled open the door, looked at me smiled beautifully.

"Leon, are you listening", David asked and I snapped back to him.
"No", I replied, "I mean Yes, I am listening", I replied snapping back even more; "Yeah you were saying something about the new transferred people."
"I already told you about them", David said shaking his head smiling, "But I am happy."
"That I wasn't listening to you", I asked him confused.
"No", he shook his head laughing a bit, "that you are taking interest in Kate. Just get back to me when you are free."
"Thanks David I owe you one", I said to him and rushed out and straightaway went for elevator because I saw Kate going down.

I read the note that she had handed me as the elevator went down to the ground floor, 'Its 6:00 you idiot let's go home, I'll wait only five minutes', the note said. The elevator doors opened but it wasn't ground floor, more of the time got wasted as a huge crowd entered inside. I was, never in my life, so impatient to meet anybody. The moment the elevator stopped at the ground floor and doors parted I made a run towards my car.

Kate was already there leaning over the hood of my car looking as attractive as always. She was wearing a knee length skirt today, white shirt and a black semi vest all of which were giving a smooth definition to her perfect curves. She seemed to be lost in her thoughts, since her eyes were closed or she was simply bored waiting for me because I did take more than five minutes.

(Kate's POV)

I opened my eyes as I sensed Leon close by, "I said five minutes", I almost scolded him.
"If that was the case why you waited", he said keeping his both hands by my side leaning over me flirting.
I backed away just out of reflex, I really felt weird when he flirted. It really made me extremely annoyed knowing that he was only flirting, "I have no time to waste on your flirting", I said ducking under his arm moving away but he grabbed hold of my arm and pulled me hard that my body bumped into his.

Leon wrapped his arm around my waist and again looked in my eyes, "You look beautiful today", he said sounding really sincere and very unexpectedly let me go.
"I look beautiful everyday", I said sort of quipping back as he rounded off to get to the driver seat and I followed.
"True", he agreed, "but there are times when you look more beautiful like today", he said getting in the driver seat.
"What do you want?", I said pulling on seatbelts.
"Why are you saying that?", he asked smiling starting the engine.
"Isn't it obvious you are buttering me up so I would side you or do something for you", I said to him in an objective tone.
"You already side with me and do things for me without letting me know you did. Why would I butter you up?", he said running a hand in his hair. He wasn't lying maybe he was hurt when I said that.

"I am sorry", I apologized.
"For what?", he asked looking at me seriously confused a bit.
"For whatever that I said that hurt you", I replied trying to sound really sincere, "I never meant to hurt you or anything. It was just… I am sorry really…"
"Hey, hey… relax you didn't hurt me or anything okay", he ran his hand again in his hair, "look don't ever say sorry to me okay… because if you kept saying sorry then there are many things that I need to apologize to you and you know how hard it is for me to say Sorry", he said looking at me and I just nodded, "God it's so hard to understand you… and to make you understand anything", he muttered.

'He is trying to understand me?', I couldn't help but think feeling happy inside, "Well its easier than to understand you?", I said trying to lighten up the mood and seriously hoped that it wouldn't lead to an argument.
"Agreed", he smiled saying, "How the hell you do it?"
"Huh?", I looked at him surprised that he was taking it so lightly.
"Sometimes I don't recognize the person staring back at me when I look in the mirror", he said very seriously.
"I already told you it's been five years, a time period this long is enough to know anybody", I said turning to look out of the window. I couldn't see him hurt like this. I always felt he wanted to tell me something but he never told me, he wanted to tell me but he didn't want me to know.

"Are you mad?", Leon asked after a bit.
"No", I replied looking back at him, "Why would I be mad at you?"
"No, you look outside of that window whenever you are mad or you don't want to look at my face", he replied in a seriously, keeping his eyes on the road.
"I look out whenever it gets unbearable to look at those pained eyes", I told him, "Whenever I look at them, they have nothing but pain in them and it hurts me to look at you", I couldn't control myself and when I realized what I was saying it was already too late, all was out on the table, "I don't know how you can be sane, when you've all this pain to bear", I added trying to keep the pain out of my voice.

Leon sighed stopping the car as we reached our destination. He looked at me and said, "You are the reason that's keeping me sane; whenever I look in your eyes I am assured I have some sanity left in me", he leaned in and kissed me softly, "Don't try to help me Kate, you'll only get hurt", he kept his hand on my cheek.

(Leon's POV)

"I am used to it", Kate replied with nothing but sincerity in her voice and I only smiled.

We both got out and headed towards home, I walked ahead of her so I opened the door at got in while she closed the door once we were in the house. Shadow ran to greet us, we always left him at home, if we both had to work at the Agency building. After we petted him, Kate straight away headed up the stairs and I would have followed her but my phone buzzed and I saw it was Hunnigan.

"Kennedy", I answered standing at the foot of the stairs.
"I called to inform you that Ms. Graham has been asked to take bed rest for few days so you'll be doing your paper work as always", she told me in a professional tone.
"Okay got it", I replied and she disconnected. I climbed the stairs and walked to the bedroom.

"What would you like to have in dinner?", Kate asked once I entered the bedroom. She had removed her vest and holster and getting clothes to have a shower.
"Anything you cook is fine", I told her sitting at the end of bed removing my jacket and holster too.

Just then Shadow whined and Kate looked at him and slapped her head, "Sorry boy", she said stroking him, "Leon can you do me a favor?"
"Yes", I replied looking up at her unbuttoning my shirt halfway down.
"Fill his bowl, I forgot today", she requested.
"Sure", I said getting up, "Come boy", Shadow ran to me and I bent down and stroked him too.

"Leon, one more thing", I looked up Kate was standing in front of us.
"Yes?", I asked standing up and she replied by pulling me in her ever so comforting arms.
"You wanted it right?", she asked whispering in my ear.
"No", I replied, "I needed it", I wrapped my arms around her.

It was nothing romantic, she was hugging me because I needed her to comfort me, she was the only one who could still do that. We held on to each other for at least a minute and Kate pulled away from the hug and smiled at me warmly. I smiled mentally thanking her for her care and concern. Shadow barked to draw our attention to him and I moved with him to the kitchen as Kate moved back to get her clothes.

(Kate's POV)

I was in the middle of doing dishes when I heard the home phone ring. I was about to take the call when Leon walked in the kitchen. He looked at the phone and moved towards it, so I got back to the dishes. I looked back at Leon when I could still hear the phone ringing and it made me really infuriated when I saw him searching something in the refrigerator, totally ignoring the ringing phone that was just next to it.

"Can you not get the call for once?", I couldn't help but say drying my hands on kitchen towel.
"Nope", Leon replied still busy shuffling things in the fridge.
"Always have an answer", I said annoyed picking up the receiver as it was down to it last ring, "Hello?", I answered.

"Can I speak to Kathleen?", the woman on the other end spoke and her voice seemed familiar.
"Yes, I am speaking", I replied eyeing Leon furiously as he exited the kitchen.
"Kate, its me Patricia, do you remember?", she said excitedly.
"Patricia? Patty!", I exclaimed she was a high school friend of mine, "It's been so long, my god you must have changed a lot. "
"Nah not really but I have heard you've changed a lot", she said from the other end.
"Me? No I am the same", I said to her pulling a kitchen chair sitting down, "So how's things going around huh?"
"Well they couldn't get any better", she said and I know she was smiling, "I found you what could be better than that?"
"Yeah buttering me already", I teased her like old times.
"Yeah because I want a favor", she said.

"What?", I asked her smiling.
"Well I am coming back to town next weekend and hope that we could meet just like before!", she told me happily.
"Wow really, that's great!", I couldn't be made more happy.
"Yeah so we would meet at our usual hangout place and oh bring your husband with you too. We'd like to meet the guy you married too", she said to me.
"We? Is Gina with you?", I asked her, "I am sure she's the one who put this thought in your mind."
"So what if I did", I heard Gina speak from the other end, "You've been married for nearly 5 years, during which we have met two times and none of the times your husband showed up."
"I told you he's always busy with work", I told her, "He has a tight schedule."
"Our husbands too have tight schedule but they take out time for us plus we are meeting on weekend so it be fine", Gina reasoned with me.
"But…", I tried to explain that Leon even worked on weekends.
"No ifs or buts, you are going to show up with your husband and that's final", it was Patricia saying this.
"He won't get off on such a short notice", I told them, "and yeah he works on weekends too", I said that before they could say that weekend is off time and stuff.
"Well then don't come if you cannot bring him with you", Gina said stubbornly.
"I won't be able to make it then", I said to her softly, slowly yet firmly.
"Kate I didn't…", she tried to say.
"It was nice talking to you two but I am sorry I won't be able to make it", I said to them and disconnected. There was no point in arguing with them on this matter.

"Who was it?", Leon asked entering the kitchen again.
"Old friend", I told him getting up from the chair and putting it back at its place.
"Gina?", he questioned and I nodded, "What was it about?"
"Nothing just catching up", I lied to him.

"Just that and I thought you'd be meeting them or something and I'll have one peaceful day when you'd be with them", Leon commented still searching for something.
"Yeah, shucks", I said sarcastically. The idiot won't even be home to enjoy his so-called peaceful time.
"Have you seen my car keys?", Leon asked me.
"You lost them again?", I couldn't help but say shaking my head in disbelief.
"I didn't lose them. It's just that I am not able to remember where I put them", he said scratching his head.
"Did you check your pockets?", I asked him.
"Yes, not here", he said checking them again.

I sighed and moved to search for the keys that could be just anywhere in this house. I spent another hour or so searching for the keys and tidying up the house, which Leon had messed up as he searched for the keys himself. I couldn't help but scold him as I searched for the keys and he as usual had smart comebacks for me, which annoyed me even more and I forgot all about the conversation I had with my old friends.

A/N: Thanks for reading! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I sincerely apologize if you had any inconvenience whilst reading due to any mistakes or typos in the context. Also I request you to check out the story I wrote with my bestest friend Shirahane Aikawa, it's called Undercover.