A/N: Thanks for all the reads, favorites, follows and support, it really means a lot and I am really very grateful to all of you. I would like to specially mention Shirahane Aikawa and GrayFox786 for reviewing last chapter.

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

Chapter 40

(Kate's POV)

"You called Chief?", I asked Mr. Trapp from the door of his cabin.
"Yes, Kate", he said beckoning me; "I want you to give this file to Leon."
I took the file, "What is it, some new mission?", I asked him out of curiosity.
"Nah… with him looking after Ms. Graham we are trying to redirect missions away from him", he told me; "it's just a report of a case that needs his expertise. I believe you can pass this on to him."
"Yeah sure definitely", I said assertively.
"As for you, I think Saunders might have some work for you", he said.
"Well he already gave me work for the day", I said showing him the file.
"You going alone?", he asked me out of concern, since he and dad were close friends.
"John and some Agent, I haven't been through the file", I told him.
"Off to work then", he said smiling.
"Okay", I said and left his cabin.

I walked to my desk since John wasn't here and I had to wait for him before leaving, so I just decided to study the case while John arrived. Just when I settled myself in my chair somebody said, "Hey", I looked up to see it was Rivette, "Good Morning!"
"Morning Rivette!", I wished him back with a courteous smile.
"Hey Kate!", John said taking his seat as I smiled at him in acknowledgement wishing him good morning as well, "Rivette!", he let out a little laugh and Rivette got annoyed about that.
"Morning John!", he said plainly and I tried to indulge myself in the file.
"Still mad at that joke?", John questioned.
"No I am not", Rivette said but it was clear from his tone that it was definitely otherwise.
"Well…", John began.
"Cut it out you two", I said reading that the other Agent was Rivette, "Let's go! The three of us have a mission, cops are involved and we need Rivette's expertise on this one, since he used to be a cop", I said to John, "and even though he acts and looks like a joker, he's extremely reliable", I added to Rivette, "so be good to each other."
"Yeah okay", they both agreed and we headed out to get the job done.

(Kate's POV)

After a long and tiring day of work, we headed back to the Agency where I had to spend a few hours writing a brief report on the mission and after that since my work was almost done I decided to head back home. I pulled my overcoat and picked up the file that I was supposed to give Leon and moved to the elevator. I waited for it to arrive and once I was inside, Rivette almost dashed in with me, "Sorry I thought it would leave without me, I had to take the stairs or wait for it and I am too tired to do either of them", he gave his explanation even when I didn't ask for it. We stood in silence for a while and then he cleared his throat and said, "Umm… new mission", he pointed to the file that was for Leon.

"It's for Leon", I told him.
"I see", he said and then asked, "Are you really married to him?"
"Yes", I replied with a nod.
"How long?", he asked making a contemplative face.
"For four years and couple of months", I replied and he seemed surprised.
"So you were married when we met?", he asked in a tone of deep shock.
"Yes, I was", I answered.
"Strangely you never mentioned him", Rivette said with a smile which I didn't like.
"Well I was there for work not discuss my personal life so…", I said explaining.
"Was it that or that you really didn't want to mention him", Rivette said in a confronting tone, "I've heard all about you two, you are nothing short for mortal enemies",
hearing those words made me frown a little, "Forgive me but I had to dig deeper about you and him", there was again contempt in his tone when he mentioned Leon.
"Well our professional life and personal life is really different you know", I tried to explain to him keeping my calm, plus it was all pretty smooth between Leon and me now.

"He's a player!", Rivette said emphasizing, "I know he's charming, sweet and handsome but he's a big player. He can never be with a single woman, sooner or later he leaves them with a broken heart. So far he had 12 girlfriends, can you believe that?!"
"No", I said to him and he looked satisfied, "He dated 19 women. "
"12 or 19 it doesn't matter, he will ruin your life and I am not making it up. I know all of this because we grew up together and I know he hasn't told you that but I am his cousin", he tried to sound convincing.
"I know and he told me that you two don't go along with each other either", I said to him with a straight face with a slight smile.
"Are you thinking that I am saying all this because I hold a grudge against him?", he said surprised a bit.
"Why then?", I asked him, rounding about the topic was not my habit.
"I am telling you this not because I hate him", he said as the elevator doors opened and we stepped out, "It's because I cannot stand watching him ruin your life too; believe me you don't need to experience all this. You don't know the real him since you haven't seen his real face."
"I admit I have not seen many faces of his but I bet I've seen more of him than you ever had and I know him, the real him", I told Rivette, "and there are lot of things I need to experience with him."
"I just hope those are not bad experiences", Rivette said with a concerned expression.
"Good or bad that's up to me, right?", I said and it seemed Rivette didn't have a counter argument for it, which gave me time to hail a cab, "Good bye", I said to him as I got inside the cab and headed for White house.

I sighed out of distress and thought about the conversation I just had with Rivette. There was nothing that he told me and I didn't know. Leon never hid anything about his past relationships but he wasn't really open about them either, if I asked he told me but he never brought that up on his own, maybe it was painful for him. But now Rivette was digging deep to prove to me that Leon's unfaithful and somehow I knew if it goes on like this then Leon would end up getting hurt and I didn't want that but there was nothing that I could do either.

I looked down at the file that was on my lap and since there were another 10 minutes to reach White House I thought to keep myself distracted from these thoughts by going through the file that was meant for Leon. I unzipped the folder and was just about to lift the cover when my phone rang and I picked it up without seeing who it was.

"Hey Sweetheart!", I immediately recognized the voice as Leon's.
"Leon", I said resting my head on the back of the seat.
"Where are you honey?", he asked me and I could hear Shadow bark as Leon tried to calm him down.
"I am heading for White House right now", I told him, "Is Shadow with you?"
"Yeah", he replied, "Sorry I got a bit late in telling you that I'll be getting him home today."
"You're not at White House?", I asked him.
"Nope", he replied, "And I am really sorry for not calling earlier."
"It's okay, the only harm done is that I am already at the White House", I told him as the cab stopped in front of the White House.
"Actually", he spoke in the phone but I felt he was there, "It's a blessing in disguise", then somebody opened the cab door and I looked up to see it was Leon.

"You said you were not at the White House", I said to him as we both disconnected the call smiling.
"I am in front of the White House but not at the White House", he said as I got out with my things and he paid the cab fare.
"How come you're heading home early?", I asked him trying to handle my things but the file meant for him slipped from my hand and fell down with an audible thud.
"What is this?", he asked me casually, picking it up.
"It's for you, Mr. Trap said he needed your expertise with whatever is in that file", I told him.
"Oh yeah, yeah", he said in realization, "He told me about it. Thank you, sweetheart!"
"You're Welcome", I said and he kissed me, that made me glare at him.
"You said I was welcome", he replied smiling and his wittiness made me smile.
"Shall we leave for home now?", I said to him acting totally uninterested since if he gets the slightest hint that I like this side of his, he would try to please me not knowing that I love his other sides too.

(Leon's POV)

I smiled as Kate opened the side door of the car and got in the car. I followed her, got in and drove towards home. She was silent and I kept looking at her. Her hand was on her locket again, it was her habit to fidget with it when she was in deep thought, not just any thought but something that bothered her, "Something bothering you?", I asked her.
"No", she lied leaving the locket and looking at me, "Why you asked?"
"Nothing", I replied making a stop at the signal, "I just thought…", I couldn't complete my sentence as my gaze dropped down to her locket and hers followed.
"What you're looking at", she asked a bit furiously thinking I was staring at her chest.
"Don't you know", I said reverting back to flirting.
"Why do you flirt with me", she asked me.

"Don't tell me you hate it", I said to her, "Somebody flirting with you is rare, isn't it?"
"Yeah right!", she said sarcastically, "Thank you!"
We became quiet after that but I didn't like this silence between us anymore so I had to break it, "So what's in the locket?", I asked noticing again she was holding it.
"Don't you have basic knowledge what's there in lockets", she asked me back.
"Pictures of loved ones", I said conclusively.
"Hmm…", she hummed smiling thinking probably about something good.
"Then is there any chance I am there", I asked her.
"Leon", she said looking at me, "If you want to talk, just talk okay. Does each of your sentences have to be flirting?"

(Kate's POV)

"The last time we talked you cried", Leon said seriously and that took me by surprise. He sighed heavily, "I can't seem to remember the time when I talked with you and you didn't cry", he sounded as if something was choking him, "Although most of the times I end up making you cry but I never wanted to make you cry. I just went with the flow and said too much, and unknowingly hurt you. And it was more hurting to me that you were hurt."

"You don't have to blame yourself", I told him, "I know you didn't do it purposely. And well I sometimes over reacted too", I said sighing as the car halted at home, "Live in the present it'll be a lot easier", with these words we both got out of the car and once we stepped inside the house, I headed for bedroom while Leon most probably headed for the living room.

I closed the door and stood there with my back against it closing my eyes as my mind played the tape from a little while ago. He hardly showed anything but I knew he was in deep pain. It hurts him to know that he hurt me but it hurts me more to know that he is hurting; tears streamed down my face as I collapsed to the floor crying silently not wanting Leon to know anything about this. I don't want to hurt him but I don't know how many times we have to hurt each other before it's all alright.

I heard footsteps coming my way so I quickly wiped my tears moved towards the wardrobe, moments later Leon got in the bedroom. He began removing his shoes sitting at the end of the bed. I moved to bathroom to change into my home clothes. When I returned I found him lying on his back on the bed eyes closed.

"Do you think I have a fever?", Leon said as I dumped my dirty clothes in the laundry basket. I looked back, he was touching his head.
"If you work like this you are bound to get sick", I said moving to get the thermometer from my bedside.
"I hate working but I end up doing it none the less", he said as I shook the thermometer out of formality and he opened his mouth so I could put it in mouth.
"What makes you work so hard?", I asked sitting by his side but he didn't replied because of the thermometer.
"My past", he replied once I took the thermometer.
"I wonder what makes you stop then", I muttered to myself.
"You", he replied speaking softly and I looked at him.

"Me? What?", I said pretending I didn't get anything and before he could answer I added, "Well it's not fever, you are just tired I guess", I told him, touching his head for confirmation and then stood up and moved away.
"That I am always", he said lying back down on the bed with an audible thump.
"Take rest then", I said to him.
"You know I might just do that", he said getting up and I rolled my eyes thinking that I have to tell him that. I moved to get out of the room but I looked at him rummaging through the wardrobe and couldn't help but wonder if he wanted me to say that, "Kate", he said noticing that I was still here.
"Hmm…", I answered.
"Can you make me a hot cup of Coffee?", he asked not looking at me.
"Coffee?", I said puzzled, wasn't he about to take rest, "It would not help while resting."
"I'll take it as a no then?", he questioned closing the wardrobe.
"It'll be ready while you take shower or whatever", I told him sighing.

I got downstairs as Leon went to have a bath. I let Shadow out in the backyard to play and then did chores around the house while Leon's Coffee got ready. Once it was done I moved with it upstairs. I opened the door and heard Leon talking with Hunnigan, "Yes I'll be there and try to be on time", with that he disconnected and turned when he felt my presence.

"Your Coffee", I said holding it in front of him as he buttoned his shirt.
"Awesome coffee", he said taking a sip sitting on the bed and I moved to clean the mess he made in the bedroom, "how do you know what sort of coffee I like", he asked lying down on bed again.
"Leon, you better not spill it on bed get it", I warned and he set the mug on bedside table.
"You didn't answer my question", he said as I moved to adjust the pillows.
"I know some things", I said to him and he pulled me to himself, "Leon what the…"
"Lie down with me for a while", he said and I looked at him, he was dead tired. He wanted this more than anything and since I didn't have anything important to do so I stayed next to him, and he wrapped an arm around my shoulder as I was lying on one of his arms.

"You should really work less you know", I said to him softly reading lines of weariness on his face.
"I know", he said with his eyes closed, "but…", he took a pause, "I fear you'd stop caring about me then", he flirted again opening his one eye to look at me.
"Leon", I said in disbelief and looked away from his face. I just lied there still, without speaking anything and he also didn't say anything. I looked up at him, "Leon?", I called really softly. When no answer came I pulled away from him and sat up just to find him fast asleep. I smiled at him covering him with the blanket and moved to get the cup and made the room a bit darker, giving him a last look before leaving but I don't know what stopped me and I moved by his side. I bent down and placed a kiss on his forehead saying, "Sweet dreams", he smiled in sleep and I moved out of the room to get the rest of the housework done.

(Leon's POV)

I woke up because of my phone, I didn't even know how I fell asleep, guess I must be really tired, "Hello?", it was Kate who answered my phone not knowing I was awake now, well sort of, "he's sleeping, he was really tired", she spoke softly and waited for the caller to speak, "I'd hate to do that Miss Hunnigan. How about I'll tell him to call you when he gets up even if its late at night", she waited again, "I am glad that you got my point thank you", she disconnected with that and sighed, "I thought she woke you up", she muttered as I pretended to sleep. Just then Shadow jumped up and licked me and I frowned at him, "So she did wake you up."

"How in the hell did I fall asleep?", I said sitting up.
"Well you were tired", Kate said in an obvious tone, "Do you want me to go in details to what happens when normal people are tired."
"Are you mad at me or Hunnigan?", I asked her.
"Both", she sort of snapped, "You married the wrong woman you know, it should have been her."
"Now where does that come from", I asked her totally puzzled, she never brings our marriage in any of our arguments.
"What?", she asked not realizing what she had said.
"Ah… so you're telling me to substitute you", I said smiling as she walked away and set something in the wardrobe.
"I didn't mean that", she snapped sharply offended by what I said, "I was stating the obvious fact that she's more suited to the place I have in your life." I watched her close the wardrobe door holding some of the clothes in her hand, "You love to work, she loves to give you work. I mean she's an integral part of your life unlike me."

(Kate's POV)

"Yeah true", Leon said and for some reason I felt that a bucket of cold water was dumped on my head, "She loves to give me work and boss me around", he said with a laugh, "but I hate to work even though it doesn't look like it. And she can never replace you", he said it seriously and I looked at him, "You're my life, how can she replace that?", he smiled warmly and I was really touched listening to that.
"Wow, you're really a flirt!", I couldn't help but say smiling, as I put my clothes in a bag.
"Well you're important in my life", he said it again, "Just imagine the things I would have to do when you're not around."
I couldn't help but let out a healthy laugh, "I knew you'd say something like that", I said closing the flap and zipping it up.

"You going somewhere?", Leon asked finally noticing that I was packing my bag.
"Yeah", I said looking at the bag, "I have to leave for a mission in few."
"For how long?", he asked concerned.
"A day or two, maybe more", I told him.
"Going alone?", he asked me, "A secret mission?"
"No, with a bunch other agents with some political leader as a security personnel", I told him.
"You'd be leaving me then?", he asked as I moved to pull the curtains.
"Yeah", I answered and then I realized what he had asked, "What did you say? I mean what do you mean?", I asked a bit shocked.
"I mean didn't they put me with you, like always", he asked and I pretended to set the curtains.
"The last time we were put together…", I began not looking at him.
"I understand", he said sighing remembering that he almost killed a man when we were together on a mission last time, "What's for dinner?", he asked changing the subject.

"Spaghetti", I told him, "I know you don't like it much but well that was all I could manage in a hurry."
"Its fine", he replied standing up as I neared him, "As long as I am having dinner with you", he tried to smile and I wondered if he was, in anyway, sad or upset that I would be away.
"Yes", I replied reading him, "I'll be having dinner with you."
He gave me a genuine smile saying, "Thank you!"
"C'mon lets have dinner before they come to pick me up", I said to him moving out of the bedroom and he followed me out of the room.
"Tell them I'll drop you at the airport", I said as we descended the steps.
"I can't", I told him and continued as he gave me a questioning stare, "I don't have their number and I hate to call Saunders."

(Leon's POV)

"If you have to call Saunders then its better you go with them", I said not hiding the annoyance in my tone.
"So you hate Saunders too?", Kate asked me casually moving to the kitchen.
"Yeah pretty much", I replied following her.
"Why is that?", she asked handing me the plates and cutlery, so I could set the table.
"Because he's an egotistical maniac", I told her setting the table.
"I think you hate him before you knew that", she said bringing the dinner and keeping it on table.
"True", I said and she went back in the kitchen, "I hate him because he hits on you."
"What?!", she said surprised as standing at the kitchen door, "Tell me you are kidding…"
"I really hate it when they hit on you, so I hit them back", I told her the truth as she took her seat started serving me.
"That's an understatement", she said smiling.
"What is?", I asked ready to dig in.
"That you hit them back, you almost kill them", she said eating her food.

(Kate's POV)

"Why shouldn't I? I mean you're my wife and I have every damn right to kill them", Leon said a little possessively. I was a little taken aback when he told me that he didn't really like when other men tried to please me, since I never thought he paid attention to what was happening with me. I really liked this open side of him and I had rarely seen him like this after we got married. I could just sit here and listen to him all day long, "Hey are you even listening?", he asked waving his hands in front of me.
"Yeah", I replied and just then I heard a car horn outside our home and my phone buzzed, "That must be them. Can you get my luggage, please?"
"Yep", he replied rising from his chair.
"Thanks", I said picking up the phone, "Hello."

"Agent Cornor, we are outside your residence, ready to go?", it was Saunders, judging from his tone he was trying to be on his best behavior with me as always, well until I turn him down.
"Yep I'll be there in five", I told him keeping the dirty dishes in the sink.
"We don't have time to tally, they're important people…", Saunders was saying when Leon came down with my bag.
"Here's your bag", he said to me and I smiled at him.
"Meet you in a minute", I said to Saunders and disconnected before he could ask me about Leon.

"Thanks", I said as I picked up my overcoat, "Take care of the house and Shadow while I am gone."
"Well it's hard but I'll try", he said with a smile.
"I know you can do it", I said to him pulling my coat, "Let him stay home while I am gone or bring him back early, he's doesn't like to work like you."
"I'd leave him at home, I guess", he said smiling helping me with my coat because I was having bit of trouble.
"What else… um…", I thought out aloud remembering if I was forgetting something, "I am forgetting something…", I tried hard to remember.
"Oh I remember one thing", Leon said and I gave him an inquisitive look. He raised his hand, "This…", he said and pulled me close placing a kiss on my cheek, "Take care!"
"You too, take care, be safe, don't get in trouble, eat and sleep properly while I am gone", I said concerned, this was indeed the thing I was forgetting and before any of us could say anything, my phone rang and I dragged my bag out and like always Leon stepped out on the porch to see me off.

A/N: Thanks for reading and showing your support. I hope you enjoyed the story. I apologize for any of the typos and grammatical mistakes in the context that really caused an inconvenience. And I humbly request you all to check out my collaborative story, Undercover, I wrote with Shirahane Aikawa and it's on her profile since she's the one uploading it.