A/N: I am extremely thankful to all the readers, who are still reading this story and GrayFox786 for reviewing the last chapter.

Note: The Italicized text is Kate recalling a memory from her recent mission.

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

Chapter 41

(Leon's POV)

I unlocked the door and got in and was greeted by Shadow, the atmosphere was more than enough to let me know that Kate hadn't returned yet, "Had fun?", I asked Shadow patting him and he yawned telling me that it was the opposite. I moved to the kitchen to get a glass of water and as I opened the refrigerator door I missed the notes that Kate left for me. I was hungry that I could eat anything but I felt so tired that I would set the house on fire, so I decided to sleep empty stomach. It wasn't the first time since it was always like this when Kate wasn't here. I did get breakfast and lunch since I could get to some restaurant and café but not dinner since no place is open by the time I get free to have dinner. I set the bottle back and moved to the bedroom and even though I knew she wasn't here, I was expecting to see her sleeping on the bed. I moved to the wardrobe, grabbed my clothes and headed for a shower thinking, 'I'd take off tomorrow', and let out a laugh at that funny thought, because it doesn't matter that it was 2:00 am now, it won't likely be the case.

As I lied down on bed staring up at the ceiling I couldn't help but think why I missed Kate so much when she wasn't around. I always felt better in her presence and she never calls me even when her missions are not that secret, of course I could call her but all of the day I am too busy to call her and when I am free it's just that she probably might be sleeping, 'I'd call her first thing in the morning', I decided as I closed my eyes to sleep.

(Leon's POV)

I woke up with a start as the sound of my phone ringing reached my ears. I blindly reached out for my phone and put it against my ear knowing it was Hunnigan, "Kennedy", I mumbled.
"You get here right this moment", Hunnigan said from the other end, from her tone it was obvious that she was mad.
"Yep I'll be there in a minute", I said to her and she disconnected. I looked at the time in my cell phone; it was only 6:00 am in the morning. I had to take Ashley to the gym at 7:00 so there was still time, I could manage shower and dressing up in 15 minutes. And just 5 minutes into my shut eye my phone rang again, "Yes Hunnigan", I said picking up my phone.

"I called to check if you didn't go back to sleep and since you picked up my call it's obvious that you went back to sleep", her lecture made me sit up, "it's good that I called otherwise you would have slept…"
She would have continued if I hadn't cut her mid-sentence, "Now I am up and I'll be there before 7:00. Now if you would."
"Okay Kennedy I get it", she said understandably and disconnected.

I got up and stretched since I was definitely awake now. I moved to closet to get my clothes and walked inside the bathroom hoping to be yelled at but unfortunately it didn't happen. I brushed my teeth and while I was shaving my phone rang again which almost made my hand slip.

"Hello?", I answered monotonously not making any effort to hide the irritation in my voice.
"You still haven't got up Kennedy…", she began her lecture.
"I am up and getting ready to come to work. And you if call me one more time, I won't show up and would tell Ashley that you didn't say anything to me. And as far as I know she'd believe me", I said to her. I was never a morning person and Hunnigan's calls made it even worse, "I hope you got the message."
"Yeah I get it", she said finally understanding and disconnected for her own good otherwise really I would have killed her. It was her everyday business calling me and annoying me by telling me same things over and over again but my early morning arguments with Kate kept me from getting really annoyed at her but when Kate wasn't here I barely hold myself from killing her.

I stepped in the shower and showered till it cooled me and my anger down. When I stepped in my bedroom, Shadow came running to me whining, circling around me, "Not now boy", I said to him since he did that only when he wanted to play. He barked at me as if telling me that he was mad at me and rushed downstairs, and started barking like mad. I tried to ignore the almost sudden hostile nature of my dog and concentrated on dressing up in my work clothes, and just when I had pulled up my pants my phone rang again which made my anger sky rocket.

"How many times do I have to tell you I am coming", I yelled picking up the phone. No reply came at first and the only sound was Shadow's barks, "Shadow quit barking", I yelled to him but he didn't stop and I heard someone laughing at the other end. I could recognize that laughter anywhere, "Kate?", I said slapping my head. I totally forgot that I had decided to call her last night but was glad that she called me instead.
"Uh huh…", she said between the laughs.
"Sorry for that I thought it was Hunnigan", I said as I tried to pull on my shirt.
"I figured", she said, "So are you up and at home?"
"Yeah", I answered her, "Why you called by the way?", I asked thinking it must be something very important since she hardly called me when on mission.
"Make a good guess", she said on the phone and I realized that Shadow had stopped barking now.
"Don't tell me", I rushed downstairs and pulled open the door, "You are here!", and she gave me one of her brightest smile.
"Excellent guess", she said still smiling, keeping the phone back in her purse.

(Kate's POV)

Leon didn't give me enough time to think or explain anything about forgetting my set of keys and just pulled me in a welcoming hug, "I missed you so much", he whispered in my ear.
"Really?!", I asked as we pulled away, and even when I already knew it since it showed on his face that he misses me when I am gone.
"Really", he affirmed nodding leaning close to my face, as if to kiss me.
"Flirt", I couldn't help but say pushing him away.
"You know what's the problem with you?", he said as I bent to lift my bag.
"What?", I asked looking up at him.
"You don't take me seriously", he said taking my bag from me, "that really kills my mood."
"And you know what's the problem with you?", I said to him closing the door and following him up the stairs.
"Nope", he said reaching the top of the stairs.
"You take me seriously", I smiled moving past him, turning back just to add with a wink, "and that kills my mood."

(Leon's POV)

I couldn't help but be a little taken aback by Kate flirting back with me, it wasn't really the first time but she always took me by surprise at such thing. After overcoming that initial feeling of shock I smiled feeling happy inside and followed her into our bedroom. She was standing in the middle of bedroom and surveying it visually. She looked back at me as I entered and gave me a look of disbelief.

"What?!", I asked in confusion and she gave me a death glare, crossing her arms.
"This place is a mess", she said faking an anger, sounding displeased.
"You know I can't find anything", I reasoned with her shrugging setting her bag down in a corner of the room.
Kate sighed and rolled her eyes, "I know", she said picking up the wet towel, I left on the bed, and tossed it in the overflowing laundry basket, "You can do the laundry, can't you?"

(Kate's POV)

"I was busy", Leon told me as I began making up the bed.
"Did you have breakfast?", I asked him casually.
"Ah… No", I looked at him annoyed, "I said I was busy", he said in his excuse, "Well I can't have it now, I am late", he told me looking at his watch, as I moved to head to the kitchen to fix him breakfast, "I'll grab something on my way", he added as I gave him a serious look, "I always do that when you're not around, I can't cook remember."
"Alright you better grab something. I hope you didn't starve Shadow too with yourself", I said to him getting back to tidying the bed.
"I filled two bowls for him everyday", he told me, "So I did not starve him to death."
"You have become brilliant", I commented almost subconsciously.
"What do you mean?", he asked and I looked at him recalling what I said.

"I meant what I said", I said to him busying myself with work again, "And if I am not forgetting you have to report at work", I added before he could say anything.
"You're not going to work today?", Leon asked me.
"Leon, I just came back from work and I am not like you", I told him with a sigh of exhaustion, "I am tired, I'd probably rest and put this place back together."
"Yeah", he sighed wearily that made me glance at him, "I should get to work before Hunnigan calls again."
"Hmm…", I said as he began to move out, "Don't forget about the breakfast and try to be home early tonight."

(Leon's POV)

"Why?", I asked Kate stopping dead in my tracks.
She stood straight thinking fast, "You have to take Shadow to vet, its time for his vaccination", she said making an excuse.
"You can do that too", I argued because I wanted to know the real reason.
"I can't", she said.
"Why is that?", I asked her.
"I can't because I can't handle him all by myself, he gets aggressive there. Of course he won't hurt me or anything but I don't want him hurting other people either", she brilliantly weaved her excuse, keeping her clothes in the cupboard.
"Well I'd take him tomorrow then", I said to her casually putting it off till tomorrow.
"No today only", she said bossily.
"Tomorrow", I said and began to head out, "See you later."
"Leon", I heard her calling my name as I hurried down the steps, "Leon S. Kennedy, you take him to vet this evening, you get me?", she said from top of the stairs as I pulled open the door and stepped out.
"Tomorrow I'll do", I said to her closing the door, she said something but I couldn't hear it. So despite my measures I was unable to find why she wanted me home early today. Well guess I have to show up early to know that, which means a lot of explanations to Hunnigan and that reminds me I am late.

(Leon's POV)

I unlocked the front door and Shadow ran down the stairs to greet me. Guess Kate was upstairs, since he follows her most of the time. I moved towards the living room and switched on the television and switched to sports channel. I was home early as Kate had asked me to but I was dead tired, "You're early?", Kate said coming down the stairs. It seemed she was dressed to go out.

"Yeah", I replied with a tired sigh.
"You alright?", she asked concerned moving towards me.
"I am fine", I told her, "You're the one who told me to get home early, remember?"
"And you actually heeded me?!", she said with a surprised tone.
"Yes sweetheart", I replied, "Anyways why you wanted me to get home early?"
"Take Shadow to vet for vaccination", she said to me in an obvious tone, beginning to move away.

(Kate's POV)

Leon grabbed my hand and I looked back at him, "Is that it?", he asked me.
"Huh?", I responded totally oblivious to what he was saying.
"You wanted me to come back early because of this only", he asked me seriously.
"Oh", I said getting what he was trying to say, "Well yes", I answered and he let go of my hand disappointed, "and No", that made him look up immediately, "I just thought you needed rest."
Leon smiled tiredly, "How do you know me so well?", he asked.
"I don't know, I just do", I told him sitting by his side shrugging. Leon looked at me and there it was again that funny feeling that I always have when he looks at me like that and I felt I was caught in the moment. I was the one to look away first, "Go have some rest", I said standing up and moving away.

"You going somewhere?", Leon asked me.
"Yeah taking Shadow to vet", I told him grabbing my purse.
"What about you can't handle him alone", Leon asked me.
"I'd manage like always, he's not that bad", I told him looking at Shadow, he wasn't a trouble pet at all, "Now hand me the car keys", I held my hand out.
"I am coming with you", he replied rising from the couch.
"I'd probably go see my parents and twins too", I told him as he led the way to the front door.
"So let's go then", Leon said opening the door.
"Are you sure?", I asked him concerned about him exerting himself too much.
"Yep", he replied as I stepped out and locked the doors.

As we walked to the car my phone rang and I picked it up, "Hello?"
"Hey Kate!", a male spoke cheerfully on the other end.
"Who is it?", I asked pulling my phone off my ear to check who's the caller but it was showing a number I didn't know and didn't have in my phone's memory.
"Hey its me Dan, Dan Rivette", he told me as I pulled open the car door and got inside.
"Oh, how can I help you Rivette", I said getting on the side seat.
"I was thinking if we could catch dinner together?", he asked me in a tone full of hope.
"Put on seatbelts sweetheart", Leon said at the same time.
"Yes", I replied pulling on seatbelt.
"Great I'd pick you up in few then", Rivette said excitedly.
"No, I wasn't talking to you", I told him quickly clearing the misunderstanding, "I was replying to Leon and no, we can't have dinner together tonight. I am going out with Leon", I looked sideways at Leon, he was listening to this one sided conversation as he pulled the car off the driveway.
"I see", there was an evident change in his tone at the mention of Leon, "Catch you at work tomorrow then."
"Okay", I said and he disconnected.

I looked at my phone and sighed. I didn't know what to make out of the situation between Leon and Rivette. Rivette hated Leon but he tried everything to be friends with me and on the other hand Leon hated Rivette too but he didn't stop me from being friends with him. If the situation was this simple it would have been easy, but the complicated part was neither of them wanted me to be with another. I looked outside my car window as I couldn't help but remember the incident a few days ago.

"Kate", I looked back to spot Rivette running up to me, "Going to have dinner?", he asked catching up with me.
"Yes", I replied.
"I am too, let's have it together", he said and I wasn't able to decline the offer and besides John was joining me as well, so I won't be alone with Rivette.
"Hey sorry I made you wait long", John said showing up at the exact moment.
"No problem", I said to John with a friendly smile, "You don't mind if John comes along right?", I asked Rivette in confirmation and he shook his head.

The dinner was usual there was a lot of chat about work, trivial stuff and not to mention the always available John's portable entertainment channel. Rivette was pretty normal in presence of John and didn't bring up anything about Leon as long as John was around but it was all until John got a call from Rachel and he moved away to attend it, leaving me and Rivette alone at the table.

"So Leon called you already?", He asked me, it seemed he had been waiting for this moment.
"No", I replied, "He's probably at work."
"Looks like work is more important to him", Rivette said to me, "Or maybe someone at work?!"
"Where are you taking it Rivette?", I said annoyed at him. I didn't like the way this guy's brain thinks about Leon.

"Forgive me but it's always like that, with Leon that is", He said trying to sound serious and convincing, " I am telling the truth and hope that you believe me before it's too late. Leon, he's always the same, he meets a girl and he's charming and fun to be around. He flirts like a pro, well he's a pro in that I don't deny it", whatever Rivette was telling me it was true. I have been aware of that and all the stages, I've already been there but the stage I am in right now, guess no other woman came close to it, "and the end result is same for everyone he leaves them behind."

My heart really skipped a beat thinking about that scenario and that's when I felt a hand on my shoulder, "Well he's sticking to this one", it was John who had returned back to his table. He gave one of his brightest confident grins which I couldn't help but return.

John's arrival that day cut short Rivette's rant but it was still troublesome to even go through the bit I had to bear. The conversation became normal and pretty usual after wards and Leon wasn't mentioned again, and things that I felt to be tense between me and Rivette during dinner, normalized again. Rivette did try his best to catch me alone but I avoided him and tried to stay by John's side as much as I could for the rest of the mission.

I wished I could talk to Leon during that time but I didn't want to disturb him at work or during sleep. Luckily we returned within a few days but I wasn't sure if I should mention it to Leon, as far as I know him, he'd get really angry about it. I closed my eyes tossing that thought out, Leon didn't need to bother himself with it and just then I felt a kiss being placed on my cheek.

"Wake up Sweetheart!", Leon said as I opened my eyes to see him, "We're here."
I looked through the windshield and we were at the pet clinic, "I didn't realize", I said releasing myself from the seat belt and getting out of the car.
"I know you were lost in my thoughts", Leon said as he locked the door after Shadow jumped out, I couldn't help but give him a serious look, "Just kidding", he said with a smile.
"Let's go", I said moving towards the entrance.
We walked in silence until Leon asked, "You made an appointment?"
"Yeah this morning", I said and checked my watch; "We are right on time."

We walked to the reception of the clinic and the receptionist asked us to wait until we were called in, since vet was looking at some other pet. I looked at Leon, he looked tired and I really felt bad dragging him out like this, "Doctor is calling Leon S. Kennedy along with his, pet Shadow", the nurse called and we took Shadow with us to examination room.
"He looks fine", vet said examining Shadow, "It's time for his shot you said?"
"Yes", I replied and he gestured the nurse to prepare it.
"Now if you hold him down for a bit", the doctor said and I gently pushed Shadow's head down so he can administer the shot but Shadow got scared and started wriggling.
"Stay down boy", I said to calm Shadow down and at the same moment felt Leon move close behind and he held him down for the shot. It almost felt like he was hugging me.

It merely took the vet a few moments and we moved away the minute he was done but it felt like it was longer than few moments. Shadow jumped off the table, the vet gave some general instructions. Leon cleared the bill and we were walking back to the parking, "That was pretty quick", Leon said with a sigh of tiredness.
"Well of course it was just vaccination", I said to Leon.
"If it were a bit longer, we could be closer a bit longer", Leon said, making me stop dead in my tracks at the realization that he did that on purpose and I smiled for not seeing that through. He unlocked the car, "What happened?"

(Leon's POV)

"Nothing", Kate replied and we got in the car, "Uh head home", she added.
"Weren't you suppose to visit your parents and twins", I asked her confused taking the car off the parking.
"I can do that some other time", she replied and I gave her a brief look, "You need rest now."
I smiled, "I am not that tired", I told her.
"You are a bad liar Leon", Kate said, "Now let's go home, please."
"It's just because you said please and not because I am tired", I said to her and she smiled.
"Tired, and still your brain comes up with such stuff", she said in disbelief yet smiling, "You had breakfast right?", she asked all of a sudden.
"Huh? What?, I tried to avoid that question and pretending to concentrate on driving but unluckily we got caught up on a red light and I cursed inwardly.

"Breakfast? You did have it right?", Kate asked again sounding concerned and maybe my expressions gave it away because she said, "You didn't and it's probably the reason you look so beat up."
"You know how Hunnigan is, right?", I told her as the signal turned green, "Besides I doubled up the lunch."
"Yeah right!", she said sarcastically, "probably halved it than doubled."
"Well okay I didn't double it but didn't half it either", I told her being truthful.
"I am shocked!", Kate said mocking.
"It's true", I said with a change of mood.
"It's not funny", she said as I pulled the car on our driveway, "I am serious here."
"Aren't you always serious?", I asked her as we got out of the car.
"Don't try to change the subject", she said unlocking the door.

"Well it's not the first time I skipped breakfast", I couldn't help but say feeling a bit frustrated now.
"Yeah I know, you look like this every time I come back from some mission", she said to me.
"If you know it already, then don't leave me alone from next time", I muttered under my breath as she walked in the kitchen.
"What?", she asked catching me off guard.
"Nothing", I said shaking my head.
"What would you have for dinner?", she asked me pulling open the refrigerator.
"Anything is fine, I just want to eat", I said to her and she gave me a look of disbelief, "Keep it ready by the time I have a shower", I sort of ordered like a boss and didn't wait for her to reply.

I climbed up stairs, took my clothes and went straight for the shower. There was nothing more relaxing than the nice shower and then Kate's face flashed in my mind and I realized there was something more relaxing than a shower at least for me. For me being in Kate's arms were much more relaxing than a shower or a 10 hour sleep that just worked on my body but Kate's one hug lifted all the tiredness off my very soul.

(Kate's POV)

I put my toothbrush back in the bathroom cabinet and looked in the mirror for a bit before walking out of the bathroom. I switched off the bathroom lights and it became completely dark only the dim light of Leon's PDA was lighting his face and room a bit. Despite the fact that he was tired, he simply refused to sleep even now and kept working. I sighed and decided not to say anything to him, because it might lead to an argument. I made my way by his side and settled inside the blanket as he finally put his PDA on his bedside table and I felt relieved at that.

I closed my eyes as he tried to settle inside the blanket, "I am so tired", he said and following that I felt him throwing his arm around me. I opened my eyes with a start and turned my head to look at him. He moved close to me saying, "Don't wake me up tomorrow; I have off", he almost mumbled the last part in my ear, "You listening", he opened his eyes and was suddenly aware of the situation. We've been this close many times but the circumstances were different very different, "I am sorry", he said apologetically probably realizing the same but didn't withdrew his arm. The wind blew my hair on my face and before I knew Leon was pushing them away, "You are…", he began, "…the most beautiful woman I've ever met."

Leon withdrew his arm and stared blankly at the ceiling, "So why aren't you going to work tomorrow?", I asked turning my whole body to face him.
"I am tired", he said with a loud sigh closing his eyes, "very, very tired."
"I can see that", I said to him reading lines of tiredness on his face. We just lay there in silence, when all of a sudden sat up and I followed his suit. "What happened?", I asked him in concern.
"Huh?", he looked at me a little bewildered, as if what he did was totally normal, "I think I forgot something?", he replied once realizing that.
"What?", I asked him, I couldn't keep the worry out of my tone since he look so bothered about it.
"I wouldn't be forgetting it, if I know what it was. It's something very important", he replied annoyed at my dumb question, holding on to his head as if trying to remember something, "Can I have your scheduler?", he asked.
"Yeah sure", I said and retrieved it from the drawer of the end table, "here", I handed it to Leon.

Leon flipped through the pages to the last entry muttering, "I paid the bills", and then he just blankly stared at it.
"You got it?", I asked him.
"No!", he replied closing the scheduler holding it back to me, "maybe it's some bill. We'll know sooner or later."
"Yeah", I said with a sigh as he lied back down.
"So let's just sleep", he added as I kept my scheduler back.

I hummed in response and lied next to him, facing his way. I stared at his handsome face, it was dripping with tiredness yet he seemed peaceful and content. In past five years that I have known him, his face was almost neutral to everything when he was working and when at home he had the most expressive face, even in sleep. I couldn't help but smile for unknown reason and closed my eyes to sleep.

A/N: Thanks for reading; I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I am extremely regretful if any of the typos or grammatical mistakes caused an inconvenience for you in understanding the context. I request you to check out my collaborative story with Shirahane Aikawa, it's been renamed Undercover, previously it was called The Evil Within, and let us know how that is.