A/N: Thanks a bunch to all the readers, who are taking time to read this story and special thanks to my Reviewers Mercenary Nemesis and Shirahane Aikawa.

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

Chapter 4

(Leon's POV)

I opened my eyes and found myself in the hospital. I groaned in pain as I felt my arm, "Are you okay?", I turned towards the sound and spotted the nurse. I wanted to ignore her but out of courtesy I answered her with a slight nod. I looked around and my gaze rested on a wall clock which said it was a little over 6:30 A.M. I hated staying at hospitals so I sat upright and the nurse moved to my side, "Do you need something?"

"I need to go", I told her, "Can you just take these off?", I asked her to take off the tube which was giving me blood.
"I am afraid she can't", Kate said entering, "Since I forbid her to touch you, Mr. Kennedy. Anyways how are you feeling?"
"I am fine, I just want to go", I told her as she sat by my bedside.
"I know, you are ready to kill yourself", she said, "But what to do, it's my job saving people's life", she put on her stethoscope and examined me, "You're ready to leave and don't worry about the formalities I have already done them for you and… ", she tried to remember something, "Don't forget to pay the bill", she smiled getting up.
"Hey wait!", I called to her before she moved out.
"Yes", she turned to look at me.
"Aren't you forgetting something?", I pointed towards the blood carrying tube.
"Do you really think they listen to me here", she asked smiling and looked towards the nurse. The nurse fluttered happily by my side, "Goodbye Mr. Kennedy", Kate said and walked out.

The nurse grabbed my arms and again felt my biceps, "Will you get on with it already", I said frustrated and she pulled out the tube and it hurt like hell, "Thanks", I said picking up my jacket and moving out of the place.
I went to the reception and receptionist smiled widely seeing me, "How're you doing Mr. Kennedy?", she asked.
"I am alright", I answered keeping it short and asked about the bill. After clearing that, I walked straight to the parking and got in my car. My phone which was on the deck was buzzing continuously. I picked it up without wasting any time since it was from none other than Hunnigan, "Kennedy", I answered monotonously taking my car out of the parking on the road.

"Where the hell were you? I've been trying to get through to you for ages", she barked.
"I was having a date with Grim Reaper", I replied yet again monotonously.
"What?!", she asked not getting what I said.
"Why you called?", I asked cutting the crap.
"You were suppose to report by 5:00 remember, you said it yourself", Hunnigan said.
"I'll be over there in about an hour and explain everything to you", I said and before she can say anything I disconnected. I spotted Kate standing by the road maybe looking for a taxi. I don't know what made me but I stopped my car in front of her and lowered the glass, "Should I drop you home?", I asked her and she gave a suspicious look.
"Okay", she said and I unlocked the door for her. She opened it, got in and I drove towards home.

"Woof", Shadow barked and poked its head between the two front seats.
"Cute dog", Kate said stroking it, "very friendly too. Was he here in your car whole night?"
"Yes", I replied keeping my eyes on the road.
"You should have told me, pets aren't allowed in hospital but I could have made an exception for Agent Kennedy", she said petting my dog happily.
"You shot me before I could say anything", I said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Hmm…", she just said, "Anyways what's his name?"
"Shadow", I answered.
"Whose?", she asked again.
"Huh?", I said not getting her.
"Whose Shadow is he?", she asked making herself clear.
"People say mine", I answered with a shrug.
"Well they definitely lie don't they", she said shaking her head, "I mean you're arrogant, mean, hostile and don't even smile but even though he's a dog he's not hostile, not mean and look he even smiles", she said smiling as she rubbed behind Shadow's ear.
"Actually Shadow is hostile to almost everybody except a few friends and family", I told her the truth.
"Is that so?", she said raising her brows at me.
"I am not lying", I said looking at her.
"I didn't say that", she said smiling and shaking her head.
"But you were thinking it", I said.
"Can you read minds?", she asked surprised.
"What?! No", I replied.
"Then how can you exactly say what I was thinking?", she asked and I got her point.
"I just thought", I said.
"You think a lot", she said.

"Your house is here", I told her as I pulled my car in front of her house ending our yet another useless argument.
"Oh I didn't notice", she said and got out and I watched her round around my car. And as I was beginning to drive away, there was a knock on my side window and I rolled it down, "Do you know that dogs usually take their behavior after their masters, so if he smiles then you can smile too, you don't have to be happy or have any reason to smile are you getting me? I guess no. Anyways thanks for dropping me and I am forgetting something", she said and paused to think something, "Oh yeah almost forgot to tell you, get that wound dressed and examined everyday if possible. And believe me Sylvia, that nurse, she would love to do that every day for you. And if you're too busy I'll tell her your address, good", she smiled, "And now you can finally go, Bye", she waved and straightened up. She walked towards her home and I watched her until Shadow licked my face; and just then my phone buzzed reminding me of my job.
I picked it up, "I am coming", I said and drove away without wasting any more time.

(Kate's POV)

I turned and watched Leon's car as he drove away, "Nice car", I muttered. Claire was right that he was a nice guy, even though I still thought he was a little weird.
"Kate", I turned and saw my furious brother.
"Hey bro", I waved at him smiling.
"Where were you all night? Who was that guy? And why the hell you didn't call every two hours?", he bombarded me with a bunch of questions.
I laughed and hugged him, "Relax Bro", I said pulling him inside the house.
"Kiddo answer me", he said still flaring a bit.
"I was at work and I told Claire and Jill; didn't they tell you?", I asked hanging my coat on the hanger.
"We did", they both chorused and the three of us laughed at my brother.

"You know Chris you worry too much about Kate", Claire said.
"Yeah he even worries about me more than his real sister", I said.
"Kate", both of my siblings snapped at me.
"How many times do I have to tell you Kiddo what if we aren't related by blood our bond is far more superior than that", he said.
"Yes, don't you dare to say that again or I'll make you eat Chris's made breakfast", Claire said.
"No, don't torture me", I said a bit melodramatically.

"If you three are done then come and have breakfast", Jill called us from the table.
"I'll just get myself freshen up a bit", I said and headed to my room for a hot shower and joined them after an hour.

"You said a bit", Chris said looking up at me over the newspaper.
"Chris, a girl has to have at least one hour to shower, we are not like you men doing everything in 10 minutes", Jill said in my support.
"Right said", I said hugging her by waist as if she was my mother and stuck my tongue at my over protective fatherly brother.
"So who was the guy?", Jill asked and Chris didn't showed any interest but the three on us knew his ears have perked up for listening. We gave each other a slight nod and decided to tease him.
"Well you know him Jill mommy", I said mocking a five-year-old, yes I just called mommy because she is loving and caring like a mother and she wasn't bothered by since she would be becoming one soon.
"Do I know him?', Claire asked curiously.
"Even Chris knows him", I said having a bite of my toast.
"Who? Who? Is he handsome?", Jill asked taking a seat by my side.
"Oh yes", I replied remembering the receptionist and nurse at the hospital, "Very handsome, actually."
"Does he earn good", Claire asked.
"Yes, I think so", I replied a little doubtful and we could sense Chris getting restless since the paper was terribly shaking now.
"So are you dating?", Jill finally dropped the bomb.
"Kiddo you're not allowed to date", Chris almost flew towards us.

"Bro relax we were just kidding", Claire said as the three of us broke out laughing.
"Tell me the name of bastard, I am gonna rip him open", Chris said furiously
"Hey! Hey just relax it was just a joke", I said seriously and he relaxed, "I am not dating anybody."
"Then who was that guy?", Chris asked gaining a composed posture but one could still said he was a bit angry, he crossed his arms and looked down at me. He looked really scary for someone who didn't know him; to me he looked cute.
I stood up and hugged him, "You're such a cutie Bro", and he hugged me back and all of us group hugged and when we parted the Big Redfield had completely calmed down and the three of us women began to tidy up the living room.

"Hey Kiddo", he called as I handed him back the newspaper.
"Is any page missing?', I asked.
"No, just tell me who it was just so I could relax, you know what I mean", he said trying to hide his worry.
"Oh Bro", I said and sat beside him, "Well he's your friend what was his name again that Kennedy guy."
"Leon", Jill said surprised, "What were you doing with him?"
"Kennedy", Chris almost yelled.
"Relax listen to me first. He was injured and was hospitalized for the night and he just gave me a ride back home."
"What happened to him?", Claire asked concerned.
"Well he was shot and had lost too much blood", I told her and decided to keep his carelessness and details of the incident a secret just so Claire would not rip Angela into two.

"He's an idiot", Claire said, "I'll go and meet him."
"Yeah that guy, I sometimes feel that he should get married", Chris said seriously.
"Should I marry him then", I joked.
"Uh huh… Kiddo", it was Jill this time, "don't joke about this, that guy's life is more twisted than you can imagine so don't joke about it."
"As you say", I shrugged as the three of my family concerned about Leon, it made me a little curious about him, not to mention the air of mystery about him.

"Gotta run, bye Kiddo take care", Claire said as she hugged me goodbye.
"Yeah see you at dinner", I said walking her to the door
"Take care baby", Jill said moving towards the car.
"Kiddo don't party, don't call your friends over and don't open the door for strangers and don't even think of talking to them", Chris warned me.
"Yes Sir", I said saluting him, it was pointless to tell him that I am 25 not 5, to him I would always be his little girl. I smiled and waved them goodbye and decided to get some sleep.

(Leon's POV)

I was walking out of the hospital after getting my arm dressed and just then my phone buzzed and it showed that it was Claire, "Hey Red", I answered.
"Hey how are you doing", she asked.
"I am fine", I replied.
"So can you meet me over lunch at usual spot", she asked.
"At 2:00 PM", I replied.
"That was fast", she said, "anyways don't be late and don't think about dropping it."
"I won't; believe me", I replied since because of injury I was forced to do paper work.

I had changed the dressing two times in past two days and I didn't understand why it didn't hurt when Kate did it that night. I sighed and drove to my office building instead of White House and got in my cabin and busied myself in paperwork and before I knew it was already 5 minutes past 2:00 and I hurried to the usual café where I and Claire usually meet. She was already there waiting for me as always.

"I am so sorry Red", I said taking a seat in front of her.
"Don't worry you're only 10 minutes late and that's a record", she said with a warm smile.
"Yeah actually I would have been on time if I hadn't been too much occupied with paperwork", I told her.
"Since when did you like doing paperwork and what happened to the mighty President's daughter", she asked raising her brows.
"The paper work was getting cluttered up so I decided to finish them up", I made an excuse as I didn't want to tell her the real reason because she might get overly concerned about it.
"Or maybe there's nothing you can do since you injured your left arm", she said or more of scolded me.
"Who told you?", I asked a little surprised..
"Kate", she replied, "She is my sister, did you forget?"
"Yes kinda", I really did forget about those two being sisters, "I didn't know she talked about me at home."
"Well actually she didn't. It was just that Chris was nagging her since you dropped her home that day so she had to explain everything and we came to know", she replied.
"I see", I could only respond to it.

The waitress came and we gave our orders and waited in silence without saying anything to each other, "So did she treat you good?", Claire asked breaking the silence.
"Yes, she almost knocked me out when I had to get back to work and I had to do lot explaining at work", I replied sighing.
"You hate her right?", Claire asked a little concerned.
"What makes you think that, I may not like her but I don't hate her", I told her the truth and there was silence again.

"It's her way of showing she cares", Claire said again and I looked at her, "You might have figured out she's not my real sister. When our mom died, dad re-married a widow and she had a daughter of her own. Chris and I always thought that things would change between us and dad, you know stereotyping step-mothers and step siblings but it turned out to be complete opposite. Our step mom was a great woman and her daughter, Kate, was a bundle of joy. We became a complete family again but it didn't last long because we lost both of parents again in a car crash. After that we only had each other and I guess that deepened our bonds more. Chris took the role of our dad."

Claire smiled and continued, "He worked in Raccoon and sent Kate to New York Medical University for her medical degree and he tried to send me too but I decided to stay close to him and unfortunately got involved with Raccoon city incident. But I am glad Kate was out of this mess safe in London but when she heard that Raccoon was nuked she left her studies to look for us. Chris wanted to make sure she was safe and wasn't dragged in like me, so he sent her back to continue her studies and asked her to keep a low profile, so Wesker doesn't get to her you know. All these years we had been hiding her and when Wesker died the first thing we did was get back to her and she welcomed us with open arms and she never considered us heroes for fighting those zombies, she considered us stupid to be that mess. She hugged us and said, 'Bro and Sis you're complete idiots'", she mocked Kate's sarcastic tone and tears streamed down her face, "I am sorry shouldn't have told you that, I am sorry."

Claire wiped her tears away as she saw the waitress bringing the food and we ate in silence, "So what happened when you told her me being involved in that", I finally asked her.
"Well she never talks much", she said not looking up at me.
"Yeah right", I said sarcastically.
"Well let me complete, she never talks much about you", she said smiling.
"She'd be the first woman", I said and couldn't help but smile.

"Oh my god", I turned and saw Kate as she literally dropped her coffee cup on the table and got really close to my face, "Slap me I must be dreaming, he's smiling", she backed away and sat besides Claire, "I wish I had a camera, I mean this a memorable moment. We should call press I can see the headlines clearly Leon S. Kennedy found smiling at… what's the café name", and now it made me laugh and both the women joined in and then I heard click of camera and noticed that Kate just had taken a photograph of me laughing with her phone, "Gotcha, I'll show this to Chris and Jill", she said showing it to Claire.

"What are you doing here Kiddo?", Claire asked Kate.
"Don't tell Chris but I am on a date with my boyfriend", she pointed at me and I was shocked.
"Leon?", Claire almost yelled.
"Not him", she said shaking her head, "Him", she pointed what looked like behind me to someone and I turned to see who it was.
"Is he the one whom you talked about", Claire asked, "So did he confess?"
"Nah… just asked me out on lunch and I spotted you and decided to introduce to him since you'd help me in future", she said smiling, "Leon can help me too."
"I know this guy", I said trying to remember his name.
"Of course you know him he works with you", Claire said.

"Good afternoon Mr. Kennedy and… ", the guy said approaching us.
"Claire, Claire Redfield", Claire introduced herself.
"She's my sister and you already know Leon. Guys this is Matthew Hendricks, my school time friend."
"Matthew Williams, yeah I remember you're the one who transferred yourself all the way from New York right", I said remembering.
"No Sir you're mistaken I was transferred from New York", he said and I wasn't sure but maybe he blushed. And then Claire and Kate started laughing, making me wonder what was so funny.

"It's nothing… just girl stuff", Kate said waving her hand but she laughed even after Claire had stopped. And Kate really looked beautiful laughing like that and I could sit here watch her laugh all day. Between her laughs I could hear the sounds of heartbeats, MY heartbeats as it sped up just seeing her laugh and I felt happy after a long-long time.
"Kiddo that's enough", Claire sort of scolded her 'cause everyone's attention was on us now.

"I am sorry", Kate said getting a hold of herself, "I AM SORRY GUYS", she yelled to everyone, "Sorry", she shrugged but again started laughing and the whole café joined in this time. Kate was sitting between Claire and me and was holding Claire for support but she turned and grabbed by shoulder, left shoulder. Her hand slid down as she laughed hard and we looked at each other briefly. Her laugh died down and then she backed away abruptly, "I am so sorry. Did I hurt you? I am so sorry, I forgot… I forgot… I am so sorry. How stupid of me. I am sorry…", she apologized still backing away and her laughter was replaced by tears and she got up and hurriedly walked away.

"Kiddo", Claire called getting up, "See you guys later", she said getting her things and hurrying out.
"I am coming too", the new guy said and he too went away.

'Why this feels so bad and my chest hurts', I thought, dropping some notes on the untouched food and got out of the café away from everyone's confused gazes. Nobody but Kate and me could understand what happened just right now maybe Claire and that new guy. But I knew that Kate and I exchanged something back there but maybe I was the only one, who noticed it and she had no idea about it or maybe I was thinking about it too much like she said; but this is what I do, think and think. Maybe I should be more like her and welcome everything with open arms, but wasn't I like her sometime in the past?

A/N: Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed it. My apologies for any inconvenience you had whilst reading.