A/N: I am highly thankful to all the lovely readers out there, following this story. And I am extremely grateful to the reviewers Shirahane Aikawa and Mercenary Nemesis for reviewing the last chapter.

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

Chapter 22

(Kate's POV)

I looked at my watch as I put it around my wrist and couldn't help but curse because I was running a bit late. I leapt to the mirror and started brushing my hair really fast. It was all because of Leon that I was running late now, if he hadn't came to hospital that day, he wouldn't have asked me out; if he hadn't asked me out, I wouldn't have agreed to go with him; if I hadn't gone with him, I wouldn't have had a good time; if I hadn't had a good time, I wouldn't have kept myself awake thinking about it; if I wasn't up late, I wouldn't have slept in, which in turn means I wouldn't have been running late now.

"That damn Leon!", I muttered and realized that I had stopped brushing my hair as I cursed him. I shook my head and hurriedly did my hair. I grabbed my lab coat, bag and phone and just as I was about to dump my phone in the bag, it started ringing. I looked at the screen it was Leon calling, "Hello?", I answered the call dumping other things in my bag.
"Good morning", he wished me.
"Good morning", I wished him back, "Now if you please tell me why you called, I am running late", I added exiting my room.
"I am running late too", he told me.
"Is that why you called?", I said impatiently, descending the steps.
"I thought we could have breakfast together", Leon said.
"Kate, Breakfast?", Jill said as I moved to the front door.
"I'm late, I don't have time", I answered to both of them.
"So perhaps I could give you a ride to work?", he suggested.
"I am late, I am heading out already I can't even wait another minute for you to get here", I told him as I pulled open the front door, got out and covered half the distance to the road in front of our house.
"But I am already here", Leon said and that made me look up. He was here all the time leaning over the hood of his car talking to me, "Need a ride?"
"Love to", I replied smiling keeping my phone back, "You are the only person that can get me there in time", I added as we both got in his car.

I didn't disturb Leon while he drove full speed towards work, thinking he needed all the concentration he could muster up. And sure enough he got me there on time, "Thanks!", I thanked him getting out.
"Anytime", he said, "How about lunch together?", he asked me.
"Sure, if you can make it", I replied with a smile.
"See you around 1:00 PM", he said smiling.
"Okay", I agreed.
"Have to go now, already a bit late. Good day!", he said.
"You too", I added as he drove away and I stood watching his car for a bit before moving inside the hospital.

"I thought you were not dating him", I looked to my side it was Sophie.
"I am NOT dating him", I cleared it out to her.
"Well it doesn't look like it though and Josie told me that he was at hospital the other day before yesterday and now he's dropping you to work", Sophie said in something like an envious tone.
"He came in with a friend to see someone, so he just dropped in to say hi, for like just 10 minutes", I told her frustrated from all her accusations.
"Explain me what kind of friend drops you off to work", Sophie argued.
"A really GOOD one", I said as we stepped into the reception, "Now if you excuse me I have work."

Sophie's confrontation really ruined my mood and my morning. But once I got occupied with work all of it just faded away, not to mention the Dean, who was crazier than Sophie, was always asking me for the files that I had already handed to him. By lunchtime I barely had any energy to do anything. My phone buzzed and I looked at it and couldn't help but slap my head, I totally forgot about the lunch I promised to have with Leon.

"I am so sorry, I totally forgot", it was first thing I said, taking up the call. It was already 10 minutes past 1:00 PM.
"No problem babe", he said, "Still down to have lunch with me?"
"Yeah I'll be there in a minute", I said since I had already started walking to the exit.

I walked as fast as I could through the reception out to the hospital gates, where Leon was already waiting for me in his car. He unlocked the car door for me as I neared it. I got in his car and let out a sigh of tiredness, relaxing a little.

"You look tired", Leon said starting the engine.
"I am, busy day patients keep coming and going, staff shortage", I told him with my eyes close and head resting against the seat.
"I am sorry, I shouldn't have bothered you with lunch", he said in an apologetic tone.
"No", I almost screamed opening my eyes, "You, Leon S. Kennedy, are my salvation."
"Glad to know that", he smiled, that handsome smile I grew to love on his face.
"And besides I am hungry", I told him, "VERY hungry", I just realized that I didn't even have breakfast this morning.
"So much that you could have everything on the menu", Leon said teasing me.
I hit him, "You still remember that?!", I couldn't help but say.
"Of course, how can I forget", Leon said smiling keeping his eyes on the road.
"It was really troublesome", I said sitting up straighter.
"Exactly!", he said in matter-of-fact tone. I gave him an icy stare, "it must have been troublesome for you", he covered it up nicely.
"Anyways where are we going?", I asked changing the topic.
"Just about here", he said parking his in front of a restaurant.

We both decided to take an outside table, the day couldn't really be perfect than this to sit outside. We really had a nice time while we had lunch and Leon amused me out of my tiredness and frustration. And when it was time to head back to work I felt almost melancholic, parting away from his company. He again drove me back to the hospital and fortunately no one saw him dropping me off this time. And so when I returned back to work, I was in a much better mood than the one I had in the morning.

(Jill's POV)

I set breakfast at the table as Chris and I sat down to have breakfast together with him, "Smells good", Chris said pulling his plate to him, "Where's Kate?"
"She left", I answered sipping my green tea.
"Again, she should stop skipping breakfast", he said concerned.
"She is not skipping breakfast", I told him.
"Well I haven't seen her on table for breakfast for 4 days now", Chris said in matter-of -fact tone.
"I know I was concerned too but she told me that she's having her breakfast with Kennedy every morning and then he drops her off to work", I told Chris smiling.
"Really?!", he asked shocked and I nodded, "They are moving too fast now."
"You think?!", I couldn't help but say.
"Yeah, by the looks of it they got it going on", Chris said buttering his toast.
"No, if that were the case Kate might have mentioned it to me", I told him, it was unimaginable fact that Kate would hide something like that from me.
"Maybe she doesn't want to tell you", Chris shrugged.
"She told me when she and this other guy started dating", I reasoned with him.
"Hmm… maybe they're still stuck there", Chris said and I could swear that I heard disappointment in his voice.
"But well she admitted she likes him and Leon too likes her. I mean he's taking too much time to drive her to work and back home plus he has breakfasts with her every morning. They're like a couple and yet they're not a couple", I said and the thought was bit frustrating.
"He drops her home", Chris asked in surprise, probably because he isn't home when Kate comes back.
"Yeah he does! And not only that Kate tells me sometimes they go for coffee too", I told him.

"Looks like I'd be giving her away soon", Chris said as his shoulders slouched.
"Aww… you'd have our baby to keep you company", I tried to comfort him and he smiled.
"Ah well, she'd be just a few blocks away", he said more to himself and I couldn't help but let out a laugh at his way of motivating himself positively for the upcoming relationship. And before I could say anything the door bell rang, "That must be Claire", Chris said getting up to get the door and moments later he walked back with Claire.
She hugged me and said, "Tell me all the juicy tales about Kate and Leon; you already told me on the phone but that's not same as discussing it face to face."

"I'd take that as a cue and head to work", Chris said kissing my cheek.
"Take care!", both Claire and I said in a chorus.
"Oh and don't forget to take her to the doctor between all your feminine talks", Chris said reminding us.
"I won't", Claire said smiling waving at him.
"I'll ring up Kate to remind you guys just in case", he said and went on his way to head to work.

Claire and I spent the whole morning doing trivial chores and exchanging gossips. I told her all about Kate and Leon in minute details and she told me about what Kate had told her on the phone. We started discussing little things and began assuming or imagining, what they probably do when they are alone and all the aspects of them being in a relationship. For some reason to us it was like some very interesting romantic movie or book, which we just couldn't stop discussing. And sure enough we totally forgot about my Doctor's appointment. I was only when Kate called and reminded us of it, we truly stopped our discussion, only so that we don't blurt any unnecessary awkward stuff to Kate.

(Leon's POV)

I walked, well almost ran to the parking to get to my car because I was late for an appointment, 'She's really going to be mad', I couldn't help but think, as I fumbled for keys in my pocket as I approached my car.

"Leon!?", I heard a voice mixed with confusion and surprise and spotted John jogging in my direction so he could catch up to me, "You going home?"
"Yes", I replied electronically unlocking my car.
"How? Why?", he asked again.
"Going to mom's place for dinner", I told him getting in the car.
"Cool I am coming too", he said and he was already in the car, "So what's the occasion?"
"Nothing, Kate said that I don't really have time for anyone and that my mother hardly sees me, so I told her I visit her every other weekend. She didn't believe me and so one thing led to another and it finally ended with mom inviting us to a dinner", I told him the whole story short.
"So you visit your mother every weekend?!", John asked me in a surprised tone.
"Yeah, you know it, you go with me half the time like now", I couldn't help but say.
"Oh yeah forgot about that", John said casually and I gave him a serious look. I drove in silence and John didn't crack anymore jokes or say anything for some time, "So, is it true?"

"What?", I asked him keeping my eyes on the road.
"You know the talk that's in the air these days", John said smiling.
"Can you please come straight to the point", I said frowning a little.
"Well are you dating Redfield's younger sister?", John asked and hearing that I almost crashed my car into another.
"What?! NO!", I told him, shaking my head.
"Well people said that you've been spending a lot of time with her and people have told me you take breaks to have lunch or coffee with her", John said.
"We are good friend's that's it and yeah sometimes I go and have a cup of coffee with her", I told him the truth.
"So you don't like her?", he asked me. My grip on the steering wheel tightened, "HAHA, you do! Are you chickening out because it's Redfield's sister?"
"You seriously think I can't take on Chris Redfield?", I asked him as we reached my mother's place.

"Then what's the problem?", John asked me in confusion.
"Well with this line of work, everything", I told him getting out of the car.
"Nothing's going to happen to you", John said swinging an arm around my shoulders as I rang the door bell.
"You're late, everyone's been here for forever", mom scolded me, "Hello John! Welcome", she added sweetly to John as she let us in the house.

We both joined Chris, Jill and Eric at the table while Kate, Claire and mom served us. The dinner seemed pretty long with the delicious meals mom prepared and John's jokes as our soul entertainment. After dinner we all hung out a bit talking on different general topics, most dominant being Jill's upcoming baby. After a little while both, Kate and I headed to the kitchen, to do the dishes so that mom doesn't have to work through the mountain of dishes all alone.

"So how was work?", Kate asked me as we were almost finished with the dishes.
"Usual", I told her rolling my eyes, "Yours?"
"Dean is calmer now that we were placed in the top 20. I thought he won't ever stop complaining about that but he did, so it's good", she replied concentrating on her work, "Hunnigan still mad at you for taking breaks?"
"Nah she just gets panic attacks, if I get a bit late that's all", I told her casually.
"The way you drive, she should", Kate said emphatically.
"Oh c'mon I don't drive that bad", I said sounding offended keep the last plate in the stand.
"We already discussed this and we will never see it in same light no matter what", Kate said drying her hands on a towel.

"Wow", we both looked in the direction of voice.
"What?", Kate asked, giving her sister a puzzled look.
"You really act like a couple", Claire replied with a broad smile.
"No, we don't", Kate said and looked at me for support.
"Yeah we are good friends", I told her, it seemed I was saying this a lot.
"Well it's not unusual for friends to start dating, is it?", Claire asked both of us and I knew both Kate and I avoided looking at each other, for the lack of words on that matter.
"Claire, I thought you were calling Kate", Chris said stepping in the kitchen too.

(Kate's POV)

"Yeah, what happened?", I asked even before Claire could reply to him. I don't know how he'd react if he knew I liked Leon more than a friend, from the look on her face and cat-like smile, it was evident that Claire knew it.
"Well time to go home, what else?", Chris said in an obvious tone.
"Oh yeah I am coming", I said to him and we all followed him back to the living area where everyone was saying goodbyes. I moved to Leon's mom at last hugging her saying my goodbyes.
"It was lovely to have you here, only John is the regular visitor", she said looking at me smiling.
"Always will be!", he yelled out to her and we looked at him briefly
"Do come again", she said again giving me a welcoming smile and I smiled nodding in agreement.

After that we got in our cars and headed each on their own way and the memory of my conversation with Leon, in the kitchen still fresh in my mind. Claire was right and I had been noticing it too that Leon and I were like a couple in many ways but the sad thing was we weren't a couple. He was doing everything a boyfriend would do and everything he said he'd do if we got married but he didn't say those three words to me that would make it official. I was sure that Chris's over protectiveness was not an issue here otherwise Leon wouldn't have been doing all this. I sighed and looked through the car window, all I could do was wait, after all I did wait for the stupid ones so why not for Leon.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Hope you liked the chapter and the story so far. I apologize for any mistakes or typos that might have caused an inconvenience whilst reading. You can take time and tell me how you liked the chapter or story so far.