A/N: I am very grateful to all the readers following this story. Shirahane Aikawa, thanks for always telling me your views about the story, you're the best!

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

Chapter 27

(Kate's POV)

I scribbled away the medical reports as I sat all alone in the Doctor's office, which I shared with some colleagues of mine. I was being as slow and detailed as possible. For some reason I didn't want my work to finish but whatever measures I took it wasn't enough because with addition of a line or two the report was complete. I looked at it and read it to see if there was something missing, as if it was an answer to some important test but there was simply nothing I could add on it. I checked out other files to see if some work was pending but there was nothing.

I rose from my chair deciding to just go on rounds, even though it has been like 10 times that I have done it since morning but there was nothing else to be done. And as I was about to pull open the door I remembered Sophie's comment, about me being too sincere and trying to get on Dean's good book with extra hard work, made me stop. I was getting too much attention already and I didn't need something like that. I walked back to my desk and tried to think of some work that would keep me distracted from the thoughts of Leon and last night, and for some reason work was an excellent distraction. I wonder if Leon works like this because he too needs distraction.

I sat back on my chair and just then the two of my colleagues that were missing from their desks entered the room talking, "Yeah I saw him at the reception this morning and he is so cute!", Josie was telling Sophie, "I thought he was a patient."
"Forget about being cute, he's totally hot to be a doctor", Sophie said to her, "Don't you think?", and they both looked at me.
"I have no idea who or what you're talking about", I told them feeling a bit lost.
"We are talking about the new guy", Josie told me excitedly.
"Who?", I couldn't help but say I had no idea about any new recruits.
"Haven't you seen him in the hallways and all? All the nurses and female doctors are already drooling on him, how could you miss it?", Sophie said as if I missed something, or someone in this case, of national importance.
"I was a little occupied with work today", I told her, even though she knew and had already pointed it out to me.
"Ah yeah right! You were busy running between patients' wards today", Sophie said walking to her desk and relaxing on her chair.
"No problem if you missed this new guy. I'd tell you everything about him", Josie told me speaking really fast in excitement.
"I don't think she would want to know about him", Sophie said from her desk and both Josie and I looked in her direction, "She has this super hot guy in her circles."

My initial thought about a friendly chat or gossip with colleagues would be a great distraction was proving to be wrong and I didn't like the way the conversation was heading, "Yeah I have seen that guy too, I was this close to treat him but the Dean paged me in the end moment", Josie complained. And then Josie and Sophie started discussing Leon. Sophie was telling Josie all she knew about Leon and then they started comparing him with the new guy and if it wasn't enough they started asking me all sorts of things about Leon, the very thing that I wanted to avoid.

"He still got a girlfriend?", Sophie asked me all of a sudden.
"I don't know", I replied trying to sound really neutral about it.
"Well I was thinking about the time he was here. I didn't see any regular female visitors", Sophie said, "Except you, your sister and his mom. I know your sister is married and unless you're his girlfriend…"
"We're just friends", I almost snapped at her.
"So I think he's pretty much single", Sophie clapped getting off her chair and walking to me, "Give me his number", she said taking out her phone.
"I don't have it", I told her the truth, "At least not his cell phone number."

"Give me the home phone or office number I'd talk to him and ask him out", Sophie said and I knew she was stubborn so I gave her the home phone number that I had of his place. And then came in another round of trivia and I felt like I was a Leon encyclopedia to my colleagues. It got even worse when another one of my colleague joined them and they again went to the same thing over and over again, occasionally asking me a thing or two about Leon.

"Look I have to go now, my bro would be mad if I was late", I made an excuse as I grabbed my lab coat and bag. I left the room on double as my colleagues got busy discussing Leon in light of the new information about him. I walked really fast turning a corner when I bumped into someone, "I am sorry!", I apologized rubbing my head.

"Kate?!", I heard a familiar voice.
"Mike?!", I said surprised to see my old friend, colleague and ex-boyfriend.
"What a pleasant surprise!", he said with a broad smile, "What are you doing here?"
"I work here", I told him.
"What?!", he almost screamed in surprise, "I can't believe my luck", he added excitedly as I gave him a confused look, "I just joined here today."
"Oh that's great! That's really great!", I said with a slight smile.
"Yeah isn't it, now at least I know someone here", he sighed out in relief, his eyes were gleaming with happiness, "So you starting your shift now?", he asked me, "I am asking because I didn't see you around."
"No, I am heading home", I told him.
"I was about to head home once I turn in this report", he told me showing me a file, "Want to catch up on dinner?", he asked me.
"Ah no, my bro must be expecting me back home", I declined his offer.
"I understand, maybe some other time", He said with a clear disappointment in his tone, "So see you tomorrow then!"
"Yeah!", I said but he didn't move as if expecting something, "Ah excuse me", I said and moved past him.

I hurriedly walked away and didn't look back at him even though I felt his eyes on me. I stopped a cab and told him the address as I got in the back seat. I stared outside the car window staring blankly wondering many different things about Leon and me. I wanted to keep away from these thought but having no distraction and a lot of stimulation of my memories with Leon were making my mind drift back to him. I didn't know what went wrong and why he was being so cold to me all of a sudden but all I knew was that whatever he said last night was the ultimate truth. He didn't hold any feelings for me, none that was beyond the bond of friendship but last night that bond was severed too, and the severing of this bond was much, much more painful than any other break up I've ever had.

"Are you okay lady?", the cab driver's voice brought me back to reality.
"I am fine", I told him, "Why we stopped?"
"We are at the destination", he replied a little confused.
"Oh I am sorry I was a little lost in thoughts", I said getting out and then I paid him the fair and then walked to the home.

And as I was about ring the doorbell it swung open, "Surprise!", Claire yelled welcoming me.
It took all my strength to smile at her, "What a pleasant surprise", I said hugging her.
"I'll stay the whole weekend, since Eric's not in town", she informed me as I stepped inside.
"That's great!", I said with a smile, "I'd catch up with you guys in a bit. I am in desperate need of a shower", I added heading upstairs to my room.
"Yeah take your time", Claire said and I headed for my room.

(Leon's POV)

I knocked at the door of the Hunnigan office and she yelled, "Enter!", from the other side of the door, "Oh it's you Kennedy", she spared me a look and then looked at the time, "Yeah you can take a short break to see your girlfriend", she added re-arranging her papers.
"She's just my friend", I said putting a weight in my voice.
"She is?", Hunnigan asked looking at me surprised and I nodded even though I had no clue if she still wanted to be my friend after our last encounter, "We're talking about this Kate right?"
"Yeah, she's just my friend", I repeated it again as monotonously as I could.

"So if you're not here for the break, then how may I help you?", Hunnigan asked me.
"I was here to submit this paperwork from the hospital", I said giving her a file, "I am fit to be back on the field and I am done with paperwork."
Hunnigan took the file and hurriedly went through it, "Oh that's great then, President and Ashley ask for you all the time so you can resume work from tomorrow", she said getting back to her work.
"Tomorrow? Wouldn't now be better", I asked being on field was a better distraction than doing all the paperwork.
"We can't do that and you know it", Hunnigan said in a matter-of-fact tone, "The President and First daughter have a schedule and we can't just send you in unless it's an emergency."
I let out a deep sigh, I knew that already and wasn't too much hopeful about it either, "Yeah I get it. I just don't like paper work", I said making an excuse.
"I know Kennedy but paperwork is important too", Hunnigan said to me, "You just work on it for now, starting tomorrow sharp at 8:00AM you'd be back to your heaven."
"Yeah right!", I said it sarcastically but Hunnigan didn't catch it, "I'll be going then", I had no reason to be in her cabin anymore.

I walked back to my cabin and slumped on my chair, 'Back to heaven, hmph…', I thought to myself with a sarcastic smile. I wondered if it even existed anymore, because just last night I took a sledge hammer and destroyed the very thing that was close to heaven for me, and hurt the only person who made my life a lot better and worth living in the little time she spent with me. She took the time to tend to me, put me and my heart back together. And how did I repay her kindness? It was by breaking her heart and there was no easy way to do it. I just hoped that she'd forgive and forget me over time, like everyone did. I rested my head on the back of the chair closing my eyes trying to suppress the pain in my heart, which could feel the pain of the heart I broke last night.

My phone rang and I looked at it, it was Hunnigan calling, "Kennedy", I answered in a monotone.
"I talked it over to superiors and the President, you can be in his security starting tomorrow", she informed me, "Just a little change of plans, you have to be there by 7:00AM. Is that alright with you?"
"Yeah that's fine", I replied, it was actually more than fine since the more I work the less my mind would zoom back to Kate.
"Okay that's it then", she said and disconnected.

I got back to my paperwork but unfortunately, I was finished with all of it by the 9:00PM, guess the towering paperwork is nothing when you really put your mind to it. And since I didn't have anything to do at work, I decided to leave. I met John in the parking who was surprised to see that I was already leaving and shocked when he came to know I was done with all the pending paperwork. And then one thing led to another and we ended up going to a bar.

"Frank, get the best beer in house!", John yelled out to the bartender over the crowd as we took seats, "So what are we celebrating?", John asked me.
"That I am still living", I answered dryly and I didn't know if that was sarcasm or not.
"Ah yeah that was a nasty accident man", John said agreeing with me; "You got off pretty easy. Jacob's still…", he stopped abruptly, "I mean…", he began.
"I get it, I got lucky", I said knowing what he wanted to say.
John cleared his throat, "Now where is that Frank", he said changing the topic and then to turned to me and added, "By the way you told Kate about your feelings?"
"Nope", I kept the reply short.
"Oh well whenever you tell her and she accepts; we're going for drinks again", John said to me.
"Not happening", I responded since confessing my feelings wasn't an option now.

"What a cheapskate you're ", John said going all melodramatic and I decided to keep quiet, "If I had a girlfriend like that I'd definitely treat my best friend, forget about the best friend, I would have gone overboard and treated everyone in the bar to a drink. I mean c'mon, that girl's smile is worth million dollars", and I couldn't help but remember Kate's smiling face and felt my lips curl into a smile and within a flash of a moment it changed to her tear streaked face, making my heart ache and I hit my head hard to get that image out of my mind, "hey are you alright?", John asked me maybe catching on to my quick change of expressions.

"I am fine", I replied still holding my head, "My head hurts a bit", I knew it was my heart and not my head that was hurting.
"Let me call Kate and she'd know what to do", John said getting his phone out.
"No need to call her", I said totally against the idea.
"Oh you want to go see her personally", John giving me a Cheshire grin.
"I am fine John", I told him.
"Well you don't look like it, let me just call her and maybe who knows she decides to see you. It's not that late", John said almost dialing her number.
"She won't come John!", I almost yelled stopping him from calling her.
"Did you have a fight or something?", John asked me curiously smiling.

I sighed and thought there was no way out of this, I had to tell him something. I told him all about last night and slowly saw his smile vanish, as one of his most serious face that was only visible on field surfaced, "Here are your drinks!", Frank finally got the 'best' drinks.
"So you're saying you friendzoned her and asked her to friendzone you?!", John asked me and I nodded in response, "We won't need the best beer now", John said to the bartender, who frowned at this.
"Its fine", I said taking the glass and chugging it down in one breath.

I just wanted to drown Kate's crying face off my mind and I didn't care if it was beer or vodka that was doing it. John didn't talk to me after that but seemed to be lost in deep thought and both of us kept drinking. Occasionally he asked a question or two confirming stuff about last night. It was as if he wanted to see some loophole in the last incident which could be misinterpreted and with a simple explanation, damage could be undone. But unfortunately or fortunately there wasn't a chance for misinterpretation or misunderstanding of any kind, the words were spoken clearly and maybe harshly, even though they weren't meant to be that way. I succeeded in pulling her away from me, even when I needed to be with her.

(Claire's POV)

Both Jill and I looked at each other as we stood outside Kate's room. I couldn't believe that something has gone wrong between Kate and Leon, when Jill called me this afternoon telling me about it. When I got here I was half hoping that she was joking and that it would turn out to be some stupid plan of Kate to get me here so she could break the news to me that now she and Leon are dating, but I only found Jill waiting for my arrival. Jill told me all she knew and apparently she didn't know much, just that Leon had told Kate that he doesn't love her and that she doesn't want Chris to know about it. Still in the back of mind I thought Jill was kidding me but it was super evident when I opened the door for Kate that she was upset and almost depressed. She was doing hell of a great job to hide it but for us it's not much of a big deal to see through her façade. Chris was visually blind to such stuff and it was easy for Kate to hide her true feeling from him but I grew up with her and I could tell it straight away that she was all torn up inside.

Jill and I talked it over and we both agreed that it must be some misunderstanding between them because Leon was a different person with her, and he was doing things just for her that he wouldn't ever do for anybody. We just needed to know what happened in details, so we could point out the inconsistency or give a different view of the situation that Kate might be missing. But since Kate didn't want Chris to know about it, so we waited till he was asleep to go and talk to Kate about it.

"You sure he's asleep?", I asked Jill in confirmation.
"Yeah sleeping like a bear", she tried to joke with a weak smile.
"Okay, here goes nothing", I said knocking on Kate's room door, we know she must be awake, "Kate, we are coming in", I called out to her. Kate didn't reply and I pushed open the door to her room, she was sitting on her bed reading a huge book by the light of her bed side lamp.
"You know why are we here, right?", Jill said as she took a seat in front of Kate while I sat by her side.
Kate sighed and closed her book with a loud thud keeping it aside, "Yeah, guess you want to know what happened last night", she said and we remained silent as she told us all about it.

The more she said the more it sounded unbelievable, "Are you sure he said that?", Jill asked in confirmation.
"Yes", she said in a wavering voice not looking at us, tears threatening to fall from her eyes.
"Maybe it's a big misunderstanding", I couldn't help but say.
"It's not, it's not, it's not", Kate repeated crying burying her face in her palms, "he said it himself that he doesn't think of me as more than friend and he was very clear about it!"
Jill and I looked at each other, Jill's eyes were tearing up too and I felt those tears in my eyes, "Kate, I'd talk to him okay?", I said pulling her in a hug.
"Yeah we'd ask him, why…", Jill began but Kate cut in between.
"No!", she shook her head wildly, "I don't want to be a bother to him. It was my fault that I read into it too much, thought that he loved me but it's all clear now. We, him and I, cleared all the misunderstandings. I don't want to trouble him anymore and promise me you won't either and that you won't tell Chris about it!"

Jill and I both nodded in agreement promising her that we wouldn't confront Leon and nor would we tell anything to Chris, since our priority was to calm her down rather than to fix what was already damaged beyond repair. Once Kate calmed down, Jill headed downstairs to Chris before he came looking for her. I decided to stay with Kate and help her through the night, which seemed to be a long and dark one.

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.