Hello everyone and welcome back. I am quite thrilled that my first chapter received so much positive feedback, highlighting Leon's portrayal and the overall style of the story. It fills me with confidence that my take has a strong start, I hope to keep that momentum all the way through with this next chapter. Your thoughts and comments help not only keep me motivated, but give me an idea on what you all are thinking and feedback that could be adapted. I hope you all will continue to enjoy the story as it goes on, here is now the second chapter of Lobo.

Chapter II: The Wolf and the Sparrow

"You were told you weren't supposed to be working."

Leon winced as Ingrid Hunnigan scolded him on the other side of the phone, he had his clothes laid out on his bed and was preparing himself for the following morning. A part of him had hoped that the information of his medical leave wouldn't get to Hunnigan's ears, but he was wrong it seems. Perhaps he should have called earlier in the afternoon like he should have.

"I'm not working." He responded in a matter of fact tone, as casual as correcting a spelling error. "My work requires Biohazards and there aren't any Biohazards. Doctor Tenhouser told me to meet people, now I'm meeting people."

"Over coffee! Drinks! Events! Not aiding in stopping a persistent stalker!"

Leon set his phone down and put it on speaker as he gathered socks and shoes for the morning. He wanted to be up bright and early for when Mikhael Fedorov picked him up. He had waited until the end of the day to call Hunnigan, for the main reason being he knew she was clocked out around this time unless she was on mission. The second reason was he spent the day trying to make his place livable for three months, he ordered groceries, turned on his wifi, went over his gear and examined the details of the place where Ashley was speaking tomorrow. Mikhael provided him detailed notes on the auditorium where she was speaking, the intended route they planned to take that wasn't populated by students. Where the rest of secret service was going to be and the accommodations that the school made. Leon had been studying the plan to see if he could find any weakspots from an outside point of view, the plan seemed to be solid. The auditorium was the only concerning point, but with enough agents they could cover the vantage points needed. They had built their plan to prevent people from approaching her or getting an opportunity to separate her from secret service. Which this plan seemed to be functional for.

"What do you want me to do Hunnigan? Turn away?"

He could hear Hunnigan sigh, she knew she was trapped in a corner. Or she knew that no matter what was said Leon was going to do it anyway. She knew it the moment he explained what he was doing, she didn't want to enable him...but couldn't deny that Leon had a connection to Ashley and wouldn't just sit by if she was in danger. "No. Of course not. But what do you want me to do? I'm not on any leave Leon, I could be on a mission any day now."

"I know." Leon agreed, her work was important to all the DSO agents in the field. "But I don't need a field operator, I need info. Specifically backgrounds on Ashley's secret service."

There was a choking sound followed by a soft spluttering, Leon raised and eyebrow and turned his head to the phone. "Maybe you shouldn't be trying to take a drink while we're talking?"

"Are you kidding me?!" Hunnigan blurted out, before coughing and lowering her voice. But it didn't lose it's intensity. "Leon, if I even touch a member of secret service then their bosses are going to know I accessed their file! What do I say to them when they ask me about it?"

That there is a traitor in Ashley's secret service. Leon thought to himself. Thinking back to what Mikhael told him last night he couldn't rule out that someone within Ashley's protection detail, someone potentially could have given the intruder the codes to the estate she lived in. He wanted backgrounds on her detail, their history, anything that could be considered a soft red flag. He knew there wouldn't be any direct red flags attached to Ashley, if they did their job then they wouldn't allow people like that in her personal detail. He was looking for indirect connections: a family member who hated the Graham family politics, a brother or sister who was killed during a Bioterrorism event, anyone who had ties to Umbrella or even -god forbid- Los Illuminados. Mikhael may have genuine intentions but that didn't mean he trusted him. Paranoid? Yes. But Leon knew Ashley, despite all the horror she had seen, wanted to see the best in people and that meant she could be blind to enemies. Leon had resigned himself to being 'the bad guy' if it meant she was safe.

"Tell them..." Leon hesitated, he had an idea but he didn't like how it sounded. "Tell them it was a request from the B.S.A.A."

Cue more coughing and spluttering sounds from the phone, these were a little harder than the last ones. Leon stared incredulously at the phone, as if Hunnigan herself was there. "Hunnigan, come on."

"The B.S.A.A?!" Hunnigan hissed, "Are you trying to get me fired from a place I don't even work for?"

"You won't be fired." Leon assured. "It will take too long for anything to happen. When you tell them its from the B.S.A.A they will be obligated to reach out to confirm. B.S.A.A deals with Bioterrorism threats far more often than DSO, it will take them awhile to respond – if they even respond at all."

There was a pause that was almost long enough Leon wondered if the call dropped before Hunnigan responded. "That will work?"

"Yes."

He hoped.

Hunnigan seemed to believe him, but she still sounded hesitant. " I can...maybe run a few checks, but that's it Leon no more than that."

"A few is all I need." he said finished checking his pistol and laying it in its case. Snapping it shut with two sharp clicks. "I'll send you the details tomorrow. But you can start with one: Mikhael Fedorov."

He could hear Hunnigan mumble the name softly as she was likely writing down on the red notepad that had the blue stripe that ran horizontal halfway. A rattling signified she finished as she returned her pen to the cup holder she had on her personal desk. "Got it. I'll run the check and get back to you, now is there anything else?"

"Yes." Leon began, "Congrats on having both Steve and Don make you scream last week."

There Leon heard it, an actual full on spittake, he snicked as he heard Hunnigan call out. "No! It's all over the-damn you Leon!"

Leon laughed as he hung up his phone on a protesting Hunnigan, he double checked and then triple checked he had everything together before he switched off the lights in his room. The soft pitter patter of rain bounced off his window pane, he could see each droplet faintly from the light of the sign that was across the street to his left. His bedroom window overlooked the alleyway so he wasn't in full view of the light, but its light illuminated the alleyway. Which made it hard for anyone to sneak down there. He laid himself down on his bed, having pulled the sheets from the closet and laid them out the night before he didn't get under the covers just yet. Instead he leaned against his headrest and watched the rain outside. Somewhere out there was Ashley, probably asleep in her bed preparing for tomorrow having no idea he was going to be there. Leon debated about calling her, maybe telling her himself. But if there was a traitor from within her secret service...it was best to keep her in the dark. Have the element of surprise in case something went down tomorrow, god forbid there wouldn't be a disaster. Then again...it rained in Raccoon City. It rained in Valdelobos too. Rain always seemed to lead to disaster. It sounded so peaceful too. He closed his eyes and lost himself into the steady sound, letting his body drift away. Tomorrow would come, but for tonight he would sleep. He slowly lowered himself under the covers and stared at the windows as an army of rain droplets ran down his window pane.

"...Buenas Noches, Ashley."

Ashley Graham could not sleep.

How could she? She feared that every sound was the sound of someone breaking into her home. They changed security, got more people, warned local authorities, assured her the panic room was still safe. She wanted to sleep there, but didn't want to be ruled by fear. So she slept in her own room. They had went through every piece with a fine tooth comb, every corner of the room and every shadow with a flashlight. But Ashley Graham could not sleep. She just stared up at the ceiling only to break away to check her beside clock, the blue digital numbers shifting away. She rolled to her side, pulled the blankets closer to herself and tried to shut her eyes. She was nervous. Tomorrow was a big day, she wanted to be at her best. Her best needed her to sleep, but her body just wouldn't let her. She groaned and turned around, reaching for her nightstand and grabbing her phone off the charger. If she couldn't sleep she was going to put on a sleep aid, soothing sounds or something. She got into the main screen, saw she had some texts and checked them over real quick. Confirmations of her time of arrival for tomorrow she backed out to the main screen and her eyes fell over a Draft in her messages. The sight in which she could not help but open and reread to herself.

'Hey, this may be the last message I am going to send. Sorry, I know that sounds scary, but as scary it is for you its more so for me. I was glued to my phone when news of Tall Oaks hit, when President Benford was announced dead. I thought of you so many times, I begged my dad to reach out to his old contacts and sure enough they said you were there. At the front lines. Fighting to save people. Because that's who you are Leon, a warrior. You are the knight that sweeps in and fights off the monsters of the night, regardless of your own safety. I was so scared for you. Someone had to be, because when all the warriors are dead who is going to be left to mourn them? I wanted to call you so many times. Even after everything I thought of calling you, to hear your voice and ask if you were okay. But I knew you would tell me you were fine, that you would lie to me and shoulder the pain alone. Because that's who you are. This is why...this is why I have to say goodbye. I can't...'

Can't what? She stared at the first couple of words where she stopped her draft, what can't she do? Fear for someone who doesn't talk to her anymore? Let him go? Ashley hovered over that draft, like she always did and she had a choice whether to delete it or finish the message and send it. It has been almost a year and a half since she and Leon last spoke, there had been a few messages here and there with links to the latest area she is speaking at but that was it. It had been a year and a half since the two of them had an actual conversation, a far cry from what they used to be. It stung her, she knew he was busy she knew he did important work, but it didn't make it any less hard. She missed him. She saved the draft and went back to the main screen, pausing when she heard errant tapping on her window. She turned over and saw water droplets increase in frequency before they made the steady staccato of rain. She put her phone on sleep mode and laid it back on the dresser, pulling the covers up to her neck she just listened to the rain. Was he listening to it too? Was he finally off some mission and back home? Somewhere in the city, Leon could be listening to the same rain she was. As silly as that sounds, it made her suddenly feel closer to him.

"Buenas Noches...Leon."

"Your bottom button is unbuttoned."

Two agents dressed in similar suits stood at the back entrance to Washington University, a cargo dock where they had cleared the area for Ashley's vehicle to arrive. Away from the parking lot where they couldn't cover the angles. One agent was a woman, in her late 20's, pitch black hair tied up tight at the back of her head to keep it out of her way. She looked like your stereo typical mid-western American, but perhaps with a bit more of a tan. She was politely informing her partner that his suit jacket was not properly buttoned. Her partner, a black man in his early twenties, eyed his suit jacket for a moment and grunted.

"Maybe it's my style." he countered, his voice smooth and not faltering with embarrassment.

His partner smirked, "Well, maybe you can tell that to Mikhael then because I see them now."

She refrained from smiling as she heard him mutter 'shit' and adjust the button on his jacket as a black sedan rolled up. Looking alive they stood at attention as the doors to the vehicle opened, the driver stepped out and stood at attention as two women stepped out of the back. On one side was Ashley Graham, she had herself dressed in a black pencil shirt with a white button up shirt covered by a gray blazer. Her long blond hair, which reached down to her upper back was tied up in a low ponytail and her makeup looked freshly applied. The other woman looked to be in her early twenties, she had a very subtle olive tinge to her skin and was wore black dress pants with a shirt that had high cut sleeves. She had stepped out holding a tablet in her hand, speaking without breaking her stride.

"-is nicer but the privacy is a little more sketchy, the hotel has a long history of spying on their patrons and while they have distanced themselves from that I don't know its a little icky to me."

"I already told you I liked the first one," Ashley reassured. "Relax Emma, I made up my mind."

Emma nodded and tapped something on the tablet as the two of them walked up to the two secret service agents. Nodding to the woman and the man respectively, Ashley smiled warmly, "Clara, Carter."

She turned to Carter as her expression suddenly became deadly serious as she stared at the secret service agent with an expression you give someone about to give you bad news. "Do you have it?"

Carter kept his gaze with Ashley for a moment before he nodded, reaching behind him and handing her a brown paper bag. She grabbed the paper bag and opened it, looking down at it she looked up at Carter slowly her face shifting into an excited smile. Carter's serious expression broke when her smile melted him, she let out a happy squeal as she reached into the bag and pulled put a stick of fried dough: a churro.

"Man, it was way too much effort to get you that by the way." Carter added, "My luck the person in front of me ordered 7 different things..."

"Where is Mikhael?" Clara asked, looking over the vehicle and not seeing the older bodyguard.

"He is on his way," Emma supplied without hesitation. "Along with this 'consultant' of his."

The four of them began to move, Cole who was the driver held his position near the back door so he could watch the car. They stepped out into the hallway that was used by the staff for college auditorium, there was some staff walking through and notifying everyone to set the stage and be ready to go. Carter and Clara have stepped ahead, watching the pathway like hawks but still able to keep up with the conversation as if it was second nature.

"Did he tell any of you who this consultant is?" Carter asked, his eyes looking at every corner as they passed.

"No." Clara responded, watching every person that was around with the same dedication. "It is shockingly unprofessional of him to not tell his team about adding people."

Carter hesitated at the sharpness of Clara's response, it almost borderline on bitter. "I'm sure he has his reasons."

Clara wanted to tell Carter to cease the hero worship he had of Mikhael, but any word that was about to come out was cut off when small happy noises were heard from behind them. They turned their heads a half turn to Ashley who was making cooing noises as she munched on a churro. It was very hard to be irritated or sassy when someone was happily enjoying a doughy treat. Carter shook his head at the simplicity of Ashley's little joys. Clara tried, and failed, to hold back a smile as they moved ahead. Ashley didn't notice and asked, between mouthfuls of fried dough: "It's probably a security consultant. He said he wanted someone to look at the house's security to see if they could find blindspots or something."

She took more bites of the churro until it was all gone, the four of them making their way to the end of the hall where the stage was. Emma at that point stepped in and stopped Ashley before she could get onto the stage. "Alright, alright let's focus here. No churro crumbs okay?"

Emma began to dust churro crumbs off Ashley's dress shirt as the two agents took positions behind the stage entrance. Once Emma was sure that her appearance was everything it needed to be she spoke to her in quick, hurried tones, "I know you've done this before, but just stick to your own points, don't be afraid to be passionate but not so much to be disruptive. If someone comes to the mic and tries to be 'smart' just let it roll off you like water, until they make personal blows then light them on fire."

Ashley laughed softly and took a deep breath, it didn't matter if it was your first time or your current time, public speaking was always nerve wracking. She turned to the entrance to stage and took a step forward, exuding confidence and control.

"Here."

Mikhael had arrived as early as he said he would, but Leon was ready then. The drive was a fair one and slowed a little down by traffic in the morning but they had made good time. As they were approaching the parking lot Mikhael handed Leon a laminated ID badge on a plain black lanyard. Leon looked it over as it had the words SECURITY emblazoned on it in big noticeable letters. It didn't have his picture on it, but it did have his name.

"I'm surprised you got an ID ready so fast..." Leon commented, "Did you have this ready before we even talked?"

Mikhael chuckled, "No, I had this made yesterday. It was rushed and I didn't think I could ask you to send your headshot."

There was an ulterior motive for this questioning, Leon wanted to see Mikhael's influence within his own security team. To add a member that Ashley wasn't aware of it in anyway meant that you were high up on the security chain, he would guess that Mikhael was either head of security or knew how to get around them. He made a note of that and slipped the security lanyard around his neck. The two men stepped out of the car as it was parked in the parking lot, walking with purpose toward the front of the college.

"Why didn't you tell Ashley I was going to be here?" he asked as the two of them made their way up the steps toward the building.

Mikhael didn't break stride, but seemed to consider his words very carefully. "The situation we found ourselves in necessitated keeping some information close to the chest."

Leon considered the answer, it seemed Mikhael believed there may be someone leaking information from Ashley's security detail. To put so much effort into finding him and keeping his involvement confidential even from the person he was protecting indicated some concern that the wrong ear would catch the information. But if Mikhael truly believed that, then it meant that he was expecting something to happen today. He was expecting this potential stalker to make a move and if they knew that Mikhael added someone new to the security detail then they may get scared off, he was using Ashley as bait. Leon quickened his strike and stepped in front of Mikhael, this broke the older man's stride as Leon narrowed his eyes.

"You're using Ashley as bait. You're hoping the stalker makes a move so you can catch them." when Mikhael didn't outright deny it, Leon growled. "I'm not letting you use her like meat on a hook."

"Your protective instincts are admirable." Mikhael commented with a neutral expression, "But even you know if we keep playing defensive then we are never going to get this person. We have to make them think they have the upper hand, that's how we'll get them."

Leon stared at the older man until his expression softened slightly, "I would never purposefully put her into danger, but keeping you hidden off her schedule was a logical move to lure this person into a false sense of safety and catch them into making a move."

Leon hated that it was a good logical move, he hated it because it put Ashley in this person's crosshairs. He grunted his dissatisfaction with the reasoning but turned around and continued up the steps. They stopped in front of Campus Security and showed their badges and revealed they carried a firearm. Something not usually allowed on a school campus, but as members of Ashley's security detail they were allowed certain leeway. Though Leon was unsure why there were going through the front of the campus and not the back like the rest of secret service. They would have been slowed down more with the crowds than trying to get to Ashley fast enough. Sure enough as they were getting close to the auditorium he could see crowds of students getting ready to enter the room. Waiting for the doors to open so they could step inside.

"Here, we'll get a better look at the crowd from up top."

Mikhael pointed over to the walkways that overlooked the entrance and Leon realized what he was doing, they were going to be playing overwatch to see if they could spot some irregularities. The two of them slowly pushed their way up the steps to the second floor walkway, pausing against the railing they looked down at the crowd. Looking for anyone who stood out, a loner dressed heavily, someone shifting nervously, anyone who didn't look like a student here. No words were exchanged between the two of them are they watched the place like a predator waiting to strike. This was not work Leon was used to doing, when he was sent in with DSO they already knew they were going after monsters and people who released them. Playing waiting games was not usually part of his work, it was a lot of patience and required being alert. Leon had scanned the crowd, looking for standouts but there wasn't anyone who stood out to him.

"Wouldn't the stalker try to come through the back?" Leon questioned.

"Security presence is too strong in the back, the front doors may check students and request student ID badges the intruder already proved they could walk through our digital security. Creating a fake student ID would be effortless." Mikhael explained keeping his eyes on the crowd.

"What about school staff?"

"We had them looked into the night before, the only members of the college staff that are in the back and the auditorium are ones that we have vetted and learned their faces and names."

The doors to the auditorium opened and students began to file in slowly, Leon watched the crowd as they began to file in, eyeing everyone that seemed to stand out. On the far side of the room he spotted a student crumpling up a greasy hamburger wrapper and lazily tossing it too the trash bag. It bounced off the rim and hit the ground, a janitor who was nearby wiping the table saw this and with an exasperated expression walked over and put it into the trashcan properly.

"You checked the entire school staff?"

"The ones that were involved with the event." Mikhael clarified.

"What about the janitorial staff?"

Mikhael opened his mouth to say something and stopped, his expression told Leon everything. The two men exchanged glances and their postures shifted from relaxed predator to alert prey. Nobody checks the janitorial staff, they're just the invisible crowd that cleans up after everyone else. If someone was trying to get backstage and get to Ashley, being a janitor was the best way to do it. Secret Service may stop someone if they get too close, but they wouldn't need to they just had to keep their distance. The two men moved, Leon had studied the building's blueprints the day before so he knew where backstage's entrance would be. Both men never broke stride, weaving through passing students like river water around a rock. They both got to the closest door and pushed through, entering the hallway that led to the backstage of the auditorium. The hallway split left and right, one end leading to the stage and the other leading to the stage control room.

"I'll take the stage," Leon said, heading to the left only slowing down to call out. "Mikhael, tell your team about me! I don't need anyone playing 'hero'!"

Mikhael nodded and got on his local radio channel, getting ahold of the rest of secret service to keep an eye out for a janitor backstage and that his 'consultant' was backstage as he tore toward the control room. Leon moved with purpose, not running, but not casually strolling through the backstage. Looking for anyone who was not the school staff or Secret Service. He did not draw his pistol out, there was no need to. The person didn't pose an immediate threat to their well being, he also couldn't just draw his gun without provocation nor open fire unless fired upon. This wasn't like dealing with Biohazards, this was a living breathing person. He navigated around equipment and school staff, anyone who was about to question who he was he would hold up his SECURITY lanyard and they would back off. He made it to the end of the call where he could hear voices. He picked his pace up and rounded the corner and spotted two agents of Secret Service, a white woman with pitch black hair and a black man with a crew cut were checking their ear comms as Leon rounded the corner. The two of them stiffened as he rounded the corner.

"Identify yourself!" the woman demanded, Leon raised his SECURITY lanyard at him.

"Leon Kennedy. I'm with Mikhael Fedorov." At that announcement the two agents exchanged looks and relaxed slightly, Leon however was all business. "Have you see anyone from janitorial pass by?"

"Yes." the man responded, pointing down the hall. "Someone with a cleaning cart passed by down that way, to the opposite end of the stage."

"You with me." Leon ordered, "And you watch the entrance."

The two agents didn't question the orders as the woman stayed behind, checking out into the stage every so often while Leon and the other agent walked to the back.

"Name?"

"Carter."

"Eyes sharp then, Carter." Leon responded, Carter nodded and kept in pace with Leon as the two of them moved quickly to the opposite end of the stage. Despite having never met each other before today, the two men were professionals and fell in lock and step the entire way. Checking corners and watching the other for any surprises. As soon as they reached the opposite side they saw a janitor's cleaning cart left alone, Carter went to approach it but Leon placed a word of caution. "Careful."

Carter nodded and slowly approached the cart, gently moving things and examining each corner as Leon stood watch. Carter had finished checking the cleaning supplies and was moving some of the rags in the bin when he suddenly went stiff, Leon caught it and thoughts ran through his head: an explosive device? A body? What could be in that bin that would cause him to react like an alert gazelle? Carter didn't seem to give any noise or call out what he saw, Leon prompted him.

"Carter?"

"I've got something: it's a black carry on case, 22 by 18 inches in length and width. It's buried underneath the rags, no logo on it." Carter looked at Leon nervously, both men had the same fear: if it was an explosive device they could trigger it by simply touching it. Leon paled, a potential bomb threat? Even if it wasn't one if they didn't call it in they would be placing not only Ashley's life in danger, but everyone in the college. Leon nodded gravely.

"We have to call it in. Get the building evacuated and Ashley out."

Carter nodded and hit his radio, "Condor 1 this is Condor 2, we have a situation we need to evacuate Sparrow and call in a potential bomb threat..."

Leon tuned out the orders and turned his gaze to the stage, where they were was still connected to the stage so he pulled the curtain back slightly to peek on what was going on. The stage was well lit, with students filling the theater. Leon hoped that this wasn't an explosive device and this was a false alarm, but they couldn't take that risk. None of them were trained in bomb disposal and it would be foolish to risk hundreds of lives by messing with it. He looked at the stage and saw Ashley at the podium, she looked absolutely in her element there. It was amazing how someone could change in ten years, the young woman who was unsure and just trying to survive a horrible situation was now an adult who had taken that pain and turned it to strength. He could feel his lips tug into a small grin, until he looked up. His eyes caught something in his peripheral vision and he looked up, above them looked to be a small catwalk of sorts for when the theater would put on productions and he could see a sandbag that was used to weigh things down was jostling slightly. Like there was tension on the rope...or tension being released from it. There was no time for him to yell out to her, no time for her secret service to move and intercept. Carter was too busy calling in the potential threat and the other agent was likely watching for any threats behind stage. It had to be him. Leon's eyes widened and he moved, shooting across the stage as fast as his legs could carry him. This wasn't an unfamiliar situation for him, ten years ago he had to dart about the field like a hummingbird to fend off attacks and keep Ashley out of harms way. Sometimes, not all the time, but sometimes she would get grabbed and dragged away. He remembered it then as he remembered it now, the fear and adrenaline as he ran across a room to get to her in time. He could hear the startled cries from the people in the theater and he saw Ashley whip her head around in shock, but there was no time he grabbed her and hit the deck just as the sandbag dropped and crashed down onto the podium. Leon moved is body over Ashley's to shield her from anything, but nothing else happened. He could hear the startled cries of the students in the theater, he lifted his head and saw the female agent half stepping out of the stage. Without hesitating Leon secured Ashley and hoisted her to her feet, leading her over to the other agent and out of the stage.

"Get her out of her, now!"

"W-what is going on?!" Ashley cried out, she was in complete surprise from what was happening. She looked around as she was handed over and when her eyes landed on Leon he could hear her gasp so sharply one would think she was stabbed. Leon caught her gaze and found himself rooted, she looked so surprised and so vulnerable. An expression he hadn't seen in ten years. "L-Leon...?"

Leon wanted to say so many things, reassure her everything was fine and she was safe: but she wasn't yet. He tore himself away from her gaze and told the agent, "Get her out!"

"Ashley, let's go!" the agent grabbed her arm and began to lead out while calling out. "Condor 3 is with Sparrow, leading her out now!"

"W-wait-" she started as Clara began to lead her away. "No wait! Leon!"

Leon winced, she sounded so...helpless. It took every ounce of his willpower to not run back to her, he tore himself away and grabbed the nearest member of the school staff. "How do I get to the catwalk above the stage?"

The university staff pointed over to a door opposite of him, Leon nodded and ran over. Pushing the door open and making his way up the steps, reaching into his jacket and drawing out his pistol. He pulled the slide back to check the chamber and kept his gun held low, moving up the steps he stopped at door. Taking a deep breath he held his gun at the ready and pushed the door open, sweeping the sides as he moved slowly onto the catwalk. He could hear students filing out of the theater, but paid them no mind as he scanned the area for anyone hiding. Moving slowly toward where he would be above the stage he looked over. He could see the rope that held the sandbag and where it been severed, he looked around for any signs of someone being here and heard the door behind him being opened. He spun around and saw Mikhael step out, he held his arms up to signal it was him and Leon lowered his gun.

"I thought you were in the control room." Leon questioned.

"I was," he answered, moving onto the catwalk. "Until I got the call, the control room had a member of staff in but I cleared him. I saw the sandbag drop and I notified the school to call the squad. They're on their way."

Mikhael joined Leon on the catwalk and looked down at the spot where the sandbag had hit the ground and Leon could see him swallow uncomfortably. He knew what he was thinking: if Leon hadn't had his eyes on the stage, hadn't been looking, Ashley probably would have been dead. The older agent sighed and slipped his pistol away. "Damnit. I thought I had every area covered...how did they slip past us?"

Leon looked to the otherside of the catwalk and walked over there, no one came down the set of steps so there had to be some other exit. He made it to the end and saw a door, he pushed it open and winced at the daylight. It led to outside and onto the smaller rooftop, he was about to step out to look when something caught his attention. To his left he saw a section of the catwalk that had a sleeping bag rolled out.

"Because they were already here."

Mikhael walked over to where Leon was and spotted the sleeping bag, whoever they were they had arrived before they did and had set up post here for an undetermined amount of time. This changed everything, the car trying to hit them was a bad sign of obsession but now? This was a direct threat to Ashley's life. Whatever small reservations Leon had left about the scenario they were gone now, he was in one hundred percent. It also meant that his theory of a traitor within Secret Service was becoming more solid by the second, someone was leaking information on Ashley's schedule and putting her in danger. Leon narrowed his eyes and realized what he would be doing for an undetermined time in the future.

Beats being on the beach.