Leon entered the bathroom, a glass of water in hand, and his gaze immediately fell upon his wife. Claire sat on the floor beside the toilet, her head resting on her arm, clearly feeling miserable. Sympathy washed over him as he approached her, crouching down in front of her with utmost care. He gently brushed her hair aside, trying to offer some comfort in the midst of her distress. Claire had been enduring a bout of vomiting for the past twenty minutes, abruptly awakened in the middle of the night. Leon felt a pang of helplessness as he watched, wishing he could do more to ease her discomfort.
"I brought you some water," he said softly. "You should take it."
Claire remained silent, her hand gesturing for Leon to give her a moment. Understanding her need, he patiently waited, his concern evident in his eyes. Time seemed to stretch as Claire slowly lifted her face, revealing a mixture of exhaustion and discomfort etched on her features.
"God," Claire said, leaning her head against the wall and taking a deep breath. "I had heard some of the pregnant refugees complain about nausea before, but I never imagined it to be this bad."
"Sorry," Leon said, rubbing her back. "Do you still need to throw up?"
"Nope, I don't think I have anything else to throw up. I'm just dizzy..."
"Do you think you can move?"
"Without hiving? Yeah…I think I can, otherwise, I might have to consider moving into the bathroom."
"We'll consider that if the situation doesn't improve. Come on, let me take you back to bed."
Leon effortlessly lifted Claire into his arms, her slight frame feeling weightless against his strength. He cradled her carefully, ensuring her comfort as she clung to him, her eyes squeezed shut in distress. With a gentle stride, Leon carried her back to the bed, moving with deliberate grace to avoid any jostling.
"Feeling any better?" Leon asked. "I can get you something if you need it."
"I don't have anything for nausea that I can take," she replied, covering her eyes with her arm. "It's ok. I mean, I can bear it."
Leon stroked Claire's hair, feeling a little guilty that she had to go through all that, and also a little helpless.
"You still have to go to the office early tomorrow," Claire said, looking at him. "Sorry that I woke you up."
"Don't be silly. Technically speaking, it's my fault that you are in this situation in the first place," Leon replied. "How can I sleep when you are having it this rough? We are in this together after all."
"I have a good husband," Claire sighed.
Leon snorted.
"I try to be,"Leon said, laying by her side and resting his hand on her still flat stomach.
It was still too early in the pregnancy for Claire to be showing any physical changes, but it would be a matter of time.
"I was thinking about the obstetrician," Leon whispered. "Do you have anyone in mind?"
"Mmm?" Claire replied, leaning her head against him. "Not really. I don't know any obstetricians. I mean there might be one in TerraSave I suppose. Why do you ask?
"How about we ask Bella?"
"As for your sister Bella? Well, she's in Chicago," Claire replied. "Won't that complicate things a little?"
"We can figure the logistics out later," Leon replied. "I just want to make sure it is someone we can trust."
"So the trip to Chicago isn't only to break the news, is it?"
"Busted. No, that was my plan from the start," Leon snorted. Claire was too smart not to see through his intentions.
"Well, Bella is the only obstetrician I know, so I guess we can try. But it will depend on what she says."
"Naturally," Leon nodded. "I'm sure she won't refuse since she'd already offered before. She's been bugging me about niece or nephews since forever."
"I don't see why," Claire chuckled. "She has Alex and Dylan."
"I guess having your own children isn't the same as having a niece or nephew," Leon shrugged.
"Wouldn't you know, Uncle Leon?" Claire nodded.
"Mmm, I'll find out soon. I need to have my own kids first to compare."
"Well, I'm glad you took the news well."
"Why wouldn't I?"
"I don't know," Claire said, closing her eyes. "It was sudden and unplanned."
"Well, we couldn't plan since we didn't know we even had a chance," Leon reasoned. "Honestly, I think it was a nice surprise. I always thought you'd make a wonderful mom."
Claire snickered.
"Everyone says that. I hope I don't disappoint. To be fair, you will be a good dad. You already are a great husband."
"Well, I do my best, and it's not because I'm under Chris's threats," Leon nodded. "And since I am a good husband, don't hesitate to send me out for random craving hunts."
Claire laughed.
"Pff, I'll keep it in mind, super agent, but for tonight, I think we should sleep," she sighed. "We both have work in the morning."
"Right, are you ok now?"
"Yeah, I feel a lot better. I'll try to sleep a little, so try to sleep, too."
Leon pressed a gentle kiss to Claire's forehead, his lips lingering there for a moment as a tender gesture of affection. With a caring touch, he pulled up the blanket, ensuring she was snug and warm. Hoping that a peaceful slumber would embrace her, he watched as Claire succumbed to sleep, her tiredness and the pregnancy intertwining to ease her into dream-filled rest.
Though Leon knew he should follow suit and seek rest himself, his thoughts kept him awake,consumed by the sight of his sleeping wife.
Morning crept in gently, casting a warm glow through the curtains as Leon quietly slipped out of bed. Claire remained deep in slumber, her peaceful expression a comforting sight. The kitchen was pretty empty, as expected from a house that had been vacant for a few weeks, and Leon made a mental note to replenish their fridge with essential supplies. Claire's condition demanded a well-stocked kitchen, and he wanted to ensure she had nourishing meals readily available.
As he pondered what they would do for breakfast, the agent's mobile phone rang on the table, and he wasn't surprised by the ID that greeted him on the screen as he picked it up.
"Good morning, Chris."
"Hey, Leon. Did I wake you?"
"No. I was awake," Leon replied. "Sorry to disappoint you."
Chris had developed a knack for calling Leon at the most unconventional hours, leaving him to wonder if it was purely coincidence or a deliberate attempt to catch him off guard. Claire would often tease that it was Chris' mischievous way of testing his limits or, worse yet, aiming to embarrass him. Leon couldn't deny that there was a mischievous glint in Chris' eyes whenever their conversations veered into unexpected territory.
Most of the time, Chris' late-night calls were harmless, filled with updates on missions, intel, or just friendly banter. But there was one memorable occasion that had caught Leon and Claire off guard. It was a midnight call, precisely when they had found themselves engrossed in a moment of intimacy, seeking solace and connection amidst the chaos of their lives.
As the ringing phone disrupted their tranquil sanctuary, both Leon and Claire shared a fleeting look of surprise before bursting into laughter. With a playful glimmer in her eyes, Claire had hastily grabbed the phone from the nightstand, determined to confront her brother head-on.
The ensuing exchange between Claire and Chris had been a mixture of exasperation, sibling bickering, and humorous jabs. Leon couldn't help but join in, finding the situation unexpectedly entertaining. It was a lighthearted moment that added a touch of amusement to their bond as a trio of friends and family.
From that night onward, Leon couldn't help but anticipate the next unexpected call from Chris, wondering what antics or stories his unpredictable friend would bring to their lives. It became a peculiar part of their dynamic, a reminder that even in the face of danger and chaos, moments of laughter and camaraderie could still find their way into their lives.
While Leon suspected that Chris may have been secretly aiming to catch him off guard, he appreciated the lighter side of their relationship. It served as a reminder that amidst the darkness of their profession, laughter and connection were essential ingredients in preserving their sanity and finding solace in each other's company.
"Well, I'll get you one of these days. How's Claire doing?"
"As good as she can be. She is having a hard time with morning sickness, but other than that, she's great," Leon replied. "Are you back in the US?"
"Yeah," Chris replied. "Passed through Washington to leave some samples for Claire, and now, I'm heading back to Mojave to rendezvous with Jill."
"Glad to hear that you are safe. Did you find anything in Luziâçari?"
"Yeah, you were right. Mobius had one of their playgrounds hidden deep in the jungle. However, by the time we arrived, the place had already been massacred," Chris sighed. "No survivors. We had a hostile encounter with Alpha Primal phase 3, but we dealt with it."
"Phase 3," Leon said with a frown. "Only one?"
"Yeah. There might have been more, but either they escaped or something else killed them first. I suspect that town was the source of the Caraçari outbreak. "
"The fugitives ended there after the carnage in the village ," Leon noted.
"Yeah, I already made the report to BSAA South America, so hopefully this time they will move their sorry asses and make sure to do the clean up job well" Chris said. "God knows how many infected animals are still running free out there."
It was a biological disaster in so many ways.
"Did you find anything else?"
"Some medical notes from, who I presume was Mobius researcher in the area. I left those for Claire, too. She will understand them better. Either way. That confirms Mobius's presence in the place, and that's enough for me. I knew those rats were active, and they would make their come back."
"I doubt they ever left," Leon sighed. "Will it be alright to let the BSAA handle the situation in Caraçari? Don't get me wrong, but I'm not pleased about their performance so far."
"Yeah, I understand you. BSAA is losing my trust, too, but we have no choice. I prefer to focus on catching Mobius."
"Point taken," Leon nodded.
"You will have to take measures with Claire. As soon as they find out they will try to get her and do god-knows-what to her."
"I know that. We'll be out of Washington for a while."
"Oh? Where?"
"I'm planning on taking some days off and visiting family."
"Yeah, well. Take care of my sister, Leon. My threat still stands," Chris said.
"I know, and I don't fancy getting broken to pieces by you, Chris," Leon snorted.
"You better stick to your word. I've got to go now. We'll be landing shortly. Tell Claire I'll visit her when I get back."
"You are always welcome," Leon replied. "Just try to drop on normal hours, Chris."
Leon heard Chris snort at the other side of the line, and the call ended. The agent looked at his phone, shaking his head.
"I know that look."
Leon turned to the kitchen. Claire was standing by the door, holding a glass of water while staring at him curiously.
"Chris?"
"My dear brother-in-law," Leon nodded. "Are you ok? Not dizzy?"
"I am here and not throwing up in the bathroom. I'd say I am good," Claire replied, sipping her water. "Amazingly, I am not nauseous, but I am starving. I suppose my life is going to be a continuous cycle of nausea and hunger from now on."
Leon snorted. He should have expected that.
"We will have to eat out," Leon answered. "We haven't done grocery shopping in a while."
"Ah, I forgot. Damn it," Claire pouted.
"Any craving in particular?"
"Mmmm,. I feel like pancakes and something sour."
"Sour? I might have an idea of where this is heading," Leon scoffed.
"I don't know," Claire shrugged. "I just have an irrational need to have something sickly sour. Hormones work in odd ways."
"Yeah, I figured," Leon chuckled. "We'll get you those pancakes."
Leon couldn't help but notice the subtle exchange of knowing glances between the waitress and himself as Claire placed her order. It seemed that the attentive server had caught onto the telltale signs that Claire was expecting. As Claire's order was taken, the waitress surprised them with a small gesture of kindness, offering a plate of pickles as a bonus courtesy from the establishment. It was a classic cliché with pregnancy cravings, and Leon couldn't help but chuckle at the lightheartedness of the situation. Claire, in her own playful way, didn't shy away from accepting the pickles, savoring the unexpected treat, which even more to Leon's amusement seemed to delighted her far more than necessary.
When the waitress turned her attention to Leon, a mischievous smirk adorned her face, as if sharing a secret understanding.
Leon couldn't help but feel a sense of relief and joy as he watched Claire eagerly dig into her peculiar plate of food. Despite its unconventional appearance, his wife's contented expression spoke volumes. It was a rare sight to witness her indulge in a hearty meal, especially considering her typically restrained eating habits, which were often influenced by the lingering effects of the virus she had faced in the past.
"Ok, usually I hate pickles," Claire admitted. "But god, these are good."
"Right," Leon snickered. "I'll make sure to buy some later and any variation of those, for that matter."
"There are variations of these?"
"Yeah, I found out courtesy of Bella. I believe she wasn't as considerate to her husband as you are to me."
"Was it the topic of one of those all male family meet ups?"
"Kind of," Leon scoffed.
"I shouldn't be surprised, so what are you doing today?"
"Writing a report about what happened in Caraçari, most likely. I have to talk to Hopkins so that I can get some days off to visit Chicago."
"Do you have to include your time in Colombia, too?" Claire asked, dipping the pickle in the honey.
"No, that one goes on its own. Hopkins will expect the report of the BOW attacks on the city."
"Uhm, you'll be busy, then," Claire nodded, biting on the pickled cucumbers.
"Helena will help. It's not our favorite thing to do, but well, it comes with the job."
"Still.." Claire sighed. "Oh, I know. Here."
Claire dug into her bag and retrieved a folder that she handed to the agent.
"And this is?" Leon asked, taking the folder.
"It's the manuscript of the WHO report I made," Claire replied. "There are some things that still need fixing to suit WHO standard, but you can use it as a reference to write yours. All the info from the parasite is there, and also the data from the outbreak, along with other things."
Leon flipped through the file.
"Won't you need it?"
"Nah, Saya has the version we'll send. You can have this one."
"When did you make this?"
"I wrote things down daily. It makes it easier and faster. All I have to do at the end is take everything and do editing. The manuscript is a lot messier, though."
"Never mind. Thanks, it will make things a lot easier."
"You know I am here to help, and talking about help, " Claire added. "Don't worry about grocery shopping. I'll go with Sherry today."
"Sherry?"
"She has the day off, and as soon as she found out I was back, she asked to see me. I suspect she needs to rant about the president."
"Sounds like her," Leon nodded.
"It's a good chance to tell her, and she can go shopping with me."
"Get two birds in one hit?"
"Exactly," Claire winked at him. "Besides, my workload is a little lighter than yours. My lovely team has decided that I am in no condition to take more than a certain amount."
Leon innerly thanked Claire's group for their consideration. They had seen Claire having two close calls in Caraçari and, as the family they were, had decided to keep her from overworking.
" I owe them something in gratitude."
Claire rolled her eyes.
" Anyway, I told her she could drop by the lab, and then we can go shopping. She can have dinner with us. I hope you don't mind."
"No, of course not. Sherry is like our oldest daughter, who is away for college and comes back once in a while. She's always welcome."
"Wow, I didn't expect that metaphor," Claire laughed. "But accurate."
"She is going to make a fuss when she hears the news."
"Like she did when she found out we were getting married for real?"
"Exactly."
Claire laughed, finishing her breakfast.
"Don't worry about Sherry," Claire shrugged. "I'll deal with that."
Leon dropped Claire in front of the flower shop. As the couple said goodbye, Liam, Lily, and Henry waved at him from the entrance. The agent returned the friendly greeting and waited until Claire had entered the flower shop before leaving.
The ride to the DSO office was quiet without Claire's cheerful chit chatting. Nothing had changed during his absence. Then again, it was not like he expected it to change. Baker greeted him as soon as Leon entered the reception. Although their relationship had always been cordial, it wasn't until Claire's appearance that Baker seemed to consider Leon more of a friend than just another agent walking in and out of the building. After making a short conversation in which Baker asked how Mrs. Kennedy was, Leon finally made it to his office.
The first thing Leon did was a thorough check of the office. It was a habit that Leon had earned since Mobius's appearance. Helena would often tease him for his paranoia, but he couldn't help but be wary. His phone ran inside his pocket, and the agent answered, knowing who it was without even looking at the caller's ID.
"Good morning, Hunnigan."
"Good morning, Leon. I hope you arrived home well last night."
"Yeah, we made it home without issues. Thanks."
"That's good to hear. Too bad that I am the bearer of bad news," Hunnigan said. "I am afraid that the high-ups are expecting a full report on the incident of Caraçari. They don't seem very pleased with the American intervention."
"Didn't you say it was a direct order from Hopkins?"
"It was," Hunnigan answered. "But Hopkins handed out the order before the committee gave it the green light."
Leon frowned in surprise.
"Hopkins gave the order without approval?"
"Yes, that's how it seems. I guess he was concerned about Claire and her team."
"Well, I appreciate that. If the order had arrived later," Leon sighed. "Helena and I wouldn't have made it in time, and god knows what would have happened to Claire..."
And his child. Thinking about that, he had to tell Hunnigan the news.
"Hey, Hunnigan. Are you busy?"
"Not particularly," Hunnigan answered, surprised. "Why?"
"There's something I need to talk to you about," Leon lied. "Do you think you could drop by my office?"
"Sure," Hunnigan replied, but Leon could hear the slight hint of confusion in her voice. "I'll be there in 20 minutes or less."
"Perfect," Leon nodded. "See you then."
His conversation with Hunnigan left him with many things in mind, but he decided to push them away for the time being. The agent picked the folder that Claire had given him and began looking through it. There was a lot of information within it. Considering her condition at the time, Claire managed to surprise him with her efficient work. The information should be enough to justify their interference during the outbreak.
"Good morning, partner."
Leon lifted his eyes from the documents and found Helena at his door. The woman was holding a cup of coffee and looked as if she had slept like never before. The two exchanged a brief conversation before they got interrupted by the knock on the door, announcing Hunnigan's arrival.
Breaking the news to Hunnigan turned out to be easier than Leon had anticipated. The moment he shared the news, a flicker of surprise crossed her face, quickly followed by a delightful smile. It was clear that she was genuinely thrilled by the revelation. The rest of their conversation flowed smoothly, as they discussed the implications for the future. After bidding farewell to Hunnigan, Leon made his way through the familiar corridors of the organization's headquarters until he finally reached Hopkin's office.
As Leon entered the room, he was greeted by the sight of Hopkins pacing back and forth, a telltale sign of the man's restless energy. A smile instantly appeared on Hopkins's face as he caught sight of Leon, and he paused his movements, welcoming him with open arms.
"I was expecting you," he replied. "I'm glad you all made it back safely."
"We did, although it wasn't easy," Leon nodded.
"Like always," Hopkins nodded. The man walked behind his desk and sat Leon to take a seat as well. "I'm sorry that I interrupted your original mission, Leon."
"No, it's fine. Honestly, I am glad you did. I don't want to imagine what would have happened otherwise."
"Yeah. I can imagine you are upset about Claire being there..."
"I would be lying if I said I wasn't, but Claire explained the details, and I understand you were hand-tied," Leon said. "I also heard you gave out our rescue order without consensus from the high-ups."
"Yes, it was urgent, and I couldn't wait for bureaucracies," Hopkins sighed. "If something happened to Claire, I wouldn't know how to face you."
Leon nodded, appreciating the older man's consideration.
"No one expected the situation to escalate like that, and when I heard that we had lost all communication with Claire's team, I honestly panicked," Hopkins said, shaking his head. "Then I remembered you were in the region as reported by Hunnigan, and it was the most logical thing to do. Sending someone from the US would have taken precious hours that we might have not been in the luxury of wasting."
"Yeah, you were right. Claire was in great danger and I don't know what would have happened if Helena and I hadn't arrived to help."
"Of course. Then again, I'm sure Claire would have somehow managed to take care of herself as well. She's never liked to be the damsel in distress," Hopkins laughed. "So, why did you want to see me, Leon? I was half expecting you to stomp into my office demanding to know why I allowed Claire to go on such a mission, but it doesn't seem to be the case."
"I would have, had I not known the situation," Leon admitted. " but I know you couldn't say no to the order, and I also know you contacted Oliveira directly to keep Claire safe. I appreciate that."
"I assume I am not on your bad side then?"
"No, I only came to speak of something. Have you checked the office for tampering?"
The question seemed to puzzle Hopkins.
"It's not like I checked, but…"
"Do you mind if…?"
"Sure, go ahead, but why?"
"I have my reasons."
Hopkins watched Leon as the agent walked around the office checking for anything suspicious. After a couple minutes, the man finally returned to his seat in front of the desk.
"So?"
"Clear," Leon replied. "Sorry, it's just I need to tell you something important and I'm afraid of potential Mobius spies in the DSO."
"Mobius spies?"
"Yeah, we know they are out there," Leon said, "and I'm not naive enough to think they won't find out eventually, but I want to have an advantage in time."
"Now you intrigue me. What's this about?"
"Uh, Claire…"
"Is something wrong with Claire?"
"No, not really. She…" Leon began. "She's pregnant."
For the second time in the day, Leon saw the same reaction to the news. Hopkin's eyes went wide and then his expressions transitioned from utter disbelief to excitement.
"What?"
"Claire is pregnant, entering her second trimester soon, in fact."
"For real? Are you sure about it?"
"Yes, we are."
"That's great news. Congratulations!" Hopkins said with a grin.
"Thanks, we are happy about it," Leon replied with a smile as well. "I just don't want Mobius finding out about this until I've got a plan or something."
"Yeah, they might try to take Claire again as soon as they find out. We might want to take some measures."
"I'll handle that. Don't get me wrong but I don't trust the high-ups enough to let them know about the news yet."
"Understandable. If there is anything I can help with, let me know."
"Actually, there is. I wanted to request some days off. I want to take Claire back to Chicago. We have some things to check there, and also…I've been away for quite a long time. It will be nice to have some time together."
Hopkins snorted. "Of course. You've been away for a while longer than you expected. I am sure you missed your wife."
"A lot actually. It's still something I need to get used to," Leon answered sincerely.
"Oh, I know. I remember when I got married. Missions are not the same when you know someone is waiting for you at home," Hopkins chuckled. "Take the time you need, Leon. Claire and you deserve it."