Notes:

Ark Thompson in as AUPIT agent is all me. And I did mention Robert Dekker briefly in other fics, Not a Star-crossed Lover.

6 months earlier...

Leon flashed his pass by the security post, regardless of him being on the premises multiple times. His faint footfalls became thunderous as he traversed alone along the marbled tiled hallway that led to the inner part of the West Wing. A sudden foreboding feeling loomed over him, he nibbled his lower lip unconsciously. Not because of the very same spot he wrangled some zombies not long ago, it was the whole place that promised him no comfort. He ceased his tracks going into the office's lobby when he caught his immediate superior just exiting from the Oval Office coincidentally. Walking beside the AUPIT Operation Chief Officer was none other than Adam Benford. Whatever the CIA Director wanted Joe Stanik to know, the discussion could not bear delay as they both chose not to exit the lobby and settled talking near the second door of the Roosevelt Room. Stanik's full attention to Benford left Leon a growing ominous trepidation. Benford was well-equipped with schemes on how to accede others to do his ways. For Leon, there was nothing good to say about Benford. His life right now was the out-turn of an exacted agreement that he made with Benford with him stuck with imprisoned volition. And many others too.

Two weeks had passed since what happened in Andrew Air Force Base, the air had been cleared and reports had been submitted. The US endorsement on humanitarian aid for Penamstan was signed a week ago and the efforts were ready on the move, therefore the ill feelings between the two nations were suppressed. However, the former SECDEF Wilson was still on the loose and every agency worked their fingers to the bone in order to resolve the case. If the disgraced Secretary of Defence made a scandalous appearance during this fragile time, all the peacekeeping efforts would burn to ashes. This was the agenda for the reclusive meeting that was called by the President, only the closed-knitted sides were involved.

What Leon failed to understand was the reason why Leslie Watts was in the same lobby with him and the other two. Sitting with his legs crossed, Watts sat comfortably on the sofa in the waiting area with hand one hand propped on the armrest while his focus was occupied with his PDA in hand. There was no sense of disquietude expressed by Watts, Leon observed. It felt like he was already accustomed to be in this place. Watts was never out of his element even though what he donned was not his usual wear, which unceremoniously in a casual suit with proper dress shoes with his hair slicked back and his stubble trimmed. Leon thought Watts possessed enough caliber to be running ground operations, alas, still was too laid back to become a politician. The last time he saw the man was during the aftermath of what happened in Spain. Lately, Watts's name came up more and more often in Leon's office, and now seeing him in person at the White House built up his consternation.

Leon continuously studied the man while the wheel of his brain ran wild racking questions. Watts looked up and met Leon's eyes upon the sound of the walnut wooden door of the Oval Office creaking open, simultaneously, the ambiance got odious when Derek C. Simmons walked out of the room. Feeling self-conscious, Leon averted his sight from Watts and landed on Benford. This time around it was Stanik doing the talking while looking at Simmons, and it got more interesting when Leon caught that it was not Simmons that Benford stared at, but it was rather on Watts. If Leon knew any better, he was confident to say that Watts exchanged a look with Benford before responding to Graham's secretary who informed him that the president was ready to see him.

Did they know each other?

Apprehension seeped into him as he saw a sly smirk hang on Simmons's lips. Seeing Simmons's march in his direction was enough to prompt Leon to retract back a little into the hallway hoping to attain some privacy on what he going to brace. Leon's sentiment of the man was complex. Although the custodianship of Sherry played a major part in his familiarity with Simmons, Leon reckoned it was more than what he currently perceived. Where Simmons was situated in the government office yet in fact a blur, the last Leon heard was Simmons was working under JSOC. Either State Department, Homeland, or just plain CIA; because indeed lately Simmons was seen getting chummy with Benford. Something about him did not sit well with Leon. Devil, Claire spoke about it. Ever since then, Leon tip-toed every approach he chose and every movement he made especially in regards to Claire and Sherry.

"Good to see you, Agent Kennedy.", said Simmons to play friendly. However, Leon thought it came out as cunning as a fox.

"Good day, sir."

"How's Sherry enjoying civilian life?"

"She good. Doing normal things like any other young girl."

"Good to know." The pregnant pause felt forever, only ended when Simmons continued, "The recent occurrence has probing to recurrence."

"I can assure you, sir, there's nothing we're not used to its handling.", convinced Leon, knowing what Simmons was trying to inject.

"Is it?", asked Simmons skeptically.

Leon's jaws clenched, he gathered every piece of calmness in him as he answered Simmons. "Just like the previous biohazard attacks.", defended Leon.

"Not when this involves higher ranking minister in this specific office. Close to the president too, in which become delicate. Nearing controversial. It's concerned with national security. Probability every agency with alphabets is here."

Did you mean TerraSave also?

"Enough to bring the CIA director here?" Leon tried his luck to fish for information.

"This matter is sensitive. The items you bring forward are sensitive."

Leon was fully aware his curiosity going to put him on the line because it was not his place to ask. He could not help regardless, so he forwarded his question. "AUPIT got them covered. What is the true reason that the CIA's here?"

With a meaningful look on his face, Simmons replied to Leon with another question that was laced with venom. The back of his small hair raised when Simmons's brown eyes met him, with the question that followed.

"How's Claire Redfield doing?"

Simmons's inquiry into Claire's well-being sounded insidious. The moment Claire's name was brought up by Simmons ever so carelessly, Leon's mask fell off. It was transparent in his reluctance to answer Simmons's question. "She's... doing fine."

"I saw her name in the recent reports."

And there it was, Leon bit the inside of his cheek. Leon did not know how to keep up with the conversation. His nerve got him, there was something hidden behind Simmons's remark.

"Urm- Yes...sir."

"Such... a determined individual, did not give up easily. I hope she's clear about the consequences of her meddling in our businesses. Her involvement was quite... concerning."

Leon shifted his weight to his right leg, resulting in facing Simmons fully. "There no involvement of her, sir. Her being there was just a coincidence."

"It cannot be a coincidence if she poked around beforehand. Within these 5 months, her name came up in the report of our operation twice. She's playing with fire. If she is not careful, she gonna get burned. She needs to let us do our job."

"She is nothing to be worried about.", assured Leon, his nails digging into his palm as his hand balled into his fist unconsciously.

"She better be. For her own sake. As of right now, it's a problem as it is. After all, it is better to just let the sleeping dog lie."

"Understood, sir." His demeanor was calm but his voice came out forced.

"If... I'm not mistaken, Sherry is living with her, right? Is it a good decision to let her stay there? Don't you think... she might be a bad influence to Sherry?"

Here there were, opinions that no one asked. Yet, Leon was well enough to sense it coming. It was a known fact that Simmons's thought of Claire was unkind right from the beginning when getting acquainted with each other. It was not one-sided, Leon was hamstrung to resolve the tension between them. Although reconciliation had been made by Leon after a while in regard to his bounded life, Simmons's condescending remark toward Claire managed to irk Leon in extreme.

He turned away from the wall and Simmons facing the lobby, at the same time swiping the front of his jacket aside unconsciously and setting his right hand on his waist. If he was godless right now he be sending the 9 mil-bullet right between Simmons's eyes. However, the adjustment of his position he made just now returned his sight of Benford and Stanik. Unbeknownst to Leon, Stanik was dead staring in his direction the whole time the conversation had taken place. It seemed like Simmons knew his cue to back off, as Leon was trying to seek calm.

"It's just an advice. Nothing malicious. Till then, Agent Kennedy."

Simmons said one last time before taking his leave to join Benford who dispersed from Stanik walking toward the opposite hallway where Leon came from. Like it had been choreographed, Stanik greeted Watts who just happened to be out from the Oval Office walking side by side towards the same hallway as the earlier duo, on their way exiting the premises. The way the four of them acted was a clear reminder to Leon to put extra caution on his back. He was so preoccupied by them he only responded to the president's secretary's second call. Gathering himself for the meeting, he buttoned back his jacket and gave a thin smile to her before walking into the Oval Office.

-*-

"Thought right that I might find you here."

Ark Thompson walked up and took a seat next to Leon on the bench by the man-made pond. The abundance of cherry blossoms hanging above sheltered them from the morning light. A cloud of smoke rushed out from Leon's mouth as he blew out the fumes of his burning cigarette while looking vacantly at the ducklings threading the water.

"Hn-" Leon responded half-heartedly.

The sound of plastic rustling next to him led Leon to glance at his friend. Ark rarely smoked, it was always Leon and Robert Dekker who were the nicotine addicts. To have his friend buy a freshly new pack instead of asking him for one for quick relief showed how rough his recent mission was.

Leon's eyes stayed on Ark as the older man took a long drag on his cigarette. A grisly graze was spotted on Ark's left cheek while his entire neck was bandaged, that may be the reason why his friend's voice sounded raspy which is usually not. Smoking was probably not the best to do right now, but Leon kept his opinion to himself. Ark brought the cigarette tucked between the fingers of his left hand that were covered with scraps enameled with dried blood to his busted lips, Leon returned his eyes to the pond and cursed inwardly. No point in asking how it went, the answer was probably the same as he would answer. Same bullshit, nothing new. The phrases that were commonly thrown at each other.

"Where's Dekker?", asked Leon about Ark's mission partner.

Ark was not in a hurry to answer Leon, instead taking another long drag on the already half-smoked cigarette. Then, non-chalantly Ark responded. "He went to see his daughter."

Leon nodded, Ark's answer confirmed Leon's guess that he made prior. If Robbert was willing to travel 400 miles to his difficult ex-wife just to see his daughter then their recent mission was a rough one. Ark didn't need to elaborate. Both of them knew how things play. Leon did not keep many acquaintances around from his workplace because none of them stayed, either him being betrayed or them being dead. What happened with Krauser thought him well.

Nonetheless, Leon purposedly kept his friendship with Ark close. The guilt that he had on Ark was impossible to be remedied. He wished he could done differently without asking Ark's help on what happened on Sheena Island. Because the results had thrown his friend to be in the same predicament as he was. He never reconciled with himself for the life that Ark had right now. A constant reminder to Leon that if Ark suffered, then he had to suffer more than his friend.

There was nothing much to say on why Leon kept his acquaintance with Robert other than the man is still alive since he was absorbed into AUPIT, which was around the same period as Leon and Ark. Whatever entanglement that the man had with the government he was reluctant to elaborate, but Leon could guess. Both of them did not put a high bet on the former prosecutor to survive the missions given by the agency due to his civilian background. At least Leon had gone through police training and Ark was in the military before settling as a private investigator when Leon first got to know him. However, Robert proved the two of them wrong and now the three of them became the most senior and distinguished agents in the agency.

They both sit quietly for a while, entertaining their own melancholic thoughts under the sunny morning of the vibrant spring season. "Hey, Leon...um-" Ark paused momentarily and continued, "Have you...um.. heard anything from Claire?"

Leon turned to face Ark, detecting his friend's heavy undertones with Claire's name in the same sentences brought apprehensions in him. He had not made contact with Claire since he last saw her in front of the White House. He masked his agitation, by taking a drag and blowing the smoke slowly. "No. Why?"

"I met Gina last night. You know... in between we had... a talk."

Ah... the pillow talk.

The corner of Leon's mouth quirked into a soft smile. Ark had been seeing the TerraSave's personnel a lot frequently lately. Leon was not sure if it was serious, or just a hookup for the both of them. Sooner or later, Ark would break the news to him.

"You should see her before she goes-"

Leon stopped inhaling the smoke and, gave his full attention to Ark. His query rushed out, impatient. "Go where?"

"Penamstan."

That's not the first time she went there. What is the difference now?

Leon barked, "Give me straight."

Ark let out a long sigh, realizing that Leon had caught his missed frankness. "All I know is that she has been removed from Affairs. Being put to HUMANE."

Is this the reason I saw Watts yesterday?

"A promotion?"

"A punishment. She got reprimanded. Or I would say being sacked. They make her the scapegoat."

"Punishment of what?" His voice sounded seething, as Leon's displeasure was visible.

"Her sleuthing on Penamstan. Without any proof, it painted her as someone who talks out of her ass. What made it worse, it involved Wilson's shits. The rest of the board thinks she a liability. And her credibility was thrown out the window."

Leon's expression grew darker, making Ark pause momentarily. So to speak, Leon nearly grabbed Ark's collar to urge his friend to elaborate more than what he had just given.

After clearing his throat, Ark continued. "Because of her last involvement, could jeopardize their reps among other NGOs. So, they dumped all on her and claimed it had nothing to do with TerraSave. They looking to make an example of her."

"And she went along with this?" Leon asked impatiently. And, Ark answered his question with a shrug.

Fuck me!

Leon's emotions were all over the place. Fully aware that he was under the scrutiny of his friend, Leon climbed on his feet and walked a little further from the bench. It was his last effort to conceal any divulgence of himself from Ark. He inhaled one last time of his cigarette before tossing the bud into the aluminum trash can nearby.

Wait... whyn't they just fire her? What game are they playing?

It felt like the man was reading his mind, Leon whipped back to face Ark's next statement. "You must be thinking why in hell they didn't fire her, right? Well, apparently it's all Leslie Watts's doing. Don't ask me why, even Gina doesn't know."

The scene from yesterday in front of the Oval Office played before Leon's eyes, especially the exchange glances that he had with Watts. Leon expected Stanik would bring any news from his talks with Benford alas his superior walked passed him at the pantry this morning like nothing had happened. Leon's meeting with the president was only filled with itineraries on his upcoming diplomatic visit to the Eastern Slav Republic which was surely a lot more pressing than Claire Redfield. That left him with Simmons, the man came flashing right in front of his head as Leon remembered the conversation they had yesterday. Punishment for her, warning for him. He did not want to believe that TerraSave was corrupted, but the timing was so uncanny.

"SON OF A BITCH!"

Leon kicked the aluminum trash can nearby. Luckily the trash can was plugged into the path. If not, surely it flew across and somebody had fished out it from the pond. The dent on the can was deep, and yet Leon felt nothing. Surely his combat boot was covered with steel, but it was his rage that repressed the pain he sustained from the kick. Standing by the pond, Leon threw an intense stare at the pond.

Like nothing happened, Ark finished his cigarette and remained coolheaded despite what he just saw was his friend's unfamiliar overflowing behavior. Then, he walked up to Leon, throwing the cigarette bud and ready to light up another stick. He could feel the seething heat coming from Leon and see the indentation made by the contact force from Leon's combat boots.

With a calm voice, Ark advised. "This is not the usual you. Whatever you're right now, you better not let it run over you to the point it cannot be undone." Ark stared at Leon when his friend maintained his silence. Ark chuckled, "Okay, I'm wrong. It already cannot be undone."

"I don't know what you talking about.", retorted Leon.

"Fucking bullshit, Kennedy. They already know you two are friends. If they know you harbor feelings for Claire more than just a friend and you are not careful, they will use her as your leverage. I'm telling this to you as a friend."

Ark noticed the distraught Leon, and he sympathized with him.

One hand propped on his hip and another was raking his hair eventually Leon tugged it manifesting his defeat.

"Arghh... what the hell.", exclaimed Ark. Ark sighed out frustration as much as Leon did. Leon looked at Ark when he grabbed his shoulder and said, "She leaving today. You still can make it to New York if you leave now."

Leon was contemplating. Therefore, Ark nodded. "Leave Stanik to me, I'll cover for you."

"I owe you." Leon turned to get going but faced Ark back, "And Ark, thank you."

In which got Ark to snicker. "Go."

Leon nodded and brought his cell phone to his ear, "Hunnigan. Can you do me a favor-"

Leon turned his heels and started light running towards the basement parking instead of their office entrance.

-*-

Leon reached Staten Island in the late afternoon, managing to avoid the rush hour of people traveling home from work. He pushed back the metal gate, his steps were light as he rushed toward the main door of the duplex home where he shared the leasehold with the Redhead. His hand was on the door handle simultaneously his phone chimed for text receipt. His thought went to Sherry since she had been keeping him informed about Claire's temperament since he announced to drop by New York this morning. Leon jerked back when the door suddenly swung open, a young woman in her early 20s greeted him with a full bear hug.

"Leon, you're finally here."

"Hey, Sher. How are we doing?" Turning to a side hug, they both went inside with Sherry answering him. Leon automatically closed his eyes briefly upon inhaling the air of what he considered home.

"Not good. I was just about to leave for work when she returned home upset."

"Where is she?"

"Upstairs...eerrmm Leon..."

"It's okay, Sherry. We just gonna talk." He planted a kiss on top of her head before proceeding to the staircase.

He knocked even though the door was open, giving her a choice whether she was willing to meet him or to send him away. Sitting on the edge of her bed, her body looked so small when she was hunched over. She lifted her face from her phone and he could see her eyes were glassy. She had been crying.

Her face did not look surprised but a little disappointed. Claire said, "Oh...it's you." Her sullen voice tugged his chest, her sadness ripped his heart apart. When he offered her silence, she continued, "How can I help you with?"

Her query sounded distant, it felt like she mirroring his usual demeanor. And it's hurt him. Still standing by the door, he answered. "I heard that you're being transferred."

Averting his gaze, Claire nodded and said, "Humm... Good. Well, spare the effort for me to reveal it to you."

No inflection on the words she was saying, as she turned and rummaged through the wardrobe. A clear sign to him that she refused to elaborate. Leon advanced into the bedroom and did not miss closing the door. Hoping it would muffle the noise just in case, at least shed worry to Sherry downstairs. Her scent permeated the air. The same fragrance that he smelled when he helped her, inside the elevator in Harvardville, or when she ceremoniously fell onto him at the steel rail in Andrew Air Force Base. This had always been her scent, reminding him of the time of spring ended shifting to the early summer. The soft scent of fresh floral mixed with the welcoming breezy air from the sea, also the hint of spice he could not recognize.

"Although it is not right for them to say about you. What they did to you is not fair.", admitted Leon. He stopped by the bed, scrutinizing her to anticipate the reaction.

She scoffed, "And now you care?"

"I always care about you, Claire."

"No. If you cared about me, you would give me the chip. And this whole thing would not be happening." Claire shoved a couple of bundles of socks in the already swollen rucksack on the bed. Then, she turned to face him again, what she was saying came out strained.

"What do you want me to do? You want me to beg?",

"No. It just..."

The sentence left abandoned for too long, "What?"

Leon did not want to use the same reason that would end up in the same fight with her. If he put out about protecting her, this gonna worse. The last time they fought she ended up leaving and went straight to the unfortunate outbreak in India. He lost all will to keep her and lost the confidence to keep her from leaving. It played out easily in his head while on his way here, however in reality was harder than he intended. Leon was lost on how to commandeer the conversation. Putting his weight on his left leg, he settled his hand on his hip with the other hand fidgetting, first holding his jaw and then hanging frozen in the air when he trying to find proper words.

"I..."

Losing her patience, she guided him by his hand to sit on the bed face to face with each other. With her hand holding his, her eyes drilled into his searching for an explanation. She pleaded ever so softly, "What is it, Leon?"

"Do you trust me?"

She squeezed his hand gently, a gesture to convince him. She stated, "With all my heart, I trust you. Since the moment I know you. But the way you always keep me in the dark..."

"I'm going to fix this."

Claire countered, "There you go, like always. Just you. Only you."

"It's better that you know less."

"Face the facts, I was there. We were there together. Whether you like it or not, I'm already in it too. All I wanted is for you to stand behind me in this one."

"I cannot do that."

His reply got her to press her lips together and at the same time took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She was trying to keep her frustration and anger off him as she swallowed his direct disapproval, but instead was failing terribly. The emotions were too overbearing for her to contain; thus she dismantled their interlinked hands, standing up and facing away from him. Looking up, he stared her back like a million-dollar portrait. She had her hand cradling her front head, while others settled on her hips. Second went by, so he matched her to be on his feet. He was surprised when he saw her face as she turned around to meet his eyes. His prediction of her to be red with anger, alas he learned her mixed with sadness and dread.

"Why can I have you..." She was trying to keep it together, but her fragile voice was giving away. Claire paused a moment, then continued, "Why can I have you in this when you have given to others multiple times? I thought we had each other."

Claire, you always have me! Since the day we met. Those words he wanted to say, would not come out out loud. Ark's words echoed his thoughts.

She said softly, "It's hard to understand you sometimes. It seems that I do not know you anymore. These government officials involved... it feels like you turning to one of them."

Please don't lose faith in me. Because you are the only one I have left.

Leon begged her inwardly. They both got Sherry, but both are trying not to involve the young woman. Claire was always his other half, she was his partner. Predicting what was the direction of this exchange scares him.

"And it scares me."

Oh, God... The finality of her words was a forewarning that he was losing her.

"I-", stuttered Leon. It was registered to him that he was a little too late when her phone chimed.

She cut him mercilessly, "We done talking. I have to go."

Without waiting for his reply, she grabbed the rucksack and darted out of the bedroom. Leon was hot in heels catching her trail. Sherry was on the base of the stairs, standing in agitation after hearing they stormed down the staircase. Her panicked face was a match with him. Seeing how they both reacted, Sherry immediately hugged Claire from the side like a child denying their parents to go to work.

"Sherry honey. Take care of the house while I am away, yeah?" She returned Sherry's hug.

"How long you will be gone?"

Wetting his lips to ease his nerves, Leon observed the duo interaction quietly. Claire gazed at the girl that she considered like her own daughter, cupping Sherry's cheeks as she consoled her. "I don't know. They said it's indefinite." Claire kissed the crown of her head and said, "Love you."

Leon interrupted them in a rush, thinking maybe he could make amends. "I don't wanna say goodbye."

"Then don't say anything. Like you always do." Claire lambasted.

"Claire."

"Goodbye, Leon."

Leon knew Claire was holding her tears. Because when she said goodbye her eyes did not meet his. He sensed a more delicate hand was reaching his hand and grasped it firmly. The flashback of what happened 8 years ago came back. With their hands held to each other, Leon and Sherry watched Claire's figure as she walked through the driveway and eventually entered the car of her colleague.

End notes:

Personally, I don't like Adam Benford. Period.