Chapter Text
2005
You regretted agreeing to pick Claire up the moment you stepped out of your car.
A wall of sound met your ears as voices layered over each other. A beautiful mix of angry chanting, shouting and the occasional shrill voice. It set your teeth on edge, made your ears ring the closer you got to the protest.
It was a mix of angry citizens and TerraSave workers, all of them convinced they were doing something important. Maybe they were. Didn’t make them any less irritating when you were trying to get through them.
“...Senator Davis’ imminent arrival. The group hopes to confront the politician who will be attending the National Pharmaceutical Conference.”
You ducked out of the way of the reporter, keeping your head down and out view of the camera as you moved towards the doors, only to freeze as something groaned to your left. Your hand instantly moved to your hip, the alertness falling into a glare as you took in the group to your side.
Arms outstretched and clothes torn, and stupid rubber zombie masks pulled over their heads to make some kind of point. One of them had stumbled too close to you on the way in before seeming to think better of it as his eyes drifted down to where your hand rested.
“Fuck…” He said, voice mumbled behind the mask as he stumbled backwards, giving a shaky groan.
“Idiots.” You muttered under your breath as you pushed through the doors with a quick flash of your badge to the security that stood waiting.
Inside was quieter, but not by much. You exhaled slowly, rolling your shoulders once as you moved into arrivals, your boots echoing faintly against the floor and your eyes scanning the area automatically.
“Now arriving in Gate 32A Flight 349 from Newark, New Jersey.”
A giant TV mounted above the main hall flickered with the same scene you’d just forced your way through. You glanced up at it briefly, unimpressed, then checked your watch instead. Claire’s flight should have landed by now.
“Will a Brock Silverstein please report to Gate 7? Brock Silverstein to Gate 7.”
You moved towards the gates, scanning over the people you walked past.
“Flight 89 from Columbus has just arrived at Gate 17…”
Your name was yelled, cutting over the announcement, bright and familiar. You turned as Claire moved through the doors, bag over her shoulder, and for once sans her usual leather, and instead wearing a sleeveless white vest over a red turtle neck.
Her smile was wide as she moved towards you, familiar ponytail swinging behind her, hiding the faint tiredness that clung to her.
“Hey!” She moved toward you, the corner of your mouth lifting just slightly as she closed the distance and wrapped you in a quick, tight hug. “Where’s Leon?”
“Hello to you too.” You muttered, pulling back to frown at her. “You do realise you asked me to pick you up, right?”
Claire grinned, entirely unbothered. “Yeah but considering how he’s normally glued to your side, I expected him to be here – if not to just remind us all you have his balls in a bag these days.”
“Jesus, Claire.” You hissed out. “We are capable of spending time away from each other.”
“Yeah when you have ‘vacations’ -” She gestured with her hands as the pair of you moved out of the way, her grin still there. “Or reports – so which one is it?”
You snorted quietly at that, already turning to start leading her toward the exit. “He had reports to finish.”
“Knew it.” She raised an eyebrow, knocking her shoulder into yours. “So, did you miss me?”
“Actually, the past couple of weeks have been quiet without someone coming into my home and eating all my food.” You replied dryly, giving her a small smirk.
Her hand reached out to grip your arm, stopping you in your tracks as her mouth fell open and other passengers walked past. “Rude.”
“Honest.” You replied, trying to guide out of the main flow of people. “Long flight?”
Claire gave you a look. “Do I look that bad?”
You tilted your head, considering her for a second longer than necessary before letting a small, almost teasing smile slip through. “I was just asking.”
She gave a quiet laugh, her attention already drifting as she caught sight of the TV. The humour faded just slightly, her expression tightening as the footage of outside continued, someone talking over it.
“How bad is it out there?” She asked.
You followed her gaze, eyes flicking over the screen before dropping back to her. “Bad enough I had to flash my badge just to get inside.” You said flatly. “And even then I was about two seconds away from committing a crime.”
Claire huffed a quiet laugh at that, though it didn’t fully reach her eyes. “Sounds about right.” She shifted her weight, glancing back toward the entrance where the noise still bled faintly through. “You park far?”
“As close as I could.” You said. “Unless you wanted me to run over a few protesters on the way in.”
She let out a small laugh, half hearted and dimmed as she looked back to the TV as it changed. You followed her line of sight again, watching as a well-dressed man with saggy cheeks, beady eyes and bushy eyebrows spoke to the reporter and camera. Like the Penguin come to life.
“Senator Davis, you serve as a special advisor for WilPharma Corporation. After viewing photos of their latest human test subjects, what are your thoughts?”
Davis smirked like he found something amusing. “That Halloween is celebrated earlier in India than in the US, maybe?”
Claire let out a disbelieving scoff.
“Fucking ass.” You muttered, not even bothering to lower your voice.
“Really, I simply don't understand American humour.”
You and Claire turned to the voice. Overtly posh and unmistakably British, and it set something off inside you immediately, a pricked spreading up the back of your neck as you looked over him.
He was older, with stark white hair and glasses perched low on his nose. Dress in a pressed suit, grey and perfectly tailored to him, not a spec of dust on him. And he stood straight, like it had been drilled into him as he clutched his briefcase.
His eyes flickered over you both again before they took in your own narrowed ones and he gave an almost nervous smile. “Apologies. I didn't mean to…”
Claire gave him a tight smile. “No worries. We don’t always get it either.”
“Are you two waiting for someone as well?”
“How is that any of your business?” You asked before you could stop yourself.
Claire shot you a look immediately. “Really?”
The man didn’t seem offended. If anything, there was a flicker of amusement in his expression. “Just making conversation.” He said. “It seems the asylum let the patients out for the day. It's a bit crazy outside.”
You glanced back at the TV, then toward the entrance again, lips pressing together briefly. “That’s an understatement.”
“The Air Dome Research Facility isn't the only thing Senator Davis brought to Harvardville.” Claire crossed her arms lightly, nodding toward the screen. “It's like the wacko circus hit town.”
“Well, I…” The man hummed, checking his watch with a small frown as he gripped his bag. “I'm weary of waiting. I'm going to grab a taxi. Good day, ladies.”
He gave a small, polite wave and turned, disappearing into the flow of people before either of you could respond. You watched him go, your expression flattening slightly.
Claire glanced at you. “He seemed nice.”
“Seemed like a walking stereotype of Britishness.” You scoffed softly, dragging your gaze back to her. “And there was something off about him.”
“You think everyone’s off.”
“I’d be bad at my job if I didn’t trust my instinct.”
Claire studied you for a second, her expression shifting, less teasing now, more knowing. She’d seen that look on you before too many times.
“Well...” She said after a moment, nudging your arm lightly as if to shake it off. “Try not to interrogate every random stranger we come across. Some of us are just trying to get through the day.”
You huffed a quiet breath, the tension easing just slightly as you glanced back at her. “No promises.”
…
“Senator Davis. Can I have another word?” The voice cut through the air, sharp and persistent in a way reporters always were when they smelt something worth chasing.
You slowed without meaning to as the doors came into view. Claire did the same beside you, your arm still loosely hooked with hers, both of you turning just enough to see what was happening without fully stopping.
A small man with a hooked nose moved quickly, trying and failing to keep a low profile under a baseball cap. “You cannot.”
“Please, senator. Please. Just one more question.” The reporter continued, ignoring the guard who tried to move her out of the way. “Why would you…?”
Her voice trailed off as something groaned. Familiar in a way that made your spine straighten before your brain caught up. Claire shifted beside you, her face pale as something groaned again.
Your grip tightened slightly on Claire’s arm before you let go completely, your posture shifting without thought, shoulders squaring as your attention locked onto the source and let out an annoyed sigh.
A man in a zombie mask stumbled forward, movements unsteady but purposeful in a way that immediately set your nerves on edge and made your whole body shift into what it had been trained to do.
“What the hell is this?” Davis shouted loud enough to draw attention.
“Idiots.” You muttered again as you tried to force your body to calm down.
Davis moved forward, pulling off his hat, standing on his tiptoes and leaning onto his guards shoulders to sneer. “Did someone put you up to this, or is this stupid costume your brilliant idea?” His sneer turned into a smirk. “Okay, genius, you got something to say get it off your chest and move on.”
Claire scoffed under her breath beside you, already dropping her bag at your feet. “Oh, for fucks sake – this is too much.”
“Claire - ”
She was already moving, shaking off your arm as she closed the quickly distance, hand coming up to grab the top of the mask before tugging it off.
The man underneath gave a small yelp, eyes wide as he looked to Claire and then to Davis and his team before he began to move backwards, another yelp leaving him as he stumbled into a nearby security guard.
There was no hesitation from the security guard as he began to restrain the man, giving the whole speech for his arrest. The man yelped as his arms bent for the cuffs, face twisting in pain under the heavy hands.
Claire stepped forward, frowning slightly. “Okay, that’s -”
“Ma'am, are you involved in this?” He demanded, looking at Claire.
Claire blinked. “What? No - I mean, indirectly, in a manner of speaking...”
“Then, in a manner of speaking you're coming with me too.”
You stepped forward instantly. “Hang on a minute...”
“You too.” The security guard snapped as he straighten the guy on the floor to glare at the boy of you.
“Actually, Sir, neither of us will be going anywhere.” You snapped, narrowing your eyes at him as Claire let out a sigh.
The chief’s eyes narrowed right back, his jaw tightening. “It wasn’t a suggestion, Ma’am.”
“Actually it is.” You spoke as you reached into your pocket and pulled out your badge, flashing it up at him as he frowned. “D.S.O.”
“Being a Federal Agent doesn’t mean you can’t get arrested.”
“It does when your agency is against this kind of stuff.” You gestured the handcuffed man, as he whimpered and looked away from your glare. “Honestly, he’s lucky I didn’t shoot him.”
The chief’s jaw opened, like he was going to argue when a cry of his title cut him off, your heads snapping to Davis’ team stood with their guns out.
Another figure stumbled forward from the crowd.
Your eyes narrowed instantly, your hand already moving toward your gun as something cold settled in your chest as you reached out to stop the Chief from taking a step towards it. Something felt off, more off than before.
“Don’t.”
The security guard shook you off, brushing past your warning like it was nothing, reaching out to grab the man’s head like he was expecting a cheap Halloween prop.
It didn’t come off.
Your gun was out in an instant. “Move.”
Davis’ security reacted immediately, weapons drawn, tension snapping tight. “What the hell are you doing?” One of them barked, moving forward to grab you. “That’s a threat to the Senator—”
Their words were cut off at the man the chief had been holding turned and sunk his teeth into the chief’s neck, the sound wet, your shot thrown wide and just missing people as you glared as the chief and the zombie fell to the ground.
All at once everything descended into chaos. Shouting, people scrambling, the sharp crack of a gunshot echoing too loud in the enclosed space as one of Davis’ men fired point-blank into the infected man’s head.
The infected dropped, body hitting the ground hard as one of Davis’ men lowered his weapon with shaking hands. “He’s dead.” One of Davis men said, crouching beside the bitten guard. “Let's get the hell out of here.”
“Lets.” You muttered, already moving. Your hand grabbed Claire’s arm, pulling her back toward you as your other hand shoved your gun into her grip without hesitation. “Take it.”
Claire didn’t argue, her fingers closed around it instantly, her eyes taking in everything as she gave a shaky breath. You reached for your knife, spinning it through your fingers as the familiar weight settled there.
“You’re giving a civilian a gun…” A voice sneered out, probably Davis’ as you and Claire stood back to back.
“She can shoot better than most if that’s what you’re worried about.”
The second infected body lunged from the side, half-hidden in the panic, though you saw enough to meet it half way.
Your knife came up and drove straight through the base of its skull, your body twisting with the motion, using its momentum against it as you shoved it back and ripped the blade free in one smooth movement.
Another scream cut through the air. You turned just in time to see the bitten chief jerk violently, his eyes a milky white, before surging forward, teeth snapping as he grabbed one of Davis’ men and ripped flesh from bone.
Gunfire cracked again, louder this time, echoing off the walls as people continued to run like headless chickens. There was nothing controlled about them, panic overriding every need to maintain some idea of calm.
People stumbled and fell as they were shoved out of the way and onto the floor. Screams and yells echoed against the walls as bodies blocked exits and people banged against closed doors.
“Move! This way – go!” You shouted, grabbing someone by the shoulder and physically shoving them toward the exit.
Another infected pushed through the crowd, jaws snapping uncontrollably. You moved again, stepping around a stumbling civilian, your body dipping low before rising in one smooth motion as your blade cut clean through as Claire fired behind you, stumbling as someone knocked into her.
The two of you moved back, eyes scanning for where you could find your own break out of the place when a hand gripped Claire’s ankle, her eyes too focused on whoever had passed. She let out a yelp as you twirled your knife, preparing to stab only to see Davis, pathetically curled up on the floor and reaching for you both.
“Please. Help me.”
Your mouth opened, only to be cut off as a panicked voice rang through the terminal.
“Attention all people inside the terminal. Evacuate the building immediately. Repeat, evacuate the terminal immediately. This is not a drill. Use all exits. Everyone evacuate the terminal building immediately.”
The hairs on the back of your neck stood up. You reached out for Claire’s hand, pulling her back into your side as your eyes scanned everything.
“What -”
The sound hit hard - metal screeching, glass shattering, the ground shaking violently under your feet as something massive tore through the structure. You staggered, dragging Claire with you as debris rained down, the air filling with dust and smoke so thick it burned your throat.
For a second, everything blurred.
The world reduced to fragments and ringing silence as your ears struggled to catch up. You stared ahead, breath caught somewhere between your lungs and your throat, your mind trying to process what you were looking at.
A plane rested between the hole it had created in the wall and the arrivals terminal, not twenty feet ahead of you.
It shifted as it settled, the metal squeaking before the door popped open with a sharp sound that made your ears hurt. You stared at it for a second, your grip tightening on your knife.
For a second it seemed nothing was going to happen, and then the groans came from inside the plan, echoing and joined by the scrapping off feet.
“Fuck.”
“No. No way.” Claire’s voice came out strained, disbelieving, as she shook her head. “This can’t be happening.”
It was. The bodies reached the door, piling on top of each other to try and get out of the plane, their white eyes finding the three of you and their jaws slacking as they groaned and more eagerly tried to move forward.
“Move.” You snapped, grabbing her arm again as your body kicked back into motion. “Now.”
Claire didn’t hesitate, she raised the gun and turned, moving away from the plane. Your eyes locked on Davis wide ones before you grabbed, hauling him upright with more force than necessary. “Get up, unless you want to die here.”
He let out a sound, leaning onto you too much. His feet dragged against the ground, uncooperatively and slow, and making him heavier, and his nails dug into your shoulder where he held onto you for dear life, and his breath hot against your neck.
“You’re dragging me.” He complained, his weight sagging harder against you. “Watch what you’re doing - my leg -”
You didn’t bother responding. There wasn’t time, and frankly, you didn’t care. There were more important things in play that making sure Davis was comfortable with how you were carrying him out.
The front entrance was a lost cause.
You could see it before you even got close, the press of bodies, people shoving and clawing. It was too tight, too chaotic, and most importantly, too unpredictable. You could fight through a group, maybe even a cluster if you had room to move but not that.
You didn’t take on a horde alone. Not unless you wanted to die.
“Come on.” You said sharply, already shifting direction, dragging Davis with you.
Claire followed without question. “Yeah, I like breathing.”
You scanned quickly, and landed on a woman hovering nearby, like she had decided the two of you offered enough protection from a distance. Uniform neat, posture rigid, hands shaking like she didn’t know what to do with herself.
“Hey.” You called, your voice as soft as you could make it in a situation like this, already heading toward her. “You work here?”
She startled, eyes snapping to you, wide and uncertain. “I – yes…”
“We need somewhere to figure out how to get out of here.” You said quickly, already closing the distance. “It can be a back room, even a service corridor but somewhere away from all of this.” You jerked your head toward the crowd.
She hesitated.
Claire shifted before you, looking back over her shoulder to the approaching zombies. “Unless you want to stay out here and test your luck.”
The woman nodded quickly, turning on her heel. “This way.”
You followed immediately, pulling Davis along as she led you down a narrow corridor, the noise of the terminal muffling behind you with every step. It didn’t disappear but it dulled behind the heavy door.
“This is outrageous...” Davis spat out. “Where is airport security? Where is anyone remotely capable of handling this situation?”
You didn’t respond.
The corridors twisted, narrow, the lights low enough that you barely considered them on. The woman moved quickly, swiping a card at a secured door and pushing it open for you all.
“VIP lounge.” She said, breath unsteady. “We can lock it from the inside.”
“Perfect.”
The door shut behind you with a heavy click, followed by the lock clanging into the place as the lady shook by the side. You moved into, not caring to ease Davis down so much as drop him into the nearest chair.
He grunted sharply, clutching at his leg. “Careful!”
You ignored him, stepping back immediately, your hand already going to your pockets of your jeans, a frown on your face before you moved up to your jacket. Gun and knife underneath, pocket knife – Id...
You stilled for a second, then exhaled sharply through your nose.
“What?” Claire asked, watching you.
“My phone...” You muttered with a sigh. “Must’ve left it in the car.”
“Now is not the time to be worrying about sending a text.” Davis cut in, voice dripping with condescension.
You looked at him slowly, then you smiled thinly. “It is when that text gets the D.S.O here faster.”
“Fuck…” Claire muttered as you turned to face her. She grimaced, holding up her own phone. “Dead.”
You stared at it for half a second, then sighed, pushing down the annoyance into one word. “Fuck.”
“Language.” Davis muttered.
“Not the time.” You shot back flatly.
The woman still hovering near the door cleared her throat slightly. “I - I have a phone…” She said nervously. “If you need to call someone -”
You moved toward her immediately. “Yeah, that’d be -”
“Someone needs to check my leg.” Davis interrupted sharply.
“Were you bitten?” You asked, turning to look at him with a glare.
“What kind of question is that?”
“A valid one.”
“No, I was not.”
You looked back at him, expression flat. “Is it missing?”
“No.”
“Is there blood?”
“No, but that’s not the point - ”
“Then it can wait.”
“No it can not – I am the Senator, I should take priority over you wanting to call your friends.” He sneered out, an ugly look as you narrowed your eyes at him.
You didn’t even look at him, keeping your eyes on the woman. “Call the emergency line. They’ll reroute it where it needs to go - if they’re not already on their way.”
She nodded quickly, fumbling with the phone as she dialled, her voice shaking as she began speaking lowly into her phone, her voice shaking.
You crouched in front of Davis, your attention dropping to his leg. already reaching for his pant leg and pushing it up despite his protest. You pressed lightly as Davis hissed. You pressed again, more deliberately.
“Ah - watch it!”
“It’s a bruise.”
“That’s it?” He snapped. “That’s your professional opinion?”
“Yes.” You remarked dryly. “You’ll be fine.”
“We’re trapped in here with one firearm between us and God knows how many of those things out there, and you’re telling me I’m fine?” His voice rose into a loud enough shout that you cast a glance towards the door.
The groans remained at the same distance and nothing shuffled by, but still you turned back to glare at him. “Keep your voice low.”
The woman finished her call, lowering the phone with trembling hands. “They - they said help is on the way.”
“Good.” You said, though your mind was already moving ahead.
You exhaled slowly, dragging a hand through your hair before turning slightly, your attention shifting toward the windows. The light outside had dimmed just enough to be noticeable, shadows stretching longer across the floor.
“It’s going to get dark soon.” Claire said, coming to stand by your side.
“Yeah.” You murmured before you turned to face her with a frown. “We need a plan.”
The woman swallowed. “They said they’re coming - we could stay here… lock the door -”
“That’s great for the minute, and for sure the first thing we’re doing, but we don’t know how long we could be waiting or who is coming.” You replied somewhat soft. “And if the dead gather nearby or come to the door we don’t want to be in a situation where we’re stuck.”
She swallowed hard.
Claire glanced at the window, then back at you. “What are you thinking?”
You glanced at the window again. “Short of jumping out of the window…”
The woman’s eyes widened. “That’s - that’s not the plan, is it?”
You looked at her. Then shook your head. “Not yet.”
…
Time didn’t pass so much as drag itself forward, kicking and complaining the entire way.
Mostly because Davis wouldn’t shut up.
You’d lost track of how long it had been since you’d barricaded yourselves in the VIP lounge, long enough for the last of the daylight to bleed out through the windows, long enough for the shadows to settle thick in the corners, long enough for your patience to wear thin.
“…a complete failure of security.” Davis was saying for what had to be the tenth time, shifting in his chair with another pained noise. “I will be filing a report the moment we are out of here - ”
“Do you come with a mute button?” Claire muttered, not even bothering to lower her voice.
“I heard that.” Davis snapped.
“Good.” You and Claire said at the same time.
You gave a quiet laugh, eyes still fixed on the map in front of you.
It wasn’t so much a map but more of an unfolded napkin with crudely drawn paths and rooms that the lady, Margaret you had learnt, had provided. And now she hovered close, wringing her hands together, wanting to help more than she already had.
“Okay, so this corridor...” You said, tapping the edge of the napkin with the pen. “This leads up towards the roof?”
“Yes… but it’s a flat roof – no fire escape.” Margaret said, wringing her hands together. “But there is the service exit – for the on ground crew workers here -” She pointed to the map with shaking hands. “But… but it’s narrow and if those things...”
You sighed, every option, every escape seemed to have been cut off. If it had just been Margaret then maybe you could have made a run for it, given Claire the gun and the three of you could have bolted but Davis…
Davis was a problem. A whiny problem.
“Are we actually doing something, or are you two just going to continue doodling while we sit here waiting to die?”
You didn’t look up. “We’re planning.”
“It doesn’t look like planning.”
“That’s because you’re not involved.” Claire said sweetly.
He scoffed, sneering at the three of you. “I should be involved. I’m the one you’re supposed to be protecting.”
“Am I?” You finally glanced over at him. “If that’s the case then I’m doing a great job since you’re still alive, aren’t you?”
“Barely.” He snapped, slamming a hand down on the seat. “And for how long, I wonder, given that we’re sitting in the dark like this instead of taking action.”
The dark wasn’t an accident. You hadn’t let anyone touch the lights because the last thing you needed was something out there noticing movement through the cracks.
Light drew attention. You weren’t about to make yourselves a beacon.
He opened his mouth, to probably say something that made you want to roll your eyes again or had him sneering. The saving grace of gunfire cutting him off.
Not one or two shots but bursts, followed by even more. The kind that came from automated weapons, ones used to get through things fast without certain precision, just to hit the target and keep it down.
Your head snapped toward the door, every muscle in your body tightening instantly.
Margaret’s voice trembled. “Those were gunshots.”
“They sent help.” Claire straightened slightly. “We’re gonna get out of here.”
“You should thank me.” Davis spoke as you turned to look at him and his smug face.
You raised an eyebrow, half amused. “Excuse me?”
“If you hadn't told them I was here, they would've ignored your call.” He answered, like it was obvious.
You stared at him, then let out a quiet, disbelieving breath.
Claire’s expression flattened completely. “You might want to stick your ego up your ass considering your own secretary left you here to die.”
You frowned, trying to hide the smile on your face as Davis’ mouth thinned and he glared at Claire.
“Now listen here -”
He was cut off by a scream. The high pitched kind that could have only come from a person, terrified and not too far away.
Margaret’s head snapped toward the door. “What was that?”
“Someone who isn’t infected.” Claire was already on her feet, looking at you. “We have to help.”
“It’s too late.” Davis cut in sharply. “There's nothing we can do.”
You shot him a look that could have cut glass. “We don’t leave people behind if we can help them.”
You were already stepping toward the door when Davis grabbed your arm, half leaning out of his seat to stop you from moving. Not that you couldn’t throw him off if you really wanted to, it woul,d barely be an effort.
Instead, you looked down at his hand, then back at him slowly.
“You can’t go.” He said, grip tightening slightly. “You can’t walk out of here, and leave me unprotected.”
“Let go.”
“I’m serious.” He insisted. “If you step out of that door - ”
You glared, shaking him off with a bit more force than he needed. “If I step out that door then I’m doing my job.”
He leaned forward slightly, voice sharpening. “If you walk out, I’ll have you fired.”
A laugh left you before you could stop yourself, seeming to surprise both him and Margaret. Most people didn’t laugh at the idea of being fired.
“Good luck with that.”
“I’ll go.” Claire said, letting out a sigh as she looked around. “Just need a weapon.”
You turned to her immediately. “You’re not going alone.”
“It’s down the hall and back.” She said. “I’m not going exploring.”
“You don’t know that.”
“And neither do you.”
“I’ll go with you then.”
Claire shook her head, nodding towards Margaret. “You can’t leave her alone with him.”
You glanced at the woman, who looked like she might pass out, and then back at Claire.
“Then you stay.” You said. “You’re not trained for this.”
Claire raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”
“You know what I mean.” You said, already frustrated. “I’m faster. If something goes wrong - ”
“And if something goes wrong in here?” She shot back.
Davis made a noise like he was about to insert himself again. You both ignored him.
“I’m not arguing with you on this.” Claire said, already stepping closer to the door. “I go, I check, I come back. That’s it.”
“Claire.”
“It’s five minutes.” She continued. “Ten, max.”
You hesitated. You didn’t like it one bit.
“Fine.” You said finally, jaw tight. “But you’re taking the gun.”
Davis straightened. “Absolutely not.”
You didn’t even look at him. “Yes, she is.”
“You need that in here.” He snapped. “In case one of those things gets inside -”
“I don’t.” You cut in. “I’ve got this.”
You lifted the knife slightly, the blade catching what little light there was.
“Keep the gun.” Claire muttered as she grabbed something from behind the sofa, pulling it up with a frown. “I’ve got this.”
You blinked. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
She held it up, a red and white umbrella, a sharp point at the end as her eyes met yours. There was a flicker of amusement and something wary.
You stared at it for a second. “That’s fucking ironic.”
Claire smirked faintly. “Right?”
“Please tell me you’re not planning to fight with that.”
“I’ll make it work.”
“That’s not reassuring.”
“It’s not meant to be.” Claire smiled once, already reaching for the door. “Lock it behind me.”
You stepped closer instinctively. “Claire, if you’re not back -”
“I will be.” She moved hand already on the handle as she glanced back at you. “Lock it behind me.”
The door clicked shut behind her before you could say anything else.
...
Pacing wasn’t helping anymore.
It had at first, burning off the restless edge under your skin, giving your mind something to latch onto instead of the quiet, but now it just felt like you were wearing a path into the floor. Door to window. Window to door. Over and over again.
You kept your steps quiet out of habit, your head tilted just slightly, straining to catch anything beyond the dull hum of the building and the occasional distant groan that never really went away.
Your hearing was better than it used to be, better than most people, but not good enough to hear beyond where Claire’s footsteps had disappeared.
“...this is completely unacceptable.”
You exhaled slowly.
“I have been sitting here for hours.” Davis said voice cutting through the room like a mosquito you couldn’t quite swat. He clicked his fingers. “Margaret – water -”
“Margaret.” You cut in without turning around. “Don’t.”
Both of them looked at you.
Davis frowned. “Excuse me?”
“She’s not getting you anything.” You snapped, still facing the door.
“That is her job.”
You turned then, slow, unimpressed. “Not right now, it isn’t.”
“I expect a certain level of - ”
“You can expect whatever you want doesn’t mean anyone’s going to follow through.” You glared at him, looking him up and down. “Get off your ass and do it yourself.”
Davis glared. “I’m injured.”
“You’re bruised.”
A gunshot cracked through the hallway. Your entire body went still, your hand already moving to your gun as you turned toward the door, every sense sharpening at once. You moved toward the door slowly, controlled, listening…
“Where are you going?” Davis demanded.
You ignored him. Your fingers curled around the handle, the lock turning just as a knock hit the other side.
“Let me in.” Claire’s voice came through.
Relief hit fast and sharp. You unlocked the door immediately, pulling it open just as Claire slipped inside, a breathless smile flashing across her face.
“Miss me?”
“What happened -”
You didn’t get to finish as the moment you let go of Claire, you were pulled forward into a pair of strong arms, and pressed against a firm chest with a familiar smell.
The hug itself was familiar, overtly so, the kind you had sunk into nearly everyday for the past few months. The ones that were solid and warm and just a little too tight like they never wanted to let you go.
It had made you laugh at the beginning when he had gone from someone keeping their distance, to those walls being knocked down and the space between you both suddenly non existent. Even more so after the first night – like his hands needed somewhere to rest, or his arms needed to be wrapped around you.
And you had somehow never felt safer.
So you hugged him back, tightly around his waist and letting out a breath you hadn’t realised you were holding.
“You didn’t answer your phone.” His voice ruffled by your ear, warm and easing.
“Left it in the car.” You answered back as he squeezed you a bit harder.
He pulled back just enough to look at you and for a second, everything else in the room just fell away as his hands moved to cup your cheeks, and his eyes moved over you like he was checking for injuries. “I was worried, Sweetheart.”
God, it was pathetic how much you had missed him in the few short hours you had been separated. Like you had been missing a limb and didn’t know until you had it back. Like you were a bit more complete with him around.
You wanted nothing more than to lean into him again, to wrap him into a hug or tug his lips down to yours but someone coughed, like they knew where it was going. That annoyed cough that came from someone who had seen it a bit too much.
You didn’t have to turn to know who it was but you did throw a smirking Claire a glare for good measure.
“Is this it?” Davis’ voice cut through it like a blunt knife.
“What?” You said, turning your head slightly.
Davis gestured vaguely at Leon. “This is who they sent? To rescue me?”
“Rescue you?” Leon’s arm shifted slightly around you, not leaving, just adjusting as he followed your glance over. You elbowed him gently, sending him a look. “Right…yeah.”
You smirked, you didn’t need Davis blowing up because he realised Leon had probably done what he could to get here for you and it had nothing to with him.
Behind him, Claire was already shutting and locking the door again, while three others filtered into the room, two in SRT gear, and one man who looked shaken enough to have been the source of that earlier scream.
You stepped slightly out of Leon’s space, but not far for his hand to drop from the middle of your back.
“Agent Kennedy’s D.S.O.” You clarified, nodding toward Leon. “Same as me.”
“And what help have you been?” He demanded, looking at you. “I’ve been stuck here for hours.”
Leon’s jaw tightened slightly beside you, his whole body seeming to tense as his eyes narrowed at Davis in warning. You stepped forward a fraction, still close enough that his arm brushed across your back.
“You mean the hours where we didn’t leave you in the hallway?” You cut in, voice calm but edged. “With your very serious, life-threatening bruise?”
Claire made a quiet choking sound behind you.
Davis looked between the two of you, clearly unimpressed, before looking back to Leon. “Are there reinforcements?”
“No.” Leon said simply. “It’s just us.”
“That’s unacceptable.” Davis bristled. “There are priorities -”
“And clearly you weren’t at the top of the list.” You snapped before you could stop yourself. Leon gave you a look, half amused as you lowered your voice. “What? He’s been a nightmare.”
“Is it too much to hope you at least have some sort of a plan?” Davis looked between you both, clearly unimpressed. “That isn’t this?”
You raised an eyebrow.
Leon ignored it, but the glare was still there – like he was waiting for Davis to say something else. “We're gonna run across the lobby.”
“Are you insane?” Davis stared at him. “The lobby is crawling with those creatures.
“It's also the widest area.” Leon said. “It's too dangerous to take the long way around.”
“You said it was too dangerous.” Davis shot at you, pointing one thick finger your way as his bushy eyebrows rose and his lips pulled back into a sneer.
Leon stepped forward, half putting himself in your way as he glared down at Davis once again. “Step back.”
“It’s fine.” You muttered, patting his arm and half leaning around as he refused to get out of the way, like some protective barrier between you and a man you could take down by gently kicking his leg. “It is dangerous, but more so when it was me, Claire, Margaret and you slowing us down.”
“They’re right. They aren't fast. And with more of us we can get by them.” Claire pushed off the wall slightly and sent Davis a look.
He glared right back, limping towards her. “Oh, yeah? And since when did the NGO member become such an authority on the subject?”
“Experience.” Claire said easily.
That shut him up for about half a second, but Leon was quicker, stepping forward and speaking before Davis could open his mouth once again. “We move now.”
Davis glared but didn’t argue this time. He pushed himself up, limping toward the man who had to be his secretary, muttering under his breath as he went.
Leon shifted closer to the door, checking over his weapons and no doubt going over some kind of plan in his head. Claire moved back toward Margaret, speaking to her quietly with a gentle hand on her shoulder.
The two SRT officers approached you. A man with a cocky smirk, one that instantly made you want to roll your eyes and a pretty woman with wary eyes.
The man spoke first, holding out his hand. “Greg.”
You stared at it for a second before taking it and muttering your own name before turning back to the woman. She eyed you for a minute, giving your hand a quick shake. “Angela.”
There was something in her expression, the kind you had seen before. Where eyes looked you up and down, not in interest, but like she was sizing you up and down, mentally telling herself what you would and wouldn’t be able to do.
It wasn’t unfamiliar, you weren’t buff like Leon – there was no immediate air of danger around you, nothing that gave away training and what still lingered in your blood.
“You know Agent Kennedy?” She asked, raising a slight brow.
Now it made more sense, Leon had made some kind of impression, probably more than he realised and then they had given some display and the girl was probably trying to figure it out.
You tried to push down the amused smile. “Quite well.”
She frowned before giving a short nod. “Well, we helped him get in here so if you need some help then just let us know.”
“Thanks.” You answered with another smile, not to be rude. “But I’ll manage.”
…
You and Leon moved first, instinct and training taking over. Everything else was pushed to the back as you moved forward. Behind you, the group shifted into a messy formation, Claire in the middle with Margaret, Davis dragging himself along with his secretary, Angela and Greg bringing up the rear.
There were whimpers as you moved closer to the main halls, the groans growing louder and the shuffle of dead feet able to be heard.
The first one came stumbling out from a side corridor, head lolling, jaw slack, too slow to even register properly before Leon put a round clean through its skull. It dropped instantly, momentum carrying it forward as it hit the floor.
Another came from the left.
Your knife twirled in your hand as you moved, blade driving up under the jaw and into the brain in one smooth motion before you twisted and pulled it free again, letting the body drop to your feet as someone gasped behind you.
“Left.” Leon called.
You ducked automatically as he fired past you, the gunshot loud in the narrow corridor. You shifted with it, stepping around him as another lunged, your foot coming up hard, driving into its chest and sending it stumbling back just enough for Leon to send a kick that snapped its neck.
You continued moving forward, the group following behind you as Davis whispered under his breath, in a way you tried to ignore.
“Faster.” Leon called as you made it to just before the main hall.
The group picked up pace as you and Leon took care of the ones that got too close, ducking under grabbing arms and kicking legs, driving your knife into their temples.
Another came from the back too close to the group, a splatter of gunshots rang out behind you as Angela took care of it before it could get too close as Claire moved back.
“Thanks.”
You barely had chance to look back but you caught sight of the nod Angela gave to Claire before you continued forward, cutting through more that came your way. Leon roundhouse kicked another as you kicked out the knee and stabbed.
“Davis!” The shout came sharp, panicked.
You turned instantly, eyes finding Davis on the floor as his secretary scrambled forward towards him as Greg pulled him off the floor while Angela covered them. A zombie stumbled too close, head flying backwards as a shot from Leon hit between the eyes.
“Move!” He snapped.
Davis whimpered as his secretary latched onto him, the pair of them stumbled like two new born deer learning to walk, dragged away by Angela before any of the dead could get too close.
Greg moved back, firing off blasts of shots as the dead crept closer until his back was against a wall. His eyes widened, his gun clicking wildly as teeth gnashed closer and closer by the second.
“Greg!” Angela shouted.
You were already moving.
You crossed the space in seconds, slipping between bodies. Your knife slicing against arms and knees, cutting them down enough to move past and allow you to drive forward.
Greg raised his arm, like it was natural, like he could calculate exactly where to put it to hold the zombie at bay. Your knife buried itself in its skull before it could bite down on his arm.
You ripped the blade free, throwing the body to the floor with a bit less grace than it deserved and grabbed Greg by the front of his vest, hauling him off the wall with more force than he was expecting.
“Move.” You snapped.
He didn’t argue, didn’t even speak. Just stumbled and shook as you dragged him clear and then shoved him back toward Angela, your grip releasing the second he was out of immediate danger.
“Was he bitten?” Davis demanded.
You didn’t even look at him. “No.”
The shots and actions had drawn enough attention that a horde was steadily growing and making its way towards the group of you, white eyes eagerly focused on your way.
A lump grew in your throat. You’d been here before, survived with less and your life had become something cruel and twisted – you had seen so much shit in the past seven years, but this one hit a bit too close to home.
“Hey, Sweetheart…” Leon’s voice was soft, as was his grip as his hand closed around yours. Your eyes flickered to his – bright and clear with understanding. “We’ve got to go.”
You gulped, finding Claire who looked much the same as you before you sighed and nodded. “Let’s go.”
No one needed to be told twice.
You let Leon pull you back into motion, falling into step beside him again as the group surged forward. The pace picked up, faster than before with the growing horde nipping at your heels, but it was less controlled as the panic seemed to seep into everyone.
You cut through another group, ducked under Leon’s arm as he fired over your shoulder, your knife flashing again as you cleared a path towards the plane.
“Up!” Leon called.
He climbed first, quick and efficient, then turned immediately hand already reaching down, blue eyes wide. You didn’t need it, it wouldn’t be much of an effort to pull yourself up or even jump, but you took it anyway.
His grip was firm, steady, pulling you up in one smooth motion and holding your hand longer than necessary. His thumb brushed your wrist in a quick move before he released you and turned to offer cover to the others.
Angela and Greg came up next, helping Margaret between them. Claire followed close behind, grabbing your hand as she pulled herself up using you.
“You good?” She asked quickly, eyes flickering over your face like she was waiting for your hesitation again.
You gulped and nodded. “Yeah – you?”
She nodded, but her face was paler than before and her eyes slightly glassy – like they were half trapped somewhere that wasn’t here. You got that, you didn’t think any of you would feel relief until you were out of this.
She turned before you could say anything else, reaching down to help Davis up with a grunt and a frown. “You okay?”
“Do I look like I'm okay?” He snapped, neither of you answered as he limped toward the other side of the plane, looking out over the growing mass of infected below. “Are we going to make it out of here?”
You followed his gaze to where you had stood earlier, joking with Claire, rolling your eyes at protestors, to what it was now. The stumbles and groans and more people who lost their lives because of Umbrella.
Or those who wanted to copy what Umbrella had left behind. You weren’t stupid enough to believe Umbrella being brought down the year before would end things. They had too many secrets and people for that.
And clearly people had taken their virus before it could be buried.
Leon’s shoulder brushed yours as he looked out too, scanning everything. “We’ve got a clear view and a straight path to the exit. We'll take out as many as we can and run like hell.” He looked behind him. “Angela – Greg.”
He didn’t need to tell you or Claire, holding out his spare gun for Claire to take without even looking back, which she did, checking the ammo and then aiming.
The shots rang out, some missing the dead they were supposed to be hitting, not that you blamed them, but most found their targets. Though there was not nearly enough ammo to take down every infected in the place.
Davis crouched beside you, flinching at every shot. “Can’t you get rid of them any faster?”
You didn’t look away from your aim. “You want to give it a try?”
He didn’t respond.
Claire shifted slightly beside you, turning to look at where the group of you had come through. “They’re starting to gather over here.”
You turned your head, frowning at the horde – their groans growing louder as you shifted your focus and aim towards them, trying to thin the crowd enough to make it less of a worry, but it was almost never ending.
“We're not gonna make it out, are we?” Davis all but whimpered.
“It's getting tough. We gotta go.” Leon answered, his frown deepening.
A high pitched scream came from behind you. You turned rapidly, shooting at the zombie before it could latch down on Margaret’s neck. Claire moved forward, pulling her away before any of the other dead could try break through the small gap.
The shots rang out as you tried to aim for them while the other horde’s grew closer.
Davis yelped, scrambling onto his feet, pushing his hand against your arm in an attempt to gather his balance and surge himself forward to the other side of the plane.
A small yelp left your mouth as your foot slipped against the metal. Your gun hit the side, sending a shot wild as you tried to catch your footing. It was no use as you slipped down the side of the plane and onto the ground below, your gun clattering out of your hand.
The fall wasn’t long but a breath left you as you forced yourself into a roll, as two concerned voices shouted your name from the plane.
You moved to stand, only to be lunged at and knocked backwards again. You reacted on instinct, your arm snapping up, bracing under its chin as its weight drove onto you. Its teeth snapped inches from your face, the stench hitting you full force as it strained forward.
It was all yellow teeth and already rotting flesh, the virus striping away whatever person it used to be in just a few hours.
Leon yelled your name again in a panic. You turned your head enough to watch as the zombies burst through the metal gap, one of them diving for him in his distraction.
“Leon!”
A shot rang out, loud and deafening as the zombie collapsed its weight against you. You shoved it off immediately, rolling to your feet in one smooth motion only to find Claire stood a couple of feet away, gun raised.
The zombie groaned, deciding one bullet was not enough but Claire’s shot was enough to get you moving.
You pivoted, shifting your foot enough to kick it down again. It rolled to the side with a growl, and you rolled with it, spinning your knife and driving it through its eye. You ripped it free, already turning as Claire fired past you.
“Watch out!” She snapped.
“I’ve got it.”
You ducked under a grasping arm, slashing across its throat out of reflex before correcting, driving the blade properly into the brain to finish it before moving onto the next.
Above you, Leon recovered. You heard the shift the thud of a body hitting the metal as he kicked it off, followed by a shot.
“Hey!”
You looked up.
He was already at the edge, breathing hard, gun still in hand, but his eyes weren’t scanning the horde. They were on you, focused and wide, and somehow still panicked as well. “You okay?”
More infected lurked closer, Claire’s gun clicked and you sighed before you reached out to grab her arm, pushing her toward the plane. “Go.”
She didn’t argue. Leon reached down, grabbing her first, hauling her up quickly as you slashed at anything that came close, backing towards the plane until your back met the metal.
Two hand clasped under your arms, a small yelp leaving your mouth as Leon hauled you up and onto him, his arms wrapping around you as he let out a breath, panting slightly.
“I’m not that heavy.” You muttered, sending him a glare as you tried to move only for him to hold you there a second longer.
“You good?” He asked, voice lower now, rougher.
“I’m fine.” You said, finally managing to pull yourself away to stand up.
He followed you, not looking convinced as he let out a breath from his nose before tucking some loose hair behind your ear. He looked like he wanted to say more, like he wanted nothing more than to tuck you into another hug or press his lips against your own.
You couldn’t wait until you were out of here to do that.
“Where’s the senator?” Claire’s voice cut through the fog that seemed to settle over you both.
You glanced toward the open side of the plane, then back. “Coward probably took his chance and ran.”
Leon’s jaw tensed, eyes flashing. “Time to go.”
The groans grew louder again, and Leon’s hand found yours, pulling you along once again as the rest followed behind the both of you, off the plane and through the main hall.
Shooting one-handed wasn’t ideal, especially not with your dominant hand, but you adjusted, your aim still clean enough as you fired at anything that got too close while he dragged you forward through the opening.
“Go!” Leon shouted behind you. “Run towards the light!”
The others followed all spilling forward as the doors ahead burst open, the light almost blinding as voices followed, loud and commanding. Their weapons pointed at the group of you for a few seconds before they were forcing you out.
You slowed automatically, your pace dropping from a run to a walk as the adrenaline began to ebb just enough to let everything settle into your bones as the air, fresh and cool, hit you.
Leon’s hand tightened as he continued to lead you all forward before he stopped. His eyes narrowed and his jaw tensed, and then he was letting go of your hand to storm forward.
“Leon -”
He ignored you, marching forward – all broad shoulders and cold eyes, towards Davis wrapped in a blanket and holding a hot drink, the smirk was still on his face, like none of what happened had touched him.
His smirk turned to a sneer as he spotted Leon before it turned into shock as Leon reached out, hauling him to his feet and grabbing him by the front of his suit. The drink clattered to the floor, and Greg whispered something about not this again.
“What are you -” Davis sputtered, eyes wide.
“You almost got her killed.” Leon’s voice was a growl, low and sharp. The words rolled from his mouth like a dangerous reminder of what many had met their ends against.
“Leon.” You sighed out, though you weren’t sure you wanted him to stop.
Davis eyes were wide with fear, people were watching, but Leon didn’t seem to care or hear you as he pulled Davis an inch closer. “Get out of my sight.”
He set him down, shoving him back towards the tent. Davis didn’t need telling twice, sending a quick glare your way, and then to Claire before seeming to think better of it as he all but ran away from the rest of you, his secretary following.
…
Your back hit a stack of… something. Honestly, you didn’t care to turn and see what it was.
The noise of barked orders, boots hitting the pavement and the low hum of some engines faded into the background. Because there was something you more focused on.
The whisper of lips against the lips, the delicious scratch of stubble that he was starting to let come through after the past year, amusing because it was faint and blond – and he constantly frowned at himself in the mirror like he could make it grow fuller.
Now it was perfect, enough to make a sigh leave your mouth as one of your hands dug into his hair while one of his pulled you closer.
Your teeth dug into his bottom lip, drawing a hiss from him that made him push you further into the stack, and his tongue dive into your mouth as you moaned, pulling at his hair.
It probably wasn’t the best thing to do the second you managed to get a moment alone, to devour each other like you wouldn’t get another chance – like you didn’t spend most of your nights together doing the same thing.
Only this time the kiss softened into something else before your hand could move down. He pulled away, just enough to be able to look at you.
His hand came up to your face again. His thumb brushed along your cheek, slowly, as his eyes moved over you, taking you in properly now that he had the chance.
You gave him a small smile. “I’m fine.”
He didn’t answer straight away. His gaze lingered on your eyes, your mouth, the line of your jaw. “You sure?”
“Yes.” You muttered back, gripping his own face and pressing a quick kiss to his lips. “Thank you for saving me.”
“You didn’t need saving, Sweetheart.” His mouth curved faintly at that. “But I’ll always try.” Something in your chest tightened at that as he smiled, that rare soft smile. “I love you.”
You blinked, feeling oddly choked and the words heavy on your tongue but you didn’t get the chance to reply.
He closed the distance first.
The kiss was soft again but then his hand slid from your cheek to the back of your neck, fingers threading lightly into your hair as he held you there and everything deepened once more. One of his other hands worked around your waist.
Your hand fisted in his jacket, pulling him closer, closer than you needed to, your grip stronger than intended – and he moaned.
Then his hand shifted from your waist and over your stomach, drifting lower as a moan left your mouth.
You shouldn’t, not here, but you never quite had the ability to stop him nor did you want him to stop. Not when the button of your jeans snapped open, not when he moved the zipper slightly or his fingers danced around the waistband of your underwear.
Your breath caught in your throat as he smiled against your mouth, his fingers dipping lower but before he could reach the part that was aching for him a ring cut through the air.
Loud and beeping, and coming from his pocket.
Leon froze. You did too.
He groaned softly against your mouth before pulling back, breath uneven, his forehead resting briefly against yours as he exhaled. His fingers rebuttoning your trousers as his jaw ticked. “Of course.”
He didn’t move away, still standing before you as he reached for his phone, only angling himself enough for you both to see as Hunnigan appeared on the screen, as stern as ever though she didn’t seem surprised to see you there.
“Leon.” She said. “You were supposed to check in.”
He smirked, his voice a low gravel. “Been a little busy.”
“I can see that.” Hunnigan remarked dryly, her eyes flickering between you two. She gave a familiar sigh that you had heard one too many times before her eyes focused on you. “I’m glad you’re okay. I heard the Marines landed in the nick of time and saved the day.”
You gave her a small nod. “Yeah. Good timing.”
“I’m relieved to hear it.”
“I'm impressed you got authorisation for that. You must have pulled a few strings.” Leon said, the smirk back as he raised an eyebrow at her.
Hunnigan allowed herself a small, knowing look. “I have my resources.”
“So what’s happening?” You asked.
“After I received confirmation from USAMRIID that the virus used in this attack was indeed the T-virus I submitted a plan to the president. He pushed it through as a special emergency act.” Her expression sharpened again. “Every Marine involved in the assault was vaccinated.”
“Have the terrorists made demands?” Leon asked.
“No, not yet.” She said. “But the FBI captured a member of General Grande's army in Los Angeles just moments ago.” You sighed, of course it was Grande. “When we interrogate him, he might give us some information that'll establish a link between this terrorist attack and the one in India.”
“Maybe we'll dig up a lead on the whereabouts of former Umbrella Corporation employees.” Leon answered, his jaw tight. “They've gotta be the ones peddling the virus on the black market.”
You looked at him for a second and sighed.
That is what it had come down to for the pair of you. Taking down bioweapons and searching for the rogue members of Umbrella that managed to get away before Umbrella went under. Like some kind of sick revenge, like pulling up roots.
And not just for you. You and Leon got Umbrella, while Jill and Chris spent their days hunting for Wesker, who Chris had learnt wasn’t dead. Because the bastard didn’t seem to stay dead.
“What the hell is going on?” Claire’s voice, much like her brothers, had the ability to travel over the noise.
You and Leon both looked up.
“Speak soon.” He said, giving Hunnigan a nod as she offered a quick smile back before the picture was gone and he was shoving his phone back in his pocket. “Why are WilPharma drugs being brought here?”
You both moved together, towards the vans and no doubt where Claire stood, voices in the distance loud enough to be heard.
“It's the vaccine.”
“You. What are you doing here?”
Angela stood near the edge of the scene, Greg behind her, both of them standing straight as you and Leon came into view. A frown marring her pretty face as she looked over Leon’s slightly messy hair and the flush on your cheeks.
“Hey – your friend -”
“We know.” You answered with a tense smile.
“He's WilPharma's head researcher. May I introduce Frederic Downing. He's the one who developed a vaccine for the virus which you, in particular, are so familiar with.” Davis’ voice was smug and condescending.
Your chest tightened as you rounded the corner. Claire stood a few feet away, arms crossed, expression tight as she looked between Davis and the British man from before.
You had hoped it wouldn’t come to this.
“You mean the infection in the terminal?” Claire asked.
“You thought that was WilPharma-engineered, didn't you? Utterly ridiculous.” Davis scoffed, glaring at Claire. “An inoculation. That's what they've been working on. A way to prevent further outbreaks.”
“But…”
“Claire, it’s true.” Leon spoke before you could say anything.
Claire turned sharply to you both, before her eyes landed on you, hurt. “You knew?”
“Only bits and pieces – rumours really.” You answered a bit more warily.
“Didn’t think it’d be sanctioned this quickly.” Leon added, like it helped. You sent him a quick glare.
Claire’s expression darkened. “Then the human testing that took place in India…”
“Some terrorists got hold of the T-Virus…” His voice was low, his head hung forward slightly as his jaw tightened once more. “And all members of the group supported by General Grande were infected, so we don’t know the details.”
“The President of the Republic of Bajirib?” Claire asked.
“Yeah.” You nodded. “He’s been a real advocate of bioweapons…”
“And India…?”
“The U.S. government got permission from the Indian authorities to administer the T-virus vaccine, secretly made by WilPharma, to nearby communities.” Leon explained as Claire frowned. “It worked, kept infection at a minimum.”
“Then why the hell didn't you break out the vaccine for this?” Angela asked, stepping forward, and glared between you both. “Or inoculate in general to stop stuff like this happening.”
You scoffed, shaking your head. “One vaccine won’t stop this.”
Angela looked like she wanted to say more, her eyes narrowing as she stepped forward but Frederic beat her too it. “Inoculation would have been entirely possible had Terra-Save not backed us into an adversarial corner.”
He stepped forward as Claire frowned in confusion. You narrowed your eyes, the hairs on the back of your neck standing up and your hand automatically resting on your gun, Leon shifted beside you, like he was taking in your response.
He shifted too, like all he needed was your reaction, his whole back stiffening and his eyes watching Frederic with a focused calm.
Frederic ignored you both, looking at Angela. “Had we been able to follow proper procedure as outlined in the original schedule, the government medical stockpile could have been shipped anywhere in the US...” He looked to Claire. “Within 12 hours.”
The words hit like he seemed to want them to. Claire stilled, her mouth opening and closing as she shook her head.
“Then it's all our fault.”
“No.” You said immediately.
Davis let out a short, dismissive sound, moving to her side and smirking. “I wouldn't argue with you there.”
“Fuck off.” You snapped, taking a step forward as he frowned at you, but your focus was back on her. “Claire…”
She didn’t look at you, or Leon, her head bowed forward as she let out a shaky breath before turning on her heel and storming towards the tents.
You followed after her before you could think it through, or stop to consider if she needed time alone.
It was Claire, and you weren’t going to let her wallow, because she wouldn’t let you. She hadn’t let you nearly a year ago when you were at your lowest, trying to wrap yourself away from the world. She had been there, annoying, but there.
So you followed, and Leon followed behind you, like some kind of silent back up, until you reached the tent she had entered, the canvas walls doing little to block out the noise outside, but enough to give the illusion of privacy.
Leon stepped in after you, letting the flap fall shut behind him, lingering near the entrance like he could duck out and wait the moment someone told him to or step in further if he was invited to.
Claire paced before you, every muscle tight and her eyes almost wild.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” She asked finally, stopping short and turning on you both.
You didn’t flinch but you did sigh as you stepped in further, crossing your arms. “Claire, you know I’m not allowed to tell you about -”
“Bullshit.” She spat out, glaring at you. “There’s a vaccine – a whole fucking vaccine and you didn’t tell me when my job is to help people who need it?”
“Claire, you say that like what I know and what I can provide are the same thing.” You snapped before you could stop yourself, before taking a deep breath and stepping further inside. “All I knew were the basics, that’s it.”
“That’s it?” She asked in disbelief.
“Yes, it is.” You said firmly. “You know as well as I do that this isn’t the first vaccine, and that one success rate doesn’t mean it’s stable or ready.” You sighed. “There’s only one vaccine that’s worked completely – and I only know one survivor with that in her blood.”
Claire sighed, her shoulders dropped slightly and the fight seeming to leave her as she dropped into the chair.
“We just ended up making things worse.”
You shook your head. “That’s a load of bullshit.”
Claire let out a short, disbelieving laugh. “Oh, come on - ”
“No.” You cut in, stepping closer. “TerraSave has done more for people than most of the organisations out there combined. Someone trying to play Umbrella with a virus does not get to change that.”
Leon shifted slightly behind you, then stepped in properly. “She’s right. The ones who used the virus, Umbrella, that’s who’s responsible – who’s trying to follow in their footsteps now.”
Claire rubbed a hand over her face, frustrated. “Maybe.”
“Not maybe.” You said. “Definitely.”
Leon nodded once. “We already helped take down the main company. We can deal with whoever’s trying to pick up what’s left.”
Claire didn’t respond straight away. Just stared at the ground, thinking. Then, quieter. “It still feels like this is on me.”
“It’s not.” You said immediately.
Leon’s voice softened slightly. “You help people, Claire. That’s what you do. While the rest of us are out there shooting things, you’re the one pulling people out of the mess.”
Claire glanced up at him and then you, offering a weak smile. “Thanks.”
Before anything else could be said, the ground shook as an explosion ripped through the air outside.
All three of you moved at once. The tent flap was thrown aside as you ran out into the open, the sharp smell of smoke already hitting, the flames licking the vans ahead – the sharp smell of chemicals in the air.
Flames crawled up the sides, thick black smoke pouring into the sky as people scrambled around them, shouting, trying and failing to contain it.
Frederic stood nearby, his face lost.
Leon’s voice cut through immediately as he moved forward. “What happened?”
“The trucks carrying the vaccine.”
Your stomach dropped. “How much is left?”
He hesitated before answering, just a second too long, like he needed to think through the answer. “Everything we brought today was all we were able to scrape together from vaccine samples inside the company. And most of that has just been lost.”
You stared at him. “You brought it all?”
“Nearly all.” He answered like that made some kind of difference.
Behind you, Davis stormed forward, already furious. Leon didn’t even look at him. “Where’s the manufacturing data?”
“You think they’re after the data?” Frederic asked.
“Could it be?” Davis asked before he glared, pointing a pudgy finger into Leon’s chest. “Why don't you tell us what their demands are already?”
“Back up.” Leon muttered out.
“If you don't wanna talk I'll just go directly to the president.” Davis threatened, his tone heightening as he glared up.
You couldn’t stop the thin smirk that settled across your lips, but Leon kept calm, glaring forward like he was waiting for Davis to step another toe out of line. “They want the truth.”
“Truth? What truth?” Davis snapped.
“The viral weapon that Umbrella used to make T-Virus, and they want to reveal everyone from the U.S Government who was involved.” Leon explained, though you weren’t sure when he figured that out.
“Was the government really involved?” Angela asked suddenly, taking a step forward.
You kept your gaze forward, even when you felt Claire’s eyes on you.
She didn’t agree, she never had – her work allowed to not agree, to think things should be different. But your work, your life was spent making sure those secrets didn’t spill into the open and cause chaos.
People could suspect, people could write their theories, but the truth was a risk to most. As much as you, Leon, and anyone else in the government’s fold hated it. Your hands were tied and your mouth sealed shut.
“Any proof went up with the city.” Leon answered easily.
“Wait a minute.” Davis said, waving his hand. “The truth didn't disappear. There never was any.”
“Tell that to the terrorists.” Answered Leon dryly.
“What happens if they don’t get that information?” Claire asked, stepping forward.
“They release the T-virus in every populated area in the U.S.” Leon admitted as you stared at him, frowning before you looked down to see his phone in his hand. “The deadline is midnight.”
Angela moved, looking down at her watch with a frown. “That's only four hours from now.”
Davis shook his head. “And there’s no vaccine left.”
“Can we find out who the terrorists are?” Frederic asked, turning to look at you and Leon.
“I have a clue as to the identity of one of them.” Claire answered, your head whipping around to look at her. “Right after the Chief turned and everyone started panicking, that guy bumped into me – remember?”
You frowned, trying to recall the moment. It had been hard in the chaos of screams, trying to figure out a plan, to help people. But there had been a moment, a jolt and Claire focused on something over her shoulder. So you nodded, not because you had seen his face, but because there had been a moment.
“I think – I think it was Curtis Miller.” Claire said finally.
“I know him.” Davis said.
You ignored him, focusing more on Angela as she stiffened up and the way Greg seemed to be watching her almost nervous. There was something in her expression – tight and agitated as she looked between you all.
“He's one of those bleeding hearts protesting the construction of the new research facility.” Davis continued.
“If the terrorists' demands are the release of information on what really happened in Raccoon City then he might…”
“What’s wrong?” You asked, cutting off Claire and keeping your focus on Angela who blinked at you, her mouth opening like she was going to say nothing before it snapped shut and she stepped forward.
“It just – it can’t be him.” She muttered.
“Why not?” You asked.
She hesitated. “He’s my older brother.”
“That doesn’t mean anything.” You answered as softly as you could. “People aren’t always who you think -”
“My brother wouldn't do something like this.” Angela defended quickly, glaring at you.
Davis stepped closer to her, already sneering. “He was arrested for threatening WilPharma.”
“He just demanded information be made public.” Angela snapped back, leaning over him.
“Unfortunately, the rest of the world doesn't see it that way.” Davis bit back as he tapped her arms, almost like some kind of comfort. “If you claim he's not a terrorist why don't you bring him here to explain himself?” He glared. “Now.”
“Fine.” Angela snapped.
You watched as she turned on her heel, storming away from you all with Greg following behind. Something wasn’t adding up.
...
It wasn’t intentional that you found Angela, not really. It wasn’t like you had followed her after brushing past Frederic, close enough to send him a glare that said you didn’t trust him.
But you found her anyway, in the back of her SRT van, checking weapons and loading them in like she was about to take down an army. You watched, leaning against the side of the van and waiting. Angela didn’t notice until she turned, gripping the door and nearly jumping out of her skin as you smiled at her.
She caught herself quickly, scowling. “What do you want?”
You didn’t answer straight away, just leaned slightly past her to glance into the back of the van, letting out a low whistle as you pushed yourself off the side. “That’s a lot of heat for a family reunion.”
Angela’s glare sharpened. “This isn’t a joke.”
“I never said it was.” You answered easily. “But I find it funny how one second you say your brother couldn’t do this and then the next you’re packing like you’re off to war. So which is it?”
“How is that any of your business?” She snapped, glaring at you.
Maybe for others there would have been some intimidation for sure, she was tall and obviously in good shape, she could work a gun and held a dangerous job, but you could see underneath everything she was scared.
Someone she loved stood on the line, was being accused of something cruel and heinous – and she didn’t know what to think any more. And you got that more than she realised.
“Because it’s my job.” You answered softly. “And because I know what it’s like to doubt your own brother.”
Her eyes widened and she looked around. “Your brother did -”
“Not the same.” You answered sharply. “And this isn’t about my brother right now.” The words came out slightly harsher than you meant then before you sucked in a deep breath, patting her shoulder gently. “You lead the way, me and Leon will follow your van.”
“I don’t need you to follow me.” She snapped out, shaking you off.
“Like I said, it’s my job – just be happy we told you instead of just following like we were told to.” You answered, walking backwards away from her.
You didn’t look back. By the time you reached your car, Leon was sliding into the passenger seat as you dropped into yours and started the engine. The car hummed to life. You pulled out without hesitation, falling in behind Angela’s vehicle as it rolled onto the road ahead.
…
It was silent for a few minutes as you followed Angela down the darkened country roads. Leon shifted in his seat for a few seconds, resting his head on his clenched fist, elbow against the window, but his eyes on your glove compartment.
The glove compartment popped open with a click, his hand pushing it back closed with a softer click before it popped open again. And then proceeding to do it again.
“Leon.” It clicked again. “Leon.”
“What?” He said, not even looking at you as he pressed it again.
Your hand reached out, slamming it closed and blocking him. “Look, I know you’re annoyed I won’t let you drive but stop before you break my car.”
He sighed dramatically slumping back in his seat as he turned to look at you. “I’ll drive on the way back.”
“That’s alright – I don’t want my car wrapped around a tree.” You answered dryly, a teasing smile on your face as you sent him another look.
“I know how to drive… you’ve seen me drive around before.” He scoffed out, sending you a glare that barely held any weight.
“I’ve never known someone who needs to fix up their car as much as you.” You remarked, raising an eyebrow.
Leon smirked slightly. “Cars need proper maintenance.”
“Yes they do but there’s a difference between maintenance and having to send your car to a mechanic every two weeks.” You muttered.
“Blame the job.”
“You don’t use the jeep for work.”
He glanced at you sideways, grumbling under his breath. You ignored him, keeping your eyes son the SRT van as it moved through the roads with a familiarity that came from knowing where they were going.
“So, where was Claire going?” Leon asked, breaking the silence once again.
You stiffened slightly, sending him a look before looking back to the road. “To get some answers from Frederic.”
He raised an eyebrow, watching you. “That a good idea?”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” You answered, shifting slightly. “She wanted to go, and there’s something off about him.” Your grip tightened slightly on the wheel as you stared ahead giving a scoff. “I mean, who brings their entire supply of a vaccine to an active outbreak.”
Leon tilted his head slightly. “Maybe Frederic’s not that smart.”
You shook your head. “Or something else is going on.”
He didn’t argue or say anything, because there was always something else going on.
Like dominoes, there was never full closure to something. Maybe a break for a few weeks, time to sit and do paperwork and pretend your work was normal, but sooner or later something always came up.
Someone following Umbrella or someone being an idiot. Always another thing that needed hands on, always another underground facility that needed checking out or some monsters that needed putting down.
The D.S.O, for all its official government status and elite agents, wasn’t so different to STRATCOM, and you hadn’t needed more than a couple of months to figure that out. And a year in you already knew how the rest of your career would look.
A lifetime of trying to save the world and stop people before the worst happened at the expense of your own life.
“Little late for a barbecue.” Leon muttered beside you.
You blinked, eyes finding the plume of smoke with ease – it’s deep grey swirling into the night sky. It wasn’t some camp fire, not with that much smoke.
You watched as Angela turned suddenly, down a path that you nearly missed. You turned quickly, following behind her as she skidded off the path and towards a burning wooden house, the flames licking up, bright and fierce.
Angela stumbled out of the van, running forward with Greg quickly following as you and Leon moved. The fire crackled louder outside of your car, you could feel the heat from where you stood.
You watched as Angela gasped, falling to her knees.
She didn’t turn to look at either of you as you moved forward, but she spoke like she knew you were there. “I haven't heard a word from Curtis in three years. He lost his wife and child in the Raccoon City tragedy.”
A choked sob left her mouth, almost covered by the fire crackling, and you and Leon stilled – your minds stuck in the past of seven years ago.
A nightmare that still gripped you to this day, that had forced you into this life. And now you couldn’t help but wonder if you’d passed Curtis and his wife, or his daughter, on the streets, while walking to school or friends or to see your brother.
If at any point your lives had crossed. If there had been a chance that you or Leon could have saved them. If they were close, if they died to the virus or to being torn apart or if it had been the bomb. All of them made you feel sick.
You didn’t need to look at Leon to know he was thinking the same too. He was still, a statue, yet his hand still gave as you wrapped your own around his and gave a gentle squeeze, feeling him give his own back.
“When I was a rookie cop, I responded to a call about a child stranded on the sandback in the middle of a flooding river.” Angela’s voice was thick as she wiped her face. “I jumped into the river and the next thing I knew I was waking up in a hospital bed, bleary and disoriented. They informed me afterward that I had saved the child. But three S.R.T. Members were injured while fishing my sorry butt out of the water.”
She gave a faint humourless huff.
“Talk about depressed. I felt lower than dirt. What was I thinking, putting others in harm's way like that? Not to mention that I could've been killed too. But then Curtis said something that made me stop beating myself up. ‘If you don't try to save one life you'll never save any.’ In the end his own words came back to haunt him.”
You glanced at Leon briefly, he was watching her now. Almost careful, like he was waiting for something else to crack or break.
She stood slowly, turning to face the burning house before looking back at you both. “I’m going to stop him.”
You stared at her.
Most people would miss the tremor in her voice, or convince themselves the certainty she seemed to feel would be enough for them not to doubt her, but you weren’t most people and you also weren’t an idiot.
It was easy for those without a sibling, without the distance, to agree to do what needed to be done. They didn’t have memories with the person, or a love for them.
You doubted, even now with you being what you were, that if your brother was the problem behind everything, that you would be able to put him down. That you could take the shot without hesitation.
Before you could voice your doubts the sound of a phone ringing cut through the moment straight away as Leon reached for his pocket.
He pulled it out quickly, glancing at the caller ID and frowning. “Claire? What’s wrong?”
You frowned immediately, reaching over and taking the phone from him before he could react, switching it to speaker.
“Claire?” You said. “What happened?”
“You didn’t pick up your phone.” She answered dryly.
“It’s still in the car, what’s -”
“You need to get to WilPharma right now. They’ve got the G-virus.” Your whole body seemed to freeze as she rattled off the words, taking far too much effort to focus on the rest. “They were gonna make a vaccine like for the T-virus but Davis just called Frederic and told him to get rid of it.”
“Is Frederic there?” Leon asked, crowding to your side like his presence could offer some kind of grounding for you.
“He just went to go fix the server.” Claire answered.
A ringing sound echoed faintly through the line, just a distant sound that made you frown and made Claire shuffle on the other side.
“Or he might’ve dumped the virus.” Leon said darkly.
“No… no, that doesn’t -” Claire answered but you could hear the distraction to her voice now, the ringing sounding much louder. “Couldn’t be.”
“Claire.” You said, sharper now.
“There's a call coming from inside the building. Hold on.”
“Claire.” You snapped but she didn’t answer, everything muffled on her sound.
“Frederic?” Claire’s voice came through, distant. “Where are you?” A pause followed. “Why? You were going to the server room.” There was more movement, the shuffle of fabric as a long pause followed.
You waited, shifting from foot to foot before something crashed on the other end, loud and almost deafening, followed by the beeping of a line being disconnected.
You froze.
Leon did too.
“Claire?” You asked, panic hitting fast and sharp, a lump forming in your throat. “Claire!” You stared down at Leon’s phone, disconnected. “Fuck!”
You turned on your heel, gripping Leon’s phone as you moved back to your car, Leon following behind. Angela was asking something, maybe in concern or something else, your ears were ringing to much to try and figure it out.
The plastic of Leon’s phone creaked under your fingers and you hissed, tossing it to him as you climbed into the driver’s seat.
…
You’d never driven so fast in your life. Never been the one to make Leon feel like he was sitting in the danger zone when it was normally the other way around.
The engine screamed under your foot as you pushed the accelerator down harder than necessary, the road blurring past in streaks of grey and white. Angela’s van struggled to keep up behind you, but you didn’t slow.
Beside you, Leon had one hand gripped on that little handle thing on the ceiling that never seemed to have a purpose except for when your girlfriend was driving like a maniac, speeding round corners on two wheels.
He didn’t tell you to slow down, didn’t do anything but try and ring Claire again and again only to get the same disconnected beeping. You didn’t need him to tell you, your ears were good enough to pick up on it.
Your teeth snapped together at the thought of Claire, wondering what you were going to find. If she was alive and running through the building causing chaos and figuring shit out, or if…
No. You refused to think of that. The amount of shit you had all been through and continued to pull yourself through, Claire did not get to die. Not now and not ever, not while you were still alive and could do something about it.
Your grip on the wheel tightened and your foot pushed further. WilPharma came into view fast, too fast, and you didn’t even consider stopping properly. The barrier ahead barely registered as an obstacle.
You gritted your teeth as your car shot forward through it. It was weak under the persistent speed of your car, splitting into shards and knocking off your wind mirror, and spilling onto the path behind for Angela to drive over.
Leon tensed, a hissed breath leaving his lips. You didn’t flinch.
The car skidded hard as you slammed the brakes, the tires screeching before it jolted to a stop. Your side hitting the door with a bit too much force that you barely recognised as you cut the engine and climbed out.
The building was tall, futuristic and surrounded by cameras but you didn’t care as you glared up at them, if they were even on as you stalked forward, pulling out your knife.
“Hey! Wait!” Angela’s voice called.
You didn’t turn back to look as Leon followed behind you, close enough you could feel the heat of him at your back but with enough distance to give you space if you needed it.
The main doors struggled to open, the mechanics nothing but a squeak. Your eyes met Leon’s for a second, the baby blues steady in a way that you felt you weren’t, but concerned too.
You didn’t know if that was for you or Claire.
The doors opened and you stepped inside as the automated warning voice echoed overhead. The same one that always seemed to linger in these places, the same one you swore was used in the NEST in Raccoon City..
“Attention all personnel. A system error has occurred. Terminate all activities immediately and evacuate the dome until safe conditions are re-established and verified.”
It repeated, with the alarm, an annoying background noise as the four of you moved forward into the building that looked as though it had been trashed. Half of the ceiling falling and spitting from electrical lines.
You moved forward slowly, towards a pedestal with some kind of circular dome on top. A blinking futuristic map with a red spots.
“Looks like sections are blocked.” Leon spoke as he moved by your side.
You frowned, eyes following the paths that seemed to be free to move through, trying to focus on where Claire might be and how to get there.
“Let’s split up.” Angela spoke suddenly.
You and Leon turned to look at her. Her back straightened as Greg shifted behind her, almost uncomfortable. “I don’t think -”
“You need to find your friend, right?” Angela continued. “But there are multiple places she could be – it’s smart to split up.” She added, shifting in a way that gave her nerves away just a bit. “We can meet up again in the inner garden.”
You and Leon exchanged a look. Leon raised his eyebrow as you sighed. You didn’t like it, not being separated when you had no idea what was going on here, but Claire was on the line, and you couldn’t afford to bicker about this or to try to figure something else out.
“Fine.” You snapped quickly as Leon watched you.
Angela blinked. “Oh – great – then let’s -”
“Greg, you go with Angela – neither of you engage with anything if you can avoid it, and head straight towards the inner garden and nowhere else.” Leon commanded, his voice sharp and full of authority.
Greg didn’t argue, giving a nod as Angela opened her mouth. Greg moved, tugging her away. “Come on.”
“Be careful.” You told them both.
You didn’t wait for an answer as you turned on your heel and headed the other way, Leon following close behind you.
You and Leon moved fast through the corridors, your steps quiet but quick. Much of it was still the same, partially destroyed with a smell of lingering smoke and explosives, stinging your lungs slightly, debris scattered across the floor from whatever had gone wrong inside.
The elevator came into view, the pair of you climbing inside. It beeped, slowly travelling up floors enough for your foot to tap impatiently against the floor before the doors opened and you raced our and down the hall.
Something clattered at the end and you both turned at the same time, weapons raised -
“Whoa - hey!”
A sigh left your mouth, relief hit hard and fast, knocking the breath from your lungs as your eyes focused on Claire.
She looked exhausted, there were dark circles under her eyes and her ponytail was a mess, as well as her clothing which was covered in dust and ash, as she gave a pained grunt and leaned against the wall with a limp.
Your eyes moved down, catching the red that stained her khaki’s and the make shift crutch she had tucked under one arm. But she was alive and your names fell from her mouth like she had never been happier to see you both.
“What happened?” You demanded, already reaching for her.
Leon stepped in close behind you. “Where’s Frederic?”
Claire sighed, wincing as she slid down the wall and onto the floor, stretching out her leg before her. You moved quickly, crouching down and peeling back the makeshift bandage she’d wrapped around her thigh.
“He was telling me about a time bomb he found in Level 4 when…” Claire began, hissing when your fingers lightly touched at the wound. “Do you mind?”
You shot her a sharp look. “Yeah, I’ll pencil it in for later.”
“It’s fine -”
“It’s not fine.” You cut in, snapping as you retied the bandage. “There’s a fucking hole in your leg, Claire.” Your glare lessened. “Leon – can you -” You gestured towards Claire.
He needed, leaning down and ready to reach for her only for Claire to glare at him. “No, I don’t need picking up – I’m fine…”
“You’re not fine, Claire.” You snapped right back. “Either he carries you or I do, I don’t care.”
“Would you just listen to me?” Claire snapped right back, slapping away Leon’s hands. “Curtis was here, I saw him. He came out of Level 4 where the G-virus was kept.”
You exhaled sharply, frustrated. “We’ll deal with that after you’re somewhere safe.”
Claire opened her mouth but Leon was quicker, slipping an arm around her waist and putting her on her good leg, holding her up. “Come on.”
“I can walk -”
“Stop worrying her, Claire.” He muttered just low enough that you knew you weren’t supposed to hear it.
You moved ahead of them, back to the elevator and sliding inside as Leon leaned Claire against the wall and pressed a button. Claire gave a panted breath like being dragged down a hall was more tiring for her than it was for Leon.
The elevator hummed as it moved down before the doors opened to groans and dead hands. Gunshots cracked through the space as you dropped them one after the other. The sound echoed down the corridor, sharp and loud.
The bodies lay just in the corridor as Leon leaned out, checking each way, a hand on the door to keep them open before he looked back to Claire.
“Go straight down this corridor. Head to elevator AD-2. It'll take you to an outside exit.” He explained.
“Got it.” Claire said, limping out before she topped. “Wait – where are you too going?”
You sighed, reloading your gun before holding it out to her. She took it gingerly, still frowning as you offered her a small smile. “If Curtis is here then we’ve got to find him.”
“You’ll need a gun for that.” She muttered.
“I’ll be fine.” You said, taking out your knife.
Claire looked between the two of you, clearly not thrilled about the idea. You weren’t thrilled either, there was a reason you had handed over your gun.
Leon pressed the button and you sighed, giving her one last look. “Don’t get yourself killed.”
“Or do anything stupid.” Leon added.
Claire smirked as the doors slowly began to close, and your chest tightened but you kept your mouth shut as she sent you a wink before the doors closed.
You stared at them for a second longer than necessary as Leon pressed another button.
“She’s going to do something stupid.” You muttered.
“Yeah.” Leon sighed out, shaking his head.
...
The elevator ride down felt too slow.
Even more so when another wrong rang out through the systems for everyone to hear.
“Warning: A lethal viral strain has been detected in the garden sector. Commencing feedback.”
Your eyes met Leon’s again, a sense of urgency matching your own. The automated voice repeated the message once more before the doors opened.
There was no waiting around, barely enough time to gather yourself as you followed the sound of distant gunshots and cries. Leon took the lead, his gun out while you kept a tight grip on your knife as you hurried through corridors.
It didn’t take long to get to the garden and for the smell hit you like a slap to the face. The destruction here was worse, bordering on carnage.
Bodies left scattered across the open space, soldiers in tactical gear lying twisted where they’d fallen, weapons dropped, blood pooling and smearing across the concrete and into the shallow water running through parts of the garden.
You spotted Angela easily, stood before a monster that could only be Curtis. He was mutated and just as twisted as Birkin had been, and stood before a bloody mess that Angela can’t take her eyes away from.
It took a second for your eyes to focus; the helmet, the twisted limbs and the badge on the side. What was left of Greg sat between Angela and Curtis like some cruel reminder of what Curtis could do.
Curtis stepped forward, the eye on his arm solely focused on Angela, who seemed to have lost the ability to move, or shoot the gun she had aimed at him.
“Angela.” You shouted but your voice did nothing to shake her as you moved forward.
“Angela, move!” Leon snapped, already lifting his gun.
Angela blinked, stumbling back two steps as Leon shot the bridge above her twice. The sound of the bridge beginning to fall seemed to shake her as she turned to run away, looking over her shoulder with wide eyes.
Curtis rushed forward with a roar that belonged to an animal, faster that a twisted mass of limbs and tumours had any right to be.
You moved before you could even think, pushing yourself forward with that extra help that lingered in your veins. Like an extra sense you spent most days trying to ignore, or only using when you had to.
The distance closed in seconds, your hand reaching out to snatch the back of her shirt and yank her out of the way just as the bridge hit the ground and Curtis in a sickening crunch.
Angela yelped, all but thrown to the floor, rolling along the metal as you caught your breath and hissed at the stitch in your side. She stared up at you with wide eyes, a million questions on the tip of her tongue.
“How?” She muttered, eyeing you warily as you held out a hand to pull her from the floor, a touch more gently than you needed to.
“Adrenaline.” You muttered back, avoiding her eye as you turned to look at Leon.
His eyes glazed over you like he was once again checking for wounds. Wounds you both knew would be healed before long, if there were any.
“You good?” He asked, low and tight.
“I’m fine.” You answered back. “Angela?”
She didn’t answer and you both turned to see her staring at where Greg laid, her jaw tensing as she blinked watery eyes. “He tried to protect me.”
You moved forward, resting a hand on her shoulder. “It’s not your fault.”
She looked like she wanted to argue, which you had gathered seemed to be a normal level for her. Like anything she disagreed with was an excuse for her to tell you how much, and you might have admired it more if it wasn’t slightly uncalled for now.
“Somebody!” A voice called before she could say anything. “Somebody pull me up!”
Leon moved first, you and Angela following, as he circled the stone slabs stuck in the floor from the destruction, towards where a pool of water sat. A solider struggled, trying to grip the edge, his eyes wide with panic and his hands sending water everywhere.
You watched as Leon heaved him out with far too much ease, the kind that made your lower stomach tighten and your brain file it away for a moment that wasn’t now.
More soldiers joined, ducking out from the places they had been taking cover. What you imagined had been a larger group was dwindled down to only a handful, and each one of them seemed as panicked as the last.
Your nose twitched as the sprinklers switched on, spraying the area in a light mist. The soldiers stuttered, coughing into their palms.
“What is this?” One of the soldiers asked.
It was strong, not in chemicals but in the kind you associated with Luis’ laboratory. That strong, pungent scent that often told you he had some kind of experiment going on, or had needed it to clean up some mess he had made.
“Is that -” You began, looking to Leon.
Leon nodded. “Anhydrous ethanol.”
One of the soldiers looked between you, panic rising fast. “Are we - what, are we being sterilised?”
Leon shook his head once, jaw tightening. “Not us, the building..”
“Of course it is.” You let out a quiet breath, shaking your head slightly as you looked to Leon. “Why does every ‘mission’ with you end in some kind of explosion?”
“That’s not funny.” One of the soldiers said, staring at you.
“It wasn’t a joke.” You said dryly.
“It’s only happened twice.” Leon scoffed out, giving you a look.
“Yet if I had a nickel…” You drawled out, giving him an amused smile as he rolled his eyes.
Any humour died quickly as the automated voice spoke again, another warning.
“Incineration will initiate in five minutes. All exits are now sealed.”
That did it. The remaining soldiers started to panic properly, voices rising, overlapping, questions turning into shouting as the reality of it settled in.
You exhaled slowly, rolling your shoulders once as you glanced at Leon. He looked back at you with an air of calmness. How sad it was that the pair of you were used to being in situations where the risk of imminent death lingered over you.
“Well...” You said, tilting your head slightly. “That’s just great.”
“Let’s get all survivors to the central rest area now.” Leon ordered, gesturing for Angela and the soldiers to go forward. “Move it.”
…
“Move!”
Your voice cut sharp through the noise as you shoved one of the soldiers toward the elevator, herding the rest in behind him. The automated voice droned overhead again - cold, repetitive, uncaring.
“Warning: All exits are now sealed.”
The soldiers piled in, frantic, tripping over each other in their rush to escape. One of them tried to wave you in, panic written all over his face. “Come on, there’s space.”
Angela stepped back, shaking her head. “We’ll catch the next one.”
“Right…” One of the soldiers said, looking back at the others as he gulped as something shifted back in the garden. “We’ll send it back.”
You caught Leon’s face as he gripped his gun.
“Go!” Angela shouted, slapping the button and watching as the doors closed and the elevator began its slow climb.
You moved back to the main room, finding Curtis as he moved from under the bridge, his mutated eye an orange that made your stomach clench. You’d seen the colour enough when looking in the mirror after Spain.
You saw it in your nightmares and in flashes out of the corner of your eye.
“Shit.”
Angela moved, pushing past you with her gun in her hand. Her fingers trembled against the trigger and her eyes wavered as she took in her brother.
“Stop.” Leon’s arm shot out, stopping her. “You'll ignite us all.”
Angela lowered her gun and Curtis lunged. Not towards the three of you but up towards where the elevator was moving towards its escape.
Up one bridge and then to the next, every jump an inch closer to the elevator and the soldiers. Your eyes scanned the area, anything you could use to boost you up and try and close the distance, but while you were good, you weren’t that good.
“Fuck.” You hissed.
You couldn’t follow. Couldn’t shoot. Couldn’t escape. Couldn’t do anything but watch as Curtis crept closer to the elevator.
“Hey!” Angela snapped to both of you. “Maybe we should figure out how to not die before this place explodes?”
There was no time to answer as Curtis reached the elevator, his giant hand smashing against the glass and reaching inside. You didn’t even need to have good eyes to see the splash of red against the glass.
You didn’t need good ears to hear the screams.
Glass poured in jagged sheets, slicing through metal where it landed. You moved, pulling Angela back before a thick piece could cut through the both of you.
You stared at it in shock as Leon stood on the other side, his eyes focused on you and his mouth moving, muffled and distant over the ringing in your ears. Angela gripped your hand tighter as the automated voice rang out again.
“Incineration in two minutes. Incineration in two minutes.”
Leon was pounding against the glass, his eyes almost manic as he mouthed the same word over and over again. You didn’t need to hear him to know what he was saying.
“Come on.” You snapped, grabbing Angela’s arm.
You pulled, running her through the stone slabs as the elevator fell behind you, landing in a pile of shards and blood that you didn’t want to focus on for too long. Angela stumbled, her eyes finding and staying with it.
“Incineration in 60 seconds. Incineration in 60 seconds.”
“Move!” You shouted as you pulled her around a corner.
Your heels dug in as you came to a stop as Curtis landed beside you both. Angela froze and you pulled out your knife, stepping before her.
A flash of silver sped past your shoulder, soaring into Curtis’ orange eye. He stumbled backwards, giving a loud guttural cry.
“We need to go.” Leon spoke.
“But Curtis -”
His glare was sharp as he looked at Angela. “That’s not your brother anymore – that’s nothing more than a BOW who sees you as a breeding tool because of your blood.”
Your jaw tightened as you shot him a look. “A little more sympathy wouldn’t kill you.”
“No time.” He shot back, glaring at Angela. “Curtis is dead and we need to go now.”
“Incineration in 30 seconds.”
You gripped Angela’s hand, pulling her along as you both followed behind Leon while Curtis gave a roar and chased behind with thumping footsteps.
“Twenty. Nineteen. Eighteen. Seventeen. Sixteen. Fifteen. Fourteen.”
You ducked under stone chucked your way, pulling Angela around the corner as Leon continued to run before you and the countdown continued.
“Thirteen. Twelve. Eleven. Ten. Nine. Eight.”
The pool of water sat ahead, and you pushed yourself faster, dragging Angela along as her legs struggled to keep up.
“Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One.”
You hit the water the same time the air rumbled with explosion, shoulders first as your body dragged you and Angela further under the water, the firey orange explosion above, catching on everything the ethanol had touched.
Angela thrashed in your arms, her eyes wide and her cheeks puffed out like she had to remind herself to hold her breath.
Your hands moved to grip her face, trying to signal calm with your eyes though it seemed to do very little. There was no way up, the air above on fire and still exploding.
You looked around, keeping a grip on Angela before you focused on the glass. Your eyes found Leon’s, gesturing wildly to the glass as he nodded, his limbs slower as he pulled out his gun and pointed it at the glass.
The bullets moved through the water, still fast enough to crack the glass and then fully break it. The water was sucked out in a second, like a riptide, the three of you barely able to catch your breaths before you were moving with it.
A groan left you as you landed in some kind of tunnel/hall below, sliding down like you were at the water park.
Your hands scrambled to cling onto something that wasn’t Angela, while trying to keep her close as you continued down the hall before your eyes widened as you saw the opening.
“Fuck. Fuck -”
A warm hand wrapped around yours before you or Angela could tip over the edge. You looked back to see Leon gripping a pipe, his grip firm as the water rushed past you all until it slowed and trickled over the edge, no longer dragging you with it.
A shaky breath left your mouth as you slowly let go of Angela and Leon, pulling yourself to your feet to look over the edge.
It was a large circular chamber, tall and with a drop that looked more like a deep dark pit. Numbers rested on the walls of the chamber, with containers hanging above by wired clips, and more numbers labelling the floors.
Something roared in the distance before Curtis appeared, climbing his way up the walls. Angela stumbled forward to your side, your arm flying out to stop her from stumbling over the edge.
“No. No. No.”
“Level 4 submerge system will engage soon. Level 4 submerge system will engage soon.”
That didn’t sound good. You turned to look at Leon as Curtis continued to climb closer towards the roof.
“We need to go up.”
...
Leon never missed a chance to show off.
And granted, you were pretty sure it was for your benefit if the way he turned back to smirk at you after he landed into a roll onto the container. “You coming?”
You scoffed before you ran and jumped. It was like time slowed, in the way it often did when you have into that little altered part of you, as you soared over him before landing in a crouch that would make any superhero jealous.
“Don’t try and one up me, Kennedy – you know I’ll win.” You sauntered to his side with your own smirk.
He smirked right back but it was softer. “Wouldn’t dream of it, Sweetheart.”
You smiled before looking back to Angela, nodding your head as she nervously looked at the gap between where she stood and the container. “Come on – you’ve got this.”
Her cheeks puffed out as she gave a nervous breath before she moved back and then she was running and pushing herself off the side and towards you both. She rolled to break her fall, a bit too tense but her lips curved in an almost proud smile.
“Let’s -”
A groan left your mouth as you found yourself thrown back through the air. Your back hit metal and your body rolled, tipping over the edge before a hand caught you.
Wide blue eyes stared down at you for a second too long, the familiar panic that you had had seven years ago settled deep in your gut, but there was no hesitation this time. No slipping palms or someone else weighing him down.
He pulled you, a singular grunt leaving his mouth as you flopped over the edge and onto his legs. Your eyes met his again, your breaths shaky.
“Warning: Level 4 submerge system will engage soon. Level 4 submerge system will engage soon.”
You gulped, staggering to your feet as your eyes looked around the long containers and Angela facing Curtis on the other one. She was only a few steps away from the edge and Curtis was slowly moving forward.
A countdown sounded above you. Slow and mocking.
You began moving, pushing yourself forward fast as Leon leapt and rolled behind you. You leapt when you were close enough, using the hook above to jump to the other container and land between Angela and Curtis.
At the corner of your eye you watched as Leon moved over the next container, towards some wires. A plan already forming in his mind.
“Level 1 submerge system will engage soon.”
Another countdown started, you twirled your knife around your fingers, eyeing Curtis as he stepped forward.
“Curtis – you don’t want to do this.” You said, loud enough for him to hear as he stumbled forward before reaching for something on the floor as the unit behind you both plunged into the depths below.
A tiny photograph sitting between his fingers that made him give a cry in pain. Angela moved forward, her gun in her hand and her eyes misty. “Curtis.”
“Run. No. No. I don't wanna hurt you. Please. No.” Curtis muttered out, his voice deep and twisted.
Angela sighed, lowering her weapon and looking to you. “Get out of here.”
“What?” You asked in disbelief.
“Please – just - “ She looked behind you both quickly. “You can jump up there – do it.”
Her voice was strong. You stared in shock, before looking over your shoulder were Leon was climbing up the metal for the wires, creeping closer with every step and his eyes far too knowing.
“Angela – we’re not leaving you.”
She said your name strongly and it sounded so harsh from her lips. Curtis crept closer with an other cry and you blinked. You sheathed your knife and stepped back as she fully lowered her weapon and faced her brother.
“All right, Curtis. Let's finish this.”
“Warning: Level 0 submerge system will engage soon.”
The countdown started and everything seemed to slow again. Your eyes met Leon’s once more as he hung over the edge, wire wrapped to keep him steady.
You shifted before Curtis could lunge, wrapping your arm around Angela’ waist and gripping Leon’s hand with your free hand as the metal dropped away from your feet, falling with Curtis below.
Angela gasped, her nails digging into your arm as she tried to figure out why she was still alive, or at the very least wasn’t falling.
Leon grunted above you and you looked up as his whole body seemed to strain against the weight of the two of you. It was the same situation once again in the past ten minutes, in the past seven years.
Difference was a drop would be loosing both you and Angela. You adjusted, shifting her weight in hopes it fell more to you than it did to him.
He tried to move back, managing to pull you up a fraction as he spat out words. “After the system verifies there’s no more virus in here the hole should close.”
But that was a waiting game, and one Curtis didn’t seem interested in playing as he seemed to shoot from the ground, wrapped a tentacle around Angela’s leg. The added weight tugged you all down further, the metal screeching as Leon gave a grunt.
He was strong, but the weight of two people and a fucking BOW was enough to pull at anyones muscles.
You tugged, trying to pull Angela up further with your own grunt as she twisted in your arms, her nails digging in once again. “Let me go!”
“No.”
“Let me go before we all fall.” She snapped. “You two can’t die, you have to finish it – stop trying to save me.”
“Shut up.” You snapped immediately. “We’re not going to let you die!”
Leon shifted above you, carefully pulling out his gun. He didn’t hesitate, his face tense as he took his shot, hitting Curtis.
Curtis yelled, his tentacle slipping away as he fell back into the pit as the firey explosion caught up to him. Angela whimpered and you winced as the floor below began to close, sealing him off even if he wasn’t dead.
Flame licked through the floor before it could full close and then it was gone, the baking heat trapped under the steel and your lungs finally seeming to work again.
Leon strained once again as he tried to pull you both up, his other hand managing to latch on under your armpit before the metal above creaked. Your stomach dropped as the metal gave and the whole world tilted.
Your hold on Angela loosened as she screamed, and there was barely enough time to try and soften her land onto the ground below as you dropped her as carefully as you could while Leon tightened his own grip on you as you both fell.
The impact knocked the air from your lungs as you landed in a tangled heap, metal clanging somewhere dangerously close to your head as debris rained down around you.
For a second you couldn’t breathe.
Your lungs stuck to your back and the heavy weight of Leon half on top of you. Which wasn’t unusual but wasn’t helping the situation in the slightest.
One hand was tucked under your head, like he had been trying to stop it from hitting the metal while the other was wrapped around you. But it was his eyes that stole the last semblance of your breath away.
Wide and panicked. Not the usual cool steadiness that you saw normally. Not the soft rivers of blue that were reserved just for you and your friends.
Scared.
“Sweetheart – I -” He stammered out, shifting his weight off you a bit. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m good.” You answered softly, reaching up to stroke his cheek as he leaned into your hand and let out a breath. “Are you?”
“Don’t do that to me again.”
That flicker of the memory crossed his face too fast for anyone else, if they had been there, to catch. But you saw it and you understood.
Before you could say anything, or reassure him that you didn’t plan to dangle over the edge of things and give him a heartattack. That those moments were just as terrifying for you as they were for him...
He kissed you.
Lips firm against your own. All relief and tension and something almost desperate underneath it, like he needed to prove you were still here.
Your hand came up instinctively, gripping the back of his shirt, pulling him closer without thinking about it, meeting him halfway and with just as much intensity like you always did. And like always, it sent a fire through your veins and made you want more.
He kissed you like he felt it too, like the only addiction he had ever known was you.
A cough sounded in the distance. A pointed one that often came from the likes of Claire or Jill when they wanted to remind you other people were around.
You both froze.
Leon pulled back, just slightly, breath uneven, his forehead almost brushing yours for a second before he straightened, clearing his throat. He shifted off you, stretching out a hand to pull you to your feet which you gratefully took.
His eyes flickered over to Angela who was watching you both carefully. Your mouth opened and closed, before opening again just as Leon’s phone rang.
He closed his eyes briefly, like he was reconsidering every life choice that had led to this exact moment, before pulling it out. Hunnigan’s name flashed across the screen, and god you hoped she had some answers for all this mess.
...
Cool air hit you the moment you stepped back outside. Fresh and clean, and a sharp contrast to the suffocating heat and smoke you’d just clawed your way out of.
Leon walked beside you, his hand firmly wrapped in your own, tangled tight enough that the hold nipped slightly, though you didn’t pull away.
And Angela followed behind you both, quieter and distant.
You didn’t blame her. She had lost her brother, and while you didn’t know her relationship with Greg, you could imagine the pain and sting was still there and would be for a while.
You sighed, looking to Leon. “So – what Hunnigan said…”
“Turns out you were right to be suspicious all along.” Leon muttered back, a small smile on his face like he was almost proud.
You smiled. “I usually am.”
He scoffed, before he could say anything raised voices reached your ear. Once again familiar.
“...tanked because of our accusations. You were afraid that the situation would turn out the same as it did for Umbrella Corporation. So you needed an excuse to use the vaccine.” Claire’s voice was sharp enough to cut.
“Now wait a minute!”
You and Leon both picked up your pace slightly, rounding the corner just in time to see her squared off against Davis, who looked slightly rattled as he pointed a finger towards Claire.
“Yes, I'm a stockholder. And WilPharma should regain the public's faith after this incident -” Claire scoffed as Davis’ eyes narrowed further. “But there's no way in hell I would support terrorism to ensure that. I mean, what is the G-virus? I've never even heard of it.”
Claire glared like she didn’t believe a word he was saying, her hands on her hips. “I know you ordered Frederic to dispose of the G-virus when you called him.”
“I told him not to show you anything more than you needed to see, that was it.” Davis snapped back at her.
You sighed, letting go of Leon’s hand to step forward. “Claire.”
She blinked, turning wide eyes to you before she seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. “You’re alive.” She stepped forward towards you, pointing a finger at Davis. “You should arrest him – he clearly has something to do with all of this.”
“I don’t.”
“I don’t think he knows anything.” Leon said, stepping forward, though it didn’t exactly sound like a compliment as Claire frowned. “General Grande’s man talked.” He explained. “We were all fooled by him, including the Senator.”
You huffed a quiet breath. “Not all of us.”
“Who are you talking about?” Claire asked as she looked between you both.
You gave her a look, raising an eyebrow as you waited for her to catch on. “Really?” You sighed. “Please don’t tell me you can’t look past the accent.”
She stared at you for a second longer, her mouth opening and closing as she shook her head. “No. It can’t be.”
“It is.” You said simply. “Which is why I’m very glad I put a tracker on him.”
Claire’s mouth opened, Angela looked at you in surprise and Leon blinked before he frowned. “You what?”
“You don’t think I’d just let Claire go off with some random man, do you?” You asked, before moving towards your car, spinning the keys around your finger. “Let’s go.”
Claire hobbled after you, brushing off Leon as he offered out an arm to help her until she stood by your side, frowning down at the front of your car. “Wait - what happened to the front of your car?” Claire leaned down slightly, peering at the damage. “Did you let Leon drive again?”
“Really?” Leon scoffed out. Claire smirked, hobbling round to the passenger side and ducking into the front seat as Leon opened the door. “You’re serious?”
“I’ve got a bum leg, Kennedy – I need the space.” She said like it was normal, as he mumbled under his breath and climb into the back seat, grunting as she slid her chair back.
“Can you two not break my car please?” You asked with a sigh as they bickered between themselves before you looked to Angela who was watching warily. “You coming?”
She blinked before nodding, moving to the backseat and climbing in beside Leon, looking awkward as she watched him and Claire. Davis moved forward and you raised an eyebrow.
“No.” You said, climbing into the front seat and turning on the engine before he could say anything.
…
Claire held your phone, which had finally been recovered from your car, holding it in her lap as she kept her eyes on the tracking system Hunnigan had put on there for you a while ago.
“Left – wait, no, right…” She said as the car swerved.
You sighed, but followed her directions, eyes flickering to the map more than it should have been because apparently Claire didn’t know how to read a fucking map.
The road continued straight, down a darkened mountain path, lit only by your headlights.
For a while no one spoke.
Your eyes drifted to your mirror as you caught sight of Leon, leaning on his hand once again as he looked out of the window. The circles under his eyes darker than before and a tense set to his jaw that let you know he was deep in thought.
You drifted then to Angela, who’s eyes met your own. Tired and maybe a bit lost.
Your eyebrows raised in a silent question, one she seemed shocked to see before she gave a one shoulder shrug and you nodded in understanding.
“Up ahead.” Claire said, breaking through the silence.
She gestured to where a car sat at the side of the road, with a figure stood by, the tip of his cigarette a burning orange in the night.
You sighed, turning up your headlights, your tires crunching over stones and grass as you pulled up to a stop in front of him and his car as he moved forward. In the light you could see him, the grey suit and the glasses.
There was a lack of restraint with how he carried himself now, as he clicked at something on the laptop on the back of his car.
“Asshole.” You muttered, cutting the engine but not the lights, before you looked back over your shoulder at Leon. “Backup?”
“On their way.” He said.
You looked to Angela who gave a steady nod. That was all you needed.
You stepped out, Leon and Claire following.
“Right on time.” Frederic called as he closed his laptop, putting a hand over his eyes to try and see the three of you better. “You were supposed to come alone.”
“I just wanted to see your face one more time.” Claire spoke.
Angela moved and you reached in to shut your lights off, allowing Frederic to see the three of you in the dim light.
“Don’t move,” Frederic warned, shifting slightly.
It was a weak warning, the three of you stepped forward, Claire and Leon holding guns while you gripped your knife, spinning it once between your fingers with a small, almost amused smile.
Frederic’s eyes flicked between the three of you, holding up one of his hands. “I have the last of the vaccine, and the development data. This is all that remains in the entire world. The rest is gone.”
Leon froze, his jaw tensing before he nodded to Claire and you. You sighed, putting your knife away as Claire lowered her gun.
“Yes, that's right.” He spoke, low and with a grin. “You three can appreciate the situation better than anyone after your up-close-and-personal experiences with virus victims.” You narrowed your eyes. “Mankind will need this.”
His smile fell as a click of a safety sounded behind him as Angela pressed the cold metal to the centre of his back.
You crossed your arms as you watched as he shook, his eyes panicked and wide as he was forced onto his knees, his voice cracking. “Wait. Please. Don't shoot me.”
“Why not?” You asked dryly, raising an eyebrow.
Frederic’s eyes grew wide as he looked from you to Claire, almost like he could plead. “Let's talk. You're a smart woman, and smart women like money.” You scoffed but he ignored you. “I can make you rich. We'll split everything 50-50.”
Claire sighed, throwing up her hands. “I swear -”
“I meant 70-30. I'm happy with 30…”
You laughed slightly as Claire sent him a disgusted look before climbing back into the front of your car, settling herself in the seat as you leaned against the side..
“Please. Please, take it all. Don't... Don't kill me. I'm begging you. Please, no.” Frederic whimpered out.
The gun clicked behind him, empty but the threat was enough. Frederic cried, falling to the floor as he sobbed while Angela looked over him. “You're too pathetic to kill.”
Headlights cut through the dark behind you as D.S.O vehicles parked themselves up, flashes of their badges as the agents moved forward, fast and efficient. Frederic cried as they hauled him off the floor.
Leon moved between them, reaching to grab the briefcase and throwing it into the back of your car before he once again sat in the backseat. You waited, watching Angela as she looked around before she slowly made her way to your car.
You offered her a small smile as you both climbed in, turning on your engine once again as you let out a sigh of relief.
“Thank fuck that’s over.” You muttered as you reversed, sending a quick wave to the agents before taking off down the road, your eyes meeting Leon’s in the rearview mirror. “How long you think we’ve got before we get dragged into a briefing?”
“Couple of hours.”
“Good – enough time for you to take me to the hospital.” Claire said with a hiss as she gripped her leg and slumped back into the chair.
“Yeah.” You answered, already heading that way before you sighed. “You’re going to need to call Chris.”
“Oh fuck – no… it’s not even that bad.” Claire whined out before wincing as you gave her a look.
“Yes it is.” You said as Leon hummed in agreement. “If you don’t call him then Leon will.”
He glared at you. “Why do I have to call him?”
“Because I’m driving.” You said simply.
“He’s going to be pissed enough she got hurt.” Leon muttered, even as he pulled out his phone like he was already regretting this. “Let alone me calling him to tell him.”
Claire leaned her head back with a tired grin. “Honestly? That might make my day.”
You huffed a quiet laugh as you drove.
…
There was a reason hospitals had a restriction on the amount of visitors in one room. Too crowded, too loud. Too disruptive.
And if for some reason it had been forgot, you were pretty sure they would remember the moment they heard the bickering in Claire’s room or dared to take a peak inside where six adults, one injured, were crammed into the space.
“...you thought it was a good idea….” Chris hissed out, his words clipped and harsh as he paced at the foot of the bed. “...to go into a potential risky situation, alone -”
“They knew where I was, Chris.” Claire snapped back as she shifted, wincing slightly as it tugged at her bandaged leg. “And I was fine.”
“You have a hole in your leg, Claire.”
“I’ve had worse.”
“That’s no comforting.” Chris gritted back as he glared at his little sister. “And to have to hear about it from Kennedy of all people.”
Leon frowned, giving Chris a what the fuck did I do look as Claire rolled her eyes. “So sorry that I was too busy crashing, and she -” She gestured to you. “ - was too busy driving to give you a call.”
“Can we please stop fighting?” Sherry sighed out from where she sat at the end of Claire’s bed.
“Agreed.” Jill muttered from where she sat on the window ledge, her arms resting on her knees and her eyes focused more on the outside.
You watched as Chris gave her a look, his eyes meeting yours for the briefest of seconds. Jill had barely spoken since she came into the room, just given Claire a once over and sat herself down, letting everyone else do the talking.
Granted, she had never been much of a talker – but there was something almost distant in her eyes, like she was thinking about something else.
“Fine.” Chris grunted out.
Claire rolled her eyes again before she looked to you and Leon. “Any news on Frederic?”
You and Leon looked to each other.
Things had moved fast from calling Chris, who had even been in town, getting Claire to the hospital. She had been stitched up and made to rest, and you and Leon had been forced into late night briefings to go over everything before you were finally somewhat free.
The afternoon sun reminded you of how you the past day and a half had been a whirlwind.
Finally, you were somewhat free to sit and enjoy.
“He confessed to everything.” Leon said lowly.
“And he was the one who gave the T-Virus to the terrorists in India.” You added, clenching your jaw as Claire frowned. “And was selling it on the black market.”
“How did he get the viruses?” Claire asked. “I mean, unless he worked for Umbrella – did he just recreate them himself or buy them from someone else?”
“He stole them and escaped before Raccoon City was bombed.” Leon remarked dryly as everyone in the room seemed to tense. A sore subject for all of you. “Then made a choice to sell as a set with the vaccine.”
“So he was the problem and the solution?” Jill asked, finally looking over before she scoffed, shaking her head. “How creative of him.”
“Then through WilPharma, he was able to find potential customers while making a vaccine.” You explained as Jill tensed again.
“Like General Grande?” Sherry asked.
“Exactly.” You sighed. “The terrorists attacks were staged for him, like some kind of fucked up sales pitch.”
“Jesus Christ.” Claire sighed out.
Chris ran a hand over his face, seeming to take everything in that had been said and trying to process it all.
It wasn’t protocol, not really, to be telling anyone in this room that didn’t work for the D.S.O what had happened, but it wasn’t like they wouldn’t be able to figure out themselves if they really wanted to.
A tension seemed to settle in the air as you took a deep breath.
Leon shifted, his arm pressing into your shoulder as his hand moved to grip your own, thumb rubbing rubbing along your skin. He shifted to lean further into you, and you moved, resting your head on his shoulder.
The door burst open, a giant bouquet with legs making its way inside before a familiar blond head popped around with a cry.
“Oh my god!”
“Ashley?” Claire asked as the girl moved, passing the flowers to Chris as your nose wrinkled, before leaning down to hug Claire.
“I’m so sorry I’m late – what happened? How are you feeling?” Ashley asked as she moved herself to sit on the side of Claire’s bed carefully.
A sneeze ripped from you, followed by a groan as Chris moved the flowers to the corner of the room. You groaned again, tucking your face into Leon’s sleeve for some kind of protection, though kept your mouth shut.
“Bless you.”
“I’m alright, just got to rest up for a while.” Claire answered almost nervously. “Ashley, not that I don’t appreciate you being here but are you supposed to be here?”
You looked up as Ashley grinned, completely unbothered. “No.”
“Ashley -”
“What’s my dad going to do? Drag me back?” She scoffed out. “He already made me step back from everything, he’s not stopping me from seeing you.”
Her voice was final. Like she would stand her guard if her father walked in.
You believed her for the most part. It had taken some time but that fire had returned nearly tenfold, and you suspected TerraSave had something to do with that – and being told she couldn’t do it anymore because of the controversy had dimmed her a bit.
But she seemed tired of that now, even more so when she grinned. “I’ve also made the choice that I will be rejoining TerraSave.”
“You’re what?” Claire asked with wide eyes.
“My dad can suck it.”
Leon chuckled, his laugh a rumble in your side as you tried to hide your own amused smile, though it was pointless, Ashley saw the both of you and her grin widened.
Jill gave a small huff of a laugh before she stood up. “Well, as fun as this is, I’m going to go – there’s a lead on Spencer I need to look at.” She gave a small smile to Claire, nodding her head. “Feel better.”
“Thanks.”
You frowned, leaning away from Leon as Jill passed. Chris was frowning again, one like he had something to say but had decided against it, visibly restraining himself. You could practically see the effort it took not to snap back immediately.
The door opened and you moved, muttering a be right back as you followed after the brunette with a frown.
“Jill.”
She stopped, looking over her shoulder before turning to face you. “What’s up?”
“You’re leaving?”
“Like I said – I’ve got a lead -”
“Can’t that wait until tomorrow?” You asked, cutting across. “I mean, I’m sure Spencer or whatever it is you’re looking for is still going to be there.”
“We don’t know that.” Jill said, her voice slightly harsher as her eyes flashed. “It’s not something we can afford to wait on.” She added as though it was obvious.
And you got it. More than she realised. There was a reason you hadn’t left with Claire and instead had gone to the garden, because of a chance of Birkin being there. There was a reason you didn’t even moan when you were sent after ex-Umbrella employees or researchers.
There was that feeling inside you that if you could catch more, or bring in another bad guy, then you were doing something to fix the mess. To fix the damage that had been done to you and so many others.
But wanting to do good and needing to do good were a fine line. And you didn’t like the look in Jill’s eyes.
“Jill -”
“Uh… hi.”
You blinked, turning to see Angela stood there, a little hesitant as she looked between you too before wincing like she had just realised she had interrupted something important. She looked smaller now, without the gun, without the urgency, like the weight of everything had finally settled in.
Jill moved, using it to slip down the hall and away with ease as you stared after her.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to -”
“It’s fine.” You sighed out, keeping your voice softer. You exhaled slowly, rolling your shoulders as the adrenaline finally started to bleed out of your system, leaving behind that familiar bone-deep exhaustion. “You ok?”
Angela let out a quiet breath, glancing at you. “I’m fine.”
You hummed, not entirely convinced, but you didn’t call her out on it.
Instead, you moved to the seats, gesturing her to follow you as you both took a seat and leaned back. God you could sleep for hours.
“I heard what happened with that guy…” She muttered out, avoiding your eye and you wondered if she had been listening outside the room again. Once again you kept your mouth shut. “If that’s – my brother was just a tool to them. Used.”
A breath left you before you could stop it because people always thought it was that simple, and you really wished it was. “Angela -”
“Don’t please.”
“Curtis – in so many ways he was a victim…” You began slowly. “Of Raccoon City, maybe of Frederic, but he was also a grown man who made his choices.”
She sniffed, nodding her head like she knew that. Like she had known that all along.
“Raccoon City had a way of twisting people long before it was destroyed.” You admitted, looking at the posters on the wall. “And after… well, it didn’t exactly bring out the best in anyone.”
She shifted her weight slightly. “You said...your brother….”
“Yeah.” You nodded once, gaze drifting somewhere past the corridor, past the hospital walls, back to something older, heavier. “He didn’t make it out.”
Angela’s expression softened immediately. “I’m sorry.”
You shrugged one shoulder, but there wasn’t much bite behind it. “Yeah. Me too.”
Silence settled between you for a moment - not uncomfortable.
Angela hesitated before asking, quieter this time. “How did you deal with it?”
Your lips pressed together briefly, considering. There were so many versions of the story you could tell – from the start to now, every detail and bad moment. The times you weren’t allowed because you had STRATCOM, and missions and there was no time to be emotional.
Or how you hadn’t even had hope in Raccoon City, because hoping would have made things worse and it was easier to just sign your brother off as dead.
Somehow you didn’t think that would help.
“One day at a time.” You answered instead, before looking to Claire’s door, gesturing towards it with a nod. “And with them.”
Angela followed your gaze, listening to the noise, the arguing, the laughter bleeding through it.
“I found people.” You continued. “Or they found me. Depends who you ask.” You gave a small smile “Made something new out of what was left.”
“Like Leon?”
You looked to her. At the frown and bit back a smile. “He took some time. Was a bit of an idiot at first.” Your smile grew as you lowered your voice like you were telling her a secret. “Still is, actually.”
Angela gave a small laugh before leaning back in her chair.
The silence settled again, neither of you moving before you looked up as the handle to Claire’s door opened with a rattle, allowing you both to hear the raised voices inside.
“I’m just saying - ”
“Claire, I swear to god—”
“Don’t swear in a hospital—”
“Claire.”
Ashley stepped out with wide eyes, Leon following slower behind, his eyes finding you immediately as he shut the door behind him.
“What are you doing?” You asked as Ashley jogged past.
“Claire’s wants a coffee.” Ashley spoke, waving a hand. Your mouth opened and she smirked. “I’ll be quick.”
“I swear that girl.” You sighed out as Leon moved to sit on your free side with a sigh.
“Was that the President’s daughter?” Angela asked, wide eyes following where Ashley had run off to.
“Yeah.” You said. “Though maybe don’t say that too loud.”
She nodded quickly. “Right.”
Leon’s hand found yours without hesitation, fingers threading. He leaned in, pressing a brief kiss to the top of your head, letting out a deep breath like it was almost grounding for him, as it was softening for you.
You rested your head on his shoulder, too tired to care about PDA. “Chris back to yelling?”
“Yeah.” Leon answered with a scoff. “Had to leave before he blamed me for something again.”
You huffed a small laugh. “Coward.”
You glanced at him, just in time to catch the way he was already looking at you, checking for something, his voice a low rumble. “You’re fine?”
You raised an eyebrow. “What gave it away?”
“Smartass.”
“Always.”
He huffed a breath, then leaned in just enough to press a quick kiss to your lips, his free hand reaching up to cup your cheek. “Don’t do that again.”
You nodded, giving him a soft smile.
Angela stood slowly, drawing your attention back to her. “I should go.”
You nodded once, then leaned forward, grabbing a crayon and a piece of paper a child had left behind and scribbled your number down quickly before holding it out to her.
Angela hesitated before taking it.
“If you need to talk.” You said simply. “Or don’t. Up to you.”
She looked down at the number, then back up at you. Something softer settled in her expression as she reached for it. “Thank you.”
You shrugged lightly. “Don’t mention it.”
She gave a small nod, then turned and headed down the corridor, disappearing around the corner.
You glanced sideways as Leon shifted up beside you, looking just as tired as you felt. His eyes were almost light and amused, and you pointed a finger at him as you playfully narrowed your eyes. “Don’t.”
He smirked and you exhaled slowly, leaning further into him.
A quiet settled around you both, only the distant sounds of the hospital moving around you as you sat together, half cuddled up into his side. Your eyes were heavy and you wanted nothing more than to sleep for a day.
You let out a sigh, scrunching up your nose. “I can’t wait to go home and shower.”
The hand that had been holding yours moved, letting go so he could wrap it around your waist and pull you into his chest. And you were glad there was no armrest in the middle as you shifted to rest back against his chest.
“Sounds like a good idea.”
You huffed a small laugh, letting your hands come up to rest over his arms where they crossed your stomach. “Don’t you have your own shower?”
His lips brushed the side of your head, soft, then lingered just a second longer than necessary before trailing lower, pressing a warm kiss just behind your ear, down the line of your neck. Not rushed or demanding, but enough to make you hum.
“Yeah, but it’s less fun when you’re not there.” Despite the flirty words there was something softer under his words. You frowned and shifted, and just enough that you could turn slightly, His voice dropped, softer now, the teasing gone. “I was worried.”
One of his hands moved to brush over your cheek and you let out a breath. “Leon...”
“When I heard about the attack and you weren’t answering your phone…”
“I’m sorry.” You said, reaching for the hand on your cheek. “I left it in the car and -”
“I know, Sweetheart.” Something in your chest tightening at the look on his face. It wasn’t panic. Leon didn’t do panic, but it was close enough to it that you could see the edges of it lingering there. “I didn’t know if you were hurt. Or -”
“Hey.” You softened, just a little, your grip on his hand tightening in return. “I’m fine. I promise, I’m fine.”
He let out a harsh breath from his nose, like he wasn’t sure he believed it. His jaw clenched and his eyes seemed to harden as they flickered over your face.
“I’m not going anywhere.” You said, voice quiet but certain. “Not now. Not in the future. Not if I can help it.”
He watched you for a second and then leaned forward to rest his forehead against your own, tucking hair behind your ear. “I love you. So much.”
Your breath stilled.
It wasn’t the first time he had said it.
But each time thrilled you as though it was the first, because neither of you were the sort to get emotional. Actions spoke louder than words, and you had been a firm believer of that, especially after the past few years.
And Leon had proven that to you over the last few months, had stepped up and stuck to his word and it had been good. More than good, and you were solid and happy.
And -
“I love you too.” You smiled, small but real.
He leaned in before you could say anything else, one hand coming up to cup your face, thumb brushing along your cheek as he kissed you.
It wasn’t rushed but there was a weight to it.
Something steady and grounding, like he was anchoring himself to you, like this was how he proved to himself you were still here. His brow furrowed slightly even as he kissed you, the tension still there, still working its way out.
You kissed him back just as softly, understanding it without needing him to explain it. The kind of kiss that didn’t need urgency, because it wasn’t going anywhere.
And maybe the kind of kiss that didn’t belong in a hospital waiting room.
“Are you two serious right now?” A voice barked as you broke apart. “My sister is injured and you two are making out.”
You sighed, rolling your eyes as Chris continued on while Leon gave a small sigh, moving just enough to rest his forehead against your own.