DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything, I just borrow these people
because I have no life & but tons of time to write.
RATING: R
DEDICATIONS: I would first like to thank Johnny, because
without him, none of this would be possible. Also, I'd
like to thank Jessica, my good friend, my other friend Jess,
Jennifer, Dawn, Eliza, Mindy, Tyler (my boyfriend),
Senor Calvo, Tony, Casey/Donnie, Nick Inman, Alton,
Danny, Jennifer W (my cousin), Everyone associated with
the X-Files, the producers of COPS, Miss Elerding, The
Rock and if I missed anyone, I'm sorry.
WARINGS: This is a Romance story!! If you don't like the idea of
Romance, don't read this. Oh yeah, it's a good thing if you
play Resident Evil 2 prior to reading this because I might
leave out an important detail and not know it. I appologize.
Folie A Duex
by: Tara Depp
Claire Redfield blinked at the harsh light assalting her eyes
as she mopped sweat from her brow. But the glare didn't bother the
young woman; In fact, she relished it. It had been days since she
had seen the wonderful globe that was called the sun, and it had
been even longer since she had felt its wonderful heat. With a
weary smile, Claire looked down at the small body huddled next to
her.
"You look terrible Sherry." smiled Redfield.
12 year old Sherry Birkin looked up at her, a weary smile
returned. "No worse than you Claire."
The two smiled at each other as Claire reached down and
tossled the little girl's hair. A second later, footsteps appeared
behind the two.
"I guess it's over, huh?"
Claire turned to her left to see a bedraggled man standing
next to her. "At least for you Leon."
Leon Kennedy slowly shifted his police issue shot gun to
the ground and proceeded to remove his RPD jacket. Claire could
not help noticing the chiseled physique that was ghost-covered by
a white tank top. Her eyes slowly made their way up to his.
"I have to find my brother." Redfield continued.
Leon tied the jacket around his waist and picked up his shot
gun. "We'll go together. Odds are, where ever we find your brother,
we find Umbrella."
Claire suddenly felt a wave of gratitude wash over her. She
began to say something but before she could start her sentence,
there was a huge bang from behind them. The trio wheeled around
to view the smoldering wreckage of the subway, which was
presently the tomb of William Birkin.
Leon instinctively dove forward, knocking Claire to the
ground. Claire, who had been standing next to Sherry, glanced to
her left trying to find the little girl.
"SHERRY!!" she screamed in the roar of the explosion.
A second later there was another explosion and everything
went black.
* * *
"Claire? Claire, can you hear me?"
Leon Kennedy's voice wafed through the blackness that
surrounded her senses, and slowly, Claire Redfield began to
awaken from her state. Her eyes opened slowly to see a handsome
man looking back at her.
"Leon...." she paused, her head ringing. For a moment, her
memory blanked. But then, sure enough, the past events rushed
back to her and Redfield bolted straight up from where she was
laying. She instantly regreted it. "Sherry! Where's Sherry?!!"
Leon leaned down and put his hands on the small of her
back, helping her sit straight without pain. "I don't know. I just
came to myself. Are you okay?"
His blue eyes stared into hers and Claire's mouth went dry.
She shook her head and smiled politely. "I'm fine." she started to
stand but then stumbled slightly as her left leg buckled.
"Whoa!" Leon said and pitched forward, catching her
before she fell. "Careful Gracie."
Claire's skin tingled at his hands on her waist. She smiled
thinly at him. "Thank you." Redfield stepped away from him and
tried to stand again. This time, she was stable. "Now, about Sher--"
Leon blinked. "What?"
Redfield was looking past Kennedy. Without a word, she
started forward and slowly made her way over to an object that
was lying on the ground. She slowly bent down and picked it up.
"Claire? What is it?" Leon asked.
Slowly, Claire held up her pink jacket. "Leon, where is
she?"
Leon, who had lost his shot gun in the blast, walked to
where Claire was and knelt next to her. "We'll find her."
"It's my fault." Redfield kept her face away from him. "I
should have been covering her... what if she's dead?! What if I
killed her?"
Leon wrapped an arm around Claire's shoulders and pulled
her close to him. "Listen to me, she is not dead. Trust me." he
reached over and tipped Claire's chin up, so their eyes locked.
Tears were fresh on her face.
"I can't lose her Leon." Claire said, trying not to sob. "She's
all I have."
Leon's face softened and he kissed her forehead. "You have
more than you think Claire Redfield."
For a moment, an inexplicable tension flared and Leon
began to stroke Claire's hair. He then let his hand fall to the back
of her neck and very slowly, leaned in toward her awaiting lips...
"HEY!!!"
The sudden outburt shocked the couple and they jumped
backwards. Instinctively, Leon stepped in front of Claire to face
the newcomer.
Standing before them was a man dressed in khaki fagitues.
He had a machine gun slung over one shoulder and in one hand he
held the wrist of a small, blonde haired girl.
"Is this your brat?" he demanded, throwing the girl forward.
"Sherry!" Claire exclaimed and ran forward, enveloping the
small girl in her arms. "Are you okay?! Are you hurt? What
happened?"
As Sherry answered Claire's questions, Leon moved toward
the man with his eyes narrowed. "Watch it! Just who the Hell do
you think you are?"
"Colonel Erik Holden, United States Armed Forces." the
man sized up Kennedy. "And who might you be, pretty boy?"
"Leon S. Kennedy, Racoon City Police Department." he
replied.
Holden blinked. "Did you say the RPD?"
"Yeah." Leon reported then turned sarcastic. "Do you need
me to spell it?"
Holden didn't take notice. "Listen, I have instructions to
bring back survivors of Racoon City, so you folks are going to
have to come with me." he said, his eyes wondering over to Claire,
who was standing behind Sherry. "I don't believe we've been
introduced, Miss. I'm Colonel Erik Holden, US Army. And you?"
Claire was wary and gripped Sherry's shoulders tightly.
"Claire Redfield." she said simply, not offering any other
explanation.
The Colonel smiled as he looked her up and down.
"Pleased to make your aquaintance."
"Likewise." Claire said icily.
Leon caught Holden's gaze and quickly interjected. "How
do you plan on getting us out of here?"
"I have a chopper waiting for us back a couple miles. If
you'll be kind enough to wait a second, I'll radio for them."
Kennedy smiled polietly. "Please do."
Erik returned the feature and pulled his radio from his belt.
He turned away from the three and began to bark orders.
Meanwhile, Leon joined Claire and Sherry.
"Leon, I don't trust this guy." Claire whispered, keeping her
eyes trained on the Colonel.
Kennedy nodded. "Neither do I. But right now, he's our
only way out." he paused.
Claire nodded curtly and looked down at Sherry, who was
nursing a cut on her forehead. Redfield tenderly reached down at
squeezed the little girl's hand.
"Okay, my chopper will be here in a few minutes." Holden
was talking as he strode toward them. "We've been told that we're
to be dropped at Williams Air Base, about seventy miles from
here."
Claire nodded and looked at Leon. They both knew that a
new chapter in their lives was about to be opened. And neither
knew what it held.
* * *
The ride to Williams Airbase consisted of mostly silence.
Claire and Sherry sat next to each other while Leon and Erik sat
across from the women. The two men reguarded each other with a
restrained dislike, even though no words were spoken.
Sherry had curled up next to Claire and was taking a nap at
the present moment. Redfield had her gaze directed out the
window. As she watched the clouds flow past, her eyes began to
drift shut and the last thing she remembed was Sherry's little hand
closing around hers.
* * *
When Claire's eyes opened again, she saw that someone
was pulling Sherry from her. She became alert quickly and tensed,
but then relaxed when she saw that Leon was hoisting the sleeping
girl into his arms.
"They're taking us to our rooms." Kennedy whispered,
trying not to wake Sherry.
Claire nodded as Leon started off. She slowly stood and
yawned, following him off of the chopper. Colonel Holden was
standing just outside the chopper, awaiting Claire's arrival.
"Miss Redfield," grinned Erik, "Your quarters are this way.
If you would like, we'll put the girl in the room next to yours."
Claire nodded curtly. "Thank you."
"You're more than welcome." Erik guestured. "If you'll
follow me, I'll lead you to your room."
* * *
Claire Redfield didn't think she would ever be so excited to
see a bed but once she turned the corner and entered her room, a
broad smile crossed her face. It was a shoddy room, not one that
was used to accomdate weary travelers. The only furnature that
stood in the small room was a bed, a night stand and a lamp
perched on top of it.
"Adequate?" asked Colonel Holden, from the door way.
Claire nodded vigerously. "Very much so. Thank you." she
paused and looked around. "Is there a door to the room next to
mine, something adjacent?"
"Of course." Holden nodded and pointed to two doors
sitting along the far wall. "The door on the left goes to your
bathroom and the right one will take you into the next room."
"Okay." she replied and sighed. "If you don't mind, I'd like
to take a shower and get some sleep."
"Of course." Erik nodded and smiled. He tipped his hat at
Claire and exited the room.
Left alone, Claire quickly crossed the room and opened the
right door. She briskly entered the room and stopped suddenly
upon the scene she'd come upon.
Leon was kneeling by Sherry's bed, his eyes closed and
hands clasped. Sherry was curled up under the thick comfortner
and she was softly snoring. Claire kept her distance, not wanting to
ruin the moment. For a few seconds she watched, entranced and
touched, by Leon's prayers. A moment passed before Leon crossed
himself and stood. He caught Claire's gaze and made his way into
Redfield's room, shutting Sherry's door nearly completely behind
him.
"She's lucky, you know." Kennedy spoke in a soft voice.
"Lucky?" Claire asked. "She's lost both of her parents in
less than a twenty four hours. The only family she has lives across
the country and she's never met them. How is that lucky?"
"She still has you."
Claire looked over at Leon. His hair was tossled and dirt
caked his white under shirt. His face appeared tired and worn, but
his eyes, for the moment, seemed alive. And their intensity was
focused on her. A wave of heat seered through her and Claire took
a step back, trying to keep her feelings at bay.
"Uh... so," she cleared her throat. "Did you find an
explaintion about that explosion at the train?"
Leon shook his head. "I asked that Holden guy about it and
he said that it was most likely caused by a ruptured pressure tank.
He told me he found Sherry a few feet from the wreckage, on the
other side of the explosion."
"That doesn't make sense though." Claire blinked. "You
don't think he's in on something, do you?"
Kennedy shook his head and proceeded to take a seat on
the edge of Claire's bed. "Honestly, I trust that man about as far as
I could throw him." he paused, suddenly looking very tired. "Right
now, Claire, I don't think we should put too much stock in what
that man says."
"You're right." Claire nodded. She gazed down at him and a
slow smile broke out over her face. "You look like shit Kennedy."
Leon's eyes flashed up to hers and a broad smile passed
over his features. It was the first time in days that Kennedy could
remember allowing himself a genuine smile. Eventually, a small
laugh came to his lips and Leon let himself chuckle aloud. He
shook his head and looked back up at Claire.
*God, she's beautiful.*
Leon swallowed, the smile fading. For a moment, his heart
faultered and he tried to dismiss that little voice inside of his brain.
The little voice that told him that the looks that Claire had been
giving him meant more than just friendship. The little voice that
told him that he needed her. The little voice that said he wanted
her...
"Leon?" Claire's melodic voice broke through his thoughts
and snapped back to the present. "You okay?"
Kennedy nodded and brought back a winning smile. "I bet I
smell like a winner, huh?"
The corners of Redfield's mouth turned upwards and she
leaned in close to him, her nose stopping just inches from his
muscular neck. Claire inhaled deeply, her keen senses picking up a
mixture of sweat, blood and dampness. But underlying those
smells was something much deeper, something ... attractive. She
moved in closer, trying to identify the smell, unaware that Leon's
eyes were tracking her every move.
"Actually, you smell like..." Claire trailed off, not sure of
what to say. She began to finish her comment when she felt hot
breath on her neck. "... Leon ..."
Leon Kennedy's mouth had journied to the crook of her
neck and he was ever so slightly moving in toward her throat. He
stopped, only for a second as if to ask permission. When Claire
didn't move away or flinch, Leon applied his lips to her slender
neck.
Claire, shocked but pleasently surprised, stayed in one
position. Eventually, she warmed to his touch and shufled closer,
pressing her neck against him. Feeling almost nervous, Claire
placed her arms around him and moved forward, tossing them both
back on to the bed.
Leon went with the motion of things, trying to keep Claire
as close as possible. For a fraction of a second, his lips came
unhinged from her neck and they tumbled backwards, and now
were lying face to face on the small bed. Leon looked into Claire's
stormy gray eyes and tenderly touched her face.
"If you don't want this, tell me." he breathed, not able to
look away from her.
Redfield took in Leon's handsome features and entrapping
eyes. "Stay with me, Leon." she said, her eyes holding his.
For the first time, their lips came together and the two
moved closer. The night was theirs.
* * *
Meanwhile, in the next room, Sherry Birkin tossed and
turned, unable to find sleep. Thoughts invaded her mind and
memories of the past horrific events whirrled in front of her. Rest
was impossible but conciousness was even more impossible.
TBC