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Chris Redfield sat in waiting. His fingers tapped anxiously on the surface of his desk. The subtle sound of his nails clacking against the wood was the only sound filling his office. He’d hoped to hear it soon replaced by his phone ringing.
The man had been sat there for hours anticipating the call. The one from Umber Eyes that would inform him of a mission success. More than that, though, the man had three words he wanted to hear above all:
“Leon is okay.”
That was all he needed to get his anxious mind from running him rampant. He couldn’t remember the last time he had felt so high-strung as he was far too accustomed to compartmentalization.
There was no compartmentalizing this though. He couldn’t just pretend that his heart wasn’t doing all it could to burst straight from his chest.
Chris had begged his squad to let him accompany them. He didn’t exactly need their permission, he was the captain afterall. But Chris knew he was far too personally involved to safely participate in the mission. One missed step could get him or his squad killed. His own life was one thing, Chris would have gladly given it up under far less pressing circumstances. But his squad? No, he couldn’t put them in any more danger than what their job already entailed. And if there was anyone Chris trusted to take his stead, it was Hound Wolf Squad.
His faith in them did not mean, however, that he wasn’t agonizing over every second of radio silence.
Finally fed up with his own anxious fidgeting, Chris stood up from his chair and walked over to the coffee maker on the other side of the room. This would be his sixth cup of the day. But honestly, he had been shocked at his restraint in only that many. He picked up the pot with shaking hands and positioned it over the cup. Realizing he was only going to make a mess at this rate, Chris carefully set the pot down and sighed into his hand as he face-palmed. All of this was eating up at him to the point where even coffee wouldn’t help. Forfeiting caffeine, Chris reached into the mini fridge under the table and pulled out a bottle of water. He probably should have drank six of those instead.
Chris carried the bottle over to his desk and sat back down. He twisted the lid off and took a big gulp before he was interrupted by his phone lighting up. Clumsily, Chris set the bottle down (a little too hard, some liquid spilled onto a stack of papers that he’d have to worry about later) and picked up the phone. Displayed on the screen was a number that he knew by heart. This was it! He had waited so long.
Chris cleared his throat before accepting the call,
“Redfield.” He said. He attempted to put on a brave voice, although Umber Eyes had known him plenty long enough to hear right through it, Chris was sure.
“Sir…” Umber Eyes’ voice came through. The connection wasn’t the greatest, he must have been underground. Chris immediately picked up on the hesitance in the man’s voice, but he refused to read into it. For his own sanity, he couldn’t.
“Umber Eyes. Report.” He demanded. Despite his authoritative tone, there was a silent ‘please’ to punctuate his words. A plea for Umber Eyes to give him some good news.
“We successfully infiltrated ARK, sir.” Umber Eyes explained, “But…”
Chris swallowed. He couldn’t not read into the man’s tone now. Chris made sure to speak up before Umber Eyes could, “Please…please don’t tell me what I think you’re about to tell me.” He begged.
But it was out of his hands. This whole situation was.
“Leon S. Kennedy is–”
Chris hung up the phone and let his hand numbly fall to his side. He didn’t have to hear the rest.
There was a knock on Chris’ office door. He was expecting someone, but having been three days out from hearing the news of his husband’s death, he didn’t feel like seeing anyone.
Leon would have slapped the back of his head and told him to suck it up. He would have said the meanest thing with the most winning smile and Chris would have fallen in love all over again.
Suck it up. Suck it up. Suck it up.
Chris fiddled with the ring on his finger. Every rotation of the band on his finger felt as if it was cutting him. With a deep sigh, Chris sucked it up and called for the person outside the door to be let in.
In came one Grace Ashcroft. The woman stood in the doorway, hands clasped together in front of her as if she was trying to get her arms out of the way in an attempt to take up as little space as possible. Jesus. This girl couldn’t even be thirty yet and she had already been through so much. Chris felt for her. He had been around her age when he first experienced the horrors this world had to offer, “Come in, Ma’am.” Chris politely greeted her. His gruff voice seemed to startle her a bit, but Grace nodded and approached Chris’ desk, taking a seat in front of it. She folded her hands in her lap and tapped her foot anxiously on the floor. Chris couldn’t tell if it was a trauma response or a quirk of her regular behavior. Either way, it wasn’t his place to speculate on it, no matter how distracting it was.
“Good morning, Miss. Ashcroft.” Chris said, folding his own hands on the surface of his desk. He had read somewhere that mirroring someone’s behavior could make someone feel more at ease, “Thank you for flying out this way to speak with me. I’m sure you would have liked much more time recovering at home after…” Chris thought it best not to finish his sentence.
“That’s alright, Mr.- Mr. Redfield. I’ve already gone back to work and everything. I’m fine.”
Chris was surprised to hear that. There had been missions in Chris’ career where he had needed well over a week to feel like a human being again after. Despite her timid nature, this woman seemed to be extremely strong. Chris already found himself admiring her, “I’m glad to hear that, Miss. Ashcroft. Very glad.” Chris cleared his throat to change the subject, “I’ve asked you to meet with me because I would like to ask you a few things about what happened last week.”
Grace nodded as if he had expected Chris to say so, “Can’t possibly have more to ask me than the FBI did.” She said, giving Chris a small, quirky smile, “I’ll do my best. Please- please don’t press me on anything. There are things that I-I…I don’t want to talk about.” Grace tensed up at the idea of such. The FBI must have grilled her pretty severely, and he was sure whatever agencies hadn’t already gotten to her would soon do the same. Chris felt bad for being an addition to that list, but he could hardly help himself. There were answers that he needed, and they weren’t ones that he could just read from a report.
“Of course, Mrs. Ashcroft. You don’t have to answer anything you don’t want to, and you’re free to leave at any time.” Chris explained, trying to soften his voice as much as possible, “I understand. Believe me, I do.”
“You were one of the S.T.A.R.S. officers, right?” Grace asked. At Chris raising an eyebrow, she explained where she was getting at, “So-sorry, I only know be- because of my job.”
“Right.”
“Right, so uh…it means that..”
“That I’ve been through things too, yes.” Chris finished her sentence, finally understanding what she meant, “So believe me when I say, I really do understand.”
“That’s comforting.” Grace said, although she backpedaled in an instant, “N-not that you had to go through that, just that we can relate to each other. Less lonely that way, you know?”
Chris gave the woman a small, comforting smile, “I do. I do know. Now, if you please, I’d like to start so that I don’t waste more of your time than necessary.”
“Right. Thanks.” Grace sat up in her chair and took a breath to prepare herself to relieve that awful day, “Have at it.”
“Alright.” Chris began, “I’ve read the report, so I don’t need too many big-picture details.” He explained. Really, all of this chatter was just his way of stalling for what he really wanted to ask…he would have to get to that last.
“Were you bitten or scratched by any zombies?”
Grace shuttered slightly, “Yes, I was.” She held her arm up a bit to suggest that she had been bitten there, although her jacket covered it, “I got a big chunk taken out of my arm at Wrenwood Hotel by a police officer.” Grace looked down at her feet, a saddened look on her face, “Out of the zombies I shot, or watched get shot, I think that one was the worst. I just felt really bad for him because he’s the one that let me into the hotel. If it weren’t for me being there, he could have been doing his job somewhere else…safe.”
Chris knew how that felt. There had been far too many people lost in his line of work that had simply been trying to help, “It’s not your fault.” He said, “I know it’s always going to feel that way, though. I’m sorry.” Chris was no therapist, he wasn’t sure how to comfort anyone let alone a woman he didn’t know.
Grace gave the man a small, mirthless smile at that. At least she appreciated the gesture, “Thank you, sir.”
Chris cleared his throat and stood from his chair. Grace gave him a curious look and watched as he crossed the room to the mini fridge, “Water?” He asked.
“Sure– ah, yes. Thank you.”
Chris dug out two water bottles and carried them back over to his desk. He cracked his own open and handed the other to Grace, ready to help her get it open because sometimes the cap was a tricky little bastard.
Grace opened the bottle and took a microscopic sip, as if she was worried about a larger gulp somehow being unbecoming of her. Chris noted the little quirk of her behavior and continued with his line of questioning, “And you’ve been properly screened and treated of any residual infection I would assume?”
“Yessir.” Grace confirmed, “They even gave me a tetanus shot.” She said humorously. Chris couldn’t help but crack a small smile.
“Ticked all the boxes, then. That’s great.” Chris pretended to type her answers into his computer, but in reality the document he had opened only bared a few lines of keyboard mashing. He had no plans of writing any kind of public report on her answers. This interview was, selfishly enough, just for him.
There was no more stalling now. Chris had run out of throw away questions, it was time to get into what he really wanted to talk about.
“When my squad rescued you from the rubble of ARK…” Chris could feel his throat tighten but he pushed through, “We were there to recover…someone that wasn’t you—we didn’t know that you were there, we were looking for…” The closer Chris got to the point, the further away we felt from being okay. Chris cleared his throat and finally, finally, named dropped the man who didn’t return home to him that night, “Leon S. Kennedy. We have intel that he was in the area. I…I’m just curious as to if you’d run into him.” Chris’ fingers traced along the title page of a report about the incident. Leon’s name had been unincluded. Chris wanted to know why.
Grace’s eyes jerked away from Chris’ direction upon the mentioning of Leon. Chris took that as an immediate sign that she had the answers he sought, “Please,” Chris implored her, “answer the question.”
“Y-you said I didn’t have to answer anything I didn’t want to.”
Guilt panged in Chris’ chest. She was right.
But he had to know.
“Miss. Ashcroft, please, I-”
Grace stood from her chair, her boundaries clearly having been crossed, “You–you also said I could leave whenever I want to, so I’m gonna…” She turned towards the door, but Chris leapt out of his seat to stop her. Grace screamed as he took her shoulder.
“Grace! Please!” Chris’ voice cracked with the emotions he had been trying so hard to suppress. Grace pulled herself from Chris’ hold and reached the door, but she stopped herself at Chris’ last, pitiful plea, “Please…” Chris slowly made his way back to his chair, where he sat down and held his head in his hands. A tear rolled down his cheek, more sure to follow. Answers were so close and he just had to lose control of himself and scare the one person who could give them to him away.
“Mr…Mr. Redfield." Grace spoke up after a few seconds of horrible silence, “Did you know…him?” She asked, slowly inching her way back to her seat. She waited for Chris to answer before committing to sitting back down, her hand resting on the back of the chair only to highlight her uncertainty.
Chris looked up from his hands, a defeated expression in his eyes, the color drained from his face. He had never expected to show himself at rock bottom to someone half his age, “I did.” He answered.
Grace’s grip on the back of the chair increased ever so slightly, Chris took that as his ‘in’, “I assume that means you did too.”
Grace couldn’t argue with that. Hesitantly, she returned to her seat, her hands folding back in her lap, “I did.” She mirrored his answer, although she never could have known the man as Chris did.
Still, though, Chris would milk her knowing Leon for all it was worth. What more could he do?
“Did you know him before the incident?” Chris asked, treading carefully as to not scare Grace off again.
“I didn’t. I met him at Rhodes Hill.”
“Did he say what he was doing there?”
Grace shook her head, “He said he was with the DSO, so I assume he was there looking into…” A look of disgust came over her face, “Victor Gideon.”
Victor Gideon. He had been mentioned extensively in the report. It seemed that he was deceased, but bastards like him always seemed to have a way of coming back like a stubborn blackhead, “I reached out to the DSO for comment but received none, so I think that’s as good of an explanation as we're gonna get.” Grace added, “I’m sorry that I don’t know more.”
Chris felt bad that she had to know any of this, so he disregarded the apology, “Not a problem. You likely know more than I do. That being said, I would like to continue.”
“S-sure.”
“Right. So, how long were you in the company of Mr. Kennedy?”
“Not long. We kept getting separated. He always seemed to show up at the right moment, though. Saved my ass several times.”
“He’s good at that.” Chris commented, “Saving people’s asses. It’s what he lived for.”
The poisonous thought of it also being what he died for crossed Chris’ mind. He quickly pushed the thought down as far as it could go. Now was not the time to lose his cool…again.
“He was a good man.” Grace said, a wistful smile finding itself on her lips, “I could tell that before I even knew his name.”
Was.
“Yes.” Chris agreed. He couldn’t bring himself to use a sentence that contained that awful word, ‘was’. It made him sick just to hear it.
“Did he make it to ARK with you? Or was Rhodes Hill the last place you saw him?”
“He was at ARK.” Grace confirmed, “We both made it all the way to the chamber where Elips was. Elips was all over the report, I- I assume I don’t need to explain Elpis, right?”
“Right.” Chris affirmed, “Really, this interview is primarily about Mr. Kennedy.” Chris stifled the urge to refer to the man simply as ‘Leon’.
“Oh.” Grace said, not expecting that, “You two must have been close.” She speculated, although she didn’t know the half of it.
“We…” Chris once again couldn’t bear to use the past tense, “Yes. Close.”
Grace gave him a look that asked for elaboration, but he quickly fixed her face to display something a bit more professional. If this had been about anyone else, Chris would have behaved the same way.
Knowing that she had been with Leon until the end, Chris almost felt the inclination to fulfil Grace’s desire for elaboration…almost.
Chris could feel the interview winding down…there was just one last question he had to ask. His friends, even Caire had warned him that it wasn’t healthy, that it was likely better for him that he didn’t know, but he had to. Chris had to know how Leon died. What indescribable evil had to be out there to take out a force of nature like Leon S. Kennedy? Chris found it hard to believe there was anything strong enough.
“I just…have one last question to ask you, Grace.” Chris began, “How…” Chris’ throat restricted itself before he could finish the sentence. He reached for his water and took a sip, but it didn’t help.
Seeing Chris’ struggle, Grace finished the sentence for him, “You want to know how he…how he died.”
It felt like a bullet in a chest, to hear such an awful notion out loud. Yet, Chris couldn’t see any way that he could go on without knowing.
“I need to know.” He corrected her. It was the last thing he wanted.
Grace seemed to take pause at that, really taking Chris’ words in, “Okay.” She finally said, “But it…it’s gonna be hard to hear.”
Chris was tired of hearing things like that. He slammed his hand down on the desk and said, “Damnit, it was hard to hear that my husband died at all!” He meant every bit of harshness that should have underlined those words, but they came out more pitiful than anything. Chris had never heard his own voice sound so weak.
Grace jumped a bit in her chair, but she remained in it. The look on her face said that she was scared, but determined to stick it through and divulge the awful truth she had been holding onto. Especially after hearing the reality of Leon and Chris’ relationship, “Husband.” She said, “I had no idea.”
“You wouldn’t have.” Chris said with a deep sigh. He pulled his hand off of the desk and took a small sip of water before continuing, “Leon…he was a very private man.” He was. Leon was deeply proud of his marriage, he never once took off his ring. But, that didn’t mean he went around talking about his private affairs to anyone who would listen. Chris appreciated that, still a bit weary of being too public after having lived through the days of don’t-ask-don’t-tell.
“Oh.” Grace said, not really sure how to respond to that. Chris finally using the word ‘was’ did not go unnoticed, “Yeah, he-he didn’t seem to be much of a talker. He was very kind, though. He made that very clear.”
Chris smiled at that. Leon was the kindest man he had ever met, despite his intimidating-looking exterior. Chris recalled many times where Leon would pay for people’s groceries and other courteous acts like that time he literally walked an old woman across a street in the most stereotypical fashion imaginable, “He was a big talker to people he was close to.” He said, not really sure why he was telling Grace this. Although, it felt good to talk about Leon candidly to someone that knew him, even if for a short time, “Once he got to talking about motorcycles there was no way to make him stop until he was well good and ready to.”
Grace shared Chris’ smile, “I would have liked to hear that, I’m sure it was very entertaining.”
“It was.” Chris said fondly, “Until it was three in the morning and he was scrolling on Facebook Marketplace looking for bikes to refurbish, telling me about how everyone on there didn’t know what they had.” Grace laughed at that, and Chris couldn’t help but chuckle a bit too.
Realizing he had gotten very off topic, Chris’ smile suddenly faded and his laughter ceased. Grace’s behavior changed to mirror his in an instant, “Grace…can you please…” He didn’t want to ask again.
“Oh, yes.” Grace shifted uncomfortably in her seat and prepared herself for the unpleasant retelling, “Please, stop me if it gets to be too much.” She said, surprisingly gracious given the position she was in.
“I can handle it.” Chris said flatly.
So, Grace began.
Grace’s heart nearly jumped out of her chest when she came up to the top of the golden-glowing staircase only to see Leon immoble.
“Leon!” She called out to him as she fell to her knees at his side, “Oh no…” Grace whispered as she gently shook him. When he stirred, she said, “Hey! It’s me. It’s Grace.” Leon coughed dryly in response but did not awaken. Panicked, Grace kept trying to wake him, “Please wake up.” She begged, “Wake up. Wake up!”
Leon slowly came to, his eyes blearily eventually finding Grace’s, “Hey, you.” He said in his usual charming tone. Grace almost wanted to kick him for being so nonchalant, but she was too overjoyed to see him alive and breathing, “I was just resting my eyes.” Leon added as he leaned over to push himself off of the ground. As he did so, a cough overtook him and nearly sent him face first to the floor, but he held himself up with what little strength remained in his arms.
“You’re okay.” Grace cooed to him as he coughed. It sounded painful, and it tore Grace’s heart apart but she had to get him to his feet. There was no other option than to keep moving.
Leon groaned as he attempted to get to his feet. Scrambling, Grace clumsily pawed at his arm in an attempt to assist, “Let me help you.” She threw Leon’s arm over her shoulder. The man was much taller and bulkier than her, and with very little support coming from his own frame. Helping him walk was going to be a bitch, but Grace would do it a hundred times over if it meant she could save him from a fate similar to that of Emily’s.
After taking a moment to get his bearings, Leon turned to Grace. With bloody lips and squinting eyes, he said, “Let’s do this.” And even if those words were said through pained breaths, Grace knew he meant every ounce of determination in them.
Together, they were going to end this.
Leon reached forward and hit the button on the door before them. It quickly came to life and slid open with a satisfying mechanical sound. Now, there was one less barrier between them and saving the world.
A significant barrier, though, was that, “I-I don’t know the password.”
Leon repeated, “Password.” Under his breath as he thought about a solution for that little hiccup, “It’s okay.” He concluded, “Zeno left it wide open for us.” He further explained, “Any wrong code will do. It’ll destroy Elpis.”
Destroy Elpis. The words rattled around in Grace’s mind as she watched Zeno take a drag from his cigarette. Even if destroying Elpis was the hero’s solution…something about it didn’t feel right. But was she really going to give Zeno his way?
“Let’s try.” She said, although she really couldn’t fully grasp what it was she was committing to.
“Grace, whatever it takes.” Leon said, every word sounding more pained and laborious than the last, “I can buy you some time.” He added. Grace trusted him, of course she did, but even so, she had no idea how a dying man was to do so.
Hearing and feeling how Leon’s ragged breath shook his fragile chest, Grace decided that she couldn’t put that responsibility in the man’s hands, “No. No, no. I have an idea.”
Relenting, Leon agreed, “I trust you.” Once again for emphasis, he repeated, “I trust you.”
With that, discussion ceased and the two of them shambled their way over to Zeno. Zeno, of course, had to open that big mouth of his and say,
“So. The prodigal daughter returns.”
If Grace had the power to, and if she hadn’t been helping Leon, she would have roadhouse kicked that motherfucker to oblivion.
Instead, she stared him dead in the eyes—the sunglasses, and said, “I know the password.” She mustered up as much strength as she could to prevent her voice from shaking. Now was not the time to be meek.
If Zeno felt any emotion at hearing that, he did not display it, “Fulfill your destiny,” He said, “and all will be forgiven.”
In that moment, a violent cough overcame Leon, making him too cumbersome to hold. Grace lost her grip and he fell to the floor, “O-only if you let Leon live.” Was the ultimatum that she provided Zeno, further emphasized by Leon writhing on the floor.
It seemed that Zeno didn’t even have to think about it, “Very well.” He said, tossing his cigarette away as he moved out of the computer’s path so that Grace could ‘fulfill her destiny’ and type the password in.
Hesitantly, Grace made her way to the computer, which unfolded in welcoming. She stared at the device for a moment, taking in the gravity of the situation. This was possibly the most important decision in the history of the world, and it all fell on her shoulders. The pressure was crushing, but Grace stood tall.
She knew, in her heart, that she was making the right decision.
What does the creator desire? Was the prompted question.
Carefully, Grace typed in the word: H-O-P-E.
Suddenly, the machine whirred and boiled with surprising anticlimacticism. You could hear a pen drop in the room if it wasn’t for everyone’s anticipatory breaths. From the entrance came Victor Gideon, but instead of attacking, he simply watched in awe as the center piece came loose, revealing an assortment of vials containing yellow liquid. Mesmerized, Grace picked one up.
“What are you doing, Grace?” Leon asked from the floor. There was real fear in his voice the likes of Grace hadn’t yet heard.
“Spencer regretted what he did.” Grace explained, turning to Leon, “He-” She was interrupted by Zeno shoving her out of the way.
“Well done.” He mused, picking up his own vial. He turned to look at Leon, and while Grace couldn’t see his eyes past the shades, she could sense the sinister intention in them.
“Y-you promised!” She called him out, moving closer to Leon.
“Yes. That I would let him live.” Zeno said as he walked up to Leon. He held the vial towards Leon, as if aiming to inject him, but in a swift motion the vial was pressed into Zeno’s own neck. Why he had done so, Grace couldn’t even begin to fathom.
Zeno groaned as he pulled the needle from his neck, a satisfied expression on his face as he addressed Leon, who clumsily backed away from him, “Mr. Kennedy…I give you the honor of experiencing my power firsthand.”
Confused, Grace stepped forward, “I-I’m not sure Elpis is what you think it is.” She said, Although she had to admit to herself, she was very sure. The decision to release Elpis was not one she made lightly, “There’s nothing special about me.” She explained, “I-I was never any key. Spencer wanted to make amends. He…”
Zeno’s face scrunched up in pain as he removed his sunglasses. His teeth grit hard, and Grace could see that he was beginning to understand.
“But, you released Elpis.” He said, hunching over in pain and staring at Grace, “What is it?” He demanded, “Tell me!” Aggressively, Zeno approached Grace, looking likely to unleash all of his fury onto her. Leon would not let that happen.
Leon got to his feet and ran up behind Zeno, every step feeling as if it was tearing him apart from the inside. But he would be damned if he let anything happen to Grace. With a cry of righteous fury, Leon tackled Zeno to the ground and was sent painfully to the floor in the process. Grace ran over to his side, trying to provide him what semblance of comfort she could as Zeno writhed on the ground feet away.
“Why? My powers…”
“Elpis is Spencer's atonement.” She explained, holding the vial she had up and staring at it, “It’s an antiviral.” She concluded before positioning the needle towards Leon’s neck. Before she could administer Elpis to him, she was interrupted by Victor Gideon’s laughter from across the room.
The hideous man peeled off his mask to reveal his unsightly eyes, “Amazing…” He mused, “I am humbled by my master’s genius.”
Zeno got to his feet and stared Victor down, “Your research was wrong.”
While Zeno and Victor argued, Grace tended to Leon, who was getting more worse for wear by the second, “Grace…” He wheezed.
“I’m here, Leon. I-I’m here.” Grace said taking his hand with one of hers and using the other to position the vial up to Leon’s neck, “This is gonna sting but-”
Suddenly, the sound of a shot rang out. Stunned by the echo, Grace took a moment to notice that…
The vial had been shot.
Yellow liquid bled from the broken glass like a hemorrhage. Numb, Grace could only watch as it spilled down her hand, through the grated floor, and into the abyss below.
“No.” She said, her brain finally catching up, “No!”
Zeno laughed from the other side of the room, putting his gun away. His laughter was weak and pained as Elpis ran through him, but he certainly felt triumphant enough.
“Y-you promised.” Grace said, quietly as if her own voice would rip through her. Then, as loud and filled with fury as she could muster, “You promised you would let him live!”
“And I was promised a weapon.” Zeno spat, “But we don’t always get what we want, do we?” Like a petulant child, Zeno turned to Victor only to have his head swung smooth off by a tentacle that sprouted out of Victor’s lost limb.
Shocked by the sudden violence, Grace barely noticed Leon’s hand clawing at her arm, “Hold on, Leon.” She said, “I’ve just got to-” She turned to face the man only to see that his hands were now paper white and bruised a sickly black. Her eyes followed his arm to see that, “No!”
Black blood oozed from Leon’s mouth, filled with gnashing teeth. His eyes, once radiant and blue, turned a putrid yellow, his corneas red and blistering, “No!” Grace screamed, shoving Leon off of her and kicking him away. She felt horrible for harming him, but there was no other choice. She had to get away from him so that she could grab another vial.
This wasn’t over. Leon had turned, but he could be saved. She could save him.
Getting to her feet, Grace carefully maneuvered past Leon and to the console in the center of the room, “Just hold on, Leon!” She said, fetching one of the vials. She looked over in the direction of Victor, only to see him standing there, laughing as if her scrambling to save Leon was the funniest sitcom he had ever watched. Grace couldn’t fathom why he wasn’t making any attempt to stop her, but she didn’t have time to think about it anyway. Saving Leon was the only thing she cared about.
She turned around to face Leon, “I’ve got it, Leon, just-” Grace’s eyes widened at the sight before her.
Standing on the edge of the platform was Leon. His unsteady, zombified form wobbled, barely having any bearings on the precarious amount of platform left under his feet. Grace immediately broke out into a sprint, “Leon! Come back! Leon!”
“Don….” Leon hissed, his words barely coherent, “Don’t wanna be one of…them.” He stepped further off of the platform, the heels of his boots just barely keeping him upright, but with the way he was swaying, Grace knew she didn’t have a second to spare in reaching him.
Grace reached out to Leon, her fingertips just grazing his back before she was suddenly, violently pulled away by Victor’s tentacle, “Goddamnit!” She screamed, “No!” She cried, kicking her leg out as hard as she could to loosen the tentacle, “Let me go! Let me go!”
Victor laughed cruelly as he increased his tentacle’s hold on Grace, “I’d like to personally thank you for making my master’s vision a reality.” He said, “There’s no time to spare.”
Grace continued to struggle against Victor’s grip, “Let it all come down.” Victor said as he crossed over to the computer and punched something in, “All of it.”
“Let me go!” Grace cried, “I have to-”
The room began to shake and rattle violently. Horrified, Grace shot her head over to Leon to see that he was still on the edge, but with how the platform bowed and trembled, he wouldn’t be there long, “Leon!” She called out to him, reaching towards him as if she could somehow compel him to step off the edge.
She could not.
And with the separation of the bridge from the platform, that was just enough jostling…
For Leon to fall.
Chris felt numb.
To know that Leon had been seconds away from being saved…
What else could he feel than numb?
“M-Mr. Redfield?” Grace asked, her eyes teary from the retelling. It was clear she was trying to hold it together for Chris, “Chris?”
“I just…” Chris finally spoke up, his head bowed, “I just need a moment.”
Grace nodded and let him be, awkwardly sitting in her chair. The only sounds filling the room were the quiet buzz of the mini fridge and Chris’ ragged breath. After what seemed like an eternity, Chris’ voice broke the silence.
“Thank you.” He said. Grace was unsure where he was going with it, “For telling me. Thank you for doing everything you could to save him.”
“You’re…yeah. I would have done anything to save him. It should have been him to make it, not me.”
Chris swallowed. The deepest, darkest parts of him felt inclined to agree. But, in his heart he knew that was wrong, “Don’t talk like that. Leon wouldn’t have wanted you to think that way.” Leon never liked when people spoke for him (which unfortunately happened a lot, given he was a government dog) but Chris had a feeling that, just this once, Leon would appreciate it.
Grace wasn’t sure what to say to that, “O-okay.”
The silence filled the room again, but this time, it was cut by Grace, “I…” She stopped herself, unsure of if it was wise to continue.
Chris gave her a look that asked, begged her to continue.
“I just had the thought that…zombies.”
“Zombies.” Chris said flatly.
“Yes, zombies…they’re really resilient. I just thought that…maybe he could have survived the fall…or, you know, not been…” Grace had no idea how to finish the sentence without using graphic language. But how could she avoid it? It was a violent, awful thing, buy-in-large, “not been in such bad shape that he couldn’t be…salvaged.”
“Salvaged.”
Salvaged was for cargo. Salvaged was for recovering files. Salvaged was for things. Not Chris’ fucking husband.
“Get out.” He said, his tone dead.
‘Wh-what?”
“Get out!” He bellowed, standing from his chair and staring down the woman with eyes that held nothing but abject hatred for her, “Get out of my office. Get out of my sight!” Overcome by emotion, Chris crumbled back into his chair and grit his teeth so hard they nearly cracked, “I will have one of my men escort you back to the airport.” He said, trying to calm himself down, to retain some decorum.
Instead of cowering like Chris had expected, Grace rose from her own chair and stared Chris down with a fury in her eyes that Chris had only seen in himself, “Listen to me, Mr. Redfield.” She spat, clearly tired of the verbal abuse and unwilling to take any more, even if Chris was a grieving widower, “I did everything I could to save your husband. Everything. And I’m sorry it wasn’t enough, but I tried.” Her voice broke as tears cascaded from her eyes, but she remained strong, “I tried so fucking hard.” She balled her fists tightly in frustration and steeled her voice, “I gave you a suggestion.” She said, “I would encourage you to take a chance. It’s either that, or knowing that you did nothing to bring him back. That’s something that you’ll just have to live with, because I refuse to take that blame for you.” With that, Grace turned her back to Chris and stormed out the door, slamming it behind her.
Chris sat back in his chair, utter awe at her strength and audacity falling over him. She hadn’t stuttered even once while she was letting Chris have it.
No wonder Leon liked her.
Leon…
Chris bowed his head and smoothed his hair back with a trembling hand.
Could he really be saved?
Chris couldn’t risk his men’s lives on a hunch, so he set out to the rubble of ARK by himself.
Sure, in the week since the incident, ARK had been thoroughly searched and contained into a neat clearance zone. There had been no sign of a zombie with swoopy boy-band hair, but Chris still had hope. The reconnaissance team couldn’t have possibly encountered every zombie remaining in the facility.
Right?
Well, Chris was banking on it.
Without much more deliberation, Chris took hold of a rope left by his squad, attached a carabiner to it, and rappelled down.
It was a long way down. Chris thought about that fact as he considered that the platform Leon had fallen from was that high up. Could even a zombie survive that kind of a fall?
Chris couldn’t help but feel as if he was chasing a ghost.
When he finally made it down, Chris detached the carabiner and flicked on his flashlight. The only other source of light came from the cracked ceiling where he had come down from. With how late in the day it was, it was likely the flashlight would soon become his only form of light. That wasn’t a comforting thought. If the flashlight had become at all compromised, Chris would be fucked.
For a moment, just a moment, he considered climbing back up.
But then, how could he go on living knowing that he had attempted to rescue Leon only to turn back for fear of the dark?
He couldn’t.
So, keeping his mind from wandering into the most FUBAR possibilities, Chris continued forward. The perfunctory map the clean-up team had made was hardly helpful, but it at least gave him an idea of which areas of the rubble had been searched most thoroughly. That would save him a lot of time.
It wasn’t long before Chris had searched all of the accessible area, turning up absolutely nothing.
“Fuck.” He breathed, taking a rest against a stack of rubble. He hadn’t so much as taken a knee since arriving. Hopelessness set in ten fold. If a sound-of-mind person with working brain functionalities couldn’t make their way any further through the rubble, how could Chris genuinely expect a zombie to?
Chris swallowed hard at the thought of referring to Leon as a zombie. Sure, it was undeniably true, but it didn’t mean that he had to like it. If his mission in coming to ARK had turned out the way he wanted it to, he could have referred to the man as a former zombie. But it seemed that, at this rate, there would be no hope of that happening.
So Chris went with plan B, the one he much less preferred.
With a heavy heart, Chris knelt down and began pushing rubble out of the way. Inside one of the holsters on his person was Leon’s favorite handgun: Matilda. He had kept the thing for nearly thirty years, and while it didn’t see every combat situation, Leon had taken excellent care of it. Chris was going to, in a sense, bury the weapon in place of a body. Leon had always said he wanted to be cremated so that there was no chance he could come back, but in the absence of a body, this symbolic gesture would have to do. Reasoning or not, it didn’t make Chris feel any better about it.
The rubble remaining was stuck a bit more stubbornly, so Chris held his flashlight between his neck and shoulder and increased his efforts. He wanted the weapon to be buried enough so that no one could recover it if another clean-up team was sent down.
After a moment, the only remaining piece of rubble was a large chunk of–something. Chris didn’t know what part of the building (former building) it was from, but he didn’t really care. He just needed to get it out of the way. Pinning his flashlight a bit harder, almost to the point of straining his neck, Chris used both hands to lift the rubble away. With a grunt, he finally dislodged the rubble and managed to lift it up, “Here we go.” He mumbled to himself as he set the piece to the side. He’d place it back after–
Chris’s flashlight clattered to the ground with how fast he straightened up, “Oh my God.”
Chris couldn’t believe what he was looking at.
Beneath the rubble was a glass pod of some kind. Based on the classified photos of ARK before its destruction he had seen before its destruction, it looked to be one which hung on the walls of the Elpis chamber. That isn’t what gave Chris the pause of his entire life though. No, it was what was under the pod that nearly sent Chris’ heart flying out of his chest, “Oh my God.” Chris repeated. What else could he say?
Encased under the pod was Leon S. Kennedy.
He wasn’t in good shape. Having been down there for a week, his body was greatly emaciated. However, being under the pod spared him most of the damage from the elements. The damage from the fall was the worst. It seemed that Leon’s spine had broken as his body was twisted in an awkward, unnatural position. Both of his arms had been broken, one being a compound fracture, the other pinned under Leon’s back. On top of that, the pod hadn’t been big enough to fully encase a man of his size. As Chris cleared more rubble away, he saw that one of Leon’s legs had been severed clean off. The sight nearly made Chris gag. He had seen far worse injuries in his time, but seeing something so graphic happen to the body of the man he loved…
Chris turned away, doubled over, and threw up. He couldn’t help himself. He hadn’t gotten so sick over the sight of gore since he was called to investigate a suicide by gunshot back in his time with the RPD. Before then, he had never considered what a human being would look like without a head.
Steeling himself, Chris turned back to Leon. He did his best to ignore the faint, animalistic sounds coming from the man, how his teeth gnashed with the desire to rip Chris’ flesh away.
That was still Leon in there. His head was still intact, so he could be saved. For the first time since talking to Grace, Chris genuinely had hope of having Leon back in his arms. After this, Chris would be much less hesitant to let him out of them.
Knowing he’d need both hands for this, Chris popped the end of the flashlight into his mouth and got to work clearing the rest of the rubble. While doing so, he came across Leon’s leg. It made him feel crazy to do so, but all he could do was toss it aside. After reading up on the extensive reports done on cured virus victims, it had been made clear time and time again that limb-attachment was not a possibility.
On the subject of injuries, Chris stopped. A broken spine was survivable for a zombie…but for a human…
Research suggested that minor injuries would be no issue for a healed human. Things like bite wounds and fractures could heal up through the normal, human capacity for healing. Fatal injuries, however…well, there just wasn’t enough data to form a conclusion.
In cases where bones were reset and open wounds were stitched up or grafted prior to the administration of antivirals, patients had a sixty-percent rate of death after being cured. They weren’t the worst odds in the world, but Chris didn’t know if they were worth taking the gamble for. On one hand, Leon could survive and make a recovery after extensive surgery and physical therapy. On the other, he could turn back, be in a world of unbelievable pain, and die anyway.
Either way, if Leon’s bones were not reset and his wounds treated to a medical professional’s best ability (attempting to treat an undead being was pretty much playing Frankenstein) he would die. But above all, Chris vowed that whatever decision he made would end in Leon no longer being a zombie. He couldn’t stand to see it, and if Leon’s consciousness was at all still in there, he knew Leon couldn’t stand to be it.
So Chris was left with two options.
One, shoot Leon in the head. End his suffering right then and now.
Two, call for reinforcements, have Leon air-lifted to a medical facility, and have him treated before administering the vaccine.
Staring down at Leon, whose eyes had long-since lost their beautiful blue shine, Chris’ first inclination was to go with the first option. Being a zombie for any length of time was a horrible fate, let alone being a zombie for a week. Sending Leon to be treated would just add to that time. Sure, there was the possibility of Leon making a physical recovery after the administration of Elpis, but what shape would his mind be in?
There was a thirty percent chance, based on existing research, that Leon would be brain-dead after being cured. And even without brain-death, in all cases of being cured from zombification, victims reported having memories of being a zombie. They were often hazy and dream-like, but they were present. Chris knew Leon had already been facing a long battle with PTSD and suicidal ideation. If he retained memories of being a zombie, the thing he hated most in the world, who was to say that Leon wouldn’t get overwhelmed and take his own life? It certainly wouldn’t be his first attempt.
But…if there was a possibility, any possibility of Leon being alive and well again, wasn’t it Chris’ duty as his husband to take it? Was ending it all here, in a sense, Chris giving up on him?
Chris didn’t know. And honestly, he hadn’t been expecting this subclause when he agreed to ‘til death do us part’.
He had agreed, though, to love Leon in sickness and in health…what was being a zombie other than being very, very sick?
Chris knew what he had to do.
There wasn’t anything interesting left to look at on his phone, but Chris continued to scroll through it regardless.
He had been waiting at this little, charming cafe for about fifteen minutes, and he was getting antsy. It seemed these days, that every second he spent not throwing himself into work was allocated to agonizing over the state of Leon.
A month ago, he had made the decision to send Leon to a medical center. It was a decision he made quickly, but not lightly. While he knew that Leon’s fate would be mostly left up to chance once he was taken for treatment, Chris was well aware that there would be a heavy toll on his own mental state as he waited by the phone to be updated.
He had received a few updates since, but none were substantial. All he knew was that the doctors had successfully reset Leon’s bones and mended his wounds, but that there would be a lot of work left to do. Last he heard, they would be fusing what they could salvage of his spine to an artificial one. They promised Chris that the spine would work independently and would not require a connection to anything that could be hacked (a very real worry for Chris given how advanced technology had gotten). As for Leon’s arms, only one could be saved. The one that was pinned behind his back was only dislocated from the shoulder joint, easily having been reset. The other, however, had been broken so severely that there were far too many fragments to work with. Chris didn’t exactly love to hear that, but at least Leon would have one arm to work with, and prosthetics so advanced that they could pass for the real thing had been a technological reality for some years now. The severed leg would also have to be replaced, but the other was in marvelously perfect condition. Honestly, Chris was shocked to hear that there was a single bone in Leon’s body which hadn’t been broken. Leon was one sturdy bastard, even as a zombie.
The update that Chris was waiting to hear on was about administering Elpis. That step had still not been taken, and the thought of Leon meanwhile being a zombie tore Chris up inside. There were some days where he lost hope all together and wished that he had the balls back then to put Leon down and end his suffering.
Lost in thought, Chris didn’t notice Grace until she was sat right in front of him, “Chris?” She asked, voice laced with concern, “Y-you with me?”
Chris stared at her dumbly for a moment before his brain successfully reconnected, “Oh. Grace. I’m sorry, I was just…”
“Thinking about Leon?” Grace guessed aptly. Chris nodded and Grace sighed softly in understanding, “Did they say when they’ll start letting you visit him?” She asked.
“They said that, until they administer Elpis to him, it’s too ‘dangerous’ for me to be around him. Which, I don’t know if they know this, but I kill zombies for a living so why would I be in any danger?”
“I think they’re more worried about Leon, you know, since you do kill zombies for a living.”
Grace’s words had horrible implications to them, so for the sake of his sanity, Chris brushed them off and changed the subject, “Anyway,” He said, taking a sip from his black coffee which had long since grown cold, “how have things been for you?”
“They’ve been good.” Grace said with a soft smile, glad to have been asked, “Emily’s reading lessons are going very well. She’s such a bright kid.” Her words were so fond, Chris couldn’t help but return her smile, even if slightly.
“I’m glad to hear that. I’m sure Leon will be glad too when he…when he can hear about it.” Chris’ expression saddened instantaneously. Yeah, this is how most conversations with Grace went. Chris had decided to keep in touch with the woman, mostly out of gratitude. She had, in more ways than one, been the one to potentially save Leon’s life. Chris owed everything to her, but Grace was a very humble woman. Rather than taking everything Chris could offer her, she settled on him buying her coffee every once in a while.
Grace placed a comforting hand over Chris’ and offered him a sympathetic expression, “It’s alright Chris. Soon, he’ll– he’ll be better soon.”
Deciding that he had already wasted enough of Grace’s time feeling sorry for himself, Chris once again changed the subject, “Uh…watch any good shows lately?” A conversation master he was not.
“Chris,” Grace said, “We can talk about him. I know you want to.”
And that…may have been the kindest thing anyone had ever said to Chris in his life.
And talking about Leon is precisely what they did. For much longer than Chris would have allowed himself had he given himself the chance to think about it.
Chris told Grace about how he and Leon met, how they had initially gotten along well, having love for Claire in common. He had to mention, however, some of the minor spats they had over the years when their ideals differed. When he finally got to telling Grace about how they finally started dating, she said that she, “Couldn’t believe they didn’t realize how in love they were sooner.” Chris felt inclined to agree, with hindsight in mind. Chris appreciated the candor from Grace.
Grace would pitch in here and there about how brave and strong Leon was during the ordeal she had been through with him, but she could easily intuit that bringing up the events which landed Leon in the situation where he found himself was not all that comforting for Chris, so she kept her personal anecdotes to a minimum.
After a long while, the alarm Chris had set on his watch went off, and it was time for the two of them to part. Despite their meeting having lasted well over an hour, Chris didn’t feel as if it were nearly long enough.
Grace, being Grace, hugged Chris on her way out. To anyone nearby, it might have looked a bit funny for such a large man to swallow up a tiny girl in his arms, but neither of them cared. Especially not Chris, who needed the hug far more than he thought he did.
Chris took a longer leave of absence than he had in his entire life. He had to.
With no updates about Leon’s condition, Chris’ mental state had decayed to the point where he would break down at his desk while working. Needless to say, he couldn’t keep going like that.
But leaving work might not have been the best thing for him. Having nowhere to go but home, that meant that Chris would have to be home. Alone.
His and Leon’s home was normally a warm, inviting place.
Knowing that their jobs sucked just about every ounce of joy from their lives, Chris and Leon vowed to make their home as comforting and cozy as possible. So, on the rare occasion that they could spend extended time together in it, they could thoroughly enjoy it.
Leon had an eye for design, so Chris let him take the reins on the whole project. It would have been impossible for Leon to get the project done himself, he simply didn’t have enough time. But he did pick the best home designer money could buy. What Chris had come to realize about Leon was that he enjoyed the finer things in life. Chris didn’t mind, those fat ‘hazard pay’ checks didn’t need to rot in a savings account, not when every day could be their last.
Chris had been very used to coming home to an empty house. But it never had a connotation such as this.
He tried, desperately, not to think about it as he set his keys on a table next to the door. He quickly thought better of it, picking the keys up and going to hang them on the hook above the table. Leon always yelled at him for ‘disrespecting the hooks’ (whatever that meant). It wasn’t until the keys were secure on the hook that Chris realized Leon wouldn’t be home any time soon to thank him for following instructions…
Chris instantly plucked his keys off of the hook and rushed back out the door.
He couldn’t be in that house.
Grace hadn’t expected to be meeting with Chris again so soon, but hey, she wasn’t going to say no to free coffee (and the chance to help a new friend).
When she arrived at the coffee shop, she spotted Chris sitting at a table tucked away in the corner. She approached the man carefully, feeling the dread rolling off of him from across the room. Noticing her presence, Chris looked up at Grace with the most miserable look on his face. Instantly, Grace knew what he needed.
Forgoing ordering her coffee, Grace took the seat in front of Chris and folded her hands in her lap, “Tell me about it.” She said.
So Chris did.
And…it was a lot to listen to. But Grace did anyway.
Finally, when Chris was done venting his frustrations, he took a deep breath in and said, “Leon always wanted me to go to therapy.” It was kind of an odd statement out of nowhere, but Grace heard him out, “He said it really helped him so…I think I’m gonna look into it.”
“What,” Grace didn’t really know what to say to that, “What made you come to that conclusion?”
“You.” Chris said, “I realized that it’s…hard to get my feelings out into words. But it does help.” As if nervous to get so vulnerable about something that wasn’t Leon, Chris fidgeted with his wedding ring for a moment before elaborating, “You’ve been through so much. And, I mean, even if you hadn’t been through what you have, it’s not right for me to unload all of this onto you.”
Grace’s first instinct upon hearing that was to tell Chris that she could handle it. That she could be trusted to hold his feelings, but if she was being honest with herself, she had been losing sleep over the combination of her own trauma and Chris’. It was a lot for one person. Still, Grace felt guilty for agreeing with Chris. She felt that, since she had failed to save Leon when she had the chance, she could have at least helped out the person that Leon loved the most.
But, that wasn’t healthy for her. And as much as she cared for Leon, and now Chris, she knew she could only handle so much.
“I appreciate you being so considerate.” She said, “I’m always here for you, and Leon too.” She added that last part because, through it all, she had not lost hope in seeing the man again, and she wanted Chris to feel the same way, “But, y-yeah. I think therapy is the best option. It’s helped me too.”
Chris offered her a weak smile. It was clear that making any kind of positive decision for himself was difficult for him when all he wanted to do was bend the will of fate and bring Leon back sooner rather than later.
But even the indomitable Chris Redfield didn’t have that kind of power. He just had to take care of himself while he waited for Leon to pull through—
Suddenly, Chris’ phone went off. The man ripped the device out of his pocket so quickly he just about tore it, and he was right to do so because,
“Hello?”
“Chris Redfield?” A clinical sounding voice came through the other end. Chris immediately identified it as one of Leon’s doctors.
“This is him.” Chris responded. It took everything in him not to rattle off ten million questions through the phone, “It’s Leon’s doctor.” He whispered to Grace, who sat up in her chair and listened intently as Chris put the phone on speaker, not thinking about or caring if anyone else in the cafe could hear.
“Mr. Redfield, this is Dr. Martinez. I’m just calling to give you an update on your husband’s treatment plan.”
Chris tried not to read too much into the doctor’s wording, “I’m listening.”
“We’ve decided that the prospects are looking strong enough for us to go ahead with the antiviral. We just wanted to go over your expectations for Leon’s treatment and see if you still consent to having him injected.”
“Yes.” Chris said immediately, not even needing to think about it. In the time he had waited to hear back from the doctors, Chris had agonized over the decision. If it worked or not, Elpis was a chance. Chris would take that chance and run with it as far as it would take him.
Sounding a bit stunned at the quickness at which Chris provided him an answer, the doctor paused for a moment before clearing his throat and responding, “Very well. We also wanted to ask if you would like to be present for the injection. I would like to first warn you that the results have a non-zero percent chance of…not going as expected. I encourage you to have realistic expectations of what the antivirus is capable of.”
“Okay.” Chris said, only to realize that wasn’t nearly a good enough answer, “Yes—yes, I want to be there.” Chris checked his watch, “I can be there by seven in the morning tomorrow.” He said, “Sooner if need be. He added, “Much sooner.”
“We will schedule the injection for eight then.” The doctor said, “That should be all, Mr. Redfield. Safe travels.”
“Thank you.” Chris said, his voice thinning with emotion that he was just barely able to contain, “Thank you so much, Doctor.”
“My pleasure.” Dr. Martinez said, “It is an honor to treat a national hero.” Chris smiled at that, glad to hear Leon being recognized for everything he had done for the country–the world.
With that, Chris hung up the phone and looked to Grace, “Feel like a plane ride?”
Grace was almost not allowed into the room, but one intimidating look from Chris and the nurse was making an exception.
The two of them were led into a room with a large glass panel separating them from Leon, who was sedated and shackled to a hospital bed. Seeing him like that was incredibly difficult for Chris. It had been a while since his turning, Leon’s body was a bit…worn out looking. Decayed might not have been the right word for it, but he was hardly thriving.
There were two chairs against the wall, and Chris quickly decided that he needed to take advantage of one. He sat down and Grace sat beside him, also looking faint but clearly trying to hold it together as best as she could for Chris, “H-how long until they…?”
When Chris checked his watch, his hand shook, “Fifteen minutes.” He informed her.
It was about to be the most agonizing fifteen minutes of his life.
When those fifteen minutes were up, a group of three doctors came into the room Leon was in. Chris immediately sprung from his chair and approached the glass, watching every move made by the people on the other side. He was so focused on what was ahead of him that a nurse popping into the room startled him, “Mr. Redfield?” He asked.
“Yes?” Chris answered, not turning around to face the man.
“I-”
“L-let him be.” Grace, still sat in her chair, did the talking for Chris as it seemed Chris wasn’t capable at the moment, “I’ll fill him in later.” She said, beckoning the nurse over.
“Oh…kay.” The nurse sat beside Grace and untucked a clipboard from under his arm. He talked to Grace for a few minutes, discussing the procedures Leon had been through and what they planned to do should Leon recover from the antiviral injection, “Speaking of,” said the nurse, who stood up and approached Chris, “I’m sorry, Mr. Redfield. I just need you to take a moment to sign this form saying you give us consent to inject your husband.”
Realizing that was why the doctors had been standing wearing hazmat suits in Leon’s room talking instead of getting on with the injection, Chris turned around and took the clipboard and pen from the nurse. With a shaking hand, Chris signed the form, “Here you go.” He said quietly as he handed it back, “Are they good to do it now, then?” He asked.
The nurse nodded, “Yes. They’re going to take one last blood sample and then they should do it soon after that. I apologize for the wait, but given your husband’s…unconventional condition, we’d just like to collect a bit more data. It could help someone in the future.”
Frustratingly, Chris’ mind went into a selfish direction and said that he didn’t care about helping anyone else out, he just wanted Leon cured already. But he knew in his heart that, while he loved Leon more than anything, the fate of humanity could have at least a slice of his consideration.
“Leon would like that, being able to help people like that. Sounds good to me.” Chris said, putting on a brave face for both the nurse and Grace. Grace looked to appreciate it, settling back a bit where she had just been on the edge of her seat.
When it was finally time for the injection, Chris almost appreciated the previous stalling. Once he actually saw the needle, he felt much less certain of his decision.
He knew it was the right one. He knew that. It didn’t mean, though, that he couldn’t have some second thoughts.
Please Chris thought, If this doesn’t end well for him, it sure as hell won’t end well for me.
Grace had joined him at the glass, but Chris hadn’t even noticed, too focused on watching as the cap was removed from the syringe. This was not an original sample of Elpis but a duplication. Chris had been assured that it was just as potent as Spencer's batch, but, given the circumstances, he couldn’t help but worry that it just wouldn’t work, that somehow Leon was too far gone.
Sensing that Chris’ mind was wandering into dangerous territory, Grace reached for and gently took his hand. Chris jumped a bit at the contact, but he quickly accepted the gesture, wrapping his large fingers around hers. It was comforting, grounding. Leon trusted this woman, and through the time they had spent together, Chris had grown to trust her too. For the tenth time, Chris was grateful to have Grace in his and Leon’s lives.
Silently, the two of them watched as the needle was finally inserted into Leon’s neck. Instantly, his eyes popped open. They were yellow and violent, Chris hated to see them like that, but he couldn’t pull his eyes away. Leon groaned and thrashed, which made both Grace and Chris jump. Thankfully, the restraints did a fine job in keeping Leon down, even as the thrashing grew more violent. Given the extent of his still healing injuries, though, two of the doctors held him down. Through the glass, Chris could just barely hear discussion of if Leon should be sedated again, but the head doctor informed them all that, if he went under again, it was very likely he wouldn’t come back out.
So, for the sake of Leon’s body being salvageable as a living, breathing human, Chris could only hope that the doctors’ grip on him was strong enough to keep him down.
The sounds that spilled from Leon’s mouth grew louder and more garbled. It was murderous to Chris’ ears and well-being, but he held out strong, standing in place with Grace at his side…even if they both had trembling legs.
It wasn’t until the sounds began to sound more human in the agony that Chris finally lost his nerve. Doubling over and holding his knees, he wheezed, “I can’t take much more than this.” It was hard for him to admit, and it was even harder for Grace to hear, but she placed her hand on his back and stroked it comfortingly anyway.
“I know.” She said, “I know. Hopefully it’ll be over soon.”
Yeah, Chris sure as hell hoped so, too.
Leon awoke to bright lights burning his eyes. He flinched and closed them, but the glow was still bothersome through his eyelids, “Ugh…” Leon tried to toss his arm over his eyes to shield them from the light, but he found that he couldn’t move his arms. His—-arm?
Panic seared through Leon as he realized that one arm was restrained and the other was gone. He could hardly believe the sight when he was able to crane his neck enough to see that, indeed, all that was left was a stump. It was also then that Leon realized he was in excruciating pain. Confused and delirious, Leon attempted to move his body only to realize that he couldn’t feel his legs. And troublingly, he couldn’t look down to see if they were even still there, “Hhhh…Hhhhh.” He tried to cry out for help, but all he could produce was a sharp hiss from his ragged throat.
What the fuck had happened to him, and where was he?
“Hhh…HhhHHH.” He tried again, but his voice would still not come out. Panic coursed through Leon as he tried his damndest to remember what had happened to him. It was all fog after the point where he passed out at ARK. ARK…Grace…Victor…Zeno…Elpis…
Leon thrashed harder until the pain in his body deterred him completely. He pressed his back into the bed below him and gasped out a heavy, pained noise which finally must have got someone’s attention.
“He’s awake!” An unfamiliar voice called from across the room. By the sounds of it, he had been out for a long time. Just how long was it?
Someone came to his side but Leon didn’t have the strength to look over at them. He could just barely hear the sound of them fiddling with the IV bag through the ringing in his ears, “Hi, honey.” The person said, their voice was sweet, and it would have been comforting in other circumstances, “You’ve been out for a little bit so I know it’s gonna feel kinda weird for a little bit.” A gentle hand was placed on top of Leon’s forehead, supposedly checking for a fever. Now that Leon was a little more in tune with how he was feeling, he couldn’t argue when the person ripped her hand away and exclaimed, “My goodness, you’ve got quite the fever. Sorry, Dear, I’ll let the doctor know and they’ll get that squared away for you.” The woman’s comforting nature reminded Leon of his late grandmother, who was always using pet names and checking for fevers. Leon actually sort of wondered if he was in heaven and it really was his grandmother, but upon her leaning over him to check the restraint on his remaining arm, he could see that she didn’t at all resemble her. In his delirious state, he was almost upset about that.
Actually, being dead and in heaven might have been preferable to the pain he was in, “Hhh…”
“Oh, no, sweetheart. Don’t try to talk.” The woman said, shushing him, “The doctor will be here soon to explain everything to you. I’m sure you’re real confused.” She adjusted Leon’s blanket and tucked him in like a child. Who was this woman? Mother Teresa?
“Can you understand me, Hun?” She asked, “Blink twice if you can understand me.”
Leon didn’t understand what was going on, but he did understand what she was saying at least, so he blinked twice.
“Wonderful.” The woman mused, “Just hang tight, dear. The doctor will be in soon, and after that, your husband can come on in to see you.”
Leon’s heart tightened at the mention of Chris. Oh god. What was he going to think? Seeing Leon like this.
But, then again, in this time of great pain and confusion, Leon wanted nothing more than to feel Chris’ hand on his. Caught up in his own thoughts, Leon hardly noticed the nurse leave only to be replaced by a doctor, who looked over Leon’s chart before addressing the man, “Hello, Leon. Linda told me you’re lucid enough for me to talk to you. Is that right?” She asked.
Still unable to speak, Leon blinked twice for ‘yes.’
Satisfied by this response, the doctor went on to tell Leon what had happened to him, “You were infected by the T-virus. Unfortunately, you did turn.”
I turned. Leon thought, I was one of them.
That thought alone made Leon sincerely wish that he hadn’t been in a hospital bed, but instead six feet under with a bullet between his eyes.
But, he was alive now. Wasn’t he? So…
Leon’s mind reeled as he tried to recall memories of what happened the day he turned. He could remember collapsing at the top of the stairs and needing Grace to help him walk. And that she gave Zeno the ultimatum that Leon’s life being spared was the price she would pay for releasing Elpis.
Elpis.
So then, it was a cure after all.
Leon never could have guessed. Even with all of the clues leading to such a conclusion he just…couldn’t believe Spencer would have such a change of heart. Most of all, what Leon couldn’t wrap his mind around was that the life flowing through him was thanks to Spencer, even if what had taken that life away in the first place was also the man’s doing.
Quite the paradox. It made Leon’s head hurt. That and everything else that made it hurt.
Sensing his discomfort, the doctor stopped her explanation, “Maybe that’s enough for today. Shouldn’t overwhelm your mind so soon after its come back online.” She wrote something down on the chart she was holding before addressing Leon again, “Would you like to see your husband? There's a friend with him too, her name’s Grace. Do you wanna see Chris and Grace?”
Leon’s heart warmed at the thought of Grace sticking around to see him after the ordeal they had been through. She was a true friend. Although, Leon had a feeling that the sight of him missing a limb could be too much for her after everything she had been through. If she lost her nerve and ran out of the room, Leon could hardly blame her.
And Chris…oh Chris.
Would he be able to look at Leon the same? Not because of the arm, but because he had been on the other side. Because, maybe if fleetingly, he had still been a zombie. The enemy.
It would hurt, but Leon wouldn’t be able to blame him either.
He sort of had the feeling that even the mirror itself would toss itself off the wall when he looked into it.
“Hhhh…” Leon tried to speak, but words still failed him.
“Oh, sorry. Blink twice for yes, once for no.”
Leon blinked twice. He was scared to face them, but what frightened him worse was the thought of shutting them out. Especially Chris. So much trust had been built throughout their relationship. Leon had to hope that trust would remain steadfast.
“Ready?” The doctor said, “I’ll bring them in.”
Chris had been waiting for far too long, and he was getting sick of it.
“They said we’d be able to see him soon.” Chris griped to Grace, who nodded in understanding.
“Soon could mean anything, though.” She said, “I wish they would have been more specific.”
A curtain had been drawn to cover the window, making Chris even more anxious. Why were they hiding Leon from him? If the injection hadn’t gone right, wasn’t it Chris’ right to know?
He sure as hell thought so.
After a moment of silence, Chris stood from his chair, “I’m gonna go ask someone.”
“Chris wait-” Grace stood up and placed a hand on Chris’ arm to stop him, but they were both interrupted by the door opening.
“Mr. Redfield?” The same nurse from earlier asked, “He’s ready to see you now.”
He’s ready.
That means he’s awake.
Oh god. Leon made it. He pulled through. He was awake. Alive.
Without a second longer to deliberate, Chris nearly sprinted out the door, the nurse struggling to keep up with him in order to show him the way.
“He’s lucid.” The nurse explained, sounding a bit out of breath while trying to stay in stride with Chris, “But he can’t speak yet. He can communicate with blinks. Twice for yes, once for no. Although, I would keep questions to a minimum, to not overwhelm him. You know?”
Chris nodded, but he wasn’t really listening. He had one thing and one thing only on his mind. Getting through that door and seeing Leon’s chest rising and falling with breath, seeing his eyes shine that sweet baby blue Chris had almost given up on ever seeing again.
He needed this. More than anything. He needed to see with his own eyes that Leon was alive once again. The nurse opened the door for him, and Chris nearly tripped over himself as he bounded into the room, “I’ll give you two some privacy.” The nurse said, grabbing the door handle, “I’ll send Miss. Ashcroft in when you’re done.” There was a soft smile on the nurse's face. He looked pleased to see Chris’ excitement to see his husband. Chris appreciated how much the staff at this facility cared. After all the hospital visits he had under his belt, he could hardly say such sympathy was the norm.
“Thanks.” Chris said softly, likely not even loud enough to be heard. He kept his voice down because, upon reaching Leon’s bedside, he noticed the man’s eyes were shut. He must have fallen back asleep. As long as it was only sleep, Chris was okay with that.
The door shut and Chris was left alone with Leon, whose eyes began to slowly roll beneath his eyelids before finally fluttering open. Chris watched as his pupils retracted in reaction to the bright light above him. Chris wondered if it could be turned down somehow. Leon’s eyes had become quite light sensitive in his advancing age.
“Leon?” Chris asked, voice so soft it barely came out. He wasn’t used to speaking so quietly, but it felt appropriate given the lack of any sound other than the heart monitor in the room, “Are you with me, baby?”
Blearily, Leon’s eyes found Chris’. He stared at the man for a moment in a daze, as if trying his damndest to determine if he was real or not, “Hhhh.” Leon hissed.
“Shhh…shh.” Chris shushed him, taking a seat beside the bed and reaching for Leon’s hand, “Don’t try to talk. Blink.”
Leon blinked twice. Chris smiled.
“You pulled through.” Chris said, “Tough son of a bitch.” He squeezed Leon’s hand a bit tighter, “Remember anything?”
Leon blinked once, then after a moment, blinked again.
“Is that a…sorta?”
Leon blinked twice.
Chris took his other hand and gently carded it through Leon’s hair, overgrown and matted with sweat, “In time.” He said, then, “You need a haircut.”
Leon actually smiled a bit at that. Chris was overjoyed to see it.
“I’ll cut it when we get home.” Chris promised, “I did a pretty alright job last time, don’t you think?”
Leon blinked once….and then again soon after. Joking even in the state he was in. Leon really was back.
Chris could have cried. And before he knew it, he actually was.
“I thought I lost you.” He said through the suddenly cascading tears, “If it weren’t for Grace…I would have.” Chris’ hand stalled in Leon’s hair, as if his emotions got the best of his motor functions, “You’ll have to make her some of that chicken parm you’re famous on the block for, huh? To thank her.”
It was then that Chris got the mental image of Leon pulling chicken parmesan out of the open with a prosthetic arm. It made him cry harder.
Did Leon see the state he was in yet? Could he feel that he was missing limbs?
“Hey, Lee. Uh…” Chris sniffled as he tried to broach the subject, “We weren’t uh…able to save all of you.”
Leon’s brow knit for a moment but soon smoothed itself out, as if he already knew that but needed to be reminded. The doctors must have had him on the strongest pain medication known to man. Chris had to thank them for that.
When the meds wore off and Leon became more aware, though, it was going to be a trial for him to adjust to the new state of his body. Even with the prosthetics, Leon’s life would never be the same. Chris just hoped that Leon could forgive him for making the decision to drastically alter his life without him.
“I’m not sure when I’ll get to take you home.” Chris said, the hand in Leon’s hair returning to its ministrations, “Recovery is gonna be…a long road. You were uh…pretty banged up.”
Banged up didn’t even begin to describe it, but Chris saw no other option. Atleast, no other option that would keep Leon calm.
“But, I took a leave of absence.” Chris informed him, a silver lining, “So no matter how long it takes, I’ll be right by your side. The world of bioterrorism is just going to have to go on without us for a bit, huh?” Chris said that, but surely after this Leon would never be able to return to work. Chris had always hoped to see Leon retire, but he never wanted it to be like this.
Leon stared at Chris as he spoke, just taking in everything the man was saying. Those big, blue eyes gave Chris absolutely no indication as to if he was helping or not. Maybe he wasn’t.
“Do you want me to shut up?” Chris asked.
Leon blinked twice. Alright, well that was that.
Chris would have laughed if his heart wasn’t so strained, “Okay.” A small smile crossed his lips, “Alright, then.”
Chris remained there for a while until he felt it was time for Grace to come in. If he had it his way, he would have never left the man’s side, but Grace deserved to see him too. So Chris stood from his chair, kissed Leon’s forehead, and informed Leon that he would be fetching Grace. Leon blinked twice to give him permission and Chris was off.
It was a great feat, shutting the door behind himself and actually committing to leaving Leon. But Chris at least had solace in that Grace would soon be by Leon’s side.
Chris made his way to where the nurse from earlier was standing. Without any verbal indication, the nurse got the idea and called for Grace to follow him, “Soon Mr. Kennedy should be able to have more than one visitor at once.” He informed both Leon and Chris, “In the meantime, we appreciate the patience.”
Chris nodded, already beginning to feel numb at the loss of Leon’s presence, and sat down in a nearby waiting chair. It was uncomfortable, but he would stay parked there as long as need be.
“I won’t steal him away for too long.” Grace promised, getting a mirthless smile from Chris for his efforts. WIth that, she was led away and Chris was left alone to wrangle with his thoughts.
I’m going to get Leon through this. He thought to himself, I won’t let him regret being saved.
And he fully intended to do exactly that.
It was going to be a long, tough road. But, if there was anything Chris Redfield knew for sure about Leon S. Kennedy, it was that the man was capable of very tough things.
Through the recovery, the adjustment period, and everything in-between and after, Chris was fully confident in Leon’s ability to get through it. That’s just who the man he married was.
Fiddling with the ring on his finger, Chris’ heart was filled to the brim with love.
Because Leon Kennedy was no longer lost. And soon, Chris could bring him home.