Chapter Text
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“Okay, why are you bringing me a report while I’m packing my bag Dion?” Chris sighs, zipping his backpack closed as it sits on his desk.
“I was going through some files for a local rehabilitation center and I found something…weird.” Dion explains, passing a small packet of papers to Chris.
Chris takes them and looks, seeing multiple rows highlighted in blue. Flipping through the sheets, Chris sees that the visits are consistent and regular. They last an hour and a half to two hours before ending, the visitor signing out. Looking just a bit closer, Chris takes note that both people have the same last name. Kennedy. He knows who one of them is, the visitor has the first initial of “L”, meaning Leon is visiting someone.
“Thanks Dion, I’ll look into it more over the weekend. You can head out before me, I’ll see you on Monday.” Chris explains, Dion nodding and leaving the office.
Chris stands there for a moment longer before looking at the papers once more. It looks like Leon visits every Saturday and Sunday, very occasionally staying for the night and leaving promptly Sunday morning. Chris just hopes he can catch Leon leaving on Saturday to hopefully catch him in the parking lot of the rehab center. Saturday morning arrives and Chris gets in his truck, picking Leon’s car out in the traffic and starts following at a distance. Chris doesn’t notice but Leon seems to be going in circles, a door closing heard at a long stoplight.
“Roll down your window Chris.” A voice says, Chris turning his head to see Leon standing at the truck door.
“Heeeeyyy, fancy seeing-“ Chris starts, unable to get much more of his sentence out before Leon pinches his lips shut.
“Be quiet. I know you’re tailing me, I’ve kept us going in circles. Turn around, go home, get your nose out of my life and do whatever Hound Wolf has you doing.” Leon instructs with a glare before walking back to his car.
Chris can hear people from neighboring cars snickering at the scene that just took place. He rolls up his window and stares ahead, watching Leon drive off. Chris hesitates for a second, the sound of someone honking snapping him out of it. Despite the very clear warning from Leon, Chris continues to follow him. The rehabilitation center has a gated entrance, Leon showing something to the guard before being let in. Chris decides to try his luck, showing his Hound Wolf ID badge to the guard. The guard hesitates and checks a sheet in the small booth he’s in before letting Chris through. Chris parks away from where he sees Leon’s car, sitting for an extra couple minutes before stepping out and walking into the building. Every other rehabilitation center Chris has ever visited in his life have been very medical, reeked of antiseptic, been too bland or too colorful or just plain old rundown. But this place is a surprising change. All of the staff have either uniforms, scrubs or casual but work appropriate clothes on. Anyone there for treatment are in relaxed sweats, pajamas or simple but casual clothing. The lights aren’t blinding, the walls are a warm cream color and have an accent of pale red. Chris stands in the lobby for a moment before walking towards reception.
“Here’s your visitors pass, the room you’re looking for is on the floor 7A, room 713.” One of the receptionists explains, sliding Chris a laminated badge across the reception desk.
“How did…” Chris asks, the receptionist smiling at him.
“Mister Kennedy informed us you may eventually pay a visit and asked we have everything prepared for you.” The receptionist hums, Chris taking the badge. “Elevators are to the right, can’t miss them.”
Chris nods and follows the directions, pressing the up arrow. He stands in the additional part of the lobby and runs through a few different scenarios in his head. Maybe Leon’s partner is from the ruins of Raccoon City and is getting treatment for something. Or, maybe the person is a recovering addict. It’s also possible that Leon has extended family that’s being treated. Chris clips the visitor badge to his belt before stepping into the elevator. He presses the button for the floor he was told, leaning against the wall as he watches the numbers climb. Eventually the doors slide open and Chris steps out. He looks at the wall in front of him and sees two arrows, one pointing to the left for rooms 700-725 and the other pointing to rooms 726-750. Chris looks at the arrows and steps to the left, looking for the room number he was given. After a minute he finds it, standing outside. The door has a patient information plaque on it, Chris reading the information on it. “A. Kennedy, blood type O.” is the biggest writing on the plaque, the smaller text showing that he’s married and to check notes for any dietary restrictions or medical conditions. The door is propped open with a boot, Chris sighing since he knows it’s Leon’s boot.
“I can hear your breathing from in here.” Leon’s voice calls, Chris pushing the door open and stepping in.
“Shoes on or off?” Chris asks, hanging up his jacket on the nearby coat rack.
“Off.” Leon responds, Chris undoing his boots.
He’s currently standing in the front room of what appears to be a one bedroom apartment type situation. Directly to his right is the kitchen while forward and to the left seems to be an office or spare room. The living room is the most open area, Chris walking over and looking at the bookshelf. It’s mainly chemistry books as well as different biology textbooks. Pulling the most worn one off of the shelf, Chris opens to the first page and looks for any sort of signature to see the first name of the person.
“What did I say about following me?” Leon asks, Chris nearly dropping the book at the sudden noise.
“Christ, you’re damn near silent when you don’t have boots on.” Chris groans, putting the worn textbook back.
“Answer my question Chris. Why did you follow me?” Leon repeats, Chris seeing him pull latex gloves off and toss them into a garbage bin.
“Dion was looking into some files for this place and came across your repeat visits. He brought it to my attention and I decided to look into it. You visiting family or something?”
“You can’t go rooting into my life Chris, even if you think you’re doing something good. This is such a huge breach of my personal privacy and my trust in you.”
“I wanted to make sure you were okay! You’ve never mentioned family to me, you never mentioned a sibling or parent.”
“Because we haven’t talked since before the incident with Ethan! You have a fucking infant that you promised you’d protect as well as her mother.”
“Rose is fine, Mia is a competent mother!”
“That wasn’t what I was asking Chris…I was saying that you and I haven’t talked since fucking Death Island…I learned from Claire about the situation with Ethan…I haven’t had any communication with you so you have absolutely zero permission to try and wiggle your way back into my life.”
“Answer me like…three questions and I’ll leave.”
“…fine. Question number one is…?”
“Is the person here family?”
“Yes, my husband. Question number two?”
“Wait, when did you get married?!”
“After Raccoon City, one question left.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because everything fucking happened Chris! I had to fight Birkin, I had to watch my town get blown up, I had to fight zombies, I had to save YOUR sister, I was infected with Las Plagas, I became the governments golden boy, I thought I was safe…until everything went to shit again and I had to pick up the pieces.”
“…okay. Does this person make you happy and make you feel safe?”
“That’s two questions but I’ll allow it. Yes to both.”
“…sneaky last question, who-“
Right as Leon is about to step forward and swing at Chris, the bedroom door lock clicks and the door is opened.
“What topic are you two spewing about?” A voice groans, something being grabbed from a table near the door.
“Chris shoving his foot in the metaphorical doorway of my life.” Leon sighs, seeming to soften immediately at the new member of the conversation.
“He’s done that for years, it’s nothing new. Did it during S.T.A.R.S, will probably do it for years to come.” The voice huffs, someone stepping out of the bedroom.