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Everyone heard about what happened to Grace though no one was quite sure exactly what happened. It was covered up quickly and buried under so much red tape that not even the people in charge knew all the details.
Information started leaking out quickly about what exactly happened in Raccoon City all those years ago, but her exact involvement in it (because she was involved in it make no mistake) was unknown. She was off for a week before she came back. She was jumpy and easily spooked but she was alive.
No one really knew her well enough to offer help or support. Grace had always been a recluse and now even more so. She was fine for about another half a month before things got worse. She had been holding the new picture frame on her desk of her and a little girl when she started hyperventilating.
She was quickly escorted into the boss's office.
Nathan admittedly had no clue about how to handle the situation. He was the one to blame for even allowing her to be abducted in the first place. Well perhaps not considering what he'd learned, but he definitely hadn't helped. While he knew more about the situation than most. He was still mostly in the dark.
She was curled up in the corner, and he hadn't the first clue how to fix it. He knew this wasn't a normal panic attack. This was so much more visceral, and not something that he could really fix or talk her down from. Not after what she'd gone through, he wouldn't even know what to say.
He just crouched down next to her, perhaps if he couldn't help, she knew someone who could. God knows she didn't escape that nightmare without help.
“Grace, is there someone I can call for you?” He asked.
She looked at him like she couldn't quite understand, he just repeated himself slowly. She eventually nodded and between gasped breaths and tears gave a name.
“Leon.”
Nathan nodded and gave a confirmation before pulling out her phone. Leon, shit, Leon it was surreal to know that she had met and now was in contact with Leon S. Kennedy of all people. A living legend in the government with so little actually known about him.
Sure enough, Leon was in her contacts and he quickly called him. It only took a single ring before he got an answer.
“Grace?” The voice was gruff and worried.
Nathan took a breath and quickly explained the situation, “Not quite I'm her superior Nathan Dempsy, she's not doing well. She's having a severe panic attack and had me call you.”
“Shit.” Was the answer he got before movement could be heard, “I'll be there soon.” Then the line went dead.
Nathan would count it as a win. He crouched back down and put a hand on Grace’s shoulder. “He said he'll be here soon.”
She just sobbed and nodded into her knees where they were tucked up in front of her.
Thankfully it didn't take long before he heard commotion outside and a second later a knock on the door. He quickly opened it and blinked at the man in front of him. Leon was nothing and everything like he expected at once. He barely got a good look at him however before he was brushing past him and going to Grace.
“Kid woah you need to breathe come here.” He quickly dropped to her side and pulled her into his chest. Grace went slack as she collapsed against him. He shifted her weight like it was nothing and held a hand firmly to the back of her neck.
“Grace, listen to me carefully, they're all dead, we killed them. Emily is alive and safe at school, and we have the cure. You are no longer there, you are alive and breathing and safe. Nothing's going to happen to you, I won't let it.”
She sobbed harder but nodded into his chest.
“You saved my life, you saved Emily's life, hell you saved my friends lives. You're a hero and a survivor.”
Nathan wishes he understood exactly what was going on to be able to help in some way, but all he can do is watch.
She gripped him harder. He just squeezed back lightly. “I'm so scared.” She choked into his chest breath still uneven and gasping but getting better.
He sighed lightly, “Yeah well you're allowed to be.”
“But I was doing so well…Emily she…God I'm weak It's over and I'm still so scared.” She choked out between sobs.
“Kid you're not weak, you think I didn't have a similar reaction after everything the first time? That's why I've been so insistent on checking up with you. You're strong for Emily because she needs that. You, however, are allowed to break because you're human.”
She shook her head, “You don't have to lie to make me feel better…”
Leon actually laughed at that, “Oh I'm not, I was a mess after Raccoon City. I would have probably killed myself if I didn't have Sherry to watch over. Hell, I've nearly drunk myself to death a few times. So far your track record is beating mine by miles.”
She gripped him harder at that.
Looking up at him through teary confused eyes she asks. “I-when….when does it stop?” Her voice was ragged.
“It doesn't but it can become manageable.” Leon answers, running a hand through her hair.
Nathan thinks he shouldn't be hearing any of this, but some part of him is glad that he is. He says nothing just waits and watches as Grace slowly calms down. Once she is, he turns to Leon.
“Do you mind taking her? I don't think she needs to be here for the rest of the day.”
Leon meets his eyes and nods approvingly, “Don't worry about it I'll take care of her.”
Nathan doesn't doubt he will, and as he watches them leave all eyes turning to stare, he's just glad she isn't alone.
oO0Oo
Summer was at the desk right next to Grace. She'd never really been friends with her but after everything that had happened to the poor girl she tried her best to befriend her.
She didn't have much luck. Grace really was an introvert. It felt a bit like pulling teeth trying to get her to talk about normal everyday things. Though she would ramble for a while about Emily, the girl that she had adopted.
Despite that, Summer still tried because Grace deserved some normalcy after everything. And so while she wouldn't say they were necessarily friends, they were definitely closer colleagues than they were before.
It was a few weeks after Grace had been picked up by Leon Kennedy of all people when the man made yet another appearance.
Looking up to see him walking towards Grace It wasn't too much of a shock. He was obviously close to her after her whole ordeal. Everyone knew who he was, hell it was impossible not to. Most times it was seen as a bad omen to interact with him however, but Grace was different.
It really boiled down to she wasn't getting pulled into his world, but instead because she'd already been sucked into it.
Grace jerked around at the sound of approaching steps and smiled brightly once she spotted him relaxing immediately, Summer hadn't actually realized how tense she was before.
“Leon.” She greeted happily before pausing and looked at the woman standing next to him. Admittedly, Summer had overlooked her. She was younger than Leon though by how much was unclear. She was a pixie cut blonde with an expensive looking shirt.
The woman just smiled widely and offered out a hand, “Sherry.”
Grace's eyes went wide, “OH! Oh, it's s-so nice to finally put a face to the name!” She said excitedly, shaking the offered hand.
Leon chuckled and shook his head lightly. “Sherry's been begging to meet you figured I better comply before she shows up at your house unannounced.”
Sherry swatted at Leon as she scowled up at him. Leon didn't pay her any mind. The two were obviously very close, especially if Grace knew her by name alone.
Sherry rallied quickly however and turned back to Grace, “I just wanted to thank you. You saved my life along with Leon's and the rest of the Raccoon City’s survivors, they're more important to some of us than you would know. You also took in Emily and…I'm just so thankful for that too, God knows I understand what it's like to be in her position.”
Grace looked a bit overwhelmed at the whole thing but nodded along. Leon just gave a confirming hum and clinched his left hand, “Kids right you don't even know the half of what you did for us.”
“It was the least I could do.” Grace dismissed, “I-I mean you saved my life so many times I couldn't take a chance of anyone else dying.”
Sherry just smiled, “Yes well that doesn't make us any less grateful. We came to see if you wanted to join us for lunch.”
Grace blinked for a moment before nodding, “S-sure why not.”
Sherry smiled brightly, “Come on then Leon is paying.”
Leon just rolled his eyes and fished out his keys from his pocket, “Always got to be me huh? That's the only reason you came here with me right, so I'd be conned into paying?” He questioned spinning the keys on his finger. Summer spots a bear on the keychain.
Grace went to speak her eyes wide and unsure before Sherry cut in. “Oh, shut up. First of all, this was your idea, secondly you haven't let me buy anything with my own money the entire time I've known you if you're with me.”
Leon smirked down at her and ruffled her hair, “Yeah because you're my kid.”
Summer blinks confused at the whole interaction. Though Grace just deflated and smiled.
Leon turns to Grace and gives her a lopsided smile, “Come on I'm hungry I didn't get breakfast this morning.”
Grace just shakes her head in exasperation but dutifully picks up her jacket and gets up.
As Summer watches them go, she wonders how it is in just the little amount of time they have known each other. Grace speaks to them far easier than she ever had with anyone in the office.
oO0Oo
Nathan was a regular in the training room. And during all his time he'd never once seen Grace Ashcroft in it. This wasn't a dig at her of course. She didn't need to be there, she wasn't a field agent.
So, seeing her and there was shock and seeing none other than Leon Kennedy in there with her nearly killed him.
But there they were Grace with a practice knife and Leon playing the part of the attacker. He was telegraphing his movements a bit but in general Grace was reacting nearly on her own.
And to his surprise she wasn't doing bad, Leon was better of course there were plenty of times where he could have just snatched the knife without issue, but Grace was doing impressively well all things considered.
Nathan didn't interrupt, wouldn't dare to, hell he might even be able to learn something. Instead, he went to the weights and started his reps.
They took a break a few minutes later Grace getting water as she tried to catch her breath. Leon seemed entirely unfazed, which was incredibly impressive. Nathan got winded after only a little mock fighting. It was intense and incredibly demanding.
“Ok you have the basics but if you're too predictable it can easily be dodged or blocked.” Leon explained as she returned over to him.
He had the fake knife now twirling it in his fingers. Grace just nodded along and Leon continued. “I'll show you a few harder tricks you can practice. It's much less telegraphed and if you're not expecting it you can land devastating blows.”
He proceeded to demonstrate something that had Nathan's head spinning. He didn't quite get how the hell Leon did it and even after he slowed it down, he was still just as lost. Leon walked Grace through it however, and she seemed to understand and attempted to replicate it.
It was extremely messy and clumsy, but she'd managed, and Leon seemed thrilled at that alone. He let her do it a few more times and corrected her when needed, and soon she had it down pretty well. Something definitely to practice but she understood the basics.
He showed her another move after he seemed pleased, and the process repeated.
Nathan was planking when they finally moved onto hand-to-hand combat. They'd obviously done it before by the way they immediately fell into a sort of dance. Leon fainted attacks and she reciprocated or blocked. Her form was a bit messy, but Leon always made sure to correct it.
It was impressive how easy Leon made it all look and how quickly Grace seemed to learn. She had quite a promising future if she stuck to this and Nathan had a feeling she would. After her nightmare there was no reason for her not to.
Eventually Grace has to tap out desperate for water and a breather. Leon was breathing a bit heavier but other than that you'd never know they were sparring.
Grace just glared at him for the seeming injustice.
“You make it look so easy.” She complained.
Leon just chuckled, “Yeah well I've been doing this longer than you've been alive.”
“I just don't get it.” She grumbled.
“It's just something you have to work on. You'll build the stamina and while you'll never be able to overpower me, you'll be formidable and downright dangerous to most anyone else.”
She nodded, “I just wish I could snap my fingers and suddenly be that good.”
“We all wish we could kid.” He agreed with a chuckle.
“I want to see you do a roundhouse kick again.” She requested, her eyes bright.
“You know, I think that's the only reason you agree to let me train you, because every time we do this you always end up begging for this.”
“Because it's cool.”
Leon just rolled his eyes but didn't bother hiding his smile. “Fine.”
He walked over to a punching bag and took a few measured steps backwards before quick as anything he's throwing his momentum around and slamming his foot into the bag hard enough to slam the bag into the wall.
Nathan can feel his jaw drop the power required to do that isn't lost on him. Grace is giggling off to the side, eyes gleaming and yeah ok Nathan understood. If he could have Leon fucking Kennedy do that on request, he doesn't know if he'd ever stop asking.
oO0Oo
The group of them were on the field investigating a murder scene. It had been marked suspicious, and they just happen to be the unlucky chumps to be sent.
Grace seemed to be taking it better than the rest of them had expected, but that was before it all went to hell.
Grace had frozen mid-sentence her eyes going wide in abject horror, “Oh God…” she breathed before pulling her gun.
“O-ok everyone back up its…shit we have an outbreak.”
Before anyone went to argue, they heard what must have tipped her off. It was a croaking babble coming from just down the alley. Everyone's faces went white as they quickly followed her lead. She knew what to do better than anyone else here by miles.
“Okay I need a few people to go and expand the perimeter we have taped off. We are lucky there is no one around here to evacuate and we're not going to have a-anyone walk in.”
After a quick muffled conversation two people were selected, “If you need to defend yourself shoot for the head, legs work too if you slow them down. I-if it goes down, assume it's still alive, don't approach and don't waste ammo.” She sounded terrified but confident.
“Do we call it in?” Someone asked.
“Don't be stupid of course we do.” Another snarled.
Grace shook her head, “N-no don't worry about it I'll call Leon.”
The two chosen people ran off, and Grace pulled out her phone and put Leon on speaker for everyone to hear.
“Leon, we have an outbreak.” Grace breathed out shakily.
“What?” Was the sharp and clipped response.
“Murder scene a group of us were sent to investigate, I hear one I'm not going to look to confirm but…”
“I believe you shit ok damn it. Where are you?” He asked over the sound of frantic rustling.
Grace gave their location and Leon cursed again, “Ok ok shit I'm…I'll be there, but it's going to take a while. I know someone who's closer though. You'll know her when you see her. Just hold out.”
With that the line goes dead and Grace swallows hard. “Ok…ok let's head back to the perimeter. T-to try and make sure nothing gets out.”
No one argued. They quickly tried to make their way back but were stopped by the sound of a garbled screech. Grace jerked around hard and came face to face with the zombie lunging at her.
She brought her gun up quickly and shot it, the thing went sprawling and the response of numerous other now alerted garbling had her looking back and yelling for everyone to run.
As they made a break for it, everyone fired a few shots back at the now approaching horde. A few fell, but the majority chased on. They slowed as they got more distance thankfully, but there was little to be done when they still had clear line of sight.
They were approaching what Grace assumed was the new perimeter and shouted for everyone to dart behind the nearby abandoned house. She didn't speak after that, just quickly gestured everyone along to weave between a few more abandoned places, all before heading back towards the perimeter.
Once they were across everyone sighed a breath of relief, well everyone except Grace. She hadn't taken her eyes off where they came from.
An unknown amount of time passed before Grace squeaked and raised her gun once more. There were zombies approaching not a ton, but enough. Grace seemed to consider their next move as everyone got up once more and drew their weapons. She took a deep breath trying to steady her shaking.
“Y-you can dodge them, they're slow but they'll leap at you or sneak up behind you. Just try and stay in front of them.” Grace explained before firing.
The group of them slowly started picking off the infected, but more came not terribly many, but enough to be worrying. They were also quickly running out of ammo. But just as everyone prepared to scatter, automatic fire stopped them in their tracks. All of the infected that we're getting ready to start pouncing were suddenly mowed down.
Everyone jumped back and turned around shocked, Grace startled violently searching around for the source. The sight that greeted them was a woman dressed in red. She could have been as old or possibly older than Leon with the gray visible in her pitch-black hair, but she could have very well been much younger, her face showing little signs of aging.
She strutted forward in stiletto heels with a smoking uzi pointed up at the sky. She gave them all a once over and hummed to herself before zeroing in on Grace.
“You must be Grace. You know he talks about you all the time.”
Grace just blinks at her and the woman chuckles. “Don't worry I got it from here.” The woman reassures before walking into the infested area with gleaming eyes. Grace all but collapses then as she finally starts crying.
She flinches at the sound of gunfire but doesn't look up. Everyone else just watches their surroundings vigilantly and lets her break. She just saved their lives after all she was allowed to break down.
It was half an hour later when the woman reappeared. Identifiable by the sound of clicking heels, she gives them all another once over making sure nothing happened while she was gone. Nodding to herself pleased when she saw nothing amiss before her attention then turned to Grace and she frowned.
“Well obviously there was an outbreak, but I couldn't tell you why. The DSO will investigate and clean up.” She announced to them all attention back away from Grace. She sounded incredibly formal and almost uninterested, despite the nightmare that had just happened to them.
And as if on cue, a motorcycle came screeching to a stop nearby. Grace was already on her feet when Leon came sprinting over, not even bothering to turn off the bike.
Grace just ran to meet him and was quickly enveloped in a hug as he soothed her. The man absent-mindedly petted her hair as he looked up and locked eyes with the mystery woman.
The woman in question just walked over with a smile, “Hey handsome, I managed to get here just in time, but I can't tell you why there's an outbreak.”
Leon just nodded, “Thank you so much.”
The woman just rolled her eyes, “You owe me one.”
Leon just raised a brow, “Will dinner suffice?”
She made a show of considering it before nodding, “I think it just might. Take me somewhere we haven't been before.” She recommended before walking off.
Leon just chuckled and shook his head lightly before his attention was back on Grace. “You did so well kid, exactly like I told you to. I'm sure you saved your coworkers' lives today, they didn't have to get into the thick of it either.”
She just sobbed into his chest.
Everyone decided to leave them alone. Grace didn't need to worry about being embarrassed with everyone watching. She'd done more for them today than they would probably ever realize.
While she wasn't a naturally brave person, she was courageous and there was no shame in that.