•Thicker Than Blood•

•Chapter 3•

The road was long, but the three would have enough supplies for the trip. It was about 6 hours into the trip when Sherry finally woke up, leaning forward and rubbing her eyes with both hands. A yawn escaped her throat while she stretched out. Leon looked back, since Claire was obviously busy watching the road. The further they got from Raccoon City, the more normal things began to look. Hence Sherry's confusion when she finally looked out the window.

"Leon? Claire? Where are we?" Sherry asked, leaning her head against the window.

"We're headed south. To a more desolate area for now. I think we all could use some time to... refresh after that whole situation." Leon said. "Are you hurt?"

Sherry hesitated, "I've never been out of Raccoon City before.. but, a little..."

Leon gave a gentle nod and unbuckled his seatbelt. To which Claire glanced at him in her peripherals. Eyeing him like a mother lion. Leon removed himself from his seat, climbing over into the seat next to Sherry. Carefully, he picked up one of the plastic bags he had brought with him. He dug through it, finding the basic medical supplies he brought. Sherry began to look nervous, backing against the window just a bit. His gaze met hers, softening his look on the frightened child.

"Don't worry. This will sting, but it'll prevent further infection." Leon explained.

Claire watched in the rear view mirror, protective adrenaline boiling within her chest. Sherry shook like a leaf, watching Leon's hands while he moved closer to her. She slowly moved her leg up onto the seat. Leon took a piece of cloth and dabbed the alcohol on it. He carefully looked towards her knee, then back up at her.

"This is going to sting. Just hold your breath and count to ten." He told her.

Sherry gave a brief nod, sucking in a breath and squeezing her eyes shut. Leon nodded, moving and gently dabbing the cloth on her cut. Sherry sucked in through her teeth, tensing up and hugging herself tight. Leon nodded slowly, waiting a moment before taking off the cloth. Under his breath, he counted to ten with her. While it didn't help the pain, it gave the girl something to focus on. Leon then put some of the healing ointment on the bandage and wrapped it around her knee, carefully tying it so it would stay.

"There we go.. all done. Now this will hurt less in the long run. Sounds good?" Leon questioned.

Sherry finally opened her eyes to look at Leon, giving a nod in response. Claire's gaze softened in the mirror, slowly glancing back towards the empty road. She didn't fully expect Leon to be decent with kids. But, then again he was someone who seemed to hold true morals. He wasn't some bloodthirsty man trying to get aggression out through control or violence. He seemed to genuinely care for the people he vowed to protect. Something Claire could appreciate a bit more than the next. Weirdly enough, she began feeling more comfortable around Leon. The sight was truly comforting.

"Hey, upcoming is an exit ramp. I think we're far enough out to start searching for places to go." Claire pointed out.

Just then, Leon ruffled the little girl's hair. He set his hand on the shoulder of his seat and pulled himself back into the passenger's chair. Like clockwork, he put his seatbelt right back on. He glanced around, checking for signs. From the looks of it, they were in Oklahoma. Fields were open and roads were poorly paved. However, there didn't seem to be a sign of infection. No infection and less people than your average city. It was quiet and overgrown. Eagles and vultures ran through the sky while cicadas sang their song.

"Surely we'll find something. This town seems dead. Maybe we'll find somewhere we can fix up." Leon suggested.

"Yeah... it is pretty dead here. I haven't seen any open shops yet. Or population signs.. are these roads even marked?" Claire questioned.

"Not as far as I can see."

"Guess we'll have to keep going."

Claire took the next turn, driving past the overgrown train tracks. Both sides of the asphalt road were crumbling into the tall grass beside it. It was nothing but tall grass, open fields, and wire fences that were once flowing with electric charge. This was farm country. Deep into it. For hours, they drove up and down the narrow, cracked roads. Until they found a property that caught their eye. It was surrounded by one of the wire fences. A dirt path led up to a worn down house on a hill. Nothing too big. Then just further into the horizon, there was a broken down barn. Looked like it had been burnt.

"This is the one." Claire said, turning down into the dirt path.

Sherry was plastered to the window, her breath fogging it up every so often. "It's such a big field... I've never seen anything like it."

"Get used to it.. it's going to be real quiet out here. You might even like it." Leon said.

The pickup came to a stop in front of the house. Claire put it in park and hopped out of the truck, heading towards the house. Leon swiftly grabbed her shoulder, pushing her behind him. Claire gasped, jumping away from him at the sudden touch.

"What the hell was that for-?"

"I'm going to scope it out first. Stay here with Sherry. I'll make sure it's safe." Leon told her.

She merely rolled her eyes, stepping back to help Sherry out of the car. Leon took his flashlight and hesitantly nudged the door open. He peered inside, stepping in. The ground seemed secure enough, people would enter the living room. Through a window was the kitchen. Upstairs was where the bedrooms were. Some windows were broken and the house was a mess. Seemed to be withering since it wasn't being used. To be claimed by the earth again. Once Leon deemed it safe, he left and stuck his head out of the doorway.

Claire had Sherry in her arms, holding her arm and swaying gently. Sherry's smaller arms were locked around Claire's neck, her face following and leaned into the crook of her neck. Claire lifted her head when she spotted Leon, heading over towards him. Leon gave her a smile and a nod, opening the door for her and Sherry. Claire returned the smile, heading upstairs. Upon really looking, they realized only one bedroom had an actual bed set. One had a frame. A twin size. Claire and Leon both agreed that room would go to Sherry.

Once Sherry was settled into her bed, Leon and Claire went to the other bedroom. It was messier than the other room. Only having a mattress on the floor. The sheets were elsewhere on the floor. The two of them glanced at each other. Leon looked away from Claire when he saw the cringe look on her face. Claire headed towards the bed, picking up the sheets and laying them over the mattress.

"We oughta make the best of it, right?"

"Right."

Despite his hesitance, he stepped forward and sat down on the edge of the mattress. He dropped his head down, watching the floor. Claire could just barely be seen in his peripheral, sitting down on the other edge of said mattress. It wasn't the biggest or the cleanest, but there seemed to be a thick wall between them. Leon took a deep breath before falling to his side, taking one edge of the sheet and pulling it over himself. Claire reciprocated this a moment later.

"Goodnight, rookie."

"Goodnigt, red."