Title: Trust and Betrayal
Summary: Continuation from 'Destinations'.
Authors Notes: This fic is like a soap opera. It just goes on and on. This picks up 3 months after Destinations. For those who wanted more Raphael when I wrote the other books, this is the story for you. Enormous thanks to Jaxink for the beta read and edit.
Chapter 1:
"You want to believe that there's one relationship in life that's beyond betrayal. A relationship that's beyond that kind of hurt. And there isn't."
Caleb Carr
The white board was filled with notations, some overlapping, and the colors changed depending on when they were written. Two research assistants stood side by side some distance away, their lab coats bright white under the fluorescent lighting of the underground room. They both worked for a physicist from the U.S., a demanding boss if there ever was one. He did not tolerate slacking or negativity in his lab. They were going to solve the problem they had been set. The physicist stepped forward, and adjusted a notation with a blue marker.
"Are we going to start building the prototype now?" Martin asked his companion, keeping his voice low. Susan shushed him, and kept her eyes fixed on Dr. Hamato.
"Susan, record the new formula, please," Dr. Hamato instructed, moving away from the whiteboard and stripping off his white coat. He walked to his desk on the far side of the room and picked up a tweed jacket.
"Yes, Dr. Hamato," Susan responded, hurrying over with her cell phone to capture the formula. She would then email it to Dr. Hamato for his records. "Are you going out now, Dr. Hamato?"
"Yes, I have an appointment. And Susan," Dr. Hamato said, turning to smile at her. "It's Don, okay?"
"Yes, Dr. … I mean, Don," Susan corrected herself. She found herself returning her boss' smile. Don stepped out the door, shutting it softly behind. Susan went over to her shared desk, and logged into the computer to begin compiling the research Dr. Hamato … Don … had requested earlier.
"Hey, how about we catch some lunch?" Martin invited. Susan glanced up. She had almost forgotten Martin was there. Dr. Hamato had requested a second assistant. Susan didn't think they needed the help, but Dr. Hamato insisted that she shouldn't do everything herself.
"No, thank you," Susan replied primly, and returned to her typing. Martin shrugged and left out the same door Dr. Hamato had used. Alone in the lab Susan contentedly continued her work. She enjoyed working for Dr. Hamato. He was friendly, polite, asked that she use his first name, and he was clearly brilliant. He was working on a top secret project for the British government. Susan felt honored to be working at Dr. Hamato's side on something so important.
Although, Susan thought, she would have been happy to work with Dr. Hamato on pretty much anything.
111
"Whoops! Sorry, Sen."
Sen recovered her balance and was relieved to have not dropped the bowl she was carrying. The teenager, Rachel, had nearly knocked the blue alien over rushing out of the kitchen.
"Rachel! Where are you going?" Juliet called, leaning back from the kitchen sink to frown at her daughter's retreating figure.
"Out. Date!" Rachel shouted back just before the back door slammed shut. Juliet returned to the dishes and muttered something about being sixteen-years-old. Sen continued on her path and set the empty bowl next to the sink. Juliet smiled up at Sen, and shook her head.
"I don't know why Mike and I gave her permission to date that boy," Juliet confided. "She's only sixteen. Better than putting up with her pouting, I suppose."
Sen nodded politely. From the dining room came a chorus of male laughter and a shriek from the younger child, Noelle. A moment later Noelle tore into the kitchen, narrowly missing Sen. "Easy, Elle," her mother admonished.
"Sorry, Mom," Noelle offered. She hopped up onto the counter on the other side of the sink and proceeded to scoop up a handful of bubbles. "They're telling stories about the old days again," Noelle stated, wrinkling up her nose. "And Uncle Raph wants another beer."
Noelle's mother sighed, but she was smiling, too. "Sen, would you mind delivering those guys another round? No classes tomorrow, so they are going to drink themselves insensible," Juliet said, laughing. "I'll be in when I finish these dishes."
Sen nodded, and turned to the refrigerator. She opened the door and peered in. Having lived in this household for some time now, Sen could identify a bottle of beer—although she had no idea what it was exactly other than a liquid to be consumed. When Leonardo brought her back from Maora 2 they had come here, and here they remained, sharing a house with Leonardo's brother Raphael, his other brother Michelangelo, Juliet, Noelle, and Rachel. It was a little crowded. Michelangelo's family had moved in to save money and invest in the martial arts school Leonardo and Raphael started.
"Might as well take the six-pack," Juliet advised, ducking the bubbles Noelle was blowing at her mother. Sen clasped the cardboard container with the six bottles, and turned from the refrigerator. She stepped through the arched doorway and into the dining room. Seated at a large wood table were the three brothers. Raphael's bottle was empty, and Leonardo's and Michelangelo's were nearly there. Mike was snickering over something just said, and Leo was wiping his eyes, still recovering from his laughter. He stood up abruptly when he saw Sen walking in. Leo rounded the table and took the six-pack from her hands.
"Thanks, Sen," Leo said, smiling. He returned to the table and passed out bottles to his brothers and took one for himself. He sat in the same chair again. Sen stood where she was, debating over whether to return to the kitchen or retreat upstairs to the bedroom. She liked Leonardo's family, but she still felt like the odd person out when they were all gathered together. She didn't really like being alone in the bedroom, either. If she left, she wouldn't see Leonardo again until morning. Since they had arrived, Leo had slept on the sofa in the living room. Each morning Leo escorted her to the bookstore, helped her open up, and at the end of each day he walked her home again. Those trips were the only time they had together without his family in attendance.
"Sen," Mike called to her, breaking her reverie. "Come sit down." Mike patted the empty chair between him and Raphael. Sen glanced quickly at Leo, but he just smiled and nodded. Sen walked over to the chair, and Mike pushed it out for her with his free hand, the other was occupied by his fresh bottle of beer.
"Beer, Sen?" Raphael offered, holding out a bottle to her. Sen reached tentatively, and took the cold bottle in her hand. She set it on the table and peered at it curiously. "Here," Raphael said, leaning over and twisting the top off. Her hands folded in her lap Sen leaned forward and tried to peer into it. She missed Raphael and Mike exchanging amused glances behind her.
"Drink up," Mike said beside her. Sen turned toward Mike.
"What is it?" She asked. Mike goggled at her, puzzled by the question.
"It's beer," Raphael stated. Sen swiveled her head toward Raphael, a frown marring her face. "It's alcohol," he explained further.
"I have never imbibed alcohol," Sen stated evenly.
"Never?" Raphael asked, surprised.
Sen shook her head. "I came of age just before the first time I travelled to Earth," Sen said, studying the bottle. She hadn't quite decided whether she would try it or not.
"Wait, you just came of age?" Raphael queried, leaning forward. "So … you're how old?"
Sen considered for a moment. "We do not count age as you do on Earth ..." she started.
"But you were drinking age about a year ago," Raph finished, considering. "That would make you about 22 here."
"Whoa, Leo, robbin' the cradle," Mike teased, arching an eye ridge at his brother. Leo's expression reflected his surprise. Sen felt mildly embarrassed at Leo's shock. Surely he had some idea of her age after all these months. Discomfited, Sen reached out for the bottle, and picked it up. She tilted it and took a small sip. The face she made at the taste made Raphael chuckle, and Mike laugh out loud. Leo just smiled at her, and sipped his own beer.
"It does not have a pleasant flavor," Sen said, setting her beer back on the table.
"I think it's an acquired taste," Leo assured. "You don't have to finish it," he added softly, nodding to her beer.
Always, Leo was kind to her. Sen felt a stab of irritation with him. Did he think her a child he had to take care of?
111
"Haven!"
A pretty blonde woman dressed in the standard black suit and white shirt of an Utrom employee glanced up at the man in her doorway.
"What's up, Harry?" Haven responded quickly. Harry was her supervisor, and Haven had only been working for him for a few months at the New York Transmat Station. She wanted to make a good impression.
"V.I.P. arrival from Maora 2. Could you take it?" Harry explained, holding out a black file folder. Haven stood up, straightened her skirt, and walked over to Harry. She took the file folder, and smiled at her boss brightly.
"No problem. You can count on me," Haven brownnosed. "I'll head right down there. Who's the big wig?"
"Some Lady Taka," Harry said, turning away from the door. "Standard dignitary protocols, with security procedures. You know the deal, right?" Haven nodded, shock making her mute. "Keep it between us, Haven. Lady Taka requested a communications blackout on her visit." Harry headed down the hall, not noticing that his employee's mouth had fallen open and her eyes were nearly bugging out.
Lady Taka.
Maora 2.
"Oh, this cannot be good," Haven murmured to herself as she headed out of the office. This could not be good at all.