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. Continued gratuitous thanks to Jaxink for the beta read and edit.

Chapter 11:

"I trust no one, not even myself."
Joseph Stalin

"Engaged? That's awesome," Rachel enthused. Her mother and father were grinning, too. Leo had delivered the news this morning to his brother and sister-in-law. Juliet had nearly hugged the stuffing out of Sen.

"Do I get to be in the wedding?" Noelle asked eagerly. She was only little when her mom and dad got married, and Uncle Don and Aunt Sam got married overseas. Noelle felt herself too old to be a flower girl, but she was the perfect age for a junior bridesmaid.

"We'll see, Elle," Juliet said, smiling at her daughter. "It is totally up to the bride, of course."

"Where is Uncle Leo and future Aunt Sen?" Rachel inquired. Her uncle wasn't in the office, and the bookshop had the closed sign up. It was weird.

Juliet and Mike exchanged a look. "They went to see Sen's mother," Juliet explained neutrally.

"I thought she was, like, evil or something," Noelle commented. Mike snickered, and Juliet punched him on the arm.

"I'm sure she's not evil …" Juliet started.

"I'm pretty sure she's evil, Jules," Mike disagreed. Juliet frowned.

"Regardless, she is Sen's mother," Juliet stated firmly. Mike shrugged, and started to pull out the mats for his next class. They were gathered in the smaller studio. Rachel walked over to the stack and began to help set up.

"Uncle Raph isn't here either," Noelle noted. "Where's he?"

Mike and Juliet shared another speaking glance.

"Raph's at the Transmat station. He's … helping a friend," Mike finished. He wasn't really clear on what all had happened, except there had been an assassin hired by Sen's mother who had come for Leo, fought Raph, and now somehow Raph was helping the assassin. It was all a little unbelievable. Except that for their family unbelievable was usually normal.

111111

Raphael stood next to Haven and watched as the glow faded from the Transmat. On the platform was a black robed figure, and Raphael had a moment of déjà vu. This figure was taller and broader than the last Belgardian Hunter to arrive in New York.

Nienna stood in front of the pair and waited for the hunter to reach her. When he did, Nienna inclined her head respectfully.

"Hunter Hadden," she greeted, and more softly. "Uncle."

"Hunter Nienna," Hadden responded, no emotion in his voice. "I received your message. I have come to call you to account for your failings."

"I hope it isn't a beheading," Haven observed in an aside to Raphael. "Those are always so messy."

Raphael growled and stepped forward. He stood beside Nienna and crossed his arms over his chest. His expression was a forbidding glower. Hadden peered up at the newcomer, and then glanced at his niece. Nienna's eyes cut to the side, noted her companion's stance, and fought down a smile. It was unbecoming to a hunter to betray emotion. She observed her uncle's perturbed expression, and felt the corners of her mouth lifting again. In the many dimensions, she was sure her uncle had never encountered someone like Raphael.

"Nienna didn't do anythin' wrong," Raphael stated emphatically.

"Hunter Nienna accepted false testimony and injured a being other than her target," Hadden said, stressing the title. "These are clear violations of the rules of the order."

"The fight was my fault," Raphael disputed. "I chose to be Leo's defender, right?" Raphael turned to Nienna for confirmation.

"The code was kept. The Warrior Raphael accepted his own death to protect his brother," Nienna agreed carefully. She appreciated Raphael's defense of her actions, but the code had few loopholes.

"And yet he appears to be very much alive," Hadden rejoined acidly. Hadden studied the green-skinned warrior closely, and noted a bandaged wound on each forearm. "How is it, Hunter, that he survived your blades?" Hadden interrogated. Nienna hesitated. She met her uncle's eyes directly, and let him read the truth there. "You gave him the antidote?!" her uncle shouted.

"I had no choice," Nienna told her uncle flatly. She winced at the rage on his face. This was one of the first rules of the order – the antidote was for hunters only.

"What does it matter? I started the fight," Raphael interjected.

"It doesn't matter who started it," Nienna explained patiently. She drew her remaining blade with her good hand, and held it out, hilt first, to her uncle. "I accept the justice of the order," she said firmly. Hadden reached out to take the blade, but Raphael stepped between the hunters.

"No, you don't accept it," Raph said, turning on Nienna. "What the hell is that? You're not just givin' up."

Hadden studied Raphael. Clearly, this male was not afraid of the Belgardian Hunters – a rarity indeed. He looked at his niece as she glared up at her unusual protector. He recalled the day his brother had brought her to the order. How Hadden had wished to spare the rest of his family this path, but Gorren wanted the prestige … and the money. Nienna had been a credit to the order. She was a senior hunter, but now …

"The decision is for a reduction in rank," Hadden said abruptly. Nienna's head swiveled toward her uncle. Her expression briefly registered utter shock. According to the Hunter rules, she should have had a greater punishment. Hadden ignored his niece's surprise. He had done what was within his power. "Are you prepared to depart, Hunter?" Hadden asked.

111111

The planet was different, but so many things about this moment were eerily familiar. Leo had crossed a room once before, on Maora 2, to confront Sen's mother. He had, Leo realized now, been recklessly overconfident that he had the advantage. Taka had turned out to be a more clever and destructive enemy than some others Leo had faced.

Of course, in those other battles Leo's heart had not been as involved.

Leo felt Sen's fingers tighten on his, and he glanced at her, offering a reassuring smile. She appeared nervous. He led the way across the ground floor restaurant of Taka's hotel. The room was relatively empty, and Leo wondered if Taka preferred to dine alone. Only a couple of tables were occupied near the entrance. Taka sat at the very back on a curved bench seat, like a queen awaiting her subjects. The table before her held a tea service, and a squat vase containing brilliant blue flowers.

Taka watched the pair approach; her eyes narrowed and her expression watchful. She, too, was thinking of the tearoom on Maora 2. The warrior's confidence remained. Taka had hoped to see it shaken at least by her daughter's recent deception.

"I would offer you a seat, but I am not feeling sociable today," Taka greeted cuttingly as they arrived at the table.

"That's okay. We're not staying," Leo responded calmly.

"No, I'm sure you have classes to teach at your little school," Taka sneered. She glanced at her daughter. "And you, dear daughter, have your books to peddle."

"Mother, I …" Sen started.

"Spare me your tiresome apologies, Sen," her mother said icily. "I have no interest in them." She picked up her teacup and lifted it to her lips.

"Good, because we aren't going to offer any," Leo replied firmly. "I'm here to give you a warning, and Sen is here to say goodbye." Taka's teacup froze just shy of her mouth. She set it down slowly. The china chimed loudly in the sudden silence.

"A warning? How delightfully unusual. Please," Taka encouraged sarcastically. "Warn away."

"I want your word that there will be no more assassins sent. I have no problem facing your dogs, but it is endangering Sen, my family, and will endanger any children we have," Leo stated.

"And if I do not make this promise," Taka asked, meeting his sharp gaze.

"Then expect a visit from me if anything happens to Sen or anyone else in my family." The cold promise in Leo's eyes caused Taka to drop hers.

"Family, is it? Does this mean there will be a wedding after all?" Taka queried, turning her verbal talons back on her daughter.

"Yes," Sen said softly. She held out her free hand for her mother's perusal.

"My daughter has had larger and more elaborate rings," Taka spat contemptuously.

"I'm sure that's true," Leo responded equably. "But this is the ring Sen will wear the rest of her life." Taka paled at the warrior's words. There was no doubt or hesitation in his tone. Only utter confidence.

"Goodbye, Mother," Sen said. Taka heard the finality in her daughter's voice. The rest of her days, Sen would remain on Earth. All Taka's planning was for naught. With a shaking hand, Taka lifted the teacup to her lips. The warrior led Sen out of the restaurant. Taka sipped her tea, but it was now cold and bitter.

111111

The brilliant light mercifully faded, and revealed the bustling New York Transmat station. Don didn't think he'd ever been so happy to see it. He stepped down off the platform.

"I never want to do that again," Sam complained from just behind him. Don turned and smiled at his wife as she joined him. "That is the most uncomfortable feeling …"

"Dr. Hamato?" Sam and Don turned toward the speaker. A human male smiled at them politely. "My name is Harry. Welcome back to New York. If you'll follow me; I've been instructed to ignore some of the standard arrival procedures."

Harry led them toward the checkpoint, but at a word from him the guards let Sam, Don and their baby through without so much as a glance at their belongings. Not that there was much to search. They had left London with only the clothes on their bodies, Don's wallet, and Sam's purse. Harry took them toward a door marked 'Employees Only'. A brief trip down a gray concrete hallway, and they were at an exit door.

"This lets out into the alley," Harry explained. "I hope you're not offended, but the Utrom would prefer you're not seen leaving the Transmat station."

"No, it's fine," Don assured the Utrom employee. Don stepped out into the alley, followed by Sam. The door clanged shut behind them. Sam looked over at the dumpster, and listened to the scream of a siren somewhere nearby. She smiled at Don as he hoisted Sean up a little higher.

They had made it.

After entering the abandoned building in London, they had found two Utrom waiting for them. Sam was a little startled by their appearance, but they had been reasonably friendly, if anxious to see the Hamato family out of London. Don had signed some papers, and then they had been brought to a Transmat hidden in that manufacturing plant.

She just hoped Don hadn't signed his life away to get them here.

"I'm going to call Mike," Don said, reaching into his jacket pocket. "He can pick us up and take us home."

Sam nodded. Home sounded good.

Home sounded very good.