Title: Destinations – Sequel to 'Moth and Flame'

Author: Jayde

Summary: This picks up a couple of months after 'Moth and Flame'.

Disclaimer: I do not now, nor have I ever, owned the turtles. No harm intended.

Credits: Elaborate and Technicolor thanks to Reluctant Dragon for slaving over the beta reading for this story.

Chapter 7:

Three weeks ago, on Maora 2 …

Taking a deep breath, Sen let it out slowly as the elevator rose towards her floor – her mother's floor. She had made her decision. It had taken months to realize it, but she should never have left Earth. This wasn't her home. It would be difficult, and perhaps lonely. She did not know how Leonardo felt following her departure. His messages had been brief, and too few to know if he still cared.

The elevator door opened, and Sen stepped out, new purpose in her step. Her mother was in a rage, of course. Even that did not deter her. She would weather the storm, and make her plans. With good fortune, she could be gone in a week.

Reaching the door, Sen raised her key for the door to read. The gleaming portal slid to one side, and Sen stepped in … only to halt in her tracks at the scene in the entryway.

"Mother," Sen gasped, horrified. Taka lay on the floor, blood seeping from her left arm. Servants and uniformed authorities swarmed about.

"Who are you?" one of the officials demanded. Sen stepped back, startled. He was menacing, towering over her.

"I … I'm …" she tried to answer, shock stealing her voice. What was going on? What had happened to her mother?

"She is my daughter," a raspy voice called from the floor. The official turned towards Taka. Sen, recovering a little without anyone glaring at her, tried to peer through the crowd and see her mother.

"Mother, are you …?" Sen started, moving forward to aid her parent in whatever way she could.

"Arrest her!" Taka commanded, shaking off a servant who was trying to bandage her wound. "She conspired with her friends in this attack!"

"I didn't!" Sen cried as two uniformed authorities closed in on her from either side. She wouldn't do such a thing. Why would she say …? "Mother, tell them I didn't!" Sen insisted, fear making her voice shrill. The authorities grabbed her arms and one of them pulled out a pair of restraints. Sen struggled, terror and pride giving her strength. She had done nothing. Nothing! But she was unprepared for their strength, and found her hands bound together in front of her body. One of the authorities took her upper arm and turned her forcefully out the door.

Taka did not say another word. Instead, she relaxed back and let her staff attend to her injury. She watched impassively as the door closed and Sen disappeared from view.

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"Good morning, Sir. Is the room to your liking?"

Looking up from his book, Don offered the man a friendly smile. "Yes. Thanks. Everything is fine," he replied.

"Very good. Would you like the tray on the table, Sir?" the waiter asked, waiting politely near the door to the hotel room. Don shifted his book aside to make space, and the waiter crossed the room with the breakfast tray. The man set it in front of Don, and lifted the cover on the plate. "Is there anything else you need, Sir?"

"No, thank you. This is perfect." Don handed over a few bills, and watched the member of the hotel staff exit his room. Don sighed, and looked down at his breakfast. It was likely to be perfect. Everything had been so far – a smooth flight, an excellent hotel, an incredible interview … Perfect.

The position, a rare opening to work for the British government, was his dream job. And so far the city had turned out to be more alien friendly than New York. Here, aliens had a variety of rights and protections – equal to those of humans. Many of those from off world had moved to London to find jobs, and improve the technology of Earth.

His potential employers, anxious to make a good impression, had set him up with a real estate broker. The excruciatingly polite woman had shown him a few flats – any of which would work out well for the two of them.

Here, Don was forced to pause in his planning. The two of them – he couldn't conceive of a future here without Sam. A year ago, before she had come back into his life, he would have jumped at this chance. Even moving away from his family didn't seem like such a hardship. He was an airplane ride away … No, the only thing keeping him from accepting was Sam.

Could he convince her? Don toyed with his fork, considering. She very nearly hated her job with the NYPD now. The salary he had been offered meant Sam didn't even need to work. Not that he would bring that up. Suggesting that he could support them both would likely lead to an argument. Who was he kidding? It would be a blow out. He almost smiled – Sam was fiercely independent. Don tapped his eggs with his fork, and then put the implement down. He would hope that she would consider it. It could be good for both of them here.

Don picked up his fork and tasted the eggs. "Wonderful," he murmured.

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Juliet looked up at the knock on her front door. There was only one person it was likely to be.

"Sam," Mike greeted cheerfully, his voice carrying from the entry. Juliet smiled, and returned the plate she had been washing to the sink. As she wiped her hands with a towel, her guest walked into the kitchen.

"You're late," Juliet said, and then grinned to soften the rebuke.

"Of course she's late," Mike teased, taking Sam's light coat. "She's a cop. Never around when you need one …" Sam gave him a sour face, and Mike took off to hang up Sam's outerwear in the closet.

"Pizza?" Juliet offered, indicating the box on the kitchen table. "I managed to save you a slice."

"Thanks, Juliet," Sam said, sitting down at the small table. She lifted the lid and took out the lone piece of pepperoni pizza. She just held it in her hand, looking at it somberly.

"He'll be back soon," Juliet commented into the silence. Sam glanced up and smiled sadly.

"Am I that transparent?"

Sitting down across from Sam, Juliet just shook her head. "I know what it's like – missing someone."

"What if he takes the job?" Sam whispered. Juliet frowned, and considered what to say. Before she could begin, Sam continued. "I can't imagine leaving New York – I've never even been anywhere else." Sam blinked a few times, and looked at the tabletop. "My job sucks, and …" She took a bite of pizza, swallowing it before she went on. "And I don't know …" Juliet's eyes widened with alarm as Sam's face suddenly paled.

Sam stood up quickly and dropped the pizza onto the table. She rushed out of the kitchen and into the nearby bathroom. Following worriedly behind, Juliet heard her friend being noisily sick. When the sound stopped, Juliet tapped lightly on the door.

"Sam."

"Yeah," Sam called back, her voice hoarse. Juliet pushed the door open and shut it behind her. Sam was leaning against the sink, her head down. She was shaking.

"Does Don know?" Juliet asked quietly. Sam shook her head slowly, not looking up. "Sam …"

"I haven't told anyone," Sam admitted softly. "Juliet, I'm scared." Hearing the tears in Sam's voice, Juliet raised a hand and rubbed the other woman's back in what she hoped was a comforting gesture. "The doctor isn't sure … isn't sure that I can carry to term because it's … mixed." Juliet bit her lip, wishing she had some words of comfort to offer. "I never considered … I didn't even know it was possible."

"Oh, Sam," Juliet murmured. Sam turned, and Juliet gathered Sam in her arms, stroking her hair. "It'll be okay. Somehow it'll be okay."

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Two weeks ago, on Maora 2 …

"Lady Taka, are you certain you are well enough for this?" Waving aside the obsequious official, Taka waited for the door to be unlocked. Beyond it, visible through reinforced glass, was a small conference room with a metal table and two chairs that were attached to the floor.

Stepping inside, Taka did not bother to greet the other occupant of the room. "Alone," she demanded, sending her escort scurrying back out the door. She sat down in the hard chair, and leaned back to pull off her gloves. "Do you know why I am here?" Taka asked, not deigning to look at the creature across the table. She laid one glove on the table.

"I know," Cho replied, her tone mirroring the disgust in her expression. Inside her mind, Cho recalled the events of a week ago.

"This isn't going to work," Cho said worriedly as they rode the elevator to Lady Taka's home. Oki wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders.

"It is, Cho. You said yourself that she can't stand you. We offer her a deal – you stay away in exchange for a small payment. No big deal, right?" When Oki said it, it sounded like it would be okay. Her conscience cried out that this was wrong – that it was unethical and a cruel thing to do to Sen.

"Good. I told your friend, Oki, to get word to you. Such an accommodating individual, Oki," Taka noted, laying the second glove over the first. "I will offer you the same deal I gave him."

"No," Cho said forcefully, slamming her fists on the table. The restraints that held her hands together rattled.

"It is a very interesting proposal," Lady Taka stated neutrally. "Or, it would have been, years ago." She rose to her feet, intending to show the couple out. "While I am aware of your desperation, I am afraid I am not interested in paying you for anything."

Cho glanced at Oki's face, noting the tense frustration. His fingers wrapped cruelly around the glass in his hand – empty now after he had drank Lady Taka's offered refreshment. She cringed, knowing that soon he might explode. Perhaps in the elevator, or in the car on their way home …

Taka laughed. "Obstinacy will get you nowhere." Taka leaned forward and stared at Cho now, unsettling the younger female. "Coming to me for money – daring to threaten me – was extremely foolish of you and your fiancé. Attacking me was ludicrous."

"I didn't attack you," Cho disagreed sharply, her wings shivered once and then settled again.

"No, your charming Oki did. And because he has seen fit to implicate my daughter … he will be rewarded with a shorter prison sentence," Taka explained. "You may enjoy an equal benefit, if you choose."

"I will not betray Sen!" Cho shot back forcefully.

Taka sighed, and rose to her feet. "It is your choice, of course. I do not really need your testimony. Oki's accusation, along with mine, will be enough to hold Sen here for quite some time." Taka bent forward and retrieved her gloves. "I'm sure your sense of honor will keep you safe in prison."

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