A/N: 04.25.2018

With my most sincere of apologies, I offer this chapter to you all. I am so sorry that this took so long. But, no, this story is not on hiatus. I've just been working really hard to make sure that this was done right. I've finally gotten it to where I was pleased with the final product. In doing so, I already broke my mandate that the chapters wouldn't be long as "Fated Ones." My bad. Haha!

I'll give you a bit more of an explanation at the end of this chapter for everything going on. But, that's later.

Enjoy!

Chapter 4: Truth & Lies

Abbie was pacing, back and forth, having just heard the news of Danny's actions from Jenny and Edom. They were all in the dining room of her house with Ichabod, Jenny, and Edom seated at the table as Abbie continued to pace.

Edom sat back, tapping his finger on the table. "I can't believe this. Danny always seemed to be a… honest man. For him to be connected to Walters…" he shook his head. "Perhaps I don't know as people as well I believed."

"Maybe he's just a good liar," Jenny said.

Ichabod looked at them and exhaled. "Or perhaps… he had no choice."

"I must offer my most sincere of apologies," Edom said, immediately, "but I don't think I quite caught what you said, Ichabod."

"Yeah, run that by us again," Jenny said in disbelief.

Ichabod shrugged, slightly, "I am merely pointing out the fact that perhaps, just perhaps, he's not able to deny orders given to him."

"You're defending him?!" Abbie said, angrily. "You?! You hate Danny."

"I do not… hate him."

"You don't like him."

"Be that as it may, he doesn't seem to be the kind of person who would betray you."

"But would he betray you to get to me?" Abbie asked.

Ichabod didn't answer right away.

"Exactly! Maybe he did this to kill you. And, to tell you the truth, I'd rather he did this to turn his back on me than to get you out of the way."

"How would that…" Edom started to say.

Abbie glared at him.

Edom closed his mouth and placed his hands on the table.

"I just do not believe Daniel would jeopardize you for any reason, Abbie," Ichabod said. "He may have no love lost for me but he cares about you."

"Not enough to not send me into a trap!" Abbie fired back.

"It's entirely possible that he didn't know about that," Edom said.

"Why are you two defending him?!"

Edom scooted his chair back a couple of inches. "I am merely pointing out that Daniel may be just as much a pawn anyone else."

"A pawn with a choice to tell me the damn truth!" Abbie shouted.

Ichabod, Jenny, and Edom froze in place at Abbie's outburst. She didn't yell often but, when she did, it was always frightening.

"Perhaps he needs a chance to explain himself," Ichabod said.

"Are we sure that's a good idea?" Jenny asked.

"He's gonna explain, whether he likes it or not!" Abbie grabbed her phone and started scrolling.

Everyone looked at each other, curiously, then back at Abbie.

"What are you doing?" Jenny asked.

Abbie ignored her sister and dialed. Then, in her most calm voice, "Danny? Hey, it's Abbie. I need to talk to you. Can you come by my house? It's really important." She quiet for a second. "Yeah, now's good." She was quiet again. "Thanks, Danny." She hung up and her rage shown through again. "He's on his way."

"Do you want us here?" Edom asked.

"Yeah." Abbie headed upstairs, "To make sure I don't kill him."

Ichabod leaned on his elbows.

"Aren't you going after her?" Jenny asked Ichabod.

"Not yet," Ichabod said. "As you and I know very well, she needs her time alone."

"Yeah." Jenny thought for a second. "Hey, uh, Crane? Where's Abbie's gun?"

Ichabod looked at her, curiously, then understood why she asked. "Let's go make sure it's safely put away, shall we?"

About twenty minutes later, Danny arrived at the house. Ichabod invited him and led him into the living room. Danny walked in to find Abbie, Jenny, and Edom sitting there.

"Hey, everyone," Danny greeted.

"Agent Reynolds," Edom greeted while Jenny gave a halfhearted wave.

Danny looked at Abbie, "What was so important?"

"Why have you been meeting with Director Walters?" Abbie asked.

Danny froze, stunned at hearing that. He blinked and shifted his stance. "What?"

"We saw you, Daniel," Edom said. "Rather clandestine for a high-ranking member of the FBI to meet with one of his subordinates in an alley way. With no cameras."

"Yeah, that's more CIA territory," Jenny added.

"Indeed."

Danny didn't know what to say. He just stared at Abbie, with his mouth ajar.

"Why?" Abbie asked.

"And before you answer her query, Daniel," Edom raised a finger, "please, do know that we are aware that you have been informing to Walters about Abbie and Ichabod."

Danny's face completed drained of any color.

"We have friends in high and low places. What amazes me was that you kept this from us for so long."

"I told Sophie," Danny said, quickly.

Edom's narrowed his eyes a bit. "You do understand that anything you say, at this point, is subject to suspicion."

"And, even if you told her anything, what you told her is questionable, too," Jenny added.

"And you still haven't answered me," Abbie said. "Why?"

Danny wiped his hand across his mouth, trying to figure out how best to explain this. He took a deep breath and exhaled, "I was under orders."

Abbie's face became more rigid while Ichabod pressed his fingers together.

Jenny shook her head and jumped to her feet, "You lousy piece of…"

"Jenny," Edom interrupted. He, calmly, motioned for her to sit back down, which she obliged. He looked Danny, "You're going to have to do better than that, my friend."

"A hell of a lot better," Abbie said, sternly.

"I didn't have a choice," Danny said, suddenly.

"Everyone's got a choice!"

"It was either me or someone who didn't care about you!"

This time, it was Ichabod's face that became rigid. Jenny shook her head in complete disbelief and Edom only closed his eyes and exhaled.

"Care about me?" Abbie asked. "That. That's the story you're going with?"

"It's the truth," Danny said.

"If you 'caring' about me means that you're lying to me and selling me out behind my back, I don't need it. Hell, I don't need your caring at all! What I needed was the truth! The one thing that you wouldn't tell me!"

"I didn't have a choice."

"That can't be your same defense," Abbie said.

"It's the truth," Danny repeated.

"Then why didn't you tell me all of this when he asked you?"

Danny didn't respond.

Edom looked at him, curiously. A realization hit him, and he slowly rose to his feet. "When did he first approach you?"

Danny looked at the floor, "Right after Granger died."

Edom thought back, "He's was in charge before you, yes?"

"Yeah," Abbie said. She walked right up to him, "So, you came here… knowing your job… was to inform on me?"

"I didn't have a choice," Danny said, as it was the only defense he had. However, he wouldn't look Abbie in the face.

Abbie looked away from him for a second. She took a breath, looked back at him, then, out of nowhere, slapped him as hard as she could.

"Abbie!" Jenny said, jumping to her feet.

Abbie shook her hand out from the force of the blow.

"Not the best course of action, Abbie," Edom said.

"Save it, Ed," Abbie said. She looked back at Danny.

Danny dealt with the blow, not so much the pain but the meaning behind it. Any relationship he had with Abbie was gone. And he'd never get it back. "I wanted to tell you," he said. "It's why I told Sophie. So she could… help me look out for you! All of the time, I wanted to say something!"

"And why didn't you?" Abbie asked.

"Because I was under orders."

Abbie laughed, sarcastically, "Orders. Yeah. That's what it always comes down to, right? Orders. Because friendship doesn't count, right? Because claiming you were in love with me once didn't mean a damn thing, right?"

"Abbie…" Danny said.

"No! Not 'Abbie'. It's 'Agent. Mills.' For you. My friends, my family call me 'Abbie'. You are not either. Now get the hell out!"

"Just let me…"

Abbie slapped him, again. "OUT!"

Danny stared at her, brokenhearted, but he turned and left the house.

Abbie hadn't let out a full breath since he confessed.

"This is a mess," Jenny said.

"Very much so," Edom said.

"What are we gonna do now?"

Abbie stormed out of the room, immediately followed by Ichabod.

"We fight on," Edom said, watching the couple leave. "Betrayals often come in war. It doesn't mean you stop fighting."

"What about them?" Jenny asked.

"They're soldiers, Jenny. You know that even better than I do. They'll be fine. Abbie's just angry. In all honesty, I don't blame her. Let's give her a moment."

Jenny took a deep breath, "I just worry about how long that 'moment' will be."

"Moments are fleeting these days."

Abbie burst through the back door, walking into the backyard where she started to pace. She started rubbing her forehead and breathing heavily, trying to come to terms with all of this. Ichabod stopped at door and stared at her.

"Can I do anything?" Ichabod asked.

"You can stop pretending you don't hate Danny," Abbie said, angrily. "I don't need this 'brotherhood' or 'men-sticking-together' crap. I need you as mad at him as I am."

"There is no brotherhood between myself and Agent Reynolds. I'm not thrilled with his choices, I can admit. In fact, I am very disappointed at what he has done to you."

"Then what?! Why didn't say anything the entire time he was here?!"

"Because it wasn't my place," Ichabod said, simply.

She sometimes hated his simple, poignant answers. In this case, it was particularly irritating. "Why are you so calm?!"

"Because we need to be," he replied. "Or, rather, I need to be at the moment."

"What the hell does that mean?" she asked.

Ichabod sat down on the steps of the door, interlocking his fingers, "Because whatever emotions you need to feel to work your way through this are necessary. Danny's actions have hurt, greatly. I understand that." He shrugged, "I will be the calm one, for now. I am certain we will switch roles in the future."

Abbie took his words in and considered them. She scoffed, "We do go back and forth with that, huh?"

"Such is human nature. For us, this is strongly the case. Back to the matter at hand, my reaction has nothing to do with Danny, my love. It has everything to do with you."

She stared at him, exasperated.

"Just tell me why this concerns you so."

She thought about his query for a few seconds. She folded her arms. "How did we meet?"

"I was in a prison cell," he answered, "suspected of the heinous crime of murdering August Corbin. Due to the unusual conditions of the crime, I was a prime suspect. You were untrusting of me in the beginning, if memory serves."

"Your memory always serves," she replied.

He chuckled, quietly.

"It took me a while to trust you. But, once I did, I've knew that you'd have my back. But… I still approached us with caution."

"That which I understand completely."

She bit her lip. "Then, we became friends. You became my best friend. One of the best… most loyal friends I ever had. And I knew I could trust you with my life."

"Absolutely," he nodded.

"Then… all of the other things I was feeling for you. You had my heart long before I ever knew you did."

"Just as you had mine."

"And when we admitted we were in love with each other… I knew for a fact that you would never betray that. Or me."

"Ever."

She smiled then frowned. "I told you that Danny told me that once," she reminded. "That he loved me."

He nodded.

"And I don't return those feelings but I can't see that… if you love someone…" She shook her head, "how you could ever betray them."

He studied her for a while. "It is possible. Even when well-intentioned."

"Yeah, and when not well-intentioned."

"Truly." He took a deep breath. "I understand your anger. After all, 'tis a road I've traveled myself."

"Katrina," Abbie said, ruefully.

"Yes," Ichabod replied. "Her betrayal hurt, which is probably why I did not let myself see it. It would hurt too much to admit it. But, when I could see it, a great deal of emotions came over me. For this reason, as I said, is why I understand your anger. I've felt it in my own way. The contrast is I had my role to play in Katrina's actions, you had none in Danny's actions against you. But, regardless, just as you were there for me in my darkest of hours, I shall always be there for you."

She had to blink away a few tears. "Thank you."

He gave her a warm smile.

He wasn't trying to make her get over it or confronting her about it. And, worst of all, he wasn't trying to make her feel bad for being this pissed over Danny. She felt low for being so upset but it was something she could fix.

Abbie sighed. "I'm sorry if it feels like I'm putting too much stock in Danny lying to me."

"There is no need for you to apologize," Ichabod replied. "Danny's feelings for you aside, he is… or perhaps was your friend. Regardless of his intentions, betrayal by someone close is never easy to accept."

She walked over to him and leaned down in front of him. "Still," she said. She planted a small kiss on his lips. "I'm sorry."

He smiled, "Well. I'm sure there will be ways for you to make it up to me." He stood up.

She scowled, "You're gonna hold this over my head for a while, aren't you?"

"As though it were a clouds over London in the winter season." Ichabod walked back in the house.

Abbie rolled her eyes, "Okay, yeah. I kinda deserve that." She followed him into the house.

Osiris came to Edom's house that night, meeting up with Ichabod, Abbie, Jenny, Joe, and Ray. "I've learned some interesting information," Osiris said.

"What's that?" Edom asked.

"Some of my brother's cult are coming to Sleepy Hollow."

"For what?" Jenny asked.

"I imagine that it's due to the failure of the removal of the Witnesses from this equation." Osiris folded his arms, "I believe Set may seek to correct that mistake. The rumor is that he will be among them."

"Perhaps it's something we should look into," Edom said.

"Agreed."

"So, when are we going?" Abbie asked.

Osiris looked at Abbie, uncertain. "With all due respect, Agent Mills, I think that Edom and I should investigate this alone. In particular, when it pertains to your own FBI director being involved with my brother. And, of course, the high likelihood of Set being present."

Edom smiled, "Good luck with that."

"With what?"

"Keeping her from going."

Osiris narrowed his eyes and looked at Abbie.

"He's right," she responded. "We're going."

Osiris looked at them all in confusion, "Everyone did see the monstrous snake, correct?"

"Do you know how much crazy stuff we've seen in the past couple of years?" Abbie asked. "That was… first-year strange."

"Not even for me," Jenny added.

"For me, now," Ray said, "that kind of thing is, like… Thursday? Yeah, Thursday with a little Friday added in."

"Be that as it may…" Osiris started to say.

"You will not win this battle, Osiris," Edom said, getting up. "Let us prepare to confront your brother."

"Is it truly that simple?"

Edom chuckled. "They will face any horrors with bravery. Trust me."

Osiris looked at them and shrugged, "Very well. I often cannot fathom such decisions being made. Nevertheless, I will not stop people from following their own free will. Let us depart."

"Does every supernatural being talk like they are straight out of a Shakespearean play?" Ray asked.

"I do not…" Edom said. He paused. "…as often as I once did."

"Uh-huh. Which play did that reply come from?"

"Oh, shut up, Ray!"

Ray smiled, "That's probably the fifth normal thing you've said since I met you."

The team gathered in the same warehouse district where Jenny and Edom learned about Danny's working with Walters. Walters just pulled up, driving into one of the warehouses with an entourage of three SUVs.

"What are they doing?" Jenny asked.

"Waiting for the master of chaos," Osiris said. "The miscreant that he is."

"You don't seem to think too highly of your brother," Ray noted.

"The Egyptian gods, like others similar to our kind, all agreed to let the Earth be. We had our time to rule and walk among them but… for the most part, it started to become boring. For most us anyway."

"Being a god was boring?" Ray asked, skeptically.

"To use human vernacular, it's not all it's cracked up to be."

"Why?"

They saw another group of vehicles pull up, one of them being a long black limousine.

"That must wait for another time," Osiris said. "He's here."

The occupants exited the vehicles and two huge bodyguards exited the back of the limo, followed by a child.

"Who the hell's that?" Ray asked.

"That's him," Osiris gritted through his teeth.

"Are you kidding?" Jenny asked. "That kid's like 12."

"Can you think of a more perfect way to hide yourself? Who would suspect a child to be the one to end the world?"

"I have many students who claim their parents believe they are the antichrist," Ichabod said. "After reading some of their papers, I find them much too illiterate to rule the world."

"Damn, Crane, tell us how you really feel," Jenny said.

"If that is Set," Edom said, "than this is our best chance!"

"Indeed," Osiris said. "Take caution. He is dangerous."

"So are we," Abbie added.

Osiris looked at her, "You're rather... intimidating for a human."

"You have no idea," Ichabod added. They all moved, carefully, toward the warehouse.

Set threw his hands in the air, "Director! Good to see you!"

"It seems we ran into some trouble with removing the Witnesses," Walters said.

"Yeah, I know. That was to be expected. I have some family trouble."

"Family?"

"Yes, he arrived a bit sooner than I expected. But don't concern yourself with that. This does, however, change our situation a bit. I need to go ahead and acquire the information you have on the Sacred Sites."

Walters narrowed his eyes, "You said that you had information to give me."

Set chuckled. "Yes, about that. I lied. I need you to give me what you have and you should do so now, before I decide to kill you. Currently, I'm indecisive on the matter."

The agents with Walters drew their guns while Set's followers did the same.

Set laughed, "Well, well, well! So, this is a Mexican standoff! Fascinating! But there's a big difference here, Director Walters." He sneered. "My followers are prepared to die for me. Can your agents say the same thing?"

"We had an agreement," Walters said, calmly.

"Aww, Walters." Set let his powers surge, causing the agents and his followers to become agitated. "You, of all people, should know: never make deals with the devil."

Both sides lifted their guns.

The team heard gunfire and they all rushed inside.

Only to find the agents and Set's followers had all gunned each other down, save for Set and Walters.

Osiris looked at the carnage then focused on his brother, "Set!"

Set looked over at him and smiled, "Well, well, well! Brother!"

"What have you done?"

Set chuckled. "Only what I need to do." He looked at Walters. "It would seem to get a reprieve for now, Mr. Walters. But good luck explaining several dead bodies, including your own agents. Think on our deal and it's possible this can all be fixed. You have 24 hours." He looked at Osiris, "Brother, I shall leave you for now." Set walked backwards, chuckling as he did so, and began fading into the shadows he created until he disappeared completely.

"Set," Osiris said. "What are you up to?"

A/N: What, indeed.

Set has revealed that he may have needed Walters more than he let on. What is going on? Find out next time!

So, for a few logistics. I have a LOT on my plate right now guys, so, two months between chapters for this story might be ideal for a while. But, unless I say it here, on my Twitter, or on my Facebook page (the information for all can be found on my profile), this story will NOT be on hiatus. In fact, I'm already working on the next chapter, and the sequel but more on that later. With that in mind, I'm about 98% sure this story won't be anywhere near as long as "The Fated Ones" but let's see where the story takes us, shall we? Thanks for sticking with me, guys! I'll see you all as soon as I possibly can!

Take care, Sleepyheads!