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 6:

"You can't trust anybody with power."
Newt Gingrich

The park near their home was usually a peaceful place. Don had come here several times with Sam and Sean on the weekends. Today the tree-lined sidewalk seemed to carry with it a sense of menace, and Don found himself looking at every person he passed as a potential threat. Don passed several benches, feeling exposed along the main walkway filled with people. Instead, Don trotted off the path, and headed in the direction of the playground. At the swings he made a slow spin, studying everyone in his vicinity. The human in a dark gray suit was still behind him; obviously a government agent of some sort, tailing him. Don almost smiled. Mainstream as he might be, Don could still lose someone if necessary. Don kept walking toward the far side of the play area, across an open field used for games of football. He didn't speed up or slow down, and kept his pace to a leisurely stroll, his hands in his pants pockets. Yards from the trees, Don sensed his stalker gaining ground, and Don sped up a bit. He reached the dim shade of the trees, and promptly disappeared.

The gray-suited human following Don hurried forward and stepped under the canopy a moment later. He peered around, and began to panic when he could see no sign of his green-skinned assignment. The only sounds were the wind passing through the foliage, the cry of a distant bird, and the high laughter of children in the park. The man spun back to the field, and walked along the edge of the wooded area, tracking back to the entrance to the park.

Perched in a tree, Don watched the man's retreat. Once he felt the man was out of hearing range, Don retrieved a cell phone from his jacket pocket. Don selected the second number from his contact list, and waited as a phone rang on the other side of the world. Two rings and the call was answered.

"Donnie?"

Don felt a wave of homesickness at the even tones of his brother.

"Leo, how's things?" Don started, shifting to get more comfortable in the tree.

"Don, what's wrong?" Leo promptly demanded. Don held onto a laugh. No fooling Leo.

"I just spent the afternoon losing a tail," Don explained. He could almost hear Leo's mind ticking through the phone.

"I can be on a flight tonight," Leo stated. It wasn't an idle offer, either. Don knew his brother would go anywhere to protect his family or those he loved.

"No, Leo. I can take care of it," Don protested gently.

"Donnie …" Leo started, that old familiar leader tone creeping into Leo's normally calm voice. Before Leo could begin issuing orders, Don interrupted.

"We may have to leave London soon," Don said. "I wanted to check on the project and see if things could be ready."

"Raph and I have made great progress. Believe me, Don, if you want to come home, everything is ready." Leo paused, and Don figured his brother was fighting the temptation to just order him home. "Don, if you're in some kind of trouble …"

"I am, but I can handle it," Don declared. He was hiding in a tree, the Utrom and the British government wanted something from him, but he would handle it.

"You don't have to handle it alone, Don," Leo offered. Don closed his eyes. The homesickness returned again. He could, in his mind's eye, see Leo's concerned face right now.

"I'm not," Don reassured. "I'm not alone, Leo. I have Sam."

"That's true," Leo agreed. "Especially if she's armed."

Don chuckled at Leo's assessment of his wife. Definitely, if Sam was armed, she was all the backup Don would need. He hoped, anyway.

"Call if you need me, Don. And if you're coming home sooner, that's great. We miss you, Donnie." Leo's voice was so warm, such a reminder of the gift of family, that Don felt his eyes sting with unexpected tears.

"I'll call," Don replied, his voice suddenly rough. "I'll call soon."

666

Mother,

I am sorry, but I must decline your invitation for today, and for the future. You have always said that I am not strong, or brave, or able to make my own choices. Perhaps I am not as strong as you are, but I have made my choice. I choose Leonardo, and whatever life I may have with him. I know you will be disappointed in my decision. I hope, in time, you may find it in your heart to forgive me.

Your loving daughter,

Sen

Taka's hand gripped the note, tearing the edges with her nails. Her eyes scanned it again and again, and with each reading her rage grew.

"That … little … fool!" she shouted, shredding the note. The pieces scattered to the carpet, a few clinging to the front of her silken robe. Her servant knelt at her feet, shivering. Spotting him, Taka strode forward and swung her foot at him, viciously kicking the cowering man in the shoulder. The servant scuttled away, and Taka followed him kicking him in the side. He moaned, and curled tighter, trying to protect himself, resigned to his mistress' fury. She kicked him once more for good measure, and then limped away toward the tea table.

Seeing the tea service laid out for the expected visit from her impetuous daughter, Taka flung the pot and cups to the floor with a sweep of her hand. The expensive china shattered with a crash, and tea splashed the front of her pale lavender robe. Taka shrieked in inarticulate indignation.

"Bring me a fresh robe!" she cried at her servant. He stood slowly, holding his aching side, and crept toward the wardrobe.

"She is a fool," Taka hissed, beginning to pace before the windows. The spectacular view of New York meant nothing to her. "She has no pride. No honor …" Taka was breathing hard, her anger still controlling her.

Taka's servant approached, holding out a robe of pale yellow, one of her favorites. She snatched it from his hands, and made to wave him away, but she paused, her temper cooling to icy calculation. She still had a remaining strategy. An option she had held on to, just in case Sen was not amenable to Taka's overtures. Taka's eyes narrowed to slits as she turned it over in her mind. It was dangerous, and even cruel. The costs to herself were high, but …

Sen was to be her masterpiece; the culmination of years of scheming, manipulation and deceit. All in ashes as her child did not have the wit to accept the gift once given. Taka had accumulated the wealth and relationships to place Sen on a throne, and instead the stupid child had gone to Earth to sell books and fall in love with a male who taught at a fighting school.

Taka sneered. Her child was grown now, and believed she could make her own decisions. But her mother still had the power to take those choices away.

"I need a message delivered," Lady Taka ordered coldly. "To the Belgardian Hunters."

The servant looked at his Lady in open-mouthed horror. "But my lady, they are ruthless killers," the servant dared to protest. "Lady Sen is …"

"Sen has deserted me," Taka said darkly. "And now I must punish her for it."

666

Leo came out of his last class for the evening, and grabbed a towel from the stack just inside the office. Mike sat behind the desk, his feet up, and a magazine open in his hands. Leo growled, and Mike sheepishly dropped his feet to the floor. Leo sat down in a guest chair, and wiped the sweat from his head and neck. It had been his advanced class, and he had pushed them hard. The competition was nearly here and Leo had no intention of letting Raphael win their bet.

"So, how's Donnie?" Mike asked.

Leo thought a moment about how to answer.

"There's some kind of trouble with his work," Leo answered, laying the towel on his knee.

"We gettin' on a plane?" Mike questioned. Leo smiled. No matter how old they got, or how their lives led them in different directions, they were still a team.

"Not just yet, Mikey," Leo said. "Don will let us know when he needs us."

Mike nodded. He fiddled with the corner of his magazine, and then drummed his fingers on the desktop. Leo recognized the signs when Mike had something to tell him, but he just didn't want to.

"What is it, Mikey?" Leo queried.

"It isn't anything big, Leo. Just … " Mike paused, clearly wrestling with some revelation.

"Spit it out, Mikey," Leo ordered, leaning forward in his chair.

"It's about Rachel. And Sen," Mike started. Leo tilted his head, a puzzled expression on his face. "It's great that Sen trusts Rachel to work at the bookstore alone, but Jules and I are a little uncomfortable with Rachel there alone at night." Mike read the frown on Leo's face, and quickly continued. "I mean, Rach is totally allowed to work at the bookstore, but it would be better if Sen was there with her." Leo's visage remained concerned.

"I didn't know …" Leo began. "That Sen was out in the evenings." Mike's eye ridges rose. He had seriously stepped in something here. Leo's eyes focused on Mike's. "How often?" Mike swallowed at the hard expression on his brother's face.

"Twice. Just two evenings in the last week," Mike explained carefully.

"Did Rachel say where Sen was going?" Leo interrogated. Mike shook his head.

"Sorry, bro," Mike offered sincerely. He felt very guilty for even bringing it up. It could be nothing. For all he knew, Sen was taking a yoga class or something equally innocent. And yet, Mike knew it might be something much worse. After all, he knew about deception in relationships, didn't he? He had cheated on Juliet.

Leo nodded, acknowledging his brother's apology. It wasn't Mike's fault. Mike was only telling the truth. The problem was that Sen was not telling the truth. A lie by omission was still a lie as far as Leo was concerned. Leo didn't like this feeling of suspicion he suddenly had, this doubt. There was an ache in the center of his chest, and he rubbed there distractedly.

"Thanks, Mikey," Leo said softly. "Thanks for telling me."