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 8:

"The senses deceive from time to time, and it is prudent never to trust wholly those who have deceived us even once."
Rene Descartes

Nienna stared down at the green skinned warrior. Alive. It could not be. She had evidence from Lady Sen's mother … She thought quickly. Two options were before the hunter. She could watch this brave male die from her poison, or she could attempt to retrieve his life and discover if his words were truth. It took only a second for Nienna to reach within her robe and retrieve the vial of amber liquid. Minutes remained to save the warrior's life, if the cure worked on his kind. Nienna pulled the stopper awkwardly with one hand, and tilted the contents of the vial into his mouth. He choked on the liquid, spitting some of it out.

"No, Warrior, you must drink," Nienna ordered. She returned the vial to his mouth, and poured more in. Swiftly, she dropped the vial and clapped both hands over his mouth, holding it shut. She gritted her teeth at the pain in her injured wrist. The warrior thrashed, struggling not to swallow the antidote. "Drink it," she demanded sharply. His whole body shuddered, but Nienna held on grimly. "If you do not take the antidote, then the poison from my knives will surely kill you." Seconds passed as the hunter anxiously watched, and finally he swallowed.

Raphael groaned as the liquid burned down his throat and into his gut. The flames seemed to lick out into each limb, awaking every cut and bruise into a symphony of pain. Slowly the fire retreated, and Raphael blinked his eyes open to find his vision clearing.

The hunter lifted her hands from his face, and peered down at him with what could have passed for a smile. The warrior would live.

Cautiously, Raphael pushed himself up to a sitting position. The knife cuts on his arms still hurt, but he could feel everything again. He stood up, wincing at the pain in his leg. That wound was deep, and blood ran down the back of his leg when he put weight on it. Raphael stripped off the denim shirt he wore over a t-shirt, twisted it, and tied it around his thigh. He hoped it would at least slow the bleeding.

So strong, Nienna thought. She had experienced the poison that coated her knives, and already this warrior was recovering. Nienna stood up next to the warrior, holding her arm gingerly.

"Now, prove to me that Lady Sen still lives. If she does not, then there will be no mercy," she threatened.

888

Don felt sudden gratitude to Major Klein for an access card that worked outside of regular work hours. He knew the Major intended for Don to put in plenty of overtime with the card, but it had allowed Don to enter his lab early in the morning when the guard duty was light. Don entered his lab first, and looked around. Nothing had been disturbed. Sam slipped in behind him, carrying Sean.

Neither parent wanted Sean here, but Sam had noted they had no one they could trust this far away from Don's family. Don wanted to make this quick. He walked to his desk and gathered up his papers, shoving them into a backpack he had brought along.

"Sam," Don whispered. "Put Susan's laptop in the bag." Sam nodded, and walked to the other desk on the lab. She snagged the laptop and squatted down to stuff it into the pack.

"Should I erase the whiteboard?" Sam queried. Don shook his head. He logged into the computer on his desk, and accessed the network. He pulled a thumb drive from his pocket, and plugged it into his computer. A few keystrokes, and the virus he had written was compromising the file system.

"I think we're …" Don started when the lab door opened. Don and Sam both looked at it with surprise and fear.

Don's research assistant took one look at Sam, turned on her heel, and walked back out.

Don stared at his wife. "What did you do to Susan?" he questioned sharply.

"Not much," Sam shrugged. "Just lunch … at the shooting range."

Don's eyes went round. They were destroying nearly a year's worth of his work in a government facility, his family was in danger from the British government and possibly the Utrom, and it was all Don could do to control the hysterical laughter that threatened to break free. A shooting range for lunch; only Sam would think to do that.

"Are we done?" Sam asked. Don nodded, and Sam held their son out to him. Once her hands were free she drew her gun, and cautiously opened the door. She checked the hall, and finding it clear waved Don over. "Let's get out of here."

In a parking lot a mile away from the lab Don piled the laptops, notes, his personal notebook, his personal laptop, and set a small explosive in the midst of the pile. He walked over to the car where his wife and son waited, and detonated the charge. His work blew up and burned pieces of paper whirled through the air.

Now all they had to do was get out of the country.

Don reached into his pocket for a white card with a phone number printed on it. No name or logo was evident. It was the card the Utrom had given him during their lunch at the private club – that day now seemed a lifetime ago. Don knew their best option for returning to New York safely was the Utrom. He would have to trust them to be his allies.

888

It had been an agonizingly long cab ride across town to the bookshop. The cab driver had taken one look at them, and almost refused the fare. Only Raph holding out a wad of cash had changed his mind. Raphael glanced at his silent companion as the city lights lit her face. There was a scar down her left cheek, and now that Raphael could see her better there were numerous scars on her small hands. Her black hair was very short, and framed small, pointed ears. He looked back out the windshield and noted that they were nearly there.

Raphael had debated jumping her when they left the alley, but if this could all be fixed by just showing the hunter that Sen was alive, then that would be good. Besides, in his current state Raphael wasn't positive he could get the drop on the hunter. Whatever she made him drink had taken care of the numbness, but he still had the wound in his leg, and he felt like he'd been run over by a tractor trailer.

Not that the hunter was in much better shape. Her wrist was clearly broken. It had turned purple during the car ride, and was now steadily swelling. She was also breathing shallowly, like her ribs were hurting her. For all that, she remained alert and didn't complain in the slightest. With the damage she had taken, Raphael was reasonably sure that he and Leo could take her if necessary.

The cab pulled over to the curb and stopped.

"We're here," Raphael stated. He opened his door and carefully climbed out. The cab driver rolled down his window, and Raphael handed over all the cash he had on him. The cabbie looked pleased with the amount, and once the hunter was out of the car he drove off. Raphael figured the cab driver could use the extra to get the blood cleaned off his back seat.

Standing on the sidewalk, the hunter was looking up at the glowing sign over the bookstore. She glanced at him, and once again Raphael was unable to read those night dark eyes of hers. He hoped this wasn't a major mistake. He waved at the door, and the hunter stepped over and pulled the door open. Raphael followed her inside, relieved to see Sen and Leo both there. Sen appeared to be closing up shop, and was just then emptying the cash register. Leo was leaning on the counter. He straightened up when they entered.

Sen took one look at the pale female in the black robe, and gasped in horror. "No!" she cried. Leo started and looked at Sen in surprise. Before anyone could protest Sen had rounded the counter at a run and stood between Leo and the female. "Please, no," Sen begged, tears gathering in her eyes. "Please, not Leonardo."

The hunter froze. "Are you Lady Sen?" she asked. Sen nodded. Leo stepped forward, and placed his hand on Sen's arm. He tried to pull her behind him, but she resisted.

"Please," Sen pleaded, her eyes fixed on the black robed female.

"Does someone want to tell me what's going on?" Leo questioned, glancing between Sen, his brother, and the small female in the black robe.

"She's a Belgardian Hunter," Sen whispered. "An assassin." Leo's eyes narrowed and he reached inside his coat for the short sword he kept hidden.

"Easy Leo," Raphael said. "So she's alive, that means you're done here, right?" Raphael demanded of the hunter. She turned her head and regarded the warrior. She nodded briefly, and Sen sagged with relief. Leo caught Sen and moved her over to the sofa near the front window. He sat her down, and then turned back to the hunter.

"May I ask why you're here?" Leo asked his tone sharp.

"She was here to kill you," Raph explained, moving over to the counter. He leaned back against it, taking weight off his injured leg. Leo's eyes flicked to the shirt tied there and back to Raphael's face.

"You're hurt," Leo accused, turning a fierce look on the hunter. He noted her holding what appeared to be a broken wrist, and she had a hell of a bruise coming up on the side of her face. "You need to get that leg tended to," Leo said, addressing Raphael again.

"In a minute," Raphael said. "First I wanna know why she thought Sen was dead." He nodded to the hunter. She reached into her robe, and Leo started for his hidden sword. The hunter paused, catching the move. She much more slowly retrieved a folded parchment, and held it out for Leo. He stepped forward and took it, opening it to read the contents. As his eyes scanned the words, Raphael turned to the hunter.

"So, what's your name?" he asked, curious. The hunter tilted her head at him.

"Nienna," she answered. She shifted her wrist, and visibly winced.

"Gonna have to reset that," Raphael observed. "I'm Raphael, by the way."

Leo sighed, and offered the paper to Raphael. Raph snagged it from his brother's fingers, and read it aloud.

"A writ of execution, authorized by Hunter Nienna, for the warrior known as Leonardo Hamato of Earth. Evidence presented by Lady Taka of Maora 2 for the kidnapping and subsequent death of her daughter …"

As the words washed over Sen, she lowered her face to her hands. Her mother had done this. Another betrayal. Her mother had not changed, would never change.

"What was the evidence of Sen's death?" Raph inquired, dropping the paper on the counter behind him.

"A death certificate from Maora 2," Nienna replied neutrally.

"So I'm dead," Sen said softly, her head down. Leo looked worriedly at her.

"I must send a message to Belgard," Nienna stated to the room in general. "And I must negotiate with the Utrom to keep Lady Taka from fleeing to Maora 2."

Leo's head swiveled at this. "But she's on Maora 2," he said.

"She is here," Nienna declared. "In this very city."

Leo turned back to Sen, and for a moment she met his eyes. In hers was surprising shame and guilt. She had known Taka was here. That explained Sen leaving the bookstore. Her gaze fell, and Leo struggled with his shock, and anger, at the revelation.

"Come on," Raphael invited, taking Nienna's shoulder and steering her toward the back of the shop. "There's a first aid kit upstairs." Leo didn't need an audience for whatever was going to happen next.

888

"I do not need assistance."

Raphael arched an eye ridge at the hunter. She sat on the edge of the sofa and frowned darkly at him. He chose to ignore her comment, and opened up the first aid kit.

"Maybe I do," Raphael said, and retrieved the roll of bandages from inside the kit. He held it out to her. She stared at it mutely, but then took it. Raphael untied the shirt around his leg, and turned to face the old desk that sat up here. Sen had thought she might renovate the space above the shop into an office and rent it out. Right now there was this desk, a fold out sofa, a small bathroom, and not much else.

He felt rather than heard Nienna approach. She knelt behind him and peered inside the tear in his pants. She drew her knife, and carefully cut the opening larger. The wound was deep, but not large; a stab and not a slice.

"This must be sewn," Nienna stated.

"Needle and thread in the kit," Raphael said evenly. Nienna gathered the required items, glanced up briefly at the warrior, and then began to sew the wound closed. He leaned forward and placed his hands on the desk for support. He stayed still, though it must have pained him. When she was finished, Nienna gently cleaned around the wound. Raphael straightened and turned. He sat down carefully on the sofa, wincing at the pain in his leg. Nienna stood up and approached him. She sat next to him and proceeded to clean and bandage the wounds on his arms.

As she worked, Raphael observed her. She was exhausted, and she had to be in more pain than he was. He was going to have to straighten that wrist, and it was going to hurt like hell.

"Finished," she reported softly.

"Your turn," Raphael told her. A mutinous expression appeared on her face, but Raphael reached out and placed a single finger on her wrist. Nienna gasped in pain. "If I don't reset that, you'll be lucky to ever hold a blade again."

The hunter saw the sense in his words, but it was not the way of her order to accept aid. But she would need her hand again eventually. Finally, Nienna nodded her assent, and Raphael dug in the kit. They kept small splints on hand for just such an occasion. It was amazing how often he and his brothers had once needed these kits.

"Want me to tape your ribs first?" he queried. Nienna shook her head. She wanted the wrist done first. If she made it through that, then they could tackle her ribs. None were broken. She suspected they were only bruised.

With all the items ready at hand, Raphael reached out for her wrist. "You want something to bite down on?" he asked. Nienna laughed mirthlessly. It would probably be necessary. Raphael held out one of his sai, and Nienna took it in her good hand. She put the leather wrapped handle between her teeth, and nodded once to Raphael. He took her hand firmly in his grasp.

"On three, okay?" She nodded quickly. "One …" Raphael jerked her hand, and she groaned around the handle. The bone settled back into place, and Raphael quickly splinted and wrapped it. Nienna retrieved the sai from her mouth, and dropped it on the floor nearby. Her head swam dizzily with the pain from her wrist, but she refused to pass out.

"Done," Raphael said. He looked at her and felt real sympathy and admiration for the hunter. Mike would've screamed bloody murder having something like that done to him. "Ribs?"

Nienna really didn't want any more first aid, but she stood up and started wrestling one-handed with her hooded robe. Raphael put his hands on her shoulders, and she looked up at him. She read the empathy there, and ceased her efforts. Raphael carefully shifted the robe off her shoulders and down her arms. With the greatest of care, he peeled it over her wrist. He dropped the heavy fabric to the floor. She wore a simple tunic belted over a pair of narrow pants. Everything was black. Raphael reached for the belt, and Nienna stepped back. Raphael quirked that eye ridge at her again and she sighed. She held still for his second attempt, and Raphael unhooked the belt. This, too, fell to the floor. He gently lifted her tunic, and whistled at the starburst of bruising on her upper abdomen and lower rib cage. He gently pressed on her ribs, and she winced.

"Broken?" he questioned. She shook her head. "We'll tape them anyway," Raphael said. He grabbed the tape, and started it on the side where there was no bruising. He wrapped her ribs, careful not to go too tight. She breathed steadily, and once again Raphael had to respect her ability to withstand pain. When he was finished, Raphael gathered up everything and put the items back in the kit. He tossed out the needle. There were more packs of sterile needles in the kit.

Raphael picked up the cushions off the sofa and tossed them into the corner. Nienna stood still and watched him curiously. With the cushions out of the way, Raphael grabbed the loop of material at the back of the sofa seat, and pulled up and out. The sofa bed fell into place with a clang. Without bothering to straighten the sheets, Raphael eased down onto the mattress, and closed his eyes. It wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world, but at this point he did not care. He desperately needed sleep to heal.

He patted the empty side, and when he didn't feel Nienna join him he opened one eye to peer up at her.

"Lie down," he ordered. When she still hesitated, Raphael levered himself up on one arm. "Look, you're exhausted. I'm not exactly feelin' ready to tango either. We'll sleep, and I'll take you to the Transmat station in the morning."

Nienna considered Raphael's reasonable offer. She was tired. Between the transfer and the fight in the alley, she had little energy left. But still she felt uncomfortable. She had never shared a bed with a male. It was against the order's code. The floor was hard, and she did not relish a night on it. She wavered over which path to take.

"I swear I won't touch you," Raphael pledged, correctly guessing the source of her reluctance. His expressive eyes reflected only truth. Nienna stepped over to the sofa bed and cautiously stretched out on her back. Raphael lay back down, and Nienna stared at the ceiling as she listened to his even breathing. She began to drowse. She didn't know why, but she trusted this male to keep his word. It was not the way she had been trained. It was not what was expected of her. She was to endure hardship and loneliness, but for once Nienna ignored the rules of the order and welcomed sleep beside another.