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 10:

"He who does not trust enough, Will not be trusted."
Lao Tzu

Haven did a double take at the pair walking down the hall of the Utrom Transmat facility offices. Raphael was stalking down the hall, his Utrom ID clipped to the pocket of his ratty plaid shirt. Beside him walked the Belgardian Hunter with an incongruous visitor badge attached to her black robe. As they drew closer, Haven noted the hunter's left arm was in a sling. Clearly Raphael had won the fight, which meant Leo had to be alive. Haven sighed with relief. She had been pretty worried that her withholding information – that Taka was on Earth – had led to trouble for Raphael and his brother.

"Hey," Haven greeted, raising her hand in a wave. Raphael's answering expression was surprisingly unfriendly.

"Haven," Raphael said shortly. Haven endeavored to keep the smile on her face. What was wrong with Raphael? Not their argument still? "Nienna needs to speak with the Utrom about Lady Taka staying in New York." Haven paled. Raph knew Sen's mother was here.

"Of course," Haven responded shakily. "Let me just make a quick call." Haven ducked into her office. She picked up the phone and dialed her supervisor. Raphael and the hunter—Nienna, Raph had called her—remained in the hall. "Harry," Haven said when the call was answered. "The Belgardian Hunter needs an audience with the Utrom. Okay. Great, thanks." She hung up and returned to the hallway. She wiped her sweating hands on her skirt as she walked. "Harry's on his way. He will take you to the audience room," Haven informed the hunter.

A moment later, Harry appeared and Nienna acknowledged the human with a grave nod.

"If you will follow me, Hunter, the Utrom are pleased to receive you," Harry said formally. He turned back the way he had come, and Nienna turned to Raphael.

"Thank you," she said. Raphael looked down at her. It could have been construed as a dismissal, but Raphael ignored it.

"I'll wait," he told the hunter. She nodded, and then continued down the hall after Harry. Once they rounded the corner, Raphael turned on Haven. "Thanks for the heads up on Taka."

"I couldn't tell you," Haven defended sharply. Raphael glared at her, not buying her assertion. "It would have cost me my job, Raph." Raphael snorted.

"Your job. Coulda cost Leo his life," Raph contended.

"I … I didn't know she was going to bring in an assassin," Haven argued, but she was losing steam. Raphael was right. Jeopardy to her career or not, she should have said something. "I'm sorry." Raphael sighed, and looked down at the floor. If he were fair, he'd forgive Haven. "Leo's okay, right?" Haven asked.

"Leo's fine," Raphael said. Or at least, he hoped his brother was alright. Leo had looked pretty upset at the bookstore last night.

"So what's with you and the hunter?" Haven queried. Raphael's head came up. "I mean, she looks pretty banged up, but hunters are tough. Why are you serving as her escort?"

"What do you know about Nienna's order?" Raphael inquired, ignoring both Haven's question and the faint jealousy in her tone.

"Nienna, is it?" Haven said archly. Raphael crossed his arms over his plastron and leveled a look at Haven. She shrugged. "The Belgardian Hunters are an ancient assassins' guild. They've been in operation for centuries. Parents on Belgard give a child to the order at one year of age. In exchange, they receive a stipend from the order each year that increases as their child moves up the ranks as a Hunter."

"Doesn't sound very fair for the Hunters," Raph observed. "What happens when they don't want to do it anymore?"

Nienna shook her head at Raphael. "There's no 401K for the order. Hunters are in it for life. They belong to the order until they die."

101010

Leo turned the key in the lock, and pushed the door to the townhouse open. Sen had noted these townhouses before. There were three of them in a row directly across the street from the house where Leo's family lived. They were old, with vintage detailing on the fronts. She had noted the construction permits in the windows, and the deliveries of building supplies for the last six months. That had been the extent of her curiosity until Leo led her to the one on the end. Leo waved Sen ahead and indicated she should go inside. Sen crossed the threshold and gasped with surprise.

She was in an open living room, with a dining room visible beyond. Polished wood floors gleamed up at her. A wooden staircase of the same hue stood in front of her. She walked to the center of the living room. The walls were a soothing cream. She could see a kitchen, all wood and new appliances, beyond the dining area. The front windows were shaded by sheer drapes of pale blue.

"What …?" Sen struggled to form a question about the empty townhouse as she spun back toward Leo.

"It's ours," Leo said. He tucked the keys into his coat pocket. "If you don't like the paint, or the drapes, we can do something different. Juliet picked out the drapes."

"Leo, when?" Sen interrogated. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I had the idea that I would surprise you," Leo explained. "Raph and I have been working on them. All three townhouses belong to our family. The house is just too crowded. We started on Donnie's first." Sen looked puzzled. "Don's coming back. Things aren't working out in London," he elucidated briefly. Sen shook her head. Another thing she had not known.

"No more secrets," Sen demanded suddenly. Leo smiled at her new fierceness.

"No more secrets," he promised.

Sen turned in a small circle, looking at the beautiful home, their home.

"The upstairs isn't finished yet," Leo continued.

"I would like to help," Sen said.

"Of course," Leo replied. "We'll do it together. And then when we're married, we'll live here." Leo reached into a pocket inside his long coat. His fingers settled on the object he had been carrying for nearly a year. Sen watched as Leo crossed the room to her side, as his hand opened, as the delicate silver ring appeared there, shining in the filtered sunlight. "That is, if you accept."

101010

Don climbed out of the car and stared up at the abandoned manufacturing plant. They were outside of London, and this was where the directions had led them. Don had called the number provided by the Utrom, and he and his family had been directed to drive to this location. The area was deserted, and Don felt a chill brush the back of his neck.

They were being watched.

Sam stepped out of the passenger side of the car, and looked across the roof at Don. They shared a stare laden with love and fear. Don shut his car door, and opened the rear door. He unbuckled Sean from his car seat, and lifted the child out. Sam shut her door, and walked around to do the same to the rear door. Sam put her hand on Sean's back, covering Don's fingers with her own.

"Whatever happens …" Sam whispered. Don nodded. No one needed to say it. Whatever happened next, they were together. That was all that mattered. Don shifted his son to his other arm, and clasped Sam's hand. Her fingers squeezed back, and they walked toward the empty building. The door loomed before them. Beyond was only blackness.

Don took a deep breath, and stepped into the dark with his wife and child.