Knights v Hunters; The Return

A month after being kidnapped, Detectives Peck and Channing were no closer to solving their own case. The old building in which they were held was currently being renovated by Zolfar Construction and the owners had no idea who would so brazenly kidnap two detectives and use their building as a hideaway. Lena had spent hours investigating the construction company, but was unsuccessful in finding any discrepancies. The Zolfars were seen as hardworking, successful business people who were upstanding citizens in their community. Noel Emerson could not help them either in identifying his kidnappers as he had been heavily drugged. As for Lucia Ginello from Ginello’s bakery, well she seemed to have taken an extended holiday in Italy and was therefore unable to assist in any way. A visit to the bakery revealed that many of the workers had been fired in the past month and the bakery would soon be under new management.

Sawyer was equally frustrated that they could not find any reasons for the kidnappings of David Calloway and Noel Emerson, although he was grateful that no major harm had befallen either man. Captain Marquez on the other hand, was less circumspect than his detectives and asked them to close their cases. Hence Detectives Peck and Channing had been assigned a few new cases in the past few weeks.

Lena looked across the desk at her partner. Their relationship had changed since the night Sawyer kissed her and they were at the stage where they were ready to introduce each other to their families. They were having dinner with Sawyer’s family tonight, which scared Lena. Carter still ribbed Sawyer about stealing his girl and the brothers had actually gone on a few double dates, but Lena was intimidated at the thought of meeting Sawyer’s parents. What would they think of her, she wondered.

“A dollar for your thoughts, milady,” Sawyer broke into Lena’s fear-filled thoughts.

Lena cleared her throat before speaking. “You’re sure about me meeting your parents tonight?” she asked, hoping that her voice reflected uncertainty rather than fear.

“Yes. Why? Are you having second thoughts?” he asked, looking at her. When her eyes met his, he realised that it wasn’t that at all – Lena Peck was scared! He hid his smile as he said. “They will love you, you know. Carter has already spoken to them about you.”

“Great,” Lena said in dismay, “now they’ll think of me as the woman who came between two brothers!”

“Oh please! He never stood a chance. Not at all. They probably see you as the woman who has good taste!” Sawyer joked. He saw a smile creep reluctantly onto Lena’s face and watched her relax. He had to stop himself from reaching over and holding her hands – they had decided not to reveal their relationship at work for now and to remain professional at all times. They didn’t even walk into the precinct together and used their own cars fairly often. At night though, their time was their own and Sawyer found himself spending many nights at Lena’s apartment. He enjoyed waking up next to her each morning and this morning at breakfast, he had almost asked her if she wanted to live together. Something had stopped him though. He had never lived with a woman before and Lena had never shared an apartment with a man, which meant that the “living together” proposal could not be brought up lightly.

Lena drank her herbal tea and went back to the case she was now assigned, although Sawyer and his family were still on her mind. She really liked this man, really cared about him and he made her believe that he felt the same. Meeting each other’s family was a big, brave step, something she had thought would be much further down in their relationship. Sawyer had surprised her with his invitation, which increased her nervousness for all the wrong reasons. What if his parents compared her to the other blonde beauties he used to bring home? Would she come up short?

“I need to speak to Goodison,” Sawyer said, referring to another detective who was assisting on their case. “I’ll be back soon.”

Lena had just settled back into reading the reports on her desk, when her phone rang. “Peck,” she said automatically, placing the phone between her left ear and her shoulder.

“Hi, is this Lena Peck?” a woman asked on the other end of the line. Something in the woman’s voice made Lena sit up straighter.

“Yes, this is her. How may I help you?” she asked.

“Lena, hi, this is Helena Channing, Sawyer’s mother.”

“Oh, uh…Mrs Channing, yes. Is everything okay?” Lena asked, her prior nervousness quadrupling.

Helena Channing laughed, sounding so much like Sawyer that Lena relaxed. “Oh, all is well. I just wanted to call and say that my husband and I are really looking forward to meeting you tonight.”

“The same here, Mrs Channing,” Lena managed to get out.

“Well, that’s good. If you’re anything like me, you’re probably nervous of the first meeting with the parents. Don’t be. We’re probably more nervous than you considering Sawyer has never brought a girlfriend over for dinner before.”

More than an hour later, Sawyer returned to his desk and noticed that Lena was pouring over video footage.

“What are you working on?” he asked.

Lena looked a bit dumbfounded when she raised her eyes to meet Sawyer’s. “Well, I’m reviewing footage from the night Gentry and McCall were killed,” she said. “Officer Cooper said he chatted to me more than a month ago about what happened that night and I had promised to investigate and get back to him. The thing is, I don’t remember any of that.”

“Well, we were working on those kidnappings around that time. What information did he have?” Sawyer asked.

“He says that on the night that McCall was killed in his cell, he let in Rafe and another young man for whom Rafe vouched. He said he didn’t think to mention it at the time because he knew that Rafe had been working with us on those cases. But it’s been bugging him, because he felt he wasn’t totally honest when he was interviewed. Well, I’ve checked the tapes and now that Cooper has provided a description of the man with Rafe, I’m wondering if the two we see here,” she said, pointing to the two men walking towards McCall’s cell, “are not Rafe and the unidentified blonde man.”

Sawyer peered closely at the footage. “The physical characteristics of this dark-haired guy certainly matches Rafe, but this guy killed McCall in some mysterious manner. Do you think that Rafe is capable of murder?”

Lena rubbed her eyes. “I wouldn’t like to think so, but he never mentioned being at the station that night.”

“Do you think we should talk to him?” Sawyer asked, not for a second believing that Rafe was the one in the video.

“The boys haven’t been back to the apartment in over a month and Rafe’s cell goes straight to voicemail,” Lena said in frustration.

“Well, leave a message and see if he calls back,” Sawyer said. “I personally don’t believe that those boys helped us catch those killers only to end their lives.”

“You’re right,” Lena admitted. “It doesn’t make sense.” But something still didn’t sit right with her.

A few days later, Rafe turned on the cell phone he had used on his mission in New York, only to hear a familiar voice. Detective Lena Peck wanted to talk to him about the night Gage McCall was killed. He knew that Matthew had cleaned her memory when they were in New York, so this message came as a surprise. Nonetheless, after discussions with Caleb and his father, he knew that he had to return her call, considering that Detective Peck hated loose ends.

“Hi, Detective Peck, it’s Rafe,” he said as he heard the detective’s voice. He could sense that she had something important to ask him.

“Rafe, thank you for returning my call. Are you back in New York?” Lena asked conversationally. Personally, she was glad, although a little surprised that Rafe had returned her call.

“No, we’re still at home, since we’re on school break. My cell phone’s been off though, which is why I didn’t return your call sooner. You wanted to speak about the night McCall died?” Rafe asked innocently. He could hear the wheels turning in Lena Peck’s head.

“Yes. I wanted to find out if you were at the station that night? We’re just trying to make sense of some footage that we have,” Lena said.

Ah, so that’s what it is about, Rafe realised. She must have seen both him and Matthew in some of the recordings from that night. It was a test, since Lena already knew the answer to that question.

“Yes, as a matter of fact I was. A friend of mine and I went to the station that night,” Rafe confirmed.

“Why?” Lena asked.

“Well, let’s just say I wanted to see McCall. I couldn’t understand how someone could kill so many people for nothing. So, I asked him,” Rafe said, keeping close to the truth.

“What did he say?” Lena asked curiously.

“Nothing useful,” Rafe admitted. “It didn’t seem to bother him that he and Gentry had killed all those people. He seemed almost delusional, so we left.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about your visit?” Lena asked the question that was weighing the most on her mind. And your friend?

“To be honest, I felt like an idiot for believing that there had to be a reason for everything that a man does. Gentry and McCall were simply monsters. My friend who accompanied me, is a pysch major and he’d never been inside a police station before, let alone been face to face with a killer. He thought he could help. We were both wrong. I didn’t think that it was important anymore when I saw you the next morning and you told me what happened the night before. Is there a problem with that visit?” he asked innocently. “I know I should have cleared it with you first.”

On the other end of the line, Lena paused in thought. Rafe seemed like a young man who needed answers and reasons for everything. She had thought as much when she first met him. Maybe he was telling the truth?

“No Rafe, it’s no problem,” Lena said. “As I mentioned, I was just trying to figure out if the footage was correct. We’re tying up all the loose ends and Officer Cooper mentioned that he had seen you that night.”

They continued chatting a few more minutes, exchanging pleasantries. Rafe was pleased to hear that Lena and Sawyer were finally together and that their relationship had moved very quickly. Lena sounded happy when speaking of Sawyer and Rafe was glad to know that he and Caleb had been correct about their perceptions of the two detectives.

Lena shared her earlier conversation with Rafe with Sawyer later that night after dinner at his parents’ home. Sawyer sensed that Lena was at peace with what she had heard which had dispelled any misgivings she might have had about Rafe.

“So, are the boys coming back to New York any time soon?” Sawyer asked.

“No. It seems as if they will be staying at home for a while,” Lena answered. “Rafe says that they needed some time out after the McCall/Gentry case. He wasn’t keen on reliving those murders. I think the boys are spending their time off school by working in their family’s business.”

“You know, all those months ago when you suggested that we use a psychic on the Harry Tyler case, I was certain that you had lost it!” Sawyer confided.

“And yet you supported me when the captain asked you,” Lena said in confusion.

Sawyer laughed. “That’s what partners do,” he said. “I didn’t want to let you down in front of Marquez. And I’m glad I didn’t because Rafe and Caleb cracked that case for us.”

“Did I ever say thank you?” Lena asked, kissing Sawyer on his chin.

“Well, I don’t believe you thanked me properly,” Sawyer said, drawing Lena into his arms. “It’s not too late though.”

Hours later, sometime closer to midnight, Sawyer lay with Lena snuggled in his arms. He had once again failed to find the courage to ask her to live with him, but he knew that he had to broach the subject soon. Lena stirred in his arms, slowly awakening. He held her tighter, felt her respond. He cleared his throat as he said the words that would test their relationship. “Lena, I was wondering if we could talk about our living arrangements.” Lena raised her head and looked at him. “I would like for us to live together.” Her eyes widened, the sleepiness in them totally evaporating.

The next few seconds were close to torture for Sawyer as Lena remained silent. Probably wondering how fast she can run out of here, Sawyer thought.

“Okay,” Lena said instead, surprising him. “Do you want to get a place together? Or do you want to move in with me, because hon, your apartment is a total mancave.”

Gabe found Grace in their garden, tending to plants which he had neglected in her absence. There was a look of utter peace on his wife’s face. She was home! He remembered when Grace and Zeke had met for the first time since Zeke’s return. She had embraced the man as if his liaison with Seth had never happened. That was one of the things he loved about his wife, he realised. She had a great capacity for forgiveness, love and moving on. He, on the other hand, still struggled.

As if sensing her husband’s presence, Grace shifted her focus from the rose bush to the man before her. She realised he was still troubled, that Zeke’s return had brought some painful memories of Delia back to life. She went to him then, wrapping her arms around him, trying to ease the tension she felt in him.

“You just have a way of making everything better,” Gabe said, nestling his chin on top of his wife’s head.

“Well, it’s not difficult when we have so much to be grateful for,” she said. They stood that way for a while, until Grace felt the tension leave him. “What troubles you, my darling?” she eventually asked.

“Just the thought that our daughter may never forgive us for not telling her the truth about her parentage,” he responded solemnly. They had answered Eden’s questions the best they could and made no excuses for keeping the truth from her, but he sensed that she felt betrayed, even if she hadn’t voiced those exact words.

“She will, in time,” Grace said confidently. She knew her husband had always been close to their youngest daughter and her unhappiness at their supposed betrayal would weigh heavily on him. “She’s still trying to make sense of everything. She might not fully agree with how we handled the situation, but she does understand.”

Gabe wasn’t so sure. Zeke and Eden had spent an enormous amount of time together these past few weeks. Zeke had kept to his word and helped with the clean-up both within Knight town and the Hunters’ compound. Gabe’s heart never failed to hurt when he saw Eden and Zeke together. They looked so much alike, that no one would doubt that they were father and daughter. Zeke’s daughter. Not the daughter of Gabe.

“I’ve invited Zeke over for dinner tonight,” Grace said. “He’s back in town and staying with Matthew and Josh.” She felt Gabe tense beside her. “He will always be a part of this family,” she reasoned. “If we don’t acknowledge that, we could lose Eden.”

Dinner that night had been a raucous affair, with additional guests in Nate and Zeke. Nate had in fact become a regular dinner guest, his interest in Kyra no longer hidden, especially since it was reciprocated. Matthew and Josh seemed to enjoy Zeke’s company as well and Eden was grateful that her mother had invited him for dinner once again.

After dinner and over coffee, they all continued their conversation in the lounge, but Eden noticed that Gabe had slipped away. She followed him, knowing that he had probably gone for a walk, something that they both loved to do after dinner. She wondered what was going through his mind. Was he disappointed in her?

Eventually, she saw him in front of her and he turned as he heard her footsteps. “Eden,” he said, acknowledging her presence.

Eden went up to him and put her arm through his, like she had done countless times. They continued walking together in silence, until Eden said, “I missed this. I remember when I was little and you used to walk so slowly so that I could keep up with you.”

Gabe laughed, “Yes, but when you became a teenager, you could out pace me!”

Eden was overcome with acute nostalgia for the days when everything was simpler. “Father, I don’t think that I’ve thanked you enough for allowing Zeke entrance into Knight town, especially considering that he was working with Seth and the Blocker.”

“Well, if Jude could forgive him, who was I to behave otherwise. Besides, he is your father.”

“You’re my father,” Eden said forcefully. “He knows that too.” She didn’t notice the tears forming in her father’s eyes. “And I might look like him, but I’m more like you than him.” She stopped walking and turned to Gabe, saw the emotions run through him. “Nothing will change that and nothing can change how much I love you and Mom. But, I am half-Hunter and I need to find out what that means,” she said, willing him to understand.

“I would too, in your position,” Gabe admitted. “You probably don’t realise it, but the arrows have always been flowing in your body.”

“I know,” Eden said. “I’ve felt something the past year and I didn’t know what that meant, I didn’t know what was happening to my body,” she confessed. “Let’s just say, I now understand why Zeke told me never to raise my hand in anger. I could kill someone if I accidentally released an arrow!”

“Being half-Hunter requires different training, different control. I will speak to Jude about including you in the Hunters’ training camp,” Gabe said.

Eden was overwhelmed. These last few weeks were surreal – spending time with Zeke, learning more about her birth parents, legally visiting the Hunters’ compound and running into the leader of the Hunters and his family, especially Rafe. It had all brought home the fact that as confused as she was emotionally, her life was finally starting to make sense to her.

“Eden, I hope you know that I never thought of you as someone else’s child. You were always my last born, someone I loved like my own. That will never change,” Gabe said seriously.

Eden hugged her father, “I know,” she said. “I’ve felt that my entire life.” Gabe, leader of the Knights had raised her as his own, without question and even Zeke, her biological father appreciated that. But now, she had to do right by both men – she had to make space in her life for Zeke the Hunter as well.

“Gabe’s asked me to include Eden in our training camp for the Young Hunters,” Jude told Ava over breakfast.

“And, what did you say?” Ava asked.

“I could hardly refuse, considering that Eden is also a part of us,” Jude confessed. “Besides, it will be good for her to spend some time getting to know her heritage and the other Young Hunters. Zeke raised this a few weeks back, but I needed Eden to make that decision herself.”

Ava realised that Eden would now be spending a considerable amount of time at the Hunters’ compound. Thus far, she had only been over for a weekend, whilst Zeke on the other hand, had spent a few weeks in Knight town. Ava wondered about the impact Eden’s presence would have on her eldest son. Caleb had explained to his mother the reason for Rafe’s forgetfulness, which had deeply upset Ava. She felt her son had been robbed of something very valuable and she had given Matthew an earful when he had come to collect Grace. He had profusely apologised, offering to restore Rafe’s memories, but Grace agreed with Caleb. Too much had happened to go back in time – if Rafe and Eden were meant to be, then it would happen, regardless. All she knew, was that Rafe had distanced himself from Sera, someone she liked, and was busy focussing on his studies and helping his father with matters related to the Hunters. In the past few weeks, he had spent time with Ethan and Jude but had retreated to being the man he was before he had formed a bond with Eden.

“So, when will Eden arrive?” Ava asked. “We should have them over for dinner.”

“They will be back by the end of the week,” Jude confirmed. “In fact, I think we should throw them both a welcoming party– to officially welcome Eden into the world of the Hunters and to welcome Zeke back home,” Jude suggested.

“That’s a great idea. I will arrange it with Maya,” Ava said, glad that Jude was making every effort to ensure that both Eden and Zeke felt at home in the compound.

Later that day, Rafe heard from his father about Eden’s impending arrival. This troubled him. Eden already occupied too many of his thoughts and kept him awake some nights. There was something about her that unsettled him and he knew that she wasn’t exactly in awe of him. He had made peace with the fact that she would be spending more time in the compound in future, but now it really hit home. He couldn’t avoid her, especially if she was to attend the training camps with the Young Hunters, but he could ensure that he didn’t spend more time than necessary in her presence.

Caleb found his brother in the control centre, poring over reports from some of their previous missions. He watched him flip through the pages, never failing to be amazed at the speed at which Rafe could read. “So, are you looking for something in particular in those reports?” Caleb asked.

“No,” Rafe answered. “I’m trying to gain some insight as to our areas for improvement. Ethan wants to include more specific training in our camps over the next few weeks.”

“Okay. Oh, I heard that Eden will be joining us in training as well,” Caleb said casually, watching his brother’s face. Rafe’s expressions were masked though and he merely nodded. “Dad said that she will be with us for a few weeks. I guess we can probably expect a few of the other Knights to visit as well.”

“I doubt that,” Rafe replied. “Nothing that’s happened in the past few months changes the fact that Knights and Hunters have very different beliefs. So, I don’t think that our working together on a couple of missions would justify them traipsing into our territory.”

“Whoa,” Caleb said. “A bit anti-social there, bro.”

“No, just realistic,” Rafe responded. “By the way, I need to ask you for a favour.”

“Sure, anything,” Caleb said easily.

“I need you to run interference for me over the next few weeks.”

“What do you mean?” Caleb asked.

“Keep Eden away from me,” Rafe said, surprising his brother.

“Why?” Caleb asked gently.

“Well, she doesn’t exactly enjoy my company,” Rafe explained, “so I don’t expect her to seek me out. But let’s just say I don’t want to give her brother another excuse to steal my memories. The less I have to do with the Knights, the better for me!”