Luke just stood there in shock as he tried to understand what in the world Sara was saying. He was to nice? TO NICE?! How in the world could someone think of that as a bad thing? Sure, Luke had heard and seen con men that used niceness to get close but they never did it for an extended period of time and they never were able to keep doing it when they were being abused.

"So what then... you think I'm some big con man or something?" Luke asked incredulously as he just stared at Sara, "You think I'm trying to trick you, Raina, and CS so that I can get something from you? Is that what you're labeling me as?!"

He almost would have preferred Sara thinking that he really was a killer instead of thinking that he was a con man. A killer just took your life... a con man could take your life's blood and make you want to kill yourself.

"Because I act different than anyone you've ever met you immediately assume that I must have bad intentions. Who's judging now?"

"You think I'm trying to trick you, Raina, and CS so that I can get something from you? Is that what you're labeling me as?!"

“The thoughts crossed my mind on more than one occasion, since we’ve met.” Sara didn’t like the term ‘label’ but she failed to think of a term that fit more than that one, did.

"Because I act different than anyone you've ever met you immediately assume that I must have bad intentions. Who's judging now?"

“Wrong again Luke!” Sara’s eyes widened and her lips grew tight. She moved one foot back for better balance. “I’ve met people, who act, exactly like you. If your being true, then I know I really screw things up.” That’s right. Sara said if. Luke now new what had been going through her head for so long, there was no need to dance around it and talk like her mind didn’t think the way it did. “but if you’re not, then I want to be ready.” Because Sara didn’t want to forget and have that surprise again of being used. Or her friends being used. You could say that was another one of Sara’s fears. Forgetting the bad because forgetting the bad involves that terrible feeling in the bottom of your gut when you remember.

"Is that your motto for life or something?" Luke asked incredulously, stil unable to understand why in the world Sara would look at life this way, "Make friends but expect to be betrayed?"

That was no way to live life and Luke knew it but at the same time it did bring a question to the forefront of his mind... what had Sara gone through that made her so wary and distrustful? Had someone hurt her that way before or was it just part of the cat personality coming through?

"I'm not out to get anything from anyone! When I met you and Raina in that sushi shop, I didn't expect that a romance would develop. I didn't plan on falling in love with her!"

There... he had already admitted it in front of Raina, so what was the harm of admitting it in front of Sara. He was in love with Raina... it wasn't just a question of caring for her anymore, he knew now that he would do anything and go through anything in order to protect and take care of the mermaid.

"You want to know why I'm so nice? Two reasons... One, it's just my personality. There's more than enough bad in the world so I like looking for the good in people. Two, you're a friend of Raina's meaning you get special treatment. If you have a problem with that, fine. But that's the way my mind works."

"Is that your motto for life or something?"

Sara shook he head again. “No.” She didn’t like the terms that followed that either, but again, she couldn’t think of better terminology when it came to her with Luke. Everyone else, she wasn’t all that sure on. “I don’t know.” Sara’s head tilted down, and rubbed the inner corners of her eyes.

She stood there listening to Luke with the his explanation and again she wanted to believe him. Part of her was trying to believe him. But she still couldn’t shake the thoughts in her mind that had been rooted themselves there for so long. Then there was still the matter of the cash. Sara wouldn’t say that she hadn’t done something wrong.

“I’m buying a safe house.” The response wasn’t exactly a response to the two reasons that Luke had just given to why he’s nice, but she didn’t know how to respond to that. “That’s why I need the money. Ayesac and I are buying a safe house and we’re renovating it.”

It came out of the blue... the explanation that Luke had never expected to here. Why was Sara suddenly sharing the reason behind her need for money? Why was she suddenly opening up? For several moments Luke just stood there... letting his mind calm down so that he wouldn't say anything wrong. A part of him wondered why she hadn't asked him for help funding the safe house but at the same time he knew she was independent, especially when she didn't fully trust someone.

"A safe house." He said quietly before slowly reaching back and pulling his visor back on as well as the hood he wore.

"And I'd be willing to guess you only took the money from the well dressed people that you were sure would be able to afford it." He commented quietly, "How much more do you have to get?"

This was a really odd silence. It took Luke a moment to respond or anything and Sara could imagine either a battle going on in his head or that con side using a practiced pause from drama’s sake.

And there reappeared the wraith hood. Sara wasn’t sure if she was thankful for it for not having to look Luke in the eye or annoyed. “You know I’m picky that way.”

What was going on through his head anyways? Sara’s head tilted and she couldn’t help but let her head tilt. “I don’t know how much more I’ll need.” She felt herself take a cautious step back away from Luke. “Not all the cash is stolen.” She said as if that made things better. “I took a few other commission jobs.”

Wraith was silent for a moment before he slowly began to shake his head back and forth. "I'm not going to try and take you in or anything Sara." He spoke up with a slight sigh in his voice as he watched the cat take a precautionary step away from him, "You and I both know that I couldn't even if I wanted to."

That was the truth and he knew it... Sara would beat him in a fight any day of the weak and even with his new power, Wraith doubted it would be enough to subdue the feline. If she could stand up to flame throwers and bullets then what chance would a simple soundwave have against her? Sure it might stun her for a minute... might even knock her backwards a bit, but if was was serious about the fight she'd keep on coming.

"Like the Energizer Bunny... it keeps going, and going, and going..."

"Look... truce OK. I'm not out to kill you or hurt any of your friends. Raina and I are on solid footing with our relationship now so things are looking up there. All I want you to know is that if you need anything... call me."

This had to be one of the wierdest relationships in history... how in the world had they gotten to this point? They had both mistreated each other, fought tooth and nail, as well as frustrating each other as much as possible, and yet they kept being forced together for whatever reason.

"I never would have pictured it ending up like this..."

Luke called a truce and Sara nodded. Starting to calm her insides down until Luke worded something oddly.

Raina and I are on solid footing with our relationship now

“Wait. Your relationship had a rocky moment?” Red flags were shooting up from the back of Sara’s mind and the stress level rose in her voice. She kept her posture even with the exception of the tip of her tail flicking and her ear twitching. Sara shouldn’t even have to remind Luke that her promises was still in place. If he hurt Raina.. .. ..

Hidden behind his visor and veiled by the shadows of his hood, one of Wraith's eyebrows quirked questioningly as he watched Sara's reaction. Either she hadn't had a chance to talk to Raina lately or the mermaid hadn't shared certain particular information with her.

"What I meant is that we know exactly what our relationship is. We're not testing the water or walking around the edges of the subject anymore." He stated calmly as he just continued to watch the feline in front of him, "The only rocky moment I can think of is when she had to realize that I occasionally deal with paparazi. We still haven't discussed that to much but she's willing to try to work past that."

Tilting his head to the side slightly, he crossed his arms over his chest and regarded the cat with some curiosity. "You and Raina don't talk much do you." He observed quietly.

(ROFL! Can I help it if Sara and Raina don’t get enough threads together?)

The fleshy part of Sara’s nose suddenly darkened and she was glad Luke couldn’t see the change in color. This had gone from her starting to accuse him to him turning the tables on her… Wow and how the tables had been turned.

“Ah… No. Not as much as we should.” Sara admitted. Then turned to start walking away from Luke. All the emotion shared had added up and Sara wasn’t sure if she needed to burn off the energy, or just sit down and pass out.

“You do hog her a lot though!” That just seemed to be the theme of so many relationships. The girl friend, the boy friend, and the cat that just can’t get enough attention.

"Yes... yes I do." Wraith admitted after a few moments, "But I'd be willing to bet she'd love to get together for lunch or something."

After everything that had happened in Paris he just knew that Raina would want to spend some time talking to Sara. If she had been willing to open up to Sara the night that they had almost made love for the first time then surely she'd want to talk to her after everything that happened in Paris.

"Maybe you should try giving her a call. Get together... have a girls day out or something like that."

“Lunch would be good.” Sara sighed. She still wasn’t sure if it was Luke’s sonar that put her on edge or the hole mix of things. She was starting to get a dull aching head though. Either way.

“A girls day out with out you.” Sara’s head tilted and she couldn’t help the corner of her mouth twitch at that thought. It wasn’t really personal to Luke but Sara hadn’t had an time with Raina, that Luke wasn’t there, since she broke the glass in Luke’s apartment, and Luke took the broken shards to the trash. Gah! Back then she even talked Luke up, to Raina.

“You know, I keep forgetting I even have the phone.” Sara padded her pocket where it rested. “I’ll see you around.” Sara turned away and left the alley. ’And if Raina says something wrong about you Luke, I will go a hunting.’ Sara thought to herself.

Wraith was silent for several moments as he watched the feline walk away. All in all that had been a better experience between the two of them than that night a week or so before at the test house. "You know where to find me and how to reach me if you need anything." He spoke quietly, knowing Sara's sensitive hearing would pick it up, "Take care Sara."

Turning he grabbed the rope he had slid down however long before and with quick hand over hand motions he scaled his way back up to the rooftop. Wraith's patrol wasn't over.