Faithfulness in the Center

Part 9

"Good morning, Kwai Chang Caine. It is good to see you." Lo Si turned from his worktable to face his visitor.

Caine stood behind him, head in a partial bow, "Good morning, Master."

The elderly man looked at his friend, eyes filled with concern, "I sense weariness in your chi. You have not slept, my friend?"

Caine shook his head, "No."

"Even Shambhala masters need their rest," Lo Si scolded.

"I know, Master. But there was trouble at the precinct last night." Caine suspected that Lo Si already knew of the shooting, but was feigning ignorance, as he so often did.

"I hope young Peter was not hurt," the old eyes now reflected fear. Maybe Caine was wrong and Lo Si did not know what had occurred.

"No, Peter is fine. Kermit accidentally killed a child during a shoot-out." Caine walked over to the worktable, looking over the herbs that the Ancient had been preparing.

Lo Si was quiet for a long time, then turned to the younger man, "The death of a child is always a tragedy."

"Kermit is in a great deal of pain about what he has done. He appears to be unable to forgive himself." Caine watched the Ancient as he ground a root into fine particles.

"It will be important for him to have friends who can support him during this difficult time," Lo Si observed.

"Yes. Peter is trying to help him, but he is worried that he will be unable to provide the comfort needed." Caine shrugged.

Lo Si smiled and turned to his friend, looking into his eyes in a fatherly manner, "Peter has learned much from you. He is ready to provide the assistance that Kermit needs."

Caine nodded, "I know that my son is capable of helping. But he does not seem so certain. He calls to me for help and I want to be there for him. I do not want to let him down. . .again." The word 'again' was said so quietly that Lo Si had to strain to hear it.

"Young Peter must learn to step out from your shadow and into his own light." LoSi picked up a Bonsai tree which was setting on the corner of the table and he placed his other hand on the younger man's arm, "You must be willing to allow him to grow, even if it is against his wishes. My friend, your son's chi was like a seedling before you came back to him. He was dependant upon those around him for survival. But your love has provided the nutrients he needed to grow into a strong tree. Now he must explore his powers on his own. You must allow him that."

Caine looked at the tree and then back to the Master. Of course, the old man was right, for he carried the wisdom of the ages. He smiled at his elder, "Thank you for your guidance, Master." He took a deep breath and turned towards the window, "It is a beautiful day today, perhaps you would enjoy a walk in the park with me."

Lo Si smiled at his friend, nodded in agreement and followed him out the door.

Kermit had stared at the computer screen for a long time after Simms and Peter had left his office. Every time he tried to type a description of the events from the previous night, the image of Stephanie Porter's face reflected back on the screen. It was worse that the nightmare he had suffered only hours earlier.

Exhaustion and stress had caused a pounding headache. He reached for his coffee cup and found the contents to be stale and cold. Sliding away from the desk he opened the door to the squad room to retrieve a fresh cup.

He had walked only three feet from the door when he heard voices behind him. He turned and found he was staring into the red-rimmed eyes of the Porters.

Stephanie's mother was standing in front of her husband, talking quietly to Mary Margaret. She looked up and immediately focused on the man who had shot her daughter the night before. Her eyes never left the dark green sunglasses, and Kermit could feel the penetration of her glare on his corneas. He didn't know what to do. He wanted to run back to his office, slam the door behind him and hide until the grieving parents were gone, but a little voice inside reminded him that he had never retreated from a battle and he certainly wasn't going to retreat from tragedy.

He took a step towards the Porters and opened his mouth, another apology coming to his lips. Before he could utter a word, Amanda Porter ran forward and struck the man in the chest. Tears were streaming down her face and she was yelling hysterically, "You killed her! You killed my baby!"

Kermit, taken by surprise at the woman's sudden movement, allowed her fists to make contact with his chest. Her husband, similarly startled, ran up behind his wife and grabbed her from behind, pulling her away. The woman continued to scream, "You murderer! Do you know what you've done? Do you care? Damn you!"

Michael Porter was whispering in her ear, attempting to calm her anger, but to no avail. He pulled her backwards, away from the beleaguered detective. The woman struggled violently against her husband's grip, fury in her eyes, all rage focused on the man standing in front of her. Her husband's arm slid up around her neck in his effort to subdue her. She leaned down and in her wrath, bit down on his arm, causing the man to grimace and lose his hold. She broke free, and with all her strength, charged at Kermit once again.

This time, though, she did not make contact. Peter was suddenly blocking her way. She inadvertently ran into his arms. He held on to the woman, absorbing her struggles and her rage. Closing his eyes, he focused his chi on her's. He could feel her overwhelming pain as a red fire which burned within her. He imagined his chi wrapping itself around her anger, dissipating the effects like water dousing a flame.

The woman's fight left her and she collapsed wearily into the Shaolin cop's arms. Michael Porter looked from his wife to the young cop in amazement. "I'm sorry. Thank you for helping her. I'm afraid that. . ." his voice choked in his throat, "that this has been too much for her to handle." He grabbed his wife from Peter, holding her protectively.

He turned to Kermit, the detective still standing, glued to his spot, "I. . .I know it wasn't you fault. I've tried to tell Amanda that. . .but. . .but she doesn't want to see it."

Michael Porter turned away from Kermit and Peter and walked his wife out of the squad room and out the precinct doors. The remaining people in the room stood in stunned silence. No one said a word. Peter looked around, expecting to hear Strenlich's voice booming that everyone should get back to work. But no voice followed. He turned to the Chief and found that his appeared to be speechless along with everyone else.

Peter cleared his throat and decided to take the proverbial bull by the horns, "Doesn't anyone here have work to do?" he shouted, "Did crime stop and I missed it?"

The familiar words of the Chief being said by the young Shaolin seemed to shock everyone out of their silence. Work was resumed immediately. The Chief walked up to his young detective and whispered into his ear, "Thanks. . .but that was my line."

Peter smiled to himself and then turned back to Griffin. The man was still standing in the same spot, making no effort to return to his office.

"You okay?" Peter asked, concerned. Kermit said nothing. Peter continued, "She's hurting right now. In time, she'll be willing to accept the truth."

Kermit's voice was a mere whisper, "The truth? The truth is that everything she said was the truth. I'm a murderer." He turned and without saying more, entered his office, slamming the door behind him. Peter heard the lock slip into place.

"He needs time, too, Detective. He needs time to heal," Peter turned to find Captain Simms standing behind him.

Peter smiled sympathetically, "I know. I'm just afraid of what he might do to himself while he's healing."

The Captain nodded in agreement. "Keep an eye on him for me. That's an order, Detective." She smiled, placed a comforting hand on Peter's arm and returned to her office.

Peter nodded and sat back down at his desk, closing his eyes and calling out to his father for guidance, once again.

End Part 9

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