Unfounded Fears
Part 15
The pain in his chest intensified. The crowbar's impact shot fire through his ribs. Peter struggled desperately within the grip of the men holding his arms, but to no avail.
He looked up into the eyes of his tormentor. The steel blue gaze bore into him.
Peter tried to reach out to the familiar face of his foster father, but his arms wouldn't move. "Paul! Don't. . .please don't. I'm sorry. . .I didn't mean to hurt you."
Paul shook his head at Peter. "You screwed up." The crowbar fell against Peter's shoulder. Peter cried out in pain.
The captain turned his back on Peter and took a step into the darkness. Peter's voice caught in his throat, "Please. . . Paul! Don't leave me. . . Paul!" Peter tried to shout his words, but no sound would come. He squeezed his eyes shut, but the tears found their way out the corners.
Hands on his face made him open his eyes once again. The dark was gone. The sun lit room was a shock to his vision, which had grown accustomed to the dark. The man who had turned his back on him just moments before, now faced him, "Peter, it's okay. I'm here," Paul whispered.
A sob escaped, "Paul?" Peter closed his eyes tightly and then opened them again. Warm blue eyes, no longer cold and unfeeling, met his. A gentle smile played across the older man's face. "Paul, you're here," Peter whispered gratefully.
"I'm here, Peter." The strong hands left his face and Paul sat back in the chair. "Annie said you were having nightmares."
Peter pushed himself gingerly up on his pillow trying to gain control over the emotions that had run rampant during his dream. "Some."
"Bad?"
Peter gave a small shrug, "Not too bad."
"Liar," Paul smiled.
"Not important." Peter looked around the room and saw his father standing at the foot of his bed and Lo Si sitting in the chair on the opposite side of the room. "Where are Mom and Kel?"
"They're at home. I told them I'd come down and check on you."
"You're feeling better?" Peter asked.
Paul nodded, "Sorry I couldn't be here earlier. . ."
Peter interrupted. "That's okay. I'm. . ."
Paul placed a hand on Peter's arm to silence him, "Peter, let me speak, please."
Peter looked at Paul, suddenly worried at what Paul wanted to discuss. "Paul, I'm sorry. . ."
"Peter, enough. Let me speak. Please."
Peter shifted, suddenly uncomfortable, his voice nervous. "Okay."
"I owe you an apology. I should have been here for you this morning."
"That's okay, Paul. Mom told me that you weren't feeling well."
Paul rubbed a hand over his face. Damn, Peter wasn't making this any easier. "Peter, I should have been here. No matter how bad I was feeling, I should have come to make sure you were okay."
"It's okay, Paul. Really."
"Peter. . ." Paul's voice silenced his son, once again. "Peter, I'm sorry."
Peter shot a guilty look at Caine and then back to Paul. "It's okay. I understand."
Paul's emotions were in turmoil. He was grateful for his son's capacity for forgiveness, but at the same time his mind wanted to shout out, 'Don't! Don't forgive me! Don't try to placate me. . .and your father. You're proving everything I said to Annie to be the truth; that you are trying desperately to balance your love for both of us at the expense of your own emotions.' Paul swallowed the words, choosing instead to change the subject.
Paul looked at Caine, "Your father says that the doctor is going to release you in the morning."
Peter grinned, "I told Kermit I'd be back at work soon."
The older man frowned, "Don't get too excited. You aren't coming back for a few days, not until those ribs have had a chance to do some healing. And when you do return, you have two weeks of desk riding waiting for you."
Peter started to protest, then realized that he would be pushing his luck. Guilt reentered his voice, "Kermit said you were upset."
Paul turned to Caine and then back at Peter. "Let's not talk about this now. There's plenty of time to discuss what happened last night. Besides there's something else I'd like to ask you."
Caine saw Paul's glance towards him and decided that perhaps he should leave foster father and son to themselves. He turned to Lo Si, "Master, will you accompany me to the cafeteria? I would like to have a cup of tea."
"No." Lo Si answered bluntly.
"Master?"
"No. We should stay here," Lo Si responded stubbornly.
Peter looked at his father. He could count on one hand the number of times he had seen such confusion in the brown eyes.
Paul shifted uncomfortably in the chair. He turned his attention back to the injured man, "Since you have a few days of rest coming to you, I was wondering if you'd like to go up to the cabin for a couple of days."
Peter looked from Paul to Caine. "We haven't been up there since. . ." his voice trailed off, not wanting to remember that the last time had been because he was trying to deal with the pain of Caine's absence.
"We would love to come," Lo Si said from his chair. "The fresh air would be good for my system."
Caine shot an exasperated look at the old man. If Peter had not been so shocked himself at the Shambhala master's behavior, he might have laughed at the look on his father's face.
Paul turned from Lo Si, to Caine, to Peter, "Uh. . .yeah. We could all go. Spend some time together."
"I do not think. . ." Caine started to excuse himself, knowing that Paul wanted to spend time alone with Peter.
"Kwai Chang Caine, a trip like this would be good for you."
"Yeah, Pop. Why don't you come? The last time we tried to take a fishing trip things didn't turn out so well. We could make up for it this time."
Paul turned towards Caine, "Yes Master Caine. Please come." The words invited the priest to join in the trip, but the eyes showed regret.
Lo Si stood and placed an arm on Caine's, "Of course he will come. He would enjoy the opportunity to spend time with Peter and you, wouldn't you my friend."
Caine shifted his position, then nodded and gave a slight bow "Of course."
Lo Si smiled, "Bloody marvelous."
End Part 15
To Part 16