Unfounded Fears

Part 22

Peter watched his foster father escape into the safety of the cabin. The knot, which had been in the pit of his stomach while in the hospital, returned. He wasn't sure how he had managed it, but he had upset Paul again.

Peter closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the support of the swing, replaying the conversation in his mind. Paul had said that the youngest Caine was becoming more and more like his natural father. This was something that Peter had never really seen, and yet it was a cause for concern. It was another wedge which was being driven into the relationship between foster father and son.

"Peter, did you not sleep well?" Kwai Chang Caine's calm voice broke through his son's thoughts.

"Pop," Peter's eyes jerked open. "I didn't hear you. But then again, I never do."

"I am sorry if I woke you." The elder Caine said. He motioned to the swing. "May I?"

Peter smiled and nodded. "Paul just went in to change."

"Ah. . .fishing."

"Yeah." Peter looked out across the calm lake water. "How was your meditation?"

"Quite invigorating. The sounds of the sunrise brought newfound energy to my chi," Caine answered, a sparkle in his eye.

"Good. I'm glad. I was. . ." Peter hesitated.

"Yes?" Caine prodded.

Peter shifted uncomfortably. "Paul and I were talking. He said that you were. . ." Peter stopped a second time. Caine stared at his son patiently. "Well, he said that you were, maybe, a little depressed."

Caine tilted his head. "Depressed?"

"Well, yeah. He said that you two talked about. . .." Peter still couldn't find the right words. ". . .That you wanted to know about. . ."

"You?" Caine completed.

Peter, slightly relieved that his father already knew what he was thinking, nodded.

"I do not believe that 'depressed' is the word I would use to describe my feelings." Caine turned his body in the chair slightly, so as to face his son's profile.

"Good. I don't like thinking that you would be upset about. . .things."

Caine's hand reached out, index finger extended, and he traced a line down his son's jaw. "I am very grateful to your foster father. He took the time to tell me of things that I will never have the chance to experience with you. Through him, I am able to share the laughter and the tears. I am able to see the events which shaped the boy into the man."

Peter's voice became very quiet. "Does that upset you?"

"Does what upset me?

"Finding out the man that your son has become?"

Caine's finger left his son's cheek and was replaced by a gentle slap. "We have discussed this before."

"Yeah. . .but. . ."

"Peter, as I have told you, you are the man you were meant to be. No purpose is served by thinking otherwise," Caine scolded.

Peter nodded. He heard the words, but he couldn't escape the feeling that father was simply placating son.

Caine rose from the bench. "We should go inside. Breakfast is ready."

Peter smiled. "How do you. . .?"

Before he could complete the question, the door opened and Paul stuck his head through the opening. "Breakfast is ready."

Peter sighed and shook his head. "Never mind."

**************************************

Paul loaded the bait bucket into the fishing boat. Peter bent down to grab the fishing rods. Paul's scolding voice stopped him in mid-motion. "Don't. I'll get that."

Peter shook his head. "I'm okay, Paul. Really."

Paul smiled at the young man. "I'm sure you are. But doctor's orders supersede your opinions."

Peter straightened up. "Fine. Is there any reason I can't at least ride along? I can drive the boat or something."

Blaisdell smirked. "You are persistent, aren't you."

Peter's grin matched the captain's. "I learned from the best."

"Well, persistent or not, I think that's a question you should ask your father." Paul pointed to a spot behind Peter.

Peter turned around to find his father standing behind him. "What should you ask me?" the Shaolin asked.

"I really don't want to sit here by myself all morning. I'd like to ride along with you guys. At least I could watch you fish. Heck, I could hold your pole while you meditate or something."

Caine smiled at his son. "Did not the doctor say that you should rest?"

"It'll be rest. Believe me. I won't be relaxed anywhere else," Peter pleaded. Caine didn't respond. Peter tried another tactic. "Okay, let me go this morning and I promise that I'll rest this afternoon."

Paul laughed at the offer. "Yeah, right. If I remember correctly, isn't Claudia coming over? I can imagine what kind of rest you intend on getting."

Caine looked at Paul and smiled. "He would try bargaining like this as a child. It is interesting to see that in all these years he has never grown out of it."

Paul couldn't help chiming in. "He certainly tried to negotiate a few deals out of me as a teenager."

Peter looked back and forth between the two men, feeling the heat of embarrassment in his face. "Didn't you two get enough of comparing notes last night?"

Lo Si's voice interrupted from behind the young cop. "They have something very important in common. . .you."

Peter turned to see the smile on the old man's face, but the serious look in the brown eyes. "Well, I can't believe that they can't find a more exciting subject to discuss."

"Oh, Peter, you're more than enough excitement for us to handle," Paul joked.

Caine placed a gentle hand on his son's shoulder. "The doctor did say you should rest. If you do that today, perhaps tomorrow you can come out with us. You forget, you just came home from the hospital yesterday."

Peter sighed. "Okay, fine. I'll rest. But I won't enjoy it."

"I will stay with you," Caine offered.

"No. You go. I will stay with Peter," Lo Si interjected. "I will make sure he sleeps."

"No, you both go. I can take care of myself. I'll sleep. I promise. Frankly, I'm feeling a little drained anyway." Peter spoke up.

"Really, Peter. It is all right. I can fish tomorrow." Lo Si offered.

"There's no reason. All I'm going to do is flop back down into bed. I wanna have my strength up by the time Claudia comes over." Peter shot his foster father a sly look.

"On second thought, maybe he should come with us," Paul chuckled.

Peter shook his head. "Nope. You told me to rest up, and that's exactly what I'm going to do." The youngest Caine grinned triumphantly.

He watched as the fishing boat pulled away from the dock. The occupants waved back . Once they were on their way, Peter turned and headed back to the cabin. True, he wanted to be out on the lake with them, but the doctor had been right. He was exhausted, and he hurt. As much as he loved fishing, he wasn't sure he could hold a fishing pole without pain.

Once inside the cabin, he went directly to his room, kicked off his tennis shoes and gingerly climbed back into the bed, pulling the covers up to his chin. Within minutes, Peter Caine was asleep.

**************************************

"I feel guilty leaving Peter up there by himself," Paul muttered as he tied the lure onto the fishing line. He, Lo Si and Caine had been fishing for over four hours. 'Actually,' Paul reasoned, 'that was not accurate.' Paul had been fishing, and quite successfully. His fish basket was full. Lo Si, too, had been successfully pulling in fish, but rather than keeping them, he would release them back to the water.

Caine, on the other hand, had sat cross-legged on the bow of the boat, staring out over the water. He accepted no pole; he caught no fish. Paul had to wonder what he was thinking and why he had even come along.

Lo Si clipped a new lure on his line. "Peter will be fine. He does need his rest. Despite his objections, he is hurting.

Caine shot a concerned glance towards the shoreline, regardless of the fact they were several miles from the cabin. Paul, seeing the action, suggested, "It's almost noon. Why don't we wrap things up and get back to the cabin? We can check in on Peter and make sure he doesn't intend on misbehaving with his guest."

Caine turned to the man. "I am certain that Peter. . ." The Shaolin's words were suddenly interrupted by the sound of gunfire.

Lo Si and Caine turned to Paul, questions filling their eyes. "The poachers," Paul guessed.

Lo Si tilted his head towards the sound as the rifle shots were repeated. "Yes. Near the cabin."

"How do you know?" Paul frowned.

Without answering the question, Lo Si looked at Caine, worry in his eyes. "My friend?"

Caine did not respond at first. Then he turned to Paul. "We must go back. Now."

Paul sat up, seeing the change in Caine's posture. "Peter?"

Caine nodded. "Something is wrong. I do not know what." Caine came to his feet and pulled the anchor up which had moored them to the spot. Lo Si grabbed the fishing basket and dropped it into the boat. Within seconds the vessel was speeding back to the cabin.

**************************************

Before Lo Si had tied the boat securely to the dock, Caine jumped from the vehicle. He was followed closely by Paul. Lo Si climbed out last, but kept pace with the younger men.

Caine made his way to the front of the cabin, stopping short when he saw the front door standing wide open. Paul came up next to Caine and muttered. "I don't have my gun."

"It is empty," Caine whispered.

"What?" Paul responded, confusion lacing his voice.

"No one is here," Caine clarified.

"Peter?" Paul asked as he ran into the cabin. He shouted Peter's name a second time, more loudly, and ran into the young man's bedroom. The bed was empty, but unmade.

Caine entered the room, followed by Lo Si. Paul turned to the Shaolin priests. "Where is he?" he asked, concerned.

"He is not here," Caine answered simply, his brown eyes filled with the same worry. "He has gone."

End Part 22

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