Unfounded Fears
Part 4
"How is he?" Paul asked Kwai Chang Caine, as the ambulance loaded their son's stretcher into the back.
"He is in pain. But he will survive." Caine answered succinctly. The words were objective, but the look of relief that Paul saw in the Shaolin's brown eyes was apparent.
"Thank God," Paul felt his own relief overwhelm him.
"Is anyone going to ride with him?" the ambulance attendant asked.
Caine took a step forward and gave a slight nod, "I would like to ride with my. . .our son."
Paul smiled and nodded. "I have things here I need to finish up. As soon as I'm done, I'll come to the hospital."
Caine bowed to the Captain. "Thank you."
Paul watched as the elder Caine climbed into the back of the ambulance and settled in next to his son's still body. As the door closed, Paul caught sight of the father grabbing onto his son's hand and bringing it to his lips.
A twinge of guilt flared and the words which had been resonating in Paul's head since Peter's rescue, sounded again, "Thank God Caine was there. If he hadn't stopped Barton. . ."
The sound of the ambulance siren broke into his thoughts. Paul turned, watching the emergency vehicle leave the scene with his son safely aboard. A coroner's wagon, a second ambulance and three patrol cars remained. Two officers stood on either side of the gun dealer, while an ambulance attendant treated his burned hand.
Kermit watched over the criminal like a hawk. There was no way he was going to take a chance that Del Barton would escape, not after what he had done to Peter.
Paul approached his friend, silently fuming over the pain the arms dealer had inflicted upon his son. Kermit glanced at the captain and read the anger in his steel blue eyes. "How's Peter?"
"Caine says he'll live," Paul responded, watching the bandaging job being applied to the criminal's injured hand.
"Too bad," Barton muttered sadistically.
"What did you say?" Kermit couldn't believe the stupidity of the man.
"I said, 'too bad'." Peter's assailant repeated, louder.
Paul took a step towards the man. Kermit reached out and grabbed his friend firmly by the arm, "Paul, he's baiting you."
"The way I look at it," Barton continued, grinning evilly at the cops, "his stupidity was bringin' down the collective intelligence of law enforcement everywhere. Figured you'd thank me for my service to society."
Kermit released Paul, prepared to leap on the man himself. Now Paul was restraining him. Barton, taking pleasure in the pain reflected on each man's face, added, "If you'd been a few minutes later, who knows what would have happened."
"You son of a. . ." Kermit shouted, leaping at the man. The officer standing next to Barton, moved his body in front of their prisoner. Paul, trying to quell his own anger, pulled Kermit back.
"Detective, enough!" Paul commanded in his most authoritative voice. Kermit stopped dead in his tracks. "Like you said, he's baiting us. He's not worth it."
Paul turned to walk away, pulling the younger man with him. Barton took one last shot, "Yeah. . .well, the cop wasn't worth the effort I put into him either. . .that's for sure."
Paul stopped in his tracks. He closed his eyes, pushing the flaring anger back down. Taking a deep breath, Paul never turned around. Instead, he directed his next comment at the officers standing guard over Barton, "Book him. Attempted murder and kidnapping of a police officer. Tell Broderick I want him put in our "finest" cell. . .the one we reserve for scum like him."
The uniformed officer who had blocked Kermit's attack smiled and nodded knowingly. He was certain that their prisoner would find his new accommodations less that satisfactory.
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Your son is all right, Kwai Chang Caine?" the elderly voice asked, breaking into Caine's meditation.
Caine shrugged, "I do not know, Master." He climbed fluidly to his feet. "The doctor is still treating him."
"Your son is all right." The words were now given as a reassurance, not a question.
Caine bowed slightly, his face showing his appreciation. He could sense his son's pain, but no more. Peter's thoughts were muddled, his anxiety, high.
But the father's relief at having even that contact with his child was enough. "Yes master. He is alive. He is in a great deal of pain, but he survives."
"Then, my friend, you were not too late," Lo Si smiled, his eyes calm.
"No. My fears were misplaced," Caine admitted.
"As I told you," the Ancient's hand rested on Caine's arm.
Caine nodded silently.
"Caine! Is Peter okay?" Paul Blaisdell approached the Shaolin, slightly breathless, concern in his blue eyes, Kermit following close behind.
"Ah, Captain Blaisdell," Caine said, turning to the new arrivals, "he is still with the doctor."
"They haven't told you anything yet?" Kermit pushed forward anxiously.
Caine shook his head, "No. There has been no word."
Kermit looked around, impatiently. "I'll go see what I can find out."
"Can't you. . ." Paul's eyes turned desperately to Caine. "Can't you tell how he is?"
"I know our son is alive, but in pain. I do not know the extent of his injuries. His thoughts are in turmoil." Caine paused for a moment, tilting his head at the captain, "As are yours."
Paul's face was weary. He nodded and sat down heavily on the couch. "I almost lost him tonight," Paul whispered. "If you hadn't. . ." his voice trailed off. Caine's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing. "If you hadn't shown up when you did. . .he'd be dead."
Standing before the distraught man, Lo Si shook his head, "You do not know that."
"Yes I do," Paul responded, his voice stubborn. Standing quickly, he walked to the window, overlooking the hospital parking lot. "I was a fool for letting it go so far. Peter was my responsibility."
Kermit approached Paul from behind, "The kid may have been your responsibility, but he screwed up, Paul. He didn't follow orders. You know that."
Paul kept his back to his friend, "How's Peter?"
Kermit shook his head in frustration. Obviously the captain intended to ignore Kermit's comments. "The duty nurse is going to check. He said he'd let us know as soon as he found out something." Kermit positioned himself at Paul's side. "Are you okay?"
Paul took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment. He then turned away, without answering the sunglassed man. "I need to call Annie. Let her know what's happened before Sandra Mason gets a hold of the story," Paul's voice had returned to its normal gruffness. He exited the waiting room without saying another word, leaving three perplexed men in his wake.
End Part 4
To Part 5