Unfounded Fears

Conclusion (WOOHOO!!!)

"Are you okay?" Peter asked his dad as the man stumbled and gasped in pain.

"I already told you I'm fine. It's you I'm worried about," Paul replied through gritted teeth.

"Yeah, you sound fine," Peter muttered sarcastically, a smile on his face. They had been on the slow trek through the forest on their way back to the cabin for over thirty minutes and the physical strain was wearing on both men. However, even though their injuries and the resulting limitations were frustrating, neither would rather be anywhere else. They were both alive and together, each supporting the other.

"I think we're close," Paul commented as his eyes skimmed the forest ahead of them.

Peter nodded in agreement. "I didn't realize how far I had run." They took a few more steps. "Thanks for being there for me. . .again. If you hadn't come after me, that man would have. . ." he swallowed the remaining words, his voice tinged with defeat.

Paul stopped walking and turned to his son. "You saved our lives, Peter. If you hadn't found us and been willing to risk your life, they would have killed all of us. Not to mention what happened back there." Paul pointed to the forest behind them, where Jake's lifeless body remained. "I should be thanking you."

The younger man suddenly found something on the ground to divert his attention. Embarrassed, he was unable to meet his captain's gaze. The two men took a few more hobbling steps. "However," Paul chuckled, "if you hadn't gone running off into the forest without backup earlier, none of us would have been out here in the first place."

Peter turned to his foster father in protest. "But I didn't. . .!"

Paul's smirk stopped Peter's words. The younger man grinned when he realized his dad was teasing him. The two continued on their journey. A few moments later, Paul asked the question that had been on his mind since the whole ordeal began. "So what exactly happened to you." He pointed to the wound on Peter's side. "Looks like a knife wound."

Peter nodded. "Did you ever have one of those days?" he joked, then became serious. "Claudia came over to the cabin. We were just getting ready to take a ride through the park when we heard the poachers. She wanted to search the forest and I offered to provide her with backup."

Paul stopped him in mid-story. "So you'll offer to be backup, you just won't ask for it, is that it?" he commented.

Peter shot him a dirty look. Paul gave him an apologetic smile and Peter continued. "We were searching the trails for signs of the poachers, but I couldn't keep up. I guess I was more run down than I thought," the younger man commented sheepishly.

"Huh, you don't say," Paul muttered.

Peter ignored the utterance. "I started to make my way back to the truck when I heard the sound of voices just off the trail. I saw the guy back there. . ." Peter pointed behind him.

"Jake," Paul interjected and Peter nodded.

"I saw Jake loading his weapon. I didn't have my gun. So I decided on a bluff."

"A what?"

"A bluff. I sneaked up behind him and stuck a branch in his back, told him I was a cop and to drop the rifle."

"That worked?"

"Well, yeah. . .until his friends showed up. I heard them approaching and then Jake turned on me. The next thing I knew, he had pulled a knife. We struggled, and. . ."

"And you lost," Paul pointed to the wound.

Peter nodded. "I had no choice but to run. I was hoping to be able to find the main trail and make it back to the truck, but I couldn't." The two men started walking again. "These guys aren't poachers, are they?"

"No. We overheard them talking about a robbery. My guess is that they are the ones who hit the three banks up north a couple of weeks ago. They were hiding out here until things cooled off."

"I thought so. These guys were too well armed, not to mention the booby traps around that cabin. There were enough explosives there to overthrow a small country. What about the poachers?"

"I know they killed one of them. . .if not all." Paul shook his head. "We were lucky."

Peter nodded and then looked up at the trail ahead. A sense of relief washed over him. "We're there," he whispered, pointing to the cabin in the distance.

Paul sighed, "Thank god."

The younger man pulled him off the trail. "We have to avoid the explosives."

"They are no longer a problem."

The words surprised the two men and they spun around, almost losing their collective balance and falling to the ground. Lo Si was standing behind them, an impish grin on his face. "I have taken care of the traps."

Peter shook his head in amazement. The old man approached the two injured cops. "And I have called for. . .backup," the Ancient said, as he passed the men on the trail and headed for the cabin.

"That man is unbelievable," Paul muttered. "Where'd he come from?"

"As Pop would say, I do not know," Peter shrugged, then cringed at the pain in his shoulder and ribs.

Lo Si turned to the two men when he heard the gasp of pain. "I see that you are hurt. . .again, young Caine. As are you, Captain."

They nodded, still in shocked amazement. The Ancient smiled, "But I also see that you have found each other."

The old man turned to Paul. "Your fears have been laid to rest?"

Blaisdell tilted his head, confused by the words. Lo Si gave a small smile. "You now see that they were unfounded?"

The captain shook his head slowly. "How did you. . .?" he started to ask, then stopped. "Never mind." He then turned to Peter. "Come on, Son, let's go check on your father."

As if hearing the statement, Kwai Chang Caine appeared at the open front door of the cabin. Peter gasped at the blood which marred the man's side and had stained the open shirt. However, he could not run to him. If he left Paul's side, the captain would fall.

Paul seemed to sense Peter's distress. Looking over his shoulder at Lo Si he released his grip on Peter's shoulder. The Ancient suddenly appeared at the captain's other side, allowing Paul to balance himself on the frail man's shoulders. "Go on, Son," Paul said to Peter.

Peter, remembering Paul's words in the forest, was hesitant, not wanting to hurt the man's feelings.

Paul smiled, knowing instinctively of his son's emotional battle. "It's okay, Peter. Go."

Peter smiled at Paul, his hazel eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Thanks, Dad," were the whispered words that left Peter's lips as he turned to make his way to his father.

--End--