Return to Innocence
Part 19
"Peter, welcome back!" Mary Margaret Skalany's voice was the first pleasant sound Peter had heard all day. And he had heard it immediately upon topping the stairs from the locker room of the 101st. "I know you've only been gone for a couple of days, but trust me, you've been missed." His sometimes partner slapped him on the back, then left her hand on his shoulder, pulling him closer to her. "Heard you've had a pretty rough time. Anything I can do?"
Peter smiled warmly at the woman. She had no idea how much he needed to hear those words. They were words that could only come from a true friend. "No, but thanks for offering." He paused for a moment, then tilted his head, "What have you heard?"
Mary Margaret frowned at the younger man. "It's not good, Pete. Word around the precinct is that you're helping to get Watson off. That's not sitting real well with some of our co-workers."
Peter closed his eyes and shook his head, "I can imagine it's not. Would you believe me if I said that it wasn't the truth. . .at least not completely?"
Skalany smiled at the man that she considered to be like a younger brother, "You know I would, Peter. That's why I offered to help. Please, if I can help you, let me." She kept her arm around his shoulders and guided him into the squad room. Peter glanced around and immediately noticed the cold stares he was getting from some of the officers.
"It's a little frigid in here, huh?" he whispered.
"Like the Arctic. We seem to be divided into two camps. Those who support you, even though we don't understand why you are doing what you're doing; and those who. . ."
"What to see me hang?" Peter completed with a slight grimace.
The dark-haired woman smiled, "That's a pretty accurate description.
Before Peter could respond, Captain Simms' office door opened, "Detective Caine, a moment of your time, please."
Peter closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He hoped that Simms was in the camp that decided to support Peter, and not the one which was intent on hanging him. With a look of doubt, he glanced at Skalany. She smiled and nodded, indicating clearly Simms' was on his side. He returned her smile with a wink and turned to enter his superior's office. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see those from the unfriendly side staring daggers in his back.
"Have a seat, Peter," Karen Simms motioned to the visitor's chair. Peter sat, actually glad to be finding some shelter from the glares in the office. "Well, you've been causing quite a stir around town," she smiled.
Peter nodded, "Yeah, I seem to have that knack."
"Yes, you do. So you want to tell me what's going on?" Karen tilted her head. The look in her eyes and the tone of her voice made it clear that she did not intend to let Peter leave without filling her in on what had occurred over the past two days.
Peter took a deep breath and started from the beginning. He left nothing out. He relayed every event, every recollection, every feeling. While he spoke, he watched Simms' response, he reached out with his chi to feel what she was feeling, halfway expecting to see disappointment in her eyes, anger for Peter's betrayal of a fellow officer. But he realized as he neared the end of his recital that he did not see or feel anger or disappointment. Instead, he saw sadness and regret. He saw compassion. . .and friendship. Not feelings he expected, but feelings that were more than welcomed, just the same.
When Peter had finished, Karen lowered her eyes to the desk. She sighed and then looked back into her detective's hazel eyes, "I'm sorry, Peter."
Peter couldn't help the confusion which played in his eyes, "Sorry? For what?"
"For what you've been through; for what happened," she answered, her voice was unnaturally quiet.
"Why? Because you assigned me to the Task Force?" Peter asked, some what amazed at the woman's apology. "You have nothing to be sorry for, Captain. You were just doing your job. What's happened is my responsibility, no one else's." He shifted his position in the chair. "Has Barnes said anything to you?"
"Not to me directly. But I've heard that he's talked to Commissioner Kincaid. He wants IA to investigate why you are helping Watson." Peter nodded, expecting that Barnes would go on the offensive. Karen leaned forward, "So why are you?"
"Helping Watson?" Peter asked. Simms nodded her response. "I think you know why. Barnes is lying just so that revenge can be exacted upon Watson for Michael's death. I don't believe in revenge. I believe in justice and I don't want anyone suffering because of a lie."
Karen nodded once again. "What are you going to do?"
Peter shook his head, at a loss for a solution. "I told my Dad that I would do what I could to make sure the truth came out, but as it stands now, it's my word against Barnes."
"What about the others who were on the raid. Have you talked to them?"
Peter shook his head, "No. Barnes indicated that their reports matched his. I don't have a lot of faith that I will be able to change what they've said. . .I'm the outsider, remember?"
"Have you tried?" Karen pushed.
Peter said nothing, his silence answering the question. "Peter, sometimes people need a gentle push to tell the truth. It's easy to lie when no one confronts you on it. It's not so easy to lie when someone is staring you down, demanding the truth."
Peter sat silently, considering his Captain's suggestion. "You're right," he said finally. "I'll talk to them." He stood and walked to the door, "Thanks Captain." He placed his hand on the doorknob, preparing to walk out, but Simms voice stopped him.
"Peter?"
Peter turned, waiting for the next words, "It's good to have you back."
Peter felt a warmth, similar to that felt when Skalany greeted him, enter his body. "Thanks Captain. I needed to be back here."
He walked out of the office, shutting the door behind him. He crossed the few feet separating Simms' office from his desk. Before he could reach it, however, an unpleasant female voice sounded behind him. "You know, Peter, I expected your father to play it soft and help that murderer, but I'm surprised that you would stoop so low," Detective Morgan commented, sarcasm lacing the words. Peter felt anger build. He opened his mouth to retaliate, but was cut off by another female voice.
"Morgan, it must be difficult for you to walk the streets with one foot always in your mouth," Jody Powell retaliated, looking at the skimpy prostitute garments the Vice cop was wearing.
Morgan turned to the blond detective, "You going to defend him too, Powell? He's turning on one of our own. Oh yeah, I forgot, you'd do anything to protect loverboy, huh. . .Too bad he wouldn't do the same for you."
The words stung Jody. She looked away from Morgan with a hint of embarrassment. Peter, who knew of Jody's feelings for him, felt embarrassed for her and found his own rage building at the crude remarks of the red-headed detective.
"That's enough, Morgan. If you feel the need to express yourself about what I'm doing, then direct them to me. . .leave your comments about Jody, my father and anyone else you can think of, out of it. Understand?" Peter extended his body to his full height, towering over the petite woman. The glare in his eyes left no doubt of the seriousness of his statement. Morgan looked at Jody and then back at Peter, giving them both a dirty look before marching off in her spiked heels.
Jody turned to Peter, her face still slightly blushed at Morgan's statement. Peter put his arm around her shoulder, in a move similar to the one Skalany had used on him earlier. "Sorry about that. Don't let her get to you."
Jody nodded, "Sometimes I just want to. . ." her voice trailed off as she imagined the various kinds of tortures she could inflict.
Peter smiled, "Yeah, she does have a way with people, huh."
"That's what we're calling it?" Jody smiled. "Thanks." She pushed away from Peter and sat on the corner of his desk, while he sat in his chair. "I'm sorry about what happened to Michael. I know how hard that must have been on you."
Peter nodded. "Thanks for caring."
"You wanna talk about it?" Jody offered.
Peter shook his head, internally amazed. His father had definitely been right. All of his friends were sticking by him. He suddenly felt slightly ashamed that he had held so little faith in their loyalty. "Thanks for the offer. I just need to get a handle on a few things."
"Well, if you change your mind, I'm here for you." Jody patted his forearm, stood and returned to her desk.
There were two people that Peter did need to talk to. Two people who just might be willing to help him to defend the life of Teddy Watson. Peter looked at the closed door of the office belonging to Kermit Griffin and made his way for it.
End Part 19
To Part 20