Return to Innocence
Part 5
Peter followed Michael into the pub around the corner from the precinct. Both figured that with several more hours to go until the nighttime operation, a couple of beers would do no harm.
Taking a table near the back of the bar, the two men settled in and placed their orders. After the waitress had left, Michael turned to his old friend with a smile, "Well, I never thought we'd be working together again. I'm glad I was wrong."
"Me too. Although if the powers that be knew half the things you were always getting me in to, I don’t think they'd allow us to work together again," Peter grinned.
"Me? Don't you dare try to put the blame on me. As I recall, you were the one who shot up the Agrippa and, lest you forget, you did that several weeks after we split up." Hampton pointed out.
Peter dropped his head, "Oh yeah. . .guess that's right." Then he suddenly grinned, "Gotta love me."
Michael matched Peter's grin and shook his head, "Still just as humble as ever, I see."
Peter shrugged, "Just honest."
The waitress set the beers down for the two men. Peter took a long drink from his mug and Michael followed suit. "So when did you transfer to the Task Force," Peter asked as he wiped the foam from his mouth.
"About eight months ago. It was a promotion and the pay was a lot better."
"I can't believe Kathy would agree to it," Peter shook his head. Working the Task Force had inherent dangers that went beyond the normal realm of police work.
"Kathy made a promise to me a long time ago. She said that she would not let her fears about my work dictate my future on the force," the man revealed. "This was a great opportunity for me and I think she knew it."
"So you like it?" Peter looked into his friend's blue eyes, trying to find the answer for himself.
"Love it. It's a great group. Barnes has put together quite a unit."
Peter flinched slightly and had to push down his instinct to point out that Blaisdell put the initial team together. Realizing that this was neither the time nor place to correct errors of history, he decided to press for more information on the current leader. "What do you think of Barnes?" Peter asked, expecting a reaction similar to what Annie had given him the day before.
"The Captain?" Michael looked up as if surprised by the question, "He's a great leader. He has a firm handle on the group." He took a draw from the mug. "He cares about his men and makes sure that he doesn't have us doing something that he wouldn't do himself. . .Like going on this raid tonight. A lot of Captain's would just sit on their butts, waiting for the results. . .Not Barnes. He'll be right in there with us." Michael smiled, "I think you'll like him." Peter was silent, stunned by his friend's appraisal of the Captain. The assessment was clearly opposite of what Annie had related.
Michael caught the look of confusion in his friend's hazel eyes and tilted his head, "What? You don’t think I'm right?"
Peter quickly shook his head, "No. It's just that you hear things. . .rumors. I just didn't know if any of the things I had heard were true."
"What? Like Barnes being a rogue cop. . .a loose cannon?" Michael grinned. Peter slowly nodded and Michael laughed. "Those rumors about Barnes have been floating around the department for years." Michael downed the last of the beer in his mug, "But that's all they are. . .'rumors.' Barnes is a good cop, and a good leader. He would give his life for any one of his men. In fact, he would go to the ends of the earth to protect us."
Peter closed his eyes, pushing down the growing concerns. He opened his eyes, smiled and nodded. "Thanks for being honest with me, Michael. It helps to know you have such respect for the man." Peter shrugged his shoulders, "I just don't know a lot about him. I like to know a little bit more about the person I'm going to serve under."
"Understandable, my friend. But let me assure you, you don't need to worry about Barnes. He's the best. Trust me." Michael dug in his wallet for a bill to pay the tab. "This is on me." He glanced at his watch and smiled, "If you don't mind, I'd like to run home and spend the evening with Kathy and Elizabeth."
Peter nodded, "Go home. You need to be with them. I'll see you later tonight."
"Okay, Pal." Michael stood and gave him a small wave, "See you tonight." The blond officer exited the bar, leaving Peter with his thoughts. . .his ever-growing worries.
A few minutes later, Peter left the pub and made his way back to the Stealth. He debated on going home and getting some much-needed rest before the night's operation, but thought twice about it. Instead, he pointed his car in the direction of Chinatown.
He had not physically seen his father in a couple of weeks. However, their mental contact was almost constant. Peter was rarely without the elder Caine. The closeness used to bother him. . .used to be an intrusion. But recently, especially within the past couple of months, he realized that his father's presence in his mind created an awareness he had never experienced before. A link had developed between the two, which seemed to be able to traverse any physical distance.
"Pop?" Peter knew his father was home and that there was no reason to follow the line with his usual, "Are you hear?" but he did it anyway, out of habit.
He walked out onto the balcony and found his father tending a sickly looking plant. "Whoa, Pop? What happened to it? Don't think I've ever seen a plant of yours look so bad."
Caine had a slightly defensive look, "It is not mine. Cheryl brought it to me. It was a gift she had received. She said that it was healthy when she received it, but. . ."
Peter laughed, "But obviously her green thumb is as ineffective as mine."
Caine nodded, to Peter's surprise. "Yes. I do believe that she does not have the skill necessary to take care of a garden." He paused for a moment, "Nor do you." He walked around to the other side of the table to grab the watering can. "It is because gardens take patience, which is. . ."
"Which is something that I could use some work on. . .still," Peter finished with a chuckle.
"Correct," his father nodded and then went inside.
"Well, I'm just glad to see I'm not the only one," Peter pointed to Cheryl's plant and followed his father. He perched himself on the platform next to the window. "Just thought I'd let you know that I'm not going to be at the 101st for awhile."
"Yes, I felt that your life had taken a change, but I could not determine the details of that change," his father commented.
"Yeah, well, Simms wants me to help on a task force that is being operated out of the 63rd. So if you need to get a hold of me. . ."
"You will know," Caine completed, smiling at his son.
Peter was silent for a moment, then matched his father's grin, "Yeah. . .I guess I will. Hadn't thought of it like that before."
Caine's face turned to seriousness, "But something else is bothering you, my son." It wasn't a question. It was a statement of fact.
Peter dropped his head for a moment, debating upon whether to tell his father all of his fears. Then he realized that with their Shaolin link, his father would probably find out anyway. . .sooner or later.
"I just have this, I don't know what you call it, a 'sinking' feeling, maybe? Ever since Simms assigned me to this job I have had a feeling that something bad is going to happen," Peter looked into his father's eyes and Kwai Chang Caine felt the growing concern in his son.
"You must trust your feelings," Caine shrugged.
"That's what worries me, Pop. I am certain that something bad is going to happen. But for the life of me I don't know what. That's why I came. I thought maybe you could. . ." He turned pleading eyes to his father.
"Predict the future? Tell you what was going to happen?" Caine completed.
Peter nodded silently. Caine shook his head, "Peter, you still believe that I have certain abilities which I do not possess. I am no different from you. I can no more tell you what is going to happen in the future than you."
Peter slumped his shoulders, defeated. Caine approached and sat by Peter's side, "My son, you need to draw upon your strength. I, too, feel the foreboding that you are feeling. But, like you, I do not know why. The best you can do is to be prepared for whatever may happen. Rely upon the skills you possess. Trust your instincts." He paused, then he shrugged, "That is all any of us can do."
Peter shook his head and stood suddenly. "It's just so damn frustrating. A few months ago, I could see the visions of a killer. Now, all I get are feelings of impending doom. I'm sick and tired of not being able to control this thing," he pointed to his temple for emphasis.
Caine looked at his son with empathy, placing a warm hand on his shoulder, "I do understand, Peter. But you must do the best you can and realize that is all you can do."
Peter stared at the floor, unable to help the feeling of defeat. His father's hand had not left his shoulder, and he felt the strong grip squeeze it with affection, "And you must also remember that I am here for you. I will do anything within my power to help you."
Peter turned, his hazel eyes meeting his father's brown, "I know that Pop. . .Dad. Thank you." He pulled his father's forehead towards him and placed a kiss in the center. His father crookedly grinned, raising a hand to gently pat his son's cheek, but Peter blocked the hand and laughed, "You forget. I know when you're going to do that now." He waved good-bye to his father and left the room.
"I would not be so sure of that my son," his father whispered with a smile on his face as he watched his son descend the stairs.
End Part 5
To Part 6