Pushing away the cart, she shifted restlessly in the bed and said petulantly, "I don't want any more. I'm not hungry."

"Sweetheart, please. You need to get your strength up so they'll let you come home."

"They're never going to let me out of here!" She swept her arm across the bedside stand, sending her tray of food clattering and splattering to the floor.

Peter stepped back and prepared to duck.

"I'm sick of the food here! I'm sick of this bed! I'm sick of being sick!" She glared at him, eyes flashing. "I want to go home, damn it!"

A nurse stuck her head in the doorway and peeked in uncertainly. "Kacie, would you like me to --"

"I'd like you to get the hell out of here," Kacie snapped. "When I want a nurse, I'll ring for a nurse! Stop hovering over me!"

The nurse stammered, "I'll-I'll come back for your tray later," and quickly disappeared.

Peter stood wide-eyed and open-mouthed, looking from the doorway to the mess on the floor and back at Kacie again.

"What are you staring at?" she demanded, bright spots of color in both cheeks.

He retreated another half step. "Nothing. Nothing. It's just that I've never seen you act like this before."

"Act like what?" Her head went down and her eyes glinted dangerously at him.

"Like-like-like me."

"I am not acting like you!"

"Coulda fooled me." The words were out before he could stop them, and he caught his breath, staring at her like a little boy about to receive a spanking.

She sniffed indignantly. "There's no need to be insulting." She abruptly dissolved into giggles and covered her mouth with her hand as she surveyed the disaster on the floor. "Oh, my. What have I done?"

Peter eyed her uncertainly. "I'd like to kiss you. Is it safe?"

"I'm sorry for the tantrum, Peter." She held out her arms to him. "Permission to come aboard."

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he pulled her into his embrace as their lips met. "I love you, Kace."

"I love you more."

He smiled into her eyes and caressed her cheek with his thumb. "Not possible."

"OK, let's call it a tie." She rested her head trustingly in the niche between his shoulder and collarbone. Sighing deeply, she said, "I just want to go home."

A knock at the door drew their attention, and Peter felt himself instinctively stiffen as he looked over to see Jack Wong staring at him and Kacie with an indefinable expression. Gently disengaging himself from Kacie's arms, he got to his feet and stood defensively in front of his wife. "What do you want?"

Wong wordlessly stepped aside and allowed a wizened, elderly Chinese man to walk into the room, carrying a brightly wrapped package.

Kacie pushed the button to raise the hospital bed into a more comfortable sitting position, blushing furiously as she saw the two men surveying the food splattered on the floor. "I...had an accident with my food tray," she explained, embarrassed. "I meant to call a nurse, but I..." She hurriedly finger combed her hair into some semblance of respectability.

The elder Wong approached Kacie and bowed to her before handing her his package, completely ignoring Peter's baleful glare. "I am happy to see you looking so well. When I heard of your disappearance, I was greatly distressed."

Peter continued to glare at Jack Wong, who stood at attention in the doorway, obviously uncomfortable in Peter's presence, but proud and protective of his grandfather.

Kacie smoothed her fingers over the beautiful package, looking at it from every angle. "I so admire the way your culture wraps a gift, Mr. Wong. I wish I knew how to make something into a work of art like this." She beamed at the elderly Wong. "I hate to open something so lovely." Carefully unsealing the wrapping, she opened the box and dug through several layers of tissue paper before catching her breath in undisguised pleasure. "Oh-h-h. This is beautiful, Mr. Wong, but you really shouldn't have." She removed an exquisitely embroidered pink silk robe and held it up to admire it.

"I remember that hospital gowns are neither warm nor pleasing to the eye. A beautiful woman should have beautiful things."

"This really wasn't necessary, Mr. Wong, but I thank you." She turned to Peter and asked, "Honey, will you help me with this?" With Peter's assistance, Kacie shrugged into the garment as best she could and wrapped it around herself. "It's perfect, and it will still fit even when I'm bigger. Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness, Mr. Wong." She impulsively drew the elderly man into an embrace and kissed his cheek.

He submitted gravely and pulled away with a bow and a trembling smile, a suspicious sheen of moisture in his eyes. He abruptly turned and walked out the door, his mission completed.

Jack Wong observed all this before returning his defiant stare to Peter's distrustful scowl. He turned to walk out the door, then stopped to grin at the detective. "Did you notice how neatly that package was wrapped, Caine? No loose ends. I hate loose ends, don't you?"

Peter suddenly remembered Kermit's description of Jason Fischer's body, the anonymous 9-1-1 call, and, more importantly, Wong's comment at the precinct days before. {Wong? Wong saved Kacie?} "You trying to take credit for something here, Jack?"

Wong assumed an air of innocence. "Who, me? I don't know how to wrap a package. I hire my work done. Glad your lady is OK. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a business to run." He nodded at Kacie and sauntered breezily from the room.

Kacie had been watching Peter closely. "What was he talking about?"

Peter shook his head slowly, trying to sort things out. {So what now? I go to the captain and say I have a feeling Wong was involved? No evidence, no outright confession?} "Nothing. It's nothing, Hon."

"Peter? Is something wrong? Why do you have such a funny look on your face? What aren't you telling me?"

He smiled at her disarmingly. "Nothing. Hey, I'll let you in on a secret if you give me a smile, Kace."

"What is it?"

"Nuh uh. Smile first."

The corners of her mouth turned up only slightly, and Peter glared at her in mock anger, hands on hips. "You call that a smile? You make the Mona Lisa look like she's laughing her head off."

Kacie snickered in spite of herself. "Pest."

"I know, but you love me anyway." He grinned at her impishly, and was rewarded by her usual smile as she rolled her eyes at him. "That's my girl."

"OK, so what's the big secret, Smart Guy?"

"How would you like it if I've found a way to spring you from this joint?"

She looked hopeful, then sank back into her pillows in defeat. "I'll never get out of here."

"You can if you're willing to spend a few days at Mom and Paul's."

"I want to go home, Peter. Our home. With you."

Peter's happy smile dissolved into a concerned frown. "I want that, too, Sweetheart, but the doctors don't think you're ready. I had to talk long and hard to get them to agree to this much." He studied her unhappy face with troubled eyes. "I thought you'd be happy about the news."

He looked so disappointed, Kacie blushed in shame and reached out a hand to draw him near. "I'm sorry, Peter. I didn't mean to rain on your parade. I've just felt so lousy for so long, I've forgotten how to feel happy."

He sat next to her and stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. "Then I'll have to show you." Leaning forward, he softly kissed her eyes and nose before closing his lips over hers.

"Umm," she murmured against his mouth. "I've felt so lousy for so long, I'd forgotten about this, too."

He nibbled a path to her ear and growled in it as he rubbed his cheek against hers. "How could you forget these lips?"

"I claim temporary insanity, Detective." She turned her head and briefly reclaimed his lips with her own. "I throw myself on the mercy of the court."

"It's a life sentence for you, lady."

"Promise?" Her arms involuntarily tightened around his neck.

"No chance of parole."

"Good. A lifetime with you is what I want."

To Part 7

Back to Story Menu