Part 11
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Jody and Mary Margaret exchanged grins before Skalany called over to Peter, "Hey, handsome, cheer up, would ya?"
He paused a moment, looking at her blankly before catching on to her ribbing. He shook his head, laughing. "Can't get a rise out of me today, Skalany. You're just wasting your time."
"Darn," she pouted. "Getting your goat is the highlight of my day."
Jody asked, "To what do we owe this wonderful mood, besides the fact your father's back?"
"I'll say he's back!" Mary Margaret chimed in thankfully, eyes twinkling mischievously.
Peter scowled at her momentarily, but couldn't keep the smile off his face. "Kacie gets out of the hospital today."
Kermit joined the crew gathered at Peter's desk. "How's she feeling? Hypothermia can be really bad news."
"Doing great, but she has to take it easy for a couple of weeks. Mom's insisting she come and stay with her and Kelly for a while until she's a little steadier on her feet. Dr. McClanahan wasn't going to let her out so soon if she didn't have someone to look after her."
"Ah, and if I know Annie," Kermit interjected, "she is looking forward to the opportunity. She should rename the house the Blaisdell Home for the Infirm. THE place for all to go when recuperating from a hospital stay."
The cheerful look faded from Peter's face as he remarked soberly, "Sitting around that hospital waiting for news about Carolyn and Kacie was one of the worst things I've ever been through in my life."
A commanding voice called from Simms's doorway. "What's the matter, people? Crime has come to a halt in this city?"
The detectives immediately scattered to their various desks and offices and managed to look very busy in a short amount of time. Simms smiled to herself as she returned to her own work. {Thank God the moping is over.}
As Kermit had predicted, Annie was in seventh heaven with someone to make a fuss over. Kelly was busy with her college and social life, and having Kacie there was like having another daughter. Peter stopped over every night to check up on them, pleased at the rapport developing between the two women.
A week went by, and Kacie declared she wanted to get out of the house. Peter adamantly refused to be a part of this idea until Annie opined that a short outing wouldn't hurt.
Peter reluctantly gave in, and agreed to take Kacie to lunch at their favorite Chinatown restaurant. He fussed over her incessantly as they were seated and waiting for their food.
In the midst of their quiet conversation, a familiar voice spoke at Peter's elbow. "Ah, young Caine, so nice to see you and your, ah, friend again." They looked up, and Peter was startled to find Lo Si and his father.
"Lo Si and-and-and Pop," he finished lamely.
Kwai Chang watched him, a faint twinkle in his fatherly eye. "Peter, are you not going to introduce me to your friend?" he gently prompted.
"Oh, Kacie, this is my father, Kwai Chang Caine, and Pop, this is Katherine Christine McConnell, or Kacie for short."
Peter appeared flustered, something that amused Lo Si to no end.
Caine bowed to her with the traditional Shaolin salute, and Kacie dipped her head in recognition of the gesture. "Please, won't you both join us?" she asked.
The elderly men both raised eyebrows at Peter, waiting for his invitation.
"Yes, please do." Getting to his feet, Peter pulled over two vacant chairs and then reseated himself. "We've already ordered, but I can call the waiter over..."
"That is all right, Peter," Caine assured him. "We have already eaten. We were just out for a walk and decided to have tea." He turned his gaze to Kacie, who was quietly watching him. "Do you drink tea, Katherine Christine?"
"Yes, I love it," she answered him, and then added, "Please call me Kacie. The only times I was ever called Katherine Christine was by my father, and that was after I had done something that really made him mad."
"Kay Cee." He drew the initials out in his slow way of speaking, and her name suddenly became very Chinese sounding. He flashed a warm smile. "I know quite well what it is like for a father to be...exasperated?... with his child."
Kacie laughed out loud. "Oh, surely you can't be referring to Peter. He was probably a very easy child to raise."
Caine raised an eyebrow at her in disbelief, and turned to look at his son, who squirmed uncomfortably in his chair under the direct gaze.
"Don't look at me," Peter said defensively. "I never told her that!"
Lo Si scrutinized Kacie and asked with concern, "Kwai Chang Caine told me that you have been ill. You are feeling better?"
"I tire out pretty fast," she admitted. "And I get cold really easily yet, too."
"I have some herbs in my pouch that could help you," Caine offered. "If you brew them into a tea and drink several cups a day, it will help replenish your chi and restore its balance."
Kacie looked dubious. "My...chi...you said? What is that?" She looked uncertainly at Peter.
"Your chi is your life force, your energy level," he explained.
"Well, as long as the tea is all natural. I don't like taking any drugs if I don't have to."
"I am an apothecary," Caine told her gravely. "I use nothing that nature does not supply in her abundance."
Kacie's smile lit up the room. "Then, thank you, I'll be glad to try it. I'm really tired of feeling so tired all the time."
The food arrived, and Caine asked the waiter for two extra teacups and more hot water.
While Kacie and Peter ate, Caine and Lo Si shared news of the neighborhood.
The waiter arrived with the pot of hot water and teacups and placed them on the table. Caine reached into his pouch, pulling out a mixture of herbs. He stirred them carefully as he poured the hot water into the cup and let the potion brew.
"Pop, are you sure this is a good idea?" Peter said doubtfully. "I know what that stuff can smell and taste like."
Caine gave him a wounded look and offered the cup to Kacie.
She sniffed at it cautiously before taking a sip, eyes widening in surprise. "Mmm. This is good."
Peter watched her in disbelief, and then leaned over to check for himself. There was a hint of spearmint in the aroma, and some other things he didn't recognize, but it did smell wonderful. "Pop, how come the stuff you make me drink is always so awful?"
Caine shrugged his trademark shrug and responded in typical fashion. "I do not know."
Lo Si cackled gleefully, and even Kacie had to laugh at the disgruntled look on Peter's face.
The meal was finished in pleasant companionship. Peter noticed the way that his father was studying Kacie. {Why is he looking at her like that? He's never paid that much attention to anyone else I've been with. I'll have to ask him about it later.} He took in the small lines of fatigue around her eyes. "OK, Kace, party's over. Time to get you home."
She started to protest, but stopped when she saw the stern look on his face. "Oh, man, when you get that look there's no point in arguing." She sighed and shrugged. "I guess I am pretty tired."
Peter pulled back Kacie's chair, and the other two men stood as she rose. Peter helped her on with her coat and then went to pay the bill.
Impulsively, Kacie took Caine's hands in hers and said, "It was very nice to meet you...." She paused a moment with a blank look. "I don't know what to call you."
"I am Caine."
"Caine, it was very nice to meet you, and I am so happy for Peter that you are back. He's missed you terribly." There was a light of gentle reproof in her eyes.
"And I, he." Caine reached into his pouch and withdrew several packets of herbs and an empty packet. Frowning in concentration, he took pinches of each herb and dropped them into the empty envelope. Shaking the contents together, he then sniffed the mixture. He handed the packet to Kacie and instructed, "Brew these into a tea, three times a day. If you run out, let Peter know, and I will prepare some more."
"Thank you." She accepted the herbs and gave a small, respectful bow before slipping the packet into her coat pocket. "It was a pleasure to see you again, Lo Si."
The Ancient took her hand and kissed the back of it in a courtly fashion. "I am pleased to see you looking so well. My friend," he indicated Caine, "and I were quite concerned for your welfare."
She smiled at both of them. "Thank you. Your concern does you honor." At the surprised looks on their faces, her eyes twinkled merrily. "Peter talks a lot about both of you."
Peter returned and rested an arm around her shoulder affectionately. "Ready to go?" At her nod, he grinned at the elderly gentlemen. "See ya later, Pop, Lo Si."
The Ancient and Caine watched the couple depart and then sat back down to have another pot of tea.
Lo Si smiled and asked, "What are your thoughts, Kwai Chang Caine?"
Caine set down his cup gently. "I think that when I told my son to learn to see with more than his eyes, I should have reminded him he need not stop using his eyes."
Lo Si chuckled. "Bloody marvelous!"