The bold sections are from the script of the mini-series Tin Man. No copyright infringement intended.

"Father."

"Son."

Cain could hardly believe his eyes. There he stood, older and taller but it was Jeb, it was really his boy. The first thing Cain wanted to do after he was unshackled was to grab his son and give him a big bear hug like he used to, but getting back to the to the camp provided little time for father and son to have a true reunion. They needed to hurry, get the injured stable enough to travel and secure the prisoners, especially their prize, Zero. Cain had so much he wanted to tell his son, but it would have to wait. He watched his son give orders, care for his companions and marveled at him. He was no longer the little tow headed boy who would follow his dad everywhere with a million questions, but a man, a leader, respected by his peers.

As they walked silently into camp together, Cain noticed an iron pod much like the one he was imprisoned in for so many years in the middle of the camp. Cold shivers ran up his spine.

"What's that doing here?" He asked his son.

"I keep it to remind me, to remind everyone, what we're fighting for." He turned to go; Cain reached out and grabbed his shoulder, unsure of how to start.

"You know I, ah, I thought you were dead." Jeb looked into his father's eyes.

"They told mother and I you were dead." He answered softly, then feeling a sense of guilt he continued. "If I knew you were still alive, I would have risked anything, crossed enemy lines to come get you. You know that don't you?"

"Yeah, I do." He answered. "He hasn't lost that fearlessness." Cain thought to himself and felt a swell of pride seeing that his son had not only turned out all right but was in charge, running things. Cain hugged his son but Jeb did not respond to the embrace.

"Hey, you all right?" Asked Cain.

"Sure," was Jeb's short reply.

Cain gave Jeb a long look. He knew from that cold, hard, empty look on his son's face, he was far from all right. He saw himself in that face, and knew what it meant. They both had just cause for their deep hatred toward Zero, and at first when Cain was finally freed from his prison, killing him seemed like the best solution for all the pain and torment he put him through, but something happened to Cain during his journey with DG and the others. The good and brave man that he once was re-emerged and revenge was no longer his driving force, helping to restore the O.Z. was. He was and always would be a Tin Man duty bound to keep the promise he made to the Mystic Man to stay with DG at all costs, to help defeat the Sorceress. This once great land was his home, he wanted more than anything to see it become that way again, and if they were successful, Cain would finally get justice for his family without descending to Zero's level and become a killer himself.

He remembered the oath he made when he graduated from the Academy to serve with honor and respect, protect the innocent and always seek the truth. He lived his life by that code and taught it to his son as well but then their world changed drastically and life dealt a cruel blow to Jeb. Cain was taken, Adora killed a few years later both at the hands of Zero. He had every reason to hate him but Cain knew that Jeb's desire for revenge would only serve to destroy the goodness in his son and he had to save him from that fate.

Cain started to say something, but Jeb left abruptly to talk with his sergeant. As he walked away from his father, he looked back and thought that he should be happy, excited, but instead of feeling overjoyed at seeing his father alive again, he felt numb. Feelings of joy, hope and love had long ceased to exist; they had no place in his world. His own long hidden memories suddenly came to light as he remembered that awful day when his family was torn apart, when they took his father away.

"Adora, Jeb! Go to the cellar; follow the tunnel to the woods. Don't come back, find the others!" Adora got up from her chair and ran to his side.

"No Wyatt, please don't go out there, they will kill you." She begged.

He took her in his arms, kissed her tenderly, then hugged his son.

"Take care of your mother; I'll join you as soon as I can." Wyatt gave Jeb a reassuring smile then then gently led his family to the cellar and shut the door.

Jeb heard his mother cry softly at the top of the stairs, praying that her husband would be all right. He ran down the stairs and looked out of the tiny window, watching as his father was talking to the men in long leather coats. He recognized one of the men.

"Jeb, get away from the window!" She admonished her son as she came down the stairs and cleared the doorway to the tunnel Wyatt had constructed for just this purpose. "They will see you! Now help me with this door."

He ignored her and pressed his ear closer to the window trying to hear the conversation. From the looks of it wasn't a friendly one. He saw his father being encircled by the other men then they grabbed him suddenly from behind. The man he recognized started to hit his father.

"Mother, they're beating him up, we have to help!" Jeb cried.

"Stay here!" Adora yelled and ran out of the cellar.

Jeb looked out of the window and saw his mother run outside pleading with the men to stop. He saw her being pushed and bullied, so like his mother, he ran out too.

"Zero, please, leave him alone" she begged. But her pleas fell on deaf ears as the longcoats taunted both of them, then continued to pummel Wyatt until he was unconscious. Before they took his father away, Zero went over to Adora.

"Please, Zero, he was, your partner, your friend." She pleaded.

"That my dear was a long time ago. He is a traitor to the Sorceress and all traitors will be dealt with severely, just be glad that I don't take you two in as well." He said coldly. He looked around then met her eyes.

"Too bad you chose the wrong man; I could have spared you all of this." He leaned in to kiss her, she raised her hand to slap him, but he caught it in time. Zero sneered at her and turned to his men. "Search the house, take anything you want."

Jeb felt hot as a tear ran down his cheek. He quickly brushed it away, his anger building inside. Now after all these years, it was his turn to take from Zero and as fate would have it; his father would be there to enjoy the moment with him. This was better than anything he could have ever wished for.

Jeb invited Cain, Glitch and Raw to help with Zero's interrogation. Before they went inside the tent, he pulled his father aside. "I want to show you something." Jeb showed him a T.D.E.S.P.H.T.L.

"What's on this?" Cain asked warily.

"You'll see." Jeb left him alone to watch it as he and the others went inside the tent where Zero was being held. A visibly shaken Cain came in a short while later.

Once they got the needed information, Jeb proceeded with his plan. He took out a sword given to him by his mentor and previous captain before he was killed by the longcoats. As he placed it against Zero's neck he felt a rush of excitement. Finally his tormentor would face justice. When Cain stopped him he was livid.

"This is the man who killed mother, he destroyed your life and mine and you want to let him live?!!!"

"He deserves to die." Cain agreed.

"Yeah!!"

"I won't deny that."

"But what?!"Jeb demanded.

"Killing him won't bring back your mother and it won't honor her memory either."

Jeb rushed out of the tent distraught. He knew once his father saw the images of Adora dying at Zero's hands he would celebrate his death with him, but instead he spared his life! He of all people should want to carve his heart out after 10 annuals of misery and torture in that prison, and he wasn't there, he didn't see what happened after he was taken, how he and his mother barely survived. He ran to an isolated cave in the woods no one knew about, still seething at his father's betrayal.

Those annuals in the iron suit must have taken their toll, his father was nothing but a cowardly shell of what he once was. "Zero was right, you are too soft, you are weak and useless!" he shouted into the darkness, remembering the conversation he had with him shortly before his mother was murdered.