IN REMEMBERANCE OF THINGS PAST
PART TWO
by
BlackFury
Peter walked into the squad room at the 101st and smiled sadly, so much of his life had centered around this room and these people. He stood back and watched them until Jody saw him. Her face lit up as she beckoned him over then, her smile disappeared when she saw the satchel over his shoulder. "You're leaving." She said simply.
Peter smiled and reached out a hand, lightly caressing her cheek. "Yeah, I have to. I wanted to tell all of you goodbye and especially to talk to Kermit. Is MM here?" Jody shook her head. "She's out on a call with TJ. They should be back soon. You'll be in Kermit's office?" Peter nodded and headed in that direction. Jody sat back down, her heart broken. She had never seen Peter that despondent before, he looked so lost.
Kermit heard the light tap on the door and turned around. "Come in, kid." Peter smiled as he walked in and closed the door behind him. Kermit was suprised by the change in his friend's manner. Then, he saw the satchel. His eyebrows rose. "You're leaving?" Peter nodded as he sat down. "I have to. I've already said goodbye to Father and I came here to see the rest of you. I'll stop by and say goodbye to Annie and the girls after I leave here. I'm leaving the Stealth with Diane."
Kermit nodded, "I can understand that. I have something I want you to take with you, ok?" Peter raised an eyebrow. Kermit pulled out a small cell phone and handed it to Peter. "This is a satellite phone. In case we need to reach you, I'd like you to keep it. I'm the only one who has the number and it's got my number programmed into it. Ok?" Peter took it in his hand and nodded, stowing it in the leather satchel.
Kermit looked at him. "I think I understand why you're going, Peter but, please, don't be a stranger ok?" Peter smiled. "I'll try not to be, Kermit but, I don't know when I'll be back. I want you and MM to keep an eye on Pop for me, all right?" Kermit smiled behind the green shades, "Count on it, kid. Any idea where you're heading to?"
Peter shook his head. "No, Kermit, that's not the way we Caines do things. We never plan where we wander, we just go and see what comes along the way. Take care my friend, all right?" Kermit smiled slightly, "I will if you will." Peter nodded, "You have a deal, pal." He then shouldered the satchel and left the office. He saw that Mary Margaret was back at her desk. The raven haired detective looked up when Peter came to her desk.
Peter smiled, "I wanted to see you before I left. I can trust you to look after father for me. You will, won't you?" He asked anxiously. MM smiled slowly, "Yes, I will, Peter. I just wish that..." Peter sighed, "I know but, you know why I'm going." She nodded and hugged him. He returned the embrace, kissed her forehead and quietly left the precinct, driving his beloved Stealth one last time to the Blaisdell home. There, he said goodbye to Annie, Carolyn, Kelly and handed the keys of the Stealth to the youngest Blaisdell, nineteen year old Diane, Paul and Annie's only child together.
Then, he struck off alone, to see where this particular path would lead him.
END FLASHBACK-
Peter stood now on the terrace of his father's kwoon, thinking back to the call he had recieved from Kermit a mere twelve days ago. He knew about his father's marriage to Mary Margaret, although he had not been able to return for it but then had come Kermit's call.
TWELVE DAYS AGO-
The cell in Peter's satchel rang, disturbing the young man's attempt to meditate. It had not rung often in the past ten years, maybe five or six times. Peter flipped it open with a sigh. "Caine." Kermit's voice came back. "Peter, you need to come home, it's your father. He had a heart attack three days ago and is still in County General." Peter stopped, He had known that something wasn't right but, his father was deliberately blurring it, keeping it from him.
"Kermit, I'm in a small campground outside of Paramus, New Jersey, can you come get me?" Kermit replied, "I'll be there in the morning, around nine." Peter smiled, "I'll be waiting for you at the main entrance. Tell Pop, I'm coming home." "I will, Peter, I will. See you then." The line went silent. Peter closed the phone and stowed it back in his satchel.
He was concerned for his father's health but, there wasn't the frantic worrying that would have characterized a younger Peter Caine. He had learned much on this journey and had reconciled himself to the loss of Jordan and their unborn child. The pain was still there but, as Shaolin, he had embraced the pain, made it part of him and then, it had slipped away into nothing.
The next morning, he was at the main gate and smiled when he saw the familiar green Corvair pull up. Peter slid into the front seat and was silent as Kermit turned the car around. They headed for Carlsburg and Peter finally spoke. "How bad is he, really, Kermit?"
End Part Two
