A Matter of Honor: "Kung Fu Crabtree," 07x16 & "Nolo Contendre" 09x01
George lay in his bed, staring up at his ceiling, the events of the past two days weighing on his mind. It was impossible to sleep. He'd been lying in bed for hours, but unable to turn out the light and close his eyes.
It is a man's honor to fight for those he loves.
He couldn't get the word out of his head. Honor.
Wu Chang was sitting in the cells at Station House 4 right now, awaiting trial for murdering a man. Except he hadn't committed the crime. His sister, Ling, had. But Wu had confessed to it. And the evidence linking his sister to the crime was circumstantial at best.
George was dumbfounded. Wu was willing to take the punishment for his sister. To face either the noose in Toronto or…or death by 1000 cuts? What kind of justice system did they have in China? That would never fly in Canada!
Be happy for me, my friend. This is for the best.
If anything, George was thoroughly confused. Was this really for the best? Yes, Wu Chang had killed a man in China, a revenge killing for the death of their father. Yes, George supposed, if he had a sister (and maybe he did, somewhere, he didn't know!), he would do anything to protect her. Including take the fall for a murder.
Happiness is fleeting, but honor is immortal.
Wu Chang had told him it was honorable to fight for those you loved. He'd meant it in the romantic sense, he thought, at least at the time. But now, George was starting to see the true meaning. That you did what was right in your heart for those you care about. That you'd do whatever it took to keep them from harm. Even if that meant sacrificing your own happiness…or your own life.
You are a man of honor, Constable Crabtree, Wu Chang had informed him. Would he do the same, if he was in Wu Chang's place?
It was that thought that kept him awake until nearly dawn.
One year later…
George pushed open the door of Edna Brooks's door and froze in his tracks. Edna stood behind the kitchen table, the gun –the gun that I bought for her-in her shaking hands.
It is a man's honor to fight for those he loves. The words came rushing back to him, unbidden from somewhere deep in his subconscious. Would you do the same?
He made his decision.
Gently, he put his hands over hers. "The police are going to be here soon. When they see…" He nodded to the body of her husband. "When they see..this…they're going to want to question you. You need to go. Now." He scribbled down something on the back of an envelope on the table. "You'll be safe here. Don't try to contact me. Take Simon, and go." He gave her a slight shove toward the door.
Then, he looked down at the revolver that was now in his hands. Pulling his handkerchief from his pocket, he wiped the gun clean. And waited.
Happiness is fleeting…but honor is immortal.
He closed his eyes. It would be nice to have both.