Caine walked through the silver mist in the darkened place he'd
entered. He wandered endlessly looking for the person he came to seek.
The fog seemed endless in this darkened place, but he knew he would find
what he was looking for.
Caine stopped walking as he felt another aura enter the domain. The mist began to fade as Caine turned around. He smiled warmly at the figure that began to walk towards him. The mist completely vanished and Raine Ramirez was in plain sight.
Raine smiled at Caine as he approached him. "I did not expect to see you again so soon my friend."
"I came to tell you that we have Aurora back."
"I know, and I am in your debt."
"Unfortunately, my friend, Aurora was hurt."
"That is true, but don't you know?"
Caine raised an eyebrow. "I do not understand."
"Do you remember the energy blast that came from Aurora in your apartment?"
He nodded.
"It linked Peter and Aurora. If one's life force is diminishing then the other can help to bring them back."
"I still do not understand."
Raine sighed. "Caine, you of all people know how healing a touch can be. The link between Aurora and Peter intertwines their auras. If one dies the other will live, but a piece of them will have been torn from their very soul. The energy from ones aura can heal the other. Peter healed Aurora with his own energy."
"Is Peter all right?"
"Peter is fine. He's sleeping now. His energy is drained, but he will be fine when he wakes."
"I will be there when he wakes."
"Aurora is worried about Peter. I would be grateful if you would put her mind at ease."
"Of course."
Raine smiled and bowed. Caine returned the bow respectfully as the mist once again came to cover them. Raine disappeared behind a curtain of white fog. Caine closed his eyes. When he opened them he was back in his apartment. He quickly got up and made his way to the hospital.
By the time Caine arrived the sun had begun to set. The hospital was in frenzy as he made his way to Aurora's room. He was however surprised to see that the bright room, was very empty. He walked out of the room and directly to the nurse's station.
"Excuse me, but can you tell me where Aurora Ramirez is?"
A petite nurse with blonde hair looked up from the papers she was signing.
"You mean the witch?" She asked.
Caine raised an eyebrow. "She is not a witch."
"From what I saw the girl is pure evil. She stole that mans life force to heal her own. What's good about that?"
"Can you please tell me where she is?" He asked ignoring her previous statement.
"She's in Peter Caine's room. They had the audacity to let her sit with him. Room 212 on the second floor."
"Thank you."
Caine left the nurse to her narrow minded thoughts and quickly went to the second floor. Peter's room was right next to the elevators, so Caine didn't have a hard time finding it.
The room was a pale blue with a lilac colored flower patterned border trimming the top. Peter's bed was pushed up against the wall under the window. There were no machines or IV's hooked up to him. He was dressed in a hospital gown and he was still sleeping. Aurora had her head down on the edge of the bed.
Caine walked over to her and gently put a hand on her shoulder. Aurora jumped out of her chair, knocking it over and backed out of his reach. Her eyes were wide with fright, but Caine saw that she was healed. Her wounds were gone.
"I did not mean to startle you."
Aurora calmed at the site of Caine, but didn't go any closer.
"It's all right. I mean you didn't really startle me. I'm just worried about Peter."
"He is only sleeping."
"I know, but."
"But you feel guilty."
She nodded silently.
"You did nothing to cause this."
Aurora looked at Caine with tear filled eyes.
"How can you say that?" She all but yelled for Peter's sake. "You remember what happened at your apartment! I sucked the life out of him to heal myself. I don't know how I did, but I did! I could have killed him!"
She hugged herself and turned away from Caine, so he couldn't see the steady flow of tears. Caine walked up to her and put a hand on her shoulder, but she quickly stepped out of his grasp.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" She yelled, still turned away from him.
"Aurora this was not your fault. I can explain if you'd just listen."
"What's there to explain? I almost killed your son. You should hate me, not want to help me."
"You did not almost kill Peter, and I will never hate you."
Aurora hugged herself tighter.
"He's right Aurora," Peter said groggily from the bed.
She spun around and looked at Peter with wide eyes. He was smiling at her. She took a step towards him, but quickly stopped what she was doing, and looked down. She was too frightened to even go near him. Peter noticed this and his smile faltered.
"What is it? I won't hurt you."
"But I may hurt you."
"Aurora what happened before, I could have stopped it, but I saw what was happening and didn't want to let go. I WANTED to heal you."
Aurora still didn't go to him.
"Please come over here."
She looked up into his chestnut eyes. He stared back into her amber ones. Finally, she took a hesitant step forward. Peter held out his hand to her and she quickly ran into his arms. He wrapped her in a warm embrace and Aurora let the tears fall freely.
"Hey now," Peter said. "What are the tears for? I'm all right, and so are you."
Aurora gripped him tighter. She continued to cry, but didn't say anything. Peter gave her a reassuring squeeze and looked at his father, who in return only shrugged.
"It's all right. Everything's all right," Peter soothed her.
Aurora cried for a few minutes more and then pulled back to look at Peter. She sniffled and wiped the tears from her cheeks.
"I am so sorry, Peter. I never meant to hurt you."
"You didn't hurt me kid. I don't think you could ever hurt me."
Aurora smirked. "Well I don't know about that. Once I figure out these powers."
"You will only use them for good," Caine cut her off. "As your father would have liked to have seen."
The smile faltered. "I wish my father were here to teach me to use them."
"Your father is here, as he has always been. His spirit is always with you."
"I know, but it's not the same. When Peter's mom died he still had you. My mothers always hated me. I don't have her or my father. I don't have anyone, anymore."
"That's where you're wrong," Peter said. "You have me and my father."
Aurora shook her head and looked at him. "No, Peter I don't. Do you really think that they're going to let me stay with you? The state is going to take me away and send me back to Florida where they'll send me to a foster home. I know the deal Peter. There's no way in hell the state is going to award custody of a teenage girl to a single cop."
"But they have no choice but to leave you in the hands of your guardian," said Caine.
"I don't have a guardian. My mother was my guardian, and now she's in jail."
"Did you ever see your fathers will?"
"Well, no. It was read to my mother and Tom after he died. He awarded custody to them."
Caine shook his head. "No, that is only what they told you."
"I don't understand."
"Me either," Peter said looking at his father questioningly.
"Do you really think your father would willingly leave you in such a predicament?"
"Well I.... I mean..." She shook her head trying to clear her thoughts.
"Aurora, you're father left you in my care."
Peter and Aurora both looked at Caine with wide eyes. He didn't know if it was shock or disbelief, but it was true nonetheless.
"If you knew why didn't you come for me sooner?" Aurora asked.
Caine shook his head. "I did not know. I saw your father in a.. ah.. vision. He told me to look at his will, so I asked Kermit for a favor. He is quite good with a computer."
"So I don't have to leave?" Aurora asked.
"Not if you wish to stay."
Aurora's eyes filled with tears again. She ran over to Caine and wrapped her arms around his waist. Caine returned the hug and stroked her dark hair. She pulled away from him and looked up into his eyes. Then she pulled herself back in his embrace. She wasn't crying, but she was close to it.
Peter watched the scene unfold from his bed. At first he was in shock, but his father wouldn't joke about something like that. He wasn't tired. In fact his energy was through the roof. He'd never felt so good in his life. The news was just the topping on the cake. He didn't have to say goodbye to Aurora. Not now, or ever.
Dr. Grey walked into the room. No one seemed to notice. She stood with her arms crossed over chest. She waited a minute for them to notice. When no one did anything she cleared her throat and three heads turned to look at her. Aurora pulled away from Caine.
"I see you're awake Detective. How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine. Ready to go home to be honest with you."
"That isn't a problem."
"What about me?" Aurora asked.
Dr. Grey looked at her with nervous eyes. "Your tests came back negative. You're completely healed. You're free to go as soon as Mr. Caine signs your release papers."
"You mean I can leave with him?"
"He's your guardian isn't he?"
"Well yes, but how?"
"Do you really want to stay?" Dr. Grey asked.
"Well no, but,"
"Then I'll have the nurse draw up your discharge papers and bring them in here. Your clothes are in the closet Detective."
With that final statement she turned and left.
"I don't understand," Aurora said. "How does she know?"
Peter and Caine said in unison. "Kermit."
Aurora didn't understand, but she didn't argue it. She and Caine went into the hallway while Peter changed. It didn't take him long and soon the nurse came in with the discharge papers. Before they knew it they were on their way home.
Caine stopped walking as he felt another aura enter the domain. The mist began to fade as Caine turned around. He smiled warmly at the figure that began to walk towards him. The mist completely vanished and Raine Ramirez was in plain sight.
Raine smiled at Caine as he approached him. "I did not expect to see you again so soon my friend."
"I came to tell you that we have Aurora back."
"I know, and I am in your debt."
"Unfortunately, my friend, Aurora was hurt."
"That is true, but don't you know?"
Caine raised an eyebrow. "I do not understand."
"Do you remember the energy blast that came from Aurora in your apartment?"
He nodded.
"It linked Peter and Aurora. If one's life force is diminishing then the other can help to bring them back."
"I still do not understand."
Raine sighed. "Caine, you of all people know how healing a touch can be. The link between Aurora and Peter intertwines their auras. If one dies the other will live, but a piece of them will have been torn from their very soul. The energy from ones aura can heal the other. Peter healed Aurora with his own energy."
"Is Peter all right?"
"Peter is fine. He's sleeping now. His energy is drained, but he will be fine when he wakes."
"I will be there when he wakes."
"Aurora is worried about Peter. I would be grateful if you would put her mind at ease."
"Of course."
Raine smiled and bowed. Caine returned the bow respectfully as the mist once again came to cover them. Raine disappeared behind a curtain of white fog. Caine closed his eyes. When he opened them he was back in his apartment. He quickly got up and made his way to the hospital.
By the time Caine arrived the sun had begun to set. The hospital was in frenzy as he made his way to Aurora's room. He was however surprised to see that the bright room, was very empty. He walked out of the room and directly to the nurse's station.
"Excuse me, but can you tell me where Aurora Ramirez is?"
A petite nurse with blonde hair looked up from the papers she was signing.
"You mean the witch?" She asked.
Caine raised an eyebrow. "She is not a witch."
"From what I saw the girl is pure evil. She stole that mans life force to heal her own. What's good about that?"
"Can you please tell me where she is?" He asked ignoring her previous statement.
"She's in Peter Caine's room. They had the audacity to let her sit with him. Room 212 on the second floor."
"Thank you."
Caine left the nurse to her narrow minded thoughts and quickly went to the second floor. Peter's room was right next to the elevators, so Caine didn't have a hard time finding it.
The room was a pale blue with a lilac colored flower patterned border trimming the top. Peter's bed was pushed up against the wall under the window. There were no machines or IV's hooked up to him. He was dressed in a hospital gown and he was still sleeping. Aurora had her head down on the edge of the bed.
Caine walked over to her and gently put a hand on her shoulder. Aurora jumped out of her chair, knocking it over and backed out of his reach. Her eyes were wide with fright, but Caine saw that she was healed. Her wounds were gone.
"I did not mean to startle you."
Aurora calmed at the site of Caine, but didn't go any closer.
"It's all right. I mean you didn't really startle me. I'm just worried about Peter."
"He is only sleeping."
"I know, but."
"But you feel guilty."
She nodded silently.
"You did nothing to cause this."
Aurora looked at Caine with tear filled eyes.
"How can you say that?" She all but yelled for Peter's sake. "You remember what happened at your apartment! I sucked the life out of him to heal myself. I don't know how I did, but I did! I could have killed him!"
She hugged herself and turned away from Caine, so he couldn't see the steady flow of tears. Caine walked up to her and put a hand on her shoulder, but she quickly stepped out of his grasp.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" She yelled, still turned away from him.
"Aurora this was not your fault. I can explain if you'd just listen."
"What's there to explain? I almost killed your son. You should hate me, not want to help me."
"You did not almost kill Peter, and I will never hate you."
Aurora hugged herself tighter.
"He's right Aurora," Peter said groggily from the bed.
She spun around and looked at Peter with wide eyes. He was smiling at her. She took a step towards him, but quickly stopped what she was doing, and looked down. She was too frightened to even go near him. Peter noticed this and his smile faltered.
"What is it? I won't hurt you."
"But I may hurt you."
"Aurora what happened before, I could have stopped it, but I saw what was happening and didn't want to let go. I WANTED to heal you."
Aurora still didn't go to him.
"Please come over here."
She looked up into his chestnut eyes. He stared back into her amber ones. Finally, she took a hesitant step forward. Peter held out his hand to her and she quickly ran into his arms. He wrapped her in a warm embrace and Aurora let the tears fall freely.
"Hey now," Peter said. "What are the tears for? I'm all right, and so are you."
Aurora gripped him tighter. She continued to cry, but didn't say anything. Peter gave her a reassuring squeeze and looked at his father, who in return only shrugged.
"It's all right. Everything's all right," Peter soothed her.
Aurora cried for a few minutes more and then pulled back to look at Peter. She sniffled and wiped the tears from her cheeks.
"I am so sorry, Peter. I never meant to hurt you."
"You didn't hurt me kid. I don't think you could ever hurt me."
Aurora smirked. "Well I don't know about that. Once I figure out these powers."
"You will only use them for good," Caine cut her off. "As your father would have liked to have seen."
The smile faltered. "I wish my father were here to teach me to use them."
"Your father is here, as he has always been. His spirit is always with you."
"I know, but it's not the same. When Peter's mom died he still had you. My mothers always hated me. I don't have her or my father. I don't have anyone, anymore."
"That's where you're wrong," Peter said. "You have me and my father."
Aurora shook her head and looked at him. "No, Peter I don't. Do you really think that they're going to let me stay with you? The state is going to take me away and send me back to Florida where they'll send me to a foster home. I know the deal Peter. There's no way in hell the state is going to award custody of a teenage girl to a single cop."
"But they have no choice but to leave you in the hands of your guardian," said Caine.
"I don't have a guardian. My mother was my guardian, and now she's in jail."
"Did you ever see your fathers will?"
"Well, no. It was read to my mother and Tom after he died. He awarded custody to them."
Caine shook his head. "No, that is only what they told you."
"I don't understand."
"Me either," Peter said looking at his father questioningly.
"Do you really think your father would willingly leave you in such a predicament?"
"Well I.... I mean..." She shook her head trying to clear her thoughts.
"Aurora, you're father left you in my care."
Peter and Aurora both looked at Caine with wide eyes. He didn't know if it was shock or disbelief, but it was true nonetheless.
"If you knew why didn't you come for me sooner?" Aurora asked.
Caine shook his head. "I did not know. I saw your father in a.. ah.. vision. He told me to look at his will, so I asked Kermit for a favor. He is quite good with a computer."
"So I don't have to leave?" Aurora asked.
"Not if you wish to stay."
Aurora's eyes filled with tears again. She ran over to Caine and wrapped her arms around his waist. Caine returned the hug and stroked her dark hair. She pulled away from him and looked up into his eyes. Then she pulled herself back in his embrace. She wasn't crying, but she was close to it.
Peter watched the scene unfold from his bed. At first he was in shock, but his father wouldn't joke about something like that. He wasn't tired. In fact his energy was through the roof. He'd never felt so good in his life. The news was just the topping on the cake. He didn't have to say goodbye to Aurora. Not now, or ever.
Dr. Grey walked into the room. No one seemed to notice. She stood with her arms crossed over chest. She waited a minute for them to notice. When no one did anything she cleared her throat and three heads turned to look at her. Aurora pulled away from Caine.
"I see you're awake Detective. How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine. Ready to go home to be honest with you."
"That isn't a problem."
"What about me?" Aurora asked.
Dr. Grey looked at her with nervous eyes. "Your tests came back negative. You're completely healed. You're free to go as soon as Mr. Caine signs your release papers."
"You mean I can leave with him?"
"He's your guardian isn't he?"
"Well yes, but how?"
"Do you really want to stay?" Dr. Grey asked.
"Well no, but,"
"Then I'll have the nurse draw up your discharge papers and bring them in here. Your clothes are in the closet Detective."
With that final statement she turned and left.
"I don't understand," Aurora said. "How does she know?"
Peter and Caine said in unison. "Kermit."
Aurora didn't understand, but she didn't argue it. She and Caine went into the hallway while Peter changed. It didn't take him long and soon the nurse came in with the discharge papers. Before they knew it they were on their way home.