Greater Than Good

Liz Gregg

Chapter 9

Caine stood in the doorway of the ancient one's apothecary. He watched Lo Si grinding herbs with mortar and pestle. "What is wrong, Kwai Chang Caine? Do you fear I may turn around and blow a poison dart at you?"

The sound of the Ancient's voice caused relief to flood through Caine. He did not yet understand everything but he knew all was well with Lo Si.

"Master, forgive me for doubting you.

"My feelings are hurt, Kwai Chang Caine, that you could think me capable of such a heinous crime." Lo Si smiled. "As you well know, my dear friend, my feelings are not hurt. I am honored that I could fool you."

Caine walked to the worktable started handling the herbs, tasting them and feeling them. He stopped at one and started to speak. "Have you--"

"Yes, I have. But it is not right." Lo Si gestured with a gnarled hand. "Taste that one."

Caine tried it. "Yes, of course. How far along are you?"

"It is almost done, Kwai Chang Caine. The poison was very strong, and very old. It is one I have not dealt with for many years."

"Master, perhaps you could enlighten me as to the purpose of this exercise?"

"Must everything have a purpose?"

"That is true," Caine replied evenly. "However, I believe that perhaps, on this occasion, there may be a lesson to be learned."

Lo Si answered as he worked. "Kwai Change Caine, my chi was poisoned when I would not let my daughter and granddaughter into my life or into my heart. When my chi healed, I could see you, too, were shunning those who loved you. You were ready to leave any time. You would have left us now."

Caine waited while Lo Si tasted more herbs. "When the men approached me about the picture, I knew there was a powerful force of evil at work. Knowing you would certainly fight the evil I saw an opportunity for you to face your demons. I went along with the scheme. I gave you the picture, blocking my so that you would believe I did not know it was a fake. What do you call it? Going under the covers."

Caine laughed. "Going undercover, I believe."

"Yes, that is right. Yet it seems that one of us has truly gone under the covers. Is that not true, Kwai Chang Caine?"

"And having me believe you are Ping Hai," Caine continued, ignoring Lo Si's teasing, "is this also part of my lesson?"

"When it is the proper time, all will be revealed."

Caine had no choice but to wait for that explanation. The younger priest sighed, still at odds with his master's explanation. "Lo Si, why did you not speak to me of this impending danger?"

For the first time Lo Si stopped working, and he shot a fiery glance at Caine. "You do not listen to a word I say about your personal affairs! That is why I cut myself off from you." The older Shaolin continued working. "I knew I would not keep quiet. You would have left and been gone for good! I hope you have learned that running away serves no purpose! You have a family here who loves you. It is time to stay home, Kwai Chang Caine. Stay home and let those who love you help you."

Caine had the grace not to argue. "So once again, I had to do battle with myself. Only this time I struggled with my chi united."

"Yes. You had to reach out to your friends for help and love. You could not depend only on Peter. Or on me." The ancient handed Caine a small, glass tube. "I am finished. Hurry and take this to Kermit. If he takes this at once, he will survive."

Caine swiftly delivered the herbal antidote to the hospital. The doctor knew the priest from the community and allowed Caine to administer the medication. The strong poison required three doses to be given every two hours.

Finally, the antidote took a firm hold and Caine watched Kermit start to come out of the coma. Opening his eyes, the cop managed to lift his head and look at Caine. Kermit had expended an enormous amount of energy fighting the poison, so he was completely exhausted.

"You're still in one piece and still bald as a billiard ball," Kermit rasped weakly. "Everyone else okay?"

"Yes, my friend. Everyone is well."

"Did you get me out of there?"

"No. Peter did."

"I hate it when that happens," Kermit muttered. "Now I'm going to have to thank him."

Kermit's eyes started to close, so he might not have heard Caine say, "It is you they will thank, Kermit. Now sleep well." Kermit's head sank into the pillow and he fell into a deep, healing sleep.

Doing something he would not dare to do while Kermit was awake, Caine gently stroked Kermit's forehead, smoothing back the detective's dark hair. "Yes, sleep well, my friend. We will talk later."

Peter Caine stayed at the hospital while Caine cared for Kermit. He watched but did not interfere, because he wanted his father to concentrate on their friend. When Caine finally left Kermit's bed, Peter followed and then joined him as Caine moved through the city they both called home.

They walked together in silence, Peter stealing an occasional furtive glance. On one of the glimpses he saw his father smile.

"What is it you wish to ask me, my son?"

Both men stopped and faced each other on the sidewalk.

"Ask you?" Peter replied. "First things first, Pop." The young man grabbed his Father's arms and pulled him into a crushing embrace. "I'm so glad you're back, Father," Peter said, his voice choking with emotion. Father and son lingered in the hug, oblivious to the rest of humanity passing around them.

"I am glad to be back, my son," Caine acknowledged, and freed one hand to wipe his own eyes.

Finally, Peter pulled away and stepped back. "And now I want to shake the daylights out of you! What on earth possessed you to pull a stunt like this? And on your own, too. I -- I thought you were gone." The young priest sniffed and rubbed his eyes. "And I'm not ashamed to say my heart was broken. Then you show up, riding in an ambulance! The big hero, fresh from rescuing a plane full of people and-- and a cat! If I wasn't so tired I'd be furious."

They both started walking again. "Peter, so much has happened," Caine said. "I have learned, am still learning, the hardest lesson of my life. You are not the only one who has unresolved issues concerning his father."

Caine's openness shocked Peter. The young man grabbed his father's arm, forcing them to stop again. "Are you talking about you, Pop?" Their gazes locked. "You and your father?"

"How is it that your grandfather is my father," Caine said wryly, "and I am your Pop?"

Caine started walking again, as if the physical motion facilitated the flow of his thoughts. Peter ran to catch up.

"My father was gone most of the time. As a child, it was difficult for me to understand. His absences were never talked about or explained. Growing up, I devised my own explanations, the kind that children often conjure. I have made many decisions in my life that have been shaped by my childhood thoughts, what I believed I had learned from my father's wanderings." Caine stopped and took his son's hand. "As an adult, I came to understand about the war and my father's research. But as you well know," Caine looked straight into Peter's eyes, "it is not easy to change the images that are imprinted on you as a child. It...is possible that I have been mistaken."

Both men started walking again. "But it is not too late. I will try to break the cycle started by my father, and his father. I will stop wandering and face whatever comes, with you, and with all my friends."

"Wow. That's a lot to handle," said Peter, burying his hands deeply in his pockets.

"Yes," agreed his father.

They stopped in front of Delancey's. By now, it was early in the evening.

"And you, Peter. You have taken the final step. You have received the brands."

Peter looked at his own arms, covered with the cotton of his long sleeved shirt.

"What are thinking, my son?"

"I...I'm not ready to talk about it. Not just yet." Peter leaned forward and kissed Caine on the forehead. "Come on, Pop. Let's stop in and see who's here."

Karen Simms, Jody and Chief Strenlich sat together at one table. Peter and Caine walked over and sat down. Peter spoke first.

"Kermit regained consciousness for a few seconds before we left. He talked to Pop, complaining that he would have to thank me. Sounds like he's going to be fine." Peter looked around. "Where's Skalany?"

Karen said, "She looked so miserable and so exhausted, I let her go home early." Looking pointedly at Caine, she added, "I certainly hope no one interferes with her getting the rest she needs."

Jody smiled at Caine. "I'm sorry, Caine, I guess I was a little late detecting the evil."

Caine smiled, reached over and squeezed her hand. "You were wonderful, Jody. We were all late uncovering this diabolical plot."

Simms looked at Peter. "You're going to have a lot of explaining to do, Civilian Caine."

Peter winced. "I know. Even though I was set up, it doesn't look good on paper. Anything new on who is behind it?"

Jody answered, "Not yet. But as soon as Kermit gets strong he'll unravel this mess. Believe me, we will find out."

"Not to change the subject, but Pop, you're going to have to put up with me for a while. I took you seriously. I canceled my lease and they found another tenant. It'll take me a little while to find another place. Should be no more than a week or two."

"I will not be moving in with you, my son."

"Come on, Pop, it'll just be for a while!"

"Peter, you misunderstand. It is not because of you."

Peter looked confused. "Then what?"

"I believe the young man is in need of some enlightenment," said Karen.

Peter raised both hands. "What? Will somebody please tell me?"

"I--" Caine gestured at the ceiling. "And Mary Margaret...." The priest lifted one shoulder in a shrug.

Peter banged both hands on the table, than grabbed his father's shoulder. "Pop, let me try and understand this. You and Skalany are-- I mean you both--" Peter looked around the table. "Everyone here knows this and I don't? Did-did this just happen?" Peter shook his head. "Boy, you must have been really broken up about leaving me again."

Caine stood up and patted his son's shoulder. "Mary Margaret and I were both despondent. We...gave comfort to each other. And now I must," Caine squeezed Peter's arms, "go home."

Caine winked at his son. Peter stared at him in astonishment. The young priest was still reeling when he thought of something important. He shot up and ran after his father.

Peter caught up with Caine and looped his arm over his father's shoulders.

"Boy, you sure are a man on a mission, Dad. An armed missile."

"What is it, my son?"

"Pop, can you stop, please? For just one minute?"

Caine stopped and faced Peter.

"I'm -- I'm afraid, Father. I'm afraid there isn't room in Chinatown for two Shaolin priests. And I don't mean you and the Ancient. I mean us. Room for two Caines in Chinatown."

"You are correct," Caine said gravely.

"Then what do we do?"

"There is not room for two Shaolin Priest Caines in Chinatown. But there is ample room for a father and his son. Peter and Pop." Caine smiled and lightly punched Peter in the arm. Peter smiled.

Then Caine suddenly flung his arms around Peter. "I love you, my son."

Caine hugged Peter tightly, but this time he did not hold back, and he allowed himself to draw strength from his son, in the same way he had given his own strength during their turbulent reunion.

"I love you, too, Pop."

As they went their separate ways, Peter stopped and called out one more question.

"Hey, Dad! Come to Chinatown. Ask for Caine. He will help you. But now, who does that mean?"

Caine shrugged and smiled. He thought of his grandfather and his father, him and his son. "All of us, my son. All of us."

....and the legend continues.

The End