You Can Find Anything.... 3/?
----------------------------------
EARLY AFTERNOON: THE DOJO
"Darling, will you relax? I've decided to stay here for a while. Is that really so strange?"
"For you? Absolutely."
"That's Jim's skepticism talking and you know it. I've warned you about picking up and absorbing his negative vibrations. Are you burning that yellow candle I sent you?"
"It's my skepticism and it's justified. You said you'd only be gone a day or two. What could you have found that's so fascinating it would get you to extend your trip instead of coming home?"
"Research. And Cascade is your home, not mine, Blair."
"Research. Into some guy you met in the local hostel or at the health food store, right?"
"Blair Sandburg! I'll forgive that unkindness since I know it came from a place of love and concern, but don't let it happen again. If you must know, I am staying in a man's home, but it isn't at all what you think. He's a Buddhist priest. Shao-Lin, as a matter of fact. He and I have been having a wonderfully insightful talk about Sentinels and Guides. He doesn't call them that, of course, language differences being what they are. He said they don't even have a word for the Sentinels in his language, actually, but he has heard of them. He described Jim's personality to a T. I swear...."
"Mom! Take a breath!" Blair interjected, using the phrase the two had agreed on that alerted her when she was rambling.
"Oh. Thank you dear."
"No problem. So you have no clue when you'll be back?"
"None. I quite like this city actually. I feel...."
"What, mom?"
"I'm not sure just yet. Still. At peace. It's been far too long since I experienced that and I'm reluctant to give it up. You understand, darling."
"It's the way I feel here.... with Jim."
"Precisely. I'll admit, I can't quite see the whole picture yet. All I know is that I was drawn here.... and that drawing feels very right. Your breezy, flighty mother may finally have been grounded. To my surprise... the thought doesn't frighten me anymore."
"Wow, mom. I've never heard you talk this way. You sound... happy. I like that."
"Believe me, so do I."
"You'll call if this priest comes up with information we don't already know?"
"Of course I will, dear. I'll call tomorrow regardless."
"Okay. Talk to you then, mom."
"Good-bye, Blair, love."
Disconnecting the call, Naomi turned to find that Kwai-Chang was seated on the other side of the large space, stretching slowly. Smiling she walked over to him.
"I'm not interrupting a meditation, am I?"
"No. My final class of the day has just finished." He assured her, sitting up. "I was merely... relaxing. Please, sit."
"Thank you."
"Your son?" he asked, nodding at the phone she still held in her hand.
"Yes. He's wonderful to me. Don't misunderstand, I'm grateful for his concern, but sometimes.... I want to lock him in a closet and go to Jamaica."
"I am sure Peter often has the same thought about me."
"You always irritate the one you love?"
"Yes. I am afraid this is true."
"I was wondering if you knew of a good organic market in the area. I thought I'd make dinner tonight to thank you for your kindness."
"That is not necessary..."
"I understand. I'd like to do it anyway. If you'll allow?"
"If I can... help."
"Agreed."
"I know of an excellent market nearby. Their vegetables are the highest quality and they have fresh fish as well."
"That sounds ideal. You wouldn't mind if we walked, I hope. I prefer to whenever it's at all possible."
"As do I. A walk it is."
------------------------------------------
THE STATION: LATE AFTERNOON
"Hey. You okay? You look like you didn't sleep."
"I'm fine. Just... distracted. Nightmares."
"Really bad?"
"Bad enough. Childhood stuff."
"You sure you're still up for this stakeout tonight? I mean, yesterday with that mini breakdown you had... now it's nightmares?"
"I did not have a breakdown!"
"Pete. Pandas on the stairs?"
"I explained that...."
"I've heard of pink elephants in your shot glass, bugs climbing up the walls and every other weird concoction the imagination can come up with, but pandas is a new one on me..."
"Look, lay off and go get the cars and equipment signed out for tonight, willya?"
"Whatever you say. Just remember to warn me if you see any camels, okay? They spit and I'm not getting that stuff in my hair."
Peter scowled and threw a notebook at Skelany's head and she retreated, laughing.
----------------------------------
THAT NIGHT: THE DOJO
"The meal was splendid. You are an accomplished cook."
"I had no choice but to learn. Blair was a very picky child and getting him to eat anything at all was a chore, never mind healthy food. It was either cook for him, or watch him grow up like most children; junk-food addicted, overweight and ill. I couldn't bear that."
"I try to impress on Peter how vital it is for him to control his diet and eat only good food.... but I am afraid it is far too late. Some lessons he is simply too old to absorb."
"You look upset. He hasn't called, I take it?"
"No. Under the pressure of his work... he often forgets."
"It's difficult isn't it? Being the parent of a police officer, I mean. I always thought of Blair as totally wrapped up in academics. Then he met Jim, Jim took him to the police station and my safe, studious boy was gone for good. He's gotten hurt... nearly killed once or twice. It wouldn't bother me so much if I wasn't fully aware of how much he enjoys throwing himself in front of armed felons."
Caine smiled gently, then rose with his dishes in his hand.
"Peter's choices are not always the best. I am learning to.... adjust. If the choices were ours they might never leave the cradle. We would always be able to shield them from the worst... the most painful. It... is not so."
"No. it isn't."
Naomi gathered up her dishes and followed Caine from the office where they'd been eating. Halfway across the floor, she paused for a moment then her face lit up. "He still lets me hug him in public. That's something."
"Yes. Perhaps you could convince Peter that... hugs are not such a bad idea."
"I'm willing to try."
------------------------------
1:00 A.M.
"Pete? Peter will you talk to me, for God's sake? Pete!"
"Yeah. What? I'm here." He responded, pressing on his ear piece.
"Couldn't prove it by me! I've been talking to you for the last ten minutes and getting nothing back! Tell me I wasn't right. You haven't been drinking, have you?"
"Get your head outta your ass, Skelany. I had a beer around midnight last night. One beer, that's it."
From his position, Peter caught movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned his head just in time to see what could only be the rear end of a panda disappear through the door of a nearby warehouse. He grimaced, squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head.
"I did not just see what I thought I saw, I did not just see what I thought I saw...." he mumbled, trying desperately to convince himself that fatigue and stress were joining forces to mess with his head.
"Say again, Pete? The last transmission wasn't clear."
When Peter dared to open his eyes again, he found that the illusion had not evaporated. In fact, the panda was now poking its head around the corner of the door and mewling impatiently. Peter dropped his head to the steering wheel of his car and tried to slow his breathing.
"Oh, god.... not now... not tonight. I *cannot* lose it tonight of all nights! Go away, damn it!"
When he raised his head this time, the panda was gone. Slightly shaky, but utterly relieved, he began to smile. It lasted only until he happened to look out the driver's side window to find the immense animal staring at him from only inches away. Peter recoiled and let loose a brief, but piercing yell followed by a familiar, forcefully delivered expletive that was picked up by everyone on the stakeout team, including, to his everlasting embarrassment, Skelany.
"Pete, what the hell is going on over there? Hang tight. I'm coming to you."
"No! No... I'm.... I'm okay. I dumped hot coffee on my leg. Stay in position."
The panda outside his window backed off a step and shook its head from side to side "On second thought, the next shift's due in ten minutes. You guys can take off. I'll stay 'till the replacements show up."
"Oh, no. No way! If you think I'm leaving without making sure you're not bleeding, you're out of your mind, Caine..."
"I said go! I'm okay. The coffee didn't do much damage. Just go home, alright? I mean it."
"Pete..."
"I don't need another overprotective parent on my back, Meg. The two fathers I already have are too much to handle as it is. Get goin'. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yeah... you just better show up at work, or I'll find your skinny ass and beat you senseless for making me sit up all night worrying."
"I'll look forward to it. Night, Skelany."
Slowly, Peter dug the receiver out of his ear, looked at it and dropped it on the dash. After a moment, he returned his gaze to the apparition that waited for him.
"Okay. I'm making decisions... based on the advice of a panda only I can see. Pop is gonna get such a kick out of this...." Peter thought to himself as he scrambled his way out of the passenger's side of the car. After locking the doors, he cautiously made his way around the front of the vehicle, stopping several feet out of the range of claws and teeth. "Your name wouldn't be Harvey, would it?"
The panda lowered its head and snorted firmly before turning and moving away. "Didn't think so."
Peter hesitated, then haltingly began to trail after the animal, his thoughts running a mile a minute. {I *really* shouldn't be doing this. If I'm losing it, I should go find help. On the other hand.... Why not play follow the hallucination? I mean... I can't get any *more* nuts. It's the first step over the line that counts. After tonight it's padded walls, psycho-therapy and pajamas 24/7.... I might as well have my fun while I can, right? Like chasing endangered species that aren't really there. Hell. Here's to insanity; enjoy it until the tranquilizers kick in. Ace Caine: Pet Detective is on the case...}
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
TBC.....
----------------------------------
EARLY AFTERNOON: THE DOJO
"Darling, will you relax? I've decided to stay here for a while. Is that really so strange?"
"For you? Absolutely."
"That's Jim's skepticism talking and you know it. I've warned you about picking up and absorbing his negative vibrations. Are you burning that yellow candle I sent you?"
"It's my skepticism and it's justified. You said you'd only be gone a day or two. What could you have found that's so fascinating it would get you to extend your trip instead of coming home?"
"Research. And Cascade is your home, not mine, Blair."
"Research. Into some guy you met in the local hostel or at the health food store, right?"
"Blair Sandburg! I'll forgive that unkindness since I know it came from a place of love and concern, but don't let it happen again. If you must know, I am staying in a man's home, but it isn't at all what you think. He's a Buddhist priest. Shao-Lin, as a matter of fact. He and I have been having a wonderfully insightful talk about Sentinels and Guides. He doesn't call them that, of course, language differences being what they are. He said they don't even have a word for the Sentinels in his language, actually, but he has heard of them. He described Jim's personality to a T. I swear...."
"Mom! Take a breath!" Blair interjected, using the phrase the two had agreed on that alerted her when she was rambling.
"Oh. Thank you dear."
"No problem. So you have no clue when you'll be back?"
"None. I quite like this city actually. I feel...."
"What, mom?"
"I'm not sure just yet. Still. At peace. It's been far too long since I experienced that and I'm reluctant to give it up. You understand, darling."
"It's the way I feel here.... with Jim."
"Precisely. I'll admit, I can't quite see the whole picture yet. All I know is that I was drawn here.... and that drawing feels very right. Your breezy, flighty mother may finally have been grounded. To my surprise... the thought doesn't frighten me anymore."
"Wow, mom. I've never heard you talk this way. You sound... happy. I like that."
"Believe me, so do I."
"You'll call if this priest comes up with information we don't already know?"
"Of course I will, dear. I'll call tomorrow regardless."
"Okay. Talk to you then, mom."
"Good-bye, Blair, love."
Disconnecting the call, Naomi turned to find that Kwai-Chang was seated on the other side of the large space, stretching slowly. Smiling she walked over to him.
"I'm not interrupting a meditation, am I?"
"No. My final class of the day has just finished." He assured her, sitting up. "I was merely... relaxing. Please, sit."
"Thank you."
"Your son?" he asked, nodding at the phone she still held in her hand.
"Yes. He's wonderful to me. Don't misunderstand, I'm grateful for his concern, but sometimes.... I want to lock him in a closet and go to Jamaica."
"I am sure Peter often has the same thought about me."
"You always irritate the one you love?"
"Yes. I am afraid this is true."
"I was wondering if you knew of a good organic market in the area. I thought I'd make dinner tonight to thank you for your kindness."
"That is not necessary..."
"I understand. I'd like to do it anyway. If you'll allow?"
"If I can... help."
"Agreed."
"I know of an excellent market nearby. Their vegetables are the highest quality and they have fresh fish as well."
"That sounds ideal. You wouldn't mind if we walked, I hope. I prefer to whenever it's at all possible."
"As do I. A walk it is."
------------------------------------------
THE STATION: LATE AFTERNOON
"Hey. You okay? You look like you didn't sleep."
"I'm fine. Just... distracted. Nightmares."
"Really bad?"
"Bad enough. Childhood stuff."
"You sure you're still up for this stakeout tonight? I mean, yesterday with that mini breakdown you had... now it's nightmares?"
"I did not have a breakdown!"
"Pete. Pandas on the stairs?"
"I explained that...."
"I've heard of pink elephants in your shot glass, bugs climbing up the walls and every other weird concoction the imagination can come up with, but pandas is a new one on me..."
"Look, lay off and go get the cars and equipment signed out for tonight, willya?"
"Whatever you say. Just remember to warn me if you see any camels, okay? They spit and I'm not getting that stuff in my hair."
Peter scowled and threw a notebook at Skelany's head and she retreated, laughing.
----------------------------------
THAT NIGHT: THE DOJO
"The meal was splendid. You are an accomplished cook."
"I had no choice but to learn. Blair was a very picky child and getting him to eat anything at all was a chore, never mind healthy food. It was either cook for him, or watch him grow up like most children; junk-food addicted, overweight and ill. I couldn't bear that."
"I try to impress on Peter how vital it is for him to control his diet and eat only good food.... but I am afraid it is far too late. Some lessons he is simply too old to absorb."
"You look upset. He hasn't called, I take it?"
"No. Under the pressure of his work... he often forgets."
"It's difficult isn't it? Being the parent of a police officer, I mean. I always thought of Blair as totally wrapped up in academics. Then he met Jim, Jim took him to the police station and my safe, studious boy was gone for good. He's gotten hurt... nearly killed once or twice. It wouldn't bother me so much if I wasn't fully aware of how much he enjoys throwing himself in front of armed felons."
Caine smiled gently, then rose with his dishes in his hand.
"Peter's choices are not always the best. I am learning to.... adjust. If the choices were ours they might never leave the cradle. We would always be able to shield them from the worst... the most painful. It... is not so."
"No. it isn't."
Naomi gathered up her dishes and followed Caine from the office where they'd been eating. Halfway across the floor, she paused for a moment then her face lit up. "He still lets me hug him in public. That's something."
"Yes. Perhaps you could convince Peter that... hugs are not such a bad idea."
"I'm willing to try."
------------------------------
1:00 A.M.
"Pete? Peter will you talk to me, for God's sake? Pete!"
"Yeah. What? I'm here." He responded, pressing on his ear piece.
"Couldn't prove it by me! I've been talking to you for the last ten minutes and getting nothing back! Tell me I wasn't right. You haven't been drinking, have you?"
"Get your head outta your ass, Skelany. I had a beer around midnight last night. One beer, that's it."
From his position, Peter caught movement out of the corner of his eye. He turned his head just in time to see what could only be the rear end of a panda disappear through the door of a nearby warehouse. He grimaced, squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head.
"I did not just see what I thought I saw, I did not just see what I thought I saw...." he mumbled, trying desperately to convince himself that fatigue and stress were joining forces to mess with his head.
"Say again, Pete? The last transmission wasn't clear."
When Peter dared to open his eyes again, he found that the illusion had not evaporated. In fact, the panda was now poking its head around the corner of the door and mewling impatiently. Peter dropped his head to the steering wheel of his car and tried to slow his breathing.
"Oh, god.... not now... not tonight. I *cannot* lose it tonight of all nights! Go away, damn it!"
When he raised his head this time, the panda was gone. Slightly shaky, but utterly relieved, he began to smile. It lasted only until he happened to look out the driver's side window to find the immense animal staring at him from only inches away. Peter recoiled and let loose a brief, but piercing yell followed by a familiar, forcefully delivered expletive that was picked up by everyone on the stakeout team, including, to his everlasting embarrassment, Skelany.
"Pete, what the hell is going on over there? Hang tight. I'm coming to you."
"No! No... I'm.... I'm okay. I dumped hot coffee on my leg. Stay in position."
The panda outside his window backed off a step and shook its head from side to side "On second thought, the next shift's due in ten minutes. You guys can take off. I'll stay 'till the replacements show up."
"Oh, no. No way! If you think I'm leaving without making sure you're not bleeding, you're out of your mind, Caine..."
"I said go! I'm okay. The coffee didn't do much damage. Just go home, alright? I mean it."
"Pete..."
"I don't need another overprotective parent on my back, Meg. The two fathers I already have are too much to handle as it is. Get goin'. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yeah... you just better show up at work, or I'll find your skinny ass and beat you senseless for making me sit up all night worrying."
"I'll look forward to it. Night, Skelany."
Slowly, Peter dug the receiver out of his ear, looked at it and dropped it on the dash. After a moment, he returned his gaze to the apparition that waited for him.
"Okay. I'm making decisions... based on the advice of a panda only I can see. Pop is gonna get such a kick out of this...." Peter thought to himself as he scrambled his way out of the passenger's side of the car. After locking the doors, he cautiously made his way around the front of the vehicle, stopping several feet out of the range of claws and teeth. "Your name wouldn't be Harvey, would it?"
The panda lowered its head and snorted firmly before turning and moving away. "Didn't think so."
Peter hesitated, then haltingly began to trail after the animal, his thoughts running a mile a minute. {I *really* shouldn't be doing this. If I'm losing it, I should go find help. On the other hand.... Why not play follow the hallucination? I mean... I can't get any *more* nuts. It's the first step over the line that counts. After tonight it's padded walls, psycho-therapy and pajamas 24/7.... I might as well have my fun while I can, right? Like chasing endangered species that aren't really there. Hell. Here's to insanity; enjoy it until the tranquilizers kick in. Ace Caine: Pet Detective is on the case...}
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
TBC.....
