You Can Find Anything..... 6/?
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THAT EVENING
"You heard her with her your own ears, Jim. Did that sound like my mother?"
"She was a little on edge, but yeah it sounded like her."
"Jim. When have you ever known Naomi Sandburg to willingly end a phone conversation?"
Blair's partner had no glib, easy response to this reminder and the younger man leaped on his silence as confirmation of his worst fears. "See? I'm right. You know I'm right. Something happened to her.... something she felt like she had to hide from me. That guy probably did something to her."
"What guy?"
"The one she's staying with. He probably made a move on her...."
"Didn't she tell you he's a priest?"
"Yeah... she did. Shao-lin. They're supposed to be one of the most incorruptible, deeply spiritual groups out there. Okay, so it isn't him, but what else am I supposed to think? You even said she sounded like she just barely escaped a major car accident."
"She was upset. It could have been anything. What was the last thing she said?"
" ' I never understood. I wasn't sure I wanted to and I'm finding out I was right. ' That's not verbatim, but it's close."
"Understood what?"
"I wish I knew. Whatever it is, it scared her enough to send the two of us an SOS. That in itself is way out of character for her. She's so strong, Jim. I can't stand thinking.... What could have thrown her so bad that she'd call for help like that?"
"She'll be okay 'till we get there, Chief. We land in twenty minutes. Hang in there, alright?" Jim soothed, briefly covering Blair's hand with his own and giving it a light squeeze. Blair gave him a brave smile, tucked his hair behind his ears and straightened in his seat.
"I know. You're right. She'll be fine. In all the time we traveled together there was nothing she couldn't handle. So why did she sound so lost and confused? She's not supposed to sound like that, Jim. Not my mom..."
Abruptly, Blair turned to the window as his moment of bravado-laced strength faded away. He was discreet about sweeping the moisture from his cheeks, but Jim had other ways of knowing what his Guide was feeling. Ellison placed one solid, supportive hand in the center of Blair's back and the other on his shoulder.
"I wish I could make this easier on you. Watching the people we love get hurt.... it's something we all have to go through."
"Yeah, well.... it sucks."
"Damn straight. Watchin' you lay there in the hospital, fightin' to come back from the Golden....I couldn't figure out whether I wanted to punch a huge hole in the wall or drop to my knees an' pray. I mean, I'd felt helpless before.... but never like that. I had to face your humanity... an' mine too. I hated it."
"How...how did you handle that?" Blair asked, turning back to face his best friend.
"Some of it I took out on the scum that was dealin' the stuff." Jim admitted with a wry smile. "The rest of it.... I just let it go. I knew if I hung onto it, I'd self-destruct. I kept tellin' myself you were okay an' that was all that mattered. Naomi's okay, Blair. Just focus on that. She's okay."
"I know.... Jim?"
"Yeah."
"How come you never told me that before.... about the hospital, I mean?"
"I don't know. You never needed to hear it before, I guess."
"I know how hard that was for you. Thanks."
"Anytime, Chief. Anytime."
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ONE HOUR LATER: THE DOJO
From the airport, Blair and Jim found a cab and headed directly downtown. They expected to have to ask at least a few people where to find Caine's dojo, but to their surprise, the cab driver knew exactly where to take them. Leaving his partner to grab the bags, Blair threw a few random bills at the cabbie, leapt from the vehicle and rushed inside, anxious to reassure himself of his mother's safety.
"Mom? Hey, is anybody here? Mom, where are you?!"
"I'm right here, darling." Naomi called, appearing from her temporary quarters in the rear of the dojo and rushing into her son's arms. "You can't know how glad I am to see you, Blair...."
"Are you really okay? On the phone...."
"I know. I was still in a minor state of shock when I called. I'm not sure I'm completely over that yet." Naomi told him, pulling away slightly. "Thank you for coming so quickly."
"What's the emergency? What's so big that you couldn't tell me over the phone?"
"Oh, dear. How do I explain this? Wait here." she told him, disappearing into the office and returning with a chair. Jim raised an eyebrow at Blair.
"An explanation that requires a chair? I can't wait to hear this."
"Cut it out, Jim. What's this about, mom?"
"Have a seat, Blair."
"Am I going to need it?"
"Better safe than risk a concussion when you faint."
His expression grim, Blair sank into the chair. "Good. Now close your eyes and take a deep breath."
"Naomi...."
"Please, for your own sake, just do it. Trust me, you'll thank me later."
Blair complied grudgingly.
"Okay. Shoot."
"I've proved one of your pet theories about Guides."
"Which would be?"
"The trait is definitely genetic."
Blair hesitated before slowly asking his next question.
"And... you would know this... how?"
"I... I think I've found him."
"Found who?"
"My Sentinel."
Eyes as wide as it was possible for them to become, Blair did a creditable impression of one of Jim's zones. It lasted until his partner strode to his side, laid a hand on his arm and spoke his name.
"Blair?"
"Jim... she didn't say...."
"I heard the same thing you did, Chief. It's possible isn't it?"
"Maybe... I don't know... it's always been theoretical...."
"Not anymore it isn't. Not for me anyway." Naomi retorted, sobbing out her anger and confusion. "I need help, Blair, please. I don't understand what's happening to me, and my Sentinel, the young man who I was supposed to save, is lying in the back room of this dojo comatose...."
"Okay, okay, slow down, mom." Blair replied, rising and drawing her into his arms. "Everything's gonna be fine."
"I wish I could believe that. I'm so scared.... the nightmares... and the visions.... nothing makes sense...."
"Visions? Visions of what?"
"A horse.... a silver mare. I've always dreamed about her.... always knew she represented me, but now... I'm seeing her when I'm awake. I touched him..... and the world changed...."
After seeking silent approval from Blair to intervene, Jim jumped in with a question.
"Naomi. Did you see another animal in this vision?"
"Yes. A giant panda. I was supposed to follow it, but I lost it.... lost Peter...."
"Noone's lost yet. Can you show us where this man is?"
Naomi nodded. Reluctantly pulling away from her son's embrace, she turned and led them toward the room where Caine was tending to his child.
"Caine? May we come in?" Naomi asked tentatively.
"Yes. Please."
"Is he any better?"
"I am afraid not. The bruising on his knees is gone, but...."
The older man ended his sentence with a small shrug.
"I'm so sorry. If only that woman hadn't pulled me away...."
"It was not her fault. I asked it of her. I spoke before I understood the nature of Peter's..... condition."
"Then you know what's wrong with him?" Blair asked. Caine looked silently up at him, but did not respond.
"Oh. I almost forgot. This is my son, Blair, and his partner Jim Ellison. I asked them to come. I thought they might be able to help. This is Kwai- Chang Caine and his son Peter."
Slowly, Caine rose from his seat at Peter's side and approached Jim, laying one hand gently against the Sentinel's face. He then repeated the move with Blair.
"Warrior and shaman. You are welcome in my home."
"Is Naomi right? Is your son..."
"A warrior, such as you. I believe this to be... correct."
"Is there anything at all we can do?" Blair asked softly, gazing at Peter's still form.
"Not at present. He appears ill, but this is... illusion. His soul is journeying and he will not awaken until he has chosen his path. Perhaps then.... he will require all our skills. For the moment, I believe your mother has the greater need. In order to become what she is meant to be, she must be taught by one who has walked the road."
"Me."
"You." Caine confirmed, favoring the others with a tiny smile before walking out of the room. Jim and Blair looked at each other, then at Naomi.
"Don't look at me, Blair, dear. As far as I know nothing like this ever happened to your grandparents so it doesn't come from my side of the family." she said, taking Caine's place at Peter's side. Blair and Jim gazed worriedly at the pale young man on the cot then left to gather their bags and find a hotel.
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TBC.......
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THAT EVENING
"You heard her with her your own ears, Jim. Did that sound like my mother?"
"She was a little on edge, but yeah it sounded like her."
"Jim. When have you ever known Naomi Sandburg to willingly end a phone conversation?"
Blair's partner had no glib, easy response to this reminder and the younger man leaped on his silence as confirmation of his worst fears. "See? I'm right. You know I'm right. Something happened to her.... something she felt like she had to hide from me. That guy probably did something to her."
"What guy?"
"The one she's staying with. He probably made a move on her...."
"Didn't she tell you he's a priest?"
"Yeah... she did. Shao-lin. They're supposed to be one of the most incorruptible, deeply spiritual groups out there. Okay, so it isn't him, but what else am I supposed to think? You even said she sounded like she just barely escaped a major car accident."
"She was upset. It could have been anything. What was the last thing she said?"
" ' I never understood. I wasn't sure I wanted to and I'm finding out I was right. ' That's not verbatim, but it's close."
"Understood what?"
"I wish I knew. Whatever it is, it scared her enough to send the two of us an SOS. That in itself is way out of character for her. She's so strong, Jim. I can't stand thinking.... What could have thrown her so bad that she'd call for help like that?"
"She'll be okay 'till we get there, Chief. We land in twenty minutes. Hang in there, alright?" Jim soothed, briefly covering Blair's hand with his own and giving it a light squeeze. Blair gave him a brave smile, tucked his hair behind his ears and straightened in his seat.
"I know. You're right. She'll be fine. In all the time we traveled together there was nothing she couldn't handle. So why did she sound so lost and confused? She's not supposed to sound like that, Jim. Not my mom..."
Abruptly, Blair turned to the window as his moment of bravado-laced strength faded away. He was discreet about sweeping the moisture from his cheeks, but Jim had other ways of knowing what his Guide was feeling. Ellison placed one solid, supportive hand in the center of Blair's back and the other on his shoulder.
"I wish I could make this easier on you. Watching the people we love get hurt.... it's something we all have to go through."
"Yeah, well.... it sucks."
"Damn straight. Watchin' you lay there in the hospital, fightin' to come back from the Golden....I couldn't figure out whether I wanted to punch a huge hole in the wall or drop to my knees an' pray. I mean, I'd felt helpless before.... but never like that. I had to face your humanity... an' mine too. I hated it."
"How...how did you handle that?" Blair asked, turning back to face his best friend.
"Some of it I took out on the scum that was dealin' the stuff." Jim admitted with a wry smile. "The rest of it.... I just let it go. I knew if I hung onto it, I'd self-destruct. I kept tellin' myself you were okay an' that was all that mattered. Naomi's okay, Blair. Just focus on that. She's okay."
"I know.... Jim?"
"Yeah."
"How come you never told me that before.... about the hospital, I mean?"
"I don't know. You never needed to hear it before, I guess."
"I know how hard that was for you. Thanks."
"Anytime, Chief. Anytime."
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ONE HOUR LATER: THE DOJO
From the airport, Blair and Jim found a cab and headed directly downtown. They expected to have to ask at least a few people where to find Caine's dojo, but to their surprise, the cab driver knew exactly where to take them. Leaving his partner to grab the bags, Blair threw a few random bills at the cabbie, leapt from the vehicle and rushed inside, anxious to reassure himself of his mother's safety.
"Mom? Hey, is anybody here? Mom, where are you?!"
"I'm right here, darling." Naomi called, appearing from her temporary quarters in the rear of the dojo and rushing into her son's arms. "You can't know how glad I am to see you, Blair...."
"Are you really okay? On the phone...."
"I know. I was still in a minor state of shock when I called. I'm not sure I'm completely over that yet." Naomi told him, pulling away slightly. "Thank you for coming so quickly."
"What's the emergency? What's so big that you couldn't tell me over the phone?"
"Oh, dear. How do I explain this? Wait here." she told him, disappearing into the office and returning with a chair. Jim raised an eyebrow at Blair.
"An explanation that requires a chair? I can't wait to hear this."
"Cut it out, Jim. What's this about, mom?"
"Have a seat, Blair."
"Am I going to need it?"
"Better safe than risk a concussion when you faint."
His expression grim, Blair sank into the chair. "Good. Now close your eyes and take a deep breath."
"Naomi...."
"Please, for your own sake, just do it. Trust me, you'll thank me later."
Blair complied grudgingly.
"Okay. Shoot."
"I've proved one of your pet theories about Guides."
"Which would be?"
"The trait is definitely genetic."
Blair hesitated before slowly asking his next question.
"And... you would know this... how?"
"I... I think I've found him."
"Found who?"
"My Sentinel."
Eyes as wide as it was possible for them to become, Blair did a creditable impression of one of Jim's zones. It lasted until his partner strode to his side, laid a hand on his arm and spoke his name.
"Blair?"
"Jim... she didn't say...."
"I heard the same thing you did, Chief. It's possible isn't it?"
"Maybe... I don't know... it's always been theoretical...."
"Not anymore it isn't. Not for me anyway." Naomi retorted, sobbing out her anger and confusion. "I need help, Blair, please. I don't understand what's happening to me, and my Sentinel, the young man who I was supposed to save, is lying in the back room of this dojo comatose...."
"Okay, okay, slow down, mom." Blair replied, rising and drawing her into his arms. "Everything's gonna be fine."
"I wish I could believe that. I'm so scared.... the nightmares... and the visions.... nothing makes sense...."
"Visions? Visions of what?"
"A horse.... a silver mare. I've always dreamed about her.... always knew she represented me, but now... I'm seeing her when I'm awake. I touched him..... and the world changed...."
After seeking silent approval from Blair to intervene, Jim jumped in with a question.
"Naomi. Did you see another animal in this vision?"
"Yes. A giant panda. I was supposed to follow it, but I lost it.... lost Peter...."
"Noone's lost yet. Can you show us where this man is?"
Naomi nodded. Reluctantly pulling away from her son's embrace, she turned and led them toward the room where Caine was tending to his child.
"Caine? May we come in?" Naomi asked tentatively.
"Yes. Please."
"Is he any better?"
"I am afraid not. The bruising on his knees is gone, but...."
The older man ended his sentence with a small shrug.
"I'm so sorry. If only that woman hadn't pulled me away...."
"It was not her fault. I asked it of her. I spoke before I understood the nature of Peter's..... condition."
"Then you know what's wrong with him?" Blair asked. Caine looked silently up at him, but did not respond.
"Oh. I almost forgot. This is my son, Blair, and his partner Jim Ellison. I asked them to come. I thought they might be able to help. This is Kwai- Chang Caine and his son Peter."
Slowly, Caine rose from his seat at Peter's side and approached Jim, laying one hand gently against the Sentinel's face. He then repeated the move with Blair.
"Warrior and shaman. You are welcome in my home."
"Is Naomi right? Is your son..."
"A warrior, such as you. I believe this to be... correct."
"Is there anything at all we can do?" Blair asked softly, gazing at Peter's still form.
"Not at present. He appears ill, but this is... illusion. His soul is journeying and he will not awaken until he has chosen his path. Perhaps then.... he will require all our skills. For the moment, I believe your mother has the greater need. In order to become what she is meant to be, she must be taught by one who has walked the road."
"Me."
"You." Caine confirmed, favoring the others with a tiny smile before walking out of the room. Jim and Blair looked at each other, then at Naomi.
"Don't look at me, Blair, dear. As far as I know nothing like this ever happened to your grandparents so it doesn't come from my side of the family." she said, taking Caine's place at Peter's side. Blair and Jim gazed worriedly at the pale young man on the cot then left to gather their bags and find a hotel.
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TBC.......
