The next day the rain was a memory. Even so, the city was waterlogged. Everything dripped from above or splashed and squelched underfoot. Including Peter's stealth.

"I'm sorry, Honey." She said. "We'll get her to a body shop and have her repaired."

"I don't see how." He said a little sadly. "We have to replace the windows at the kwoon and the tatami, the carpet on the main floor is ruined, your office is… as much as I love this car, it's just a car. The kwoon is how we pay the bills and eventually our home." He opened the driver's side door and grimaced as water spilled out over his feet. He took what few valuables he kept in the car out. "Let's drop this off at the kwoon and then I need to start checking on people."

She nodded. "I'll go get my car after I clean up the glass."

Peter shook his head. "Go ahead and get it. I'll help with mucking out the kwoon after I make sure my shut-ins are all okay."

She nodded "Okay. I'll bring a couple changes of clothes and lunch back with me."

"Pop's place was pretty dry, I'll meet you there around 1:00. I should be through with my rounds by then. If not I'll give you a call."

"Promise me you'll be careful. Especially around Hu Li."

He exhaled sharply and gave her a frustrated look.

"She's my grandfather's creature. Just because she doesn't want to be, doesn't mean that she isn't. I know you want to save her but that doesn't mean she'll let you. I'm not saying don't try, I would never ask that of you. I'm just asking you to be careful."

"I'll be careful." He said, then laughed almost silently. "You know I used to give my Pop hell for being too trusting. I thought he was being naive. Now I get it.

"It's not a matter of trust is it." She said.

"Nope, not about trust at all," Peter answered. "She needs my help. Yes she could be setting a trap but I'll face that if it happens"

"The only way to help her is to find the other foxes and set them free," Leanne said.

"I never said helping her would be easy." Peter shrugged. "Pop and I will figure it out."

"You've missed working with him." She said as they walked back toward the Kwoon.

Peter nodded. "It's different this time, with both of us being priests. I think that half the reason I took the brands was to be able to work with him without the badge and gun standing between us." And then his father had left… again. Peter knew that it was just his abandonment issues screaming at the back of his mind. He did. But that didn't make it any less hurtful or frustrating. In the end, he had grown a great deal because he had been acting alone for roughly two years. It had given him the chance to bond tightly with Leanne. Probably why Lo Si had given his father the photo of Laura.

"I think he is looking forward to that too. You can see the pride in his eyes when he looks at you."

"I was never very good at seeing it," Peter admitted. "It was worse that first year he was back in my life. I was convinced that I was a disappointment because I was a cop and carried a gun."

"I can't imagine he would have ever seen you as a disappointment."

"Probably not. But I'm pretty sure I frustrated him often." Peter said and laughed at the memories. It hadn't been amusing while living through it but things tended to look brighter when looking back. "I know I frustrated Paul."

"Oh so you're saying you were a normal son," Leanne said with a smile.

"I don't know about that. Especially not when I first came to live with the Blaisdells. I was a ball of attitude mixed with insecurity. I was convinced they'd send me back to Pine Ridge anyway, so I didn't want to get too attached to the family. I was pushing everyone away. It didn't help that I would have screaming nightmares and wake up everyone in the house. I had to have been the world's worst kid at that point."

"Things worked out," Leanne said. "They obviously didn't share your opinion of your younger self."

Peter laughed. "I wouldn't be too sure of that. But in case you haven't noticed, Paul is too stubborn to give up and Mom couldn't give up on someone if she wanted to."

"I have noticed that." She said although she saw that stubbornness from a different angle. Paul was too stubborn to accept that her past was complicated, not deceptive. At least he was willing to call a truce for Peter's sake. She could respect him for that. That and how much he loved Peter. Love could could cover a multitude of sins. "I hope he can stay in town for a little while. Your mom misses him."

"He's afraid of leading his enemies back here," Peter said.

"Something I can understand." She shook her head.

"You do know you didn't start all this, right?"

"Intellectually, yes. Emotionally no." She said and sighed. "If I hadn't fallen in love with your grandfather, my grandfather wouldn't have started his manipulations."

"Sure he would have," Peter said. "There have been so many prophecies about my bloodline that it must have felt like Mana from heaven for my grandfather to fall in his lap like that."

"If he knew about them."

"He was or is a Shamballa master. He had access to all the prophecies at some point. Chances are he saw at least one of them." Peter said. "Besides, even if it was because you fell in love with Kwai Chang Caine, and I am not saying that it was, you aren't responsible for your grandfather's actions."

"I know you're right." She said. "Logically."

Peter unlocked the door of the kwoon and opened it for her. "Then let logic win, no matter how much your emotions want to argue against it." He said. "Sometimes you really do have to trust your logic over your heart."

"Are you sure that you're not the social worker?" She asked.

"Nope. I'm a priest. We multi-task like that."

(o)(o)(o)(o)(o)(o)(o)(o)(o)(o)(o)(o)(o)(o)(o)(o)(o)(o)(o)(o)(o)(o)(o)(o)(o)(o)(o)(o)

Karen Simms sat at Kermit's bedside. One hand rested on his, the other held her cell phone to her ear. "Okay." She said into it. "If that is the soonest it can be done then that's that. " She was frustrated. The disastrous collapse of the ceiling, combined with the flooding in the cells had all but rendered her station house useless. It would be a week minimum before they could get the repairs done. At the moment all that could be done was pumping the water out of the lower levels. Even if she left the hospital, which she didn't have any desire to do, she couldn't do anything but stand around and watch.

"I have everyone over in Chinatown to prevent looting during the clean up over there," Strenlich said.

Karen nodded even though he couldn't see it. "That's good. Where are they taking the people they pick up?"

"Right now over to the 97th. That will change if it starts to overload their capacity."

"Alright. Keep me informed. I'm going to stay here at the hospital."

"Is there any change?" He asked.

"Not yet. The doctors said that his brain waves were active… I know what that means as far as active vs. inactive, but I don't know what that means regarding his condition. They took him for an MRI earlier this morning. They haven't told me anything else. I suspect they are speaking with Blaisdell since he is on his medical contact list. I haven't been able to get hold of his sister at all."

"I'll see what I can do about that," Strenlich said. "Captain… have you gotten any sleep? You sound exhausted."

"I'm alright."

"That wasn't what I asked."

"I got a little here and there." She said, "And I'm alright."

"Try and get some rest, Captain."

"I'll do that." She said but they both knew she'd do no such thing.

(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)

Kwai Chang Caine helped one of the shopkeepers board up his shop where the windows had been broken in the storm.

The man shook his head. " I don't know what I'm going to do."

"It will be alright," Caine said. "We will repair your shop. "

All of that cost money, money that Mr. Yen would not be making while they made the repairs. It worried him. Nevertheless, he nodded his head, pretending to believe the Shaolin's words. He meant well, but Yen was sure that Master Caine did not understand. There was no reason that he should.

Mary Margaret came up to Caine and put her arm around his waist. "The cleanup here in Chinatown is going quickly." She said.

"It's not going nearly fast enough." Mr. Yen said, sadly. "But yes, it is going quickly." He went inside his shop to begin going over his inventory to find what was salvageable.

"The damage could have been much worse," Caine said.

"The waterfront is totaled." Mary Margaret shook her head. "The last I heard there were 8 casualties. People that found themselves trapped there. I have the feeling they'll find more before it's over."

"That is where Peter found his sister just before the bus accident," Caine said.

"She's a lucky girl then," Skalany said. "You know, I can't remember when it was ever this bad in the past. I'm glad we aren't situated over at the coast. The river was bad enough."

"Yes, there has been much destruction," Caine said with a grave nod.

"I don't see Peter around anywhere."

"He is making his rounds before joining us here," Caine said.

"Well tell him to be careful. Navarro escaped when the ceiling collapsed. Simms figures he's out there dead somewhere. I'm not so sure. Too easy."

He nodded. "I agree. Especially as I believe he is one of Yulong Yeoh's … associates."

"And that is…" Skalany didn't finish her sentence after Caine nodded.

"Does that make your wife one of his known associates as well?"

"Yes, it is why she left. I do not know if she is still controlled by him or not." Caine said. He gently took her hand in his. "Our divorce will be final soon."

"Good. I don't trust her."

"She is…diminished," Caine said, not certain how else to put it. Not without singing the praises of the woman he had married vs. the woman Laura had become. He had it on good authority that women didn't want to hear about how perfect their predecessors had been.

"She'd have to be," Skalany said. She couldn't imagine Caine would have married a woman who would fake her death and abandon him and their son. "Do you think she'll go back to Spain now that her husband has flown the coop?"

"No. She wishes to know Peter. Peter does not wish to know her." He said. "I could wish it was otherwise but wishing changes nothing."

"Peter has his own mind and can dig in his heels like nobody's business. The thing is… he might be right to keep his distance right now."

Caine shrugged. "Avoiding difficult situations does not improve them."

"Sometimes you just have to let toxic people go, Caine."

"Lack of forgiveness will eat at his soul."

"You can let go of the anger and pain without giving the person who has hurt you the opportunity to hurt you again." She said "I think it's a good thing that he's protecting himself from her right now. "

"Peter doesn't protect himself," Caine said. "He never has."

(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)

Peter stepped out of the house and took the steps down to the sidewalk quickly. He spotted an unfamiliar face standing at the corner, leaning against the telephone pole. "Here we go again." He muttered and sighed. He took out his cell phone and texted Leanne with the man's description and location, adding 'better safe than sorry' He didn't think it would be the Sing Wah again. He'd left them licking their wounds months ago. But he couldn't be sure that he didn't belong to Yeoh.

He continued down the block going on to check on the next person on his list. The neighborhood looked to have weathered the storm well but looks could be deceiving. Another unfamiliar face, this time across the street from his destination. He crossed the street, approaching the stranger.

"You look lost," Peter said

The man laughed. "I'm not the one with a white face."

Peter shrugged. "Doesn't make me any less Shaolin." He wasn't going to go into the 'my mother looked like Rhonda Flemming' routine.

"So I hear. Don't you think you have better things to do than wander the residential section of Chinatown?"

"Nope. I can't think of a single thing that is more important right now. But I have the feeling you do, and you're going to share it with me."

"You have a book to retrieve."

"I thought that might be what you had to say," Peter said. "But I can't get to the book right now. It's out of my reach for the time being." The banks weren't open yet. It would likely be several days before they opened again which suited him just fine. "Besides, I'm not supposed to give it to you."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Unless you're actually a female 9 tailed fox I am more than sure," Peter said. "So you and your buddies can take a hike all the way out of Chinatown."

"I don't think you understand the gravity of the situation."

" Look, I know you're just the messenger boy. I get it. So you can deliver this message to Yulong Yeoh. I understand what he wants. I can't give it to him today. It's impossible. I will get the book to Hu Li as soon as it's possible."

"It doesn't work that way, Caine. He wants it today."

"And people in hell want ice water." Peter said, "That doesn't mean they're going to get it." He turned and went back across the street to check on Mr. Tsuo. He didn't have to look behind him to know that Yeoh's man was still there, leaning against a tree.

He knocked and was let into the house. "Good morning," he said as he was led to the parlor. "Did you get through the storm alright?" Mr. Tsuo was 90 years old and made the ancient look like a teenager by comparison. Peter suspected that he wouldn't be with them much longer. His health issues were legion.

He nodded. "Oh Yes. I was fine. I lost power but I have my lanterns. It was fine."

Peter nodded "The repairs are going as quickly as possible but it could be days before power is restored. Do you have enough oil for your lanterns?"

"More than enough." He said.

"And your medicine? I can have Leanne or my father bring you more if you need it."

The elderly man smiled. "I am well, Master Caine. Your concern is pleasing but unnecessary." He studied the young priest a moment. "You are unsettled."

Peter smiled a little sadly. "Two of my closest friends are in the hospital." He said. "I am concerned for them is all that it is." That was not entirely true. The enemy was stationed near those he was responsible for and that had him worried for them too. He wasn't sure how to handle that. There was no way he could get to the book until the banks were open. Without the book, they couldn't lay the trap.

He spent some time talking with Mr. Tsuo before excusing himself. "I'll come by again tomorrow." He promised as he stepped onto the porch.

"I wouldn't make promises you can't keep." The man across the street said as he began to walk toward Peter.

"I'll be fine." He told Mr. Tsuo. "Go on back inside." Peter waited until he had done so then walked down the steps meeting his stalker halfway. "Now what makes you think I won't be back tomorrow?"

He grinned "The fact that you're not doing as you're told. Master Yeoh doesn't like being disobeyed."

"I told you, it's not possible. When it is possible I'll find Hu Li and give it to her… not you."

"You need to make it possible." He said.

"I can't," Peter said sharply "And if he wants to know details he can come talk to me himself, or Hu Li can come and ask me. You get nothing. Now go get your buddy and get out of Chinatown."

"I'm going to stick to you like glue until you get that book." He pushed Peter in the chest, attempting to be intimidating.

Peter rolled his eyes and folded his arms. "I don't have time for this. There is work to do in the business district. If you want to follow me around like a puppy you can lend a hand with the clean up." He said "It's got to be easier than trying to win approval from a man who will never approve of anything anyone does. Even when he tells them to do it." He ignored the scowl he received from the (apparently) younger man, and turned to walk back toward town.

(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)(0)