Peter stood in the spartan stillness of his father's apartment. "Your apartment now" his inner voice nagged, but he couldn't quite make the transition yet. Late afternoon sun filtered cool by the many plants touched him greenly as he walked around, trying to feel welcome. "It's funny" he thought to himself, "When Pop was here, I could run in and out and generally make myself at home. Now, knowing that it's mine, I feel like an outsider.."

A timid scratching on rice paper caught his ear and he turned. Jordan stood in the entrance to the large room his father had used for practice and mediation. She looked as lost as he felt, and a surge of warmth welled up inside of him. Peter held out his arms and she met him halfway, clinging tightly to him. He held her close, disregarding the pain of his half healed forearms until she remembered and drew back. "Oh, Pete, I forgot! How are your burns?" She laid a feather light hand on one bandaged area and he let out a loud cry of pain. Jordan snatched it back with a stammered apology, until she saw him laughing, and realized he'd faked it. "You jerk!" she socked him on the upper arm, "I thought I'd hurt you!"

"So much for sympathy. Did you see Skalany?" he asked. Peter knew that his father's abrupt departure would affect his partner, who had come to care deeply for the older Shaolin. Jordan averted her eyes, and tried for a carefree tone.

"I saw her."

"And?"

"And she was determinedly cheerful, desperately staying busy, and her eyes were swollen red behind her sunglasses, which she wore all day ala Kermit. What do you expect, Peter? She's had a lot to deal with this week, with your dad off in search of your mother, and you leaving the precinct, which I still cannot believe you did."

His arms slid around her waist from behind and he bent to speak softly in her ear. "I had to, at least for now. I have to see if I can be the sort of man my father is, to take his place here in Chinatown." She turned in his arms, leaning back to look him full in the face.

"Your father was unique in Chinatown, Peter. So are you, the Shaolin Cop. I worry about you, trying to fill his shoes. There was nothing wrong with who you were, lover."

He buried his face in her flaxen curls, holding her tightly as he stood and she smiled, feeling the love and need flow between them. Maybe, just maybe, things were not so changed after all.

*****

Maia perched on the couch arm, drinking the coffee her partner had brewed and stealing one of her bagels. Jordan raced around the bedroom that until recently she and Peter had shared, calling to Maia though the half opened door as she dressed. They were investigating a corporate drug ring, which meant business suits and heels, and Jordan could not find the stockings she knew had been there the night before.

"So, J" Maia paused for a bite, washing it down with a gulp of coffee, "You're living here alone now?"

"I don't know, Maia. Peter says he needs to be in Chinatown, but he hasn't asked me to move in with him there, and he hasn't said that he wants us to live apart ,either. This whole thing is a little weird to me, still."

"A little weird? Your boyfriend, a career cop, and a good one, suddenly brands himself with Shaolin symbols and quits his job to move into his dad's apt and be a priest to the inhabitants of Chinatown. Sounds a lot weird to me, partner."

Jordan looked at her around the corner of the door. "What can I do? I love him, I want to be supportive, this Shaolin thing is good for his dad. Maybe it will be good for him."

Maia nodded. "I will concede that Romeo's been a lot more even tempered these last few months, and he has managed to keep his nose out of our cases, which I appreciate very much. So , if that's a result of this Shaolin thing, I'm willing to dub it other than weird."

Jordan spotted the package she sought, tore it open, gently tugged the fragile stockings on, and stepped into her shoes. Buttoning her cuffs, she walked into the other room and appropriated the other half of Maia's bagel, leaning against the kitchen counter. "I just don't know. He's still Peter, fun and lovable and drop dead gorgeous."

"Wipe the drool off your chin, J. I know you're head over heels for the guy, and that he's got more to recommend him than his skill in the sheets. He was studying this stuff before and it didn't seem to bother you." Maia held her cup up as Jordan poured her own coffee, and her partner obliged with a refill, splitting another bagel between them before she answered.

"It's not what I grew up with, that's for sure. The nuns never mentioned Shamballa in school, but that's not it, I'm not hung up on dating outside my faith.. my dimension maybe.." she tried to grin, and failed. "I guess, it was just so much a part of Pete's dad.. this gentle, wise mystical thing. It just seems like Peter is trying too hard.. and isn't acting like Peter anymore."

"Have you told him?"

"Maybe he'll chill out a little if I give him time. He's had a rough couple of weeks too, remember."

"Yeah, whatever." Jordan shot her an evil look and Maia grinned. "Just kidding, blondie. You know I like Petie okay. If something bad starts happening, you can count on me to help you snap him out of it...or something."

"You're a true pal, you know that?" Jordan shrugged into her blazer and grabbed her keys. "Let's go, partner, the cubicles await."

*****

Peter walked rapidly through the familiar streets of Chinatown, naked without his gun. He could feel the difference in his walk, he felt like an outsider in his own neighborhood. He kept catching himself scanning for trouble. "You've got to stop thinking like a cop, expecting crime everywhere." his mind raced, "Look for the little stuff, for your father's world."

His reflection in a shop window showed none of this. Same old jeans, much washed Henley shirt, battered leather jacket. Same unruly hair falling in his eyes. He had seriously debated with himself about shaving his head, but decided that if Caine could function with hair, it wasn't really a requirement of the job.

"C'mon, Pete, you've walked the Shaolin mile before, how hard can this be?" he thought, and tried to ignore the other side of his heart whispering, "You've walked a beat before too, a cop's beat. You weren't walking that one alone, were you? You had Paul behind you then.."

"Ah, Peter!" Lo Si came out of his shop to greet his young friend with an expansive gesture and a big smile.

Peter gave the old man the courteous half bow that was second nature to Caine Sr. The Ancient's smile grew even larger as he returned it. "Come in, Peter, come in! I have tea, and much to tell you."

Peter looked down the street, hesitated a moment, and then the inner chorus reasoned, "You're not on the clock anymore, kid. Besides, the Ancient is probably missing Caine as much as you are." Suddenly, Peter realized that his father had most likely been Lo Si's best friend. "Tea would be good, thank you." he said warmly and entered the tiny storefront.

His first few days in Chinatown, just walking the streets, led him to many such realizations. His father had been woven into the fabric of the community, from the stray cat that visited the garden each night for a bite of supper and a bit of attention, to the small group of preschoolers waiting for their late morning story in the park, and including the many elderly residents gratefully accepting the teas and ointments that eased aching old bones and muscles. Peter had known that his father had given to the community, that Caine Sr. was loved and respected. What he hadn't expected was his own welcome from those same people. Everywhere he went in Chinatown, he was greeted with smiles and little bows and cups of tea. Housewives and restaurant owners pressed choice tidbits on him, there at the door or carefully wrapped, "Eat, eat, will be wasted if you don't", for his later meals. The affection these kindly folk had lavished on Caine was freely given to his son, and Peter, at first confused, felt an old, cold knot inside himself begin to warm in the face of their unconditional approval.

Jordan watched, bemused, as her boyfriend patiently tried to untangle the argument between the two crying children they had stumbled on as they walked that afternoon. The former detective knelt on the pavement, his large hazel eyes gentle as he comforted, and mopped up and listened, then finally sent the pair off, smiling once more. The tender smile on his own face as he glanced up at Jordan made her catch her breath. It was such a different side of Peter, and yet..it wasn't. The Peter who held her gently in the night, who whispered endearments so softly after lovemaking, that Peter was freer in this Shaolin persona. He took her arm again, and she snuggled up to him.

"You were awfully good with them. Since when do you like kids?" she asked teasingly, and he laughed.

"I like kids, I always have. I just never got a chance to be around them when they weren't breaking the law. It's like a whole other side of the street, Jordie" his voice was excited and she had to be happy for him.

She did add, as a joking reminder, "Hey, tiger, don't forget that I'm still on the old side of the street, okay?"

He sobered instantly, "I haven't forgotten."

"Good, 'cause I was thinking that we could head over to Delaney's tonight, have a few, see the gang.." she squeezed his hand, "that is, if you don't mind the atmosphere. I know how you civilians feel about hanging out in a cop bar."

He, very gently, thumped her with a closed fist, right on top of her flaxen curls. "That is enough out of you, Miss Thing.", then "But seriously, Jordan, I think maybe it's too soon, you know? I'm just starting to see where I fit into this kind of life , and if I jump right back into my old one.."

"Yeah, alright, I guess, it's just that everyone would love to see you, Pete."

"Tell them I miss them tonight, okay?"

"I thought I'd hang out with you tonight, if you don't want to go out we could order in, watch some..well, no, not TV, but we could find something to do, I'm sure." She ran a delicate forefinger down his cheek and smiled up at him, gaze warm and inviting.

He smiled back and kissed her on the tip of her nose. "That would be great but I promised to teach a Kung Fu class at the community center tonight. Another night, soon, I promise. Alright?"

They were back at her car. "Yes okay…but I miss you, Peter."

Either Peter didn't hear her, or his newfound empathy missed the hurt and confusion in Jordan's voice as he gallantly opened the SAAB's driver's side door and kissed her goodbye. She started the engine, but didn't move until he had disappeared into the apt building. Then she didn't move for a long time after that.

*****

Detective Maia Reynard shuffled through the paper blanketing her desk, thought a moment, then without looking up, said , "Jordan, I need your case notes from the fourteenth for this form."

There was no response. "J ?" She glanced over the desk at her partner and saw Jordan staring off into space in front of her computer, the monitor of which had gone to the terminally cute bubbling hearts screen saver. "Earth to Detective MacGuire, hell-OOO."

Jordan shook herself, slowly turned to face Maia. Dark circles under her eyes stood out like
bruises on her fair skin. "Hmm?"

"Are you back? I need your notes from the fourteenth, hon. That's December 14th, by the way." Jordan methodically read down a stack of files, pulling a slim folder from the middle and handing it across their desks. "Things going okay, Jordie? You want to talk about it?"

"I'm fine, Maia, thanks for asking." She picked up her coffee cup and drank, then grimaced. "This slop is freezing!"

"I imagine it would be, after sitting there untouched for an hour and a half." Dark eyes, slight amusement warring with concern, surveyed the younger woman thoughtfully. "You're sure you're okay, huh?"

"Yes, I'm fine, alright?"

"Alright. Back to the grind then, I think the DA would like to have this crap in order when our corporate cokeheads finally go to trial."

"Oh, then we have at least a year to finish." Jordan stood, picked up her cup. "I'm going to get some more. You want anything?"

"Nope, I'm good. Thanks." Maia watched her partner leave, then shook her head and began hunting and pecking her keyboard. If the normally chattery Jordan wasn't in the mood to talk, she'd just have to wait. Hopefully, it would be before her partner blew a gasket. Damn that Caine!!

The coffeemaker in the Vice squad room was blown, so Jordan headed down the stairs for a refill. She ran into Skalany there, and forced a smile, then let it drop when she realized Mary Margaret was doing the same thing and how ghastly it looked. "How're things down here in the excitement zone?" she asked and Mary Margaret shrugged.

"You know, real exciting. It's not easy, this serve and protect business."

"Ain't that the truth? How are things going with you and Braniff?" referring to Skalany's new partner, an older man with a history of good collars.

"Just great, you know, by the book. You always know where you stand with him." Skalany studied the bulletin board with it's ancient pinup flyers. "So, how's Peter? He heard from his dad at all?" Such calculated careless questions...

"Peter's fine, doing good. He hasn't heard from Caine, though."

Mary Margaret laughed, a little harshly. "Big surprise there, right? It's only been a month. That's nothing to someone who thinks in terms of centuries, I suppose. I have to get back to my desk, lots of important things to do. See you around, Jordan."

"You too, Skalany." the younger woman watched her walk away, noticing that she'd lost about ten pounds, that her usual good cheer was still a bit forced.

As she poured her coffee, Blake and Strenlich wandered over to ask about Peter. Jody waylaid her when she was getting the half and half out of the office fridge. Broderick handed her the sugar while asking. Each time she answered "fine ', she felt a burning, a pressure inside, and when Kermit, mug in hand, offhandedly managed to ask too, she lost it.

Hopping up on a chair, Jordan said, in a clear, ringing, voice "Now hear this! Peter Caine is alive and doing well, living in Chinatown, being a Shaolin priest! He loves it!! He's good at it!! He doesn't care that he has no life, and no time for his girlfriend, or for his old friends, because he is so happy!!! I hope this answers your questions!!"

Out of breath, miserable aware that she had just made a colossal fool of herself, she glanced around uncertainly and saw Kermit standing beside her chair, hand out to help her down, eyes kind behind his ever present shades.

"Nice speech, kid." and he brought her into his office, where she slumped into a chair, head in her hands.

"I can't believe I just did that" she moaned softly, "I just..."

"You just disrupted my precinct, Detective. I hope you had a good reason for it." Karen Simms had entered unseen, and her voice hit with icy emphasis.

Jordan winced. "Captain, I'm sorry. I don't know what happened."

"I suggest you find out, Detective, as it had better never happen again. If your private life is too overwhelming, you had best do something about it."

The reprimand flicked on her raw nerves like a whipcord, and Jordan straightened in her chair. "Yes, Captain. It will never happen again.

"Karen nodded, her eyes cool. "Very good."

"If you'll excuse me then, Captain?" Jordan took the full mug of coffee Kermit had rescued and fled.

Karen looked over at Kermit, and a small smile quirked her lips. "You know who she sounded like, don't you?" she asked, and he chuckled.

"Oh, yeah.."

*****

Her voice was the only timid seeming thing about her. Peter didn't register her words at first, as he took in the woman who had come looking for him. Scuffed red heels, leopard print spandex leggings over a sheer red leotard and a ratty fur jacket. She might as well have tattooed "hooker" across her forehead, right under the stiff Dolly Parton wig. Peter mentally shook his head and got to his feet. It was early morning, he'd come over to the park to enjoy the sun and this girl had wandered over to him. No, come looking for, "Caine.. that's who Amy told me to ask for, before she went home last year. Are you Caine?"

"Yeah, I guess I am. How can I help you, miss..?"

"Maddie. Well, Madelyn, but I changed it when I left home." She smiled at him, a little shyly, "I thought Maddie sounded like a model, kind of cute and glamourous, you know?" One hand fluttered up to cover her bruised cheek, "Anyway, I've sort of got a problem with my man.." her voice trembled and Peter took a close look at the baby face under the gaudy makeup.

The cop in him was screaming "Juvie!!" and he smiled suddenly."You know, Maddie, I haven't had breakfast yet. Have you? We could talk about this better over some eggs at Li Chan's coffeeshop."

She swallowed at the mention of food, he could read the hunger in her eyes, but she shook her head. "I can't, Jimmy is gonna be looking for me anytime now."

"Jimmy is your pimp?" Peter asked and Maddie shrugged.

"He's my manager, he says." she told him, and Peter closed his eyes for a moment.

To be this young, living her kind of life, the realization of it hurt him in a way he never would have allowed himself to feel as a cop. The Shaolin way was to be involved, and he was beginning to see a few of its disadvantages. He thought a moment, and then said, "I tell you what we can do. My father's...I mean, my place isn't far from here. If you'll trust my cooking, I'll whip us up a batch of my Mom's Sunday Special pancakes. She taught me how, best you've ever tasted, I swear."

He saw the hurt, and distrust, spring into her eyes as she answered, "Your place? You know, Amy said that Caine was an older guy, like a priest."

"That was my father." Peter spoke gently, spreading his hands wide and concentrating on being non threatening to the girl. "He had to leave and asked me to take over for him here in Chinatown." He added his most charming smile, one that had convinced older and more sophisticated women to trust him in the past. This little girl, in her garish clothing and makeup, was no exception.

"Are you a priest too?" she asked, wavering, and his answer clinched it.

"Yeah," with a slight grimace, "But I'm kind of new at it. Let me practice on you, okay?"

She giggled and they left the park. Peter kept his distance from his guest, nodding toward the bathroom and offering fresh towels, but letting her decide how much freshening up she needed. He could hear water running in the antique sink as he stirred up batter and began pouring it into the iron skillet Annie had given him when he left home. "This time last year, I'd be running her down to Juvie Hall" he mused, "Or busting her myself. Though it's really more Jordan's angle nowadays." With a guilty flush, he remembered that he hadn't called Jordan in days. Or seen her, he never seemed to have time anymore.

As Maddie reappeared, fresh scrubbed face pink with cold water, and light brown hair replacing the too old wig, he made a mental note to call her, soon. He was going to need her help with this one. "So, kiddo, how many can you pack away, do you think?"

Annie Blaisdell had taught her foster son well, and his guest ate hungrily, drinking two full glasses of milk with her breakfast. Peter ate lightly to keep her company, newfound empathy guiding his detective's training and intuition as he talked with Maddie. Skillfully, he drew her out until she chattered freely, the thin hard street veneer falling away and revealing the bright teenager within. Brown eyes sparkled under soft brown bangs and she laughed at his nonsense as he teased her. They washed the dishes together and, seeing her yawn, Peter suggested that she might want a nap. Ignoring both the suspicious look that returned to her eyes and the sympathetic pain it struck in him, he pulled out a pillow and a folded afghan, then tossed them casually on the one sofa he had brought over from his old place. With studied casualness, he told Maddie that he needed to work out in his little garden for a while.

"Can you amuse yourself until I'm done?" he asked, and surprise replaced the suspicion under the limp bangs. She nodded mutely, and Peter smiled gently at her, reaching out and ruffling her hair in an affectionate gesture before leaving the room. She reached up to smooth her hair back and remembered, whispering aloud to herself, "My dad used to do that.." She peeked out at the man, seeing the sun turn his hair golden on top, and began to believe that he really meant her no harm.

Peter took off his denim jacket, laying it over the rough wooden bench and sat down in the sun, closing his eyes to think. "I can't believe I used to think being a cop made things too gray." He groaned to himself, "at least there I had procedure to go by, and a boss to bounce ideas off. How does my father manage to guide people the way he does? If I were still on the force...hell, if I were still on the force, Maddie would have found my dad when she came looking and I'd be off the hook." The sun was warm on his face and he relaxed, deliberately letting his thoughts flow around and under the problem at hand, drifting and sorting, putting pieces together, drifting... a cloud passed over the sun and he jerked awake. Silently, he entered the apt and saw Maddie curled up on the couch, sound asleep in her tight, cheap finery. Feeling a.. paternal?.. twinge in his heart, Peter gently tucked the afghan around the girl, and went over to the table, pulling out a leftover legal pad. He sat and began making notes.

Part 1   Part 2

Back to serie's index      Back to Story index