It was very early in the morning, but already Detective Jody Powell cursed the entire Godforsaken day. She was supposed to meet a snitch in the park - he stood her up. While waiting for the miserable no-show, the raw weather had made her hair a frizzy mess. Now she'd be late reporting for duty, in hot water with Captain Simms, and have nothing to show for her aggravation -- except for a head of hair that made her look like a giant blond Troll.

And if things weren't bad enough already, she'd be arriving at a precinct that no longer included Peter Caine.

*Why, Peter? You said you wanted to help people by being a cop, so why quit?*- Jody was certain there was more to it than what Peter had said at the precinct. His father had left again, and Peter was not happy about it, but she didn't think that it spurred him to resign. She'd heard from Kermit that Peter had saved his father's life, and because of that, Peter had taken the Shaolin brands. *I wonder if that's it, if he had to quit to save his old man's hide?*

"Jody."

The voice made her jump; the hand on her shoulder stopped her cold.

"C-- Caine?" Jody shook her head. It was indeed Kwai Chang Caine, but he looked like --well, the man was completely bald! All she could think of was Yul Brenner and she bit her lip to keep from giggling. "What are you doing here? Rumor has it you left town."

"Not...quite yet."

"Does Peter know you're still around?"

Caine looked away, his lips compressed and his jaw clenched. *Wow... quite a display for Mr. Cool.* For the first time Jody noticed that Caine's demeanor lacked its usual serenity. Something must be very wrong.

"Jody, I need your help."

*Say what?* Jody was intrigued, until she looked at her watch. Damn! She was officially late. She sighed. *Hell, this is Kwai Chang Caine - no way I can turn him down! Besides, if Peter ever found out I turned his father away he'd kill me.* Then she realized Caine was staring at her, waiting for an answer. Looking around, she spied an empty bench.

Jody grabbed Caine's arm. "Come with me. I'll take you to my new office."

The rain had stopped, but it was damp enough to wet the bench. While Jody dug around in her purse for something to wipe off the moisture, she saw movement from the corner of her eye. Caine had draped his jacket on the seat and waited patiently for her to sit down.

"Don't be ridiculous, Caine! You don't--"

"Please," Caine said. The priest gestured toward the bench, shrugged, then stood stoically with hands clasped together in front of him.

"Okay, okay!" Jody said.

When they were seated, Caine took her hand in his. "Someone has planned to destroy me... and my son. In the process, many innocent people may be harmed."

Jody pulled her hand from his. "Caine, why aren't you telling this to Peter?"

"He is being watched."

"And Mary Margaret?" Jody swore the man blushed.

"No," he said. "And you must not speak of this to her, nor to Peter."

"I'll keep quiet, Caine, if you tell me this -- why me?"

The priest looked up at the sunless sky, then met her gaze. "Because... I trust you."

"Oh."

Caine's eyes burned into hers. She shifted uncomfortably on the bench. "Okay. Start at the beginning."

The Shaolin nodded.

"Two days ago, Lo Si handed me a photograph, one of Peter's mother, Laura. The source is unknown, but someone would have me believe that Laura is alive, and in Paris."

Caine turned his gaze toward the ground, then stared straight ahead, silent. It was good, because it gave her time to let the shocking words sink in. After a moment, Caine spoke quietly,

"It is difficult for me to understand how anyone could believe that I would not know if she were alive."

Abruptly, he shifted his gaze back to her. Deep lines of sadness were chiselled around his eyes, and the corners of his mouth turned sharply down.

"I loved her very much, and I am certain...she is dead."

The last three words were spoken very softly and with and almost ominous calm, but her trained ears detected the slight tremor in his voice. This man is in pain.

"I'm sorry, Caine. You must have loved Peter's mother very much." Jody squeezed his arm. "I believe you." Taking a deep breath, Jody forged ahead. "Is there someone who looks like Laura who could have posed for the picture?"

Caine covered her hand with his. "The photograph is an excellent forgery. Someone with considerable skill altered an old snapshot of Laura, placing her in Paris."

"Why Paris?"

"I believe it is because my father is also in France. An unknown person is using powerful incentives to lure me away."

"Sure seems that way," Jody said. "You knew right away that the picture was a phony, but you didn't say anything to the Ancient. Does that mean you think he's in on it, too?"

"I...cannot say."

"And you don't want to talk to Peter because you're afraid you'll put him in greater danger," she inferred. "This must be really hard for you, Caine.

"Whoever is behind this deception believes I am weakened from the events of the past two days." Caine brought his hands together and steepled his fingers. "They hoped that since Lo Si presented me with the forgery, I would not question the authenticity. It is true I have been weakened, but I am not debilitated."

"What do you think your next step should be?"

"I must do as they wish, and go to Paris. Only then do I have a chance of unraveling this mystery."

Jody's thoughts briefly turned to Peter, and she wondered how well her friend was taking this latest departure. I'll make sure he goes out with us tonight.

"How can I help, Caine?"

"It is the," he paused, and finger-painted graceful swirls in the air, "things of this world I have difficulties with. My son is no longer at the precinct, and cannot be my... backup." Caine smiled softly. "Will you...cover for me?"

"I will try," she answered, "but Caine, can you be a little more specific?"

"You must be on guard, Jody, for a very strong force of evil."

"Caine, I see a dozen different kinds of evil on full parade every single day. How will I know," at a loss for words, she pushed her hair that was by now a frazzled mess, back behind her ears, "when I find what we're looking for?"

"Have faith in yourself. You will know when the darkness makes itself apparent."

They both stood and Caine retrieved his jacket. Jody faced him and he put both his hands on her shoulders. She felt a pleasant tingle, and wondered if, since Peter was now a Shaolin priest, it would feel as good if Peter... *Don't go there, Jody. Not now.*

"This evil is very strong. Be careful." Caine patted her cheek and winked, and Jody blushed.

"I will. I promise." As Caine walked away, she thought, *never a dull moment when the Caine men are in town.* Jody looked at her watch and winced, then hurried toward the precinct.

~~~~

Kermit Griffin seldom made mistakes in judgment. And that fact was due to, among other things, careful observation and logical thinking. But when it came to Shaolin priests, observation was tricky at best, and with one particular Shaolin, logical thinking did not always apply.

Suspecting trouble afoot, Kermit had decided to keep tabs on Kwai Chang Caine. He knew it was an unusual, even unprecedented endeavor - attempting to effectively tail the elusive Shaolin. If anyone was up to the task, though, it was Kermit, but it hadn't been easy.

He'd started when Caine had left Peter at the converted warehouse loft - the place that for three years Caine had called his home. Kermit had a good hunch where the priest was headed, but hadn't anticipated the detours, and for a long while he'd lost Caine's trail. Now he'd finally caught up with Caine and had no intention of losing him again.

He stifled a yawn as he tried to keep up with the Shaolin. The man moved deceptively fast. Based on the information he'd gathered so far, Kermit was almost certain that Caine was going to fly to Paris. Almost positive, but not 100 percent sure. So he planned on waiting until Caine reached the airport before confronting him. But now Kermit was tired of waiting, and decided to take a chance and call Caine's bluff. He picked up his pace until he walked side-by-side with the priest.

"So you're going through with this charade. You must be backed into a corner."

Without losing his stride, Caine glanced at him. "Kermit. I am pleased to have this opportunity to wish you well."

"I know you're going to the airport, Caine."

"Perhaps."

"You're going to Paris. But not to search for Laura Caine."

Caine said nothing, and if anything, only quickened his pace.

"Let me make this crystal clear. I know the picture is a fake." It was Kermit's hand grabbing Caine's arm that finally slowed the priest's pace. "I know it's a fake, Caine, because I made it."

Caine finally stopped. He turned and looked at the detective.

"Did a damn good job, too. But I know it didn't fool you, Caine."

"And...how is it you know that, Kermit?"

"You're not the only one who can read people. Or help a friend in trouble. That is if you'll let me."

Kermit held his breath while Caine continued to stare at him. Finally, Kermit sighed, and removed his green shades, folding them and carefully pushing them in his jacket pocket.

"These babies don't come off for just anyone, Caine."

Caine nodded and grasped Kermit's shoulder. "We need to talk," he said.

Kermit let out a short laugh. "Now, there's your classic understatement. A Shaolin specialty." At Caine's puzzled look, he said "Never mind. Let's go to my apartment -- it's secure." Kermit grinned. "I just swept it this morning, and I don't mean with a broom."

Sitting at Kermit's kitchen table, Caine sipped on a glass of water. Kermit warmed his hands on a cup of instant coffee, his green shades perched securely upon his nose. Able to conduct a closer examination, Kermit acknowledged the priest looked exhausted. He tried to remember something that Peter had once told him -- it was something like, the destiny of a Shaolin is to walk alone. Kermit never quite understood; it seemed to him that walking alone just made Caine and everyone close to him miserable.

"It's been one hell of a wild ride, hasn't it," Kermit said, breaking the silence and forcing himself to face the music. He watched the priest's eyes narrow as Caine set down the glass. Caine sat back and folded his hands, but said nothing. Kermit wasn't quite sure where to start.

"Perhaps start...at the beginning."

"I hate it when you do that, Caine."

"I know."

"Then you may also know I keep up connections with my somewhat checkered past -- never know when I'm going to need them. I was surfing the net, so to speak--"

"The...net?"

"Short for Internet." How does one explain the Internet to a Shaolin priest? "You've seen my computer, right?"

"Yes."

"Well, imagine thousands of powerful computers, and they're all connected."

"Connected?"

"Yeah, connected. Like telephones." Still a blank stare from Caine. "Or like psychic Shaolin priests."

"Ah. I see."

"Good. Anyway, I was snooping around on an ultra secure network when the image of Laura Caine practically jumped off the screen. Peter had shown me her picture, and you don't forget that face." Kermit took a deep breath, noticing that Caine did, too. Better keep moving ahead with this.

"I did a little digging, and to my utter consternation I learned that someone wanted to manipulate an old passport snapshot into photograph - one that could pass as recent, no more than a few years old."

Kermit took a sip of his coffee. "I knew this was not a good thing. Someone was offering big bucks to get the job done, and I knew that if I blew the whistle it would only postpone the inevitable. So...I took the job to keep an eye on things."

"You did not speak of this to Peter?"

"I spoke of this to no one, Caine. Not even you."

Caine closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. "Go on."

"I did the entire job, including all the communications, on the computer. Along the way, I did everything I could to find the source. But it's buried, and very deep, too. I...couldn't penetrate their security."

*Damn.* It was an admission Kermit hated to make, and not because he had failed. Kermit knew he was damn good, but no one, not even the best, could instantly decipher every code. It didn't change the fact that he wished like hell he had cracked this one.

Kermit drummed his fingers against the cold tile of the tabletop. This kept getting harder, not easier. He was used to giving people bad, sometimes shocking news. As a cop, it was something he had learned to handle. This time, he had to struggle to contain his nervousness about making the next disclosure.

"I made the forgery, contacted the front man and received another major surprise. Full payment would be transmitted to my account when the photo was delivered to one Lo Si of Chinatown."

Kermit paused a moment, waiting for a reaction that didn't come, so he continued. "I knew then it was big trouble in River City. The delivery instructions were clear. The picture had to be hand delivered to the old boy. That was four days ago."

"And Lo Si's reaction?"

"I hired a dependable snitch, and watched from a well-chosen spot across the street. Lo Si was his usual polite, inscrutable self. From my vantage point, I could see that someone else was also watching the scene unfold."

Abruptly, Caine stood. "I fear for Lo Si's safety. We must go to him at once."

"Wait one minute, Caine."

The Shaolin was already headed for the door. Kermit jumped up from his seat, palms pressed on the table. "Caine, stop!"

Caine's entire body stiffened. He turned and sent Kermit a withering look -- but the priest stopped. Kermit wasted no time.

"You're not thinking this through, Caine." Kermit kept his voice low as he moved to stand next to the Shaolin. He placed a hand on Caine's arm. "If you go to him now, you tip your hand. I know you don't want to do that. You still have to lay low. And besides, Lo Si can take care of himself."

Kermit watched as Caine's features relaxed; the fire in his brown eyes faded and the angry compression of his lips softened to a frown of worry. "The evil responsible for these occurrences must believe it is undetected," Caine murmured. "Only then will it be revealed." Caine sighed deeply, and settled heavily into a nearby chair. "You are right, my friend. Thank you."

Kermit leaned against the table. "Don't mention it."

"I am...tired. More so than I thought. My reasoning is not clear."

"Most men wouldn't have survived what you've been through. You have a right to be tired"

Kermit struggled with what to say next. He desperately wanted to help this man who had been there for him so often.

Caine spoke first. "I fear I have also put Mary Margaret in grave danger," he said softly.

*So that's where the sly dog disappeared to!* "You don't have to say any more. I'll keep an eye on her. And Peter, too." ...and Jody, and the rest of the crew. Business as usual.

Caine raised one eyebrow. Kermit sighed. "All right, Caine. I'll watch them more closely than I usually do. Better?" Kermit slid his glasses down the bridge of his nose and peered at the priest from over the dark frames.

"Yes. Thank you," said Caine.

Kermit started to speak again, then hesitated. He wanted to say the right thing and to help Caine regain his peace of mind. Kermit wished he could reassure him that everyone, even Kermit himself, had to trust from time to time - rely on people they loved, even if the act of trust carried risk. But now was not the time.

"So, what's next, Caine?"

The priest shrugged. "I must continue my journey. Have you detected anyone following us?"

"Oh, the hounds are out there, sniffing. I think they lost your trail when you spent the night with Skal-" Caine looked at him sharply. "well, they'll be back. You can count on it." Flustered, Kermit looked at his watch, pleased he wasn't blushing. "I need to punch in at the office. Have you booked your flight yet?"

"I have not."

"Then that's what you do next. What will you use to pay for it?"

"I have some...money that I have saved."

"Hold on to it. You might need it when you get to France. Use this." Kermit handed Caine his Visa.

"Kermit, I cannot--"

"Yes, you can. Listen, Caine, you handle matters of a spiritual nature, I'll handle the capital affairs." To Kermit's great relief, Caine's eyes crinkled with amusement and the priest accepted the offered credit card.

"When you're done, come back here and get some rest."

"It is not necessary--"

Kermit held up his hand. "I insist. It is necessary, Caine. You're exhausted, and if you don't--"

"When."

"Excuse me?"

"Even a Shaolin priest can say 'when'. *Occasionally*." Caine snapped fist to palm and saluted the confused detective. "I would be honored to accept your offer of hospitality."

Kermit chuckled and shook his head. "I will never figure out the Caines. Father or son." He looked in the priest's eyes. "Except to know that they're among the few people on this earth I'd have by my side when trouble comes to town."

On an impulse, Kermit extended his hand; Caine grasped it. Their eyes remained locked while they shook hands, and Kermit could feel the energy flow through the priest's warm skin and strong grip. He made a silent vow to do whatever it took to help this man find his answers, freeing Caine to make peace with his son and return to the woman who loved him.

"Come on, Caine. It's time to go. We've both got work to do."

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