By the time Kermit finally arrived at the precinct he was very late. His captain usually gave him leeway, but as he watched Karen Simms look pointedly at her watch, he realized a break would not be in the works today.

"Griffin, Powell and Skalany - in my office. Now."

So we're all late this morning, Kermit thought. No wonder Simms is pissed off.

Once inside the small, impeccably organized room, Simms wasted no time. "Good afternoon, Detectives," she said, sardonically. "I realize that we are all unhappy about Peter Caine leaving the force. But it is no excuse for mass tardiness. We are backlogged and there's crime in this city to be solved. I will let this go once -- and only once. Am I understood?"

Kermit and Jody nodded their heads in agreement. Skalany didn't react at all, as if she hadn't heard a word. Arms folded, Captain Simms examined the mentally preoccupied detective. "Detective Skalany--"

"Captain Simms," Kermit interrupted, "Skalany has been hit doubly hard by all this." Karen raised both eyebrows. "Young Caine and old Caine both leaving. You know what I mean."

Kermit's tone must have gotten through to Skalany because she looked up, startled. She cleared her throat. "Yes, I'm, uh, I've been hit hard...terribly hard." Skalany pressed her palm against her chest, frowned, and shook her head. "And I'm just...reeling, and, um, very sad. I'm so sad I'm rather...distracted. You know what I mean?"

"No. I most definitely do not." For a moment, Karen Simms regarded the trio, then said, "But I'll let it go for now. Dismissed."

Kermit bee-lined it to his office, and was about go in when he felt two points of heat stab the back of his jacket. He turned to find Jody standing behind him, staring. Kermit stared right back at her. Neither of them moved an inch. "Take a picture," he growled. "It lasts longer." It was then he noticed it, the hint of a shadow in Jody's eyes. Cursing himself for nearly missing a clue, he approached her to try to make amends.

"Jody, I--"

"Shove off, Kermit."

Kermit sighed. He would try again later.

~~~

For the rest of the day, Mary Margaret seemed to be in her own world. Kermit would catch her tapping her pen against the desk and smiling to herself. Jody approached her a few times, and Kermit guessed it was with an offer to talk. Each time Skalany shook her head and went back to work. And Kermit noticed that, by unspoken agreement, neither Jody nor Kermit left the building at the same time.

As the slow afternoon wore on, Kermit grew agitated. It seemed to him that Jody was constantly looking at Mary Margaret. Though he knew it was more his impatience than anything else, he decided to talk to Jody Powell.

In three long strides he reached her desk. He stood there, silently, until she finally looked up at him. "You're only drawing more attention to her by constantly staring at her," Kermit hissed.

"I'm not staring at her!" Jody snapped back. "Besides, so what if I am? What's he big deal, Kermit?"

"No big deal." Kermit help up both his hands, palms forward. "Look, I'm sorry. I'm unusually edgy - even for me."

"It's all right, Kermit. I'm edgy, too. And I'm worried about her. Hell, I'm worried about all of us. There's something weird going on around here. Maybe even evil." Stealing another peek at Skalany, she continued, "Mary Margaret should be upset. I mean, she thinks she should be. Kermit, does she look upset to you?"

Kermit didn't answer right away. "What did that mean, 'she thinks she should be?' Wouldn't you be if the man you love walked out of your life for an indefinite period of time? And what do you mean by evil? Do you know something we don't know?"

They both turned their heads to look at Skalany once again. Skalany looked up and noticed them. She smiled and gave them a little half wave. Kermit grumbled, "Somebody should have a talk with her."

Jody looked up at him warily. "Oh yeah? So tell me, Mr. James Bond, what do you mean by *that*? Why should someone have a talk with her? Do you know something she knows that we all don't know, but should?" She stopped and furrowed her brows. "Don't look at me like that, either! You know what I *exactly* what I mean!"

Jody stared at him and he held her gaze for a long time. Neither one seemed willing to break the silence. It all suddenly seemed funny, and Kermit grinned. "Come on. Let's go for a walk. And we'll talk." Then Kermit hesitated. "Jody, what about--"

"Mary Margaret," Jody finished for him. "She'll be okay, Kermit. I invited Peter to have drinks with us. Mary Margaret's going, too. Peter's coming here first, and he'll be here any minute. He'll watch out for her."

"Oh, yeah."

~~~

Mary Margaret drifted through the slow day. She noticed Jody and Kermit furtively watching her, yet for the most part avoiding outright contact. *I probably shouldn't talk to them anyway. It's hard enough to keep quiet. *And it left her alone to think and to remember. For most the day the remembering was very good, too. But as the afternoon crept toward early evening, the gloomy reality that Caine had left town loomed over her. No matter how pleasant their evening together had been, it certainly would not be repeated tonight.

As she straightened her desk and got ready to join the gang at the bar, she turned when she felt a firm grip tighten on her shoulder.

"Peter?" She jumped to stand and nearly tripped over herself, but was steadied by strong hands at her side. Her reaction confused her -- the shortness of breath and the painful lump in her throat. Then it hit her. She had been numbed to the painful reality that she wouldn't be working with Peter anymore. Unless...

"Peter! Are you back? Did you change your mind?" But searching his face, she knew his answer before he said it.

"Uh, Skalany...no."

"Damn. Well, of course you didn't. I don't know why..." The hot tears stung as they filled her eyes. Hastily, she brushed the back of her hand across her face.

"Aw, cut that out, Skalany! You know how cops can talk." Despite his smart words, he pulled her into his arms. "I'll miss you, too, Partner."

For a long moment she let him hold her. Accepting the strong comfort of his arms, she rested her head on his shoulder, inhaling the warm scents of clean soap and mild incense. They shared the tie of love for Peter's father, and it bound them together, but it wasn't just that. During their four year relationship they'd faced so much together that a special bond had formed and it was uniquely their own. Somehow, she'd have to accept the fact that never again would she have a partner like Peter Caine.

Lifting her head, she stepped back. It was time to move on, both literally and figuratively. Taking a deep breath, she pulled his arms from around her waist then took both his hands in hers. Moving back a bit more, she eyed him critically. The young ex-cop wore the usual tight jeans. Though it was the elder Caine who had snared her heart, she could enjoy the view on a purely appreciative level. She looked around quickly to see if Jody was enjoying it, too, but her friend was not in the office.

"Not that I'm complaining, but what brings you back so soon, Partner?"

"I bumped into Kermit and Jody on my way to Delancey's." He pulled one hand away to sweep it through his hair. "Or rather they bumped into me - literally. They had their heads together and were not," he brushed a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, "watching where they were going."

"And...so you're here because?"

"Oh, right!" Peter grinned and rested his hands on his hips. "Kermit asked --no, he ordered me to come here first and get you. Which is my pleasure, of course."

She grinned back then took in the rest of him. Peter wore a long sleeve cotton shirt, very loose, light in both weight and color. That, and something about the way he held his arms...the brands!

"How are your arms, Peter? Are they sore?"

"Yeah, they are. But not too bad. They're healing pretty fast, actually. Must be--"

"A Shaolin thing," they finished in unison, both smiling.

Then Peter looked away. She noticed his jaw tighten. When he looked back his smile was thin. "You ready to go? We can talk more on the way there."

"You miss him already." The night was so beautiful they both decided to walk to the popular cop hangout.

"Yeah." Peter sighed. "It's too soon to really miss him. It's just knowing he's gone that can get to me. I know it sounds crazy."

"Not to me it doesn't."

Peter gave her a wry sideways glance. "You're not exactly objective either,

Skalany. But you're taking it good. At least you seem to be."

"You're right. I'm doing just fine." Mary Margaret smiled. "So what else troubles you, Peter?"

"Ha! Now you're beginning to sound like him. There's something spooky about all this." Peter touched her arm. "Did my father...did he talk to you about anything? Before he left?"

Oh, boy, she thought. "Yes. He stopped by my place to talk...and to say goodbye."

"Oh, good," Peter said, sounding relieved, "I'm glad he told you about it, because I feel like I'm going to explode! I have to talk to someone about this picture the Ancient found -- the recent picture of my mother." She turned her head sharply. "It's amazing to think there's a chance my mother is alive."

The coldness started in her limbs. It was a numbing heaviness that made it difficult to walk, but she managed to move forward, placing one foot in front of the other. Then it spread to her chest; she had to open her mouth to allow more oxygen to her lungs.

"I don't know." Peter continued. "It seems impossible, but I guess he thinks there must be something to it. Why else would he drop everything to fly to Paris to check it out?"

At this point the freezing paralysis, having permeated her entire body, settled harshly in her in her throat, preventing her from replying with words. With great effort, she managed to produce a "Hmm."

"It's a mystery, all right. You know, this is so emotional for me, and I don't even remember her! I can't imagine what he's going through. She was the great love of his life. Always was, always will be. They are his words exactly. What will it be like for him to see her again?"

Mary Margaret might have been able to talk, but she could not think of one thing to say. This time the silence stretched on too long. Peter stopped cold.

"Skalany, are you all right? My father did tell you about this, didn't he?"

Mary Margaret knew her face was flushed; silently, she blessed the dark cover of night. But the world around her had become distorted - sharp and focused in some spots, blurry and warped in others.

"Mary Margaret?"

She knew Peter had focused his attention on her. Any minute he'd probably conjure up a magic spell and read her mind. She had to get away from his scrutiny and away from everything. They were just outside of Delancey's. Mary Margaret closed her eyes, summoned all her strength and exercised every ounce of control. When she faced Peter her eyes were clear.

"Peter, it's not your fault, but I guess I'm more upset than I thought. I'm not really ready to face it all yet." She was pleased her voice sounded so calm and steady. Through the windows she could see everyone laughing and drinking. She could not go inside and face her friends. Not now.

"Listen, you go on and say hello to everyone. They've all been worrying about you! Tell them you saw me, I'm fine, and that I'm tired and decided to go home."

Peter shook his head. "No way. I don't think that's a good idea."

Mary Margaret forced a smile and stared straight into hazel eyes that were flooded with concern. "Trust me, Partner. Please?" She just had to get him to agree. Then she could escape. "I'll be fine - I promise. I need to be by myself, and...you know how that feels."

Peter nodded his head. "Yes, I do. Okay, Skalany. But you know where I am if you need me." He bent over and kissed her cheek. "I'll call you tomorrow."

Though her legs were weak and it felt like she waded through knee-deep water, Mary Margaret had to walk. So this is it, she thought, the reason for the sudden trip. The cause for all the secrecy.

The air felt crisp and clean, a sharp contrast to the boiling mire of emotions that churned in her gut, making her feel like at any minute she might be violently sick. A long time ago she had fallen in love with Kwai Chang Caine. She thought that last night, finally, he had fallen in love with her, too.

What an idiot I am.

Caine had warned her about rumors, but this wasn't barstool speculation, this was from Peter! Caine had talked about trusting him. Well, I trusted him. Big mistake.

There was no way on God's green earth she could compete with Laura Caine. It was the last thing in the world she wanted to do. The woman had been Caine's wife, the love of his life, the mother of his child. How could she -- why would she ever interfere with that? Of all the things Caine could have been searching for, another women never entered her mind. And now to learn he had gone off to search for the beautiful Laura Caine.

She had to stop thinking about it or she would go mad. Going home was not an option. Since her car was in the shop, she hailed a cab. As she got in, she gave the driver the address to an Irish pub she hadn't frequented in years. No one would look for her there, which was good, because she didn't want to talk. She wanted to drink.

Get drunk and forget.

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