Kwai Chang Caine was walking down the street towards his home when he felt the sudden jolt. Peter? Here? He extended his mind and felt for his son. Yes, Peter was indeed back in Chinatown. For a fleeting second, Caine received another image through the link. Sarah? Caine shrugged his shoulders and picked up his pace. It had been a while since he had seen his son, and he looked forward to seeing what discoveries Peter had made about his path while seeking enlightenment.

Detective Mary Margaret Skalany sat at her desk at the 101st precinct, absentmindedly rubbing her right shoulder and neck muscles. Frowning, she pushed aside the file she had been reading and stood up, trying to stretch out her sore muscles.

Captain Simms walked up behind her. "Mary Margaret, is that shoulder still bothering you?" she demanded of her subordinate.

"Yes, Capt.," Skalany answered sheepishly. She had injured the shoulder three days ago during an arrest. The perp had a made a break for it and when Skalany had tackled him, she had landed on her shoulder. Once the guy was cuffed, she realized she had really done quite a number on it.

"And have you had it checked?" the Captain wanted to know.

"Ahhh, Capt. It'll be fine. You know how I feel about hospitals and doctors," Skalany replied.

"Yes, the same way the rest of us do. At least the doctors and nurses won't run when they see you coming without Peter..."

Skalany detected just a hint of the woman's true feelings regarding that scene. She spoke softly, "Yeah, I miss him too, even if our lives are quieter now, with fewer trips to the hospital, waiting to see if he'll be all right. I don't miss that part, but sometimes, it seems a little too quiet without him around here."

"Well," Karen Simms replied, "If you don't want to see a doctor, why don't you go let Caine have a look at it? Maybe you could get an update on how the newest Shaolin priest is doing, too."

Mary Margaret looked over at her and smiled. "Now, why didn't I think of that?" she asked. "Maybe I'll just do that. Maybe I'll go to Chinatown and ask for Caine. Maybe he can help me." She grinned as she cleared off her desk and prepared to leave the precinct.

Kwai Chang Caine entered the apothecary to find his apprentice hard at work on the task with which he had left her, and his son observing her...from a suitable distance, Caine noted with satisfaction. Perhaps he was learning about honoring peoples' unspoken requests.

Peter sensed his father's entrance. "Pop!" he cried out, heading to greet his father.

"Peter..." Caine began.

"I missed you," Peter confessed, as he embraced his father.

"As I missed you, my son," Caine responded.

Sarah came forward, bowing to her master. "Master Caine, I will leave the two of you alone. I'm sure you have much to catch up on. I will be tending the plants on the terrace." She bowed again, and exited the room.

"So, I see you have already met my apprentice," Caine said to his son.

"Yes, and I want to know all the details," Peter replied, "so, spill it, Pop."

Caine looked at his son and shrugged his shoulders, "What is there to say? She is here to learn from me. That one," and Caine indicated the terrace with a nod of his head, "has healing in her hands and many other talents which right now, she cannot even begin to imagine. But," he sighed, "there is a long road to walk first."

"So I see," Peter replied. "Why is she so skittish?"

Caine gestured with his hand. "That you will have to ask her," he told Peter. "But I am pleased to see that you picked up on her concern and kept a proper distance from her."

"Kept a proper..." Peter sputtered, "Pop, if I hadn't, I got the distinct impression she might have bolted from the place. But, enough about Sarah, let me tell you what I have learned while I was away."

"Excellent, my son. I will get us a cup of tea." Peter grinned after his father. He was finally able to tolerate a cup of tea, though there were still times that he craved a cup of coffee.

Sarah took her time watering the plants on the terrace. There were many of them, and she also pruned the dead leaves from them. Then she settled on the edge of the wall and looked out over Chinatown. The hustle and bustle was unusual for her, having come from a small town. She was intrigued by all the people; the buying and selling that went on, the noise, the fragrances, yet she was completely content to watch them from a distance. Being "up close and personal" with that many people at a time did not appeal to her at all.

Sarah thought about Caine and Peter. They were so fortunate to have found one another, she thought ruefully. She missed her own parents more than she could ever express. Both of them were dead, and she knew this for a fact. There would be no parent coming "back from the dead" for her. She couldn't help but feel a little jealous of Peter. Caine had been the closest thing to a father she'd had in years. She wondered how Peter felt about finding her here. It must have been a little disconcerting to him to discover that his father had taken an apprentice at this stage of the game. After all, Peter carried the brands of a Shaolin priest himself now. Well, she knew that she could count on Caine to handle Peter.

Peter had just begun telling his father about the revelations he had while away at the temple when they heard a familiar voice call out, "Caine? Are you here?"

Both Caines smiled at Mary Margaret's voice.

"Yes, Mary Margaret," Kwai Chang answered, "We are in the apothecary."

Mary Margaret Skalany joined the father and son. "Well, well, well, look at this. Two Shaolin priests for the price of one," she quipped. "It's good to see you both."

"It's good to see you, too, Partner," Peter said, coming over to give her a hug. "I can still call you that, right?"

"Peter, no matter where you go, or what you do, you can always count on me. You know that." Skalany winced as Peter's hug pressured her injured muscles.

Peter pulled back immediately, concern on his face. "Skalany, what's wrong?"

"Oh, it's no big deal. I hurt my shoulder the other day on a bust and it's been bothering me ever since. I was hoping your father would take a look at it," Mary Margaret looked at Caine. "Although, I guess maybe now you could check it out too, huh Peter?" Skalany had not meant to overlook the fact that Peter was now a "practicing" Shaolin priest.

Peter began to laugh at her discomfort. "No, Skalany, that's quite all right. I was just about to tell Pop I have finally come to terms with my path as a priest, and it's not as a healer. I've realized that I don't have to be Pop's clone to be successful as a Shaolin."

"You are wise, my son," said Caine, reaching over and lightly slapping his son on the cheek. He gestured to his patient, "Come, Mary Margaret, sit in this chair." Caine led Skalany to a chair and proceeded to examine her shoulder.

"Sarah," he called to his apprentice.

"Yes, Master Caine?" she answered from the terrace.

"Come here. There is someone I would like you meet."

Peter leaned over and spoke quietly in Skalany's ear. "Don't take it personally, Skalany, but she's kind of skittish around strangers."

Sarah appeared hesitantly in the doorway of the terrace. When she saw Mary Margaret sitting there, Peter could actually see the tension drain from her. Sarah moved quickly to Caine's side.

"Okay," Peter muttered under his breath, "I stand corrected. It's not all strangers she's skittish with."

"Sarah, I would like you to meet Mary Margaret Skalany, a friend, " Caine introduced them. "Mary Margaret, this is Sarah Jacobson, my apprentice."

Sarah greeted Skalany with a friendly nod of her head, "It's nice to meet you, Mary Margaret. I would shake your hand, but I wouldn't want to cause you any further distress."

"It's nice to meet you, too," responded Skalany. "I think I could manage shaking your hand without too much difficulty," she said as she reached out her hand toward Sarah. Sarah shook her hand, but very gently.

Peter looked at her in amazement. "How could you tell she was hurt?" he demanded.

"I could tell by the way she is holding her head that there is a problem with her neck," Sarah replied. "Observe how stiff she looks."

"Yes," acknowledged Kwai Chang. "Sarah, I want you to examine Mary Margaret's shoulder and neck, and then I want you to tell me how you would treat it. If that is all right with you, Mary Margaret?" Caine looked to her for permission.

"Sure, that's fine with me." Skalany knew the only way rookies of any sort learn how to handle themselves was by doing. You could tell them until you were blue in the face, but they were much more likely to remember the lessons they learned hands-on, down and dirty.

Sarah moved forward and began gently probing Mary Margaret's shoulder and neck. Peter watched her intently. Her method of examination was very different from his father's. He could see no evidence that she was examining Skalany's chi in any way. Instead, she seemed to rely on the information she was gathering from her touch.

"Very well," Caine said to his student, "Have you formed a decision as to her treatment?"

"Yes, Master, I have," Sarah informed him with a bow.

Damn, Peter thought, she's so sure of herself. He recalled his own ineptness with the herbs and treatments. How could she have learned so much so quickly? After all, I haven't been gone all that long. What's the longest she could have been here? Two weeks? So much for my new found peace with this.

"All right, then let us move to the work table and discuss your plan of treatment. I believe Peter and Mary Margaret have some catching up to do of their own, anyway." Caine led his apprentice over to the worktable and the two of them began to prepare for Skalany's treatment.

"Well, Partner, what's that all about?" Skalany asked Peter in reference to Sarah.

"You got me, Skalany. I just got home from the temple not an hour ago, and this is the first I've met her myself." Peter shook his head. "You know, I did come to terms with my lack of ability in this area, but would you believe that right now I feel a little jealous? How's that for a Shaolin attitude?" he asked Skalany.

Skalany moved to reassure her ex-partner. "Now, Peter, you heard what your father said before. You are wise to realize that the two of you walk different paths and have different talents. Your father is so proud of you. Besides, I think that girl looks like she carries a lot of sadness around with her. What do you have to be jealous of?"

"I don't know. I guess I just envy her obviously natural ability. Pop did tell me earlier that she has healing in her hands. I wonder what he meant by that?"

Skalany changed the subject. "You know, Pete, we miss you down at the station."

"What?" Peter grinned. "Things a little too quiet for you without me?"

"Actually, yes." Skalany returned his grin. "Why, just today the Captain and I discussed the fact that we hadn't seen the inside of City Hospital in quite some time and we wondered how the doctors and nurses there were managing. I bet they had to let some of the staff go."

Peter gave Skalany his best 'Who me? I'm Innocent' look. "Come on now, Skalany, you know that I had already cut back my trips to the ER before I left the force."

"Well, maybe a little," Skalany conceded. "But seriously, Pete, we do miss you. I mean, I'm proud of what you're doing and all that, but, well, it's just not the same without you."

Peter reached out to touch his ex-partner's hand. "Thanks, Skalany. I miss you guys, too. But you know there's nothing that says you guys can't stop by from time to time, right?"

"We will, Pete, we will. It's just that we wanted to give you some space while you worked things out."

"Thanks. That's more than I can say for some people."

"Do you mean Jordan?" Skalany asked.

"To quote another old friend of mine, 'Oh, Yeah.' Come on, I'm sure the story's been all over the precinct by now, knowing her." Peter's face held a look that said he did not approve of his private business becoming so public. "Jordan did not exactly appreciate the new, improved, Peter Caine."

"She never spilled the details, Pete, though she did make it clear she never wanted to hear your name mentioned again. I wasn't too surprised over the whole thing. What surprised me was the fact that you two were together for as long as you were. She never quite seemed to me to be your type."

"My type?" Peter huffed, "My type are always the same. The type that it never works out with."

"Well, maybe that will change now that you've changed. And you have changed, Peter. I can see it in your face. You're more, I don't know, peaceful. You seem like you've slowed down a bit."

Skalany was truly impressed with the changes she had seen in Peter. He was still the Peter she had known, but he did seem to have more peace, less anger within him. She knew the captain would be pleased to hear what she had to report.

"Thanks, Partner. That means a lot to me."

Kwai Chang Caine and Sarah approached the pair. "We have prepared your treatment, Mary Margaret," Caine informed her. "But with your permission, it will be Sarah who actually treats you. I think you will find she will relieve much of your discomfort."

"That will be fine, Caine. I'm certain your faith in her is justified."

"Very well, then. Sarah, take the chair into the meditation room. There you will have privacy for your patient. I will remain here and continue to catch up with my son."

"This way, please, Mary Margaret," requested Sarah, carrying the chair that Skalany had just vacated.

Sarah had Mary Margaret resume her position on the chair once they had settled in the meditation room. Sarah produced a towel that had been soaking in hot water.

"Um, Mary Margaret? If you could just lower your blouse..." the young woman's voice trailed off, embarrassed.

Skalany could see her nervousness. The poor kid, she thought. I wonder if I'm the first person she's ever treated? Well, it's not like it's brain surgery or anything.

After Skalany had complied with her request, Sarah applied the hot towel to her neck and shoulder. "Just try to relax, now, and let the heat begin the work of loosening your muscles," she told Skalany. "It's not too hot, is it?"

"No," Skalany answered. "It seems to be just right." Skalany's curiosity got the better of her and she decided to do some probing. "So tell me, how long have you been Caine's apprentice?"

Peter finally had the opportunity to tell his father his intentions for the future. "Pop, I want to reopen the kwoon. I'd like to spend most of my time teaching. I'm sure there will be other ways that I'll be able to 'help' the people of the neighborhood, but for now, that's where I want to start."

"Very good, my son. One learns much by teaching and I'm sure you will find that you enjoy it." Caine was proud that his son finally seemed as if he were grounded, as if he finally had landed on the correct path.

"Now, I just have to find a place to run the kwoon," Peter said. He had not had a chance to look around the neighborhood to see what might be available. "Another thing, Pop," Peter began with some discomfort, "This Shaolin Priest-thing may be my path and all, but it certainly doesn't pay as well as being cop did, not that cop pay is all that great. Anyway, I was thinking," Peter trailed off, slightly embarrassed by what he wanted to ask his father. After all, he was grown man, a man accustomed to paying his own way.

Caine let his son off the hook. "You were wondering if you could move in here with me?" he asked, one eyebrow slightly raised.

"Uh, yeah. You can think about it if you want..."

"I have already thought about it, my son, and I would be honored. In fact, I believe I also know of a place for your kwoon."

Mary Margaret was astounded at how much better her neck and shoulder felt. After the hot towels, Sarah had massaged her muscles with an herbal oil. The kid has great hands, thought Mary Margaret. "MMMM," she purred, "and that oil actually smells good, unlike most of Caine's remedies. Why is that?" she asked her novice practitioner.

"Because as a woman, I realize that you do not want to go back to work smelling like, well, something the cat dragged in," Sarah replied, and Mary Margaret chuckled. "This oil includes geranium to help you relax, and to help cover some of the more unpleasant smells."

"You definitely have a future in this field, Kiddo," Skalany told her.

When the treatment session was over, and Mary Margaret prepared to leave, Sarah handed her two small bags. "I want you to take a hot bath tonight before you go to bed. Add this to the water," she indicated the one bag. "Be sure the water is as hot as you can stand it. Then, use this to make yourself a cup of tea, drink it, and go to bed. Come back tomorrow and I will treat you again. I think that you will feel much better after that."

"I feel much better now," Mary Margaret said with a smile. "Take a hot bath and call me in the morning. Now there's a prescription I can live with!" Skalany moved towards Caine. "You have a good one here, Caine," she told him. Caine merely bowed to her. "Will you walk me to my car?" she asked him.

"Of course, Mary Margaret," Caine replied, joining her near the doorway.

"Bye, Peter. It was good to see you. Take care of yourself. And you," she assured Sarah, pointing at her, "You, I will definitely see tomorrow." Caine offered Skalany his arm. She linked her arm with his and the two of them walked out the door.

Peter was glad that his father's new apprentice had helped his ex-partner. But he had lots to do, and so he, too, left his father's apartment, leaving Sarah on her own.

The next few weeks passed quickly for Peter. He had been shocked to discover that the landlord of his father's building was none other than his father himself. It turned out that the previous owner had gifted the building to him after Caine had cured the man's child. Caine had offered Peter the first floor of the three-story building to be used as his kwoon. So, Peter had been busy preparing an area for it. He was also preparing an apartment for himself on the empty second floor.

Peter had discovered that his father's new apprentice also occupied the building. She and Caine had created a small, one-room apartment for her right across the hallway from Caine's apartment on the third floor. This way, she was always available to assist Caine at any time of the day or night. It was also his father's way of caring for her, Peter realized. She had no family of her own, but was becoming part of the Caine family quite quickly. As her father's apprentice, she too, had no income of which to speak. Yet everything was always taken care of, Peter marveled. The bills got paid, there was food to eat, and they were all helping their neighbors.

Sarah was tending the plants out on the terrace. It had become her favorite chore. She loved being out in the fresh air, with the sky above her. For a while she could almost forget she was in a city. It was definitely her favorite place. The meditation room was too quiet for her; she spent large amounts of her working time in the apothecary. It was only out on the terrace that she felt as completely at peace as she ever had in her life.

Suddenly, a leg swung up over the terrace wall from the fire escape, followed quickly by Peter's entire body. "BOO!" he said to Sarah, causing her startle, but only a little.

"Peter Caine, why can't you use the main stairs like everyone else?" she demanded.

"Because I'm not like everyone else," he told her with a smile as he settled himself on the wall and watched her tend the plants.

"You've got that right," Sarah muttered under her breath.

Peter noted with satisfaction that he had only caused her to jump a little, even with his unexpected arrival. That was an improvement. It had taken a while for her to stop flinching every time he walked near her, but he still had not asked her why she reacted that way. He had wanted to lay down a foundation first. Peter had tried to get the information from his father, who told him each time to ask Sarah himself. Well, he thought, I guess there's no time like the present. I don't sense Pop around, so I don't have to worry about him interrupting this conversation.

Peter never did like beating around the bush, so he plunged into the conversation, head first. "Why do you do that?" he asked her.

"Do what? Water the plants?" Sarah had no way of knowing where Peter was going with his question.

"No. Why do you jump every time I get near you? The first day we met, you nearly jumped out of your skin. I thought it was because I had snuck up on you, but you've continued to do it. Mary Margaret doesn't bother you, Lo Si doesn't bother you, my Pop doesn't bother you, so what is it about me that makes you jump like that? It's rather tough on my ego, you know?" he told her.

Sarah's face began to flush and she tried her best to focus on the plants. She made an attempt to derail the track of the conversation, "You're Shaolin, I didn't think you were supposed to have an ego."

"Oh, come on, Sarah. You know that I'm only human, just like you. Pop's the one who's superhuman, not me," he teased. "Seriously, Sarah, I would really like an answer." Peter fixed his eyes on her face and caught her eyes when she looked up at him. She quickly averted her gaze, but not before he saw the pain there. Peter was sorry that he was causing her pain, but he didn't want to back down. His father had told him often enough that hiding your pain just left it inside you to fester and poison your life.

Sarah's breathing had increased and Peter could almost see the swirling of her emotions as she wrestled with whatever it was that caused her pain. He could see when she made the decision to share with him.

She looked over at him. "All right, Peter," she told him. "I jump when you come near me because of battle scars."

"Battle scars?" Peter was not following her on this. He hoped she wasn't going to give him a 'Kwai Chang Caine' answer.

"Yes, battle scars. I'm sure you know what they are. From what I've observed of your behavior, you've probably got just as many of them as I do. We all have them, they're caused by life."

Peter just stood watching her, waiting for her to continue.

"Some battle scars are physical and can actually be seen," Sarah told him, "like this," and she reached over and pointed to his tiger brand, "Some are emotional, and we hide them on the inside."

"Well," Peter cleared his throat; "I wouldn't exactly call that a battle scar."

"Never the less, it is a physical reminder of a trial that you went through." Sarah cocked her head and looked at him, both eyebrows raised, "I assume you would agree that embracing that cauldron was a trial, both physically and emotionally?"

"Yes," he agreed, "please continue."

"My jumping in reaction to your nearness has nothing to do with you personally. It's because you are a man." There, she'd said it. Sarah could feel her face burning with embarrassment. She knew he wouldn't accept that as a full answer, but at least she had gotten the ball rolling. It was so hard for her to talk about this. Caine had been urging her to confide in his son, but she just hadn't been able to do it.

"My father's a man," Peter pointed out. "You don't flinch when he walks near you. Or Lo Si either. In fact, I've actually seen them touch you without your flinching."

"Yes, you're right. I think we can both agree that your father and Lo Si are not your typical men, can we not?" she asked him. Peter nodded his head. "And with how many other men have you observed my behavior, oh great wise one?" she chided him.

Peter stopped to think about it for a moment. The answer amazed him. "None," he whispered. "In fact, now that I think about it, I don't even know if you've left this building since I met you."

Sarah turned her back on him. She was in great pain, and she didn't want to see the pity on his face. She shook her head, knowing he could read the gesture just as easily from the back. "I haven't," she said quietly.

"Peter, I'm going to give you the short version of my life," she told him. "Maybe someday, I'll tell you more of the details, but for now, let me just hit the highlights."

Peter gently reached out and turned her around towards him. "Okay," he said, "That's fine. Why don't you sit down here?" He gently seated her on the chair that she had placed on his father's terrace. The floor was not Sarah's favorite resting-place, much to his father's chagrin. Peter sat down himself on the floor, at her feet in what he hoped was a non-threatening position. He could already see tears welling up in her eyes.

"You are definitely NOT like everyone else, Peter Caine, and that's a compliment, in case you're not sure."

Sarah tried to compose herself so she could tell her story. She could not bring herself to look down into the hazel eyes of this man, so instead she looked out over the city and began to speak.

"My life up to age eight was quite normal," she began. "Then, when I was eight, my father was killed in a car accident with a drunk driver. When I was ten, my mother remarried. My dad had left her well off financially, so she basically had her pick of suitors. Why she chose this jerk, I'll never know. He turned out to be an alcoholic, and he was a mean drunk. He never hit my mother, but he had no qualms about hitting me."

Peter's face tightened as he digested this bit of information. So, that's what this is all about, he surmised, but he had only heard the tip of the iceberg.

Sarah continued her story. "Mom ran interference for me as best she could. She tried to keep me away from him as much as possible. She died when I was fourteen, leaving me alone with Mr. Wonderful. Now, when he married her, he thought he could get his hands on her money, but when she died he was in for a surprise. Mom's will stated that all her money and worldly possessions were to be passed on to me on my 21st birthday. Mr. Wonderful decided he would wait, take care of me until I turned 21. My life became a living hell. I hardly ever went home, 'cause I knew he'd be waiting for me when I did. As I got older I became scared that he was going to take the abuse to a new level, if you know what I mean."

She looked Peter in the face and watched the color drain from it as he understood her meaning. Then she turned back to gazing out over the city. "So, to escape from him, I got married when I was 17. What I didn't know was that my husband-to-be was cut from the very same cloth as my stepfather. I went from a bad situation to a worse one. To make this already long story short, one day my darling husband beat me to within an inch of my life. Luckily, I was discovered and taken to a hospital. My ex-" she said the word as if it were the most filthy word in the language, "is currently doing time for attempted murder - mine." She stood to her feet, unable to contain herself any longer, and paced the length of the terrace. When she got to the far end, she turned to face Peter. "And that, dear Peter, is why I jump whenever a man gets anywhere near me. Battle scars."

"Dear God," Peter muttered under his breath, running his fingers through his hair in a nervous gesture that was a habit of his, "and I thought I had the market cornered on suffering and abandonment."

He approached Sarah, but she was having none of that. Tears streaming down her face, she told him that she just wanted to be alone. She turned her back on him, not wanting his pity, not wanting his comfort. Peter walked silently into his father's apartment.

It was several days before Peter felt comfortable enough to approach Sarah again. He found her reading a book on the terrace in the bright morning sunshine. "Sarah," he began, "about the other day..."

Sarah put her book down and began to speak, but Peter cut her off. "No, hear me out," he implored. "I'm sorry that I caused you pain, but I'm glad that you told me. I want you to consider me your friend. I'm also sorry that you had to go through all that."

"Thank you, Peter," she responded. "You know, as hard as it was for me to share that with you, I've actually felt a little better since then. Your father was right, pain shared is pain lessened. And I would be most honored to have you as my friend." She reached out and took hold of his hand for the first time since they had shaken hands the day they met. Peter again felt the strange sensation flowing between them, but the moment was interrupted when a man's voice called Peter's name.

"Peter! Yo, Pete, are you here?" It was Kermit Griffin, calling from the doorway of Caine's apartment. Peter turned from Sarah and went back inside the apartment.

"Yeah, Kermit, I'm here," he called back to his friend.

"Hey, Kid, it's good to see you. Listen, we've got a problem."

Kermit proceeded to fill Peter in on a problem that was having a profound impact on Chinatown. Apparently some drug dealer had gotten a bad shipment of heroin and dead bodies were turning up all over the city. They had found five bodies in the last week and a half. Only two of the bodies had been identified. The other three were still John Does. All the victims were Chinese men ranging in age from 18 - 30.

Kermit gave Peter a folder with copies of the information the precinct had already gathered, including the addresses of the two identified victims and photos of the other three.

"We've interviewed the families of the identified victims, but we didn't get much help from them," Kermit told Peter.

"No, you wouldn't," Peter informed him, "You're waigworen. I should know."

"What?" Kermit asked.

"Never mind," Peter said. He promised to do all he could to help the 101st with the situation. He told Kermit he would ask around and see what he could dig up.

"I'll meet you at the station tomorrow afternoon," Peter told Kermit. "We'll compare notes then."

"Oh, yeah. And listen, Kid, watch your back, okay? Just because you're a priest in the neighborhood now instead of a cop doesn't mean these dealers won't drop you in your tracks." Kermit didn't like the idea of Peter wandering around without a partner, but then Peter often went off lone wolf anyway, so he should be used to the idea.

Peter reassured his old friend, "I'll watch it, Kermit. I've got more up my sleeves now than just these brands, you know. It's the bad guys that need to watch out." Suddenly Peter remembered that Sarah was out on the terrace. Hmmm...he thought, maybe I can expand her small circle of men by one more.

Peter stood up as Kermit prepared to leave. "Just a minute, Kermit," he announced, rather loudly since he didn't want to surprise Sarah. "There's someone I'd like you to meet." He glanced towards the terrace.

"That wouldn't happen to be your father's new apprentice, would it?" Kermit asked. Mary Margaret had returned to the precinct several weeks ago singing her praises. Everyone in the station had heard about Sarah Jacobson and, as Mary Margaret called them, her "magical hands."

"As a matter of fact, yes," Peter told him, then continued softly for Kermit's ears only, "She's really skittish around strange men, Kermit. She's been abused and she doesn't trust very easily, so mind your step, okay?"

Kermit answered equally softly, "Oh, yeah. Don't sweat it, Kid."

Peter walked out to the terrace and discovered it was empty. He heard a noise on the fire escape and looked down just in time to see Sarah climb into his apartment on the second floor. He turned around to see Kermit eyeing him expectantly. "Maybe another time, Kermit," he said sheepishly.

Peter waited for his father to return from his "rounds" of Chinatown. He then shared the information Kermit had given to him. Kwai Chang Caine silently looked at the addresses and the photos of the unidentified victims.

"I believe I know this one," Caine said, pointing to one of the photos. "It is hard to be certain from the photograph."

"Well, then, let's go downtown," Peter told his father. "I'm sure Nick Elder will let you have a look."

It was early afternoon when Peter and Caine returned from their trip to the morgue. They were in a somber mood, having discovered that Caine did indeed know one of the drug victims. He was the son of a local Chinese businessman. He was only 21 years old and his life was over. Both father and son reflected on the evil that was invading their neighborhood, brooding over the turn of events. They were not aware that a surprise was waiting for them, something that would help lift their spirits.

They found Lo Si and Sarah waiting in the newly completed kwoon. Peter was surprised to find red streamers and balloons, along with a cake.

"What's all this?" he asked the pair, who were ginning at him.

"This was all young Sarah's idea," said Lo Si. "I merely assisted her," he said with a bow.

"I wanted to do something special for the 'grand opening' of your kwoon, Peter," Sarah told him. "I know the streamers and balloons are not exactly Chinese tradition, but, hey, at least I got red ones. Red is the color of good fortune in Chinese culture, right?" She was suddenly unsure of herself.

"Yes, it is," Caine reassured her. "What a thoughtful gesture, is it not, Peter?" Caine verbally prodded his son.

Peter however, was caught up thinking of the implications of the whole project. "Did you get these yourself?" he asked Sarah, realizing that if she had, it meant she had actually left the building.

"Yes, I did," she blushed. She knew what Peter was thinking. "Lo Si walked me to the corner to a little shop. We didn't go far..." she trailed off.

"Hey, I think that's great," Peter told her. He was extremely proud of what she had done. "After all, the journey of a thousand miles..."

"Begins with the first step," they all finished together.

The friends all enjoyed the impromptu celebration. After they had eaten some cake, Caine and Lo Si departed together for Caine's apartment. Sarah stayed behind to remove the decorations she had put up. Peter busied himself by checking some of the equipment.

"Now, all I need are some students," Peter muttered. Sarah walked up behind him as he was testing the heavy bag.

"Could I be your first student?" she asked him quietly.

"You? Why do you want to study kung fu?" he asked her.

"So I can defend myself and stop being afraid all the time," she told him. Peter could see the seriousness in her eyes. He decided that it was probably a good idea. He knew that most abuse victims feel powerless and that by giving her these tools to defend herself, he would be empowering her. "In fact," he thought, "I should really have a class especially for women who have been through what Sarah's been through." He would talk to Skalany and the precinct's social services coordinator tomorrow when he went to meet Kermit.

"A good answer, but you have to promise me one thing before I agree," Peter told her.

"What's that?"

"You have to look me in the eyes when I'm talking to you."

"That's it?" Sarah asked him, amazed. "No getting my dedication signed in blood, no swearing to practice faithfully, no promising not to beat everyone to a bloody pulp?"

"Well, now that you mention it, I expect all those things, too," Peter responded playfully. "What do you think?"

"I'll do my best, Peter, but it's not going to be easy to break a lifetime's habit," Sarah told him, gazing directly into his eyes.

No, it never is, Peter thought to himself. He'd been struggling to break a number of old habits himself. To Sarah he said, "Okay, you're in. I just happen to have an opening in my schedule, so I'll sign you up for private lessons. How's that?" he asked her.

"Great," she responded. "When do we start?"

"There's no time like the present, I always say," Peter replied.

Caine was discussing the deaths with Lo Si, seeking the old man's wisdom. Caine had already come to believe that these deaths were not accidental, drug-related deaths, but rather something more sinister. He wanted to have as much information as possible before he spoke to Peter about it.

Former Detective Peter Caine strode purposely into the 101st precinct, his father directly behind him. It felt a little strange to Peter, as if it had been a lifetime ago that he had been there. He headed for Kermit's office, acknowledging greetings from his former co-workers as he traveled.

He had almost made it to Kermit's door when he saw the one figure he was hoping to avoid. When she saw him, she headed straight towards him. "No, Jordan, you do not want to do this," Peter said under his breath. Fortunately, Mary Margaret saw what was about to take place, and she headed Jordan off at the pass, delaying her. Peter flashed his ex-partner a grateful smile and continued on his mission.

Kermit was waiting for them. "So, Caine and Son, what news do you have for me?" Kermit looked at them from behind his computer monitor.

Peter began to tell Kermit all that they had learned. The deaths were not accidental drug overdoses with bad smack, as had been suspected. They were murders. With Caine's help, all three of the John Does had now been identified, and a pattern had emerged. All of the dead men were the first-born sons of some very prominent Chinese businessmen.

"Pop seems to think that someone is leaning on the Chinese business community, trying to get them to cooperate with something illegal, say money laundering or drug smuggling, or something like that, and these particular families wouldn't play ball with them. So, as a message to anyone else that might try to cross them, they're killing off the eldest sons," Peter informed Kermit.

Kermit looked to Caine for confirmation. Caine spread out his hands and nodded. "Okay," Kermit said, "so maybe if we see what each of these families do for a living, we might be able to figure something out, huh? He was already typing furiously on his computer keyboard. "Have you guys talked to any of these families yet?" he wanted to know.

"No," Peter answered, as the door opened and Capt. Simms walked in, "I wasn't sure just how far I was allowed to go, what with regulations and all." Peter smiled at Capt. Simms.

"So, I see the rumors are true; you have changed, Peter. You were never very concerned about regulations before," Karen Simms said with a smile.

"Well, you know, we civilians have to watch our step, Capt." Peter responded. They informed the captain about the discoveries they had made.

"Peter, if you think you can find out something that can help us on this case, then you do whatever you need to do. I don't have to tell you what the press is going to do with this story once they find out that all these victims were the eldest sons of Chinese businessmen." Karen Simms was dreading the headlines already.

"Okay, Capt." Peter stood to leave. "We'll be in touch if we find out anything more."

"Thanks, Kid," said Kermit, "I owe you one."

"You owe me more than one, Frogman, and you know it," Peter replied as he and his father left.

Kermit leaned back in his chair, put his hands behind his head, and spoke softly, "Oh, yeah."

"Pop, while we're here I need to go talk to the station's social services coordinator about something. I'll be right back," Peter informed his father. "Try to stay out of trouble, okay?"

Caine gave his son a look that told him he was stepping out of line. Peter just shrugged at his father and turned back down the corridor.

When Peter returned, he could not find his father anywhere, so he returned to Kermit's office. "Hey, Kermit," he called as he stuck his head in the door, "Have you seen my Pop?"

"I believe he left with Skalany," Kermit told him. "You can't keep track of him for more than ten minutes at a time, can you?"

"It certainly seems that way," Peter responded. "Oh, well, I guess I'll head back to Chinatown. Catch you later, Kermit." If his father wanted to get back to Chinatown, he could just walk. Or get Mary Margaret to drive him.

Over the next several days Peter and Caine interviewed the families of the victims. Most of them were too terrified to tell them anything, but they did discover that the families were all involved in importing items from China for sale in the United States. Thus, the plot definitely seemed to involve smuggling of some sort, but they were unsure of what.

Peter began teaching classes at the kwoon. He had a number of neighborhood children who wanted to learn, and he had set up his class for battered women. That was the group Peter was most looking forward to working with, although he knew from his experiences with Sarah that it would be difficult.

Sarah seemed to take two steps forward and then one step backward. She easily accepted his presence now, but she still had a hard time when he touched her to help her with positioning during moves. Peter was as patient as he could be with her, but he had to admit that there were times when she really tried his patience. She teaches me patience, I teach her kung fu, Peter said to himself. I think she's getting the better part of the deal.

Even though Peter had admitted his frustration with her to himself, he was reluctant to discuss it with his father. He felt guilty that he was feeling this way. He wondered if he had ever tried his father's patience like this? Caine had never indicated that he had. Caine had always been the absolute model of patience, and Peter again felt that he couldn't live up to his father's example. Therefore, Peter was shocked when he heard his father raise his voice to Sarah.

Peter was just about to enter his father's apartment from the terrace when he heard his father's voice in a way he had never heard it. "The gifts and talents that you possess are no good to anyone, until and unless you break down these walls!" Caine told his apprentice forcefully. "I know you are making progress, but you must work harder! I will not let you waste your gifts or your life, Nuer!"

Peter heard the sounds of a muffled sob, running feet, and finally a door slamming as Sarah fled from her master.

Peter entered the room where his father stood staring silently at the doorway through which Sarah had fled. "Nice going, Pop!" Peter chastised his father. "You mind telling me what the hell that was? I have never, never, heard you speak to anyone like that." It didn't matter to Peter that he was using the same tone of voice now on his father, or that he had yelled at many people in his lifetime, including women.

"Peter, you must trust me. There is a time for patience, and there is a time for pushing. Right now was a time to push," Caine explained to his son. "Can you not recall a time when I pushed you in one way or another?"

"Yes, I can, but, Pop, that seemed downright mean," Peter protested.

Caine looked at him and shrugged. "I was not being mean, Peter. I was simply encouraging a lazy student. She must break down the walls that hold her prisoner within her own body. Just now, she has already shown progress after my...lecture," Caine informed him.

"Progress?" Peter was incredulous. "What was progress about that?"

"Have you ever heard her slam a door before?" Caine asked, an eyebrow raised at Peter. When Peter didn't responded, Caine nodded, and said, "Now, go and comfort her." It was not a request; it was an order.

Peter crossed the hallway and rapped on Sarah's door. "Sarah? Is it okay if I come in?" He got no response, which was pretty much what he'd expected. "I'm coming in, Sarah," he stated, opening the door.

He entered her room and found her lying on her side on her bed, curled into a ball. He sat down next to her, and reached out to lay his hand on her shoulder, which was visibly shaking as she wept. When Peter got no reaction to his hand on her shoulder, he decided that if his father's pushing had caused this, then he would push the matter, too.

He scooped Sarah up into his arms and settled her against his chest, caressing her hair, and murmuring softly. Her body was rigid, stiff with tension, but within a few moments Peter could feel her begin to relax. She pressed her face into his chest and sobbed as though her heart had been broken. "There now, Sarah, just let it all out," Peter told her, "Pop didn't mean to hurt you."

That was actually somewhat untrue. Peter knew his father had been hoping for a response such as this, but Sarah didn't have to know that. "He just wants to see you achieve all he knows you're capable of."

Sarah's sobbing slowly began to fade. She melted into Peter, drawing comfort from him. Peter tightened his arms around her, surprised that she was allowing the contact. Okay, Pop, he thought, you wanted progress; you got it.

She finally pulled back and looked up at Peter. "What does Nuer mean?" she asked him, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand.

Peter was glad that she had chosen to ask that particular question first. The answer would reassure her that Caine did care about her. He smiled broadly at her, "It means daughter." He winked at her. "I'd say Pop has a real soft spot for you, even though it might not seem like it right now."

"Was he as tough on you when you were learning?"

"Was he? He still is! Pop has this way of making me feel like I can never measure up to his standard. But now that I have begun teaching, I can see more clearly where he's coming from. He wants us to benefit from all his knowledge and he does whatever he thinks is necessary to drive the lessons home. Haven't you ever seen him smack me on the cheek?" Peter asked her.

Sarah shook her head, surprised to think of Caine ever hitting Peter.

"It doesn't really hurt," he quickly told her, thinking of her past experience with being smacked, "but he says he does it to drive the lesson in."

Peter looked at Sarah and decided he would really push his luck. If his father said this was a time for pushing, then Peter was going to push. "Hey, why don't we get out of here?" he asked her. "Sometimes, when I feel like I've really had it with everything, I have a special place that I like to go. Would you like to see it?"

Sarah nodded. "All right, come on," Peter pulled her off the bed by the hand and escorted her to his Stealth.

Peter knew the car wasn't exactly standard Shaolin transportation, but he had not been able to bring himself to part with the wonderful car. Sarah ran an appreciative eye over it. "She's a real beauty, Peter," she told him, as she climbed into the passenger seat through the door that Peter held for her. "I've seen you pull up to the building in her, but this is the first time I've seen her up close."

Peter wondered if he would ever stop being surprised by the things Sarah seemed to pull out of her hat. There was so much he didn't know about her. "I didn't know you liked sports cars," Peter told her as he settled in the Stealth's driver's seat.

"My dad was really into cars," she shared. "Since he never had a son, he used to take me with him to car shows from the time I was able to walk. Mom didn't really like them so it was a thing that just Dad and I did together. I've often wondered what it would have been like if he hadn't died when I was so young."

"I know what you mean. I don't really have any memories of my mother. The only things I know about her are the things that Pop has told me. And I remember the smell of her perfume. Pop used to make it especially for her."

"Really? How romantic," Sarah murmured.

Peter chuckled. "You know, I've never thought of it that way, but I guess you're right. My Pop, the romantic. Hmmm, that's not exactly a picture of him I've ever thought about before. This is it," he told her as they pulled up to his "secret place."

Peter and Sarah walked down by the water's edge and sat down. "I had a place with water, too," she told Peter. "About a mile into the woods behind my house, there was this great stream. I used to go there a lot after Mr. Wonderful and I had... had... one of our disagreements."

"What don't you call it what it was?" Peter asked. "Say, after he beat me."

Sarah lowered her head and repeated, "After he beat me."

"Sarah, look at me. You promised me you'd look me in the face when we talked, didn't you?" Sarah lifted her head and Peter could see the glistening of fresh tears that threatened to spill over. "Sarah, don't you dare hang your head in shame when you talk about this. You had nothing to do with what happened to you, so you have no cause for shame. The shame and dishonor all belongs to those who did this to you." I really am starting to sound like Pop, he thought. "Now, tell me about your secret place."

"The stream was so soothing to me. I would sit and listen to it for hours as it bubbled along. Sometimes I used the water for cleaning up my face. He... he...had a tendency to hit me in the face," Sarah told him. "But amazingly enough, beside that water, I could almost find peace. It was as if nature could help put me back together. Of course, after I married, there was no more going to that stream, so there was no more healing by the water."

Peter thought that he would really like to get his hands on both of the men who had shattered this woman into so many pieces, he wasn't sure if they'd ever have her whole again. "Maybe you'd like some time here alone," he told her. "No hurry; I'll be waiting in the car."

Returning to the Stealth, Peter pulled his cell phone from the glove box. He wanted to check in with Kermit and find out how things were going with the Chinese businessmen murder case.

Sarah joined him in the car just as he was hanging up the phone. "Thanks, Peter, for sharing your secret place with me. I think I feel a bit better now," she told him.

"Good. Now, how about one more stop before we head home?" Sarah eyed him dubiously. She felt like she had been through the wringer today and wasn't sure she was up to anymore. "I'll buy you some pizza..." Peter tried to tempt her.

"Pizza? I haven't had pizza in so long I'm not sure if I remember what it tastes like!! All right, as long as it's a quiet pizza place, not too crowded," she responded.

"No problem," Peter said. He looked over at her before starting the car, "And a couple of friends are going to meet us there."

"PETER!" Sarah bellowed at him, shocking them both. "I think I've changed my mind. You go have pizza, but take me home first."

"Oh, no, you already agreed. Besides, you already know and like Mary Margaret, so it's only one new person for you to meet."

"Lovely," Sarah muttered, "and just who might that be?"

"My very good friend, Kermit. You would have met him already if you hadn't climbed down off the terrace that day," Peter reminded her. "Don't worry, he might look a little scary, but he would never hurt you. Now, if you were a bad guy, then you could be worried."

Peter observed Sarah from the corner of his eye while they rode to the restaurant. She was stiffening up on him again; he could see the tension all over her body. Well, Peter, he thought, if this works you will have made miles of progress today. He didn't want to think how many steps backward they could go if Sarah got spooked.

Skalany and Kermit had not yet arrived, so Peter and Sarah sat down at a round booth in the back. The waitress arrived to take their order. "I'll have a beer," Peter told her.

"I'll have a root beer," Sarah said. The waitress left. Peter looked over at Sarah. "Battle scars?" he inquired.

She nodded. "I don't drink at all," she informed him. "After losing my dad to a drunk driver, and watching what booze did to my stepfather and ex-husband - and as a result, me," Peter was proud to find her gazing right into his eyes as she spoke, "I decided that I would never drink."

"Never?"

"Never. I've never even had a taste of it. Of course, what you choose to do is your business." Sarah didn't want Peter to think she was condemning him for having a beer. "It's just one of those battle scars - things."

"And what about the flower shirts?" Peter was curious and while she was talking he wanted to get as many answers as possible. She seemed to have a never-ending supply of different floral-print shirts.

Sarah actually chuckled. "That's not a battle scar, it's more what I call a badge of courage, something I do in defiance of my past. My ex-husband controlled everything in my life, right down to the clothes that I wore. He never allowed me to wear anything bright or colorful. So, when I was finally able to choose for myself, I vowed to never wear anything bland or boring again. My hair's the same thing. He never let me cut my hair. They had to cut it in the hospital because I had a head injury, but once it was my choice I never let it grow long again."

"Well, I happen to like it the way it is," Peter assured her. So many parts of the puzzle were beginning to make sense to him. He really began to understand how past events shaped a person. He finally appreciated the fact that he would be a completely different person if it were not for the fifteen-year separation from his father. Wow, he thought to himself, I've struggled for so long over that one. Maybe now I can have peace about it. It's true, the student does teach the teacher.

Peter's pondering was interrupted by the appearance of Skalany and Kermit. "Well, here you are," Skalany said to them as she slid into the booth next to Sarah. Peter gave her a grateful smile, as he turned to introduce Kermit.

"Kermit, I'd like you to meet Sarah Jacobson. Sarah, I'd like to introduce Kermit Griffin." Kermit reached his hand across the table to shake Sarah's hand. She reached without hesitation to clasp it in her own.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Dollface," Kermit told her. Sarah blushed, thinking back to how she had climbed down the fire escape to avoid meeting him before.

"Thank you, Kermit. It's nice to meet you, too. Do you mind if I ask you a question?" Kermit nodded his approval as he seated himself on the other side of Skalany. "Is that really your name?"

Kermit began to laugh. "Oh, yeah," he told her. "But I am definitely not a Muppet."

"So, how's it going, Kiddo?" Skalany asked Sarah. "Is Caine working you hard?"

Sarah looked at Peter uncertainly. "I guess you could say that," Peter answered for her.

"Oops, did I touch a sore spot?" Skalany wanted to know.

Peter gave her a look that said, 'Drop it, now,' but Sarah answered her, "Let's just say it's been one of those days, Mary Margaret."

The group ordered their pizza, and then Peter asked to be updated on the Chinatown case. Unfortunately, Kermit and Skalany didn't have a lot of new information for Peter. They kicked different ideas back and forth while they ate.

Kermit told Peter that Caine had been by the station to see him only yesterday. Caine had been making inquiries around Chinatown regarding the case, but even he wasn't making much headway.

Peter was suddenly aware of how Sarah was looking at him. "What, do I have cheese stuck on my chin or something?" he asked her.

"No, it's just that I think I'm getting a glimpse of Peter Caine, the cop, here. I must say he seems different from the Peter that I know," she commented.

Skalany and Kermit both began to laugh. "If you only knew the half of it," Mary Margaret told her. "I could tell you stories..."

"But you won't," Peter informed her curtly. "I don't need you filling my student's mind with all sorts of images of me as a cop." Peter was definitely blushing.

Sarah looked at him curiously, and gave him a half smile. She would just have to pump Mary Margaret for information the next time she saw her alone.

Peter walked Sarah to the third floor of the building when they finally returned home. He stopped her in front of his father's door. "Okay, now go make nice with Pop," he ordered her.

Sarah began to offer up excuses, maybe he wasn't home, maybe he was asleep. "He's home, and he's not asleep," Peter told her.

"How do you know?" she asked him.

"Just trust me, I know," Peter assured her.

"All right. Good night, Peter, and... thanks for everything."

"You're welcome," he replied, kissing her lightly on the forehead. "Now, go!"

"Yes, Sifu," she remarked with a bow. Peter playfully swatted her before he realized what he was doing, but Sarah never even flinched. She turned to the door, but before she even knocked she heard Caine's voice telling her to enter. She turned back to Peter, "How does he do that?"

Peter bowed to her, "Shaolin secret. I'll never tell." He spun on his heel and was gone, leaving his father to do his own patching up with his apprentice.

In the middle of the night Peter was awakened by a strange sound. He sat up in bed and strained to hear it again. The sound was coming from the fire escape. Before he could jump from his bed four masked intruders leapt into his room. "What the..." Peter scrambled from his bed as they descended upon him.

Sarah sat bolt upright in bed. Something was very wrong. She raced across the hall to Caine's apartment, nearly running into him in the hall. "Master," she began, "Peter..."

"Yes, I know," Caine told her. He did not have time to ponder how his apprentice also knew. He pulled her back into his darkened apartment. "You stay here and be very quiet. Do not come out until I tell you to, do you understand?"

"Yes, Master." Sarah was trembling with fear. "I'll stay right here. Now go to Peter." Caine was gone before she could even finish her sentence.

Peter was busy fending off his four attackers. When two rushed him together, Peter calmly used them as weapons against each other, smashing them into one another. He dispatched the next attacker with a stunning kick to the chin. His luck began to turn, however when the four finally coordinated their attack.

Peter winced as he was jabbed in the leg with something. He heard the object clatter to the floor, and he followed it there as his attackers hurled him to the ground. Peter bounded to his feet as quickly as he was able, but his attackers were already making their way back out to the fire escape. They had not uttered a word during the attack.

Peter was startled by his father's sudden appearance at his elbow. "Peter, are you all right?" he asked, concerned.

"Yeah, Pop. I think I'm okay. They did jab me in the thigh with something; I think it fell over here." Peter searched for the object used to stab him. "Pop, turn on the light would you?"

"Yes, my son." Caine headed towards the light switch. It was then that they heard a bloodcurdling scream from upstairs. "SARAH!" they exclaimed together, and rushed out to the main staircase, taking the steps two at a time.

They entered Caine's apartment at a run, Peter taking a half-second to turn on the lights. He skidded to a stop when he saw the still form crumpled on the floor. "Sarah," he whispered, moving to join his father at her side.

"She is all right, my son," Caine told Peter. "She will be fine in a minute."

"Fine!" Peter spat out, "You call that fine? She's only semiconscious, Pop, and look at that welt on her cheek." Peter stopped talking as Sarah began to stir. She looked up at Peter and shook her head, as if to clear the cobwebs.

"Peter? Are you okay?" she asked.

"Me? I'm fine. What about you?"

Sarah reached out for Peter's hand. "I'm fine. Help me up," she demanded.

"Oh, no. You just lay there for a minute," he ordered her. "Wait 'til the room stops spinning."

"How did you know about that?"

"Been there before," he informed her. "Pop," he called to his father, "Pop, what are you looking at?" Caine had moved off towards the terrace and was examining something on the floor.

"Peter, is Sarah bleeding?" Caine inquired. Peter took Sarah's head gently in his hands and carefully examined her.

"No, why?"

"Then I believe we have some...evidence."

"Don't move," Peter instructed Sarah as he joined his father. "Yup, that's blood all right. Wonder how that happened?"

"Umm..." Sarah began, as she sat up. "I smacked him in the face with the marble pestle," she confessed.

Caine and Peter looked at one another and burst out laughing, breaking the tension of the situation. This had certainly been a day for surprises.

Sarah looked hurt. "Well, I don't see what's so funny, " she spluttered.

Peter returned to her side and gave her a big hug. "Congratulations, Sarah," he told her. "You just had your first fight. How's it feel to be a participant rather than a punching bag?"

Caine gave Peter a disapproving look. "Peter, do not encourage her to fight. Remember, there is always another way. Besides," he informed them both, "she forgot the most important rule."

"Oh, yeah, Pop, you're right," Peter said as he examined her face again, gently probing the welt that was swelling on her cheek.

"What's the most important rule?" she asked sheepishly.

Both Caines looked at her and recited in unison, "Duck!"

"Oh! I guess I'll have to work on that."

"Yes, you will," Peter said with a slightly evil look in his eye, "you will." Sarah could tell she would be working hard in his class for the next few weeks. Suddenly Peter fell down, landing on the floor beside her.

"Peter, what is it?" Sarah gasped.

"My leg, it's gone numb," he informed Sarah and his father. Caine was quickly at his son's side, examining the leg where he had been stabbed. "I guess I forgot about that in all the excitement."

Caine dispatched Sarah to Peter's apartment to call the 101st. As she got to the door, she suddenly called out, "Master Caine? Peter? I think I've found more evidence!"

Stuck to the door with a wicked-looking knife was a note written in Chinese. Peter limped over to look at it, leaning on his father for support. "Yes, I'd definitely call that evidence," he informed Sarah. "You'd make a great cop," he said to her in fun.

"No, thank you!" she replied emphatically. "This is more excitement than I need in my life! I'll stick with plants and herbs. I'm going to make that phone call now!"

While Sarah was gone, Peter demanded that his father read the note to him. Caine was reluctant to tell Peter what it said, making Peter even more certain that he already had a good idea of what it was all about.

Part 1   Part 2

Back to author's index      Back to Story index