Kermit sat in his Kermitmobile typing something into his laptop. Suddenly a familiar figure opened the door and sat in the vacant seat. “So what do you want to do?” The person asked. 

 Kermit looked at the person and continued to type. “First of all we have to find Guerrero before Peter does. I wish I would’ve thought about planting a bug on him when I had a chance.” 

 “Why didn’t you?” 

 “Look, Jade. I haven’t been myself lately. I punched a wall for godsake in front of everyone.” Kermit hated what this was doing to him. That case that he was on a few weeks ago now, was almost too much for him. “I’ve always been one who has been able to keep all of his emotions in tack. Never letting anyone know just what I’m feeling. Never letting it show that I was human. At times I regretted that fact, but now I would give anything to go back to that way.” 

 “Tell me what happened over there. I heard the reports over the secure channels but I want to hear it from you.” Jade grabbed a hold of Kermit’s hand before he could continue typing and forget that she even asked. 

 “It was supposed to be a real simple in and out mission. I don’t even know why I did it. I just can’t do that anymore.” Kermit began to explain. “I guess my conscious caught up with me over the years. I’ve become soft. Killing innocent people is just too much for me.” Kermit rarely told anyone about his feelings but he knew he could trust her. “I was with Jacob, you remember him.” Jade nodded. Jacob was like the uncle she never had, or knew. “We went into that building to secure it, and bring that slimball out. There was this kid, no older than, I’d have to say nine. Jacob walked up to him and asked him if he was alright. The kid just pulled out a nine millimeter and shot him in the chest.” 

Kermit closed his eyes as the scene played over in his mind. “Jacob was shot just like Jody was, same place and everything. I did what just came natural for me. I shot that little boy right between the eyes.” He removed his glasses and thought about what happened next. “I should’ve aborted the mission and save Jacob, but instead I continued. By the time I came back, he was dead.” Jade looked down at the floormats. “I couldn’t do a thing to save him. I’ve known Jacob for, god twenty years. And because of my stupidity and arrogance, he’s dead.” 

 Jade turned in the seat to look at Kermit, “There was nothing that you could’ve done. There was no way that you could’ve known that the boy was going to kill him.” 

 “I should’ve known. I used to be able to tell these sort of things. Not anymore. You know the reason why I think I showed my emotions so badly in the past few weeks.” Jade shook her head, as she listen intently to what Kermit had to say. “Peter is so much like Jacob. Paul kept commenting on the likeness between the two. I promised Paul that I would take care of Jacob and Peter. I failed once I won’t do it again.” 

 “You can’t always blame yourself for what others are doing. You are still caring around the guilt over what happened to me. But I hate to be the one to tell you this. You can’t save everyone.” 

 “I will be there this time. Nothing will happen to Peter or Jody.” Kermit placed the key into the ignition and started the car. “Just promise me one thing.” 

 “You know I will do whatever I can for you.” Jade looked at the man next to her. 

 “No matter what happens, don’t ever loose yourself. I know I can’t talk you out of staying in the business, I lost that right a long time ago. But I don’t want you to become like your old man.” Kermit grabbed her hand. “Promise me that.” 

 “I’ll try. You know that I can’t promise. But I will try.” As Kermit pulled the car out of the parking lot Jade continued, “You’ll be yourself soon enough. Just think about maybe changing a little bit. Have you ever thought that all of the emotions that you have kept bottled up inside of you finally couldn’t be contained anymore?” Kermit didn’t answer. “It’s good to let people know every once in a while that you are human. Just don’t let it become a habit okay. And next time, get away from the situation before your explosive behavior acts up again.” 

 Kermit just laughed, “You know me too well.” 

 “That’s because we were cut from the same cloth, you and I.” 

  

Peter climbed the fire escape of his father’s place and walked in, “Pop?” He began to walk down the hallway leading to the meditation room, still calling for his father. “Pop? Where are you?” 

 “I am in here, Peter,” came a voice from the Apothecary room. Caine was standing behind his table mixing some herbs as he usually did when he was not meditating. Today was his weekly trip to the hospital, so he wanted to make sure that he had his things ready. Caine didn’t even turn around when Peter walked into the room, “What is troubling you, my son?” 

 Peter stood on the other side of the table and preceded to pick up some herbs. He had learned a little bit about the Apothecary work in the past few months, but there was still much to learn. “I need your help.” Before his father could say anything in reply Peter walked around the table and stood next to his father. “Look I know you told me that I needed to do this on my own and that you couldn’t help me. But I can’t do this alone. I need your help to... unlock what’s inside my head. To help me understand these visions I keep having.” 

 “Peter, I am sorry but I can not. You must do this on your own.” Caine couldn’t look at his son. He knew how frightened he was. All he wanted to do was to help Peter, but he knew that this was Peter’s destiny. 

 “Maybe it’s time to grow up, huh.” Peter just turned away from his father and looked out onto the city. “Maybe I have relied on you too much. I guessed that you would always be there for me when I needed a hand, when I needed a friend. I guess I was wrong.” 

 Caine finally turned and looked at his son. Even though he only could see the back of him, Caine understood Peter’s anguish. “I will always be here for you. That will never change. There is just something’s that one must face on their own. This is one of those times.” 

 Peter laughed, “It’s funny you know. You were always the one who would tell me that I couldn’t help you cause it was something that you needed to do on your own. Maybe I just thought that things were different.” Peter turned to look at his father. “I can’t do it, Pop. Not on my own. I just don’t have the training, I don’t know enough.” 

 “You have completed your training, have you not?” 

 “Yea, but as Lo Si keeps reminding me, I didn’t take the brands. This is something that only a Shaolin Priest or a Shambala Master can do. I can’t time travel. I’m just a Shaolin Cop. What good is that?” Peter in the past week had begun to second guess himself. He wondered if his life would’ve been better if he had taken the brands and left the force. “I just don’t know what to do.” 

 Caine walked up to his son and took his hand. “Peter come with me.” They walked out onto the patio and Caine turned to his son. “Let me tell you a story.” 

 Peter laughed again, “Aren’t I a little to old for storytime?” 

Caine lightly punched his son on the cheek, one of his ways of showing affection. “When your mother became ill. I felt as you do now, that I was unable to help her. I thought that I was not skilled enough to give her what she needed.” 

 Peter felt all of the old feeling within himself begin to surface again. He closed his eyes and looked down at the ground. “I remember. I was so mad at you for a long, long time. I thought that you were like a god. That you could do anything. I thought that you could save her.” 

 “I felt as if maybe I could have done more to save her. I knew that I did all I could. After she died, I withdrew into my self. I refused to let anyone share in the pain that I was feeling. Including yourself. I made a promise that day that I would do everything in my power to protect you. To keep you from harm.” 

 “You have, Pop,” Peter said in a quiet voice. 

 “I now realize that I can not and will not always be there for you when you need assistance. I was not there for you when you became a cop. When you went to the orphanage.” Caine told his son. He placed a hand onto Peter’s shoulder. 

 “That wasn’t your fault. Ping Hi made us both believe that the other was dead. I in my own sense withdrew into myself. I’ve had problems with relationships cause I’m afraid of loosing them. So I just never allowed myself to really feel.” 

 “It is time for us both to, as you say grow up. We need to learn to live not only as one for we will always have that. But we must also learn to live as single entities. It is time for the both of us to accept that.” Peter finally realized that maybe his father didn’t want to do this, not helping him. This is what was best for the both of them. “This must be done for someday I will not be around to assist you. You will be in your own right a Master. You must learn something’s on your own. This is one of those times.” 

 Peter nodded, he was right. He had to figure this one out on his own, but.. “If I do run into an obstacle that I can’t overcome, will you help me?” 

 “I will.” Pulling his son into a bearhug he continued, “I love you, Peter.” 

 “I love you too, Pop.” 

  

Jody sat in her bed listening to the news. Many members of the 101st would stop by to see her and try and cheer her up. It didn’t work. She wanted to see them, to know what they’re wearing. This was hard, but she always looked forward to Annie Blaisdell’s visit. Annie would be the only one that would tell her the truth. Jody felt a presence in the room with her, “Who’s there?” 

 “Jody?” came the voice. 

 “Mom?” Mrs. Blakemore rushed over to her daughter’s side and hugged her. “I wasn’t sure that you’d make it. I thought you were on vacation visiting the family.” 

 “I was but Mary Margaret phoned me and told me what had happened. Are you alright?” Jody’s mother asked. She had the sound of a worried mother. 

 “I’m fine. The doctor said that the blindness maybe temporary, and that there is a surgery that might be able to repair the damage that was caused.” Jody informed her mother who still held her tightly. “I’m fine really mom.” 

 “I was just so scared. I lost one daughter to the police force I didn’t want to loose you as well.” She said pulling away and looked into her daughter’s eyes. “Don’t ever scare me like that again, Promise?” 

 “I’ll try not to, mom, but you know me. Always the troublemaker.” 

 Mrs. Blakemore pulled a chair next to the bed and just held her daughter’s hand. “So anyway, how is Peter?” 

 Jody rolled her eyes at that question. “He has hardly left my side. It’s getting a little too much at times. He keeps telling me that everything will be alright, but to tell you the truth mom,” Jody was trying to hold back the tears that have pushed aside for too long. Jody hadn’t really let out the sadness and anger that she felt over loosing her sight. “Everything that ever meant something to me, everything that made me who I am. All of it is gone, just like that.” She said as she snapped her fingers together. “I have nothing left.” Her mother pulled her into another hug and let her cry. “What am I going to do now, mom?” 

 Unknown to the both of them, Peter was standing outside of the room. He headed there after talking to his father. He had heard everything that Jody had said. Leaning against the wall next to the door, he closed his eyes. *Mom was right. I am being an over- protective boyfriend and not the friend that she needs. I need to face the fact that all I’m doing by denying this is hurting her.* he thought to himself. “I’m sorry, Jody,” he whispered. “I’ll find out who did this to you.” He turned and started walking down the hallway, “And I’ll come to terms with this. Somehow, I’ll find a way to forgive myself. For you.” 

  

Peter sat in his living room and lit a candle. It was time to find the one who was responsible. Positioning himself in the lotus position in the middle of his living room, he began to take deep breaths, and concentrated on that night. In his hand he held a piece of cloth from the jacket Jody wore that night. Slowly images began to surface in his mind. 

(VISION) 

 Peter stood on the pier where the stake-out had taken place. He never thought in his wildest dreams that he could do this without his father and Lo Si. As he looked out to the surrounding area, he remembered where he had to go. Slowly, unsure of himself, he began to walk past where he and Kermit had been. "I try not to place too much faith in rumors, Captain." Peter heard off behind one of the boxes. It was Kermit. 

Peter continued to walk still hearing the conversation in his mind. Whether it was from his own memories or from his travel he was not sure. "Well just think of this as your welcome back party, Detective." Simms added 

 "Yea, right." 

"Yea, you never told us how you hurt your arm." Peter heard Jody’s voice. He had to find her and see what happened. 

"Well at least it wasn't his shooting arm. It's just a little harder for him to play all of those games on his computer." Peter heard himself say. Peter now couldn’t understand why they always joked at these things. Maybe it was to break the tension. 

 “All units report in." He heard as he continued to walk in the direction that Jody was at. 

 Once all units had reported into the Captain he continued to hear the conversation. 

"They know what to do, Captain. Everyone at the 101st are professionals. If you don't like the fact that we're here we'll just leave." As Peter rounded a corner he saw Jody kneeling down looking through a pair of binoculars. Guerrero was standing behind her moving to the front. Peter stepped closer to the two. He noticed that the wire connecting the mouthpiece to the antenna was cut. *Jody, couldn’t call for help if she needed it. But it was working fine not that long ago.* He thought. That’s when Peter saw what had happened. Guerrero pulled out a spare gun, the Beretta, placing the silencer on the mussel. 

 What Peter saw next was horrifying. Guerrero turned the gun onto Jody and fired, hitting her in the chest. "Oh yea, we could be at Dalancy's having a beer or two. You know us, Captain Jones, we at the 101st are nothing more than a bunch of hot-shot, shoot first ask questions later, drink all night type of Detectives." Jody then pulled out her gun and fired. 

"What the... All units report. Report." Came a voice. Then after Guerrero was hit he tossed the gun into the water. A man from behind Jody picked up the Crowbar and preceded to hit her across the skull. Peter tried to see the face but couldn’t. He did notice that Guerrero gave the man a thumbs up sign then he laid down on the ground. The man disappeared right after hitting Jody. 

Peter knew that he wouldn’t catch the man now so he turned to the water to see where the gun had landed. Turning only to take a quick look back to where Jody was at, he felt his heart break again as he saw himself holding onto her for dear life. "We need an ambulance. Officer down. Oh god, Jody. Don't leave me." He heard himself say. He could not bear to live through that again, so he dove into the water to find the gun. 

  

When Peter came out of the meditation state he passed out from exhaustion. He wasn’t strong enough to bring back the gun. He wasn’t even strong enough yet or skilled enough yet to really try what he just did. But with his determination and love for Jody, he accomplished what he had set out to do. When he woke up he would go and get the answers he needed from Guerrero, now it was time to rest. 

  

Peter woke up feeling something being pressed against his lips. Slowly as if coming out of a darkened room he opened his eyes. As his vision cleared he saw his father over him pressing a cup to his lips. “Take this, my son. It will strengthen you.” Peter sat up a little, enough to drink. “You should not have attempted this alone, Peter.” 

 “I had to try, Father. I needed answers, and you couldn’t help me, remember,” Peter told his father, his voice barely above a whisper. “I saw it. I was there, Pop.” 

 “Your Chi has been severely weakened, Young Caine.” Said another voice from behind his father. “You must rest.” 

 “Lo Si?” 

 “Yes, your father contacted me and informed me of what had happened.” Lo Si moved in next to Caine. “You were not ready to make that journey alone.” 

 “I had to try. What time is it?” Peter asked slowly getting up from his spot on the floor. His neck hurt from sleeping on the living room floor. “Next time remind me to move to the bed before I pass out.” 

 Caine smiled at his son’s attempt of humor, “It is almost ten.” 

 Peter quickly finished sitting up and his head began to ache. “Damn. I gotta get to the Precinct. I have to get a team down to the pier.” 

 “You must rest.” Caine forced Peter back down on his back. “Why did you not contact me before attempting to do this?” 

 “I didn’t think you would help. You said that I had to do this alone. So I figured what the hell.” Peter laughed. “Man the guys at the Precinct must be wondering where I am.” 

 “Kermit stopped by here and I informed him of what had happened. He will return soon to talk to you.” Caine informed and placed another cup to Peter’s lips. “Did you find what you were looking for, my son?” 

 “Yes and no. I kept telling myself that I wouldn’t be able to do that, but I just concentrated on that time and place. Sure enough it worked.” Peter seemed amazed that he had been able to do that. 

 Caine was both angry and proud of Peter at that moment. Angry for Peter did not attempt to contact him before trying what he did, and proud that Peter had accomplished what he had set out to do. He was truly Shaolin. Soon Peter would accept his destiny and become a Shaolin Priest. When that happened Caine would move on. “You did well, my son. I am very proud of you.” 

 “Thanks Pop. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you what I was going to do. Maybe I should next time.” Peter smirked. 

 “What did you see?” Caine asked. 

 “I know who shot Jody, except there were two guys. I didn’t get a look at the other one. But I get the feeling that he was the same one that was in Guerrero’s room the night he disappeared.” 

An hour later Kermit entered the room and found Peter sitting on the couch, Caine and Lo Si were not there. “Where’s Caine?” 

 Peter turned to Kermit, “He went to pick up some more herbs.” He suddenly felt uncomfortable. “Look, Kermit. I’m sorry for the way I acted the other day. I guess with everything I just...” 

 Kermit walked into the kitchen and pulled out a beer. “I’m off duty.” He said referring to the beer in his hand. “You don’t need to apologize. I’ve not been myself as of late. Demons from the past, you know.” 

 “Do I ever.” Peter sighed. He hated that fact that he had snapped at Kermit that way, they had been friends for a long time. “I just wanted to say I was sorry that’s all. And that I’ll understand if I’m no longer on this case.” 

 “Would it matter if you were or not?” Kermit asked as he sat down in the chair next to the couch. Peter noticed that he didn’t have his sunglasses on. Instead he hung onto then in the opposite hand the beer was in. 

 “Well no, but still,” he laughed. 

 “Good I’d hate to think that you’ve changed your tune.” Kermit was relieved that all of the hard feelings between them lately could begin to heal themselves. “Caine said that you did whatever Shaolin thing you did and saw what happened.” 

 “Yea, I need your help. Guerrero shot Jody, I saw it.” Kermit’s eyes went wide. That thought had crossed his mind but to hear that it was true.. “He tossed the gun into the water. We need to find it.” 

 “I’ll get a team of divers to comb the area. But that’s not it, is it?” Kermit leaned forward in the chair, resting his elbows on his knees. He wanted to understand what happened. He wanted to know what Peter did, even though he didn’t fully understand the Shaolin philosophy he tried. Kermit was always willing to learn new things and knew that whatever it was the Peter and his father did defied standard logic. 

 “No, there’s more. There was someone else there. I didn’t see his face.” Peter answered standing and moving to the kitchen to get himself a beer. 

 Kermit turned in the direction that Peter was heading, “So you think that Guerrero works for this guy?” Peter just nodded in response. “We need to find Guerrero.” 

 “I agree but for the life of me I don’t even know where to start looking.” 

 Kermit was puzzled, “What about your father? Can’t Caine find him?” 

 Peter stepped back into the living room and looked at Kermit. “My Father can’t help me. This is something that I need to handle myself.” 

 “Is that his words or yours?” 

 “His actually. He said that I needed to confront my demons alone this time. This is part of my destiny. Whatever the hell that means.” Peter sat back down on the couch and began to sip his beer. “I don’t know, Kermit. But I think that I’m starting to realize what that destiny is.” 

 “What is that?” Kermit was curious, he wondered what state of mind his friend was in. 

“I’ll tell you when I’m sure.” 

  

China Town was the normal hysteria for that time of day. People walking down the streets talking and shopping. Kermit and Peter began the search for Guerrero, starting at the hospital and moving towards downtown. As they drove down one of the main streets Peter pointed to a Police barricade. “Wonder what’s going on there?” 

 Kermit pulled off to the side of the road and got out. Both men pulled out their badges to show the men at the police line. Then Kermit spotted Jack Lasher and the SWAT Team getting into position. Peter pointed off in the direction of one of the cars, “There’s TJ and Mary Margaret. Let’s go ask them.” 

 TJ was standing talking to one of the cops on the scene telling him what he knew. Evidently, Skalany and TJ were the first on the scene. Kermit walked up to TJ and placed a hand on his shoulder, “What’s going on in there, Detective?” 

 TJ smiled at the sight of two friendly, familiar faces, “Some wacko is holding an FBI Agent and his Girlfriend hostage in there.” 

 Kermit’s eyes went wide, *Jade.* “Let me guess the Agent’s name is Chono and the one holding them is Detective Guerrero.” 

 Skalany looked at Kermit, confused. “The Agent is Chono, but no one know who is holding them. How do you know? I would expect something like that from Peter but you?” 

 Kermit saw Blake sitting in one of the Vans, he walked over to him. “What do you have, Blake?” 

 Blake jumped when he had heard the voice. His attention was focused on tying to hear what was going on in that building that he didn’t hear Kermit come up behind him. “Don’t do that, Kermit. Trying to give a heart-attack?” 

 “Don’t you wish?” Kermit responded. “Anything?” 

 “I’m trying this new ultra sensitive voice detection unit. I’m not even sure that it’ll work. I wanted to test it out before this but the Captain doesn’t see it that way.” Blake said as he continued to turn some of the dials on a unit next to him. 

 Kermit stepped into the van and looked around. “Well that’s the Captain for you. Who called Lasher?” 

 A voice behind Kermit spoke. “The Commissioner, when he found out that there’s an FBI Agent inside. But I guess you wouldn’t know about that sort of thing now would you?” 

 Kermit turned to face the man, “Well just what in the world do you mean, Jack.” 

 “Keeping up the relations between agencies.” Jack Lasher, former mercenary in his own right, and now SWAT Team Captain. Kermit never really liked the man. “Just what are you doing here, Kermit? Trying to stick your nose in where it doesn’t belong as always.” 

 “Oh, you hurt my feelings, Jack. And here I thought that I would ask you out for a beer.” Kermit said as cocky as he could, grinning from ear to ear. 

 Blake stopped any further discussion between the two when he spoke up, “I think I got something.” 

 Lasher looked from Kermit to Blake. “Well let’s hear it.” 

 -Just what do you want?- 

 -You’re death.- 

 -You kill either one of us you’ll never make it out of here alive. They’re onto you Enrique. They know what you did.- 

 Kermit’s beliefs were confirmed. “Detective Guerrero.” 

 Lasher snapped his head in the direction of Kermit. “What?” Blake looked at Kermit as well, how did he know? 

 “Detective Enrique Guerrero of the 97th Precinct. He escaped from his hospital room last night.” Kermit informed the men and began to walk away to let Peter know that they found him. 

 Before Kermit could get to far Lasher grabbed a hold of his arm and stopped him, “Just what do you know about this, Kermit?” 

 “A lot more than you do, Captain.” Kermit said coming face to face with Lasher. “Let’s just say that it’s personal.” 

 “Nothing is personal when I’m on the case. Tell me what is going on or I’ll have you written up, Detective.” Lasher threatened. 

 “It wouldn’t be the first time,” Kermit just stepped away from Lasher and walked towards Peter. “It’s Guerrero alright, and he’s holding my friend and an FBI agent inside.” 

 “What do you want to do?” 

 Kermit thought about it. He could let Jade handle it, but with Lasher around he didn’t see that happening. “What type of Shaolin tricks do you have up your sleeve?” Both men smiled, thinking the same thing. 

 “Oh I think I can get us in without being noticed.” Peter responded. 

 “Let’s go.” The two men moved away from the crowd in front of the building and headed toward the back. “There’s an entrance back here that’ll lead straight into the storage room.” Rounding a corner Kermit saw the door. “There.” 

 Peter stood in front of the door and pressed his hands together. “You ready?” 

“Oh yea.” Kermit said pulling out his gun. Peter closed his eyes, took a deep breath. His hand waved in front of the doorknob, unlocking it. “Shaolin skills never leave home without it.” Kermit added as he opened the door. They moved like cats as they made their way to the main room, where Guerrero and the others were. “Okay, you move around behind him, I’ll surprise him from the front.” 

 “Why do I get to be the one who has to go behind. That’s an easy way to be caught if he sees me.” Peter whispered back to Kermit. 

 “Cause you’re Shaolin, you move like water, or something like that.” Peter smiled and shook his head. “Good-Luck, Peter.” 

 “Don’t get shot.” Peter slowly began to walk to the corner of the room, using his training to try and hide from the man with the gun. Once he was in position he nodded over to Kermit with the okay. 

 Kermit checked his gun and stepped out of his spot around a corner. “Alright, Guerrero. Give yourself up.” Kermit yelled as he pointed his gun directly at Guerrero’s head. 

Guerrero quickly turned his gun onto Kermit and was about to pull the trigger when he grabbed from behind and thrown to the ground. His gun flew from his hand. Peter reached back his arm and then hit the man directly in the chest knocking him breathless and unconscious. Kermit walked up to Peter and shook his hand. “Nice work.” A second later, Captain Lasher and his SWAT Team entered the building. “Better late than never, huh, Lasher.” 

 “What in the world do you think the two of you were trying to do? Get everyone killed.” Peter and Kermit just shrugged. 

“We got him didn’t we?” Kermit said. 

 “Yea with not a single shot fired. I might add.” Peter added. Then he walked up to Guerrero and handcuffed him, “You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to be unconscious. Anything you say, if you were awake enough to, can be used against you in a court of law.” Skalany and TJ came into the room behind Lasher. 

 TJ just looked at the unconscious man, “I liked that, Peter. Mind if I use that line.” 

 “Go right ahead, TJ. Oh, and a, TJ? Sorry Thomas Jefferson, This one’s yours.” 

 “Thanks.” 

 Kermit walked up to Jade and Chono with Skalany, this was her case after all. It just so happened that their cases crossed paths. “So what happened?” 

“We found out where our friend might be, so we came here to check it out. That’s when he pulled the gun out on us.” Jade said matter-a-factly. 

 Kermit pulled jade off to the side as Skalany was informing Chono that he would have to come in and make a statement. “Why didn’t you just shoot him or something?” 

 “We needed a reason to have him arrested, right?” Kermit just smiled at her. “So do I have to come down and make a statement?” 

 “Yea, follow Detective Skalany she’ll make sure that you get there safely, ma’am.” 

 Jade started coughing. “Ma’am?” 

 As Jade and Chono left with TJ, Peter whispered into Mary Margaret’s ear. “Look take him down there, book him, do whatever you have to do until Kermit and I get back down there.” 

 Skalany looked at Peter, “Why?” 

 “I’ll tell you later, just trust me.” 

 “Will do, Partner.” She said as she walked off to follow TJ. 

Kermit and Peter left heading straight for Kermit’s car. They had a date with a weapon and water. 

  

When Peter and Kermit arrived at the pier, the walked directly over to the area where Guerrero was at. “Okay, where are we going?” Kermit asked his friend. 

 Peter closed his eyes and brought what he saw again in his mind. “Guerrero was standing here. He pulled out the gun, placing the silencer on it, then turning and faced Jody. After he fired, that’s when Jody shot him. He tossed the gun..” Peter walked over to the edge of the platform. “Here.” Turning to Kermit he removed his jacket and tossed it to him. 

Kermit stood there looking at Peter, “So now all we have to do is call in the dive squad.” Peter shook his head, placed some plastic gloves on his hand and dove into the water. “Or maybe not.” 

 In the water, Peter tried to see through the water, but with all of the slim and everything stinging his eyes he couldn’t. He closed his eyes and tried to feel the presence of the gun. Swimming closer to the edge he focused all of his energy on the gun. Reaching out his hands he felt something under them, grabbing a hold of it he surfaced., gun in hand. “Help me up Kermit. This water’s cold.” He said as soon as he could. 

 Kermit laughed and reached down to help the young man up. “So that’s it huh?” 

 “That’s it. Look I’m going home real quick to change, why don’t you take this to the lab and get it tested. I’ll meet you back at the Precinct in say what a half hour.” 

 “Sounds good to me.” Kermit held out a bag and let Peter place it into it. Answers were found to the questions that had been bothering them for what seemed like ages. “I’ll drop you off. Let’s go before they let him go.” 

  

At the 101st Precinct, Skalany and TJ were interrogating the man they just brought in. He was taking his right to remain silent serious. Guerrero just sat there and said nothing staring at the back wall. “You’re a cop. So you must know just what holding a gun on a Federal Agent will get you. So why don’t you make this easier on all of us and just tell us why you did it,” Skalany informed the prisoner. Just when she thought that this was going no where Peter and Kermit walked into the room. “He’s not talking.” She whispered to Kermit. 

 “Oh he will. Especially when we show him what we have.” Kermit pulled out the evidence bag and threw it on the table in front of Guerrero. Peter moved off to the side next to TJ. 

 TJ glanced over to Peter and then to Kermit. Leaning towards Peter he quietly asked, “What’s that?” 

 Peter smiled, “The gun that shot Jody.” 

 TJ’s eyes went wide. No one told him that this guy was a suspect in the shooting of Detective Powell. Kermit stepped forward and leaned as close as he could to Guerrero, making sure to invade the invisible space around the man. “So mind telling me what this is?” 

 Guerrero looked up at Kermit and shrugged, “I don’t know what your talking about.” 

 “Oh I think you do.” Kermit said stepping away from the man. Walking around the room he began to think. Waving to Peter he smiled, “Take it over.” Kermit wanted to question the man but he didn’t know exactly what happened, Peter did. 

 Peter nodded, “Look here, Guerrero. We know what you did. You were there, as we all were.” 

 “What are you talking about, Detective Caine?” 

 “Let me make sure I got this story right, You said that you didn’t know who attacked you, right?” The man nodded. “Well you see we have the ballistics report that says otherwise.” 

 Kermit stepped forward again with the report in his hand. “The bullet retrieved from you came from Detective Powell’s gun. Now why in the world would she shoot you?” 

 “Maybe she’s a bad shot.” He said. 

 “Or maybe she knew that it was you who had shot her.” Peter said then moved back. Pulling a chair from the corner of the room his moved it next to Guerrero and sat down. “But we’ll get back to that in a minute.” Peter grabbed the gun sitting on the table. “Have you ever seen this gun?” Before Guerrero could answer Peter continued. “Now before you answer that, let me tell you that your fingerprints are all over it. Funny really most of the prints were smudged from the water but the ones on the bullets themselves were in excellent shape. Wouldn’t you say, Kermit?” 

 “Oh yea.” Kermit added. “Funny thing about slim like you. You may remember to wipe the gun but they almost always forget about the bullets.” 

“Anyway, stupidity aside, you pulled the gun out of your jacket, readied it and shot Detective Powell. That’s when she shot you. You knew that you had to get rid of the evidence so you threw it into the water.” Peter continued. 

 “You have no proof.” Guerrero said. 

 Kermit decided to take a chance. “Funny thing about Blake. You know his hands shake. You never know just what he may get on that tape.” Okay so it wasn’t the truth but it would have to do. Guerrero’s eyes went wide for a second. He knew that Blake would’ve if he slipped with the camera from where he was at. Kermit remembering what Peter had told him about the visions he continued, “We don’t really want you. We want the man who hired you. The same man who was there with you that night and the one who was at your hospital room. That’s the one we want. So why don’t you make it easier on everyone and just tell us his name.” 

Guerrero looked at the Detectives. “What can you do for me if I tell you the name?” 

 “We’ll let you live, other than that we’d have to check with the higher ups and see what we can do.” Kermit informed him. 

 “I don’t know his full name.” 

 Peter sat forward in his chair. “Tell us what you know.” 

 “Taylor. His last name is Taylor.” 

 Peter’s eyes widened with the man’s name. He knew that name. Peter rose from his chair and headed out of the room. Skalany grabbed the prisoner and lead him from the room. Kermit came up behind Peter. “You know this guy?” 

 “Yea, Jody and I busted a man named Taylor a year back. But he died in prison.” 

Just as the two men rounded the corner, Blake walked up to them. “Captain and Chief want to see the two of you in the office. Now.” 

 Kermit shook his head. “Thanks, Blake.” Turning toward Peter as they walked to the Captain’s office he added, “I can’t believe it Lasher wrote us up. I should’ve known.” 

As they opened the door they noticed Commissioner Kincaid, Chief, Captain Simms and Captain Lasher standing there. Commissioner Kincaid didn’t give them a chance to fully get into the room when he started in on them. “Just what in the world did the two of you think you were doing by interfering with a SWAT Team mission?” 

 Kermit spoke for the two of them. “If Lasher here would’ve done things his way then that little Agent would’ve been killed. We just figured that we could handle it without any bloodshed.” 

 “You don’t have the authority to take these things into your own hands, Detective.” Chief Strenlich informed them. “If you want to play a hero then why don’t you just join Captain Lasher and his SWAT team. Become a Captain and then you can make the rules.” 

 “Until then, Detectives you must follow the rules that are set down for everyone to follow. Neither one of you are above that.” Captain Simms added. She hated this, having to be apart of this. She wanted to understand where they were coming from, but she also knew that the rules were there to protect them. 

Commissioner Kincaid looked at the two men in front of him. “Until we get to the bottom of this the two of you are suspended.” 

 Captain Simms spoke up. This was the first time she had heard of this. “Commissioner, I don’t think that this is necessary. Detectives Griffin and Caine are two of the best we have. And with Detective Powell out of commission I can’t loose anyone else. We’re already shot staffed.” 

 “They are suspended until further notice.” The Commissioner finished and walked out of the office with Lasher in tow. 

Peter just stood there and pulled out his gun and badge. Throwing them on the Captain’s desk, “There you go, Captain.” 

 Kermit did the same. “Well I never really felt like a cop anyway. The rules are just a bunch of crap. I always liked working under my own, anyway.” 

Captain Simms just looked at the two badges on her desk. “I’ll talk to the Commissioner and see if he’ll change his mind. That’s the best I can do.” 

 “Don’t worry about it, Captain. I knew that this would happen sooner or later.” Peter said as he left the office and walked to his desk to get something. 

 Karen looked at Kermit. “I will try.” 

 Kermit smiled at her, “I know you will.” And he too left the office, leaving Simms and Strenlich to think about the next course of action. He walked up to Peter and looked at him, “I’m not giving up.” 

 “I know that. Neither am I. I’m going to go to the hospital and talk to Jody to see what she remembers about Taylor.” 

 “While your at it, I’ll check what I can on the NCIC and get the old file before I leave her.” Peter smiled at the man. “I’ll meet you at the hospital as soon as I can.” 

 “See you there, Kermit.” 

  

Peter arrived at hospital moving directly toward Jody’s room. He noticed that her mother was still there. “Mrs. Blakemore,” he greeted her. 

 “Peter Caine. It’s so good to see you again.” The woman said as she stood to give him a hug. “I’ll leave the two of you alone, I need to get something to eat anyway.” Giving her daughter a kiss on the cheek she said her good-byes and left. 

“You didn’t stop by last night, I was worried.” Jody told Peter. 

 “I had some business to take care of.” He moved into the vacated chair next to the bed. “We arrested Guerrero for the shooting.” 

 Jody became confused, she still didn’t really remember what happened that night. “Guerrero? Why?” 

 “I saw what happened. We’re trying to get the man who hired him.” Peter said taking a hold of Jody’s hand. 

“You had a vision?” 

 “Sort of. Look what do you remember about a Jack Taylor?” Peter asked her. 

 “He was the serial rapist that we arrested a year ago.” Jody remembered. “He was murdered in prison about a month ago, if I remember correctly. His father is a city Judge in New York. Why?” 

 Peter thought about what she had said. “Guerrero said that he was hired by a man named Taylor. I don’t know it might not even be the same guy.” 

 “Who knows.” Jody struggled with the next part. She didn’t know what to say and how to say it. “I’m thinking about having the surgery. You know the one to repair the damage done.” 

 Peter was relieved but didn’t really want to let her know just how much. “I’m glad. You know that I’ll stick by you in whatever you decide.” Then it was Peter’s turn to feel uncomfortable. “I’m sorry I haven’t really been here for you.” 

 “You have.” 

 “Yea, but not the way that you needed me. I was just scared.” Jody cocked her eyebrows, “I blamed myself for what happened. I didn’t realize it until my mom and father pointed it out. I’m sorry. I promise that I’ll take your feelings into consideration next time.” 

 Jody smiled, and gripped his hand tighter. “Is this the same Peter Caine that I know and love?” 

 “Yea, it is, and isn’t. I don’t want to hurt you and I don’t want to loose you. I love you too much for that to happen.” Peter bent down and kissed her on the lips. Before the kiss could deepen, Kermit walked in and cleared his thought. 

 Peter pulled away from Jody, his face reddening. Kermit smiled, “Ah, youth.” Walking closer to the two he pulled out a file from under his coat. “I pulled off as much information before the Captain shut me down.” 

 “What do you mean before Captain shut you down?” Jody asked her friend. She was becoming worried. 

 Peter still holding Jody’s hand turned his face away, “We’ve been suspended.” 

 “What?!” she yelled. 

 Kermit figured that telling her about how they broke every rule in the book to capture this creep would do no good. “They didn’t like the way that we brought Guerrero in.” Jody closed her eyes not believing what she was hearing. Kermit and Peter suspended because of her. “Hey we would’ve done the same if it was anyone else.” Kermit opened the file and began to read the contents. “Okay, Jack Taylor arrested for being the serial rapist a year ago. Died a month ago, in prison. Son of Jason Taylor, City Judge of district 8 court system in New York. He was known as a savor of Cops, at least until his son was arrested. That’s when he changed his ways. It says here that after the arrest he would site any cop that came into his courtroom with the toughest sentence he was allowed.” 

 “Charming.” Peter said. 

 “He retired about three and a half weeks ago after hearing of his son’s murder in Prison. I talked to one of his former assistants and they told me that he was angry at the two cops that put his son there. And that he vowed to seek revenge.” Kermit finished. 

 “Great. We have an ex-judge wanting to kill us because we were doing our job?” Peter asked, the anger surfacing in his voice. “What did your friend say about it? Did you check with her?” 

 “Jade? She had to get back to work. But I promised to keep in touch.” Kermit added. “She did what she came to do. Find Guerrero.” Kermit hated her leaving so soon but he knew what the job detailed. He was happy that she came none the less. 

Jody had no idea what they were talking about. “Who is this Jade person?” 

 “A friend from the past. We go way back.” Kermit told them. He couldn’t let them know the truth. The truth hurt too much. “But I’ll see her again. She promise me she would let me know when she finds what she’s looking for.” 

 “And what’s that, Kermit?” Peter asked. 

 “Her soul. Anyway, back to the business at hand.” Kermit quickly changed the subject to a safer level. How could he tell them that Jade was looking for the sworn enemy of the Caine’s. That the man who ruined her life was the same man that tries to ruin his friends’ lives. He knew that someday she would find him and then all hell would break loose. She was so much like him. He regretted not being there for her when she was growing up, maybe things would be different for the both of them. “We have a suspect. All we have to do is check out the hotels in the area and see what turns up?” 

 Peter agreed. He turned back to Jody. “When’s the surgery?” 

 “Later, this afternoon.” She was scared, “You’ll be here when I come out?” 

 “You bet. I’ll see you then.” Peter gave her another kiss and walked out. 

  

Peter was realizing that he really didn’t feel bad about loosing his badge. *Maybe this is my destiny,* he thought. He had been debating whether or not to stay with the force or to take the brands of the Shaolin Priest. He didn’t feel as he used to when he first joined the force, things had changed, he had changed. The system wasn’t working, no one really cared what happened to anyone, with the exception of some of the members of the 101st. If anything the past few weeks taught him was that. He knew that he couldn’t change things, so maybe it was time to do things his own way. Kermit tapped Peter on the shoulder bringing him out of his daze. “You okay, kid?” 

 “Huh, yea, I was just thinking. So where should we start?” Peter asked getting back to the business at hand. He would talk to his father about his doubts later. 

They had checked out about a quarter of the hotels in the city and nothing came up. “Let’s check this one next. If nothing shows up here, I’ll steal a computer and hack into the hotel databases and find him that way.” Kermit smiled. The two suspended Detectives walked into the Regis hotel and headed to the front desk. Kermit pulled out a badge and showed it to the person behind the counter. “Detective Quade, 98th Precinct, We’re looking for a Mr. Jason Taylor. Do you have anyone registered under that name?” 

 The person began typing at her computer looking up the name. “Yes, right here. Room 214.” 

 “Thank-you very much.” Kermit said heading for the elevator. 

“Detective Quade?” Peter asked as they reached the elevator and entered. 

 As the door closed Kermit just grinned at his friend. “Hey it worked.” Peter grabbed the ‘badge’ that Kermit had shown the lady at the counter. “I picked it up from one of those mail-in mercenary catalogs a few weeks ago. I figured that it might come in handy. And besides no one looks too closely at them, all they see is a badge and jump to attention.” Peter laughed. Kermit was if nothing else resourceful. The elevator doors opened and the two stepped out. “Room 214, this way.” Pulling out his Desert Eagle, Kermit went up to the door. 

As they approached they had heard a gun go off. Peter moved Kermit out of the way and kicked the door open. Kermit stood in the entrance gun pulled, as Peter walked into the room. People from the other rooms who had heard the shot came out of their rooms to see what had happened. Kermit pointed to someone. “Call 911, this man just shot himself.” The person didn’t move just stood there in disbelief staring at Kermit’s gun. “I’m a cop, now go.” The person ran back into their room and called for help. 

 Peter walked up to Mr. Taylor and checked for a pulse. “He’s still alive,” he breathed. Then he noticed a note by the man’s body. Picking it up by the edges he read: _Forgive me father for I have sinned. I know I have been caught for the sins that I have done, I know Guerrero told everything. Forgive me for I am just an empty shell looking for revenge. -- Jason Taylor._ Peter turned to Kermit. “Suicide note. He asks for forgiveness for his sins.” 

“Well, I can say that this will definatly not look good to the Commissioner. It’s alright I didn’t want to be a cop anyway.” Kermit shook his head. 

Epilogue 

  

A month had passed since the stake-out. Jason Taylor survived his wound and upon release from the hospital he went directly to jail. Kermit’s and Peter’s suspension was almost over and they could return to the Precinct, Internal Affairs having cleared them of all charges. Peter had talked in depth to his father about what he wanted to do, and having talked it over with Jody he decided to do it. 

The entire 101st gang was celebrating at Delancy’s Jody’s return to the Precinct. She was recovering well from the surgery, except it would still be at least a month before she could see the way she used to. The process was slow and painful. Skalany was sitting at the bar next to Peter, Jody, Kermit and Caine. “So what are you going to do when you get back to the Precinct, Partner?” she asked Peter. 

 Peter stood there and started to think about what he had decided. “Well, I think that some things are going to change for the better. I’ve been talking to the Captain, and others, and we have decided to try and see what we can do to change things for everyone. We’ve talked about the crap with Lasher, and the Commissioner, and well. . . we’ll have to wait and see I guess. But things will be just as they were before, except the fact that I’ll have to be working with you a bit more, Partner.” 

 Mary Margaret smiled. “Well at least until Jody is back to 100 percent, right?” 

 Peter smiled once again. “We’ll see what happens. But things should be back to normal soon enough. I’ll still be the only Shoalin cop in known history.” 

Mary Margaret returned Peter’s look with a smile of her own. “Now if only I could convince your father to stay here permently, then things will be right in the world,” she answered with a glint of humor in her eyes. 

Peter looked over and smiled. There was a time he didn’t agree with the union of his father and his sometimes Partner, but after she helped him save his father’s life from the Bardo world he knew that they were right for one another. Then he turned his attention to the women he loved standing next to him. “Jody.” Peter started to say, turning to face her. “A lot has happened to us in the past month or so, and I’ve changed, we both have. There is a lot that is still unknown to me.” 

 “I know that.” She said. 

 “But the one thing I know and the one thing that I’m certain of is that I want to have someone there with me. I want to settle down. I want to have children running around. I want to wake up every morning with my arms around the woman I love. Take long walks in the park, have candlelit dinners, I want it all. Most of all I want all of that with you, Jody.” Peter slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. 

Tears started to flow from Jody’s eyes. Kermit patted Peter on the shoulder for reassurance. Peter opened the box revealing a diamond engagement ring. Kermit whispered into the young man’s ear, “You have to kneel down and ask her.” 

 Jody laughed at that remark. Looking around she noticed that they were beginning to draw a crowd. Everyone from the Precinct stood by to watch and listen, with questions of ‘Do you think she’ll say yes?’ going around the room. Peter ignored everyone around him just focusing on the woman in front of him. “I know that I can’t give you much, except what I have, but I can’t see my life, my new life, without you there with me.” Slowly he pulled the ring out of the box and began to place it on her finger. “Will you marry me?” 

 Jody let the tears flow. She was so happy, she wanted to marry him for a long time. “I have waited a long time for you to ask me that.” Looking into his eyes, letting him see the love that she had for him. “Yes, I’ll marry you, Peter.” 

 The bar erupted with sounds of hoots and howls, as Peter placed the ring fully on her finger and they kissed. Terry the bartender, yelled over the group, “Drinks are on the house in honor of the future Mr. and Mrs. Peter Caine.” 

Everyone came up to the two in congratulation, telling them how happy they were. Caine stepped away from Mary Margaret and walked to the window looking back towards the group that gathered by the bar in celebration. Kermit had his arm around Karen Simms letting her know that someday that would be them. She smiled and they kissed. Chief Strenlich, TJ, and Blake were discussing something smiling and laughing. Peter ordering drinks for everyone from Terry with his arm around Jody. Peter’s destiny was for-filled. There would be a great many trials for everyone here, but Caine knew that no matter what they faced they would all face them together. Mary Margaret walked up to him reaching for his hand, “Well, Caine. Are you going to join the Party or what?” 

A smile came across his face. He was as happy at that moment as he has ever been in his life. He was surrounded by people that he had come to call friends, his son and future daughter-in-law, and the woman he loved. How could life get any better than this. He knew the answer to that one right away, Mary Margaret someday becoming his wife and having Grandchildren to help raise. Caine placed his arm around her shoulder and walked back to the group. Yes, today was a good day. 

  

The End? 

Note: De lo que veas cree muy poco, De lo que to cuentren, nada. [Of that which you see, believe only a little, Of that which you are told nothing.] -- Spanish Proverb