Taking the Time
by Linda Schwartz

**Set towards the end of the Manhunt Ep**

Peter felt like the weight of the world had been taken off his shoulders. He had taken down Thomas Sheldon, the man who had killed his girlfriend and framed him for that crime.

He followed the federal marshall, after he arrested Sheldon, up through the tunnels and into the fresh air.

The sunlight hit him full in the face as he exited; it felt so good to be free. Peter looked over at the crowd and found the face of his father looking back at him.

He felt his father's hand on his shoulder and glanced at him as a smile came into his father's eyes.

"Beautiful, I've never seen Niagara Falls before. Absolutely magnificent."

Peter watched, aghast, as his father walked slowly towards the cascading water.

"Pop, do you know what I've been through?" Peter followed his father down the stairs.

"You always take time to smell the roses," he put his arm around his father's shoulder.

"Come on, let's take a closer look."

They strolled to the iron railing separating the spectators from the raging waters. Father and son stood quietly, side by side, each enjoying this moment together.

"Hey, Pop, how would you like to take a ride on the Maid of the Mist?" Peter saw his father's puzzled look and pointed to the boats at the bottom of the falls.

"I would be honored, my son." Peter led his father through the crowd of people and over to the ticket booth. Peter purchased tickets and he and his father took the elevator down to the water.

"You don't get seasick, do you, Pop?" Peter asked his father as they waited in line to board the boat.

Caine gave his son a look that spoke volumes.

"Okay, just checking," Peter looked sheepishly at him. They got to the beginning of the line and they were handed blue ponchos. Peter led the way inside the boat to a good area to view the falls.

Peter opened up his poncho and looked over at his father, he noticed the puzzled look on his face as his father held the poncho in his hands.

"It's a poncho, Pop. You'll need it when we get close to the falls." Peter helped his father into the poncho then put on his own.

"Thank you, my son." The boat jumped forward and they grabbed onto the railing.

"Here we go," Peter called out as they pulled out of the dock and towards the rough water. The thunderous sound of the falls got louder as the Maid of the Mist took the visitors on another of her countless journeys to one of nature's wonders from a unique perspective.

Father and son stood amazed, the mist showered down on them.

"Amazing isn't it, Pop?" Peter shouted about the cacophony of the falls.

"Yes, indeed it is!" his father raised his voice to be heard. He never took his eyes off the cascading water as the boat pulled along side of the falls and slowly skimmed the point of no return. Then the boat turned and headed back towards the dock.

The Caines slowly exited the boat and stood to look back at the falls. Each reluctant to leave this beautiful place. They took off their ponchos and discarded them in the trashcans. After several minutes of silence, Peter finally spoke. " Well, Pop?" Peter smiled at the look of wonder on his father's face. Caine turned to his son.

"Awesome," he smiled back at Peter, he reached out and pulled Peter into a fierce embrace, which Peter quickly returned. There was much to celebrate their experience at the falls, Peter's freedom and, as always, their time together.

End