Time for the Holidays
By Linda Schwartz

Part 1

Peter loved this time of year. The holidays always seemed to bring energy to the city like no other time of the year could do.

He was looking forward to helping Annie and Paul pick out a Christmas tree. It had become a tradition since he became a part of their family.

"Where does the time fly?" Peter said to himself.

"What was that partner?" Mary-Margaret overheard his comment as she was passing his desk on the way to her own.

"Oh, I was just saying that I swore to myself last year that I would not wait until the last minute to start my shopping and here it is December already."

"Well, you still have plenty of time. Do you know what you're getting everyone?" she asked as she sipped her coffee.

"Well, the hardest person to get a gift for is my father. I mean, what do you get for someone who is spiritual, who carried everything within?"

"I'm sure you'll be inspired by something, Peter."

"Peter, I need to see you." Paul cracked open his office door and called out to his foster son.

"Oh, oh," Peter cringed. He was quickly turning over recent events to see if he had done anything wrong, but he drew a blank.

The young detective slowly rose from his chair and wandered into the Captain's office like a recalcitrant child waiting to be punished.

"Close the door." Paul waved Peter into the office and indicated that he should take a seat.

"What's up?" Peter sat at the edge of his seat, pensively awaiting Pauls explanation.

"You know how everything's changed since September 11th, Peter. Every city in the US is on guard against terrorism."

"Yes, Captain, I know. I wont ever forget those images from New York and the Pentagon."

"Well, I think there is more that we can learn from this tragedy. The Mayor thinks we should send a representative to New York on a fact-finding mission to learn what steps we can take to protect our city, in case something like that happens here. I think you're perfect for the job."

"Me? Paul, are you sure I'm the man for the job?" Peter was shocked the Captain chose him to go.

"I can't think of anyone better. You'll be assigned to a special anti-terrorist task force to learn how New York coped with the aftermath of this tragedy and what plans they have in place to guard against any future attacks." Paul laid out the plans to Peter.

"When do I leave?" Peter asked. He wasn't thrilled about getting on a plane, but orders were orders.

"You leave day after tomorrow, at 11AM."

"Paul, will I be back in time for the holidays?" Peter didn't want to miss being home with his family.

"You mean will you be home for Christmas?" Paul quoted the famous song.

'If he says only in my dreams, I'm going to scream.' Peter thought sardonically.

As if he read Peter's thoughts, Paul replied, "Of course, kiddo, I want my best detective back home ASAP. Besides, I'd never hear the end of it from Annie, if you weren't at the table for Christmas dinner. You'll only be gone for a week."

"Paul, can you do me a favor?" Peter asked as an idea formed in his head.

"Whats that, son?" Paul asked suspiciously.

"Can my father come with me? He's never seen New York, at least not that I know of. He could be my backup." Peters tone was hopeful.

"Sure, kid, I don't see why not." Paul figured Caine had helped the department so many times that he could justify the added expense of another plane fare. Besides, there wasn't any reason he couldn't go with Peter and it might give them a chance to spend time together.

"Thanks, Paul, I'll run over at lunchtime and tell him." Peter left Paul's office with a smile on his face.

*******

The long climb up the stairs leading to his father's loft reminded Peter of the proverbial journey up a mountain to seek the wisdom of the wise old sage living there.

"Pop, are you here?" Peter called out his traditional greeting as he came through the entrance. Peter could sense his father was not at home. He sensed it not just by his physical absence, but also by the warmth that he could feel through their bond.

Peter decided he'd wait for his father to return. In the meantime, he would practice his Tai Chi forms. His father was helping him remember the steps he'd learned as a child.

He had been awkward at first, but with some patience and his father's tutelage, he found it was getting a lot easier to do the movements.

Peter walked into the workout room, which also doubled as a meditation room, took off his shoes and pulled out a mat from a corner where it had been kept folded. He began by stretching to loosen his tight muscles.

Peter began to manipulate his body to assume the first stance, then slowly added a movement and glided into the next. He was so focused on his own body that he never heard the soft footfalls approaching him.

He had one foot up and his arms above his head, making him look like a crane dancing above the water. He did several more moves before he realized there was a shadow next to him. Before he knew it his father had joined him in Tai Chi, mirroring his movements exactly.

Peter smiled at his father, but didn't stop his movements. They continued until Peter completed the stance he was up to in his lessons. Then he turned towards his father and bowed, giving him the Shaolin salute. Caine returned the gesture.

"My son, to what do I owe the honor of your visit?" Caine said affectionately.

"I came here to ask you if you'd like to come with me somewhere. The Captain is sending me on a trip for a few days and I already cleared it with him for you to go with me. But, hey, if you're too busy, I'll understand if you can't go and..." Peter rambled non-stop.

"Peter!" His father raised his voice forcefully in order to stop his son's endless chatter, then he lowered as he added softly, "I would be very happy to accompany you."

"You would?" Peter exhaled nervously.

"Yes, I would like to spend time with you."

"Good, very good," Peter was glad his father decided to come.

"Where are we going," his father asked.

"The Big Apple," Peter said with a grin. Caine looked at him with an unspoken question, so Peter responded with a quick answer, "New York, Pop. We leave day after tomorrow."

"Ah, then I shall pack," Caine slapped his son's shoulder, gave it a squeeze and went to his bedroom to get a duffel bag.

Part 2

"You can open your eyes now, my son." Caine patted Peter's arm.

"Huh, are we here?" He was sitting in the middle seat of the airplane; his father had the window seat. Peter leaned closer to his father and glanced out the window at Newark airport.

"Great, we're on the ground," Peter exhaled the breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. He was very relieved they had landed.

"I did not know you had a fear of flying, my son." He stated quietly to his son as they waited for their plane to taxi to the gate for deplaning.

"It's not the flying part that bothers me, Pop, it's the sudden landings. Planes fly much too high to suit me." Peter was very happy when they were finally allowed to leave the plane.

Peter and his father made their way to the baggage claim area. Caine spotted his bag almost immediately and took it off the carousel.

Peter had brought two bags with him, one for his toiletries and the other for his clothes. He saw the smaller one that had the toiletries, but didn't see the larger bag.

"What is wrong, my son," Caine asked him.

"I don't see my other bag, Pop," he waited for the carousel to go around again and but still didn't see his bag appear. "Where is it!" He shouted, obviously growing more agitated. A skycap came walking by at that moment.

"Excuse me," Peter stopped him, "I think my bag is missing. I've been waiting for it, but it doesn't seem to be here."

"You'll have to file a missing luggage report at the lost and found desk."He pointed the way to the desk to Peter then left.

"Okay, Pop, let's find my wayward luggage." Peter muttered, resigned to deal with paperwork and bureaucracy.

Peter filled out the report. "When will I get my luggage? I mean, all my clothes are in there."

"There is no way to tell, sir. You could wait for the next flight to come in from Sloanville. It may have gotten onto that flight. If you leave a contact number, we can call you if it arrives." She calmly explained it to him.

"Look, I'm a detective, I can't go around without any clothes." Peter ran his hand nervously through his hair.

"Peter." His father's gentle voice filtered through Peter's nervous demeanor. "Would it not be better if we go to the hotel and wait for word on your luggage there?"

Peter let out a sigh," You're right. Yeah, let's get a cab." Peter and his father stood outside the terminal, watching as several taxis drove up to them before selecting one and then climbed inside.

"Please take us to the Plaza," Peter instructed the cab driver. The man said something to them in a thick accent. He wore a turban, and he looked like he was from India. Peter glanced over at the driver's hack license, and decided his guess was accurate. The man's last name was so long, it almost ran off the card.

'I hope he knows where he is going,' Peter thought nervously.

They made their way through the Lincoln tunnel and towards the Plaza.

"I can't believe we're really in New York. Look how beautiful it is." Peter had his face pressed against the cab window as the car maneuvered through traffic and down the caverns of the city.

"Man, I thought we were from a big city, but it's the country compared to this place." Peter strained his neck, trying to look up at the tops of the skyscrapers.

The cab pulled up in front of the hotel; several flags adorned the outside of the building.

"Oh wow!" Peter exclaimed as he and his father strolled into the lobby of the Plaza. The lobby was decorated for Christmas, a giant wreath was on the wall and a tree was placed in the center of the room. Peter stole a glance at his father and he smiled at the expression of wonder written on Caine's face.

"Let's check-in, Pop," Peter stood behind his father and squeezed his shoulders.

"Hi, I'm checking in," Peter told the clerk behind the desk.

"May I have your name, sir?" he asked.

"Peter Caine," Peter told him.

"Oh yes, Mr. Caine, you're in room 517." He signaled a bellhop to come over and help the Caine's bags. The Bellhop took Peter's bags.

"Sir, can I take your bag?" he asked Caine.

"Thank you but I shall carry my bag." Caine bowed at the bellhop, who gave him a strange look before turning to escort them to one of the elevators.

Once the bellhop opened the door to their room and set the bags down on the floor, then he handed Peter the keycard.

"Here you go, sir. I hope you'll enjoy your stay in New York City. If you need anything, just pick up the phone. My name is Alfred."

Peter dug into his pant's pocket and gave him a tip.

"Thank you, sir."

"Alfred, this is our first time in Manhattan, can you tell me how to get to the famous Christmas tree?" After seeing that tree on TV for so many years, Peter had his heart set on seeing that first.

"Well, all you have to do is go outside the hotel and walk down 5th Avenue. That will take you to Rockefeller Center, you can't miss it." Alfred explained.

"Thanks," Peter escorted him to the door and closed it behind him. "Well, Pop." Peter had a smile that beamed ear to ear.

"Well, what, my son?" Caine could feel the excitement flow through his son's heart and into his own. It was contagious.

"Aren't you excited? We're in New York, staying at the Plaza and..." Peter paused as he gazed outside the window. "Hey, look at this view!"

His father came up behind him to look out.

"Central Park," he said softly.

"Yeah, Central Park," Peter repeated.

"It does not look hot," his father whispered. He had a mischievous gleam in his eyes.

"What?" Peter look at his father curiously.

"You said I walked out of that burning building like I was taking a stroll through Central Park," he clarified with a straight face, but his smile begged to break through.

"Oh, Pop!" he laughed at his father's reference to his statement at their reunion in the hospital.

Caine laughed too.

"I have to call and let the police department know I'm here." Peter picked up the phone and called the number Paul had given him.

"Captain Gavin," the voice at the other end answered.

"Hi Captain, this is Peter Caine from the 101 in Sloanville. I'm calling to let you know I'm in New York at the hotel."

"Ah, Detective Caine. Blaisdell told me all about you."

"Do you know him, Captain?" Peter asked.

"Yes, Paul and I go back a long way." The Captain told him.

Somehow that didn't surprise Peter at all. Paul had made a lot of friends over the years.

"When do you want me to come down to your office?" Peter asked him.

"Well, why don't you settle in and meet me at 9AM tomorrow morning?" He told Peter how to get to the office.

"Okay, Captain, I'll see you there." Peter had written down the directions on a pad sitting next to the phone.

"Hey, Pop, want to take a walk and see some sights?"

"Yes, my son, I would like that." Caine replied. Peter made sure he took the keycard and his camera, then he and his father left for some sightseeing.

The evening air was crisp, clear and cold. Perfect weather for Christmas in the city. The Caines made their way through the crowds of people scurrying around as they tried to get their last minute shopping done.

"Have you ever been to New York?" Peter asked his father. He knew his father had covered a lot of miles during the fifteen years they had been apart.

"Yes, my son, very briefly. I was in Chinatownonce. An old friend from the temple had moved in with his family and I came to visit him.

"Did I know him?" Peter asked him.

"You were very young when he decided to leave. His name is Wu Tsai."

"The name doesn't ring any bells. When you were here, you didn't get a chance to do the tourist thing?" Peter had stopped to get a hotdog from one of the vendors.

"No, I did not get to see too much of the city. I needed to move on."

Peter was going to ask his father what he meant by having to move on when he noticed a crowd gathering up ahead.

He noticed an alleyway lined with Angels blowing horns. He and his father walked up the pathway and stood awestruck when they came to the end. Their heads turned upwards as they gazed upon the most beautiful Christmas tree they had ever seen. It was huge; it sat behind a skating ring that was filled with people skating. In front of the tree was a golden statue of Prometheus.

Peter took out his camera and started clicking away. "Hey, Pop, go over to the railing. I want to take a picture of you by the tree." Caine did as his son instructed and Peter took his picture.

"Maybe you and I can come back another night and go ice-skating." Peter suggested.

"I would like that, my son." Caine got caught up in the spirit of the season. It was impossible not to experience the special magic. The city was alive with it. Peter and his father walked around the rink and walked a little further and discovered Radio City Music Hall.

"Wow, this is the home of the Rockettes!" Peter loved how the outside of the theater was decorated. "I wonder if we can still get tickets to the Christmas show?" Peter went to the box office while his father waited outside.

When Peter came back, his face spoke volumes. "Well, Pop, looks like we're out of luck. They are sold out for the time we are here. Won't be able to get in until after we leave." Peter suddenly noticed his father wasn't standing where he had left him.

"Pop? Pop!" Peter scanned the faces in the crowd for his father. "Oh don't do this to me. Not in New York City." Peter didn't want to lose his father in the crowd. He wasn't sure which way his father may have gone or what might have happened to him.

Peter was being pushed around as the street became even more crowded with people who were leaving their jobs to go home.

Peter found a storefront where he could stand undisturbed. He closed his eyes and reached out for his father. He felt an urgency and that his father was distressed about something.

He tried to get a fix on where his father might be. As if working by radar, he started to walk up 5th Avenue. He wasn't sure where he might end up.

"Ahhhhh! Oh please no. NO!" A woman screamed.

Peter followed the sound to an alley and cautiously entered it. He had brought his gun with him, since he was here on police business and made sure he had his badge with him so the local police would know he was a fellow officer.

He had his gun out as he crept closer, then he hid behind a dumpster until he heard a struggle. "Get away from me you freak, oh shit!"

"Police! Freeze!" Peter used the dumpster as cover as he pointed his gun at the perp. "Pop!" he immediately pointed the gun upwards to avoid possibly shooting his father.

There was a guy attacking a woman. His father was protecting the woman by using some Kung Fu moves which promptly scared the suspect off. Caine was kneeling next to a woman.

"Do not be afraid, he can hurt you no longer." He had his hand around her shoulder and was supporting her.

"H-he tried to rape me. It was a good thing you came along when you did." She was shaking. "Who are you?"

"I am Caine. This is my son, Peter." Caine made the introductions.

"I am Alice. I was walking home from work. I was going to do some shopping when I was pulled into this alley by that creep."

"You are safe now. Perhaps we should find shelter." Caine gently helped the woman to her feet. Peter had joined his father on the other side of the woman and was also assiting her. Peter noticed they were standing next to a very large building, then the threesome walked around to the front when Peter spied large sign.

"St. Patrick. Pop, this is St. Patrick's Cathedral!" They walked up the steps, opening the large wooden doors before going inside.

"A perfect spot for refuge." Caine stated. They found a pew at the back of the large cathedral and sat down. The room was empty except for them.

"Pop, this place is huge! I've never been in a church this big." Peter looked around in awe.

"Yes, it is rather large." Caine took a moment to take in his surrounding then examined the woman.

"Don't be afraid, my father is an apothecary back home. He is just going to make sure you're okay." Peter assured the frightened woman. "You have to report this to the police."

"Oh no, no police. I'd just rather forget this happened." The woman was emphatic.

"I am a police officer," Peter showed her his badge. "I'm visiting here from out of town. I'll go with you to the police station."

"Well, I don't know."

"My son is correct, this incident must be reported. This man will hurt other women and next time they might not be so fortunate as you." Caine tried to convince her.

"You'll come too?" For some strange reason, she felt very at ease in Caine's presence. He had run his hand over her body and she had felt a tingling sensation. Any pain she had felt was gone now. He made her feel very safe and comforted.

"Yes, I will come with you."

"How badly are you hurt?" Peter was thinking of taking her to a hospital for treatment.

"I'll be okay, I only have some cuts and scrapes." She assured him. Peter looked at his father for confirmation. He knew Caine had done his own scan of her. His father nodded at him.

"Okay, then, let's go." Peter led the way; he stopped at one of the stores along the way and asked for directions to the nearest police station.

"Hi, I'm Detective Caine." He showed the desk sergeant his badge and explained what they were doing there.

The sergeant called over some detectives. "I'm Detective Roberts and this is my partner, Detective Somers." After the introductions were complete, they went to one of the desks in the squad room and Alice sat down in the chair next to it.

"I'm Alice Harper, I was attacked on 5th Avenue this evening while I was walking home."

"Can you give us a description of the man?" Detective Roberts asked her.

She started to describe the suspect to him. Caine was questioned too as was Peter.

"You're here to look over ground zero?" Detective Somers asked Peter.

"Well, yes. I was assigned here to take a close look at the tragedy and to learn how New York handled it so that my hometown can prepare itself just in case."

"I lost a good friend in those towers. He worked with the Port Authority police." Roberts said with a sad tone to his voice.

"I'm very sorry." Peter put a hand on his shoulder. The police were a brotherhood, no matter where that officer served, one loss affected them all. Especially to lose so many police and firefighters in one catastrophe was still mind- shattering.

"This city is recovering." Roberts wiped a tear before it could fall from his eyes. He finished taking Alice's statement. "Welcome to New York, Detective Caine, Mr. Caine." He shook Peter and Caine's hands. "I wish it were under better circumstances."

"I'm enjoying my visit. It's amazing how the city has bounced back in such a short time."

"Well, that is New York for you, we're tough." He stated. "Ms. Harper, do you want one of our officers to escort you home?" he asked her.

"Um no, thank you." She answered him. "I was wondering if you would mind taking me home?" she asked Caine hopefully.

"I would be honored to escort you." Caine assured her.

Alice lived off of 5th Avenue over by 43rd Street. The Caines walked her home and she thanked them.

"Well, Pop, looks like our tour of the city is over for the night. I'm beat and I have to be at that meeting tomorrow morning. Let's go back to the hotel."

They went back to their room and decided to order dinner in. Peter called in the order and removed his coat and made himself more comfortable by sitting on the bed.

Caine took off his coat and decided to change his shirt. The one he had been wearing had been dirtied in the scuffle with the bad guy.

"Oh gee, Pop, why didn't you tell me you were hurt?" Peter noticed his father had a small gash in the top of his left hand.

"It is nothing, my son, I will tend to it." Caine assured him.

"Pop, let me see this." He rose from the bed and took his father's hand and made him sit down on the bed.

"Peter, do not worry. I will be fine." He assured his son.

"I have a right to worry about my father. I want to take care of you the way you've taken care of me." He told him.

"It is the function of a father to take care of his child." Caine stated to Peter.

"And you've done a great job, but now it's my turn. It's the function of a son to take care of his sometimes stubborn father." Peter took his father's hand and looked at the wound. He covered the wound with his hand and closed his eyes.

Caine was astonished to feel a warmth surge through his hand. Peter was using his chi to help his hand heal. The way he had helped Peter countless times towards healing.

Caine joined his chi with his son. Together, they sealed the deep cut on his hand.

When Peter released his father's hand, he looked up at his father. "I didn't know I could do that, I just did it on instinct. I just wanted to help you, Father."

"I know my son. I am very proud of you, the way you have grown in your skills." He pulled his son into an embrace. "Thank you." He kissed his son's cheek.

"You're welcome." There was a knock on the door and Peter went to answer it. It was the bellhop with their dinner. Peter wheeled it in and gave the bellhop a tip.

"Oh, and I have this for you, Mr. Caine." the bellhop gave Peter his suitcase. "It arrived while you were out."

"Great, I'm glad it got here. Looks like in one piece too." He looked over the case.

"Well, Pop, let's make plans on what we will do tomorrow after I come back from the police station."

They discussed what they would do the next day as they ate their dinner.

Part 3

Peter reluctantly opened his eyes, he was sleeping so soundly and without any nightmares, he didn't want to wake up.

He turned over and looked at the bed next to him. Strangely, the bed was empty and the sheets had been neatly made. As though his father had never been in the bed the night before. Peter sat up and looked around the room. His father was not there, and then a movement out of corner of his eye caught his attention.

His father was sitting in a lotus position on the balcony. Peter got up and put his robe on and walked over to the sliding glass doors and peered out at his father. He was concerned.

"Pop, it's cold out here. Why don't you come inside?" The temperature had dipped down overnight and it was a cold morning.

"Good morning, Peter. I do not mind the cold, I find it very refreshing." Caine unfolded his legs and stood. He looked out from the balcony and breathed in deeply.

"I'm going to take a shower, then I thought we'll go downstairs for breakfast before I leave for my meeting." Peter told his father. "How does that sound, Pop?"

"Sounds Okay," Caine agreed to the plans.

They had breakfast in one of the several restaurants in the hotel.

"Ah that was good." Peter wiped his mouth with a napkin. "I have to go now."

"What are you gonna do, Pop?"

"I shall find something to, uh," Caine started with a twinkle in his eye "Keep me out of trouble."

"Ha, ha." Peter laughed at his father's joke. "Okay, well, see that you do. I don't want to have to rescue you."

Peter and his father left the restaurant and stood in the lobby. "I'll meet you back in our room tonight. See you later, Pop." Peter left his father and caught one of the cabs that drove by the hotel.

Caine decided he would wait for his son to return before doing any sightseeing. Instead, he decided to go to Chinatown. There were some herbal stores he wanted to get some necessary supplies, then he thought he would visit his old friend again. He put his coat on, taking his pouch and hat with him, then began journey southward.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Peter walked into the task force office. "I'm here to see Captain Gavin," he told one of the officers.

"His office is back there," he pointed to an office in the back of the room.

Peter knocked on the door and waited to be invited inside.

"Come in," the Captain called out. "You must be Peter Caine," he stood up and reached his hand out. Peter reached out and shook his hand. "Yes, I'm Peter Caine.

"Welcome to New York City, Detective," The Captain said to him. "Well, detective, I think the first thing we'll do is visit Ground Zero."

"Ground Zero? Now?" Peter didn't think they'd go there so soon. He was a bit nervous. Seeing the ruins on TV were one thing, but to go there in person was another thing.

"No better time then the present. I think it's important to see for yourself what happened. To see what was lost. Gives a sense of priority to the presentation we give back here at the station when you can see firsthand what happens when they succeed." He went over to the filing cabinet and replaced a file he'd been working on.

"We have a group of officers going with you today, then we'll meet back here to have a meeting about the citys action plan on the war against terrorism. A Q & A session will follow." The Captain explained to him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The ride down to the site was made in silence. Peter was one of ten officers representing cities around the country who came to bear witness to the carnage and to see how they could safeguard their own towns.

Riding in a small bus, Peter sat next to a stocky detective, wearing a trench coat. The man had short, dark hair with a patch of gray in the front. Except for the lack of sunglasses, he bore a strong resemblance to Kermit.

"I'm Peter Caine," Peter started to make small talk to break the tension.

The man stared at him as if he were studying a bug. "I'm Kyle Grant," he muttered gruffily, then he turned his head away from Peter to look out the window. Peter shrugged and stared around, blankly, at the other officers, but no one else met his gaze either.

The bus came to a halt and the door was opened. Silently, everyone filed out.

"Okay, everyone, there is a ramp leading to the viewing platform up ahead. Let's get going." Sergeant McCloud told the group. They climbed up the ramp and onto the platform. Peter leaned against the railing as his mouth dropped opened in amazement. He thought to himself If you didn't know what you were looking at you'd think it was a construction site.

There were several ground movers shifting through the wreckage. From somewhere, there was a faint burning smell in the air. Peter's Shaolin senses detected a great sadness, which blanketed the area like a death shroud. It was something deep and prevading, almost tangible.

All the souls of those that had died here, he could feel their essence calling out in bewilderment at the abrupt ending of their lives. Peter shuddered as he thought about them.

It was so shocking how this could happen, how anyone could have done this, how they could actually plan for such a tragedy to occur. Such evil was beyond anything that Peter had ever experienced.

A tear ran down his face at the thought of all the firefighters and fellow police officers that lost their lives here, not to mention the innocent civilians who were just going about their normal lives making a living. Two tall towers that were now no more, a visual remnder of those losses.

Peter shook his head.

"I don't believe this shit," Kyle Grant grunted in disgust. "We give those Arab bastards freedom to live here and how do they repay us? By destroying innocent lives I hope they all rot in hell!" he slammed his fist against the wooden railing.

"Now, hold on, Kyle. The Arab people didn't do this. This was the work of that psycho Bin Laden and his hoard." Detective Chuck Landers tried to calm Kyle down.

"Oh yeah, but the ones who did it were living here. Who knows how many more are out there waiting to strike?" He was getting more agitated as he spoke.

"He's right, Kyle, you can't blame a whole group of people for the actions of a few." Peter tried to calm the situation.

"What do you know about terrorists, Caine?" he screamed at Peter.

"A lot more then I ever wanted to. My home was destroyed by a bunch of sick, bigoted low-lifes. When I was twelve years old I lost my father and my friends. Many people I considered to be my family. All in the name of hatred, I didn't blame the entire town for what happened because it was a small group who did it."

"Look, man, I'm sorry. I have a friend who lost someone in the towers." Kyle lowered his head.

"It's okay," Peter put his hand on Kyle's shoulder and the group gathered around him in a supportive gesture.

After about half an hour of viewing the site, they had a moment of silence to remember those lost, the group headed back into the bus.

Peter felt a lot of sadness for this city and the country, yet there was a great deal of hope too. Hope for the future and for recovery.

On the way back to the task force office, they passed the United Nations building. Once again, Peter was reminded how truly global New York City was with every race of people, every nationality was represented here. People, who had come here to escape persecution, like his great-grandfather.

Peter felt very proud to be an American, but at the same time, he remembered his own heritage and pride of his bloodline swelled in his heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Caine knocked on the red door in front of him. After all these years, his old friend still lived in the same place.

"Kwai Chang, it has been a long time. Please come in," Wu moved aside to allow Caine to enter. The apartment was a small modestly furnished one, suited to the simple life of an artist. Wu was a talented artist; he carved statues of all sizes and shapes and sold them to the local shops for the tourists.

"It is good to see you, my old friend." Caine walked across the living room and admired his friend's handiwork. He could see the wooden Buddha Wu was currently working on as it sat on the oak coffee table in the living room.

"Please sit," Wu indicated the sofa. "What brings you to New York, Kwai Chang?"

"My son is here on business and asked that I accompany him," Caine explained.

"Your son? I thought he died when our temple was destroyed," Wu was bewildered.

"Yes, we both survived. Ping Hai had told both of us the other was dead in order to protect us from Tan. Two years ago, we were reunited," Caine told his friend.

"That is wonderful news, I know how much you missed Peter. I would like to see him."

"We will be staying in the city for a few more days. I shall bring him to see you. He would enjoy a visit with you."

The door opened and a woman entered. She looked to be in her middle fifties with long salt and pepper hair tied in a queue running down her back. "Wu, I didn't know we had visitors."

Caine had gotten up when the woman entered the room. "Caine, this is my wife, Ming. We were married three years ago. Ming, Caine is the friend I told you about."

"Oh yes, how do you do?" she smiled and bowed at him. "I will make some tea." She left to go into the kitchen.

Caine departed from his friend's house a short time later with a promise to return with Peter. He walked down the street and into one of the local herbal shops. They were not all that different then the ones back home. He selected some herbs he needed to stock up on and gave the shop keep some healing salve in exchange.

Caine left the shop and decided to stop for lunch. He stopped at the corner among a crowd of people waiting to cross Mulberry Street. The sound of tires screeching caught his attention as a van came barreling down the street. Caine managed to push several people out of the way as the van sped onto the sidewalk and into a building.

He could sense the people around him were in shock, but unhurt. One woman was on her cell phone dialing 911 when Caine rushed over to the van to check on the condition of the people inside. There was one man inside, the driver. Caine touched his throat to feel for a pulse.

"Is he?" a man had come up behind Caine to see if he could help.

"He is dead," Caine said in sorrow.

Sirens could be heard as the emergency vehicles made their way through the traffic to the accident scene.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Peter had been taking a break after being in a meeting room for most of the afternoon. He went to the break room to get some coffee from the vending machine and noticed a television playing there. It was set to NY1, the local news station.

"This just in, a van lost control in Chinatown and ran into a group of pedestrians. We have a news crew on their way there now. As soon as we get further information, we will bring it to you." The news anchor went onto the next story, but Peter wasn't listening anymore. He had an awful feeling his father was in the middle of the accident. He knew his father would go to Chinatown while Peter had been tied up with work.

"Hey, Detective, how do you like New York City so far?" the Captain asked as he joined Peter in the break room.

"Captain, I gotta go to Chinatown." Peter ran his hand through his hair nervously.

"What? Why?" The questions spilled from his lips and by the Captains expression, Peter could see he had picked up on his agitation.

"They just aired a report on an accident down there." Peter explained the details. "My father is down there right now and Im worried about him."

"Your father?"

"Yes, he came with me on this trip to New York. I-I have to get down there." Peter was pacing the room.

"Okay, I'll get one of the officers to take you over to the scene."

"Thanks, Captain."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The squad car had its lights and sirens on. They were passing many of the stores that had beautiful holiday decorations. Peter didn't notice them. He didn't notice anything. All he wanted to see was his father was okay.

The car stopped behind an ambulance. Peter saw a gurney being loaded inside. Peter pushed his way past the crowd.

"Hold on, fella, you can't come any closer." One of the officers stopped him.

"I'm a cop," Peter showed him his badge and he was let through. Peter peered into the ambulance and was relieved to see it wasn't his father. Peter felt a hand on his shoulder and he whirled around in surprise.

"Pop!" he exclaimed, relief clearly showing on his face.

"Peter, what are you doing here?" his father asked him.

"I heard about the accident on the news and got worried something had happened to you."

"I am all right, but the driver of the van is dead." Caine told his son.

"I'm sorry, Pop."

They waited as the police took statements from the witnesses, including Caine.

Finally, a squad car took Peter and his father back to the hotel.

"Well, Pop, we can never seem to have a quiet, uneventful trip. Trouble always seems to follow us wherever we go." Peter threw down the keycard down o the night table and took off his coat.

I'm sorry this trip has been a disaster so far." Peter felt he had to apologize.

"You have no reason to be sorry, my son. Nothing has happened that is your fault. We cannot control what the fates bring to us. Besides I am where I wish to be, exploring the big apple with my son." His father tried to lighten the mood.

"Okay, Pop. Well, let's go out and do some more sightseeing.

Peter and his father took the subway. "Let's go to see the crossroads of the world," Peter mentioned. They exited the station and entered Times Square. It was like daylight in the middle of the night. All the neon signs were lit up, flashing their advertisements and the huge screen was flashing a coke ad. They saw the zipper running along the sides of the buildings, each one announcing the latest news reports. Peter took his camera out and began clicking away like crazy.

"Isn't this exciting?" he exclaimed as his voice rang with awe.

"Yes, my son, indeed it is." They walked along Broadway and spotted some of the theaters. They found a diner and decided to get a bite to eat.

"I have to go to another meeting tomorrow morning, Pop, but after that I have the entire day free. Want to go to the Statue of Liberty? The Empire State Building?"

"I would like that, we must also make a stop in Chinatown. I promised my friend that I would return. He wants to see you."

"Okay, I'd like to see what New York's Chinatown looks like."

Peter had steak and potatoes while Caine had a vegetarian meal. They took the subway back up to their hotel.

Peter had changed into a pair of blue silk pajamas his father had given him on his last birthday and slipped into bed. His father also wore silk. "Goodnight, Pop. Sleep well." He pulled the heavy blanket over him.

"Goodnight, Peter. I hope your sleep is peaceful as well." Caine covered himself with his blankets and waited to hear Peter's breathing become deeper, indicating he had fallen asleep, before he, too, fell into restful slumber.

Caine woke up slowly, feeling a comforting warmth invade his dreams. Sometimes, he was afraid he would wake up and find that their reunion had just been a dream, but then he could see him with his own eyes. He could reach out and touch his son's cheeks, knowing with certainty that it was real. He sat up and heard the sound of the shower running. Peter was getting ready for his appointment.

They dressed and had breakfast in the room. They wanted to get as much done that day as they could. They were due to leave the next morning.

"Pop, I'll meet you in the lobby at 10. Okay?"

"Yes, Peter."

Caine decided to do some Tai Chi, then he meditated while Peter was gone.

Peter came back from his meeting with the Captain and then found his father waiting for him in the lobby.

"Hope you havent been waiting too long." Peter inquired.

"No, I have not." Caine responded.

"Well, let's hit the road."

Peter led the way outside the hotel. They spotted the entrance to Central Park and decided to explore the huge park. They came across many sites a lot of people didn't know was there, such as Belvedere Castle and Cleopatra's Needle, which was a gift from Egypt. They found the Bow Bridge, which had been used in quite a few movies.

They took the subway again, heading down to lower Manhattan. They took the ferry to Liberty Island and looked around. They werent able to view the inside of the Statue; it had been closed since the terror attacks. Peter took plenty of pictures of the statue.

Then, they went back to Battery Park. Peter ended up buying a painting of a scene of the city from one of the many vendors with booths set up there.

"I wish to see Ground Zero," his father requested quietly. Peter gazed intently at his father.

"Pop, are you sure you want to do that? I was there yesterday and it's very hard to look at."

"Yes, my son. I must pay my respects to those who are no longer here." Caine said very somberly.

"Okay, father. I'll take you there." Peter took him over to one of the viewing platforms. Peter was watching his father more then the site; he'd already seen it. Caine looked out and sighed. He closed his eyes, reaching out with his Shaolin senses to feel what happened here from the echoes of the victims. When he opened his eyes, tears fell down his cheeks.

"Oh, Pop," Peter reached out and wiped them away. Caine pulled his son into a fierce embrace. And then they silently walked back down the platform.

Caine led the way to Chinatown. They spent some time looking at all the shops and went to Confucius plaza. There was a statue that was a gift from the Chinese Benevolent Association which they admired together.

"Wow, that is some statue." Peter commented.

"Yes. Come, Peter, let us visit my friend." Caine led the way to Wu's home.

"Kwai Chang, you've returned." His friend greeted him warmly. "And this must be Peter." He bowed to the young man.

"Hello, Mr. Tsai." Peter came into the apartment.

"I remember you when you were a little boy. I left before you were five years old," Wu commented.

"Why did you leave?" Peter asked.

"My family here in New York needed me, that is how I came to be here." Wu explained.

Peter and Caine spent the rest of the day with Caine's friend. He had invited them to stay for dinner.

After dinner they went back to the hotel to pack. They had a morning flight back to Sloanville.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning Peter found his father once again, out on the balcony. He joined him out there.

"Morning father." Peter greeted him.

"Morning, Peter." Caine glanced at his son before looking once again at Central Park.

"You're going to miss New York, huh?" Peter said wistfully.

"I have enjoyed my time here, but it is time to go home."

"Yeah, there is no place like home." Peter draped his arm over his father's shoulders and gave him a squeeze.

They packed and took a cab to the airport. They would not soon forget their experience in the city that never sleeps.

Peter wanted to keep his mind off the flight so he began thinking about what was going on back home.

"I think Mom is expecting you for Christmas dinner," Peter wanted his father to be there for the family gathering this year. Last year his father was reluctant to come.

"I do not wish to intrude on your family gathering." Caine stated.

"You aren't an intrusion, Pop. You're family too. I wouldn't want Annie to come looking for you." Peter was trying to make it clear to his father Annie would not take no for an answer.

"I would be honored to join you for the holidays." Caine told him.

"Great, Pop, it's going to be a great holiday!" Peter smiled; he was glad they would all be home for Christmas.

End