Christmas Wishes
Kermit turned back to where Caine and Lo Si were sitting and raised his glass. He didn't quite understand why he was making the gesture, but since he felt the presence of someone staring in his direction, that seemed to be the appropriate thing to do at the time. He turned back to the festivities and took a swig of his eggnog. It wasn't the kind the kids were drinking and only one other person knew just what it contained.
"Better go easy on that stuff," Blake said, as he approached.
"Why, I'm not driving."
"No, but you've got to work tomorrow, remember? The Captain is expecting that report."
"Don't remind me," Kermit growled.
"Hey, it wasn't my fault that your computer got fried," Blake held up his hands in mock surrender.
"Then whose fault was it? I leave the office for five minutes and the next thing I know, someone is shouting 'there's a bomb!' and my computer is being hosed down."
"Someone thought the package that had been sitting on your chair contained a bomb. It was ticking. They didn't want to take any chances setting it off by moving it."
"That happened to be a very special Christmas Gift for my sister," Kermit continued to grouse.
"Kermit, please. Everyone feels bad enough as it is. Peter thought if you came to the party, it might cheer you up. I promise you'll have another one just like it, on your desk, first thing Monday morning."
Kermit continued to stare at Blake through his trademark glasses. He really couldn't continue to be angry at Blake. It really wasn't his fault. The rookie that came into his office to deliver files was really the one to blame. He was the one that shouted that there was a bomb in Kermit's office. If he had stopped to look at the label, none of this would have happened. At least he had another computer setup at home that he could tie into the precinct with, but it was going to take weeks for him to get a new computer and then set it up just the way he had it before; it was most annoying. Still, Kermit continued to brood. He took another swig of his spiked eggnog.
"You know, I bet if you were to look inside your stocking that Lo Si provided, it might cheer you up."
"Is there a new computer in there?"
"Well . . . I . . . I think I'll grab some of those Christmas cookies."
Blake walked away, not wanting to continue being near the brooding detective feeling that it might change his own mood from cheerful to Mr. Scrooge.
Kermit watched Blake leave then let loose with a deep sigh and shook his head. His mood really didn't have anything to do with the fact that his computer had been destroyed. It was something far deep than that. He had hoped that helping out with the community's festivities would help his mood, but the celebration reminded him to much of what he had lost. Each year he went through the same thing, and each year his sister told him the same thing. "You've got to let him go, Kermit. It's eating you up inside," Marilyn's voice came to him. And once again he would argue with her, "I can't help it. You didn't see how he died. They took everything from him, even the one thing that he worked so hard to achieve." "I know, Kermit," she would say in return. "But you know he would not want you brooding like this. He would have wanted you to enjoy yourself and forget about the outside world for a while. He'd want you to remember just what Christmas means." And for a time, Kermit would try to forget about it and enjoy what time he had with his sister and her children, but something would always remind him that he no longer had his little brother around.
Kermit walked over to where the stockings hung. He stared at the one that contained his name in gold letters. Each year he would make a wish, but that wish never seemed to be answered. The biggest wish of all he knew would never come true. Unlike Peter, Kermit could never have his brother back. There were times he felt jealous of Caine.
Then thoughts of the past intruded. Kermit had gotten the word from Riker who in turn had been informed by Ping Hai, that a Shaolin priest needed looking after. "Keep an eye on him. I can't do it myself, so I'm asking you," Riker said to Kermit. "For some reason Ping Hai thinks he's special. You must not inform anyone else, and he must not know you've been tailing him. Just make certain he gets where he's going. Here, Ping Hai gave me this. I'm not certain what it contains, but he said it might aid you in helping Caine to achieve his goal."
Memories of that conversation continued to play out in Kermit's mind. Riker had explained what Ping Hai had said about the Shaolin Priest that needed looking after. He said his name was Caine and that he might be heading to a certain city where a certain member of the royal line was held in secret. Caine did not know where that city was or even it's name, he only knew that the child existed. Ping Hai had stated that he and Caine would have several conversations regarding honor and how Caine would go about having his family's honor restored. Ping Hai was the only monk in the temple who knew of the disgrace that had been placed on the line of Caine.
Kermit did his best to stay in the shadows looking after the priest, but there were a few times Caine sensed that he was being watched. Sometimes Caine would disappear without warning or Kermit would be called away on another mission, sometimes lasting weeks or even months. Kermit would always try to pick up where he left off, but Caine's trail was not an easy one to follow. Never in Kermit's wildest dreams would Caine find something far more precious than honor, and in the very same city that hid the royal prince of China, now their new Emperor.
Kermit should have figured out the connection years ago, when he first met the kid at the Blaisdells, but it didn't stick in his mind. It was only when Peter introduced Caine as his father, did the connection finally register. Caine had been the priest that Ping Hai had asked Riker to look after, a very despondant priest who lost a child in the destruction of the temple; a fact that for some reason Riker had only skimmed over. Only that child had not died. Peter had been that child, and now Caine had his son back.
'But I will never have my brother back.' Kermit thought. 'Well, better get this over with. People are going to wonder what the hell I'm staring at.'
Kermit reached for his stocking and found it to be heavier than he anticipated. There certainly was something in there. He tried to look inside but his shades made it difficult to see. He glanced around to see if anyone was watching then decided it might be better if he sat down for this little ritual. The spiked eggnog was beginning to effect his balance. Maybe Blake had been right, he better take it easy from now on. It wouldn't look good for his reputation if something were to happen and he was impaired from his alcohol-laced drink.
Kermit moved to the darkened fringes of the room and sat on a couch resting up against the wall. He placed his drink on the coffee table then pulled his shades off and set them down next to his glass. He then began pulling out the contents of his Christmas stocking. The first thing he pulled out was a small bag of gummy bears, and not just any kind. they were cinnamon bears, a favorite treat that he would have every Christmas. That didn't seem too surprising since everyone at the precinct knew he snacked on the rubbery things. The second thing that he pulled out was a computer disk. What was this? He didn't think it came from Lo Si, and yet there was a note attached to it. "This will help in your search," the note said. He read the name on the bottom of the note and had to smile. That particular person was off fighting his demons, but he still had time to find a way to get a message to him, even at Christmas. Perhaps Lo Si did play some part in acquiring this particular item. Then Kermit pulled out a third item. He stared at it for a moment, not believing what he saw. He thought this item had been lost long ago. The wallet was worn and soft. He opened it to reveal the face of its owner, and Kermit could feel his throat tightening up. He tried to swallow the lump that was forming in his throat, but it still remained. A single tear spilled down his cheek as he continued to stare into the face of the person who once owned the wallet.
Kermit rubbed his eyes to clear them of the forming moisture, then began sifting threw the wallet's contents. Surprisingly, every I.D., credit card, and even cash still remained inside, but that was not what drew Kermit. Two things rested in the pocket, one was a photograph, taken when his brother had graduated from the police academy. The other was a note. It was that note that nearly caused Kermit to loose his emotional control all together. Kermit opened the well-creased letter and read its contents.
"Dear Brother,
I cannot tell you how grateful I am to have you in my life. Though you were often away on business, you always managed to drop a line to me to see how I was; even in the middle of a war. And if you couldn't contact me for several months, you always managed to let me know you were all right. I'm writing to say I'm sorry for the hell I put you and Marilyn through. It wasn't your fault, even though I might have blamed you for not being there when you should have, you were there when it really counted. Well, I'll be getting my first assignment soon. Just wanted to drop you a line for a change. I hope you get this. I'll write more later.
love,"
The letter wasn't signed, as if his brother had been interrupted before he could finish it. A few more tears fell down Kermit's cheeks and he brushed them away. He looked up, but no one had noticed him sitting there blubbering like a baby. He at least was grateful for that. Then a question came to mind, how did Lo Si know that this had been his wish? For years he wished that he had something of his brother's to be able to bring some kind of closure to his life. When his brother's body was found, his wallet had been missing. Not even his badge had been found.
Then another thought occurred to Kermit and he felt the bottom of the stocking, inside the toe. He then dumped it upside down, and what clattered out on the table was a policeman's badge from the Miami police. How Lo Si managed to even acquire that would be a mystery that even Kermit could not solve. 'Perhaps some mysteries weren't meant to be solved,' he thought as he held up his brother's badge. Looking at it closely, he realized that the number on the badge was the same as Peter Caine's. Kermit recalled before Blaisdell left that Paul had given him a directive, to keep an eye on Peter. He hadn't really paid too much attention to that directive since Peter's father was around, but what if Caine decided to go on one of his journeys again, who would help look after the kid? Kermit looked at the badge one more time.
"I didn't do such a hot shot job looking after you. I made a promise to Mom and Dad that I would," he said to the badge. "Well, maybe it's about time I keep my promises."
Kermit picked up the badge, wallet, and disk and placed them back in the stocking. He then sat back cleaned his trademark sunglasses and replaced them on his face. After rising from the couch, he picked up the packet of gummy bears, opened it, tossed one in his mouth, and head back to where Caine and Lo Si sat watching the children and all their friends.
"Thanks for the reminder," Kermit said and bowed to the Ancient using the Shaolin open hand to fist salute. "I don't know how you did it, but you helped to close an old wound, at least in part."
"You are most welcome, Kermit Griffin. Your brother would have been proud. Would you like a cup of tea?"
"Sure. At least I'll have a clear head for tomorrow."
The End
Alisa Joaquin Copyright@2002.
This story cannot be reprinted or sold in any other form without strict permission from
the author. It is being distributed here solely for your enjoyment.
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