Title: The Tiger and The Crane: A deadly game of Cat and Mouse and Kidnapping

Characters: Kwai Chang Caine, Peter, Lo Si, Kermit, and the Singh Wah

Warnings: Some Violence (Mild compared to others)

Story: Peter is kidnapped by the Singh Wah and becomes a deadly pawn in revenge. The Singh Wah have developed a drug capable of shutting down the powers of a shaolin. In this way they will try to stop anyone who gets in their way, including Kwai Chang Caine.

Author: Alisa Joaquin (Now known by my husband as Shaolin Kitten)

Disclaimer: All characters are borrowed except those created by me. All other characters (from KF:TLC and we know who they are) are property of Warner Brothers. I promise to give them back when I am done with them (of course I do not know how long that will be.) I give permission to anyone wanting to reprint this stoy within a fanzine for those not hooked up to the internet.

Term: windhorse-self-existing energy. The wind principle, the energy of basic goodness, is strong and exuberant and brilliant. It can actually radiate trememdous power in your life. But at the same time, basic goodness can be ridden, which is the principle of the horse. See Shambhala, The Sacred Path of the Warrior by Chogyam Trungpa. In this story, I have used the term slightly different. Caine calls up his basic goodness and uses the energy to ride the wind to his son.

Caine sat on the floor in deep meditation. Though he would not normally intrude, the last few nights he had been aware that Peter was not sleeping well. He had hoped to enter Peter's dreams and try to see what was disturbing his sleep and then try to alleviate it. At least through his dreams Peter would only see the intrusion as part of the dream. Caine centered on his son and soon found . . . . . Nothing. The essence that was Peter was not there. It was as if a wall had been created. Caine snapped out of his meditation. Fear, anguish, and despair filled his soul. This was too much like the past. It felt like the destruction of the Temple all over again. Foregoing his shoes, jacket, hat, and satchel of herbs, he ran from the room and with the powers of a shambhala master, raised the windhorse to carry him to his son's apartment, not knowing what he would find when he got there.

"It is time. We must act before he becomes aware of us."

"Won't the other know?"

"That is the purpose of this exercise. You must stalk and take your prey unaware. We know our strength is in our hands, like the strength of the tiger is in its claws. But that is only part of it's nature. The tiger also uses stealth. We must cultivate those skills that should be ours. We must learn to move silently through the tall reeds so as not to disturb the crane. Then when it is too late, attack. Even the tiger succeeds once in a while."

"But will not the crane still try to defend the nest?"

"The crane and the nest are separate. By the time the crane comes, the nest will be empty. Now go."

Peter's sleep was filled with nightmares, again. No matter what he did, he could not wake up. It was as if strong claws held him. While he slept, three men dressed in clothes resembling tiger skin stalked their prey. They quietly pounded on the sleeping form and held him with strong hands. Before Peter could react, one of the men pulled out a claw-like devise and scratched him across the right arm. Thin trails of blood appeared along the four long scratches and with them a white milky substance. Some of the substance mixed with the blood both on the sheets and within Peter's body. The tiger's stepped back while the young crane tried to fight back but the substance they called Tiger's Milk did its work all too well. Peter's shaolin senses suddenly shut down within his own mind. He could not call out for help or feel his father's presence. Fear and panic rose up. As the Tiger's Milk completed its final stage, Peter collapsed, falling into a deep sleep that he would not wake up from for several hours. The Tiger's Milk, however, would still continue to do its work, keeping Peter from using his shaolin abilities. Two of the tigers took the young crane. The third left a message that only a shaolin could find. Then they quickly disappeared into the night, taking their prey back to their layer.

Caine arrived at Peter's apartment to find the door was open. He quietly stepped in so as not to disturb whomever may be there that should not be there. Instead, he found the place empty. Peter was gone as well as whomever had been there with him. Caine made a thorough search of the place and he soon came across the message and the blood upon the sheets and pillow. The amount of blood he found wasn't enough to bring out all his fears but worry was still at the top. Someone had hurt his child and taken him. Caine read the signs clearly. This would be a deadly game, one that he must win at all cost. If he didn't the sacrifice would be his son's life and his soul.

Peter woke to the sound of loud roaring. The stiffness in his back and neck told him that he slept badly, again. He was going to have to practice his Tai Chi more frequently if he was to get any sleep at night. Peter tried to stretch out his hands and feet and came in contact with the walls of the cage. He came instantly awake and then reacted as the cage swayed from side to side. Fear and nausea hit him as he realized he was at least 30 feet off the floor. Not only that, something moved below. Something large and hungry. The animal roared again and Peter knew it was a tiger. Talk about being in the "lion's den." At first, Peter could not remember how he got there. Then he saw the four scratches on his right arm. A white residue remained. Somehow he had been caught unawares and drugged. Peter reached out with his Chi to see if his father knew and would be on his way to help. In this situation, he was going to need it. What he found was more frightening than the tiger below or the heights. He could not feel his father's essence. Not only that, the shaolin abilities that he relearned and advanced in were cut off from him. He could not open the lock of the cage door or even try to pass through the bars like he did on another occasion. Not that he wanted to, there wasn't a way down from where the cage had been placed.

"Oh, Pop," Peter's heartbeat raced. This was too much like the time he had fallen from the cliff at a young age and had landed on a narrow ledge. There was no way to climb back up. No one had seen the accident. His father had been in the classroom with other students teaching history. The other monks were busy with other things within the Temple. How long he was there Peter did not know. It may have only been a few hours but in the mind of a child, it was an eternity. Only when they did come for him, Peter was so frightened that not even his father could calm this fear. To this day, heights remained a problem for Peter. Peter was frozen with fear. To be so high up and in a cage was almost more than he could stand. Plus, with his link to his father severed, the feelings of abandonment and aloneness were reemerging to the surface, even though he knew those feelings should not be there. All he wanted was to have the nightmare end. What was he doing here? Who took him from his home and for what reason? Would he even survive? Peter tried not to look down at the menacing form pacing below. Peter could only think of one thing.

"Please, Pop. Where are you?"

Caine was frantic. He could not officially go to the police. If he did, they would kill his son immediately. There would only be one opportunity. Caine drafted two notes. He then went to the local herbalist and selected some herbs, even though he did not need them. He handed the herbs to Master Lee with the notes among them. Master Lee placed the herbs in a bag and palmed the notes. Caine then left the shop and headed home. During the transaction, Caine had been aware that he was being watched then followed. Caine quickly turned down an ally and set himself against the wall. In the shroud of silence he blended with his surroundings. The man that followed him turned the corner and did not see Caine detached himself from the wall and move in. Caine grabbed the man by the shoulder and as the man swung around to counter the move, Caine brought up the man's arm into a painful elbow lock forcing the man to his knees.

"You will take a message to your master. If my son is harmed in any way, your master will cease to exist on this plain. I will meet his challenge, so long as my son remains unharmed. Have him send instructions where and I will be there." Caine let the man go and he returned to his rooms. Lo Si was waiting for him as well as Kermit.

"I just got your message, Caine. Captain Simms was livid when Peter didn't show up for work. I had to make some excuse. What's this all about?"

"Kwai Chang. You are troubled. What has happened?"

"Peter has been taken by the Sing Wah. I suspect it is in response to when we defeated them when the young professor, David Gilberto was here."

"You do know where he is? I mean, you can sense him right?" Kermit questioned.

"Usually."

"What's that suppose to mean?"

Kwai Chang handed Kermit one of Peter's pillowcases that he took from Peter's apartment. Blood and a white substance could be seen. Kermit examined the pillowcase.

"What's this stuff?"

Lo Si took his finger and rubbed some off. The taste was bittersweet. Suddenly he was aware of his Shaolin powers shutting down. Fear, apprehension, and fascination showed on his face with such intensity.

"Quickly, grab that bottle. It contains . . .the necessary . . . (Yawn) herbs to help." Lo Si then collapsed in sleep.

Kwai Chang went to the shelf and grabbed the bottle that Lo Si pointed toward. Kwai Chang read the label; valerian root, passionflower, comfrey, yarrow, echinacea, ginseng, skullcap, wood betany. The bottle was almost empty. He took what was left of the herbs and placed them into Lo Si,s mouth, just under the tongue. It took a few moments but Lo Si soon came around. His anxiety was relieved and the other herbs helped to clear his mind of what the white powder had done to him. Kermit watched as Kwai Chang administered to the Ancient.

"Master, what happened? Are you alright?"

"We must mix another batch for Peter." Lo Si would not talk about what happened. All he knew was that it had frightened him considerably. Lo Si looked at the residue on the pillow. Poor Peter. If they did this to him, Peter must be very frightened indeed. Lo Si looked over to his friend. If he were to tell Kwai Chang, it would only worry him further. He must keep Kwai Chang's mind occupied until there was a better time.

"Lo Si, you have to tell us what happned." Lo Si kept silent and went on collecting the herbs.

"Please, Kermit, there is no time. You must let your Captain know you will be needed. Peter's life may depend also on you."

"Master, what happened?"

"Later, Kwai Chang. We must mix the herbs. The messenger will be here soon." With that, Lo Si continued to gather the items that he needed. Kermit grudgenly left to do Lo Si's bidding.

Lo Si directed Kwai Chang in the mixing of the herbs. For Peter, it would require a far stronger dose of other herbs to calm his anxiety, if what he felt had been any indication.

"Master, you must tell me what you felt. If my son has been drugged by the same . . ."

Lo Si cut Kwai Chang off with the raise of his hand and motioned him away from the workbench.

"If I tell you, you must promise me that you will go meditate. What I am about to say will cause you great difficulty.

"What has happened to my son?"

"Have you heard of the Tiger's Milk?"

Kwai Chang shook his head. Confusion on his face.

"Many centuries ago, the Sing Wah use to be part of the Shaolin. They believed aggression was the way the Shaolin should live. They believed that the Shaolin should be a force of strength, like the warlords. They also believed that enemies of the Shaolin should be shown no mercy."

"Yes, I am aware of the history. The followers of the tiger were banished from the Temples."

"What you do not know was certain secrets went with them. As each of the sects developed, each learned to tap into the Chi energy and use that force for their own development. The Shaolin learned to use the basic goodness of the Great Eastern Sun vision as their source of energy and out of that Shambhala was created. Those that strived for its highest ideal became Masters of Shambhala. The Sing Wah on the other hand did not do this. They turned toward the setting sun vision. They used aggression, preying on other's fears and on those that were weaker. Just as the Shaolin developed their kung fu skills based on the form of the crane, the Sing Wah developed their skills from the tiger and their hands became weapons to be used to destroy the ideals of the Shaolin. But what the Sing Wah found was that all they could do was fight the crane to a stalemate or in the end be defeated. The Sing Wah found, if they could not defeat us openly, they would do it with stealth. The Sing Wah developed a powerful drug that could block the source of the Great Eastern Sun then use those fears to turn the Shaolin against each other. When the Shaolin discovered this, it had been many years since the first Temple. Ten generations of Shaolin had passed. The line of Kwai Chang continued to thrive. It was one of his descendance and one of your ancestors that discovered the drug called Tiger's Milk. It had been given to one of the monks in another Temple as a means to try to undermine the Shaolin. They did not succeed. The Shaolin in this instance realized that the Sing Wah were a great threat to their way of life. It would be the first time that the Shaolin acted openly against another sect. A battle ensued. Many were killed on both sides but the Shaolin succeeded in destroying the drug but not the Sing Wah. The sect went into hiding. It would be centuries before the Sing Wah would become a powerful force, again. But because of that battle, the Shaolin vowed never again to use their skills in that manner, again. Instead, they developed the skills of healing. They began to wander more from their temples aiding those in need, especially those of the families of the Sing Wah. In this way they would try to heal the wounds that had been inflicted on so many. This became their penance."

"Master, I do not understand. If the drug had been destroyed, would not the knowledge had been as well?"

"The knowledge had been lost for a time, until today." Lo Si let that last line sink in.

"Peter!" They have used the drug on him. Too many times Peter had been placed in danger because of him. Now this latest danger has cut him off completely, Caine thought. Enough is enough. Rage unlike any other rose up within Kwai Chang. This must cease. The Sing Wah have no honor. To do this to my child, one though trained who so not a full shaolin was irreprehensible. The fear that he must be feeling; cut off from everything that he had learned and even cut off from me, thought Kwai Chang. What else were they doing to Peter he could not guess. Without that contact, even Kwai Chang fel lost and alone. Tears of rage continued to sting his eyes. For the first time, Kwai Chang knew what it was to hate.

"Kwai Chang Caine, you must not let your rage consume you. We will get Peter back. Your son is strong. His spirit is strong. He will not let them turn his spirit that easily. He has the one source of power that they do not have and will not break. His love for you."

Peter was curled up in a fetal position in the bottom of the cage. How long was he going to be here? Why hadn't his father come? Who is doing this to him? Don't think like that kid, he told himself. You've been drugged. Pop may be worrying just as much. You have to hang on. Even though you can't do any of those tricks, you still have your other skills. Get angry. But it was difficult to be angry when you were hanging 30 feet off the floor in a cage that swayed every time you moved. Peter bit the nail of his left thumb and caught himself. "Oh great, I'm beginning to digress back to when I was two. The next thing I'll be doing it sucking my thumb." Peter turned over on his back as carefully as he could so as not to start the cage swaying, again. Maybe if he looked up instead of down he could try to figure out where the cage was attached so he could tell his father. That way he could try to keep his mind occupied and try to control his fear better. Hopefully the cage could be raised through an opening. He did not like the idea of being lowered. Think Peter! He shouted to himself within his mind. You were a cop before you continued your shaolin training. Think like a cop. Peter concentrated on the top of the cage. Soon his mind became clear enough to where he could see where the cage was connected to a strong cable. He followed the cable with his eyes and saw that it did lead to an opening above. There was more though that he did not want to think about. The cable connected to the cage was also connected to a device where the cage could be released. That meant they could drop the cage just as easily as they could lower it. Oh great, I didn't need to know that. Just then a dart came out of the dark and embedded itself into his arm. Peter reacted suddenly and the cage shook and tilted slamming Peter up against the bars. Then his mind became cloudy, again. As he drifted back into sleep he realized that the drug he had been given must have worn off. Because of his fear, he lost his chance to act. He would not make that mistake, again. There would be another time. He just hoped he could try and control his fear.

"The time to send the message is now. Make sure he knows we mean business." The leader of the Sing Wah handed one of his men a video tape.

"The Shaolin does not own a video player."

"That is his problem. Not ours. We know he will illicit allies. Let him. We will be able to take care of them soon enough. Now go."

Kermit entered Captain Simm's office and closed the door. "I need to speak to you. It's about Peter."

"I am getting very tired of Peter Caine not showing up for work. What is it this time?"

"Sing Wah."

"And who are the Sing Wah?"

"You don't want to know. You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"What does this have to do with Peter Caine?"

Kermit tossed the pillowcase onto Captain Simm's desk.

"Is this what I think it is?"

"Caine asked for my help."

"Find him Kermit. I don't care if you have to tear this city apart. No one takes one of my best detectives from my precinct. I want every one of them up on kidnapping charges and assault. Don't let them get away. Will you need backup?"

"Something tells me if anyone else interferes, Peter's a dead man. The only ones that can help in this matter are Caine and the Ancient. Peter's being used as some kind of bait for his father."

"Why come to me?"

"I thought you should know."

"You were right. Okay, I'll give you 48 hours to find him. After that I'll have to call it in to the FBI. They won't be so gentle with this. And Kermit, watch your back."

Kermit went to his office and pulled out his Dessert Eagle from his holster and checked his ammunition supply. The clip that he had was low so he added three more to his arsenal. He then sat down at his computer and began to do a search on the likely place where a group like the Sing Wah would hide. Several minutes went by and he wasn't having any luck. Then a soft knock came on his door.

"Come."

Caine came in. He was holding a video tape. Not a word was spoken. Kermit took the tape from Caine and lead him into a larger viewing room. He placed it in the machine and turned the set on. Caine was the first to react to what he saw. The fear in his son's eyes nearly broke his heart. Caine remembered the time when Peter fell from the cliff. No matter what he did, Peter could not stop crying after he had been found. The terror in his eyes had been enough for Kwai Chang to order a wall built on that side of the Temple. It would mean cutting them off farther from the world outside but it was better than seeing the fear in his son's eyes. Ping Hai had given Peter something to calm him and to help him sleep. Kwai Chang stayed with him all night. Soothing his nightmares with sounds from his flute. It was a week before Peter would ever venture outside, even to go down to the lake. Understanding was finally reached why Peter would seem to have trouble with heights later in his training. Kwai Chang had hoped that by now, Peter would have worked through that fear. Seeing Peter now, however, caged and trapped above a tiger's pit, brought those memories back. The Sing Wah were playing on those fears. Hoping to get a reaction out of Kwai Chang by sending this tape. A closeup of Peter's face brought the fear home and Kwai Chang felt powerless to stop it. Again unbridled rage came to the surface. Then the image panned out and zoomed into the top part of the cage.

"Oh my god." Kermitt recognized the mechanism.

"Where is this place?"

"Haven't you been listening?"

Kwai Chang was suddenly aware that a voice had been speaking from the tape. He had been concentrating on his son that he blocked out everything else.

"That's the old arena."

"That is the same place where Tan took the Ancient. We will need to be careful. The Sing Wah will do more than just try to challenge me. They will also try to cause me to hurt my son in some way."

"In other words, they'll have the place rigged. What I don't understand is why they sent this."

"They wish to raise my anger to such a level that I will make mistakes." Kwai Chang took the tape from the machine and crushed it in his hands. "But it is they who have made the mistake. What they have done is more harmful than just physically injuring my son. They have brought back the terror. For that their lives are forfeit."

"I wouldn't say that too loud if I were you. So, what are your plans as if I didn't know."

"I must speak to one other person. We are going to need his help."

"Mind if I call in a couple of favors?"

"A dragon's wing?"

"Oh yeah. Only this one specializes in other areas. I don't think the mayor would be too happy if we started blowing up buildings. Meet me back at your place and we'll go over some strategies. Don't worry, Caine. We'll get Peter back." Kermit looked at the crushed video tape and thought, I may have to protect the Sing Wah from Caine. Remind me never to get on his bad side.

"How soon do we start the reprogramming of his mind?"

"We do not."

"I do not understand. I thought that was the reason for taking him."

"Only after he sees his father dead at my feet do we begin. We must show that the Shaolin are weak. To do that Caine must die."

"What of the Ancient. It is said he is a shambhala master."

"What of it? They are no threat to us. They live on a different plain and cannot reach us. They are not important. Continue with the drug but add another ingredient. It will keep his fears on the surface so when we are ready, it will make reprogramming him easier."

"What if he cannot be reprogrammed into the Sing Wah?"

"Then, like his father, he will die and the line of Caine will cease to exist."

Kermit brought the plans of the old area to Caine's rooms. The others were waiting for him.

"We're going to have to able to get in and out without anyone the wiser."

"That is an impossibility. They know I will be coming. They will also know I will not be alone."

"Now, how do you figure that Caine?" a young woman spoke up.

"They did not say for me to come alone."

"He's right. But all the more reason why we have to find a way to distract them."

"Wouldn't it be better if Caine does the distracting? I mean, they obviously want a fight. If Caine is fighting them, we can go in and get the prisoner."

"Don't be so sure that's going to work. Caine may be able to take out several of their guys but we don't know how many are there. What if someone manages to take Caine out?"

"They will not 'take me out.' I will not allow it."

"Why don't we just blow the whole thing up and be down with it?"

"My Captain want's these guys brought in on charges. If we are going in, we need to go in and take them out alive. That means as soon as you take one down, you cuff him to the nears immovable object. From what I know of these guys, once they've been beaten, they don't stick around. We also have to keep any of them from warning others once we are inside. That's why I called you in. You know how to take someone out and leave them alive." Kermit said. "There's another reason. You go in there with guns blazing, you'll find their prisoner dead. And that would defeat the purpose. Just remember, Caine and the Ancient are there to save Peter. They have the skills necessary to do that. They need our help to succeed."

"They will not kill my son."

"How do you know?"

"It is me they want. They intend to try to turn my son into one of them by playing on his fears and by killing me."

"If they're really after you then maybe you shouldn't go in there."

"My son will die if I do not. There is also another purpose for entering the lair of the tiger."

"And what purpose is that?"

"To destroy their supply of Tiger's Milk." the Ancient spoke up.

"And what is this Tiger's Milk?"

"It is a long story."

"We have the time."

Both the Ancient and Caine looked at each other. Caine then gave Lo Si the floor. Lo Si told them the history and how the Sing Wah were a great threat to the Shaolin.

"This isn't ancient China. For all we know, there are no more Shaolin."

"Do not be so sure. Your neighbor could be Shaolin and you may not even know it. Not all Shaolin live in temples." Lo Si and one other in the room pulled up their sleeves. The other was Master Khan. The marks of the Shaolin were there for all to see. "If the Sing Wah succeed in killing Peter and his father, what hope will there be for the rest? The Tiger's Milk must be destroyed and the knowledge that goes with it. Peter Caine must survive or another's life will end in another place."

"And what is that suppose to mean?"

The Ancient would not speak further. The book of shambhala was clear. Without Peter Caine, the line of Caine all their ancesters would cease to exist.

Peter Caine tried to sit in a lotus position. Just getting there was causing the cage to sway back and forth. Nausea formed in his stomach and it threatened to rise into his throat. Peter Closed his eyes and tried to breath deeply. He needed to control his fear. Most of all, he needed to try to cleanse his body of the drug. They had shot him a second time and this time it was different. The drug did not put him into sleep but left his mind in a state of confusion and doubt. Other fears laced with memories were coming to the surface. The day he fell from the cliff; the first time he had to face Master Khan, blown out of proportion from the drug; the terror the night the Temple had been destroyed.; and a whole host of others he did not realize he had faced alone. The pacing tiger below had been removed and replaced with a concophony of sounds coming from all directions. Sounds of battle, sounds of human screams, and sounds of other animals also in pain. The sounds threatened his sanity. Voices were also added, voices sounding like his father, telling him that he was not Shaolin. That he was not the son of Caine but the son of another. Peter tired to shut out the voices. He knew them to be false but his drug induced mind was beginning to weaken. The terror that Peter faced was beyond anything that he had faced in the past. Not even when he had been programmed to kill another could that compare with what he was feeling now. Peter shut his eyes and tried to calm his mind. If only he could retreat to his secret place he would be fine. Maybe that was the only place where he would be safe. Safe from everything, safe from the pain, safe from the sounds, safe from the terror, and safe from the past. Peter went deep into himself. Then he fell back, his eyes staring outward but not seeing. His last thoughts were of his father, hoping he would understand and forgive him for having failed.

"It would seem your plans for the young crane have failed."

"What do you mean?"

"His spirit has taken flight. The very spirit that you wish to subvert. If the parent discovers this, how long do you think you will live?"

"It does not matter. The dark side of his spirit will respond and then we will have him just as surely in death."

quot;So if the Shaolin will not be turned from the Great Eastern Sun, then he will die. But if his spirit can be made to use the dark, then he can be turned to our bidding?"

"If the young crane was harmed by us openly, the parent would use all his skills including the light to save him. The young crane had done part of the work for us. He has retreated in failure. Even if the parent does save him, he will find him in darkness, never to return."

"But does that not make the crane more dangerous?"

"All the more to turn the crane into a tiger. Now we must make sure the crane finds his young in this state. Lower the cage within the arena but do not open it. Have it at a height where the Shaolin can reach it, barely. Then prepare the tiger. That will be the first step in turning our crane into its brother."

"What should we do with the crane's young once you succeed?"

"Kill him. We will have no use for such as him."

Caine and the rest of his small dragon's wing made their way to the arena. Each took their own path. Caine went openly, knowing he would be watched. The others, including Lo Si and Master Khan took other routes less obvious. Caine again, tried to reach out to his son but found nothing as before. His heart sank deeper into the feeling of loss. The pain threatened to engulf him and he quickly shut off that part of himself. He needed all his abilities to try and face this challenge. He knew from what Lo Si had told him that the Sing Wah wanted to subvert him and his son. Lo Si had also told him something in private that astounded him.

"Kwai Chang, it is possible that the Sing Wah had already subverted Shaolin with the Tiger's Milk."

"They were weaned on the Tiger's Milk and their fears made real. You know that not all Shaolin have the same strength of spirit. Many enter the Temple, very few complete the training. The young monk that came back from China barely made it through the training. His skills were great but his spirit was always troubled. It was in this way that the Sing Wah were able to change his nature."

Kwai Chang's thoughts returned to his son. Peter, he thought. Do not let them change your nature. If you must, go to that place you feel most safe. I will find you. I love you my son. They will not take you from me or from your Shaolin heritage. I will not allow it. Be safe my son until we are together again. Kwai Chang concetrated on finding his son. Suddenly a televison monitor turned on above him. The image of his son appeared. Peter was laying in the bottom of a cage. He wasn't moving. At first Caine feared that Peter was dead. A closer examination of the image revealed that his son still breathed. At least Caine could take comfort from that, but something was still wrong. Peter stared without comprehending. Anger rose up again at the thought that the still harmed his son after he asked them not to.

"You dare to go back on your word! You have no honor! You have harmed my son!"

"It was not I Shaolin. Your son retreated."

His secret place. Peter must have found a place within his mind where he could be safe, Caine thought. Still, that did not excuse the Sing Wah of what they did.

"Return my son to me."

"Or what, you will destroy me? Go ahead. It will only bring you closer to the inevitable. It is said the Shaolin cannot be corrupted. I do not think so. Let's see how you fair against one of your own bretheren."

Caine turned and standing before him was the monk from the Temple. Older now yet still powerful. His arms were bare except for the brands. This time scars could be seen crisscrossing them as if they were trying to wipe away their memory. Kwai Chang set himself up for the attack. The monk came at him, hands flashing and slashing our like claws. Caine countered the man's moves with the grace of the crane. Blocking every move. Like a dance, the two men fought. Neither one giving quarter, till finally Kwai Chang found his opening and struck. The monk went down, hard. Kwai Chang bent down and placed some herbs in the monk's mouth. He did not know if it would help him but he had to try. He then leaned the man up against the wall and continued searching for his son.

"I told you the Shaolin would not be that easily corrupted. We should have worked on his son a lot sooner, now we have lost our opportunity."

"That's not all you lost."

"How did you get in here? Who are you? Where are my men?"

"Sorry, that's classified. As to who I am, if you have harmed Peter Caine in any way, I'll be your worst nightmare." Two others came in behind him.

"We must find the Tiger's Milk."

"You will not find it old man."

"Quickly, Kermit. The computer, maybe the formula is in there."

Just then one of the Sing Wah used his bare hands to destroy the computer. While the sparks flew, the two men made their escape.

"Well, it looks like they did our job for us."

"I would not be too sure." said Lo Si

"Why not?"

"The computer disks are gone."

"And the supply of Tiger's Milk." Master Khan entered. "I found what was left down the hall."

"We better go check on Peter."

Kermit looked at the monitors. "There." He pointed to the center of the arena. Caine was already there.

"Uhoh, that's not all that's with them. Does anyone have experience with Tigers?"

Kwai Chang sat by his son's bedside. He had refused to take his son to the hospital insisting that what he needed was to be close to those who loved him. Instead, Kwai Chang took Peter back to his rooms and laid him on his own sleeping pallet. Several days had passed without any change. Kermit and Lo Si both stopped by to check on them both. Peter's friends from the 101st also came by. The room reminded them of an ancient burial scene. Caine had lit nearly 100 candles and had lit incense. The smell of jasmine permeated the room. It was enough to break ones heart. The scene felt unreal. Caine sat there not moving. Worry was etched in his face. The drugs that had been given Peter had been purged from his system but Peter still would not return from where he had gone. Kwai Chang was feeling the affects at having not been there when his son truly needed him. Kwai Chang picked up his right hand and squeezed it tight. He was reminded of the time when Peter had been shot by a junkie looking for a fix. There was also the time when he had to go into Peter's Bardo and help his spirit so he would survive the difficult surgery that needed to be done. Peter had come out of his coma both times, each time stronger than the last. This time, Kwai Chang wondered if this would be the last time he would hold his son. He did not want to think that the damage done to Peter's mind had been too great. Kwai Chang could no longer hold back the tears. He picked up his son's limp form in his arms, held him close, and wept. If his son were to remain such, Kwai Chang would not leave him. He could not bare to have to bury his son a second time. He vowed he would take care of him until the end came.

Someone wept. Wepted for him. Deep regret and sadness washed over him. The sounds were gone. The pain was gone. Even the fear that had been with him had been cleansed from his being. All that remained was the feeling that he was safe. A strong warm glow flowed through him, giving him strength. Someone held him. It was a lifeline, and Peter reached toward it. Suddenly Kwai Chang became aware that something had changed. The body and arms that were so limp slowly wrapped around him and responded.

"Peter?" Kwai Chang barely whispered his name. Joy and relief washed over him.

"Knew you'd come. Just needed to wait."

The sound of Peter's voice was the best music he had ever heard. Kwai Chang wepted some more but they were tears of joy.

"I thought I lost you, again."

"You can't get rid of me that easily. I guess we're stuck with each other. Pop, could you play your flute for me. Suddenly I'm real tired and for some reason, I'd like to hear it."

"I will my son. You just lay down and rest." Kwai Chang lowered his son to the pallet and went over to the workbench and picked up his flute. For a moment the emotions from the past several days washed through him and he hesitated. He then took a deep breath and began to play. As usual, the music that he played was never forced or organized in any formal pattern. Instead the music that came reflected each mood that he felt and this mood was one of deep love, joy, and relief. Relief from the feeling of loss, joy that his son had returned from darkness, and the love that they both shared. This was indeed a time to celebrate it with music.

End