I had a hard time titling this.  Caine's thoughts came to me while watching Part 2 of Initiation.  Enjoy.

Synopsis and Story:  Initiation II: Isolations Ending

Characters: Kwai Chang Caine, Peter Caine, Chan, Tan

Time Period: During Initiation

Story:  Thoughts of a father as the conflict between old enemies comes to a head.

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 archive.  Scenes and dialog from Initiation were used only out of respect to set the mood of the story.

"Your son dies today.  Tan will kill him."

No words could be so chilling. To think that my isolation was nearing an end, only to have it loom once again.  My son is trying to bring to justice Tan, a mysterious and powerful figure, and instead has become his prisoner.  I close my eyes and concentrate, trying to find the essence that is my son.  I sense his pain and anger and head toward it as a moth to a flame.  I enter the building silently.  No one stops me.  They do not seem to be aware of my presence.  I stand in the shadows and wait for my moment and watch as they tie my son in front of a target.   My eyes narrow as the voice that I vanquished years ago fills my mind.  It is familiar to me, but for now, I do not acknowledge that memory.  I allow their conversation to continue and find my moment.

"Marilyn Blake?  That's hot.  Right about now she'll be drenched in the mayor's blood."

"But she is not," I state, revealing my presence.

I watch as the man called Tan turns toward me.  Recognition dawns.  So, we meet again.  Tan's assistant points his gun at me.  The image of death flashes before me, but it is suddenly taken away by Tan's command and the waving of his hand.  This will be our fight.  We begin with words that had been spoken long ago.

"All those years ago I told you to discard formal wisdom and knowledge and the happiness of the people will increase a hundred times.  Discard kindness and righteousness, and the love for family will be restored.  You never answered me, Kwai Chang Caine."

"Discard cunning and profit, and bandits and thieves shall no longer exist," I reply.  "A name may be changed but not one's soul.  You murdered the Priests.  And, I thought, my son.  The souls of the old ones cry for vengeance.  And your body will flow with the winds of their hatred and you will take them to the destruction they seek."

"Kill him!"

I prepare to fight and dodge a bullet that never comes close.  My son is suddenly there, free from his bonds.  He prevents Tan's assistant from shooting me.  I reach for Tan and grab him as he tries to reach for a gun on the counter.  The renegade priest has dishonored himself further by trying to take up a weapon that no priest would consider using.  I see murder in his eyes and one other emotion as I toss him into the wall, fear.  I see him fall, stunned by the force of my act.

Suddenly, I hear the sound of a gun go off, and spin around to see Peter grab his right shoulder.  As Tan's assistant aims his gun again, I kick out, the gun flying from his hand.  Without another thought, I kick out a second time and the assassin who would have killed my son tumbles into the darkness.  I rush to Peter's side, agonizing over the pain that has been inflicted on my son.  The wound is bad, but I take him into my arms, grateful for this one simple act, that my son still lives.

Despite his wound, my son thinks only of those who may be in danger.  I reassure him that the mayor is safe.  He questions me about Tan, and I tell him the truth.  The look on his face is enough.

"Are you kidding me?  No.  You don't do a lot of that.  Okay.  Let him run.  Chan too.  We'll pick them up.  They're finished in Chinatown."

"Tan will return," I state, as I try to support my wounded child.

We move down the shadowy corridor heading to an exit.  My son spouts nonsense, and I shake my head and smile.  I admit to myself what he said did sound good, even if it meant absolutely nothing.  As we exit, the weight of Tan suddenly presses down on us.  The fight is not over.  Peter falls upon the ground.  Tan and I once again are engaged in mortal combat.  This man has tried to harm my child, not once but twice.  Because of him, I thought I lost my son forever.  Now he would dare to try to take him from me a second time.  There will be no leniency for him.  As Tan attacks, rage fills me where nothing will stop the kick that I deliver to Tan's midsection.  I watch as the force from my kick hurls him through a window, shattering it.  I look, expecting to see my enemy broken and bleeding.  I take no joy in this defeat.  The fight, though over, has not ended.  Tan has disappeared.  There will be another time for us.  I turn once again to my son.

"He's gone, right?"

"Yes."

Once again, I hold my son in my arms, supporting him.  I take joy in feeling his arms around my waist, his warm breath against my skin.  Though my child is hurt, and I wish desperately that I could take this pain away from him and make it my own, I am grateful that my son is alive.  He has been restored to me, a dream that I had nearly lost all hope of finding.  All thoughts of finding the other have vanished for now.  My son is reason enough for remaining, for I am no longer alone.  My isolation has ended.  I am home.

The End