Story: The Promise

Characters: Kwai Chang Caine and Peter

Violence: None

Time: Takes place just a few days after Peter is born.

Author: Alisa Joaquin

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.

Kwai Chang Caine was suddenly alert. A small impersceptible noise had come to his ears, one that he was just beginning to learn to detect and understand. He rose from the living room floor where he had been meditating and on silent footsteps, walked to discover where the sound came from. He first looked in on Laura, his wife of only two years. She slept soundly. It had been the first time in days that she had been able to get a good nights sleep. Exhaustion had finally set in and Kwai Chang Caine insisted that she retire and let him handle everything. Satisfied that she still was getting much needed rest and had not awakened, he moved to the next bedroom. Sure enough, the sound had come from here.

Kwai Chang Caine approached the crib and stared down at his tiny son. Such a miracle as this had to be protected and cherished. He watched as his son used his little fists to try to wipe the sleep from his eyes. He then yawned and soon he again was making little sucking noises as he placed his tiny fist in his mouth. Finding no nurishment there, the infant set to wimpering then crying.

Gently Kwai Chang Caine picked up his tiny son and cradled him in his arms.

"Shhh, my son. Your mother is asleep. I will get you some food."

It wasn't long before Caine found the bottle that his wife had set aside in the refridgerator. He took the bottle, put it in a pot of water, placed it on the stove, and turned the burner on low. Though Laura had chosen to breastfeed their son, Kwai Chang had insisted that she at least place some of her breastmilk in a bottle or two so when she slept, he would be able to feed Peter when times like this required it.

After five minutes had gone by, Peter became more insistant and his cries grew louder. Caine checked the bottle to be sure it was at the right temperature and soon Peter was drinking every morsel. Caine watched silently as his small son consumed the bottle aa if it was his last meal. Sensing that Peter was still hungry, he took out a second bottle and heated that as well. Caine marveled at his son's appetite. 'He certainly did not get it from me,' he thought.

As Peter sucked on the second bottle, Caine carried him over to the old battered rocking chair, sat down, and began to gently rock his son. Soon Peter was pushiing the bottle away as if to say he had enough. Then Caine placed his son up on his shoulder and gently patted his back until he felt the telltale sign of a burp and knew his son's tummy had been fully satisfied.

Still holding his son, Caine continued to rock him until he could feel Peter drift off to sleep. After a time, Caine shifted his son's position so he could gaze into his face. With one hand, he stroke the soft skin of his cheek, still in awe that this tiny being had come from his and Laura's coupling.

"Oh Peter, my son. You do not know how much you are loved. Some day, when you are older, you will know just how much. And I make a promise to you. I promise to protect and to teach you everything that I know. No one will harm you as long as I am with you. You are my son and will always be so, even when you become a man. I love you, my son."

As that moment, Caine became aware of another need and quickly moved to the couch to grab a dry diaper where Laura had been folding clothes earlier. If he did not take care of this new need quickly, his son would set up a caterwauling that could very well wake the dead. As soon as that was taken care of, he was back in the rocker assisting his son to drift back to sleep. From the simple rhythm of the chair, he too found himself slipping into sleep and then the dream began.

As the dream ended, a slight smile appeared on Caine's face. So much was he at peace, holding his son, that he did not hear the approach of his wife or the shutter of a camera closing to capture their sweet repose for all time.

Laura smiled down at her sleeping husband and son. This was a treasure worth preserving. She was glad that she had not finished out the role of film and found that there still remained one more frame. Tomorrow she would take the film and have it developed. 'Won't Kwai Chang be surprised when he sees this one,' she thought. Maybe she will have the picture framed and give it to him for his birthday. Better yet, she would hide the photo until Peter was old enough to show him. It could be one of those stories that parents share with their children either at special moments or to embarrass them. It was certainly a memory worth keeping for both of them.

After placing the camera on the table, Laura bent down and planted a kiss on Kwai Chang's forehead and brushed their son's tiny head. At first she thought about taking Peter and placing him back in his crib, but Kwai Chang's grip on his son's body was tight and secure. For now, no one was going to take Peter from him, even Laura. Perhaps it would be best just to let them sleep. After all, Peter was secure in his father's arms. No harm could possibly come to him. Even in sleep, Laura could somehow see that promise would be kept, to the best of Caine's abilities. And with that thought, Laura let out a deep sigh and returned to the bedroom, secure in the knowledge that for now, all was right within their little world.

End