New Fic - Sins Of The Father
Title: Sins Of The Father
Spoilers: None that I can think of but it's set after the last episode
Category: Angst, Drama,
Warning: None
Summary: When Nickie Elders' past returns to haunt him, he turns to the Caine family for help. Sequel to Family Circle
Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me except my characters but a girl can dream.
Author’s Notes:- Once again this hasn’t been betaed as my beta has never seen the show.
Enjoy
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The room fell into silence after the body was placed on the table and everyone left him alone. Nickie Elder hated these kinds of autopsies; it was a nine year old girl lying on the table in front of him and he had to tell people how she’d died.
The chill of the room permeated him and Nickie took several deep breaths before he was able to switch on the recorder to do his autopsy. As he opened the bag on the table Nickie gasped, the poor child had a symbol burned into her forehead, a symbol that he knew, a symbol that reminded him of a man who still haunted his dreams despite how long it had been since the last time Nickie had seen him.
“No,” he breathed horrified, “He can’t be back.”
Nickie moved away from the body and sat down; he could almost feel the black shadows from his past reaching out to pull him back. He forced himself to focus, he had to do this or there’d be questions, questions he didn’t have the answer to.
Taking a deep breath Nickie started the recording again, hoping he was wrong but doubting it.
Miles away the light melody floated across the early morning, the man sitting in the garden watched the birds swoop to the sound of his flute. From the corner of his eye he could see his niece standing listening, her head tilted to one side her eyes closed to enjoy the song. Finally the tune ended and Caine unfolded himself from the ground, he gave a gentle bow at Melissa’s soft applause.
“That was beautiful,” she smiled when he reached her.
“It is simply the sounds that come from the peace surrounding me,” Caine shrugged, “Are we ready to leave?”
Melissa shrugged, “Grandfather is doing one more sweep to check. But I’m pretty sure we have everything we need.”
“Good,” Caine smiled, he looked to the distance for a few moments, “It will be good to go back, to spend some time with Peter.”
Melissa squeezed his arm, “You really miss him, so why have you stayed here for the past few months?”
“Peter needed time to understand his new role without me there,” Caine explained, “He knows where I am and if he needs me all he has to do is reach out.”
“Good to know,” Melissa said as she checked her watch, “If we don’t leave soon we’ll miss our plane, I’ll round up Grandfather if you get the bags.”
Caine laughed softly as he watched the young woman try to hurry Matthew Caine, it had been a good few months. Although the possibility his wife was alive had turned out to be false he’d spent time with his father and got to know his niece better. Now it was time to return home.
Peter Caine moved through the Tai Chi positions with grace, centring himself after a long day. He was still getting used to his new role in the world and found he was extremely tired at the end of the day so he made sure he made time to relax himself.
“Hey,” a voice said from behind, “You’re actually upright this time.”
Peter spun to find his cousin standing in the doorway, “Melissa, what are you doing here?”
They hugged quickly before Peter looked at her waiting for her to say something.
“Well,” she shrugged, “I’m moving here. I have a job at the university besides I couldn’t let those two reprobates out without supervision.”
“What?” Peter frowned confused before smiling as the two men walked into the apartment, “Pop,” he moved to his father and embraced him tightly; “You were blocking me sensing you?”
Caine shrugged, “I did not wish to ruin the surprise.”
Peter shook his head before he turned to the older man and smiled again, “Grandfather.”
Matthew Caine pulled the young man into a tight embrace, enjoying the feeling of joy permeating the room.
“Are you just visiting, grandfather?” Peter asked as he took the older man’s bags, “Or is this going to be a more permanent arrangement?”
Matthew gave small shake of his head, “I am just visiting for now to make sure Melissa is settled in her new job and to see you, Peter.”
“I’m glad you’re here,” Peter told him.
Matthew affectionately touched his grandson’s cheek, “As am I.”
Peter beamed before he took the bags into the backroom, he hurried back so he could talk some more with his family. He found Caine standing waiting for him while Melissa and Matthew stood on the balcony looking out across the city.
“How are you, my son?” Caine asked, “Do you regret your decision?”
Peter shrugged, “Not really but then again I’m not exactly no longer a cop.”
Caine tilted his head in confusion, waiting for his son to explain that last remark.
“I’m consulting,” Peter explained, “Captain Simms asked me if I’d do it a few weeks ago and it means I’m still part of that world. Are you disappointed?”
“Peter,” Caine affectionately squeezed his son’s shoulder, “Of course not. I am proud of you no matter what.”
*********************************************
Peter and Melissa walked into the bar deep in conversation; they’d been evicted from the apartment so Matthew could rest after the journey and Caine wanted to visit the Ancient.
They were so engrossed in their discussion that Peter didn’t notice some of his ex-colleagues sitting in a booth as he and Melissa took a seat.
Jody sipped her drink before turning to the woman at her side, “So,” she motioned to where Peter sat, “Who do you think the flavour of the week is?”
“That was bitter?” Mary Margaret said in a slight sing song.
Jody rolled her eyes, “Come on, in all the time you’ve known Peter you’ve never noticed how he goes through relationships?”
Mary Margaret chuckled, “You’ve got a point.”
They both laughed as they watched Peter and the woman sitting with him animatedly talking, Jody saw Kermit enter the bar and waved him over.
“Ladies,” Kermit greeted them, “Having fun?”
Jody raised her glass to him while Mary Margaret chuckled, “We’re just Peter watching.”
Kermit frowned at her, “Why not just talk to him? It’s not like he quit his friends.”
“Don’t want to interrupt his date,” Jody replied, pointing to the woman sitting with Peter.
As she turned slightly revealing the pair Kermit stared, “Melissa?”
Without another word he left them and headed to the other table with a grin. The two women shared a confused look.
“Did we miss something?”
“So, I decided I’ve had enough of hiding away,” Melissa explained, “If they’re going to come after me I may as well live my life. I’m going to back to work plus I’m going to be learning a bit about forensics. I got an interest after everything that’s happened.”
“That’s good,” Peter smiled at her, “Why here?”
“Are you kidding, Peter?” she laughed, “I have actual family here. I thought it’d be nice.”
“Well, well, well,” a new voice interrupted them; “I definitely didn’t expect to see you?”
Melissa turned to the man that stood suddenly at their table and smiled, “Kermit. Good to see you again.”
Before Kermit could reply Melissa moved and hugged him. He saw Peter smirk before he gave the young woman a quick squeeze.
“So why are you back?” Kermit asked as he pulled over a seat to join them, “Big emergency concerning the Caine clan?”
“Even worse,” Peter told his friend before taking a drink and handing over to his cousin.
Melissa gave Kermit a sweet smile, “I’m moving here.”
“Oh God,” Kermit groaned, “I better send out a warning to the rest of the city.”
“Thanks,” Melissa replied wryly while Peter chuckled.
“By the way,” Kermit told Peter, “You missed a few people over there. They’re having bets on who trouble here is.”
Peter grimaced as he saw the two women in the corner, he normally would have realised they were nearby but because he’d been so focussed on the conversation with his cousin he’d ignored his senses. He gave them a wave motioning them to come and join him. Jody and Mary-Margaret wandered over and Peter smiled at them.
“Hi.”
“Hi, Peter,” Mary-Margaret greeted him, “Nice of you to notice us.”
“Sorry,” Peter apologised to the women, “I want you guys to meet someone,” he motioned to the woman sitting across from him, “Jody Powell, Mary-Margret Skalany, this is Melissa Caine - my cousin.”
Melissa laughed at the stunned looks that covered the faces of the two detectives, “I’m guessing that was a surprise.”
“A bit,” Jody managed before recovering, “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Yeah,” Mary-Margaret added.
“You guys probably have some great stories about Peter,” Melissa noted, “And since we’ve known each other only a few months I don’t have much dirt,” she grinned wickedly at her cousin grimacing across from her, “Care to share?”
Jody slid into the spare seat with an equally wicked smile covering her face, “Love to.”
Peter winced; this was not looking good for him. However before they could start sharing his most embarrassing moments their pagers went off. All three detectives made apologies before leaving the cousins.
*********************************************
Jody shook her head sadly as she watched the little boy’s body being put in the coroners van. Kermit was talking to the Captain who was trying to keep her composure along with the rest of them.
“Dr Elder,” Karen Simms caught the coroner as he was about to leave, “I want the report as fast as possible. I want the bastard that did this.”
Nickie nodded nervously, “Yes, Captain. I’ll have my report for you in about two hours.”
As he started away Jody caught him, “You’ve seen this before, right?”
“Why do you say that?” Nickie asked apprehensively.
Jody rested her hand on his shoulder, “I saw it in your face when you saw the body. There are more bodies like this one.”
Nickie nodded, “A few days ago. It was in the 67th’s jurisdiction.”
“Thanks, Nickie,” Jody told him softly, “You’d better go.”
With a quick nod of his head Nickie left with the body. Jody stood staring at the pond where they’d found the poor boy.
“These things are never easy,” Karen said as she moved to Jody’s side, “But when it’s a child...I want whoever did this, Detective.”
“So do I, Captain,” Jody said grimly, “So do I.”
They were back.
Nickie sat with his head in his hands trying to calm himself down after the sudden realisation. His initial reaction was to run, just pack up and get as far away from here as humanly possible but he knew that wouldn’t work. They’d find him no matter what.
There’d been two children so far, unless he found some way to stop them then Nickie had no doubts there’d be so many more. He couldn’t let that happen, he’d been barely a child himself the last time but now he had the chance to do something to stop this nightmare and make sure no other families were torn apart.
“Caine,” he murmured to himself, “If he was here...” Nickie chewed on his lip before making a decision, “Peter, I hope you’re as good as your father.”
Sending his report to Captain Simms, Nickie shut down his computer. He grabbed his jacket and wallet before leaving the building. In his hurry he didn’t see the man watching and following him.
Peter and Melissa strolled through the streets of Chinatown; they’d had dinner and continued to chat after the others had left.
“Were you not dying to go with them?” Melissa asked with a teasing smile as they strolled.
Peter shrugged, “If I’m needed they’ll ask me to come in.”
Melissa laughed, “You’re lying through your teeth.”
“I...” Peter hesitated before rolling his eyes, “It’s strange but I chose this. I wanted to follow my father and become a Shaolin priest,” he stopped walking, held out his arm and showed her the brand, “This means more to me than my badge did.”
Melissa gently traced the brand with her finger, “Our family destiny. Better than the one my father left me.”
Peter rested his hand on her shoulder, “You’re a Caine, this is a part of you too.”
Melissa shrugged, “I guess.”
“When do you start your job” Peter changed the subject starting them walking again.
“Next week,” she replied, “I also need a place to live. I contacted the detective in charge of the case back in Seattle a few weeks ago letting him know where I was. He wasn’t too happy about me dropping off the radar but he assured me my bank account would be unfrozen by the time I got here.”
Peter nodded, “So we’re apartment hunting too?”
“Do you really think the four of us in that one small apartment is going to work for long?” Melissa asked with a grin.
“Good point,” Peter nodded.
As they laughed together a cry from nearby made them turn, Peter started to run and Melissa grimaced before she ran after him.
Nickie walked as quickly as he could towards Chinatown, he was dreading telling Peter how he knew about the people committing these murders but it was the only thing he could do. Nickie liked his life, he had friends - okay not many but a few and he was doing his best to make up for everything that had happened in the past. He didn’t want people to know, especially Peter. But Nickie also knew he had no choice.
He decided to take a shortcut through the park, it would only cut about ten minutes off the walk but it was also less crowded which he preferred. As he scurried along the path Nickie skidded to a halt when he found himself face to face with a piece of his past.
Nickie swallowed as he tried to get his feet to move away from the man standing in front of him. The man had aged a great deal in the last twenty years, his once black hair was now grey, short and wispy but his eyes hadn’t changed. The dark almost black pools that Nickie had always feared were drilling into him and Nickie couldn’t move.
“Nicholas,” the man hissed, “You’ve grown.”
Nickie said nothing, wishing he could find a comeback or a way to tell the man to leave him alone but he was frozen.
“My dear boy, are you not going to say hello?” the seemingly affectionate words sliced through Nickie like ice.
“Why are you back, Tames?” Nickie managed finally.
Tames laughed softly, it was deep and menacing chilling Nickie to his soul, “I’m here to finish my work, son.”
“I’m not your son,” Nickie was shaking.
Tames laughed again, “Come with me. You can see the others once more, all your siblings. Don’t you miss them?”
“No,” Nickie shook his head, managing to step away only to find two large men blocking his path, “I’m not helping you.” He cried out as his arms were grabbed and he was held in place.
Tames moved closer to Nickie until they were almost nose to nose, “You have no choice, Nicholas. You help or my friends here will kill you, choose.”
“No,” Nickie said before crying out as his arms were twisted, he struggled against the hold but couldn’t break free.
Nickie gave another cry as he slammed into the tree, his head impacting with dizzying force against the trunk. Struggling to focus as the two large men walked towards him again. Nickie was astonished when he wasn’t hit again.
“Hey,” a woman’s voice at his side brought him back to reality, “Look at me.”
Nickie shook his head trying to get the two images in front of him to blend into the one. He could see Peter behind the woman fighting off the burly bodyguards but Tames had disappeared.
“Hey, look at me,” the woman said, she gently touched his chin wincing slightly, “That’s a nasty cut on your head. What’s your name?”
“You have to stop him,” Nickie told her, “Don’t let him get away.”
She turned to where Peter was dodging several punches, “We’re not.”
“No,” Nickie tried to get his fuzzy brain to start working again, “Tames.”
“We will,” the woman assured him, making him look at her again, “Tell me your name.”
Peter suddenly appeared at their side, “Is he okay?”
“His brain’s a little scrambled,” the woman said, “I’m trying to get his name.”
“Peter?” Nickie whispered.
“Your name is Peter?” the woman asked him.
Peter laughed slightly, “His name is Nickie, he’s a friend of mine.”
“Oh,” the woman shrugged, “We need to get him out of here. Any doctor’s nearby?”
“No, no doctors,” Nickie told her, he tried to push away from them.
Peter caught his friend’s arm, “It’s okay, Nickie. I’ll take you to my father. Okay?”
Nickie nodded, sighing in relief. He winced as they helped him to his feet and started walking again. Realising he had no idea who the woman helping him was Nickie looked at her.
“Who’re you?” he blurted out.
“This is Melissa,” Peter told him.
Nickie blinked, “Hello, Melissa.”
“Hi, Nickie,” Melissa replied with a smile, “Nice to meet you.”
“You too,” Nickie said.
“This is the best impression you’ve probably ever made on a woman,” Peter chuckled slightly, “With a concussion.”
Part Two