New Fic - Sins Of The Father
Here is the Second Part
Caine smiled as he realised all his plants were still alive, Peter was better at this than he’d realised. His father was inside talking with the Ancient, both men had found a great deal in common.
Caine was happy to be home, it was something only a few years ago he hadn’t believed he’d ever have again. Then he had ended up in hospital when helping a friend, and woken up to find the one thing to mend his broken spirit.
Peter.
His son, no longer a child now a man who despite the pain and hardship he had suffered had become the protector Caine had always known he would become. Caine never resented Paul Blaisdale for the taking the role of a father in Peter’s life when he was alone although he did feel sad that there were things his son would go to Paul for that he couldn’t talk to him about.
“Pop,” the peace of the apartment was shattered by Peter’s voice.
Caine turned, surprised to find Peter and Melissa supporting the limp form of Dr Nickie Elder between them. He quickly moved to them and helped them rest the young man on a mat in the floor.
“What happened?” Caine asked as he looked at the pale face of Peter’s friend.
Melissa shrugged, “He was jumped. I think he knew who it was.”
“Really?” Peter asked.
“He said something about Tames,” Melissa explained, “That we had to stop him.”
Peter frowned, moving out of the way as Caine started to tend to Nickie’s wounds. He didn’t like when any of his friends were hurt but Nickie...he wasn’t even a cop, he shouldn’t be in danger.
“Hey,” Melissa touched his arm, “Let’s get out of the way until he’s able to talk to you, okay?”
Peter nodded and together they left the room. Moving onto the veranda Melissa watched her cousin pace, wishing she could say something to stop his anxiety.
“Tames?” Peter turned to her, “Are you sure that’s what he said?”
“He said it several times,” Melissa shrugged, “So yeah.”
Peter fell silent again for several minutes before he turned to her, “Is that familiar to you?”
Melissa shrugged, “Slightly but that could mean anything.”
Peter shook his head, “There’s something about that, something...”
Nickie groaned as he opened his eyes, his head was pounding and he felt sick. Looking up he saw Caine fixing something.
“Caine,” he forced past his dry throat, “You’re back?”
“Yes,” Caine looked down at the injured young man, “You need to rest for now, I am going to give you something to help with your headache.”
Nickie nodded, drinking the foul mixture Caine placed at his lips. He sighed slightly as his pounding headache lessened, he looked at the man sitting beside him and Nickie smiled.
“Thank you,” he breathed before dropping his head, “I need your help, Caine.”
“I will help,” Caine assured Nickie, “But first you must rest. We can discuss this in the morning.”
Nickie was about to protest but he found he couldn’t form a sentence and fell asleep before he realised it.
*********************************************
Kermit sat in front of his computer trying to discover anything about the child who had been killed, he hated this part of his job but he wanted to catch the monster that did this.
“Kermit?”
The voice made him look up, surprised she’d managed to get into the office without him realising. Then again she was a Caine.
“Melissa,” Kermit greeted his visitor, “I’m really busy, can whatever this is wait?”
“Not really,” she pulled the spare chair over, “I know you’re working just now but Peter asked me to get you to look for something.”
Kermit winced, “A cryptic Caine is the last thing I need just now, Melissa. Get to the point.”
“A guy called Nickie Elder was attacked last night,” Melissa started.
“Is he alright?” Kermit cut her off.
Melissa nodded, “Uncle gave him some powerful stuff to make him sleep. Anyway before he went to sleep he said a name, Tames. Peter asked if you could look it up.”
Kermit nodded and started to type, “Why didn’t he come himself|?”
“Said that would cause too many questions,” Melissa chuckled, “If anyone asks why I was here you just tell them it’s about my thing in Seattle.”
He rolled his eyes before sitting up straighter as the computer tossed out some results, as Kermit checked the hits he let out a low whistle. Melissa leaned over his shoulder and stared at the picture on the screen.
“That’s the guy from last night,” Melissa murmured, “Younger but no less creepy.”
“Frederick Tames,” Kermit read, “Leader of a cult, accused of killing the children of his followers so that each set of parents had only one kid. Although they managed to get him Tames disappeared from a jail cell never to be seen again - until last night.”
“Kermit,” Melissa squinted at the screen, “Can you magnify that bit there?”
He quickly highlighted and magnified the part of the screen she indicated staring in amazement at who was suddenly looking back at them.
“Nickie?” they said in unison.
“What time is it?”
Peter turned and smiled at his friend as he staggered onto the balcony, “Good morning, how’re you feeling?”
Nickie grimaced, “Not great. What did your father give me?”
Peter shrugged, “I’m still not very good at the whole apothecary stuff so don’t have a clue,” he paused and looked at the other man, “Why were you walking through that park, Nickie. It’s nowhere near your apartment.”
Nickie dropped his head, “I was coming to ask you for help. Pete, I’m in trouble and I have no idea what to do.”
“What kind of trouble?” Peter asked his friend worriedly.
Nickie dropped his head; “There’s something about me I’ve never told you, something about me...” he trailed off and pulled his sleeve up to reveal a burn mark on his shoulder.
Peter studied the scar, it was a triangle intersected by the symbol for infinity, “Where did you get that?”
“I...eh...It...”
“It’s the mark of a cult,” Melissa stated as she walked onto the balcony, “One that’s killing children again.”
Nickie dropped his eyes away from his friend once more; he had so much to atone for and needed Peter to understand.
“Hey,” Peter said kindly, “I’m not judging you, Nickie but I can only help if you tell me.”
They re-entered the apartment, Nickie winced as he saw who was standing with Caine and Matthew.
“K...K...Kermit,” Nickie stammered as he saw the detective there.
“He gave me a lift,” Melissa noted as she moved to her grandfather’s side and took a seat, “We found your friend from last night, I think you should fill everyone in.”
Nickie nodded swallowed hard, “His name is Frederick Tames, he helped my parents when they got into debt but after he did he would appear every so often on business trips. One day we sold everything and I was taken to this large compound where Tames lived with his followers.”
“How old were you?” Peter asked softly.
“Eight,” Nickie replied, “We lived there for years until the police finally stopped him. But over the years I watched...I...” he paused and took a deep breath, “For some reason he didn’t want anyone to have more than one child, only the eldest was allowed to survive. I watched as he had parents kill their own children.”
“Oh God,” Melissa breathed horrified.
“My mother tried to get me out,” Nickie whispered, “My father just stood there as one of the others killed her on Tame’s orders. I should have said something when I saw the first body but I...”
“It’s okay,” Peter assured his friend, “Why did he come after you now?”
Nickie grimaced, “Because I’m one of his chosen.”
Caine, Peter and Kermit stood on the balcony after Nickie’s confession. Matthew had decided to go for a walk while Nickie was sitting staring at nothing, Melissa had volunteered to sit and watch over him for the moment.
“What do we do?” Peter asked, “If this guy is coming after Nickie.”
“We protect him,” Caine reminded his son.
“Nickie isn’t the only one who needs protecting,” Kermit reminded them, “This guy is killing children - again. We have to stop him.”
“The one thing we know for sure is that he wants Nickie,” Caine mused, “I do not like the thought of making him bait when he is so afraid.”
Peter shrugged, “Maybe he needs to face his fear. Anyway I don’t think we’ll need to make him bait because I’ll bet anything this Tame’s guy will try to get Nickie again. We just have to be prepared.”
“Here,” Melissa handed Nickie some tea, “Drink this.”
He nodded his thanks taking the mug before he looked at her properly, “Who are you?”
“Melissa,” she introduced herself with a smile.
“I mean, who are you to Peter and Caine?” Nickie told her with a wry smile.
Melissa smiled, “Hi, I’m Melissa Caine.”
“Caine?”
“Peter’s my cousin,” she explained, “And before you say it he just found out himself last year.”
“Oh,” Nickie tilted his head, “Thanks for this. I just...I just wanted to get away from my past and to never to have to think about them ever again. I should have known better, I should have known when Tames disappeared from jail he’d return but it had been so long that I started to relax.”
Melissa reached out and gently rested her hand on his comfortingly. They sat in silence for about ten minutes before Melissa found her voice.
“I was ten when my father beat my mother to death for not giving him a son,” she told him, “I haven’t seen him since. You’re not the only one who got a horrible parent. I think the only one of us who got a good father is Peter and somehow he got two.”
Nickie laughed, “Guess you’re right.”
“So what made you become a coroner?” Melissa asked, leaning back in her chair.
“I wanted to help,” Nickie explained, “Wanted to do some good but people aren’t my strength so I thought I could do this and help work out why people had died.”
Melissa nodded, “Makes sense.”
“What about you?” Nickie asked, “Cop? Shaolin?”
Melissa chuckled, “Pharmacologist.”
“Oh.”
“I’m just learning about being a Caine,” she told him, “And frankly I think they’re a little nuts.”
Nickie laughed softly, “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”
*********************************************
Melissa glanced around Nickie’s small apartment, “Not the neatest person in the world is he?” she noted.
Kermit chuckled, “Are you?”
“I take the fifth,” Melissa replied, giving him a grin before she started scanning the room again.
Kermit had offered to go get Nickie some clean clothes, the younger man had also asked for a few of his old journals in the hopes of finding a clue to what they could do now so Melissa offered to come along. Mostly so she could get out of the apartment where Peter had done at least ten circuits within the five minutes before they’d left.
“You get the clothes, I’ll get the papers,” Melissa said.
Kermit gave a mock salute, “Whatever you order, ma’am.”
He turned and headed into the bedroom leaving her to follow the instructions hastily written by Nickie for the books he wanted. She was very impressed by the books he owned but decided to study them again at a later date and continued to follow his instructions. The man owned a lot of books and they filled most of the small room.
“Aha,” she smiled, Melissa reached up and brought down the leather bound journals desperately trying not to give into her curiosity and look inside.
“Find them?” Kermit called.
“What gave it away,” she called back smiling at his chuckle.
Grabbing the backpack that was sitting haphazardly on the couch Melissa started to throw the journals in. She gasped as an arm wrapped around her waist but before she could make a noise a hand clamped over her mouth. Melissa struggled against whoever was holding her but she couldn’t get away, kicking out she managed to knock over a lamp.
“Melissa?” Kermit called, he appeared in the bedroom door gun in hand but stopped as the man standing beside the one holding Melissa pressed a gun to her head.
“Detective Griffin,” the one in charge growled, “Put it down or I shoot.”
Kermit slowly lowered his gun, “Let her go.”
The man laughed, “Tell Dr Elder we’ll let her go when he comes to Tames. He’ll know where to come.”
The two men started out dragging the still struggling Melissa with them, Kermit moved to try and help the young woman but misjudged it. He slammed into the wall as the leader of the two managed to block Kermit’s attack.
“Tell him when you wake up,” the leader told Kermit before knocking him out.
“Kermit?”
Kermit groaned, trying to work out why his head was currently three times its normal size.
“Kermit,” the voice came again and he winced.
“Quietly,” Kermit murmured as he sat up, he looked into the face of the man watching him worriedly, “Peter?”
“What happened?” the younger man asked as he helped Kermit off the ground, “Where’s Melissa?”
“Dammit,” Kermit snapped as the memory of the few minutes before everything went black came back, “I’m sorry, Peter. Two of Tames guys grabbed her, they want Nickie.”
Peter’s jaw clenched, “Where?”
Kermit shrugged then wished he hadn’t, “They didn’t say,” he sighed, “They think Nickie will know.”
Peter nodded grimly, “Then we ask Nickie.”
Nickie was getting worried. Kermit and Melissa had been gone a long time, so Peter had gone to see if they needed any help. Caine was tending his plants while the older Caine had joined the Ancient once more for a walk around the city.
“Nickie,” Caine said without looking up, “They will be back when they are back. Worrying about it will not make them move any faster.”
The young man nodded before he started to pace the veranda, “I could go...”
“They are out because you need to be protected,” Caine reminded him, “Nickie, sit down. Peter will hurry them along so sit down.”
Nickie slowly sank into the seat beside him. He hated this, he hated that the fear from his past that he had tried so hard to outrun was once more controlling his life. Nickie was grateful that Peter, Caine and Kermit were willing to help him; he was also amazed that Melissa was helping - she didn’t know him but she’d been wonderful since he’d met her.
“Pop!!”
Nickie scrambled off his seat skidding to a stop as he saw only Peter and an obviously hurt Kermit coming in.
“Where is Melissa?” Caine asked, his voice not betraying the fear that Nickie was feeling.
“She was taken,” Peter said as he moved Kermit to a seat, “Nickie, where are they?”
“What?” confusion filled Nickie’s voice.
“They said you’d know where they are,” Kermit replied, his brow furrowed from a headache.
“But...” Nickie spun to look at Caine, “I don’t. I honestly have no idea.”
Caine rested his hand on Nickie’s shoulder, “If they believe you know where they are then it is more than possible you do, even subconsciously.”
Nickie shook his head, “I don’t. I haven’t seen these people for over fifteen years.”
“They have Melissa,” Peter reminded his friend, “And we don’t know if they’ll hurt her so think, Nickie. There has to be something.”
Nickie shook his head, “There isn’t.”
“Dammit, Nickie,” Peter snapped.
“Peter,” Caine calmed his son before turning to Nickie once more, “We will go through this logically and try to work this out together. Everyone sit down, we will find her.”
*********************************************
Melissa turned as the door to the small cell she was in opened, she stepped back wishing she was able to fight the way Peter and her uncle could but she hadn’t had the chance recently to ask for some training which, if she got out of here, she planned on doing.
“Look what we have here,” the older of the two men who entered smirked, “A Caine.”
“You,” Melissa gasped in horror as she saw the men who had abducted Peter when she’d first met him and her uncle, the two men who had ruined her life by targeting her friends and sent her into hiding.
They both smiled viciously, stepping closer to Melissa who stepped back further until she felt the wall against her back.
“So, you guys are really just lackeys,” Melissa said, wondering why she wasn’t shutting up.
The younger man stepped closer to her, “Do you remember what we did to your friend? And trust me she enjoyed it, I bet you would too.”
Melissa cried out as he grabbed her, she struggled against him shocked as he was thrown away from her. Melissa looked up at who had protected her and stared in astonishment.
“I’m sure I told you not to harm my daughter,” Damon Caine stated darkly.
Part One
Part Three