PART FOUR, SCENE SIXTEEN

Kermit finished the paperwork and leaned back in his chair. "I love it when the criminals make it so easy," he said with a Cheshire cat smile. "'Jimmy' turns out to be Jaime Cortez. I just got the report from the Chicago PD. Jake may never have to testify...the guy's wanted by the feds on a variety of interesting charges. They're sending someone to pick him up...he'll be in federal custody by this afternoon. He won't be out for a long, long time."

"Did he say why he was so worried about Jake?"

"He thought he had put 'Jaime' behind him...figured that if Jake came to us, we'd eventually get word back to Chicago...rightly, as it turns out. He figured if Jake disappeared, he'd be able to stay in town longer."

"I can't believe that he tracked the kid to my fath...my place," Peter said, thinking about the drive-by shooting.

"Evidently, someone saw Sandra Mason's report, then saw Ariel with Jake, and told Cortez. He asked around, uncovered her connection with Caine, and took a chance." Kermit pushed up his glasses. "He thought it would be an easy way to take care of his problem...told me that he figured an old priest wouldn't be a problem. I guess his informant didn't realize that the 'Caine' that lived at the loft had changed."

"Did he say why he murdered Blair?"

The detective looked disgusted. "Blair wanted more money. He thought that his system would guarantee him a bigger piece of the action. Cortez didn't agree. Sheer stupidity."

Peter nodded and looked at his watch. "I think I'll head over to Paul's now. I didn't want to call and wake them up earlier."

"Do you really thing that either Paul or Lo Si has slept?" Kermit asked, looking at the younger man. "You know them better than that."

The younger man shrugged, averting his face. "Do I?"

Kermit stared at him, his expression unreadable. "I think you do."

Peter grimaced. "I would have said I did a few months ago."

Kermit took off the shades and massaged the bridge of his nose. With the armor gone, he looked tired. "They're human, Peter. They have flaws. Maybe they're not exactly who you remember, but it's your perception that's changed, not them. Both Paul and Lo Si made some mistakes. They're still your family."

Peter sat silently. Kermit replaced the glasses. "Just think about what you're doing to the people around you."

"Thank you, Dr. Griffin," Peter muttered.

Kermit's eyebrows went up. "You're welcome. And there's no charge for today's session."

The younger man scowled. "Are you always this pushy?"

There was no hint of mirth in the teeth-baring smile he got in reply. "Only when it's absolutely necessary."

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PART FOUR, SCENE SEVENTEEN

Paul was sitting on the front porch swing, a mug in his hand. He watched as Peter pulled up and got out of the Stealth. "Morning," he said, taking a sip of coffee.

Peter climbed the steps and sat beside his foster father. "Morning." They sat in companionable silence for about two seconds. "Jake's safe. We caught the guy."

"I thought you would," Paul said, taking another sip, admiring the sunrise. "There's some coffee in the kitchen, if you want some."

"No. Thanks." The swing rocked back and forth.

Paul put the mug on the floor. "Out with it," he said with a sigh. "What's the matter?"

Peter's expressive eyes were clouded. "Nothing," he said defensively.

"You're only this twitchy when you've got something to say that you don't think I want to hear."

"That's not it. I just... Seeing Jake... He brought back a lot of memories."

"For me too," Paul admitted. "Good or bad?"

"Both." Peter looked at his foster father from behind lowered lashes. "Mostly good though. I was remembering my first few weeks with you."

"And that's good?" Paul teased, his mouth twitching with the effort to hold back a smile.

"I was a brat."

"You were young," the older man said, remembering that boy long ago, the mood swings, the anger, the neediness. He smiled at the young man who would always hold a special place in his heart. "Annie and I understood."

Peter flushed. "Yeah, but I was still trouble. If it hadn't been for you...I don't know what would have happened to me. I'd probably be dead."

"Peter..."

"No, let me say this Paul. I've been acting like that brat since you came home. I pretended like everything was okay between us, but I was still angry that you left us. Left me," he amended. "I know your reasons, but I still couldn't get past those walls I had erected around my feelings."

"Peter..."

The young man shook his head. "Let me get this out," he pleaded.

"Seeing Jake...he reminded me so much of what I was like...what my life was like before you and Annie. And I realized...since you returned, I've been that kid again. It didn't matter that time had gone by, and I'm an adult now...in my heart I was that scared little brat with an attitude. Back then, I didn't want anyone to care for me, because then I'd have to take a chance and care about them...and then they'd leave me. You got past those defenses and opened the world for me. This time..." he ducked his head and looked away. "I was afraid that if I cared about you again, you'd leave, and it would be my fault."

"Can I talk now?" Paul asked. When the younger man nodded, he put one warm hand on the back of Peter's neck. "Son, I'm not going anywhere. I can't guarantee that nothing will happen to me; life doesn't work that way. But I love you, and nothing will ever change that."

"I love you too, Dad," Peter said, his voice muffled. Paul reached down and with one finger under his son's chin, tilted his head up so that his hazel eyes were in sight.

"Now that we have that straightened out," he said with a smile, "I suggest we go wake up the rest of the house so that we can be ready when Jake's parents come to pick him up."

Peter smiled, his eyes shining as he stood and pulled Paul to his feet. They embraced briefly before walking into the house, Paul's arm around Peter's shoulders.

Lo Si backed into the hallway before they saw him.

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