The Heart of a Man: 18

"You wished to speak with me?" Caine asked as he stepped into Blaisdell's office.

"Yes. Have a seat?"

Caine nodded and settled into the chair.

Blaisdell looked at him a moment before speaking. "As you know, Peter's been on sick leave. But he's made an appointment to talk to me about returning to work early. What do you think, Caine? Is he ready?"

Caine looked across at the man who had been Peter's father during a crucial time in the young man's life. He saw his own anxieties reflected in the other man's face, and knew that at his word, Blaisdell's response to Peter's query would be no.

"I am honored that you value my opinion." He bowed his head slightly toward the other man. "Do you believe him to be ready?"

Paul seemed surprised at the question, and then shrugged. "Well, he seems to be able to handle himself. The doctors have cleared him. But I thought you might see things that they could miss."

Caine did not like that his son faced danger every day, nor the fact that Blaisdell's worries were well founded. He would not have chosen such a path for Peter. Yet, he could not stifle his son. Like the bird, he had to be allowed to soar and seek his own path. He could only assist him in that journey. To do otherwise, would be to deny and suffocate Peter's unique nature.

"The assessment of professionals such as yourself and the doctors should not be taken lightly," he finally said.

Blaisdell frowned. "But what's your assessment? You've handled his care just as much as the doctor's have."

"Yes. And I love him, just as you do. Often love can cause us to fear for the safety of those that we hold dear. But we cannot always protect them. To attempt to do so would be stifling, and to stifle is to imprison."

"So, in other words: If you love someone, set them free?"

Caine smiled and nodded. "The Police, I believe?"

Blaisdell laughed. "Yeah. I'm not even going to ask how you know about that particular music group." He sobered. "It's not going to be easy to do."

"It will not. It is one of the most difficult tasks a parent must face. Despite our fears, we must learn to embrace our children, and then we must let them go."

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Peter crept into Paul's office and stood silently by his desk.

Paul looked up at him over the rim of his glasses, then completing the sentence that he was writing, set his pen down and removed his glasses. His eyes settled on Peter for a long moment.

Peter glanced away nervously. "Well, you haven't said 'no', yet," he murmured. "I guess that's a plus."

Paul chuckled. "Think you know me, huh?"

"Fairly well," Peter shot back with an affectionate grin. He sobered. "Jody told me that Pop was here earlier. He talk you out of it?" His eyes crept up to meet the older man's. He knew that his father wouldn't approve of his returning to work. He'd hoped that Paul would see things differently, maybe even understand his need to be out there doing something.

"Maybe you don't know me as well as you think," Paul responded, returning the affection in his tone. "I worry about you, you know."

"I know that," Peter ducked his head.

"And I don't want anything to happen to you."

Peter nodded uncomfortably.

Paul's expression turned more serious. "I asked your father here, Peter."

Peter looked up warily. "You did? Why?"

"I wanted his opinion on whether or not you should return to work. I figured since I couldn't come up with any professional reasons why you shouldn't return, maybe he could help me out."

Peter hung his head, defeated. He was sure Kwai Chang Caine could come up with half a dozen reasons without even trying. "I understand," he said, not meeting Paul's eyes.

He didn't look up when Paul stood and came around his desk. Then, suddenly, he was drawn into a warm fatherly hug. His arms responded automatically.

"I love you, son. Welcome back." Paul patted his back before releasing him. "Report to me tomorrow morning."

Peter looked up in surprise. "Thanks, Dad," he managed around the lump in his throat. "I love you, too."

"You're welcome. From the both of us."

The End.