Title: Dragon's Lair

Chapter 1 – Out from the Past

Rating: Rated M
Author: Andorian Ice Princess

Summary: Sheldon must rescue Caleb after he is caught in a trap draw by an ancient evil and must help him battle his inner demons and the monster that is trying to kill him.

"Where is he!" Sheldon demanded to the cold evil voice on the other end of her cell phone. She stood her ground amidst the burning wreck around her, unable to move until Caleb was back beside her. "Where!"

"He's gone Agent Alexander," the voice laughed. "Taken…taken to the Dragon's Lair…taken to hell! goodbye Agent Alexander! I hope you said your parting goodbyes."

"NO!"

XXXXXXXX

1 WEEK EARLIER

"That's another one! Damn it!" Nickel cursed loudly as he slammed the phone down and looked angrily at Sheldon and Caleb across the desk from him.

"Another body with the same markings?" Caleb asked softly.

"Same all around. Asian-American male, mid 30's, educated in the Eastern US, brutally butchered and his naked cleaved body left for us to find all bearing the same Chinese markings," Nickel said reading the paper in front of him. "Have you seen these markings before?" Nickel asked handing Caleb the photo that accompanied the file.

Caleb took the pictures and as he stared felt his stomach starting to heave. He quickly put them away and let out a heavy sigh.

"You have," Sheldon said in a dead whisper.

"We will never find the being responsible for this," Caleb said in a serious tone.

"'Being'?" Nickel asked in surprise. "What does that mean?"

"You mean person?" Sheldon questioned.

"No Sheldon I mean being," Caleb said looking directly at her with a frown. "An evil being. The devil."

"You don’t believe that do you?" Sheldon asked sceptically.

"Caleb if I put you as point on this…"

"I thought Interpol was handling this," Sheldon said in protest.

"They were until the last confirmed ID was one of our Agent's. Tom Lin is the latest casualty. Now it belongs to us. Caleb do you think that whoever is behind this knows you personally and knows you work for the CIA?" Nickel asked despite Sheldon's quiet protests.

"Not personally," Caleb said slowly. "Sir I'll do what I can to help bring this monster to his end," Caleb said looking at Sheldon. "It will be okay."

"You always say that," Sheldon said with a sigh. "But as long as you are sure then…fine," she said with a huff. "What choice do I have?"

"In this case none," Nickel said firmly. "Our trail leads us to Beijing. Now Caleb…"

"Sorry sir but your Intel is wrong. He dumps the bodies in locations that make sense to where the victim is stationed. But to find his trail you have to start someplace that no one would ever think to look."

"And where is that?" Nickel asked in curiosity.

"Liaoning Province," Caleb said with a frown.

"And where is that?"

"Hell," he muttered.

XXXXXXXX

"So how do I exactly book a ticket…"

"It borders North Korea," Caleb said walking into their shared office about an hour later. "And we need to go near Dangdon which his exactly on the border of North Korea."

"This just keeps getting better and better," Sheldon said dryly as she leaned back in her chair and looked at her partner and fiancé.

"What?" Caleb asked with a frown.

"What about this case affects you? I saw you brooding for the past hour. Stomping around and…Caleb if you don’t want it you don’t have to feel obligated to take it," Sheldon reasoned.

"I know," Caleb said with a sigh as he ran a hand through his thick dark hair. He turned his gaze out the window and let out a deep sigh.

"The Dragon's Lair."

"The what?" Sheldon asked softly. "Do I dare ask what that is?"

"Well mostly it's a myth," Caleb said looking back at her. "When I was a boy I had first heard of it when I was training with Master Chin. He would tell me these fantastic tales about a rogue Shoalin Priest that broke away from the rest and started his own school. But in this school the pupils were taught to kill or be killed. We would hear reports of bodies found butchered and cleaved and inscribed with the four mantra words that are now his legacy."

"And what are they?" Sheldon asked softly.

"You did not pass," Caleb said with a huff. "It was a reminder that if you couldn't best him in class you didn't deserve to live."

"A little harsh," Sheldon said with a frown.

"Yeah but guess how many failed his class?" Caleb asked sarcastically.

"And you want to go after him?" Sheldon asked as Caleb stood up and headed over to the window.

"No I want to stop him," Caleb replied firmly. Caleb closed his eyes and let his thoughts guide him back to the time when he was first training.

'Master Chin, why do you look so down today?'

'Ah young master Kwan,' the older man smiled at his young pupil. 'I have received troubling news. The Dragon has surfaced again. He left his claw marks in another one of my friends. Another who thought they had the power to stop him.'

'Who can stop him?'

'Only those brave enough to look inside themselves, discover their inner hatred and not be afraid to use it.'

'But you said we were never to use that power. That even in death we should never kill or defend in hatred,' young Caleb said with a frown.

'That is why this monster will never die.'

"You okay?" Sheldon asked softly.

"I will be once this is all over," he said looking back at her. "Ready to go?"

"So where to first?"

"Well the safest would be to fly to Beijing and then travel by Jeep."

"I'll make the arrangements," Sheldon smiled as she picked up the phone. Her smile quickly faded as she looked at the photo's before her. She looked at them and then up at her partner who now had his back to her. There was still so much about his past and his beliefs that she didn't comprehend or understand.

The arrangements were made and soon they were home, preparing for the next arduous journey before them.

Just before they were to get some sleep, Sheldon noticed Caleb was missing and went to find him. He was just leaning against the window staring out into the dark of night.

"What haunts you?" She asked in a whisper, standing a few feet from him.

Caleb said nothing, only furrowed his brow and turned to her with a heavy sigh. "When I was studying my fighting with Master Chin he spoke of a monster that would destroy all that he thought failed him…in his life and in his class."

"So you failed his class he killed you? Talk about incentive to do your homework," she added lightly.

Caleb offered a weak smile which quickly faded. "I remember going to sleep in fear after each class…I hoped I would never have to face such a…"

"Man?" Sheldon asked hopefully.

"Monster."

"Caleb he's not a little green man. He is human right?"

"I did wonder at a time…he's mortal alright…human well…that would indicate some sort of moral decency. Chow Ling has none."

"Okay so if you know his name then why aren't we…"

"Sheldon in Asia it's common to name your son after a strong warrior…good or bad."

"Right," she frowned.

"Let's get some sleep okay?" He said softly taking her by the hand. Sadly the night only brought them restless sleep and troubled thoughts; Caleb's mind swam with pictures of the past and Sheldon's started to imagine pictures in the future. Neither were promising.

XXXXXXXX

"Nice ceremony," Milt said walking into Nickel's office later that afternoon. "Tom Lin was a good man."

"So is Caleb." Nickel piped up.

"Worried about your future son in law?" Milt frowned with a slight smile.

"With this case especially," Nickel sighed. "There are a lot of things about Caleb and his family that we still don't know about. His beliefs, his training, his fears…he's so inward in some areas."

"Even to Sheldon?"

"Sadly…I just wonder what I've sent them up against?"

"Our station in Beijing is ready to help at a moment's notice, Nick. They have been up to date on everything and are very reliable. After all that's where Caleb came from…they're his team…they'll be okay."

"Famous last words…"

XXXXXXXX

The plane touched down in Beijing a few hours later and the connecting flight to Shenyang seemed to be over in the blink of an eye. Then they were into their Jeep and heading for the China/North Korea border.

"Boy I wish I was heading for Shanghai right now," Sheldon said with a distant smile.

"Well after all this is over we could take a nice holiday…we haven't done that for a while," Caleb reminded her.

"I was thinking of the beach," Sheldon fired back. "Away from anyone thinking about anything except suntans and sex on the beach."

"Now I like the sound of that," Caleb smiled as they headed into the thick forest.

XXXXXXXX

"You failed me yet again Nuyoung," Chow Ling shouted at the trembling man at his feet before he beheaded him.

"Get rid of him…" he shouted to another man standing nearby.

"Master Ling!" His right hand man rushed forward, gave a slight bow and handed him a file.

Ling opened the file and read the contents with anger. "So…the lost son has returned…"

"Master…he's CIA now…he has power at his finger tips that…"

"He can't best me!" Ling shouted in return. "I will have Agent Kwan before me…I will finish what I started so many years ago."

XXXXXXXX

As they headed further into the night Caleb sat silent in the drivers seat; leaving Sheldon to wonder what was going on inside his mind. Had he had a run in with Chow Ling before? If so what had happened? Had he bested Ling? Was he wanting revenge? Or was it something more? Some familial? Couldn't be…that last thought scared her so much. It snapped her back to reality and back to Caleb.

"Want me to drive for a bit?" She offered.

"Actually yes," Caleb yawned. They quickly changed places and were once again heading for destiny.

Caleb's mind started to drift back to his past.

"Master Ching…what is the Dragon's Lair?"

"Where did you hear that term Caleb?"

"Some of the guys at the Dojo this morning…what is it?"

"You're too young…"

"Master I'm twenty…I don't think…"

"It's a place of death. Did you find out where it is?"

"No…" Caleb lied.

"Never learn the location…and if by some misfortune try to forget and never remember. It's a place of evil and death. All who venture in…never return."

"But…"

"No…no buts or excuses Caleb…now clear your mind!"

"But Caleb we aren't supposed to go there…remember what Master Ching told us?"

"We aren't going to go in…"

"Caleb…" his friend Jared protested.

"I just want to…" Caleb started but then found himself ambushed by two fighting thugs. His friend Jared started to hide, but Caleb stood his ground and started to fight.

But unbeknown to both of them a set of eyes was watching intently. After Caleb had defeated the two men they made their move.

"Okay now we can g…" Caleb started. As he turned to leave he ran face to face with a darkened figure. The man before Caleb looked at one of his fallen men and cursed. Then within the blink of an eye, his hand swept the man's throat, breaking it and killing him in seconds. The same with the second…then he turned to Caleb. "They failed me…"

"I…" Caleb tried and then failed.

"You fight very well for a young man…who is your teacher?"

"Master Ching."

"He is weak…I can teach you things that will make you invincible!" Chow Ling said firmly.

"I…I know you…" Caleb's breath failed him. He knew this was the one person he wasn't supposed to run into…much less stand him down face to face.

"I…have to…"

"You will return…YOU WILL RETURN TO ME!"

Caleb and Jared ran into the night…not looking back…Ling's words haunting his thoughts forever more.

Sheldon looked over at Caleb and noticed the look on his face and frowned. Whatever he was battling inside this time went beyond ex's, old foes and new enemies. This would be different – this would be personal. A little too personal for her liking. The sad thing was with Caleb things that went this deep were going to be hard to reach – and if he didn't let her in – impossible!

Caleb's mind drifted back to the past once again.

"He wanted me to join him," Caleb told Master Ching.

"I told you not to go!" Ching scolded Caleb.

Caleb looked down with a dispointed face. "I am sorry Master…I just wanted to see if all the stories were true."

"And what did you learn?"

"He is evil. He killed two of his men right before my eyes. We left before we could see him finish them off," Caleb said in sorrow.

Then his mind drifted ahead a year to another run in he had with Chow Ling.

"We meet again Caleb Kwan…I never forget a face."

"What do you want?" Caleb asked nervously, a new rookie now with the CIA.

"I came to seek you out. You join this law enforcement organization…you are young and strong…you could rule by my side. Join me!"

"You murdered two of my friends!" Caleb spat angrily. "You will pay!"

A fought ensued and just when Ling gained the upper hand and Caleb was at his mercy he stopped. "You will come and seek me out again, young Master Kwan. You and I will battle to the finish."

"Never…I'll never give in to you!" Caleb panted.

"YOU WILL BEND TO ME!" Ling yelled before he disappeared into the night.

Caleb's eyes slowly opened and he looked at Sheldon and instantly felt remorse for the pain he was hiding. He had to tell her…but everything? Should he keep secret the fact that he and the man they were chasing were sworn mortal enemies? Vowed to battle to the death in the Dragon's Lair. Could he tell her that? He knew he had to…at least some of it.

"I know Chow Ling…" he started softly.

"I kno…"

"No…I mean I know him Sheldon. Personally."

"Caleb is he a threat to you personally?"

"Yes," he frowned. "Well…I mean it's been a long time since our paths crossed. But I have no reason to…"

"Caleb you are trying to bring him down. You are working with information that will send him to prison. Can you honestly see a man like that in prison?"

"No…" he huffed.

"Whatever you are keeping from me you know will come out sooner or later right?" Sheldon reminded him in a soft but firm tone.

He of course knew she was right. "Ever heard of the Dragon's Lair?"

"No, but I'm afraid to ask."

"Chow Ling created among other things a place called the Dragon's Lair. Very exclusive and hidden in the mountains. No one knows where it is until they end up there…most never leave. Ling trained his fighters to fight to the death. My guess is that Lin uncovered this and then…"

"Ended up there. Who does the carving?"

"Probably the Master himself," Caleb cursed. "I hope Lin was dead when he started cutting."

Sheldon offered a wince but said nothing more. "Maybe those GPS implants will come in handy after all."

Caleb offered a slight smile but nothing more. They had passed the Haicheng area when Caleb yawned his final yawn. "Still a days ride away," Caleb yawned again. "Feel like a break?"

"Yes," Sheldon agreed. They pulled into a small Asian town and stopped at a small Inn. Sheldon quickly showered, they ate and soon it was time for sleep. A few hours later she awoke; only to find herself alone.

"Caleb…" she lightly called, wiping the sleep from her eyes. She quickly donned her coat and shoes and rushed outside into the warm night air. She went outside and into the restaurant they had eaten at earlier. She looked around and then finally locked eyes with the old shop keeper. "Temple…"

Sheldon went back outside and across the street and entered the small Asian Temple. She saw Caleb at the front of the building sitting down and deep in thought. Now wasn't the time to disturb him. She quietly went outside and back into the hotel room. She lay down but sleep didn't come to her. Even when Caleb came back and she felt his strong arms around her she didn't find the mental rest she needed.

Morning came all too soon and they were back on the road. Soon they neared their destination as the sky grew dark and threatened rain. "Who is our contact here?"

"Thomas Chan," Caleb told her. "He works out of the Beijing office but is working here on the same case as Lin. Chances are he'll be able to pick up where Lin left off. We'll meet him first thing in the morning."

They checked into a hotel and much like the night before after dinner Caleb needed some space, this time he told Sheldon he'd be at the temple next door so she wouldn't have to come looking.

However an hour later as he was walking back to the hotel things didn't go as planned.

Caleb turned the corner only to come face to face with two large men dressed in black.

"Welcome home Caleb," one of them growled.

"We've missed you," the other added.

With their faces covered Caleb couldn't make out anything than a familiar déjà vu in the back of his mind. "I don't want trouble."

"You came back here looking for trouble and now you found it!" The first one said moving in closer.

The other circled around to Caleb's side. And before he could say another word the fight was on. Caleb gained the upper ground but soon found he was no match for the highly trained fighters.

"Remember don't kill him…" the one reminded the other as Caleb merely hung in his arms and he was about to deal a death blow.

A dribble of blood from Caleb's mouth started to pool on the ground as the man fairly dumped him into it. "The Dragon's Lair awaits…we will see you soon."

Sheldon awoke an hour later and still no Caleb. Now she started to fill with panic…he wouldn't be gone this long. She put on her shoes and raced out into the night. Her Caleb radar was now going into high gear. She pulled the door to the Temple open and as she surmised he wasn’t there. She rushed to the back door, into the alley and stumbled to her knees. She looked back to see what it was.

"Caleb!" She yelled in horror rushing to his unmoving body. She gathered him up in her arms and held him close. "Caleb…wake up…" she gently urged, her eyes now filling with tears at gazing upon his bloodied face.

She felt him starting to stir and continued to gently rock him back and forth. "Caleb…"

"Sheldon…" he whispered in agony. "Sor…sorry…"

"Shhhh…" she hushed. "What happened?"

"Am…ambush," he told her. "Dragon's Lair."

Sheldon closed her eyes and offered an inward curse. The one thing she didn't want to happen was unfolding before their very eyes. It would only get harder from here on it.