The Dark Before the Dawn

By RascalFlattsS8

Summary: A group of bad guys need Nate Weston to complete a task of illegal nature for them. What's their leverage? How about a burnt spy? Lots of Michael Weston Whumpage!

Disclaimer: Do not own Burn Notice.

Warnings: Some violence and language. Also possible spoilers to End Run and Long Way Back

Chapter I

The tall Portuguese man stood on the balcony overlooking the water. There was a knock on the door. "Enter." He commanded.

Another man entered. This man looked like a line backer for a football team.

"Hello Marcus," said the man, smiling. "What have you brought me?

Marcus smiled. He pulled handed the vanilla folder to his boss. "Kent and I have been watching the airport for days now. We have found that the only guy who can get us in is this guy." He pointed to picture. "Nate Weston."

"Nate Weston," repeated the Boss. "What does he do?"

"He works at the airport," said Marcus. "He is the only person with the master key and the code to get into the safe deposit box."

"Excellent," said the Boss. "And can Weston be persuaded to help us?"

Marcus grinned. "We tried giving him a bribe, but he wouldn't take it."

"What about his friends? His family?" asked the Boss.

Marcus shook his head. "No girlfriend. No really friends. His mother is an 60-year-old retiree living in here in Miami."

"So we go after the mother?" asked the Boss.

"That's what I was thinking," said Marcus. His grin grew even wider as he pulled out piece of paper from the folder. "Until I found out who his brother is."

The Boss took the paper and gasped. "What! You've got to be kidding me!"

Marcus' smile grew. "Have I ever lied to you, Boss?"

The boss also smiled. "So, Nate Weston's big brother is the famous burnt spy Michael Weston. How interesting. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

Marcus nodded his smile as big as the Chester Cat. "We kidnap big brother to get Nate to play ball."

The boss nodded, "My thoughts exactly." His grin grew wider, "I wonder how many people would pay to find the famous Michael Weston."

"I'm sure there are plenty," said Marcus, "seeing as how Michael has made lots of friends overseas. I bet they'd pay a lot of money to catch up with their old buddy."

The Boss laughed and padded his shoulder, "I like your thinking, Marcus. I like your thinking."

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It was a quiet Saturday night. For the first time in a long time, Michael Weston was able to enjoy a quiet night at the loft. His friends Sam Axe was out on date with his latest "lady" friend. Fiona Glenanne had found a new shooting range and was probably going to spend the rest of the week there. His mother was out of town on some seniors retreat and his brother was at work at his new job at an airport. Michael didn't have any active "jobs" at the moment. So for the first time in a long time, Michael had a quiet Saturday night to himself.

Michael was sitting in the chair, eating a yogurt and reading a book when his phone rang. Michael reached over and grabbed the phone. "Hello?"

"Mike? It's Nate."

Michael sighed. He had learned from previous experience that the majority of the time when his brother called, he needed help. Usually, it meant money.

"What do you need, Nate?"

"I need help Michael," the voice came through the phone, gasping in plane. Michael stood up, the phone clutched to his ear.

"Nate! Where are you?" shouted Michael. He grabbed the keys to the Charger and was already running down the stairs to his car, not even bothering to lock the door.

"I'm in the alley behind Wal-Mart on Fifth."

Michael jumped in the Charger and floored the gas. The Charger took off down the street towards Fifth Ave. "I'm on my way! I'll be there in five minutes!"

"Okay. Thanks Mike."

"No problem," said Michael. "Tell me what happened."

"I had to run over to Wal-Mart to get some more rope for work. And I got mugged. They took my wallet, Mike. And then they beat me up."

Michael felt himself fuming. How dare someone attach his little brother? When he found whoever attacked his brother, he would make them sorry that they ever tangled with his brother.

After what felt like an eternity, Michael finally pulled up in the alley behind Wal-Mart. He barely threw the car into park before he jumped out of the car. The headlights of the Charger illuminated a fallen figure sprawled out on the ground. Michael felt his heart stop for a moment before his legs took off running, carrying him towards the fallen figure.

The person was lying on their side with their back to Michael. As Michael approached the figure, he bent down. His hand was shaking as he reached out to roll the person over so he could see their face.

"Nate?" he asked softly as Michael finished rolled the person over so that he was lying on his back.

"Nope," said the man lying on the ground. He was holding a taser. Before Michael could move, the man struck Michael in the chest with the taser.

Michael gasped in pain as the electricity filled through his body. He didn't have time to think of anything else. He was unconscious before he hit the ground.

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The first thing Michael Weston was aware of was pain. He felt stiff and sore. He groaned. He knew that feeling. He had been hit by a taser.

The second thing that Michael was aware of was that he could not move his arms. The tension in arms told him that his hands were tied behind his back. He tried to move his legs as well and released that they were tied to a chair as well.

The third thing that Michael noticed was there was a gag in his mouth.

Michael slowly opened his eyes. He was in some sort of empty warehouse. The room was large and spacious with no windows and only one door which had two guards-both who had very large guns.

Michael looked down at the chair. He was right. He was tied to a metal chair. His wrists were tightly behind his back. There was another rope tying him tightly to the back of the chair. His legs were also tied tightly to the chair. Michael tried to wiggle out of the bonds but the ropes were tied to tight that he could not even move. He tried to push the chair but the chair was bolted to the floor.

"Glad to see you're finally awake," said a voice by the door. Michael looked up and saw a tall man standing in the doorway. His accent was Portuguese. His dark brown hair was slicked back on his head. His chin was pointed and he was wearing an expensive black suit.

"Welcome," said the man. "It is a pleasure to have you here with us, Michael Weston. And yes, I know all about you and your spy days," He added as he saw the question in Michael's eyes.

"I'm sorry about the accommodations," said the man, gesturing around the room. "But given a man with your skills, I need to take precautions. Can't have you escaping just yet."

He walked over to the chair and removed the gag. Michael gasped and took a deep breath. "What do you want from me?" Michael asked gasping.

"From you?" asked the man. "Nothing. You, Mr. Weston, are leverage. You see, your brother, Nate has a job at the airport. He is one of the only people who have access to something I need. I already tried to bribe Nate, but no avail! He wasn't interested."

The man leaned forward, putting his hands on the arm of the chair so that he was in Michael's face. "You are here, simply to convince Nate to do what I want him to do."

"And if he doesn't, you'll what?" asked Michael. "Kill me?"

The man laughed. "No, Michael. May I call you Michael? I'm not going to kill you. But there are a lot of people who do want Michael Weston dead in Afghanistan, in Africa, in the former Soviet Union and all over the rest of the world. They would just love to get their hands on you and kill you.

"Here's what's going to happen. Your brother is going to get me what I need. If he doesn't, I am going to sell Michael Weston to the highest bidder."

"And if he does what you want, you're going to let me go, right?" asked Michael.

"No, I'm still going to sell you to the highest bidder," said the man. He smiled. "Turns out a lot of people are willing to pay a lot of money for the famous Michael Weston."

Michael laughed. "Good luck with that. I'll escape long before then. I have friends…"

"Oh, you're talking about Sam and Fiona, right?" asked the man. He laughed. "Trust me, Michael, your friends won't be able to find you. This is the end of Michael Weston."

The man leaned back and walked back behind Michael. He grabbed the gag and tied it around Michael's head gagging him again. "Sorry to cut our little talk short Michael, but I have another meeting."

Michael watched the man walk back towards the door. He paused in the doorway. He turned to the guards. "Boys, get Michael ready for his photo shoot. We want to show little brother that we mean business."

Michael watched as he closed the door and as the two guards started walking toward him.

This is so not good.

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A/N: What do you think? Please R&R-I always love reviews!