When Michael got to his office, before Michael leaving on his third and final mission for the CIA, he sat at his desk and called Fiona for the last time. He knew he told Sam and Jesse he wasn't going to try her again, but he had to give her one last chance. He wasn't surprised when he got her voice mail, the same result as all the other times he had tried to reach her. He left a very short message.

"Fi, it's Michael. I can't get you to answer your phone, so when you have a chance please check your email." he asked before hanging up his phone. The last thing he did before leaving his office, was to type an email.

Dear Fiona,

This is the last time I will contact you, but I have to try. I hope you are safe and happy.

There are so many things to say but I don't have long to tell them to you. I wish you had let me talk and explain why I made a deal with the CIA and what the deal entailed. The main idea was that I work for the CIA and everyone would go free and your lives would return to normal. I could have fought but I knew I would lose. If I had lost then you would have been handed over to MI6 or deported. You were my love and I couldn't do that to you. So instead, after everything you all sacrificed for me, I made a sacrifice for you. My freedom for yours.

If you would have given me time to explain to you what happened, we could be looking at the future we always wanted once I finished my work.

You didn't and I know you have moved on in your life. I'm moving on with mine as well.

Whatever you do, wherever you go, remember that I love you and you will always be my first love. If you need me, you know where I am.

Michael

Michael reread the email several times before hitting the send button.

The last mission took longer than he expected, but after a month and a half, most of the mess left behind from Card and Riley were cleaned up. Michael spent about a week in DC being debriefed and finalized his retirement.

Back in Florida, Maddie knowing that Fiona was not coming back, packed away anything that could remind Michael of Fiona. She stored it in the attic, in case the tides turned and Fiona did return. When Michael finally got word to his family that the mission was behind schedule, they decided to redecorate the loft. They bought a couch, television, computer and bed for Michael. One day when the boys were busy, she called and asked Grace to take her to the mall to shop for a few things.

When they arrived at the mall, Grace parked and asked Maddie "What is it we are shopping for today?"

"Well, Michael's home has been repaired but I want to get him something to break up the areas because now he has a proper living room and bedroom set. The loft should look like a home, not a warehouse." Maddie said.

Grace and Maddie exited the car as Grace said "Room dividers are what he needs. Maybe we can go to Bulls-Eye and find some partitions there."

Maddie agreed and followed Grace as they shopped for Michael. When they were all done shopping, Grace drove Maddie to the loft and they dropped off their purchases. Inside they were both shocked to see Michael.

"Honey! You are home! I hope its for good." Maddie said, giving Michael a big hug.

Grace smiled and said as she headed to the door, "I'm glad you are back safe. I'm going to give you two some time alone. I'll be downstairs when you are ready to leave Maddie."

"She is such a nice girl. I dragged her all over town today." Maddie said. She was going to continue as she started to unpack the shopping bags but Michael stopped her.

"You guys went out and bought me furniture." Michael noted.

Maddie nodded. "We did. You left Sam some cash for renovations and we didn't know how you would feel when you came back, so we thought getting a bed and a couch would be a good start."

Michael smiled and said "Thanks Mom."

Looking around the loft, Michael was relieved to see that it did look different from when he first arrived in Miami after being burned.

He must of had a sad look about him because Maddie was being overly cheerful. If he was sad, she didn't want him to be alone, so she said "Come over tonight and we'll have take out. Anywhere you want. I'll have Sam come for you in a bit."

Michael nodded and walked off into the kitchen. He grabbed a bottle of water and headed out to the balcony, closing the doors behind him. When he heard the door close, he pulled out his phone and dialed Fiona's number. Silent tears began to fall down his face as he listened to the operator message.

"This number has been disconnected."

He knew it was finally over. Michael regained his composure and looked around the loft. He noticed that when they decorated, they had made sure that his new surroundings did not remind him of his past. He began to unpack and then showered. After he got dressed, he sat down for a moment and remembered the last moment he saw Fiona. She looked so beautiful walking towards him from her cell.

He was jolted from his thoughts by a hand on his shoulder and a familiar voice saying "Mikey? You alright? I knocked and knocked but there was no answer, so I came inside." Sam said.

"I know I said I was done, but I sent an email before I left. She never opened it and she's changed her number Sam. It's disconnected now. It's finally over." Michael replied in a defeated tone.

Sam sighed. He took Michael's elbow and nudged him forward. "Come on. Mom and Jesse are waiting for you. If you want, you can join Jesse and I on a bit of surveillance tomorrow. I can only take so much of him complaining about this heat wave."

Michael forced out a laugh and stood up. He sat in Sam's car and thought out loud. "I think the first thing I need to do tomorrow is buy a car. They wouldn't let me have the Charger back, even after I retired."

"You know what? You take my car tonight and I will get a ride back to the hotel with Jesse. You can join us later on another surveillance. Take your time Mikey, this is a whole new ballgame for you and you shouldn't rush anything. Let's go see your Mom and Jesse. I'm sure they'll be happy to see you."

The evening went smoothly. Even though Michael looked sullen and picked at his dinner, he answered everyone's questions about where he was and what he was doing. Michael ended up staying the night at his mother's house. He liked the loft, he just wasn't ready to be alone in it.

In the morning, he got into Sam's car and sat in the driveway with his cell phone in his hand.

"Don't do it!" He heard a female voice from the passenger window.

Michael looked out the drivers side window, hoping to avoid her. She spoke again. "Don't call her! I am serious. Put that phone down or else I will take it from you."

"How do you know who I am calling?" Michael countered, finally looking at her.

Grace smiled and said "The guy I dated before the one I just left, that guy left me. I've been there before so I've made the calls and sent the same emails you probably have. I understand what you are going through."

Michael lowered his head and looked at the phone, he had pulled up Fiona's number but still hadn't called it. He knew it was disconnected but he still wanted to try.

"I'll give you some friendly advice. You don't have to talk. Just listen to what I have to say. You think you are ok now and you might be, but guaranteed you'll get to a point where you feel crushed and overwhelmed." Grace softened her voice, her usually loud and energetic voice because slow, no louder than a whisper. "Don't close yourself off. Talk to your friends, your Mom, you could even call me if you wanted someone to listen to you. "

Michael looked at Grace and asked "Why do you care?"

Grace shrugged her shoulders. "What can I say? I know a kindred spirit when I see one. I have to go, so call me if you need me." She said as she walked back to her car.

Michael smiled a little as he turned his phone off and pulled out of the driveway, heading towards the first car lot he could think of.

While Michael was shopping for cars, Sam sat on Elsa's couch while she worked at her desk. In one hand he had a list of phone numbers and in the other he held his phone. After sitting on the couch and not moving for quite some time, Elsa asked "Sam, you know there is a table in front of you that you could put down the paper and the phone."

"Remember I told you awhile ago that Fiona has a new guy and Mikey is moving on with his life, without fighting for her?" Elsa nodded, while Sam continued. "Well, it's not sitting right with me and I have to try one last time for both their sakes."

Elsa tilted her head and asked "How to plan on trying to accomplish this?"

Holding the paper in his left hand he said "This is a list of bounty hunters in New Jersey. Most of the places on this list aren't all that legit. When we searched before, we used contacts and legal businesses. I'll start with the county Fiona was seen in and call around. Someone has to know her or someone who can get me in contact with her. I need to make her understand that Mike has given up on her returning."

"Use my desk phone so you don't completely drain your cell phone battery." Elsa picked up her laptop and sat on the couch. "I can work fine from here." When Sam passed by her, Elsa stopped him and gave him a kiss. "Michael has no idea how lucky he is to have you as a friend."

Sam smiled and sat down at Elsa's desk. After trying for an hour, with no leads, he called a bail bonds company that was suggested by a friend of his. Like the other companies, they weren't the most professional but they got the job done.

"Hi, I'm looking for a lady by the name of an Irish lady named Fiona Glenanne. I was wondering if she works for you or maybe you could put me in touch with people who might know her."

The man on the line sounded gruff. He answered "I know her. She's right here. She's my best hunter. You want to speak to her? She's working a job later today, but she'll be free tomorrow."

Sam said "Tell her its an old friend Chuck Finley and I have to talk to her about a possible job."

He heard Fiona's familiar voice. "What do you want Chuck? I'm busy right now."

Immediately Sam started to talk. "Fi, I know you said you were done, but I just want you to listen to what I have to say. Mikey's retired. He had three missions to complete for the CIA and now he's out. He knows you are in New Jersey and that you have a job. What you don't know is that he's miserable without you. He grew a beard and he's not the friendliest person to be around right now. I'm calling to tell you he's decided to move on with his life without you. If you still want him, come back and fight for him. It'll take work but I think you guys could work through it. Give him a chance Fi. He's not working for the CIA so you two can live happily ever after. After everything you two have been through, just give him one more chance. Otherwise Maddie is going to set Michael up with her neighbor's daughter. Do you really think he'd be happy dating an average girl after being with you since he landed in Miami?"

"Oh Chuck" she whispered. "I'm very sorry but I can't work with you right now. I hope you understand. Give my regards to everyone and thanks for calling." Fiona tearfully said as she hung up the phone.

Elsa sat on the edge of the couch with baited breath "Well Sam, what did she say? Is she coming back to Miami?"

Shaking his head, Sam said "Nope. She sounded sad but not sad enough to come back."

Sam leaned back in Elsa's chair. She came over and sat in his lap. Wrapping his arms around Elsa her, he asked "Why didn't you move on when I left you standing by the boat? You had no idea when or if I would even be back."

WIthout hesitation Elsa answered "I never worried about if you were or weren't coming back. I knew you would find your way back to me or send word on how to find you."

"I always thought Mike and Fi would find their way back to one another." Sam sadly said.

"Maybe they weren't meant to be. Maybe they were like me and my late husband. We were only meant to be for a short time. Maybe their next romance will be the one to withstand the test of time make them as happy as you make me." Elsa pointed out.

As Sam pulled Elsa into a kiss, he said "Oh baby, you have no idea how happy you make me."

Elsa ended the kiss, locked her office door and had her receptionist hold her calls while she and Sam spent the day in the office together being thankful for not losing the love of the other one.