Hi guys! I'm uploading this later than I wanted to, but once again life and work got in the way, plus there was one section of this chapter that I kept having disagreements with. Everyone seemed to enjoy Michael and Fi's fight last chapter haha, I agree with the thought that they really needed to have it out at each other, as they often did on the show. A lot of you commented on Michael's true intention in returning to his job and breaking his promise to Fi, that will be touched on in this chapter. As always, thank you so much for all of your reviews! This story has passed the 50 reviews mark, which has never happened to me before, so I am honestly blown away. I hope this next chapter shows you all how much I appreciate it.
To quickly respond specifically to philliesfan1000, a lot of your observations about season 7/this story are accurate. Michael's main problem is the idea that he has to save everyone. To paraphrase Anson in season 5, "the boy who never felt safe at home had to save the world". Michael does some pretty terrible things at times, but he has a strong moral conviction to do what is right, although it isn't always possible, especially for some jobs, such as working for the CIA. We even see him go too far with this in the actual season 7 towards the end, when he wants to join James' cause; because he's been lied to by so many people that he actually believes he's doing the right thing. As well as his need to save people, it goes with his need to protect people, usually from himself, because he feels like they will be better off without him. That's why he left Fi with Jesse in Last Stand; because he knew he was going to die and he didn't think she deserved to die by being with him. He left her behind because he thought she deserved better, but she obviously showed him how she felt, and said that she hates him making decisions about their relationship without her. That's why he's struggling in this story about whether to confess the real reason he broke his promise to her. He loves her and wants her to understand that he didn't want to take it, but he also knows what he's put her through and thinks she could be better off without him. He is simultaneously being selfless and selfish. He did tell her this in the fight previously, but she still doesn't know the full extent, and what they said was obviously caught up in the emotion. I hope this chapter answers some of that for you, and thank you for your long reviews!
Anyway, I'm done with my rambling now! I just really enjoying analysing this show, and Michael and Fi in particular, so I can kind of go on for awhile haha. I hope you all enjoy this chapter! I've been waiting to upload this one. It's the longest one yet, and I'm sure you'll like the ending ;)
Chapter Six:
The following day, the team was straight back to work, choosing to ignore the tension that still hung between Michael and Fiona. Unbeknownst to the other, they had both tossed and turned in bed for hours, repeatedly picking up their phones, ready to call each other, before losing their nerve and giving up.
"I knew it you guys, I knew it was the nanny. I could tell she was faking it when we spoke to her." Fiona seethed.
Sam had checked with his cop buddies and dug into the nanny, Rebecca's, financials, only to find a large payment made to her a few days before the kidnapping. Along with some other evidence the team had found, they had enough to link her to the crime, and had headed to her apartment to interrogate her.
"Remember, Fi, we're not going to kill her." Sam warned her. "We need her to tell us where the kids are, and she can't be bleeding too much for that to happen."
"She can still bleed a little." Fi muttered.
"Okay, guys, synchronise our attack for exactly two minutes from now. Sam and I'll take the front, Fi and Jesse take the back." Michael ordered.
Everyone nodded and took up their post. The moment their watches went off, they each advanced inside the house, taking the resident by surprise. Michael and Sam advanced on her, immediately cable tying her to a chair.
"Alright." Sam started. "Let's get right to it. We know you had a part in the kidnapping of those kids, and you're going to tell us where they are."
"What? I don't know what you're talking about." Rebecca stuttered.
"Oh, cut the crap." Fiona rolled her eyes. "We know you were paid $10 000 to get the code for the security system and information about the security cameras."
"No, no, it wasn't like that!" The young nanny cried. "When I got home from vacation with Mr Greenwood and the kids there were men here in my apartment. They had guns, and they told me if I didn't help them get the security code, or if I told my boss, they would kill me. They'd already scouted the house while we were gone. I really like Mr Greenwood, and I love those kids, but I didn't want to die! I gave it to them, and that was all I heard from them, until some money appeared in my bank account. I didn't know they going to kidnap the kids, I thought they were just going to rob the house! I'm so sorry!" She dissolved into tears before the team.
Sam and Michael looked at each other. This wasn't what they had been expecting.
"Can you describe the men at all?" Michael asked, turning back to Rebecca.
"They were wearing black masks, but they were fairly tall, about your height, and very tanned. They had accents and were speaking Spanish to each other."
"And they didn't say anything about where they were taking the kids?" Jesse prodded.
She shook her head tearfully. "I mean, I'm sure they did, but I don't speak Spanish. I couldn't understand them."
"You and me both." Michael muttered under his breath.
Sam sighed and looked back at Michael. "Mike, we gotta let her go, and go talk to Brian."
Michael nodded and leaned forward to cut the zip ties free. "Sorry about that. But don't leave town, or we'll definitely tell your boss about your part in this."
/
"I've got it!" Jesse shouted suddenly.
The other three members of the team turned to him, jumping a little at his volume. They were all in Madeline's garage, pouring through the client's work files, trying to find the last piece of the puzzle to figure out who had taken Brian's children.
"I got you, you little bastard." Jesse whispered, loud enough for the others members of the room to hear him.
"Want to fill us in, Jesse?" Michael asked, amusement colouring his voice.
"Yeah, so six years ago, Mr Greenwood invested in a manufacturing company that operated out of a warehouse. There was a fire one night as a result of faulty wiring, and an employee died in the warehouse. Here's the police report." Jesse slapped the paper down on the bench in front of them.
"Was Greenwood at fault?" Fi asked, peering down at the file.
"No, it was ruled as an accident, but another employee filed a lawsuit against him for damages that she received in the fire. She was trapped under a fallen beam and had to have multiple surgeries on her legs once she was rescued. Mr Greenwood ended up settling and the matter was closed."
"What was that employee's name?" Michael asked, picking up another page of the report.
"Nicole Hawke." Fiona read off the page.
Michael groaned as the information confirmed his suspicions. "Guys, she's related to the man who died." He passed the paper to Sam, who read it out to the others.
"Jacob Hawke, aged 19, was pronounced dead at the scene. His sister, Nicole, survived." He confirmed.
"She received almost a million dollars in compensation." Fi added, looking up from her page. "That's more than enough money to hire someone to kidnap three kids."
"She lost her family, now she wants to take his." Michael said slowly.
"If we want to save those kids we need to find her, fast." Sam said urgently.
/
A quick call to some of Sam's real estate contacts gave them an address to try. The team pulled up to the house, climbing out of their vehicles before pulling on their Kevlar vests and retrieving their weapons. Considering three children's lives were at risk, there wasn't time for an elaborate plan.
"Everyone ready?" Michael asked. The other three nodded. Jesse and Sam headed around the side of the house to enter through the front door.
Fi quickly picked the lock on the door, Michael standing watch beside her with his gun drawn. Once the door swung open she stood back and allowed him to clear the path, following him as backup. The ease with how quickly they slipped back into their typical roles was not lost on her.
The sound of people struggling and fighting drew their attention, and the couple headed down the hall towards the noise. A moment later, Sam and Jesse exited the room in question, having disarmed and knocked out the two guards who had been watching television.
The team of four headed up the stairs, Michael taking point with Sam at the back. When they reached the top they each broke off, running towards separate doors and trying the handles.
"This one!" Fi called, having found the one that was locked. The boys rushed over to her and she attempted to pick the lock, before discovering that she couldn't. She stood back, drawing her gun again as Michael and Jesse nodded to each other. They silently counted down from three, stepping forward and aiming a foot each at the door, which gave in under the pressure.
The team rushed through the door with their guns at the ready; to find three very scared children huddled together in the corner of the room.
Fi immediately slipped her gun away and approached the kids carefully, trying not to scare them. She trusted the guys to have her back anyway.
"Get away from them!" The young boy yelled, moving in front of his sisters to protect them.
"Hey buddy," Michael moved forward carefully. "We're not here to hurt you, we're here to take you back to your dad, ok? He's been really scared so he sent us to find you."
"Do you promise?" The youngest child's small voice piped up.
Fiona's heart almost broke at the scared tone in the little girl's voice. "We promise, honey."
Michael and the young boy stared at each other for a few moments. Michael's gaze must have been convincing enough for him, because the boy finally nodded at him in acceptance. Fi stepped forward to take his hand, Michael moved forward to pick up the youngest girl, and Jesse moved in to hold the other daughter against his side.
Sam took point as the group moved out of the room and back down the stairs, holding his gun at the ready.
"Leaving so soon?"
The four adults and three children froze, and then whirled around to face the petite woman before them. Her brown eyes blazed with fury and determination. She walked towards them with a gun outstretched, a slight limp obvious in her movement.
Sam stepped closer to Michael cautiously, taking the young girl from his arms. Once the child had been removed from his grasp, Michael stepped forward, shielding the others behind him.
"Nicole," he said, a warning tone clear in his voice. "You don't want to do this. These kids, they didn't deserve any of this, and harming them is not going to bring your brother back."
"My brother didn't deserve to die in that fire!" The woman yelled. "It was all Greenwood's fault!"
"You know that's not true," Michael stepped forward, his hands outstretched. "It was an accident."
"Shut up!" She screamed. "You all deserve to die!"
The team simultaneously took a step back, away from the mad woman's ranting. Michael turned his head slightly to lock his eyes onto Fi's. She understood what he was saying even without words, and subtly began moving backwards towards the door, Sam and Jesse quickly catching on.
"Hey!" Nicole screamed, pulling a gun from behind her, aiming it towards the group of children with adults shielding them.
"Go!" Michael yelled to the rest of them, running forward and diving into the assailant, disarming her of the weapon. Bullets went off as they both struggled to gain the upper hand.
The rest of the team ran from the house with the children in their arms. Once they made it back to the cars, Fiona turned around to see where Michael was. If he wasn't out in exactly ten seconds, no one would be able to stop her going back for him.
Suddenly, there was a large explosion, and the ground beneath them shook. All of them turned away from the house, then back again to witness the sight before them.
No. No, no, no, no Fiona thought as she stared at the red-orange flames erupting from the house.
"Michael!" She cried out once her mouth had caught up with her brain. She began to run towards the burning building, but was stopped by a pair of strong arms wrapping around her waist.
"Sam! Let me GO!" She screamed.
"I'm sorry, Fi." His voice was heavy with grief and regret. "I can't let you go in there."
"No! Michael! Please!" Fiona screamed, falling to her knees.
Sam was right behind her, holding her even tighter. He clenched his eyes shut, trapping the tears that were threatening to break free at the thought of his best friend being gone. Jesse stood behind them with the three kids, staring at the house with a grief stricken expression. Michael was the master of close calls and dangerous encounters, was this really how it ended for him?
The group stared at the building in silence; only the sound of Fiona's sobs filled the air.
Suddenly, a lone figure emerged from the side of the house. Sam's eyes widened in disbelief and then morphed into absolute relief when he recognised the form of his best friend. Thank God, he thought.
Fiona was still bent at the waist, slumped towards the ground. Sam grabbed her hand to try and turn her attention to Michael's approach.
"Fi, it's alright, look!"
Fiona lifted her head and gasped at the sight of her wayward lover, safe and unharmed. She scrambled to her feet and bolted towards Michael, crashing into him with full force. Seeing him emerge from another burning building and running into his arms was causing her to relive the consulate bombing, something she rarely let herself think about.
Michael's arms came to wrap around her smaller body as she crashed in to him, holding her tightly against his chest.
"It's okay, Fi. I'm alright." He soothed her softly.
"Thank God." She sobbed. "I thought …"
"I know, I'm sorry." He murmured.
"I thought I lost you." She gasped through her tears.
"I'm okay, Fi. I promise." He whispered into her hair reassuringly.
Sam and Jesse watched their friends, silently hoping that things between them would improve now. It was obvious to everyone how they felt about each other. Sam lifted his head to the sky, and said a silent prayer of thanks to the universe.
/
Michael and Fi drove silently back to Brian's house in her car, Sam and Jesse following them with the kids. The two of them did not communicate or make any contact, apart from Fiona tightly grasping Michael's hand in hers the entire way. There was an unspoken agreement between them to complete the job before dealing with their own issues. If there was one thing they were both skilled at, it was separating their personal lives from their professional.
Fiona pulled her car to stop outside Brian's house, Sam following suit behind her. She and Michael both climbed from her car, and headed to Sam's to open the doors for the kids.
"Dad!"
Brian Greenwood stared at his kids in disbelief, before running towards them. All three children collided with him in a mess of arms and legs. Tears running down the man's face, he held all of them tightly, hugging and kissing each of them. He looked up to the team of four, thanking them over and over again.
Fiona blinked back her own tears, lifting a hand to try and wipe away the moisture as subtly as possible. Michael, noticing her actions, reached behind her to place his hand on her lower back, the most affection that he would typically allow in front of others. She turned her head to offer him a watery smile, and his eyes softened on her.
/
"Why didn't you just tell me how serious it all was, and why you took the offer?"
After finishing the job, Fi had agreed to come back to Michael's hotel room and talk about everything. It was clear his near death experience was still playing in her mind, for she allowed much more contact than there had been between them in months.
"You've given up so much for me, Fi." His voice was filled with regret. "It's not fair for me to keep dragging you down. I couldn't let you spend the rest of your life in a holding cell, or be deported back by MI6. I knew that you'd be angry that I took the deal, but at least you'd be safe."
"There you go again with that white knight crap again." She rolled her eyes. "Michael, it's not your job to save the world."
"Maybe not, but I can save you. Especially from me."
"How can you think like that? I told you years ago, all I've ever wanted is to be with you. When will you ever get it into your head that this is what I want? I don't blame you for the things I've had to give up, because it means I have you. But if I don't have you, I don't have anything. Don't you get that?" She asked in frustration.
"Look at all the mistakes I've made, Fi. I don't deserve you, I never have."
"That is not up for you to decide! We've all made mistakes Michael, but it's how we handle them. You never asked me what I think about any of this!"
They stared at each other silently, their emotions written clearly across their faces. Michael sighed, and moved closer to take her hands in his.
"I want to be with you, Fi, but if you're going to make me pick between you and my job, I can't do it. They've got a contract from me, and you'll all go back to jail if I leave."
"All I've ever wanted is for you to choose me instead of your job." She said sadly.
"I wanted to choose you this time, Fi, I really did. But they tied my hands. They knew I'd never let you spend the rest of your life in jail, or be deported back to Ireland." He was begging for her to understand.
"I know." She whispered. "I understand now, I really do. I just wish it could be different."
"Me too, Fi, me too." He said solemnly.
She sighed. "Is there a time limit on this deal?"
Michael winced. "They weren't so clear on that. All they mentioned was this one specific mission that will take quite a few months. After that, I don't know."
Fi nodded, her expression blank. While she now understood Michael's reasons for returning to his job, their life together was still disintegrating before her eyes. For a brief moment she'd allowed herself to be hopeful, to think back on his promise in Panama, but now there seemed no end in sight.
"Fi, I will do absolutely everything in my power to do this job quickly, and find a way out." He grasped her hands tightly and looked at her before dropping his eyes to the ground. "But if you decide that you don't want to wait, that you want to move on with your life, I would understand." Even as he said it, he could feel his chest tightening.
She stared at him for a long minute, her face completely serious.
"Michael, when I thought you'd chosen your job over me, it hurt. Honestly, it felt like you didn't care about me. But now that you've explained this to me, the situation is different. I'm not giving up on you, on us. As long as you don't, that is."
"I Just want you to be happy, Fi." He said honestly.
"You make me happy, Michael." She answered. "But I can't be the only one in this. I can't do it without you."
He took her hands in his. "You won't have to, Fi. I can't lose you again." He leaned forward to press his forehead against hers. "I just wish things could be different. I really did want to get out."
She brought a hand up to his face, cupping his cheek gently. "I know." She said softly. She finally understood.
He stared into her eyes, his hand coming up to trail his fingertips across her cheek. He took her hand that still rested on his face and brought it to his lips, kissing it softly.
She leaned forward to kiss him, surrendering and falling into him as he responded with vigour. She ran her fingers through his hair, scarcely able to believe that he was here with her.
"I missed you so much." She gasped.
"I missed you too." He murmured against her lips, before capturing them with his again. "I'm sorry, Fi. I'm so sorry."
"I know." She whispered back. "It's okay now, Michael."
He drew her up into his arms, pulling her lithe body so that she was straddling his lap. She continued kissing his face, worshipping him with her touch. He returned the sentiment, running his hands across her back. He couldn't believe that she was here with him.
He pulled back for a moment, smiling at Fiona's small whine as he pulled away. He looked deep into her eyes, looking for permission to continue. She gave it to him with a nod, and he responded by flipping their bodies over onto the mattress.
As he kissed and held her, Michael still couldn't believe what was happening. He silently thanked the universe for bringing them back together, before returning all of his focus to the only woman he had ever loved.