Out of the ashes.
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Chapter eleven,
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Michael clasped Fiona tenderly to his chest, while continuing to lay gentle kisses on the top of her head. Just being able to hold her and knowing that she was there with him began to settle his shattered nerves. On the drive over he had convinced himself he was too late. He had missed her last call by three hours, all because he had needed to rest.
She moved her head back to look up at him, lifting a weary arm to touch his cheek with her fingertips tracing the line of tears that ran down his face.
"Shh." Her voice barely above a whisper, she could feel his heart pounding and see the concern written on his face.
He brought his hand up to capture hers, his eyes settling on the raw and swollen skin from where she had fought to free herself from the duct tape. He turned her arm, silently studying the damage from all angles.
"It's not as bad as it looks." She told him.
Frowning, he let go of her hand and turned his attention to appraising all the cuts and scrapes on her bare feet. "I'm sorry." He mumbled returning to holding her and rocking back and forth. "I'm so sorry. I should have been there." Guilt was replacing despair. He'd had numerous chances over the years to put an end to Sasha Perovic, and each time he had failed.
"Michael." She clutched at his hand, and looked up at him. "Michael." She tried again. "Shh, it's alright." She could feel his whole body trembling as she tried to reassure him, as much as he was trying to comfort her.
He looked down at her, a small smile playing on his lips. He had been given a reprieve, he would do his best to keep her close from now on. Cupping her cheek in one hand, he lowered his head to place a kiss on her lips. Soft and hesitant at first and then deepening as his tongue gained entry to her mouth and his hand tightened holding her still.
She pushed against his chest. "Michael. We have to leave." She could tell he wasn't listening to her, as he lent in again. "Michael!" She gripped his hand and squeezed it until with a gasp, he snapped out of it.
"We have to leave." She hardened her tone, giving him an order.
He stared at her, slowly blinking as if coming out of a trance. His expression changing as he became aware of their present situation.
"You can't walk." He stopped her from rising.
Getting to his feet he lifted her up, one hand under her knees the other supporting her back. At the door to the lock up she raised a hand and stopped him stepping outside.
"I might have been followed. The woman who had me was a professional." She warned him.
"Sasha Perovic, she's ex KGB." Michael replied, peering out of the door into the darkness.
There was plenty of cover for a sniper to hide, and he had left the charger over twenty feet away with the passenger door on the far side. When he had driven up, he hadn't given a thought to anything other than to getting inside. If Sasha or any of her people had been laying in wait, he would have been dead.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking." He muttered as he gently placed her on her a large wooden box. "I'll move the car closer." He announced, angry with himself for making such a rudimentary mistake.
She pressed her palm against his chest. "Michael. Calm down, it's alright." He leaned in resting his forehead against hers for a moment before nodding. "I'll cover you from here." She pulled the Makarov from his waist band, checking it over quickly.
He waited while she prepared to cover him and then sprinted over to the car, getting in as quickly as possible. He drove back to where Fiona waited parking up with the passenger door as close to the door as he could get it. He was out instantly helping Fiona into the car, before securing the locker doors and getting back in the car himself.
"So where are you staying?" She asked resting her head back against the headrest.
He glanced over at her. "The loft."
"The loft, the place they picked me up? What are you and Sam thinking?" She couldn't believe they were staying where their enemy knew exactly where they were.
"I- Well we thought.." He turned his attention back to the road leaving the rest of the sentence unsaid.
Fiona listened to him stutter, so unsure of himself. She reached over and squeezed his arm. "It's alright we'll sort all this out. Where's Sam? We need to regroup."
"I'll find us a motel." Michael replied keeping his eyes on the road. "We need somewhere you can rest up and heal." Ignoring her questions about Sam. He wasn't ready for that discussion.
…...
Sam opened his eyes, unsure what had woken him up and a little confused about what had happened. Lifting his head out of the dirt he looked around, and when he saw the dirt trail, trees and heard the roar of the river it all came back to him.
Nearly suffocating in a sinking car. The struggle to get free of the seat and then breaking the side window. Smashing his feet into the glass again and again until finally it cracked and he could punch out a wide enough hole to squeeze through.
Swimming out into a fast current with zero visibility, while fighting a strong undertow. His chest hitting a semi-submerged tree branch forcing him to let go of his breath and take in a large amount of river water before he could reach the surface.
Sam realized he must have been out of it for quite sometime. It was dark now and the air was completely still. Suddenly forked lightening lit up the whole sky, followed several seconds later by a rolling rumble of thunder that drowned out every other sound.
Sam stared with bemusement as a large drop of water hit his outstretched hand. He began to frown as that single drop was quickly followed by another and then several more. Within minutes the dry dusty trail was on it's way to becoming a mud bath.
Shivering as chills took over his body, Sam struggled up onto his hands and knees. Slowly getting to his feet he stood bent over, with his hands on his knees as the chills turned to a raging fever. A harsh racking cough nearly knocked him back to the ground. He steadied himself, and looked around, he had to decide which direction to take.
Wiping raindrops from his face he peered through the torrent of water that was falling from the sky. Squinting he thought he could make out the occasional flicker of lights in between the trees that marked the trail. Realizing he was seeing the headlights of passing traffic on a nearby road he gritted his chattering teeth and with a heavy sigh started moving.
Each step was hard work, his chest felt constricted and every breath hurt. Wrapping his arms around his torso he shuffled forward doing his best to ignore the pain that shot through his joints.
Following the sounds of the traffic he staggered along the trail. Occasional slips and falls meant it took him an age before he came out onto a road. Taking a deep shuddering breath, he raised a hand and stepped out into the path of a slow moving car trying to navigate the flooded road.
…...
Fiona sat in the charger as Michael braved the sudden torrential downpour to book into The Orange Blossom motel. A small anonymous looking place set back from the main road. She watched him turn up the collar on his suit jacket and run across from the office back to the car. A flash of lightening illuminated Michael's approach as he dodged the deeper puddles.
"I've got us a ground floor room with a double bed and a bath. We need to soak your wounds before I can clean them up." He started up the engine, doing his best to keep the water that was dripping off him away from her.
Parking up as close as he could get to their room he looked across at her. "I've got a bag with some of your clothes and a first aid kit in the trunk. Let me get the door open and all our kit inside then I'll come and get you." He was on his way, without waiting for a reply.
Fiona was happy to sit in the dry while Michael got their bags and got the door open. She was finding it harder to keep her eyes open as the last of her reserves were finally depleted. If it wasn't for the aches and pains of the days activities she could have easily drifted off to sleep.
"Hey." A blast of cool air hitting her and a flurry of raindrops made her eyes shoot open. Michael was smiling at her. "Come on, let's get you inside." He scooped her up in his arms and lifted her carefully out of the car, kicking the door shut with his heel before dashing across to their room and depositing her on to the bed.
Taking his jacket off he hung it over the back of a chair, and then ran his hand through his hair shaking out the excess water.
"I'm going to run you a bath, to get rid of the worse of the dirt and then I'll clean up your injuries." She nodded a dreamy smile on her face as she enjoyed the softness of a real mattress. Listening to the sound of the water rushing out of the taps relaxed her even further.
She must have dozed off because it seemed like no time at all that she felt the bed dip as Michael sat down next to her. She smiled as he gently stroked her upper arm. "Baths ready." He commented, his fingers tugging on the edge of the shirt she had taken off her would be attacker on the boat.
When she didn't move, he began to undo buttons. "Come on." He urged helping her strip off the dirt stained shirt and underwear. He swore softly when he spotted more bruises on her torso. "I'm..."
Fiona placed a finger over his lips. "Don't say it. Get me well and then we'll find her and if you're a good boy, you can help me kill her."
He kissed her fingertip and then lifted her again, this time carrying her into the bathroom. Placing her gently into the water. "Is it ok." He asked about the water temperature, sitting down on the edge of the bath.
"It's fine." She sighed closing her eyes as she rested her head back on his thigh.
They stayed like that for sometime, Fiona letting her aches and pain be soothed away by the bath water. Michael resting his head against the tiled wall, his fingers playing gently with Fiona's hair as he allowed all the tension and stress to flow out of his body.
Fiona was so relaxed and content, that she gave a little gasp as Michael started to pour water over her hair and then add some shampoo. His strong fingers gently massaged her scalp clearing out all the dirt, sweat and leaf litter. She smiled up at him, locking eyes for a moment before she closed hers as he started to wash out the shampoo.
After washing out the shampoo he rubbed in conditioner and started work on all the tangles, teasing the matts apart finally running his fingers through the whole length. Once free of knots he washed away the conditioner.
"You just soak for a bit longer while I sort out the first aid kit." He lent forward and kissed her forehead and then her lips. Not even minding when she wrapped a soaking wet arm around his neck. "I'll be back in a few minutes." He promised, pulling the door shut on his way out.
With a guilty glance at the bathroom door he picked up his phone and moved as far a way as he could. His call was answered on the second ring.
"Hey Kid where are you? It's ten I thought you'd want to scout the place before the meet." Larry's voice came through the earpiece.
"I can't make it." Michael announced his tone flat, no nonsense.
"What do you mean you can't make it. I thought you wanted my help with this. You've had me running around making deals and then you just pull out at the last minute. I don't think so Michael. You'd better get..."
"I said I can't make it, and I mean it Larry." He interrupted Larry's rant.
"Really and what's so important you can't keep your word?" Michael knew that tone, he closed his eyes knowing at some point he was going to pay for standing up his old partner.
"Michael!" Fiona called out to him.
"Non of your business. I'll be in touch when I'm ready to go ahead." Michael ended the call. He wasn't sure why, but for now he didn't want Larry to know he had found Fiona.
"Just a minute!" He called out to her, quickly spreading a towel on the bed and laying out his medical supplies.
"You ready to get out now?" He stepped back into the bathroom.
"The water is getting cold Michael." Fiona lifted her arms up. "Help me out." She smiled at him.
"I'm going to get wet." He pointed out.
"You're already wet." She replied.
Returning her grin he reached down and lifted her out of the tub wrapping her in a towel he carried her through to the other room and dropped her down on the bed next to the first aid he had laid out.
Without wasting any more time he sat down on the edge of the bed and took hold of one of her feet. Starting the painstaking task of removing the gravel, grit and glass that would set up infection if left in place.
She grimaced as he dug out a particularly stubborn splinter. "Your nursing skills haven't improved." She hissed.
"Do you want to get blood poisoning?" He replied patiently, holding up the offending sliver of wood with a set of tweezers.
"Just get a move on." She muttered, as he turned back to his task.
"Who were you talking to on the phone?" She asked through gritted teeth as he found another item buried deep in her foot.
"No one important." He replied, keeping his head down.
Satisfied he had got everything, he coated her soles with an antibiotic gel and wrapped her feet in a bandages.
She watched him work, the way he was studiously avoiding her gaze. He was hiding something from her. "Where's Sam?" She asked, feeling sick at what his answer might be.
He ignored her, turning his attention to her arms. Which were clean and dry now and he could see they had both been rubbed almost raw.
Tearing her arm out of his hand she smacked him around the head. "Michael. Where's Sam?"
He glanced up at her then picked up the antibiotic gel. "I don't know." He admitted, his voice so low she could barely hear him. He rubbed the gel onto her arms before digging out the last of the sterile dressings he had in the kit.
"What do you mean you don't know?" Her voice went up a pitch.
Michael wiped a hand across his face, still refusing to look her in the eye. "Michael, something has happened. Tell me." She wanted to scream at him, but knew in his present state she would get more out of him by remaining calm.
He pulled out his phone and showed her the photographs he had been sent. Fiona scowled at the first few that showed her stay on the Yacht and then her face fell as she saw those of Sam.
"You think..." She handed him the phone back.
"Maybe.. I don't know.. Sam's a strong swimmer.." He dropped his head.
Fiona shuffled forward and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "Sam's tough, like you said he's a strong swimmer. We'll find him." She kissed his neck. "Get out of your wet clothes, before you catch a chill. Tomorrow we'll go to the house cleaners office get that blond bitch's address and get some answers."
…...
Larry looked at his phone then very carefully closed it and slipped it into his pants pocket. His eyes were narrowed his mouth a thin line. Michael had stood him up. The kid had gone from being desperate and willing to almost anything to get help to turning him down without an explanation.
He went out onto his balcony, and sat down lighting up a cigar. He could think of only two reasons for Michael to back out of a deal neither were very good for him. Either Fiona had got free and had reached him or Sam Axe wasn't as dead as had been reported and had turned up to set his friend straight.
Staring out at the storm that had passed over the city and was now making it's way out to sea, Larry felt a cold burning rage building up. He hated being injured, having to rely on other people who were meant to be professionals. He eased his leg, massaging the bullet torn muscles.
He went back inside and got his phone returning to his seat outside. "Sasha. Is there anything you want to tell me?" He asked his tone friendly.
"Mikhail's little bitch has got away." She admitted. She was tired, angry and in no mood to deal with Larry's ego.
"How long ago?" He wanted to know how bad the damage was, if she had just got away there maybe a chance to rectify the matter.
"Four maybe five hours, I have a lead on where she has gone." Larry viciously stubbed out his cigar, trying to contain his anger.
"Oh I know where she is, she's with Michael probably hidden away somewhere safe and sound." He answered her, talking from behind clenched teeth.
"So what do you want to do about this?" She felt like screaming at him it wasn't her fault, it was a perverted guard that had been hired locally.
"Me? This is your problem, it's you Michael is going to be coming after." Larry chuckled.
"So you just abandon me?" She asked. She already knew the answer.
"I didn't say that." Nothing as far as he was aware could be traced back to him, he was happy to leave her to face Michael alone.
"I think Mikhail would be very interested in your part in all this, I might have to tell him." She threatened.
"Oh Sasha, you really don't want to threaten me. I'm nothing at all like Michael." He hung up, he had a lot to think about. He needed to cover his tracks and find out exactly what Michael knew.
…...
A/N: Thank you Amanda Hawthorn for reading through part of the chapter for me. Also thank you to Amanda, Daisy Day and Storyfan101 for your best wishes. I'm all better now.