A/N: Thank you to everyone for your reviews and PM's and also for the favourite author and story adds. I really do appreciate all of your comments.

Huge thanks also to my very special friends, Purdy's Pal and Jedi Skysinger for reading through this chapter for me, and to DaisyDay for making me smile every day

12

Staring at the slumped figure that had fallen in between the door and theoor and t threshold, Barry swallowed nervously when he glanced towards Fiona. Everything around him became muffled when the flurry of movement beside him caused his heartbeat to thump in his ear. He knew this was bad, really really bad. He was the one who'd shot Michael and when Fiona finally got over her shock, he was going to be in serious trouble.

Looking nervously at the stunned woman beside him he thought about yelling his apologies to her but when Michael began to move and pull himself into the sitting position he thought better of it. A child's frantic screams sounded from down the hall followed by very loud wails and he felt his throat constrict with fear when he realised what he had done. Everything had happened so fast…he hadn't meant to pull the trigger…

Fiona screamed Michael's name, dropping one of the guns she was holding onto the floor as she grabbed hold of his body. He was breathing in a ragged breath, pain littered all over his face but he was trying to help her by slowly getting to his feet when she pulled him inside and kicked the door closed.

"Michael," she hissed his name as she steered him towards a chair, barking orders at Barry and Katherine to keep him upright. She was running on pure adrenalin when her full IRA training kicked in. Holding her arms outstretched, she aimed the gun and she surged forward towards the closed door, ready to shoot anyone who tried to come inside but when no one came she backed up and locked it up.

Meaghan's wails could be heard throughout the house and she found herself torn. All she wanted to do was rush into her room, grab her daughters and Michael and hold them all so tightly until all of this just disappeared. Tears burned her eyes and she looked back towards her bedroom and felt her heart ache with longing when all she couldn't block out her daughter's distressing cries.

"Michael," her voice was wavering, caught between agitation and fear. She was fighting her instincts to take as much ammunition and C-4 as she could to find Marie and blow her into smithereens, but when Meaghan's wails reached into her once again, she pushed those thoughts of the old her, away. Moving towards Michael she placed her gun on the table and regarded him for a few seconds before her love took over.

"Fi…" he spoke her name and watched her as she batted his hands away to rip his shirt open, ignoring the button's flying off in all different directions. His eyes met hers, trying to offer her a reassuring smile but he wasn't so sure she believed him. "I'm okay. It's just a scratch."

Fiona's gaze drifted over his body to see a plume of blood blossoming over the edge of the shirt, covering the remaining material that hung on his body. Her breath hitched in her throat as she watched it spread, her thoughts scrambling inside her tired mind. She had to treat this like every other time he'd come back to her with an injury, and she had to push her fury away just like every other time.

"I need to patch you up," she told him, congratulating herself on keeping her trembling hands under control. She lowered her voice, keeping herself calm but her words seethed out anyway when she turned her head to burn a ferocious glare onto the man who had pulled the trigger. "I'll deal with you later."

Barry gasped in a breath and took an involuntary step backwards even after she had turned her attention back to the man on the chair. His eyes met Katherine who shrugged her shoulders, she too not quite sure what to say when Fiona tore passed them to slam cupboard doors so hard that they rocked on their hinges.

When she returned to the family room she had a thunderous look in her eyes, one that Michael had seen on many other occasions, mostly directed towards him. He could see she was as terrified as he was but he knew from experience that Fiona dealt with terror by blowing things up, and he couldn't let her go on like this. When she came to stand before him he seized the opportunity and caught hold of her hand before she could move backwards. She was trying to act like this didn't matter, just like she always did when she was under so much stress. He knew everything about this whole thing had impacted all of them really deeply, but up until this moment he hadn't realised just how much.

"I'm okay."

"Nothing about this whole damn thing is okay," she hissed as she shook off his hand to begin her angry pacing backwards and forwards. "Our baby is crying for us and I… I don't know what else to do…oh god, Michael—"

"Hey," shifting closer he caught her hand again and laced their fingers together. His wound was seeping blood over his shirt but he ignored the pain to hold onto her. "Fi look at me."

Meaghan's cries were becoming louder and Michael clung to Fiona's hand, knowing that hearing their daughter's cries impacted both of them in a way that neither could have ever thought possible. He wanted to go to her, to hold his little girl in his arms and promise her that everything would be okay but how could he do that when the woman he loved was falling apart before him.

"Fi, it's going to be—"

"Okay? You keep saying that," she seethed when she turned back around to face him. "Our babies are with your mother hiding out in our bathroom," she growled angrily, pulling her hand away from his. "You're bleeding, my mother's dying and we're never going to be free from Marie…so how is this okay?"

Michael tried to think of something to say that would ease the tension in both of them but he didn't think he could. He knew she was right, but he wasn't going to give up the life they had made for themselves because some crazy woman had set her sights on his family. Tightening his hold he shook his head and stood up, defying the dizziness that overtook his body to focus only on her.

"Go to the girls, I can patch myself up," he told her. "Marie's not out there anymore…all this will soon be over."

Fiona blinked heavily and tried to focus on what he was saying but she wouldn't let herself believe his words. He was lying just to placate her, just like he always did when she became too focused on one thing.

"Let me help," Katherine spoke at last when she saw the woman who had been holding a gun on her just a short time ago transform before her eyes. "Go ta yer babby."

"I can't," shaking her head Fiona swiped angrily at her eyes and drew in a ragged breath. "She's still out there…"

"Fi—"

Michael's voice didn't register when she suddenly realised that they were missing a person and she gasped in a breath when dread filled her eyes. "Sam…where is he?"

"That's what I've been trying to tell you…Sam and I had some help out there," he told her as he kept hold of her hand. Glancing towards Barry's ashen face he nodded in greeting before he caught Katherine's worried eyes. "Your husband's fine, he and Sam have Marie and O'Neil...we couldn't have got them without your help."

"What? Wait…" shaking her head in confusion, Fiona looked from Katherine to Michael and tried to fathom what was going on. This whole thing was a mess with her two little girls caught up in the middle and all she seemed to be able to do was become more furious with every second.

Michael started to ease himself out of his shirt when warm blood caused the material to stick to his skin. All the while he watched Fiona's eyes become a myriad of emotions and he knew by experience that she was going to explode any moment if he didn't start explaining soon.

He pulled the shirt from his arm and winced a little when he peeled it away from the small wound in his shoulder.

"Oh man I'm sorry," Barry whined when he tried to look away from the injury he'd caused. "I didn't think…I just saw the door and—"

"It's okay," Michael told him as he kept his gaze focused upon the woman who had murder in her eyes.

"So where are they?" Fiona asked dully when her eyes once again dropped to his shoulder. "We need to clean you up before Caitlin sees you."

"I'll do tha' fer ya," Katherine told them, her enthusiasm bringing Fiona's eyes onto hers. "I tend ta me horses all tha time."

"Uh…last time I looked Mike wasn't—" Barry started to say but clamped his mouth shut when Fiona glared at him, fire burning in her eyes.

"They're both in the trailer," Michael spoke quickly, bringing Fiona's attention back to him. "Sam and Ryan are taking them to my mom's garage…I didn't think either of us would want them anywhere near the girls."

Nodding her head she watched him for a few seconds before she suddenly launched herself towards him, wrapping her arms around his body, taking solace from his closeness. Closing her eyes tightly she breathed in his scent before she pulled backwards and held a hand up to his cheek.

"We should patch you up first," she told him as she withdrew her hand to turn around to face Katherine. "Barry can bring you the medical supplies while I get rid of these guns and grab the girls."

"Aye," Katherine smiled. "Ya go an' see ta yer babbie's, while me an' Barry here take care a yer man."

"Come with me to get the bandages…" Fiona nodded towards Barry but she kept her eyes firmly on the woman who was tending to Michael's wound.

Barry nodded numbly, his mouth opening and closing as he watched her make a grab for the chest of guns she'd brought in with her. Following blindly he cautiously followed her towards what was obviously hers and Michael's bedroom and peered inside. He was surprised by the décor and how feminine it was.

"So," he mused, trying to make conversation to ease his own conscience. "Is Mike okay with all of this?"

Shoving the trunk back onto the shelf in the closet Fiona answered him with a glare before she moved towards the small bathroom.

"Madeline, it's me," she called through the wooden barrier. "I'm opening the door."

The second she opened the bathroom door her eldest daughter was in her arms, clinging to her like she was her lifeline and it only took her a second to sink to her knees to engulf her in her arms, holding her tightly against her.

"Barry," she gasped out a breath when she managed to loosen the limpet like grip her daughter had over her just enough to point towards the wicker drawers near to where Madeline was sitting. "The medical supplies are in there."

"Okay," he nodded, smiling awkwardly when he moved inside to where Madeline was trying to soothe Meaghan. Moving passed her he chuckled nervously and made a grab for the drawer to pull out the square medical kit.

"Why do you need that?" Madeline asked in a hiss as she lifted Meaghan onto her shoulder and patted her back to try and soothe her. "Did something happen?"

"Uh…just a scratch…that's all…Mike'll be just fine."

"Michael's hurt?" Madeline's voice rose a little higher and she slowly stood up, her whine causing Meaghan to cry harder.

"He's okay Madeline," Fiona told her as she carefully unclasped Caitlin's arms from around her to hold onto her hands.

"I want ta see daddy…" Caitlin wailed, big tears dropping from her eyes. "I want daddddddy…"

Closing her eyes briefly, Fiona took a deep breath before she opened them again and motioned for Barry to get out of the bedroom to get the medical kit back to Katherine. As soon as he turned tail and ran she held out her arms for Meaghan and clasped her against her, her own tears falling as she let the helplessness of this whole mess seep out of her.

Madeline swallowed hard, her own emotions brimming when she saw one of the strongest women she'd ever know crumble before her eyes. She needed to do something, anything that could help soothe the pain that Fiona was going through but she knew there wasn't anything she could do. Picking up her bag from the floor she stepped out of the room, looking back one last time before she reluctantly turned away.

Fiona shifted and sat onto the bed, easing herself and her two girls backwards until they could all settle down onto it. Manoeuvring Meaghan against her breast, she gazed down at her when she started to suckle, the sobbing from only moment ago dying away. Bending to kiss her head she turned to Caitlin who was still sniffing and huddled into her side.

"It's going to be okay now baby," she whispered softly, "daddy will be in to see us any time now, okay."

"Is…aun' Marie…gone?" Caitlin asked in between the shudders in her voice. "I don' want ta see har…"

"She's gone baby, you never have to see her again," but even as she spoke the words Fiona knew she was making a promise that she couldn't possibly keep. She had no idea what was going to happen now.

Caitlin looked up at her mother and nodded before she released her grip and laid down onto the pillow where Michael always slept and stroked her baby sister's hand.

"I don' want ya ta ever go away mammy," she whispered. "I want ta stay wit' ya forever."

"I'll never leave you baby," Fiona told her in a whisper. "I promise you I'll never leave you or your sister again."

"Are ya goin' ta stay at me school?" Caitlin asked with a smile, the brightness in her eyes lifting the Fiona's heart with hope. After everything she had been through, her brave little girl always found a smile.

Wrapping her arm around Caitlin, Fiona pulled her tighter into her side and returned her bright smile. There was still hope that somewhere out of this whole mess that they could build their family into a secure environment and not just live on love alone. Pressing a kiss onto Caitlin's head she allowed her lips to linger over her skin before she pulled back again.

"When you go back to school I have to stay at home to take care of Meaghan."

"Can Meaghan come ta school wit' me?"

"No baby," Fiona chuckled, finding her daughter's innocence endearing. "Not until she'd a lot older."

"She needs ta eat like me befer she goes ta school," Caitlin smiled when she lifted her hand up to stroke her baby sister's foot. "Can I help ya ta feed har when she eats food?"

Meaghan pushed away from Fiona and opened her eyes to look up at her mother. Fiona smiled adoringly down at the baby in her arms and was grateful that she wouldn't ever remember this nightmare when it was all over. Sitting her up she rubbed her back and tried not to succumb to the welling fears that were causing her eyes to water. Swallowing the lump in her throat she nodded and smiled down at Caitlin, hoping that her daughter didn't understand how scared she actually was.

Meaghan beamed a smile at her sister and made a grab for her hand, curling her fingers around hers. Caitlin shuffled closer and tickled Meaghan stomach, smiling when she was rewarded with a delighted squeal.

"Ya have ta let me go," she laughed when Meaghan tightened her hold. "I need ta go ta tha bathroom."

Despite knowing that they were in their own home Fiona shifted slightly so that she could climb off of the bed with Meaghan in her arms, the movement breaking the hold the baby had on her sister's fingers.

"I'll come with you," Fiona told her as she looked at Caitlin expectantly. "When you're done we'll go and change Meaghan's diaper okay?"

Caitlin looked up at her mother in confusion; she'd been going to the bathroom on her own for a long time. Shrugging her shoulders she clambered off of the bed and moved towards the bathroom that still had her books inside but stopped when she remembered why she had been in there.

"It's okay baby," Fiona urged, "I'll be right here."

Fiona watched her daughter as she turned away from her to walk inside the small bathroom to pull the door ajar behind her. She knew she was being irrational but she just couldn't bear to go through it all again. She didn't want to feel the same fear that had ripped through her only a short time ago. All she wanted was to keep Michael and their daughter's safe from the outside world…she just wanted this whole nightmare to be over.

000

Barry winced uncomfortably when Katherine dug around in Michael's shoulder to pull out the small bullet with tweezers and dropped it into the tray that he was begrudgingly holding.

"I'm almost done," Katherine smiled as she patted Michael on the shoulder causing him to groan when the pain shot through him. "It's only a flesh woun', do ya have ta be such a babby!"

When she stepped away Michael released the breath he'd been holding and tried to prepare himself for what he knew was coming next. He knew that even when Fiona was mad at him she still had a more gentler touch that the woman who was now looming over him with a needle in between her fingers.

"DAMMIT…" he hissed when she inserted the needle into his skin and pulled his flesh together, closing the wound with every suture.

"So, how di' me fella do?" she asked with a smile when she withdrew the needle for the last time and placed a large square plaster over the puckered wound. "Wha' happened ou' thare?"

"Yeah Mike," Barry urged. "What happened?"

Sitting flat against the back of the chair Michael slowly slipped his bloodied shirt back over his body, wincing when he moved his arm. Letting out a breath he slowly looked up at Katherine when she dried her hands on a towel before she started to repack any unused items inside the medical box.

"After Sam helped you up to the roof, I caught up with Ryan when Marie and O'Neil were trying to lift the windows."

"An' he helped ya?" she asked with a proud smile. "Me Ryan?"

"Yeah he did," Michal nodded. "We only had a few seconds but he distracted them enough for Sam and Me to come at them from both sides…"

"An' ya tied 'em up good?" Katherine asked worriedly. "Marie is a strange one bu' the fella she ha' wit' har ha' nothing' bu' evil in hi' eyes."

"Yeah, we did…well your husband did. He took O'Neil out before we could confront him. I don't know where he learned how to fight but—"

"Aye he's no' usually violent bu' when Marie came ta us wit' O'Neil an' pulled a gun on us he ha' ta go alon' wit' it…he didn' wan' ta go wit' either a tham."

"Yeah he had O'Neil unconscious and in zipties when we got Marie in the trailer," Michael nodded. "Did you know she was pregnant?"

"Aye I di' an' I feel fer tha child." Lifting her eyes to his she sighed heavily and focused on the floor. "Wha' are ya goin' ta do wit' har?"

"Honestly?" Michael asked, shaking his head. "I have no idea. Patrick's on his way so…"

"Ya owe it ta yer wife ta make sure yer babby is safe…she needs ta be locked up fer wha' she tried ta do."

"Yeah, Mike," Barry chimed in. "She made Fiona cry. Anyone who can do that—"

"Yeah I get it Barry," Michael nodded, snapping his eyes away from the spikey haired man.

"Do you Michael?" Madeline's voice broke into the room causing all three people to turn to look at her.

"Mom—"

"You've stopped that woman this time but for how long?" she asked huffily before she pointed towards his shoulder before she reached out to touch him. "And you've been shot…again!"

"I told you it's fine mom," he insisted when he pushed her hands away. "Sam's taken Marie and O'Neil over to your house so—"

"My house?" Madeline asked in surprise. "Are you sure that's wise Michael. Last time they were here Fiona got shot."

"Mom…" sighing heavily he took her arm and led her by the elbow away from Katherine and Barry until they were far enough out of earshot. "After this is over, it's over for good."

"How can you be sure of that?" Madeline snapped. "That woman went after Caitlin without caring what damage she caused. She didn't even care that Fiona was pregnant."

"Mom—"

"No Michael, you need to hear this because Fiona won't tell you herself. She's terrified of losing those girls, and I don't know whether you've noticed but she isn't doing too well with all of this." Gesturing behind her she turned towards the vacant hall and the silence that was coming from the rooms. "Does that sound right to you?"

Her words hit him hard and he suddenly realised that she was right. Fiona had already been in an agitated state when she dragged Barry towards the bedroom with her, he'd just been so preoccupied with capturing Marie and O'Neil that he hadn't stopped to think.

"You're right," he nodded." Listen, mom, take Barry and Katherine over to your place and I'll be over as soon as I can."

"Michael you can't leave Fiona here alone," Madeline scolded. "She needs you."

"I know she does mom, but I have to be there when Patrick arrives," he sighed. "She'll understand that—"

"Believe me Michael she won't understand this time…she acts tough but that's all it is, an act. She can't take much more of this."

"This will be the end mom, I promise. After this is over I'm going to make some changes starting with this," holding his left hand up he gestured towards the gold ring that encircled his wedding finger and swallowed the ball of emotion that had stuck in his throat. "I'm going to make it official, we're not pretending anymore."

Madeline's eyes filled with understanding and she smiled at the sincerity in his gaze. Reaching up to his face she patted his cheek affectionately and just as quickly pulled her hand away.

"I'll take Barry and what's her name back to the house but make things right here first," she warned. "You do whatever that girl wants okay…and if that means you stay here, you stay."

Turning away from him she reached into her bag and pulled out her car keys from the bottom along with her cigarette pouch. Barry opened his mouth to mention that smoking was bad for her but clamped it closed again when she glared at him defiantly. Placing a cigarette between her lips she delved for her lighter while she pulled open the door and rooted around in between the various items and looked over at Barry in exasperation.

Reaching up to the cigarette in her mouth she tore it from her mouth and shot the spiky haired man a glare when he just stood watching her with his mouth hanging open.

"Well don't just stand there…"

Closing his mouth Barry's eyes wandered towards the man who he'd shot and gestured towards his injured shoulder. "I'm sorry about the…" he tried to think of something else to say that would take the fierce glare of Madeline Westen away from him but he could feel her eyes burning into the side of his head.

Luckily for him Katherine stepped forward and tapped Barry on the shoulder, pushing him forward until they were closer to the door. Before she left she turned back around to face the man who she had patched up a short time ago and took a breath before she spoke, hoping that he and Fiona would find a way to forgive her part in Marie's disastrous plan.

"Yer a good man Michael," she told him with a half smile. "I'm sorry fer wha' Marie tried ta do…I woul' never have le' har take yer babby."

Holding up his hand Michael silenced her before she could say anything more. Right now all he wanted to do was check on Fiona and his daughters before he even thought about anything else. Nodding in understanding he returned her apologetic smile with a slight one of his own. He watched on silently when she pulled the door closed behind her and left him alone in the silence.

Turning towards the bedroom he made his way down the small hall and held his breath before he ventured into the room. He stopped in the doorway and felt his throat constrict when he saw the woman he loved laying on the bed beside his two little girls, watching both of them as they slept.

When she eventually lifted her gaze to his he gasped with the sorrow that was emanating from her eyes. He could see the tracks of dried tears that littered her face and the welling appearance of new ones that threatened to spill over.

Within seconds he moved into the room and made his way towards the bed, sitting on the edge so that he was behind her. Reaching out his arm he winced a little when the movement caused his shoulder to ache but he needed to touch her, if only to feel the warmth of her body beneath his fingers. He spread his fingertips wide and lowered himself a little closer so that he could drape his arm over her prone form only to feel a sob escape from her throat when he tightened his hold.

His shoulder throbbed and he closed his eyes against the stinging pain that coursed its way throughout his body. She needed him more than ever now, and it was then that he realised his mother had been right.

"It's okay," he whispered as he pressed a kiss against her ear. He could feel her body shaking and he knew that Marie would have to wait. He couldn't leave her like this and not just because his mother had been the one to point out to him that Fiona was not doing as well as he'd thought. Shifting his body he manoeuvred himself behind her and lay down with his uninjured shoulder pressed into the pillows while he draped his arm over her stomach and tried to ignore the pain that ignited when his wound pressed against her shoulder.

"I want it to stop…" she whispered, her voice shaking as she covered his hand with her own. "I can't do this anymore…"

Michael buried his face into her hair and nuzzled kisses into her silken strands, all the while whispering a mantra of words that ranged from I love you to it's over. The more she shook the tighter he held her and soon the pain in his body didn't seem to register any longer.

"I promise you after this she'll be gone for good," he whispered, his lips kissing the curve of her ear. "I'll stop looking for answers and we'll take jobs again…"

"Don't make…promises you can't keep…" she answered as her fingers curled around his. "This is who you are…you need chaos…"

"I need you," he told her, his voice raising a little when he clasped her hand tighter. "You, Caitlin and Meaghan, you're all I need…nothing else."

Fiona's body trembled when she turned her head back to meet his mouth, kissing him in an uncomfortable position but neither of them seemed to care. Lifting her hand she laid her palm over his cheek and relished the feel of his lips against hers. When he spoke of living a normal life she almost believed that they could actually succeed in doing just that.

"Daddy…" Caitlin's voice drew them apart and they both turned to look at their eldest daughter who sat up and leapt off of the bed to run around to his side.

Michael drew his arm from around Fiona's body and pushed himself upright until he was sitting on the edge of the mattress to gather his daughter up against him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him tight only to pull away when he gasped in a painful breath. Her eyes dropped down to the red stain on his shirt and her eyes filled with overflowing tears before she wailed his name.

The noise woke Meaghan, startling her which only succeeded in a series of cries that only died down to whimpers when Fiona picked her up and held her tightly against her chest. Fiona watch helplessly as her eldest daughter couldn't seem to take her eyes off of her father's bloodied shirt and she suddenly realised that she too was spattered with some of his blood. She hadn't stopped to think about changing when she'd left Michael in the family room with Katherine, all she'd wanted to do was get to her girls.

"Caitlin, come and stay with me on the bed so daddy can change his shirt and then you can stay with him for as long as you want," she urged, her eyes lifting to Michael's face as she spoke. Swallowing heavily she knew she was already making a promise that Michael wouldn't be able to keep but she had to say something to appease their little girl.

Michael nodded as he reached out to wipe Caitlin's tears away with his thumbs, all the while smiling down at her reassuringly.

"We'll do whatever you want honey," he whispered softly when he bend to kiss her head before he stood up and removed his shirt.

"Anythin'?"

His eyes focused on his daughter, her large wet eyes sending a surge of love right through to his heart. Nodding his head he tossed the discarded shirt in the laundry hamper before he walked towards the closet to pull out a new one.

"Anything you want honey."

"I wan' ya ta stay," Caitlin told him as she climbed up onto the bed to settle against her mother while she watched him pull on a new shirt. "Don' go away again?"

Michael's gaze caught Fiona's before he shifted his eyes back to his little girl. How could he deny her anything when he knew he would give her the world? Closing the closet doors he began to fasten his buttons on the clean shirt as he moved closer to perch on the edge of the bed.

"I won't go away again honey," he promised. "I'll stay here with you, Meaghan and your mom."

"Ferever?" Caitlin asked hopefully as she kneeled up on the bed so that she could move towards him to wrap herself around him from behind.

"Yes," he promised, smiling towards the woman he loved as he spoke, knowing that this time he really meant it. "Forever…"

TBC