A/N: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, PM'd and for all of the favourite story and author adds. I really do appreciate every single comment and for all the time taken to read and review. RL for me takes up much of my time so I don't have a lot of free time to get online and reply personally. I am humbled though by the kindness I have received.
Thank you to all of you. I am taking a break until the new season starts, but I am being nagged…I mean coerced into writing an epilogue for this, so that's something I may do before I hang up my keyboard for a little while. Thank you to all of you who have stayed with this story from the very beginning. I hope you have all enjoyed it
Thanks as always to my wonderful friends JediSkysinger and Purdy's Pal for reading through the various stages of this chapter and the whole story. Extra thanks to jediSkysinger for always finding the time to BETA for me despite being super busy.
Lastly thank you to Noelle, DaisyDay and all of the girls on twitter for your love and support. I can finally start reading Caroline Jessamine's brilliant story It's not Over, something I have been looking forward to immensely.
000
Coming soon A brilliant new story co-written by my two wonderful friends Purdy's Pal and JediSkysinger. Their pen name is Jedi's Pal and they will be posting from next Monday.
The new story delves into Fiona's past and her affiliation with Arthur Meyers. It explains why Meyers has such an interest in Fiona and wanting her back on British soil. It loosly ties into Paying The Consequences and there is an excerpt at the end of this story
21
Arthur Meyers sat stonily silent. His hands were cuffed and chained to a bar on the top of the table and he knew all too well that the empty chair opposite him wouldn't be empty for long. Whoever came through the door next would be someone looking for answers and he was determined to keep his mouth shut. He had his reasons and that's all anyone needed to know. That bitch would pay just like he had and he was going to enjoy watching her suffer.
The sudden clank of the door handle being lowered brought a wave of apprehension throughout his body, but he quashed it down before it could take hold. Lifting his eyes to the heavy brown door, he smiled icily, his gaze flickering with recognition when he saw that his interrogator had arrived.
Michael Westen came into the room with an air of officiousness about him. He kept his temper under control as his focus settled on the man who was chained to the table. He had performed interrogations on so many occasions, but this one was very different. He was awash with fury, but he congratulated himself on his ability to project an air of calm. There were still too many unanswered questions as to why the arrogant English had orchestrated this whole thing.
Meyers kept his eyes on him, the egotism seeping from his stony stare. Michael quickly understood that the man before him had no sense of morals and, by the way he kept eye contact, he had no qualms about his part in all of this.
"Ahh…" Meyers spoke, his attitude causing Michael to clench his fists beside him. "So…Michael Westen, we meet at last."
Michael glanced up at the camera in the corner of the room as he mentally calculated how long it would take for him to jump over the table and choke the life out of the English son of a bitch, killing him before the guards could get in there to drag him off. There were things he needed to say to the grinning bastard that he didn't want anyone else to hear so before he sat down, he made his way towards the camera and reached up to the wires that looped just below it and yanked them out.
Glancing back towards Meyers he was more than a little amused to see that slimy smile slip from the Brit's face. Turning back towards the camera, he pulled at the back of it to dislodge the circuit panel, sliding it out completely before he wrenched it away and threw it onto the floor beside his feet.
With a satisfied smile he turned back to the table and moved around it to stare at the man whose eyes were fixed on the circuit board that lay shattered on the floor. Pulling the chair out, he sat down calmly, his expression one of pure hatred as he slowly lifted his eyes to bore into the man opposite him.
"Why?" he asked simply, his voice unwavering as he spoke that one single word. He watched Meyers carefully, trying to see something, anything, that told him that this man had some depth of regret, but he saw nothing but contempt in his stare.
"Why?" Meyers asked calmly, his lips turning upwards into a smile. "Why what?"
"You know damned well what I'm talking about," Michael snarled. "YOU tried to have Fiona KILLED!"
"Ahh, the terrorist," Meyers drolled. "I thought you Americans—"
Before Meyers could even finish, Michael leapt to his feet as the chair clattered to the floor behind him. Towering over the conceited man, Michael glowered down at him and tried to keep in control of his temper. He knew there were two guards outside the door who would burst in if he didn't get the answers he wanted out of Meyers quickly and quietly enough. He'd been granted five minutes so he was going to make the time he had count.
Michael drew himself back and stood up to his full height and lowered his arms down to his side without taking his eyes off of the grinning Englishman.
"You're laughing?" Michael hissed when Meyers continued to smile. "You almost got my girlfriend killed and you think it's FUNNY?"
"She got no more than she deserved," Meyers told him obnoxiously as he continued to smile. "The fact she survived prison and her deportation failed, was a minor technicality that required me to take more drastic measures…"
"A tech—" Michael slammed his fists onto the table, completely enraged as he glowered down at the man who refused to even flinch. "Was MY child a TECHNICALITY?"
"I don't understand," Meyers visibly softened as his eyes narrowed.
"What don't you understand?" Michael seethed. "That you killed our baby?"
"I—" Meyers stuttered, just realizing that his target had been pregnant and who the father had been.
"Our child...my child... was a casualty of this damn vendetta of yours," Michael growled, balling his fists to thump on the table once more, causing Meyers to flinch. "I want to know why!"
"Ask her fanatical family," he sniped, but with considerably less self assurance than before. He knew that even though he would probably be imprisoned for his crimes, it would be his chance to make MI6 listen to his side of the story without CIA interference. They would have to listen now.
The door to the holding room suddenly opened to reveal the two guards who had been outside the door. Silently they both moved towards Michael who was still glowering down at Meyers but he drew back and scowled at them both in turn and held his hands up to indicate that he was calm. Taking a step away from the table, he moved towards the door but stopped before he stepped through. Casting Meyers one final scathing glare, it was his turn to smile as he delighted in delivering his news to the arrogant Brit.
"Oh, I already have and they couldn't think of a single reason why you were trying to kill their sister," Michael told him calmly, enjoying the spark of recognition in Meyers eyes.
"You called…" Meyers stammered as he shook his head from side to side. "Wait—"
Turning away, Michael ignored the pleading voice coming out of the holding room that he had just left, knowing that as soon as Meyers returned to British soil, then justice for his and Fiona's child would be done. There were some things that needed to be dealt with in a timely manner and, after his conversation with the eldest Glenanne a short time ago, Meyers would definitely be dealt with.
"Wait…" Meyers started, rising out of his seat only to be shoved back down by a heavy handed CIA agent. "I need to make a phone call. I need—"
"SIT DOWN."
"You don't understand. I need to talk to—"
"I SAID SIT," the brusque CIA agent ordered, slamming Meyers back into his seat and ignoring every one of his protests.
Stepping away, both agents left the disgraced rogue MI6 agent to protest into silence when they moved out of the holding room and closed the door behind them.
000
The glare of the sunshine poured through the windows of Michael car, but he paid it no attention. He had so much on his mind right now that he didn't know whether this offer he'd been given was a way forward or not. He knew Fiona would never be happy until he was out of the CIA and, if he was honest with himself, he wouldn't be either…but it was a way of life for him and security for their future.
Thinking back to his meeting with Raines, he did feel some sense of satisfaction that Siebels had negotiated with the CIA to change their original deal. All he had to do now was discuss what this meant with Fiona before he contacted Raines again. This was after all her future too and he wasn't going to risk losing her again.
Taking a deep breath, he looked up at the hospital building and felt a wave of relief wash over him. Meyers was on his way to his own personal hell and he wouldn't be back. Fiona was safe, that was all that mattered now. Whatever she wanted to do, he was ready to give it all to her…he was ready for that life now.
Taking the paper out of his pocket again, he unfolded it and allowed his eyes to linger over the printed words. A few years ago this would have been the pot of gold he'd been waiting for, but now it was causing him to question everything he'd thought he'd wanted. There was only one way to do this; there had only ever been one way. Folding the paper up again, he shoved it back into his pocket and climbed out of the car, needing to see Fiona so that she could ease his mind.
The room was quiet when he stopped to stand in the open doorway to watch the woman he loved. She was so beautiful, even with all of the bruises littering her face. She made him see things in a different way. She cut through the chaos and…
"Michael…"
Her voice caught him by surprise, taking the breath from his body. He couldn't stop the smile that lifted his lips as he moved further into the room to make his way towards her bed. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see his mother watching him curiously but his focus was on Fiona.
Taking her offered hand, he clasped it between both of his and perched onto the side of her bed to rest their joined hands on his thigh.
"Hey," he whispered adoringly as he clasped her hand closer to his face, relishing the softness against his skin as he pressed his lips to her fingers. He felt her shudder beneath his hand, a soft tremble that cascaded throughout her entire body as she sought to control her breathing.
Beside them Madeline watched, her eyes widening with every passing second. Smiling brightly she couldn't stop the elation that seeped into her expression as she witnessed the complete devotion between the two people before her. They were so involved in each other that she doubted they even remembered she was there. Despite wanting to jump for joy, she also knew she should make herself scare, even though she wanted to hear Michael's tales of Meyers and the CIA.
Hearing his mother's movements, Michael tore his eyes away from the woman he loved to meet his mother's amused gaze. He knew he was blushing, but right at this moment he didn't care. All he wanted was to tell Fiona everything from the CIA's offer to his plans for their future, but he wouldn't be able to do that with his mother listening in.
"Thanks for staying, mom," he nodded, offering her a wide smile when she gathered her bag into her lap.
"Hey, I wouldn't be anywhere else, honey," she told him as she got to her feet.
"How are you getting back?" Michael asked her, suddenly remembering that she probably came in with Jesse in his car.
"Oh, don't you worry about me," she replied, taking her cell phone out of her bag to wave it in front of him and grinned. "I have Jesse!"
"Is he—"
"Oh, will you quit whining," she grinned. "I'll be fine."
"Mom…"
Waving off his concern, Madeline stepped closer to Fiona's side and rubbed a hand over the younger woman's arm as she smiled down at her. "You get home to us soon, sweetheart."
"Thanks for staying with me," Fiona whispered, feeling more emotional now than she had in a long time. "You made the stay here…bearable."
"Anytime," Madeline told her adoringly, surprising Fiona as well as herself when she dipped her head to kiss the younger woman's forehead. "I'll see you soon."
Fiona nodded and offered Madeline a smile when she backed away and repeated the process, kissing Michael on his cheek before she turned around and walked out of the room.
Both Michael and Fiona watched her retreating form, trying to fathom just when Madeline Westen had become so…soft. Michael was sure it was a phase that wouldn't last, but he was thankful that she had at least finally forgiven him for all the pain he'd caused. Turning back to look at the woman he loved, he met her eyes and instantly felt himself sinking in deeper. She was the answer to every question he'd ever asked and it was time she knew that.
"We need to talk about what happened," he started, his voice dipping into a whisper as he brought her hand to his lips again.
"I know," she told him as she brushed one of her fingers against his lips in wonder, losing herself inside the depths of his eyes. "But not here, not now."
"Why not? You're always the one who wants to get things out in the open," he smiled, feeling some of the aching pain ease away from his heart when he saw a hint of a smile cross her sad face.
"And you're always the one in denial," she countered, her heart melting under his gaze as he once again pushed the pain aside to take hold of her heart to reel her in towards him.
"This time it's different," he told her, his finger tracing her lips as he spoke "I'm different."
"What happened with Meyers?" she asked him suddenly, catching him off guard for a few seconds. "You've never been like this before."
"Like what?" he asked questioningly as he returned their joined hands back onto his thigh.
Regarding him slowly, Fiona kept her eyes focused on his face as she spoke, watching for his reaction.
"Before this happened to me, you were happy to disappear for weeks, months at a time, and now—"
"I almost lost you," he urged, his words breaking through hers as he shuffled closer. "For good this time…and I can't lose you, Fi…"
"You're the one who left," she told him through a shaky breath. "It's always you."
"Not anymore," he told her fiercely even as his eyes glistened with emotion. "I…"
"Michael, what happened?" she asked him softly, suddenly worried by the way he was holding onto her hand so tightly. "Talk to me…"
Swallowing hard, Michael's gaze dropped down to their joined hands as he focused on her slender fingers. Rubbing his thumb across them he lingered over her ring finger, holding his thumb there as he lifted his eyes back up to hers.
"Meyers wouldn't tell me why he was so hell bent on getting you back on British soil," he told her with a defeated sigh. "He told me I'd have to ask you—"
"Meyers is a bastard," Fiona ground out. "He blames me for…"
"What?" he asked softly when her voice trailed away. "What happened, Fi?"
"Look, all you need to know is he'll get what's coming to him, that's all …" She told him, knowing that ever since Meyers had tried to have her deported and her family killed, that the MI6 agent could no more leave Miami and go back home than she could. "Now can we not talk about him?"
Nodding silently, Michael toyed with telling her about his phone call with her brother, but he decided against it. She would no doubt be furious, especially since she had asked him not to tell her mother about the accident because the strain of worry would be too much for her heart.
"I spoke with Raines today," he told her suddenly, steering the conversation onto the other issue that was fresh in his mind. He watched for her reaction, hoping that she was ready to hear what he had to say.
At the mention of William Raines, Fiona automatically stiffened. She knew whenever he was involved, it usually ended up with Michael running off in whatever direction Raines had pointed him in. That man had managed to drive a wedge between them on so many occasions and it looked like he was doing it again.
"When do you leave?"
Her question threw him for a moment and he jerked his head up higher when he saw the obvious defeat in her eyes.
"No…" he told her urgently. "No…it's not…"
Shaking his head, he chuckled in some kind of relief when the situation became almost laughable. Bringing her hand up to his lips, he placed a kiss on the back of her hand before he lowered it only to lean forward to kiss her. He lingered over her for a few moments, but pulled away to smile at her as he released her hand to skim her cheek with his fingertips.
"He offered me a new deal."
Fiona's eyes found his, holding his gaze as she tried to read him. He seemed happy…something that she hadn't seen in him for a very long time. Even after he came to meet her when she was released from prison, that moment that should have been so joyous and so perfect, had all but been swallowed up with grief. They didn't have a reunion. There weren't any candle lit dinners in nice restaurants, no special moments that they would remember for a life time…
"A new deal?" she repeated hollowly. "I'm guessing it still involves the CIA?"
Sliding his fingers from her cheek, he sat back and rummaged inside his jacket for the folded paper that held their future. Pulling it out, he unfolded it and handed it to her, indicating for her to read it when she just looked at him in confusion.
"Read it," he told her with a smile. "Raines wants me to take over from Dan Siebels."
"A handler?" she asked incredulously as she scanned the written words before she lifted her eyes back up to his. "But—"
"I want a life with you," he told her adamantly as he reached across to lift her face upwards so that he could look at her. "If I take the deal, it means I'll be based here. The only assignments I'll get will be based at home."
"But, you wanted your old life…" she protested. "You wanted—"
"I want you," he told her firmly, cutting her words off when he covered her mouth with his.
The paper that was in her hands suddenly became crushed between them as they kissed, both of them seeking to end the last few months that had encased them both in pain. Feeling her relax against him, he encompassed her in his embrace, letting her seek refuge in his warmth. He hoped she understood by now that everything he had to give was hers for the taking and nothing would change that.
When their lips slowly parted, they stayed close together, peppering tiny connecting kisses on one another that kept them together before Fiona smiled and rested her forehead against his shoulder. Part of her didn't know what to think. He was giving her some semblance of the life that they had both envisioned, yet still she was a little apprehensive…not quite willing to believe him this time.
Raising her head, she smiled up into his eyes, hoping he could see the pure emotions that swam in her blue green depths. Lifting up slightly, she reached up to place a soft kiss on his cheek, then another closer to his lips, but not quite touching. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest as she watched him incline his head down towards her. Their magnetic charge raced through her body, lifting her into higher realms as he hovered over her lips.
"Fiona," he whispered, his breath tickling her face as he came dangerously closer to her lips. "Whatever you want, I'll do it."
Swallowing hard, she nodded numbly, her voice failing to respond to him. The second his lips touched hers, everything faded away, all the hurt, all the pain, everything that had happened over the last few years was erased by a single touch of his lips. Increasing the tender pressure, he ran his tongue across her bottom lip, silently begging for entry into her silken depths. When she readily accepted him into her warmth, something inside him opened to leave a fountain of emotions to cascade out of his heart. He loved her, only now could he readily feel it as it washed over him.
Fiona was losing herself in his kiss, taking everything he had to offer her. Delving her tongue into his mouth, she kissed him with some kind of desperation, seeking his love to eradicate the final vestiges of doubt. Sliding her hand up his chest, she gasped into his mouth when her cumbersome cast restricted her movements.
Sensing her need to feel him, Michael shuffled even closer, keeping his lips joined with hers. With expert precision he manoeuvred her body so that her cast could rest more comfortably against her before he sank further into their kiss.
After a few moments, the need to breathe pulled them slowly apart. Their eyes locked, conveying everything they needed to say without the need for words. Reaching out to her face, Michael cradled her cheek in his hand before leaning forward to kiss her lips gently this time.
"I need to give him an answer," he whispered reluctantly, her eyes pulling him back to her again as he spoke. "I told him I wouldn't take the deal without talking to you first."
"You waited?" she whispered softly as tears sprung to her eyes. "I thought—"
"No," he told her with a watery smile. "This is about us and our future…I need to know you're okay with this."
Fiona swallowed hard and found herself lost in the heat of his gaze. There were so many questions racing through her mind right now, but she couldn't deny that in many ways this new deal was an answer to their problems. This way she could still do her own work and have a life with him, too… but it still meant he was part of the thing she hated the most.
"So is this the kind of deal you can get out of, or is it an instead of kind of deal?"
"He didn't really make that part clear," Michael admitted, albeit reluctantly. "But if I take it, then I'll be here. It won't be me disappearing for months at a time on missions…I know it's not ideal, but—"
"Take the deal," she told him as she nodded her head. "Tell him you'll take it."
"Are you sure?" he asked her as his face bloomed with a bright smile. "Because if you want me to walk away—"
"You can't walk away, Michael. It's not in you to walk away."
"I will this time," he promised.
"Michael, I've had a lot of time to think while I've been in here. I don't have a lot left to lose, but if I don't accept your life, then I know I'll lose you too…so…take what he's offering… we both know there's no other way."
"I need to tell you why I went back," he started as he tried to keep her gaze. "I know you think I wanted it, but I was ready to spend my life with you Fi. I am ready…I—"
Fiona surged forward to steal the words from his lips. She had missed him so much when he'd left, but the betrayal had cut her deeply. Only now, he was showing her that this time he was doing something for her…he was putting her first…and she had never loved him more than she did right now…
Deepening their kiss, Fiona moulded herself to him, kissing him with as much passion as she could muster. His arms wound around her shoulder, carefully pulling her closer to his body, a movement that she welcomed. She was desperate to feel his heart beating against her own. She only felt alive when he was around her and now, after her near death, she knew there was nothing more important than this. To have his arms around her…to feel his love surrounding her…he had brought her heart alive. Breaking apart, she took a deep breath and smiled as he moved forward to lay his forehead against hers.
Michael skimmed his fingertips over her cheek and closed his eyes. He was fighting against the well of emotion that had suddenly reduced him into a man who was so far away from the CIA agent he portrayed…but now, he didn't even bother to try and hide his feelings.
Opening his eyes again, he drew away slightly and looked down at her as she slowly moved a hand to his face. His gaze locked with hers as he leant his face into her palm as her warmth seeped into his skin. He couldn't seem to pull away from her, but he hoped he was conveying everything to her in his gaze, giving her the love she needed to see. In a silent communication, she untangled herself from him but kept a hold of his hand before she reluctantly released him.
"Go," she told him with a soft smile. "Tell him you'll take his deal and when you come back you can work on the doctors to get me out of here!"
"Okay…" he chuckled, the happiness he felt cascading from his smile. "I'll see what I can do."
"I really can't wait to get out of here," she sighed. "I just want to go home."
Swallowing hard, Michael rubbed his finger over her knuckles as he watched for her reaction when he asked the question that was burning in his mind.
"Home?"
Fiona smiled sadly when she met his gaze, already knowing what he wanted to know. She was still attached to the loft in so many ways, but maybe it was a time to let go of the past and move forward.
"I wish we could go back to the loft… but it's gone…and I don't really want to live with your mom…"
"If you don't like the apartment…" he blurted, urging her to look at him. "We can find somewhere else. A house maybe, if you—"
"Maybe we could go shopping when I get out of here," she told him in a rush, silencing his rambling words. "For the…apartment…"
Michael looked at her as if she had grown a second head, still not quite believing what he was hearing. Without waiting for her to speak, he nodded rapidly and clutched hold of her fingers.
"Anything you want," he grinned as he lifted her hand to his lips to place a kiss into her palm. "I'll take you anywhere…"
"Anywhere?" she asked with a wide smile when he manoeuvred himself off of the bed and released her hand.
"Yes," he chuckled, already knowing that he would probably come to regret those words. Leaning over her, he placed one last kiss onto her lips before he retrieved the crumpled paper from the bed and shoved it back into his pocket.
"I'll see you later," she smiled brightly when he hovered beside her bed. "I'm not going anywhere."
"Okay," he sighed as he fought with his irrational mind. The threat to Fiona's life had been dealt with but still…
"Michael, just go," she told him with a bright smile. "I'll be fine."
"I'll call Sam—"
"I'm fine!"
Backing away from her, he nodded happily, even though he had every intention of calling someone to come and stay with her. Turning away, he hurried out of the room and pulled his new cell phone out of his pocket. It was going to be an adjustment for both of them, he knew that. Meyers was gone and he wouldn't be back to cause any more damage, that he was sure of.
Taking one last look over his shoulder at the room he'd just left, he couldn't help but smile… it was time to start living the life he and Fiona had planned and suddenly he knew exactly how to start.
Shoving his phone back into his pocket, he headed back towards Fiona's room and grinned knowingly when she looked up at him questioningly.
Slipping his jacket off of his shoulders, he draped it over the back of the chair and moved towards her again.
"Michael?"
"Raines can wait," he told her as he retook his place by her side on the bed. Taking hold of her hand he manoeuvred his body so that he was sitting right next to her with his back resting on the pillows. "I think we should take a vacation."
Fiona looked up at him in complete shock. This was so unlike him and she wasn't sure what she was supposed to say, but before she could utter one word, he spoke again.
"As soon as you're okay we'll go, just the two of us."
"I…okay…"
"I'm serious, Fi," he told her with a sincere smile. "I'm taking you somewhere, anywhere, you want to go."
"Even Paris?"
Michael smiled as he released her hand and slipped his arm around her shoulders, careful of her injuries. Pressing a kiss onto her temple, he hovered close to her ear as he spoke, whispering the words that he had always been so afraid to say.
"I think we should get married."
Fiona's breath caught in her throat as she struggled to comprehend what he had just said to her. Turning slightly she moved herself around until she could see his eyes, knowing that she could read him if she could just see him.
"What do you think?" he asked softly, showing no signs of changing his mind. "Do you want to get married?"
"I… do you?"
The smile that graced his lips told her everything that she needed to know and she found herself nodding before she could even agree.
Her fingers stilled on his shirt and her eyes lifted to gaze up into his. For a few worrying seconds, she thought he was going to withdraw again and she started to move away, but his hand snatched hold of hers to keep her where she was.
"I don't want you to do something you might regret later," she whispered softly as he brought her hand to his lips to kiss her palm.
"I won't regret it," he assured her, his voice hoarse as he shuffled a little closer to her body. "Will you?"
"No," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I won't."
His breath fanned her face and her eyes fluttered closed as he descended on her lips once more, pouring every ounce of love into their kiss…because this was truly their beginning…their happily ever after…
The End
Coming Next Monday
Below is a small taster of what is to come from Jedi's Pal, the fantastic new story co-written by Purdy's Pal and JediSkysinger…
000
The phone sitting on his desk rang and Meyers sat up straight and touched his fingers to his regimental tie as he quickly composed himself. Lifting the hand set, he raised it to his ear.
"Meyers," he answered in the crisp, slightly bored drawl of an English aristocrat.
"It's been agreed, You can have your time with Glenanne... I'll be sending two men from the State Department to escort you out to Allarod."
Meyers smiled, his anger and hatred locked away behind a thin veneer of civility and good manners.
"Thank you. I won't forget this."
Placing the handset back on its base, Meyers laid one hand on top of the folder, his long elegant fingers tapped a beat on the well worn cover of the file that held all the details of the tragedy that had ruined his life. They were all victims of war in a sense, but that didn't change the burning hatred he felt...
"And I'll make damn sure she won't forget it either."