Chapter 33 – Backfire

"Heads up, Mike.. this Scum bag is deadly, cross his line and it becomes Physical..."

Sam stated, but in his mind he knew they had met far worst people in their lives but he felt the need to warn him. Michael hoped out of the Charger and turned back to see Sam, pulling his collar up as Fi had it earlier. He gave Sam a smile and tapped his ear, making sure the listening device was in tight and ready to go and winked.

"I'll be fine, Sam...I promised Fi I'd be back.. and I'll do the same for you if you want"

Not sure if Michael was joking or not Sam gave him a soft look before nodding, he wanted to hear the same words Fi had.. but he felt he didn't need to...

"I'll be listening, Brother"

It was almost as if Sam was afraid to leave Michael alone, But he would be risking the operation if Torres where ever to come in contact with him. His heart skipped beats and hammered hard as he drove away, guilt started to crawl deep inside him, his breathing steady but heavily. He tried to gather himself together, his grip on the steering wheel tight... Sam drove off towards The Loft...

"Torres, yeah?"

Tapping the tall, slicked back dark haired man on the shoulder. Michael smiled and raised his eyebrows, Torres spun around almost back handing Michael in the face, but Michael dodged him and gave him a puzzled dumbfounded look.

"Creegan?"

He questioned him as he lowered his arm and studied him carefully before his eyes narrowed on the Badge he wore..

Letting his guard down, Torres gave Michael a soft smile and patted him on the shoulder..

"Right, well.. I read your file, we're good to go"

He then pushed Michael out the door with him, almost pushing and shoving him towards his car.

It was almost as if he was being shoved into a car, against his own will. The sheer force of Torres strength was powerful. Forcing Michael into the passenger seat.. it was almost a mission and a complete stumble as Michael roughly made his way in, Torres pulled Michael into the seat as Michael sat down. The pull was so forceful Michael lost his balance and shook his head, losing the listening device Sam had given him earlier. Michael sighed deeply and let the event slide. He knew he could find other ways to keep in contact with Sam.. yet, Sam was left blind and deaf of the whole situation now, leaving him paranoid.

…

"Stay here, Creegan. I won't be long.."

Torres shouted out to Michael as he head out towards a suburban residence.

"you sure?"

Michael asked only to have Torres rush off and leave him. Michael picked out his phone from his pockets and dialled Sam..

"Sam"

He quickly started..

"Mike.. why am I not hearing you? What's happened? Are you alright?"

Sam quickly panicked, thinking and fearing the worst..

"Sam, i'm fine.. I just lost the earpiece, it's ok.. "

Michael reassured him, hearing Sam sigh in relief he quickly asked before Sam started explaining how he was worrying the whole time...

"Where does Susie live?"

Michael listened to Sam as he gave the information he needed, lowering his head he then swiftly rushed out of the car and headed towards the house..

"I'm right there.. Torres went in by himself"

With that, Michael hung up and hurried in, forcing the door open Michael barged in finding Torres roughly holding Susie by her collar and pulling her up from the couch in the theatre room. Torres let go as soon as Michael witnessed the event, his face drained of guilt, he was caught.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

Michael charged in and pulled Torres from Susie, who dropped back down on the couch and shook in terror, her hands in front of her chest, holding herself tightly. It was as if she was about to curl up into a ball and rock herself to sleep. Michael turned to Susie, a concerned look affected his aggressive stance...

"Are you ok?"

Michael asked her before Torres struck him hard in the face. The Impact struck him fast and emergent. Flashes of the past haunting event struck Michael's mind, Flashes and images thrown at him before he snapped his head back and looked at Torres..

"That was not cool..."

Shaking his head and blinking, widening his eyes as she tried to regain his focus. Michael shook the images from his head, pushing the dreadful images aside, he had to focus, looking to Susie, Michael smiled with a large grin..

"Oh don't worry about me, I'm fine..."

Dropping his shoulders, Michael kept a straight face. His cheek throbbed in pain, the hit was rather hard and his facial structure was still weak. Holding out his hand to help her up, Susie took his hand and launched up. Standing still and close to Michael. Scared.

"Sorry, I lost my Cool.. she wasn't answering me"

Torres tried to explain, watching Michael's straight face. He could see the hesitation written all over him as he desperately tried to cover his own ass. His words almost slurred.

"Right... well, why come in by yourself.. I mean... "

Michael started before Torres answered his ringing cellphone. Snapping as he answered he wandered off mindlessly into the kitchen, away from their sight.

This was the only and perfect opportunity to ask Susie what was the issue; Michael didn't waste any time..

"He wasn't asking you questions was he?"

Michael asked carefully, his eyes glued on the doorway Torres had left in.

"No... he's been harassing me, I asked a friend of mine to ..."

She stopped and watched Michael for a moment...

"Do you know Sam?"

Her eyes glowing with hope, she stared at Michael. Hoping he would answer with the words she wished for.

"Yes, But you have to keep quiet about it. Alright?"

Michael gave her a reassuring nod before Torres barged in and pushed Michael aside and darted out the door, on a flee. Michael turned to Susie who nodded and swallowed hard..

"Call Sam, tell him what's happened..."

He quickly insisted before he dashed after Torres...

His hands grabbing a hold of Torres right arm, pulling and swinging him around to face Him, Michael gave him an aggressive look before questioning him. Torres pulled his arm from Michael's grip and spat..

"What is your problem, Creegan!"

Torres shouted pushing Michael in the chest with both palms...

Michael staggered backwards before straightening his jacket and playing with his hair..

"There's something seriously wrong with you, kid"

He growled before Michael tapped him on the back as he tried to open up the car door, a slow progress it seemed. Torres appeared to have too much on his mind. Restless with anything and everything, it was as if he needed to do something now and then. Having nothing pass his way...

Michael passed him a confused look before smiling at him...

"you're the one who ran out like some sort of pansy"

Shrugging his shoulders he shook his head before Torres grabbed him furiously by the jacket and pulled him close. Gritting his teeth in anger of Michael's choice of words...

"No need to get angry with me...it wasn't me running away like a girl"

He shrugged again whilst cracking a large grin before Torres pushed him back, hard. Controlling his temper, Torres shook his head and turned to Michael, glaring..

"shut your mouth, Creegan. Listen to me and listen good... That women in there is a prime suspect"

Torres stopped and watched Michael drop to the ground, crossing his legs and looking up at Torres waiting for him to continue his story. Michael looked up and smiled, gesturing him to continue and inform him of the details... Sitting crossed legged on the freshly cut lawn, he placed his palms on his legs and listened to the man's pathetic cover story...

"you alright?"

Torres abruptly asked as Michael so suddenly just decided he needed to sit down..

"Yeah, I just wanted to sit down... lawn looked comfy enough!"

Shrugging his shoulders, Michael answered quickly with an eased tone. Not a hint of hesitation or shame.

"Right.. well she's a prime suspect"

Torres stopped as Michael raised his hand, like a child in pre-school begging to be picked out from all the other students...

"You don't have to... raise your hand to speak, Creegan"

Cocking an eyebrow he folded his arms across his chest and waited for him to speak, getting irritated.

"You think she killed her own Husband?"

Questioning Torres' lintel and knowledge, Michael gave him a dumbfounded look and looked over his shoulder, his eyes narrowed the front door. Soon, he was pointing to the door in disbelief at Torres' words...

"she was petrified of you.. shaking and in shock, you say you were asking questions? Yet you laid a finger on her and attempt the abuse her... I'd say I'm looking at the killer"

with his words, Michael mimicked her reactions to Torres, expressing and showing how she was towards him. The last words made Torres blood boil...

Seeing the rising anger, Michael chuckled and shrugged again..

"I'm only saying.."

He then bounced up and came eye to eye with Torres before tilting his head to the side and raising his eyebrows.

"if that isn't true, why are you so defensive and angry?"

Michael looked right through the man's eyes. Staring.

Torres grunted and shook his head, sighing deeply.

"you need anger management"

Michael shrugged before jumping into the passenger seat. Waiting for Torres, he knew he was lying and every word that slipped from his lips were nothing but lies. Although; Michael was unsure on what he was planning, he was apparently harassing her before hand, threatening her life. Not even sure of the man's motives and interests in harming and haunting this women... Michael had to so something about it.. and not let the man disappear from his sight. Michael didn't know much detail, neither did Sam. She was very vague in her words as she explained the situation to Sam...

Torres jumped in the car and turned the key, stopping he slumped back into his seat and turned to Michael, his eyes intense and filled with determination.. determination for what!

Michael watched him carefully before playing with his badge, fiddling and gathering his own thoughts...

"so... Our captain never told me where you actually spawned from"

Torres queried Michael, staring at the badge before swallowing hard. Hesitation attacked him, a curious mind attacking him..

Michael ignored him for a moment and continued to play with the badge until Torres cleared his throat loudly, catching Michael's attention..

"Hmm? Sorry I was bored there... psychological leave of absence is where I came from"

A smile of pride, Michael gave Torres a quick smirk before playing with his badge...

"Right, that explains a lot"

Shaking his head, Torres set off into the busy main streets of Southern Miami. Michael kept an eye out on where they were headed, glimpse of the surroundings and street names.

"where are we heading?"

Michael asked; he felt he could speak his mind after all. The silence from Torres bugged him until they came to a stop, red lights. Other cars stopped and waited impatiently...

Michael watched the other cars before Torres suddenly and swiftly darted out of the car and ran for it, fleeing from Michael...

Michael swayed his head in annoyance.

"really?"

He was expecting this at all; usually they could anticipate it .. but this time was too abrupt and unpredictable...

He jumped out of the running car and dashed for Torres who dodged cars like some sort of adrenaline junkie, left right and centre. Horns and alarms are triggered and heard. Michael moved quickly, almost catching Torres. His eyes fixed on the man before him..

Cars swerved and crashed as they tried their best to miss and stop before hitting into the two men on a spree...

Screams of the drivers are heard...

Michael's vision started to blur and create a tunnel as his adrenaline kicked in...

a Loud screech of a car to his right side is heard before the skin crawling sounds of Michael's body is thrown a few feet to the air and clashing into the road with a loud thud... The car that had hit him, continued without a single bat of the eye, moving around him they continued on as if nothing had ever happened. Other cars stopped and called the ambulance...

Michael lay on the road, his vision distorted and blurry. Unable to move, he could feel striking pain shooting up his spine and neck... turning his head to faintly see Torres jumping into a get away car and speeding off into the distant, the very same car that had hit him. It wasn't long before everything turned black...

Sam and Fiona made it to the scene faster than the ambulance. Having been notified by Susie not long ago, Sam insisted they go check things out with her. Only to see the event themselves. They rushed over as fast as they could. It was difficult as so many cars were roaming around, some trying to take a look at the crash scene itself as other cars were slightly damaged in the process of the chase. It took Fi having to whip out her .45, screaming at by standers as they prided in on the situation, screaming out to one another to call the ambulance.

Fi reached Michael's side, shouting at him. She kept in her worries and fright.

"Michael"

Fi whispered before Michael slowly opened his eyes. First the sun's rays shined down on him, his eyes stung for a moment before Fi came to his view, he couldn't help but smile...

"Hey, Fi..."

Unaware of what was going on and where he was, Michael cleared his throat and tried to get up before noticing and remembering just what happened...

Dropping his head back down with a loud groan of agony before taking a right grip on Fi's wrist as she held onto his jacket and neck. Supporting his head.

"Come on, Mike.."

Sam came to view as he and Fi carried him into Fi's car. Before he could even gather that he was in Fi's car, Michael fell unconscious again...

Author's Note:

Thanks for the outstanding reviews on the previous chapter, it all inspired me to write this chapter so soon! Please keep it up! It's highly appreciated and loved. Hope this chapter is as loved as the last!