Out of the Ashes:
A/N: Thank you as always Amanda Hawthorn and Daisyday for reading through the beginning of this chapter. Also thank you to those people you reviewed, and have added the story to your favourites.
Chapter Thirty eight,
Michael froze at the bottom of the steps leading to his mother's front door. The last time he had been inside, he had terrorized her into leaving. He knew she inside now, her car was on the drive a quick glance at his watch told him it was nearly time for her favorite afternoon soap opera. She would be making a cup of coffee, and preparing for an afternoon in her sun room with the TV.
Taking a deep breath he walked up the steps pausing again when he pushed his key in the lock. What he wanted to do was run in the other direction, how could he face her, he had done the one thing he swore he would never let happen. He had allowed himself to become a carbon copy of his father. After another moment of hesitation he finished unlocking the door and pushed it open.
"Hey Sam." He spoke calmly, noticing the gun in his best friend's hand which was still pointed at him. "You expecting someone else?"
Putting the gun away, Sam acted equally as casual. "Hey Mikey good to see you. What happened to your vacation?"
"It was cut short." Michael was looking passed Sam to where his mother stood in the hallway, clutching her pump action shotgun. "Ma." He spoke softly, staring at her unsure of his welcome.
Madeline froze for a second, then put the shotgun down before coming towards him, a beaming smile on her face. She wrapped him in a tight embrace. Burying her head into his chest, smiling to herself when his arms moved to return her hug. After a moment she pulled back, to look him over more closely. He looked better, more like the son she had come to know since his forced return to Miami, and less like the monster that had dragged her out of the house two weeks ago, and left her alone in a motel next to the airport.
"How are you?" She asked her voice full of concern.
"Fine." He saw her frown, and added. "I'm getting better, honest." He gave her a soft smile gently running his hands up and down her arms. "Ma. Me and Sam have got to talk... Do you mind?" He was already compartmentalizing their issues until he could deal with them later.
Madeline took another step back, and looked her son up and down for a second time. He definitely looked better than he had done the last time she had seen him. Then again the last time she had been in his company he had been on the point of a breakdown. She nodded and looked at her watch. "I'm going to watch my programmes. In my room." She spoke flatly. "Don't forget to let me know when it's safe to return."
Neither man moved until Madeline had left the room then Sam handed Michael a beer from the fridge and they sat down at the table facing one another. "So why are you back, so soon?" Sam asked.
"Agent Pearce, the one investigating Max's death wanted to see me." He answered, then fixed Sam with a serious stare. "A couple of things came clear to me while I was away."
He told Sam about how he was sure Raines was involved with Anson. About how after his meeting with Pearce he was sure that Max must have found out about Raines and that was what had got him killed.
"Anson and Raines together, man what are you going to do?" Sam emptied the bottle in his hand and went to get another.
Michael rubbed his head, messing up his hair. "Fiona doesn't want me to do anything for Anson. She wants me to take everything to Agent Pearce instead and lay out all the evidence in front of her."
"I thinks she's right, that slimy piece of garbage tried to have me killed." Sam told him.
Michael's head shot up. "What!"
"It's why I'm hiding out here. Straight after you left, Anson turned up at the hotel threatening to ruin Elsa's business if I didn't help one of his men steal a shipment of arms. We did the job and then his man tried to kill me."
"Why would he want you dead Sam?" Michael took a long gulp of his beer. Trying to wrap his head around what had gone on while he was away.
"Because he doesn't need me. He has you under his thumb just by threatening Fi. While I'm alive, I'm just another problem he has to have watched." It was the only reason could come up with. Anson had limited resources he was trying to keep things small. That way he could keep control.
Michael leaned back in the chair, they had to go with Fiona's plan now. It was the only option. His mind immediately moved onto how to hand everything over to Pearce, and at the same time keep everyone safe.
"Mike." Sam spoke again. "I have a ton of stuff Spencer managed to dig up on Anson's organization, it might help Pearce discover who else is involved. But it's all in the penthouse. Most of it's really nasty stuff, makes what Barrett was doing look small time." Sam stopped talking to study his friend who looked to have gone off into a world of his own. "Mikey, you can't do his dirty work, sooner or later he'll have you …."
"Ok Sam I get it." Michael snapped, banging the empty beer bottle on the table. "Regardless, if I do his dirty work or not Anson isn't going to keep his word. Just give me a minute." Michael started to massage his temples, a wave of nausea threatening to send him back into the same state he had been in a week ago.
They both looked up as Fiona breezed in to the room. "I haven't got the actual apartment number, but I've narrowed down the location of Anson's lair. All we have to do now is work out how we're going to find out which one." She glided across to Michael to give him a peck on the cheek.
"So what have you been doing while we've been away?" She turned her attention to Sam.
"Oh I've been threatened. Blackmailed into stealing an arms shipment. Shot at, and nearly blown up. How about you?" He took a long sip from his beer, managing to hide how pleased he was to see her.
"Oh we had a lovely time. Didn't we Michael? Very relaxing." She linked her arm through Michael's. A worried frown briefly forming as she noted his expression. She could see all the old signs of fatigue and stress returning. She bit down on her lip, thinking they needed to end things as quickly as possible.
"It's nice for some." Sam replied, but quickly got back to business. Just like Fiona he wanted Anson and now Raines out of their lives as quickly as possible. They both watched as Michael pulled away from Fiona and began to pace about the room deep in thought.
()
Madeline had long ago learned if she wanted to know what was going on in her son's life she had to take matters into her own hands. From the sun room she had heard every word, they had said. She paled at the thought of what was going on, even though she didn't fully understand. She could see his friends watching him worriedly from the sidelines obviously neither felt ready to put a stop to his pacing.
She was reminded of how as a teenager Michael would do the same thing, pace back and forth until he built himself up into a point where he would explode. Taking a deep breath, she stubbed out her cigarette and got to her feet.
"Hello Fiona, I'm glad you're back, and safe." Madeline walked over to give the younger woman a kiss on the cheek. Before turning to where her son was watching her, from across the room. "Michael I need to have a word with you."
Michael swallowed and flashed a look at Sam and Fiona before turning back to his mother. "I'm busy at the moment, can it wait?"
"No Michael, it can not." She stated firmly, opening the door to step into the yard. Outside she lit up a cigarette trying to control the tremors in her hand.
Reluctantly he followed her out onto the steps. "What is it ma we're kinda busy if you hadn't noticed."
"I'll tell you what I've noticed. Sam and Fiona walking on eggshells around you, acting like they're too scared to push you, to offer up ideas in case you lose control again."
He looked away embarrassed by her bluntness, but she wasn't finished. "Do you remember when you came home that first time on leave. How you fought with your father because he borrowed some cash from your wallet?" She held onto his arm to stop him moving away.
"Ma I don't have time to reminisce. Beside he didn't borrow he stole..." He shook her off, but didn't runaway.
"Then the next time you came home, when Nate had been suspended from school for fighting. Instead of getting into another fight defending your brother, what did you do?" She pressed.
"I- that was different ma. Dad was drunk already, and I was about to join special forces." Suddenly he got her meaning. "I took you and Nate out for a meal and when we got back he was asleep. There was no fight."
"That's what I'm talking about. You learned to control your temper, and use your brain. You've just got to remember how."
"It's not that easy ma. This is a totally different thing." He turned away from her. Noticing for the first time that Fiona and Sam were watching from the kitchen window.
"No it isn't Michael. You learned how to do it once. You can do it again, you're not your father. So don't let yourself turn into him." She pulled him back round to face her, her hand going to his cheek.
He looked down, then slowly nodded. "I'll try." He promised.
"That's all we ask, honey." She patted his cheek gently before letting him go. "Now go talk to your friends... And Michael."
"Yeah ma?"
"I'm going to take Nate and his family to Disneyland for a few days. Give you three a chance to sort things out."
A wave of relief swept over him, he smiled and stepped forward planting a kiss on her forehead. "Thank you."
"You're welcome Michael." She smiled, and with another pat on his arm she went inside to pack one of the bags she had only recently unpacked.
Michael watched her disappear inside, his mind made up. They would have to get everything in to place and act fast before either Anson or Raines could work out what was happening.
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Once Madeline was safely out of the way packing her bags, they sat around the table. Michael took a deep breath and laid out his plan.
"Sam can you figure out the way of getting all the evidence Spencer got for you, tonight?"
"Tonight?" Sam rubbed his chin, then after a moment he nodded. "Yeah I think I can. Mariposa, is Elsa's maid she waits for her daughter to finish working on reception. So she'll be there until late. I could do with a distraction though, something to keep anybody watching from noticing me sneaking in." He looked at Fiona.
"How big a distraction?" She grinned.
"Fi. This has to be subtle remember who we're dealing with." Michael warned, closing his hand over her arm.
"Ok. No explosions." Her smile widened. "But distracting right?"
Neither man wanted to get into a discussion with what she planned to do, as long as she wasn't going to demolish half the hotel Sam was happy.
"Right." Michael gave her arm a squeeze. "First thing tomorrow I'll go see Pearce. Hopefully with what I got off the bug from my meeting with Anson, and what Sam has, it'll be enough to get Pearce to work with us."
"So that's the plan. We hand it all over and hope she does just throw us in jail." Sam asked, a hint of doubt in his voice.
"Yes, but there is no we, when I go to that meeting I want both of you gone. Out of the state, or even better out of the country, somewhere with no extradition treaties with the US or the UK."
"NO!" They spoke as one. Fiona catching hold of the front of Michael's shirt. "We're in this together. All the way. When you go to see Pearce we're going to be watching. If anything goes wrong we can get you out."
He looked from one to the other seeing that they were determined. "You do that and we'll all be on the run for the rest of our lives." Their expressions didn't change, he wondered what he had ever done to spark such loyalty. "Ok. We'll do this together. Fi, go set up your distraction while Sam gets in place."
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Sam sat in Madeline's car watching the entrance to the Dearbon hotel. So far he hadn't spotted anybody outside who looked to be watching the place but he wasn't taking any chances. He checked his watch again, it was eleven pm Fiona's distraction would be starting soon. He just hoped Elsa would still have an hotel standing afterwards. There was no telling what Fiona might have come up with.
He heard loud peeling laughter, and drunken shouts heading towards him. His mouth opened in shock as he watched a group of close to thirty drunken college students no doubt on spring break descend on the hotel. Amongst them the tiny figure of Fiona Glenanne fuelling the merriment. As the Dearbon was invaded by partying teenagers Sam left the car and managed to sneak through the staff entrance.
Mariposa was sat in the kitchen, just as he thought she would be. Waiting for her daughter to finish working in the reception.
"Mister Sam!" She got to her feet. "Madame Dearbon has been so worried. What are you doing here?"
"Mariposa, I need you to do me a big favor." He gave the woman's arms a gentle squeeze, fixing her with his most charming smile. "What I'm doing is top secret. I can't explain it to you, but I need you to go up to Madame's room and bring me the folder taped under the bottom of the dressing table."
"Mister Sam?" She asked worriedly.
"Please Mariposa, it's really important."
Ten minutes later he was back in Madeline's car, watching the police move on, or arrest the more drunken of the students. Fiona was no longer in sight. As he started the engine, the passenger door opened and Fiona sat down next to him a large grin spread over her face.
"Was that distracting enough for you Sam?"
He pointed a finger at her, trying to come up with the words. "You!" He shook his head as she continued to grin. "Elsa's going to kill me if she ever finds out."
()()()
Washington DC.
"If we're going to have a good working relationship you must learn to keep me informed." Anson picked up his glass of scotch.
He was in a small bar along the street from the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Washington DC, sitting across from him Donald Raines looked relaxed and unconcerned by Anson's complaints.
"I had little choice but to bring him back, Kim Pearce was ready to fly out to the training camp to get him. Besides I'm not convinced that putting Michael, and that Glenanne woman together is a good idea."
"My job is knowing what makes men like Michael Westen tick." Anson replied. "You'll just have to trust my judgement on this."
Raines, placed his drink down and leaned forward. "Michael left the CIA because of that women. He had a promising career, the last disastrous job with Sizemore was, if not forgotten had at least been forgiven. Then he falls for a damn Irish terrorist, helps her escape capture and if that wasn't bad enough, he starts questioning what missions he would take. We only kept him by letting him go freelance. And you've put him back with that Irish bitch." Raines spat the words out.
"Miss Glenanne is an integral part of my scheme." Anson replied smoothly. "He loves her more than he loves himself. He would compromise everything he believes in for that Irish bitch as you call her." Anson felt like he was explaining things to a five year old.
"Fiona Glenanne is unpredictable, and she passes that trait onto Westen. There are better ways of keeping him under control." Raines stated. He paused as a waiter took away their empty glasses, replacing them with fresh drinks. Once they were alone again, he fixed Anson with a stare. "So what happened to the arms shipment? You realize that we're losing control of the gas pipeline?"
"I have a Serbian team taking delivery of a Predator drone tomorrow and they're delivering it to the Russians by the end of the week." Anson picked up his drink and took a sip before placing it down on the table. "I have to get back to Miami. If you can't follow my leadership this partnership isn't going to work. Keep me informed or everything you've tried to keep hidden over the years will come to light." He threatened.
Raines glared at his partner in crime, his own expression darkening. "You have nothing on me. Nothing that wouldn't incriminate you just as badly."
"Really?" Anson smirked. "Very early in your career, I believe Devereux took a chance and sent you and Larry Sizemore on a mission together. He said it was a mistake two inexperienced agents working together. But you both came back didn't you, only you immediately asked to be reassigned. Why was that?"
Raines dropped his gaze. "That was years ago."
"Embarrassing though for a director in the CIA, it could lead to questions about your loyalty."
Raines drained his drink, his hand trembling. "Fine." He snapped. "I'll remember to keep you informed in the future."
Anson pushed his chair back and got to his feet. "Thank you Donald. Now I must go." He dropped several bills onto the table. "Have another drink on me. You look like you need one." He walked out smiling smugly.
Raines stared into space, realizing that some how he had ended up as another of Anson Fullerton's assets. He called the waiter over and ordered another drink. Sitting back he sipped on the neat scotch, not paying any attention to the waiter who cleared away the used glasses.
The waiter carried the glasses out to the kitchen and made sure they went into the dishwasher. Satisfied that the glasses were being thoroughly cleaned, he left the bar through the back door and pulled a phone from his pocket.
"It's done."
"Good, now get back to Miami fast." A harsh rasping voice ordered.
"On my way Sir." The young man replied. With the call ended, he removed the memory card and SIM before throwing the phone away. He didn't even glance back when an ambulance pulled up in front of the bar, with it's lights flashing and siren blaring out.
()()()