Burn Notice - The Man He Is
A/N: I wanted to tie up some loose ends, so here is the Epilogue :)
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Finally out of the hospital, Michael was back in his loft. He was knocked out on the pain meds the first two days, but when he was conscious for more than 15 minutes at a time, Maddy had cornered him. Fiona had left to pack some things so she could wait out the healing process with Michael at his loft, and Maddy seized the opportunity.
"I-I'm sorry, Michael. I shouldn't have said what I said."
"M-mom-"Michael began, still weak and tired, he was not ready for this conversation, but as sore and stiff as he was, there was no way he'd make it more than five feet before his body collapsed and then he'd have a whole other speech to listen to.
"No Michael," Maddy said forcefully, moving his one chair closer to the bed so she could sit by his side. "I was wrong. I know you lie, you've always lied to protect me, to protect Nate, to protect this country. But I also know that it's never been easy for you. I shouldn't have let you believe that I didn't trust your moral compass."
Michael just looked at her like she had grown another head.
"Don't look at me like that." Maddy said curtly, pulling out a cigarette, "I also shouldn't have left."
"No, Ma, I-I understand why you couldn't stay. I don't blame you for leaving." Michael said, closing his eyes briefly before looking at his mother's grief-stricken face.
"If I had stayed, maybe...maybe we would have found you sooner." Getting up, Maddy turned away from him, "Michael. You were gone for five days..FIVE days. And no one knew where you were. You could have been killed, you almost died."
Carefully sitting up, Michael tried to stifle his groan as he shifted his feet to the floor and shakenly took the two steps to his mother. His body protested, but his heart overruled the protests.
"Ma. It's okay, I'm okay." Carefully wrapping his good arm around her shoulders, he tentatively embraced her, "You're here now. That's what matters."
Turning into his embrace, Maddy carefully hugged him back, it had been too long since she had embraced her son.
"I love you, Michael." She said into his shoulder.
"I love you too, Ma." He said, resting his head on hers, breathing in the scent of his mother, smoke and all, already storing this moment protectively deep within his heart.
Helping him back to bed, he went back to sleep and Maddy watched over him.
Fiona returned and Maddy took her leave, knowing she'd be back to check on him in the coming days.
The next week consisted of Maddy and Sam stopping by, Sam always bringing food. Fiona stayed with Michael day and night, and Michael slept and healed.
About two days after Michael's conversation with Maddy, Sam dropped by again. Fiona was coming out of the bathroom when she caught Michael and Sam in a hushed conversation. She'd quickly stepped back into the bathroom before they realized she'd heard Michael say how grateful he was for Sam and saw Sam lay his hand on Michael's shoulder.
Jesse stopped by as well, bringing groceries, bandages, etc., he still had questions, but he knew that his anger had been misplaced and he was ready to work with Michael to take down the people that had burned them.
Jesse had managed to buy time with Barrett and Vaughn had been uncharacteristically quiet.
Michael, for all he'd been through, forgave Jesse with more grace than Fiona had thought possible. This whole thing kept bringing her back to just how much she loved Michael Westen.
During the nights, Fiona shared Michael's bed. Careful of her movements and his injuries, she watched him as he slept. This night was no different than the others, a slight downpour outside, Michael restless, and Fiona knew that the events of the last few weeks were replaying themselves in his mind.
As she settled in to finally go to sleep, preparing for another restless night herself, she jumped when Michael suddenly started screaming and thrashing. Before she could wake him, he had his gun in his hand and his whole frame was trembling.
"Michael, it was a nightmare, you're safe. We got you out." Fiona whispered urgently as she carefully took the gun out of his hand.
Breathing heavily, Michael made eye contact with Fiona for the briefest of seconds before looking away, "I thought you'd all abandoned me. I'd thought I'd pushed everyone away, that everyone thought I was a monster. That I deserved what happened."
If he hadn't still been on pain medication, Fiona doubted that Michael would have ever admitted to what he was struggling with. She also knew that he was only still on pain meds because she and Maddy had started mixing them into his yogurt.
"Michael, I'm sorry that I said what I said. I was angry, everything had piled up and it was easier to blame you than to recognize that I had lied as well. That I had chosen your mission over Jesse's career. But you never deserved what those Serbians did to you. Although you probably did deserve Jesse shooting you."
Seeing the slight smile on Michael's sweat covered face, Fiona continued, "Sam was right. The man you are, that man I should have known you to be, could never be the monster that Larry and Simon are. I let my fear and anger get in the way of seeing you. I never meant to abandon you. I-I love you, Michael." She whispered the last part, afraid that her actions or lack of actions had taken something from Michael that they'd never get back.
When Michael raised his gaze to her face, suddenly that fear seemed as stupid as the others. Michael carefully leaned toward her and she met him halfway, their kiss settling their uncertainties and fears.
Laying back in bed, Fiona's head resting on his good shoulder, Michael thought back over the last few weeks. His mind was still fuzzy, but it tracked back to the night when Jesse had shot him. Just like that night, he was in his loft and it was raining outside, but this time he wasn't alone. His family had his back and he had theirs.
With his faith in his friends restored, things mended with his mom, his relationship with Fiona growing, his friendship with Jesse healing, and his friendship with Sam as strong as ever, Michael closed his eyes, knowing that whatever came his way in the future, he wouldn't be facing it alone.
Breathing deeply, Michael allowed his body to fall into the rest it so desperately needed, Fiona's scent and warmth a reminder that he was safe.
FIN.