I've been rewatching Season 3 and 4 and had this idea. I'm wrapping a few of my other stories up and trying to branch out and do other POV's besides Mike's. This one won't be totally Tom and it will be a bit before I update this; as I finish the other stories.
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Chapter 1
Tom had gotten a call that one of the regional leaders, Albert Wilson had wanted to speak to him. He was in a maximum security prison. Of them, he was more willing to talk. Tom had always figured he was a figurehead and that he wasn't as ruthless as the others. Through the years, Tom had been called to talk to all of the leaders that were left, and he generally refused, but his gut told him to go. It was a long drive and took him a while to be checked in. He could only hope that it was a worthwhile trip. Finally, Wilson was brought into the visitor's room and settled into a chair across from Tom. He immediately noticed how sick the other man looked.
"Is everything alright?" Tom asked.
"Yes and no. I asked for you to come because I have to confess something. Probably should have years ago. They diagnosed me with lung cancer a few months ago and its terminal. I can't die with this on my conscious. Shaw didn't just have your father killed and kidnap your children. She used key figure's families to blackmail them." Wilson started.
"Okay, so?" Tom asked.
"At the time; we all figured that if you cracked or we had to kill you, Slattery would take your place. We wanted to debunk the military, but we know some would resist this and he would lead the resistance. Slattery had an Achilles' Heel. His family. She knew he had been unable to locate them. I'm assuming he still hasn't?" Wilson asked.
"He found death certificates about a year ago." Tom answered.
"That was Shaw's doing. She had those made up." Wilson said.
"What's your point?" Tom asked, hopefully driving Wilson into saying what he needed to say.
"She had them stowed away and had plans for them to be there for years. This is the place I knew about." Wilson said as he handed Tom a piece of paper. Sure enough, there was a town and then driving directions to somewhere. It was convoluted.
"Why now? What do you get for telling me this?" Tom demanded.
"Because I am dying. I hope at the least, I can die in peace. As far as waiting so long, we both know Croft and Castillo had people out there. It was intimidation." Wilson explained.
"So, what says those same people didn't get to the Slattery family?" Tom asked.
"I also have people out there. I had them check. His wife and daughters are still there." Wilson said.
"Why should I trust you?" Tom asked.
"You shouldn't, but if you don't check it out; can you look at your best friend and know his family is out there somewhere?" Wilson retorted.
"Could be a trap." Tom stated.
"So, take a team." Wilson said.
"So, you only want to clear your conscious?" Tom asked.
"Yes." Wilson answered.
"Alright." Tom said before standing up and walking away.
He left the prison, trying to figure out how he was going to explain this to Mike, who was finally starting to move on. He and Maddie had been dating for a year, and she was seven months along with their daughter, whom they were naming Joy. It was unfair to destroy his life, but Tom couldn't watch him still grieving for his kids. Before he told his best friend that his wife and kids were alive, he would investigate it.
Three days later, Tom walked up to the door of the farmhouse. He and the team had watched the house, investigated who paid the bills and came up with nothing suspicious. It was like Christine and the girls were just there. No one was forcing them to stay, making it even more confusing. Tom rang the doorbell and waited. Finally, he heard a familiar voice on the other side.
"Hello?" Christine asked before opening the door.
"Christine, its Tom." Tom said. She immediately swung the door open with a shocked look on her face.
"How?" She said as she let him in to the cozy house. It was simply furnished, but was homey. What surprised Tom was the amount of toys around. "Let me get you a cup of coffee. Have a seat." Christine said before disappearing around the corner. Tom could hear her clattering around the kitchen, but he looked around the living room. It was cozy. Overstuffed furniture, children's artwork on the walls, a basket of blankets and throw pillows everywhere. It was a family's room. There were also pictures. Tom recognized the two older girls; Kaitlyn and Hannah, but not the younger two; a boy and a girl. Finally, Christine reappeared with a tray that had two cups of coffee and cookies on it.
"You have quite the set up here." Tom said as he sat down on the couch. Christine passed him a cup of coffee, fixed exactly how he liked it. It was amazing she still remembered.
"They've taken good care of us." Christine said with a smile.
"They, who?" Tom asked, beginning to get the drift that Christine was either a part of the scheme with the Regional leaders, or she was brainwashed.
"Oh, the Regional leaders." Christine answered.
"What exactly did they do?" Tom asked.
"They found us…Mr. Croft, I mean; found us at Deer Park. Told me it wasn't safe. Brought us here. Made sure I had medical care since I was pregnant. Fed us. Provided me with this house. He said Mike was busy on the James and he would get him here as soon as possible. Funny thing is; the past couple years, I've not actually talked to any of them. Just associates. I didn't much care for Allison Shaw. She's crazy." Christine said. It surprised Tom that Christine used the present tense. He realized; there was no TV or radios around.
"Do you have a TV, radio, anything?" Tom questioned.
"No. Why? There's nothing to watch or listen to." Christine asked back. She was truly brainwashed.
"Where are the kids?" Tom asked.
"Oh, the girls took Henry and Rebecca down to the creek." Christine answered.
"Okay." Tom said as he wiped his hand over his face. Christine had always been an intelligent woman. It was hard to believe she had been so duped.
"So, where's Mike? Is he busy still?" Christine asked.
"Okay, I am going to give you a long explanation. The Regional leaders were key in trying to overthrow the government. Those that are still alive are in prison. Will be for the rest of their lives. The weapons test that the James was sent to the Arctic for was only a cover. We were transporting a scientist, and she developed a cure for the Red Flu. We arrived home, and began spreading the cure. Mike looked for you all but was unable to find you. He become Captain of the James, and I was CNO. The Regional leaders staged a coup, but we were able to…stop it. Then the Red Rust happened. Once we found the seeds, and the famine ended, Mike and I were both promoted to Admiral. I retired to teach at the Academy, but Mike rebuilt the Navy, and then rebuilt it again after the war with Gran Colombia. He just recently retired." Tom explained, not knowing how to tell her that Mike thought she was dead, and had gotten involved with a lieutenant. He knew Mike was madly in love with Maddie but it would be a hard pill to swallow.
"So, where is he?" Christine questioned.
"Christine; the Regional leaders held you here as what I can only explain as leverage against Mike. When the time was right, they would have used you and the kids. A few years ago, after the famine; Mike was given death certificates for you and the older girls. He thought you were dead." Tom started.
"I don't think I like where this is going." Christine commented.
"You still love him? I know things were rough, but you still would want to be with him?" Tom asked.
"Of course. We had just hit a rough patch." Christine answered.
"Christine; I don't want to have to tell you this, but…about a year ago, Mike began dating a lieutenant. They'd both retired, so no issue there. Christine; they are living together and she's seven months along with a baby girl. I want you to know; Mike always loved you, but he was given evidence you had died. He felt you would have wanted him to move on." Tom said. He had watched Christine go through several emotions as he ripped the band aide off. Shock, anger, humiliation, embarrassment, and finally pain. He put an arm around her as she began crying into his shoulder.
"The kids, though." Christine finally spoke up.
"I am going to tell him. He won't abandon his kids now." Tom told her.
"But our marriage is over. Mike would never leave someone he loves, let alone his unborn child." Christine said.
"Now that I've told you this, do you still love Mike?" Tom asked.
"I do." Christine answered.
"This is a complicated situation. Give Mike a chance to react before you make any rash decisions. He still loves you too." Tom said.
"I don't want to make this hard on him. I still love him, but if he wants to stay with this girl and raise their child; I understand. I'll file for divorce so he doesn't have to." Christine said as she paced around the living room. She was choking back sobs the entire time. It made Tom incredibly angry at the Regional leaders. Christine was a good person. She was a good mom and a loving wife. She shouldn't have to make that choice.
"He will want involved with the kids." Tom told her.
"I've been so stupid. I knew it seemed too good to be true. Why would they pay for everything? Why wouldn't Mike show up? I should have known." Christine said.
"No. Every chance, if you had ever started questioning things; they would have killed you and the kids. How exactly did they stay in contact with you? How did the money come in?" Tom asked.
"I never knew how but the bills were just paid. Money was deposited in a checking account monthly to pay for groceries and other incidentals, but that was all delivered here. I never really had to leave. I have a car and everything, but I homeschool the kids. They are even allowing Kaitlyn to take online classes, but don't want her to leave. She could only visit certain websites on the computer." Christine explained.
"So, was everything by phone? How would you get ahold of someone? I would really like to draw these people out." Tom asked.
"I would call. They told me if I ever needed anything…like if someone was trying to get to us because of Mike; to say 'Bluebird.' That was the code phrase." Christine said. She walked to the desk and picked up a cellphone.
"Alright; I am going to have you do that; but I want you and the kids taken to safety before. We'll worry about Mike later. Do you have any reason to believe that they had you under surveillance? Would they know I'm here?" Tom asked.
"No." Christine answered. As brainwashed as she had been; Tom couldn't trust her not to tip off any of the 'associates'.
"Alright. Can you get the kids back here and begin packing them up?" Tom asked.
"Sure." Christine said as she began typing the text out.
"We will get you guys to a safe house, get these people arrested and then I'll talk to Mike. In the meantime; I want you to concentrate on the kids. Don't worry about the associates or Mike. Just know; he never stopped loving you." Tom said.
"Can we just not tell the kids about Mike…being involved with someone else, or the baby? I know we'll have to, but the girls will be hurt and angry. They will be easier to move if they know less." Christine asked.
"We will tell them he is out of the country, but we are recalling him. That'll buy us some time. When I speak with Mike; I will tell him. I promise; he will want to see the kids. He loves Maddie, and already loves Joy…their baby, but he always loved you dearly. Never forget or doubt that." Tom told her.
"All these years, I imagined this reunion. Tears, hugs, kisses. Its what kept me going. I'm not mad at Mike. Just mad at myself for believing them." Christine said. She was wiping tears away again.
"Alright; I know you are upset; but you have to put a strong face on for those kids. Get those bags packed, and get them moved. You have to trust me. I know its hard. We will take care of you and them." Tom said and Christine nodded.
"It just hurts so bad." Christine admitted.
"I know. Mike never meant to hurt you. He did what he thought you'd want him to. Now, the kids are walking up. Dry those tears and get ready. Don't stress about packing a lot. What you need, we can buy. Maybe just a change or two of clothes, toys to occupy the twins, pictures." Tom said.
"Okay." Christine said. Tom walked into the dining room to call the team while Christine spoke to the kids in the living room. He could tell they were less than excited to be leaving, but she had them begin packing things up. Within a few moments, Kara and Sasha showed up to help.
Within an hour, Christine had made the call using the key word to get the 'associates' there and Kara had taken her and the kids away to a safe house. As brainwashed as she was, Tom wasn't certain he could trust her. Thankfully, she was easily convinced and gave him her cellphone. He hated manipulating her, but it was the only option and he was utilizing the heartbreak concerning Mike to get her to do what he needed. Despite the pain, Christine simply wanted to be reunited with her husband. For Tom and the team, it was a waiting game.