Saving Grace
AU Season 6. Anson, desperate to elude prison, reveals the ace up his sleeve. There are some secrets to be brought out of the closet. He takes hostage a Catholic nun and one of her little charges. The gang races to end Anson's game once and for all.
Disclaimer: All rights and claims to Burn Notice characters and recognizable plots do not belong to me, but USA. I only borrow the characters to satisfy my own plots.
Thank you so much for all the reviews, kind words and burning questions! ^_^
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The little gray hybrid car sped along back roads and highways, the sun long set, the sky was inky black with little glowing lights to be seen from the lamps. The constant speed driving was enough to lure Morgan into sleep with little help from Sister Elizabeth. They had been driving for hours now, Sister Elizabeth didn't have any bearings as to where they were or where they were heading; Mark made sure to stay away from any directional signs. Despite their situation, Sister was an old lady and she had began to get weary, it felt just as she had closed her eyes the car came to a stop.
The salt from the sea water permeated the air as both front seat passengers threw open their doors. Glancing up ahead, Sister Elizabeth took in the harbour and the reflective dark water, she could see a shadow of a person up ahead, holding up a lantern as in wait. Hearing the trunk of the car being thrown open, Sister Elizabeth gently began to rouse Morgan with haste.
"Morgan dear, you must wake up now. Come on, dear it's time to wake up now." Morgan frowned as Sister shook her gently, before she could respond the car door closest to her was wrenched open.
"Up and at 'em Princess!" Despite seeing Mark earlier, Morgan couldn't help but shake from fright and shriek as she scrambled into Sister's arms.
"Don't tease the child!" Sister Elizabeth was furious, Morgan was a young child. She glared daggers at the man before them.
"We're on a schedule lady, I wou-" Mark was interrupted by Anson coming up along with the waiting man from the dock.
"Really, it's late. Can we please get along with the program!?" Anson snapped and growled at the pair, clearly irritated. Mark looked taken a back and rolled his eyes in disgust.
"I told you, I could handle it. You should have stayed home Anson."
"Let me remind you, that I'm the one in charge here and I pay you!" Mark bit the inside of his cheek as he seethed with fury. Deciding he didn't want to hold his tongue any longer, he let loose. Pivoting off his feet, he swerved and slammed Anson firmly into the car and held his arm under his chin and against his throat, cutting off his air passage.
"Let me remind you, Anson that Aunt Marie knows nothing of your work. You're here squabbling trying to fix your mistakes and foolishly spending your money! I told you to cut your losses long time; you will not bring my Aunt down!" Ending his tirade, Mark pushed Anson once more and stepped away scrubbing his face and turned to see Sister Elizabeth and Morgan had exited the car. She glared defiantly as she held the young child to her chest, covering up her fear.
"Let's get this show on the road!" He strode purposely up the dock.
Anson angrily caught his breath and began to straighten up his clothes; he was quickly losing control and spiraling, there was a maniac glint in his eyes as he looked at the remaining people.
"Make haste! Make haste!" Seeing Sister Elizabeth flinch and hearing Morgan whimper helped Anson to gain some of his lost control and calm down.
The room where the company sat was quiet in Our Lady's Catholic Home. The only sounds could be heard from the dining room; the children were all in jubilee and hadn't seemed to notice an absence. Each of the occupants looked at Fiona inquisitively with burning curiosity. Fiona squarely jutted her chin as she collected her thoughts to answer. She disregarded all the others in the room and locked eyes with Michael's unreadable ones and began.
"I'm listed as proxy because am Morgan's mother. After the O'neal incident we had grown closer, I got pregnant around that time, but I didn't know it yet. We were doing so much running around with Gilroy and then Simon happened." Fiona shook and bowed her head and continued again.
"Our world was rushed at this point and I was running on mostly adrenaline, but after you left Michael, carted off to God knows where...that was when I crashed. Everything caught up to me and a week after you left, I grew extremely tired and then ill. I stayed away from Sam and your Mom, I honestly thought I just needed rest. Once it persisted for two weeks, I finally went to see a Doctor and learned I was almost 2 months pregnant. I didn't know what to do."Fiona voice levelled but her eyes tried to covey to Michael her reasons.
Michael wasn't sure how he felt; he could hear Fiona speaking but his mind was racing. Cold dread raced through his veins and his thoughts were angry, hurt and confused. Fiona was always the constant in his life, the one person he solely trust. He didn't understand how they had all had missed something so big; he shook his head as his mind showed him Fiona's point of view. Michael had been increasingly goal oriented ever since he arrived in Miami, he would like to think he had eased up and began to encompass more.
"So what did you do Fiona, put her up for adoption?" Michael's eyes burned into Fiona's and caused her to catch her breath, but she instantly flared up and clenched her fists.
"I did NOT put her up for adoption! I was ready to take her and leave, but when it all boils down to it Michael, I can't just leave you like you did me! I carried her for 9 months and made sure she hasn't want for anything since! Do you know how much I wrestled with deciding what to do Michael? Everyone knows our connection, so to keep her safe Michael, I made arrangements with Sister Elizabeth for Morgan to stay here. I make donations to the Home and pay for her upkeep. I visit her for a day, whenever we have a relative peace, I've been so careful with her all this time, but being by your side always has repercussions and I have long accepted them; it's time you start to."
Fiona ended with her voice low but deadly fierce, both her and Michael's eyes was locked and spitting fire at each other. The other occupants in the room weren't sure how to act after the explosive episode. Pearce quickly moved to diffuse the situation, both Michael and Fiona were seething, the laughter in the other room had long since stopped. Sister Kayla exited to see to the children.
"No one is accusing your decisions Fiona or blaming you Michael. But right now, we just need to focus on bringing Sister Elizabeth and Morgan back safely and eliminating Anson." Dani bit her lip at the sharp looks she got from them both before continuing on.
"Sister Amelia, is there somewhere they could possibly cool down? I think separate would be best."
'That won't be necessary Pearce, Fiona and I still has some things to discuss." Michael tone was hard and left no room for argument but Fiona never was one to back down.
"Oh we do Michael, is it convenient for you now?" Fiona's tongue was scalding as she answered him; Michael clenched his fists calmly before continuing.
"It's been almost 3 years Fiona, please don't start with convenient. Sister Amelia may we use...?"
Fiona looked taken a back but she kept silent and followed Sister Amelia huffily out of the room, making sure she stepped on Michael's feet. Dani watched the whole thing with a wry look before shaking her head and turning to her phone.
The door closed after Sister Amelia, she had brought them upstairs to Morgan's room. The room was standard white with standard twin bed, dresser and table. It seemed to be an Oak set; the wood was dark and treated. Fiona took her time and ignored Michael and opted to caress the soft animal sheets Morgan had picked out 6 months ago. On the bed laid a large pink bunny dressed in a tutu and a soft grey elephant, missing was an Irish dressed rag doll. Fiona had bought it for Morgan on her last birthday, which she had been fond of ever since; Fiona had wanted Morgan to have a piece of her heritage.
Michael stood by the desk and ran his hand across the wood, adorn on the wall were childlike drawings of stick people and landscapes. According to her room she adored animals and she looked like a happy child, turning Michael drew breath as his eyes fell on a photograph. Morgan was leaning against a tree at church; she was dressed in a cute yellow sundress and a sun bonnet laid on top of her copper-brown curls. Her stature was small like Fiona, she looked just like her, but her eyes and also her demeanor screamed Westen. He couldn't help the smile which graced his face as he stared at the picture. Fiona and him had made a child, their daughter. In that moment he knew, regardless of what was to come, they would get her back, he would move hell and high waters and Anson was going to pay. After that Fiona and him would have to work out Morgan's living arrangements, she was part of his life now.
"Sister Elizabeth thinks she looks like me, but her mannerisms mirror yours so much. Glenanne-Westen spunk is deadly; she's candid but terribly caring." Fiona had moved silently to Michael's side before speaking, her voice was so soft and Michael could hear it breaking slightly.
"Why couldn't you tell me Fi? I wouldn't have ever turned you away, couldn't you trust me?" Michael turned to look at her and spoke softly, Fiona bit her lip and crossed to sit on the bed.
"It's not about trust Michael, your world is dangerous. You've desperately wanted to get back into the CIA; I couldn't chance your reaction." She picked up the pink bunny and hugged it to her chest before gazing up.
"It wasn't easy for me to decide, I wrestled so deeply with the decision. I couldn't reach you and I couldn't confide in Sam or your Mom. I could never go back home to Ireland, I was so conflicted Michael." Fiona's eyes flooded with tears and Michael crossed and kneel in front of her. He hadn't seen Fiona this vulnerable before, despite his anger her distress tore at his heart.
"We could've decided together Fi, you could always knock me to see the whole picture when am too focus." His last words tugged a small smile on both of their faces but it didn't last.
"I found myself at Mass one day and there I met Sister Elizabeth, I spilled all of my burdens on her. She's been my confidant ever since; she suggested if I didn't wanted to part with the child she could allow Morgan to stay and I could parent from afar. We arranged for me to stay in Key West when I began to show, I told Sam and your Mom that I needed some space. I got a midwife to deliver Morgan at home. It was the most sensible option so I took it, she's been safe for so long Michael, so long." Fiona words broke on a sob and she fell into Michael's arms. He grasped her tightly and soothed her gently. Michael could see the sense in Fiona's reasoning but it hurt him that as much as they trusted each other, they were still so far away back then, that she couldn't even come to him. He knew he was the cause of most of it, he had tunnel vision towards his burn notice, many people had warned him about it but he had been so selfish.
"I'm sorry Fiona, so very sorry." Michael repeatedly shushed her as he got comfortable on the floor and began to rock Fi gently to sooth her cries.
The rocking of the waves as the boat plowed through made Sister Elizabeth nauseous. Morgan lay on the bunk bed, asleep once more and covered in a thin blanket. The door was opened gently surprising Sister Elizabeth. In walked Anson and Mark, she watched them wearily it looked like they had made up for the moment.
"Sister Elizabeth there is some important things we need to discuss with you."
"Can't it wait until morning? The sea isn't agreeing with me." Sister Elizabeth spoke softly, Mark let out a tutt.
"Our apologies; for you Sister." Anson crossed and gave her a small bottle of medicine. After swallowing they continued the conversation.
"When we arrive at my home, there will be some ground rules. Just like at the Orphanage, Morgan will be under your care. My wife isn't the most maternal and would like a distance to be kept and the noise to a minimum." At the mention of his Aunt, Mark huffed but Anson ignored him.
"You will do best not to tell anyone you come in contact with that you have been kidnapped. Is this understood Sister?" Sister Elizabeth scowled.
"Yes, it is. I won't let anyone know your holding us against our will as long as no harm comes to the child." Anson waved her off.
"Of course that goes without saying. Now another thing, I've told my wife you worked for one of my clients who has recently had a mental breakdown. You will do well not to overshare information and keep Morgan withdrawn, or else there will be consequences."
At the end, the boat tipped on a nasty wave and Sister Elizabeth scrabbled for balance, but noticed her vision was now doubled. She tried to glare at the four men in the room. Before she could black out, Mark caught her and gently discarded her on the bed next to Morgan.
When Sam and Jesse arrived at Our Lady's Catholic Home the police had already finish their preliminary canvas of the area. In the parlour they found Dani Pearce speaking quietly to Michael but Fiona wasn't to be seen.
"What's going on Mikey?"
"Uhh where's Fi, I thought she was with you?" None of them missed the shared glance between Michael and Dani.
"Right here boys, thanks for the concern." Fiona spoke from behind them, her face was devoid of makeup and her eyes held just a hint of tears.
"We've gotten all we need Agent Pearce, we'll put a rush on things and update you in the morning." The officers left and filed out of the house.
"Okay, what was that? What's going on here?" Jesse beat Sam to the punch and asked the question.
"I think you should sit down guys." Michael advised them.
"Is this related to Anson or a side job?" Sam cut in.
"Oh it's related, very much related." Michael once more motioned for them to sit and they did. Michael shared glances with all of the occupants of the room but gave Fiona a reassuring smile before starting to explain.
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