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.
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6
After receiving the necessary break in the case, the whole gang sprang into action. The days were full of planning and combing through Anson's and his relatives' background. They waited in silence for Anson to contact them and he took his sweet time with it. Anson called them on the second day of planning, he was agitated on the phone, and his tone was distracted as he stated his demands. He wanted immunity and his assets unfrozen, also $200,000 in cash at the drop off.
They could tell something had happen but Anson remained evasive and vague to all updates on his hostages. The mysterious ally didn't join in the conversation either.
Working with government agencies meant a lot of red tape and by the books procedures, something Fiona absolutely detested and Michael knew. But it couldn't be avoided, Michael needed all of the resources at his disposal despite Fiona's dislike; Michael needed to end this once and for all. On this point Fiona agreed with him, but every other point she chose to fight him at every chance she got.
After all of their years together Michael knew how to handle Fiona, but dealing with her and planning a rescue and capture mission was exhausting him considerably; he was being pulled by the CIA one way and by Fiona the other, around the clock. Sam and Jesse didn't know how he didn't crack under it all and were pulling more than their weight so as to alleviate the pressure of planning a bit, but they left Fi alone with a wide berth.
It took them 3 days to sort everything out and for Langley to okay their plans. For as long as Michael knew Fiona, she had hated collective authority planning. Fiona didn't see why she should trust a plan from persons who were out of the field and the fight; she was very vocal with her point too. The whole gang was going stir crazy, each were exasperated at the planning process and Fiona's gripe; their sympathy for her lost child was gone after the first 2 hours of planning.
It was late evening when Michael and Pearce got the approval call and Fiona was ready to leave at that instant but they had already lost most of the day.
They were scheduled to leave at dawn; after a briefing with his alpha team, they all went their separate ways to prepare for tomorrow.
Fiona and Michael spent the car ride in silence, there wasn't any tension they just were both lost in thought. Moving on autopilot as they pulled up to the loft, Fiona jumped out to unlock the gate. In one fluid motion, Michael killed the charger's battery and was half out of the car when his phone rings.
He let escape an exasperated sigh after seeing his mother's number flash on the screen. Adding some cheer to his voice, he answered.
"Hey Ma. I got your message from Fiona but didn't get a chance to call, we're on a case." He threw the keys to Fi and followed her up the stairs.
"Oh cut the crap Michael. We're all at the house, Anson decided to surprise us with your secret. Get here now!" Michael's brain swam with the new information and groaned as he grabbed Fi's arm, she pivoted quickly, her eyes burning in question.
"We'll be right there Ma." Michael answered before hanging up.
"Your Mom is back." Fiona stated bluntly. Michael nodded as he pulled the gate open.
"Anson decided to let her in on the family secret." Michael stated after entering the car, allowing Fiona to drive. She nodded tightly before revving the engine and screeching off.
"Great."
They made it to Michael's family home in record time; he couldn't help looking at her as she cut the engine, she huff loudly.
"I'm fine Michael; they were always going to find out. Let's do this please." Fiona stated in resolution, the strong Fi back in full force with her confidence.
Nate opened the door and stepped aside to let them pass, once inside he pulled Fiona in a half hug.
"Welcome to the family Fi." Fiona glared at Michael for not briefing her fully, Michael ignored her and instead shot Nate an annoyed glance as if asking him really. Nate just gave a cheeky grin in answer as he heard his wife and mother in the hallway.
"You just have to do everything first don't you Mike? Here I thought I gave Mom her first grandchild but you already beat me." Michael jaw set hard as he began to snap at his brother.
"Nate." He growled out.
"Stop it both of you!" Madeline scowled as she entered the room with Ruth. "We have just had a terrible scare and this is what you do?!"
"What's going on Madeline?" Fiona asked as she took a seat on the couch, keeping a distance between them.
"Oh like you don't know." Ruth spoke snidely but Fiona didn't miss a beat.
"Excuse me? We have not formerly Fiona Glenan –" Fiona was cut off by 3 shouts of her name, her response was an innocent bat of her lashes.
"Darling you're new to the family and do not know what's going on. Can someone else start explaining now?" Michael snapped.
"Today some thugs came knocking on Nate's door asking for him but he wasn't home. They barged in and said that Nate had 72 hours to deliver his boss' money and then they handed us an envelope addressed to me. The card said my granddaughter had been kidnapped and the clock was ticking; there was a picture of a hurt, scared little girl. Don't tell me she's not yours because she looks exactly like the both of damn you!" Madeline finished shouting in hysterics.
Fiona heart clenched and stopped at the first mention of Morgan's well being. She quickly braced her shoulders and moved to console Madeline as Michael began to speak.
"Ma did you save everything? It's important that we examine them."
"Here it is bro." Nate handed it to him somberly.
Michael opened the envelope and removed a celebration card which read Congratulations, It's A Girl! The blank inside was full with Anson's writing; the heading read Morgan Claire Westen. Michael didn't even know her full name. As he read his stomach twisted at the sick words, his description of the events of her life was told in an obituary format. The P.S at the bottom said he could make Nate's problem go away and return Morgan if Michael did as he said.
In the picture Morgan was huddled in a dark room, her face chilling in fright. Her big eyes were glassy with tears that streaked her delicate cheeks and her arms were an angry red displayed by her torn dress.
The rage which tore through Michael battled the sickness he felt and also guilt. The clock really was ticking, Sister Elizabeth wasn't in the picture and Morgan looked broken.
"Madeline I know I was wrong to keep Morgan from her family, but I need you to understand I did this to protect her." Fiona spoke quietly, Madeline laughed bitterly.
"Look at what your protection did Fiona. That child was raised in an orphanage and doesn't know her family and now she is kidnapped by a psycho who doesn't give a damn about hurting her!" Madeline was hysterical and livid; it was all too much for her.
"Mom now is not the time, what's done is done! The matter is between Fiona and I. Nate I need to know how much money you owe your loan shark." Michael cut both of them off, his face was like thunder.
"Just a couple thousand." Nate answered with a shrug. Michael wasn't fooled, loan sharks didn't bring the big guns for a couple thousand and it was Vegas.
"You said you had stopped for Charlie!"
"Give me a straight answer, how much money do you owe!" Michael shouted.
"$30,000." Nate hung his head at their reactions: Michael swore, Ruth began to cry, Madeline shook her head and Fiona sighed.
"We don't have $30,000! We don't even own our damn house!" Ruth tore into him angry now.
"Maybe you may want to take this in private." Fiona suggested.
"For what? We're all family here! I can't raise my son if my husband always gambles our savings away, travelling away from home to hide. Now on the other side of the family there are spy kidnappings!" Ruth shouting ended in sobbing hysterics; Nate hugged her in comfort and led her out of the room.
"Your brother needs help Michael."
"Mom right now is not a good time, right now my focus is on Morgan. We can't keep paying his debts off, Ruth is right Nate needs to change." Michael couldn't stop the bite in his tone.
"So you're just going to let this loan shark do as he wishes? He's your brother Michael, my second son!"
"I can give him half Ma but this has to stop, maybe Vegas isn't the right fit for him." Madeline instantly began nodding in relief after he relented.
"I have $10,000 in savings; he told me he had some money saved up to surprise Rachel."
"Ma you just stayed with them for 2 weeks and still haven't learned her name. Is there anything else you can give me besides these?" Madeline turned to Fiona and grasped her hand before answering Michael.
"No but promise me you will end this and bring my grandbaby home safe Michael."
"I think we can do that Madeline. Michael can I see the envelope's contents? You have a call to make." Michael handed Fi the envelope and kept the photo before entering the kitchen to call Pearce.
"Hey?" Jesse spoke into the phone.
"Jesse? I thought I dialled Pearce...there has been a new development. Anson contacted my mother and sent a photo of Morgan and it's bad. We need to leave as soon as possible; do you think you can make the arrangements?"
"Of course man, I will start right now."
"And Jesse let Dani know to update Raines since you're both together." Michael replied after checking that he did in fact dial the right number.
"Will do. Bye Mikey." Jesse couldn't help grinning as Dani exited his kitchen with 2 glasses of wine before relaying the message and springing into action.
When Michael turned around Fiona stood behind him with a sombre expression.
"It took you long enough." Her tone was light but her eyes weren't as she continued. "I want to see the picture Michael."
Michael sighed "I don't think that's a good idea Fi."
"Too bad it's not your decision. The picture, now Michael!" Fiona held out her hand with a huff, Michael sighed before giving her the picture. He watched her features carefully.
Fiona's face was struck with horror and grief not 2 seconds after viewing the picture, Fiona ran to the sink and heaved the contents of her stomach, Michael was quick to hold her hair back.
Fiona gasped for breath while muttering "my baby" and ways she was going to torture Anson.
*******BN*******
The last 3 days had been horrific for those on the plantation; Anson was in a bad mood and unleashed his frustration on everyone he could. Poor Morgan was frighten, she was never in a hostile environment before now and she didn't like it.
The first day wasn't too bad; there was just a lot of shouting in his office. But when he came out later on the veranda and saw his hostages he grew livid. If Mark wasn't there to hold him back, Sister Elizabeth didn't want to think what he would've done. She carried a hysterical Morgan back to the room and locked the doors; all the while Marie watched the happenings in her home as a spectator.
Morgan was inconsolable for the rest of the afternoon; she picked at her dinner and refused to sleep that night. On the second day begin with everyone walking around on eggshells. Sometime in the early morning both Sister Elizabeth and Morgan fell asleep, but in the morning the child was gone.
The Sister quickly looked around the room in every nook and cranny, when she still didn't find the girl she marched to the door thinking she was in the bathroom but it was empty. Fright overtook her as she remembered Mark's warning. She sprang to exit the room but found the door locked, she screamed and pounded on the door for someone to open up.
Mark had just a few more stairs to go when he heard her screams; he cursed and sprinted to the room not wanting his aunt to be woken so abruptly. He opened the locked door and barged into the room.
"Where's Morgan?" The Sister screamed at him.
"She is your responsibility! How the hell did you lose her?" Mark was angry as he glared at the woman before surveying the room.
"She was inconsolable yesterday, you saw her. We have been together in here before it was evening, I locked the door after dinner but someone locked it from the outside also. Where is Morgan?"
"The key was in the lock, that's why you couldn't open the door. How long have you been awake?"
"About 5 minutes or less. She refused to sleep but we both fell asleep maybe after 2" The Sister wasn't sure what time they fell asleep, the previous day was exhausting and she had slept while someone sneaked in and took the child.
"Where's Anson?"
"Downstairs in his office I think."
Nothing had to be said, they both ran out of the room and down the stairs. In no time they were entering Anson's office as he was ending his call to Michael.
"Where's Morgan?" The bewilderment on his face was real enough to prove he hadn't taken her and they all came to a collective decision of who did and swore.
"Did you see your Aunt this morning?"
"No I thought she was still asleep."
"Check on her, Sister we need to look in all of the rooms on your floor and spread out. I will alert Security to check as well."
Mark punched the wall of the master bedroom, his Aunt wasn't there. Thinking back he could see her quirks now, he was absolutely sure she stopped taking her meds. Yesterday she was quiet and calculating it seems, last night at dinner they all heard Morgan's screams and his Aunt flinched at every one of them. He ran to the bathroom and counted her pills and growled at the amount. Shit
It took 5 minutes for Mark to find Anson and Sister Elizabeth on the third floor, Security had cleared the ground floor. Neither was pleased to know that Marie was also missing and unstable. They quickly ascended the stairs to the attic, Marie's personal wing. Anson unlocked the door with the pass code and quietly they stormed the room.
Entering the soundproof room their ears were assaulted with Morgan's pained screams and Marie's harsh shouts.
"Shut up Tommy, you're filthy! I told you not to play in the fields, you didn't listen to Momma."
"Me not Tommy, I Morgan." Morgan painfully hiccuped.
Both Anson and Mark stumbled before quickening their steps. Marie wasn't in present reality but 20 years into the past.
Stepping into the bathroom was like walking into the past for Anson, the same exact scene from 20 years ago. The bathtub was brimming over with pink soapy water; an angry Marie was on her knees with flowery rubber gloves. Morgan sat crying on a bath stool, one arm was bleeding while the other was firmly grasped in Marie's hand. Marie was scrubbing furiously with a Brillo pad, Sister Elizabeth's scream of anguish halted Marie.
She glared at the newcomers and scowled. Mark physically restrained Sister.
"See what you've made me done Anson. I told you we should hire a nanny." Anson stepped forward with his arms up palm forward.
"I listened dear, here's the new nanny sweetheart." He pointed to Sister and nodded for Mark to release her.
"Let her clean up Tommy please."
"No." All this time Morgan struggled with Marie trying to be free. Angry she slapped the girl.
"I'm not stupid! This isn't Tommy you bastard, Tommy is dead. I caught Mark in the plantation." Mark shivered at his Aunt's words and swallowed.
"No it's not. I'm right here." Quick as a flash he charged and pinned his Aunt down with Anson's help they restrained her. Sister Elizabeth moved quick and hugged Morgan to her chest. She took the child and exited the room without a glance back.
When they reached their rooms they were both shaking in fright and couldn't calm down. 20 minutes later they were on the same spot on the bed however Morgan was now freshly cleaned when Mark and Anson entered the room.
"I gave my wife a sedative to sleep. She will be confined to her suite upstairs until she is stable again."
"We should disinfect and wrap her arms Sister." Mark said gently as he went to close the curtains.
Morgan was afraid for Anson to touch her and she cried and screams as he grasped her and lifted her into his arms.
"There's a First Aid kit in my office, let's go down there."
"No there is one in the bathroom." Sister spoke up not trusting him.
"Fine." Anson nodded but then ripped the girl's dress hard, Morgan screamed bloody murder in fright and Sister ran to him but Mark held her firmly.
"Oh shut up! I won't hurt you; we just need to send your Grandma a picture so Daddy can hurry up." Anson spoke up above their screams, his mind working a new plan.
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