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Thursday- 6:00 PM- Panama City
Pasqual looked somber as he entered the small conference room he and Michael Westen had commandeered and turned into a make shift office. Papers and maps covered the tables and the white board displayed an intricate web of the name and interrelationships of key players in Alvarez and La Vega cartles. In the center was a photo of a beautiful blond woman in her late twenties, smiling joyfully at the camera. Elizabeth. Her name was in block letters underneath. Westen looked up from his laptop where he had been reviewing profiles of high ranking member of the La Vega drug cartel. "What's the matter?" He asked his young colleague "Did you hear back from your contact…?"
"No, not that," the young agent looked somber. "It's about Gabriel."
"What happened?" Westen asked with concern. "Did someone contact the hospital?"
"I have a friend who is a journalist in San Miguelito." Camacho stared down a paper in his hand. "I sent him to check out the address you gave me this morning."
"What did he find?" Was there any sign of Gabriel's mother." Michael asked quickly.
"Yes and no." Pasqual frowned, "There was neighbor, an elderly woman, who confirmed that a young woman with a small child had lived at that apartment until about four months."
"The neighbor… Did she recognize the picture of Gabriel?"
"Yes, she knew Isobel since she moved in the building when Gabriel was a newborn. The abuela would take care of the boy while his mother went to work."
"Well, that's helpful but does she know where the mother is now?" Michael snapped with frustration.
Pasqual handed Michael the printout of article from local newspaper. "Isobel Desoto Vargas was killed during gunfight between rival members of the La Vega and Alvarez gangs. She was caught in the crossfire while out shopping in a local market."
"Oh shit."Michael stared down at the paper as he processed the new information. "Gabriel," he spoke softly and then glanced over to Pasqual with a look that conveyed the message, "This changes things."
"Yeah," nodded the young man.
"What about the father?" the senior agent asked. "Was he ever around?"
"The old lady next door said Isobel never talked about him. But she said there was a man who would come by to visit once in a while."
"Does she know who he was?
"No."
"What about other family?"
"The day of the shooting, two young women came to her apartment to take Gabriel. They said they were his aunts and they were taking him to stay with his family. She hasn't seen them or Gabriel in months."
"None of this explains how he ended up alone in that shed on the day of the raid." Michael shook his head. "Can your friend go back to the neighborhood and find information about these "aunts."
"I'll see what I can do. You know, Michael, it is going to be difficult to get a medical release if we don't have authorization from next of kin."
"Yes, but as soon as Gabriel is discharged from the hospital he'll be turned over to social services. We lose any jurisdiction to help him."
"I'll contact Ambassador Richardson. If he can expedite a visa application, we might be able to arrange a temporary custody agreement with the Panamanian Consulate. Gabriel can get his medical treatment while we wait for a relative to surface. "
"Do you think Richardson will help us?" Westen asked.
"Yes, I'll explain the circumstances… and…" The young man paused and turned to stare out the office window.
Michael looked expectantly at Pasqual. They were both aware the order for Pasqual to return to Miami but the senior agent was reluctant to force the issue while his subordinate's fiancé was still missing yet the need to protect the tiny orphan that had shifted the focus their attention for the time being.
"And I'll go with him." Pasqual said firmly. He knew that Elizabeth would want him to look after the child. She would have scolded him if she learned that he let Gabriel slip out of their grasp without doing everything in their power to protect him. " I'll take Gabriel to Miami."
"You'd do that?" Michael said in astonishment.
"Yes. I will." He spoke with determination. "I still need to clean up the mess I made with Williams. That was my screw up but if I can help… "
"Pasqual, I'll still be here." Westen encouraged. "We're won't let up on the search...if there are any developments…I'll get you back here. I promise you."
"I know that." The young agent nodded. "I trust you."
######
Friday 11:30 am
Michael knocked on the familiar office door and waited for a response. In his hand he clenched a folder filled with the forms and documents for Gabriel's medical evacuation. He and Pasqual had worked through the night with staffers from US Embassy staff and the Panamanian Consulate to make the arrangements. The Children's Hospital in Miami had a team of doctors ready to take on Gabriel's case. The final step was consent from Michael's supervisor at the CIA. Raines had not yet been informed of their efforts to help the young boy and did not like to be taken by surprise. Ever. But Westen knew the old adage that it is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. But if it did not cost his boss anything personally in time, attention, resources or risk to reputation, Raines would often go along with a subordinates idea. Michael hoped that this would be one of those occasions.
"Come in." Raines growled.
"Sounds like his is in a good mood today," Michael thought to himself as he pushed open the door. He approached the desk and handed a folder to his boss. "I need your signature on this," he said with a calm expression.
Raines opened the folder, "What is it?" he barked.
"It's authorization for a medical evacuation of Gabriel, the boy we pulled out of the village on Wednesday." Michael set his jaw determined to convince Raines to go along with his plan.
"I don't have time for this kind of distraction right now," he said handing the folder back. "And neither do you."
Michael knew perfectly well that 'no' was always Raines' first answer. "When we brought Gabriel in the ER doctor noticed an irregular heartbeat. Once he was admitted, they did a work up and found that he has faulty heart valve. It's a type of congenital heart defect. He needs surgery."
"We're here on Agency business not the Red Cross, Westen. Since when do you do humanitarian work?" Raines dismissively turned his attention back to the laptop on his desk.
"Just hear me out. If we bring Gabriel to Miami he will get the care he needs. That's a fact. But if he is release tomorrow, there is no way of knowing if he'll ever get treatment for his condition."
Raines looked up from his screen again, visibly annoyed with Michael. "It's nice you want to help this kid. Your heart is in the right place. But I don't have time to go back in forth with the Ambassador of Panama."
"It's already done."
Raines' eyebrows shot up. "What?"
Michael dropped the folder onto the desktop. "Up until a few days ago Pasqual Camacho worked for the US Ambassador as a consular agent. He was able to arrange for a temporary visa?"
"Well that's fantastic for him. He gets a gold star." Raines said sarcastically. "But is he willing to take the child back to Miami? It would be useful to get Pasqual the hell out of my way for a few weeks."
"Yes. He offered to accompany Gabriel and then report to the field office in Miami."
"And he didn't try to break your nose like he did Williams? Well there's progress." Raines shook his head as he flipped open the folder and glanced quickly at a form. "So who is going to manage all the hassle of the medical treatment?"
"I will." Michael crossed his arms in front of his chest. "I have people in Miami that will provide the hands-on support."
"Seriously? You're running a hostage negotiation Westen." Raines looked up at Michael with disbelief as he closed the folder pushed it to the other side of his desk. "No, you need to wave off of this. They've got plenty of hospital here in Panama."
"It will not interfere with our investigation. I promise. I can see to it that Gabriel gets the necessary care and he'll stay with a medical foster family."
"And where is this kid's mother? Is she going along with this? Does she even have a visa?"
"She was killed four months ago in a shooting."
"So what about the father? Has he granted consent?"
"None was listed on the birth certificate and there is no indication that he was ever around."
"Are you kidding? This kid is an orphan." Raines shook his head. "The story keeps getting better and better." Then he picked up the folder and opened it to glance at a small photo of Gabriel from his medical file. Raines studied the image for a moment and continued, "So no family turned up looking for him? That seems odd to me."
"No one has come forward yet, but we are still …"
"Don't… Don't tell me you have people looking into it." Raines made a grimace face. "I am not going to pour agency resources into tracking down next of kin."
"Contacts at the Embassy, we have resources already in place."
"Well you need to keep your focus on the Albright investigation."
"I can do both," Michael said in a determined voice. "This won't become a distraction."
"Good." Raines questioned as he flips through several more pages. "So did you have someone from the Consulate to sign off?"
"Yes, I've have been granted temporary guardianship while Gabriel is in the US. It will be transferred to the foster family as soon as the arrangements are finalized."
The senior agent let out a loud sigh. "Alright Westen, I'm going to hold you to your promise. And I don't want to hear six months from now that it turned into an international custody dispute. The last thing I want another Elian Gonzales case. Are we clear?"
"Absolutely." Michael nodded.
Raines shuffled through the stack of forms and then his gaze lingered again on the photo of Gabriel. The grey haired man's expression softened slightly. "Alright. So which of these dam forms do you need me to sign?" he asked
Michael pulled a paper from the middle of the stack. "This is the letter right here. We just need your review and signature."
Raines slipped on his reading glasses which gave his face with a grandfather like quality. "You said it's a problem with a valve in his heart."
Michael knew better than to let his guard down. "Yes."
"And this is a life threatening condition."
"If left untreated…"
"And the medical team, you've got the docs lined up." Raines's leaned back in his chair as he continued to flip through the documents.
"The pediatric cardiology group at Miami Children's Hospital has agreed to treat him."
Raines pulled a pen from his side drawer. "You really want to get yourself into this Westen?"
"Yes, I do," Michael nodded.
"Kids are a lot to manage," Raines said as he signed the forms and handed the folder back across the desk.
"I think I can handle this one." Michael accepted the folder from his boss and nodded a thank you as he turned to walk out of the office.
######
Washington D.C.
Dani Pearce stepped quickly along the sidewalk as she made her way back to her office with a heavy white paper bag that contained her carry out lunch of chicken salad and French onion soup. It had been a few days since her midday meeting with Jesse Porter when he surprised her with a last minute lunch invitation. Although was interrupted by several firestorms at work she still had trouble getting the man and their time together out of her head. She looked forward to their date the upcoming Saturday when she returned to Miami. She felt a smile slip onto her lips as recalled that the weather in Miami would be much warmer than the brisk air that had decent on the nation's capital this fall. She might have time to pop over and pick up that sun dress she saw at the boutique by her hotel before her flight on Friday evening. Her thought were pulled back to the present moment by a light vibration in the pocket of light gray overcoat.
As she dug in to retrieve her cell she recognized the name of the call flash on the screen. RAINES. She bristled as she held the phone to her ear and answered. "Pearce."
"Dani. What the hell has gotten into your agent? You need to keep a shorter leash on you people."
"Which agent?" She fumbled. "Camacho. I spoke to him yesterday. I've got Westen handing him."
"Well now Westen is running around saving orphans like a freaking Angelina Jolie?" He ranted.
Dani was dumbstroke. Orphan. Michael Westen. Hollywood actress. "Is there a celebrity that is looking for protection?" she asked. "I know several people in private service that I'd highly recommend."
"Damn it. No." Raines growled. "Hasn't he said anything or has he blindsided you with this as well."
"You have to excuse me sir but I have no idea what the hell you are talking about."
"It's that kid they pulled out of the bush during that fiasco with the Alvarez meet." He barked. "The cartels shot up the village. It was a freakin blood bath."
"I am familiar with the raid earlier this week. Did something happen to Gabriel, the child who was rescued."
"It turns out the boy is an orphan. Camacho and Westen got the ear of Ambassador Richardson to convince the Panamanian to release the boy for temporary asylum in the US. He's coming to Miami for medical treatment of his heart condition."
"You're right sir. This is the first I've heard about it." Dani was still in shock. She had a brief but very friendly conversation with Fi this morning. Her friend had called to chat with her by making brief small talk about the new house before pressing Dani for details about the lunch date with Jesse. The two women have an understanding about topics that are strictly off limits during casual conversation especially over cell phones. They do not discuss Michael, Dani's work or anything about Fi's former associates. But Michael advocating for a two year old Panamanian child was significant enough to mention. Dani doubted that Fiona hold been told the full story.
"Well, check in with Westen's fiancée. See what she thinks about all of this."
"Sir. Why are you so concerned?"
"In case you forgotten, I am trying to prevent a military coup and looking for a kidnapped journal. I can't afford to have one of my star operative distracted with this Mia Farrow save the orphan nonsense."
"We are all working to that end, sir." She gritted her teeth. "I was my understanding that Westen is staying in Panama."
"He is."
"Well I spoke with Fi… Ms. Glennanne this morning. I don't think she knows anything about this child. Perhaps Westen hasn't told her yet."
"Good. Maybe this will be over in a few days. I don't want any more interference with my investigation. An agent is only useful when he is focused."
Dani knew that her other charge, Pasqual, had been causing a lot of distractions recently with disappearance of his fiancé. The subsequent altercation with a fellow agent and disciplinary hearing were causing headaches for her and Raines but she hoped that this turn of events might improve the situation. "Yes. What about Camacho?"
"He'll be on a plane on Saturday." Raines said groufly.
"That's good news! It's not the scheme I would have expected for Michael to get Pasqual back to Miami but if it works." Dani said thinking out loud before she caught herself. "This might move things along nicley."
"In a few day he's be all yours. Good luck with that." Raines quickly hung up the phone.
Dani stood outside her DC office as the crowds streamed pass her. Her head was still spinning for the surprising conversation. And now her weekend was looking to become a lot more complicated. Pasqual was coming back to Miami without another fist fight. That was a good thing. Clearly the two agents had developed a good working relationship so Westen would be an ally in looking after Pasqual Camacho in the future. Yet she was at a total loss as to the events of the last week that would have brought about the circumstance that Michael Westen would be championing the cause of an orphan child in Panama. She could not call Fiona to press her for information. Clearly, if Fi did know about Michael's she chose not to share it, even a close friend and if she did not know yet it was not Dani's place to tell.
######
Friday 8 pm Military base Panama City
Gabriel was asleep when Michael returned to the nursery to look in on him. He wanted to get one last peak at the child before he left for Miami. The travelers would be heading out early and he was not sure if he would be able to see the small group off. The Albright investigation demanded most of his attention and he had no idea when he would see the body again for many months. He was surprised by the feeling that he would miss Gabriel when he left.
There was an overhanging sense of urgency and grief in every hour that past that the Elizabeth Albight remained missing. Since Pasqual was powerless to speed up the snail's pace of the investigation of the MI6 and the local police he threw himself into preparations for the medical evacuation and diplomatic negotiations The presence of the boy generated a levity to a overwhelmingly tense and anxiety generating circumstance. Michael observed that the young man appeared more calm and would sometimes even smile when in the child's presence.
Michael could see the impact Gabriel had on the adults around him and he was not immune to it himself. He replayed the events of the past few days in his mind and was still surprised by the way it had all unfolded. Michael was a master of observation, prediction and response. Nothing in his life before had anticipated this child crossing his path. He considered both their good fortune that day in the jungle when he jogged down a stoned trail towards an unknown sound.
The little boy stirred in his sleep and gave a strong kick that pulled a soft blue blanket off from his body. When Michael lifted it back over to cover the toddler his hand brushed against Gabe's arm. The child's eyes flittered open and connected with Michael's briefly. Afraid he had awoken the sleeping boy he took a step backwards. Then, to the grown man's amazement, Gabriel reached to take hold of his hand before the little boy closed his eyes and fell back to sleep.
Pasqual who had been looking for Michael stepped up behind up him hesitant to disturb his privacy.
Michael glanced over his shoulder. "Oh hey," he nodded.
Pasqual glanced down at the tiny hand wrapped around the index finger of the agent standing next to him. "That kid really likes you."
Michael was unsure what to make of the gesture of comfort and trust that the little boy had displayed towards him but he knew enough to take it as a compliment. "Yeah…it seems that way…doesn't it?"
"You're surprised?" Camacho asked.
"Well… most of the time kids aren't my thing." Westen shrugged.
Pasqual glanced down at the tiny hand still holding Michael Westen's two fingers. "It looks like that's news to him."
Michael nodded and slowly removed his hand. "I don't want to wake him."
The two men stepped quietly out of the nursery and walked towards to the military wing of the compound.
Pasqual broke the silence. "Did you talk to your friend in Miami about the pediatric cardiology practice at the Children's Hospital?"
"Yeah, they received the medical records Dr. Riley faxed over. Their team will meet early next week to develop Gabriel's treatment plan."
"That's good," Pasqual nodded. "I just confirmed with the Ambassador that the visa was granted?"
"I have a private jet booked for tomorrow morning. We have a private nurse to travel with you. You will all be in Miami by nightfall…"
"Turns out so will you."
"What do you mean?"
"An update from the Consualte just came in with the visas. The Panamanian government is willing to let Gabriel leave the country for treatment but these are the specific terms that you'll abide by." Pasqual handed Michael manila folder. "You need accompany him to Miami and supervise the transfer of custody to the medical foster family. Afterward, you will be responsible for his safe return to Panama within one year. I tried to explain that your business obligations required you to stay here and that I would be your stand in. But anything that has a hint of …"
"I get it…" Michael nodded his head. He knew the risks involved with this type of medical evacuation. They absolutely had to follow the terms negotiated between the Embassy and the Panamanian government down to the last letter. Any hint of misconduct could lead to a scandal that would jeopardize everyone involved in the effort to get Gabriel his needed medical treatment. But there would be consequences to his leaving Panama so soon. "What about the investigation?" he asked Pasqual. "You should stay…I can cover for you. I'll talk to Pearce."
"Elizabeth would be the first person to tell me to get my ass on that plane. She would want us both to help Gabriel."
"OK. I'll make a few calls." This was going to make things more complicated.
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