Chapter 9

Michael was never impressed with movie stars. He thought they were just a bunch of blowhards with inflated egos who weren't worth the air they breathed. But Ian and his cohorts were different, and Ian himself blew all his misconceptions out of the water. He admired the guy for his down to earth attitude and lifestyle, and he was no-nonsense enough to have a healthy skepticism about Michael's story. But when given enough proof, he accepted and welcomed them into his home. He treated them like friends, which they quickly became. It didn't hurt that their quarters were so close and people were bumping into each other all the time. But it felt like family, and he was okay with that.

Their trip into town netted them enough groceries for a week and Ian led him to a place off the beaten path where Michael could get his hands on some serious weaponry, no background check necessary. He still couldn't believe that he'd found everything he needed, paid cash, and the guy who sold it to him never batted an eyelash.

Apparently, Ian knew what he was thinking. "Yeah, that's the way things are here in Oregon. People like to arm themselves like there's an invasion coming. And then there are people like me who just want peace. Peace and quiet, that's why we're here. It's a very bizarre dichotomy." He glanced to the right, saw the sunset over the trees, and sighed deeply. Pointing toward the sight, he added, "That's another reason. Isn't that gorgeous?"

Michael was used to Miami sunsets and didn't think they were anything special, but as he followed Ian's line of sight and took in the vibrant hues of orange and pinks painting the bushy evergreens and bare tree tops, he realized that he was wrong. Sunsets, no matter their location, were beautiful. "Yeah, that's really nice."

"Somehow, I figure a guy like you doesn't take the time out to look at stuff like that."

He shivered slightly and eyed Ian. How right he was. "I'm usually too busy."

"Then you really do need a vacation!"

Michael laughed. "It's all Sam's fault. He dragged me into this."

"I suspected he and I had a few things in common, and not just looks. I'd do the same for my friend if I saw he was getting too strung out on his work." He grinned. "That's what I did with Dave." He briefly explained what happened in Miami with the strike. "I think by now he would have been a basket case if he'd stayed. The fresh air and overall general relaxed atmosphere out here makes a difference."

"Funny, I was under the impression that people thought Miami was a place to go to relax on vacation," Michael mused as he stared at the fading sunset.

"That's a joke, right? With all the stuff going on there, day and night...no way is that relaxing." He took a curve and slowed, getting Michael's attention with a gentle nudge.

"What?" He peered through the windshield at the large animal in the middle of the road. "What is that?"

"It's an elk. We get them around here on the road sometimes. They generally stick to the woods, but...these fellas will mess up your vehicle like nothing else if you're not careful. Between the curves and the critters, this road can be dangerous."

"I see."

They waited until the elk decided to move, and Ian pulled away slowly. "The fact that he's out here tells me that spring is really coming. He's on the move looking for food, and maybe a mate."

Michael shook his head. "We are really out of our element here."

"No problem, Mikey. You guys just stick to my place and everything'll be fine."

"You're starting to sound like Sam more and more, Ian. This is getting scary."

Ian laughed. "Don't worry, I have no intention of trying to mimic everything he says and does, unlike Jackie. I'd worry about that chick. By the end of the week you'll think Fiona cloned herself."

As much as Michael loved Fiona, that was something he wasn't sure he wanted to see. He might have to have a little talk with Jackie. Or Fiona. He wasn't sure if she even noticed that the woman hung on her every move, studying her, asking questions trying to get into her head. And Fi obliged her and answered every one. He had to wonder if she got some kind of thrill out of having an actress fawn over her. He was glad things were the way they were between him and Rick. The actor pretty much left him alone, secure in his portrayal of Michael Westen. Maybe because they had the same personality, always appearing cool and on top of things, Rick didn't need to study him. He already had all the material he needed to do his job. Jesse and Tony shared a genuine interest in learning about each other, but it was more on a level of friendship than finding anything that they would find useful in their line of work. They were probably the healthiest of the bunch, so he had nothing to worry about there. Sam and Ian just gravitated towards each other and became like a pair of weird twins, but they each had quirks that didn't jibe, and that made their relationship all the more interesting.

"So, you guys are just going to hang out and relax until someone shows up to try to take you down, right?"

"If this were Miami, I would be working on a plan to flush out our enemies, but here," he sighed and shook his head. "I've gotta be honest with you, Ian. I'm at a loss about what to do."

"Then you just hang out and wait. Like you said, these guys will figure out you're still alive, or at the very least they'll want to check out the debris field and see if your rotting corpses are out there. When they do, we spring into action."

"We?"

Ian glanced at him and grinned. "You didn't think we'd let you handle this all alone, did you, Mikey? We're your friends now."

"Ian, this isn't some TV show. These are real bad guys with real bullets."

Ian shrugged. "So prepare us if you're worried about us being able to handle ourselves. We may surprise you." He paused and flashed a quirky smile. "And just so you know, I have friends in town...friends who are on the lookout for suspicious characters who might ask questions about a plane going down. If they hear anything, they promised to let me know."

"Thanks, Ian. You...you've been a big help." Michael swallowed back the emotion that threatened to come forward. "You and your friends are a real asset to our operation."

"It's good to be an asset." He grinned.

"But it's dangerous. Watch your back."

"That's a given." He winked. "I'd like to think we learned something in six years on this show."

While Michael and his friends hung around the set, assisting with some of the finer points of spy craft that were necessary for the plot line, they watched carefully for unusual activity. At night, they took turns watching the woods with a pair of night goggles that Ian's arsenal friend loaned them. It took four days for someone to come snooping around the wreckage. Sam and Ian were on the night watch when Sam spotted movement up at the debris field.

"I think we've got something," he spoke to Ian through a commlink earpiece.

"Where are you?"

"By the cabin. I've got a straight shot up to the plane. Where are you?"

"I'm on the path flanking the area. I thought I heard voices, so I'm going to check it out."

"Ian, wait for me to get closer. And I'm calling in reinforcements just in case." Within seconds, he had Michael linked up to them. "Mike, we may have something at the crash site."

"Got it, Sam. Fi and I are on our way."

"Okay, I'm starting across the field to back up Ian." He took a roundabout way to get there under cover of the evergreens. Moonlight filtered through a thin layer of clouds, which allowed him to locate Ian as he came around to the woods. Ian gave him a thumbs up.

"Sam, we're coming around by Ian. Cover us."

"You got it, brother."

He saw a flash of movement and noted Michael and Fiona hurrying through the valley. Their jackets helped them blend in with the foliage, but the moonlight glinted off their weapons now and then, just enough to give them away from his vantage point. He hoped that whoever was in the woods didn't see it as well.

"Okay, let's close in now." They created a wedge that slowly clamped down on the area. As they entered the woods, they stepped carefully to avoid making noise. They didn't have to worry. Whoever was in there made more than enough noise to mask their approach.

"They're being awfully stupid about this," Sam whispered. "They've got a fire going. Look at that!"

Michael and Fiona peered through the curtain of tree trunks in amazement. "Stupid or crazy. Proceed with caution."

"Copy." Sam replied.

"Copy." Ian replied. He and Sam entered the crash site at the same time and leveled their weapons at a small group, but Ian spoke first in a voice that said he meant business. "Hold it right there."

They were just kids, five teenagers sneaking out of their homes for a night of fun. Empty, and some not so empty, beer and liquor bottles littered the ground around the small fire. Enough light came from it that they could see the kids' surprised faces.

"Woah man, it's...it's HIM!"

"Who?"

"Ian Benton, man. That guy from Burned...the dead dude movies...Dude!"

"Yeah, well then who's he?" His friend pointed at Sam.

The five kids stood frozen in place glancing back and forth at the two men, not sure if their eyes were deceiving them. "Okay, what was in that stuff?" He held up a bottle of vodka. "I'm seein' double, dude!"

It was all Ian and Sam could do to keep from laughing at them. But they were spared the exercise in restraint when Michael and Fiona joined the party, and the teens got an eyeful of the four. Their audience fell silent, as they gaped at the spies and actor.

Finally, one of the kids, who reminded Ian of Kevin Reeves in the Bill and Ted movie, stepped forward and asked, "What's going on here?"

Ian turned his rifle up and rested the butt on his hip. "I was thinking of asking you guys the same thing. You're on my property."

"Are you really Ian Benton? My dad said you lived out here somewhere, but I thought he was full of it." The Reeves double got closer, even though the spies still kept their weapons trained on him and his friends.

"If I am, so what?" Ian knew he could be putting himself in danger. As he got closer, Ian recognized the kid as a local, but the others... they appeared to be a bunch of punk kids, but who knew if they were for real or just playing a ruse? He wasn't worried. Michael, Sam and Fi had his back.

"Man, I have wanted to meet you for like...forever, man!" He stuck his hand out and was rewarded with the snap of a bolt being pulled back. He glanced at Fiona. "Woah...you know you're even hotter in person?"

"Hey, let's stay focused here, okay?" Ian redirected the kid's attention. "What are you doing out here on my property, at this site?"

"I found this place a couple nights ago and just though it'd be a great place to party." He shrugged. "That's all."

"Well, I don't mean to be rude, but you can pack it up and take your party somewhere else. You've got no idea what you're getting in the middle of...dude."

"Oh...okay, man. Didn't know we were trespassing." The little party picked up their full bottles and prepared to leave. "Hey, can I have an autograph, man?" He held up an empty vodka bottle, label side toward Ian.

Ian sighed. He was known for being accessible and approachable in public, and always willing to give an autograph. But this, this was too weird. "Sorry, I don't have a pen on me right now."

"Okay, maybe some other time." The kid pouted a little as he turned toward the path that his friends took.

"Hey, you wanna make sure that fire is out before you all take off?" Ian tried not to sound too gruff. He'd hurt the kid's feelings by not signing a stupid bottle. "Hang on a second here. I think...yeah...look, I've got a Sharpie here. If I sign the bottle, will you please put out the fire?"

The kid's face lit up like Christmas morning. "You got it! You're the man, Ian!" He frantically kicked dirt over the fire until it was out except for a few glowing coals, which he put out with a jug of something that Ian hoped was water. He handed the kid his signed bottle, and with a hearty handshake, the kid was off into the inky night with his friends, gushing about his original autograph.

When they were out of earshot, Ian chuckled. "I'd like to know how he's going to explain that one to his parents if they see it."

"Ian, that was really dumb." Michael dropped his weapon to his side and came within inches of him. "That kid could have shot you! He could have been a distraction for the real killers coming in here! He could have..."

"Oh cool it, Westen. I know that kid's dad. None of them would hurt a fly. I know the people in this town, Mr. Spyguy, and I'd bet my life that he was harmless."

"Lucky for you, you didn't lose." Michael turned away from Ian, glanced at his friends, and started walking back to the house.

"Well, that was...puzzling."

"He's just worried about having civilians messed up in our problem, that's all," Sam explained.

"The man needs to lighten up."

"Maybe after this is over," Fiona suggested with a smile. "When we have our real vacation." She turned and followed Michael. "We better get back to the house, boys. It's almost Michael's and my turn to take watch."