Fair warning, this chapter ends with a cliffhanger! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Not mine!

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After the scare Michael gave Fiona and Sam when he slipped out of the loft without their knowing, Fiona watched him like a hawk. She did not let him out of her sight for anything, and though he didn't say a word, Sam was concerned. He knew that she couldn't keep up what she was doing, but he understood completely why she was doing it. She was only concerned for his safety and well-being. But there had to be a limit, and she was pushing it.

"Why don't I take Mike to his mom's?"

Fiona jerked her head up and glared at Sam. Three days had passed since Michael slipped out of the loft and took two years off of her life. They were in the kitchen, and Fiona was cleaning her Walther. But at Sam's suggestion, she put the gun down on the counter.

Sam held his hands up in a non-threatening manner. "Hey, take it easy. I'm just worried about him."

"We talked about this, Sam. It's too dangerous to take him out of the loft."

"I know that it could be dangerous, but between the two of us, I'm sure we could get him safely to his mom's and back. It would probably do him a lot of good, too." Michael had been quiet and subdued almost every time Sam came to see him, and it was disheartening for Sam. He understood that Michael really wasn't himself, but he had been hoping that he would snap out of it soon. It didn't look like that was going to happen.

"And what if someone sees him?" Fiona demanded. "What if one of our old associates see him?"

"Fi, if they just saw him, they wouldn't know what's going on." Just looking at him, no one would know that his memory was damaged or that he couldn't see. His eyes hadn't been damaged, so Elias hadn't felt the need to cover his eyes to protect them. By all appearances, Michael looked perfectly fine and completely normal. "They would have to talk to him to know what was going on."

Fiona hesitated. Sam had a point. The only way anyone would know something was wrong with Michael was if they spoke with him.

"You know I'm right," Sam continued gently. "We wouldn't let anyone get close enough to him to realize anything's wrong."

"But…"

"This could be good for him. I'm worried about him, Fi."

"So am I." Fiona sighed, pushing her auburn hair back. "How are we going to do this?"

Sam finally smiled.

"First, we talk to Mikey."

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"Michael?"

Michael turned his head in the direction of Fiona's voice. They were in a car, heading to his mother's home, according to Fiona. He was in the backseat, Fiona was beside him, and Sam was driving the car. "Hmm?"

"I asked if you were okay."

He was getting tired of that question, but he tried not to let it show. She was only concerned about him. "I'm fine."

Satisfied, Fiona leaned back against the seat and looked out the window. Absently her hand settled over Michael's. After talking with him at the loft, she and Sam had bundled him up and loaded him into the Charger. Before leaving, they called Madeline, who was thrilled that they wanted to bring Michael over.

She knew that this was a good thing, that Michael was perfectly safe with her. And yet, something nagged at her. Under any other circumstances, she would have taken Michael straight back to the loft. But they were going to Madeline's. Sam was with them, and they were both armed. Blood would be spilled before she allowed any more harm to come to Michael.

So why did she feel so sick?

They finally arrived at Madeline's, and while Sam did a quick sweep of the area, Fiona helped Michael out of the car and led him into his mother's home. Sam followed them moments later.

Madeline was waiting just inside, and she lit up when she saw her son. "Michael…" Without hesitation, she pulled him into her arms and hugged him tightly.

Michael tensed in her embrace. There wasn't a lot that he was sure of, but one of the things he knew was that the only person whose touch he didn't dislike was Fiona's. In fact, he craved her touch. Finally Madeline released him, and he couldn't help reaching for Fiona. Was it like this before he lost his memory? He had to hope that it was.

Fiona took his hand when he reached for her. She saw the hurt expression Madeline wore, and she felt badly. But her first priority was Michael. "Something smells delicious, Madeline."

"Thanks." Madeline reached for her cigarettes. "I ordered in." She lit up and took a deep drag, exhaling slowly.

The smell hit Michael's nose, and he frowned.

Fiona squeezed his hand reassuringly. She would explain all of that later.

"Maddie, I need to do a perimeter search," Sam told the older woman, hooking his thumb over his shoulder.

"Why?"

"We want to be safe," Fiona explained as Sam left to search the house. With Michael's condition, they couldn't be too safe.

"Safe from what?"

"Some bad people," Michael mumbled, pulling his hand away from Fiona's. He tried to take a step, but realized belatedly that he had no idea where he was going. So he stood there, his cheeks burning.

Giving Madeline a pointed look, Fiona slid her arm around Michael's waist. "Maybe this wasn't a good idea…"

"Nonsense, Fiona. I have lunch. Stay for a while."

Fiona could tell that Michael was uncomfortable and lost, and she was torn between the mother and son. But Michael came first. He always would. "Come with me, Michael." She led him down the hall, into his old bedroom. Once they were inside and the door was shut behind them, she guided him to sit on his old bed. Then she knelt down in front of him and rested her hands on his knees.

Instinctively he leaned forward and rested his forehead against hers.

Fiona breathed softly and ran her fingers through his hair. "Maybe we shouldn't have done this."

He relaxed at her gentle touch. He was still tense, but she had a way of calming him that she must have learned from years of experience.

"We can go back to the loft. Your mom will understand."

"No," he sighed. "We can stay."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure." He was startled when she kissed him, but he quickly settled into the kiss and deepened it. Even without his memory, his hands and mouth seemed to know exactly what they were doing. Fiona seemed to agree.

A sudden crash forced them apart, and Fiona instinctively reached for the gun strapped to her ankle at the same moment her phone went off. She grabbed it and looked at the screen. A text message from Sam sent a shiver down her spine.

Someone's in the house. Hide with Mike. I'll get Maddie.

Swearing softly, Fiona grabbed Michael and shushed him as she dragged him to his closet. She flung the door open and pushed him inside. "Don't make a sound until Sam or I come for you," she whispered fiercely. "Do you understand?"

He nodded, obviously afraid.

She leaned forward and kissed him, then shut the door just as the bedroom door was flung open. Fiona swung her gun toward the door and waited. But no one walked in.

Instead, a small canister was rolled into the room, and her eyes widened. With a growl, she dove forward and tried to kick it back out of the room. But as her foot came into contact with the canister, a hissing noise followed by smoke erupted. Fiona tried to cover her mouth and nose, but within moments she was dizzy from the effects of the gas. She sank to her knees as a man came into the room with a gas mask on. She didn't recognize him, but panic engulfed her when he went straight to the closet. She tried to get up.

"No!"

Her knees wouldn't cooperate, and she could only watch helplessly as the man dragged Michael out of the closet.

"Get your damn hands off of him!" she screamed, her voice slurred.

There was laughter, mixed with Michael's frightened voice as Fiona's awareness faded from her grasp.

"Fiona, help me!"

Her head hit the floor. "Michael…"

"Fiona!"

And she knew no more.

To Be Continued...

A/N: Bwhahah. Obviously the ending was a throwback to Long Way Back (my favorite ep ever!) and I really enjoyed writing it. *more evil laughter* Thanks for reading, and please review!