Chapter 7

Fi had effortlessly taken care of the bug and had added one to O'Malley's briefcase. She had also found out exactly why Fullerton wanted this poor geek. He was a profession of computer science with a specialization in artificial intelligence. He developed many of the computer systems currently used by intelligence services throughout the world. "Great, just great," Fi thought to herself, "I hate dealing with meglomanics like Anson. They are so not fun."

Michael monitored the bugs from the loft. He was also drawing maps between the jobs Anson had him do and his files. "How the hell did I miss all of these overlaps?"

Both Michael and Fi were keeping Sam and Jesse at arms length. Sam didn't mind it one bit. He was lounging poolside with a mojito in one hand and his ladylove in the other. Michael called him periodically to keep in contact but told him it was slow and have a good time.

Jesse, on the other hand, had been a little more demanding. Fi had decided to handle him. He had asked her to ask Michael to help him with a job and Fi said no. "Look, I nearly lost my job taking out a CIA convoy. Mike owes me."

"Well, since you put it that way, it's still no. He needs to rest. He needs to focus. I'll let you know when he's up for another job, Jesse." Sometimes, he could simply be so, demanding.

Maddie was another story. Both of them had decided to continue a united front. Dinner at Maddie's. Shopping with Maddie. Doctor's appointments with Maddie. Yoga with Maddie.

In between, they tag teamed O'Malley and made their plans. It seemed like they were closer than they had ever been. There was a new honesty between them. They couldn't afford to pretend to each other. They couldn't afford not to listen to each other. Their arguments were more exercises in thought. It was completely new for them. Normally, Michael took the lead, but many times it was Fiona asking the questions. She was stopping him, demanding he look deeper. It was almost as if she had perspective from the balcony. He could see the details and she could see the whole picture.

One night, they had gone to University of Miami Library. They were picking places away from the loft in order to keep their conversations more private. They sat across from passing public documents. Both were bleary eyed from all the reading. There were college kids at various tables, but the library was fairly vacant on a Friday night. They had stolen a key for one of the study rooms in a secluded part of the library. It was Fiona who finally put her head down on the table.

"Do you know when I fell in love with you?" Fiona was startled by Michael's question.

"I have no idea."

"When I was in Washington. They asked me to put together a team. I told them I wanted you. That you were the smartest operative I knew. That I couldn't do the job without you."

"When the CIA contracted me to help you with management and you came to New York you were all business, Michael. I thought this job would be a complete drag."

"When we planned it out and decided how to play this, you were the ice queen. I thought you hated me."

"I did, Michael. Then I came here and all that pretend play became real. You think you can walk away from a deep cover, but you really can't, can you? And you still haven't answer your own question."

"When that house blew up. I watched that house burn to the ground. I called you and you didn't answer. When I opened the door to the loft, I thought I would never hear your voice again. Then there you were, giving me shit. That was it. I fought it. You won."

"Did I?" Fi paused. "I think this one was a draw."