Disclaimer: I don't own Burn Notice or any of the characters featured in this story.

Madeline paced the living room sucking the life out her fifth cigarette in the last hour.

"He's not answering his phone, I worried Sam." She walked over the kitchen and placed her hands on the counter top. "I know he wasn't exactly Father material and hell knows whether or not he wanted to be a dad but this might just send him over the edge, I 've never seen him like that before"

Sam placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, "Hey Maddy I'm sure he's fine he just needed to clear his head. He had a lot to take in. Look I'll go over to the loft to see if he's there."

Madeline managed a half smile in response. As Sam opened the door to leave Madeline shouted over to him. He stopped and turned to face her. She removed the cigarette from between her lips "I'll come with you."

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Michael had driven around for a few hours trying to process the information that he had been made savvy to. He'd never contemplated becoming a father, not because he didn't want to become a father but because his lifestyle didn't lend itself well to the needs of a child. Being associated to him in any way usually resulted death threats, blackmail, and sometimes if you were really unlucky; torture. Michael knew he couldn't risk bringing a child into his world. Knowing this didn't ease the pain he felt at losing his child, or the pain that came from not even knowing that Fi was pregnant. Had Sam known all this time? He had to know.

On Returning to the loft he set up his laptop and accessed the security footage from the hidden camera he had installed shortly after Anson had turned up. He wasn't prepared for the betrayal that was played out before him; The sight of Sam letting Fi out of the handcuffs that he had secured her in minutes before; allowing her to escape and turn herself in to the FBI. He lowered his head and tried to hold back the anger that welled inside him, to no avail. He made his way over to his make-shift gym and began to unleash a world of pain on the punch bag that was suspended from the ceiling. With every connection he had with the bag he left out a deep moan. His already split knuckles smeared blood over the canvas, this didn't stop him. He continued to throw punch after punch until he collapsed into the bag wrapping his arms around it to stay upright. His breathing was deep and ragged.

On hearing the familiar sound of Sam's Cadillac pull up outside he drew his weapon and positioned himself on the left hand side of the door way awaiting Sam's approach. When the door opened Mike made his move, grabbed Sam, and throwing all his weight behind him he pinned Sam against the wall. Before he could even react, Mike had the barrel of his SIG Sauer P228 pressed against the underside of his chin.

"Woah Mike, do wanna get that gun outta my face" quipped Sam trying to diffuse the situation with his characteristic humour. Before Mike could formulate a response he was taken aback by the sight of his mother in the doorway.

"Michael? Honey?" she managed to mumble confused by the sight before her.

"Ma go and wait in the car, I don't want you to see this"

"I'm not going anywhere, until you tell me why the hell you have a gun pointed in Sam's face" She replied confidently, even though her heart beat echoing in her ears was almost all she could hear.

"Fine" Michael released his grip and threw Sam towards the work bench where he had the laptop on stand-by. With the gun pressed into the base of Sam's spine, he flipped up the top and tapped the space bar allowing security footage taken inside the loft to be played.

"Tell me you didn't know she was pregnant" Mike said in slow deep voice.

"Mike" Sam started, but Mike cut him off.

"Tell me that when you let her get arrested you didn't know that she was pregnant" He Growled.

"I didn't know brother, I swear "

Mike eased up on the pressure he had placed upon Sam's back allowing Sam to turn to face him. His Gun remained poised in Sam's direction.

Madeline had watched the footage from a safe distance. "Sam?" she questioned. "Why didn't you stop her?"

"Maddy" Sam Pleaded "It was the only way to stop Mike here from doing all Ansons bidding. Fiona and I were protecting him" He turned to attention to Mike "Mikey I don't like her being there anymore than you do believe me, but it was the right thing to do and you know it."

"I COULD have made things right; I could have taken Anson down. I would have done anything to keep her from going to prison, I would have died for her"

"With with the risk of you shooting me brother, I Think that may have been the problem, Fi knew that and she couldn't let that happen." Sam replied moving closer towards Michael, knowing he wouldn't actually shoot him. As he got closer he could see the light reflecting off the tears in his eyes. Without warning Michael lowered the gun and slipped it in the waistband of his jeans, collapsing on the edge of the bed

"She walked in there, she was carrying MY child" he uttered, rubbing his hand across his mouth, trying to stifle the sob that was caught in his throat.

"Mikey, Fi told me she didn't even know herself"

Michael looked up to the ceiling and took a few deep breaths and composing and preparing himself for the answer to his next question "Were you there when it happened?"

"Yeah, I uh she just sort of collapsed, I called the guard to get the medics and they took her. I'm really sorry Mikey."

Although Michael was saddened that he wasn't there for her, he glad that she wasn't alone when it happened. He felt sick at the thought that she was there alone and had suffered such a loss and it was all his fault. He'd learned over the years to compartmentalize; being a spy demanded it. Being able to turn and off his emotions at the click of safety catch had kept him alive, but in this very moment he felt nothing could quell the guilt, anger and sadness that were brewing inside him. Feeling suddenly overcome with emotion he made his way out to the balcony.

Madeline took this opportunity to calm her nerves and began fumbling through her purse for a cigarette. Balancing the cancer stick between her lips she attempted to light the end; her trembling hands making it significantly more difficult Once the cigarette was lit she walked over to Sam and placed her hand comfortingly on his forearm. "I know you were doing what you thought was right, and Michael does too. Just give him time"

"I Know" Sam replied. "Hey you know what I think I left a beer here" he chirped making his way to the fridge.

The afternoon breeze gave a welcome respite from the Miami humidity. Michael hadn't noticed this though; he hadn't even noticed the disturbance that came from the make-shift night club that was run in the warehouse space below. His thoughts were consumed entirely by Fiona, as were his dreams. Since Fi was arrested he had barely slept, but the small amount of sleep that had caught him by surprise consisted entirely of dreams about Fiona. He was brought out of his daze by the smell of his mother behind him.

"Ma please don't smoke here." He pleaded, but she ignored him. After taking a long drag she looked back into the loft to make sure Sam was out of earshot and then she spoke.

"I know how you must be feeling" she started. Michael turned around, the fierceness she had seen in him a few moments ago had returned

"How could you possibly know" He growled

Madeline glanced back into the loft again and then back at Michael.

"Because, I lost a child."

The ferociousness and fire that was burning inside him was slowly dampened and a look of pure sympathy invaded his face. Madeline took a deep breath. She was relieved that his features had softened. "It was after you but before Nate. Your father, well , you know." Madeline paused. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about her…." she placed her had on the side of Michaels cheek "Would she have had your blue eyes? The loyalty that you have to your friends?"

Michael took his mother in his arms, his muscular frame enveloping her in attempt to somehow protect her "I'm sorry Ma, I had no idea"

Madeline pushed herself out of the embrace.

"That's because I don't like to talk about it. Just like I imagine Fi won't. You'll need to be patient with her, give her time"

"Ma with all due respect I think the circumstances are slightly different. Dad.." Michael almost couldn't bring himself to say it "physically caused you to lose a child, Fi.."

Madeline interrupted him unexpectedly "Michael, Broken promises hurt just as much as broken bones". And with that she re-entered the loft. Before Michael could respond he was saved by the ringing of his cell phone. He fumbled through his pocket and examined the call id. After a brief conversation he grabbed the keys to the charger of the workbench and headed for the door.

"Michael where are you going"

"To see Fi"

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Sam and Madeline raced down the loft stairs behind Michael. "Hey Mikey wait"

Michael stopped and turned around "Wait for what Sam I need to see her"

Michael continued down the steps towards the charger. "Look Mikey I know you need to see her but" Sam placed his hand on Michaels arm. Michael clenched, he swung round and landed a left hook in Sam's face. Sam retaliated he'd had just about enough. After another scuffle Sam managed to pin Michael up against the charger. He turned him around so that he could see his reflection in the paint work.

"Look at yourself"

He did. His face was bruised and stained from the blood. Looking down his shirt looked very much the same. Without uttering a word he wrestled himself free, turned around and made his way up the stairs to the loft.

TBC.