(S04E12) You can count on the finales of 'Burn Notice' to leave you wanting more, and that was precisely what happened after this episode ended. November can't come soon enough for fans who, like me, want to know how Michael Westen is going to get out of this fix! More on that and the need for submersible vehicles after the jump.

There were three elements tugging at Michael throughout the episode, and none of them were easily dismissed or ignored. There was nothing for Fiona and Sam to handle on their own, not because they weren't capable, but because this was a Michael-centric finale.

The Jesse situation was particularly gnarly because he had literally become a loose cannon. The Westen team -- Madeline included -- had no idea where he was or what he might do ... other than the fact that he wanted to kill Michael. Madeline realized the gravity of the situation, and even though she had seen it coming and warned Michael about lying to Jesse, she wasn't going to abandon Michael. She eschewed a trip out of town -- Michael's idea -- in case she could reach Jesse. "Maybe I'll stay and try to convince him not to shoot you."

Before Michael could deal with Jesse or the Barrett exchange, a case fell into his lap. It was the kind of case Michael couldn't turn down; rescuing Sarah Scott, a kidnapped child. Michael identified her as the client, not her scumbag lawyer father. The brother of one of the lawyer's client's was the culprit and to retrieve the kid, Michael had to employ some illusion.

But first, Michael needed a submersible vehicle to get to the impregnable spot where Sarah was being held. Michael's infiltration might have worked if the bad guys didn't know that he was coming. Lawson was a step ahead of Michael because he'd tapped the lawyer's phone. That seemed like the kind of loose end Michael doesn't miss, but for this ep, he missed it.

That meant that in order to get the girl, Michael and company had to pull a 'Mission: Impossible' kind of sleight of hand exchange. Bullets flew and wheels screeched, but in the end, Sarah was saved and Michael was paid off with the sub.

Michael had to set up the Barrett exchange without being killed. A simple phone call wasn't going to work. Michael had to impress Barrett, so he walked into the lion's den. With rifles trained on him, Michael arranged to meet Barrett with the bible.

Unfortunately, Jesse wasn't interested in being part of Team Westen. He was hiding out in Hialeah. Fiona reached out to Jesse, and give credit to Michael, he trusted Fiona to make the first attempt to reach him. And Fiona trusted Madeline to be persuasive. More than anything that Fiona or Michael said to Jesse, it was likely Madeline's words that stuck with him.

The fly in the ointment, however, was Vaughn. All season long, Vaughn let Michael do his thing. That gave Michael a sense of confidence that when he told Vaughn about the meeting and said, "My operation, my way," Vaughn would respect him. Wrong! Of course, Vaughn may have assumed what we knew Michael had in mind. That Michael would use the bible and Barrett to make a deal for Jesse.

When Vaughn's team broke up Michael's meet with Barrett, Westen was captured and Jesse got to do what he'd been wanting to do for weeks. He shot Michael. Actually, he shot through Michael's shoulder to kill the guy who was holding him captive.

Barrett took bleeding and vulnerable Michael in his SUV and as the seconds ticked away, Westen had to make a bold move. He crashed the car. Michael will survive the crash and the gun shot, but somebody else now has the bible. Who that somebody is remains a mystery ... till November.

Other points of interest

-- Vaughn's approach to the Barrett meeting was clumsy and obvious. Michael was right not to trust him.

-- The somebody who picked up the case with the bible was wearing military boots. It might have been Jesse.

Quotable dialogue

"I know it's hard to believe, but I am your friend." Michael to Jesse.

"I'm not looking to join that black tee shirt and sunglasses set. No offense." -- Michael to Barrett

"Are you confused now?" -- Michael
"I don't think so." -- Fiona

"I'm not a saint, Mr. Westen. Neither are you." Lawyer Scott to Michael.

"If you don't like what she has to say, shoot her. Shoot us both." -- Madeline to Jesse.