And I'll grow up

start acting my age

If you grow down

and take me where you go

when the lights are out

and you think that you're alone

- Mission Hill

"The first thing they tell you after you take the job, is never fall in love with an inmate. But guess what, Michael. I did."

His face cleared up for a second or two, and he slipped his hand in hers, feeling the warmth of her and her feelings wash over him in an instant. Sara turned to him and smiled, her deep brown eyes searching his clear blue ones for some sign to continue talking over the heavy noises the low-budget train was making.

A little squeeze in her hand was the most perfect code he had ever given her.

"I'm going to be honest with you, Michael – okay? But I need you to listen to me...to please let me finish before you throw that mind of yours into overdrive. Can you do that for me?" She tucked her hair behind her ear, still morning the loss of her long auburn locks. He nodded.

Sara sighed. "Falling in love with you was the best and the worst thing that ever happened to me." She felt him flinch for a second and squeezed his hand. Hear me out, she silently whispered to him and she was thankful when his body relaxed as much as it could. "It was the best thing, because..." her eyes lit up, "you make me feel things I've never felt before. You make me happy, Michael."

"And the worst?" His voice still sounded pained – and Sara held up his hand and kissed it.

"Because I was scared. You came – Michael, you came into the infirmary and everything just changed. I'd been hurt so many times before, and you made me feel more than anyone else ever had. The walls I'd built around myself...you started tearing them down and it scared me to death. I'd felt secure before I met you. But I don't miss it." She stared at his closed eyes and cupped his cheek to force them open again. She rested her forhead against his and smiled.

"I'm scared, but I don't miss any of it, Michael. I have no regrets."

His body trembled under her very hands. "I do."

She shook her head. "Don't...Okay, Michael? Just don't. I don't want to regret a thing. It has brought us here. Together. You –"

"I ruined your life." It was a small whisper, but it hit her with full force.

A deep sigh sounded over the screeching of the iron wheels when they pulled over at a station. "Have you listened to nothing I just said? You saved my life, Michael. You made me feel again. And don't feed me the lines of 'not wanting to get me involved in this, because the truth is that I would be involved wether you'd asked me to leave that door open, or not. Because of this."

Pulling out the key her father had given her, she immediately noticed Michael's eyes stripping down every little part of it, so she tucked it away again. This was about them, for a few minutes.

"The only thing that I still need to know is you. You and what you feel." She grinned sadly. "I just poured my heart out on a dingy train, Michael. I just..."

Michael bent forward and captured her lips with his, his hand moving to her neck to pull her closer still. It was one of those sweet, meaningful kisses that you remember forever and Sara felt alive, tasting him and locking away every precious second in her heart. She clutched to him and breathed erratically, desperate for more.

The kiss lasted for an eternity, but it still felt too soon when he pulled away and added a last peck on her red lips. "I love you," he said, "I love you more than I've ever loved anyone."

Sara smiled while a tear rolled down her cheek. Immediately she felt his thumb wipe it away.

"Right." She said. "That's nice."