A/N: Pre Prison Break, before Michael went to Fox River, but Lincoln was already there. This story is just a thought. I had it up once before, but took it off because I wasn't happy with it.

Disclaimer: I own no ties and making no profit. Purely for enjoyment.

Broken Promises

Time: New Years Eve

Michael Scofield looked at the wall of articles he had. Focusing on that so much he didn't hear the doorbell.

" Hello," he heard, " Michael are you in there?"

Michael went to the door and looked out only to see his girlfriend Stephanie.

" Oh no I forgot," Michael thought, " Stephanie."

Michael opened the door only to look right at her.

" What took you so long?" Stephanie asked.

" Please," Michael said, " I'm busy."

" On New Years Eve?" Stephanie asked softly.

Michael said nothing.

" May I come in or what?" Stephanie asked.

Michael stepped aside as she came through the door. Michael then walked past her and right back to his desk and just watched her as she came up to him.

" What are you doing?" Stephanie asked, " It's New Years Eve, leave work for later."

Michael just looked at her, Stephanie Tinsley was nearly three years younger than he was, wasn't considered glamorous, but she found a way to get to him. Michael then looked back at the computer screen.

" What's going on with you?" Stephanie asked, " Didn't you get my message?"

" I got it," Michael said, " Do you mind I'm working here."

Stephanie just looked at him, " Actually I do," Stephanie said sitting herself in his lap, " You promised this weeks ago, that we'd go out for New Years."

" I forgot," Michael said looking at the wall, " I've had a lot on my mind."

Stephanie looked where Michael did and got up and noticed all the articles about Lincoln and Fox River.

" Does this have to do with Lincoln?" Stephanie asked.

" As a matter of fact it does," Michael said. " Please don't ask."

" Okay," Stephanie said, " I understand, maybe I don't want to know."

Stephanie walked behind him and hugged him from behind.

" I guess I'll go by myself," Stephanie said, " I'll leave you alone with ( Stephanie then pointed at the wall) you're wall of research."

Stephanie then went back towards the door, but Michael got up and stopped her. Stephanie was nearly a foot shorter then he was so he just looked down on her. When he first met her in the coffeeshop he looked down on her and that was three months ago.

" I'm sorry," Michael said, " Stephanie, I will make it up to you. I promise."

Stephanie just shook her head, her strawberry blond hair just flowed at her shoulders and it made her look even more beautiful in his eyes, but she was also mad.

" Don't make promises you can't keep, Michael," Stephanie said, " You promised this and now you're breaking it."

" What I am doing is important to me," Michael said.

" And this was important to me," Stephanie said, " I don't mean to sound insensitive."

Michael than just looked away from her. Stephanie just opened the door.

" Well Happy New Year Michael," Stephanie said, " Good luck with what you're doing."

Michael than just watched as Stephanie left, he than just sat back down at the desk. Michael again looked at the wall.

" The wall of research," Michael thought, " The wall of research is not yet complete. There are still a few details I need to figure out."

Michael also knew he disappointed Stephanie, but this needed to be done.