Disclaimer: I don't own any of the guys from Prison Break, innocent, guilty, convicted or free. It's hard to admit, but when I'm done with them all, I have to return them to Paul Scheuring, 20th Century Fox Television, Adelstein-Parouse Productions, and Original Television in an original wrapping and unharmed.
I make no money, I mean no harm.
Epitaph
She chose a quiet, old-fashioned place. Not one where the graves are strictly lined with nothing to navigate by; no, this cemetery has a feel. The pathways curve among the graves, with a bush there and a tree here, each tombstone resting on a differently looking spot. It lies outside a small undisturbed town, where people remember the Fox River Eight - it was all over the telly, honestly! - but don't quite believe it was a real thing.
Every time Wheeler stops before the grave, he remembers Susan's face the first time he saw her - the pale complexion, the sadness all over it - and he knows it's something Bagwell left behind, something so strong and deep it lasted through the years. He tells himself he comes twice a year (the anniversary of Bagwell's death and the day he himself decided to join the FBI) to admire the strength and endurance of the dead man, to hold tribute to his ability to survive, but it fact, he only envies him the effect he had on Susan, and the fact she knew and loved the good in him despite everything else never ceases to amaze him.
Susan comes three times a year - on the anniversary of Teddy's death, on their anniversary, and on his birthday. She comes with her head hung and leaves with a sigh, every time. She understands better now - or at least she thinks she does - and finally forgives herself for letting the man into her life. Teddy forgave her, in spite of everything, and the thought lets her accept Wheeler's arm when he offers it three years after Teddy's death. But she still comes back three times a year after that. She understands she is probably the only living person who knew both Teddy and T-Bag, and the vast difference between the two never ceases to amaze her.
Gracie comes whenever she feels like it, only making sure it's not Teddy's birthday, the anniversary of his death, his and Susan's anniversary or the day Wheeler comes alone. Gracie wants Teddy for herself, and herself only. She comes to tell him about her day - the very reason why her high school enemy never finds Gracie's diary and consequently her secrets - about her friends, about her up and downs, and when the elections come round, she stresses she's not running for president (yet, she adds, even if she knows she's never going to do that). She brings corn instead of flowers, promising merrily to never cease to a-maize the place. She leaves it on the ground until one spring several seeds evade birds and squirrels and manage to grow. With a flick of humour her mother really doesn't approve of, she states she never realised corn-fused could have that meaning.
She also feels amused whenever someone stares at the words she insisted on having engraved on the tombstone. It doesn't matter no-one understands. She does.
With years her visits grow shorter and further between. She has new interests - new friends - goes to college - gets involved with an interesting boy. But in the end, because world runs in circles, she is there, crying her heart out, when a young man she has never met before passes by an accident and reads the words aloud.
"Why did you tame the rose before the fox?" Gracie looks up to realise she has been making the very mistake. She stares at the man and then talks to him.
His name is Lincoln, but Gracie is the first one to actually call him that, and the way his name rolls from her tongue never ceases to amaze him.