So this completely negates the rest of the season from the stay of execution on—but hey! It's how I want the story to go. I don't own anyone—the brilliant people who wrote and created Prison Break do. Although, I wish I owned a few of them. The only character as of this moment that I own is…Well, you'll figure it out VERY quickly. Enjoy.

Chapter One

"Well. Everything seems to be in order here, Officer…"

"Collins. Sir."

He looked over the brim of his glasses and the paperwork. She sat up a little taller, avoiding a look into his eyes. She hadn't smiled, although she had wanted to from the moment she stepped inside the office. The black uniform was itchy, and the pins were poking at her. Her hat was tucked underneath her arm.

"Yes. Collins. It's just…" The Warden took off his glasses, and peered at her. "It's unusual for a woman officer to be sent to an all-male prison. Everyone here is a man—except for the doctor and her nurse. I don't understand why you requested to be moved here."

She allowed him a moment, before starting her story. "I grew up here, sir. And my boyfriend and I decided to move back. He is studying for the bar exam, and until he has his license, someone has to work and pay the bills. I am perfectly qualified, and when my superior officer told me of the opening here, and of your good work, I felt compelled to put in a transfer."

He sighed and then returned to studying her paperwork. She took a couple of deep breaths, before wiggling a little in her seat. Warden Pope glanced up at her quickly. "We will keep you on a probationary period. I will instruct the men that for the next 3 months, you are NOT to be left alone with any of the inmates. You are to be accompanied throughout this prison. Are we understood?"

She held her head up higher. "Warden. With all due respect, I am perfectly capable of handling myself and the prisoners."

The Warden slammed the file shut and pushed it across the table in front of her. "When you show me that—then we can talk. Until then, my orders are as they are. Welcome to Fox River, Officer Collins." She stood up, and reached across the table to shake his hand, then took her file. "I will have Officer Bellick take you to your first post. Death Row. That should be easiest." The Warden escorted her out of the room.

There was an officer already waiting for her. His brown eyes were drinking in her shape, her figure. Almost made her sick to her stomach. His hands curled around one another, twisting and turning. She would feel better with even an inmate in a locked cell!

"Officer Collins. This is Captain Brad Bellick. Captain, this is Officer Alex Collins."

He pulled his hands apart quickly and sucked onto hers. She almost gasped with how sweaty they were, but smiled faintly. "Pleasure, sir."

"Captain Bellick is the head of the guards here at Fox River." Pope turned to Bellick. "Take her to Death Row. Put her with John."

"Sir? Death Row? It is her first day. Don't you think that's a little—too much?"

"She has had much work on Death Row. Burrows will not cause her any trouble. He may have murdered someone, but he would not hurt a girl."

Bellick continued to have his mouth gaping. Alex pulled on her hat, and started for the door. "Which way to Death Row, sir?"

Pope motioned for Bellick to get going, and he complied. Alex grimaced slightly and rolled her eyes, as she noticed that look again—the slimy one he had given her earlier. They walked along the corridors, turning here and there.

"So. Where are you from, Miss… Excuse me, Officer Collins."

"I grew up here, in Illinois, sir. I have been in New York City for the last five years, after graduating from the university."

"New York City?" He was fighting to stifle a laugh. "You worked there?"

She stopped and faced him. "Sir? I have been trained to do a job. And I would just like to do it. So if you would please take me to Death Row, you can continue to do YOUR work. That is—IF you have any work to be done."

Without waiting for a reply, she continued walking down the hall. When she came to an intersection, she waited for him to guide her.

Her comments seemed to have struck a chord, because not another word came from his lips, and Alex was grateful for the silence. As they turned yet another corner, she could feel everything get colder. Death Row. She glanced around, taking in the stone walls, and the empty cement floors. There were two guards at the end of the hall, sitting at a table, but as soon as they had heard the clicking of boots, they stood up.

"Captain."

They both nodded to him, and then glanced quickly over her.

"Officer Davis. Officer James. This is Officer Collins. She will be staying with you, Officer Davis. Here. Until further notice. Officer James, you will accompany me back to A-wing."

The two men looked at one another. They were both tall, and even with their hats, Alex noticed that they were both starting to bald. "Sir?" The one with the 'John Davis' nametag spoke. "I'm not babysitting."

"She's the new officer. Warden's orders." Bellick got up right next to Davis' face, and sneered at Alex. "Show her the way things are, John." With that, Bellick and Officer James disappeared.

"Great. Not only do I get to baby-sit an assassin, but I get to watch the new recruit." He took off his hat, and wiped his face, his eyes meeting hers. "Take a seat, kid. We'll be going to get lunch soon." He sat down, and gathered up the deck of cards and started shuffling. Alex looked over to the steel door, with a little window. Davis followed her gaze. "We don't talk to him. Well, he doesn't talk much. We try not to fraternize with the inmates. Makes it easier to punish them."

"But we can talk to them, can't we?" She started for the door, but Officer Davis bolted in front of her.

"What are you doing? Do you realize who is in there?"

"Someone who is eventually going to die. I'm sure he's tired of being all alone. I was just going to introduce myself to him." She squinted her eyes in a glare. He almost started laughing.

"Your funeral. Don't say I didn't warn you. Keep the door opened, so that I can make sure he doesn't do anything. He may be in chains, but seeing a woman…a beautiful woman at that," he was sizing her up. "He may not be able to contain himself."

"I'll take my chances." He shrugged and took out the keys and opened the door. She slipped inside.

He was sitting on the bed, cross-legged. His shaved head was leaning back against the stone wall. Hardly any sunlight was creeping through the bars. She stepped closer, and took her hat off.

"Mr. Burrows? I'm Officer Collins. I'm the new…"

"Guard. I heard. I can hear everything."

"Oh." She added lamely. She took another step forward. "I just wanted to introduce myself to you, Mr. Burrows."

He turned his head, slightly. "After all this time, Pope finally decides to let a woman in here. That's a surprise."

"I can handle myself."

Lincoln started laughing. She liked that laugh. It reminded her of another laugh. Of another man. She started laughing as well. Lincoln moved in closer to her. "You don't know where you are. You have entered hell. Get out before it's too damn late."

"Maybe you should take your own advice," she whispered while smirking at him. Alex turned on her heels and walk out of the room. She took one more look at him, at that gaping jaw, before shutting the door, and letting Davis lock it.

"We'll be relieved soon so that we can get lunch." Alex nodded, going over to one of the chairs. She dusted it off with her hand, then sat down, and took the deck of cards and did a quick shuffle that would make any gambler in Vegas jealous of her skills.

"A little game, until then, Officer Davis?"