Title: Run, Rabbit, Run
Characters: Alexander Mahone
Summary: The hunter ponders the chase. And his quarry.
Genre: General, pre-escape, post-escape. Completed.
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Prison Break? Not mine.
A/N: Hadn't intended to, but he spoke, so I wrote...

You look up and sigh. Funny how you always seem to end up in front of this photo. This face.

You really don't know if the team have noticed. But you have. The greater agitation it always seems to instill. The finger-wagging rather than pointing. They probably just ascribe your behaviour to the fugitives in general.

They'd be wrong.

So, why - when - did capturing Scofield become more to you than just capturing the mastermind behind the escape?

Yes, your son's life is at stake. No, you have no choice. But Burrows hasn't become the prize. His capture personal.

Why has his brother's?

Scofield is no Shales - anything but. So, why? Because you believe him to be smarter? The better person? Will his capture make you the winner of this desperate race? Exonerate you - vindicate all that you have done?

You've tried to imagine doing what Scofield has. Sweeping aside your life, sublimating yourself, your very existence to rescue another's. You can't. Yes, you surrendered your own will. For your son. There was no question, no choice. Much easier if you have no choice. But Scofield did have. And he did it, anyway. No, you can't imagine doing that.

Maybe Scofield is a better man. But he still has to die.

You reach into your jacket.

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And now you know you hunt an innocent. Scofield told you that, days ago - you didn't believe him, couldn't afford to. He warned you you'd crossed over.

You already knew that. Knew you'd crossed a line. To protect another - a true innocent.

Yet, Scofield won't kill. Can't. At least, not yet.

Perhaps he really is the better man. But you still have to kill him.

You reach into your jacket.

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You watch that impassive face. Watch the observation, the scoping of this new cage.

What do you feel now? Rage, because you didn't get him? Disbelief, because the local cops did? Grudging admiration, because as close as you got, Scofield still won? And, yet, here you both are - your personal missions accomplished, but at what cost to yourselves?

Yes. You feel all of those. Plus an odd satisfaction, because now you might still get the chance to ask him - ask this fellow con the one question that has been bugging you for a while.

There's something else, though. Another feeling. One you believe you haven't felt in a long time. Know you haven't felt since entering this place.

Hope.

You go to reach into your jacket... Damn.

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