"Total Lock-down!" was just declared in the Fox River State Penitentiary after a riot burst out due to inmates complaining about heat exhaustion. The truth behind the lack of air conditioning remained a mystery to all those in the prison save for two boys; mastermind Michael Scofield and his cellie Fernando Sucre.

"When I said bring up the heat, I didn't know you would take it literally, Fish," Sucre admitted with a chuckle.
"I know, but it seems to have given us just what we needed." Mike was smirking under his usual confident gaze and knew just what had to happen next.
"How did you manage to sabotage the AC anyway?" Fernando threw a questioning gaze to his cellmate.
Michael just stared back at him with his piercing eyes, still holding a smirk.
"Why do I even ask, aha," Fernando shook his head.

"MIKE! Mike!" The expressions of both boys quickly turned from calm to confusion and alert as they heard the shouts from Michael's older brother Lincoln, cry out from the main level.

With a mutual understanding, both Sucre and Scofield ran quickly out of their cell to the aid of Lincoln, aka "Link the Sink".

Lincoln spotted them both running down the metal stairs in a panic and quickly felt relief that his younger brother was safe and unharmed during the massive riot.

"I was so worried Mike, there are so many dangerous guys here, I just-" Mike then interrupted his brother to ease his worry;
"I'm fine, it's all a part of the plan. Trust me on this one" And with that, Lincoln quickly embraced his brother for the first time since being sent to Fox River.
"I'm glad you're okay," he whispered endearingly into Michael's ear.

"Well well well, look at what we have here boys," the whimsical yet sinister voice of Theodore "T-Bag" Bagwell broke the two brothers up from being reunited properly. He was accompanied by his typical cronies standing close behind him. "Oh, I'm sorry, please.. don't let me spoil this beautiful moment ya'll pretty boys are havin' together" he continued as his tongue swirled about in his mouth slightly, threatening to escape his lips.

"If I were you, I would keep those comments to myself T-Bag. You know Link don't need any reason to tear you a new one" Sucre threatened, on behalf of his two friends.

"It's fine Sucre, I'm sure T-Bag is smart enough to know who not to pick a fight with around here" Lincoln said sternly, keeping a gaze on Theo. "Isn't that right?"

Michael also stared at T-bag, waiting for his response.

"Haha, well, don't mind me, I was just enjoying the show." Theo seemed to be more confident than he usually was around Link, even though his words meant he was backing down.

He kept his stance and didn't move out of the way when Lincoln strode forward to leave the scene with Michael.

"Uh un, now just where do you think you're goin' big boy?" Started Theo. "See, the Badges are long gone from here. They left us all alone for the time being, which means that we could do whatever we want and no one will be findin' out about it." Just then, T-bag pulled out a large blade wrapped up on one end in what seemed to be cloth and tape. "Now, what do ya say you boys cooperate with old T-bag here and don't do anything you'll regret?" Theo's cronies chimed in with hoots and threats.

Lincoln's eyes widened as he caught sight of the large blade now being pointed at his side. Michael saw it too now, and fear suddenly rose in him for the safety of his older brother.

"Why don't you put that thing down T-bag. There's no need for any of this, what do you want from my brother." Michael spoke firmly.

"Hahah, now that's a good question, isn't it, pretty. See, your brother is one of the only things standin' in my way right now of getting exactly what I want. I don't want anything from your brother, I want you." Theo grinned widely and menacingly as he beckoned his men to grab Scofield and hold him back.

"Get away from me!" Michael shouted as he was pulled back by three other men. They laughed and jeered as they forcibly pushed him down to his knees, arms behind his back.

"Now I want you to watch carefully, boy," Theo turned swiftly and thrust the blade into Lincoln's side as other men came out from both sides to help hold him.

A sharp, immense pain shot up from the gash that now appeared in Lincoln's left side, and he cried out in agony.

"Ugh,...leave Michael alone! Please, ughh," Link fell to his knees now too, and the men surrounding him started to kick and beat him.

Michael watched in horror as his brother received a terrible beating from what appeared to be five or even six of T-bag's cronies.

"Lincoln!" Michael shouted, "Get off of my brother! Get off of him!" He struggled violently to break free from the tight grasp two of T-bag's men now had around his arms and the back of his neck.

Theo began to take his usual strut towards Michael, seemingly proud of his violent display against Lincoln.

"Look at me, boy," Theo shouted in a rage at Scofield who had his head facing the floor. Still struggling, the guys behind him pulled his head up towards Theo. "Now, tell me what you'll do for me if I have my men over there spare your precious brother."

T-bag didn't receive any initial response out of Michael who now had a grimace of utter hate and rage.

"Oh now, come on, what will you do for me, pretty?" Theo knelt down to Michael's level and grabbed his face roughly.

Still no response came out from Scofield, and Theo grimaced as well.

"Alright! Seems the boy doesn't care all that much for his brother after all!...Boys!" T-bag got up and instructed his men to finish off Lincoln. They continued to beat him to a pulp until Michael finally broke out,

"NO! Wait! Stop it, please!" He yelled.

By now, T-bag's display drew a crowd of other jeering and excited inmates, and Sucre was being beaten against a cell to stop him from interfering.

Theo held his hand high, and yelled at his buddies to stop what they were doing to Lincoln who was face down on the floor in what appeared to be a growing pool of blood.

"What do you want me to do?" Scofield stared at Theo desperate and determined.

A grin broke out on Theo's face, wide and menacing, "Well now, that's more like it. I'm sure you already have quite a good idea of what use you could be to me though. Go on, think hard with that big brain of yours." His eyes squinted as he stared at Michael with an objectifying gaze.

Michael was furious, but he kept his composure as he thought up all the conditions he knew he needed to make a deal with someone like T-bag.

"I'll do whatever you want, just please, leave my brother alone."

"Alright, alright, name your price, sweetheart,"

"Take Lincoln to Dr. Tancredi, now. And none of your guys touch him, ever again." Michael was growing more and more concerned for Lincoln as he noticed he was no longer moving, "Now!"

"Well, that seems like a reasonable request, I'll have someone take him to see her right away, boy." T-bag seemed pleased that Michael's only concern was for his brother's well being. This meant his scheme was going exactly as he'd planned. "Looks like Lincoln here has himself a guardian angel!" A bunch of cellies chimed in with laughs and insults.

Two men picked Lincoln up from underneath his arms and carried him away.

"You're comin' with me," Theo snarled as he grabbed Michael by the neck and pulled him to his feet. By now, the other guys who were holding him back had let go. "And if you think you could get smart with me and try to get away, you've got another thing comin' pretty. My boys still have your brother, so think of him as, insurance." T-bag grinned at Michael, but he didn't elicit a response. Michael seemed too concentrated on figuring his way out of this mess.

Abruzzi watched as T-bag pushed Scofield away towards his cell. "Hey T-bag, what are you doing with Scofield?"

"None of your damn business, Abruzzi." Theo yelled back. "I don't want you, or anyone for that matter, interferin' with my affairs," he shot a menacing glare at the inmates around him.

T-bag shoved Michael into his cell now, and realized his cellie was still there, sitting nervously on the bottom bunk of the bed clearly waiting until T-bag's next order.

"Get the hell out of here!" T-bag yelled at the scared little pup who now ran out without any hesitation.

Theodore began to hang the white sheet from his bed across the cell opening as was customary when one wanted intimate privacy.