About an hour later Sara got up from her chair leaving her book behind and walked out of the bedroom in search for a drink. When she walked into the living room she was surprised to find Michael sitting up on the couch, wearing just a wife beater with his suit pants, the dress shirt draped over the arm of the couch, his face in his hands. Michael looked up upon hearing footsteps and stared at Sara.

"What are you still doing up?" She asked coming closer to him and taking a seat on the coffee table across from him. Her knees now dangerously close to Michael's. She heard a voice telling her to walk away and stay away from him, but there was something pulling her to him, and whatever that was, was a lot stronger.

"Just thinking." Michael said, avoiding her eye.

"About what?" She asked, not being able to control herself, needing to know what he was thinking.

"Just wondering how my life got here." He sighed again and looked at Sara giving her a ruesome smile. "I was a structural engineer, lived the perfect life, in the perfect loft, and then somehow I get myself thrown in Fox River to break Lincoln out, to save him. And because of me so many people that I care about end up killed or hurt."

"You were doing what you thought was right." She said. Sara noticed his hands weren't keeping still and

without thinking she lay one of her hands on top of his, stilling them. Michael looked up at her, as he moved
his hands so that hers were between both of his.

"Why are you being so nice to me?"

Sara smiled weakly. "Well you showed up on my doorstep with your bleeding brother, what did you think I would do? Shut the door in both your faces?" She paused when she saw he looked down. "You must not have otherwise you wouldn't have come here."

"I came because I didn't have a choice. I didn't want to involve you further." He said shaking his head, his
eyes pleading with hers for understanding.

Sara pulled her hand out of his and stood up. "I've said it before and I'll say it again, you've done a poor job of that."

"I know." Michael said, sitting up and turning to see her. "And if I could do it all over..."

"Then you would do the exact same thing." She said interrupting him.

"There was no other choice, I had a key but then you had the locks changed..."

"Oh, so it's my fault." Sara asked turning back to him, raising her voice.

"No. That's not what I meant." Michael said, standing up and lowering his voice.

"Fine you know what, you tried to not get me to open that door, fine, what about everything else?" Michael looked down, anywhere but at her. "Look at me." Michael raised his head and looked at her slowly. "What about everything until that night? The looks, the flirtation, saving me, kissing me..." The last part coming out a bit choked. "was that not trying to get me involved?"

"Look, then truth is I was acting through some of it. Some flirtations and looks, at first it was an act, I needed you to like me, so that I could maybe convince you to talk to your father as a plan B. I didn't plan on falling for you. I didn't think I'd enjoy our little talks and looks. I didn't plan on saving you the day of the riot, but I saw you there, and I didn't want you to die because of something I did."

"What are you talking about, something you did?"

"I started that riot." Sara's mouth flew open and she leaned against the wall behind her for support. "I started that riot, because I needed time to work without worrying about making it back in time for count."

"Oh my G-d."

"I didn't know what I was starting and I feel guilty every day, but when I saw you on that monitor I knew that I had to save you. And I did."

"Oh G-d, Michael." Sara said shaking her head bringing her hand up to her forehead.

"But that kiss." Michael said pausing and Sara looked up at him. "That wasn't an act."

Sara sighed and bit her lip. "You kissed me to get the key, only you didn't have a chance to because I pulled away faster than you expected."

"That's not true. I did not walk in there to kiss you that day." Michael said raising his voice, for the second time in the time they've known each other.

"And I'm supposed to believe that after..."

"Yes."

Sara bit down on her lip as a tear rolled down her cheek. Michael took a step closer to her but stopped when
he saw she backed herself even farther into the wall. "That kiss was real, and it wasn't the only thing." Sara kept looking down, away from him, her eyes closed as another tear rolled down her cheek. Michael stepped closer and reached his hand to her cheek, wiping the tear gently. To his surprise, Sara's reaction was to lean into his hand. She pulled her hand up to cover his and kissed it, just like the day in the infirmary.

"It won't always be like this." He whispered and Sara chuckled through her tears, and looked up at him.

"Promise me that."

"I promise." Michael said, as he slowly leaned down, moving his mouth closer to hers all the while keeping his
eyes on her. He saw her eyes were closed and she was inching up to him too.

"Ohhh." Was the sound they heard coming from the bedroom and they both pulled apart. Michael sighed in
frustration and looked at Sara, and she smiled up at him.

"I should go check on him." She said as she stepped around Michael.

"I'm gonna kill him as soon as we can walk." Michael mumbled, but it was loud enough for Sara to hear,
because she turned around and smiled.

"Lincoln." Sara asked, trying to get his attention, she looked back up at Michael, while checking his pulse.

"He's out, must have been a response to pain, and his pulse is fine."

"Good." Michael said, walking up to Sara. "Thank you, for all of this." He reached out his hand and she put her hand in his.

"You should still try to get some sleep." Michael nodded, then smiled as he looked toward the door. "Come with me."

"Alright now, I'm already letting you sleep here, that doesn't mean I'm going to sleep with you." Sara said with a twinkle in her eye.

"Well I don't know what you're talking about, but I was talking about just sleep. I mean you know this is a
new place, so, there could be all kinds of monsters in those closets." Michael said smiling at her.

"I thought you liked to face the monsters on your own." Sara said rising her eyebrow.

"Maybe I changed my mind."

Sara looked around the room for a second then back at Michael and nodded softly, a smile immediately appeared on his face, as he led her out of the bedroom and into the living room. Michael paused by the couch and sat down Sara standing in front of him, still holding onto his hand. He pulled her hand up to his mouth and kissed her hand. She smiled as she sat down next to him.

Michael took his free hand and moved the hair on her cheek behind her ear as he leaned in to kiss her forehead, and her eyes went shut, breathing in deeply. The next kiss was on her mouth. Light and sweet, no pressure or hurry, unlike in the infirmary. Sara's hands went to Michael's neck, her thumbs rubbing his cheeks, and she opened her mouth to him. He pulled back slowly and leaned his forehead against hers. "And that wasn't an act either."

Sara smiled and shook her head. "It better not have been."

"Come here." Michael said as he lay back and pulling Sara along with him. Sara's head was on his shoulder, one of her hands resting on his chest, as she closed her eyes, enjoying the closeness, knowing this may very well be the last time she ever sees him.

It was almost 8 by the time Sara woke up, to her surprise by herself. She noticed a blanket was draped over her, and there was a folded piece of paper on her coffee table with a paper rose next to it. It didn't take a genius to figure out who it was both from.

Dear Sara,

I know nothing will ever suffice as a thank you for saving my and my brother's life, for the second time. I wish there was something I could say to make it better, but I promise you, there will be a time when it will be better, when we can be together.

There is a plan to make all of it right, although the plan will have to be revealed in due time. For now, you're just gonna have to trust me. I'll contact you as soon as it's a little safer, I promise. For your own safety it may be best to burn this letter, I think we both know why.

Always,
Michael

P.S. Maybe we'll meet again, $20 a night, hammock on the back deck, beers are $ .50, $.25 at happy hour. And by the way, what happened to all the clutter?