Chapter 3

Meeting You

Michael

"So how long have we been best friends?" Michael asked as he and Robert walked along the pier.

"Umm... since you and Emily first got together, about two years." Robert replied looking out into the water.

"Two years? Emily told me we've been together a little under a year."

"Oh yeah, that's what I meant. What can I say I'm a guy? We have a horrible sense of time." Robert quickly tried to brush off his slip up.

"But..."

"Hey, you want a corn dog?" Robert quickly interrupted "I'll go get us one."

Before Michael could protest Robert flew in the opposite direction heading for the vendor on the other side of the pier.

Michael made his way through the crowds. He reached the edge and peered over the railing and into the crystal clear Panamanian waters. He felt so at peace at that moment. No confusing memories and meeting not-so-new people, just him and the ocean. His serenity was interrupted however by the shouting of a man behind him.

"Be the change you want to see in the world today people!" the man yelled passing out his flyers "Donate money to the United Charity Funds today!"

Something odd struck Michael just then. "Be the change you want to see in the world." It sounded so familiar and made his heart flutter a bit at the phrase.

Without watching where he was going, Michael turned back around and accidentally collided with someone, sending them both tumbling to the ground in the process.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry." the woman said distractedly as she picked up her books that had scattered all over the ground.

"Don't be, it was my fault." Michael said helping her gather up the books.

"I can be such a klutz sometimes; I'm so embarrassed."

"Don't be it really was my fault, I should learn to watch where I'm..." Michael trailed off as he looked up for the first time and took in the face of woman before him "...going." he finished swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat as his eyes locked with hers.

His chest felt tight and his stomach was doing flips. Those eyes, they seemed so familiar yet so new at the same time. She returned his gaze; her own held an equal amount of familiarity and adoration in them. He knew he should probably look away, he knew he was staring but no matter how hard he tried he just couldn't. Her eyes drifted upwards a bit finally breaking contact.

"You're bleeding." her voice finally broke through startling him.

"Excuse me?"

"You're eye..." she said gently bringing her hand above his left eye "You must have cut it when you fell."

She turned around to her purse and pulled out a band-aid and small alcohol wipe.

"You don't have too, it's really not that bad." but somehow he knew he was just wasting his breath; there was no stopping her.

"This may sting a little." she said bringing the wipe to the cut, the familiar touch of her skin to his made his heart beat even faster than it already was.

"I'm Michael by the way." he said with a small wince "And you are?"

"Sara." she introduced herself "Sara Tancredi."

"That wouldn't be Dr. Tancredi, would it?" he asked making he stop her ministrations and look at him as something flashed across her face; hope perhaps. But hope of what exactly?

"You know who I am?"

"No." he answered and saw her face drop immediately as she went back to applying the bandage. "I just figured since you were doing such a good job patching me up you must be one. So is that a yes?"

"Yes, I'm a doctor." she said with a hint of disappointment as she smoothed the bandage flaps against skin. "And you're all set."

"Thank you." he said with a smile helping her to her feet.

The sound of his ringing cell phone pierced the now silent air.

"I'm sorry, give me just a sec." he said quickly answering his phone.

"Michael, where are you? You were supposed to meet me for dinner 20 minutes ago." Emily's voice called out on the other end.

"I'm sorry I got caught up. I'll be there soon."

"Okay, just hurry up."

"Alright." he quickly dismissed her and hung up the phone turning his attention back to Sara.

"I'm sorry about that. I'm running late and I have to go." he said but made no move to leave, it suddenly seemed very hard to say goodbye.

"I thought you had to leave." Sara said with a smile seeing his hesitation and not too eager for him to leave her once again either.

"I do." he said with a small chuckle "But for some reason I'm having a hard time leaving."

"You're not the only one." Sara replied "Michael..." she started but was once again interrupted by the ringing of Michael's cell phone.

Michael let out a groan of frustration as he sent her another apologetic grin; he flipped his phone open and turned away to take the call.

"I know, I'm on my way now." he quickly called out into the receiver flipping it closed once again as Emily's annoyed voice rang out on the other side.

"Sorry, what were you saying?" he said turning around again, but it was too late, Sara was gone.

He looked left and right, quickly scanning the crowd for any sign of her.

"Sorry it took so long. The line was huge." Robert said approaching him from behind "Looking for someone?" he asked when he saw Michael's attention was else where.

"No, nobody."

Sara

As soon as the door was shut firmly behind her Sara broke down. The tears coming fast and hot on her cheeks.

"Sara?" Lincoln's gentle voice came from the hallway "What's the matter?"

Sara wiped her eyes "Nothing, it's just allergies."

"Sara, tell me what happened." Lincoln gently pried.

"I umm... I was on my way back from the library when I bumped into someone."

"Who?"

"Michael." Sara exhaled loudly.

"What happened? Does he remember anything?" Lincoln asked with a hint of excitement.

Sara shook her head from side to side "No."

The disappointment was evident on Lincoln's face as she continued "I mean I thought for a second maybe, but there wasn't."

Sara walked away without another word and locked herself in Michael's room.

---------------------

"Sara?" Sara heard the familiar voice call her name and felt that same familiar tingling sensation spreading throughout her body like it always did whenever he touched her.

She quickly jerked her eyes open and there was Michael crouched down beside her.

"Michael!" she said quickly sitting up. "What are you doing here? Have you seen Lincoln? Do you..."

"Whoa! Calm down." Michael chuckled at her excitement "Yes, I've already seen Lincoln; we talked before I woke you up."

"I don't understand. What are you doing here?"

"Well after we talked this afternoon everything started coming back, Fox River, breaking out, the accident with John or whatever his name was." Michael said bring his hand up to her cheek "Seeing you again. I really missed you Sara."

He wiped away the tears that were rolling down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry I forgot about you. I didn't think it was possible." he said giving her a small smile.

"It's me who should be sorry Michael. I know I hurt you when I told you I didn't love you. I'm so sorry, I was just trying to protect you, and I never wanted to hurt you like that."

Michael shook his head "Don't be. All that matters is that we're together now and I'll never let anything come between that." he said leaning his forehead against hers.

"I love you so much." Sara whispered pulling back to look into his eyes.

Michael smiled at that "I love you too Sara."

Sara grabbed the back of his neck and pulled his mouth down to meet hers. He kissed her back with a passion she wasn't sure she would ever experience again. She parted her lips against his as he deepened the kiss, pushing her back down onto the bed.

"Sara?" she heard the voice calling her but ignored it as she lost herself, not wanting to let go. "Sara?"

"Sara, you have to go." Michael said breaking their kiss.

"No, I don't want to leave you again." Sara said squeezing her eyes shut to try and hold on just a bit longer.

"Sara, look at me." Michael urged her gently.

She opened her eyes and looked at him.

"Everything's going to be okay. I'm always right here." he said pointing to her heart "Even if I'm not always here." he said gesturing around the room.

She nodded her understanding and kissed him once more before her eyes were forced open to the sight of Lincoln standing over her.

"Good morning sleepy head."