Michael

Walking down the corridor en-route to the infirmary, he prepared himself for another round with Katie. He knew she suspected something.

Everyday for the last three weeks he had asked the same question, "Where's Dr. Tancredi?"

And everyday he got the same answer, "With other patients."

If he could but get a look at her! She'd managed to stay completely out of his path. Knocking on the door, and preparing to see Nurse Betty, Michael was wholly unprepared when the object of his affection seemed to be standing right ahead.

The first thing he noticed was that she looked tired. She was rubbing the back of her neck to relieve some of the tension, and sighed when she heard the knock. Turning to face him, he was left in no doubt that he was the last person she expected to see. Before she had the opportunity to mask it, numerous emotions passed over her face. Some gave him hope but others dashed it immediately. She was mesmerising with the noon sun at her back. His palms began to sweat.

Sara

She bid farewell to another inmate with one of the usual ailments. She was completing her intake form when there was a knock at the door, signalling another patient. Sara sighed and rubbed the back of her neck briefly.

Would this day ever end?

Plastering her professional mask in place, she glanced at the latest arrival, and her heart literally felt as if it missed a beat. He hadn't changed. Not one bit. Not that he should have, but it suddenly felt like it had been months instead of weeks since they had last seen each other. She was ambushed by various emotions. Relief, that he was still alive, jealousy that he seemed to be as he was when they last met - no signs of having pined for her at all - hurt at the insurmountable barriers between them, but mostly she had to catch her breath at the intense joy she felt swell inside her.

Were his eyes always so blue? He was gorgeous. Butterflies took flight in her tummy.

Sara was the first to speak. "Mr. Scofield, come for your daily fix?" She presented him with her back as she composed herself behind the guise of preparing his insulin injection.

Michael entered the room and took two steps towards her, but thought better of it, and headed to the gurney instead.

Oh, yeah, she was hurt.

"Urm.. yes. Haven't seen you around of late. Katie tells me you've been busy."

Give her some space..

She's had three weeks!

Give her some space Scofield..

Alright.. but not too much

Unaware of the mental battle Michael was having with himself, Sara put on a brave face and approached Michael, stethoscope in hand.

"I have other patients, Michael." She signalled for him to lift his sweater. "How have you been feeling lately?" she asked briskly, looking at his chart.

Ignoring her question, Michael countered, "Why have you been ignoring me Sara?"

That got her attention he thought, as she looked right at him, surprised. Their eyes locked briefly before she looked back to her chart.

"I've been busy." She said. Using the opportunity to change the subject, she asked, "How's your brother doing? I hear the White House is giving him the royal treatment." She stood in front of him and placed the stethoscope on his chest.

"Inhale please."

Michael obliged. The heat from her hand was burning a hole through his shirt as it rested on his shoulder.

"Linc's fine. He really just wants to put this nightmare behind him, marry Veronica and raise their family."

"Breathe in." She moved the stethoscope and listened to his heart beat. "Exhale. He's a lucky man."

"How so?"

Sara moved to his left side and placed the instrument on his back. "Inhale. He's got his life back, a woman who loves him, his son - exhale - he has a future."

Sara didn't say anything else and stillness settled over them.

"Why have you been ignoring me Sara?"

"Why didn't you tell me Michael?" They both asked simultaneously.

Silence.

Sara made a move to the left but made the mistake of looking at him. Their faces were so close; they stared at each other.

"I never lied to you," he whispered. "And what I didn't say, I couldn't."

"You don't have to tell me this. It's fine," she said briskly. "I'm your Doctor, you're my patient. And just for the record, I would have been obliged to inform the prison authorities."

He searched her face until she was forced to take a step back.

"I know."

"At least you're not like my father." She let out a little cynical laugh. "He would have told me everything and expected me to cover for him."

"Sara, I once told you there were answers to all your questions about me."

Frustrated, she said, "Like what Michael? You broke into Fox River to break out your brother." At his startled look, she said, "Yes, I know. I know about the plan."

It clicked. "Your father?"

"Yes, Daddy, being the Governor," added with liberal amounts of sarcasm, "has access to the information us mere mortals don't get to see or hear about." She tossed his folder onto her desk and leaned against the wall.

"So I know. You had it all figured out. Access tunnels, the key role-players, everything you needed, and who you could get it from." Her voice seemed to have become tinged with anger. "Everyone was a pawn in your game."

"It's true, to some extent." Michael hopped off the gurney, walked over to the window, placed his hands in his pockets and stared at what would have been their escape route.

"I had started studying the plans for Fox River and the backgrounds of its inhabitants for months. Once I made the decision to break Lincoln out, there was no going back. I knew they would send him to the new maximum-security facility. So I did everything possible to head up the design team. I learnt the layout. Everything from which bolt was used in the bleachers to who designed the toilet seats. Once prisoners were transferred here, I studied them, trying to ascertain who could be allies, and who enemies. Half the plan was about getting in, the other half was all about getting out, and knowing who needed to be brought on board to make it happen."

Sara was flabbergasted. "Was loosing your limbs part of the bargain?"

Michael smiled and turned briefly to look at her, "No, that I didn't see coming," he said wryly, before turning back to the window.

"They could have killed you! You do realise that? For all your carefully laid plans Michael, this place, its not some tea party. Dammit, they could've slit your throat without thinking twice!" She cried more vehemently than she intended.

"Glad to know you care Dr. Tancredi." This time, he treated her to the full force of his intense stare.

Sara looked at her hands, but she didn't look away fast enough to hide the guilty blush that stole its way across her face.

Not yet Scofield. Stick to the facts.

"But you're right. I learnt that the hard way. The inmates here, I thought they could be manipulated into doing the things I needed them to do. But things kept taking a new turn, and consequences to various actions were taking its toll. When the first prison riot broke out, I was definitely the wide-eyed fish. I saw young men die in front of me, and it could so easily have been me. But I had chosen this. I needed to get my brother out."

"So you dug from your cell, through the tunnels, broke through the walls that lead you to the storeroom below this infirmary." They had reached the part where she fit in. Sara swallowed. "Luckily you can't fake being a diabetic. It gave you access to this place." She motioned to the room.

Michael shifted uncomfortably. Here it comes. "Actually, about the diabetes, I'm really no-"

There was a sharp rap at the door and in marched Captain Brad Bellick. "Scofield, been in here an awful long time. Just checking that everything is still kosher Doc." Bellick looked at Sara with a speculative gleam in his eyes.

"Everything is fine Officer," she replied coolly. "I was just about to administer Mr. Scofield's shot."

"Well, hurry on up Doc, there's a back-up out there."

Sara took a step towards the Captain and in a steely tone said, "This is my office, Mr. Bellick, and it is my domain. In here, you have no authority, so I ask you to please refrain from attempting to tell me how to do my job."

Stressing every word as she went along, Sara continued, "Now, if you will be so kind as to wait in the hallway? I'll be done with Mr. Scofield in a minute." Her tone brooked no opposition, as she turned her back and ignored the man.

Michael didn't like the look in his eyes.

Bellick seemed to be thinking about something intently before he finally said, "Come a long way since we first met, hey, Doctor?" Sara stiffened slightly.

"Yes, Officer, it would seem I have. Which is more than I can say for you." Bellick stiffened at the quip about his rank this time, and with nothing further to add, he left.

"What was that all about?" Michael asked.

Sara prepped his forearm. "Nothing for you to be concerned about."

"He's dangerous. I don't want you-"

"You don't want me?" Sara jabbed the needle into Michael's flesh with more force than necessary. "I assure you Mr. Scofield," And this time, she held his gaze steady, "I don't need your approval or your sanction to do anything. I am a big girl and I can take care of myself."

Michael winced at the sting to his arm. "I only meant-"

"I know what you meant," she interrupted, and it's not necessary. "Now, I have other patients to see. I'll have Katie check your bandage tomorrow. Good-bye Mr. Scofield." She said briskly. She had already dismissed him. She held the door open and waited for him to pass through.

With Bellick watching, he had no choice but to leave. But not before whispering as he brushed passed her, "Back into hiding Sara?" leaving her staring at his retreating figure.