A/N: You know, I think I have a plan for Season Three. Even if we're only beginning Season Two! :D But still, it can't help to plan things out… Didn't get time to edit this, btw, so sorry if there's any mistakes!


Chapter Three – Otis


"Devil gonna follow me e'er I go, won't do me no good washing in the river, can't no preacher man save my soul."

- Barton Hollow, The Civil Wars.


It's amazing how one piece of clothing changes a person's perspective of you. Michael had given me over thirty dollars to find something to wear in a store just down the road from the park he was sitting in. After months of being locked up in masculine clothing, I automatically drifted towards the dress section. A peppy brown-haired woman bounced over to me and put on her best 'employee-smile'. I knew that smile well. Any worker who had to deal with customers directly put it on each time. I held my breath for just a hesitant moment, because she paused as she looked at me. If she knew who I was, I had been instructed to run for my life.

"Hello ma'am, may I help you?"

I let out that breath slowly, not believing my luck. Unless she was just pretending. She could go to the store room, whip out her cell phone and call the police while I was standing here like an idiot. Michael had warned me that if I did not come out within twenty minutes, he would assume the worst and come in. He was more likely to be recognized anyway. I, on the other hand, could change like a chameleon to fit in. Makeup and hair were my only advantages.

"This dress is just in, unloaded yesterday," the lady smiled.

She held it against me, showing me how nice it was. A black dress, easy to blend in with. The sleeves went to my elbows, with a normal round-neck, and it would go just above the knees. I was a little unsure, but it would have to do. It was the cheapest thing here anyway. I could run in it, too, if it came to that.

"I'll take it. And the flat red shoes over there." I had spotted them out of the corner of my eye. Mainly I knew I could run in them, just like the dress. I'd found some sunglasses to use as well. The hair dye and makeup I found – platinum blonde hair dye, at Mike's suggestion. Perhaps he has a thing for blondes? I should ask him later… - was in the reduced section and I was barely able to afford that. With the rest of my money, I bought a newspaper Michael had asked me to get.

Michael was sitting on a bench when I came out. I was still wearing my prison clothes covered with an ugly sweater. It smelled pretty rank, having been in a grave for a very long time. God only knows where Michael found it. A dumpster? Maybe. But I counted myself lucky I even had clothes right now.

"Okay, you got what you need?" Michael asked. I pulled the newspaper out of the bag and handed it to him.

"Yes sir!" I smiled, giving a fake salute.

He smiled. "There's a bathroom over in that gas station. If you don't come out in twenty minutes-…"

"Yeah, yeah, I know. You'll come to rescue the damsel in distress. But I'm going to need more than twenty minutes. The hair dye will take a while."

"Fine…forty-five minutes? That's enough, right?"

"Perfect. See you soon Michael!" Kissing him goodbye was one of the best things about being on the outside. He was so sweet and gentle, and it gave me that girly butterfly feelings I hadn't felt in a very long time.

When I entered that bathroom, I tried to look away from the rude drawings covering the slimy, filthy walls. I couldn't even guess what the dark mess in the corner of the stall was. It smelled revolting, but I needed the cracked mirror and the water. Makeup was easy to apply, and I did it as quickly as I could. Getting dressed was a little harder, since I tried not to step in whatever that mess was. Once that was done, it was time to dye my hair. Though it was already blonde, it was a darker, sandier color compared to the color on the box. Here goes nothing. The waiting was the worst part. I was an impatient outlaw. That's me, Emilie the outlaw, a bandit. If you think about it like that, it sounded quite exciting.

I had scanned the pictures on the newspaper before handing it to Michael. There were no stories about any deaths, so that could be good news. It could mean Tweener and Theodore were still alive somewhere, running for their lives. Though it could be a lie, and that the FBI were holding things back from the public. Wouldn't be the first time that's happened.

I desperately hoped that even if Tweener was found, he was put somewhere safe. Not back in Fox Rivers, because Nemmins was back there. When the hair-dyeing process was over, I checked myself in the mirror. The shoes would take a little getting used to, but with the new sunglasses covering me, I thought I looked different. I could get away with it.

Michael stared at me when I walked back to him, letting out a chuckle. "Wow…you look...amazing."

"Thanks Mike," I smiled. "You're not so bad yourself."

His glasses and cap did well to cover him up, but it wouldn't be enough. We needed to vanish. Michael told me to go back to the others where he knew I'd be safe. He held the newspaper in front of him, glancing briefly at the pictures of us on the front. I'm the only one smiling in my mug-shot. The rest are either frowning or just smirking slightly. C-Note looked pissed off. Honestly, does the man ever smile?

As I walked back to the little warehouse at the end of the street, I kept my eyes cast to the ground. Normal civilians walked by without a care in the world. One woman scolded her child while her husband read a newspaper. My face was on the front of it, with Michael's mug-shot just bellow it. The headline screamed "Are These Two Cons The Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde?" That was something I had seen in other papers too. Bonnie and Clyde, that's us, apparently. Real original of the writers.

"Honestly, they can't catch those convicts fast enough!" the woman sighed as she picked up her toddler son. "I don't feel safe knowing those scoundrels are running around doing God knows what!"

Her eyes flashed to meet mine, but she wouldn't be able to see mine through the sunglasses. I flashed her a smile, and she smiled back just as her son began wailing and kicking to be put back down on the ground. She sighed, going back to her normal everyday life. She might never know who I was, and that she and her family had been very close to one of those 'scoundrels'.

Sucre whistled at me as I walked into the old warehouse, laughing at me. "Whoa Em, how come you are allowed to get all dolled up while we sit here lookin' like this?"

"Favoritism," Abruzzi smiled, laughing. "She must have Pretty wrapped around her little finger."

"Shut up John."

He laughed. "See, she knows it, too."

I joined him, rather than listen to C-Note as he tried to wind Lincoln up. Sucre was obviously the middleman there, trying to stop any fights between them. I sat on a step, taking off my shoes and rubbing my sore feet. New shoes would take a while to get used to. John stood in front of me, hovering and totally not knowing what to do.

"Will you return to Jess at all, or stay with the brothers?" he asked suddenly. I had told John all about Jess. He was fascinated by her religious beliefs, always wanting to talk to her, never getting the chance. Who knows, they could meet someday and just go wild on the Bible.

"I think I'll leave Jess alone…at least until things die down. They have phones in Panama. And I can always send postcards."

"Mmmhmm, I understand," John replied.

"Do you think Theodore made it?"

"I doubt it," John answered honestly, looking down at me, straight into my eyes. "Though knowing Theodore, he could be shot a million times and survive. The man knows no bounds. He lost a lot of blood though…You're worrying about the kid, too, aren't you?"

"David you mean? Yeah, of course I'm worried about him John!"

"He'll be fine Em."

"We just left him there!"

I knew John didn't really care that much about Tweener. He had 'more important things' to worry about. But to me, Tweener was very important.

"You want to stay here than shut your mouth!" Lincoln yelled, making both Abruzzi and I look up in surprise. He had lost his temper, but you could hardly blame him. C-Note had been winding him up for hours on end, frustrated with himself because he wants to be with his family.

"One more time man, I dare you to touch me!" C-Note growled back, shoving Lincoln. Sucre quickly tried to stop their squabbling, though he was ignored.

"Hey!"

I spotted Michael from the corner of my eye. I jumped in delight, though it hurt a little after putting my new shoes back on. Abruzzi steadied me, seeing me limp slightly. I ignored it, too intent on being with Michael too care. He still looked adorably nerdy, but he was missing his suit jacket. He had large black bag on his back, which I don't remember him having before.

"Relax," he said, heading towards Abruzzi and I.

My smile widened the moment he got close to us. Lincoln glared at C-Note for a few tense seconds before shrugging him off and stalking off after Michael, catching up in no time. Our surprise was obvious when Michael handed us a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken. To say we were hungry would be an understatement, and we sat on the ground, devouring it in moments.

Abruzzi sat on the steps in front of us, eating like a savage. He didn't care about 'table-manners' though. I tried at first to retain a classy image, but ended up smothered in some ketchup. While the guys chatted aimlessly, I reapplied make-up using a little mirror that came with the power.

Abruzzi had a pile of chicken bones in front of me, and I saw Sucre eye the apple in the basket. I shoved it towards him with my foot, turning my attention back to the tough job of putting on some mascara without smudging it. I have to say, I love this new hair of mine.

"Yummy," John smiled, eating some more chicken.

"Gee John, slow it down a little," I laughed, smiling at him.

"Yeah Eye-Tie, leave some for a brother," C-Note frowned.

"C-Note, you need to stop being so grumpy," I chuckled.

"Excuse me if I want to see my family Em, I actually care about their safety."

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" I frowned.

"Emilie wants to see her own just as much as you want to see yours," Sucre said, kindly defending me.

Not necessarily true. I didn't want to see Jess, because I'd see the disappointment in her eyes. I was a no-good sinner, and though Jess had always said she's help me, I wasn't sure anymore. I had just escaped from prison, with most of America searching for us. Why on Earth would she want to see me now?

Jess once said I had a terrible habit of putting myself down. On the first day she met me, she said she found me charming, but she knew I had insecurities. I don't know how, since no one else on this planet could see that I doubted myself a lot, always wondering if I deserved any of the nice things I got. That's what I loved about Jess. She had always been there for me – and I had let her down terribly. So many times. This had to be the worst thing I've ever done to her.

"Our photos are in the paper. They're probably all over the news," Sucre said.

"Yeah, and you didn't see that coming?" C-Note replied, not missing a beat. Ever the depressor, that's our C-Note. I ignored them as John started to laugh, standing and heading over to Lincoln. He had been quiet. Not entirely unusual of course, Linc was a man of few words, but even this was a bit much for him.

I took a seat beside him, swinging my legs over the edge of the step carelessly. He quickly folded up the newspaper in his hands, but I knew he had been reading about LJ. I had to admit I was feeling a lot better than I had in a while. I had a dress on, I had make-up! To a person on the outside, this was nothing spectacular. For me, this was incredible. I was sure I'd never tire of it after so long in those dull blue jumpsuits.

"Don't worry Lincoln, we'll get LJ," I smiled soothingly.

"Yeah, and how are we gonna do that Em?" he snapped harshly. "My kid's gonna end up in prison, just like me. I appreciate your optimism, but we need to be realistic."

"Emilie, come here," Michael called. I stood, frowning at Lincoln. We'd have to come up with a plan for LJ, and knowing Michael, he was already thinking of one. When I joined him, I knew exactly what was happening. It was time to say goodbye to the others.

I think I would miss John the most. Or maybe Sucre. I could definitely take a break from C-Note's cynical thinking. I hugged each one of them. C-Note said, "Watch yourself kid" as he hugged me, and I laughed. 'Kid'. It had been a while since he'd called me that. Sucre said something quickly in Spanish. When I gave him a confused look, he smiled and explained, "It means stick with the brothers, you understand? I love you man!" He squeezed me so tightly I saw stars for a few seconds. I briefly wondered how I would've said goodbye to Theodore. A quick slap would've done the job. Would I have hugged him? I don't know.

I would've gotten emotional saying goodbye to Tweener. Saying goodbye to John was hard enough. I had to get on my tippy-toes to wrap my hands around his neck.

"Don't cry over me now John," I said sarcastically, seeing as he wasn't good with his emotions. He laughed. "I love you Abruzzi, escaping prison with you was one Hell of a journey."

"I feel the same way about you kid," he muttered gruffly, ruffling my hair. I laughed. His wife must have to strangle him to get a little love. Of course, only Michael and Sucre hugged. The others did manly handshakes, not able to show their 'girly feelings' quite like I did.

Now all we had to do was find LJ, and then we could go to Panama. Though nothing could be that easy, could it?