LJ laid on the cold hotel floor tucked in his sleeping bag.

Sara had convinced Michael that an actual nights sleep was in order for everyone.

She was fast asleep on one of the beds while his uncle and father took the other bed. He could hear his father's light snoring and his uncle's heavy breathing.

He released a sob that he had been holding in since that morning.

He buried his head into his pillow and cried. It seemed like ages since his father had found him wandering alone on the road.

The woman Jane had assigned to protect him had taken a bullet while getting him out of harms way and died soon after. He was left alone and had no clue what to do. Thankfully his father had found him hours later. Still it hadn't given LJ any time to mourn yet another woman he had lost.

"LJ?" a women's voice whispered in the darkness.

LJ froze, he had done his best to avoid Sara to the point of having his Uncle pull him a side and ask why he didn't like Sara. It wasn't that he didn't like Sara, he explained, he didn't want to like her because then she'd die.

"Are you alright?" He could hear her sitting up in the bed.

"Fine," he muttered angrily, wiping at his face.

LJ heard her give a little sigh of aggravation. "LJ, are you OK?"

"I'm fine," he said a little more gently, "Just go to sleep."

"I can't." She responded quickly.

"Why not?" LJ asked.

He could almost hear her smile, "I'm cold."

Funny, he was cold too. "Want some company?" he offered shyly.

"Please," she muttered back quickly.

LJ jumped from the ground and hopped into the bed. Sara was already lifting the blankets for him, He slide easily between them.

"Thanks." He whispered to her.

"You're doing me the favor," she whispered curling herself around her pillow and facing him. "Do you want to talk about it?" she asked.

LJ turned to her, "Please don't tell my dad or uncle Mike."

"That you were crying?" Sara questioned. "Why not?"

"I don't want them to think I'm weak." He said staring up at the ceiling.

Sara sighed, "They won't think that, LJ."

"Just please don't tell them," He whispered urgently.

"I won't LJ." She assured quickly, "I've been crying too, you know."

LJ turned to her, "I never noticed."

"I always cry when I take showers in the mornings. I hold it all in until the waters on full blast then I sob for the entire time." She whispered sadly.

"Why don't you tell Uncle Mike?" the boy wondered.

"Because he has alot on his mind, the last thing I want is for him to worry about my emotional statues." She answered lightly. "So I won't tell if you don't."

LJ gave a weak smile, "Sounds like a plan."

He heard her drop onto her back and join him in studying the ceiling. He took a deep breath then released it; she had just made him feel better. Neither Veronica nor Jane nor his bodyguard had ever confided something in him. While they each had been good women who had given their lives for the cause they had always treated him like a child.

"Why do you cry?" he asked wanting more of her story.

LJ heard her suck in a deep breath, "I'm scared."

"Of what?" he asked quickly.

"The future…not making it to Panama. Having that FBI bastered on our tail…" She rambled; she faced him faced with a cynical laugh. "Pretty much everything. You?"

"The future." LJ answered. "Of losing what's left of my family."

"We're two days away from all this…LJ, two days." Sara whispered encouragingly.

"That doesn't mean much, Sara. You know that. Even worse, what happens when he get to Panama? Uncle Mike will dwell on his quilt until he starts drinking. Dad will drink to block out what happened to Veronica and Jane. So I'll be stuck with two drunk, depressed men." LJ whispered angrily.

"What about me?" Sara touched his arm.

"You're going to leave us-," he said sadly.

"Whoa-" Sara muttered, "Why would I do that?"

"I don't know. The only reason your staying is because you don't have a choice. What happens when we're free and you realize you don't want to stay with us?"

"LJ," Sara lifted herself up on her elbow. "I'm not your prisoner. I'm staying because the same people who killed Veronica are after me. I'm staying because there's nowhere else I want to be, and no one else I want to be with. Yes, Your uncle and Dad are going to have a really hard few years. But it's going to get easier."

LJ faced her; a smile began tugging at his mouth. "Promise?"

"Only if you promise not to tell your uncle I asked you to sleep with me. You know how jealous he gets." She teased falling back into the bed.

"Deal." He laughed, grateful.

"Good, now get some sleep." She whispered.

When LJ woke the next morning he was laying on the floor wrapped tightly in his sleeping bag. He looked up when Sara walked out of the bathroom; his father was cleaning fingerprints off the TV while his uncle studied a phone book.

"Sorry, I kicked you out of bed…" Sara whispered as she folded her clothing into a bag.

"No-thanks actually…I didn't want my dad—"he stumbled.

Sara smiled at him, "And let's not forget your jealous uncle."

LJ woke from his dream and looked around the room. The room was empty expect for the bed, a dresser and a nightstand. He curled the blankets tighter around him then stopped. Someone was watching him.

LJ lifted his head from the bed and looked toward the doorway. Sara was sitting in the doorway with her knees scrunched to her chest. Her head laid on her knees and given the state of her clothing LJ guessed that was where she had spent her night.

LJ smiled, threw back the sheets of his bed and walked toward her.

"Sara." He knelt close to her, "Sara."

Her head jerked up, "LJ-" her voice was full of panic and worry.

"What are you doing?" he asked lightly.

She looked at him, "Pardon me?" she ran a hand through her hair.

"You know it's not proper for a women of your age to sleep in the same room as a young stud like me."

This relaxed her as LJ sat close to her, "What are you doing here?"

"I was worried…" She stared fondly at him and patted his cheek. "Old habits die hard."

LJ lost his smile. "You too eh?"

Sara nodded, "I guess it was expected. How bad is it for you?"

LJ rubbed the back of his neck in a movement that so reminded Sara of his father.

"Pretty bad, for the first few months I don't think one of us slept the entire night. Dad

would wake up just to walk around the house. I wouldn't close the door when I took a

shower because I'm…" he fell short.

Sara rested a hand on his ankle. "It's ok." She soothed.

"I'm claustrophobic…never was before." He sighs heavily.

"I check my closest ever night before I go to bed." She confessed.

LJ nodded sadly, after a moment he lifted his head. "What's for breakfast?"

Sara blinked then laughed, "You really know how to break the tension don't you?"

"Hey-a man wants what he wants." LJ stood then dropped a hand to help her stand. "And tonight, Sara, it's my turn to keep watch."

Sara smiled then led him into her kitchen. She instantly went to the window and pushed it open, neither commented on the freezing weather outside.

"So-what do you eat for breakfast?" She turned to him, leaning against her counter.

LJ dropped into the table. "A knock off of corn flakes with cold beer."

Sara froze, "Your kidding."

"Yeah. But I did try that once." LJ stuck out his tongue. "God it was bad. I wouldn't recommend it."

Sara smiled. "And you didn't even need to get a degree for that."

She walked toward her pantry and pulled open the doors. After surveying the contents she pulled out a box of bisquick.

"Pancakes?" LJ asked.

"Is that a problem?" She looked up from the box.

"No," LJ stood. "Mind if I help?"

Sara tossed him the box, "I insist. I've never made them before…"

"Really? Pancakes?" LJ rolled up his sleeves and reached for a bowl. "Sit back and watch a master at work."

Sara laughed then pulled up a seat. "Well if you say so but I don't see one."

LJ gave a little shake, "Women…"he sighed dramatically. "Don't see a good thing when

it's staring them in the face."

Sara flinched a little and dropped her eyes.

"When I was growing up-" he paused as he poured water. "My dad would make me these every time I stayed over with him. We would add blueberries…"

Sara leaned back against her table, with a smile to listen to him talk.

A half hour later she found herself staring at a plate full of strawberry pancakes.

"You didn't have blueberries." LJ muttered.

"I'll pick some up later-" she stared in awe. "LJ-I'm impressed."

"Well who isn't." He grinned, "Dig in."

Sara cut herself a piece then took a big bite. "Wow-this is good, LJ. Your making breakfast for the rest of your time here."

LJ lost his smile. "And how long is that exactly?"

"I talked to your father," She laid her fork on the side of the plate. "And we agreed that in two weeks I'm kicking you out."

"Two weeks?" LJ repeated.

"Is that a problem?" Sara asked slowly.

"I wanted to stay longer." God knows how long it'll take to convince her.

"LJ, I know you're mad at your father. Trust me I partially wrote the book on it. But you can't just run away. Your father loves you and you have to give him the chance to make it up to you." She lifted her fork. "Two weeks will give you plenty of time to get caught up on all the latest movies."

LJ smirked, "Thanks Sara."

"Hey I should be thanking you. These are wonderful." She took another bite.

LJ swallowed his food and began cutting another before he spoke.

"So…. Did you talk to Uncle Mike?" he kept his eyes on his plate

Sara felt her hand tighten around her fork, "Yes."

"And? How was he?" LJ lifted a piece of pancake to his mouth.

"Drunk off his ass from the sounds of it." She answered tightly.

He sighed and dropped his fork, "Still?"

"I guess." Sara replied. "This is all my fault."

LJ gave a sarcastic snicker, "You know, you and Uncle Mike say that a lot. When are you guys going to realize shit happens-"

"I should never had told him about the baby." Sara whispered angrily. "I did it to hurt him. I wanted him to be in as much pain as I was. And look I got my wish."

"Sara-" LJ whispered, "He needed to know."

"There's nothing he can do about it expect file it among the list of his other regrets." Sara

dropped her head into her hands.

"You need to stop blaming the wrong people." LJ started staring out the window. He was to afraid to met her eyes, "You keep blaming Uncle Mike but he didn't do anything! I was the one that made you get shot and dad was the one who left you. You should have seen Uncle Mike when we were leaving. He was a mess. In fact he hasn't been himself since that night. Sure finding out that he had a kid is going to make it worse but this whole thing has pushed him over the edge."

"He wasn't drinking before." Sara stated, "He had at least that going for him."

"No, but he let the guilt eat him alive…. There were nights where I'd wake up to him screaming in his sleep. Always your name…for the first two months he would do that. Dad and I started forcing him to drink before bed…." LJ looked at his plate. "It was bad."

Sara wrapped her arms around herself tightly, "You should have seen me. I spent the first two months crying. Didn't matter that I was locked in a cell with a racist, I cried all the time. She thought I was insane, and I think I was." Sara closed her eyes as unwelcome memories flooded back. "I was split in half. I was angry that he had left me, yet I was relieved that he-you guys- were safe. It was so hard. Then came the realization that I lost my-"Sara stopped.

"Your baby." LJ finished sadly.

"Yeah." Sara agreed. "That was hard."

Sara felt tears prickle her eyes and fought against them.

"Anyways-it's over." She said after a moment.

"Yeah," LJ muttered in a rough voice, she could tell he was about to cry.

"Come on. Eat those pancakes before they get cold." Sara encouraged lightly.

He gave a weak nod and bent his head to eat.

LJ wasn't nearly as smart as his Uncle was but when a crisis arose he could handle himself.

And this definitely qualified as a crisis.

Sara had just informed him that she was going out on a date.

With a man.

A man that wasn't his Uncle.

LJ could feel his family possessiveness run through his veins.

He sat on the couch listening to her primp herself for her date. A date he couldn't let go unchallenged. He turned as she stepped out of her room dressed it a sleek black dress with heels that clicked against the floorboards.

"Damn-"He smiled and stood. "Nice job…didn't know there was a hot chick under all

the grime and grease."

Sara threw her handbag at him, "Shut up punk."

The doorbell rang and LJ smiled, "I'll get it."

"Be nice!" She threatened in a whispered. "You still have another week to live with me."

"Yes, my lady." He bowed then walked to the door.

He pulled open the door and nearly laughed at the wanna be Ken Barbie on the other side of the door. "Hi," he held back a laugh.

"Hi, I'm here for Sara." The man said looking at him in polite wonder.

"Just a minute." He started to close the door when Sara nearly shoved him out of the way.

"James!" she smiled, "How are you?"

"Wonderful. You look lovely." He grinned, relieved to see her.

"Thank you." She pulled on her coat, and smiled at LJ, "We'll be back around 11.."

"Sure thing." He still hadn't taken his eyes off the other man. "Have fun." He called in a mocking tone as Sara stepped over the threshold.

Twenty minutes later found himself at the same restaurant as Sara. He was standing in the halls leading toward the bathrooms staring at her. She'd be getting up any time now, he knew. She had been sitting there for over an hour and since the time LJ had arrived she had done nothing but nod and smile. He knew an escape to the bathroom was in short order.

LJ tapped his foot, this was ridiculous. Why was she even wasting her time on this loser? This didn't make any sense, she could have his uncle, live in Panama happily ever after but stead she's going on dates with Ken Barbie.

Sara interrupted his thoughts as she politely excused herself and walked toward the bathroom.

LJ quickly dodged out of her eyesight and made his way over to the table she had vacated.

He dropped into her seat, "Have you seen my mom?"

"Pardon me?" the man asked surprised.

"My mom." LJ repeated annoyed, "The woman your having dinner with."

"She's your mother?" The man repeated.

"Duh-" LJ lifted her glass of water and took a sip. "Didn't she tell you that?"

"No…she said you were her friend's kid…She's your mom?" he leaned forward.

"Yup…don't worry. She does this a lot. Her and my dad fight a lot, so when he goes away this is her little pay back to him. "

"Your dad?" The man stumbled, nervousness.

"Yeah…he's an ex con…truck driver now but back in the day quite the badass." LJ smirked as James began to sweat a little more.

"Ex-con?" James stumbled.

"Yeah—you know Fox River…"LJ promoted with a gleam in his eye. "He was on death row…they used to call him Linc the sink. He was tough."

James pulled out his wallet threw cash on the table then stood. "Do you think you-could-um..tell your mom something came up."

"Of course," LJ smiled, "Thanks for dinner."

He watched as James practically ran from restaurant. LJ smiled, and moved into James chair then began cutting up his stake.

"LJ." Sara muttered.

LJ looked up, "Hi mom." He gave her a big smile.

"Where's James?" She crossed her arms over her chest.

"Um…well he said to tell you that something came up…"LJ leaned forward a little, "But

I think after I started talking about my dad he got scared. I don't know why though. I mean just because he used to be on death row doesn't mean he's a bad guy."

Sara sat herself with a crooked grin. "You're a little jerk, you know that right?"

"You can thank me by letting me get desert." He smiled.

Sara shook her head; she studied her salad for a moment then looked back up at LJ.

"This is the first time I've tried dating."

"I know." LJ responded gently. "You keep looking at him like he was suppose to be someone else. Even I could see that."

Sara nodded sadly, "This sucks."

"Not really," LJ smiled weakly, "This food is great!"

Later that night LJ sat with Sara on her couch watching 24.

"I have a girlfriend." He said quickly as a commercial played before them.

Sara turned and smiled, "Really?"

"Yeah, she's great. Tall, long brown hair, amazing eyes…the best body ever!" He described with a sly grin.

"Well good for you lover boy." Sara patted his cheek.

"I think I love her." He said sincerely.

Sara's hand froze on his cheek. "How long have you been with her?"

"Only a few months…but I think I'm going to propose after I get back."

Sara lunged for the remote and clicked the TV off. This was more important then watching Jack defuse a nuke…again.

"LJ-you haven't known her all that long. I think your moving a little to fast." Sara turned to him. "If you've only known her for a few months it's not a good idea to rush things.

Don't start using words like 'love' and 'marriage' until your really sure you love her."

"Well how long does it take to fall in love?" LJ asked.

"I-um-"Sara dropped her eyes, "I have no idea…but I don't think-"

"It took you what…seven weeks? Then you were ready to run away with him into the sunset." LJ said gently.

"That was different…very different." Sara mumbled looking at him.

"Why? So we aren't on the run but I love her." LJ said firmly. "And I know you'd understand if you met her."

"LJ-" Sara started.

"If you'd met her you could tell me if you really think I shouldn't propose."

"That's going to be a little difficult." Sara reached back for the remote.

LJ moved it out of her reach. "Why?"

"Besides the fact that we're a million miles apart?" Sara joked.

"Then come back with me." He said bluntly.

Sara froze, "You-you know I can't do that."

"Why not?"

"LJ-" She whispered.

"Listen I know you have your issues and that's fine. But it'd mean a lot to me if you did." LJ touched her shoulder. "I can't really talk about this to my dad and Uncle Mike-is well unavailable."

Sara stared at him. "I'm not going to Panama."

"Why not?" LJ asked.

"Because…it's not my place." She stared at the blank TV.

"It's just a place, Sara. It's not special in any way." He said.

"It's Panama…. if you only knew the things I've dreamt about happening in that place." She whispered emotionally.

"Listen, you don't have to reconnect with Uncle Mike. You don't even have to speak to him or dad. All you have to do is come for a week-"

"No!" She got off the couch. "I can't do that I'm sorry, LJ."

LJ leaned against the couch, "I hate to sound all Dr. Phil but it might help with some closure."

Sara covered her face with her hands and released a heavy sigh. This wasn't happening…she could almost feel the breeze off the ocean, the sound of his voice calling her name…bananas. Damn it!

"Go to bed, LJ. You've had a long day." She whispered walking to her room.

"Sara-" he stood and took a step after her, "I do want you to meet Sophie."

Sara felt her body stiffen she didn't turn. But LJ could hear her mind turning with thoughts.

"At lest promise me you'll think about it."

This time she did turn, "I promise."

LJ stood in the living room as she disappeared into her own room a bright smile appeared on his face.