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The next day, Michael's string of miserable days ended. The entire prison had been informed of Dr. Tancredi's health. Suddenly Brad Bellick wasn't on Michael's block anymore, and the guards treated him with a silent respect.

Michael was relieved as it meant that Pope had heard of Bellick's games and had put a stop to them. However, it also meant that the cons would replace the threatening position the guards had held.

He had seen the cons gathering, Mac warned him of the rumors…but Michael hadn't thought anything of it.

He was too caught up in his own world. Sara was alive!

Veronica arrived hours after Sara to explain her progress and the work left to be done.

Michael wasn't in the mood to deal with her. He dropped onto the seat and looked up at her.

"Have you seen Sara?"

"No," she looked up at him, placing her papers on the table. "Why?"

"She came here with LJ," He studied his hands.

"And," Veronica seated herself opposite him, a small but wry smile on her face.

"And I threw her out." He answered weakly.

"What? Michael why would you do that? That woman's crazy-" Veronica started.

"I can't do this, V, I can't do this to her." Michael ran a hand over his head. "It's best if she's left out of all this. Now let's get down to this."

"Michael, you can't push her away," Veronica said gently. Leaning across the table,

"Sara can help, Sara wants to help…"

Michael looked up at her, "I held her in my arms while she bled Veronica. I watched T-bag shove a shank into her throat. I was here, I thought she had died."

Veronica stared wordless at him, allowing him to continue. "Being near me almost got her killed by T-bag, think of what the people who set up Linc would do to her." Michael sighed heavily, "Maybe it's best if we just let this go,"

"What do you mean? Let this go?" Veronica gasped.

"Lincoln's free…they're going to want someone to take the blame…"

"Well it won't be you, Michael, we won't let it."

Michael dropped his yes to the table, "If it keeps you all safe, if it keeps Sara safe…I'd rather rot here for the rest of my life."

Michael followed the line of cons into the yard.

It nearly killed him to be that way to Sara. To feign anger when he really wanted to collapse in her arms.

Once he tried to convince her of his brother's innocence, of his innocence…now when she finally understood, he pushed her away.

Michael gripped the lining of his pockets, hating his life for perhaps the first time. It was torture— wanting her, needing her… but knowing that when, if, he embraced her, she'd pay the price.

Michael lifted his eyes and scanned the surrounding crowds, seeing the deathly glares from the other cons.

He forced himself to glare back, as three cons from T-bag's old gang made their way across the field towards him.

"Hear you're flying the coop, fish." The front man said, his eyes inspecting Michael's body in a way that made him want to shiver.

"Don't know anything about that." Michael answered quickly. This was all he needed.

"You trying to play hero now? Get out 'cause you saved the Sink's life?" another slurred, his voice as rough as the other's.

Michael took a step back, his eyes focused on the leader. "It's best for everyone if we don't do this."

"Ohhh..now he's telling us what's best for 'everyone'. Why Fish, aren't you just the hero of us all…" the one slurred.

He saw it coming, just didn't have time to register the hit and dodge it. But seconds later he felt the man's fist crush into his jaw, then he felt the other two men surrounding him.

He dropped to the ground, pulling his knees to his chest, trying desperately to protect his head. He was vaguely aware of one man's steel-toed boot hitting his spine, sending his back into a spasm.

He felt another boot slam against his head, seconds later he felt nothing.

"He's trying to get himself killed!"

It was her voice. Michael tried desperately to clear his mind; he didn't want this dream, anything but this dream.

He'd been having it since he found out she was alive. Sometimes twice a night. It was before the breakout, before he broke her heart, her trust in him, then almost got her killed. He was with her again in the infirmary, she had just poked him with the tiny needle, he could still feel her hand holding his. He'd study her, begging God to help him find a way out of hurting her. Then he'd see Lincoln sitting in the chair, his head shaven with water running down. He was faced with a choice: hurt Sara, lose Sara, or kill his brother.

"I don't know how much longer he can keep going like this, Katie, it's only a matter of time before the guards don't bother to stop them."

Michael flinched, that didn't make sense.

"I told Pope, but he doesn't seem to think Bellick will cross the line." Another woman's voice answered Sara's.

"He wants to believe the best and in the meantime Michael's paying the price." It was

Sara's voice again.

Michael forced his eyes open; the bright lights hurt his eyes.

"Michael?!" her voice said urgently.

Michael forced his eyes to open, he lifted his head toward the voices. "Sara?"

"Michael!" Her hands were pressing into his shoulder, all he could see was her concerned face beside him.

"Sara?" He repeated in confusion. She was standing beside the table, Katie a few feet behind them, trying her best to study the papers in her hands. "What-" he choked on the words. His throat felt like it had been crushed. Michael slid a hand up to his neck. It probably had.

"Michael, you need to rest," she forced him back on the table.

Michael looked at her, She was really here, wearing a dark turtleneck with a pair of jeans. No lab coat in sight, no ID tag attached to her chest. No professionalism anywhere.

"What-" he gasped but forced himself to continue. "are you…doing here?"

"You have five minutes Sara," Katie said moving toward the door.

"Thanks," Sara spared the woman a quick glance.

Michael looked up at Sara in confusion. "Sara-"

"Michael, don't try to talk. They worked you over pretty good." She moved around the room with the ease.

He watched her in confused shock as she brought bandages and disinfectants to the table beside him. "You-"dammit, they must have stepped on his throat or something. He felt as if his throat had been crushed.

Sara pulled a stool beside him, not paying any attention to his attempts to speak.

"Michael I don't know what you're expecting to happen, but I know for a fact that if something doesn't change, you won't survive the next few months."

Michael was sent back weeks before when she would speak to him but barely lifted her eyes from her task. "Sara-" he choked out.

"You nearly got killed today, Michael. Do you have any idea how much longer your body can handle this type of abuse? Because I do and it's not for much longer." She applied disinfectant to the bandage. She was trying to act as indifferent as she had before, but he could see through both acts. Her hands were shaking slightly, her eyes kept scanning his wounds, quickly dropping every time she reached his eyes.

"Sara-"he tried again, finding his voice stronger, "What are you doing here?"

Sara dropped the bandage and turned to him, meeting his eyes. "Katie called me. Told me that you might need to see a friendly face. And that T-bag's old group had beaten the hell out of you."

Michael lifted himself on his elbows, ignoring the shot of pain that ripped through his body. "Sara," he whispered.

"What were you thinking? You thought you could handle this? Michael this is the proof," she gestured toward his body, "you can't."

Michael watched her hand come in close vicinity to his body. Michael easily caught her hand between his and pulled it toward to him as he looked up at her.

"Sara, what are you doing here?" he whispered hoarsely.

Sara stared at her hand in his, "Katie snuck me in…"she whispered, he could see her body relax, all the tension finally allowing her shoulders to fall. She dropped her head to the ground but lifted her eyes to him. "I have to convince you…"

"Convince me?" he lifted an eyebrow.

"Let Veronica get you out of here." She whispered emotionally.

Michael drew circles on her hand, allowing his eyes to roam freely over her face.

"Sara….if they'll leave you alone…I have no choice."

"Michael, no one has come after us…" she looked up at him. "You don't have to do this…"

Michael swung his feet off the table and then pulled her by the arm toward him. He tugged her until she stood between his legs inches from him.

"If it means keeping you all safe, I have to."

"But it doesn't!" Sara muttered, "Michael whoever these people are they can be beaten, and they are being beaten. Sacrificing yourself up won't do any good. Listen to me, Veronica almost has enough evidence to get you out-"

"Sara I'm sorry," he whispered. Michael clamped his eyes closed. She was fighting for him even after he had hurt her…even after he had tried to push her away. She still stuck by him..still fought for him.

"Michael?" She lifted her free hand and placed his on his cheek. "Michael you have nothing to be sorry for…."

"I almost got you killed," he closed his eyes, allowing himself to lean into her hold. "You were hurt because of me…you almost died because I used you."

"Michael," she pulled her hand from his to place on the other side of his face. "Michael, look at me." She waited until he opened his eyes, "Michael, you used me and that hurts but I know it was to save your brother. I have to believe that you never wanted to use…that you did what you had to do to save your brother."

Michael leaned forward, gripping Sara's wrists in his, "I hated what I did you to. I hated using you….but I can't ask you to forgive me. No matter what I still I've ruined your life."

"Michael," Sara sighed, "You're impossible, you know that." She smirked.

Michael allowed himself a smile, "I've been told."

"Michael I'm not perfect. I've done so many things I've tried to forget…but right now…helping Lincoln, getting you out… it feels too right to be wrong." She smiled again, "That was corny…but it's true."

Michael nodded, closing his eyes, "Thank you."

They pulled away when they heard a light tapping on the window. Sara turned nodded then looked back at him.

"Promise me you'll allow Veronica to get you out of here."

Michael nodded again, "I promise."

"Good," Sara smiled as she gently pulled her hands from his face.

Michael caught her hands quickly, holding them tightly. "Promise me you'll be waiting for me when I get out."

Sara gave him a puzzled smile, "Are you asking me to wait for you?"

"I'm asking you for a chance." He whispered, feeling time pull away from them. "That's all."

"Does this chance include 50 cent beers and a hammock?" She smiled coyly.

For the first time in weeks, for the first time since she last made him grin like a school boy, Michael found himself smiling without care. "It does if you want it too."

"I want it too." Sara whispered.

Another tap against the glass, Sara gave Katie a brief nod, "I have to go."

"I know." He couldn't force himself to release his grip on her, "Sara-" he pulled her toward him leaned forward and crushed his lips to hers. He took advantage of her surprise and deepened the kiss.

He lifted his hands to her face, bringing her closer to him.

It reminded him of their first kiss, the same intense passion, the same surprise. Michael nearly gasped in surprise when he felt her hands wind around his neck. Michael pulled away from her, breathless.

"You never gave me a chance to do that before," Sara whispered.

Michael studied her flushed face, "I do love you."

Sara froze, her arms still wrapped around him.

"I didn't just say it. I do and I need you to know that." He whispered desperately, stroking her face, pushing away her hair.

Another tap, this one more insistent.

"I love you too," Sara whispered quickly.

Sara pressed her lips to his, another kiss ending just as quickly as the others. She pulled away and nearly ran out the door.

Michael watched as she fled the infirmary, turned a corner and disappeared completely from his view. He was left with only the quiet noise from the other rooms and her fading scent. Michael dropped back onto the table and closed his eyes. Allowing the feel of her to wash over him, curing all the hurt.