A/N: I don't own anyone but my OC's….though I wished I owned the rest…*sighs*

Doc could've told Hauser and Rebecca he met Alex and Jack but didn't. He had watched the way Alex and Jack interacted with one another, how at ease they were in each other's presences. Considering Hauser wasn't the sharing caring kind of person, he knew his next best chance at learning the truth was the two sitting across from him.

"Look I won't tell them."

"I know you won't," Alex smiled at her new friend. "I suppose I shouldn't have been as upset when you came up but then again I've been on edge so excuse my behavior."

"I think we all have been on edge lately." Doc could see the deep lines that framed Alex's eyes which crept down to meet the haunted expression locked in the soulful rings. She would've looked years younger if wasn't for the dark rings of purple clinging below them. Clearly Alex had suffered but what and by who she had not revealed or even why.

"Perhaps I should go," he hitched a thumb behind him in the direction of the elevator. "Before Rebecca or Hauser send a search party. Look, Alex, I know you're hesitant about Hauser and that's cool. But we could use your help; both of you."

Jack looked to Alex who simply sighed.

"How's Lucy?" She suddenly asked. Doc's mouth dropped open at the acknowledgement of Hauser's assistant. "I know she was shot and that's why I shot Cobb in both hands."

"Her condition is stable but she hasn't shown any improvement."

"Oh," Alex felt her hope die.

"How do you know her? I mean…."

"You don't know do you? Lucy was at Alcatraz when I was. She's a 63, Doc."

"What?" Doc was reeling from this. Lucy was a 63? But how did they keep that little secret from him and Rebecca? "But there's no record of her being there."

"And there won't be in the public realm," Alex shook her head. "Lucy was brought in at the request of Warden James to help with Cobb. You see Doc, Cobb had a bit of a nervous breakdown after his stay in the Hotel Solitaire."

"How?" Doc leaned forward in his seat, dying to hear what Alex had to say.

"His cellmate, Yapper, pushed him over the edge just enough that he disobeyed during roll call so he got the peace and quiet he was desperate to get. But James was a bit pissed at being upstaged by a rat as they called the inmates so as punishment, Yapper was brought down to keep him company. James didn't like being embarrassed and manipulated."

"Why was he called Yapper?"

"He wouldn't shut up. Believe me there were a few times his incessant hollering and talking at the top of his lungs grated on my nerves."

"Yes, he wouldn't stay silent for a minute," Jack added.

"Wow," Doc was blown away by this revelation. He mentally noted everything that was said as he could feel another book idea coming on.

"Yeah," Alex now sat with her arms hugging her knees against her chest. "A lot occurred at Alcatraz that you won't find in the brochures or bright shiny books being sold to tourists."

"It's like the makings of one of those old prison movies….."

"Well almost…..The lights didn't flicker like in the old movies when inmates were executed." Alex smirked then winked at Doc.

"Right," Doc laughed uneasily. His phone went off as a text from Hauser awaited him in his inbox.

Where are you?

"Damn it," he muttered beneath his breath.

"Warden looking for you?"

"Yeah you could say that," Doc typed up an excuse to buy himself some time. He shoved the annoying device in his coat pocket but retrieved it back out. "Wait, what's your number? Is it okay if I have it?"

Alex opened her hands to signal to Doc to toss it over which he quickly did. She punched her number then tossed it back.

"Eventually we'll show ourselves to Emerson but now the wounds are still fresh for him."

"Yeah they still are."

Doc got up and extended his hand across the table. Alex felt Jack nudging her in the ribs making her rise and take his paw like hand.

"You probably feel like you just met Elvis."

"No, better…Stan Lee!"

"Well I'm flattered either way," Alex kicked Jack on the leg to get him to rise.

"I promise I won't say anything about this." Doc repeated for the third time. "Rebecca would flip if she knew I was here."

"Was she the blonde woman at the cemetery?" Alex traded looks with Jack as the realization dawned on them both.

"Yeah that was her. She was pretty hot that you snagged Jack away from her."

"Well I had to do what I had to do. Besides, we both know the others will be returning. 63's who were so violent and dangerous that Jack looks like a Boy Scout when lined up with them."

"Which is what I'm afraid of Alex."

"Doc, we're gonna find them. Once I show Emerson the monster Tiller was he'll have to understand why I took Jack and maybe help us fill in the blanks."

"I hope so," Doc looked past her head to Jack. Jack was tight lipped but the specks of light in his eyes told the man he too was anxious for answers.

Later that night Alex was caught in the dark throes of terror.

She was drowning!

Water surrounded her, preventing her from taking in precious air! Her arms flailed and legs kicked as she battled against the figure keeping her submerged. Her screams were muffled by the liquid barrier though she could also hear sounds coming from above her.

"Had enough?"

The hand fisted the hospital gown she was donned in then thrusted her out of her watery torment. Alex gasped and coughed as the air rushed into her depleted lungs. The sharp pains stabbed at her chest with each inhalation but she didn't care.

"I said have you had enough?"

Alex grabbed the wrist of her attacker, struggling to liberate herself from the iron grip but it was useless. Cruel laughter rang in her ears seconds before the icy splash. Her screams were muted and robber her body of what air had remained in her lungs. Black spots appeared in her vision and slowly spread until two masses flooded her eyes.

Alex bolted upright in her bed clawing at the air around her. The deep gasping breaths, she realized, were coming from her. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness and Alex slowly patted her hands over her body picking up on the drenched fabric clinging to her torso and shoulders. Her surroundings were her room, not the watery prison of her dreams.

"I need to get out," she flung back the covers and shuffled from her room and towards the shower.

Jack awakened to the sound of water against wall. He was a light sleeper by nature thanks to his imprisonment. Jack remained in bed listening as the water was abruptly cut off followed by the sounds of a door opening a few minutes later. It was coming from Alex's room. What was she doing showering so late at night? Was this a strange habit he was not aware of? Or had something happened? Either way he found himself getting out of bed and shadowing Alex as she padded down the hall and retreated to the kitchen. He watched as her body bent over in the fridge, searching for something based on the shuffling of jars and bottles against the shelving within.

A moment later she surfaced with the bottle of Jack in hand and helped herself to a generous amount. He frowned at her behavior and made his way towards her.

"You wanna talk about it?"

Alex snapped her head up to see Jack's frame leaning against the opposite chair. She subconsciously rubbed her arms then secured the tumbler of golden amber within her shaky fingers. She avoided his concerned gaze and focused on the glass before her.

"You sure you wanna hear it?" Her voice finally croaked.

Is this just a warped nightmare or a vision of past trauma?