Special Thanks to TamoraGregory916 and Something Not So Normal for reviewing my story!!!!

I promised I'd write this weekend, so here's what I go so far!!

Chapter 25: Loyalty

Chicago FBI Field Office

Alex stood with his back to the map in the main room.

"All gas stations on eighty, thirty, seventy-seven," he said, growing irritated, "I want Scofield and Burrows' pictures on each and every gas pump! If they have no fuel, they can't get anywhere!"

Just then, Wheeler walked up.

"Sir?"

"What?" snapped Alex.

"We might need to divert our attention from Scofield and Burrows for awhile."

"Now, why would I do that?" asked Alex, incredulously.

"Because one of the other escapees just killed a civilian," replied Wheeler as he handed Alex a piece of paper, "Patoshik. A man fitting his description was spotted running from a scene of a brutal homicide. It happened in Algoma, Wisconsin. It's less than four hours away from the prison."

Jack stood up from behind her desk and walked up behind Wheeler to listen in.

"Alright," she said, "Call the field office in Madison and have them take care of it."

Wheeler glanced at her then back at Alex. Alex nodded in agreement.

"Okay," said Wheeler, turning to walk away, "I'll notify headquarters…"

"Did I say headquarters?" snapped Jack, "Are you not taking direct orders?"

"Oh, I'm taking direct orders," retorted Wheeler, turning to face her, "Just not from you or Alex anymore. Everything goes through headquarters from now on."

Alex and Jack glared at Wheeler angrily. After a few moments Wheeler inclined his head and asked permission to leave.

"May I?"

Jack sneered in contempt and stalked back over to her desk. Alex nodded curtly to Wheeler, and then turned back to the map. Just then his phone rang. He checked caller ID and then made a bee-line for his office.

"Yeah?"

"You heard about Patoshik?" asked Bill Kim.

"Just now."

"Good…he goes."

"Come on," said Alex incredulously, "The man's mentally ill. He doesn't know anything; he's not a threat…"

"Patoshik was one of Scofield's cellmates for awhile," interrupted Kim, "Scofield included him in the escape. Who knows what he knows?"

"Scofield and Burrows are still out there…"

"Don't worry about Scofield and Burrows right now. So, again…Patoshik goes. Take care of it."

Alex hung up the phone, clearly distressed.

Jack knocked on his door and cracked it open a little.

"May I come in?" she asked.

Alex shook his head to clear it.

"Um, yeah…yeah come in," he murmured as he turned to sit behind his desk, "Have a seat."

Jack complied and sat down in the chair in front of his desk.

"So," said Alex with a slight smile, "You and Wheeler not getting along?"

Jack sneered and rolled her eyes.

"That man is going to ruin all of this," she said, "He's getting in over his head."

Alex nodded slowly, but then gazed back at Jack, all joking aside.

"You know," he said quietly, "You could leave anytime now. You don't have to do this since they…"

"Killed my parents?" said Jack, softly, "Yeah, I know."

"Then why stay?" asked Alex, "You're free now. Nothing's holding you here."

"Not true."

Alex inclined his head and gave her a confused look.

"You, Alex," replied Jack, "You don't actually think I'd leave you here to do this on your own, do you?"

Alex opened his mouth to reply, but could not find the words.

"After all we've been through already…I couldn't leave you now. I want to help you, Alex. I want to help you get your family back. After what you did for me…taking the blame for Apolskis' death…how could I abandon you?"

"You don't have to…" said Alex, voice cracking with emotion. He was blown away by the loyalty she felt towards him. No one else in the world would do this.

"Yeah, Alex, I do," replied Jack with feeling, "I do…I won't leave you. Until this thing is over, I'll be right behind you every step of the way. I promise."

Alex had to swallow back his emotion. He could not look her in the eyes.

"Thank…thank you," he managed to whisper hoarsely.

Jack smiled sympathetically and stood up. Alex stood as well. Jack walked around his desk and gave Alex a hug. Alex was taken back, yet again. He hugged her back and closed his eyes.

"Okay," he said, finally pulling away, "Well…we have to go back to Fox River."

Jack gave him a confused look, "Why?"

"I need to talk to Bellick…"

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Alex and Jack walked into a conference room in Fox River Penitentiary. Brad Bellick sat behind a table and glared at them as they walked in.

Alex laughed, "Brad, you don't look too good."

"I helped you with Sarah Tancredi and you were supposed to get me into Ad Seg," retorted a very beaten-up-looking Bellick.

"I tried," replied Alex, "But your new warden, eesh…straight as an arrow. But I might be able to do you one better than Ad Seg. You found Scofield and Burrows through that Russian girl, right?"

"Yeah, Nika…why?"

"Then you tracked down Bagwell by following Susan Hollander."

"Yeah, and I blow my nose on my right hand and wipe myself with my left. What of it?"

Alex leaned forward and folded his hands on the table.

Jack stood nearby and watched.

"We've got very powerful people behind us that want us to finish the job," said Alex, with a glance at Jack, "They can push through the quickest habeas corpus proceedings the courts have ever seen. The paperwork's sitting on the right person's desk as we speak, just waiting to be rubber stamped."

"Then what do I have to do?" demanded Bellick.

"You just find those cons," replied Alex, "Only this time you're doing it for us…unofficially, under the radar, no paper trail. I need a junkyard dog who's willing to do the things it takes to bring a con to justice. Are you my dog Brad?"

Jack tried to hide an amused smirk as Bellick enthusiastically replied.

"You bet I am!"

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