A/N: Thank you all for the feedback! I'm on a roll so I'm just gonna keep updating haha. Side note - this FF is loosely based on the movie "Before I Go To Sleep." I love me a good thriller ;)
XXXXX
"Where've you been?" Mahone asked Lincoln as he strolled into the apartment they'd been using as a base.
He blew out a breath, "Busy with Michael."
"If we're still trying to get Scylla from Christina we need to pick up the pace-"
"-actually, we need to talk about that."
Gretchen and T-bag perked up, paying attention now. Gretchen was sitting at the bar, doing something on the laptop and T-bag was standing by the sliding glass door, but turned to face Lincoln now.
"Look," Lincoln started, "there's a lot going on right now but long story short...Christina has Scylla and we're not taking it from her."
T-bag, "Decisions like that seem like they should be made as a team-"
"-we aren't going near her," Lincoln cut him off, "the only reason she took it was to use it as leverage against General Krantz, but she still works for him. She has Scylla, which means the General already has it too, just indirectly."
Mahone asked, "Leverage for what?"
"She can't manage Scylla on her own and demanded a partner. Michael, specifically. When he first got here needing surgery she made a deal with Krantz to help him as long as they'd brainwash him into working for the Company."
Gretchen, "So the deal you made with Krantz to get Michael his surgery was all irrelevant."
"Yea."
Mahone laughing nervously, "Well that's just great, so now we have no purpose. He has Pam, his mother, her daughter," pointing to T-bag and Gretchen, "what's the plan to keep them safe?"
Lincoln replied, "There's no reason for him to hurt anybody-"
"-you think that matters?" Mahone, angrier, "they've killed people for a lot less than a few shady deals, you think they're just going to let us, let all of us go? Thanks for nothing, have a good life?"
Gretchen, soberly, "He's got a point."
Lincoln sighed, rubbed his head, and pulled out his phone, "I'm calling the General, telling him I know the whole deal was fake and that we're done."
XXXXXX
"You know," Michael started, "I didn't even really think about why I was missing two toes...but seriously!? A mob boss cut them off?"
She nodded, chuckling, "Swear to God, I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried."
"Huh," he thought, "sounds like I have an interesting life."
A smile, "You certainly do."
He got quiet. They were still at his apartment, making the bed now. She'd told him all sorts of things about his life that he'd forgotten, and they'd managed to keep the conversation fairly light, but she sensed a change in his demeanor now.
He tucked one of the corners in, admitting softly, "I'm still excited about work tomorrow...but now I feel kind of guilty about that."
Her heart sank, realizing how terribly confusing this must all be for him, "It's ok that you're excited about it- I get it, taking pride in your work."
"But you said they're terrible people, that I'd never want to work for them."
She nodded, "And that's true, but let's just take it one day at a time for now, ok? We'll keep trying to fill in the blanks; I'll help you make sense of everything as best I can. You can ask me anything, any time," she tossed a pillow down, "I want to help you."
He smiled, "I can see why you'd be a good doctor."
Tilting her head, "Why's that?"
He shrugged, "You seem like one of those people who cares more about everyone else's well-being than your own."
She laughed internally at the irony, "You know, some might say that about you."
"Hmm," he hummed in response, considering this, then asked, "is Lincoln coming by again later?"
"Uh, I don't know," she answered honestly, not knowing what Lincoln was up to right now.
Bluntly, "Why did he come by earlier?"
She was confused by his question, "To help you, check in on you."
"He didn't do much," he countered, "you're the one that stayed to help me unpack- the test of a true friend."
She laughed, "Well, he had some things to take care of. I'm sure he would've helped if he could have."
He started hanging clothes up in the closet, "What kind of things?"
"Uh," she hesitated, grabbing a shirt and hanger, "he…has an obligation and a team who needed him."
"Work?" he asked.
"Not exactly."
"Then, what?"
Her mind scrabbled for an acceptable explanation. She didn't even know what they were planning as far as getting Scylla anymore, and didn't want to get too deep into all the details.
"He's helping a few friends get something back that was stolen."
Not entirely a lie, but she still cringed internally- she hated being even a little bit deceitful.
But her answer seems to satisfy his curiosity. Still hanging clothes, he asked, "If Lincoln isn't coming back tonight…do you think you could stay here? I mean unless you're staying somewhere else…if you need to go-"
"-I can stay here," she interrupted, touched that he'd asked, "I'll just go back to my hotel to grab a few things."
"Like what?"
"Phone charger, clothes…"
He held up one of his t-shirts, placing a hand underneath it as if putting it on display, eyebrows raised as if to say, "What's wrong with this?"
She laughed, "Or I can wear something of yours."
He smiled, satisfied, then admitted quietly, "Now that you're here- I really don't want to be alone."
X
"Yes?" the General answered.
"I talked to Christina," Lincoln informed him, "I know about your deal with her to save Michael and that she has Scylla, ready to oversee it with the Company. So, you and I? We're done."
He sighed, laughed darkly, "I'm surprised, Lincoln. After all these years, now is when she decided to be truthful with you."
"So, we're off the hook – all of us. You aren't going to hurt anyone. Not us, not our families."
"Believe it or not, the last thing in the world I want is to ever see any of you again. You stay out of our way, I'll stay out of yours."
"Deal."
XXXXXXXX
Michael woke up to his alarm clock, ready for his first day on the job. He groaned at the early wake-up call but opened his eyes and immediately startled.
There was a woman in bed next to him.
He stared at her-she was waking up too, having heard his alarm, but still had her eyes closed, just stirring around a little bit.
He didn't know what to do – who was she? He had to leave for work and didn't have time to do an awkward, "Hey, no offense but I have to go so that means you have to leave too," dance.
She moved closer to him, planting a kiss on his shoulder, "Morning."
"Morning," he answered, his heart racing, and got up quickly to head to the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. He sat on the toilet with the lid still closed, feeling like a caged animal. He couldn't hide in there forever, had to confront her at some point…
After a moment there was a soft knock at the door, "You ok?"
"Fine…yea, uh…listen, I have to leave for work in a few, so…" his voice trailed off.
Softly, "Can you open the door please?"
Against his better judgement, he did. She was wearing one of his t-shirts; gray and hanging down to mid-thigh. Her gaze met his and she silently searched for something, then asked, "You don't remember me, do you?"
He felt extremely guilty. It wasn't like him – none of this was like him. A one night stand? Probably drunk since he had no idea who she was, although he didn't feel hung over which was odd.
Honestly, "No, I don't."
A whisper, "Oh my God."
"I'm sorry," he offered lamely, his heart sinking, "I don't-"
"-nope, not your fault," she assured, backing up and plopping onto the bed, "God, what have they done to you."
She rested her head in her hands; her reaction completely baffling him. Shouldn't she be offended? Yelling at him or something? She seemed sad.
He furrowed his brow, "Sorry, what has who done to me?"
She met his eyes. He explored them, a beautiful brown with clarity and intelligence. She asked directly, "What do you remember about yesterday?"
He thought back, assumed that she was fishing for him to remember whatever date they had. He came up with nothing.
She took a different route, "This apartment, does it look familiar?"
That he could answer, "Yea, I mean I just moved in yesterday…but it looks like everything is where I put it."
"Where you put it?"
"Yes."
"You alone?"
More confused, "Yes, I unpacked yesterday."
"Do you remember seeing Lincoln yesterday?"
He looked surprised, "You know Linc?"
"Yes. He came by with me to visit you yesterday morning, does that ring a bell?"
He thought hard, "No, no he didn't come by," then he glanced at his watch, growing frustrated, "I'm sorry I don't really know what's going on, but I have to get to work."
She stood up, dismissing their previous conversation, "Yea, no that's fine. Let me just-" she pulled off the over-sized shirt in a swift motion and grabbed her jeans and tank top from the floor.
He averted his eyes as she quickly got dressed.
She faced him one last time, pausing for a long while before saying, "Have a good day at work."
He beamed, "I think I will."
XXX
Sara left his apartment, her hotel key still securely in her back pocket and her cell phone in hand. She felt so lost; the vacancy in his eyes was firmly lodged into her mind.
She thought they'd made progress. Half of the day before had been spent getting to know each other again – discussing old memories and friends, telling him about all the crazy things that had happened over the last year.
But none of it stuck.
She texted Lincoln as she got into a cab, "You guys still at the same apartment?"
A reply, "Yep."
"Is it okay if I stop by? I can be there in 20…I need to talk to you about something."
"Sure. We'll be here."
She provided the cab driver with the address and got there eighteen minutes later. A few knocks on the door had Mahone opening it with a courteous nod, not bothering to question why she was there.
She pulled Lincoln aside and nodded towards everyone else, "Do they know about Michael?"
"I told them about the brainwashing but not in detail. They know he's going to work on Scylla with Christina."
"He forgot everything again."
"He – what?"
In a hushed tone, "This morning when we woke up he had no idea who I was and didn't remember you stopping by either. We spent the whole day together yesterday – he was curious and asking questions. I told him all about us and what's been going on. This morning was like a complete reset."
Looking concerned, "Why would they do that? If his memory resets every night how do they expect him to be useful working on Scylla?"
"He remembered some things," she clarified, "he remembered his apartment and that he spent yesterday unpacking but didn't remember that I helped him unpack."
"So, he can form new memories…just not about you or I?"
She shrugged, completely out of her depth, "We need help."
She was suddenly aware that all eyes in the room were on them. T-bag broke the silence, "You two care to share your dazzling conversation with the rest of the class?"
Sara met Lincoln's eyes, silently asking if they should. He shrugged, indicating that it couldn't hurt.
Sara took the floor, "Lincoln told you all about Michael's current state of mind?"
Mahone, "The brain-washing?"
"Yes, but it's worse than we thought," she ran a hand through her hair, then crossed her arms, "He's lost all time since graduating from college and doesn't remember me. He only remembers Lincoln from how he was years ago."
Gretchen leaned against the counter, intrigued.
"I introduced myself yesterday, showed him pictures of us and told him stories. He warmed up to me- believed me. Last night we were familiar again, on a path that could maybe lead us back to normal, but this morning was a complete reset."
"He didn't remember you at all?" Gretchen asked.
"No. Total strangers again."
"You've seen this before?" Mahone asked Gretchen.
"I've heard of the Company using hypnosis to alter someone's memories. They use drugs to make the subject more compliant and mailable. Turns their brain to sludge, and lets the hypnotist's suggestions take root a lot deeper in their mind."
"Hypnosis? Really?" Lincoln asked, obviously skeptical.
"Hey, it works," Gretchen defended, "if someone knows what they're doing, it can be a powerful tool."
Yea, no kidding. Sara thought, remembering the way Michael had looked at her this morning.
"So, what do we do?" she asked.
Silence for a moment, then Mahone offered, "I may know someone that can help."
Her eyebrows raised, a glimmer of hope, "Who?"
"Consultant that used to help us out sometimes at the F.B.I. He's a con-man, hypnotist, manipulator…not the most honest guy but he's good at reading people. Helped us solve a lot of cases."
"And you can get ahold of him?"
Confidently, "Yea, I'm guessing he's still in Chicago, but we could get him on a plane today if he's willing."
She nodded, ready to try anything.
XXXXX
Michael left work at 6 p.m. feeling satisfied with his first day. He took to it in no time, and naturally fell into step with Christina. He rounded the corner on the sidewalk to his apartment, eyes down to find the right key, and nearly ran into Lincoln, who was standing outside his doorway. The woman from his bed this morning was there too. He gulped.
Startled, "Geez you scared me," he stuck the key in, "what're you doing here?"
Lincoln asked, "You don't remember me coming by yesterday?"
Why did everyone keep asking him shit like that? NO, he didn't remember.
Flatly, "No, I don't."
"Do you remember this?" Lincoln held up a cell phone, a picture on it of the woman kissing his cheek, him smiling, and Linc making a silly face.
He squinted closer to look at the background, see if it looked like a restaurant or something he'd been to before. He got nothing.
"No," he repeated as he stepped inside, "was that from last night?"
"Months ago," he answered. Michael watched as the woman exchanged concerned glances with Lincoln. He couldn't help but feel left out- like he was on the outside of an inside joke.
A long conversation followed about he was dating this woman, Sara- about their life together, about being in prison and how the Company was bad. He felt overwhelmed, his mind tired after a long day of work.
He excused himself to take a shower, unable to have his reality shattered any more than it already was, letting the hot water pelt his skin. That picture kept appearing in his mind, the one that was apparently taken in Panama. He looked so happy in it, genuinely happy.
Sara spent the night again, although he felt a bit strange about it, like he was overstepping boundaries. Letting unfamiliar women into his bed wasn't a habit he liked to dabble in, but he had to admit that having her curled up next to him did feel oddly comforting. She fell asleep quickly next to him, her soft breathing lulling him. The picture from Panama filled his mind when his eyes finally closed, a small smile as he drifted off to sleep.