Chapter Two

"You're kidding me, right?" He looked over but Michael had already started walking again, "Mike, I can't believe you did that."

"She would've tried and stopped me. Plus, it would've just hurt her. I was protecting her."

"She trusted us." Lincoln argued.

"She doesn't know. I told her I was going on a business trip to New York and that I'd be back by the 18th. I kept my promise."

"She's going to find out."

Michael knew that. But he figured his purpose for lying would be good enough. They continued walking until they hit the main town bus stop. They sat on the bench and both sighed deeply. It was a hectic night and it was having an impact on both of them.

"God, what I'd give to have a comfortable bed to sleep in." Lincoln moaned.

"You can sleep on the bus." Michael murmured as it pulled up in front of them.

But Lincoln didn't need those words of wisdom. Despite the intense circumstance, after 10 minutes he was already sleeping like a child. But Michael was finding himself restless. He hadn't had a good nights rest in over two months and it was really starting to affect him. Dark circles underlined his eyes and his skin looked peakish.

The 4 hour drive slowly crept by for him. The trees seemed to be smirking at him as they passed by and he found himself repeatedly rubbing his eyes to keep himself sane. After awhile Lincoln's snoring was starting to irritate him but then soon after he found himself smiling. He had thought he'd never hear his brother's snore again.

He had almost fallen into a slumber when the bus suddenly jerked to a stop.

"Linc, come on. We're home." He pulled his brother out of the seat and hurriedly they stepped down the stairs.

"I don't remember this place being so small." Lincoln stated, looking up and down the street.

"Yeah, you can reminisce later." Michael squinted from the bright sun, "We should try and stay out of sight. Just in case…"

Lincoln nodded and they started to walk up Main Street. They attracted a few stares seeing as Lincoln was still dressed in his tan jumpsuit and Michael in his completely blue attire.

"Don't you think it would have been a good ideal to get a change of clothes?" Lincoln whispered through his teeth as he smiled at an old woman who walked by.

"Well, I'm sorry, your majesty. It wasn't in the budget." Michael half-smiled giving him a side-ways glance.

Lincoln breathed in the clean familiar air. He couldn't thank his brother enough for saving him. It had been an act he would have never asked him to do in the first place, but now that it had been done--and successfully-- he couldn't have been more grateful.

And Michael knew that from the smile that spread onto his face. There hometown wasn't much but it sure as hell was better than an 8 by 10 cell block.

"Do you think she's still living at that old run-down apartment?"

But before Michael could answer another voice spoke up from behind them.

"I can believe you two had the balls to come back here."

They had both spun around fast.

"Ryan?" It was one of Lincoln's old school buddies. One that Michael happen to loathe entirely. It wasn't just the way the man talked, walked and acted-- it was his completely sense of tending to be a jackass, whether he tried it or not.

"How are you doing?" Lincoln tried to play it cool.

"I'm good. Then again, I haven't been in jail lately." He smirked.

Michael rolled his eyes, "Well that's swell. Have sex with any minors lately?" He knew that would get to him. He'd never forget when Ryan appeared in the local paper as a Statutory Rapist for dating a fifteen year old girl.

"Excuse me, G.I. Joe?"

"You heard me."

Lincoln jumped in between the two, "This doesn't need to get out of hand." He directed it mainly towards his brother. Michael, reluctantly, backed off.

"Looks like your little faggot of a brother has finally grown some balls."

Michael sprang towards him and was once again blocked by Lincoln.

"Listen we have to get going. Would you by any chance know where Hailey is?"

"Of course I know. What guy with a dick wouldn't?"

"What the hell is that suppose to mean?" Lincoln clenched his jaw.

"I think you know what it means, Linc. Plus, she doesn't want to see you two."

"You're a liar." Michael spat.

"Fine, fine." He held up his hands in defense, "She's at the Mainstream Club on Stanton Street. Go and see for yourself. But a reminder to you, Linc. From now on you might want to keep your dog on a leash."

"Why don't you come a little closer and say that again, R-Kelly."

"Mike…" Lincoln warned and pushed him off in the other direction. Before they could get out of earshot Ryan's voice was heard again.

"You might want to get out of town soon. There's a lot of people around here who could use the 50 Grand!"

"Wow, they've already upped the reward money." Michael said somewhat astonished.

"What the hell was that?" Lincoln grabbed his brother shoulder, turning him around to face him, "I thought we were supposed to be staying low key and out of sight."

"You heard the things he said."

"Never seemed to bother you before."

"Well, you used to defend me before." Michael stated staring at him with his icy blue eyes, turning cold. And then he turned and continued walking, leaving Lincoln standing where he was.

To Lincoln it seemed that his brother didn't really need him anymore. He could fight is own battles and win his own wars. My god, he had broken into a maximum security prison and managed to get out by manipulating everyone inside its walls. Somewhere along the way Lincoln had missed his brother develop into a man, and part of him knew Michael hadn't forgiven him for it.

"I'm sorry, Mike."

"I know."

"Are things ever going to be the way they use to?"

"When the Fed's get off our backs, I might have time to think about that." His response had been cold but Lincoln had been expecting it.

"If you resent me this much, why the hell did you save me?" Lincoln questioned.

"You did some stupid things--To me and to Hailey but everyone deserves a second chance. And no matter what you do to me you'll always be my brother and I'll always forgive you."

That had been exactly what Lincoln wanted to hear. It would take time-- and now thanks to Michael, he had time.

They had finally reached the Mainstream Club. All the signs and lights were shut off, obviously stating that most of the crowd came at night. There was a poster on the window outside.

"Oh my god…" Lincoln mumbled, "She finally did it."

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