Anon—2nd half's shooting over to Nick and Veronica.

Marie—The song is "Everything Burns" by Ben Moody and Anastacia.

For all the other reviewers: thanks! You make me want to write more…which I did.

88

The faint scratching of a pen was what woke Michael. It pricked deep in his conscious and brought him slowly out of sleep. He immediately knew he was not in his cell, the place he was smelled too clean to be his dirty prison cell. Tentatively he opened his eyes and was met with the sight of the infirmary. He was lying on the exam bed, someone had pulled a sheet over him.

Turning his head, he saw Sara hunched over something on her desk, scratching things down on a file. The only light was from her desk lamp. It seemed to light up her red hair and silhouette her face beautifully. Michael let himself relax for what seemed like the first time in too long and just watch her.

As if she felt someone's eyes on her, Sara turned around and gave him a small smile.

"Hey," she said standing up and coming over, "how are you feeling?"

If both of them pretended, they could imagine they were a million miles away and as close to normal as either of them could be. They could imagine they were just dating—hell if they were dreaming maybe they were married. But the bars on the windows brought them to the reality.

"Weak," he admitted. She nodded. He craned his head and smiled slightly. Lying on her desk amid the papers were several failed attempts at a paper crane. She followed his gaze and blushed, "saw it in the grate and couldn't resist huh?" she nodded, "here," he said. She picked up a piece of paper and handed it to him.

"So who else is involved in this?" she asked after a minuet.

"My cellmate," he said, eyes on the paper, "Lincoln, Abruzzi—" he trailed off, "TBag."

"TBag?" Sara asked, her eyes narrowing.

"Not by my choice," he said turning the paper over and continuing to fold with precise movements, "during the riot, he got involved."

"He killed that guard," Sara said quietly. Michael nodded, but she could see the pain flash across his face even in the darkness. Slowly she reached out and laid a hand against his bare arm, squeezing it tightly. Michael tensed at the contact and Sara wondered if she'd made a mistake, but he offered his other hand.

Lying in his palm was a neatly folded paper crane, it's wings spread in silent flight. Sara smiled and plucked it from his palm, looking at the bird, then back at Michael, her eyes trying to find out the secrets both possessed.

"Thank you," she said meeting his eyes, "it's beautiful."

"Yes," Michael agreed, "it is."

88

Veronica lay on the bed, moonlight spilling in from the windows. LJ was by her, sound asleep. Veronica's arms were still wrapped tightly around the young man, as they had been since they'd made it back to the house. LJ's face was still streaked with tears that had yet to dry.

He had cried himself to sleep.

Veronica had held him tightly, telling him everything would be alright and willing herself to believe it as well. In the next room, Nick was concealing a message to Lincoln in papers to send over. He had apologized for his earlier words, telling her he thought she deserved better

It had taken her a while to figure out what he meant. When she did she almost kicked herself for being so obvious. Nick was right, she did deserve better—much better—but she didn't want 'better' or 'perfect'.

She just wanted him.

Tightening her grip on LJ as she felt him shake, she thought about trying to move on. About becoming engaged, then becoming entangled in this fiasco, about still being in love with 'youthful offender' Lincoln Burrows.

He could have been anything. He was certainly smart enough, not that he'd admit it to anyone. He didn't have Michael's genius or her drive, but he had a quiet brilliance about him, something he'd rather hide than show.

She wondered if Michael knew his brother graduated high school.

He had left in the tenth grade, but when he was in prison he started taking courses and eventually passed. Not that he'd admit to anyone, much less his brother who he thought deserved to live a normal life. That plan felt through when Michael got himself thrown in prison.

She felt LJ relax again and heard his breathing even out. Smoothing back his hair, she sighed and looked at him, praying her lies would become the truth.

Praying this would all be over soon.