Disclaimer: I know they're not mine. I'm old and tired so, PTB, please don't slap me around for playing with your toys.
Last Time: Gov meanie came to Linc telling him, now that he'd found Michael, it was time to put his plan to bring Michael home into action.
For weeks on end I'd found myself puzzled, almost afraid to question the odd relationship that seemed to be growing out of nowhere between my father and Lincoln Burrows. While that voice in the back of my head kept telling me my father had to be up to something, I took comfort in the thought that Lincoln's motives - trying to do what was best, getting along for mine and Em's sakes - were clear.
Believing that was the case, at least for his part, I stood back watching them with a mixture of bewilderment and relief, fighting off the nagging feeling that something was about to change until the night Linc showed up at my apartment unannounced.
As soon as I saw him in the doorway, I knew it would be that night, that I'd at last find out what it all meant.
Far from drunk but with the smell of smoke on his clothes and whiskey on his breath I knew he'd spent a fair share of time that night somewhere dark and smoke filled working up the courage to tell me something he'd been trying to avoid.
As he sat on the edge of the couch leaning forward, wringing his hands, nervous as I'd ever seen him, making me certain he was about to tell me a tale of ugly devious and hurtful things my father had done to him under the guise of a sudden friendship he looked over to me and whispered the last thing I expected to hear.
"I found him Sara. I've seen Michael. He's safe. I know where he is and I want to take you and Emma to see him in Mexico, at the end of the month."
Left unable to speak, not even bothering to fight back the tears, he scoots closer to me, taking my hand in his, smiling like I can't recall him ever smiling before.
"Things are quiet now. After everything you've been through no one will give much thought to you getting away for a vacation. I'll take the two of you for a trip and Michael will come to us there. "
My heart twists deep in my chest with fear, guilt and worry. " You told him about Emma? "
The smile fades fast, his head, hung low, shaking gently as tired eyes drift away from my gaze to the floor below. "I'm sorry, you should have been able to tell him yourself but I had to tell him, Sara. Sitting there with him I just couldn't keep anything that important from him. He need something to give him hope..."
"The three of you should be together. I'll do everything I can to see it happens."
Weeping openly, sobbing and sniffling, realizing that not only had he found Michael for me but seeing what he'd done to make peace with my father to cast off suspicion to the point he'd be able to take me to him I close the distance between us, throwing myself into his arms, pulling him tight to me whispering the only words I can say.
"Thank you, Lincoln ... thank you!"
It took nearly three more weeks to arrange it all but in the end no one seems to bat an eyelash when our unconventional little family boarded a plane for Acapulco.
There were times along the way I thought perhaps the people around us, my father, even Veronica, had begun to jump to the conclusion that Lincoln and I were becoming more than what we appeared. I was uneasy about it at first but in time he helped me to see what they did or didn't think didn't matter because anything they wanted to believe was more than fine if it cast off any suspicious of our real goal of going to see Michael.
After arriving, we took great care to make it appear to be just a relaxing sunny vacation and nothing more by spending the first three days there seeing all the sights and blending in unnoticed as the tourists we were supposed to be.
Having rented a comfortable condo in an upscale tourist filled part of the city we spent our time going to the beach, pushing a stroller through open air markets and seeing the sights just like any other family on holiday would do as we waited less than patiently for the fourth day to arrive.
While he'd warned me it would be evening, Michael far too cautious to come any earlier, before we'd see him I spent the entire day nervously fussing over every little detail of both our appearances.
By the time dusk set in I was so on edge I could barely stand still.
Sitting in the living-room, Emma catnapping in my arms, her head resting heavy on my shoulder, I kept one eye out the window hoping, no matter how obscured the view was, that I might catch a glimpse of him as he came up the walk.
So excited and scared, feeling as if I may jump right out of my skin I'm irritated by Lincoln, sitting in the overstuffed armchair nearby, clearing his voice loudly several times, before giving in and saying my name. " Sara.. SARA!"
Refusing to turn and look at him, afraid I'll miss Michael, I do what I can to shoo him away with words. "What?...I know I'm nervous Linc. I know I'm making you crazy, have been all day, but I can't help it. What? What is it that you want? "
He laughs at me, loud and strong, forcing me to glance over at him, to judge if he's close enough that I might be able to kick him in the shin as penance for his amusement at my expense without having to move so much it wakes Emma.
"When you think about it... the kind of man you're waiting for is more the sort to slip in the back door rather than ring the bell... don't you think? "
Having no idea what he's talking about but quickly getting the impression his words are less than random, I Iook up to him slowly, meeting his eye, my heart leaping at the proud smile on his face as he steers my gaze to the other side of the room with the tip his index finger.
"Is that what you're looking for? "
I look over so slowly, oddly afraid he won't be there even if I can already feel him in the room, and he's there standing in the doorway.
I'd planned to do so many things at that instant but when it arrives all I can do is look at him.
Like I can't believe what I'm seeing. I sit there taking in everything I can.
He seems so tall to me.
Too thin which only serves to make him look taller.
And tanned, so deeply tanned, prison doesn't exactly lend itself to a healthy glow, its all of sudden hard to picture him any other way.
Looking him over, I look up to see his eyes, tear filled, as mine find them fixed on the mass of pink slumped against my shoulder. I'm not the kind of woman to dress my little girl like a china doll as a rule but there was something about knowing her father would see her for the very first time that overrode that particular aversion making ruffles and lace a must.
Suddenly understanding that nothing is more important I rise to my feet, crossing to him, both of us standing before him, slowly brushing her hair back so he can better see her face.
"This is your daughter, Michael."
As if she'll break, he reaches out touching the fabric of her dress gently with the tip of his finger. "You should have told me, Sara... you should have..."
Stepping nearer, taking hold of his hand in mine, pinning it softly against her back, allowing him to touch, to feel her, I say the only words I'd practiced. "I'm sorry. I am, but these next three days could very well be all we'll have together so please, Michael, let us let the past go for now and can take what little we have..."
Tears begin to flow freely down his face, matching my own, as he pulls me near, wrapping us both up in his arms.
"Yeah ... okay... "
Holding us to him, careful not to squeeze her tiny body too tightly between us, he looks at her a long time, watching her sleeping before daring to touch her again, running his fingers through already thick dark hair, causing her to stir just a little bit in my arms.
"She's so beautiful..."
"She looks so much like you ... not a day has gone by that I haven't looked her face and missed you, Michael. I missed you so much..."
Shifting her up drawing her away from my body I get ready for the moment I've dreamt of since the moment I knew I was pregnant.
"Its time ... all I've been able to think of since the day she was born was that a day would come when I'd see you hold your daughter. Now is that time, Michael."
The fact that he backs away like I'm trying to hand him an angry cobra as he speaks makes me chuckle under my breath, happier than I ever imagined I could be. "I can't hold her... I don't know how to hold a baby, Sara... I'll drop her. "
Undeterred, settling her back against my shoulder, I take him by the hand pulling him over to the chair Lincoln vacated, apparently slipping out of the house nearly unnoticed, the instant Michael arrived. "Sit down, Michael Its easier sitting. You can do it "
The instant he's situated, knowing he'll put up a fight if I give him half a chance, I pass her down to him laying her gently, head on his shoulder, against his chest.
"See there you go ... nothing to it."
Looking down at him, both of them, understanding as he watches her, his eyes glues to her lying against him, that they need time alone I make a feeble excuse to leave them be. "I'm gonna go get something cold for us to drink and make up her last bottle of the night ... you'll keep an eye on her for me?"
Holding her snuggled against him rubbing her back in slow circles he looks up and me with the most wonderful look of pleasure and panic on his face.
"Wait... No!... you're leaving me with her? What do I do if she wakes up?"
Leaning down scrubbing my hand over thick wavy hair that will take some getting use to, I kiss his cheek and tell him all he needs to know. "I'll only be a few minutes. You'll be fine. If she wakes up... Well ... you're her father, Michael, you'll handle it like any father would."
TBC...
Next Time: The time has come for Lincoln to come clean with Michael on what it will take for him to come home to his daughter.