Disclaimer: Prison Break doesn't belong to me but it is a lot of fun to take the characters out for a spin.
Stunned by what's happened, barely able to think, I'm shocked to find I have the sense, aware of the possible presence of security camera's, to lower my head and turn away as I move through the door into the hallway.
Turning the opposite direction, down the empty hall, searching for a stairwell, unwilling to be confined to an elevator, I can't help feeling a fool realizing my attempt to hide my identity is feeble at best.
Moving quickly, short of a full on run, fearing attracting unwanted attention from the occupants of the rooms lining the corridor. I understand leaving the scene of a crime, my clothing splattered with blood, piled on top of all the other evidence is more than enough to make the case whether a camera catches a glimpse of my face or not.
Searching signs mounted on the walls for the way I turn a corner too fast, no longer taking the time to stop and look ahead to be sure no one is there, and I run right into him with enough force to nearly knock him off his feet.
" Michael! "
He wraps his arms around me, steadying us both, pulling me against him hard enough to squeeze the little air that remains in my lungs from my body. " I was coming to get you! I know you said not to. I did what you asked, got them to the room and then came back as quick as I could get away. "
His voice wavers as he speaks, fighting for control, making me realize how hard it was for him to walk away. " I couldn't leave you with that twisted son-of-a-bitch, Michael. I wouldn't! You have to know that."
He leans back searching my face for absolution only to see something else there that sends him into a quiet rage the like of which I've never see. " Blood?"
Whether it a matter of touching it to be sure it's real or a means to fuel his anger he reaches over smearing a drop of blood I had no way of knowing was even there from my cheek with his thick thumb. " There's blood, Michael..."
He stares at it for a moment rubbing, smearing it between his thumb and index finger. " He hurt you?"
Half expecting him to look up at me for an answer, he does nothing but watch, his fingers carefully moving against each other grinding the drying blood deep into his skin as his hand becomes a tight white-knuckled fist. "I'll go over there and kill that twisted fuck with my bare hands if he hurt you! "
" It's not my blood, Linc."
He looks at me bewildered with that vengeful look still in his eyes as he clenches his hands in frustration. "If its not yours... who's?"
" His... It's his! He's dead."
The vengeful look fades into a look, something new, something I've never seen before. " You killed him?"
Watching his face, seeing doubt and shock play over his features at the thought that I could do such a thing, I can't help wondering what it's been like for him all these years having so many people, even me, look at him certain he was capable of such a thing himself. " No! He did it himself. I couldn't do it, so he did for me"
He nods, his hand firm and reassuring on my shoulder, accepting what I say without a question.
" It's going to look like I did ... he made sure it'll look like I did it, Linc."
" You're sure?" As he says it I can see in his eyes that he understands what I am saying.
" I'm positive. It's only a matter of time before they find the body. I'll tell you everything later but right now we need to get Sara and LJ, pack up and get out of the country as... Wait... you came down the stairs?"
" Yeah.. yeah... I did! They're just around the corner at the end of this hall." With that he grabs hold my shoulder starting down the hall urging me on in front of him as if his leading the way, letting me out of his sight, is more than he'll ever be willing do again.
Back to the room, safely through the door I'm relieved to see LJ seated in a chair at the table by the window.
I can see right away he took the opportunity to shower, to wash away all he could of his experience with T bag the instant he had the chance.
His wet hair and clean clothes, likely some of mine judging by the reasonable fit in the waistline in sharp contrast to rolled sleeves and pant legs makes him look his age, less hardened. It gives me some hope that maybe the scars from all this won't run too deep.
" Where's Sara, LJ?"
He nods at the closed bathroom door next to me looking to his father with a worried look in his eyes. " She went back in there after you left and refused come out or answer even when I knocked."
Understanding what he's saying, believing things to be just as before I turn to the door, raising my hand to knock. Before I can he stops me with a firm hand on my arm. " This isn't like before. She was sick when we got back here. Physically ill. It was all she could do to make in there and not toss her cookies in the hall, Michael."
Turning to face him, looking into those eyes, understanding what it is he's trying to tell me I begin to feel sick myself realizing how much pain I've put her though. " When she did come out she was weak. I thought she was going to pass out."
As he meets my eye I see genuine worry written all over his face, " She can't take much more of this, Michael. We have to get her back home."
I nod my agreement, relieved at not having to ask, but knowing for certain that if something happens to me he'll watch over her, as I reach for the door.
" LJ and I'll pack it up. I'll bring you something to wear ... we have to get rid of those clothes, Mike."
I thought getting LJ back would help but standing there studying his face he looks worn, tired, and defeated, mechanically going about doing what needs to be done. Looking at his face I can see all of this is becoming more than any of us can take. " Talk to her. Get her ready to leave. While your there, wash, carefully, be sure to get every drop of blood off before we walk out of here."
I Test the knob, finding the door unlocked and step though without announcing myself.
I'm struck by the familiarity of the two us there, again, together in the same place we were only ninety minutes ago.
The room dark, my eyes taking their time adjusting, I nearly miss her seated on the floor, back against the tub, knees drawn up to her chest, head hung low her hair hiding her face. She doesn't move, not bothering to look up, believing it to be Linc or LJ intruding ... not me.
" Sara?... It's me." I try to be calm for her sake but a nervous crack in my voice betrays me. " I'm okay. It's okay... I'm back."
" Michael?" She lifts her head slowly her body shaking hard with silent sobs as she rises to her feet and launches herself into my arms.
While the instinct to pull her to me is strong I force myself to stop her holding her gently at arms length " You can't ...not yet, you'll get blood on you."
" Blood? " Like flipping a switch in her, Dr. Tancredi taking over, she pushes me backward and over to the side so she can reach over and switch on the lights. " What blood? Let me see!"
Looking at myself in the light I can see that the drops, the splatters here and there have smeared making it look like far more blood than it actually is.
" Michael! You're hurt! "
Before I can say otherwise she grabs hold of my shirt pulling it up and over my head in one swift yet delicate and cautious motion. " Where? Where is it coming from?"
Searching for the source she begins running her hands across my chest and down both my sides. While I know I should stop her, tell her I'm okay, tell her it's not me, I find can't bring myself to say a single word.
Standing there frozen in place, speechless, I look down and watch her hands on my body. Breathing deeply, closing my eyes, I let the feel of her gentle touch wipe away the memory of him.
" It's his blood not mine... T Bag's dead, Sara."
Waiting for a response I stare down at her in disbelief as, unlike my own brother, she says nothing, no questions, no indication that she has any interest at all in knowing if I'd killed a man.
Surprised by her reaction, or lack of it, I begin to think perhaps this is how she sees me, what she believes I'm capable of, until she mutters a barely audible " Good! " her voice tinged with a fear and loathing for him that makes me see her reaction is more about his being gone than what role in his death I did or didn't play.
Seeing her so hard, cold and unfeeling, not like the Sara I know, makes it clear that Linc's right and we have to find a way to get her home as soon as possible.
" I didn't do it..." I'm not sure why I bother to say it at all since I can see in her angry hurt eyes, she wouldn't be disappointed if I had. "...he killed himself."
Standing there watching her, waiting, unsure what it is I want her to say, or not say. It turns out not to matter either way, as we're interrupted by a knock at the door. " Here's something to wear..." Not waiting for a reply the door opens quickly as he pokes his head and shoulders through the opening, to toss a pair of jeans and shirt onto the counter. "Get cleaned up and changed!"
My attention focused on the clothing piled nearby he ignors me altogether and steps past me into the room handing her a heavy black trash bag. "LJ snagged this off the maids cart down the hall. Put everything he has on in the bag and bring it out with you..."
She nods her agreement shaking open the bag, picking my shirt up from the floor, stuffing it inside, listening carefully to his every word as she goes.
" No evidence here guys. We take it with us when we go just to be sure."
As he leaves the door closing loudly behind him, she turns away pushing the shower curtain open with a loud clatter before leaning down twisting both knobs in unison to start a rush of water flowing into the tub.
" I didn't kill him, Sara. He gave me the chance but I couldn't do it."
She gets down to her knees holding her hand under the running water, testing the temperature against her skin while turning her head to look back to me over her shoulder.
" I know ..." She smiles at me and I believe for the first time that she does.
Her smile is soft and sweet, like always, but also somehow sadder and more hopeless than I ever imagined possible. "You're no killer, Michael."
Task complete she rises to her feet shaking her wet hand over the tub declaring it 'ready' before crossing to stand in front of me holding the bag open waiting patiently for my blood stained clothing
" I know you didn't ... but it's going to look like you did so we need to go"
TBC...