Authors Note: If anyone has any song requests for a music vid for me to do, that'd be great. Just drop me a line at my email address on my profile page.
So this one took me a while. At first it was simply cause I had writer's block, but then I had a new idea to add to the table. So I had to add more to the chapter and another character from the show I wasn't expecting to use until the end. So on that note, I apologize for my lateness but I have been working on it for the time I haven't updates. I wanted to break this chapter down into 2 chapters but there was nowhere I could break it up.
ssoko: I hope your nails aren't gone! Lol. Sorry for the delay, ideas just kept coming and I had to put them in. Hopefully I didn't loose you along the way.
Kit Merlot: Well I think Sara needed to knock a few people around. Enough of the damsel in distress routine. She gets her kicks in! One thing leads to another in this story.
Harms Way
Chapter 5: Counter
Governor Frank Tancredi marched towards the Warden's office at Fox River. It had been over sixteen hours since his daughter's kidnapping. The last time someone had seen her safe was when she had driven off in her car after she left passed quarter of nine, a good ten minutes before the prisoners had escaped.
He had already been to her apartment, now he needed to check with the warden for something the police could have missed. Besides, he needed more information on the convicts that escaped and were the only suspects in his daughter's kidnapping.
Storming passed the secretary he barged into the warden's office. The older man was sitting behind his desk going over some paperwork. Pulling his glasses down he looked up, surprised to see the governor.
"Governor, what brings…" he began but was interrupted.
"My daughter. For the second time in less than two weeks her life is at risk because of this place. What I want is information on the cons that escaped," Governor Tancredi insisted.
Taking a moment Pope found an explanation that might help, at least a little, ease a distraught father and powerful governor. "Governor, of the six men that escaped, the personalities I have come to know and their records here at Fox River, only two would pose a threat to your daughter."
Stepping further into the office Frank Tancredi placed his hands on the Pope's desk and leaned forward. "That's being supervised here under armored guards. Beyond these walls can you say the same?" he asked.
Pope looked down, he had to agree with the governor on the point he had made, but there was something he could oppose it with. "There's no telling what anyone would do unsupervised," he answered calmly.
Frank nodded, though the answer wasn't something he agreed with especially involving cons he gave the older man praise for his reply. Drawing his mind back to the current disturbing situation he pushed his hands from the desk and began to pace. There was one question he needed to know from Pope. "What are my daughters' chances if these men kidnapped her?" he asked. Able to stop himself from pacing further, he turned to look at Pope.
Pope knew there was more to this than he had been informed of. Ever since Michael Scofield had been sent to his prison things from the shadows came lurking. The fact that Sara Tancredi, the governors daughter, had been kidnapped from her home spoke volumes to whoever kidnapped her.
If it had been the men that escaped, the assumed timing of the kidnapping and the likeliness they would have been able to turn up at her apartment at the time seemed very unlikely. Granted, Pope wasn't a naive man, anything was possible but for those things to add up seemed very slim. "If the ones that escaped are her kidnappers, I'd say Sara has a better chance as opposed to a higher alternative kidnapper," he said, leaving his suspicions for the governor to read.
Frank looked at him, unsure of how to reply his ringing cell phone gave him a moment to think of a response. Taking a few steps from the warden's desk he received the call. "Governor Tancredi," he said. A moment of silence followed as he listened. Looking at the warden he turned away walking closer to the door. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?" he asked, ever so quietly.
The response was clear. He needed to move now while the facts were verifiable and untainted. "Thank you," he said, ending the call he turned to Pope and stepped a little closer. "Something has been brought to my attention," he informed and then turned to leave without further explanation.
Pope simply sat back and watched as the governor left just as quickly as he entered. Taking a breath he cursed at the unfortunate tangled web Sara had been unknowingly involved in since Michael had arrived at Fox River. He just hoped that she would get out of this mess unscathed.
……….
Veronica stood before Judge Keach. She had gathered an impressive amount of evidence all thanks to the letter she had gotten less than twenty four hours ago. In that time dozens of arrests had been made and details were leading up to the Vice President's arrest and conviction.
The only problem was that an 'innocent' man had escaped from jail and was suspected to be involved in a kidnapping. Veronica had been able to convince the court to be lenient in his prison break since he was scheduled to die for a crime he didn't commit twelve hours before he broke out.
Plus he had served time, giving him immunity against serving more time for the prison break. Once he was found he would be acquitted, if he was innocent in conducting the kidnapping.
Veronica just hoped Lincoln or Michael had not done anything to convict themselves of another crime. She knew the Vice President was behind Sara Tancredi's kidnapping but she had no proof. While she continued to pursue the evidence involving the conspiracy she could only pray that wherever Lincoln and Michael were they were safe.
………..
Michael couldn't help but smile at Agent Adelstein's glance to the rooftops that should have been concealed behind his dark sunglasses. 'Snipers,' he thought now hoping that his backup would arrive shortly.
Lincoln and the other agent approached, stopping before they reached the car. Lincoln was the first to break the silence. "So, where's the doc?" he insisted through gritted teeth, eyeing both agents. He and Adelstein eyed off dominantly, neither one looking to back down.
But as in most cases involving Lincoln and a battle, he won. Adelstein broke the tension with a grin. "The boys are bringing her down now, just don't do anything stupid until then," he replied. Taking a breath he wondered what was taking Agent Miller so long to get the shots off. As if to answer his thought a gun shot was heard. His eyes paced from one brother to the other to see who was shot.
Stunned that both appeared to be unfazed movement out of the corner of his eye forced him to look at his partner who fell to knees. Blood seeping from his chest onto his white dress shirt. He collapsed to the ground, dead. Before he could act he heard another shot and felt the pain erupt from his chest. Confused, he looked down, seeing the unmistakable stain of blood on his hands. His breathing began to speed up as oxygen became harder to take in.
Like his partner, he fell to his knees before dropping face first to the cement. As his life faded from him he felt his blood pooling around him. Eyes still open they saw nothing but darkness.
Simultaneously, Lincoln and Michael looked to the rooftops to find a man looking like he belonged to some sort of mob give them a gesture of acknowledgement. Behind them the van they had hot wired, after they had devised a plan in rescuing Sara, slowly drove up. Westmoreland and Sucre were the only passengers inside.
In the driver's seat, Westmoreland put the van in park next to Michael. Sucre rolled the passenger window down as Michael put his hands on the door. "Nice timing," he nodded an approval and the pair smiled in confidence. Looking towards the rooftops he gave them another look. "He only sent one?" he asked skeptically, but none the less appreciated the offer.
"Nah, he sent two. I think he was being a little stingy. Figured we wouldn't need that much help," Sucre replied.
"Besides, I think after his demotion the number of guys on his side is limited. Plus he needed some security while he's still recovering," Westmoreland said, leaning forward to get into the conversation.
"Let's just hope he's true to his word about the private jet tonight," Lincoln said, standing behind Michael.
Before they had gone to rescue Sara they were able to get John Abruzzi out of the hospital. Security had been tight but they were not expecting the escaped criminals to risk getting caught, at least not to break out another prisoner who was recovering at a hospital. Fortunately John was able to be moved and that allowed Michael and the other the opportunity to create a distraction and easily smuggle John out.
"Alright, I'm going to go get Sara," Michael said. As he began to race towards the building Lincoln called out to him.
"Michael, wait." Turning, he watched as his brother pulled a handgun from one of the agents holsters. "You might need this," he said, eyeing him to be cautious and handed him the gun.
Michael nodded, placing the gun behind his back he started again towards the building. He heard Lincoln and Sucre follow. Appreciating their backup, he was more concerned for whoever held Sara captive, because if they had harmed her at all they would pay.
……….
Sara wandered down a staircase, leaning against the wall she tip toed in a hurried fashion towards what she hoped was an exit. Halfway down the stairs she heard a gun shot echo outside. Her heart pounded in her chest from fear and uncertainty. Looking around she made sure it was safe to move ahead.
As she started to descend the stairs again she was halted by another gun shot. This time she waited, anticipating a third shot. A couple of minutes later the silence urged her to continue ahead. Peeking around the corner before she stepped from the staircase she saw another agent.
Eyes wide in sudden panic she retrieved behind the wall. Closing her eyes she thought of a plan that would allow her to escape. An idea formed and she took another peek at the lone agent when she heard someone stop at the top of the stairs.
Recognizing the sound of a gun cocking she slowly turned to see another agent at the top of the stairs. She gritted her teeth out of frustration by her sudden lack of luck.
From the top of the stairs he looked down at her, head shaking in regret. "Nothing personal, doc," he said.
Gun fire was heard and Sara flinched, eyes snapping closed. It took her a couple of seconds to realize she didn't feel the sting of the bullet anywhere on her body. Opening her eyes she was just in time to watch the agent fall forward down the stairs.
She jumped out of the way as the body nearly ran into her. Now she was both terrified and confused. 'What the hell happened?' she thought, looking around. Another man in a suite stepped into sight from the top of the stairs.
On reaction she took the gun from the agents', at her feet, dead hand. As she started to aim it in front of her someone behind her grabbed her hand with the gun. "Doctor Tancredi," he said simply, releasing some pressure from the hand he held.
Sara stopped resisting and turned to look at him. Another man in a suite she recognized from seeing him moments earlier. He was the man that was blocking her from the door. She felt a little tension release when she saw in his eyes he meant her no harm. "John Abruzzi sends his thanks. He said you kept him from the dark and he will keep you from yours," he said. By now the man from the top of the stairs was behind them. She turned to look at both. They gave her an reassuring nod and she felt about as comfortable as she would standing this close to two of Aburzzi's hit men. "How is he doing?" she asked, hoping for more of update from them then what she got from the hospital he had been transferred to.
"He's on the road to recovery," the other said, "come. Let's get you out of here."
The pair stood on either side of her and they headed for the exit. Sara smiled on the inside. 'Perhaps knowing a mob boss isn't such a bad thing,' she thought. As they were about to open the door it flew open from the outside.
Quick to react the pair ushered Sara behind them to protect her and pulled out their weapons, ready to fire.
Her heart sped up as the man that had been the reason she had been kidnapped and nearly killed stopped when he saw the two men and Sara right in front of him. Reaching for the gun he paused from further advancement when one of the men held up his gun in a gesture of surrender. "Mr. Scofield, the building is clear and we've found the doctor," he said, pausing, "actually she found us."
Michael smiled seeing Sara behind them. Stepping passed them he approached Sara only to be slapped in the face. Abruzzi's men looked at each other then slowly departed, leaving the pair alone.
Michael didn't bother to reach for his throbbing cheek, instead he slowly returned his gaze to Sara who simply glared at him. All he could do was look down at the floor out of guilt, waiting for her response. "Damn it Michael your secrets nearly got me killed. Enough of the secrecy I want answers, now!" she demanded.
Michael drew a breath, then started the shorter version of the what he had kept from Sara. "It took me a year to break beneath the surface of why Lincoln was arrested. Nothing leading up to his arrest fit together, there was always another door to go through when I started to retrace the crime he was convicted of. The evidence, the witnesses, the explanations, everything was cooked up by the government. Whoever is at the bottom of this is high up and will do anything to get what they want. I knew that no matter how long I tried to uncover the lies or how much evidence I was able to obtain I'd be dead before I could help Lincoln. So instead I designed a plan to break him out before he could be executed. The infirmary was the most important place in the prison break. I do not have diabetes, I had to come up with a reason to get into the infirmary every day to set up the room and pipe leading up from the supply room.
You were involved because whoever is behind this needed someone to bring us back from the run so they could silence us." He paused, letting her take in all he had just said.
She looked as though she was piecing everything he had said, everything she had seen and been through. Finally she nodded, allowing Michael to finish. "I didn't want you to get involved. When we first met I did not expect to start to have feelings for you. The truth is, I never expected to have any sort of emotional response towards anyone at Fox River. I had a job I needed to do and I could not afford any slip ups. This needed to be simple and I tried to make it that way. You were not expected to impact me the way you did. What ultimately came from Fox River was something I've never felt before. I generally have the answers, if not I can find a way to answer them but with you, us, I don't know what to do or how to make it right," he finished. His gaze came to focus at ground.
It was short with many loop holes but Sara bought it. She had to after all she had been through. After her extensive research on Michael, after all of the rumors of conspiracies she heard having a governor for a father, after her kidnapping and near death it had to be true.
Taking a breath she inhaled. Her emotions catching in her throat she was unable to say anything. Sara was touched by his genuineness and honesty, coming from a man she met while he was a prisoner and had lied to her since they first met. She finally felt that door she'd been trying to open unlock and now all she had to do was enter.
Watching his reaction she was able to catch his eye when he looked at her. They became lost in the others' eyes. Before they found their way back to reality their gradual movement towards the other had resulted in a kiss. It was brief, but the spark there had ignited the realities of their immediate predicament.
They quickly pulled away and Michael was quick to speak. "Lincoln, Westmoreland and Sucre are all outside. You have quite a loyal following from Fox River," he said, trying to lighten the mood.
Sara smiled in a reply, "well, you guys get accustomed to seeing one female I guess loyalty is expected. Looks like everyone's ready for the next step in the relationship."
Michael laughed, making the bold move he took her hand in his. Sara finding comfort in his touch embraced it as they started for the door. Before Michael opened it Sara stopped dead in her tracks by the voice she heard outside.
"Where's my daughter?" came the loud, insisting voice of her father.
Michael heard it too. Beside him Sara stood there staring at the closed door. "Dad?" she said in a hush tone. Michael took the lead, knowing she wasn't quite able to take charge. Opening the door he was startled to see half a dozen military trucks, two black SUVs and a black limo. The vehicles surrounded Westmoreland in the van while Surce and Lincoln had been forced on their knees each with two military men behind them. In front of Lincoln the Governor stood.
"He went to find Sara inside," Lincoln said, knowing that any moment Michael would be walking out with Sara safe and sound.
As Michael and Sara began to step outside the attention had been drawn to them. "Target acquired!" one man shouted as nearly three dozen men turned their sights on the pair exited the building.
"Down! Get on the ground!" one shouted as they approached.
Michael did as instructed not wanting any harm to come to Sara if he didn't cooperate and if some were trigger happy. Beside him he was surprised when Sara did the same thing. Knowing it was completely unnecessary he knew why she did it and he couldn't help but smile.
As the men approached one reached out for Sara's arm while the rest kept their weapons aimed at Michael. Pulling her arm back Sara looked at them defiantly. "You hurt him, you hurt me," she shot back to their tight security at Michael and the others.
"Doctor, we have explicate instructions that you are not to be harmed," one of the military men said.
Sara looked at him. "So you're intimidating my savior?" she asked offensively.
Behind them her father approached and they made way for him, guns still aimed at Michael. "Sara," Frank began, knelling in front of Sara. Embracing her in a hug he lost whatever else he had to say. In less than two weeks he nearly lost his daughter twice, but now despite Sara being the bait for Michael and Lincoln he felt guilty for being involved with a government that had nearly taken his daughters life for their own interests.
"Dad," Sara began, head still resting on her father's shoulder for support, "Michael risked his freedom and his life to save me"
Pulling away from the embrace Frank looked at his daughter than at the man who knelt beside them. Turning to face the military men he nodded. Holstering their weapons they backed off a little, still watching just in case.
Sara and her father stood while Michael still knelt, feeling too uncomfortable with all of the military men to stand. Finding an offering hand he was surprised when he saw it to be the Governor's. He looked at Sara, truly unsure of what to do. Sara shook her head, she too was surprised by her father's sudden change of heart. Any other day, he would have had Michael and the others in cuffs and halfway back to Fox River by now, but today was different. Perhaps almost loosing her daughter twice in a short must have unthawed him a little. For a governor that wasn't a good thing, but for a dad it was.
She gave Michael an encouraging nod and he reached up slowly and took hold of the Governor's hand. Now standing face to face, eye to eye, Michael felt a little at ease. Frank eyed him a moment longer before turning towards the military men.
"General Callies," he called out. Stepping forward the general waited for further orders from the governor.
"Sir?"
Michael and Sara watched on. Knots forming in both their stomachs as they waited for whatever orders he was about to give. "Take your men, do a sweep of the area. Make sure no one from the Vice Presidents men are still around. Once it's clear your dismissed," he said.
"Yes sir, Governor," was the response and seconds later the general and the rest of the military men were off to abide by the governor's orders.
Returning his attention back to Michael, he looked over at Sara who watched on, curiously. "Michael, the most important thing to me is my family. I know I don't show it as a governor, but if I ever lost Sara," he paused, to take a breath. His emotional response surprising both Sara and Michael as he continued, "I just couldn't handle the consequences." Looking around he puffed himself up a bit to show his strong character, then gave him an opportunity only a powerful man could give. "I know this isn't standard procedure for me, but I'm going to allow you and the other three to walk."
Sara stepped forward before Michael could say anything. "Dad?" she started, her bewilderment took away her better judgment, considering she was going to question her father about something she actually agreed with.
He knew this as well, so he turned to his daughter to explain, "I got a call today while I was in the warden's office. One of my friends at the courthouse where Mr. Burrows' attorney is trying to appeal his case has evidence involving the Vice President. Among that one of my people found the records of the demand for Michael Scofield's immediate transfer. Then, of course, with all of the reports dealing with you and Michael's romance, my people became suspicions of who was really behind your kidnapping. After looking deeper they found out a small group of secret service agents were sent on a mission in the area. They put two and two together and were able to locate them here."
Despite his own tainted record as a governor he couldn't even compare to what he was up against. Fortunately, the people behind Lincoln Burrows were determined in proving his innocence and for a change he was thankful a death row inmate had not been executed. Regardless that Michael Scofield was the reason his daughter was kidnapped he was grateful Michael had risked his life for Sara, a second time.
In a way, Frank felt as though his reins of protecting his daughter were placed in another's hands. Despite his political views he had to put them on a second tier, he owed Michael. Sizing the younger man up he knew this would not be the last time he'd see him. In the short time he'd seen Sara and Michael together he knew something more might come of this. As a father, never finding anyone good enough for his daughter, he actually approved of the man his daughter had fallen for. Michael was a good man. He could live with the fact he was, and still is, a prisoner. For now, Michael and the others needed to get away until the conspiracy had been pieced together.
"Michael, despite my political obligations I will find a way to fix this mess," he paused to look at Sara who just stood, stunned by what she was hearing. "Go."
Michael smiled, giving him a simple nod his gaze returned to Sara. The pair shared a affectionate look then he turned and left with the three that he'd broken from prison with.
Sara stared as the van began to drive away. In the passenger seat Michael watched her until the van was out of sight. Even then she continued to watch on. Placing her arms around her father's waist she hugged him. Returning the gesture he pulled her closer to him, arm around her shoulders. Sara placed her head on his shoulder. "Dad, why did you let Michael leave?" she asked, knowing there was a little more to it then returning the favor for saving her.
He looked down at her, a smile formed on his lips when she looked up like a curious child wanting an answer from a parent. Of course he'd answer, "sometimes the government gets a little too messy and we have to break some of the rules to clean it up."
With that they were escorted to his limousine. For once they agreed on something.
-fin-
……….
Well the ending might be cheesy and Frank Tancredi might be slightly out of character BUT for the purpose of this fic I had to do it. I mean come on, he's gotta have a soft spot somewhere.Deep down I guess my inspiration came from watching the new episode 'The Rat'. I thought Frank would have called back and told them to stall the execution, but I was wrong, so that's where I got my soft hearted governor!
A note about Prison Break, I know all of the loose ends, especially with the Vice President that things wouldn't be this easy in 'real' life BUT I had to tie the loose ends. What's great about the show is the main story of it is this tree that has branches that continues to grow and expand. So what I did was come along and make sure the branches didn't expand any more. They gotta end somewhere, otherwise you have a huge mess!
But thank you for those who have reviewed! I hope everyone has enjoyed this to a point! Great show, fun times! Cheers!