Clara grunted in pain as Alex helped her to her feet once they had docked further down the coast. He had helped her back into her dress, his hands warm as they grazed her back and he pulled the zip back up. He had cradled her close to him, his arms holding her steady as he demanded for an ambulance and the man in charge of the port seemed to move away with haste, calling for medical help.

"Are you sure this is necessary?" Clara asked as he saw the big step onto the port.

"I'd rather be safe than sorry," Alex told her, bending down to pick her up once more, feeling her arm drape over his shoulders as her side hit against his stomach.

He took a deep breath before climbing up the step and walking down the wooden plank towards land, still carrying her despite her protesting that she could walk. As he stood at the end and looked to the man in charge, he nodded and spoke in a quick voice, telling Alex that an ambulance would be there soon.

"What happened to her?" the man asked.

"Nothing serious," Clara was the one to answer as Alex tried to adjust her in his arms. "I caught myself on something in the boat…it got lodged in my side. He's just being overprotective."

"I see," the man said, offering a small wink towards Clara as he patted her arm once. "I would do the same for my wife, senorita…but that woman is always tripping into things and injuring herself. I don't know what to do with her most of the time."

Clara offered him a kind smile, not bothering to respond to him on that matter. It took another five minutes before the ambulance arrived and Clara was bundled into the back of it. Alex laid her down on the bed before motioning outside to her.

"I'll wait there," he said before addressing the paramedic. "I bandaged it and cleaned it so it shouldn't be infected, but if she has to go into hospital…"

The female paramedic placed a hand on his arm, silently assuring him that everything was going to be fine. "Si, senor, we will take a look and let you know."

Dropping his hands to his hips, Alex paced along the length of the boat, his mind still on Clara as he thought of what he had just seen. Leaning against the vehicle, he let his hands move down his face as he contemplated what had just happened. He didn't know what he felt as soon as he saw her bring her blooded hand up, showing him the evidence of the gunshot. He had flown into a fit of blind hot rage at the sight of it, killing the man who had hurt her.

And then all he could think of was getting her out of there before anything more could happen to her. He had done his best not to seem too panicked, knowing that would only alarm Clara more considering they didn't know the extent of her injuries, but he had struggled not to feel worry course through his veins.

It took another ten minutes before Clara left the ambulance, the paramedics helping her down the step. Alex stood before her, his eyes set on her as she glanced back to him. He took hold of her once the paramedics let her go, his arm slipping around her waist, almost as though he was worried she would fall without support.

"She is going to be fine," the paramedic declared. "That hook she hit was nasty, but it did not do any lasting damage. You were lucky."

"I guess so," Clara said.

"Just make sure you keep changing the bandage and cleaning the wound…and nothing too strenuous either."

"Thanks," Alex said to them as they nodded and bid their farewells.

"We should get going," Clara said and they began hobbling back towards the boat. Alex asked for directions while Clara peered down the dock, eyes narrowing as she saw people boarding the boat they had just vacated. Her eyebrows knitted together as she heard them yell at each other and Alex kept on discussing things with the man next to him.

"Alex," Clara whispered, dragging his attention away. "Something is wrong."

"Is this your boat, senor?"

Alex looked to the man who had addressed him, dressed in a black uniform, no doubt some form of cop. Alex nodded while Clara knew that something was happening. Something bad was happening and she couldn't put her finger on what it was. Biting down on her tongue, she felt Alex's grip on her increase.

"Well, yeah," Alex said. "What's the problem?"

It was then when someone left the boat with a black bag and Clara's eyes widened as the man opened the bag and nodded to the one who was questioning them.

"Drugs, senor," he said. "You're going to have come with us…you too…"

"No," Clara said with haste as she was snatched from Alex's grip, her arms forced behind her back as she felt handcuffs go around her wrists. "They are not ours…we don't know anything about them…nothing…"

"She's telling the truth!" Alex howled, fighting against the men who were trying to cuff him, but failing miserably. "She's telling you the truth, we don't know whose drugs those are. We are telling the truth!"

They weren't listening to them as they were forced down the dock, people staring at them as they were dragged away. Clara caught Alex's eye and they both knew exactly who had done this to them. Michael had set them up. He knew they would be caught. Clara almost felt sick at that thought. She knew how Michael detested Mahone, but she had hoped that he didn't feel the same way about her. But he had given them no warning. There had been nothing.

As her head was forced downwards into the back of the police car, all Clara could do was take one final look at the ocean, sensing that her chance of freedom had been fleeting.

…

She sat down on the bench in the middle of the holding cell as Alex made his phone call to his wife. She had seen him break down for a brief moment, his hand holding his forehead as he closed his eyes and tears streamed down his cheeks. Clara had simply remained seated, not wanting to eavesdrop on his conversation. She had gotten the basics of what he was saying.

She understood that he had told Pam to forget about him and forget about their plans. Clara knew how difficult that had been for him, but a part of Clara thought that was the best for Pam. She knew exactly what would have happened if Pam had come out to him. Alex would have put her in danger. A life on the run meant a life in constant danger.

Clara said nothing as Alex took his seat next to her once more, his clothes dirtied after everything they had done. He kept his hands on his thighs while Clara sat up straight, looking at the metal bars that were keeping them caged in. The heat in the room was enough for her to begin to sweat, her mind on nothing but getting out.

"I know," was all Clara could say to him and he nodded at her.

"I need you to listen to me," Alex said, his voice low and full of pleading as he spoke to her and she managed to look at him as he looked around the room that was filled with convicts waiting to be transferred. "Scofield set us up. We both know that."

"I know it," Clara said, "and I'm pissed with him, but if we tell the truth-"

"-No one will believe us," Alex said, interrupting her as he took a deep breath. "No one will believe anything about what he did. You know, Scofield, he's good at covering his tracks."

"So what do we do?" Clara wondered and Alex dared to move his hand to her arm, holding it softly before he moved his other hand to her cheek, his thumb running along her cheekbone. "Alex?"

"You know that I never meant for any of this to happen," Alex told her. "All I wanted was a better life for me…my family…and you…because, for some reason, Clara Reynolds, I can never get you off of my mind, despite everything."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Clara asked of him and he shrugged his shoulders to her.

"I don't know," he answered her honestly. "I honestly don't know what I mean or even what I am trying to say. All I know is that I do care about you, probably more than I should or more than I have about anyone else recently."

She turned away then, hand covering her mouth as Alex dragged her gaze back to his, fingers guiding her cheek to turn her head as his other hand ran down her arm to capture her fingers inside of his, holding them tightly.

"And it's because I care why I am doing this," he whispered, moving with haste to kiss her on the forehead as he stood up.

His grip left her and she stood slowly, watching him move towards the gates, banging on them quickly. Following him, Clara walked steadily towards him as a guard came to stand before Alex, chewing on a piece of gum.

"I want to confess," Alex said to him, eyes flitting around as Clara shook her head as he continued to speak. "I did it…she had no idea…you need to let her go."

"No!" Clara roared out loud, unable to push herself quickly to Alex, but she eventually got there, her hand going to his arm as the guard opened the gate and beckoned for Alex to go with him to an interview room.

Pulling at his arm, Clara shook her head as she spoke to him. "Alex, don't do this…don't…please…"

Turning to look back to her, Alex managed to pull her wrist so that he held it in his grip to stop her from pulling at him. She shook her head slowly, her eyes wet with tears and Alex wondered why she was doing this.

"I dragged you into this," Alex said in a low voice, his other hand going back to push her hair behind her ear, a motion that was slowly becoming familiar to him as he completed it. "So I'm going to protect you."

"No," she said. "I don't need protection."

"Maybe not," Alex shrugged, "but maybe this is the right thing to do."

Clara said nothing further to him as the guard pulled him from the holding cell and dragged him down the corridor. Letting her fingers wrap around the bars, Clara pressed herself against them, her tears now flowing down her face as she continued to cry, unable to stop herself.

"Alex!" she called after him, her voice still pleading for him not to do this. He didn't turn around to look back at her, instead he just kept on walking with the guards until they rounded the corner.

Bowing her head, Clara accepted defeat, knowing that she would do whatever she could to get Alex free. She owed him that much after what he had just done for her. Picking her head up, she moved back into the holding cell, her thoughts turning back to Scofield and how she could get her revenge on him.

…

Clara was released that evening, but she did not leave the police station. Instead she stayed and demanded to know where Alex was being held. She found out that he had been taken to a prison called Sona and so she had demanded to see him. The men had laughed at her then before telling her that she would have to go the following day. But then they advised her against it, telling her how the prison wasn't your typical detention facility.

Furrowing her brows at hearing that, Clara wondered what they were on about before they told her how the prisoners had forced the guards from the building and they ran things inside. The security was heavy, with guards stationed at various points. Apparently they shot anyone who left the walls.

She had held her head in her hands as she came outside and she realised that she had nothing. She had left her satchel in the warehouse and she suspected that was probably a crime scene with a dead body in it, unless The Company had moved them. No doubt they didn't want a scene.

She had no money on her to help her catch a cab, but she could soon rectify that. It took a while before a cab agreed to take her and she promised to pay him on the other end of the journey. Thankfully, the warehouse was empty. She wasted no time in moving inside of it, grabbing her bag and thanking God that everything had been untouched.

Once outside, she presented him the money and asked him if she could grab a lift to a hotel somewhere, knowing that she needed to freshen up. As they drove through the streets of Panama City, she saw someone who looked familiar.

"Stop, please," Clara urged and he did as she had asked.

Feeling the rage inside of her build, Clara handed the driver some more cash and thanked him for going out of his way for her. She climbed from the cab before storming across the street and blocking the path of the man who was walking there. He stood still as soon as he came across her, looking down and sighing.

"Clara…"

But he didn't say anything further as Clara raised her hand and slapped him across the face, not bothering to conceal the anger she felt. Her slap seemed to have done nothing to him as he didn't even turn his head far to the side. People watched on as she pointed her finger at him, her cheeks reddening as she saw him look back to her, slight agitation on his face as he did so.

"Your brother is an arsehole, did you know that?" she snapped and Lincoln held his hands up in defence.

"I didn't know what he had done until you had gone…and what happened to you?"

"I got shot," Clara said. "It was only a flesh wound, but Alex docked and insisted I go to a hospital. The police were onto us and they found the drugs your brother had stashed in the yacht. He knew what he was doing, didn't he? He set us up!"

"Yeah, he knew," Lincoln said. "But he only thought that Alex was going to be on that boat. He never meant to get you into trouble."

"Well, he did," Clara huffed and Lincoln frowned.

"So how come you're free and out here?" he wondered from her.

"Because Alex took the fall for it," she said. "He said that I didn't know anything about the drugs and it was all him…he…he took the fall and now they have him locked away in some jail called Sona."

Lincoln nodded, taking in the information. Mahone had taken the fall for the girl. He had fallen on the sword and saved her. He had done something selfless. Clearly Alex did feel something for the woman stood opposite Lincoln. He took a second before scratching the back of his head.

"Yeah, well, that's where Michael has ended up."

"What?" Clara asked, well and truly shocked at that as Lincoln nodded.

"We were ready to escape when that man…Kim…showed up. Sara shot him but Michael took the fall for it," Lincoln said. "They dragged him off to Sona tonight. I'm going to visit him in the morning to find out what the hell I need to do."

Shaking her head slowly as a clap of thunder echoed in the sky, Clara felt the first raindrop as Lincoln looked down to her.

"Listen, I have a room booked a couple of blocks from here. Come back to the hotel with me before it starts raining."

"Why on earth would I do that?" Clara demanded from him.

"Because I'm not your enemy," he said to her. "I'm not your enemy and we both know that The Company are probably still after you. Do you think you'll be safe if you're on your own?"

"I can defend myself," she said and Lincoln motioned to the ripped dress she wore and the bandage showing through it.

"Yeah, that's why you got shot," he scoffed. "Just come back with me or don't, it's your choice. I have bigger things to worry about."

Clara huffed as he began to turn on his heel and walk away from her. It took a moment before she cursed under her breath and began to move after him, following him down the street as she looked up to him and he glanced back down to her.

"This doesn't mean I agree with what your brother did to Alex."

"Alex shot our father," Lincoln told her. "He can rot in that jail, I couldn't care less about him. My brother is in there and I need to get him out. You can stay the night and then go back to worrying about your beloved Alex Mahone."

Clara ground her teeth together as she followed Lincoln back to the hotel and looked around, a part of her swearing that they were being followed.

…

"Defending him will only end up getting you killed."

Lincoln spoke to her as she stood in the bathroom, listening to the storm raging on outside. Her hands gripped hold of the sides of the sink as she kept herself wrapped up in a towel. She had showered and had nothing else to change into except the ripped dress she had worn there.

She knew that she should go and find something else to wear the following morning, but she had other things on her mind for the time being. It took a moment before she left the bathroom and looked to Lincoln who was perched on the edge of the sofa, a gun resting on the table as he kept his eyes fixed on it.

"He's…I'm not saying it anymore because I get that you're pissed with him," Clara said, standing in the doorway as she held her hands up in defence. "I would be pissed off with him if he had killed my father and I get that, okay? But you need to understand what he has gone through."

"No," Lincoln shook his head. "I refuse to understand what he did."

"Because you're innocent?" Clara asked, arching her brow at him as she kept her hand to her chest, making sure the towel stayed there. "I know what you did, Lincoln. You might not have shot the President's brother, but you went there with the intent to do it. Besides, you've been caught up in some dodgy business."

Lincoln couldn't deny that. He said nothing as Clara shrugged her shoulders at him, knowing that she had him on that one. The only reason why he hated Alex was because of what he had done to his father and what he had been forced to do.

"But I couldn't pull the trigger," Lincoln said. "He can."

"He's had to," Clara retorted back to him and he remained quiet. "You have a son. What would you do to protect him? Anything, I'd guess."

"He's not a part of this," Lincoln said and Clara nodded.

"I know," she agreed, "but I'm asking you what you would have done."

Lincoln went mute as he watched her turn around and move back into the bathroom. But that was when he saw them. The towel covered the majority of her back, but not her legs. He saw the scars there and his eyes widened, wondering if that was what The Company had done to her.

…

Clara had let Lincoln go off and do his own thing while she had caught a cab down to Sona. She had bought some new clothes before going there, dressed now in a long black dress without sleeves. She had sunglasses on her face as she looked to the prison, unable to comprehend what she was seeing. It took her a moment before she gathered the strength to walk into the main hut outside of the gates.

"I'm here to see Alexander Mahone," she declared, moving to the desk as a guard looked up to her, sweat pooling down his forehead as he adjusted his cap to get a look at her.

"American," he spoke. "We don't get many Americans down here. Sign in here."

She moved to pick the pen up and scribbled her name down in the book before the guard motioned at another guard. Turning to look to him, she followed him outside and into a set of gates. Looking around, she saw the watch towers before daring to look straight ahead. There was a door leading from the prison, leading to an area where the meshed wire stopped them from going any further.

Motioning to the wire, the guard moved off to the side, clutching onto his weapon as Clara looked down the line of the visitation area. There was a young woman further down the line alongside a man, speaking to a young boy who looked no older than twenty. Clara gulped. What the hell was this place?

It took a moment before she heard the doors open and then she saw him. He stumbled out of the door, hand to his forehead to block out the sun as he moved towards the fence. He had only looked up to see her once before averting his gaze back to the floor.

He stood before her as she pulled her sunglasses from her eyes and placed them on top of her head. He was dressed in the clothes he had been arrested in, his face full of sweat and his hair stuck up at various angles. Clara gulped at the sight of him. He looked rough.

"Talk to me," Clara urged him. "Alex…"

"It's a hell hole," he spoke, a bitter laugh at the end of his statement. "The prison is an absolute hell hole."

"I heard about how the guards cleared out," she told him and he nodded at her.

"Yeah, there's an internal hierarchy," he responded to her and she gulped at hearing that. "One man runs it all…he dragged us new ones in there this morning to explain the rules. I'm just keeping my head down."

"And Scofield?" Clara asked and Alex scoffed, looking over to the side as Clara took a step closer and Alex shook his head hastily before looking back to Clara.

"I wanted to form an alliance with him," he informed her. "We need to survive in here somehow. He basically told me to get lost."

"I'm going to try to do everything I can to get you out," Clara said to him. "If we can get him to admit that he set us up-"

"-It would never work," Alex said. "Especially not now I confessed to it."

Clara went silent at that, her gaze meeting Alex's as he spoke those words. He had done it to save her and she didn't know how she could ever thank him. She supposed the only way would be to try to save him now. Clara took another step closer, her hands wrapping around the wire as Alex watched her make the motion, wondering if he had ever seen her look so determined before.

"I'll make this right," Clara said. "I will find a way to get you out of here."

He shook his head. "If you get me out of here then I'll just end up back in the States in another jail…there's nothing for me now, Clara."

"Don't say that," Clara demanded from him and Alex shrugged at her.

"It's true," he told her. "By now Sullins and Wheeler will have all the evidence they need to know what I did…all because Franklin couldn't kill himself. He will have told them what I told him to do…and then there's Shales."

"Franklin?" Clara asked him. "Isn't he the one who turned himself in for his daughter?"

"Yeah," Alex said. "And I told him the only way he could keep his family safe was to hang himself. He had the rope, but it failed and I imagine Sullins has got to him and asked him what I told him to do."

Clara looked away, a feeling of nausea taking over her as Alex watched her. He could almost see the disgust in her face before he spoke.

"I'm glad he failed," Alex whispered. "And if he gets out and gets to be with his family…then that's good. That was the hardest thing I had to do, I think."

"Christ," Clara mumbled.

"Still want to help me now?" Alex asked of her. "Clara, you've defended me more than anyone else ever has, but we both know I'm not a good man. A good man would never have shot Shales in the first place and got himself into this mess. Perhaps this is what I deserve."

"Don't say that," Clara whispered and Alex shrugged.

"We both know it's true," he responded. "Listen to me, Clara…come on…look at me."

She managed to move her gaze to his as Alex looked her in the eye and all she could see was a broken man. Alex was completely broken and there was nothing she could do to fix that. All he did was move his hand over hers through the fence.

"Forget me," he urged her. "Get away from here and forget me."

"No," Clara shook her head. "You can't ask me to do that."

"I can and I have," he replied. "I am serious, Clara. I want you to go. I don't want you to waste anymore time on me."

"No," she repeated, "after everything you did for me…how can you ask me to leave you? You're here because you took the blame for it…you're here because you came to me when I was stupid enough to go after Shales. I can't forget you. I won't. I'm going to do what I can to help."

Alex could only look at her before releasing his hand from hers and backing away from the fence, his voice low and encouraging as he spoke to her.

"Forget me," he told her again. "I've put you through enough already…just go."

"No," Clara said as Alex turned around and began to walk back into Sona. She clung onto the fence as she called after him, but he didn't turn around to look to her. "Alex! Alex!"

He disappeared from her sight then and Clara could only release the wire in defeat, her hands going to grab her sunglasses from the top of her head as she walked away, promising that she would not leave him in there to rot. She couldn't do that to him.

….

A/N: Once again, thanks to Evie for reviewing. Do let me know if you're reading!