Clara blinked profusely as she stopped panting for breath once her training with Lincoln had come to the end that night. The gym in the hotel was located underground and Lincoln had hired out one of the private rooms to train Clara in late at night. He didn't claim to be an expert on self defence, but he knew how to act when someone was coming at you with clenched fists.

She had collapsed to the ground once they had finished, landing on the soft mat floor as Lincoln chucked her a water bottle and told her what he had been doing all day. She took a swig of the water before wiping the back of her mouth.

"You planted a bomb in her car?" Clara checked what he had just told her. "Firstly, do you not think she will find it? Secondly, how the hell did you know where to buy a bomb from?"

Lincoln chuckled at her outburst, sitting on the opposite side of the room, back leaning against the wall as he took a gulp of water and wiped his forehead. He shrugged his shoulders as he answered her question.

"You can find anything if you put your mind to it," he informed her and she shook her head. "Besides, Sucre made sure it was well hidden. I need a contingency plan in place."

"Yeah," Clara agreed, "but a bomb?"

"Hey, if you have any other great ideas then I'm all ears," he promised her, opening his arms wide to encourage suggestions, but all he got was a sharp shrug and a deep sigh from her as she took a moment to tighten her ponytail.

"And do you think she doesn't know that she's being played?" Clara enquired. "I mean, she can't be stupid."

"I know she isn't stupid," Lincoln said. "I just hope that she doesn't pay attention to what is in her car."

"Good God," Clara whispered, "I am so glad I am staying out of this bit of the plan. I mean…I want to help you but I don't really know anyone who has a bomb making kit at their disposal."

"If you want to help me then I need you to do me a favour," Lincoln said and Clara shrugged.

"What is it?" she wondered from him.

"There's Sofia," he spoke to her. "She…she's innocent in all of this as Whistler's girlfriend, but I think there might come a time when she is in trouble. We're visiting Whistler and my brother tomorrow and I want you to come with me…and then go with her…just make sure she's safe."

"You think that I can keep her safe because The Company don't want to hurt me?" Clara asked.

"Worth a shot," he told her.

"Yeah," Clara nodded. "I'll do it."

…

Clara couldn't deny that Sofia was a stunning woman. Her tanned skin and her dark hair gave her an exotic look. She had been pleasant enough to Clara when Lincoln had introduced her. Clara had shaken her hand politely and offered her a kind smile before going to sign into the visitation at Sona to see Alex. It was only when she saw Lincoln move a hand to Sofia's arm did a smile form on her lips as he jogged to keep up with her.

He signed in and the two of them made their way towards the visitation fence. She said nothing for a moment before her mind began to whirl.

"So," she drawled, tone teasing as she spoke, "how long have you fancied Whistler's girlfriend?"

Lincoln looked to her and shook his head. "It isn't like that."

"No?" Clara wondered. "I saw how you looked at her."

"Listen, we can talk about me and Sofia at the same time we talk about you and Alex," Lincoln deadpanned and Clara rolled her eyes at hearing him. She said nothing further as Lincoln let a smirk move on his face. "Thought so," he muttered.

As they came to the fence, Clara managed to glance to Michael, but her gaze was firmly set on Alex. He moved closer to her and she was relieved to see that the shakes had stopped and his eyes were now set on her instead of flickering all over the place. Letting her lips quirk, she nodded to him as he nodded back and she knew that he was through the worst of it.

"What's happening?" Lincoln asked from his brother.

"We'll be out in twenty four hours so I need you to make sure things are in order on your end of the line," Michael spoke.

"They will be," Lincoln promised his brother.

"So you're making good progress," Clara declared and Michael turned to look at her and she looked back to him, her brows arched and her eyes narrowed. "Listen, Michael, I know you don't want to help Alex-"

"-You have no idea," Michael interrupted her. "But it seems that you're a hard woman to bargain with. My brother told me how you're willing to act as our leverage if I break him out."

"That deal goes away if you screw him over," Clara reminded him and he dropped his hands to his hips.

"As I said, you're a hard woman to bargain with."

Alex remained silent then, his eyes fixed on Clara as she offered Michael one final glower before stepping away and further down the fence, Alex following her, his hand running along the fence as Clara dropped her arms to fold over her stomach, her chin motioning back down to Michael as she spoke in a hushed tone to Alex.

"I take it you're watching him like a hawk?" she checked of him and he offered her a small chuckle.

"Yeah," Alex confirmed. "But that doesn't mean that he can't screw me over. Although I've got to say your mean act back there makes me think he won't."

Clara did smile then as she nodded to Alex. "Well, I like to know where I stand with people. So how you feeling, anyway? You're looking better than when I last saw you."

"Couldn't feel much worse," he responded with a nonchalant shrug. "But I'm getting there. I mean, it isn't easy, but I keep thinking of everything that has happened…and how important it is to get clean."

"You're not wrong," Clara told him. "I know I was harsh on you before-"

"-I needed it," Alex interrupted her. "I needed you to tell me the truth for me to be able to see what I was doing. I ruined myself and said some pretty horrible things, but I want to put it right. In twenty four hours I'll be out of here and able to do that."

Nodding, Clara seemed to understand what she was hearing from him. He wanted to put things right with Pam. He wanted to salvage his marriage. She took a moment to compose herself, her head bobbing up and down as she continued nodding and then she coughed lightly.

"Well, I'm sure your family will be glad to hear it."

Shaking his head, Alex wrapped his hands around the metal grate. "I can't go back home," he told her. "Pam and Cameron are safer without me right now…no…I have other important things to do."

"Like?"

"Like make sure you don't get yourself killed digging into The Company," Alex responded. "You've had my back all the time I have been in here-"

"-You're in here because you took the blame for the drugs," Clara interrupted, glancing down to Michael and shooting an accusatory glance before her eyes went back to Alex.

"No," he shook his head. "We both know I'm here because I deserved it, but you're the only one who hasn't thought that. After everything...trying to get me out…using yourself as leverage…I think it's time that someone watched your back and that's what I'm going to do."

Searching his gaze, there was nothing but a look of honesty that he was showing her. He was telling her the truth and, furthermore, he didn't look at her as though he felt an obligation to help her. He looked at her with a glance that showed that he wanted to do this.

"Alex, I don't want you to think you're in debt to me-"

"-No," Alex agreed, shaking his head. "I'm doing this because I want to. Because I want to be there for you…make sure you're safe…because…I think I care more deeply for you than I want to admit to myself."

Clara looked down then, nodding before picking her gaze back up to meet his and finding the courage to speak. "Likewise," was all she managed to say, "but let's just focus on getting you out of here, okay?"

"Tomorrow," he said and Clara moved her hand over his, squeezing his fingers.

"Tomorrow."

…

Clara had finally met with the infamous Sucre once they returned to the hotel. The man had seemed charming enough, with his tanned complexion and bald head. He had a kindly face and a loyal stare, pretty much saying that he would do anything for anyone. Sofia had gone into the bathroom and Clara had agreed to go with her to grab her stuff from the house she was living in.

"We meet tomorrow," Lincoln said once she had returned from the bathroom. "Do you both know the meeting point?"

"Playa Blanca, 3-12?" Sofia asked, confirming with Lincoln as he nodded his head.

"Exactly," he responded and Clara offered him a small smile before following Sofia out of the room and down the corridors.

Clara had packed all of her belongings and stored them in the cab she had waiting for them outside to take them to Sofia's place. She was gong to spend the night there before going to the meeting point the following day and only then would she be free with Alex.

"Lincoln told me everything about your boyfriend," Clara said, trying to initiate conversation as the woman folded her arms over herself and she glanced to the ground. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm not sure," Sofia answered honestly, wondering why she was even talking to this woman next to her. "I mean, how are you supposed to feel when the man you love is not who you think he is?"

"Devastated," Clara responded without skipping a beat. "It takes time to heal, but then you might not even want to give him another chance. It all depends on how you're feeling yourself."

"I don't know," Sofia responded.

"You don't need to decide right away," Clara said. "Trust me, it took me years before I saw through my ex."

"Why?" Sofia wondered from her and Clara shrugged.

"I don't know," she admitted, pressing the button for the elevator and waiting for it to appear. She said nothing for a few moments as she watched it work its way down the floors to theirs. "Everyone else could see it, but I couldn't…the way he would cut me off talking…or grip onto me when we were out in public…or manipulate me not to go out. I think when you're so in love you're willing to ignore what people say."

"But you didn't?" Sofia wondered as the elevator pinged open and Clara sighed.

"I ignored them for a long time…too long."

…

Sofia had a homely place and Clara couldn't deny that. She had gone into the bedroom to pack a case as Clara placed her small suitcase by the door, her satchel resting on top of it along with her passport and everything she would need for leaving. She moved around the living room quietly, hands behind her back as she heard some noise from the bedroom and her brows furrowed.

"You okay, Sofia?" she wondered.

"Fine," the woman responded and Clara went to stand in the doorway in time to see her trying to hide some kind of briefcase. Pointing to it, Clara stepped into the room.

"What is that?" she asked as her phone began to buzz in her jacket pocket and she pulled it out, looking at the message informing her that the plan had been changed for that night with thanks to the rain. But Clara was too interested in the case for the moment.

Moving over to it, she pulled it from Sofia's grip and sat it down on the bed, watching as the duvet crumpled underneath its weight. Clara pulled at it, but it wasn't opening as Sofia stood behind her shoulder and motioned to it.

"I don't know how to get into it," she said, accepting that she couldn't hide it.

"It's locked, but I don't know how," Clara responded. "Listen, you need to pack a bag now. Lincoln text and said that the plan has changed to tonight."

"Tonight?" Sofia echoed.

"Yeah," Clara said, crouching down so she was eye level with the case on the bed. "So you get packing and I'll try to figure out what this is and how to get into it."

Sofia did as she had been instructed, packing with haste as Clara continued to work on the case, but to no prevail. Shaking her head, she slammed a fist down on top of the silver box and stood up straight, pulling down the short red dress she wore with her tights.

"It's impossible," she complained. "We're taking this with us, though. We can see if Whistler can unlock it."

"He must be able to," Sofia said, zipping up a small case. "It's his." Her voice was curt and Clara suspected she was angry with her boyfriend, not that she could blame her.

It was then when Clara swore she heard a noise from the living room. Standing up, Clara held a hand behind her as Sofia looked and followed her gaze. She said nothing as Clara moved towards the living room, looking around before seeing that the door was ajar. Before she had the chance to turn on her heel and yell at Sofia to run, she felt a hand move over her mouth as she screamed, trying to put everything Lincoln had taught her into practice, but it was no use as a hand squeezed around her neck and knocked her out.

…

"Well, well, well, look who decided to join us?"

Clara opened her eyes, the feeling of grogginess taking hold of her as she tried to move her limbs, only to find that she was restricted. Looking down, she saw that her wrists had been handcuffed behind her as she sat restrained to a chair. She managed to look up, noticing that she was in an empty warehouse of some kind as a woman stood across from her, dressed in a black dress with dark hair, her face plump and a mocking smile on her lips.

"Gretchen?" Clara guessed, still feeling groggy.

"So Lincoln did tell you about me," she said, hand to her chest. "I'm honoured."

"I wouldn't be," Clara responded, "he wasn't exactly pleasant."

Clicking her fingers, she looked on with a sad smile. "Dang," she said with sarcasm.

It was then when the woman checked her phone and Clara noticed Sofia sat opposite her. She wasn't constrained to a chair, but she did have a gun pointed to her forehead. Clara groaned inwardly as she looked to Gretchen and dared to speak, her voice even as she refused to feel intimidated.

"I take it you work for The Company," Clara said.

"Got it in one." Gretchen responded, heels clicking on the floor as she paced up and down.

"So who is it that I know in The Company who wants me alive?" Clara wondered from her and Gretchen looked amused, brow furrowed as she let her gaze move onto Clara's face.

"You still don't know?" she asked of her and Clara rolled her eyes.

"If I knew then I wouldn't be asking you," she sniped and Gretchen continued to look entertained as she checked her watch, knowing that Lincoln would be arriving sometime soon.

"Maybe you'll find out one day," Gretchen said. "Your mommy and daddy certainly did."

Clara continued to watch her then, her eyes wide at what she had just heard from her. Gretchen watched her back before sitting down in her own chair and taking a sip of lemonade from a bottle.

"What did you just say?" Clara demanded and Gretchen challenged her with a harsh stare.

"You heard," she said. "I would have thought those scars on your back would be enough to keep you away, but you just keep on popping back up. Apparently it's to save your little partner in crime, Alex. What is it, Clara? You madly in love with some drug addict killer because you couldn't save your own sister?"

Clara shook in her chair, her body moving with haste as she rocked back and forth. "What the hell did you mean about my parents?"

"Relax," Gretchen demanded. "You'll find out one day."

Clara didn't have a chance to challenge her any further as Lincoln entered the warehouse, his gaze moving between the three women around the table before he saw the men stood around, guns in their fingertips.

"What is this, Susan...Gretchen...whoever you are?" Lincoln demanded.

"Just a little conversation about tonight," she said to him. "I wanted to make sure we were on the same page."

"It's the same as before. Nothing has changed," Lincoln responded quickly.

"No, you see, I want to involve everyone in this," Gretchen declared, looking around the room as Clara let her gaze move to Lincoln and she wondered if he had a plan to get them out of this.

She tried to slip her fingers through the cuff on her wrist, but nothing was working. Instead she had no other option but to keep quiet, her teeth grinding together as Lincoln rolled up the sleeves to his black top.

"Call your brother and put Whistler on. I have a message for him," Gretchen demanded from Lincoln who did as he was told.

He held the phone to his ear as he spoke, his tone flat as he kept his eyes on Sofia. "You with Whistler?" He asked once his brother had picked up. "Gretchen has a message for him."

Whistler came on the other end of the line as Lincoln spoke, looking to Gretchen. "I've got him, what now?"

"Tell him that I want him to listen very closely to what I am about to say," Gretchen said, moving to her feet and taking something from one of the men behind Sofia.

Lincoln began to repeat, but Whistler snapped down the phone, telling Lincoln that he could hear.

"James?" Sofia whispered.

"He wants to know what is happening," Lincoln declared and Gretchen nodded, still perched behind Sofia.

"Okay, I'll let him know," she said and then she lunged forwards, a cigarette digging into Sofia's skin as the woman let out a yell in pain. Lincoln began to move forwards, phone dangling by his side as Clara demanded for Gretchen to stop.

She pulled the cigarette away and Sofia bent over, head on the table as pain wracked through her body and Clara ground her teeth together as Gretchen moved over to Lincoln, holding her hand out and taking the phone back.

"Have you got the coordinates yet?" Gretchen demanded and judging by the response, it was the wrong one as she burned Sofia once again, the girl now beginning to openly cry as she made her ultimatum. "So I want those coordinates by the end of the day or little Sofia…well…" she ended her threat by pushing the cigarette against Sofia's neck once more before hanging up.

Clara shook her head with haste. "You're a real bitch, you know that?" she demanded from her and Gretchen shrugged.

"I've heard that," she promised her and Clara looked over to Lincoln, seeing the pain etched on his face. She might have teased him about how he had a crush on Sofiaa, but she could see now that he was deadly serious about her.

"Clean her up," Gretchen demanded from Lincoln, tossing him a first aid kit as the men in the warehouse wandered around and Clara did her best not to seem too concerned as Lincoln took a seat behind Sofia and sat down, finding something to help with the pain.

"It'll be fine," he promised her, tone soothing as he spoke and Clara wondered if he was telling the truth.

"Besides," Gretchen spoke, sitting down once more and looking to Sofia. "If James loves you then he will give us what we want and you two can go off together."

As Lincoln turned to look to her, Gretchen let a coy smile fall on her face. "Unless you've moved on," she suggested and Lincoln remained stoic, his glare refusing to move from his features.

Clara remained mute, still trying to work with the handcuffs and pull them from her wrist.

"So what is it about Whistler that is so important?" Lincoln demanded.

"That, Lincoln, is none of your business," Gretchen responded and Clara felt the urge to roll her eyes as the woman stood up. "Now get up. We're off to pay a little visit to your boyfriend and find out if he has what we want."

"What about her?" one of the men gestured towards Clara as Gretchen shrugged her shoulders.

"Keep her here for an hour until we've gone and then dump her back at the hotel. She's not our concern," Gretchen responded.

"I'll find out," Clara called out as two of the men pointed to Lincoln and Sofia and gestured for them to move. "Whatever you did to my parents, I will find out."

"I didn't do anything," Gretchen responded. "But good luck, honey."

"She comes with us," Lincoln said and Gretchen dropped a hand to her hip.

"I don't think you're in any position to be making deals," Gretchen replied to Lincoln.

"I'll be fine," Clara said to him, not wanting to see him in anymore trouble than he currently was. "You need to go…I can cope."

Lincoln offered her a stern nod before he began to move off. Clara said nothing as she watched them go, instead her mind was too focused on what Gretchen had just divulged with her.

…

Alex was sweating more than he had thought possible. He had been locked down in Lechero's basement all day, digging as fast as he could until the hole was clear. He continued to pull on the wood, sawing at it and making braces as he focused on the task at hand. He had listened to Bagwell and Bellick try to make deals with him. Bellick was more interested in having a partner in crime while Bagwell told Mahone he was convinced that Scofield would screw them over.

Alex had ignored both of them, instead he was just more interested in getting the job done so that he could get out of this hellhole. He suspected that the evening was slowly dawning over them which meant they didn't have much time and there was still a lot of work that needed to be done.

"We're running out of time."

Michael's voice entered Alex's ear as he bent down to kneel by him, taking him off guard.

"I know."

"No," Michael said with a shake of his head. "Someone from The Company came to visit Whistler with my brother. She wants him out because he has the coordinates she wants…plus he's got his girlfriend as a hostage."

"So how long we got?"

"Until tomorrow morning before the sun breaks," Michael responded. "She also told me to send you a message."

"Who?"

"The woman from The Company," Michael said. "She…she had Clara with her earlier."

"Did she hurt her?" Alex demanded instantly and Michael shook his head in response, calming him down before he grew irrationally angry.

"No," Michael said, "but she told me to tell you that you need to call her off before she gets hurt. Apparently The Company doesn't like people who snoop on their business."

"She won't do that," Alex muttered.

"If she values her life then she will," Michael said. "Besides, we're almost ready to go. Gather everyone up and tell them to dig as fast as they can to make sure we have the chance to get out of here."

"With pleasure."

…

The agent of The Company had dropped Clara off, true to his word. He had taken her back to Sofia's house to let her grab her stuff before she had climbed into the back of the car and let him take her to the hotel. The night was falling over Panama City as Clara stood in the bar, her things by her side as she downed a glass of wine for her nerves.

She had no idea what to do. She had tried to call Lincoln, but he hadn't been picking up. She knew that the only thing she could do was meet at the docks where the boat was going to be. She only hoped everything came together by then.

Pulling her phone out, Clara glanced down to the photo of her parents she had on it. Looking to her mother and father, she wondered exactly what they had been involved in. She didn't know if she wanted to know, but she was curious. She knew that she had to find out.

It took a while before she heard her cell begin to ring and she pulled it out from her pocket, holding it to her ear as she answered it after checking the caller ID.

"Where the hell have you been, Lincoln?" she demanded from him.

"Whistler refused to give up the coordinates so Gretchen has Sofia," he told her. "I'm about to drive into a power cable so that Michael can escape. You know where to meet, yeah? I need you at the boat and ready to go to the meeting point. It's all been paid for."

"You want me to drive a boat?" Clara checked from him.

"I don't want you to do it," he told her. "I need you to do it if Sucre hasn't shown in time."

"Yeah," Clara nodded. "Got it."

"Good," Lincoln said. "And, Clara?"

"Yeah?"

"Take care, got it?"

"You too," Clara said, hanging up and downing the wine before counting down the hours until she had to leave for the meeting point.