Clara knew better than to get in Alex's way that day. She understood what he was going through because she had felt exactly the same thing with Theresa. She had wanted to kill Shales and a part of her knew she should have done it, but Alex was right, she didn't have a killing bone in her body.

Instead Wyatt was tied to a chair in the storage room and Lincoln had done his best to get him to talk, but it wasn't working. They needed Wyatt to make a call and tell the General that he had done his job. They were all sat around the table and Clara had listened about how they had failed to get the card from the General.

Wyatt had found them before going off to meet with Roland. Clara had listened with intent, wondering exactly what she should do. She felt useless at that moment in time. She knew no amount of words would help Alex or make him any less anxious to get his hands on Wyatt. Instead she suspected that any words she said would be useless.

Self had walked in, demanding to know if they had made any progress with Wyatt. They had told him that they hadn't. It was then when Sara took the lead and decided to talk to him. Clara didn't bother looking around, not wanting to look to Wyatt. Instead she would have preferred to see Alex kill him and get it done with.

"Look," Michael said, "instead of focusing on Wyatt, we need to look at these blueprints."

"So what do they mean?" Clara wondered.

"Well," Michael said, "assuming that these blueprints are right, but there is no way of knowing if they really are, we need to follow this basement all the way to this walkway, but then at the end of the walkway we have something blocking it. It's got an X on it so it might be a wall or something. On the other side of the wall, I don't know what there is. Gretchen has those pages."

"So why is she even part of this?" Sucre asked, remaining sat in the chair. "What game is she playing?"

"No idea," Self replied, "but as soon as we find out then we ditch her. She's not part of this."

"Do you think she won't know?" Clara wondered. "If you're playing her then she'll find out and do something to ruin whatever plans you have. You know she isn't stupid."

"Clara's right," Lincoln agreed, "so we take care of her when we need to and have minimum contact with her."

"Agreed," Bellick nodded.

"Right," Self said, "so you all need to head on down to GATE. Take tools with you and get started at work. I'll stay here and get Wyatt to talk if Sara can't."

"Do you think you can?" Clara wondered, forcing her gaze to peer over to him, even though she felt slightly ill just at the sight of him. Saying nothing for a few moments, Clara took a second before shrugging her shoulders.

"He'll talk or I'll torture him."

"Do you think that works on a man like him?" Michael was the one to ask. "He's a hit man and he won't talk. He'll try to manipulate Sara to let him go. He knows he has no chance of leaving here alive, not with Mahone staring at him and watching him."

"Alex isn't going to touch him until we have what we need," Don responded confidently. "So you all pack up and move out. I'll stay here and Miss Reynolds can keep an eye on Alex."

Clara was about to say that she didn't need to keep an eye on Alex, but she held her tongue and shrugged her shoulders, settling down in a chair at the table as the four men moved out. Sara was still in the cage, talking to him, but Clara suspected that whatever she was going to say wouldn't work.

Alex was still leant against the wall, one hand holding the pipe next to him while the other continued to run over his face, the sweat dripping down his forehead as he pulled at the cuffs on the long top he wore. Clara didn't know how long had passed before he moved, striding over towards the cage.

Jumping into action, she moved with haste, standing in front of him as Don stood up, looking over to Alex. Clara struggled to restrain him for a second as he grabbed her arm and moved her aside. But she was quick, moving with agility until she was in front of him again, a hand on his chest as Don came to stand next to her.

"I'll cuff you to the chair if I have to," Don told him, his voice not threatening but almost pleading.

Alex looked away, the anguish on his face easy to read as Clara kept her hand against his chest, her other hand going to grip his arm as Don spoke.

"Listen," he said, "I need him alive…I'm trying to do something and I need you to back off."

"You ever lost a kid?" Alex demanded.

"Yeah," Don said. "I did. My wife was pregnant and…she had complications…the doctor messed up and they…they didn't make it…so I understand, Alex. I understand."

Clara saw Don's eyes grow wet as her grip on Alex loosened and he stopped trying to move forwards, instead letting out deep breaths as he struggled to get himself under control. Clara didn't know what more she could do except for stand in front of him as he whispered, his voice full of wonder and a lack of understanding.

"What would you do?" Alex asked, sounding broken and defeated. "If that man…the man who killed your kid was right there?"

"I don't know," Don answered honestly. "But you have my word, Alex. When the time is right then I won't stand in your way."

Alex nodded, still panting. "And I won't let you," he declared and Don nodded, moving away from him while Clara remained stood where she was.

Alex didn't look to her as he turned away, hands moving through his hair as Clara watched him go back to the corner he had been standing in previously. Hands on her hips, she went to sit back down, taking the seat next to Self before she spoke.

"I'm sorry," she managed to whisper.

"It was a year ago now," Self whispered, looking at his laptop.

"Still hurts, regardless of time," Clara told him and he looked to her inquisitively. "I was six months gone when I miscarried," was all she offered him.

"Sorry to hear that."

"Thanks," Clara said, sniffing and then motioning to the screen. "So what are you working on?"

"You'll see when Sara comes out with the recording device I gave her," Self said. "We put words together to make a sentence in Wyatt's voice. We call the General with what we want him to say and that should get him off of our backs. Hopefully he won't send anyone else to kill us."

"Wouldn't that be the dream?" Clara asked and Self let out a soft chuckle.

"I've gotta tell you," Self said, "I don't think I've ever heard about anyone as unlucky as you. I looked into you before I let you join."

"There's always someone worse off," Clara responded. "You've just go to remember that."

Sara walked over then, dropping the device onto the table before placing her hands onto her hips. "He didn't say anything useful, but we should have enough for what you want," Sara said and Self plugged the device into the laptop and set to work while Clara watched him and Sara hovered over his shoulder.

"This should work then," she said.

"Should do," Self said. "I saw a partner of mine do it once when an enemy combatant wasn't talking. We got what we needed though. Just like we will do now."

"Is that ambulance still out back?"

The question came from Alex who had stepped forwards, hands together as he looked around, eyes flitting everywhere. Don nodded.

"Yeah," he said and Alex stalked off.

They all watched him go before Clara shook her head. She wasn't going to ask what Alex had planned. She suspected if he wanted medical equipment from an ambulance then it wasn't going to be anything pleasant. Biting down on her lip, she looked down to the table while Self continued to work and a part of Sara wondered if they should be doing this.

"So you're going to let him kill him?" Sara demanded while Alex was out of earshot.

"Yeah," Self said, pulling the recording device out. "Done. We have what we need."

"Surely you should lock him up," Sara said and Self shook his head.

"I promised Alex," Self said. "So we're not getting into this. The man killed his son…what would we do if someone killed our kid? We're in no position to judge."

"You're not going to stop him?" Sara asked from Clara and she stood up, not having to answer to Sara.

Instead she walked away, not wanting to be in that warehouse. She wanted to get out and leave Alex to it. Picking up a leather jacket, she slipped her arms into it and moved past the cars, bumping into Alex on the way as he held a bag in his fingertips. He moved a hand to her arm as she nodded.

"I know," was all that she could say to him, unsure of what she knew, but she felt like she understood why he was going to do what he was going to do.

"Don't wander off too far," he urged of her and then swept past.

She turned her head over her shoulder to watch him go before she left the warehouse and wandered outside, unsure of where she was going. All she knew was that she had to get away for a little bit, or until Alex had done what needed to be done.

…

Coming to GATE, Clara took a look at the building, wondering if she should go up there and help. She suspected she might be of use, but she wasn't too sure. She didn't get that far. Instead she saw a familiar looking woman enter The Company building, but sneaking by reception and heading in the opposite direction to the elevators up.

"Gretchen," Clara mumbled, wondering what the hell was going on.

Moving around the courtyard, Clara came to a café and digging into her bag she found enough change for a latte. Taking it outside, she sat down and shrugged out of her leather jacket. She saw her cousin leave the building after a moment and she placed her sunglasses onto her eyes before she picked out her cell.

She had transferred Lisa's number to her new cell, not knowing if it might come in handy. Calling her, she saw Lisa take her cell out of her bag and answer it.

"Hello?"

"It's me," Clara said and she saw Lisa look down for a moment. "Come to the café in the courtyard, but don't bring security. I have a question I need to ask you."

"Where are you?"

"Café. Now." Clara said and hung up, depositing the phone back in her bag as she saw Lisa tell her security guards to go back inside.

Moving over to the café, Clara watched on as her cousin looked around for her, her eyes finally landing on her after a minute. She took the seat opposite Clara before resting her hands in her lap. Picking her mug up, Clara sipped on the latte before looking over to Lisa.

"A woman with black hair called Gretchen just went into the building." Clara said and Lisa scoffed, looking away.

"You're here to talk about my father's whore?" Lisa demanded and Clara's eyes widened at hearing that, her hands moving to take her sunglasses from her face and placed them on the top of her head.

"She's his mistress?"

"Yeah," Lisa said, looking to the side and pulling at the black blazer she wore. "The one he had a kid with."

"You never said he had a kid with her."

"I like to pretend that she doesn't exist," Lisa said. "How would you feel if you knew your father had an affair with someone the same age as you?"

"That would require my father to be alive," Clara sniped back and Lisa almost looked apologetic as she took a deep breath and looked back over to her cousin. "So what is she doing in there?"

"Why are you so interested?" Lisa wondered from her.

"That is none of your business," Clara replied and Lisa rolled her eyes.

"I know, okay?" she said. "Your friends made a move to try to steal my father's card. What are you all trying to do, Clara?"

"Again," Clara drawled, "none of your business."

"No, I think it is," Lisa hissed, "because my father has a feeling that you're trying to steal something of his and that something…you know…and I know you know. You're not stupid, Clara. I only want to know why you're doing this."

"Because I want him to suffer," Clara answered, her voice honest. "Because he took my parents from me and I want him to pay for that."

"He didn't-"

"-Don't try to defend him," Clara said, holding a hand up to silence her. "It isn't going to do anything to appease me. Do you get that, Lisa? I mean, have you even asked him? Have you bothered to ask him if it is true?"

"Stop it."

"I'll take that as a no," Clara said, quickly downing her latte and placing the cup on the mosaic table before adjusting her sunglasses on her eyes. "If you had any sense then you'd stay away, Lisa. I don't know what The Company do…what you all want…but I know it isn't good. It isn't right and you know that."

"We help people-"

"-No," Clara interrupted her. "You don't. You ruin lives. You've ruined my life…Alex's…"

"You know what you just said?" Lisa asked of her cousin, "about staying away if you had any sense? I'd say the same to you about Alexander Mahone. I looked into his file, Clara, and asked my father. I know what he did…I know what you did with him…to Shales."

"Do not," Clara hissed, fist banging on the table, "talk to me about that bastard."

"You pretend to be innocent, but you were going to kill him," Lisa said.

"Because he killed my sister. He killed Theresa," Clara said and let out a loud laugh as she stood up, shaking her head back and forth as she placed her bag on her shoulder. "And I should have killed him."

"But you didn't," Lisa said, standing up. "Mahone did, despite being an FBI Agent. He's crooked…he's killed…"

"Because of The Company," Clara said as Lisa stood and looked her in the eye. "Because your bastard of a father gave him no other choice. Alexander Mahone might have done bad things, but he is not a bad man. And the fact that you think you can stand there and lecture me is comical. You're as bent as everyone else."

"Because we're all just fakes," Lisa concluded.

"Yeah…I see that about you now," Clara said and moved off, not bothering to wait for any kind of response as she left.

…

The sun had set by the time Clara had gone back to the warehouse. The mood was solemn as everyone was silent, sat around the table. Looking at them, she wondered what the hell had happened before Michael spoke, his voice low and croaky.

"Bellick's gone," he said.

"Gone?" Clara asked, brow arched.

"Dead," Sucre said, his voice breaking.

Clara felt something hit her then. It was the realisation that none of them were safe. This mission was dangerous and losing Bellick attested to that. Sitting down in an empty chair, she placed her hands on the surface of the table as everyone remained silent. Closing her eyes for a second, she listened to Lincoln speak in a low voice.

"There was a water pipe," he explained and Clara didn't noticed Alex appear in the corner of the room. "We had another pipe to go through it so we could get to Scylla. The…wood holding it slipped and he climbed into the pipe to get it across. The water came…and he wouldn't climb out."

"What about his body?" Sara wondered.

"Self is on it," Lincoln responded.

Saying nothing further, Clara struggled to come to grips with what she had heard. Bellick had been there that morning. He had been there and drinking coffee. He had been there. He had been alive. It took a moment before Sucre stood up and walked off, everyone on tenterhooks at what they had just heard.

As well as mourning Bellick, everyone was also thinking of how dangerous things had become. There was always a selfish element to death, Clara found. There was always an element of people thinking of how their life could be cut short. Clara took a moment, composing herself before she dared to stand up and move off, everyone doing the same thing.

There were beers in the fridge upstairs and now, more than ever, they were in a mood for one. Clara went outside though, her hands on her hips as she took a breath of fresh air. She did her best to comprehend what she was feeling, but it was difficult.

Alex moved outside, following Clara and taking hold of her by the waist, his movement bold. Arms wrapping around her waist, he held her to him, one hand snaking up her back to cup the back of her neck as she let her forehead rest on his chest, her own hands going to hold his upper arms.

"I can't believe it," Alex whispered.

"I know," Clara responded in a small voice.

They stayed like that for a while, Alex moving to rest his chin on top of her forehead. Saying nothing further on the matter, they lapsed into silence and Alex let his fingers wrap into her hair, holding it gently before she spoke.

"Did you do it?" she asked of him, knowing he would understand.

"Yeah," he responded. "He's gone."

Clara could only nod, not wanting to know the details. Instead all she could do was look up and move, her lips coming to press against his, unsure of what she was doing as Alex remained confused. He didn't complain, instead he moved his hand to her cheek, holding onto it gently as Clara moved her hands to his cheeks, her thumbs tracing the line of his cheekbones.

Daring to move her lips against his, she felt his hand move into the small of her back, pushing her closer against him until their bodies left no gap. Clara moved her hands to the back of his neck then as Alex moved them backwards until she had hit the wall. She didn't complain as they continued too wrapped up in each other to notice anything else. Nothing else seemed to matter as they continued kissing, only pulling back when they needed a breath.

Resting his forehead against hers, Alex took a deep breath as he noticed her cheeks had turned red.

"I don't know what that was," Clara whispered.

"I think it was you who kissed me," Alex mused.

"Yeah," Clara agreed, "that's why it was better than your half assed kiss in Panama."

Alex managed to let his lips rise in amusement for a second at hearing that.

"Sorry," Clara said. "That wasn't appropriate…not today…Bellick…and Wyatt…and now I force myself onto you."

"Not like I'm complaining," Alex responded. "Besides, after today…everything that's happened…maybe this is what we both need?"

"Do you think?" she wondered.

"Yeah," he said, "I do."

And with that he moved to kiss her once more. Moving her hands to wrap into his hair, she grasped tightly onto him as Alex bent down further, his knees bending so that he didn't have to lower his neck as far. His hands moved down her sides and he felt her shiver as he took hold of her waist and he only pulled back when he felt her move her hands from his hair to lay limp over his shoulders.

It was then when she moved to wrap her arms around his torso, holding onto him as she pressed her cheek against his chest and he looked down to her, moving his hand to stroke her hair softly as he took in deep breaths.

"What's going on?" Clara mumbled, confused by the sudden turn of events.

She had known for a long time that she was attracted to Alex. Of course, she didn't know if he fully reciprocated those feelings. She had suspected that he might not. Of course, she had not been shocked at thinking that, less than three months ago he had still be pining over his ex-wife. But now Clara didn't know what to think. Perhaps he was attracted to her too? Maybe that was possible.

"I think…that…right now…we're both feeling…I don't know, Clara. Why do we need to question it?"

Clara scoffed. "You're a man who questions everything, Alex."

"Yeah, well not right now."

Clara closed her eyes, not bothering to challenge him. Instead she let Alex continue to hold onto her as darkness slowly crept in. She didn't know how long it was before the two of them went back inside, moving up to the kitchen where the rest of them were sat, holding onto beer.

Sucre didn't say anything as he pulled two bottles out of the pack, sliding them over to Alex and Clara. Lincoln chucked them the bottle opener and Alex caught it, opening both bottles before handing one over to Clara. She took hold of it and sipped on it, not used to the taste of beer. She ignored the taste as Lincoln spoke, his voice low as he held his bottle in the air.

"To Brad Bellick," he said.

Everyone copied his motion, moving to raise their bottles as murmurs echoed throughout them and they all went silent once more. Clara perched on one of the stools while Alex sat behind her. She felt him move to drape his arm over her shoulder, his hand going to hold onto hers as he sipped on his beer once more. Everyone around the table noticed the motion, but none of them said anything, knowing that now was not the time or the place.

…

Clara didn't know if now was the right time or not to bring up what she had discovered, but she did it anyway. She had awoken with a slight headache, her head resting on Alex's shoulder as he remained asleep, mouth slightly agape and eyes tightly shut. She'd gone for a quick shower, changing into a simple black dress with tights before heading to the kitchen and searching for a mug. Moving to grab a cup of coffee, she poured sugar into it before sipping on it and seeing Michael and Sara at the meeting table.

Walking down to them, Clara greeted them before launching into what she had discovered.

"Listen, yesterday, I found something out," Clara said, taking a sip and keeping her hands tightly wrapped around her cup. "Gretchen went into The Company's building. I think she's working for them again."

"Not like we can trust her," Sara scoffed and Clara agreed with that.

"She could be double crossing them," Michael said.

"Yeah," Clara said, "but then I saw Lisa and she told me something interesting. Gretchen and the General…well…let's just say they know each other pretty intimately. Intimately enough to have a child together, anyway."

Clara watched as both of their eyes widened and shock was clear on their face.

"That was my exact response," Clara said to them with a nod. "I know, it's pretty gross and Lisa wasn't exactly thrilled over the information."

"She had a kid with him?" Sara checked.

"Yeah," Clara said. "So that's why I don't know if we can trust her at all now."

"I'm sorry," a groggy voice entered Clara's ears as she turned her head over her shoulder to see Alex moving towards them, sitting down in the chair next to Clara as she slid her mug of coffee across to him. "Did I just hear that Gretchen Morgan had a child with the General?"

"Yes," Clara said, "that was not a dream."

"Doubt I'd dream about that," Alex mumbled into the mug as he sipped the coffee and pulled a repulsed face as he finished taking one big gulp and looked over to Clara. "What have I told you about putting too much sugar in coffee?"

Rolling her eyes, she took her coffee mug back as she looked back to Michael. "Any news on Bellick?"

"Self still has people looking for him," Michael whispered. "We'll find out later."

"Got it," Clara mumbled.

Alex moved his chair closer to hers then, watching as she bowed her head and he moved a hand to her arm. Her hair was still damp from her morning shower as they all remained sombre, sat around the table until Self made his appearance known, walking towards them and standing in front of the whiteboard.

"Any news?" Lincoln was the one to ask.

"We have Brad's body and it's on the way to morgue now," Self said. "No one will find it."

"That isn't the deal," Lincoln piped up.

Alex nodded. "You said that we would be returned to next of kin if anything happened to us."

"No, I didn't say that-"

"-Well, you did," Alex interrupted.

"No, I didn't," Self said, becoming irate. "He needs to stay anonymous until I say otherwise. I've got enough stuff to deal with…"

Self didn't have any chance to say anything as Sucre launched himself at Self, grabbing hold of him by the collar of his jacket and pushing at him, yelling in Spanish as Alex jumped up then, moving over towards the two of them and pulling them apart from each other.

"He has a mother," Sucre snarled and Self almost looked guilty.

"Brad Bellick's body is returned to his mother," Alex was the one to demand, "or we don't get you Scylla. You got it?"

Self said nothing, but nodded his head. "Listen, I need you all to get out of mourning, pack Bellick's stuff up and get on with finding Scylla."

"Yeah, well if you want us to do that then you need to get us the final pages," Michael declared.

"Well I'll call Gretchen," Self said before looking to Sucre. "And Fernando, if you ever touch me again then I'll be shipping you straight back to jail."

Alex pushed on Sucre's shoulder, urging him backwards and not to attack Self again. Self walked away, pulling his cell out of his pocket and leaving them alone, all glowering after him. Clara looked up and rolled her eyes to Alex who offered her a shrug of his shoulders.

"We need to get a move on," Michael declared. "I'll go with Self to get the pages from Gretchen. Everyone…just sit tight…I'll be back soon."

Lincoln stood too. "I'm off to sort Bellick's stuff out."

Clara saw Alex follow after them before she watched Sara come and take the seat next to hers.

"Hey," Sara said.

"Hey," Clara responded.

"Listen," Sara said, "I don't mean to pry and you can tell me to back off if you really want to."

"Go on," Clara urged her, taking another sip of her coffee that had gone cold.

"It's just that I heard you last night," Sara said. "While you were sleeping…you…well…you started screaming in your sleep about someone hurting you. Sounded like a pretty bad nightmare and Alex managed to calm you down."

Clara frowned. "I don't remember that."

"Yeah," Sara said. "Listen, I know that…well…Alex once told me that you were on sleeping pills to keep the nightmares away, but it's not like we have access to medicine in here…but…how long do you think it lasts?"

"The nightmares?" Clara wondered in a small voice. "I don't know. Why?"

"Just that…I'm having a hard time," Sara admitted, glad that she could talk to someone who understood her. "Gretchen was the one keeping me captive in Panama. I only escaped because a guard helped me, but she…on my back…she whipped me and I still have nightmares and…when Michael touches me…but you and Alex…"

"I know," Clara whispered. "I get it. I mean, I guess we both have matching scars then, but I mean…I don't know how to handle the nightmares. I sometimes don't even know I'm having them, as you've found out. But the thing about Alex…I just don't think of that man when I'm with Alex. When I'm with Alex…that's the only time I feel safe. I suppose it's natural for you to feel jumpy. You've been through a lot."

"Yeah," Sara muttered.

"I'm sorry I can't be of much more help," Clara told her. "I can't tell you to block out what happened because I know it's impossible. I can only tell you to focus on other things…happier things…the thought of getting through this and being with Michael, maybe?"

Sara chuckled. "It feels like that's an eternity away," she admitted.

"I know," Clara said, "but it will keep you going."

Alex suddenly emerged then, holding a police badge in his grip as he held it in his fingers and the two women looked at him. "Brad kept this," he informed them. "You know, from the Eagles & Angels event."

"Bless him," Clara said and Sara smiled softly before standing up and heading towards Lincoln.

Sitting down in her vacant seat, Alex held the badge in his fingers, his arms resting on the table. Clara moved then, wrapping both her arms around one of his as she lowered her head to rest on top of her hands. Chuckling at the motion, Alex bent down to press his lips against the top of her head.

"We'll get through this," he said in a small whisper, even though he didn't believe the words. But he had to keep hoping. He had to hope there was some way out of this.

...

A/N: Thanks so much to MissHodgehog for reviewing. I do hope you'll let me know what you think if you're reading!