Being locked away in the penthouse, Clara was angrier than she had been in a long time. Alex had left after The Company had traced the phone call the sniper had made and it had led him straight to the Indian Embassy. Clara had demanded to know what Christina was doing at the Indian Embassy, but no one had told her anything. Lincoln had locked her away in her bedroom, taking the key with him.

"Is that necessary?" Alex wondered, pointing to the bedroom door as Clara banged on the wood.

"She's putting everything at risk," Lincoln responded. "If she keeps on acting as a mole for Michael then my family is at risk. Your family is at risk, Mahone. Do you want that?"

"Of course not," Alex responded quickly. "But she's not as big of a threat as you think. Come on, Linc."

"Do you want to stay with her?" Lincoln retorted, voice full of demand and anger as he watched Mahone. The man shook his head and followed Lincoln, knowing that he had no other option but to go with them.

…

Clara had sunk down on the bed, knowing that there was no point of her continuously banging on the wood. She could break the door down, but there would be no point, knowing that Lincoln would have also locked the main door to the apartment. She had resigned herself to that fact, laying down on the bed and groaning to herself, wondering exactly what was going on.

Would Alex be in danger? Would they be able to find Scylla? She had no idea. All that she knew was that the day was passing her by and she was doing nothing. She was of no help to anyone. She hated that. She hated the feeling of uselessness. Eventually she heard a noise outside of her door. Standing up, she tugged her dress down her thighs as the door opened and she saw Bagwell stood there, holding a pack of ice to his cheek.

"Wouldn't happen to know if your boyfriend is on his way home, would ya darlin'?"

Clara rolled her eyes and brushed by him, but Bagwell was quick, his hand snaking around her upper arm and stopping her from going anywhere. Turning to look to him, she let her eyes roam over his face as he licked his lips and his eyes met hers.

"Get off of me," she demanded from him.

"If we're working together then you should be a little nicer," Bagwell warned her.

"I am not working with you," Clara responded.

"Would your little uncle be happy to hear that?" Bagwell enquired and Clara finally pulled her arm from his grip, her gaze narrow and her teeth grinding together as she let her eyes roam over his face.

"Don't talk to me about him," she demanded and moved down the staircase and towards the kitchen, grateful to be outside of her bedroom.

Bagwell followed her, but he didn't bother to say anything further. Instead he took a seat at the breakfast bar while Clara grabbed a mug and began to press buttons on the coffee machine. Placing the mug in the machine, she waited until her drink was ready and then picked it up and wandered off towards the balcony, wanting to be away from Bagwell. Leaning on the railing, she sipped on her coffee until she heard commotion enter the apartment.

"What the hell happened to you?" Lincoln demanded from Bagwell.

"What does it look like?" Bagwell demanded back from him. "I got beaten up because of your stupid plot."

"For the greater good," Lincoln responded. "And who said that you could let her out?"

"Charming," Clara snarled, sipping on her coffee while her eyes wandered over to Alex who was looking to her with a knowing glance. "Anyway, I take it that it didn't exactly go to plan?"

"You'd be correct-"

"-Don't tell her anything," Lincoln interrupted Self from saying anything further and Clara rolled her eyes, unable to believe what she was hearing.

"And what am I supposed to be doing?" Clara demanded. "You have me locked away in here without any means of getting to your brother. I'm not exactly a threat, am I? I want to help."

"No, you want to get us killed," Lincoln responded.

Clara slammed her mug down on the side as Alex saw the telltale signs of her losing her temper. Her cheeks puffed out and turned red while she placed her hands on the worktop and looked over to Lincoln.

"I want to stop The Company," she snapped. "I want to keep everyone alive. I'm not trying to get your family killed."

"Come on," Alex said, trying to act as peacemaker. "We don't need to argue over this. You know that she's just trying to do the best to help."

"We don't need her help," Lincoln said. "Now get working on that post-it note while your girlfriend goes back to her room."

"This is ridiculous," Clara seethed. "I am not going anywhere."

As if to make her point, Clara perched on the stool at the breakfast bar while Alex pulled the post it note out from his pocket and began to press buttons on his phone. He knew that Clara could handle herself against Lincoln. He also knew that he couldn't afford to lose Lincoln's trust like Clara had. He needed to keep Linc on side so that he was privy to the information he received. He had to do that for Pam and for Clara.

"We'll see about that," Lincoln responded and before Clara could do anything she felt Lincoln grab hold of her by the waist, hauling her to her feet before he tipped her over his shoulder.

"What the hell?" she demanded as she lost her footing.

"Linc," Alex protested, pressing the phone to his shoulder as he followed Lincoln towards the staircase. "Is this necessary?"

"Until this is over, then yes," Lincoln declared as Clara hit his back, her fists harsh but not enough to deter Lincoln as he moved her towards the bedroom.

"You're making a big mistake," Clara snapped at him.

"So you keep saying," Lincoln said. "But I warned you, Clara. I'm doing this for all of us…you'll see that eventually."

…

VS had meant Vincent Sandinsky. Clara came to realise that once Alex, Self and Lincoln had returned with the man. Apparently he had been due to speak at the conference the following day, but who he was or what he was going to say was not known as of yet. Alex had come to Clara as soon as they had returned with the man to the loft, unlocking the door and informing her of who they had in the apartment.

"Was Michael there?" she asked him as he entered the bedroom and he nodded.

"He got there before us, but he was outnumbered. Christina had sent men to pick up Sandinsky," Alex informed her. "I guess we know what VS means now though."

"So what's going on downstairs?" Clara enquired.

"They're interrogating Sandinsky, but he's claiming innocence," Alex said to her.

"Maybe he is innocent?" Clara suggested. "Or maybe you're not asking him nice enough? I know what you are all like."

"We need answers, Clara, not manners," Alex informed her and she bit down on her tongue. "I don't know if we can trust this guy or not. He's playing a good game if he's lying to us. He's got the scared act completely nailed."

Clara rolled her eyes as she moved towards the steps towards the open planned living area. "Or maybe he is scared?" she suggested to Alex. "I mean, we're all scared, right? Me? I'm terrified of what might happen."

Alex suspected she felt on edge, even more so considering her hands were shaking as she pushed them through her hair. She could hear them speaking downstairs, but before she had a chance to move, Alex had taken hold of her by the arm, stopping her from moving as he turned her to face him.

Moving with haste, he bent down, his hand on her chin as he tilted her face upwards and his lips pressed to hers. Clara wondered what he was doing for a moment before he pulled back, the motion brief and tender. His hand went to the back of her head, cupping it softly as he watched her.

"I've got you," he promised in a whisper, hoping that might be enough to soothe her. She said nothing, instead she only nodded to him and moved to kiss his cheek.

Moving down the steps, Clara saw Lincoln on the phone, speaking in a low voice as Bagwell and Self kept an eye on Sandinsky. Clara came to the bottom of the staircase just as Lincoln hung up. But for once his anger wasn't directed to her. It was directed at the man they had abducted.

"Where's Scylla?" Lincoln demanded, voice raised.

"I don't know," Sandinsky said.

"Where is it?!" Lincoln roared.

"Hey," Clara said as Lincoln moved his gaze to her. "Yelling at him isn't going to get you anything."

"It's going to get me everything," Lincoln said, pointing to Sandinsky. "Because this guy is a liar!"

He took hold of the man by the collar and moved with haste. He pushed him against the pillar in the middle of the room, his hands holding onto the collar of his shirt.

"Hey!" Clara snapped.

"Where is it!?" Lincoln roared again and Clara tugged at his arm.

"This isn't achieving anything," she snarled back. "What? You think that yelling at him and beating him up is going to get him to talk? It doesn't work like that."

"I think it will if he wants to live," Lincoln declared and Clara rolled her eyes as she saw him pull out his gun, pointing it straight at Sandinsky.

"Lincoln," Self warned him. "This isn't going to get us anywhere. He can't talk when he's dead."

"Self is right," Alex agreed.

But before anyone could make a move, a new voice entered the room, roaring loudly. Clara turned her head to the side in time to see her uncle enter the room, flanked by his bodyguards. She recoiled at the sight of him, seeing how half of his face was mauled, the sight unpleasant.

"Burrows! Put that gun down." Krantz demanded, voice full of demanding as one of his men moved towards Burrows and took the gun from him.

Looking to Vincent, Krantz seemed to have eyes only for him. "You will not harm Vincent."

"Vincent," Alex scoffed his name and then looked to Krantz. "And we had a deal!"

"New deal," Krantz said. "I'm in charge now and me and Vincent have some things to discuss. Doctor Sandinsky has worked for The Company for over two decades. He's a scientist."

"I am," Vincent said.

"So what is he doing in Miami?" Krantz demanded.

But Sandinsky wasn't answering. He was silent until one of the guards pulled at his arm, threatening to break it. And so he broke instead.

"Christina invited me," he managed to weasel out.

"Ah, I see," Krantz said, pretending to muse. "And this really does bring us right to the beginning, doesn't it? So when were you all going to tell me that Christina has Scylla?"

Clara jumped in them, moving to stand in front of Burrows and face off with her uncle. "You know why they didn't tell you," she said, her voice hasty as she looked to the man she had once classed as her family. "They didn't tell you because if you knew then there would be no need for them. They have people they want to protect. They have people who they care about him."

Moving towards Clara, Krantz grabbed hold of her by the chin, his hold rough as Alex took a step forwards, but a gun to the side of his head stopped him from going any further as Clara let out a short and sharp pant as Krantz moved his other hand to run down her cheek.

"And I know all about you," Krantz said. "I know about your whispering to Michael Scofield about anything that might be relevant. Did I not warn you what would happen if you betrayed me? Or do you need to see?"

Clara wondered what he was on about before he pushed her face away and then looked around the room.

"On your knees," he demanded from them all. "Except for Bagwell. He's the only one who has told me any truth."

"No," Clara said with haste, her eyes instantly flashing towards Alex.

"You can't be serious," Lincoln seethed. "Who do you think found Sandinsky? It wasn't Bagwell, I can tell you that much."

"I know where she is though," Sandinsky said, clearly eager to save his own neck.

"Then you have one day, Burrows," Krantz spoke. "You have one day to clear this mess up or the deal is off. You had better get moving."

They all began to move, but Krantz took hold of Clara by the arm, stopping her from going any further as Alex noted the motion and he wanted nothing more than to punch her uncle and grab her. That man deserved to be nowhere near her. He didn't deserve to be touching her or breathing the same air as her.

"Not you," Krantz said. "You see, I need some insurance here. Now go. And Bagwell…you stay here too."

"I'll be fine," Clara whispered to Alex as he continued to watch her.

Nodding once, Alex didn't seem entirely convinced but he had no other option but to watch her go. She remained mute, watching as Self, Linc and Alex left. Taking a seat on the sofa, Krantz sat across from her as she looked to him.

"What happened to your face?" she enquired.

"Someone tried to take my position as General."

"I take it they failed?"

"They always do," Krantz confirmed. "You know, Clara, I let you stay here out of courtesy, because I thought that you wanted to do the right thing. You wanted to keep Alexander Mahone safe. Your love for him truly is touching. Bagwell informed me of how you two are very close."

"Did he?" Clara asked, sending a glance across to Bagwell.

"Alexander Mahone will be your downfall," Krantz responded. "Do you think that he will want you once all of this is over? He will go back to his ex-wife as soon as this is over. He loves her, Clara. What he feels for you is not the same. You are just something to occupy his time during this entire process…someone who keeps his bed warm at night…"

"Shut up," Clara demanded and Krantz moved to stand up.

"Don't worry, Clara," he said. "I have other fish to fry."

Turning his attention to Sandinsky, she watched as her uncle moved towards the scientist along with his men. They moved towards the scientist and began to beat him. Clara struggled to watch on, but she knew that any chance of intervening would be impossible. She remained sat on the sofa, her head buried in her hands as she heard Sandinsky grunt in pain as they demanded to know what Christina was doing.

Clara overheard her uncle on the phone, asking Sandinsky if DMB meant anything to him. Apparently it did. He said it meant the Dade-Miami Bank. Clara wondered exactly what the bank had to do with anything. She could only imagine that Christina had business at the bank. But she didn't know. She had nothing to offer anyone while she was locked away in the loft.

…

Clara didn't know what was happening. She had no idea what was going on as she stood in the background and her uncle turned on the TV, the breaking news hitting her eyes and ears as she watched on. There had been some kind of incident at the energy conference.

"She's going to win," Sandinsky spoke as Krantz remained stood, staring at the TV.

"What the hell is going on?" Clara demanded as Krantz shook his head.

"She wanted this," he spoke. "She wanted to create an incident to sell Scylla. She wanted to create global warfare. What better way to do that than by assassinating Banerjee?"

"But-"

"-There is no buts, Clara," Krantz interrupted. "This is what she wants. She wants war."

"And it's war that she has," Sandinsky said before Krantz turned to look over at him.

"I suggest you keep quiet," Krantz demanded from Sandinsky.

"In fact," Krantz said, "Bagwell, kill him."

Moving towards the door, Clara struggled to watch any of this. She had to go. She had to find Alex and make sure that he was safe. She had no idea where he was. She had no idea what was going on. All she wanted was to go and find him. But she was going nowhere. As she walked the noise of a gunshot echoed through the room and then the slumping of a body. She closed her eyes before she heard Krantz speak.

"You're going nowhere," Krantz called out to his niece.

"I'm not staying here," Clara said, unable to turn around and see the dead body of Sandinsky. "I'm not staying here with you."

"Yes, you are," Krantz said.

It was then when the news mentioned a name she recognised. Lincoln Burrows. She looked to the screen along with everyone else. Lincoln Burrows was the key suspect in the shooting.

"She's set them up," Krantz snarled as two of his men grabbed hold of Sandinsky's body and Clara moved out of the way. "She's set them up and if they're caught then they'll talk."

"So what do we do?" Bagwell wondered.

"You go down there and you sort this mess out."

Clara didn't bother to listen to anymore. She snuck off into the study and grabbed hold of the phone there, dialling the number with haste. She only hoped that no one noticed her absence as she placed the phone to her ear.

"Alex," she whispered.

"Clara," he responded. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," she promised him. "But what about you? What the hell has happened?"

"Christina set us up," Alex said. "She made the shooting look like Lincoln had done it. There was a getaway car rented his name and passports for all of us inside of it. She wanted us to go down for this. She's trying to start a war. That's what she needs to sell Scylla."

"Christ," Clara mumbled.

"I went to find her, but she's gone. Michael had her tied up in the place where him and Sara were staying, but she escaped. I'm on my way back to the loft now."

"Okay," Clara said. "Just…hurry, alright?"

"Of course." He responded and hung up.

Wandering back into the living room, Clara folded her arms over her chest, glancing at her uncle as he stood there, still looking at the TV screen. He looked to Clara as she noted that Bagwell was still in the room. She moved her hands to her hips and arched a brow.

"She wants a war between China and India," he said. "She wants conflict and warfare. That's all she is after."

"So how do you stop her?" Clara enquired. "Or don't you?"

"The only way to stop her is to kill her," Krantz said.

"And you'd know all about that," Clara whispered and Krantz watched her begin to wander off and towards the staircase.

…

Alex felt his rage increase as he walked by Krantz once he returned to the loft. He knew that he should be doing more, but he couldn't think of what else to do. Self was still outside the hotel where the conference was being held and Sara was safe. For now, Alex needed to be back with Clara. He needed her to be safe. He knew full well that the deal was off with Krantz if they failed. He had no doubt that they were failing. Christina had everything well planned out.

Entering the bedroom, Alex shut the door behind him as he saw Clara sat on the stool at the dressing table, her head buried in her hands. She had her eyes closed and she didn't look up as Alex entered and wandered further into the room.

He sat down on the long stool next to her, moving his arms around her. She felt the motion and moved closer, her own hands resting on his chest as she leant against him and felt his lips press onto the crown of her head.

"He killed Sandinsky," she whispered.

"I didn't think he wouldn't," Alex admitted, his tone one of honesty as Clara shrugged, wondering if she had been too optimistic. "I don't know what else to do, Clara."

"There's nothing else you can do," she responded in a hushed tone. "He's played us all…Christina's played us all…"

"I need to get you out of here," Alex said. "I need to keep you safe."

"No," she responded. "You need to keep Pam safe. You love her, Alex. You always have done. She doesn't deserve any of this."

Alex pulled to loosen the black tie he wore as he looked over to her. He moved his hand to hold her cheek as he noticed the tears in her eyes as she peered downwards. Alex wondered exactly what was going through her mind. She looked pensive, but this wasn't the Clara he knew. The Clara he knew was strong. She was tough. She didn't look like this.

"What did he say?" Alex wondered from her, knowing that there could be only one reason why she was speaking in such a manner. "I know him, Clara. Did he try to get into your head? What did he say?"

"Nothing," she denied, trying to shrug away from Alex but failing miserably as he kept his arms tightly around her.

"Talk to me," he urged from her. "Clara, whatever he said was a lie."

"Don't say that," she urged from him. "Because it probably is true. He told me…well…that as soon as this is over then you'll want to go back to Pam. She's the one you want to be with, not me."

Alex shook his head. "He doesn't know what he's talking about," he assured her. "I've told you before, Clara, that Pam…I love her…but I cannot be with her."

"So is that why you want to be with me?" Clara enquired. "Because you can't be with Pam?"

"No," Alex said in a low and demanding voice. "I want to be with you because I want to be with you. You are not second best. You never have been. Do not let him get into your head. This is what he wants. He wants you to feel weak. He wants you to feel unloved."

"I know," Clara said. "And I hate myself for letting him make me feel this way. I do. I know we have bigger things to worry about…I'm sorry…"

"No," Alex said with a shake of his head. "I don't want you to apologise for telling me how you feel…just know that what I feel for you cannot be taken away by that man downstairs."

Nodding, Clara moved towards him and kissed him slowly, wondering exactly where they would be when this was all over.

...

A/N: Thanks to everyone reading and do let me know what you think!