I am back... never thought I'd do this again. I had lost all interest in Prison Break and not even their work on The Flash nor Legends could motivate me to go back. Not even the newest season. Nope, it took a pandemic for me to rewatch Season 1 and remember this little piece. Is there still anyone around reading after 11 1/2 years? I hope so because I challenged myself to clean up my open projects list til the end of 2020. Wish me luck.

Michael didn't go far. As soon as he had reached the front door of the building his mind calmed. At least a fraction. He still couldn't believe the irony of it all. Neither the gall of his family in arranging this surprise. What were they thinking?

Michael was sitting on a bench just across from the front door when Lincoln found him. The older brother approached cautiously and tried to gauge the other man's emotional state.

They sit next to each other silently for a little while until Mike turns his head. "How long did you know it's her?"

"Not long. LJ found your file and put it together. Vee confirmed it a couple of days later."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Mike is hurt. He feels deceived. His family had ample opportunity to fill him in. To warn him, but they chose to go with "You'll find out soon enough."

"What were you thinking?" Mike continues his questioning, but his brother stays silent and just nods his head in the direction of the door.

Sarah had gone after the men. She knew she needed to explain. The others just did what she asked them to do after all. The last thing she wanted was for the close-knit family to have a falling out because of her. From everything, Veronica had told her, especially Lincoln and Michael were close. And she didn't want to be the reason that changed.

"Lincoln, can I have a minute to explain myself?" she asks and stares directly at Michael. The man who had broken her 5 years ago. Seeing him sitting there. Almost like a ghost. He looked the same and he didn't. He had changed. He isn't in prison anymore. He is a free man, of course, he has changed.

The brothers exchange a glance and after Michael almost imperceptibly nods his approval Lincoln walks back inside. Through the glass of the front door, he can see that Sarah has taken a seat on the bench, but as far away from Mike as possible.

Lincoln hopes that the twosome can clear the air and find a way to reconnect. He knows there are still feelings involved and he also knows that if, well when, Sarah tells Mike about the relapse, his brother will blame himself. And break.

Back up in the apartment little Amy has picked up on the anxiety in the air and has started wailing. Vee and LJ have trouble calming her down, as they are both unsure what is going on and if it was a good idea after all to arrange this meeting.

They both turn to the front door when they hear it. And look surprised to see Lincoln walk in. "Are they…?" Vee starts and Linc interjects "talking? I don't know. But they are sitting there together. Sarah wanted to explain herself and I thought it best to leave them to it."

After a few moments of seeing his wife struggle to calm his crying angel, Linc grabs the little girl and in seconds she is calm. All three adults breathe a sigh of relief and when Amy has drifted off to sleep, she gets put back into her bassinet so her father can use his arms again.

Outside Michael and Sarah glance at each other sideways. None of them knows how to even start this conversation. Both have so much to say but can't find the right words.

After what feels like an eternity, Michael can't take it anymore. "I never thought I'd see you again," he whispers.

"I want to say sorry and thank you, but it doesn't seem fitting. Nor enough." He continues a little louder now. Sarah shudders at that. "Don't…" she turns and grabs a hold of his hands. "You don't need to apologize for asking me to leave that door open. I could've done my job. I didn't have to take the drugs. I did that to myself. I only need to know one thing: was any of it real?"