A/N : Well, Sara is confused. Really confused. To the point of not knowing what it is she wants. And boy, let me tell you, in the world of Dr. Sara Tancredi, thát qualifies as a train-wreck! But I think, and she knows, that she needs to give in. Because as someone very wise once said : Life is not worth living if you not take a risk.

Thanks to all the reviewers – keep 'em coming, please...?

XO

It's against the law, it was against the law.

- Simon and Garfunkel

Sara

She fell backwards onto her soft bed and covered her eyes with her hands, pushing back the tears that were threatening to slip out. She wouldn't cry three times in one day, it was just – wrong. Besides, things could have been worse. Katie could have kept her there, forcing her to administer the shot.

But the mere thought of touching that arm, that had been draped around her at night, had been too hard to bare. The idea of seeing those lips, that had been pressed to hers only hours ago, move when he spoke – it filled her with an overwhelming sense of... of a feeling she had never known before. A feeling she hadn't been ready for.

It was his birthday the day after tomorrow. Michael, possibly the love of her life, as much as it confused her, would be turning 31. She vowed to herself that she would turn it into a day he would never forget.

Picking up the phone, she started to make arrangements.

"So you can...? No, of course I'll bring it. You just keep the thing free for me, okay? You're a doll. I'll be seeing you!...Yeah, bye."

Grinning, she lay back down, falling into a content sleep.

The next day

Michael

"I think we should give her some sort of codename." Sucre looked at me incredeously.

"Codename? So it's really gotten serious, eh?" Michael nodded and stared out at the prison's driveway, wanting so desperately to see her black Jeep pull up, revealing her to him...

"So..." his cellmate stated, "any ideas?"

Michael grinned. "Rosie."

"Beg your pardon? Rosie? How on Gods earth did you come to that?" He shook his head, at his friend, who he was sure had turned crazy from a doctor-overdose.

"It's easy...You're my Julio."

Sucre crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Hey – I'm not anyone's Julio... Who's Julio?"

Michael laughed and started singing softly. "See you, me and Julio down by the schoolyard.." When he saw Julio raising his eyebrows in wonder, he added. "Simon and Garfunkel?"

Sucre's face cleared up a bit in recognition. "Aaah – er ... No." He shook his head and groaned when Michael playfully hit him.

"He, Julio or no Julio – I'm kicking your butt..." he growled lamely.

"Well, Julio – you can always try." Michael winked at him, knowing it would be the thing to send him over the edge. He laughed and danced around Sucre, ducking out of his reach whenever he tried to swing at him.

"SCOFIELD – SUCRE – YOU ARE NOT IN KINDERGARTEN ANYMORE. SO I SUGGEST YOU QUIT IT NOW!"

The both grinned at eachother and hugged briefly, Michael facing away from the driveway. However, his interest peaked when he felt Sucre chuckle. "Man – Rosie sure does look fine."

He instantly turned around and saw her walking past them to the gates. She was shaking her head and chuckling softly under her breath. He thought he heard the word idiots, but then again, his ears weren't what the used to be.

Sara

"Michael..." She greeted him, her voice softly rising, as if she was happy to see him. Which she was. "Come in – sit down."

He took place on the chaise. "Sara. Good to see you again." In his voice, she heard the concern he had felt for her when she had disappeared – again, for the second time that week.

She smiled and took his arm, sending tinklings running over his skin. "Looks like you and Fernando had quite the ... er – game going on out there."

Michael blushed guiltily. "Yeah. He's a great guy..." She nodded, trying to keep her cool. The man was just too adorable when he blushed.

"I bet."

"Yeah."

"By the way, Michael – Tomorrow, we are getting you a check-up at a hospital downtown. You need a monthly check-up over there..."

"Oh?" Monthly check-ups for diabetes-patients? It was a load of crap, and she suspected that he knew, but his face showed clear acceptance. Either way, it got him out of the hospital for the day. Which was a basic essential for her plan to work.

She giggled. He didn't have a clue.

That evening

She knocked on the door with the sign 'Henry Pope, Warden' hanging above it. Yes, this was the place she needed to be. "Sir?"

He pulled off his glasses and smiled a little. "Yes, Doctor, come in and have a seat." She did as she was told. "What can I do for you?"

Feeling a little nervous, she pulled on her sleeves and started playng with them under the table. "Well, Sir. Tomorrow, I need to take Mr. Scofield up to his monthly appointement at the Chicago General, and I was wondering if..." She looked up into the face of the man who had been more of a father to her than her biological one had ever been. Taking a deep breath, she continued, "...if Katie could accompany us instead of one of the CO's."

He opened his mouth to say something – rejection etched on his face already. She quickly added "Sir, I know what you are going to say – that he is a con, and that it could be dangerous, even though he wouldn't ever hurt me. But sir, it's his birthday. It's his birthday, and in two weeks, his brother is sheduled to be executed. Don't you think he deserves it – if only for a day?"

The warden frowned. "You seem to be very involved in this case, Ms. Tancredi?"

She just looked at him. "He's a good man, Sir."

Henry Pope's face relaxed. Yes he was. Wasn't he helping him with the Tasj? He smiled a bit at the woman sitting in front of him, knowing she hadn't asked him for any favor in her life. And she was right about this..

"Fine. Just you and Katie." He saw her face clear. "But be careful and always keep your cellphone near, okay?"

She nodded. "I promise."

-

Laying in bed that night, she thought about the day to come. She'd already sheduled with Katie to leave her alone with Michael right after the appointement ended at 1 pm and then to meet them again at 8.

Sara fell into a peaceful sleeping, dreaming of spending Michael's birthday together.

The next day – Michael's birthday

Michael

Well, today's the day I get to be outside these walls again. If only for a day. With Sara. If it wasn't for his prisonuniform, he'd almost be feeling like a free man.

He smiled. Free. He always felt free with her.

And about an hour later, as they walked through the large gates, he noticed the CO wasn't following them out. "Take care, Doctor." He waved.

"I will, Frank, thank you." She waved back sweetly and once again, he was amazed by her kindness. But he was confused too, especially when she led him to a car that was peacefully snoring in the driveway.

"Sara?"

She kinked her eyebrow. "Problem, Mr. Scofield?"

He saw Katie sitting behind the wheel and grinned. "No – Everything is just fine."

-

An hour and a half later, as he had been poked at from every side, and annoying little lights were still causing him to see blind spots, he realised that Sara always treated him tenderly. And boy, was he grateful.

He smiled at the both of them. "So, ladies, why aren't you afraid, walking with a con?" He joked.

Katie pressed her hand to her chest. "Oh my god, you're a con? Help –" she faintly screamed, so no body would hear her. "Help!"

Sara laughed out loud. Freely. " Michael – you don't exactly scare us, you know? You think you've got this bad boy- thing going on, don't cha? Well, let me tell you mister : it ain't working with us. We can see the little furry marshmellow underneath it all."

She started to hum a No Doubt – song, called "Underneath it all" and he was tempted to put his arm around her, or put his hand on the small of her back, feeling it vibrate with the tune. But he didn't. Because he was scared that she would back away from him, and it would ruin this perfect atmosphere they were experienceing.

Katie started to trail off and winked at them one last time, before rounding the corner. Sara kept walking as if nothing had happened.

"Er- Sara?"

"Hmm?"

"Where's Katie going?"

She shrugged. "I thought she said something about going to surprise her husband at work today.."

He nodded quietly. "O-kay. Then where are we going?"

As if on cue, Sara stopped and looked up. "Here." She said.

Sara

His voice was filled with wonder. "Here?"

She laughed at his surprise. They stood in front of an old brick appartement building, detailed with wood. It stood out in a crowd full of modern houses, and it was beautiful. "Yes – here. Come on." She pulled him inside by the arm and the stumbled into the elevator.

He frowned. "This thing is okay, right?"

She giggled. "Who knows."

He pulled his hand over his shaven head. "I don't – I don't understand."

The elevator had come to a stop, but she stood and waited for a minute, before turning to him and holding open the iron door. " Michael – do you know what the date is?"

Of course he knew. Every date had specific orders in his plan to break out. "It's April 4th." He gasped. "O – Sara. You ... I... you remembered my birthday?"

She laughed again and slapped her thighs. "So he finally figures it out... Congratulations!" She raised herself so she could reach his cheek and placed a kiss on it, enjoying the feel of light stubble underneath her lips. "Happy birthday, Michael."

He couldn't stop smiling. "What are you up to, Sara?"

She tried to look innocent – failing miserably, of course. "Me? Nothing...Come on, I'll show you in."

She pulled open the heavy door and showed him inside the loft. A cinemascreen was draped all over one wall, and a couple of very comfortable looking couches where placed in front of it. On the right side of the loft, a huge kitchin took up all the place it was offered, and a diningtable for two was set. The other side of the room was filled with doors.

Michael gasped. "How big is this place?"

"Huge, huh? Not mine though. I'm just borrowing." She winked. Now, "sit down on one of those comfortable couches, they're beckoning you. I need to set something up, I'll be right with you."

But as he was walking over to the couches, she returned. "Wait – I got you something first. Here..." she tossed him a bag. "Thought you might want to wear something nice on your birthday..Don't worry," she added when she saw his eyes widen, "nothing with stripes."

He grinned. For the next ten minutes, they were trying to find the right door for him to disappear through.

Sara smiled. It felt so wonderful to be with him like this. And she couldn't wait how he would look in those clothes she bought him. Yes, she'd gone shopping for a guy, going by her own demands. Like : what would look beautiful on him? And how would it feel if I lay my head on his chest when he's wearing this sweater?

While he changed, she set everything up. The DVD in the right player, the children's champagne poured, a bag of Doritos on the table... It would prove to be quite the day.

Michael

Michael looked at himself in the mirror, admiring her taste of clothes. These were absolutely perfect. He was wairing comfortable jeans and a V-shaped white Tee. It was simple, but amazing. He pulled out the last item and grazed his fingers over it. Oooh – soft sweaters. Score.

He quickly pulled it over his head and walked back into the ... livingroom? awaiting her approval. "So?"

She turned around and gaped at him. Oh boy. Well, I guess she thinks I look good.

"You like?"

She swallowed. "Uh-huh."

He winked at her. "Good...so what's next?"

Grateful, she led him over to the couch, where he sat down. Sara kept standing, unsure of what to do...He eased her worries by opening his arms to her, and oh – he knew it was wrong, but it felt so amazingly right...He just needed to have her close.

Shyly, she sat down and eased backwards, until she was laying in his arms. He kissed her hair softly. Amazing.

"Okay..."she stated. "Close your eyes."

He whined. "Saraaa..."

"Michael – do it!" He gave in and squeezed his eyes shut. "Now, don't open them until I say you can, alright?" He nodded and sighed as if annoyed. "Oh, shush, Michael – don't be a baby."

"Okay – open them."

Michael's eyes went wide. "Homeward Bound?" he whispered, tears welling up in his eyes as he watched Chance eating blouses.

Sara smiled with him. "Homeward Bound."

Wow. Sjeesj. Wasn't that a long chapter? Huh? Tell me what you think...

Ps: Tune in tomorrow, as Mikey's day out continues...

XO Laura