At least I got to take a decent shower. The hot water felt amazing as it hit my body and felt like it was washing everything away from my body. I put my hands up against the smooth wall and let the water run through my hair and down my back letting everything take its toll on me. A lot was running through my mind. What was Geary going to do with me? Was I just supposed to stay with him, or was he going to let me go? I knew that if he gave me the option I would choose to leave him, but I didn't want to stay alone. How would I start going about finding the others?
I couldn't help my thoughts drifting over to Tbag. I really wanted to know if he got away or if the police nabbed him. I guess I was hoping for a little of both. My two conflicting sides regarding Tbag were getting stronger and louder the more time I spent around him. It was the old classic of good v. evil, but I wasn't too sure which side was going to win.
It was frightening.
I turned off the water and wrapped the fuzzy towel tightly around my body before stepping out. I smiled when I saw the white, cotton pajamas that the hotel provided and I quickly slipped on the pants and the top. They were the whitest looking clothing I have ever seen and it wouldn't surprise me if something happened and I stained them with blood. I felt like I was becoming a professional at bleeding. I slowly pulled back the bandages to take a peek at the wound on my shoulder, and was disappointed to see that it wasn't healing as quickly as I would have liked it to.
Thanks Abruzzi.
Maybe if Geary released me I could find a doctor to help me out. I put the bandage back and slowly stepped out of the bathroom. I gasped when I saw the horrifying sight of Geary wearing only a bathrobe. What the hell was he doing? He turned his head in my direction and signaled for me to come over there. I did as I was told and he offered me a glass of wine, but I declined even though I would love to drink my problems away. I simply had too many problems.
I moved across the room to look out the window (God we were high up) and there was a knock at the door. A slight panic set in as Geary moved to answer it. He was grinning like an idiot and I was afraid that he had called the police on me. I titled my head to the side when I heard women's voices coming from the other side of the door. He stepped back allowing them to enter the room, and my mouth dropped when three prostitutes stepped into the room.
You have got to be kidding me?
The first thing he did with the money was buy hookers?! They all stared at me and thought I was some sort of prostitute that they weren't familiar with. They almost looked jealous. Well sorry to disappoint, but I would never, I repeat never, sleep with someone for money.
I watched Geary move about the hotel room happily trying to figure out every little scene for his fantasy. I couldn't help but wonder what I was supposed to do while all of this was going on. I would rather sit in the bathroom with the water running than be a part of this. The girls were watching Geary probably trying to decide who was best to do...well you know.
He looked at them with a goofy grin, but they were being serious as stone. Maybe prostitutes did have standards for who they slept with and they were drawing the line with Geary. The tallest blonde bravely stepped forward and told Geary that they wouldn't perform their 'duties' unless they were paid up front.
So much for standards.
Geary shrugged his shoulders like it was no big deal and went off to wherever he hid the money. The prostitutes turned their attention towards me with their hateful stares.
"So who are you? We haven't seen you around before?"
"Well, that's probably because I'm no prostitute." I said feeling the anger bubbling inside me.
"Maybe not yet." One of them teased.
What the hell was that supposed to mean? Did she think I was going to participate in tonight's little event? Well they had another thing coming because I would hurt them all before anything like were to happen. I considered telling them all off, but there was yet another knock at the door. I don't think Geary was expecting anyone this time as he cautiously approached the door. He probably thought that Bellick had tracked him down and there was going to be a showdown right in front of me and the prostitutes.
When Geary didn't answer the door someone began violently pounding on it, and I was finding myself slightly afraid to find out who was behind that door. The other girls were jumping every time the door pounded and they let out a small scream when the door was kicked open sending wood chips flying into the air. Geary was staring wide eyed and a look of terror was written all over his face. I was staring in shock for I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
It was Tbag.
He had a hood pulled up over his head, and to anybody that didn't really know him he looked downright terrifying. Geary started backing away slowly whereas I wanted to walk forward to greet him. Tbag's teeth were clenched together so hard that I thought he was going to start breaking them. He lifted his finger and pointed for all of the prostitutes to leave the room immediately. He didn't have to tell them twice as they scurried from the room.
"Listen Tbag, it was Bellick's idea to do all of that torture stuff, not mine. He isn't even around so you and me can split this money." Geary was begging pathetically.
Tbag grabbed the bottle of wine that was setting on the table and threw it over his shoulder. He didn't look like he was in a sharing mood. Now suddenly I was frightened, but not for myself. No matter how much of an asshole Geary was, no one deserved to be killed. (Well maybe except for Mahone for killing Melanie, but that was different!) It was in my nature to protect people, much like I was used to protecting Tbag so I started to step forward to Geary.
It was then that Tbag's eyes flickered over to mine and it was like he had just noticed I was in the room for the first time. I slowly shook my head at him trying to silently tell him not to go through with what he desired. I wanted to get through to him for once and tell him that he didn't have to murder and cause pain all of the time. His eyes were locked with mine briefly and I thought I was making a breakthrough, but then they quickly masked over with rage and I knew that the fight was lost.
"Go to the bathroom Laneykins." he ordered.
I was too frightened to move. Geary was trembling against the wall because he knew what was coming the moment I left the room, and no matter what I did or how hard I tried I wouldn't be able to stop it. Tbag quickly moved over to me and grabbed a hold of my elbow and started pulling me across the room. I took one more look back at Geary trying to apologize for everything that was about to happen. Tbag pulled me over to the bathroom and pushed me inside. I turned around to face him with wide eyes. He grabbed a hold of the door.
"If you know what's good for you, you will stay in here." he threatened.
I ran over to the door as he slammed it shut. I reached out for the handle and started to turn it open, but something stopped me. Tbag was going to kill Geary regardless and I really didn't want to watch it happen. Plus, if I tried to interfere, then Tbag may turn to use his wrath against me. I released the door knob and slowly started to back away. I jumped when I started to hear them struggling and the sound of glass breaking. I put my hands over my ears trying to drown the sound out and I collapsed down on the toilet seat. There was loud thumping coming from the other side of the door and I was trying to blink back the tears.
A wave of guilt washed over my entire body.
Another person was dead because I didn't prevent these people from escaping.
It was times like these that made me wonder if karma existed. Did good things happen to you because you were a good person? Was it the same for a person who was bad? I couldn't help but think that karma was catching up with me and killing everyone I came into contact with because I was bad and let criminals escape.
I was so lost in thought I didn't hear the door knob click open when Tbag reentered the bathroom. I had no idea how long I had even been sitting in the bathroom trying to repress all of my thoughts.
I was sitting with my legs folded on the toilet seat with my hands covering my ears. No doubt I looked like I had gone insane. I slowly lifted my head to look at him. He didn't have to say anything because I could see it in his eyes. He just killed someone. The thought made me feel sick and I hoped the bleeding body wasn't still out in the room. My eyes slid up to meet Tbag's and he stretched out his hand for me to take. I got to my feet, but I wasn't going to take his hand.
I stepped out of the bathroom and started moving through the hotel room. I kept my eyes facing forward as I moved into the bigger room. Thankfully, there was no body lying anywhere, but there was evidence of a major struggle and blood trailed on the carpet. I knew that Tbag must have killed Geary but I don't think I would ever want to know how he did it. Knowing him, it was probably by extremely violent means.
The thought made me shudder.
The bottle of wine was still sitting by the chairs and nothing felt better right now than a good drink. I walked over and sat myself down on one of the chairs. Tbag was standing right next to me, but I didn't try to look up at him. I reached my hand over and lifted up the bottle of alcohol and drained it down my throat. It burned as it went down and I nearly choked as it crawled its way into my body.
I set the bottle back on the table and glanced back up towards Tbag. He was staring at me with an amused smirk and I was trying to figure out what in the hell was so funny? He just brutally murdered someone and was smiling at me. I reached out for the bottle again, but Tbag ripped the bottle away from me. I glared at him and tried to snatch the bottle, but he pulled it out of reach.
"What do you want?!" I snapped.
He dropped the wine bottle onto the carpet and lunged his body in full force at me. I gasped and pushed myself back into the chair trying to protect myself, but Tbag quickly hooked his arm under my legs. I tried to give him a pleading look, but it was far too late as he threw me over his shoulder. I shut my eyes tightly because I knew what was coming. Tbag started spinning around in circles and I suddenly regretted my decision to drink that wine. I couldn't even open my mouth to say anything even though I wanted to beg Tbag to put me down. He thought this whole thing was a joke. Well it wasn't a joke for me; couldn't he tell that I was clearly upset? The only thing I could think to do was to start pounding my fists on his back. It didn't even faze him and swore I heard him chuckle at my futile attempts. The only thing I could do was wait for him to finish his little game and try not to throw up in the process.
Suddenly, I felt myself falling through the air. I shut my eyes tightly trying to prevent my inevitable fall, and strangely I landed on something soft. I opened my eyes while I was lying on my back and realized that I had fallen onto the bed in the other room. The bed sank down at my ankles and my vision was soon clouded with the sight of Tbag. He was leaning on his side to my left and he was staring at me with a huge grin on his face. It was scary how his emotional state could change from murderous to a comedian.
"Haha. You're hilarious. If I were you I would stay clear of me unless you want me to throw up all over you."
"There are worse things than vomit, Laneykins." Tbag said scooting closer in my direction.
I swallowed back the thought of vomit as Tbag came closer. I observed all of the bruises and cuts as he came closer. Bellick and Geary really gave him a beating.
"How did you even find us? The last I saw you were handcuffed to that heater with the police on the way.
Tbag scooted even closer until we were side by side on the bed. He furrowed his brow at my question as the memories came back of the earlier events.
"Yes I suppose I did find myself in a little predicament after you lot abandoned me. It was an exciting tale as I plotted my escape with the sirens of authorities upon me."
I raised my eyebrows at him not amused by his choice in narrative.
"I have to admit that I didn't conjure up the most creative way to escape like a one Mr. Scofield, but I escaped with enough time to sneak out of the back before the police could beat down the door."
"Of course I couldn't manage my escape without a little sacrifice." He growled.
It was only then that my eyes widened at noticing that his hand was missing! I had to swallow back the bile in my throat.
"Your hand?" I choked out.
His eyes flickered down to his arm and his eyes masked with anger slightly. I could tell he was thinking back to when he lost his hand all over again. I bit my lip trying to think of something to change the subject before he did something dangerous because I was the only one around for him to take his rage out on.
"I'm sorry about your hand, but I know you and you will likely kill some other innocent victim and steal their hand." I said with a smirk and even he couldn't hold back his smile.
"But you still haven't explained how you tracked Geary down. We had to have been at least an hour ahead of you before you escaped."
"Does it surprise you that I always cover my tracks, literally. I bought a tracker and placed it in the bag with the money. I didn't exactly trust you and I always wanted to be able to find the money."
I put my hand up to my chest in a shocking manner, "you thought I was going to make a run for it with the money?"
While it bothered me that he didn't trust me, I had to admit that it proved to be a smart move in finding the money. Of course the tracker ultimately led to Geary's death, which brought back that twinge of guilt.
"I was so looking forward to gutting good old Bradley, but I didn't see him." Tbag said.
"Geary knocked him out back at the bus station and took off with the money." I explained like it was no big deal. "I guessed it turned out to be Bellick's lucky day."
"Why did you willingly stay with Geary?" he asked in more of a jealous tone.
"Who said it was willing? He had a gun." I tried to explain.
"Laney, I know you and if you wanted to escape badly enough then you could have slipped away. I am pretty confident you could outrun him."
Even I had to smile at that, "alright I didn't run anywhere because I wasn't sure where to go. I have no idea where Michael or the others could be and."
"Why would try to find Scofield? Why not me?" Tbag asked suddenly angry.
"I don't know. It isn't just Michael. I don't even know if they are alright, Lincoln, Sucre, C-note, Abruzzi, and."
"Tweener." Tbag finished with a growl.
Just thinking about Tweener made me feel sick inside. I did miss him like crazy, but couldn't voice that to Tbag without him getting angrily jealous over it. I leaned backwards into one of the pillows and covered my face with the other pillow. If I closed my eyes I could see Tweener perfectly. I could hear Tbag snort in frustration.
"If you miss your beloved Tweener so horribly then why did you accompany me on this trip?"
"Pardon me? The last time I checked you kidnapped me because I witnessed you taking the money. Ever since then you have made my life hell dragging me across the country, beating the living daylights out of me and making me an accessory to various crimes."
For once, Tbag was silent. I had no idea if he was processing everything I said or if he was just ignoring me and I really didn't care at this point. Everything about me was exhausted and I didn't have the strength to argue with Tbag about pointless things. Tbag somewhere must have agreed because at some point the lights in the room were turned out. If he was angry with me and giving me the silent treatment I would have to thank him later because the silent treatment way a far better punishment than some sort of beating. I had moved over to my side and only had to close my eyes for a few seconds before drifting to sleep.