A/N: Don't have much to say about this one. Kind of speaks for itself. I love the song Collide, which I've used here. :D Anyhow, read and enjoy!

Chapter Thirteen

The dawn is breaking

A light shining through

You're barely waking

And I'm tangled up in you

But I'm open you're closed

Where I follow you'll go

I worry I won't see your face

Light up again

- Collide, Howie Day

Sara awoke naked and in Michael's arms. It took a few moments for the reality of the situation to register with her. She lay with her forehead pressed against his bare chest; his arms were wrapped protectively around her. She reluctantly shifted in her position so that she could look up at his face. Michael didn't stir and she was surprised when she looked up to find that he was already awake, looking down at her as though he had been quietly watching her sleep.

He smiled at her and she couldn't help but blush. Although it felt completely right, she wasn't really accustomed with this kind of wake up; though she sure as hell could get used to it.

"Good morning," he murmured into her hair, sighing sleepily as he inhaled the feint scent.

"Morning," she mumbled softly, yawning as she attempted to bury herself deeper into his chest, closing her eyes as if it would make her forget about their situation. She felt his arms tighten around her and his face sink down into her hair. If she tried hard enough, she could almost pretend they weren't running for their lives. She could almost pretend the man who had tortured and tried to kill her wasn't unconscious in the next room. She could almost pretend that she and Michael were a normal couple waking up to their 2.5 children and their house with a white picket fence. Almost, but not quite.

"Lincoln…" she spoke quietly, yawning again.

"Just what I want to hear; my brother's name." Michael joked softly, whispering into her hair.

Sara pulled back slightly, her brow furrowed.

"I meant; he's in the other room. We should….get up." She continued tiredly and a little awkwardly, trying to mean the words but not really convincing him.

"We should…" He agreed, not moving. She was amazed at how at ease Michael seemed. Her mind was going a million miles a minute, running through every reason she should or shouldn't be in her current position. He just seemed…relaxed, happy. His calmness seemed to relax her and she felt herself drifting off to sleep.

After a few moments they'd nearly fallen back asleep. Michael broke the peaceful silence by uttering her name.

"Sara…" he murmured.

"Mmmm?" She replied serenely, once again trying to stifle a yawn.

In response, he slowly leaned in and kissed her passionately on the lips. She was caught a little off guard but gradually leaned into the kiss. When they finally pulled apart, both a little breathless, she looked at him and smiled sleepily.

"What was that for?" She asked, barely managing to suppress her grin.

"Just because I could." He whispered, grinning while he tucked some stray hair behind her ear.

They lay like that for a few more minutes before Sara decided they really should get up. She hated the thought that Kellerman was awake, maybe unwatched in the next room. Reluctantly, she moved to sit up on the bed, her back leaning against the wall. She pulled the sheets with her and kept them wrapped around her.

Michael flashed her a smile before he moved off the bed to throw on a pair of boxers that lay deserted on the floor. As she watched him dress she slowly glanced around the room. She noticed that the paint on the walls was peeling, and cobwebs were forming in the corners of the room. The walls and floor were dirty, as if the hotel staff rarely cleaned thoroughly. The room was cheap and she reasoned that she should probably feel cheap right about now. But she couldn't; in fact, she couldn't care less about the state of the room. Right now, she honestly couldn't feel anything else but happy.

While Sara showered in the small bathroom that adjoined hers and Michael's room, Michael slipped out into the kitchen to find Lincoln. He figured joining her in the shower might be pushing his luck. The first thing he noticed as he walked into the open room was Kellerman finally awake, sitting against the wall, his arm still tied to the bookshelf.

He heard the door to his left open as Lincoln stepped out of the other small bedroom, yawning widely.

"Hey," Lincoln spoke slyly. "Have a good…sleep?"

Michael smiled and shook his head softly, knowing exactly what his older brother was alluding to.

"The best."

"I'm happy for you." Lincoln replied genuinely, tapping his younger brother firmly on the shoulder.

"Me too." Michael replied quietly, meaningfully.

"Oh isn't this touching," Kellerman muttered sarcastically from his cold, dank, corner of the room. "Anyone care to untie me?"

Both Michael and Lincoln ignored Kellerman as they walked into the kitchen area, making coffee and toast. They moved around in the tiny kitchen, and it didn't escape Lincoln's notice that Michael was also fixing an extra breakfast, obviously for Sara.

They walked over to the small table and Lincoln tossed a bare piece of toast at Kellerman, who glared as it landed next to him, before rolling his eyes and picking it up to eat.

As they sat down at the table, they saw Sara emerge fully clothed from the bedroom. Her hair was soaking wet and the floral scent that wafted into the room told them that she'd washed her hair. She'd been as surprised as any of them when she saw that the dingy motel had supplied toiletries in the bathroom. Still, she was grateful. After the few days she'd had, washing her hair had felt like heaven. Actually a lot of recent events had felt like heaven. She suppressed the urge to smile and shook her head slightly.

She made her way over to the table and took the place set out for her next to Michael.

"Hey Lincoln," she said blushing slightly but noticeably, a little embarrassed knowing that he knew she and Michael had shared a room the night before.

"Hey," he said warmly as Michael slid a coffee across the table to her.

She took a sip of the hot liquid, enjoying the feel as it slid down her throat.

She felt Michael squeeze her hand under the table as he spoke to her.

"Sara, we need to…" he let his gaze finish his sentence, and she watched as his eyes moved to the man sitting in the corner of the room.

She swallowed her mouthful of coffee and nodded hesitantly, gaining another reassuring squeeze from Michael.

Getting her permission, Michael stood up, his chair scraping along the ground. He made his way over to Kellerman and began to untie his restraints.

"You touch her, look at her, think about her. You die." Michael threatened, whispering so that only Kellerman could hear.

"Sure thing, boss." Kellerman replied sarcastically, earning him rope burn as Michael harshly finished untying the cord.

Kellerman rubbed his wrist as he got up painfully and walked slowly over to the table to join Lincoln, Sara, and Michael who had also just taken his seat again.

The three of them glared at Kellerman as he carefully sat down, clearly feeling the extent of the injuries he'd received the previous day.

"Tough crowd." He muttered sarcastically.

"Why are you really here?" Lincoln demanded, not one to beat around the bush.

"Like I told you; the President, The Company, screwed me over. I fully intend to repay them for it." He replied impatiently.

"And you can help us how?" Michael asked, his dislike for the man showing clearly.

"I know everything President Reynold's has ever done. You three just so happen to be living proof of her actions. Together, we can expose them." Paul spoke convincingly.

"And you really expect me – us – to believe you?" Sara asked incredulously.

"Hey." He looked at her, already disobeying Michael's earlier instruction. "You were just a target. I was a soldier following an order. It was nothing personal." He paused for a second. "I could really go for a piece of pie right about now." He grinned.

Sara's eyes narrowed and Michael once again took her hand under the table, causing her to breathe out and relax a little.

Paul decided to keep talking.

"I was told your father had given you something; something that contained information that the President could not afford to get out." He prompted her.

Sara looked from Kellerman, to Lincoln, her gaze then resting on Michael.

"We don't know that you can be trusted." Michael spoke evenly at Kellerman.

"You don't really have a choice." Kellerman laughed, clearly enjoying the control he seemed to have over them. Knowledge was power. He obviously had information they desperately needed.

The three exchanged glances. Lincoln nodded, and Michael looked at Sara. She also gave a slight nod. Reluctantly, Michael dug his hand into his pocket, removing the mysterious key. He placed it onto the table in clear view of Kellerman.

Kellerman's eyes went wide.

"Oh, shit." He muttered.

A/N: Okay, so I'm not exactly sure where I go from here. I'm kind of swamped with classes at the moment so I probably won't get time to update. I really hoped you enjoyed reading what I've written so far. I hope to get back to this, or maybe start a new story eventually. Pleaaaaaase leave a review, especially if you haven't already. Oh, and thank you so much to those that reviewed! Especially the few that reviewed every (or almost every) chapter. You guys are the reason people write, and if you write yourself, you know the feeling. :D

Thanks!!!