LJ was bored with flirting with the flight attendant. Yeah she was giving him more peanuts then the rest of the passengers and yeah she was pretty damn hot, But he had more important things to concentrate on. Like Sara.

How in the hell was he going to get her to come back with him? His father had passed along her message to him when he arrived at home a few days ago, that was all LJ needed to get his own plane ticket to Montana. The moment he had learned of the baby guilt had started eating him alive. It was all his fault. Mahone had been aiming for him.

"Drop it or you're a dead man," Her voice rang through the little party store.

"Your trying to starve me to death aren't you?" He dropped the candy bar in his hand.

Sara reached into the fridges and pulled out bottles of water. "Now why would I do that?"

LJ smirked, "Cause then you'd only have to get rid of my dad and then you and Uncle Mike can finally get it on!"

"LJ!" She scolded, "Shut up!" Her face was bright red.

"Got ya!" He laughed walking past her to grab a soda.

"You're a little brat you know that," She smiled at him.

"Yeah but one you can't get rid of." He threw back.

Sara released another laugh, "Don't forget to grab those chips your dad likes. All we need is for him to throw another tantrum if he doesn't get his junk food."

"Yeah, just like Uncle Mike's tantrum that you guys had to share our room last night. I mean," Lj grabbed the bag of chips, "I've never seen a man more pissed off in my life."

LJ turned to her, she was blushing again. "Come to think about it, you weren't that happy either."

"Fine, get the damn candy." Sara walked toward the register.

LJ grabbed the bar and followed her.

The woman behind the counter smiled at them as they placed their purchase on the counter. "Son or nephew?" she asked.

Sara glanced at her, "Pardon Me?"

"Mom," LJ wrapped a proud arm around her shoulder.

Sara turned to LJ as she understood the question. "Uh…yeah…son."

"He's handsome. You must be very proud."

"Just bursting." Sara muttered handing the woman cash.

LJ pocketed his candy bar as they exited the store, the bag of food in his left hand.

"I can't believe that! Do I look old enough to have a son your age!" Sara fumed lightly.

He grinned and came up close to her, "Ah, come on mom. Don't be to hard on yourself, at lest Uncle Mike thinks you're hot."

Sara slapped his chest, "Your worse then your father, you know that!"

"I'll take that as a compliment." LJ smiled,

"Don't."

Both laughed happily as they reached a bench.

"How much longer till they pick us up?" LJ unwrapped the candy.

"Well, if your Uncle is on time, which he always is, two minutes and fifteen seconds." Sara answered glancing at her watch.

LJ nodded and bit into the candy, he atet happily for a moment then offered the bar to her.

"Ugh-" she lifted a hand to push it away, "No way. I'm gaining to much weight as it is."

"God-what's it with women and worrying about their weight?" He took another bit.

Sara smiled at him and leaned it, "When you're traveling with the man of your dreams, appearances are important."

"He doesn't seem to care what you look like." LJ smiled at her, "I mean a few nights ago you were slobbering all over him and he still looked at you like he was going to eat you alive."

Sara laughed, "Well thank you LJ. That makes me feel better…I think."

LJ finished off his candy with another bite then turned back to Sara.

"Sara there's something I've been meaning to ask you." He forced seriousness into his tone.

Sara blinked then nodded, "What?"

He leaned forward slightly as if seeking privacy, "Do you think Panama will have enough condoms for you and Uncle Mike?"

"LJ Burrows!" Sara used her bottle of water to hit him upside the head. "I can't believe you! You should be ashame-" suddenly everything changed. It started with her expression, it changed from happy and loving to scared and worried.

"Run," she whispered, "LJ run!"

LJ turned; Mahone was getting out of his car and running towards them. A gun in his hand. "Sara Tencredi, LJ Burrows! Don't move. I'm not after you!"
LJ dropped the bag of food and took off, he reached behind him to grab Sara. But she wasn't there. She was on the other side, blocking him from Mahone's view.

"I don't want you! Don't make me do this!" The agent's voice yelled again.

"Keep going, LJ. Michael-" she was panting, "Michael will be here soon."

"Stop!" The warning came again.

"Keep going LJ." She encouraged.

Suddenly a shot ran out and LJ felt his legs pump hard. He looked into the distances and saw his father's car approaching. "Sara! There's dad and Uncle-" he turned behind to tell her. She wasn't there.

She was crumpled on the ground a few feet back. Blood seeping from her body, already creating a pool.

"SARA!!" He screamed, starting toward her.

All of suddenly Uncle Mike was jumping out of the car rushing toward her and his father was chasing Mahone down with the car.

LJ lifted his head from the taxi's back seat.

"We're here kid." The drivers said angrily, it had been a long drive.

"Thanks man." He tossed money at the man and got out.

LJ always wondered why Montana. It was a boring state. Why Montana? He pulled his bags out of the trunk then slammed it and waved for the taxi to take off.

He watched for a few moments as the man retreated back down the driveway.

He lifted the bags and made his way up to the porch. He didn't even have a chance to drop them before the door open.

"Linc-" Sara swung open the door.

"Hey Sara!" LJ greeted with a huge smile.

Sara stared at him, "LJ?" she whispered.

He nodded, she had been expecting his father again.

"OH my god." She threw the door open and wrapped her arms around him.

He bent down and returned the embrace with an emotional smile, "I missed you too." He said when he heard her crying.

"Oh my god." She whispered again clinging to him tighter.

"Hey, hey," he pulled back and patted her shoulder. "It's Ok."

She smiled at him, tears smearing her mascara, "No it's not. You're huge. What the hell have you been eating?" She patted his cheeks.

"A lot of fruit. Panama's full of it." He answered with a smile.

"Fruit's good for you. Makes you tall and handsome!" Sara wiped a hand under her eye.

"Here I thought I already was." He replied.

Sara dropped her hand and laughed, "And that's why I missed you. Your enormous ego!"

"That's all?" LJ asked playfully.

Sara looked to his feet. "What are those?"

"Guess you've been in isolation so long you've forgotten what bags look like." He bent down to pick them up.

Sara used his lowered statues to smack his head. "I know what they are. I want to know why you look like your moving in."

Lj swung a bag onto his shoulder, "Well I was kind of hoping I could."

Sara coughed. "Pardon me?"

"What you don't want me." He asked faking a pout.

"That's not what I meant." She eyed him, "Does your father know you're here?"

LJ dropped his eyes, all playfulness gone. "No."

"LJ!" she gasped, "What are you thinking? He's probably out of his mind with worry."

"Yeah, well I don't care." LJ said staring at her.

Sara stopped, "Come in."

He dropped his bags at the entrance of the cabin and followed her into the kitchen.

"What are you hungry for? I don't have much, I wasn't really expecting an eighteen year old eating machine." She pulled open her fridge.

"Anything's fine." He sat at her table. "Aren't you going to yell at me?"

"Not yet." She pointed at her phone, "but you've got ten seconds to place a call or your going to get the beating of your life."

LJ smirked but stood. "As if you could reach me."

Sara smiled and threw a napkin at his head. LJ dialed his father's number.

"Dad?" he asked when he heard the phone pick up.

"LJ? Where the hell are you? I've been-"

"I'm with Sara." LJ responded quickly.

"Sara? As in Sara Tendcredi?" Lincoln asked, confused. "How the hell you'd get there?"

"I used the money Uncle Mike gave us…" LJ looked at Sara who was trying to give him space. "Listen, dad. I know you're mad. But I wanted to see her."

"Your right I'm fucking mad. You just took off-anything could have happened to you! And why are the hell are you with Sara?"

"I—I can't say right now dad. But I'll be home in a little while." LJ said slowly.

"Damn right you will. Give the phone to Sara right now." His father's angry voice told him.

"Umm..she's busy." LJ said quickly.

"Give her the phone-"

"OK dad, sure I'll make sure she'll call you later. Love you too." LJ said into the phone.

"LJ-what the hell-" LJ slammed the phone closed.

"Everything Ok?" Sara asked turning.

"Um.Yeah. My dad wants you to call him in a little while." He hit the off button on the phone. If his plan was going to go right he couldn't have his father ruining it.

Sara handed him a sandwich and pointed to the table. "Sit."

"Yes ma'am."

Sara listened to his chatter as he finished off the food then closed her eyes.

"Ok LJ. What are you doing here?"

LJ swallowed the last of his sandwich and sighed, "I kinda-maybe…got into a fight with my dad."

"A fight with your father?" Sara asked. "About what?"

LJ dropped his head, "You."

"Me? Why on earth would you fight about me?" she asked confused.

LJ lifted his head, "I know about the baby."

It was her turn to avoid eye contact. "LJ-"

"No…it's I need to say this Sara." He looked out of the kitchen window. "This is all my fault. Everything is. If you hadn't tried to save me you'd still be with us. You'd still have the baby-" his voice was thickening with emotions.

"LJ," she reached across the table and patted his hand. "This wasn't your fault. It was Mahones' fault and only his."

He didn't even looked at her, "You were trying to protect me. And because of that we had to leave you behind. Do you realize that if you had just let that bastered shoot me you'd be living in a tropical paradise with the man you love and a two year old?"

Sara gave a weak smile, "But then something might have happened to you."

LJ turned to her, tears beaming in his eyes. "I killed your child. I ruined everything."

"No, oh no." Sara pushed her chair closer to his. "Oh sweetie-that's not true."

"You were trying to save me-" he bit his lip to hold back tears. "And…and.-"

Sara pulled his head onto her shoulder, "LJ this wasn't your fault. This wasn't my fault, this wasn't anyone's fault."

LJ laid his head on her should and finally released his tears, "I'm so sorry," he sobbed.

Sara stroked his head, giving him whatever comfort she had. After a few moments LJ pulled his head up and used his fist to clear his face.

"I was so mad at them for leaving you that way." LJ told her quickly, "I didn't speak to them for two weeks and I never passed up a chance to rub it in their faces that they had left you. But I was just so mad at myself."

"LJ, listen to me-"

"Sara! I killed your kid and your letting me off!" He yelled, tears reappearing.

"I'd never forgive you if you had had a real part in it." She tossed back gently. "But I made the decision to protect you and I'd do it again and again."

LJ stood and began pacing, "You were the closest thing to a mom I had left. You were so cool and caring that I liked you the moment I met you. You were awesome to be on the run with. You kept dad in check when he'd get angry, and you cooled Uncle Mike down when he'd start panicking over the small stuff. Whenever I needed anything you were already a step ahead to get it to me." LJ turned to her, "Then we paid you back by killing your baby and leaving you to die."

Sara clasped her hands tightly together and stared at them. "It hurt so bad when I woke up and realized that you guys were gone. Then when I found out I had lost the baby I was devastated. The only thing that got me through those days was knowing that you all were safe." She stood and took a step toward him, "See the bitch of it all is that no matter what someone I love does to me I'll still love them. And I still love you guys. So yeah I was hurt and angry but I knew that the three people I loved most in the world were off somewhere getting the happiness they deserved."

LJ stared at her in disbelief. "Sara- we LEFT you!"

"And it hurt. It hurt more then anything. But I was also relieved that you were safe. If I had been conscious I would have insisted on you guys leaving."

LJ waved an arm in frustration. "But we wouldn't have!"

"LJ-" She closed the space between them and placed both hands on his shoulders.

"LJ it's over, we need to let go."

He stared at her for a moment, "If it's over and done with why aren't you with us?"

Sara let go of him and retook her seat, "Because it's not where I belong. And I'm not sure I have what it takes to survive in your Uncle and dad's world."

"What you really mean is that you're not sure if you still love Uncle Mike."

She dropped her head into her hands. He continued gently, "You say you forgive us and you would have wanted us to leave, but yet you still won't give up and come home."

She lifted her head, "It's late, LJ. You've had a long day. You should go to bed."

"Sara-" He started.

"There's a guest bedroom across from mine. You can stay for two weeks then I'm kicking your ass out." She added playfully.

LJ forced a grin and stood. "Thanks."

Sara forced her legs to work, "No problem-" she opened her arms for him.

He gave a genuine smile and lowered himself into her embrace. "Goodnight Sara."

Sara crawled into bed, lifted the phone from her nightstand and stared at it. She had to call Lincoln back. She had to tell him that his son was just rebeling and would be home in two weeks. It was quite a simple matter-dial the number that she had memorized by heart and tell Lincoln the very simple information. The problem was-what if Michael was there? What if he answered the phone or what if he wanted to talk to her?

"Oh this is stupid." Sara berated herself as she dialed the numbers into the phone.

"Yup?" was the slurred answered.

"Michael?" Sara asked slowly, her worst fear, Michael answered the phone.

"Yeah?" he responded in a bewildered voice.

"It's Sara?" Sara released a breath

"Sara? As in Sara Sara?"

"Yeah," she answered awkwardly. "Where are you?

"I'm at this cute little bar, day dreaming about you! Where are you?" He responded brightly.

"Michael are you drunk?" She asked stunned, another fear she hadn't even consider. He was drunk..

"No! No I only drink on weekends…"

Sara released a heavy breath. "It's Saturday afternoon where you are,"

She could hear him laughing on the other end. "Ok then yeah I'm drunk."

"Michael, where's Lincoln?" She begged that Lincoln was there watching over his little brother.

"Lincoln? I don't' know why? You don't want to talk to me?" He whined lightly.

"Michael you need to find your brother. You shouldn't be drunk and alone." Sara told him quickly. Trust me, she wanted to add; I know what I'm talking about.

"Sara-" Michael started in a heavy emotional voice. "Sara I'm sorry."

Sara bit back a responds, he really was. "And-" he continued. "And I really miss you."

"Michael, find your brother." She whispered into the phone.

"You don't believe me do you? You never believe me when I tell you how sorry I am. You never believe me when I tell you I love you. Why not Sara?" If it wasn't for the drunken slur that she recognizance so well she would have been sure he was sober.

"We can't talk-…I can't…I called to talk to your brother Michael." She knew if he were sober he could hear the tears running down her face.

Suddenly a second voice intruded on the line.

"Michael you stupid bastered! Where the hell have you been I've been looking all over for you! And who are you on the phone with?"

"Give the phone to Lincoln, Michael." Sara said quickly, relieved.

Sara could still hear the phone pressed against Michael's ears.

"Sara?" Michael yelled, "Sara?"

A smile tugged at her mouth, "I'm still here Michael. Can I speak to Lincoln?"

"Sara?" He asked again.

She sighed, "Yes Michael?"

"I love you. Just in case you forgot. Ok," Michael responded cheerful again. "Here, Sara wants to talk to you."

"Sara?" She heard Lincoln whispered. "As in your Sara?"

"Yup," was Michael's answer.

"Sara?" Lincoln pressed the phone to his head.

"Lincoln." Sara sighed.

"What's going on with LJ?" Lincoln asked suddenly.

"Yeah, that's why I'm calling. He showed up on my doorstep a little while ago wanting to stay for a few months."

"A few months!" Linc repeated outraged.

"Yeah he's pretty angry with you both right now. But don't worry, Lincoln, I calmed him down and convinced him to go home in a few weeks."

She heard Lincoln release a heavy sigh, "Thanks for this Sara. That kid is so impulsive it drives me crazy."

"Well at lest you know who he takes after." Sara said lightly.

"Yeah. But if he had taken after his uncle he'd have a full body tat of the directions to your place, so I guess we lucked out." Lincoln joke.

Sara found herself giving a hearty laugh, "Good point." A moment later she spoke again. "Is he really drunk?" she whispered.

"When isn't he drunk?" Lincoln answered quickly.

Sara closed her eyes and leaned against the bed frame. "I'm so sorry."

"This isn't your fault Sara." Lincoln said darkly into the phone.

She gripped the cell phone tighter. His tone had implied the complete opposite of his words; she opened her eyes and leaned forward.

"I don't want him to be like that, Lincoln. I still care for him." She snapped.

"Maybe but you just don't care enough to help him." Lincoln said angrily into the phone. "There was a time I thought you two were made for each other. The perfect match, the couple who really could make it through anything-"

"That ended when he left me bleeding on a motel room bed." She whispered knowing he could hear the tears threaten her.

"You have no idea what leaving you did to him." Lincoln said, she could hear him calming himself down.

"I lost my child." Sara whispered. "I lost my child and you want me to worry about him?"

The only sound Lincoln heard for the next few minutes were her sobs. After a time he spoke gently. "He still loves you. And I know you still love him."

"You know nothing about my feelings toward your brother." She told him savagely.

"Maybe I don't but I do know that you're just being stubborn to punish him."

Sara stared out her bedroom window, "Leave it alone, Linc, just leave it alone."

Maybe he could hear her begin to cry or maybe he just followed her demanded but his next words were of greater comfort. "Thank you for taking care of my son. I know he's safe with you. I'll be there to pick him up when he comes home."

"Good," she nodded. "Goodbye Lincoln."

"Sara-I'm sorry I'm hard on you. But I want what's best for those I love, I just have a hard time going about it." He said awkwardly.

Sara smiled, "I know—but there's just so much…"

"I know." He swallowed, "Goodnight Sara. Tell LJ I love him."

"Of course Lincoln. Bye."

Sara closed the phone set it gently on her bed. She pulled her blankets around herself and pulled the pillow tighter to her.

"I love you. Just in case you forgot." Tears rolled down her face causing a damp pool on her pillow.

Thanks for reading-please review!