Sara couldn't believe what she was seeing; straight laced Michael had just popped a hit of X?

She watched him swallow hard and meet Jeff's angry eyes. She should have known this would happen. Jeff was still after her.

They had had a thing for a few weeks right before she was busted and sent to rehab. But she had ended it. She couldn't stand the way he tried to own her when they were together. It hadn't been enough for him that the sex was great and intense. No, he had to go and buy her that stupid ring.

She pushed the whole nightmare episode out of her head and looked back to Michael. She watched the stare down end with a shrug from Jeff and then he pulled out another hit and held it out to her.

She was reaching for it when Michael grabbed her hand.

"Let's take a walk, okay?"

She was about to protest that she didn't want to be the only one not tripping, but thought better of it and followed him, looking back only once at the proffered hit still held in her now scowling ex-boyfriend's hand.

When they were around the corner, Michael reached into his mouth and pulled out the small pill. She felt her mouth drop open and clamped it shut. So he had only pretended to take X? She was confused.

"What are you doing, Michael?"

He didn't answer. She watched him toss the soggy hit into the waste can and then he turned to her and smiled.

"You're friend thinks I took it, so now he'll leave me alone."

Sara shook her head, feeling the smile as it spread across her face.

"You're crazy. But I have to admit, that was pretty hot! And the look on Jeff's face was priceless!"

Michael was smiling.

"Shh, don't give me away. So how does one act when on X? Just so I don't blow this."

Sara couldn't help but laugh. "You're seriously going to go that far?"

Michael shook his head. "Nah, if he figures it out I'll just claim high tolerance."

Sara laughed even harder at this coming from Mr. Straight and narrow. When she could breathe again she grabbed his hand.

"Come on, they'll be starting soon and I wanna be so close we scare the band."

The band was loud, making it almost impossible to hear what she was saying. He thought maybe she had screamed something about misty beer, but that couldn't be it, could it?

He watched her move closer to her pal with the black lipstick; a girl of about fifteen at the most. She was wearing a torn black skirt with lacy ruffles and black boots that ended just below the knee, and obviously they were bought with the sole purpose of hiding the small plastic flask she had shoved down inside one of them.

He watched as Sara took the bottled to her lips and emptied a good portion of the dark liquid down her throat. This was great, just great. Now he was going to have to deal with a drunken teenager for the remainder of the night. But better alcohol then X.

He sighed and pushed his way towards the two girls. Sara held out the flask and he shook his head. She dumped another good sized portion down her throat and handed it to the girl who drained it.

Michael felt a small amount of relief that the flask was empty, but it was short lived, as he watched the girl pull out another small flask and take a gulp before offering it up to Sara.

What the hell didn't she have in those boots? He wanted to yank Sara away from the walking bar, but he didn't want to push it. He watched as she tipped up the flask and emptied it. That was a lot of alcohol for a small girl.

She leaned in close and shouted something to him that once again he couldn't quite make out, and then she was gone.

What the hell?

He pushed through the sweaty bodies and saw her heading towards the stage. He shoved his way towards her just trying to keep her in his sights. She was gone again. Damn it!

He scanned the area looking for her, but she was nowhere to be seen.

He was about to alert the other agents in the theater that he had lost sight of her when he saw her. She was on the stage.

He stepped back and watched as she tipped her head back, the bright lights shining against her auburn/black streaked hair, her skin so white, almost translucent. He felt his breath leave him. She was beautiful standing up there. He wasn't sure how long he stood staring, mere seconds most likely, and then he made himself move, his eyes never leaving her.

He watched as she began to spin in a circle and then dived into the crowd of teenagers. His heart skipped a beat, and then with a forced calm he took a guess at where she had landed and shoved his way through. She wasn't there.

He turned in a circle scanning the pissed off faces of the other concert goers looking for her.

And then he saw her.

He let out his breath and pushed his way to her. She smiled when she saw him and then she was in his arms. He felt her body against him and his arms went up around her automatically. He felt a moment of panic at her closeness and was about to pull away when she turned in his arms and leaned her back against his chest, clamping her hands over his which rested at her waist.

And then she leaned her head against the side of his face, her hair soft against his cheek. He knew he should pull away, but he didn't. He couldn't. She felt so good in his arms. His heart was beating fast and he wondered if she could feel it against her back, and then she was moving against him; her lithe body shifting just so. He felt his breath catch in his throat.

No, he couldn't let this happen. But it was happening. He felt himself harden as she moved. And then he jumped away from her. He moved so fast she almost fell backwards, but managed to right herself.

She turned to him, a hurt, confused look playing across her features for only a second and then he saw that barrier come up. Her eyes went flat and she turned and pushed her way through the crowd to get away from him.

He moved after her, not sure how to fix things, but he had to. He couldn't let her go off somewhere by herself.

He saw her up ahead and shoved harder against the throng of sweaty black clothed youths. She was headed for the hall.

He saw her go through the doorway and shoved his way through.

"Sara, wait!"

She didn't even turn around. He ran up behind her and grabbed her arm.

"Wait, please!"

She pulled her arm roughly away and looked at him stonily.

"What do you want?"

She was angry, her spine stiff.

"I'm sorry, I mean, I didn't…I wasn't expecting that and it was…just don't go, okay? Just let me explain?"

His mind was whirring through any and all possible explanations he could offer her. He skidded passed using shyness as an excuse, and opened his mouth, the words tumbling out.

"I'm gay, Sara. I mean…I'm gay."

He watched her eyes widen in disbelief and then she blinked.

"Whoa...What?"

He made himself meet her eyes. "I'm gay… I like guys, okay? That's why I pulled away. It's not you, it's me."

She stared at him for a few beats, and then, "My gaydar totally missed that. Wow…I mean Wow! Um, I'm sorry…I mean, I thought you were into me, obviously. This is…" She lowered her head letting her hair fall across her face.

"Its okay, Sara… I mean, I'm not 'out' so I tend to hide it as much as possible."

She nodded. "You're good at it."

She turned and started walking.

"Wait, Sara." He grabbed her arm and she stopped.

"We're still…friends, right?"

She looked at him for a second and then nodded, "Yeah, but I have to pee. So, unless you wanna girlfriend up, I'll be back in a few minutes."

He stood watching as she headed for the restroom.

He let out his breath in a sigh of relief, and then mumbling under his breath, he moved to the wall to wait for her.

"Gay, Scofield?...Shit."

XXXXXX

(Sara)

Sara studied her reflection in the mirror. She was a little drunk she had to admit, but in no way could she use her slight inebriation for an excuse as to how she was feeling.

Gay? How could Michael be gay?

She turned on the water full blast and splashed her face, heedless to the fact that it would ruin her make-up. What did it matter? Her 'date' was gay.

She grabbed a few paper towels and dried off, and then tossed them to the litter strewn floor.

She had to admit she was disappointed as well as a little pissed. She tried to remind herself that she had only been playing with Michael, but she knew that was bull; the disappointment at his revelation was too strong to be chalked up to merely that of the end of a simple game of teasing. She liked him.

She squeezed her eyes closed and took a deep breath. So maybe she could change his mind? No. She had a few gay friends and all of them insisted it wasn't a choice with them. It was just who they were.

"Shit!" Her voice echoed loudly against the tiles of the dirty restroom.

But maybe it was better this way? She never had been good at relationships. She always blew it when things got going. This way Michael could keep her straight… Ha, ha, and the tension of a relationship wouldn't be there.

She looked at her pale face in the mirror and sighed. Yeah, she could do this. She could still be friends with him. Maybe even set him up with one of her other gay friends? Maybe.

She moved away from the sink and made her way out of the bathroom.

He smiled shyly at her from his place against the wall. She let her eyes run over him and sighed inwardly, thinking, what a waste.

She smiled back and made her way over to him.

"Let's go back in, we're missing everything!"

His smile widened at her words and he slipped his hand into hers.

"Lead the way, Madame!"

She looked sideways at him and shook her head. Madame? So gay!

(A few days later)

"You're coming, right?"

He looked up from the magazine he was reading.

"What?"

He laid it open against his bare chest and looked at her.

"My Birthday dinner, thingy?"

Sara winced at the mere thought of the stuffy dinner her father subjected her to every year on her Birthday. The only hope she had of actually surviving it would be if Michael was there too.

"Yeah, of course," he smiled and leaned back against the deck chair.

They were at the indoor pool at the club.

Sara sighed in relief. "Good, cause if I have to suffer, my best friend should too."

She saw a strange look flit across his features and then he was smiling.

"That's what best friends are for, right?"

She nodded and stood up. She was adjusting her bikini when she felt his eyes on her. She looked up and his eyes shifted away.

"Were you just checking me out, Scofield? " She had to tease.

"What?...Um…no, I was um, thinking you're too skinny. You need to eat more. You never eat. How can you never eat?"

She kicked playfully at him. "Shut up already, I was joking!"

He laughed and stood up. "So was I, you're perfect. If I wasn't gay…"

She met his eyes. "But you are gay."

"As gay as they come." He agreed.

"Right, so let's go swimming, girlfriend!"

"Don't call me that, please!"

But she was already diving in; his words lost to the sound of her body hitting the water.

He had been checking her out. And it was true; she was perfect in every way.

He thought about her statement; her saying he was her best friend and pushed his guilty conscience aside. He was there to protect her, that was his job, and all else was to remain insignificant to the case.

His resolve hardened, he watched her now as she moved through the water and then tore his eyes away. He had been doing this all morning. That was until he had buried his nose in a magazine.

And then when she had stood up... He took a deep breath at the thought of all that milky white skin, the black bikini only making her skin look all the more radiant.

Gay, indeed. If only he could be so lucky. He so needed to get laid!

But he knew it wasn't just that. There was something about Sara. Something sweet and yet...

He sighed and pulled his thoughts out of the gutter.

Now where did she go?

He was making a circle looking for her when she jumped onto his back. He felt her wet skin against him and pulled her around, her arms dropping naturally around his neck. She was laughing, but something in his face must have given him away, because her eyes turned serious.

He pulled away quickly, and swam a little ways away from her, just needing some space before she brushed up against him and realized just how terrible a liar he really was.

She moved away a little and then glanced back up at him.

"Um, did I do something wrong or something? I mean every time I get close to you, you freak out or something. I'm not trying to make any moves on you, or anything. I'm just…"

"No, God, no, I mean, its okay. I just…I dunno. It feels um…"

"Good?" Her voice was hesitant.

He met her eyes across the pool.

"No, not good, just uncomfortable," he lied.

She laughed a little and shook her head. "I'm good at that; making people uncomfortable. Just ask my dad."

She was climbing out and he watched her, his eyes moving over the wet bikini and how it stuck to her skin.

He forced his eyes away and focused on a point just above her head. If he didn't stop looking at her it was going to be quite some time before he would be able to get out of the pool.

"Are you going to stay in?"

"Yeah, I figured I could use a few laps."

"Yeah, right, like you really need it, " she said softly, but he missed her last words as he pushed off and began to swim towards the other side of the pool.