(Sara)
Sara followed her father down the brightly lit hallway of the hospital, her heart escalating in her chest with every step she took that brought her closer to Michael's room.
She had spent all of last night going from angry to worried and back again, but right now she wasn't sure what she was feeling.
Not paying attention, she almost ran into her father as he came to an abrupt halt, but she managed to stop her forward motion just in time to avoid collision by placing her hands on his shoulders. She resisted the urge to lean on him and stepped back, backing away from the door in front of them.
She was no longer sure that she could do this. Yes, she wanted answers, but the idea of hearing Michael say to her face what she had been slowly torturing herself with since last night was almost too much to bear.
"Dad, you um, go on in. I think I'll…I just need a few minutes, okay?"
Her father nodded in understanding and squeezed her arm.
"Seeing Agent Scofield again might bring back last night's horrible events for you, Sara. But you don't have to go in there today. This can wait. I'm sure he will understand."
Sara shook her head. "No, I do want to…I just…Just tell him I'll be in in a few minutes, please, Dad?"
Frank nodded again and pushed open the door leaving her standing there.
Sara took a deep breath and made her way over to the chairs in the waiting area. She sat down in one of the uncomfortable hard backed chairs and leaned back. But she was only seated for a few beats before she was up again and pacing.
She knew what her father wanted to see Michael about. He had told her everything on the way to the hospital. The Feds had been over Michael's apartment with a fine toothed comb, finding all of the things she had told them to look for.
And while Paul had set everything up quite professionally there was no doubt in anyone's mind that Agent Paul Kellerman had orchestrated the whole thing. The false evidence…the false leads that the Birthday dinner would be targeted…Everything.
Sara knew that her father had also been chosen to tell Michael he was up for The Commendation for bravery. He was to be honored as soon as he was given a clean bill of health.
She hadn't told anyone about her relationship with Michael. And it was for more than just selfless reasons. If she said anything it would most likely cause problems for both of them. Her father would push even harder for her to go away for the summer…and Michael? He would most definitely lose his job.
She ran a hand through her hair and sighed. She knew she was just kidding herself. She couldn't tell anyone because as much as his actions had hurt her, it didn't change the fact that she was in love with him. And even if he didn't feel the same way about her…And she was fairly certain that he didn't, she could never hurt him that way.
She looked towards his room, her heart starting to pound in contemplation, the closed door so white in the glaring fluorescents, mocking her with its silence, daring her to do what she came here to do despite how she might feel once she was on the other side of it closed off from this safe, albeit overly lit hallway.
She took another deep breath and steeled herself.
And then she walked with purpose to the mocking door.
She paused for only a second and then opened it and stepped inside, closing the door behind her.
XXXXX
Sara turned around to find both Michael and her father staring at her.
"Um, sorry, I guess I should have knocked?"
She could feel Michael's eyes on her as she moved to stand in front of the window.
"Don't be silly, we were expecting you, Sara," Frank said warmly.
"You were? I mean of course you were."
Michael's eyes hadn't left her once and it was making her feel uncomfortable. She took a deep breath and reminded herself to take another.
"I was just telling Michael here, about The Commendation. And that I think he should come to the house for dinner sometime, when he's feeling up to it of course."
"Of course," she agreed, all the while thinking, so it's Michael now? Not Agent Scofield? She had been out in the lobby five minutes, tops and yet it seemed she had missed something.
Sara had yet to meet Michael's eyes and his intense stare was still focused on her. She chanced a look at his face and his eyes held so many questions, so much…sorrow?
Her father was talking on about the case, something to do with Michael's quick thinking and excellent training. Frank was almost making him sound like an obedient dog, but Sara knew it wasn't purposeful. She could tell this wasn't just another example of her father's snide praise.
She felt like she was being sucked in by his eyes, unable to look away. Breathe, Sara, just breathe! She pulled her eyes away and turned to look out the window.
She heard her father's cell phone chirp and then he was excusing himself, his apologies following him out the door.
She heard the door close behind her and then they were alone.
She took a deep breath and turned to face him. She was ready to hear him out, at least as ready as she would ever be.
She brought her eyes up to his and took a step forward, moving towards the bed.
Hoping that her expression was giving away nothing of how she felt, she stopped a few feet from him and crossed her arms over her chest.
"So? I'm listening."
XXXXX
(Michael)
Michael didn't say anything at first, he just stared at her, standing before him looking beautiful, looking so hurt and pissed off with her molten eyes of copper. He wanted to take her into his arms and tell her he was sorry for everything he had kept from her these last few weeks; tell her that he loved her and he would never lie to her again if she would only stop looking at him like that.
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She was waiting he knew, but he wanted to make sure he got this just right. He had planned out a whole speech, but as he opened his mouth all of his carefully thought out words left him and he was lost.
"Um, Sara, I…I…I love you."
He watched her eyes fill up and continued quickly.
"I love you…And I think maybe I've always loved you…at least that's how it feels. But if you hate me…If you walk out and leave me sitting here I understand. I lied to you. I hurt you. I made you believe I was someone I wasn't. But you need to know that I never meant to hurt you. I never meant to make you feel like this. I just wanted to keep you safe…And it was my job, yes… at first. But it became my life."
He watched her shoulders start to shake as the tears began to roll down her pale cheeks, and his heart ached for all of the pain he had caused her.
"Sara…"
She took a hesitant step towards him, and then another; this one a little more confident, bringing her almost close enough to touch.
And then she was in his arms...
He held her close and stroked her hair, not quite believing she was really there, that she was letting him hold her. That she was forgiving him.
She pulled back a little and he reached up and pushed the hair from her face. She sniffed and reached and wiped her eyes on his blanket.
She smiled at his amused look as he took in the black streaks of mascara on his bed linen.
"Don't worry I'll wait to blow my nose."
He couldn't help but laugh.
She smiled and leaned in to him, her lips close enough to touch.
And as he leaned forward a little, he heard her whisper softly, "I love you too, Michael."
And then he was brushing her lips with his in a sweet kiss, a first kiss. And though this wasn't technically true, it was a first, the first of many kisses to come without the taste of lies, without secrets to taint the moment.
(THE END)
Chapter End Notes:
This was the last chapter. Thanks for reading and reviewing everyone!
