Sorry that it took so long to finally update the story. I was so busy these two weeks. Thanks for your comments too, fatladysing. You're definitely encouraging and make me want to write more! Thanks and I will try my best to write a Lincoln that you and I like 

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CHAPTER FIVE

All of them were back to Sophia's house now. The house was small but comfortable. Sophia was a good housewife. She was well-organized and everything one needed could be found in her apartment. It was the place where Lincoln and LJ called home for the past week.

Sophia saw Michael before, back at the exchange point soon after he broke out of Sona. She was too focused on James and she hadn't really had the chance to talk to him. However, she had heard a lot about Michael from Lincoln and LJ. Linc always said that Michael was the smartest person in the world. Sophia had to agree. After all, she never thought anyone could break out of two penitentiaries, not to mention one of them was actually of maximum security. LJ also said that he admired his uncle Mike, who always had a brilliant plan for what he had to do.

However, even though she knew why Michael did all the illegal things in the first place, she somehow still found him scary to be with. When James was still in Sona, he once told her that Scofield was good at manipulating people. James told her not to trust the brothers. She believed him back then. Even it turned out that James was a liar, who was not really as innocent as he claimed, Sophia knew that he did this to protect her. James, a liar or not, always wanted her to be good. So, she found it hard to trust Michael entirely. Perhaps Michael Scofield was not such a good person after all. "Perhaps he lied to Lincoln and LJ too," Sophia thought.

When Sophia opened the door and see Lincoln with Michael, she didn't know how to react. Sophia wasn't astonished that Lincoln could find him. However, she didn't understand why Michael would agree to come to her house. If Michael was such a genius who cared so much about his brother and nephew, why would he show up and endanger their peaceful lives again? Maybe James was right afterall. She had to make Lincoln see the true Michael!

"Hey, Sophia," Lincoln said. "Um… can you make us something to eat?"

Sophia was still looking at Michael, who looked around the house instead of her. "What are you looking at? Figuring how to break out of my apartment?" Sophia wanted to say to Michael but immediately shouted at herself how inappropriate the joke was. Lincoln would definitely be very angry. She needed Lincoln to listen to her, not to get mad at her.

"Sophia," Lincoln called again when Sophia didn't answer him. Sophia took the cue this time and said, "Yes, sure. I'll make something. You boys get a change of clothes first. And um … you make yourself comfortable, Michael." She then entered the kitchen and prepared for the meal.

"Go, LJ. And tidy up. Uncle Mike takes your room tonight," Lincoln told LJ. "No problem," LJ replied and went to his room. He then turned to Michael and said, "Come here, Mike. Let's get changed."

Michael followed Lincoln to his room, where he could see lots of female stuff inside. He never pictured Lincoln as such a man but then people may change. After all Lincoln had been through, he definitely deserved something nice.

"Lincoln, thank you. But I think I should go now," Michael said when Lincoln handed him the dry clothes.

"What are you talking about, man?" Lincoln asked with a question mark on his face.

"I should leave," Michael told Linc the same thing again.

"Why do we have to start this again?" Lincoln said, clearly annoyed that Michael brought up what they argued earlier.

"Because we haven't finished," Michael replied.

"Okay. Good. I want you to stay with me, Michael."

"Linc, that's not what I want," Michael said and continued, "You have Sophia and LJ to take care of now."

"I know. And you stay with us too. We are family," Lincoln said and put his hands on Michael's shoulders. Michael was lost for words suddenly.

"The familial obligation. Wasn't it why I set out to save my brother?" Michael thought. Lincoln now had his name cleared. And he had LJ with him and a good girlfriend. He could start over. That was what Michael intended to do when he planned about breaking him out of Fox River. He did it. He saved Lincoln. They sacrificed a lot in order to get there.

Everything was so perfect for Lincoln now and Michael wouldn't want to destroy it. If Lincoln was sent back to prison, all that had been lost would be for nothing. He wouldn't let that happen.

"I am … I am a wanted man, Lincoln. You know what that means?" Michael looked at Lincoln in the eyes. He needed Lincoln to understand the dangerous game he was playing. He needed to remind Lincoln what mess he was dragging himself into, how he was one step from destroying his perfect life. Michael Scofield – a fugitive in both the United States and Panama – was now in his house. The only right thing that Lincoln should do was to actually kick him out of the house and report to the authority.

Lincoln hesitated when Michael laid out the truth. And Michael saw it. He didn't blame Linc. All sensible people would do the exact same thing. Pull out before it drags you down. It's just common sense.

"Good-bye, Lincoln" Michael said and headed to the door.

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