A/N: Disclaimer- I am not happy with how this chapter turned out, but here it is. I really wanted to get something out for you guys to keep you hooked. So I apologize in advanced if you hate this chapter. Just know a better one is coming soon. This was a chapter that was necessary to keep the plot moving, but hard to write. So here's an interesting chapter 18.

Ch. 18: Take Me Home

Michael wiped the sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand. He was exhausted. He hadn't slept in 36 hours—since he escaped from the Company Headquarters. Ever since their escape, Gretchen, Mahone, and Michael had been going non-stop. They had no time to waste. With every minute that passed with Company agents still out there watching their loved ones came great danger. They knew they could only fool the agents for so long before they would grow suspicious and demand to contact the General directly. They were moments away from eliminating the agents watching Felicia and Pam. And just like that, he heard the sound of two silenced shots followed by the thud of two agents' bodies as they fell to the ground.

"Well that was far easier than I thought it was going to be," Gretchen finished satisfied. "Mahone should be back in a few minutes with Pam."

Gretchen had assigned Mahone to take on Pam's single Company agent who had been watching her since Mahone began "working" with the Company. Mahone was an ex-Company and FBI agent, so Gretchen had faith in his ability to assassinate a Company agent and retrieve his ex-wife without too much trouble. Michael on the other hand Gretchen did not trust as much. Sure, Gretchen knew that Michael would be loyal until the day he died, but she also knew he was one of the most compassionate people she would ever meet. It would be endearing if it wasn't also his hamartia—his true tragic flaw. She knew that if it came down to it, and that if Michael found out the agent had a family at home, he wouldn't pull the trigger. He wouldn't pull the trigger until he felt his family was being threatened. Yes, Gretchen knew Michael would have no problem killing the agents that were the only thing standing in between him and his family.

Gretchen marched into the building and came out minutes later, Felicia in tow. Just as she and Felicia reached Michael, a black sedan pulled up with Mahone and Pam inside. Felicia, Gretchen, and Michael joined them in the car.

"Well that was much easier than I thought it would be," Mahone said.

"Hey! That's what I said," Gretchen added.

"Excuse me would someone please tell me what the hell is going on?!" Felicia questioned. "All I really know is that Alex broke up with me six months ago via email saying that he couldn't do this anymore and was going back to a life he knew. Next thing I know Ms. Sunshine here is dragging me out of my house demanding that I come with her if I want to see the light of tomorrow, and now I am sitting in a car with my ex-boyfriend and his ex-wife! So an explanation would be nice, and I would prefer if it came from you Alex."

Mahone stared blankly at Felicia. He had caused her so much pain over these past few months, not to mention the danger he had subjected her to. Sure, she was an FBI agent and was in danger every day, but this was different. The Company was more dangerous than any serial killer or fugitive that she would have to deal with at the bureau.

"Listen," Mahone finally said breaking the silence, "I will tell you—both of you," he added motioning to both Felicia and Pam, "everything that has been going on within the past months, but first I have to get Michael and Gretchen to Miami. That's all I can say right now, but time is really sensitive. Michael has risked it all for me more times than I can count, and it is about time that I returned the favor. So I am going to help him save his family and then we can talk," Mahone finished in a way that left both Felicia and Pam speechless.

Michael sat in awe. He knew that Mahone could be loyal when he wanted to be, but he never imagined that Mahone would be so fiercely loyal to him. Michael was awestruck. He couldn't believe that Mahone would put Michael's needs above his own.

Michael leaned forward in his seat so he could put his hand on Mahone's shoulder. "Thank you," he said quietly.

Mahone didn't respond, but instead kept his eyes on the road and a smile on his face. Michael didn't need to thank him. Mahone had a lifetime of debt to repay Michael.

Surprisingly enough, it was easy to take out the eight Company agents watching Sara, Mikey, Lincoln, and Sofia. Gretchen had been sure that heading into the battle field with the numbers greatly against them would prove to be a great challenge, but it wasn't. In fact, it was so easy that Michael even grew suspicious that they had been discovered. He began to fear that they had walked straight into a trap. Michael reasoned that the General survived the explosion and was able to reach the agents and tell them to allow Mahone, Gretchen, and Michael to easily take them out, luring them into a false sense of security in the process only to strike and take them all out once they finally felt they were safe.

So in conclusion he was nuts.

"Michael you are being ridiculous and you know it," Gretchen reasoned, annoyed with the situation. She wanted to get home, to her sister and daughter whom she knew would not have agents watching them due to the fact that her daughter was the former General's daughter.

"Listen," Gretchen continued, "I am exhausted. I want to go home. But I can't do that until you get out of this car and go reunite with your family. You do remember your family right? Your wife, brother, and the beautiful little boy who you have yet to meet. What is the hold up?"

"I can't go see them, and you know that. I can't go find them until I am ensured that the Company is dead—for real this time. I can't put them in danger again. I can't get their hopes up if I'm not going to be able to stay. I can't put them through that again."

"Alright listen up Scofield and listen good. I am not playing around anymore. I want to go see my daughter, my beautiful, beautiful daughter, just as much as I know you want to go meet your son. We watched the Company burn to the ground. We had a front row seat even. We incapacitated the General and handcuffed him to the drain pipe. There is no way that he could have escaped, and there is no way that anyone could have seen that explosion coming. So put your big boy panties on and get your ass out of my car. Go get your girl, okay?" Gretchen finished with a huff.

Michael was amazed once again. He never thought that Gretchen Morgan, the same woman who faked Sara's death, would be pulling for him in the end. Michael didn't know why, but he reached over the middle console and hugged Gretchen. At first she didn't react. After an awkward moment, Gretchen reached her hand around and patted Michael on the back. It was one of the most uncomfortable moments of both of their lives, but it was almost necessary. Michael pulled away, cleared his throat, and got out of the car. He nodded at Gretchen before closing the door and watched her drive away.

Now he was stumped. It's not like he could just show up on Sara's doorsteps expecting her to take him in her arms and celebrate his homecoming. He had to be careful. For all he knew, Sara could have moved on. It had been almost two years after all. Part of him hoped that she had moved on and found peace and happiness, but the other part was holding out hope that she was still waiting for him. He knew it was selfish of him to want Sara to wait for hi, but he couldn't help himself.

Michael flagged down a taxi and asked the driver to take him to the nearest motel. He decided he probably needed a shower and a quick nap wouldn't hurt either. He paid the cabbie and headed inside to check into a room. He checked into a room using the cash that Gretchen had given him. He asked the receptionist for the date because God only knew how long he had been in the Company clutches.

"Wednesday, November 26, sir," the receptionist politely responded.

"What year?" Michael asked after a beat.

"2014," the receptionist answered with a puzzled look on her face.

"Thank you," Michael said, ending the conversation with a smile and a nod.

Michael got to his room and sat down on his bed, head in hands. He couldn't believe how long it had been. Almost two years had passed. His son must be so big. And Sara—god how could Sara not move on? He couldn't believe this was happening. To top it all off, tomorrow was Thanksgiving. Did he really want to ruin the holidays by crashing in on a life that Sara was probably happy with? Maybe his initial instinct was right. Maybe he should just stay away.

Michael laid back on his bed, exasperated by his current situation. He knew that he was being ridiculous, and that Sara and Lincoln would both be overjoyed to see him. But there was part of his brain that continued to plant seeds of doubt into his head. He closed his eyes, and didn't realize he had fallen asleep until he was awoken by a knock at his door hours later. He groaned and rolled out of bed. Who could possibly be at the door? No one even knew where to find him.

He was surprised when he opened the door and saw not only Mahone, Felicia, and Pam on the other side, but also Gretchen.

"You have got to be kidding me," Gretchen exclaimed. "Get your ass in that shower and down to Sara's house right now."

"First of all, how did you even find me? Second, I can't just march into her life and expect her to fall at my feet and take me back."

"Well I had the sneaking suspicion that you would chicken out of seeing your family—you remember them right? The ones you fought tooth and nail to get back to for the past year. So I followed you, and seriously? For someone who claims to be afraid of a Company 3.0, you are extremely sloppy. Secondly, you can and you will see Sara. But not tonight. It is too late and I bet your son is asleep. You will go tomorrow first thing tomorrow morning and you will throw all of your damn fear out of the window, "Gretchen finished stubbornly.

"You realize tomorrow is Thanksgiving, right?"

"And what better way to show them all they have to be thankful for than by marching into Thanksgiving dinner and making your debut back from the dead?" Mahone chimed in.

"Jeez, not you too, Alex."

Michael thought about both of their opinions before realizing that they were right. He had fought extremely hard for the past year and a half to get back to his family. He wasn't about to turn around and run away out of fear of disrupting their lives. He had to at least try. If not for Sara and Lincoln, for the son that deserved to know his father; the son that he was dying to meet.

"You guys are right," Michael conceded. "Tomorrow is the day I get my family back."

"Finally you see the light," Gretchen responded. "Now, onto other business. We are going to need to crash here tonight—all of us."

"Well, it looks like the dinner table just got much more crowded."

A/N: Well it may not have been my best, but it sure was long. Love it or hate it, let me know with a review. They are always appreciated. I should be getting another chapter out in a few days. Thanks for sticking with this story, my faithful readers. XOXO