Managed to get a chapter in today…..enjoy!!
Chapter 31: Good Acting
Back at the hotel…
Alex was beginning to look worse for wear. His trembling was steadily growing worse and his movements more jerky, and sporadic.
Jack gave him a concerned glance.
He turned away from them and stared out the window. He slid out his Blackberry and began typing a message to Agent Lang. Then he pulled out his pen and swallowed a couple of pills.
"You have to know it's not real hard for me to recognize a junkie," said Sara.
Alex glanced at her over his shoulder.
"I…I'm saying you don't look so good," she said, fumbling with her words.
Alex whirled around and leaned back on the window. His face was a mask of horror and inner pain.
"Alex," said Jack, quietly, "She's right. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," muttered Alex as he turned back to look out the window.
Sara snickered, "Yeah…you mind me asking what you're taking?"
"Here, you want one?" asked Alex as he tossed her a small, white pill, "Save it for later."
"Veratril," muttered Sara as she studied the pill, "Bendadiazapine is a hard core tranquilizer, man. Take these every day?"
"Twenty milligrams."
"You must feel like you're walking under water."
"I do…its quiet down there."
Jack's face gave away her fear for Alex's health. He was beginning to seriously worry her.
"That's why you started, isn't it?" asked Sara, "For peace and quiet? But that's not the reason you do it anymore is it? Now it's the headaches, right? And you probably don't sleep. And you know you're going to destroy yourself, right?"
"I haven't ruled that out as a possibility," he muttered under his breath.
Jack's eyes widened in shock. Sara saw the look on Jack's face.
"Hope we hear from your boyfriend," said Alex, turning to look back out the window, "For your sake, I do."
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Several minutes later….
Alex sat on the floor below the window and stared at the wall across the room. Jack kept glancing at him, concern written all over her face.
"You know it's why I started," said Sara.
"Started what?" asked Alex.
"Using…same reason as you."
"Why? Cause you had to stay up all night during residency?" he asked, laughing hoarsely, "Because the base player dumped you in front of the whole sorority? Yeah, you and I have a lot in common."
"I've seen people die too," replied Sara, earnestly.
Alex glanced away.
"I'm assuming that you didn't make them die," he said as he stood slowly and turned back to look out the window.
"I think you're upsetting your partner," said Sara as she glanced briefly at Jack.
Jack's gaze flew to Sara's in anger.
Alex glanced back at Jack and then at Sara. He gave her an irritated look.
Sara held up her hands in surrender.
"I'm just saying…you need help."
Alex looked back out the window.
"Not what I'm looking for," he said as he slowly pulled out his gun, "I sure hope for your sake that your boyfriend calls back soon."
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Fox River Penitentiary…
Franklin sat in an empty room behind a table. His hands were cuffed and he looked very depressed and forlorn.
Agent Wheeler sat in front of him and gave him an intent stare.
Franklin laughed slightly, "No, I can't do that."
"Yes you can," insisted Wheeler, "There's nothing to be afraid of."
Franklin narrowed his eyes at Wheeler.
"You don't get it do you? You can't stop them!"
"Not without your corporation I can't," retorted Wheeler, "But if you talk to me…if you tell me what's going on, I can take care of you, okay? You've got to trust me, Mr. Franklin. I can help you."
Franklin sighed and glanced away uncertainly.
"C-Note…right?"
"Yeah, whatever man."
Wheeler pulled out a tape recorder and sat it on the table in front of them. He pressed the record button.
"All I need you to do is to tell me exactly what Agent Mahone and Agent Harper told you," instructed Wheeler, "If you give me Mahone and Harper, I'll give you your life back."
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Back at the hotel…
Jack pulled out her gun and studied it for a couple of minutes. Then she loaded it and sat it down on the table between her and Sara.
Sara glanced at it with a fearful look in her eyes.
Alex whirled away from the window, suddenly.
"I don't want to do this, I really don't."
Sara glanced down at the gun in his hand and her heart raced in fear.
"What are you…what are you talking about?"
"But you can't say I didn't give you a choice," said Alex as he began to speak quickly and nervously, "But you…you never take the easy way and I've noticed that about you…"
He sat the gun down on a small, nearby stand. He turned quickly back to the window and swallowed a few more pills.
"I shouldn't expect you to be any different, but I have a job to do, a job I've been made to do and I…"
Suddenly, Sara's cell phone rang.
"Pick it up, Sara," ordered Alex, calmly.
Sara hesitated.
"Pick it up…"
Sara did not move.
Alex lunged for the phone. At the same time, Sara leapt for his gun on the small stand.
"Wait!" she screamed as she aimed the gun at Alex.
Alex stayed on the floor where he landed and held up one hand near his face to protect himself.
Jack made a move for her gun that was sitting on the table. Sara whirled around and aimed her gun at Jack. Jack froze immediately.
"Don't move!" yelled Sara, trembling, "Just…uh, go to the window."
Jack complied and moved slowly over to the window behind Alex.
"Good…don't move," ordered Sara, "Okay, I need the phone."
Alex picked up the phone and slowly handed it to her. Sara grabbed it and slowly began to back away to the door.
"Stay right where you are," she whispered shakily as she fumbled for the door handle.
Alex stood up and glared at Sara.
"You really don't want to do this."
"You don't know the first thing about what I want," snarled Sara angrily.
She left the room, closing the door behind her.
The second she left, Alex turned to look at Jack. He gave her a smile and a quick wink. Jack smiled back.
"You ever consider a job as an actor?" she asked.
Alex smirked, "You aren't so bad yourself. You really did look scared."
"And you really looked bad."
"Gee, thanks," said Alex with a smile.
Then, he flipped open his cell phone and quickly dialed a number.
"Yeah?" asked a woman's voice on the other end of the line.
"You get my message, Agent Lang?" asked Alex.
"Yeah…I got it."
"She's on her way out. Follow her…she'll lead you right to Scofield."
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