Chapter 13: The Hunt in a Sea of Fire
The Burrows and Scofield family were busy chatting about for the hearing as they wait for LJ and Jake to come home for lunch, unaware of the events that have occurred. Lincoln and Michael both throw cracks at each other while Veronica and Sara get a little bit of girl talk.
"Hey, shouldn't LJ and Jake be on their way home soon?" Veronica asks.
"They should." Michael said as he checks his watch. It was 12:15 at noon.
"Well this is a perfect time for a break. Let's watch some TV until they come back." Sara suggested as she heads for the sofa. Michael follows and sits down next to her while Veronica turns on the TV and sits on the sofa armrest. Lincoln decides to start cooking so there would be hot food on the table when they arrive for lunch.
"Oh this is a perfect TV show. I used to watch this with-" Veronica started and then the TV show gets interrupted.
"We interrupt this program for a special news bulletin." A news reporter appeared on the TV grabbing everyone but Lincoln's attention. "We've just received news of large fire that has erupted over Wentworthville High School a mere ten minutes ago. An explosion is said to have sounded on the eastern front of the school and is speculated to have started inside one of the Chemistry classrooms. We cross live now to our correspondent, Jennifer Ekims."
"Linc, come here! You need to see this!" Michael successfully grabs Lincoln's attention and he puts everything down.
"What's up? Lincoln asks as he looks at the TV.
"There's been a fire at the school." Sara said as calmly as possible.
"What?! Are LJ and Jake alright?!" He stopped his cooking and rushed over to the lounge to join the others.
"We don't know Linc. There isn't any report if anyone is still stuck inside." Michael reported. They stare dumbstruck at the scenes playing out before their eyes, fear rippling through their paralyzed bodies as the reporter continues the story.
"Thanks Elle. I'm standing here in front of the high school where the massive blaze is said to have broken out ten minutes ago. As you can see, the students and teachers have evacuated and are currently checking the rolls to ensure every member has been successfully removed from school grounds. You can just feel the fear surrounding these unsuspecting victims.
"I spoke to Principal Kim Bill only moments ago and he informed me that an explosion sounded only seconds before the flames erupted. He told me no reports of missing or injured students or members of staff have yet reached him, but could not tell me for certain until the final roll call has been completed." The screen showed images of the raging fire, the black smog thick and heavy in the air, as the in station reporter began questioning Jennifer.
"Any news as to how the fire started?"
"None yet, Elle, however that there was an explosion accompanying the fire, there are fears that a bomb may have been detonated at the site of the fire." The images changed to show firefighters attacking the flames, trying to douse the mighty fire.
"As you can see, firefighters are on the scene. They arrived several minutes after the fire begun, however their attempts have proved unsuccessful thus far. We'll update you as the news rolls in, back to you Elle."
The second Elle was back on screen, Lincoln seemed to jump out of his daze, practically running out of the lounge towards the door, grabbing his keys as he went. "I've gotta get down there. I need to know that they're ok."
"Wait Linc, I'm coming too." Michael said as he put his hand on his shoulder. Lincoln nods his head and he and Michael leave the apartment. Veronica and Sara were worried and wanted to follow, but they thought that they would get in the way.
As Lincoln and Michael ran through the hallway to the elevator, they run into Sucre and Maricruz.
"Michael, what's up?" Sucre was worried as to his friend's rush. He knew Michael and he knew something was going on.
"Sucre, what are you doing here?"
"Well, Mari and I thought you guys could use some food and refreshments because of the situation. But why are you in a rush?"
"There was a fire at LJ and Jake's school. Linc and I are going to make sure they're safe."
"Oh my god. Fernando, go with them. I'll talk with the girls and make sure everything's alright."
"Alright." Sucre puts the bags down on the floor. He kisses her lightly on the lips. "I love you. And thank you for letting me help Michael."
"Just don't do anything reckless okay? I can't raise this baby alone." They kiss one more time and the three of them depart back down the elevator. Maricruz knocks on the door and Veronica opens it.
'"Hey. Uh there's-"
"A fire at the school." Veronica looks at her in perplexity as to how she knew.
"Sucre and I ran into Linc and Michael. They told us everything. I knew I couldn't go to help because I'm pregnant. But I'm here if you need help with anything. We actually had plans to bring lunch for you guys and it's out there on the floor in the hallway."
"Well we can't have other's steal it." Veronica walks out and grabs the rest of the bags. She and Maricruz walk inside and set the bags on the counter.
"Hey Maricruz. Where's Sucre?" Sara asks, a little surprised to see her here without her fiance.
"He went with Linc and Michael to check out the situation at the school. How are things here? Are you doing alright?"
"We're doing fine. We're worried but we're watching the news here to see if there are any updates. So far we haven't gotten a list of who, if anyone, is missing. We just got an update that the fire has spread again and it's getting more than a little difficult to keep in control." The worry on her face was mirrored by the other two women in the room.
"I believe they'll be fine. Fernando always told me to have a little faith in him whenever he's gone. So I want to offer you both the same thing. Have a little faith. They'll be okay."
Veronica and Sara smile. Maricruz was right. They needed a little bit of faith right about now. "Thank you Maricruz." They both said.
Lincoln, Michael, and Sucre all made it to the car and made their way as swiftly as they could to the school. Trying to make sure that Lincoln doesn't go crazy, Michael tries to make sure that he calms down. He knows that the situation may be bleak, but he can't do what he's doing if he wants to rescue his sons in the fire. Lincoln drives fast but stays within the law. There was nothing on his mind but his sons' safety. The only voices that could help him now were theirs and Michael's.
"Did you try calling them on their cells?" Sucre asked. Lincoln finally drives into the parking lot and everyone gets out. They rush across the street and get to the front of the school. As they look around, it was an endless sea of students, parents, teachers, and school faculty members.
"LJ! Jake!" Lincoln yelled out in the crowd. He starts snaking his way through the crowd, looking around for them. Remembering the resemblance of the crowd to the riot in Fox River, he continues yelling out their names.
"We didn't try because they may have put their cells in their lockers during class. But you're right Sucre, I'll call Sara and Veronica and ask them to try." Michael takes out his phone and calls Sara. He gets a busy signal. He tries Veronica's cell but that one was also a busy signal. "Damn it."
"I'll call Mari and see if she can get them to do it." Sucre takes out his cell and calls Maricruz. This time, he gets through to her.
"Hello?"
"Maricruz, baby, can you do us a favor?"
"Sure, anything Fernando." She grabs a pen and paper in case of a long list. "What is it?"
"Can you get Sara and Veronica to try calling LJ and Jake? We're trying to check the crowd for them. But so far, Linc and Michael haven't seen them."
"Oh that's what we're doing right now Fernando. We're trying to do what we can here. Oh wait I just got more on the news." Maricruz watches the news as Sara and Veronica try hard to get a contact on LJ and Jake's phone.
"We've just received a list of students who are believed to be missing. If you recognize any of the names listed, please call the number on the screen for further information and inquiries. We ask that you please try to remain calm as the authorities do what they can in this dire situation."
"Damn it! Tell us the list!" Maricruz yells. Sara and Veronica hang up the phones and go see what's going on.
"Is everything alright Maricruz?" Veronica asks, hoping she's not going through the mood swings of her pregnancy.
"Yeah I'm alright. This stupid news reporter isn't hurrying up with the information!" She yells in anger at the TV.
"Take it easy Maricruz. You're going through your mood swings right now in your pregnancy." Sara said. She and Veronica manage to calm her down after a good few minutes.
"Hello? Baby?" Sucre asks on the phone after hearing everything on the phone.
"What's going on over there?" Michael asks his friend. Lincoln was still searching for LJ and Jake. He climbs on the flag pole, trying to find any sight of them.
"I think Mari is going through her mood swings in her pregnancy. She was yelling at the TV for a good few minutes." Sucre reports to Michael.
"Hello?" Veronica took the phone from Maricruz while Sara works on getting Maricruz to relax. She knew it wasn't good for the baby.
"Hey Veronica. What's going on the news?"
"Well on the news, they just got a report of the missing students. Also they found out what started the fire."
"What started the fire?"
"It was a C4 explosive charge planted below a Chemistry room. After questioning the Chemistry Teacher thoroughly, they found out that he was a well-credited teacher. He was exceedingly careful in what the students were using. He watches them closely to nullify any chance of incident."
Michael asks the phone from Sucre after he reported to him. "How did they get a C4 charge planted below the Chemistry room? And why that room?"
"We don't know Michael. I can only assume that the purpose was to make it look like it was a chemical incident. Oh wait, we just got a report of the kids missing. Hold on." Veronica listens to the TV reporter. She reports the missing names of the students. She slowly gets down the unorganized list while Veronica listens for the two names.
"Oh… my… god…" Veronica muttered to herself.
"What?"
"LJ and Jake. They're missing." She tells Michael. "Hey I'll call you back Michael. We're going to go to you guys but watch on the outside. Sara suggested that if we go to the school and watch to see if they bring out the missing students, we can tell you guys."
"Wait what are you getting at?"
"I know what you guys are planning after hearing this. And I'm sure as hell we can't stop you, so we're going to help." Veronica said. "Talk to you soon. Bye Michael. And tell Lincoln that he needs to calm down. I know he's going crazy trying to find them. But he can't find them if he's not in control of himself."
"I will Veronica. I'll make sure of that."
"Take care Michael. Be safe." She hangs up the phone. Michael does the same on the other end. He passes the phone back to Sucre.
"Sorry for wasting the minutes on your phone plan."
"You didn't waste the minutes on my plan, Papi. You know that Verizon commercial? Well I have her on my five!"
"Who are the other four?"
"Uh… haven't really decided."
Michael chuckles in the midst of all of the pandemonium going on. "You haven't changed a bit buddy. Thanks for the laugh. I needed it."
Sucre puts his hand on Michael's shoulder, reminding them of their great, if not uncanny friendship. "Let's go tell Linc." The two of them try to go through the crowd to get to Linc, who is now being surrounded by police for climbing on the flag pole.
"Sir, you need to get down from there and calm down! We're trying our best here and you're doing nothing to help!" One of the policemen yelled up to Lincoln. He looked like he was the lieutenant in charge. Michael and Sucre catch up to Lincoln after finally breaking through the crowd.
"I don't care! I need to find my sons!" Lincoln yells down.
"Linc, get down from there! LJ and Jake are still stuck in there!" Michael yells to his worried brother as he looks up at him.
Lincoln climbs down and the police back away, finally realizing who they are. They had every right of mind to cuff him and send him to jail, but the lieutenant stops them. "Everything is fine here guys. Leave them alone and get to keeping this crowd under control."
"Yes sir!" The team splits off in several directions. The lieutenant leaves them alone and gets back to work.
"They're still in there?" Lincoln asks Michael.
"Yeah. Veronica told me everything on the news. Now what we need is a plan of action if we're going to get them out of there."
Lincoln looks at the burning school. "This crap just got real man."
Michael, also worrying for the safety of his nephew and soon-to-be foster nephew, comes out with a plan after looking at the school. He explains it to both Lincoln and Sucre and the three of them split off from the area and head into the school without the cops or the firemen knowing.
LJ and Jake were buried under burnt wood and ashes from the ceiling. Finally waking up, LJ gets out from under everything. Rubbing his head, he sees that he has a few extenuating injuries as well as a few on his arms. He tries to find Jake.
"Jake! Where are you?"
"Under here! I need help!" Jake pushes his arm out from under the wood. LJ goes there, dizzily, and helps Jake get out from under the wood. Both of them black from the ashes, they sit down for a moment, trying to catch their breath and to let them calm down from the situation at hand.
Jake coughs after realizing the amount of smoke surrounding them and in the building. "We need to get out of here if we're going to live. The fire has already spread throughout the school."
"Alright. Can you walk?"
"No. I can't. I think that explosion might've gotten to my left leg slightly. I'm lucky that my stitched wound didn't open again."
"Okay, give me your arm." Jake puts his arm over LJ's neck and he stands up. The two of them start walking out, hoping to find a safe way out.
Walking through the burning hallways, throughout the intense situation, the two of them manage to calm down through it and keep a relaxed mind.
"This is the second time."
"What?" LJ asks, looking at Jake.
"This is the second time you're helping me. And this time, we're both injured. I want to return the favor when the time arises."
"Think nothing of it." LJ smiles. "You're my brother and that's not going to change."
"Do you think this reached the news?"
"Something this big as to a burning school? I think so."
"That means we'll be seeing dad soon, if we get out of here alive." A piece of burning wood falls from the ceiling; unsuccessfully hitting the two of them, but effectively blocking the path in front of them. "We can't continue this way. Turn around. There are about three more ways we can try. We just need to find an emergency exit door."
"Or we could jump out of a window."
"If we could, we should've. But when I looked at all these rooms we passed through, the windows were all blocked off."
"Well if we see an unblocked window, we're jumping."
Jake laughs at the suggestion. "Well you're going to have to throw me and that's a lot of fun for you. Not sure if I'll find it fun if I crash into something else on the way out."
"Well at least I'll have fun. And that's a way that you can pay me back for the times I saved your ass."
"Not sure if I'm loving that whole "throwing me out the window" suggestion anymore."
LJ laughs. "Well, let's turn around and find another way out." LJ helps Jake turn around and the two of them walk back down the hallway, avoiding anything that falls their way.
After getting through the hallway, they're at a junction.
"Should we go left, straight, or right?" LJ asks.
"Left, go left. There should be an emergency exit at the end of the hallway."
"Alright." The two of them walk slowly left. But a gunshot is heard from in the distance.
Chapter 14: A Hunt in the Sea of Fire Pt. 2
LJ falls to the floor, bringing Jake down with him. LJ was shot in the back of the shoulder. He grunts but couldn't move. Jake stares in shock at LJ, who was bleeding from the wound. He turns around and looks at where the gunshot came from. He sees two guys and a familiar man.
Oh crap. It's Lionel, dad's closest lackey. Jake stares in fear at the three men slowly approaching him. "You son of a bitch!" He yelled from the distance. He looks back down at LJ, who was starting to hyperventilate. The two men and Lionel approach him. Lionel arms the gun and points it at LJ. "Wait! Leave him alone! He has nothing to do with this!" Jake grabs his arm and stops the gun.
The other man, the one who triggered the C4, stops Lionel. "Don't kill him." Lionel looks up at him in disgust. "Let him bleed to death." Lionel smiles and grabs Jake. Jake tries to struggle, but Lionel hits him in the head with the butt of the pistol and then stuffs him in a large brown bag. They drag the bag on the floor, Jake knocked out completely from the direct blow to his head.
*---*
Lincoln, Michael, and Sucre successfully sneak into the burning school, covering their noses with their shirts. They start running around, reaching a junction. Stopping at the junction, they look around and decide where to go.
"Michael, which way?" Lincoln asks.
Michael looks left, right, then straight ahead. All directions were the same; it was all burning wood, lockers, and they seemed to lead straight down to other junctions. Michael rubs his head with his hand and starts to think about where it would lead them.
"Look out!" Sucre shouts as he looks up. A piece of burning wood falls to the floor, separating the three of them into the three paths. Lincoln forced to go straight, Michael right, and Sucre left.
"What do we do now?" Sucre asks.
"We split up from here. Call if you see them or if something comes up." Michael tells Sucre and Lincoln. They both nod their heads and run off in their separate directions.
Don't worry guys. We're going to find you. The three of them thought simultaneously as they ran through the hallways. Each hallway was the same; there were things burning and there was smoke all over. The fire department's attempt to keep the fire down was futile as the fire kept spreading throughout the school. At the rate the fire keeps burning, the school would be burnt down fully in about an hour. Time was short and the three ex-Fox River Inmates had to hurry, otherwise all of them would be burnt alive.
Sucre runs through his hallway, finding that the paths were blocked left and right and that his only choice was to continue going straight. He passes by several rooms and looks inside each one, yelling for LJ and Jake. It seemed as it was a moot point searching in each of the rooms as the fire engulfed each and every one of them. We're never going to find them. This place is starting to burn down completely.
Sucre walks to catch his breath. He starts coughing from the lack of oxygen in the place. He looks straight ahead, with the sweat beads dripping down from his forehead. Wiping the sweat off his face, he looks ahead and sees a silhouette on the floor. Trusting the feeling in his gut while dreading it at the same time; he walks over to the figure on the floor and takes a look at it.
Oh my god! LJ! He picks up LJ and rushes him out the door in the same direction that LJ and Jake were planning to use. Running as fast as the speed of light, he breaks right through the door and sees the firemen and the police right outside. Coughing, he brings LJ to the medical van. Sara, Veronica, and Maricruz run up to him.
"Oh my god, are you okay baby?" Maricruz asks Sucre as she kisses him repeatedly on the lips as if they were separated after many long years. She suddenly slaps him on the face. "Don't ever do anything too dangerous again!" She angrily says as she points her finger at him.
Sucre, feeling confused at the hit, smiles at her and she smiles back. "Look, go with Sara and Veronica in the medical van. Watch over LJ. I'm going back to help Linc and Michael."
Maricruz kisses him on the lips again. "Okay." Maricruz gets in the van with Sara and Veronica and they shut the door behind them. The van drives off immediately for the Swedish Covenant Hospital nearby, the same hospital Jake was admitted into several times. Sucre starts to rush back inside, but this time, the police lieutenant stops him.
"Thank you for saving one of the kids Mr. Sucre. But we can't have you going back in there. You need oxygen man." He directs Sucre to the fire truck. Sucre takes in the oxygen mask but quickly takes it off after a few breaths.
"I need to go back in there. My friends are in there trying to find their other son, or soon-to-be son."
"I'm sorry Mr. Sucre. But you've done the best you can do and that saved a life. You're going to have to stay here, behind the lines. But really, I appreciate your help and I'm glad that you were out of Fox River when it happened." The lieutenant starts to walk away to direct his attention at the fire.
"Hey, what's your name lieutenant?"
The lieutenant turns around. "My name is Korvin McCannon." He turns around and then directs his attention on the fire.
Back inside, Michael runs straight, quickly able to see which rooms are completely burned down. He shouts for LJ and Jake continuously. He slips on the floor and slides into a locker. Grunting upon impact, he sees that there was just a pile of burnt wood in front of him. When he tries to climb over, he looks ahead of him and he sees a group of people with a brown bag.
Jake wakes up inside the bag and starts to struggle inside.
"Let me go!" He yelled inside. Michael recognized the voice immediately. He looks around each of the men's features. Two of the men wore black beanies, black coats, and black pants. They were just black all over. Skin color was white. He looks at the other man, who was holding the brown bag. He had no hat or beanie, black hair, white skin, brown leather jacket, and blue jeans with black shoes. Figuring that the brown leather jacket man was the leader, he calls Lincoln, noticing that all three of them have guns. But before he gets the chance to call Lincoln, he quickly gets interrupted by a phone call from Sucre. His ringtone (which he cops a $350 fine for) goes off and Michael quickly picks it up, hoping that they didn't hear him.
"Michael. I found LJ and he's now being moved to the hospital."
"Oh thank god. Look, I found Jake, but it appears that the Mafia has him inside a bag. How's LJ? Is he hurt?"
"Well, he has gunshot wound and I think he lost some blood. He was still breathing when I found him so I rushed him right out of the school. He's with Sara, Veronica, and Maricruz. They're heading to the Swedish Covenant Hospital. Also there were some wounds on his head but I didn't have time to check if he was alright. Did you tell Linc you find Jake yet?"
Michael closed his eyes and then opens them after hearing news about LJ. He brings himself back to normal. "I was about to when you called."
"I can't head back in. The lieutenant won't let me. But he seems to be a nice guy. He's trying to keep control of the situation and he appears to not care that I'm an ex-con. Anyways, I'll let you call Lincoln. I'm going to wait out here for you guys. Talk to you later Michael."
Michael hangs up the phone and then calls Lincoln. He picks up. "Linc. Sucre found LJ. He's on his way to the hospital."
"How is he?" Lincoln stops running for a moment.
Michael was finding it hard to break the news to Lincoln. He didn't want him to worry too much about LJ. "I found Jake but the Mafia has them in a bag. I need your help to get him." Michael said in an attempt to avoid hurting his brother and to change the subject.
"Michael, tell me the truth. What happened to LJ?"
"Linc." That was the only word Michael could say. It was a word filled with sadness and regret. "LJ was- LJ was injured. He has a few injuries to his head and a gunshot wound. I'm not sure about the details of the gunshot."
Lincoln wanted to do nothing more than to race back and be right by LJ's side, but he knew that he couldn't leave Jake and Michael needed his help to get him. "Linc?"
"Thanks for telling me. I'll be fine. Just give me the plan." Michael knew his brother was hurt inside but gives him the plan instead. Michael tails behind the Mafia. They stop in the hallway after Jake continued to struggle more, almost making Lionel drop the bag.
"You know what boy? I'm tired of you making this hard for me." He drops the bag on the ground and starts kicking it. The other man joins in. The man who pulled the trigger on the C4 just stood there.
"Aren't you going to join in, Burt?" Lionel asks the man who stood there. "Or do I have to tell the boss about what you did?"
Burt, feeling forced to protect his kids, joins in kicking Jake in the bag. Jake doesn't grunt in pain because it's the same pain his dad inflicted upon him. He was used to it; used to the bruising; used to the pain. After a minute, they stop.
"Now I hope you learned your lesson boy." Lionel spites at Jake. He doesn't reply back.
"Leave him alone." Michael stood opposite of Lionel.
"Walk away now unless you want to die here." Lionel said.
"I suggest you leave the kid and go your own way." Lincoln said from right behind him. Lionel turns around and Lincoln punches him out. Michael jumps in from behind and knocks the other guy out. Burt was the last one standing. He sits down instead of letting Lincoln and Michael hit him.
"I didn't want to hurt anyone." He said. "I just wanted to get away from all this. They threatened to kill me unless I didn't let them use my talents. If you want to hurt me because I hurt your sons, you can."
Lincoln didn't care about Burt. All he worried about was Jake and LJ. So opening the bag, he lifts up Jake and carries him. He was knocked out from the beating he received. Burt helps Michael put the two Lincoln and Michael knocked out in the bag.
"You do know that I'm going to have to report this to the authorities. That you were a part of this." Michael says to him as Burt closes the bag.
"Yes, I know. But as long as I'm away from the mafia, I'm happy. There's a way out of here that we were planning to use. It's this way." Burt directs both Michael and Lincoln in the direction they were heading. They head into an electrical closet and go down a secret passage way.
"They were planning this all night. I didn't want to do this. I dreaded the very fact that I could've hurt innocent people." Burt said as he drags the bag with Lionel and the other mafia lackey in it.
"But you were willing to hurt my sons." Lincoln said as he carried Jake.
"What if you were forced to do something you didn't want to do and it was the only way you could get out of it alive?" Burt said to defend himself.
Lincoln walks up to his face. "You don't have a damn clue about what I've been forced to do." He said as he gritted his teeth. He walks away from him, knowing that Jake needs medical attention.
"Oh right, the famous Lincoln Burrows who was framed for the one crime he didn't commit and then gets off running from the country along with his brother and two friends for putting down the Company." Burt mocked him with his hands shaking in an up and down motion.
Lincoln was about to put Jake down and knock Burt in the face when Michael stops him.
"Forget about him. We need to get Jake to the hospital because we don't know what that explosion or the beatings did to him." Lincoln listens to his brother, calms down, and walks away from Burt, following the straight tunnel.
Michael turns around and looks at Burt. "You really have no idea what my brother and I were put through in those last four months. What you've been forced to do was nothing compared to what happened to us." Michael turns away and follows Lincoln. Burt, stunned and afraid of Lincoln, decides to trail behind a bit.
Finally approaching the exit, Lincoln pushes the door open and they see that they're behind the school. The light was brighter than usual after traveling through the dark tunnel. Hearing the sirens behind them, they travel along the side of the school. Their skin, clothes, and hair turned dark from the ashes that fell on them in the burning school. Burt keeps his distance but Michael approaches Lincoln, who was look at Jake's wounds. Michael decides to take a look as well.
They take a moment to catch their breath, gulping in mouthfuls of fresh air at a time. Michael noted the worried look on Lincoln's face, knowing he himself felt that same bout of distress twisting in his gut. He leaned to examine Jake's wounds closer, bringing himself next to his brother.
"Are you going to be alright, man?" he didn't look at Lincoln as he asked, his face was all the answer he would have needed
"I'll be fine, bro."
Michael knew those words were betrayed only the ashen look his brother portrayed.
"Linc, LJ's a fighter, he's a Burrows and he'll pull through this." He placed a hand on his brother shoulder, tearing his gaze from Jake's injuries to look at him.
"I know, Michael." Lincoln's voice was low, pained with emotion. "But that's not the only thing I'm worried about."
Michael waits for him to continue, the forlorn expression Lincoln help a moment ago was replaced with one of pure agony, as though his next words were simply killing him.
"What's wrong Lincoln?" Michael asks, suddenly more worried about his brother
"It's just, I don't know anymore, Mike, I just don't know."
"What don't you know Linc? You're not making any sense."
"Adopting Jake felt so right for such a long time. I just wanted to protect this poor kid, I don't know what it was about him, but I couldn't let him be hurt by his father anymore.
"I just," he takes in a deep breath, forcefully exhaling it. "I don't know if it's the best thing to do anymore. I can't risk the safety of our family, but I can't turn my back on Jake either.
"Lincoln, you don't have to turn your back on Jake to protect the family."
"Don't I?" he cuts in quickly, unable to see a way of protecting both his family and Jake without the threat of the mafia hanging above their heads.
"They're gonna keep coming after him and us until they get what they want. I don't want to have to look over my shoulder anymore, Mike. Haven't we had enough running and fear in our lives already?"
He turns his head so that he and Mike are facing each other. In them, Michael can see the pain just saying those words has inflicted on his brother.
"Lincoln, I know it's hard right now, but I know, as much as you want to protect this family, you don't want to turn your back on Jake. You've shown us that you care for him, that he's important to you as much as LJ is. We'll figure it out, bro. For now, though, let's get him to the hospital, he's got some pretty bad injuries on him."
They stopped talking, putting the conversation behind them for the time being. They couldn't know, however, that the very conversation was on a loop in Jake's very conscious mind, Lincoln's words of doubt running a frenzy within him and causing him more pain than all the physical injuries he had endured in his lifetime. He kept still, kept the charade of unconsciousness going and decided he would no longer inflict pain on the family he loved so much. He wouldn't drag them in to this anymore than they already were, getting them out while it was still possible for them to go. He would leave them, without a second thought, the moment he could go, he would run, far away and never look back.
Finally approaching the front of the school, the firemen help Michael and Lincoln get to the medical van. The ambulance officers help put Jake on the gurney as they pull him into the back of the van. Michael, Lincoln, and Sucre get in. But before they shut the doors, Burt approaches them.
"Mr. Burrows, this may not mean much, but as a way to ask for your forgiveness, I'm going to turn myself in and testify on your behalf. It's time I've gotten away from the mafia altogether and to make amends for the wrongs I have committed."
Taken aback by the comment from the man who nearly killed his sons, Lincoln could only say one thing, "thank you." They shut the doors and the medical van drives off for the same hospital that LJ was put in. The worst of the worst was finally over. At least they hoped.
Chapter 15: Visions, Guilt, and a Note
The moment they arrived at the hospital, the emergency center admitted Jake immediately and took him to the procedural room. Michael, Lincoln, and Sucre went to find LJ in the hospital. They head up to the receptionist who then redirects them to room 40 in the emergency room. Rushing immediately, they run into the room and find that Sara, Veronica, and Maricruz were all standing around LJ.
Each of the girls went to their men, hugged them, and kissed them like they had never had before. Veronica pulled away first.
"How's Jake?" Veronica asks Lincoln as she hugs him.
"How's LJ?" Lincoln asks instead to avoid the question.
"LJ will be fine. They had to put him in a medically induced coma due to the extenuating wounds on his head and the loss of blood from the gunshot wound. But he should be recovering fine and be able to go by tomorrow." Sara answered Lincoln after pulling away from Michael. "But what about Jake? How is he?"
Lincoln ignores the question yet again. This time, he walks away from everyone and then kneels at the side of LJ's bed, clasping his hand in tears. Everyone just watched and decided to give him some time alone by walking outside and closing the door.
"Why isn't Linc answering any questions about Jake?" Sara asks as she stares into the window.
Michael explained everything that happened inside the school. He explained the mafia attacks, his brother's reaction to it, and what he felt afterwards. Veronica, Sara, Sucre, and Maricruz were saddened by the details.
"Why would he even dare to think that he would turn his back on Jake?" Maricruz asked. "I thought he loved him just as much as he did LJ?"
"I guess he doesn't want to jeopardize our family because of the danger of being around Jake is. I'm tired of running in fear as well. But I don't want him to do this. He didn't want to budge at all." Michael explained thoroughly.
"He can't just do that to Jake." Veronica said. "Lincoln gave Jake hope and if he tosses him off to the side, who knows what he'll do this time. Finally when life seemed to get normal for Jake, it gets tossed to the side. I'm not going to let him do this."
"We can't do anything Veronica." Sara turned to Veronica. "It's all Lincoln's choice. I can't say that I agree because I don't, but I can say that I agree that I'm tired of being on the run as well. We're finally settling in and all this happens today?"
"Oh this stress isn't good for the baby. I'm sorry guys, but I think I need to go home." Maricruz said as she felt her stomach.
"No, that's fine Maricruz. You were a tremendous help today. You should go home with Fernando and rest." Sara said before she hugged Maricruz. Everyone takes their turns hugging both Maricruz and Sucre.
"Thanks. Well, we'll be in contact." Sucre said. As they walk away, Sucre turns around to Michael. He yells "tell Linc not to worry about the future too much. Worry about the now." Then turning around and walking out the hospital doors, both Maricruz and Sucre head home.
Veronica sighs as she looks into the window, seeing Lincoln in the same position.
"Let's get something to drink. I'm pretty sure everyone must be thirsty after what happened." Sara offered as she held Michael's hand.
Everyone looked into the window and then agrees. So they head to the hospital cafeteria.
*---*
It was nearly about two hours since they admitted Jake in. Lincoln was still kneeling in the position, thinking about what he said earlier and how he felt that he should always do the right things for his family. But so many questions came to mind. Should I risk our family's safety and well-being for the sake of a boy who I barely know? What about what he'll feel if I told him? I can't see a way as both of these working out. How am I supposed to protect both of them? I can't do one without losing the other.
Jake happened to get out of the room early seeing as how the doctor's worked quickly on treating his wounds. He had his left leg casted and he had to be on crutches for another eight weeks. He stands outside the room window, thinking about what Lincoln said. It hurt him more than anything could. It felt like someone stabbed him in the heart and twisted the knife. I even warned them. I warned them of the danger I was. And they didn't even heed my warnings until now. Jake was starting to resent Lincoln more and more as he thought.
Clenching the handle of his right clutch harder than a wrestler, Jake wanted to hit something with his crutch. But he releases it and lets the tears flow out of his eyes. I warned you! I WARNED YOU! I didn't want to get close to anyone because of the danger but you said you'd take care of me! But now I see it all. No one can take care of me. Not even my own mother. I'm meant to be alone. That's all I'll have in this world. Just myself. No one else. I don't need anyone. I don't need anyone…
"That's right boy. You don't need anyone else." Jurell's voice sounded as if it came from behind him. Jake turns around. He sees his father, standing there. "That is why you don't get attached to anyone or ask for help. You and I, we're nothing but loners in this world. That's why we lead the mafia. That's why you're the son who will take my place in the mafia. Now do you really want to reveal the mafia's true intentions?"
"I don't need you! I don't need the mafia! I don't need anything!" Jake yells to his dad.
Jurell laughs at that comment. "Well it's your choice boy. I hope you make good use of the life you have before you lose it before your very eyes. I will offer you this advice. Walk away from them. Walk away from them and you'll be fine and they'll be fine. You don't belong with them."
Jake closes his eyes for a few seconds and opens them again. His father had disappeared. Was he really here? He looks around and sees that everyone, even the cops were normal. His father was wearing an orange jumpsuit and no one seemed to notice. Why the hell does it matter? He was right. I don't need anyone. He turns to the window and puts his black hood up again. I wish none of this had happened. I always put myself up there to be hurt. A hand touches his shoulder from behind. Jake turns around and sees Michael, Sara, and Veronica standing behind him. Suddenly realizing his face probably is full of tears, he wipes his face off.
"Hey, are you alright?" Veronica asks.
Jake clears his throat. "Uh yeah, I'm fine."
"Why aren't you going inside with Lincoln and LJ?" Sara asks.
"Uh I thought they needed privacy, you know, son and father." Jake said quickly.
"Well you're a son of his too. Implied anyways." Michael said as he looks through the window.
"You know what I mean Uncle Mike. Blood son and blood father. I'm not a blood son. Just a foster kid."
"So why aren't you going in now?" Michael asks. He knows that Jake was stalling for some reason.
"I just wanted to give him privacy with LJ. I mean it is my fault that he got injured."
"It's not your fault Jake. Come on, let's go in and talk to Lincoln." Veronica suggested as she opens the door. Jake closes it.
"Jake, what's going on?" Sara asks.
Jake waits a few seconds. "I'm just going to go to the cafeteria to eat. Later." Jake departs fast on his crutches, leaving everyone in a state of confusion.
Michael opens the door and lets everyone in.
"How's LJ?" Veronica asks as she sits down in the chair.
"He hasn't woken up yet." Lincoln stands over LJ and doesn't even look in their direction. "What was the whole "opening and then shutting the door thing" about?"
"I don't know. Veronica just opened the door and then Jake decided to shut it." Sara said.
"Oh, he's already been let out?"
"Yeah. We ran into Dr. Nikki at the cafeteria and she said that he's been treated and that the injuries were just related to the bruising he received and that explosion to his left leg. Everywhere else is fine so he could go home." Michael stated as he sits next to Sara.
*---*
Everyone was pretty chatty, besides Lincoln until night came. Veronica and Sara got to know each other better and that brought them into this whole idea about doing a baby shower for one another if one had a baby. Michael joined in the chat but couldn't keep track about how fast Veronica and Sara kept switching topics. So instead, he just sat there in his seat, barely listening to the conversation.
"Linc." Veronica stood up to walk up to Lincoln as she pulls away from the conversation she and Sara were locked in. "I know that you want to protect LJ and everyone here. But I want you to know that you can't just give up Jake like that. It's not right. He trusts you and he knows that you are the one who can protect him."
"You told them Michael?"
"I had to. They need to know what's going on. I can't leave them in the dark. Even Sucre thinks that the idea is tantamount to asinine."
"Look, I can't protect both the family and Jake at the same time. Something's gotta give."
"Dad." LJ wakes up and touches Lincoln's hand as he wakes up.
"LJ, you're awake." Lincoln smiles and hugs LJ. When he finally releases, everyone takes their turn.
After everyone was done hugging him, LJ says "you can't just give up on Jake. He's a brother to me already and he's family. I don't care how dangerous it is to be around him. I mean I'm still here, right?"
"LJ, you can't be serious. You nearly got killed today."
"And yet, I'm still here dad." LJ sassed Lincoln (I know shocker). "I'm sorry for sassing you, but I really can't understand why you're about to give up on Jake. I mean you don't have to protect everyone dad. We can all do our fair share."
Lincoln smiled. He finally realizes that LJ was right. And he was more surprised to see that LJ has matured in his absence of raising him. "My boy is growing up."
"Yeah, well don't pinch my cheeks because if you do, I'm going to run."
"And if we sedate you to the bed?" Michael asks.
"Then I'm definitely screwed."
Everyone laughs. Then all of a sudden, the laughter ends while everyone looks around. "Hey, how long has it been since Jake went to the cafeteria?"
Everyone's eyes widely opened and they scrambled right out of the room. LJ couldn't move from his bed and had to stay there. Damn it. He thought.
Everyone besides LJ ran into the cafeteria. They look around and see that no one was there. "I'll be right back! I'm going to check with the receptionist!" Veronica said. She runs off.
"I'm coming too Veronica!" Sara follows her.
Lincoln and Michael look around the cafeteria to see if they could find Jake. After a few minutes, they suddenly realize he's not here.
"Do you think they got him?" Michael asks.
"I'm not going to think. I'm going to take out my phone and call the police." Lincoln takes out his phone and dials 911.
"Excuse me."
Lincoln and Michael turn around. "Hello." Michael said.
"Are you Lincoln Burrows?" The innocent, old lady asks as she walks up to Lincoln, holding a note in her hand.
Lincoln, holding the phone, gets picked up by the 911 emergency hotline. "Yes, can you bring someone over here to the Swedish Covenant Hospital? Jake Sienel is missing." He hangs up the phone. "Yes. I'm Lincoln Burrows. And who are you?"
"I'm just an old lady who has cancer and was talking to the boy who was eating here alone. He was writing a note and he told me that if you see a strong man with a shaved head and possibly dark from ashes, that I was to give it to him. So here you go." She passes the note in his hands. "He's a nice boy." The old lady walks away from them.
"What do you think it is?" Michael asks.
"I don't know." Lincoln opens the note and starts to read it. After spending about five minutes reading it, he sits down, trying to keep back his anger and frustration. Michael puts his hand on his brother's shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Linc."
Chapter 16: Where Are You?
-Three hours before the note-
Jake was sitting in the cafeteria, eating nothing but a simple sandwich and a carton of milk to get his mind of everything. Lincoln's words from the school still rings in his ears like a never ending song being sung but the most horrible voices that the world has to offer. Should I tell him or should I just leave them in the dark? He probably wouldn't care anyways. So what's the use?
He just sat there, deep in his thoughts, letting his sandwich get cold and his milk lose its cold temperature. He sighs, takes out a napkin, and starts writing something.
"Hello." An old lady approaches him with a tray in her hand.
"Hi." Jake said as he looked straight down at the napkin.
"Is it alright if I sit here?"
"Of course. Feel free."
The lady sits down at the table, eating her late lunch. It was about 5:30 PM and it was getting dark. She finishes eating and then stares at Jake, who hasn't even touched anything on his tray since she sat there half an hour ago.
"Aren't you hungry?"
Jake snaps out of his thoughts. "I'm sorry, what was that?"
"You haven't touched your food since I sat here. Is something the matter?"
"Oh, it's nothing. I thought I was hungry but I guess I wasn't."
They were silent for another couple of minutes. "I know that you probably wouldn't want to talk about it, but why don't you talk to me anyways. It wouldn't hurt and besides, it would make an old lady happy to speak with a kid like you. I'm going to be going soon."
Jake ponders on the thought for only a few seconds and then explains to her carefully as to what's been on his mind. The lady was listening intently to his story and what he was feeling. She thinks about the only advice she could offer.
"Well that's some problem you got there. But in my opinion, my advice to you is to do what you feel is right. If running away from them would keep them safe in your eyes, then do it. If you want to confront them about what you heard, then do it. I can't think of any way to change your mind. It's all your choice."
Jake thinks about what she said. Doing what's right huh? I guess the right thing is to run away from it all. "Excuse me, if you wouldn't mind doing me a favor?"
"Well you talked with me and that made me happy. So sure, tell me the favor deary."
Jake hands her the napkin with the note. "Give this to a man who looks like he's strong, has a shaved head, and could possibly be dark from ashes. Don't ask." Jake gets up, dumps his tray in the trash bin and starts to walk away on his crutches. He turns around to the lady who was still staring at him from the table. "Thank you."
He walks out the cafeteria and heads for the doors as night falls. He stops at the automatic sliding door and looks back. Am I really about to do this? Guess I can't go back on it now. He closes his eyes and puts his hood back on. I know you all probably would've stopped me from doing this, which is why I'm doing this alone. I'm sorry for ever thinking I hated you Lincoln. But I don't want to be anywhere where I'm not wanted or I'm going to hurt the ones I care about the most. I'm going to miss you guys. Good bye everyone. Thank you for everything. He lets one last tear drop and then walks out into the cold, dark night.
*---*
-The next morning after reading the note-
Everyone was still in the emergency room. No one could sleep last night after reading that note. They felt terrible, Lincoln feeling worst after it all. Lincoln was up all night, deep in thought, wondering why the hell he said the things he did.
It was about 9 o'clock in the morning and everyone finally woke up. Lincoln was sitting in his seat with his eyes open.
"Damn it." He starts to grip his right leg hard with his hand in frustration. "Just when I thought things couldn't get worse and this happens."
"It's not your fault dad. Jake thought it was the best reason for him to be away from everyone, from everything. He wanted to protect us and the best way he could do that is to be away from us."
"That's not the point LJ. He heard what I said when we left the school and that pretty much hurt him more than what his dad could've done to him."
"Look, I'm not mad at you for what Jake did. I'm not mad at you for wanting to protect us. I'm willing to look past that. But I think that you were thinking too much and in the process of thinking, which by fact seems deadly now, you hurt someone."
"Linc, I know what you're thinking." Veronica said as she caressed his hands. "Go. Go find him."
"I can't just leave you all here. The police said they would look out all night for him."
The door flies open and Simon Tulley walks in. "Sorry to interrupt and I hate being the bearer of bad news." Damn me for not being a higher ranked officer. He sighs. "They couldn't find Jake during last night. I was out searching for about an hour and then I had to go home and sleep. So we had people take different shifts during the night to search but no one could find him. That kid's good. Must've been from all the times he had to hide when he successfully managed to sneak some food or at least hide from his dad."
"So what's going to happen now?" Michael asks.
"Well I'm not sure if this news is good or bad, but due to yesterday's events and the guy who turned himself in, your hearing date got pushed up to the end of this week."
"Isn't that good news then?" LJ asks.
"Well think about it LJ. Good that it got pushed up, but guess who's missing now." Simon stated as he leaned against the door. All of a sudden, Nikki shoves the door open and Simon gets sent flying to the floor.
"I always knew this door was trouble." She looks down at the floor. "Oh. Did I do that?" She asks as she points her finger at Simon, who was still on the floor.
LJ couldn't resist the temptation to laugh. He lets it out and everyone stares at him, letting him know of the situation at hand. "What? That was funny."
Simon gets up after his phone rings. He picks up and listens into the phone call. Right after, he says goodbye. "Well I'm glad that someone found that funny. Anyways, that was a call from an officer who was out there last night trying to find Jake."
"So?"
"Well he's nowhere to be found in Chicago. And if he took a public transportation out of Illinois, it would be out of our jurisdiction. The best you could possibly do is send missing person notices out to several precincts, although I'm not sure how that'd help you."
Hope was almost lifted out of the eyes of everyone in that room. They didn't really want Jake to leave and they really hoped that he hadn't taken any public transportation out.
"Nikki, is it alright we could take LJ back home?" Lincoln asks.
"Uh, you can in about an hour." She checks his head and then the gunshot wound. "He's healing quite nicely, almost as good as –" She trails off the thought, knowing that the next word wound put everyone in a sad state of mind.
"Thanks."
*---*
Jake groans as the sun hits his face in the morning. Two hours of sleep last night. No idea what I'm going to do now. I have no cash, no phone, no connections. So much for running away. He sighs and starts to shiver. So cold from last night. This jacket didn't really help.
Getting up and starting to walk around with his crutches, he walks around the city aimlessly, with nothing in mind. He passes by the theater Lincoln took him and LJ to and remembers the fun time he had inside. He also passes by the burnt down school, which was now in the process of being rebuilt.
After walking aimlessly for an hour, he sighs again and starts to wonder if he'll ever get anywhere without any cash. Maybe I'll go ask my mother for help. Ask for some cash of some sort. He picks through his pockets, trying to the paper with her address on the hotel on it. Ah here it is. Chicago Marriot Downtown Magnificent Mile, 540 North Michigan Avenue… Damn. That's going to take me an hour or two to walk there unless I can pickpocket some cash for the bus. Well, no way I'm going to Juvie this time because they'll know I'm there. Jake starts walking for the hotel, minding his own business and keeping himself below the radar.
But what he didn't know was that there was someone following him.
*---*
Lincoln finally was able to bring LJ home at around noon. He helps LJ get into the car and after that, everyone piles in with Lincoln driving again. They drive home but continuously look out the window to see if they could find Jake as they drove along. They looked for the obvious features, black jacket possibly with the hood up, crutches, and a cast on the left leg. But after 15 minutes of driving, there was no luck in finding him. They all sighed and went into the apartment.
Sara helped set LJ on his bed in a comfortable position. He needed a lot of rest. Everyone sat and stood around, some went to watching TV to get things past their minds. Lincoln still couldn't stop thinking and feeling bad for what he said as he walked out of the school. It was like a ring in his mind that would never go away. He finally lets it get to him and starts thinking about where Jake would probably go, thinking about the possibilities. He knew that Jake didn't have cash and his phone was probably in the fire. He also knew that if he stole something, he would've been caught and that they would get a call from jail. Then he remembers Sammie's story and Sammie herself. Next thing on his mind was just Sammie. Sammie, Sammie, Sammie.
Finally it came to him. He grabs his keys and starts rummaging through the papers on the counter. Yes! Here it is! After taking the piece of paper, he starts to bolt out the door when Michael stops him.
"Hey, where are you going?"
"I know where he's going. I know where to find him." Lincoln attempts to ditch Michael at the elevator but Michael stops him again.
"Let me come along then."
"No. You stay here with Sara, LJ, and Veronica. I'm the one that has to find him. I have to set things straight." Lincoln gets in the elevator when it comes up.
"Just call if something comes up then." Michael gives his brother a quick hug then gets out of the elevator.
Lincoln, standing in the elevator, full of hope and faith, thinks about what to say to Jake. He was talking to himself in the elevator and when someone came in, they were just standing there, listening intently to what Lincoln was saying to himself. He didn't know that it was an Australian man. What the bloody hell is he talking to himself for? Crazy Wanker. That was going through the mind from the man from Australia.
The elevator reaches the main lobby and Lincoln storms right out of the elevator. He nearly crashes into the sliding door, but successfully stops himself and heads into his car. The car starts successfully and Lincoln drives off, hoping to run into Jake.
*---*
It took Jake an hour to get to the hotel walking on his crutches. He was freely offered some rides there because some people felt bad about his condition, but he declined because he couldn't trust anyone. It was too much of a risk to know that anyone could be part of the mafia. He walks into the nice hotel and sees the lobby. Taking a moment to take a look at the inside, he was amazed that his mother could afford such a hotel.
The lobby had red carpets with yellow stars lined like stripes. The curtains were also red, but slightly a different shade. The front desk was built beautifully in a semi-circle with finished wood. There were sofas left and right. It formed groups of their own that allowed people or families to sit there. After taking a look, he walks up to the front desk and the receptionist comes up to him.
"Hello, how may I help you?" She asks with the kindest voice possible and a welcoming smile.
Jake couldn't help but smile as well. "Hi. I'm looking for Samantha Keeley. She told me that she was residing here for the time being."
"Oh. May I ask what your name is?"
"Jake. Just Jake."
"Okay. One moment. Let me check the itinerary." The kind lady sits back down in her seat and takes out a binder. She looks up the name and then frowns when she looks up at Jake again. "I'm sorry. She isn't here. She hasn't checked in since the day before yesterday."
Jake frowned at what he heard. He started to think that maybe she didn't think that he didn't accept her back fully. I'll promise that I'll be back tomorrow. I really want to get to know you Jake. I know I can't be a mother to you, but at least I get to know my son for who he is. Those vivid words sounded strongly in his head. His mother's promise that she'll be back tomorrow, and she didn't even show up at the hospital. He trusted her to a certain extent. "Thank you." He smiles back at her and then walks away.
After walking out the door, he sees someone with a trailer attached behind their truck. He figured that they'd go camping or something. The trailer reminded him of his cruel father and the cruel beatings. Son of a bitch! He realizes that she didn't disappear because she didn't think that he'd accept her. Jake rushes in a straight direction, knowing what he's going to do.
A car was slowly following behind him, but there was traffic and it was hard to keep track.
*---*
Lincoln took an hour to drive to the location on the piece of paper. He knew the back routes and where to avoid the traffic during the late afternoon. Lincoln storms right into the same hotel Jake was in and heads to the receptionist.
"Hello. Is Samantha Keeley here?" Lincoln asks in a rush.
They lady knew exactly what to say. "I'm sorry, but she hasn't checked in since the day before yesterday."
"Oh." Lincoln lost hope again and frowned.
"But… there was a boy about 5 feet and 5 inches tall, sporting a black jacket. He was walking with his crutches and had a cast on his left leg. He came here looking for her about an hour ago. He left in such a rush after standing at the front door for a good minute or two."
Lincoln's eyes brightened up. He knew that Jake was still in the city and he was more surprised that he knew how to hide from the authorities. "Did you happen to see where he was heading?"
"He went out the door and headed right."
What could've been in that direction? He remembered the courthouse that he used to be held up in for the numerous times he was arrested. It wasn't too far from where he was at.
"Thank you." Lincoln rushes out the door and heads for his car.
The receptionist was left baffled by what was going on. "What the hell is going on? Does this woman have stalkers on her or something? But that man was hot… Wouldn't mind him stalking me any day." She was thinking about Lincoln in her mind, undressing him like he was at a strip club. She started drooling when a man walked up to her and snapped her out of her thoughts. She blushed out of embarrassment and helped him.
*---*
Jake made it to the courthouse in record time. It took him half an hour with no people traffic, although it might've been harder if he didn't have to pass by a gang. But he got successfully through unscathed. Jake walks slowly up the stairs to the courthouse and requests visitation with his dad, Jurell. The guards lead him to a separate room and Jake sits down, waiting for his dad to walk through the other end of the glass wall.
After waiting a few minutes, Jurell walks through the gates on the other end of the glass wall. He grinned when he saw his son sitting right there in front of him. Jurell sits down and waits for his moment when the guards walk away from him.
"I know you have her. Now tell me where she is." Jake said calmly as he looked at his father.
"Now what would make you think that the boss of the mafia would simply just hand you the location of the woman?" He said in his rough voice.
"I don't care if you're the boss of the mafia. I want the location of her now and I also want you to back off the Burrows and Scofield family. I'm away from them and you don't need to bother attacking them anymore." Jake kept calm, holding back his temper as he stares at the man who caused him problems in the past and present.
Jurell laughed at Jake. "You're the stupidest boy ever. It's a shame that you were my son. I was hoping for a little bit of a spark when I met you again. I mean if you had the guts to turn me in like what you did, you should probably be a little stronger now, you wimp."
Jake was stunned by the word "wimp." He heard it numerous times when he was being attacked by him. Jake was unable to reply to the comment and Jurell smiles.
"I knew it. You still are a wimp. All you do is cry to others for help. Do something else for a change and do it yourself. Hell, you could've turned me in a long time ago and I still would've been able to get you. You're in a hole now and no one is going to dig you out. Not your mother, not your friends, not even yourself. We're going to get you and it's only a matter of time until you're-"
"SHUT UP!" Jake yelled in a rough voice. The guards started to get involved but Jurell tells them to back away.
"Just shut up! I'm tired of you messing with me! I'm tired of you messing with others lives! I'm tired of everything! You ruined everything! I left the only family I ever cared about because of you! You and the freaking mafia! I never wanted that kind of life but you kept pushing it on me! And you kept beating me whenever I did something wrong! I'm tired of you!"
Jurell was left at a loss of words. He couldn't begin to fathom why Jake would suddenly burst like that.
Lincoln arrived at the courthouse five minutes before Jake started yelling. He stood behind the door, eavesdropping on the conversation between Jake and his father. Even he was astonished by Jake's reaction and his temper.
"I don't care about anything anymore! I just want to make things right." His voice got calmer. "If I can just make things right, I can finally just walk away from this all without all of this crap on my conscience."
Make things right huh? I guess he still wants to run away without our safety on his mind. Lincoln looks around and notices two odd men in black leather jackets. Who could they be? Kind of weird to see two guys with black leather jackets… oh crap, mafia. And they're here for Jake. Lincoln hides in a darker corner so they don't notice him here. He starts to originate a plan to get Jake safe from the mafia again. He continues to eavesdrop on the conversation at the same time.
"Dad, I know that someday I may forgive you. But until that time comes, I really do hate you. You've been forcing on me a life that I never wanted for quite some time and now it's no longer there, and I'm happy it isn't. So please, give me the location of my mother and leave the Burrows and Scofield family alone so I can just go on my own way."
Jurell, still at a loss of words, manages to successfully blurt out Sammie's location. Jake takes out a paper and writes it down. He stands up.
"Thank you." He said with a velvet voice. Jake walks out the door and the guards shut it. Lincoln grabs Jake and he starts struggling while gripping his crutches tightly.
"Shhh." Lincoln said to calm him down. Jake looks up and his temper flared. Lincoln keeps his hands on his mouth as he starts shooting off loud noises. He points in the direction Jake was heading and shows him the two mafia cronies.
Jake pulls Lincoln's hand off as he looks at the mafia cronies. "Damn it. What are you doing here?"
"Well, first was to find you. Now it's to rescue you."
Jake scoffs at the comment. "I don't need your help."
"What are you going to do with a messed up leg and crutches? Trip and then hope they don't shoot you? Come on man, get real. Look, I'm not here to argue with you. I know a way out so just let me help."
Jake thought for a few seconds. Am I really about to involve him in my life again? He already hurt me once. Do I need to be hurt again? He sighs. "So, what's the plan?"
Lincoln smiles and then takes Jake's crutches off his arms.
"Wait, I need those to walk."
"They'll make too much noise and add too much problems to carry. We can grab another pair at the hospital." Lincoln sets the crutches against the wall. "Look, I'll carry you-" Jake groans at the idea of being carried. "Forget about it. I'm going to carry you and edge us towards the hallway. We should be able to take one of the emergency exits and then make our way to my car. I know this courthouse like the back of my hand. I've been here too many times in the past and I know every trick there is to this courthouse."
"That's nice to know." Jake hinted sarcasm in his voice. "Now carry me before I regret the decision."
Lincoln lifts Jake into his arms and edges himself against the wall, hoping that the cronies didn't notice them. When they finally get into the hallway, Lincoln makes a mad dash for the end of the hall and turns right at the intersection.
The cronies start to wonder what could be taking Jake so long in the visitation room. They decide to take a peek at the window. As they look into the window, they see that the room is empty except for a few guards snoozing off during work. They look right and see the crutches against the wall. Realizing that Jake is making a run for it, they follow them down the hallway, splitting up and taking their handguns out.
Lincoln runs straight down the hallway and sees the emergency exit in a room to the right. He opens the door and tries to open the emergency door when Jake stops him.
"What?"
"If you set off the alarm, we could get in trouble."
"We're already in enough trouble as it is."
Jake looks around and sees a metal box to the right of the lockers. "Over there!" He points at the box. Lincoln takes a look at it and then elbows the metal box. He manages to dent it far enough and pulls off the cover.
Jake gets to work with the wires.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm hotwiring the door so that the alarm doesn't go off. But right now, I'm working with the security cameras so I can get a good fix on the hallway and the cops will see two men with handguns. They probably split up at the hallway."
"How do you know that they-"
Jake interrupts before he finishes the question as he works with the wires. "They're always prepared for any kind of mishap. That means guns, explosives, weapons. You name it. But they're not as professional as the people you guys call 'the Company.'" He finishes with the camera wires and the security sees two men armed. The alarm gets set off and everyone goes hunting for them inside. "Now the fire alarm." Jake says as he works with the alarm on the door. It took him a few seconds and the wires were done. "Alright, let's go."
Lincoln lifts Jake into his arms one more time and then shoves through the door. He sets Jake on the ground again and puts something against the emergency exit door. He lifts Jake into his arms one more time and races to the car. Jake sits in the passenger seat of the car and Lincoln swiftly turns the engine on and puts the car in drive. They get on the road, where they'll be safe.
Things start to calm down and the two of them begin to relax. Lincoln decides to break the silence with an apology.
"I'm sorry that you heard what I said. I don't know what I was thinking." Lincoln said as he looked at the road in front of him. "I know you're finding it hard to forgive me and all but-"
Jake interrupts rudely again. "Forgiving you is just the start of it. I trusted you with everything, but then you said what you said as you walked down the school with me in your arms. It would hurt if it came out of anyone else's mouth in the family, but when it came out of yours, it was like another stab in the heart. And a painful one at that. I don't know if I would want to go through that again." He said in a velvet voice.
"I know that, and I'm sorry."
"I understand your situation though. You can't just protect your family and me at the same time. It's too hard for a simple human being. There was too much for you to lose if you did both. So I made the decision for you. I left."
Lincoln sighs. "I didn't want you to leave. No one did. There was just so much going on after that incident in the school. I just had a hard time thinking about what I should do; how I should react. And it wasn't until that night that LJ woke up that he told me what I should do."
"LJ woke up? How is he?"
"He's fine. But look." Lincoln moves the car to a place to stop and talk. He didn't want to get into an accident. "I'm still finding it hard with our new life right now. I'm going to make a lot of mistakes but I don't want to give up on you or neglect my family. You are a part of the family. And I'm not going to leave you for anyone. So could you just forgive me for what I said as we walked out that school?"
Jake thought about it. What's not to forgive? I'm the one who should be saying sorry for leaving him and the family. Especially with a retarded piece of paper. God I want to run over someone right now to get rid of my frustration… But I should forgive him. But this time, I'll be a little stronger this time. No tears, no sadness. He sighs again. "I forgive you."
Lincoln smiled and started to move in for a hug when Jake stops him.
"But no hugging. Just in case you decide to go emo on me and then end up leaving me again with the decision. Don't think I need to go through the whole process of being hurt again."
Lincoln half-smiled at the thought of that. "Well at least you forgive me and…" He trails off as he wasn't sure that it was the right word.
"Trust you." Jake finishes. "I do forgive you and trust you. But I do not want to get too attached for the time being. At least for about a week or two when I'm sure that everything will be alright."
Lincoln chuckled and then started the car. They head for the Swedish Covenant Hospital and it started to pour. Jake fell asleep against the car window as Lincoln drove. Lincoln looked to his right and looked at Jake. He appeared completely innocent in his sleep and Lincoln couldn't help but feel happy that everything was going back to normal.
He parks the car under the roof of the front door entrance to the hospital. He goes to the front and asks if he could have another pair of crutches. After waiting for a minute, to his surprise, he sees Nikki bringing the crutches herself to him. She hands them to Lincoln and then looks in the car to see Jake asleep against the window.
"So you found him?" Nikki hinted a delighted sound in her voice. She was glad that Lincoln found Jake.
"Yeah. I managed to track him down after some time. I just happened to know where to go."
They spend a couple of seconds looking at him in the car window.
"It looks like he's… happier. Almost as if he was glad that everything's back to normal?" She wasn't sure if everything between Lincoln and Jake was back to normal. She knew the story about what happened with the two of them. It was like a big distortion between the both of them after the fire.
"He has forgiven me and trusts me again. So I guess that's a good sign. But he's back to being happy again. But love is possibly out of the question."
Nikki chuckles. "Well maybe that things are back to normal, I won't be seeing you back here any time soon."
"I wouldn't bet on it. Someone's going to get injured again and we'll be back here. This is like our second home from home."
Nikki lets out a sigh of happiness as she heads back for the emergency center. "Well, I hope I do get to see you guys more often. It's fun with you guys over here nonstop. If it isn't Jake, it's LJ. If it isn't LJ, it's Jake." She sighs once more. "Well, take care. And make sure he doesn't get hurt again."
Lincoln waves good-bye to Nikki. It was almost as if they were leaving a close friend from another place to go back to their own world. It was like they'll never see her again when things are normal. He sighs and then gets into the car as he sets the crutches in the back seat.
*---*
Lincoln gets back to the apartment in half an hour after driving. It was already late night and he completely forgot to keep Michael updated on the situation so everyone's probably worried by now. He grabs the crutched and puts them in one arm. He notices that Jake was still out and he lifts him in his arms as the rain pours down on them. Heh, he doesn't wake up when the rain pours on him. Would've woke me up. He goes to the elevator inside after being drenched in the rain.
After a minute, the elevator reaches their floor and Lincoln walks up to the door. He knocks on it and then hears noise from the inside.
"One second!" Michael yelled. He opens the door and sees Lincoln with Jake in his arms, crutches in one of his hands. He also notices that he's soaked from the rain. "Linc, get in. Jeez you must be cold from the rain."
Lincoln sets the crutches against the wall near the sofa. He gets help from Michael as he helps pull out the sofa bed. Everyone went to sleep early. He sets Jake on it and puts his head on top of a pillow. Michael grabs some covers and puts them over Jake to warm his body from the cold. Jake knew what was going on and opened his eyes slightly, but not wide enough so that they couldn't see that he was awake. He edges the paper out of his pocket and leaves it in his hand. He sleeps again right after.
Lincoln dries off himself and drinks some hot cocoa. He and Michael sit at the table and start to discuss what happened. Lincoln told him what he did and how he managed to catch up to Jake. He even included what happened at the courthouse. Michael was amazed that his brother tracked down Jake and even more amazed that Jake could hotwire the courthouse security box in a matter of a couple of minutes.
"You should've let me come and help." Michael said.
Lincoln takes another sip of his hot cocoa. "Like I said, this was something that I had to do. And I did it. I set things straight with Jake and he's back with us."
"Well you had everyone over here worry because you never updated me as I told you to do."
Lincoln chuckles. "Sorry. I was just so busy trying to find him that I forgot what you told me."
"Well it's alright. Everyone went to sleep early. They were completely wiped worrying about you and Jake. Guess their minds got tired waiting for you that they thought they'd sleep it off and hope you'd be back in the morning."
"Well I'm back now." He drinks the remainder of the hot cocoa and then puts it in the sink. "So why were you still up?"
"In case you decided to come back at night. Someone had to open the door for you. You left in such a rush you forgot your house keys."
Lincoln checks his pockets. He could see that he had the car keys and his wallet, but no house keys. "Well I'll be damned."
"You would've been sleeping outside the door if no one was awake to open the door."
"Well it's not hard for me. Remember that time I lost my keys and you saw me sleeping outside the front door of my apartment?" Lincoln smiles.
Michael chuckles at that memory. "I can't believe you lost your keys four feet from where you were sleeping. You looked like an idiot on your front door."
"But that's the past now. But I still can't seem to keep my house keys with me."
"Which is why you're always with Veronica. She never forgets the keys." The two of them look over the counter at Jake. This time, they notice a piece of paper in his hands.
"What could that be?" Michael asks.
"I don't know." Lincoln and Michael go to where Jake was sleeping and check his hands.
"It's an address." Michael said as he holds the paper in his hands. "An address to what?'
"Wait." Lincoln tries to remember everything that was going on in the courthouse. I got there to hear Jake yell at his dad. Then he went to a calm, velvet voice. After that, he requested… "The location of Sammie from his dad and to leave us alone." Lincoln finished his thought out loud.
"Wait, Sammie was missing?"
"Remember what I said about going to the hotel where Sammie was residing? The receptionist said she didn't check in yesterday or the day before yesterday. I think Jake knew where he was keeping her."
Michael and Lincoln race to the phone and report the situation. They tell them to wait until the morning because they knew at night is when they're more alarmed.