Chapter Two; Anonymity and Small Pleasures

Disclaimer; I own nothing, Alcatraz and all characters belong to FOX and in my case Channel Nine and J.J Abrams.

Authors Note; I just want to say thank you to SachikoisGreato, WhatTheCensoredXD and realawesome for reviewing and SachikoisGreato, WhatTheCensoredXD, Xxchristabellex and jjnnrr for adding this story to their alerts, SachikoisGreato and realawesome for adding this story to their favourite story list and finally SachikoisGreato for adding me on their author alert list and their favourite author list. Thank you guys, you made my week and I really hope this meets your expectations. I might not be able to update for a while I'll try my best but I have a number of assignments due all in the same week so I'll be extremely busy and stressed for the next couple of weeks. Once again thank you so much and I hope you enjoy.

She liked San Francisco, the hills, the good weather and most of all the anonymity. When she was young she strived to be popular, to be known, a goal that was common amongst most teenage girls, but sometimes the old saying strikes true; be careful what you wish for. Moving to San Francisco she was overwhelmed by the crowds, feeling lost amongst the masses of people, but she grew to love it and now she wouldn't have it any other way. She still had that little desire though to be recognised to be known and that's why she went to the same little diner at the same time everyday to order the same coffee and if she had time to sit at the same table. She liked being known even if it was only for her coffee choice, it gave her the feeling that she wasn't alone. That diner, her diner was where she met Tommy. She hadn't seen him since he had brought her coffee and walked her home, she found it sweet that he insisted on carrying her books despite her protests, she did carry them all the way to the diner after all, but nevertheless he insisted and she allowed him to. She was unsure of him, sometimes the thought of him scared her and the amount of times she thought of him wasn't very pleasant either, it's not often that you find a man willing to buy you coffee, carry your books for twenty minutes and leave with a small smile and expecting nothing in return.

Pushing the door open to the diner, she was surprised to see him sitting at her table with mug of coffee and a latte next to him, his head lifting up as the jingle of the bell rang announcing her arrival. He smiled when her saw her, gesturing to what she presumed to be her coffee. She froze, her eyes darting from the coffee to his face, she wasn't sure what to do, wasn't sure what he wanted. Taking her hand slowly off the door, she glanced behind her to make sure no one was waiting to get through. Letting her hand to drop down to her side to grasp the strap of her bag, she walked slowly towards the table, plastering a smile on her face as he greeted her.

"Hello, coffee?" He turned the coffee so that the handle was closest to her right hand were she to sit down. She looked down to the coffee and back up to him, who was staring at her expectantly. She swallowed, placing her bag on the floor before sitting down, smoothing out her skirt in hopes to calm her shaking hands.

"Sure, thank you," She offered with a small smile taking a sip of the still hot drink, he mustn't have been waiting long, it was slightly unnerving that he knew she was coming in. "How did you know I was coming in?" she asked tightening her hold around the glass so it wouldn't slip from her sweaty palms. He cocked his head to the side playfully, a small smile tugging at his lips as he too wrapped his hands around his mug.

"Don't you remember? I'm observing you." he joked, pulling a smile, albeit a hesitant one from her. "No really, I was just getting my coffee and the waitress told me you'd be coming in for your morning coffee soon, so I thought I get you one." He reassured, watching as some of the tension left her shoulders.

"Well, I guess I'll have to thank her for helping me save my money." She replied cheekily, flashing him a genuine smile, which he returned, relieved that she was comfortable with him being so forward. Putting her glass down she picked up her necklace fiddling with it, the same gold one she was wearing two weeks ago, he could see it clearly now it was an engraved locket, an old one at that and was probably no bigger than his thumb nail. She caught him looking at it, and quickly dropped it blushing, "Sorry, nervous habit, I'll probably break it one day." Tommy's replied was interrupted by some crappy tune that he didn't recognise; didn't anyone recognise good music these days?

"Sorry," she couldn't help being a little disappointed; after digging through her bag she finally found the phone, looking at her caller id, "It's important, I have to take this, sorry." She apologised again, standing to walk outside where she could have some privacy, smiling softy at his understanding nod. Tommy waited patiently as he saw her pace outside, talking into the phone playing with her necklace once again. He noticed in her bag, her ridiculously large bag had textbooks with the University of San Francisco label on them, lightly adjusting the leather of the bag he was able to see the title of the book, A History of American Literature his interest was officially peaked, he went to the University of San Francisco, he wanted to be an engineer once upon a time, before the war, before Alcatraz, it felt like a lifetime ago, but then again, it kind of was. He was startled when she returned to the table, sliding smoothly into her seat.

"Sorry, about that. It was my study partner; he wants to meet earlier than we planned." She dumped her phone into her bag to get lost amongst the numerous books, papers and post-its. "What were you going to say before?" picking up her coffee, she savoured the heat that was warming her hands, there was a cold wind outside and now her hands were stiff and aching.

"Nothing, don't worry about it, what time are you meeting up with your partner?" He asked hoping that his time with her wouldn't be cut short; she gave him some semblance of peace, normality in his chaotic and often violent life. The waitress that told him she was coming in, appeared at their table looking harried, it was only then that he realised how busy the small diner was. Chloe turned to the waitress with a smile, which the waitress returned as she recognised exactly what table she was serving.

"Can I get you guys anything? Something to eat perhaps?"

"Could I please have a take-away cup?" The waitress' smile faltered a little, shooting him a look he couldn't decipher; he didn't understand all these looks and hidden meanings that were used these days. Chloe turned her attention to him; "I have to meet him in about half an hour, sorry." She reached out to touch his wrist lightly, the same way she did the last time they met, in a purely platonic move, but he couldn't help but revel in the feeling of a woman touching him, of anyone touching him. There was a slight pang of guilt in his stomach, he was married, a father; both of which were dead due as a consequence of his own actions and it was this knowledge that kept him awake at night and there was this fear, one that was not completely unfounded that someone else that he cared for would be hurt because of him; Ray, Rebecca even Chloe despite only meeting her a little over a month ago.

"Can I please have one too? I'll walk you." the waitress' smile brightened again as she turned to look at him, her happiness was in stark contrast to Chloe's sudden removal of her hand and the tenseness of her shoulders. He stared at her, and she shifted under his gaze. "Where are you meeting him?" He was unsure how she would take his brazen attitude, he wouldn't have dared being so overconfident towards a girl in the 1950's, even now he was still hesitant, but he learnt long ago that it's the small pleasures, such as walking a young woman to her destination somewhere that are important. He was pleasantly surprised when she pulled herself together so fast that if he had blinked he would have missed it.

"The local library, it's about a twenty minute walk."

Walking through the park a comfortable silence fell over them, their coffee's long disposed, and her hands were pushed into her jacket pockets as far as they could go in attempt to protect them from the cold wind.

"What are you studying?"

"I'm majoring in English, and I'm studying history as my minor."

"Do you like it?"

"It's a lot of work, but yeah I like it."

"What are you planning to do with your degree?"

"That's the million dollar question isn't it," she let out a soft chuckle which he echoed, "I don't know yet, I'm kind of just going with it."

"What about you? What are you up to, when you're not observing me?" a cheeky smile spread across her face.

He smiled too, glad that her apprehension at the diner was gone for now. He didn't know what to say though, he didn't think that; 'well, being a dead, escaped convict kind of limits my career options, so at the moment I'm hunting murders and rapists down for a bunch of keys to open a secret door, because open sesame isn't really working for me' would go down to well.

"I'm working as a carpenter." It wasn't a lie per say, he was a carpenter; he had the references to prove it, though they wouldn't do much good now, seeing as they were signed before his imprisonment in 1957.

"Do you like it?" she repeated him, her gaze lifting from the ground to find him already looking at her. He looked guilty for a second before he shrugged.

"It pays the bills." She nodded looking away; he copied her action realising they were at the front of the library.

"Thank you for walking me, you didn't have to." She told him, appreciation clear in both her face and tone. He liked this new custom, of men not having to walk women, when he was growing up it was expected and therefore the action was unappreciated. Now people were busy, women were to independent, but when someone took the time out of their to make a sure someone got somewhere safely, it was appreciated. He simply smiled in response.

"I'll see you tomorrow morning for coffee." He said, nodding in farewell.

"Wait," she called out after he had walked a couple of steps away "Why?" walking to where he standing, she stood in front of him, shoulders back, hands out of her pocket and positioned at her side.

"Why?"

"Yes, why? Why do you want to meet me for coffee? Why do you insist on walking me everywhere? Not that I don't appreciate it, but why?"

"For the small pleasures, Chloe, I'll see you tomorrow." He turned around and walked away leaving her on the footpath, wondering what the hell she had gotten herself into.