Sara had just popped a TV dinner in the microwave when she heard a knock on the door. Figuring it must be Michael; she threw the plastic into the trash and made her way to the door. Looking through the peephole she was surprised to find Lincoln staring back at her. Flipping the locks she opened the door with surprise. "Lincoln."

"Hi Sara. Can I come in?"

Sara stepped back and moved toward the living room leaving Lincoln to close the door behind him.

"Can I get you something to drink?" she asked.

"No thanks. I'm good."

Sara hesitated. "Ok." Not quite sure what was going on here, she pointed to the couch. "Do you want to sit down?"

Lincoln followed the invitation and took a seat on the couch. Why had he offered to do this? Was he crazy? Sara sat down at the other end of the couch, hands in her lap, waiting for him to tell her why he was here. Lincoln had only been to Sara's apartment once before and that had been to help her move in. It felt a little strange to be sitting here now. He needed to say something. Lincoln cleared his throat and began, "Sara…"

But before he could get anything else out she interrupted, "You've talked to Michael."

He thought about a denial but thought better of it. "Yea."

"Did he send you?"

"No. Not exactly." Lincoln sighed and rubbed his hands on his jeans. He was not a touchy feely kind of guy and he was out of his element here. "He showed up on my doorstep and…well I didn't know what else to do."

Sara was picking at the material on her jeans. "I see." Both of them sat in silence neither knowing quite what to say. Finally Sara looked up and asked, "Why isn't he here? Why didn't he come home to me?"

"He's afraid he's messed up again. He doesn't know if you want to see him right now."

Lincoln saw a small fire light behind Sara's eyes. "Of course I want to see him." Frustrated she stood. "Why would he think I wouldn't want to see him? I love him. I agreed to marry him."

Lincoln tried to lighten the mood a little. "Yea, I meant to tell you congratulations." Sara turned back and was now facing him but she didn't look amused. He sighed. "Michael is…Michael. He doesn't deal well with conflict. And…well, you're special to him."

Sara just stood staring at Lincoln with her arms clutching her stomach. Finally Lincoln stood and made his way for the door. Before he cleared the opening, however, he heard her say, "Tell him to come home." Lincoln just nodded and left.

~

He arrived home to find his brother pacing his living room.

When Michael heard the door shut he stopped his movement and took a step towards his brother. But instead of talking, Lincoln took a detour and began walking towards the kitchen, set his keys on the counter, and made a beeline for the refrigerator. Michael couldn't wait any longer. "Well?"

Lincoln still didn't answer. He opened the fridge and grabbed a beer. Opening the bottle he threw the cap in the trash and took a drink. Then he looked at his brother. "Go home."

Michael's face changed from nervous anxiety to confusion. "You're kicking me out?"

Lincoln moved passed his brother and made his way back into the living room. He took a seat and another drink before he said anything more. "Yes and no." Lincoln leaned forward and held the bottle between both hands. "Go home. To Sara." Silence greeted him. Then he noticed movement and realized Michael had started to pace again. "Hey Mikey. Did you hear me?" Michael stopped his pacing again to look at his brother. The look on his face was almost more than Lincoln could stand. Michael hadn't dated much in his other life, his life before Fox River, but when he had it was casual. His brother had never put his heart into any of his past relationships. He was out of his element and Lincoln knew it.

With a sigh of frustration, Lincoln put his beer on the table and walked over to Michael. Placing an arm on his brother's shoulder, "That was her message man. 'Tell him to come home.'"

The look of worry on Michael's face lessened slightly but he didn't say anything. Instead he nodded and started moving towards the door. Before Lincoln could think of anything else intelligent to say, he brother had left.

~

Sara heard another knock on her door. This had better not be LJ, she thought. Pulling herself up off the couch she headed to the door. The peephole revealed it was Michael. Leaning her forehead against the door, Sara took a minute to compose herself. Then with one last deep breath, she opened the door to let Michael in.

After opening the door, Sara walked back to where she had been sitting and Michael followed her inside. Giving her plenty of space he took a seat on the couch. Silence hung in the air as neither of them spoke.

When Sara realized she was going to have to be the one to start the conversation, she wondered which topic she should approach first. The omission or why he hadn't come home. In the end she heard herself say, "How did your appointment go?" Obviously he had't been expecting this line of questioning. Again she prompted, "With the lawyers."

Ok. This was a topic he could go with. "I don't know." He paused, "She wants something from me and I don't know what it is."

"You'll figure it out," Sara said confidently. "Just give yourself time to think about it and it'll come to you."

He gave her a little smile. "I know you're right. I just can't seem to put my figure on it. I know I'm missing something."

Knowing they would get to the needed topic eventually she decided to delve into the subject that had cause this little mess in the first place. "What exactly did she say?"

"She, didn't say anything. Her lawyer, however, said plenty. Something to do with the $10,000 not being enough compensation." As soon as the words left his mouth, the answer came to him. Michael stood. "Can I use your phone?"

"Sure." As Michael made his way to the phone, Sara had to bite her tongue. She'd wanted to make a comment about him not having to ask her to use the phone since they were all but living together now, but it was clear he'd made some sort of connection so she kept silent. She listened to his side of the conversation as he called his lawyer.

"Frank. It's Michael. I know what she wants. She thinks I have that five million dollars I told you about. Yea I know, but she doesn't. I'm sure Frank. That's got to be it. Ok." Michael hung up the phone and started back to the couch. When his eyes focused on Sara again she was smiling.

He sat back down on the couch but this time a little closer and reached out to touch the side of her face. She leaned in and closed her eyes for a moment before pulling back. Her face grew serious again and Michael retracted his hand. The lightness that had filled him a second before began to fade.

Sara's hands rested in her lap. "Michael, we need to talk." She paused, needing him to know how important this was to her. "Why did you go to Lincoln's today instead of coming here?"

Ok. This was not what he'd expected. He'd expected her to be angry with him for not telling her about the meeting. He'd expected her to corner him like she did after finding out he had taken her keys. Michael met her eyes, "I wasn't sure you would want me here. I promised you no more secrets and I didn't keep that promise."

Michael was obviously beating himself up over this already but she needed to say this. "I was hurt when I found out you hadn't shared your troubles over Nika with me." Sara wanted to reach out and touch him but she held back. "They're my problems too." Her emotions were running high so she considered her next words carefully. "But what hurt more was when you didn't come home to me. I'm going to be your wife Michael. We're going to fight sometimes. I need to know…"

Michael heart broke as he listened to her works. Not letting her finish, he closed the gap between them. His hands cupped her face and he could see the tears welling in her eyes, "Sara… I didn't want to hurt you. I never have." His finger brushed along her hairline, the soft touch of his fingers soothing her. "I'm going to mess up sometimes." Michael cracked a small smile as he added this last part.

"Just promise me," Sara whispered, "whatever happens, you'll always come home."

Sara was home. "I will," he whispered. Sara closed her eyes as he leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. He wanted to hold her in his arms and not let go. Instead he pulled back, still not quite sure.

Opening her eyes she found Michael watching her. Seeing the look in his eyes she reached up and placed her hand over his heart. "What do you want Michael?" She saw him swallow but he remained silent.

Moments pasted but just when she thought he wasn't going to speak he said, "I'll show you." Sara gave a small nod in reply. Leaning in, she felt his lips touch hers again. They were soft, barely touching. Bringing his hands up, they surrounded her face, holding her like a fragile flower. He continued this soft barely there kiss and his tongue began to slowly trace the outline of her lips. She felt a gentle tug on her bottom lip as he sucked it inside his mouth, massaging it with his tongue.

Warmth spread from her head to her feet and a small moan escaped her lips. She felt him pause for just a moment as if taking in her reaction and then return to his task. Michael's left hand left her face and settle on her hip. Moving his other hand to the back of her neck, she felt him pull her towards him.

Leaning back to lie on the couch he pulled Sara with him. He hadn't realized she was becoming aroused until he heard the moan escape her. That hadn't been his intention. If she wanted to make love he was more than willing, but he wanted to be close to her if nothing else. It felt like they had been apart for days instead of hours.

She settled herself on top of him, allowing her body to fall in line with the contour of his. They lay stretched out on the couch, their legs entangled. His hands holding her in place while her hands rested on his chest. Never breaking the kiss, he continued to softly massage her lips with his and those barely there kisses were beginning to frustrate her. She wanted more and decided it was her turn to play.

Sara slid her hand up and felt the buzz of his hair against her fingertips. Shifting slightly, she was rewarded by feeling him pressing against her inner thigh. His thin dress pants not creating much of a barrier between them. Opening her mouth, she traced the tip of her tongue around his lips as he'd done hers and felt his hand tighten on her back. When her tongue finished making its journey, she mimicked his earlier actions and pulled his lower lip into her mouth and began to suck. She heard the breath escape him and the pressure of the hands holding her increased.

Lifting his head from the cushion, his lips took possession of hers. He'd been patient. Letting her set the pace. He'd tried to focus on something other than the soft suction of her lips but to concentrate on anything other than Sara was too much effort. Feeling her take his lower lip into her mouth he'd given in to the struggle and allowed the building passion to surface. She didn't resist the new more fevered kiss; in fact she met him enthusiastically. His left hand made its way up her back, his fingers getting lost in her hair.

Sara's hand movements were limited as they were trapped between their two bodies. With the little movement available, she began working on the top buttons of his shirt. Opening it as far as their current position would allow, her fingers traced the exposed skin but it wasn't enough.

Michael was thinking the same thing. He wanted his hands on her, but in this position his access was limited. Pushing himself back into the cushion, he met her eyes and he pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. Both of them were breathing hard but Sara was the first to speak, "I don't remember making out on the couch as being so restrictive."

Michael couldn't resist, "Make out on couches a lot Tancredi?"

Sara leaned in and whispered in his ear, "I don't kiss and tell Scofield. I guess you will just have to find out for yourself."

With that she pushed off his chest and got up off the couch leaving Michael laying there in obvious need. At the bedroom door she stopped and turned around, "Aren't you coming?" Not waiting for a response, she turned back around and disappeared into the bedroom.

~

The sun had begun to go down and the only real light was from the small lamp beside the bed. Their bed. He understood that now and the happiness he felt was overwhelming him.

He knew she'd heard him enter the room even though her back was to him. Closing the distance, he placed his arms around her waist. As she leaned back into him, he took in the sent of her. Placing a small kiss in her hair he whispered, "I love you Sara."

Turning in his arms she rested her hands on his chest. "I love you too," she whispered back.

Without another word, her fingers found where they'd left off. Silently they undressed each other and allowed their hands to express the intense emotion they were feeling.

~

Sara and Michael lay on bed mimicking the position they'd been in on the couch. Michael's hands rested on her lower back. Sara's were at his shoulders, anchoring herself as her mouth left its hot mark on the skin of his neck. Reaching a sensitive spot his hands tightened.

They'd been laying like this for a while now. She had no idea how much time had pasted. Just softly touching and kissing, nothing hurried. Every so often she would feel him twitch against her thigh. His control amazed her. He hadn't tried to speed things or move to enter her. Other than allowing his hands to travel down to graze her curves a few times he seemed to be content to stay like this all night.

But begin this close to him; skin-to-skin was doing things to her insides. The last time her tongue had found a spot just behind his right ear his hands had made the trip lower and she'd moved slightly to encourage better access, but he wasn't biting. His hand just slid back up to rest on her back once more.

Raising herself slightly, she held his eyes and slid her hand between them. As it made its way down their bodies, he stilled. Her hand reached its destination and she heard his intake of breath. Leaning down her mouth found his while her hand began to stroke him.

The hands on her back were no longer still; each taking opposite positions and now pulling her against him. Her hand was now trapped between them. She continued to stroke him from root to tip and was rewarded by hearing a low moan deep with in his throat.

His hand came up and tangled in her hair. Breaking the kiss he found her eyes. Huskily he whispered, "Sara." The look she returned gave him the response he had been wanting. Shifting his weight, he flipped them both over.

With the movement Sara's hand lost its grip and landed on the mattress beside them. When he settled on top of her she lifted her arm back up to join it's partner currently wrapped around his shoulders, he had other ideas. As soon as her fingers hit his skin, his fingers came up to wrap around her wrist, "No Sara." He brought her hand between them again, "Guide me."

He released her wrist and her fingers wrapped around him once again. Taking her time, she allowed her hand to stoke him again. Opening her legs, he lifted slightly. With a firm grip she guided him to her entrance but held him there with only the tip pressing on her swollen flesh. Sara's left hand cupped his face once again pulling his mouth towards hers. Just before their lips made contact she whispered, "Welcome home." Sliding her hand out from between them she grabbed his hips, and brought him home.