It had been a long week. Sara hadn't been able to guess what Michael's brief visit to the hospital would do. When she'd gotten to work on Tuesday, her entire floor had heard the news. Not only did they know about the visit and who he was but someone had finally noticed the ring on her finger.
Mary had tried to warn her as soon as she'd spotted Sara, but before she'd gotten a word out Jean had closed the distance and made her voice heard. Unfortunately that hadn't been the end. Everyone seemed to have an opinion and they all felt the need to share it with her. Most had been content to tell her they hoped she knew what she was doing but there'd been a few that seemed to think she needed a stern talking to. Even those who'd been silent before were no longer so. Only Mary and a few of the nurses she worked with regularly had been totally supportive. One had even taken her aside after a particularly rough day and gave her a hug. It'd been that bad. To make matters worse…PMS had set in about mid week.
The only thing that kept her from not going over the deep end was that she got to come home to Michael. He'd told her before that with his old job he'd had to work many late nights. So far with this new one that hadn't been the case. Most days Michael was home before six and so far she hadn't beat him home.
She hadn't told him what was going on knowing it would only upset him but he'd seemed to sense it. Every night before they fell asleep he would hold her close and brush a kiss against the top of her hair. She always felt so loved when he held her like that.
Today however, he was the source of her anxiety. Well that wasn't entirely true. It was Saturday morning and they were scheduled to meet Katie in thirty minutes. So to be honest Michael AND Katie were the sources of her anxiety. Sara had no idea how this lunch was going to turn out. She knew her friend had agreed to a kind of truce but there was still a distrust there, Sara knew.
For Michael, it would be a matter of being himself today and not letting his guilt rule his responses. Things had been really good this week between them. After Monday night, she'd felt the tension begin to dissipate from within him.
LJ and Jessica had come over again on Thursday night and after a short homework session; they'd all sat down in the living room to talk. When the topic of a book Michael had read in college came up, he and LJ had left the room to retrieve it. While they were gone Jessica had turned to Sara and asked her if she'd loved Michael even when he was under her care in the prison.
She'd just started to answer when the men walked back into the room. Left with the decision to either leave Jessica hanging or to finish answering, she'd chosen to finish although she'd watched Michael's reaction out of the corner of her eye. He'd surprised her by not only seeming relaxed but also by replying that yes, he too had fallen for Sara while still her patient. After that the four of them had had an amazingly open discussion about everything that had happened between the couple over the last two years. Jessica seemed intrigued by the complexity of their relationship and the fact that they were still together. That their love had survived.
Sara just hoped that relaxed nature of the last week would hold through today. Jessica was someone new. Katie was someone from his past, someone from Fox River and a reminder of everything that had happened.
Michael came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Seeming to know what she was thinking he said, "It'll be find. I promise." Leaning into him, he placed a small kiss on her temple. Pulling back he took her hand in his, "We should probably be going if we don't want to be late."
Sara tried to smile but it was an effort. Grabbing her purse with her free hand, they made their way to the door.
~
Katie had arrived a little early. She was trying to be calm about this meeting she'd agreed to but if she were honest with herself, she was a nervous wreck. Why did she agree to this? Katie sighed. Her friend was why she was here, why she was doing this.
She saw them enter the restaurant. Both were dressed casual although she noted that he wore a long sleeve shirt even though the temperature outside was in the eighties. To the casual observer they looked just like any other couple. They weren't.
Michael and Sara approached the table and sat down. Michael spoke first, "Hi Katie."
Katie opened her mouth to respond, "Sco…" She caught herself, "Michael."
Habit had steered Katie's greeting, Sara knew, but it didn't lessen its effect. She'd felt Michael tense beside her. Reaching out for his hand, she gave it a reassuring squeeze. Slowly, she felt him relax and give her hand a gentle squeeze in return.
Thankfully after that the tension seemed to slowly fade away. Katie asked him about his new job and things took off from there. They found there was a lot to share. Since Sara's last lunch with her friend, Michael had moved in with her, they had met LJ's new girlfriend, and they'd begun to plan the wedding. Before they knew it, lunch was finished and they were saying their goodbyes.
~
Sara waited until they were in the car before she spoke, "Well?"
Michael put the car in drive and pulled out onto the road. "Well what?"
Sara knew he was intentionally being obtuse. "You know what." When he still didn't answer she sighed, "Was it as bad as you thought it would be?"
Michael laughed, "No." Glancing over at her he said, the laughter still in his voice, "But shouldn't I be asking you that question?"
A hint of a smile shone on her face. "I'll admit I was nervous," she said. Turning slightly in her seat to face him, "Here are two people who are important to me, but who don't exactly like each other."
Michael interrupted, "I never disliked Katie."
Sara sighed, "That isn't what I meant and you know it Michael Schofield."
Smiling he responded, "Yeah I know." Reaching out with his right hand he covered hers, now resting in her lap and began a soothing motion with his thumb. "You want us to get along and you were afraid we wouldn't. Given the circumstances…" He shrugged, "That's understandable. Sara I don't know if Katie and I will ever be the best of friends but…I think I can speak for both of us when I say we want you to be happy."
Sara cracked a smile, "So what your saying is that you'll put up with each other for me?"
Michael gave her hand a final squeeze and brought it back to the wheel. "Yeah. We'll put up with each other just for you."