The rest of the party went pretty well. They talked more with Matt and Vicki as well as with John and his wife Becky. The rest of the group had kept their distance for the most part. Only venturing near when they felt it couldn't be avoided. A few had stared at Michael's tattoos during the first hour but after that, avoidance seemed to be the choice among most of them.

Just before they were ready to leave Sara stepped inside to use the bathroom. As she was headed back through the house, she was just about to round the corner leading into the kitchen when she heard two women talking and what she heard brought her up short. Taking a step back, she leaned against the wall and paused to listen.

"So what's it like? Working with him I mean?"

"It's…well it's interesting."

"How so?"

"Well, he's very quite. And very serious. He knows buildings though, which is helpful but…"

The first woman waited for the other to finish, but when she didn't, "But?" she prompted.

"But I mean you just never know right? I mean things happen in prisons. All I'm saying is you just never know. I mean look at all those tattoos. I'd heard he had a bunch of them but I had no idea there would be so many. That has to say something about a man right? I mean what if he just seems normal but is really a physco."

"Well I'm glad it's not me that has to work with him. It makes me nervous enough that Lee has to. I sure don't know what she's doing with him. I mean she seems pretty normal to me."

"I have no idea. He has a picture of her on his desk at work. It's been there ever since he started so I know they must have been together for a while. Maybe she knew him before…"

Their voices trailed off as they walked back outside with the other guests. As Sara leaned against the wall, she tried to settle her emotions. Would this ever end? Ever get better? Sara swiped at the tears that were threatening to fall. Of course they would, she told her self. They had to.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed herself away from the wall and went to find Michael.

He was just outside the patio doors talking again with Matt, Vicki, and John. Sara cleared her face of the emotions tugging at her only moments before and concentrated on the joy she was feeling being here with Michael and making new friends.

When he spotted her she saw his shoulders visibly relax, and as she came within reach he quickly swept his arm around her.

The conversation went on for a few minutes more before Michael looked down at his watch. "I'm sorry John but we have to get going."

"So soon? The night is still young yet."

To this Sara responded sincerely, "We kind of have a family tradition on Saturday nights John or we would stay longer."

"Oh well. I completely understand. I wouldn't want to keep you from your family." John extended his hand to Michael. "Thanks for coming. I meant what I said before, I'm glad your on our team."

Michael felt a surge of pride he hadn't felt since his pre Fox River days. "Thanks," Michael said releasing his hand.

John turned to address Sara. "And it was very nice to see you again, Sara. Don't be a stranger. You're welcome to stop in and see us anytime. Maybe you can even get this man of yours to take lunches once and a while if you come around more often."

Sara smiled again. She really was having a good time. At least before… "I'll see what I can do."

After saying goodbye to Matt and Vicki, they traced Becky back to the kitchen and said their goodbyes to her as well with a promise to come back and have dinner soon.

They made their way to the car and got inside. Michael looked over and found Sara staring at him with a goofy grin on her face. It was infectious and he was in a pretty good mood himself. "What are you smiling about?"

On impulse Sara leaned over and planted a kiss on Michael's lips. It was quick and her lips were gone almost before they arrived. Without saying a word, she turned back in her seat and reached for the seatbelt clicking it in place.

Michael realized she wasn't going to answer him so he followed her example and put his seatbelt on as well. But before he started the engine, he reached across the short distance between them and grasp her hand bringing it up to his lips. After a feather light kiss he smiled against her hand and returned it to its place in her lap.

With a final squeeze, he reached up and turned the key. He pulled the car out into traffic and headed for Lincoln's.

~

When Michael and Sara walked through the door they found LJ and Jessica sitting on the couch. LJ had his arm wrapped tightly around his girlfriend as they sat watching what appeared to be some sort of space movie. His nephew looked up when they entered and smiled in greeting. "Hey Uncle Mike. Hey Sara"

It hadn't escaped LJ notice that his uncle's arms were bare. And although he'd seen them several times before, it had been a while. In fact it had been months. His uncle usually kept them hidden except around family and even then it was rare. So he was a little curious as to what was going on now although if he had to take a guess, he would say Sara had something to do with it. There wasn't much his uncle wouldn't do for her. Actually LJ wasn't sure there was anything his Uncle Mike wouldn't do for Sara.

While LJ was lost in his thoughts, Jessica had also turned her head away from the action on the screen and greeted the newcomers. Sara seated herself on the couch next to Jessica and Michael disappeared into the kitchen looking for his brother.

Lincoln looked up as his brother entered the kitchen. "Hey Michael…" the greeting died on Lincoln's lips and his eyes went to the exposed ink. Michael followed his eyes, met his brother's stare and shrugged. Lincoln handed him a beer from the fridge and took one for himself. Motioning with the bottle towards the ink in question, "Something you want to tell me?" Lincoln asked.

Taking a drink himself Michael laid his bottle down on the counter. "No not really." Lincoln's look clearly told Michael his brother wasn't buying it and wouldn't be blown off so easily. Michael crossed his arms defensively and said. "Sara bought this shirt for me to wear to the barbeque today so I wore it. End of story."

A curt laugh escaped Lincoln, "Yea right. You never show your ink man. Not ever." Taking another swig of his beer, " I would've liked to have been a fly on the wall for that one."

Michael's response brought an end to the conversation, "No you wouldn't."

It was clear to Lincoln he wasn't going to get anything more out of his brother on the subject so he decided to drop it. For now. "So how was the shin dig anyway?"

With the change in subject Michael relaxed a little. "It was good. Sara had fun."

Lincoln looked at his little brother. Would he never change? "And what about you?"

Again Michael just shrugged. "It wasn't bad. We talked mostly with a guy I work with, Matt and his wife. We also met my boss's wife Becky who was nice, although quite an interesting character." Michael paused to take another drink. "She announced our engagement to the entire party and invited us to come back for dinner."

Lincoln couldn't help the chuckle that came from deep in his throat. "What's so funny?" Michael asked confused by his brother's amusement.

Trying to suppress the laughter that was bubbling within him, Lincoln just shook his head. "Nothing. It just sounds like you had a decent time."

Michael thought about it for a minute. "Yea. I guess I did."

~

Sara and Michael crawled into bed late that night. Both were exhausted but Michael still opened his arms to her and she snuggled close. As she splayed her hand across his bare chest, Sara leaned up and placed a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you," she whispered and then settled back down into position.

Michael tucked his chin and looked down at her. "What are you thanking me for?"

Sara didn't look up. Instead she snuggled deeper against him and listened to his heartbeat. "For wearing the shirt I got you. For going to the party. For staying by my side and supporting me. For everything."

He leaned forward and she felt his lips graze the top of her head. All the reasons her comments weren't true in his opinion flashed through his mind but just as quickly he dismissed them. Instead he simply said, "Your welcome."