Monday

It was quarter to eight and Michael had arrived at the office first as usual. He'd just sat down and walked in to the large office the firm's employees shared. John casually walked to his desk and greeting him with a smile said, "Good morning."

"Good morning." Michael replied returning both the greeting and the smile.

John placed his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels the smile never leaving his face. "I talked to Becky Saturday night after everyone left. She seems to like you."

Michael wasn't quite sure how to respond or if he was supposed to. So instead he decided to wait and see what else his boss had to say. He didn't have to wait long before John continued. "I've been told we're inviting you and Sara to dinner. How does Friday night work for you two?"

It was a simple question Michael knew. At least it should be. But in this case it wasn't. This again was something new. A situation he'd never been in before.

John saw the panic in Michael's face but not knowing what had caused it he quickly added, "Your under no obligation to come Michael if you don't want. It's merely an invitation."

He'd been running all the possibilities though his mind when he heard John speak these last words. Knowing he need to respond he said, "It not…I mean I don't know." A smirk returned to his bosses face. Clearly he was amused. Michael ignored him. Instead he composed himself and said, "I'll talk to Sara and let you know if Friday will work."

"Sure." John replied and turned back towards the door.

Matt passed him on his way into the office. His boss was clearly trying to stifle a laugh and not having much success. He'd been working for John for about a year now. It'd been the best decision of this life. Coming from a high profile firm he'd been used to rigid structure and tight deadlines. Not that there weren't deadlines here, but John was a great communicator and for the type of work they did things ran amazingly smooth. Laying his briefcase down on his desk, Matt turned to face the man he was just starting to know and noticed a worried crease in his brow. Before he would've been unsure of the man in question's response to such an intrusion and just went on his way, but after spending several hours with him on Saturday he had a new perspective. "Something wrong?"

Michael had been deep in thought and it took him a moment to realize Matt was talking to him. He turned to face the man who was becoming somewhat of an ally if not a friend, although that was something Michael couldn't quite wrap his mind around.

Seeing the concern on Matt's face as he continued to stare made Michael realize what message his facial expression must be sending. Composing himself once again he responded, "No. Everything's fine." He was going to leave it at that and then decided to add, "John just invited Sara and I for dinner on Saturday. I guess it just threw me a little."

"Ahh. I see." Matt said. And he did. He was actually beginning to understand the man beside him a little. "So are you going?"

"I don't know." Michael began moving as if he'd forgotten something and reached for his phone. "I need to talk to Sara first."

Matt smiled as he realized he'd been forgotten as Michael began speaking into the phone. Looking up he saw his other two co-workers walk into the office with no time to spare. As they walked to their desks in the back of the room, it appeared Michael was leaving a message. Turning back to his brief case he began unloading the papers he'd taken home with him last night deciding it was time to get to work.

~

At ten thirty Michael's phone began to ring. The problem was, Michael wasn't there to answer it. He'd been pulled into the conference room with John about ten minutes ago. Matt debated on whether or not to let it go to voice mail. But knowing Michael had been waiting all morning for Sara to call back made his choice simple. Crossing the short distance between the two desks he picked up the phone. "Biggs Associates."

There was no response from the other end of the line so he tried again. "Biggs Associates, can I help you?"

"I'm sorry. I must have the wrong number."

"Sara is that you?"

He heard her pause before she quietly answered, "Yes."

"It's Matt. We met on Saturday."

He heard her let out an audible breath, "Oh hi Matt. I'm sorry I thought I called Michael's number," she asked with a bit of confusion.

"You did actually. Michael stepped away for a while but I knew he was waiting on your call so I answered. I hope you don't mind."

"No, that's ok. I'm just sorry I missed him. I got a break between patients so I thought I'd call him back." He heard her pause. The disappointment in her voice was clear as she continued, "I guess I'll have to try him back at lunch."

"Actually you don't. Can you hold on for a few minutes? I can go and get him."

A few seconds passed before she answered, "Yes thank you."

Putting the call on hold he made his way down the hall to the conference room and found the two men he'd been seeking huddled near the white board on the other end of the room. Deep in conversation, Matt almost hated to interrupt. "Excuse me." Both men turned to face him. "Michael you have a call on line four. It's Sara. I thought you might like to take it."

"Thank you." Michael had no idea what he'd done to deserve the friendship Matt seemed to be offering him but he was grateful. Turning to his boss, he found John was already walking to the other end of the room in an obvious attempt to give Michael some privacy.

Picking up the conference room phone he pressed line four. "Sara?"

"Hi Michael," she said a little breathlessly. Hearing him say her name never failed to send a pleasant sensation up her spine.

Michael smiled hearing her voice on the other end of the line but neither spoke as they seemed to be caught up in a moment. It was movement at the other end of the room that brought him back to the present. John was still there and they had work to do. So did she. Reluctantly he cleared his throat and began to speak, "John and Becky have invited us over for dinner on Friday night."

Sara heard the statement but she also knew it was a question. Too many men in her past would have just made plans and assumed she would willingly follow, but not Michael. He would never push something on her she didn't want. She leaned back against the wall cradling the phone to her face. The swell of love for him almost overwhelmed her as tears began to come to her eyes. Closing them tightly she leaned her head back.

Concerned by her silence, "Sara?"

She straightened and took a deep breath. "I'm here Michael. Friday should be fine as long as it's not too late. It's my Saturday to work." One of the nurses was heading toward her and from the look on her face Sara needed to go. "Michael I have to go. Tell John we'll see him and Becky on Friday."

"Ok. I will. Thank you for calling me back Sara."

Although she knew he was dead serious, she almost laughed. "Of course I'd call you back. Did you think I wouldn't?"

He could hear the amusement in her voice and the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding expelled. With a little laugh of his own he responded, "You never know. One of your patients might make you an offer you can't refuse."

She was laughing now. "Not a chance." Growing serious again she replied, "I love you Michael Scofield." Allowing a moment for that to sink in, "I'll see you tonight." And then she disconnected.

~

As usual Michael arrived home before her. In his other life, before Fox River, he'd rarely been home before nine and that had suited him just fine. He'd been working for John over a month now and he'd only been in the office past five twice. John was a family man and liked to be home for dinner. He didn't expect his employee's lives to be any different. The day began at eight and ended at five unless they were working under a tight deadline, which thanks to John's excellent management skills didn't happen often.

After removing his tie and tucking it into his side of the closet, Michael headed into the kitchen to find dinner. He'd just settled down in front of the couch when the doorbell rang. Setting his plate down on the coffee table he went to the door. Looking through the peephole all he saw was the back of a woman's head. Figuring it must be Jessica, although he didn't have the slightest clue why she would drop by without LJ, he stepped back and opened the door. The face that greeted him, however, didn't belong to Jessica. The woman that turned to greet him was his wife.