April 26th

Monday morning Michael arrived at the office to find both a stack of new paperwork on his desk and enough e-mails that it would take him at least two hours to respond to them. Pulling out a blank notepad, he made a list of things he needed to get done today and set off. The firm had three projects in full swing right now, two smaller ones and the Davis project. They also had five more in various planning stages so to say they were busy would be an understatement. John had met with everyone last week and advised them, he was looking to hire another engineer to the team since they had more business than they could handle right now and the growth didn't seem to show any signs of slowing down soon.

Michael worked through lunch since his day would end at three thirty in order for him to make his appointment with his parole officer. He was knee deep in some construction documents when John stuck his head in to the office, "Michael?" Hearing his boss, he raised his head. "Do you have a minute?"

He really didn't but he wasn't going to tell John that. "Sure."

John headed back to his office and Michael followed. When they got inside, Michael saw that Matt was there as well and already seated. John motioned for Michael to take a seat as well and closed the door. Then making his way around the desk, John took a seat. He folded his hands in front of him and looked at Michael not saying anything.

Michael noticed that Matt was looking at him as well. "Is there something wrong?"

John looked down and his hands and then back at Michael. He sighed. "Michael…"

"Yes?"

"Michael your working to hard."

He wasn't sure if he'd heard his boss correctly. "What?"

John sat back in his seat. "I'd noticed you were staying after five quite a bit so I talked to Matt. He said you've been knee deep in this project and you've been doing almost everything on your own. Not asking for help."

Michael wasn't sure he understood. Was John unhappy with his work on the Davis project? "Did I do something wrong John?"

John thought maybe he should try a different approach. "Michael you and Matt are my strongest engineers. I know I can give you something and you'll get it done and get it done right." Leaning back in over his desk, "The thing is Michael…when Matt has a deadline and needs help, he asks for it."

When Michael still looked like he didn't understand, John looked to Matt and he stepped in. "I think what John is trying to say Michael is that we're a team and he, WE want to know why your not asking for help when you need it. You're getting married soon. I know you have to have better things to do with your evening hours than spend them here or even taking work home, which I've seen you do too."

"Exactly." John said. Satisfied with Matt's explanation. "So the question is…why aren't you asking for help?"

Michael didn't say anything for a minute. He wasn't quite sure how to answer them. He'd had a team at his old firm and had worked with them all the time. Delegating responsibilities was something he'd been good at. Now it just seemed…well he just wasn't comfortable doing it. Although most of his co-workers seemed ok around him now, he didn't want to push it by asking them to do something he could just do himself. Look at what had happened with the receptionist. A repeat of that was not something he wanted. So he decided to keep his answer vague. "I just thought it would be easier."

John just looked at him like he was trying very hard to understand his answer. Matt, however, seemed to understand instantly. "Easier for who? You or them?" Michael didn't say anything but his lips were now pursed together in a tight line. "That's what I thought." Matt looked at John and realized his boss now understood what he'd known immediately about his friend. "You can't keep tip toeing around the rest of the team you know. They're either going to like you or their not, end of story. And besides that…why didn't you just ask me? I would have helped. You know that. At least I hope you know that."

"You have two projects of your own." Was all he said.

"True. But my two don't add up to your one."

John spoke up, "Look it's beside the point at this juncture." Sighing he looked straight at Michael. "Two things I want to say. First, I only want you here for forty hours a week. Second, no taking work home with you. You have a wedding in less than two months; you can find something else to do with your evenings and weekends. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes."

"If you can't get what you need to get done in your normal day, ask for help. I don't care if it's Matt, Lee, Joyce, Jeff, me or even Lisa. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes."

"I told you when you first started that we're a family business and I aim to keep it that way. This is a job, not a life."

Michael was in a state of shock by the time he left his boss' office. He didn't think he'd ever been told to work LESS by a boss before so this was a new experience and he wasn't sure how exactly he felt about it. Looking at the clock he saw it was three thirty-five. Quickly he grabbed his suit jacket and headed for the door. The last thing he needed was to be late to see his parole officer today.

~

Making his way back to his car after meeting with Mr. Sonksen, his mind replayed their meeting. He'd asked about Sara. Specifically about Sara. This wasn't the random, how are your living arrangements? Any changes questions. He'd asked about her, them, their wedding. When? Where? Michael guessed he had the right to ask since he would technically still be under the DOC's watchful eye on his wedding day. But it had felt odd to be talking about her with him.

Deciding he really didn't want to go back to the apartment right now and be alone waiting on Sara to get home from work, he decided to take a detour to Linc's.

His brother was home and seemed rather happy to see him when he opened the door. Lincoln asked his brother if he would like a drink and then proceeded before he could answer into the kitchen. Michael followed.

Head in the refrigerator, "LJ should be home shortly. Sara working?"

"Yea. She's working." Michael looked at his brother curiously. Lincoln seemed to be in a very good mood. Not that his brother was always in a bad mood, but this was just…well different. Lincoln handed him a bottle and he took it but not before giving his brother a though once over.

Lincoln noticed the look his brother was giving him. It was the look he had when he was trying to figure something out. "Stop it Mike."

"Stop what?"

Lincoln took a seat at the kitchen table. "Stop looking at me like I'm one of your blue prints."

Michael stood for a minute and considered what his brother was saying. He was right of course. Something was up with Linc and he was trying to figure out what it was. Taking a seat across from Lincoln, he set his bottle down. "Well Linc…if you'd tell me what it is that seems to be going on with you I wouldn't have to 'look at you like your one of my blue prints'. For months now you've been acting strange. First you were distant, and now? Now you seem like you're about to burst at the seams. So what's going on?"

Lincoln took a drink and then set his own bottle down to look his brother in the eye. "I've met someone."

"What?" It took Michael a second to process what his brother was saying. "As in you're dating someone? A woman?"

Lincoln actually laughed. "Yes. A woman."

Michael broke out into a smile. It was all making sense now. "So who is she?"

Holding the bottle in front of him, "Her name is Samantha. Sam. She's a school teacher."

"A school teacher huh?" Michael said with a hint of amusement he couldn't hide. He couldn't help but give his brother a hard time. Lincoln used to hate school when they were kids. And the irony of him now dating a teacher just struck him as a little funny.

Lincoln tried to give him a hard stare but his heart wasn't really in it. "Yes. A school teacher."

"What grade?"

"Fourth."

Now Michael let out a full belly laugh. "Oh man Linc. She's even an elementary teacher. Does she know what you used to do to your fourth grade teacher?"

"No. And your not going to tell her."

It took a few minutes to get his laughter under control but finally he said a little more seriously. "So when do we get to met her?"

Lincoln took a drink before he answered. "I don't know. Hadn't thought about it."

"Oh don't give me that Linc. Of course you have. Don't you want her to meet us?" Michael paused. "She does know doesn't she?"

"Yes."

"So what's the problem?"

"Nothing." He said as he stood to throw away his empty bottle. "I'll ask her when I see her again on Friday." Pointedly staring at his little brother. "Does that work for you?"

With a big smile on his face, "Yep. That works for me."

By the time Michael made it home, he was in a pretty good mood. Linc had shared with him a little more about Samantha. Apparently they'd run into each other at the supermarket, quite literally. She'd been coming down an aisle and he around a corner. Their carts crashed into each other and well…as they say, the rest is history.

Michael stepped into the elevator to take him up to the apartment. It was a little after seven-thirty so Sara should already be home. He'd called from Linc's house and left a message on their answering machine so she wouldn't worry.

Slipping his key in the lock he felt the doorknob turn. The door was pulled open with a jerk and on the other side stood a distraught looking Sara. Her eyes were puffy from crying and her hair was in disarray from her obvious fidgeting.

As soon as she saw him, she broke down again. He didn't hesitate, just stepped inside and pulled her in his arms. Kicking the door closed behind him, he stood with her head buried in his shoulder trying to sooth her. She was calming down, but slowly. Once he was able to get the tears to stop rolling, he guided her to the couch. Sitting down, he pulled her into his lap and cradled her.

He didn't say anything, just wanted to be there for her. She'd tell him when she was ready. Something had obviously happened, but what? Running his hand over her back up into her hair and back down again, he continued to do what he could to comfort her.

Finally she kissed his neck. "Thank you." She whispered. Rubbing her face against his shoulder, "I'd been doing good for the past hour and then I saw you and lost it again."

His lips against her hair, "It's ok, Sara. Whatever you need."

Taking a deep breath, she snuggled closer and he continued to massage her back. After another long silence, "I lost a patient today. A little girl. She was allergic to the medicine we gave her. We didn't know."

He held her tighter and placed a kiss on her forehead. Glancing over at the door, he saw the Thai food he'd brought home for dinner laying unceremoniously where he'd dropped it on the floor. It could wait.

After a while, he felt her start to relax. "Are you hungry?" he asked. "I brought food."

"No." she said softly. And he didn't push. After another few moments, she placed another soft kiss on his neck and then looked up at him. "I just want to go to bed."

He nodded and released his hold on her. She got up from his lap, and looked over at the food on the floor. Walking over she picked up the food, took it into the kitchen, and placed the containers in the refrigerator. When she came back in, he was still sitting in the same spot watching her. Sara made her way over to him and put her hand out, asking him to come with her. Putting his hand in hers, he leveraged himself off the couch, and let her lead them into the bedroom.