Friday May 14th – two weeks later

Sara drove to work that morning already exhausted. The last two weeks few by with everything going on with the wedding and on top of that a doctor had been on vacation so she'd been helping to cover, which meant she'd been working five days a week instead of four. Thankfully the doctor would be back on Monday but that wasn't going to help her get through today.

They'd met again with Ron Keller last week after her fourth twelve-hour shift in a row, and the topic of the night was Michael's prison time. How it had changed his life, him and how they were dealing with those changes both separately and as a couple. Although it was a little awkward at first, especially for Michael, Sara figured she'd much rather be talking about that than their past relationships.

Michael's workload seemed to decrease somewhat with him now only working late one night a week and no longer bringing work home. He'd helped with what he could and even sent out the invitations. But with her not having her normal Wednesday's off, it meant she had to cram even more into her weekends.

She'd met with Vicki's friend, Holly, last Saturday for two hours. They'd talked about style, fashion, and what Sara liked and didn't like. She'd seen samples of some of the dresses Holly was working on and pictures of dress's she'd done in the past. Vicki was right her friend was quite talented. Sara was supposed to meet with Holly again tomorrow but with how she felt now, she had no idea how she was going to be getting out of bed tomorrow.

Sara parked her car and made her way into the hospital. Over the last few months most of the hospital staff had calmed down and accepted her engagement to Michael. Most. Not all. Jean, who was becoming the thorn in Sara's side, still made her opinion quite clear on the subject. Luckily Sara didn't have to work with her often, but looking at the floor schedule for today it seemed her luck had ran out. Jane had been assigned to be her nurse.

~

By the time Sara's evening break rolled around, she was at her wits end. Jean, while not technically doing anything wrong, was being a royal pain. When Sara had to communicate with her about a patient, Jean would make her work extra hard. She'd repeat everything Sara said down to the letter, "just to make sure she got everything right." Sara didn't understand it. What had she ever done to this woman? Seeing Mary across the cafeteria she made her way over and plopped down in an open chair with her coffee.

"Rough day?" Mary asked.

"You could say that a thousand times over and it wouldn't even come close." Sara said as she ran her hands over her face and up over her hair.

Mary nodded. "Saw they stuck you with Jean today."

Sara sighed. "I just don't get it Mary. She was fine until she found out about Michael."

"Maybe you should ask her."

"Maybe I should." Sara said in a defeated voice. "But not today. Today I just need to make it through the next two hours."

"Yea I know. I'm not exactly running on a full tank either after pulling an extra shift for the last two weeks. And I'm not trying to plan a wedding."

"I don't know how I'm still functioning to tell you the truth. If it wasn't for Michael I don't think I would be. I haven't worked this hard since residency."

Mary laughed. "Well I'm sure coming home to that man every night has to have some fringe benefits."

This actually got a smile out of Sara. It was her first real smile of the day. "Yes. That it does."

The two finished their coffees and headed back up to finish their shifts.

~

By the time Sara walked into their apartment at seven thirty that night, every muscle in her body was screaming. As she put her purse down, Michael poked his head out of the bedroom. "Hey." He said.

"Hey." She said with a lot less enthusiasm.

Walking over to her, he brought his hands up to cup her face and gave her a soft kiss. Pulling back, he left his hands where they were and made tiny circles with his thumbs on her cheeks. "Why don't you go sit down and I'll get you some food." He waited for her to respond, but when she just looked at him with weary eyes he bent down and placed another peck to her lips before leading her over to the couch. Once she was settled, he disappeared into the kitchen.

When Michael came back with a plate of food it took all of her effort just to get it down. Her mind wasn't so bad but it was her body. For whatever reason, she felt so drained. While she ate, Michael disappeared into the bedroom. But he came back out to retrieve her empty plate and take it into the kitchen when he heard her set it on the coffee table. When he returned, she hadn't moved. He reached out his hand to her. "Come on."
"Michael I can't. Just give me a minute. I'm just…" She tried to smile at him. "Thank you for dinner. I just don't seem to have any energy."

Michael seemed to consider this for a second and then he bent down and swung her into his arms. "Michael what are you doing?" She demanded as she grabbed onto his shoulders. He didn't answer her, he just gave her one of his killer smiles.

In the bedroom, he sat her down on the edge of the bed and removed her shoes and socks. Then he began to remove her shirt. "Michael…"

"Shhh." He said as he slipped her top over her head. He reached behind her and released her bra, sliding it down her arms and setting it aside. She sat before him topless, the look on his face one of concentration and concern.

His fingers moved to the button of her kakis. After sliding the zipper down, his hands moved to her waist as he tugged gently down. Sara raised her hips slightly to help him and when she looked down he'd not only removed her kakis but her panties as well. She sat before him totally naked.

Michael stood. Bending down he placed another small kiss on her tired lips. "Lay down Sara. On your stomach." She looked up at him, her eyes questioning but he didn't elaborate. In the end, she did as he asked.

Laying down flat on her stomach her eyes following him, she watched as he removed all but his boxers and climbed into the bed beside her. Then she felt his hands. They started in her hair, massaging her scalp. She heard herself let out a soft moan. She loved when he ran his fingers through her hair.

His hands moved to her neck and shoulders. At first his touch was light and then he increased the pressure as he kneaded the tension from her tired muscles. Sara's body was beginning to relax under his touch. She could feel the stress of her day, her week melting away. This was just another instance where Michael's attention to detail came in handy as he took each muscle in turn until he was satisfied.

Working his way down her back, she also started to feel another type of tension beginning to build. Michael's touch was perfectly innocent. But whenever or however he touched her, it always created a warm pleasant feeling deep in her core.

His hands skimmed her curves as he moved on to her legs, giving each one painstaking attention. Starting just below her hip and working his way clear down to her toes he coxed each muscle into submission. When he reached the bottom of her second leg, he let his hands lightly skirt her skin as he lay down beside her.

Laying face to face, he brushed a lose hair behind her ear. "Feeling any better?"

"Yes." She whispered. "Thank you." Michael smiled and she felt her heart pick up speed. His hand rested on her cheek. Pressing her face against his palm, she turned her head slightly so her lips brushed back and forth against the inside of his hand. Her eyes remained steady on his.

She heard his breath begin to change and then a question. "Sara?"

"I thought you were more through Scofield." When she was met with his questioning eyes, she placed a final kiss on the inside of his palm and rolled over onto her back. "You still have a whole other side that needs your attention."

She saw him swallow and then close his eyes for a moment. His hand was still on her, resting just above her shoulder. When he opened his eyes again, they were no longer impassive. He closed the small distance between them and found her lips.

He'd been keeping himself in check while he'd been giving her a massage. It'd taken immense concentration on his part, but he'd focused on working the muscles and not on how good she felt under his hands. He knew how tired she was. The long days seemed to be getting to her more and more.

Even in the mornings she seemed to be tired before her day started. He was glad this was the last week she had to work the extra shift and things would get back to normal. For the last few months she would come have lunch with him on her day off and over these last two weeks he found he'd missed that.

Now she was laying before him, completely bare and asking him to touch her in the way every cell in his body wanted to from the moment he'd removed her top. As he bent his head to kiss the lips that beckoned him even in his dreams, he felt the control he'd been holding on to slipping.

When their mouths connected, he felt her lips part for him as his tongue slipped inside to taste her. He was leaning over her, hand in her hair, pressing against her hip as he increased the pressure of his lips. Deep within her throat he heard her moan and felt her chest rise and fall in increasingly rapid breathes against his own.

Hearing her, feeling her, was sending him closer and closer to the edge. He needed to slow things down. He didn't want to but he had to. Hand on her shoulder he pulled away and heard a soft whine escape from her lips as he pulled away.

"What's wrong?" she asked breathless.

Closing his eyes, trying to catch his own breath. "Nothing. I just…we need to slow down."

"Why?" she asked as she reached to pull him back to her.

His eyes remained closed and she could tell his was trying to focus. "Because this was supposed to be for you. To help you relax."

Sara ran her hands down his chest over the intricate tattoos. Down to his boxers until she came to the part of him that was aching for her. "So help me relax Michael." She said in a husky whisper as she rubbed her hand against him.

When she touched him, he thought he was going to lose his mind. Releasing a low growl from deep within he chest, his hips arched into her palm. "Come here." He heard her say and decided to stop resisting. Falling on top of her, both hands delved into her hair as his lips crashed onto hers. Her hand remained between their bodies and had now wrapped around him, stroking and squeezing him. She drove him crazy every single time. He couldn't get enough of her and with every aggressive stroke of his tongue he let her know.

Feeling her hands tug at the only material separating them, he raised himself to his knees and helped her push his boxers down his legs as their tongues continued their dance. As soon as he was free, she was coaxing him between her legs and he went willingly. He could feel her heat before him. Breaking their kiss, he looked into her eyes as he entered her and she gasped his name.

Sometimes their lovemaking was slow sometimes it was frantic. But it was always an unforgettable experience for him. She held onto him as he moved inside her, her eyes closed and head thrown back enjoying the sensations coursing through her body. He loved to watch her facial expressions while he made love to her. She was so beautiful, so open. Her hands gripped his shoulders, her back arched as he watched her reach her climax. Knowing she'd found her release he let himself go and within seconds he collapsed on top of her spent himself.

Rising up to remove his body from her, he softly rubbed his lips against her forehead. "You are so beautiful. I love watching you."

"You do, do you?" she said sleepily.

"I do." Placing a kiss on her slightly parted lips he moved to lay beside her and pulled her against him.

She settled into his chest and moments later she was asleep.

~

Saturday morning Sara slept in allowing her own body to wake her. That turned out to be a mistake when she didn't wake until almost eleven. She'd had to quickly shower and get ready for her meeting at twelve with Holly.

When she'd arrive at Holly's studio, five sketches were laid before her along with several fabric samples. Right away one of the sketches jumped out at her. "This one." She said almost reverently.

Holly looked at the sketch and then at Sara. "It will look beautiful on you." She smiled. "Now. We just have to choose the fabric."

The material had taken a little longer to choose but eventually Sara had found one she liked and Holly agreed it would work perfectly with the design she'd chosen. After taking some measurements, they made an appointment to meet again next week at the same time for Sara to try on some rough pieces for the gown.

She should be on top of the world at finally finding a dress and she was, but she was also exhausted after the last two weeks. She headed home and seeing Michael was out, took the opportunity to run herself a bath. Which is where Michael found her almost an hour later when he came home.

"Sara?"

"In here."

He followed her voice into the bathroom and seeing her in the tub, smiled. Leaning over, he gave her a kiss. "How'd things go today?"

Feeling the warmth of his lips, Sara realized how cool her water had gotten. As he pulled back, she reached to pull the plug out of the drain and stood reaching for a towel. "Good. Hopefully she'll have some basics for me to try on next week." Sara said with a huge grin.

Michael stood watching her and took a deep breath. If they were going to make it to Lincoln's tonight he needed to curb his thoughts and fast. "Good." He said. "I'll let you finish." And walked quickly from the room.

~

By six thirty, everyone was gathered at Lincoln's. The boys had gone to get the pizza, leaving Sara, Jessica, and Sam alone. Michael and Sara had been the last to arrive but already Sara could tell Jessica's mind wasn't quite focused on the evening, which was understandable since her parents were due to arrive the following week. There was a lot riding on this visit.

Sara had just come back from the bathroom when Sam turned to her. "Do you mind if I ask you something?"

"Of course not."

"Don't take this the wrong way but…did you know Veronica?"

Sara didn't answer right away and began wringing her hands. "Maybe you should be asking Lincoln about Veronica."

Sam sighed. "I know. It's just…every time I try to bring her up he changes the subject. I know he loved her and she was killed but that's all he'll tell me."

Closing her eyes, Sara considered how to answer. How would she feel if she were in Sam's shoes? Then she had her answer. She'd want to know. Looking Sam in the eye, "I met Veronica but I really didn't know her. I do know Lincoln loved her very much and they'd known each other almost their entire lives. She tried to help Michael and Lincoln but the people who framed Lincoln killed her." Sara paused. She'd decided not to share the details of Veronica's death. That she would leave for Lincoln. "It was very hard for him after she died."

Sam just sat there for a minute and then, "Thank you."

Sara didn't get a chance to say anymore because the door was opening to loud male laughter as the boys returned.

~

Later that night Lincoln dropped Sam off at her house and bent to kiss her goodnight. As his lips touched hers, she responded to him but not with her usual zeal. "You ok?" he asked.

Driving home, Sam had been debating whether or not to tell Lincoln about her conversation with Sara. She felt a little guilty about her questions regarding Veronica but had felt she really didn't have a choice since Lincoln just didn't seem to want to tell her anything. "I'm fine. It's just…" She wasn't sure how he would react but… "I talked to Sara tonight. While you went to get the pizza."

A small smile tugged at his lips. "Yeah? What about?"

Closing her eyes she took a calming breath. "Veronica." When she opened her eyes again, she saw the smile had disappeared. She waited but he didn't respond so she continued. "I wanted to know a little more about her and so I asked." After another moment, "Are you upset?"

Lincoln wasn't really sure what he felt. On one level he WAS upset but there was so much more than that. His emotions were all over the place but as always anger tended to be his first reaction to every thing. Trying to keep his temper under control he abruptly turned to leave. When she reached out to him, he shrugged her off. "I gotta go." He said gruffly.

She watched him quickly make his way to his car, get in and drive off. Unlocking her door, Sam stepped inside and sank to her knees. What had she done?