Engaged chapter 3
Michael walked into his room, dropping his bags onto the floor and sat on a stool. It had a tiny kitchen off to the right, a bathroom to the left. Straight ahead, around a tiny corner was the entrance to the bedroom. Just 24 more hours, he thought, before he would see Sara. Closing his eyes he remembered the last time he saw her, 1 year ago...
*****FLASHBACK*****
It was freezing cold outside, as Michael waited outside of Sara’s apartment building. He had been waiting there for 3 hours for her to come home from work. After learning about Sara’s overdose, he hid his brother in a safe place, and went to the hospital, hoping to find out that she was okay. He knew it was risky, but he also knew that hospitals were busy and chances were, he wouldn’t be noticed. Making sure he was well hidden with clothes, he had walked into the hospital, right up to the front desk.
“Yes, can I help you?” One of the nurses asked him.
“I’m here to see Sara Tancredi,” Michael said, holding his breath.
“I’m sorry, Sara Tancredi’s only allowed to have immediate family visit her at the moment,” She said an apologetic smile on her face.
“Alright thanks,” He said
Now what? He thought, how am I supposed to know what room she’s in? Michael sat down in one of the chairs lined up in front of the front desk. Letting out a breath he debated whether he should just check all the private rooms or if she was in a far worse condition, he thought, check the ICU.
“Hey!!” He heard the nurse greet someone, “Where have you been, I was looking for you.”
“I was on the fourth floor,” The other nurse replied. “Actually,” the nurse lowered her voice a bit,” I was just checking on Sara Tancredi.”
Michael’s head shot up as he heard Sara’s name. Fourth floor. That’s where he had to go. After checking several rooms he found himself in front of her room. He checked to make sure no one was coming and slipped inside, closing the door behind him. When he turned around he gasped. Sara looked so pale that she looked like a ghost. When he walked closer to her, he noted how small she looked in the big bed, wires attached in her arm.
She was breathing on her own. He let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. He did this to her, he put her here. Michael turned away, facing the window; he couldn’t bring himself to look at her, knowing this was his fault. He pressed his forehead against the window, this couldn’t be happening. Hearing a sigh, he turned around. She was awake. She looked around the room looking disappointed that she was still here. Her eyes landed on him, widening as she stared.
“Sara…” Michael whispered. He opened his mouth to say more, but she cut him off.
“What are you doing here?” Her voice was hoarse and dry, she started coughing. Michael quickly poured her some water that was on the bedside table and gave it to her. She greedily swallowed it, the doctor in her telling her to drink slowly.
“Sara I heard what happened; I needed to come see you.” He continued.
“Are you trying to get caught?” She demanded. Michael stared at her for a minute. She sounded so angry. He expected it, but it still hurt.
“I don’t expect you to forgive me, but I need you to understand… I never meant to involve you in this, this was about Lincoln.” Michael said, his eyes burning into hers, “Lincoln’s innocent…I couldn’t let them kill him.” He continued.
“Look, do you want me to say I understand? Fine I understand, you wanted to save Lincoln, I get it,” Sara exclaimed. Sara sighed, letting her head fall back onto her pillow with a thump.
“Please, just go, just leave me alone,” She whispered, her eyes shut tightly.
Michael sighed. He came and did what he came here to do. He desperately wanted to say something more but nothing came to mind. He turned to go out the door, but stopped. Looking back at Sara, her eyes still closed, he silently trotted over to her side. “I’m sorry.” Michael whispered to her, making her jump slightly. Leaning over her, he pressed his lips against her soft cheek. He pulled away and was out the door before she could slap him away.
****end flashback**
Shaking his head at the memory, he remembered what happened 3 weeks after that, he was again, waiting to see her.
*****flashback****
He knew she would ask him, no maybe more like scream at him to leave, threaten to call the cops on him. Michael let out a shaky breath. He didn’t know why he even came back, she told him to leave her alone. No, He didn’t want to back down so easily.
Just then a car pulled up, and three giggling girls tumbled out. One of them, the gorgeous redhead he had been waiting for, for three hours. He watched as the obviously drunk girls supported each other as they ‘walked’ to the door of Sara’s apartment building, if you could say walked, as it looked more like they just hopped off a tilt-a-whirl. Michael waited 10 minutes, before he walked into the building. He stopped in front of the elevator. The doors opened revealing the two drunken girls Sara came home with. As he walked into the elevator, blondie winked at him, the brunette smiled flirtatiously, “Hey good lookin,” She said, walking away without waiting for an answer. He shook his head, smiling slightly as he pressed floor 4. When he got out of the elevator, he walked to door 29. He was nervous. It didn’t help that she was drunk, when she sees him she’ll probably want to yell at him, maybe be a little violent. Crouching down, he quickly picked her lock, and stepped inside. It was dark, but as he walked further in he saw some light peeking out from under a closed door and a door, slightly ajar.
He let out a breath before he continued to the door, turning the knob slowly; he pushed opened the door and stepped inside. Her bedside lamp was on, lightly illuminating the room. It was royal purple, a desk and computer in the left corner, a big four poster bed against the wall.
Liar, he mused, as he remembered the day Sara said she was a packrat, her room looked so clean, that it looked as if she had a live in maid.
He could hear her in the bathroom, back in the hallway; he went by the window, waiting for her to come. Five minutes later, he heard the bathroom door open. He wiped his hands nervously on his pants. She was coming. When her bedroom door opened, he didn’t know if he would freeze in fear or at the beautiful sight that was standing there.
“Sara…” He whispered, not being able to bring his volume up a notch.
Sara hadn’t seen him as she was looking down, smoothing down her dark green tank top. Startled by his voice, she flattened herself against the wall, her hand over her heart as she let out a scream.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” Michael said lamely.
“Michael?” Sara asked, sounding half happy it was him, but the expression on her face showed that she was frustrated and a little bit scared that it was him. “Michael what are you doing here, you should be half way around the country by now!” She said her voice a little shaky. “And how did you get in, did you break in?” She continued.
“Sara, I needed to explain to you how sorry I am, and I couldn’t leave without seeing you one last time, oh and yeah, I did break in, sorry.” He answered her. He stared at her hard, desperately trying to read her, what she was thinking. He could tell she was getting uncomfortable under his gaze, but he couldn’t tear his eyes away from her.
“Look, go now and I won’t call the cops,” Sara said trying to scare him into leaving, but deep down, she knew she never do that, and apparently he knew too, as he didn’t flinch or show any signs that he would leave. Michael started walking towards her slowly.
“Michael…” Sara warned. She noticed she wasn’t against the wall anymore. I probably walked a few steps forward when I was firing questions at him, she thought. As Michael continued towards her, she started moving backwards, towards the wall again. He doesn’t seem to get a hint, she thought, as she hit the wall. Michael stopped about half an arms length from her. Goosebumps were spreading rapidly over her body, surprising her, she wasn’t even cold. Michael took notice of this smirking to himself. Both their breathing quickened, as he took another step closer. He was looking at her lips, as she was finding herself doing the same to his.
How is this happening, I’m supposed to be furious with him, she thought.
God, she’s beautiful, Michael thought.
He licked his lips in anticipation of pressing them against hers. He remembered the last time he passionately kissed her in the infirmary. He pressed his hands on either side of her against the wall, trapping her. She looked up into his eyes, finding desire in them. Their faces were inches apart now.
“God Sara, I want you so much” He whispered against her lips. Sara found her eyes closing slowly as his lips touched hers. It started slow, soft, but Michael pressed harder and faster with every kiss. Sara found herself kissing him back. Her body was on fire as she felt his hands slide down her side and grip her waist possessively. Sara opened her mouth, thrusting her tongue into his mouth, running it around the sides of his mouth, his tongue rubbing against hers. Michael slipped his hands up her shirt, desperate to feel her soft warm skin against his hands. Sara let out a low moan, as his hands cupped her breasts. Sara let her hands slide down his chest and over his abs. She stopped at the hem of his shirt, hesitating a second before she pulled it off. Michael slipped his hands inside the waist line of her pajama pants, cupping her behind. He could feel her moan as his lips went to her neck. Too much clothes, she thought, reaching out and tugging on Michael’s belt, yanking hard. Everything was happening so fast, but Sara realized how much she wanted it to happen. Time seemed to stand still around them. This was meant to happen, Sara thought. She felt a little dizzy suddenly returning to intimacy fast, as she felt Michael pull down her pants.
When she pulled down his jeans, he picked her up in his arms, her legs wrapped tightly around his hips. They fell back against her bed. He sat up, Sara straddling him, their lips colliding. The room seemed to heat up, their bodies on fire. Michael swiftly removed her tank top, throwing it aside, rolling on top of her. Michael broke apart and stared down at her. “If you tell me to stop, I’ll stop.” He whispered. Stop? Why would she want him to stop, they were just getting started, she thought, as she pulled his face towards her for another searing kiss. Breaking apart once more, he took her face in his hands and kissed her cheeks, her nose, her eyes, his steely eyes never leaving hers. Sara couldn’t remember anyone ever kissing her eyes before. He kissed the hollow of her throat, then lower, until he came to her breasts. He let his tongue slide gently over her nipples. He slid his hands down to her hips, sliding her panties down her legs. He pulled down his boxers and looked at Sara. Her breast were rapidly rising and falling with every breath God he wanted her so much. Sara ran her hands down his hard back, his shoulders, and his hips. She could feel his erection pushing against his thigh. He was Aroused, very hard. Sara loved that he wanted her, she wanted him too. A fire rekindled inside of her, spreading quickly. Michael entered her and began to rock slowly, then much faster, much more, pulling her thighs higher over his hips. He thrust into her, his lips all over her, her hands exploring him. Their last thought was how right this felt, how good.
***** END OF FLASHBACK*****
Michael got up from the stool, and went to the bedroom. He crawled into bed, his eyes barely able to stay open. He thought of how he left her, still sleeping soundly, her warm, naked body pressed firmly against his. He had to leave, get Lincoln out of the country, but that meant leaving Sara. He had laid an origami rose next to her, whispered his love, turning back when she whispered her love back in her sleep, breaking his heart as he left her apartment. His eyes closed as he thought of tomorrow, seeing Sara for the first time in a year.
*******
The next morning, Michael woke up and rushed through the day, getting ready for the Governor’s party. He made an exact replica of the invitation, having seen it in the newspaper of the Governor personally delivering it to a close friend. After that was done, he went out to rent a tux. He had to look perfect, important, and rich, so no one would be suspicious. He rushed back to his hotel room, realizing the party started in 4 hours. His stomach grumbled, as he forgot to eat something all day. Shoving something into his mouth, he got ready, putting on his black tux. He sat down on the edge of the bed, letting his body slow down and relax.
What if he couldn’t get in? What if Sara decided not to show? What if-
It will work, everything is going to be fine, he told himself.
Michael turned around, leaving a quick message to Lincoln, turned on his alarm clock, and laid down on the bed. Just an hour or two, he thought, his eyes closing.
*******
Michael was standing across the room of the doors of the casino. He wiped the palms of his hands against his pants. Pulling out the fake invitation, he watched as an old couple walk up to the doors, watching closely at how the doormen checked the invitation. He smirked, this is going to be a piece of cake, he scoffed. They barely glanced at the card, before nodding them in. Taking a deep breath he walked towards the doors.
“Your invitation, Sir?” One of the doormen said. Michael flipped his invitation in front of his face.
“Very well, Sir” He said, barely glancing at his card.
Michael walked into the casino, sighing with relief. That was easy, he thought.
********
Michael had been strolling around for a good half an hour, and still couldn’t find her. He was starting to worry that she didn’t come.
“Hi.” A pretty blond said hopefully, as she walked by him.
This was the 5th girl who tried getting his attention. But he had his mind set on only one girl and that was Sara. Smiling politely, he walked away, not seeing the look of disappointment on her face. “Maybe I should just give up,” Michael whispered under his breath. Before he could even turn around, he saw a flash of read in the corner of his eye.