Wait For Me (3/3)
Wait For Me (3/3)
Fandom: Prison Break
Genre: AU/ Angst
Pairing: Michael/ Sara
Rating: PG
Length: 4,160
Summary: Michael returns to face the family he left behind.
Sitting alone in the sparse mountain cabin, Michael methodically lays out the photos in chronological order. He starts with a picture of Sara taken shortly after they had arrived in Mexico.
He then adds to it a photo of Sara looking extremely pregnant, standing alone outside of a medical center in Panama. Her face looks drawn and exhausted, and despite her round stomach, her body seems much thinner than he remembers.
Next he places down a photo of Sara sitting with Lincoln and Sophia on a nondescript stretch of beach. Lincoln is cradling a small child wrapped in a light blue blanket. This picture is how Michael found out he has a son.
The fourth photograph is of Sara carrying a plump toddler in her arms. She is smiling, although the expression doesn't quite reach her eyes.
The last picture he has of his family was taken over a year ago. In it, Sara is about to board a small fishing boat. Michael's son- Michal Jr. according to the people watching over his family- is already on board and wearing the smallest life jacket Michael has ever seen. Lincoln is kneeling next to him and pointing at something far off in the distance, an image that wasn't captured in the photograph.
These pictures are all Michael has of his family. These 5 photographs represent four years of grief and joy and hard work and sacrafice. And he is lucky to have them. Each time he was ready to give up, to run screaming from this secluded cabin in the middle of the New Hampshire wilderness, Paul Kellerman would somehow arrange for a picture to be sent to him, along with a brief update of how his family was doing. The note would always conclude with a similar sentiment- "They are alive because of your sacrafice".
And Michael would fight on, because each picture would renew his strength and deepen his will to do anything to keep his loved ones safe.
And now he is laying these pictures out, one after another, on this worn oak desk for the very last time.
General Krantz was executed in the electric chair by the state of Florida ten days ago. His money, what was left of it, was going to pay his legal bills and other assorted debts. He died owing more than he had in assets, and all others associated with the Company had moved on long ago. Michael Scofield was no longer a wanted man and it was finally- finally- time to go home.
Placing his photographs into a small duffle bag, along with one change of clothes and a plane ticket to Panama, Michael looks around the cabin one last time. He hears the car pull up out front and goes outside to greet the driver.
The man sent to deliver him to the airport is someone Michael had met a few times over the previous years. "Are you ready to reclaim your life Michael?" he asks.
Without hesitation Michael replys. "I've been ready for the last four years. It's time to go home".
*****Panama*****
Removing a few folded bills from his pocket, Michael hands his cab fare over to the driver. "Thank you" he says quietly to the man before exiting the vehicle. Looking around, he can see why Lincoln would like it here. The small beach shacks have character. What they are missing in square footage they make up for with charm. From where he is standing Michael can hear waves lapping at the sand and the smell of the ocean is all around him. He breathes in deeply and pauses to gather his thoughts.
When Paul had called him two days ago to say that he was finally free to rejoin his family- to restart his life, really- he had been forced to decide how he would let Sara and Lincoln know he was alive. This was a subject he had spent many, many hours thinking about. How can he cause the least shock, the least amount of stress for them? Then he would remember how it felt to finally see Sara after all of the time he believed she was gone. How it felt to hold her in his arms. And he would realize that it didn't matter how he told them. They just needed to know he was alive.
Michael didn't pretend to think that Sara wouldn't be angry. In fact, he was sure that she would. Lincoln would be angry as well, but somehow he thought Lincoln might forgive faster or understand more. Or maybe it was just that he realizes that Sara has had so many more nights with their son, without him, than she ever had with him in her life.
There were many times over the years that Michael had even expected to hear she had moved on, met someone else, perhaps even married again. And if that had happened, it would be no less than he deserved.
It hadn't happened. And now Michael has been given the chance to start something new with Sara, and Lincoln, and his son. And he realized two days ago that he has to be the one to start that life. Paul had offered to talk to Sara and Lincoln and explain where Michael was, but Michael refused. He didn't want his family to receive this information from anyone but him.
He had considered calling Lincoln, and asking him to talk to Sara, but again, that wasn't the way to start a new life.
Ultimately, he decided that the only way to reenter the lives of those he loved was the same way he had left those that he loved. He will show up and be present for every future moment that they allow him to share. And he will take every bit of anger and resentment they feel toward him because at least he will be with them, and that is all that matters anymore.
Running a hand through his hair, Michael takes notice of the address of the shack in front of him. There are many houses, crowded together on this street, and all he has to find Lincoln's home is a memorized number. Michael had been told that Sara was staying with Lincoln this week to celebrate Michael's birthday- an occassion which he hadn't given any thought to- and he hoped to find them together when he arrived.
Gripping his duffel bag tightly, Michael makes his way past the weathered, blue shack that seperates him from the endless expanse of beach. His heavy boots dragging in the thick beach sand, Michael starts checking the numbers of each unit he passes. He barely notices the water to his right, or the hot sun above. Each step he takes brings him that much closer to reclaiming the life he's lost.
As Michael continues carefully checking each address against his memory, he grows aware of a small cluster of people gathered further up the beach. Shielding his eyes, he takes in the scene ahead of him. When he sees the sun playing off a glint of auburn hair, he sucks his breath in sharply. Oh god, he's finally home.
It's all he can do to not run the rest of the way toward the group, toward her. Drawing closer, he sees Sara, Lincoln, Sophia, Sucre, and even Alex Mahone. And he sees his son. Not in a family photograph but in person, and looking so much older and different from the last image Michael has of him.
Any nervousness Michael earlier felt has faded away. He knows with every bit of his being that he will deal with the fallout of his decision and his return. He just needs to be with them again.
Slowing his walk so as to give everyone time to recognize him, he hears his son's voice for the first time. And fittingly, the first word Michael hears is "daddy".
Lincoln has turned to pick the child up, but the child is looking beyond Lincoln, directly at Michael. "Daddy" he repeats, pointing one small arm in Michael's direction.
In what feels like slow motion, his family and friends turn to follow MJ's gaze. He feels Sara's eyes on him, and he wills her to understand. Please, I will take her anger, but please just let her understand.
"Michael?" Lincoln's voice rings out with shock. Michael registers the astounded expression Lincoln is wearing, but his eyes are drawn to Sara. Her eyes wide with disbelief, one slender hand is covering her mouth.
Michael comes to a stop now only ten feet from where Sara stands. "It's me" he says softly, willing Sara to believe. Sara's eyes fill with tears, and for a long moment she does nothing but stare at him. "It's me" he whispers, scarcely daring to breathe.
And suddenly Sara propels herself foward, quickly closing the gap between them and launching herself into his arms. As her arms close around his neck and her head tucks under his chin, Michael feels as though his heart is going to beat right out of his chest.
"Michael" Sara cries, her choking sob telling him all he needs to know about how much he has been missed.
The next person to reach him is Sucre, wearing a huge smile and letting a steady stream of spanish words fly from his mouth. Michael feels Sucre slap him on the back and feels his own smile start to spread across his face. He has waited so long for this moment, but never could have imagined it would feel like this.
As Sara pulls away, Michael is briefly able to glimpse her tear stained face before he is tackled by his older brother. Lincoln and Michael haven't hugged many times in their lives, and never has Lincoln hugged him like this.
Pulling away, Lincoln finally asks the question that they all want answered. "Where the hell have you been?"
Before he can answer, Sophia steps foward from where she had been standing with Lincoln. She had taken Michael Jr. from Lincoln's arms, and she now carries him foward toward to where Sara and Michael are standing. Michael watches in wonder as this child that looks so much like him, reaches his arms out toward Sara.
Sara takes the child and cradles him against her chest. She lets out a long breath and then smiles reassuringly at Michael Jr. Turning to Michael she says "Michael, I'd like you to meet your son".
Michael stares into the blue green eyes that so mirror his own. He is at a loss for words, but soon feels a lump forming in his throat. He swallows once, twice. His eyes pool with tears as he gazes at the wonder before him. His son.
"Daddy came home from heaven?" MJ asks, clearly confused by Michael's sudden appearance.
"No baby, daddy wasn't in heaven after all." Sara hesitates, unsure of how to explain the unexplainable. "He's here now though. And I bet he'd love to hold you MJ. What do you think of that?" she finally responds, trying as best she can to convey to a three year old something that she can't yet understand.
Reaching his arms out, MJ invites Michael to hold him. Still not able to believe this is truly happening, Michael pulls his son into his arms.
The child's soft skin smells of suntan lotion and salt. His hair smells of coconut scented shampoo. Michael's arms tighten protectively around him as he realizes, for the first time, what it is like to hold his heart in his hands. This child, a combination if him and Sara and a physical representation of the love that they share, is the most beautiful, perfect thing Michael has ever seen.
"What's wrong daddy?" MJ asks, reaching a hand up to touch Michael's face. With surprise, Michael realizes that tears are falling from his eyes. Cradeling the child's head, he says "nothing. Nothing at all."
"Where were you?" MJ asks, with all the innocense that a three year old contains.
Clearing his throat, Michael realizes that they would all like to have that question answered.
Sophia steps toward Sara and says "if you'd like, I can bring MJ into the house for a nap."
Sara looks at the other woman gratefully, and nods her head. Not wanting to let MJ go, but realizing that the small child shouldn't be around for the conversation they all need to have, Michael allows Sophia to take his son.
As the child is carried up the stairs and in through the glass doors that lead to Lincoln's home, Michael turns back to the group, ready to share his story.
Reaching out to grip Sara's hands, Michael takes a deep breath. How can he possibly explain this in a way that they will understand?
"Four years ago, as I was walking on the beach in Mexico, I was approached by Paul Kellerman." Michael says this for everyone to hear, but as he delivers the words, he stares into Sara's eyes and gently squeezes her hands.
"I was told that General Krantz had put a one million dollar bounty on my head, and that plans were already underway to procure my death. I was assured that all of you were safe, but that your safety could only be guarenteed if you were kept far from me."
Michael glances at his brother, to see if he is starting to understand. Lincoln's expression gives nothing away.
"Paul and his associates brought me to a cabin secluded in the New Hampshire wilderness. He was able to convince the world of my death, and I waited there for General Krantz to be executed". Michael's last words come out in a rush. "The General was executed ten days ago and as soon as I was certain my return would not put you in danger, I-" Michael hesitates, choosing his words carefully. "I came home."
As he delivers the last of his words, he feels Sara's hands slip from his. She is staring at him with the same disbelieving eyes, but Michael senses that her emotions have started to shift. "Sara I-"
"You left? It was your choice?"
"No. I would never choose to leave you. I did this to protect you. To keep you safe." Michael wills her to understand. He needs for all of them to understand the situation he was in.
Lincoln's voice draws his attention, and there is no mistaking the angry tone it carries. "You couldn't tell us? Tell Sara? Jesus Michael, we all thought you were dead."
Michael hangs his head, knowing he deserves every bit of anger being directed at him. "I realize that".
"For four years Michael! You were off in some cabin in the woods while we were burying you? While we left flowers at your grave? While Sara was raising your son?"
Michael says nothing for a moment. He hesitates long enough for Alex Mahone to clear his throat. Michael had forgotten Alex was there, but is interested in hearing what he has to say.
"If Michael left his family- left his son- he did so because he believed it was the only way to keep you all safe. And that is to be admired." Mahones voice is calm, but Michael feels the respect in his words.
Lincoln is looking away from him, refusing to make eye contact, but Michael knows that this is a sign that Lincoln's anger is beginning to fade. He turns back to Sara and sees her backing away, ever so slightly.
"Sara, please know that-"
"I can't do this right now Michael. I just... I can't." Sara's voice catches and her eyes well up with tears once again. She turns and follows the path that Sophia and MJ just took, away from the beach and into Lincoln's house.
"Let her go man." Lincoln speaks,a hint of resignation to his voice.
Michael feels his stomach clench. He knew she would likely hate him for what he did. He thought he was prepared for her reaction, and he was wrong. He will never be able to accept her anger being directed toward him. He loves her too much to give up on them.
Sighing, Lincoln steps foward and puts his hand on Michael's shoulder. "Michael-" he hesitates for a moment. "It's good to have you back."
Michael knows this is the forgiveness he seeks from his brother, and he smiles in spite of himself. "You have no idea how good it is to be back." The two men look at each other and a shared understanding passes between them. A lot has happened over the last four years, but from this moment foward, their family is once again whole.
>div style="text-align: center">
*************************
Sara has no idea how long she has been sitting in the small guest bedroom of Lincoln's home. She knows it was long enough for MJ to wake up from his nap in LJ's room next door, and she heard Sophia go in to get him. She started to go to him, to take him from Sophia, but the other woman shooed her away.
"I've got him Sara. I'll get him some dinner and give him a bath, and we can play until it's time for bed. You just take care of yourself."
Sara is grateful to her, and also for the accepting nature of three year olds. It hasn't seemed to phase MJ in the least that his father has walked back into their lives after years of being told his father was dead. Sara, on the other hand, has found the situation so much more difficult to accept.
Walking out to the small kitchen for a glass of water, Sara stands by the sink staring out the window toward the beach below. Even in the twilight that has started to descend on the beach, Sara can see that Michael has changed his clothes. He is now wearing a t-shirt she recognizes as Lincoln's, and cargo shorts which are slightly too large, and she assumes those are Lincoln's as well. He is barefoot and as beautiful as ever. Gazing at him now, he looks like he fits in perfectly with the other men sitting on the beach. He looks as if he'd never left. She studies him from a distance, watching him laugh at something Sucre has said as he tosses a football around with his friend, and marvels once again at how quickly life can change.
Absentmindedly, Sara begins washing and rinsing the few dishes and cups that sit dirty in Lincoln's sink. She hears the door close behind her, and then hears Lincoln's voice. "Are you serious?"
Sara turns around to find Lincoln gaping at her. "Are you really doing dishes right now?"
Shutting off the water, Sara sighs. "Just keeping busy I suppose." Drying her hands on a folded dishtowel, she formulates her next words.
"You've forgiven him." It isn't a question.
"Mahone's right. Michael wouldn't leave if he didn't have to. There's nothing to forgive."
Sara pauses, knowing in her heart that Lincoln is right. She still isn't sure she can ever move past this.
"What do you want me to say Lincoln? That because Michael did this to save our lives, it makes it all okay? Your brother has proven to me many times that he can protect my life. He has yet to prove that he can protect my heart." Sara's pulse is racing, and her face feels flushed. She realizes that she finally verbalized what was truly bothering her, what was keeping her from telling Michael that everything would be okay now that he has returned.
Lincoln looks at her in understanding and for a long moment he says nothing. In the silence they hear Sophia humming a soft lullabye from the bathroom, and then hear splashing before Michael Jr. squeals in delight.
Looking at the bathroom door, Lincoln finally says "Sara, if Michael's walking away from all of us to keep your son safe doesn't prove to you that Michael will protect your heart, than nothing ever will."
In that moment, Sara realizes that everything Lincoln has just said is true. Whatever Michael did, whatever he had to do, had protected her. It had protected MJ. His sacrafice had allowed Sara to birth and raise and love their child. MJ was happy. He was safe. And he was the most important person in the world to her. Michael had made sure that they were protected and suddenly Sara couldn't thank him enough for that.
Rushing past Lincoln, Sara runs down the stairs that lead to the beach, and follows a direct path to where Michael is standing. His back is to her, and he is running one lean hand through his hair. Without warning, Sara throws herself into his arms and Michael stumbles backwards a step before seeming to regain his composure and holding her upright. His arms come around her back, and he clutches her tightly against him.
Sobbing, Sara tries to tell him how she's feeling, but can't seem to formulate the words. "Oh Michael..."
"I know. It's okay Sara. I know."
Stepping back, he tilts Sara's face up toward his. Her tearstained cheeks are pink and her eyes are rimmed red from crying, and still she is the most beautiful woman Michael has ever seen. Cupping her face in his hands, he tells her what he's been wanting to say every day for the last four years.
"I've missed you."
Sara lets out a half sob as a smile comes to her face.
"Sara, I have missed you every second of every day for the last four years. And I am so, so proud of you, of how strong you have been." Michael pauses, to allow his words to sink in. "I love you Sara."
Wrapping her arms around his neck, Sara stretches up to reach Michael's lips. He kisses her slowly, gently, and she never wants it to end. When they do eventually part, Sara rests her head against his his, feeling their breath fall into a natural rhythm. She finally looks up, into the eyes she knows so well, both because of Michael and because of their son, and she tells Michael what he has been waiting four long years to hear.
"I love you." And with those words, Michael knows that every bit of sacrafice has been worth it.
*****3 days later*****
"I want to sit on daddy's lap."
"Ohhhh" Sara chuckles. "Sure, mommy is good enough for awhile, but now that daddy is here forget it."
MJ climbs over Sara into Michael's waiting arms. Sara takes in the scene with rapture. Michael's arms have grown dark and tan after spending just over three days in the hot, Panamanian sun. His long legs are stretched out in front of him on the boat, crossed at the ankles. He looks more relaxed than she ever remembers seeing him.
Lincoln sits at the helm of the small fishing vessel, and LJ, who flew in from the States yesterday after hearing about his uncles return, sits next to him. Everything Michael wants in life is on this boat, and Sara thinks that is why Michael appears so happy.
"So, Chicago huh?" Michael interrupts her thoughts with a mischievous look in his eyes. He and Sara have yet to discuss where she is currently living, or when they expect to return.
Sara smiles. "Well, some of us had plenty of time to enjoy the sun and sand and surf." Growing serious, she reaches for Michael's hand. "Honestly Michael, I am willing to live anywhere you want to. If you need time here, with Lincoln, we can work it out."
Michael nods in appreciation of her offer, and then squeezes her hand. "My home is wherever you and MJ are. I know we'll have plenty of time to visit Lincoln. And I'm looking foward to seeing the life you have built with our son."
Sara smiles again. "Really?" she asks in a playful tone. "Because I know they are looking for a new room parent at MJ's preschool." She looks at him hopefully.
Michael laughs out loud. "Oh, I see. You figure that since I don't have a lot going on, I should take care of all of the domestic duties."
Sara giggles. "Well, you do have almost four years worth of parent volunteering to make up for. I figure I'm due for a break."
Michael removes his hand from Sara's, and then wraps his arm around her. Closing his eyes, he sits for a moment enjoying the feel of having his son on his lap and his wife in his arms. Opening his eyes, he finds Sara gazing up at him.
"Four years worth, huh?" he responds, thinking that he will spend the remainder of his life trying to make up for the time that they lost.
"In all seriousness Sara, I have to say that there is nothing I want more."