Fighting Back
Title: Fighting Back
Author: pemphredouk
Pairing/Characters: Michael, Sara, Lincoln, LJ,OC, Alex, Sofia Gretchen and Whistler
Rating: Probably NC-17 after the first few chapters
Summary: Michael and Sara discover things, good and bad about themselves as they finally start fighting back. All locations mentioned in the story actually exist and can be found on the google map I've made to accompany this fic. It can be found Google Map of Road Trip here.
Chapter 10: Ascension, Mexico
Somewhere a large truck thundered down the road, a low rumble reverberating through the ground and causing the thin walls of the lodge to shake almost imperceptibly.
Her eyes fluttered open, her eyelashes brushing softly against the sheet, the sheet….? She opened them wide now, fighting against the reflex to keep them lidded in the bright almost harsh light of the morning. She raised her head off the pillow, whilst at the same time, somewhere within the sleepy synapses of her brain she added the pillow to her list of confusing presences, and peered around her.
She was in a bed, and for a moment she relaxed back onto the softness of it as her mind tried to make sense of her surroundings.
Michael
And she flipped over, breathing a sigh of relief as she found him curled up beside her, his face relaxed and at peace. His long lashes were resting against his cheek and there was a slight pout on his lips and Sara only just resisted the urge to touch them. They looked a little dry, several tiny cracks running down them and she restricted herself to just gazing at the amazing pinkness of them. Her eyes moved to the small vertical scar above his lip, probably the result of a very early repair of a hare lip, possibly even at birth as the Doctor in her took over. She had stared at this one minor imperfection so many times in the infirmary, fascinated at how an apparent flaw could only add to the beauty of his face. She often focused in on it, in an attempt to avoid the eyes, the eyes were lethal, far too dangerous, they would have sucked her in, devoured her, and she had to maintain the façade of him being just another patient, another con.
A dull cramp in her stomach drew back her thoughts to the more pragmatic. She needed a shower, to wash her hair, to take care of the practicalities of a certain time of the month and she lifted the sheet suddenly curious as to what she was wearing, They were a pair of pale blue hipsters, and she smiled as she remember Jen kindly handing over a pack of three unopened panties the previous night. She lingered at the view under the sheet a moment longer, as her eyes wandered to Michael. He was completely naked, his long legs curled up towards her, the strange sectioning of his body under the ink, drawing her eye to the blue green swirls across his chest. She dropped the sheet and let her head fall back onto the pillow enjoying the simple pleasures of its softness yielding beneath her.
Reluctantly she climbed out of bed, the movement causing Michael to stir slightly before he turned over in his sleep, his large hands gripping the pillow beneath him, an enigmatic smile now on his lips.
She reached for her t- shirt sniffing it with undisguised revulsion. She had known it was pretty disgusting but it somehow seemed bearable whilst she had kept it on, now, the thought of having to put it back on was abhorrent to her. Her head turned to the chair, where a clean t-shirt lay folded over the arm. Another gift from Jen but one that would have to wait until she’d showered, so she reluctantly raised her arms and slipped the dirty one on. She would change straight after her shower. A task that would be complicated by the cast that needed to be kept dry for at least another few weeks. She lifted her left arm to study the new part of the map, noticing for the first time some little symbols, were they flowers, roses that had been added in several places? They were too small but seemed to be marking the places where they had stopped.
She shrugged and padded round the bed and stopping only when she saw the note that had been pushed under their door. She realised how exhausted they must have been the previous night, they were both light sleepers yet neither of them had heard anyone at their door. She shivered at what that could have meant if the visitor had come for trouble and looked over to the bed and the prone body of a sleeping Michael.
She had no idea what time it was, although the brightness of the light and the heat that was already beginning to seep through into the room suggested it was no longer early morning. She could remember some of last night, just, making it to the bedroom and collapsing onto the bed after barely managing to struggle out of her clothes. The half ripped packet of panties was still on the floor by her side. She hadn’t even heard Michael join her, and her face broke into a rueful smile as she realised their first time sharing a bed like a normal couple, had been so unmemorable. She shook her head and reached down to pick up the note.
Dear Ted and Amy
We came by earlier but you were both obviously dead to the world and Jen said I had to let you sleep. We’re leaving, we’re kinda morning people and I need to get back to the States so sorry we didn’t hang around to say goodbye.
I’ve cleaned out the sand and re-chained your bike to the railings outside the lodge- its working fine and should get you where you’re going. We left a few things we can manage without at the desk, just ask the woman. You can return them to us one day and then it’s your turn to buy the burritos.
If you’re ever in southern New Mexico, try the Hotel Baja, they welcome travellers…..
Good luck and stay out of the water that’s a motorbike you have there not a jet ski….
Bob & Jen
Easyrider@Encro.com
Sara read the note and smiled at the knowledge that somehow they had managed to meet two really good people in the middle of all this mess.
She walked around to Michael’s side of the bed, the tiled floor still cool under her feet, looking for his watch but frowned when it was not on the nightstand. Then she saw it was still on his wrist, another sign of how exhausted he must have been last night and tilted her head in an attempt to read it upside down. He moved his hand again slipping his wrist further under the pillow and obscuring the watch from her view and she sighed. She didn’t really want to wake him but she needed to know what time it was, they had no idea how long they had left in the room and the thought of having to leave before she’d showered, actually before they’d both showered was just too terrible to contemplate.
She moved closer and started to push the corner of the pillow slowly out of the way, finally revealing his watch again. It was eleven am and she gasped, they’d slept for over twelve solid hours. She let the pillow slip back but realised she had not been very careful since a pair of deep aqua eyes were now staring up at her blinking slowly against the light.
“I think I’m in heaven…” he croaked out in his morning voice.
“Oh and why is that?” she asked playfully.
“I’m floating on a cloud surrounded by whiteness and softness.” He continued dreamily and he patted the bed gently,
“…and you are obviously my designated angel.” He added realising for the first time that from his vantage point on the bed, her long elegant legs completely filled his vision.
“Your angel?” she smirked as she became aware of where he was staring and her state of undress “What… you mean you get allocated one? Like some kind of divine dating agency?”
“Hey it’s my heaven don’t spoil it.” he replied with a wicked glint now in his eyes totally at odds with his earlier sentiments and he reached out to take her hand, squeezing her fingers between his. He caught the time on his watch as he did and sat up in bed
“Eleven am it can’t already be eleven!” He cried out and swept back the sheet to climb out of bed.
“Michael…They’ve already ….ummm…….”
He was standing in the centre of the room, his hands rubbing through the buzz on his head, the stretched arm elongating his body, his naked body, and all Sara could do was stand and stare for a moment her next few words forgotten.
“Sara? Already what?” he questioned, turning his head towards her as he spoke.
“….already gone...” Sara responded as she dragged her gaze away from his body aware that the tingling in her stomach and the rapid acceleration of her heartbeat meant her body had already started to react to the vision in front of her. She held out the note towards him which he read in seconds
“Oh” he responded, the disappointment in his voice audible.
“Michael can you go the desk, find out what time we have to leave and bring back the bag please. I’m dying to see what else they’ve left us.” She asked, purposefully keeping her eyes from him.
“Sure.” he replied and skipped into his jeans buttoning up and refastening the belt, unaware of Sara’s gaze lingering on him,
He picked up his long sleeved blue t-shirt sniffing it distastefully before pulling it over his head and without even bothering to find his boots he unlocked the door and slipped out barefooted.
Sara used the time to check out the shower, turning the water on and nodding appreciatively at the strong flow from the showerhead. There were two hand towels provided, smaller than she had hoped for but better than nothing and she set the small bottle of coconut shampoo Michael had purloined on the side of the washbasin.
She heard the door creak open again and by the time she had returned to the bedroom he was already emptying the contents of the small bag onto the bed. It brought to mind the hotel back in San Jose when he had brought back the supplies from his first shopping trip.
Bob and Jen had obviously realised what they had been missing the most as there was a pair of jeans and long sleeved t-shirt for Michael and wrapped in the jeans a clean pair of boxers. Sara had also been left a pair of jeans, which she was now holding up by the waist, Jen was about her size, so she was hopeful they would fit pretty well. There were a few toiletries including a pack of disposable razors which they both eyed up hungrily and a small envelope which contained just over a hundred dollars. More then enough to get them all the way to Ascension.
But Michael had now found the real prize holding it up with a demented grin on his face.
“I can’t believe he’s given us this.” He whispered, making Sara turn from examining the cotton sweatshirt she’d just found.
“What?” She asked.
“He’s left us the GPS.” he replied almost reverentially.
“Look.” and he passed over the small piece of equipment.
“Ah so no more moaning about the map then hmm?" she joked and he opulled a face in reply.
"I guess he can simply stop and buy another one, he hides his wealth well.” she added and then started to gather up the soap and underwear heading off towards the bathroom.
As she got to the door she turned.
“I’m going to need some help if your work of art here isn’t going to get soggy.” Holding her plaster encased left arm up.
“Ah right.” he said and picking up the razors and boxers he followed her into the bathroom hanging back slightly as he remembered another piece of information.
“By the way, the woman at the desk said the room has been paid for two nights, we can stay another day if you want?” he was just feet away, watching her closely for her answer.
“That was really kind of them but, isn’t it too close to Canderas? Wouldn’t we be better moving on once we’ve had a chance to clean up, and perhaps another sleep?” she responded.
Michael’s shoulders visibly dropped with relief.
“Yes, it is a bit close, I was thinking the same thing but I didn’t want to deprive you of this.” and he turned and swept his arm back across the room. “And that.” As he pointed to the bed.
She chuckled,
“Well, I’m afraid all we can do in that is sleep lover boy, I didn’t ask you to steal me the tampons as an initiative test…” and she disappeared behind the shower room door.
Michael‘s face looked puzzled for a few seconds and then a silent ahh escaped his lips and he followed the noise of the running water.
The shower wasn’t large and it had taken some manoeuvring for them both to fit in and allow Sara’s arm to hang outside the curtain. She realised that she had to keep it raised to stop water running down from her shoulder and after just a few minutes it was already aching. This would have to be a quick shower…..She had stood, her face pointing up into the stream of water as he had lathered his hands and began smoothing them over her body. His long fingers caressing and massaging her skin, slipping easily across her stomach and up to her breasts. His touch was caring rather than arousing and she began to feel the grime of the last few days finally soak away from her. She leant back against the wall of the shower and lifted her foot onto Michaels’ thigh as he worked more soap into her feet. Nearly a week on the bike with just trainers and no socks had left grey marks ingrained into her skin and she watched Michael rub more and more soap in, pushing it between her toes until she could no longer resist the tickles and she pulled it back sharply, a laugh in her throat.
“Tancredi you have the dirtiest feet in Mexico,” he announced, “Give me the other one!” and he proceeded to repeat the process. He then turned his attention to her hair, working the shampoo deep into her scalp, remembering to ease off at the spot behind her hair, carefully avoiding the wound. She stood back under the cascade of water to rinse it, stretching to keep her left arm outside the curtain as Michael swished his fingers through it, helping the water chase all the suds away. Once she was clean he stood back,
“Hmm ok best I can do without bleach, chemical abrasives and scouring pads” he announced, the soap and flannel held tightly in his hand. Sara pulled a face,
“Gee thanks…I’d reciprocate but…”. and she nodded towards her arm which was now going quite numb hanging in the air. .
“Ummm...Its ok.” he said rather seriously “I’m not sure it would be the wisest thing letting you near me at the moment.” and he raised an eyebrow. Sara’s eyes dropped down and she grinned when she saw his semi erection.
Sara laughed, “You poor man,” and she stepped out reaching back as she did and turned the shower setting to cold.
“Sara!” He cried.
“You will regret that!” he growled between whoops and gasps as the cold water hit his skin and slowly reduced his predicament…….
Sara was still laughing softly as she started briskly rubbing herself dry with one of the hand towels and quickly got dressed in another pair of fresh panties and Jen’s clothes. Her skin was tingling from the soap and she sat on the bed feeling totally invigorated brushing through her wet hair with her fingers. Now all she needed was a hairbrush…...
Several hours later after a meal in the café and a shared nap on the bed, Michael once more adopting his favourite position of spooning behind her, his arm lying protectively across her waist, the two set off heading northwards. Michael had fixed the GPS unit to the bike, she wasn’t sure how and it was now running off the power generated by the bike. He’d babbled on about how it also had an internal battery and showed her several different settings with boyish enthusiasm.
“It’s even got the Hotel they mentioned in their note.” and he clicked through a few screens to show her the location of the Hotel Baja seemingly in the middle of the nowhere of southern New Mexico.
They rode for hours, along roads and highways, past pueblos and towns, pulling over only to refuel and buy more food and drink. They choose not to stop as it got dark as they both felt sufficiently rested and with the help of the GPS, its blue screen glowing in the dark they reached Ascension early the next morning. They rode into the centre of town and parked outside another street side café. After wolfing down four breakfast burritos and a jug of fruit juice, they both sat back thinking about the roads behind them and ahead….. They had begun to sense that they were coming to the end of this part of the journey.
Crossing back to the States was more than just a geographical journey, it would mean returning home in so many ways. To a place where they felt most comfortable but also where the dangers, especially for Michael were much greater. They hadn’t discussed Bruce’s death since that terrible phone call. But both had wondered privately how it would affect the campaign to have Michael pardoned or his sentence commuted. Bruce had been working closely with Frank’s old contacts in Washington and it was possible that this had now stalled completely, and that Michael was now no better off than when he had first broken out of Fox River. In fact he was possibly worse off as there was now a string of offences trailing him across the States and he was about to cross the border from the comparative safety of Mexico back to where he was still one of ‘America’s Most Wanted’.
Michael was now looking tired and Sara suggested that since they still had nearly forty dollars left they should try and get another cheap room. He nodded,
"But first let’s pick up the things ok?" And she nodded back.
They mounted the bike again after paying and generously tipping the young boy who had served them and Michael headed into the central square. He stopped the bike and seemed to be looking around as if he was getting his bearings. Then without a word he revved the engine up and headed to the north-western exit of the square. He pulled over and pushed up his shirt, twisting his arm to read the number etched into the playing cards on his arm. Sara watched but said nothing. He drove out of the square and she noticed he seemed to be counting the telegraph poles that lined the side of the road, his lips mouthing the numbers as they passed each one. Several miles out of town he pulled over to the dusty side of the road next to one of the poles. Sara climbed off, looking around the flat desert littered with scrub and yellow-thorned bushes that stretched out from them on all sides.
Michael had walked up to the pole and checking his tattoo once more walked around the back of the pole placing his back firmly against it looking out away from the road. He took two steps then stopped and turned and then took another nine before stopping, kicking at the tufts of course dry grass at his feet before squatting down. Sara followed him,
“This is where it is?” she asked.
“Should be.” he replied confidently.
“Why this one?”
“Thirty -fifth pole from the fountain, two steps west, nine north.” and he pushed his shirt up to show her the last four numbers on the playing cards.
“I thought that was the cell phone number of Nika…” Sara quizzed, and he stopped searching the ground for a moment and turned back to her.
“It is, I just used the same digits to hide the stash, the last four are 3529 the first numbers 3129 are the locker numbers of another stash in Vancouver…I had several routes and plans, and contingences for them all should any fail. He was saying this in such a matter of fact way that Sara was almost shocked by the cold precision of it. It reminded her that she once had been just a part of his elaborate plan, and she wondered what his contingencies for her had been….She opened her mouth to say something but thought better of it and watched him as he continued to clear the area.
“Keep a look out for any cars Sara.” He murmured his head still scanning the ground. He started to tug away at the grass until one surprisingly symmetrical piece came away in his hand.
“There…” He whispered softly and brushing more earth away he uncovered a black plastic garbage bag, sitting in a shallow compression in the earth. He sat back on his haunches and checked the road in both directions before tugging out the bag and standing, he pulled out a small backpack from inside the bag.
“Ok let’s go back, I want to call Linc and we need to get plenty of rest, we have a long walk ahead of us”
“Walking? What about the bike?” she asked.
Michael looked at her with just a little impatience, before remembering that he hadn’t actually shared his plans of how they were going to get back into the States. She must have realised that they couldn’t simply drive up to the border and flash smiles at the border patrol guys….
“We’re getting into the States the same way thousands of Mexicans do every year, we’re walking into it.”
“Oh” Sara responded, her forehead creasing not a frown, “Isn’t that a little dangerous?”
Michal stood and tilted his head slightly as if he was considering this for the first time.
“Maybe, but we’ll be well prepared …..”
And he headed back to the bike assuming that was the end of the discussion. Sara tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear and looked across the desert one more time.
She trusted him, and she had no intention of trying her luck at one of the official border points and leave him to do this journey alone. A slight breeze kicked up some dust blowing it into her face and she wiped her eyes. She’d never seen the appeal of deserts, in fact after one particularly challenging field trip during her sophomore year at High School she’d come to hate them….but perhaps this wasn’t the best time to tell Michael……
tbc
Author: pemphredouk
Pairing/Characters: Michael, Sara, Lincoln, LJ,OC, Alex, Sofia Gretchen and Whistler
Rating: Probably NC-17 after the first few chapters
Summary: Michael and Sara discover things, good and bad about themselves as they finally start fighting back. All locations mentioned in the story actually exist and can be found on the google map I've made to accompany this fic. It can be found Google Map of Road Trip here.
Chapter 10: Ascension, Mexico
Somewhere a large truck thundered down the road, a low rumble reverberating through the ground and causing the thin walls of the lodge to shake almost imperceptibly.
Her eyes fluttered open, her eyelashes brushing softly against the sheet, the sheet….? She opened them wide now, fighting against the reflex to keep them lidded in the bright almost harsh light of the morning. She raised her head off the pillow, whilst at the same time, somewhere within the sleepy synapses of her brain she added the pillow to her list of confusing presences, and peered around her.
She was in a bed, and for a moment she relaxed back onto the softness of it as her mind tried to make sense of her surroundings.
Michael
And she flipped over, breathing a sigh of relief as she found him curled up beside her, his face relaxed and at peace. His long lashes were resting against his cheek and there was a slight pout on his lips and Sara only just resisted the urge to touch them. They looked a little dry, several tiny cracks running down them and she restricted herself to just gazing at the amazing pinkness of them. Her eyes moved to the small vertical scar above his lip, probably the result of a very early repair of a hare lip, possibly even at birth as the Doctor in her took over. She had stared at this one minor imperfection so many times in the infirmary, fascinated at how an apparent flaw could only add to the beauty of his face. She often focused in on it, in an attempt to avoid the eyes, the eyes were lethal, far too dangerous, they would have sucked her in, devoured her, and she had to maintain the façade of him being just another patient, another con.
A dull cramp in her stomach drew back her thoughts to the more pragmatic. She needed a shower, to wash her hair, to take care of the practicalities of a certain time of the month and she lifted the sheet suddenly curious as to what she was wearing, They were a pair of pale blue hipsters, and she smiled as she remember Jen kindly handing over a pack of three unopened panties the previous night. She lingered at the view under the sheet a moment longer, as her eyes wandered to Michael. He was completely naked, his long legs curled up towards her, the strange sectioning of his body under the ink, drawing her eye to the blue green swirls across his chest. She dropped the sheet and let her head fall back onto the pillow enjoying the simple pleasures of its softness yielding beneath her.
Reluctantly she climbed out of bed, the movement causing Michael to stir slightly before he turned over in his sleep, his large hands gripping the pillow beneath him, an enigmatic smile now on his lips.
She reached for her t- shirt sniffing it with undisguised revulsion. She had known it was pretty disgusting but it somehow seemed bearable whilst she had kept it on, now, the thought of having to put it back on was abhorrent to her. Her head turned to the chair, where a clean t-shirt lay folded over the arm. Another gift from Jen but one that would have to wait until she’d showered, so she reluctantly raised her arms and slipped the dirty one on. She would change straight after her shower. A task that would be complicated by the cast that needed to be kept dry for at least another few weeks. She lifted her left arm to study the new part of the map, noticing for the first time some little symbols, were they flowers, roses that had been added in several places? They were too small but seemed to be marking the places where they had stopped.
She shrugged and padded round the bed and stopping only when she saw the note that had been pushed under their door. She realised how exhausted they must have been the previous night, they were both light sleepers yet neither of them had heard anyone at their door. She shivered at what that could have meant if the visitor had come for trouble and looked over to the bed and the prone body of a sleeping Michael.
She had no idea what time it was, although the brightness of the light and the heat that was already beginning to seep through into the room suggested it was no longer early morning. She could remember some of last night, just, making it to the bedroom and collapsing onto the bed after barely managing to struggle out of her clothes. The half ripped packet of panties was still on the floor by her side. She hadn’t even heard Michael join her, and her face broke into a rueful smile as she realised their first time sharing a bed like a normal couple, had been so unmemorable. She shook her head and reached down to pick up the note.
Dear Ted and Amy
We came by earlier but you were both obviously dead to the world and Jen said I had to let you sleep. We’re leaving, we’re kinda morning people and I need to get back to the States so sorry we didn’t hang around to say goodbye.
I’ve cleaned out the sand and re-chained your bike to the railings outside the lodge- its working fine and should get you where you’re going. We left a few things we can manage without at the desk, just ask the woman. You can return them to us one day and then it’s your turn to buy the burritos.
If you’re ever in southern New Mexico, try the Hotel Baja, they welcome travellers…..
Good luck and stay out of the water that’s a motorbike you have there not a jet ski….
Bob & Jen
Easyrider@Encro.com
Sara read the note and smiled at the knowledge that somehow they had managed to meet two really good people in the middle of all this mess.
She walked around to Michael’s side of the bed, the tiled floor still cool under her feet, looking for his watch but frowned when it was not on the nightstand. Then she saw it was still on his wrist, another sign of how exhausted he must have been last night and tilted her head in an attempt to read it upside down. He moved his hand again slipping his wrist further under the pillow and obscuring the watch from her view and she sighed. She didn’t really want to wake him but she needed to know what time it was, they had no idea how long they had left in the room and the thought of having to leave before she’d showered, actually before they’d both showered was just too terrible to contemplate.
She moved closer and started to push the corner of the pillow slowly out of the way, finally revealing his watch again. It was eleven am and she gasped, they’d slept for over twelve solid hours. She let the pillow slip back but realised she had not been very careful since a pair of deep aqua eyes were now staring up at her blinking slowly against the light.
“I think I’m in heaven…” he croaked out in his morning voice.
“Oh and why is that?” she asked playfully.
“I’m floating on a cloud surrounded by whiteness and softness.” He continued dreamily and he patted the bed gently,
“…and you are obviously my designated angel.” He added realising for the first time that from his vantage point on the bed, her long elegant legs completely filled his vision.
“Your angel?” she smirked as she became aware of where he was staring and her state of undress “What… you mean you get allocated one? Like some kind of divine dating agency?”
“Hey it’s my heaven don’t spoil it.” he replied with a wicked glint now in his eyes totally at odds with his earlier sentiments and he reached out to take her hand, squeezing her fingers between his. He caught the time on his watch as he did and sat up in bed
“Eleven am it can’t already be eleven!” He cried out and swept back the sheet to climb out of bed.
“Michael…They’ve already ….ummm…….”
He was standing in the centre of the room, his hands rubbing through the buzz on his head, the stretched arm elongating his body, his naked body, and all Sara could do was stand and stare for a moment her next few words forgotten.
“Sara? Already what?” he questioned, turning his head towards her as he spoke.
“….already gone...” Sara responded as she dragged her gaze away from his body aware that the tingling in her stomach and the rapid acceleration of her heartbeat meant her body had already started to react to the vision in front of her. She held out the note towards him which he read in seconds
“Oh” he responded, the disappointment in his voice audible.
“Michael can you go the desk, find out what time we have to leave and bring back the bag please. I’m dying to see what else they’ve left us.” She asked, purposefully keeping her eyes from him.
“Sure.” he replied and skipped into his jeans buttoning up and refastening the belt, unaware of Sara’s gaze lingering on him,
He picked up his long sleeved blue t-shirt sniffing it distastefully before pulling it over his head and without even bothering to find his boots he unlocked the door and slipped out barefooted.
Sara used the time to check out the shower, turning the water on and nodding appreciatively at the strong flow from the showerhead. There were two hand towels provided, smaller than she had hoped for but better than nothing and she set the small bottle of coconut shampoo Michael had purloined on the side of the washbasin.
She heard the door creak open again and by the time she had returned to the bedroom he was already emptying the contents of the small bag onto the bed. It brought to mind the hotel back in San Jose when he had brought back the supplies from his first shopping trip.
Bob and Jen had obviously realised what they had been missing the most as there was a pair of jeans and long sleeved t-shirt for Michael and wrapped in the jeans a clean pair of boxers. Sara had also been left a pair of jeans, which she was now holding up by the waist, Jen was about her size, so she was hopeful they would fit pretty well. There were a few toiletries including a pack of disposable razors which they both eyed up hungrily and a small envelope which contained just over a hundred dollars. More then enough to get them all the way to Ascension.
But Michael had now found the real prize holding it up with a demented grin on his face.
“I can’t believe he’s given us this.” He whispered, making Sara turn from examining the cotton sweatshirt she’d just found.
“What?” She asked.
“He’s left us the GPS.” he replied almost reverentially.
“Look.” and he passed over the small piece of equipment.
“Ah so no more moaning about the map then hmm?" she joked and he opulled a face in reply.
"I guess he can simply stop and buy another one, he hides his wealth well.” she added and then started to gather up the soap and underwear heading off towards the bathroom.
As she got to the door she turned.
“I’m going to need some help if your work of art here isn’t going to get soggy.” Holding her plaster encased left arm up.
“Ah right.” he said and picking up the razors and boxers he followed her into the bathroom hanging back slightly as he remembered another piece of information.
“By the way, the woman at the desk said the room has been paid for two nights, we can stay another day if you want?” he was just feet away, watching her closely for her answer.
“That was really kind of them but, isn’t it too close to Canderas? Wouldn’t we be better moving on once we’ve had a chance to clean up, and perhaps another sleep?” she responded.
Michael’s shoulders visibly dropped with relief.
“Yes, it is a bit close, I was thinking the same thing but I didn’t want to deprive you of this.” and he turned and swept his arm back across the room. “And that.” As he pointed to the bed.
She chuckled,
“Well, I’m afraid all we can do in that is sleep lover boy, I didn’t ask you to steal me the tampons as an initiative test…” and she disappeared behind the shower room door.
Michael‘s face looked puzzled for a few seconds and then a silent ahh escaped his lips and he followed the noise of the running water.
The shower wasn’t large and it had taken some manoeuvring for them both to fit in and allow Sara’s arm to hang outside the curtain. She realised that she had to keep it raised to stop water running down from her shoulder and after just a few minutes it was already aching. This would have to be a quick shower…..She had stood, her face pointing up into the stream of water as he had lathered his hands and began smoothing them over her body. His long fingers caressing and massaging her skin, slipping easily across her stomach and up to her breasts. His touch was caring rather than arousing and she began to feel the grime of the last few days finally soak away from her. She leant back against the wall of the shower and lifted her foot onto Michaels’ thigh as he worked more soap into her feet. Nearly a week on the bike with just trainers and no socks had left grey marks ingrained into her skin and she watched Michael rub more and more soap in, pushing it between her toes until she could no longer resist the tickles and she pulled it back sharply, a laugh in her throat.
“Tancredi you have the dirtiest feet in Mexico,” he announced, “Give me the other one!” and he proceeded to repeat the process. He then turned his attention to her hair, working the shampoo deep into her scalp, remembering to ease off at the spot behind her hair, carefully avoiding the wound. She stood back under the cascade of water to rinse it, stretching to keep her left arm outside the curtain as Michael swished his fingers through it, helping the water chase all the suds away. Once she was clean he stood back,
“Hmm ok best I can do without bleach, chemical abrasives and scouring pads” he announced, the soap and flannel held tightly in his hand. Sara pulled a face,
“Gee thanks…I’d reciprocate but…”. and she nodded towards her arm which was now going quite numb hanging in the air. .
“Ummm...Its ok.” he said rather seriously “I’m not sure it would be the wisest thing letting you near me at the moment.” and he raised an eyebrow. Sara’s eyes dropped down and she grinned when she saw his semi erection.
Sara laughed, “You poor man,” and she stepped out reaching back as she did and turned the shower setting to cold.
“Sara!” He cried.
“You will regret that!” he growled between whoops and gasps as the cold water hit his skin and slowly reduced his predicament…….
Sara was still laughing softly as she started briskly rubbing herself dry with one of the hand towels and quickly got dressed in another pair of fresh panties and Jen’s clothes. Her skin was tingling from the soap and she sat on the bed feeling totally invigorated brushing through her wet hair with her fingers. Now all she needed was a hairbrush…...
Several hours later after a meal in the café and a shared nap on the bed, Michael once more adopting his favourite position of spooning behind her, his arm lying protectively across her waist, the two set off heading northwards. Michael had fixed the GPS unit to the bike, she wasn’t sure how and it was now running off the power generated by the bike. He’d babbled on about how it also had an internal battery and showed her several different settings with boyish enthusiasm.
“It’s even got the Hotel they mentioned in their note.” and he clicked through a few screens to show her the location of the Hotel Baja seemingly in the middle of the nowhere of southern New Mexico.
They rode for hours, along roads and highways, past pueblos and towns, pulling over only to refuel and buy more food and drink. They choose not to stop as it got dark as they both felt sufficiently rested and with the help of the GPS, its blue screen glowing in the dark they reached Ascension early the next morning. They rode into the centre of town and parked outside another street side café. After wolfing down four breakfast burritos and a jug of fruit juice, they both sat back thinking about the roads behind them and ahead….. They had begun to sense that they were coming to the end of this part of the journey.
Crossing back to the States was more than just a geographical journey, it would mean returning home in so many ways. To a place where they felt most comfortable but also where the dangers, especially for Michael were much greater. They hadn’t discussed Bruce’s death since that terrible phone call. But both had wondered privately how it would affect the campaign to have Michael pardoned or his sentence commuted. Bruce had been working closely with Frank’s old contacts in Washington and it was possible that this had now stalled completely, and that Michael was now no better off than when he had first broken out of Fox River. In fact he was possibly worse off as there was now a string of offences trailing him across the States and he was about to cross the border from the comparative safety of Mexico back to where he was still one of ‘America’s Most Wanted’.
Michael was now looking tired and Sara suggested that since they still had nearly forty dollars left they should try and get another cheap room. He nodded,
"But first let’s pick up the things ok?" And she nodded back.
They mounted the bike again after paying and generously tipping the young boy who had served them and Michael headed into the central square. He stopped the bike and seemed to be looking around as if he was getting his bearings. Then without a word he revved the engine up and headed to the north-western exit of the square. He pulled over and pushed up his shirt, twisting his arm to read the number etched into the playing cards on his arm. Sara watched but said nothing. He drove out of the square and she noticed he seemed to be counting the telegraph poles that lined the side of the road, his lips mouthing the numbers as they passed each one. Several miles out of town he pulled over to the dusty side of the road next to one of the poles. Sara climbed off, looking around the flat desert littered with scrub and yellow-thorned bushes that stretched out from them on all sides.
Michael had walked up to the pole and checking his tattoo once more walked around the back of the pole placing his back firmly against it looking out away from the road. He took two steps then stopped and turned and then took another nine before stopping, kicking at the tufts of course dry grass at his feet before squatting down. Sara followed him,
“This is where it is?” she asked.
“Should be.” he replied confidently.
“Why this one?”
“Thirty -fifth pole from the fountain, two steps west, nine north.” and he pushed his shirt up to show her the last four numbers on the playing cards.
“I thought that was the cell phone number of Nika…” Sara quizzed, and he stopped searching the ground for a moment and turned back to her.
“It is, I just used the same digits to hide the stash, the last four are 3529 the first numbers 3129 are the locker numbers of another stash in Vancouver…I had several routes and plans, and contingences for them all should any fail. He was saying this in such a matter of fact way that Sara was almost shocked by the cold precision of it. It reminded her that she once had been just a part of his elaborate plan, and she wondered what his contingencies for her had been….She opened her mouth to say something but thought better of it and watched him as he continued to clear the area.
“Keep a look out for any cars Sara.” He murmured his head still scanning the ground. He started to tug away at the grass until one surprisingly symmetrical piece came away in his hand.
“There…” He whispered softly and brushing more earth away he uncovered a black plastic garbage bag, sitting in a shallow compression in the earth. He sat back on his haunches and checked the road in both directions before tugging out the bag and standing, he pulled out a small backpack from inside the bag.
“Ok let’s go back, I want to call Linc and we need to get plenty of rest, we have a long walk ahead of us”
“Walking? What about the bike?” she asked.
Michael looked at her with just a little impatience, before remembering that he hadn’t actually shared his plans of how they were going to get back into the States. She must have realised that they couldn’t simply drive up to the border and flash smiles at the border patrol guys….
“We’re getting into the States the same way thousands of Mexicans do every year, we’re walking into it.”
“Oh” Sara responded, her forehead creasing not a frown, “Isn’t that a little dangerous?”
Michal stood and tilted his head slightly as if he was considering this for the first time.
“Maybe, but we’ll be well prepared …..”
And he headed back to the bike assuming that was the end of the discussion. Sara tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear and looked across the desert one more time.
She trusted him, and she had no intention of trying her luck at one of the official border points and leave him to do this journey alone. A slight breeze kicked up some dust blowing it into her face and she wiped her eyes. She’d never seen the appeal of deserts, in fact after one particularly challenging field trip during her sophomore year at High School she’d come to hate them….but perhaps this wasn’t the best time to tell Michael……
tbc