(no subject)
Back Inside Sona, Part VI
Author: putu2sleep
Characters: Michael Scofield, Lincoln Burows, Fernando Sucre, Alex Mahone, James Whistler, Lechero, Theodore Bagwell, Susan B., Original character
Category: Post-escape
Rating: PG-13
Summary: I wrote this after "Bang and Burn," but my computer skills are SO BAD that I couldn't figure out how to post it. After reading it again, I really wanted to write it and more, so...here it is. I seem to be continuing this long past the first 3 parts which I wrote immediately after this episode, but I have a clear plan how I would have completed the season, so, here goes...
Lincoln shuffled his feet and looked toward the prison doors as he anxiously approached the fence that surrounded the visitation area. Michael hadn’t yet arrived, so Lincoln had nothing but time on his hands. With other visitors a few feet away on either side of him, he couldn’t even pace back and forth, all he could do was rehash the morning’s events in his mind. It wasn’t even noon and already so much had happened.
The morning had started out innocuously enough. He’d awoken early to the sound of Sucre getting ready for “work.” Rolling out of bed, he grabbed a roll from last night’s dinner and sat down near the window.
“Call me as soon as you get there,” he said, cramming the food in his mouth.
“Don’t worry, I’ll call as soon as I see what’s going on,” Sucre replied. “Gimme a chance to check it out, I don’t want to be too obvious.”
“I know, man,” Linc went on, looking up at his friend, “You know I really appreciate everything you’ve done.”
“Appreciate me when we’re done and outta here. Right now, just take it easy, I’ll call you.” With that, Sucre grabbed a roll for himself and walked out the door.
It wasn’t half an hour later that his phone rang, Sucre’s name on the caller I.D. “Yeah,” Lincoln answered.
“Everything’s back to normal, bro…Well, Sona normal, that is,” Sucre chuckled, trying to lighten things up a bit.
“I’m on my way,” Linc replied as he hung up.
The sounds of a man and woman yelling at each other in Spanish across the fence jolted Lincoln back to the present. He looked over at them, then back at the doorway. Still no sign of Michael.
Moments after he’d left the hotel earlier in the day, Lincoln’s phone had vibrated in his pocket. Fishing it out and seeing “anonymous” on the caller I.D., he had a good idea who was calling. He pressed talk, put the phone to his ear, and waited in silence.
“You’re getting good at this, Lincoln.” He heard the now familiar voice begin, “Just a few instructions before you see Michael.”
Lincoln had continued walking and started looking around in all directions. He spoke casually into the phone, carefull with his tone so as not to offend, “Are you watching me?”
“Don’t kid yourself, I’ve got more important things to do right now,” she replied, “But I do have eyes all around.”
“Ah, I’ve been wondering how you got that phone in my room…” he started.
“Don’t bother yourself with the little details, Linc,” she interrupted, “We both have more important things to deal with right now.”
He definitely didn’t like the way she said his name, but he took a deep breath and bit back the nasty retort he was thinking. “Okay,” Linc changed gears, “What do you need?”
Looking back on the interaction, he was still puzzled by her requests. He could understand her first request. Wanting to know what supplies his brother might find useful made sense. Being that Michael was already inside the prison, he probably had some ideas about what items might come in handy. But the other request? Why did she want the name of Whistler’s bird book? That one he still couldn’t figure out.
His last surprise of the morning had come in the shape of Sophia Lugo. Just before he had entered the prison complex, she stepped directly in his path, turning to look straight in his face. Not since she’d aimed a gun at him had she seemed so bold.
“What’s going on, Lincoln?” She asked, her face revealing her concern.
“After the stunt your boy pulled, he’s on his own!” Lincoln declared, “He nearly got my brother killed!”
Lincoln brushed past her, having no intention of continuing the conversation, but she had been nothing if not persistent.
“Please Linc, please, don’t abandon James,” Sophia pleaded as he turned and continued into the prison.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
While Lincoln awaited Michael’s arrival at the fence, several miles away, the woman was busy putting the finishing touches on her plan. She stood still, but her mind plodded through the plan from beginning to end. She allowed each aspect to flow through her thoughts, recalling each minute detail with clarity and precision.
After her review was complete, she moved forward to the next step. She took the trimmer in hand, and smiled to herself as her shoulder-length hair fell in clumps into the sink. A wig worked for a few hours, but this scheme required a more permanent disguise. Satisfied with her new look, she donned the outfit which completed her transformation. Next, she began to meticulously erase all signs of her existence.
The woman sat back, surveying her work. All evidence that she has occupied this small apartment was gone, except the phone. The phone had to stay until she got the call from the older brother. She never liked having to rely on others, but the information he provided might prove to be crucial, so she waited patiently for his call.
All the while, her mind raced in different directions at the same time. There was so much information, that it momentarily blinded her thoughts. Reverting to automatic, she began to methodically categorize each detail, dismissing the insignificant. The entire process took only a few minutes to complete. She had spent years perfecting this skill. At first she considered it a weakness, but once she understood that this was her unique ability, she kept it quiet, and learned how to use it to her advantage.
The woman knew she was the product of years of training and experience, but her peculiar talent had set her apart, even in the beginning, from all the other young recruits. This had brought her to the attention of the elite within the Company. She laughed silently, remembering how much that had pleased The General.
The phone rang, and she waited calmly for the message that followed. Once she had committed the details to memory, the phone joined all the other evidence of her existence in the fire that exaggerated the warmth of the Panamanian sun.
She strode out onto the street, ready to purchase her final supplies and make her grand debut. She actually looked forward to the challenge.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
“You still with me?” Michael’s quiet words jarred Linc out of his daydream.
“Jesus, Michael, are you okay? You look like shit!” Lincoln replied emotionally. He shuddered inwardly as he took in all the signs of physical abuse his brother displayed. His hands wrapped tightly around the metal bar before him. He swore to himself that he would make everything all right.
“So I keep hearing,” the younger brother answered softly.
Trying to sound optimistic, Lincoln motioned toward the other man’s hand, “Where’d you get the ice?”
“Seems I’ve garnered the attention of a certain drug lord in here,” Michael replied without adding any details.
“Look, Michael, first things first,” Linc was all business now, “I need to know a couple of things.” He went on to ask the questions that he had rehearsed.
Without really putting much thought into it, Michael began to impart what details came easily to mind. His thoughts were still a bit hazy, so he hadn’t yet considered the significance of his responses.
“Hold on,” Lincoln said as he took a step back from the fence and dialed his cell. Michael watched with a puzzled expression, and listened as his brother repeated his words verbatim into the phone.
Lincoln walked back up to the fence, taking a deep breath and trying to figure out where to begin. “Look, Michael, a lot has happened in the last couple of days.” He paused long enough to give his brother a chance to interject, but when the younger man remained silent, he continued, “I don’t know where to start, well except, L.J.’s safe. He’s out of Panama, that’s the best part of it…”
“What! Linc, I’ve been here five minutes and you’re just now telling me this?” Michael screamed at his brother.
“Hold on, Michael, hold on,” Linc soothed. “I’m sorry, but I had to get information first, you see there’s somebody else…”
“What are you talking about?!” Michael interjected.
“Please, Michael, just let me get it out, please,” Linc begged. The younger man stopped talking and Lincoln proceeded to explain as much as he figured his brother needed to know at the moment. He felt like a kid, so excited to finally be in on the planning side of things. Excited to let his brother know how hard he was working to get him out of this nightmare.
“No, Linc,…go, get out of here, go take care of L.J.” Michael’s voice was flat, emotionless.
“What are you saying?” Lincoln couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“I’m not going, Linc, it’s over,” Michael replied emphatically. “Don’t come back, I won’t come out to see you again.”
“Michael, don’t say that, you can’t stay in there…you don’t belong in this hellhole.” Lincoln tried desperately to convince his brother.
“We all have our crosses to bear,” Michael clearly recalled his own words as he thought back to a day not so long ago. “This is my choice to make, Linc, and I’m making it.” With that, he turned and walked slowly toward the prison doors, not once looking back.
“Michael…Michael…No, Michael, wait!” Lincoln yelled as his brother disappeared. He clenched his fists and swore, pacing back and forth. He didn’t care what the other visitors or inmates thought. He waited and waited, hoping Michael would suddenly reappear, but he didn’t.
Finally, not knowing what else to do, he turned and left the prison yard. He dialed the phone number as he walked, hoping for some words of advise, but all he got was, “The number you have dialed is no longer in service…”