Escaping Fox River | Prison Break [On Hold]

Chapter 17

A knocking sound slithered through my subconscious and I jolted up, looking around frantically.

"Shit! They found us!" I whispered, jumping out of bed. "LJ, wake up, we gotta go." I stumbled across the room, still disoriented from sleep and grabbed my shoes, hopping on one foot while putting a shoe on the other. LJ got up slowly, squinting his eyes.

"What?" he asked, rubbing his face.

"We have to g-"

"Mel?" I paused when I heard Abruzzi's voice outside the door.

"False alarm, LJ." I breathed a sigh of relief and tossed my shoe away. LJ fell back onto his pillow and turned back around to fall asleep. Opening the door, I saw John leaning against the side of the door, whistling away. "Hey, you scared me." Abruzzi stood up straight, a lazy smile gracing his face.

"I'm sorry, darling. When do you plan on getting on the road?" he asked, looking behind him. "I'm getting a little antsy staying in one place, know what I mean?" I nodded, agreeing with him.

"Same here." I looked over my shoulder at LJ's now sleeping figure. "I just want my son to rest up a little bit more. How's an hour sound?"

"Sounds good. See you then." Abruzzi saluted me and walked back to his room. I closed the door and sat on my bed, just thinking. I seemed to be doing a lot of that lately. Since I wasn't tired, but wasn't ready to go yet, I leaned back and stared up at the ceiling, daydreaming. I didn't realize how in the zone I was until LJ came into my line of vision an hour and a half later.

"Your friend said he's ready whenever you are." LJ said, waving a hand in my face. I shook my head and sat up, rubbing my cheek.

"Alright, let's go. Make sure you have everything you need because there's no coming back to this place." Or any place for that matter, I thought. LJ stuffed our clothes in one of the bags I brought in and we were ready in no time. We walked downstairs and I saw John waiting, with his head down.

"Did you enjoy your stay?" Greg asked when I handed him my key. I smiled and nodded.

"It was perfect, thanks." I put a hand on LJ's back, pushing him forward. I didn't need this man looking at us any longer to see if he recognized us. I waved for Abruzzi to join us and we all headed to my car. When we were al buckled in, I turned the GPS on and started driving.

"So, where do you plan on going?" Abruzzi asked. I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel, contemplating my answer. "Utah?" I glanced at him and he raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah. Michael wants to meet there." I said vaguely, not wanting to reveal much.

"How are you gonna split the money?" I opened my mouth to speak, but Abruzzi cut in. "Don't worry, I'm not after that money. I'm just curious." I sighed and shrugged, turning a corner like the GPS said to do.

"I'm pretty sure the other guys we escaped with have the same thought in mind, so it just depends on who gets there first, I guess." I answered truthfully. Abruzzi nodded.

"What money are you guys talking about?" LJ asked from the backseat. Abruzzi and I exchanged looks and I figured LJ might as well be in on what was happening too.

"John, can you explain it to him, please?" I asked, wanting to pay attention to the road. I wanted to make as less mistakes on the road as possible so that we could make it to Linc and Michael in good time. Abruzzi started telling LJ about Charles and what went on and my hand automatically went to the lightning bolt necklace he gave me. I had to go and visit his daughter like I told him I would. Hopefully she will keep fighting to stay alive so that I can tell her what he father wanted me to tell her.

For the next few hours, John and LJ bonded, ending one conversation just to start up another one immediately. I saw a sign up ahead and it read 'Last gas station on route. Fill up if low'. I looked at my gas gauge and it was a quarter tank, so I took the exit to go fill up on gas.

"Alright boys, stretch your legs while I fill up the car. It shouldn't take too long." I said, getting out the car. My joints popped as I stretched, and I made a weird noise while doing it. "Man, that felt good." I muttered to myself, walking towards the store to pay for gas. I stood in line, making sure my bangs covered my forehead. Even though I had blonde hair now, my face didn't change and someone could still recognize me at any time.

"Next." The attendant called out. I stepped forward and smile. The guy smiled back and raised an eyebrow. "Well, hello there, pretty lady. What can I do for you?" he asked.

"Fifty on three, please." I told him, handing him the money. He took it and nodded, punching some buttons. While he counted my change, I looked out the door and narrowed my eyes when I saw a man getting out of a car, not too far from mine.

He had on a blue baseball cap and his head was down. He said something to the driver, his lips moving rapidly as if he were saying something urgent. When he straightened back up, his eyes met mine for a second and I almost dropped the change that the guy had just given me.

"Michael?" I whispered incredulously, walking towards the door. I knew it was him, especially when he cocked his head, as if trying to figure out who I was. I pushed the door open and ran out. "Michael!" His eyes widened when he heard my voice.

"Melanie?" he asked, squinting. I stuffed my money in my pocket and ran to him, arms outstretched. He caught me when I crashed into him, squeezing him hard. "Oh my god, Mel. What the hell are you doing here?"  Michael asked, his voice full of disbelief. "And what did you do to you hair?"

"I can't believe it's you." I said, my voice muffled by his shirt. I heard a car door slam and I looked up to see Lincoln getting out the car. My heart skipped a few beats and suddenly, I was struggling to breathe properly. He had on a button down shirt, but it was open, baring his muscular physique.

"Michael, what's going on? We need to hurr--" Lincoln stopped in his tracks when he saw me. "Melanie?" he whispered, his voice almost inaudible. I felt tears sting the back of my eyes and I nodded, a smile coming to my face. He surged forward and grabbed me, pressing me tight against his chest. "How the hell..." he trailed off, his right hand wrapped around my waist and his left hand buried in my hair. I put my face in the crook of his neck, my tears falling over.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, resting my hands on the back of his bald head. "I can't believe this is actually happening." I whispered, sniffing. Lincoln pulled back a little and looked me in the eyes. His bright green orbs flitted across my face, memorizing it. His hand cupped my cheek and he bent down and pressed his lips hard against mine. My eyes closed automatically, accepting this affection from my husband. When we pulled apart, he put his forehead on mine, grinning.

"If this ain't luck, I don't know what it is." he commented, his eyes casually drifting behind me. All of a sudden, he froze. His hands didn't move from where they were on me and in fact, they seem to tighten. "LJ?" I turned my head, looking over my shoulder and spotted LJ getting out the car, his jaw wide open.

"Dad?" I heard LJ say, walking slowly as if Lincoln would disappear if he went any faster. Lincoln looked down at me, eyebrows going from a frown to a questionable look. I nodded my head, as if to tell him that what he was seeing was real. LJ was alive. I stepped away, Lincoln's entire focus on our son. Probably thinking he wasn't getting there fast enough, LJ broke out into a sprint and launched himself in his father's arms.

"Oh god, LJ." I heard Lincoln say, getting on his knees. LJ started crying and he wrapped his arms around Lincoln, his shoulders moving up and down. A pang of happiness hit my chest and I gripped my shirt, not used to seeing the men in my family so vulnerable. Michael walked next to me and put his hand on my shoulder, squeezing gently.

"I think this is the best thing that could've happened since the breakout." he said softly, gazing at his brother and nephew. I nodded, agreeing one hundred percent.