Private Video to Sam

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[Prefects head jerks up abruptly when the video feed begins, instantly registering his wardens presence on his own journals screen.]

Comrade are you--

[He trails off, taking in the details. He's in more or less the same situation as his warden, bound tightly to a chair in the middle of Sam's room, with whatever homemade explosives the Joker has managed to cobble together lashed to the legs of the chair. For a moment he just stares, then his expression breaks into one of despair, because he knows what's happening here.

The same thing that had happened to Harvey.]

Oh god, Sam, I'm sorry.

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[bythe_books]

[Prefect looks up abruptly at the sound of Prefect's voice. He quickly spots the communicator and feels a squeeze of horror in his chest. He figured Prefect was in an identical situation, but there was still some vague hope that things weren't as bad as they seemed.]

Prefect...

Don't. [He shakes his head.] Nevermind-- look. This isn't your fault. Who did this to you? [It could've been Joker working alone, but if there's a chance at nailing another bastard, he's not going to let it slide.]

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No, Comrade, you don't understand. He didn't just decide to do this at random, I told him-- [Prefect twisted against the ropes holding him to the chair, trying to gain some purchase against them, but it was no use. He let out a groan of frustration, hanging his head to let his chin rest against his chest.] I told him that I was friends with Harvey, and this is what he did to Harvey! Stupid, stupid, why the hell would I tell him anything?

[He's more talking to himself than he is to Sam now, his head still dropped down to his chest as he pulls uselessly against the ropes.]

[bythe_books]

Listen to me: it's not your fault. He did this before; he was gonna do it again. It could've been you, could've been anybody. You didn't plant the idea in his head. It was all him. Don't put the blame on yourself.

And-- careful. Easy. I don't know how he's rigged these bombs, but you don't wanna make the wrong move and set 'em off. [He watches Prefect, taking in the set up.] You're gonna want to focus on your hands. Slowly, you have to take it slow.

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I planted the idea in his head to do it to me, Comrade, and that means I planted the idea to do it to you. I got his attention, Comrade.

[Prefect hesitates in his mad fight for freedom for a moment, he doesn't really want to take any chances on setting the bombs off. Behind his back, he flexes his hands and winces.] I don't think... I'm not sure focusing on my hands is going to do any good.

[bythe_books]

You didn't, Prefect. Men like that, they'll take anything, any excuse, to try to spin the blame for their actions onto other people. Don't think about what you could've done differently.

Relax. It's easier to slip out if you relax. [He closes his eyes.] And if it doesn't work, we'll try something else. [Pause.] Was there anyone else, Prefect? That you know of. Anyone who could be working with him?

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I know, and I knew that, and I still-- I still gave him an excuse. [Prefect tried to relax, but somehow he wasn't finding it any easier to miraculously slip out of his present bondage. Glancing up, he took time out of his worrying to give Sam an unimpressed look, before letting his expression bleed back into one of regret and concern.] There was... Armand was there. The vampire one, not the warden.

[He tried relaxing a little more, but it really blatantly wasn't working, and personally Prefect didn't think that doing nothing was a very good escape attempt, so he returned fairly quickly to conventional struggling techniques.] Comrade, this isn't working. I can't-- I don't know anything about being tied up! You're a professional, you stand a much better chance of me at... at...[He paused, watching his warden for a moment with a frown.] Uh, why aren't you trying to get out?

[bythe_books]

[Armand. Right. He files that away for later.]

Stop, Prefect. Those tactics never work. [He sighs.] I can't see your legs, so tell me-- describe the setup. Think you could... manoeuvre the chair-- slowly, easy-- closer to a sharp corner?

[He opens his eyes and looks at the camera.] Don't worry about me. My first priority is making sure you get out.

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[Prefect lets out a shuddering, pained breath.] Comrade, I can't. My ankles are tied behind the chairlegs, I can't get any pressure against the floor with them. I can't do it, I can't do any of this.

[He looks up, staring at Sam with a kind of hopeless desperation.] Sam, if you can get out of this then you have too because I probably can't, and because-- If you could get out, then I know that doesn't mean I'm not your priority, because you'd just be going to get someone to help me. So it's all right, okay?

[bythe_books]

Yes, you can, Prefect. How tight did they tie the ropes?

[He shakes his head, vehemently.] No. You can do this, Prefect. Just keep looking for a way out. Don't give up.

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Why aren't you looking for a way out? [Prefect cried agitatedly, while giving one more ridiculous, unhelpful wrench against his restraints and wincing.]

They-- they're tight. They hurt.

[bythe_books]

Because I don't know what'll happen if I do!

[Well, that outburst was unintended. Sam slumped back against the chair, looking up.] He said that if I tried to escape, your explosive would detonate. I don't know if... if they're watching or... if they've got a remote. [He laughs his CRAZY SAM TYLER LAUGH.] It's probably just a bluff, I don't know. That's the problem. [He stops laughing and sobers up.]

I don't know, and I don't want to take that risk.

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[In response to Sam's outburst, Prefect went suddenly and completely still, staring at his warden with a suddenly guarded expression.] And what if my trying to escape detonates yours?

[Sam had known that was a possibility. Obviously he'd known and he was just being Sam about it. Not that it mattered, Prefect was done struggling now. After a long pause, he spoke up again.] It won't be so bad. We-- we've died here before. We die here a lot really. [But it still hurts, and it's still horrible, and he's still scared.]

[bythe_books]

Then it... goes off. Listen. Prefect. [He leans forward as best he can.] I'm your warden. I'm supposed to keep you safe. That's all I care about right now. You have to get out of there. [He pauses.] Are they outside the door, d'you know?

[Sam nods. They do die, but somewhere, in the back of his head, he's never really certain if they're going to wake up again, when it happens. Resurrection isn't something he wants to put all his faith in.] Yeah... Just remember: he wants to break you down. Don't give him the satisfaction. Think about... Harvey. And how he overcame it. No matter how bad it was, he did get better. Joker didn't win.

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[Prefect looked up, his expression one of appalled incredulity, like Sam had just suggested something not only offensive but also deeply stupid.] I am not going to be responsible for you exploding, Comrade. This shouldn't even be happening to you! [Because deep down? Prefect shares that fear. Underneath an faith in proven systems continuing to work regardless of the logic behind him... he knew that if Sam died because of him, and didn't come back? He'd be utterly lost.]

[Prefect stared at his warden for a couple of moments, trying not to think about Sam dying or Harvey dying or him dying again, but... it clearly wasn't working. Dropping his head down he squeezed his eyes shut, and willed himself not to begin crying.]

[bythe_books]

You wouldn't be responsible, Prefect. That's just what he wants you to think, so he can-- so you won't fight back!

[Sam's quiet as Prefect drops his head.] I'm sorry. I should've... been more alert. [He's silent again for a few moments.] Look, whatever happens. You're not gonna be alone. I'll be here with you.

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Well-- well it worked.

[Prefect confessed, taking quiet pride in the fact that his voice didn't break as he spoke before letting out a low breath.] It's not your fault, I shouldn't have-- shouldn't have opened the door.

[bythe_books]

He would've forced his way in. A man like that... He's determined to see people burn.

[He looks at the camera.] Whatever he thinks this'll do to you, just remember: you're better than it. Sylar didn't win; Joker's not gonna win, either. You're a lot stronger... and braver... and resilient than people give you credit for. And I'm not talking about those men you become, during floods. I'm talking about you.

You've come a long way since I met you.

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[Prefect has dropped his head down again, determined for you not to see this, but... his shoulders are shaking, and it's pretty obvious that he's crying now.]

[championoftime]

[The Doctor forcibly kicks in Prefect's door when... wait, what's this? He looks at Sam for a moment, and then runs over to see the face on the journal.

He'd switched them. He'd switched them around! How had he managed that on his own?!] Sam... Prefect. Just... Hang in there!

[bythe_books]

[Sam's head jerks up as the door opens, and he looks between the Doctor and the communicator, as though expecting a simultaneous rescue attempt. But there's nobody bursting into the other room.]

What're you-- no, no! Get to Level 2, Room 3!

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[Prefect looks up instantly at the clatter of noise on the other end of the journals.]

Comrade what are-- [The Doctor was there. That was good, that meant someone knew where he was, and it meant that he could get Sam out safely, at least... When Sam commanded the Doctor to come for him, Prefect shook his head, eyes blurred as he remembered what Harvey had told him. He knew what was coming here.] Inefficient. There isn't time, just get out, Comrade. [His words were short, clipped.]

[championoftime]

[Dammit, he came for Prefect. Sam would have been prepared for something like this. Prefect wasn't. He swallowed thickly. He had to think.

He moved for the wiring to the explosives connected to Sam.] He's right. There's no time. I have to hurry.

[But how would Sam feel if he failed his inmate? How would Prefect feel if he went through this alone? Could he actually live with himself, having to choose one life over the other? Pick who lived or died.

The choice was easier than he thought it would be.] I don't think I can make it... [The next words were laced with psychic pressure, reaching and bidding them both do as he asked.] Close your eyes.

[bythe_books]

Then get a message out, just-- [Sam choked a breath down, turning to the Doctor, lowering his voice so Prefect couldn't hear.] Don't leave him.

[He doesn't want to close his eyes; he wants to keep his eyes on Prefect and tell him everything's going to be okay, that there's got to be a warden coming for him, too. But it's easy to slip under suggestion, and he shuts his eyes, although his heart's racing.] You're not alone, you're not alone... [Whatever comfort that is to Prefect, he doesn't know.]

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[Prefect doesn't want to close his eyes either, he wants to keep this weak human contact with his warden, even if it means watching when the room is consumed by fire. He feels himself obeying regardless, his eyes falling shut at the Doctors words. Hearing his wardens voice prompts a reaction, although he doesn't know if he has anything of any value to say:]

Sam? Sam, just-- I'm okay--

[He's just making noise. Just wants to keep up some kind of contact even if he's blinded now.]

[championoftime]

[If only he'd had more time. Three. He hovers over the bomb, messing with the wires until their eyes are closed. Two. He closes his own eyes, setting his jaw and bracing himself against what's about to happen.




One.]