Later, in the The Final Break movie, Michael does actually die to save Sara. But because the show had cried wolf so many times with Lincoln’s death, many fans assumed Michael would come back, too. When he didn’t, the impact was lessened. We had become desensitized to permanent consequences.
While being transported to see his son, L.J. Burrows , Lincoln’s prison transport was rammed by a truck in an assassination attempt by Paul Kellerman . He was saved by his father.
In the Season 5 revival, Lincoln helps rescue Michael from a Yemeni prison [5.6]. By the series finale, he is living a peaceful life, having found love with a woman named Sheba and reconciling with his son, L.J. Burrows [5.6, 5.23]. Does Anyone Die in His Place?