House Arrest

By Fae Cym

Chapter One

She woke up a few times as Piper moaned and reached for her again. It was too quiet in the house and Alex had a hard time falling back to sleep. She just stared at Piper in the dim light of the room. She could reach out and touch her anytime she wanted. No one would yell at them or give them a shot. Alex ran her fingertips down the side of her face. Piper turned towards her and started to turn on her hip but Alex watched as pain and discomfort caused her to stay on her back. Piper never slept on her back. She always snuggled into Alex's arms as her little spoon. It was hard to see her like this and yet Alex knew she was so much better than when she first found her.

She had been told that Piper was in a coma while in the SHU. She had decided that if Piper died she was going to kill Chrissie then herself. She was surprised now at how dark her thoughts became. Alex Vause didn't do things like that. She was too smart to hurt herself and especially over someone else. But she was faced with living in a world without Piper and she was the cause of that. Piper murmured in her sleep again and whimpered so that it made her heart hurt.

"Easy kid, shhhh...I'm here...everything is okay," Alex whispered to her. She was so relieved that Piper isn't dating Mandy. Alex was convinced that once Piper was free, she'd choose someone else over the woman that landed her in the hospital. She knew her family would be in her face about her poor choices. Yet, it seemed to her that Piper was calling the shots here...or at least wreaking her Piper Havoc.

Alex smirked. She was going to make her way to Litchfield and get answers. She never wanted Piper to learn about what was going on at the prison. Alex chuckled to herself some. What was she thinking? Piper sneaked phone calls to half the prison. Alex had beat herself up each time she broke down to talk to Piper. Yet she had to have that contact. This Utopia was never a sure thing. Alex had to get what she could while she could. The conversations had been so loving and she could tell Piper was worried about her. It was almost too much to hope for...maybe that is why she misheard Mandy's conversation with her girlfriend.

Piper moaned and turned some trying to get comfortable. Alex adjusted to sit up more as the doorway opened. She automatically fell forward some to cover Piper. The doctor walked in and watched her closely.

"Miss Vause, I'm not going to hurt her. I am going to check the swelling and make sure it isn't too tight. I may have to put some more ice on it...which she may still sleep through," the doctor said in a slow voice. Alex watched her hands for some reason. She just didn't know this woman and she felt stupid being some neanderthal about it all.

"Sure, sorry...habit," Alex mumbled. She reached for her glasses on the bedside table and sat up. Piper mumbled and she leaned down to whisper to her. Piper mumbled and snored so unladylike that Alex had to stifle a chuckle.

The doctor smiled kindly and went about her exam. She seemed pleased and Alex asked her how it looked. "The swelling hasn't increased. She may have got lucky. The good thing is she kept the brace on and fell mainly on her hip. She is going to be very sore...and from what I understand, that makes her grumpy," she said with a smile. She checked Piper was breathing clearly and that her ribs were fine. Piper wiggled and scooted away from the doctor and closer to Alex.

"You should have seen her at the bottom of the stairs. She looks great now...there is color in her face. It was white...almost blue. I was convinced all the way down each of those steps that she wasn't alive," Alex looked over at her. She couldn't believe she was telling a stranger this...but she told no one about it. Nicky had been right behind her. She understood but they didn't talk about it...fuck they were barely talking at all when she left. Nicky told her the day of the drug bust that she'd step back from her for Piper's sake. She warned her not to fuck Piper over again and Alex prayed she wouldn't. If Kubra didn't take the bait, she'd be screwed. They'd move her to some dark ass southern max facility to serve her entire sentence. It was a gamble and she banked on his greed. He thought he had her trapped. She arranged to call him. He told her not to say his name and she didn't. She did get him to talk about Piper and he said he was sorry to hear about her. He rambled about how good she looked the last time he saw her in Chicago. He gave himself away...but she still needed him to drop the heroin and hire someone to take it through the tunnel.

"I bet that was upsetting, Miss Vause-"

"Alex, please...is she going to be able to walk without a cane? Will my girlfriend run again?" Alex wanted to know it all now. She had to deal with it head on now or she'd just worry about it.

"Alex, I don't know that. I will have to run scans the day after tomorrow. She will not want to be separated from you so, I have a suggestion. I think you need a check up as well. They will allow you to go to a doctor's appointment...you two can go together. Would you be interested?" the doctor offered kindly. Alex smiled.

"I'd love to but I think maybe it is too soon. I um...well there maybe people looking for me...plus I don't think you take my insurance," Alex replied with a grin.

The doctor laughed, "I'm sure Miss Chapman will provide security and my services are already covered. I have been hired as an in House Physician. You're in the house. Hmm, perhaps I can bring a portable MRI scanner in here but I think it would be best if she just came down to the clinic. You too...think about it and talk to your lawyer. I'll be back in to check. I'll try not to wake you up. If it doesn't swell much more I'll leave her be for five hours or so."

Alex nodded listening to her. It was something to think about. She needed to see a doctor. She hadn't had a check up since before she was indicted. Alex slid further down in the bed as the doctor turned off the lamp. She didn't bother with the bathroom light and she figured that Piper was having trouble sleeping with the lights off. She had told Alex about the light...so sweetly as she fell to sleep. Everything about her is perfect at that moment. Alex knew she'd open her eyes and her mouth. Piper never kept things sweet and sedate for long. It was one of her best qualities.

She kissed her forehead and took her glasses off again. It was so quiet here. Alex looked towards the window and put her glasses back on to watch the snow fall steadily outside. She was going to get snowed in to a huge cabin with Piper.

"You've done worse Vause...fuckloads worse," Alex admitted to herself with a laugh. It was Piper's brother's house now. She knew Piper's grandparents had money. Her father was a self made man though and he provided for her family. Piper did chores and had to save money for buy the bike she wanted. She was a baby sitter and finally her dad paid her to keep Cal out of trouble for a summer. She said it was the hardest job of her life. Alex remembered her telling that story one night and figured he was trying to pay up for debts owed. She always thought him to be a self absorbed, sweet fuck up. Maybe he had changed...maybe your sister going to prison can change you too.

She was getting sleepy. The adrenaline had left her and she could almost believe she was safe. She had slept little and finally exhaustion pulled her towards oblivion. Right before she fell to sleep she felt Piper snuggle closer.

They slept for a long while. Piper woke up in pain and the doctor medicated her again. She drank water and dozed again. Alex went to the bathroom and when she came out she saw it was nearly noon. Her stomach growled so loud she actually put her hand on it to keep it quiet. Cal knocked lightly and opened the door while balancing a tray.

"Uhm, the doctor said Piper might be hungry when she wakes up and...well I'm sure you are," he murmured. He sat a feast of bacon, eggs, biscuits and gravy before her. It smelled divine. Alex looked over at Piper still sleeping in the bed and then back at the food with longing.

"That smells great...uh thanks again for letting me stay here," Alex said in what she hoped was a humble voice. She hated gratitude. Alex didn't do it well. She had to swallow so much of that in her life that she went after enough money and power to not have to do that again. Prison sure taught her the futility of those desires. "I'd like to help out if I can...I am a passable cook but I'd be more than happy to clean the dishes." He immediately told her she could do that.

"The Marshals have been taking turns when Piper is sleeping. But now they seem more alert...I guess ya gotta pay more attention of the person you're guarding is actually able to walk...though she'd given them a run for their money if she'd made it to the Pioneer," he said with a chuckle. When he laughed, his eyes lit up like Piper's eyes did when she was really amused. He had more of that light it seemed to her.

"Pioneer?" Alex asked before she shoveled eggs in her mouth. She looked up a little embarrassed by her appetite and manners but Cal seemed oblivious.

"Yeah it is a big ATV, basically a kick ass little car that will go in mud, snow...you name it. Piper took the keys from the desk before she tried her big escape. I took them when the Marshals weren't looking and put them back. Dad noticed though," he laughed as he said it and even Alex had to smile. She looked over at Piper with such love and admiration for her little kick ass thug. She mumbled in her sleep and Alex started to move to the bed but she settled back down and snored a cute snort.

"Um, she wouldn't have gotten far though, with the security and the Marshals in the house. They'd heard her start it up surely," Alex managed to say before she started in on the gravy and biscuits. Fuck, Cal can cook! She'd wash all the dishes in the prison three times a day to eat like this regularly. She recognized that this attitude towards food was a direct result of her time spent in prison. But really couldn't work up a fuck to give about it. She was totally just full of gratitude and complete disbelief. Alex looked over at Piper again. She was close to her again, she could look across this short space and see her sleeping safely.

"Nah, hell Piper would have lost them. She stood a good chance. I bet she had a car waiting nearby. We stayed here a few weeks one summer when she was sixteen and she used to ride her mountain bike a certain way and meet this local boy on Friday nights. She was always active," Cal explained. His face fell when he looked over to see his sister in bed with her knee in a brace. Alex drank some water and looked down as the guilt washed over her.

"Lucky boy...did you spend each summer here?"

Cal made himself an egg biscuit and shook his head. "No, we had various interests but Piper did spend some time each year here...much more than any of us. Grandfather got it when Piper was nine. I was surprised Grandmother left me the house and not Piper...then she explained the old bird left her quiet a-"

He stopped talking and looked over at Alex. She suddenly felt a missing piece slip into place...and then she felt the sickening feeling of the realization that Piper didn't trust her. She nodded and put her hand up like she knew already. Her slight insistence that he not speak on it further had the desired effect of him relaxing. Alex looked over at Piper again.

"I for one am glad you were left it. It seems really secure and I can tell she feels safe here," Alex switched the topic. He nodded and looked back at his coffee with a worried expression. Something told Alex he wasn't happy the house was left to him or that he had this responsibility of taking care of his sister...and her criminal girlfriend.

"Alex?"

She turned her head to see Piper up on her elbows looking directly over to the small table where they sat. Alex melted. Her hair was disheveled and she had that sleepy Piper look. Alex would always shower earlier in the morning. Yes, she avoided a line by being an early riser, but it also gave her a bigger to watch Piper in line later. She would walk by and get to see that sleepy, frumpy, pre-shower Piper. She was up and walking towards the bed instantly, her breakfast forgotten.

"I'm here, kid. Your brother is a great cook," Alex wiped her mouth as she spoke. Piper followed her with hungry eyes that drank in her appearance in a way that made her chest tighten. She just kept thinking over and over in the back of her mind, " don't fuck this up Vause".

Piper reached out for her and Alex as she slid down to her knees on the plush rug by the bed. Gently, she guided Piper to recline back on her pillow. She was trembling and Alex couldn't tell if it was because she was scared, cold or weak.

"He is a great cook. It smells great...fuck I'm really glad you're still here and I didn't dream it," Piper murmured.

"Are you hungry?" Alex said with a smile.

Piper nodded. "You can have some of the soup I've got on the stove in a little while. The doctor will want to check your knee soon," Cal replied. "I don't think you can take a heavy breakfast and your meds...unless you're still getting the happy shots." He waggled his eyebrows at Piper and she laughed.

"Yeah for a few more days," she admitted. He was still not sure and Alex agreed that soup would be better. He left to check on it.

"Please get back in bed with me, I'm cold without you," Piper whispered. Alex looked at her and wanted to tell her everything again. She had kept so much bottled up inside. She wanted to share everything with her. They're time together in Litchfield...their talks and strides in trust, were crucial to where they are right that moment. She didn't want to fuck it up with not being honest.

Piper looked in her eyes and reached out to stroke her face. "Don't be afraid, you won't hurt me," Piper cajoled her as she pulled up the blankets on her side of the bed. Alex rose and walked around the bed. She caught another glimpse of the sunlight on the snow and thought how wonderful it was that she could crawl into this amazing bed with her Pipes. She also thought about how she couldn't leave this place and she felt the weight of that bracelet with each step. Alex literally shook her head to clear the glum away. It didn't work half as good as looking at Piper in the bed and knowing she was going to be able to press close to her in that amazingly soft haven.

"I love this bed almost as much as I love you," she teased.

Piper snorted and turned her head to look at her. Alex could tell she wanted to turn on her hip but she was going to do what the doctor told her to do. Alex would make sure Piper followed each and every guideline. "Almost...I'll take it," she said as if she was considering the compliment's worthiness.

"You want to talk?" Alex had to ask this of her though she felt a knot of dread in her stomach at the very thought of that talk. There was so much to tell and now she actually feared what Piper had to tell her.

Piper reached up and touched her face lightly. Alex kissed her fingertips as she traced them over her lips. "No...I want to talk with our eyes, our hands...I want to hear stories about your mother that make you laugh...or tell you about my memories here. We have time to talk about the rest...I can't take it right now Alex. Right now it is enough for me to know you're alive and safe by my side. Is that okay?" She looked down and Alex read that expression with ease. She was afraid what she said would upset her and she wasn't strong enough to handle it.

"That is the best idea I've heard...well besides the one where you suggested I get back in bed with you," Alex said with a grin. Piper smiled and closed her blue eyes as if she was holding a picture of Alex in her mind. She knew what it was like to fear for your love's life. She would be there for Piper and like she said, there was plenty of time. Alex turned and took off her glasses. When she turned back Piper's eyes were closed so Alex quietly cuddled next to her and watched her sleep.

*** Please Review. I love to write from the point of view of Piper. I hope you enjoy a different perspective. Fae***