Healy was sitting alone in his office without doing anything. He felt worse than ever after sending Whitehill to the Max. He was looking at the floor and his eyes were glassy when Red entered his office, interrupting his thoughts, without knocking on the door and closed it quickly behind her. She looked crummy and her lips were unusually pale.
"Oh, thank god! You're here!", she said relieved. "I know that things have been a little awkward between us lately, but I would like to ask you one more favor ", she sighed.
Healy tried to force himself to concentrate on her words. "Tell me, Red", he whispered.
"Can I take a nap here?" she pleaded. "This motherfucker Piscatella doesn't let me sleep like a human", she hissed. "I think that I can't stand it anymore", she continued and sat on the chair opposite of him. "You know, after all, I'm just an old Russian lady", she laughed to herself.
Healy's gaze filled with grief. "I'm sorry, Red. Take a nap here or do whatever you need to do. I…I really feel sorry…" he said and she could see the despair in his eyes.
"What's wrong, Healy?" she asked with her thick Russian accent, but he didn't say anything. "Look at me", she ordered.
He obeyed and looked up to her. "Red, I am failed…I am a useless piece of shit…"
She rolled her eyes. "What's the matter now? Is this about your divorce? Or maybe Judy King?" she asked a bit annoyed.
He smirked a little at her reaction. "Not really. I failed with Whitehill…I…"
Red interrupted him with a wave of her hand.
"Healy please, don't do this now! She killed a guard. You did your duty", she said sharply.
He felt tears burn his eyes. "But she confessed to me more than one times and I thought that she was just delusional…"
"Well, she is delusional but she's also a killer", she answered sarcastically
"I'm silly", he muttered
"Stop it now", she ordered.
"But I'm fucked up!"
"Ok. Maybe, you're fucked up, I'm fucked up too and we are all fucked up around here. But we need you now, can you understand it?"
He laughed bitterly at it. "Who needs me, Red? You know that I suck at my job!"
"What?" she asked sarcastically "Come on Healy... don't you see how are things going in this prison at the moment? Yes, you have many issues –we all have- and you're very insecure but you don't suck at your job! Believe me, you aren't the worst CO in Litchfield. But... listen to me, you have to get your shit together. You can't collapse now. Maybe, you should go home for a while. Take a shower, sleep for a few hours and then, come back...'cause you – are – necessary –here."
''You're right... I can't collapse now, I have to calm down", he answered thoughtfully, "but I don't wanna go home. I'm afraid" , he said weakly.
Red looked up at him with her eyes full of questions. "Of what?"
"Of myself, Red. Could I stay here with you?", he pleaded and his voice broke.
She scoffed. "Healy, this is your office."
"Yes, but I don't wanna disturb you, while you're sleeping."
"Oh, god!", she sighed "Let's stay here together, Sam. Ok?", she said in a softer voice.
He nodded. "You should lie on the sofa, it must be more comfortable than this chair."
"No, thank you, Sam. I'm fine here! I think that this is a good position for my back. Everything is going to be better, believe me..."
She closed her eyes and he stared at her. She looked like an angel to him. He knew that she had refused him lately, but he couldn't ignore his strong feelings, especially in these difficult times.
Then, she spoke with her eyes still shut. "You know Sam, I feel I have failed too. But we don't deserve this pain. Especially you. You're a good man. And please… don't look at me like that. Believe me, I can see you, even with my eyes closed", she said with her winged smile. He chuckled, as she fell asleep.
In a moment, she shivered and he blanketed her carefully with his jacket. She stirred in her sleep and Healy stroked her red curls. She smiled.