AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is the first fanfic I have written in several years so I might be just a bit rusty. This fic takes place after the events of season one and mostly revolves around Daya, Bennet, and Mendez though of course a lot of other familiar faces will show up. Please R&R!
**I DO NOT OWN THESE CHARACTERS, THIS STORY IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY**
Daya stared blankly at the dingy brick wall at the end of her cot, but she didn't really see it. She was far too busy within her own thoughts to trace the lines with her eyes as she so often did when she was really bored. Behind her bustled the women of Lichfield, living out their empty and sanctioned lives almost as if this was normal. This! Life as a caged animal, trained through fear and through cruelty. Daya always had the vague thought of that on her mind, but still that was not what occupied the majority of her thoughts today. No, Daya's thoughts were on Bennett. His soft brown eyes with all the gentleness of a doe at once angry and disbelieving.
Today she had tried to talk to him again about the recent events that were threatening to pull them apart.
"Daya, why would you think this was a solution!?" He had seethed in a hushed voice.
His hand clamped tightly on her elbow and she pulled back a little reflexively, "I couldn't think of any othe.."
He shook his head stopping her answer abruptly, "Then you're a fucking idiot, Daya!"
Tears welled in her eyes giving them a glistening glow under the fluorescent lighting. No one saw, even if they did they didn't say anything to her. Daya wasn't exactly the most popular girl at the prison, after all. In fact, up to this point people had pretty much just tolerated her, even in her own "people". She was an outcast, even among them. Things had gotten slightly better between her and her mother, but really the only one who had shown her any kindness was John. Now he barely looked at her, or if he did he made it a point to reprimand her for every tiny violation he happened to see.
Daya laid back, falling with a plop against the skinny and uncomforting mattress. She was beginning to doubt having this baby again. Would Bennett even be there for her when it came? Would everything be alright? She could tell the prison administration that she was pregnant, then the finger would be pointed at "Pornstache" Mendez and they would grant her an abortion. Then she could put this entire misadventure behind her, pretend like it never happened. She could imagine to herself that Bennett had merely been a very vivid dream, the baby a bad case of the stomach flu.
"No." She said aloud drawing a questioning stare from her roommate.
There was still a chance for Daya and Bennett, she had to believe that. She had to believe that all of this anxiety and sadness would eventually lead to something better. She admitted to herself that she had been mistaken to listen to Red and the others, but she would never do it again. She had been against the "Pornstache" fiasco from the get go, if only she had listened to herself. They could have figured it all out, she and John. They loved each other, that was all that really mattered. Now she didn't know if that was even true anymore.
Daya rolled on her side towards the wall, her mouth tightly pursed in contemplation. She really couldn't blame him if he didn't love her anymore, but she hoped with all of her being that he did and that in the end he would forgive her.
George "Pornstache" Mendez sprawled across his bed, his gangly legs tangled in the sheets and his arms wrapped tightly around a pillow. He let out a long low snore as his unconscious body attempted to roll to one side. There was suddenly no bed beneath him and his back hit the carpet with an audible thud, pillows and blanket still clinging to his body.
"Augh!" He moaned, and with much difficulty his groggy form managed to get into a sitting position.
Despite the darkness of the room, the clock said it was long past noon. His eyes stared dumbly at it for a few minutes, and then in one wobbly motion he got to his feet. Kicking the blankets away from him he opened the door to his bedroom and walked out, throwing the pillow across the bed behind him as he did.
Daya he thought, squinting his eyes a little as the daylight finally reached them. It was his first really coherent thought of the morning. He imagined her, as he walked into his empty kitchenette. In his daydream she was in an comely dress and ruffled apron making him eggs and bacon. He could see her full lips smiling as she turned to see him come in, hert heart leaping with unbridled happiness. His heart beat slightly faster as he thought about walking up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. A grin crossed his face as he stepped over to the coffee maker and pressed "Brew".
George's mind had been rushing with thoughts of his mocha colored angel since his suspension. He was acutely aware of the familiar and growing grip of love taking hold on him, and he liked it. Her cute round face constantly was at the forefront of his mind, he had to see her and soon.
He grabbed hold of his slightly firm phallus, kneading it absently in his palm. He laughed a little, remembering their two stolen moments together. His eyes stared vacantly as his mind rushed to remember her curves, the feel of her, the slightly stale smell of the storage closet mixed with their sweat. He shook himself free of these thoughts begrudgingly as he walked back towards the counter for some fresh coffee.
Taking the coffee pot with a sweeping motion he poured as scalding hot mug of coffee for himself and sat down. He was hungry but he didn't much feel like breaking out the skillet and he didn't have anything quick and easy either. He hadn't really been out since he left work, only once to pick up his check.
Oh shit, he thought to himself, I never actually went inside to get that…
He had gotten to talking to John about Daya and he had completely forgotten why he had gone there in the first place. Oh well, a good excuse to go by the prison, maybe he could get a glimpse of her in the yard. Maybe he could even talk to her through the fence. She would obviously want to see him too. A moronic smile crossed his face as he brought the mug to his lips.
"I am a goddamn genius." He chuckled to himself taking a large gulp of coffee.
Abruptly he threw the mug across the room, ejecting the burning hot coffee from his mouth and running to the sink to douse his mouth with cool water.
John Bennett's eyes glazed as Wanda Bell droned on beside him. No one had been surprised about "Pornstache" fornicating with inmates, in fact they were surprised it had taken him so long to get caught. None of them could believe he was smart, he was more than likely just very lucky. Still, gossip was gossip and right now he was the hot topic among the correctional officers. It was close to the beginning of Wanda's shift and John's was winding down to it's end, they were walking together towards her post.
You could see in John Bennett's eyes the weariness that had built up over the course of his shift. He had been trying to avoid Daya at all costs, because he had his pride after all. It seemed utterly ridiculous that she would think that a thing like sleeping with George Mendez would solve any problems for them. If anything it created yet another big problem, that lunatic thought he was in love with her. It's too bad John thought that I actually do have feelings for this girl. He wished for just a moment he could just be a heartless player, using her and throwing her out like garbage. For good or bad he was stuck with these feelings and his morals and there was nothing to be done about it. On top of that he couldn't even bring himself to hate George, he was just a harmless idiot as far as John knew.
Still, John was slightly troubled about the drug revelation that George had laid on him a few nights ago when they had been at the bar together. How had he found out about such a thing, and why hadn't he gone to Caputo when he had first discovered it?
Needed more evidence. That was all he could think at this point though at the back of his mind it still seemed strange to him. Especially strange that Mendez himself hadn't wanted to save the glory for himself, if anything George was as selfish as they came. Or was he? John's brain was tying itself in knots.
"I mean, you'd think he'd at least get caught with a pretty one! Not that heifer Diaz!" Wanda was saying, "Chapman or Vause or something! But then I heard they were gay for each other so maybe-"
"You think Daya is ugly?" Bennett interrupted her without really thinking.
"Daya? Since when did you two get so friendly?" She asked in an interested tone.
Fuck.
His heart beat a little faster, "Oh, we're not. I mean, I just thought of her name for some reason."
"Oh, I see." Wanda replied curiously, but she was going to let the subject drop.
Bennett cleared his throat roughly, "Anyway, Mendez was here a couple days ago."
He really didn't plan a follow up to the sentence, he just wanted to change the subject as quickly as possible. Wanda looked at him for several moments and then, a little annoyed, nudged him on.
"And?"
"Oh, and...he said something about Mount Rushmore..."
It wasn't exactly a lie, and it wasn't as if he could tell the truth.
"That bastard gets suspended and he's going to go on vacation?" She scoffed, "That fucking dick hole."
"I..." John began to nod, "I know, right?"
"Well, whatever floats that sick fuck's boat, this is my stop Bennett." Wanda motioned to the guard froom where S. O'Neill sat half asleep behind the dust covered window.
"Right." John was thankful for that, he couldn't take much more "small talk".
"You have a good night Bennett, get some sleep!" She stepped through the door, but before closing it all the way she called out to him again, "You look like shit!"
The door clacked closed.
"Thanks." John turned wearily and headed out.
It was recreation time, the "recess" of prison life. Right now going outside wasn't exactly pleasant because of the cold but still the inmates congregated together. Their breath formed wisps of visible chill in the air. The sky was overcast so the yard was dark; this was a typical New York winter day.
Daya stood on her own near the place where she always had met Bennett, but he was not there. His schedule had been completely out of whack since they had sent "substitute" guards from down the hill. Not that he was even telling when he'd be working anymore, he was too angry to even look at her most times.
Daya traced her finger along the wooden board where his spit cup had sat, where they had exchanged notes. Her heart was sinking deeper with each breath she took. It was that feeling of utter dismay when you felt as if you'd lost something important, a part of yourself that you could never get back. It was hitting her more and more by the hour.
"Hey puta!" Aleida Diaz slunk up next to her daughter, pinching her muffin top through her coat.
"Hey!" It was not a greeting but a cry of pain and annoyance.
"You still moping around because of that dumbass Bennett?"
"He's not a dumbass mom. I.."
"Love him." Her mother finished a mixed look of disgust and amusement on her face, "I know."
Daya remembered a time when she had absolutely despised her mother, but being in an enclosed space with her. Actually talking to her everyday had mellowed the hate to mere dislike and resentment. That being said, at this moment she really wished her mother would go away and mind her own business. What kind of a couples counselor was she anyway? She had several baby daddies and she had taken the fall for a man who would fuck anything that moved. Up to this point Daya had been careful, she hadn't gotten pregnant until now.
"You know, I been in love too." Aleida's eyes seemed to glaze, not with happy memories but with hatred, "Look where it get you. How many times do you think I fell in love? Finally I learned, no one is worth feeling so shitty over."
"Finally? Is that why you're in jail, because you learned?" Daya's voice was cold, she hated her mother's hypocrisy.
"Fuck you Dayanara!" She snapped, "This is the last time I go down for anyone."
"Yea." Daya rolled her eyes, "I'm so proud of you."
"You know what?!" Her mother growled, "Fine, I'm not gonna stick out my shit for an ungrateful little slut like you."
Before Daya could say anything snarky in return Aleida was out of sight. Daya sighed, she knew to some extent her mother had a point but she wasn't willing to listen. She needed to be young and naïve right now, it was the only way she could survive. Maybe she looked stupid but she didn't care, she always looked stupid in someone's eyes. Coming to terms with that had been part of her coming of age.
Daya Was about to head to the more populated section of the prison yard when she saw out of the corner of her eye a figure waving frantically in an isolated corner of the fence. Her heart leapt, it had to be John. She turned, a bright smile crossing her face, but it quickly faded.
"Pornstache." She muttered bitterly.
Daya turned to go, she really didn't wanna deal with him right now. She started to walk across the frozen blades of grass when she heard him fainly behind her.
"Hey! Hey!" It was quiet but she heard it.
Maybe she could just set the record straight with him now, that she didn't want to be with him. Everyone would believe he made her pregnant so why not dump his ass once and for all so that he would stop getting the wrong idea about them. She looked around her to make sure no one was there, she didn't need to get thrown in SHU for this prick. She made her way over to him as quickly as she could, careful not to attract attention to herself.
"What are you doing here?" Even looking at him made her stomach turn now. How had she even been able to have sex with this guy?
"I had to see you baby, I couldn't wait anymore."
How disgusting.
"Look…" Daya was ready to lay it out for him, she wanted this to all go away. The faster he was out of her life the faster she could fix things with John.
"Oh baby, baby…shhh! Shhh! I know, I know you're scared that I'm going to get caught."
He wasn't letting her speak, she just wanted to tell him and get it over with! Why can't you understand that I don't like you! I don't even want to like you as a friend! You are the most vile thing on the planet!
"But, I'm trying to tell you that I don't…" She tried one again to tell him how she felt.
Mendez ignored her protests this time, reaching a thin but large hand through the fence to stroke her hair. She recoiled from his touch a little as he continued to speak, "I need you to be strong for me. I know my way around here so I won't slip up."
Daya frowned, "Can you please, just listen!?"
He was smiling dumbly at her and he even reached his arm through a hole in the fence to touch her face. She pulled away so that he only barely brushed his fingertips against it.
"If we do get caught Daya, sweetheart, I'm going to go to the press!"
"What!?" She asked this question much too loudly and she covered her mouth as fast as she could. Then she asked what he meant in a much softer voice.
"I mean that the public goes ape-shit for this kind of thing! Two people so desperately in love, but kept apart by "the man"! We're like…Romeo and Juliet! Or Diane and Sam! Think about it, those dicks at the warden's office won't want to deal with that kind of thing! They'll give in to our demands like they were nothing if we even threaten to go talk to the press."
Not only was he a piece of crap but he was a raving lunatic. The press would be a bad thing. She knew if definitely wouldn't help her and Bennett get back together. Even if he didn't go to the press, what else was he capable of? Daya knew that he had his hand in something to do with Red, and she knew that it couldn't have been good either.
"What demands are those?" Her mind raced, trying to find answers.
"That they allow us to be together! Of course."
Daya knew that she couldn't tell him now he was too much of a threat. What if he started poking around? What if he uncovered the truth? He would get John thrown in jail!
"Look, Let's wait on that…"
"But why?" He asked, momentum leaving his voice.
"Be-because, I just think we should keep it on the DL for now."
She waited with baited breath for him to answer.
"Ok. You're right. We need to wait. I have to be patient!" He punched himself hard in the head, "I told myself I would be!"
"Good." Daya let out a relieved sigh.
Suddenly the loudspeaker was calling the inmates back inside. THANK GOD! She felt like she might throw up at any moment. She needed to get out of there.
"I gotta go."
She felt better as she began to walk away, but that was short lived.
"Could I? Could I get a kiss maybe?" His voice meekly rang.
She turned back towards him, and then away again rolling her eyes.
George Mendez was prepared for anything. He knew there was very little chance of anyone catching him in the act of meeting Daya but he didn't discount the fact that possibly the sub guards were actually on top of their game. If he lost his job he didn't care, that's just how serious he was.
"A man can't do things half assed." He said to himself as he drove down the winding back roads towards Litchfield.
At each traffic light he impatiently drummed his fingers on the wheel, and he honked wildly whenever someone was going a bit too slow for his liking. This was it, his heart beat crazily against his rib cage and he wanted the anxiety of it all to clear up as soon as possible. The only thing that would alleviate these mutant butterflies was seeing Daya.
Finally he saw the prison set against the horizon, it was about twenty minutes until the inmates recreation period was over, he was just in time.
He parked on the outskirts of the parking lot, securing his sun glasses and his hood so that he wasn't as likely to be recognized. No one was milling around the parking lot at the moment so he was able to make his way, cautiously, towards the wooded area surrounding the prison walls on three sides. This was the direction of the yard, and he knew Daya had to be somewhere within.
George felt almost like he was in an action movie, sneaking around such a guarded place without getting caught. He hummed the theme from mission impossible quietly to himself as he turned around the corner of the building. Lichfield was his playground, and he was confident sneaking around on the premises. Then, like a heavenly vision, he saw her. My girl!
"Daayaanaaraaa…"He pronounced each syllable.
It tasted good in his mouth. She had to be the one, she had to. He wanted to taste that name for the rest of his life.
Daya was talking to someone in a secluded corner of the yard; it looked like they were arguing. He knelt low to the ground, not that it was much good. He was as tall as a short midget crouching down like that; you could see him from miles away. Neither of them looked in his direction though, which was good.
George watched for a bit and realized it was the other Diaz talking to her. Were they related? He had never thought about it before, he hadn't really cared before. He regretted that. He decided that the next time he could sit with her, in a more relaxed setting, he would ask.
After what seemed like far too long the other Diaz finally left, now was his chance. He couldn't exactly call out to her so in a desperate show of lanky arms akimbo he attempted to wave her down.
Daya turned abruptly, a broad smile on her face.
My divine fucking goddess! His smile was just as broad and it radiated a sincere feeling of joy. From far away it seemed like her face fell a little and it looked like she was turning to leave. His happiness didn't diminish; he knew that she was a quiet and reserved girl. Daya was most likely both shy and scared of being caught, he could understand that. This display was all the more reason to love and cherish her.
"Hey! Hey!" He called to her in a hushed tone swinging his arm around in a beckoning gesture.
Daya looked in both directions cautiously and made her way over to where he stood.
"What are you doing here?" She asked in a hushed and desperate whisper.
"I had to see you baby, I couldn't wait anymore." He looked her over, savoring the sight.
"Look…" Daya began, her tone was harsh.
"Oh baby, baby…shhh! Shhh! I know, I know you're scared that I'm going to get caught." George's eyebrows rose in admiration, she was such a good girl to worry so much about him.
"But, I'm trying to tell you that I don't…" She began.
Mendez ignored her protests this time, reaching a thin but large hand through the fence to stroke her hair. She recoiled from his touch a little as he continued to speak, "I need you to be strong for me. I know my way around here so I won't slip up."
Daya frowned, "Can you please, just listen!?"
If Mendez heard her he did not acknowledge her, he was much too wrapped up in his own world to do that. He suddenly had a plan forming in his brain, and once that happened there was no letting go of it.
"If we do get caught Daya, sweetheart, I'm going to go to the press!"
"What!?" She almost screamed, covering her mouth quickly. Then quietly, "What do you mean you're going to go to the press?"
"I mean that the public goes ape-shit for this kind of thing! Two people so desperately in love, but kept apart by "the man"! We're like…Romeo and Juliet! Or Diane and Sam!" He was getting more excited with each word, "Think about it, those dicks at the warden's office won't want to deal with that kind of thing! They'll give in to our demands like they were nothing if we even threaten to go talk to the press."
"What demands are those?" Dascha Diaz asked, he could see the girl's mind was racing frantically.
"That they allow us to be together! Of course."
Daya shook her head after several long minutes of letting the words hit her brain she looked up into his face, "Look, Let's wait on that…"
George was a bit surprised by that reaction, "But why?"
"Be-because, I just think we should keep it on the DL for now."
George Mendez was rarely persuaded to do anything except what he wanted to do, he had always been an "every man for himself" type of guy. Now though, looking in those large and pleading eyes, he nodded.
"Ok. You're right. We need to wait. I have to be patient!" He punched himself hard in the head, "I told myself I would be!"
"Good." Daya sighed in relief.
Just then the loudspeaker boomed calling in all of the prisoners, and for some reason Mendez jumped. He wasn't ready to let her go yet! There was so much he wanted to say, and so much he wanted to do.
"I gotta go." The words broke his heart but he nodded.
Daya Diaz walked away from him, but George called out to her once again.
"Could I?" He scratched the back of his long neck, suddenly shy, "Could I get a kiss maybe?"
Daya turned towards him and frowned, then looked back at the yard, then back at him. Hesitantly she jogged back to where he was standing behind the fence. He puckered.
"Turn your head." She said.
"Huh?" He questioned.
"Turn it." She made a circular motion with her index finger.
He turned his head and pressed it up against the fence, she gave it a quick peck and was off again back towards the innards of the prison.
How cute! He gushed to himself.
He grinned heading back towards his car, once again he had forgotten his paycheck.
To be continued...
There will be a Bennett part added to this chapter at some point, but I wanted to get up the beginning of this chapter at least. Maybe some reviews will make me write faster? Up next Mendez comes up with horrible plans, Daya has a change of heart (or does she?) and Bennett may or may not forgive her!