We all have our starnge pairings, some make sense and others...well, others can be very out there. I'm not sure which category this would fit into. In my mind, it feels right to me but then again I'm know for my strange pairings. It's been a long time since I've seen Bad Girls but I caught an odd episode on CBS the other night and well...these two were in it and it brought me back. Some senarios I may have changed but hey, it's fanfiction after all, enjoy.

It's Never Too Late To Make A Change

Bad Girls

Lou/Joy

Chapter 1

...

Since the day she'd arrived at Larkhall Prison, the anomosity between Deputy Governor Lou Stoke and Prison Governor Joy Masterton had been obvious to everyone. Lou hadn't helped herself when she'd arrived late on her first day and then proceeded to have a joke with her Boss by pretending she had been interested in her. They'd never been the greatest of Friends since then but as Colleagues they had both did their best to respect one another, until now. Lou had been walking along the corridor back to her office when she'd spotted Joy coming in the opposite direction, it was late and only a few night shift staff around and so she was a little surprised to see that Joy was still around. What suddenly concerned Lou as she hid herself around the corner was how unsteady Joy appeared to be on her feet as she walked into the empty Medical office. The older Woman had been very distacted since she'd transferred her new found Daughter to another Prison and was clearly feeling guilty about it. Lou decided against her better judgement to go and check on her Boss, she crept into the medical room to find Joy going through the medicine cabinet.

"Joy..."

The older woman quickly turned around to see Lou standing behnd her, the slight look of concern on her face which was definately unusual.

"I thought you'd gone home."

"I was just about too, you didn't answer my question?"

"What the hell does it look like, I've got a headache." Joy groaned.

"Well I'm not surprised...how much have you had to drink." She asked, walking up behind Joy.

Joy stumbled away from the cabinet as Lou moved to get the paracetamol she had been looking for, she took out 2 pills and handed them to Joy along with a glass of water.

"I don't need that." Joy stated as she took a gulp of scotch along with her pills.

"For chirst sake Joy, what the hell do you think you're doing." She asked, anger evident in her voice.

"Oh leave it, will you. Technically I'm off duty...this is my time."

"Bull shit, you're still on the premises so technically...technically you're still on the clock. Now come on."

Lou grabbed hold of her arm and made a move to usher her out the room.

"What the hell are you doing?" Joy asked, yanking her arm away.

"I'm taking you home."

"I don't need a bloody baby sitter."

"You're in no fit state to drive...now come on."

Lou refused to give in and escorted Joy from the Prison, Joy got into Lou's car if a little unwilling at first and allowed her to drive her home.

...

When they arrived at Joy's flat, Lou got out and went around to the passengers side to help the older woman out.

"I'm not a bloody invalid you know."

"No, just drunk. Get up."

Joy got out of the car and stumbled a little, Lou's arms were suddenly around her waist keeping her steady.

"I can manage."

"Where's you keys?"

Joy dug into her bag and brought out her house keys, handing them to Lou. She kept her arm around Joy's waist as they made their way up the steps to Joy's flat. She unlocked the door and flicked the light switch before closing the door behind them and leading Joy through to her siting room. Joy fell back onto the couch as Lou placed the keys on the coffee table. She looked around the flat, surprised at how homely it looked. She wasn't sure what she was expecting but for a woman like Joy who always kept her emotions very deeply hidden and appeared cold not only to her Colleagues but also the Prisoners, her home appeared to be very inviting.

...

As Joy lay back against the couch, a wave of nausea suddenly crept up. Before Lou could register what was happening, Joy was on her feet and rushed into the toilet. Lou coud just make out the noise of her being sick as she made her way into the kitchen. She grabbed two mugs from the cabinet and began to prepare two coffee's for them. When she came back through Joy was back, her head in her hands as Lou placed the mugs on the table in front of her.

"Feel a little better now?"

"Not really."

Lou took a seat beside her and handed her a coffee, watching as she took a sip of the hot liquid.

"Joy...what's going on with you?"

"It doesn't concern you."

"It does when you bring you problems to work...is this about Stella?" She asked softly.

The last thing Joy wanted was to air her private life to anyone, let alone Lou Stoke. She couldn't understand, given their history why this woman was trying so hard to help her.

"Joy..."

"I tired to contact her, I gave her a few weeks to settle in to her new surroundings before hand."

"She doesn't want to see you?"

"I suppose I can't really blame her, she came here looking for her Mother and I turned her away. Convinced her that I didn't care, that I wasn't interested."

"It's not true though, is it?"

"I'm not a Mother Lou, the reason I gave her up for adoption in the first place is because I couldn't be a Mother...I don't have that instinct."

"I'm sure that's not true."

"When she was born...I felt nothing. I never felt the things I was supposed to feel when you hold your child for the first time. I was to career orintated, I still am...I think."

"I don't believe that, I saw how upset you were when she fell from the climing rope that day in the gym. Your first instinct was to comfort her, take care of her...protect her."

"And then I get rid of her."

"You did it to protect her, if any of the other women had discovered that Stella was the Daughter of the Prison Governor, her life wouldn't have been worth living."

"It doesn't stop her hating me, does it."

The look of hurt and pain in Joy's eyes broke Lou's heart, to see a woman who was always so tough, not afraid of anything or anyone. Lou moved a little closer and grasped Joy's hand, surprised that she didn't pull it away.

"Joy...if you really love Stella then you need to talk to her. Writing a letter isn't going to help with this, you need to talk to her face to face. Let her know just how much you love her."

"You think she'd listen to me."

"It's worth a shot isn't it. It beats drowing your sorrows night after night, you're better than that Joy...hey look at me."

Lou slipped her finger under Joy's chin forcing her to look at her.

"You are...better than that." She spoke softly.

Joy looked up and saw the honesty and worry in Lou's eyes, she couldn't quite believe she was discussing all of this with the woman she'd never exactly been friendly with, but somehow talking with her was really helping her. Lou offered a warm smile as she squeezed Joy's hand in support, the atmosphere in the room quickly changed and before either Joy or Lou could register what was happening, Lou have moved closer, bringing Joy in for an unexpected kiss. At first Joy was shocked but somehow it felt right, perhaps it was the fact that they'd taken a new step in their friendship...she really wasn't sure but she felt herself respond immediately to the kiss, never wanting it to end.

"Lou I..."

"Joy I'm sorry, I don't know what happened."

"Don't apologise please...I'm not sorry it happened."

"We don't like each other."

"After tonight, I don't think that's the case anymore."

"Do you want me to leave?"

Joy sat for a few moments, pondering the question before she looked up to meet Lou's eyes.

"No...no I don't want you to leave." She smiled.

...

To Be Continued...

Should I continue or leave it there ?