From the mind of Aunty Liz:

Wentworth Season Five: A Queen Will Rise
A fan-fiction story by Elizabeth Ragona # AuntyLizWW .

Episode 3

S5E3: Scene 1

Vera, Bridget and most of the Wentworth guards who were available were gathered in Vera's office crowded around the television. The air was electric with excitement as they watched and waited with the reporters on the courthouse steps for the announcement from the District Prosecutor. After several minutes, the large doors opened and a crowd pushed through, led by the sharply dressed, middle-aged man. He walked up to a podium filled with microphones from every national TV and radio station and raised his hands to quiet the shouting reporters.

"This afternoon, in lieu of continuing the trial, the Office of the District Prosecutor and the lead counsel for Joan Ferguson reached a bargain. Miss Ferguson plead "no contest" to the offense of conspiracy to commit murder and will serve 10 to 20 years in prison."

Cheers and applause erupted from the crowd of officers.

"For her plea of no contest, Judge Hamilton has agreed to her request to remain in Victoria to be near her family. We believe justice has been served here today. Thank you all for your time." The lawyer walked away from the podium and was followed by reporters shouting questions at him.

The guards simply stared at the television until someone hit the remote and turned it off. Vera's reflection was visible in the dark screen and Bridget saw the brief look of terror just before the governor's stern mask was replaced.

A voice from the edge of the room asked what many wondered. "What does that mean? If she's staying in Victoria, does that mean she's coming back here?"

The officers all began asking her questions at the same time and she had to shout over them. A sharp whistle from Bridget halted their shouting.

Vera shot a grateful look toward Bridget. "Thank you." She turned to address the guards. "I want to thank each and every one of you. Your control and diligence over these last three weeks has been instrumental in ensuring that Joan Ferguson went to trial today."

Several guards started to ask questions and she raised her hands to quiet them.

"I.." She had to wait for the guards to stop talking. "I was not consulted during the negotiations. I am just as surprised as you are. As we are the only maximum security women's prison in Victoria it is safe to assume that she will serve her sentence here. We will continue to operate this prison with the same discipline and diligence that I have come to expect from each of you."

She heard a few of the guards grumbling but a stern look from Will silenced them.

She turned to the dark-haired guard who had adopted the role of her assistant. "Miss Webb, let's make the necessary preparations as she will probably arrive after the dinner session; we'll put her in protection for as long as required to allow the other prisoners the time to assimilate this information." The serious officer nodded and left to prepare the paperwork and gather the standard basket of prison-issued property, which included two teal sweat suits. "Oh, Miss Webb, please have Mr. Ford bring Allie Novak to me."

Vera addressed the remaining guards. "Thank you everyone. Please check the updated roster and reassignments in the morning. And whoever has left their lunch in their locker for the last three days, please remove it before we have to call Hazmat. That will be all. Thank you." She stood and pulled down her jacket and waited as the guards filed out. She waved for Will to remain and Bridget stopped at the door and turned expectantly toward the governor.

"I'm going to lunch. Can I bring anything back for you?"

Vera thought for a moment and smiled at her. "Yes, I'll have the special. Thank you." Bridget flashed the biggest smile she could manage and practically ran out of the prison. Vera smiled at watching her best friend's joy. Their plan had worked. Joan Ferguson was going to be in jail for a very long time.

"You wanted to talk to me, Governor?"

"Oh fuck," was all Vera could think. "How am I going to explain all of this to him?" She turned to look at him and pointed to the chair across the desk from her. "Yes, Will. Please have a seat. We need to talk."
***********************

Allie was lying on the couch in H1 reading her favorite Harry Potter book for the umpteenth time while Officer Ford sat outside of H1. She only barely noticed the burly, bald, red-bearded guard assigned as her protector any more. He usually just stood or sat outside the suite scowling at anyone who attempted to enter.

At first his presence felt like another layer of freedom removed by the prison but when she noticed that it also kept Tina away from her, she felt grateful. The shaking in her hands and legs had decreased but every now and then the cravings would build up and she would become restless and begin pacing the suite. Whenever he saw her getting shaky, he would stay late and sit outside the gate and they would talk through the night.

He didn't pay much attention to the dark, curly haired prisoner that walked down the hall toward him. This was the usual time that she went to the medical unit for her physical therapy.

"Hey, Mr. Ford."

"Gibson. How's it going?"

"It's getting better." She rotated her arm to show him the range of motion but stopped and grabbed his arm in pain.

"Oh. Hold on. Just relax. Don't tighten up. Breathe." He kept up his encouragement until the pain faded and she was able straighten up. "You good?" he asked, concerned.

Gibson nodded. "Yeah. Damn, that hurt. I guess I still need those sessions."

He nodded. "Too right. Get on with ya. Ask her to ice you down first today; it'll be easier to do those stretches."

"Thanks. I'll do that." She smiled and waved at him as she continued down the hall.

Allie didn't notice the women entering the H1 suite ten minutes later. She had nodded off and the hardbound book was resting on her chest. It wasn't until she felt the hands grabbing hair and pulling her off the couch that all of the alarms in her body went off and she began wildly kicking and flailing. She was blinded when a cloth was tightened over her eyes and it only caused her to struggle and scream more.

"Hold her tighter," she heard the accented voice speak and felt hands pull her chin and stuff another cloth in her mouth to muffle her screams. Hands dragged her into a cell and began to beat her.

"Okay. Enough." The voice ordered. "You pay tax. Everyone pay tax. No refuse anymore. Now you pay 30%. If you no pay, then we come back and it go up to 50%. You understand." Allie nodded. "You have until dinnertime." Someone slammed her head into the wall and she blacked out.

Officer Webb knew something was wrong when she saw PJ's body slumped in the chair and she ran down the rest of the hall toward him. She lifted his head and checked his pulse. It was light but it was there. She pulled the radio off her belt.

"Code Black! Officer needs assistance. We have a medical emergency in H1." The alarm sounded throughout the corridor. She flagged another officer to stay with PJ so she could check out the cells. She found Allie lying on the bed, blood coming from her nose and ears. "Send another gurney!" She shouted into the radio. "Prisoner needs assistance in H1 also." Anyone near a guard heard the call come over the radio and, instantly, four prisoners, a governor and a deputy governor began running toward H1.
**********************

"Allie? Allie?" the voice broke as it called her name. "Allie, wake up. Can you hear me?" Trembling hands caressed her cheek.

The voice called to her through the darkness in her mind. Slowly, like rising through quicksand, she pushed herself into consciousness.

"Allie? Can you hear me? I'm here." Blue eyes fluttered open and looked into the worried-filled, brown eyes of her lover. "Hi, my Beautiful Girl. I'm here. I'm home."