Maura had been a doctor, so she knew clearly what was involved in physical exams, however the one she'd been given after Jane left was not normal. She'd expected as much, knowing that people hid things in odd places when they came into prisons, but this had been more invasive than the one she'd had during the Hoyt incident 2 years ago. Much more invasive.
All in all, despite the obnoxious behavior of the several of the guards, the nurse who'd looked at her like she was insane when she describe the history of the TB test, the lecherous glances from other inmates, her first few interactions with the prisoners was not bad. The driver, a lady named Morello, was very friendly, and was nice enough to explain quite a bit regarding the ways of prison life, treating it like it was a self-sustaining nation. Quite an accurate description if her research had been correct.
Her counselor was an older man with white hair, his appearance reminding her of Korsak. He was kind to her, explaining to her the in's and out of prison, from everything regarding her being easily pegged as wealthy, to the sexual liaisons between inmates. He went through the PSI list and asked about her visitor list, making sure she knew who everyone was. What he didn't mention was if anybody knew she was the former Chief Medical examiner. She found that many times, people didn't know who she was unless they had committed a horrid crime and she was called to testify. With this being minimum security, she hoped those incarcerated for homicide were few and far between and she was usually only needed for major cases.
She'd remained quiet during her time when the rooms were had and she was told the let everyone else make up her bed. No one had the slightest idea of who she was, despite them calling her "Isles". She wanted to be called "Maura" but they decline saying last names were how it worked.
Maura looked around at cafeteria as she made her way through the line. The tables are color coded it seemed. Odd, considering her friends weren't all the same color. Frost was definitely African American, and Jane was of a darker complexion than she was. Was there a section for lighter colored whites? Were Italians considered white? Was she considered Irish, as her biological father was or French as was the origin of her adoptive parents? How did she know which table was French or Irish.
"Is this organic?" she asked looking at the vegetables dropped on her plate. The plate itself worried her as such material could hold onto bacteria if not cleaned at the proper material.
"Excuse me?" the woman responded.
"Well see I am wondering where these vegetables come from. I haven't eaten non organic vegetables in ages, with the exception of the occasional French fry stolen from my friends plate. Well not stolen stolen, I sometimes eat from her plate…"
"Next!" the woman called out turning from Maura and onto the next inmate.
"Well that wasn't nice." She muttered leaving the food line. She stopped abruptly looking at the tables again. Where to sit?
"Doyle!" Maura looked up to see a red headed woman walking towards her. Red headed wasn't the correct term, as her hair more resembled the red found in sugary drinks than the natural red that was found in the human race. "Doyle's kid?"
"My name is M-M-Maura Isles…." Jane had warned her that if others found out she was Doyle's daughter, they might go after her in revenge. This woman's accent was not Irish, but Russian. Doyle had taken over several territories in South Boston back in the day, some of which could have belonged to the Russian mob.
"You're Doyle's kid then," she said taking Maura by the arm and leading her to a table not too far from where she stood. She shuddered as she was ushered to a group of women, varying in ages, all white who looked up as the red headed woman approach the head of the table.
"This is Doyle. She is one of us."
"Actually my name is Maura Isles, not Doyle."
"She is the daughter of Paddy Doyle, and as such, he has asked that we watch her during her stay," the woman continued ignoring Maura's comment. "I have given him my word that no harm will come to her. I suggest you all help me keep my word." Maura attempted to speak again, but the woman already walked away back to the kitchen.
Sliding into a seat, Maura glanced at the women around her. A dirty blonde with thick makeup on, another slender blonde, who looked far more cared for than the others, a brunette with thick glasses and judging by the length of her forearm and fingers was probably as tall as Jane, a young woman with blonde braids, and a short-haired hefty woman with short hair, but bright blue eyes.
"Isles…my last name is Isles," she cleared up immediately.
"Okay Doyle…Isles," the woman with the thick makeup laughed. "I'm Nichols, this is Chapman, Vause, Trish and Boo." She pointed to each woman down the line who nodded as her name was said.
"Nice to meet you. Is this a French or Irish table?"
"French….?" Chapman asked.
"Well yes. I noticed the tables seemed to populated by members of a particular ethnic group. However there can be differences even within the commonly known major racial groups depending on how the classification is made. For instance if we used a cladistic method, I don't know if I'm sitting at the correct table. My biological father is Irish, however I was raised by French parents, thus my social anthropological classification is different than my biological classification. Thus my question regarding this table; French or Irish. The woman with the red hair is obviously Russian, which is why she sat me with you."
"Hold on there Britannica," Nichols said with a laugh. "I have no fucking idea what you just said. Were white."
"White? That's not an accurate classification. Even Middle Eastern people are considered white, but I don't see any sitting here. Also there are other tables with 'white' persons. How do you determine where each person is placed?"
"What are you a professor?" Nichols asked
"No a doctor."
"What you in here for some Kevorkian like shit? Killing patients and shit." Trish, the girl with the braids asked.
"No, my patients are already dead…"Maura trailed off realizing what she just said. She exhaled and continued poking at what was passing for vegetables in this place.
"Dead patients. Doesn't sound like they trust you too much. What'd you do to get in here?" Trish continued.
"Is that really an appropriate question," Maura asked. "Jane, my friend, told me never to ask anyone that when I was sent here."
"See I'm not the only one who thought that was a rule," Chapman popped up. "I'm Piper Chapman. Your name, Isles…sounds very familiar. Are you related to Constance Isles by any chance?"
"Yes. She is my mother." Maura smiled. "Where do you know her from?" Maura immediately felt a connection to this Chapman woman. Her tone of voice and way of speaking was very different from the others.
"Your mother! We own a few of her pieces and my mother goes to her gallery every time it opens. I've even been to a few of the foundations galas."
"That's amazing. I don't recognize your name though. Chapman."
"We weren't regulars for sure. But I do love her work. I knew she had a daughter, but never thought I'd meet you here of all places."
"You know her Chap?" Vaus spoke up.
"Yes. Her parents run a very nice charity organization and her mother is one hell of an artist."
"So you're a WASP too huh?" Nichols asked with a smirk.
"I'm not Protestant no. I'm actually agnostic and refuse to subscribe to any belief. Though I'm quite sure that not all who are referred to as WASPs are protestant. Today it seems to signify wealth and influence more so than its original connotation involving religion. In that case I could possibly be considered a "WASP" but the term still wouldn't totally suit me." Maura replied missing the insult.
"God girl, You miss everything don't you. How the hell did you end up in here? Talk a judge to death?"
"No. I would prefer not to speak of it."
"Oh come on. I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours." She asked with a suggestive wiggle of the eyebrows.
"No thank you. Please stop asking." Maura exhaled sharply before pushing the tray away, nothing having been touched. "Is there other food here? I have a very strict diet I adhere to."
"Just the commissary," Chapman replied. "But you have to wait for your money to come in and it's only open at certain times. Though I'm not sure it will have what you are looking for."
"Perhaps I can have my friend send me a few items I can eat. Upsetting the nutrient balance I've maintained over the years will wreak havoc on my systems soon. "
"Don't insult the food," Chapman warned.
"I have nothing insulting to say. I haven't eaten any of it so I have nothing to compare it to. I've eaten organic for several years and even if I were to try the food, there is a host of variables that I couldn't account for thus I couldn't give an accurate rating." Maura explained calmly.
"Oh," was all Chapman could say.
"So you single Doyle-Isles?" Nichols asked.
"Its just Isles, and yes I am. Though I'm here for 40 months, so that is unlikely to change soon."
"Naw, you're a cutie, you could get a girl in here faster than you could blink, but there are couple you should stay away from. For instance…"
"No thank you," Maura cut in quickly. "Though I personally have no problem with the female form, and do find it aesthetically pleasing, I would prefer to continue my time here alone."
"Ahh so you do like the ladies?" Nichols said.
"While I've never been with a woman physically I don't doubt it could be a pleasant experience. " Maura replied not understanding why the woman was grinning.
"40 months is a long time Doc. A hot little doctor like you was probably getting action on the regular outside these walls….I give you two weeks to crack before you have someone between your legs."
"Oh come on!" Vaus and Chapman broke in together.
"Geeze Nichols that was just harsh. Its her first day." Vause said.
"I'm just getting my bid in early." She said with a laugh. "I'm just playing with ya…you know that right."
"I'm quite alright. I have mostly male colleagues so such talk does not bother me. I am at a lost to understand why people are so uncomfortable discussing sex anyway. It's a natural part of being human. My best friend though, Jane whom I mentioned earlier, she would probably have run out of here before you finished the sentence."
"You're best friend," Boo asked, suddenly interested in the conversation. She couldn't help but notice how Maura lit up at the mention of the woman.
"Yes, she was the one who dropped me off here today. She is uncomfortable with anything regarding sex, or love, or feelings in general. But she is quite a wonderful person. I expect to see her on visitor days."
"You gonna be here 40 months, you think your friendship will last that long?" Boo asked " most of my friends dropped off after the first year."
"Jane would never do that. We've been friends for 5 years and close for 4. We've been through so much together, I believe I could be here 20 years and she'd still be my friend. She promised to come every week no matter what, though I would excuse her for an emergency. "
"Well, I hope so." Boo said. "I really do."
"Well hey, welcome to South Middlesex," Nichol said with a grin. "Hope you like it here."
A/N: Not much inspiration, still trying to get the characters a bit. I have idea of how visitors day and bed assignments will go tho. R&R