S5E3: Scene 3

Linda Miles looked out of the office window and saw the procession walking down the hall. She pulled the radio off of her hip and called for Will.

"Jackson here," Will replied.

"Will, where are you?" she asked.

"I'm just finishing the evening equipment check and locking down the kitchen."

"You'd better get up here."

"Why? What's going on?"

"You'd better come to H Block. You're gonna want to see this."

"Roger that. I'll be there in five."

The procession had ended by the time Will got to H Block and met Linda. She walked him to H1 but the room was so crowded that he didn't see her at first. It wasn't until someone stepped to the side and opened a gap that he finally saw Bea alive, laughing, and surrounded by Allie and the women of H1 and H3. He couldn't move and just stood at the entrance with his arms crossed.

Shock and happiness quickly turned to anger when he realized what had happened and he stormed out of H Block in search of the governor. "That bitch," was his only thought.

Bea looked up as he walked away but he was out of sight before she could call out to him. She looked at Miss Miles, who just shrugged at her, and Bea put that on the list of things she was going to need to deal with on another day.

Someone handed her a cup and Allie leaned over and whispered in her ear, "Be careful. That's Snortz' brew. A couple of those will put you on your arse. Of course, I wouldn't mind that." Bea shot her a glance and Allie gave her a wink that made the older woman blush and shake her head.

Bea took a sip of the homebrew and felt the burn in her throat. Everyone, including Miss Miles, had a cup and when Bea raised her eyebrow at Liz, she grinned and showed her that it was just tea.

"Hey, Mini Me!" Boomer shouted at Big M. "Drag out the Monte Carlo's. We're havin' a party!"

Bea laughed as the two of them proceeded to have a contest to see who could balance the most cookies on their forehead. And when Boomer stumbled into Big M, she pushed Boomer back and they started a friendly tussle that ended when Snortz made another pass with the kettle of homebrewed "tea." Bea laughed at the sight of Boomer holding Big M, who really wasn't all that big, in a headlock while the pink-headed bouncer filled both of their cups.

Miss Miles turned to Bea and raised the paper cup in salute. "Welcome home, Bea. It's good to have you back." Then she downed the strong homebrew and decided it was time to call it a night before the kettle made too many rounds and the women would all be worthless tomorrow. "Five more minutes, ladies."

A hand on her arm made Bea turn and she found herself looking into Kaz' powder blue eyes.

"I'm glad you're okay," Kaz said quietly. The sincerity in her voice matched the tender look in her eyes, and Bea had to choke back her emotions. Then the look on Kaz' face shifted and a hardness came over her. "Next time you want to take her out, let me know. We'll do it together."

Bea wondered why the change of heart, but when Allie put her head on Bea's shoulder and Kaz smiled tenderly at her; she understood. Allie was the bridge between them.

"Hey, Mama," Allie stopped Kaz as she started to walk away and put her arms around the woman who had saved her life more times than she could count. She leaned in and gave her a soft kiss and a tight hug. "Thank you," she whispered.

Kaz turned and left, hoping that no one saw the tears welling in her eyes. Bea looked at Maxine and an understanding passed between them. They didn't have to see Kaz' tears to understand how much she loved Allie.

The other women of the Red Right Hand casually followed Kaz out and Linda Miles thought to herself, "So this is what it's like herding cats," as she shooed them back to their own cells and locked the gate on the H1 Suite.

The silence was serene as Bea looked around the table at the women who had become her family. Liz smiled at her and let out a little laugh that revealed her joy at having Bea home and healthy.

Boomer stopped playing with a string of licorice and looked over at Bea, feeling certain about her purpose for the first time in many weeks. Siding with Sonia, no matter how much she promised to help Maxie, felt too much like betraying Bea's memory. But Bea was back and Boomer knew who her Top Dog was.

Bea looked at Doreen and wondered what she'd see in her eyes: hate, distrust, or commitment to Bea, to the family? She found what looked like wonder. Doreen remembered her grandmother telling her stories of ancient Aboriginal goddesses who went into the underground every night and came out again in the daylight. Bea had either died or nearly died four times since she came to Wentworth. And no matter how many times Bea descended into the darkness of death, she always returned. She knew Bea wasn't a goddess but it certainly made her grandmother's stories seem more plausible.

Bea's eyes continued around the table to Maxine, who was so pale that she was actually a peculiar shade of gray-white. She was wearing a headwrap to cover her bald head, and two sweatshirts because she couldn't get warm. Bea had learned that Maxine had finished her chemo and radiation; and they were waiting on test results to see if there was still any sign of cancer cells in her system. Maxine had been at the cancer center today for her tests and Bea could tell that she was tired and need to go back to bed.

She rose and helped Maxine to her cell, feeling like two old comrades who had both just fought perilous battles for their lives. She helped Maxine into bed and covered her with the stack of blankets. Bea tenderly touched Maxine's cheek and smiled at her. Allie might be the love of her life, but Maxine was her dearest and most loyal friend and the only person she felt she needed to apologize to.

"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you the truth and that I wasn't really dead."

"You know, I don't think I believed it anyway."

"Oh? Why not?" Bea was curious.

"I used to do make-up for a mortician. I've seen human ashes. The ashes in the urn…"

Bea cut her off. "Is that what that awful red thing is on top of the refrigerator?! My urn?"

Maxine laughed. "Yes. But it has a wonderful scent like a wood stove. Those aren't human ashes in there." Bea shook her head and laughed with Maxie as she tucked her in. Then she rose and turned out the light as she left.

As Bea walked out into the community space of their suite, the other women told her good night or waved and closed their doors, leaving Bea and Allie alone in the center of the room. There was a strange, peaceful silence as the two women walked toward each other and held each other in a long embrace.

"Bea?" Allie whispered into Bea's neck, sending ripples of energy through the older woman's body.

"Hmm?"

"Your cell or mine?"