Disclaimer: I own nothing apart from the writing and some plot points. Everything is credit to Orange is the New Black

A New Type of Pain

'Alright Morello, let's go…Morello…Morello!' Lorna flinched as CO Ford shouted her name. 'You wanna drive us to the hospital any time today?'

'Yeah! Yeah, sorry, must've zoned out for a moment!' She flashed a manic grin at Ford and turned her head. 'Hey Miss Rosa! How you doing?' She cringed at the false cheeriness in her voice.

'Great.' Answered Rosa in her always dry tone.

'Good! Alright.' Lorna started up the van and turned the radio on for the drive. How she was going to last a few hours in the van with just her nauseating thoughts for company was a mystery. She began talking to Rosa and Ford but she didn't even know what she was saying. Her mouth had tuned in to a happy-go-lucky autopilot mode, useful for when she didn't feel like actively engaging in any conversation. It was a defensive mechanism she had developed before she could even remember. It kept people off her back. The only problem was half of what she ended up saying was fantasised. She would sometimes unknowingly tell outright lies, unable to stop herself.

It didn't matter. As long as everyone thought she was fine and didn't suspect anything, it would all work out eventually.

She had to figure out what to do. She had nearly two years left in prison and she couldn't live like this for that long.

For once, waiting for Miss Rosa went quickly. Lorna had been thinking of what to do, how to do what Vee said but not cause any suspicion. Before she knew it, it was time to go.

Back to Litchfield, where she felt like she belonged – however bizarre that sounded. The one place she had felt safe and accepted was slowly unravelling before her very eyes.

Safe. That sounded ridiculous. But she did – she had. More safe than she felt in the outside world. Lorna had always blended in around prison. She never caused any big problems with other inmates and never got involved in anything too problematic.

And now, she had got herself tied up with the most dangerous woman Litchfield had seen for years. She didn't even mean to.

Being a part of Red's family had never been so risky. When someone had a problem with Red, they would usually not get the family involved and go straight for Red. The only other time Lorna herself had felt so threatened was when Pornstache took her out in the van. Lorna couldn't describe the disgusting fear she felt that day, over what he could have done to her.

But this was different. She was fearing for Nicky and Red, not herself as much. Of course she was scared, but she was more frightened of slipping up and Vee ruining their lives because of Lorna not complying.

She kept telling herself the same things over and over.

Think of Nicky. Think of Red.

Nicky had tried really hard not to do it. She hid it in her locker, she walked around the prison trying to distract herself, she loitered around some other women but she was too angry and agitated to cope with people.

Nothing worked.

Her favourite ex-girlfriend, Heroin, had come crawling back for more.

Or was it the other way around?

When Nicky told Alex that you only get one chance to break her heart, she had lied. Heroin could break it again and again.

And Nicky would let her.

So she had slipped off to the bathroom, the small bag of the brownish powder stuffed into her bra.

Fuck, did she feel good afterwards. So much better than she had felt in months, years even. It was hard to believe that this drug had ever made her feel so bad before. She couldn't think of anything but how calm she felt, how happy.

She had been a little dizzy at first but she hadn't taken it in so long, so that it was bound to happen. Once she felt less dizzy, she left the bathroom and walked around the corridors of Litchfield with a more mellowed smile on her face. Still the usual arrogant strut within her walk, her trademark knowing smirk upon her lips. But she didn't look angry. Not like she had before.

Best of all, she didn't feel angry. Or upset. The hours began to pass so quickly. She couldn't believe she had resisted for so long.

Nicky ended up in the library. She lay in the corner, staring up at the ceiling with her eyes shut. The chapel had been too quiet and she didn't want her music on. However, the library was just right. People spoke softly in here, and there were the odd sounds of books thudding back onto shelves, pages being rustled through.

It was calming. She felt so light, so free. Nothing mattered right now. She sighed, taking a deep breath.

'Enjoyin' yourself?' Nicky opened her eyes to see Poussey standing over her, a sarcastic expression on her tired face. She always looked so down lately.

'I am, as a matter of fact, thank you.'

'Well, could you move while I put these books back at least?' Nicky sat up and shuffled along the floor resting against the opposite shelves. A wave of dizziness swept over her with the sudden movement. Not to mention the heroin. Poussey frowned slightly and narrowed her eyes as she looked at Nicky.

'Shit. Shit. Tell me you didn't.' Nicky pushed her hair back and smirked.

'What?' Poussey threw her book down on the shelf. She shook her head.

'You fucking did, didn't you?' Her voice lowered to a whisper and she leaned in to Nicky. 'You took heroin didn't you? It's Vee's shit too. Fuck. I didn't think you'd do that, especially now! How fucking stupid can you get.' Nicky rolled her eyes.

'I can't catch a fucking break in this place! I'm sick of it, since when was my life anyone else's business? Keep your fucking nose out, alright? You don't know shit.' She stood and began to walk away but just as she was about to leave, she turned back, her face inches from Poussey's. 'And what I said about loving your straight best friend and all the other bullshit? Fuck that. Fuck that. Because there's no fucking point.' She walked away, the relaxed feeling she so enjoyed wearing off.

It turned out Nicky underestimated the power of emotions. She always thought heroin could tackle anything. She was wrong.

All she felt was anger. Nicky had always had a short temper, but never had it been this bad. Her fingers itched to hit something, to break something. They were curling up into fists as she stormed out of the library. Her lips were straining to yell, to insult anyone that came by her, anyone that looked at her the wrong way.

Nicky had never been the sort of person to hide away when she was angry. She was too impulsive, like she needed everyone to know to back the fuck off. She had a deep rooted need to assert her dominant nature.

That's when she saw Vee walking down the corridor, holding her head high, her eyes focused only on her path ahead. Nicky's feet quickened in pace, her breaths ragged in anger. She grabbed Vee's khakis at the shoulder, yanking the older woman around to face her.

'You're a fucking maniac, you know that right? You're gonna pay, you're gonna fucking pay.' Vee stared calmly at her. She looked at the junkie girl's eyes, wondering if she had taken the drugs she had left at her bunk.

Vee also had to wonder whether she just meant this about Red or if Morello had decided to tell her. She sighed as though she was bored.

'You got your point across this morning. Now, stop this silly act.' Nicky let go of her but kept eye contact.

'Just watch your back. We're not scared of you. You'll soon see.' Vee shook her head and walked away. She assumed the Morello girl hadn't said anything, but she had to make sure.

She couldn't let her control slip now.

Lorna was relieved when CO Ford told her they had to go straight back out in the van. A new inmate needed to be picked up. It kept her away from Litchfield for a little longer, away from the threat of Vee, the temptation to tell Nicky everything. Sure, she was left with her own agonising thoughts, but at least she wasn't in danger of directly hurting anyone right now.

Lorna was struggling to think of what to do. She knew it would be stupid of her to avoid the suburbs, to walk around prison on her own, with nobody with her. Vee could be anywhere, waiting for her to be alone. She could demand more, threaten more.

Lorna couldn't handle that.

Staying in the suburbs could be even worse. All of Red's girls were there – Nicky, Gina, Norma, Big Boo. Everyone she had to avoid. She shared her cube with Boo. How could she avoid her?

Then there was Red. They wouldn't keep her in the hospital forever. Lorna didn't know how badly hurt she was but as soon as she was on her feet, she would be back. And then she would have another person to keep off her back.

Her plan for showers and meals were to follow somebody. Not go alone, because then she was vulnerable. But wait for someone else to go – Chapman, or Yoga Jones maybe. Someone who wouldn't pry but who she could sit with, or near. That way she was less of an easy target. She knew Piper wouldn't mind her hanging around. She was often on her own lately, too wrapped up in her own thoughts to care much for anyone else.

Not that Lorna minded that. It meant she probably wouldn't notice how different she was acting.

The door of the van clicked open.

Looking around, she saw none other than Alex Vause. She looked tired and her face looked gaunt.

'Hey Lorna. Surprised to see me?' Lorna nodded.

'Yeah! I am! What the hell happened, Vause?' Alex shook her head as she sat down.

'It's a long story.' She sighed.

'Well, you got a lot to catch up on. So much has happened since you were last here. I don't know if Chapman has told you much. But things have changed.' She knew Alex had been to visit Piper but she didn't know anything else. Ford climbed in the van so they automatically stopped talking about the current state of Litchfield.

When they arrived back at the prison, Lorna didn't need to explain the basics to Alex, so she filled her in on what had been going on. Alex noticed how oddly she was acting though, her eyes slightly more alert than usual, her head snapping to the side when she heard someone pass by them. She was on edge, paranoid.

'Shit! Things here really have fucked up.' Alex couldn't help but feel safer here though. 'So what's gonna happen with Vee?' Lorna cringed, anxiously looking around to see who was there.

'Keep your voice down!' she hissed. Alex laughed.

'Oh come on Lorna, you just said everyone knows it was her who fucked up Red, surely everyone's talking about it!'

'I mean it Alex! Vee is dangerous. You can't come storming in here shouting stuff like that. You gotta watch your back.' Alex frowned at how worried Lorna looked.

'Alright, alright. How's Nicky holding up? I know she was close to Red.'

'Why should I know?' Lorna answered way too quickly.

'What the fuck? What's happened with you guys?'

'Nothing.'

'I just assumed all Red's family would be pulling together and planning something. And you and Nicky are fucking inseparable. Or should I say were?' Lorna closed her eyes in frustration. She had been happy that Alex was back. She was another person she could stick nearby to keep safe.

But Vause really wouldn't let things slide.

'Look, when I said things had changed around here, I meant it. It's dangerous.' They had reached the temporary dorm room where Miss Rosa was sleeping after her treatment. Luckily DeMarco was awake. Lorna turned to face Alex.

'You know the drill. Pick a bunk. Here's a toothbrush and soap. See ya round Vause.' She tapped the tall woman's arm and left quickly. Alex stared after her, taken aback by her sudden offish manner.

Lorna was walking swiftly back to the suburbs when a horrific realisation dawned on her.

Vee had said she had to tell the officials that she saw Suzanne attack Red. She had to frame an innocent woman.

She felt sick, her stomach twisting.

How could she live with herself after that? Suzanne would probably end up in Psych.

She reached her bunk, not many people were around considering it was dinner. Sitting down she wondered about whether or not to go through with it. There didn't seem to be much point, not when they had already decided it was Crazy-Eyes who tried to kill Red.

And however much she told herself she had to follow Vee's orders to protect her family, she couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that was plaguing her, weighing her down.

What would they do?

Lorna was sure Nicky wouldn't send an innocent person down. She was smart and knew how to protect herself and others, but Nicky wouldn't let Vee win. If it had been Nicky in her situation now, she would have probably told Lorna what Vee had said and begun to plan a clever revenge.

Red wouldn't say anything. She would fight back in her own way; she would be scheming now, similar to what Nicky would do.

Boo wouldn't be threatened by Vee. She wouldn't put up with such bullshit.

Gina and Norma were way too clever to be involved with anything like this. They would probably have told Red.

But did Lorna have any of those options? If she thought like any of her family, they would get hurt.

Was she weak-willed? Is that why Vee had bullied her into this? Into ruining everything?

Summoning up courage she didn't know she had, Lorna knew that she couldn't do it. She wouldn't.

She wouldn't tell a lie that horrific. A lie with such painful consequences. She knew her Christopher lie had hurt Nicky, but that was for Nicky's own good. If she went through with this lie, Suzanne would definitely end up in Psych or with way more years on her sentence and Vee would be ruling this prison without a doubt.

Slowly drifting away from these thoughts, she became aware of her surroundings. She felt someone watching her. Lifting her head up quickly from her hands, she saw Nicky against her wall, concentrating on Lorna.

'What's going on, huh?' Lorna took a deep breath and shook her head.

'Nicky, please. Leave it.'

'After what you said to me? What the fuck did you expect Lorna?' She could tell from Nicky's eyes that she was hurt. Lorna's heart broke a little but she somehow found the courage she needed. She avoided looking into Nicky's eyes as she spoke, her voice sharper than she intended.

'It's too much right now! Okay? I don't need your help, I don't need anything. I just want to be left alone Nicky. How hard is that to understand?' Before she could hear a response she ran past Nicky, out of the suburbs and headed for the chapel.

But before she could reach it, she saw Vee. Lorna froze as the older woman approached her.

'We need to have a chat, Morello.'

Author's Note: Sorry it's been so long since I updated! Been really busy then my internet broke on my laptop, ugh!

Hope everyone likes the chapter, please let me know what you think.

Having reviews to read is really lovely and helpful and I love hearing any kind of feedback.

Next chapter will (hopefully) be up soon; I'm trying! :)