It had taken several months for her father to come around. He called her on her birthday. It was only a ten-minute conversation, if that, but it had been a start. Helen had understood the struggle her father went though, she knew that her love for Nikki contradicted what her father believed, what he preached from the pulpit every week, but what she understood in her head contradicted with what she felt in her heart. For a long time she was angry and hurt that his beliefs, his work, seemed to matter more to him then she did.

It had taken a lot for her father to over come his beliefs on the matter, but when it all boiled down to it, he loved his daughter and only wanted her to be happy. When he'd called to wish her a happy birthday he'd explained that he was trying his best and asked Helen for a little time. She'd given it to him, but held out on holding out hope. She didn't want to feel the disappointment when it all ended up with her and her father never speaking again. Helen had underestimated her father. He had come around and now they were closer then ever. He was even rather fond of Nikki now. One of Helen's favorite things to do was to sit and watch her father and lover debate a piece of literature for hours while polishing off several bottles of wine.

The rift between Helen and her father hadn't been the only drama she and Nikki faced that first two years they were together. Stepping over to her dressing table Helen picked up the framed picture that sat there. It was a group picture taken shortly after Yvonne and Barbara's releases from Larkhall. She had known that there would be no complete sever from their pasts at Larkhall. Nikki had formed very strong friendships with the women there; they had become her family. Barbara had been the closest thing to a mother Nikki had since her own mother had sided with her father and thrown her to the streets as a young teen. Yvonne had been something of a big sister to Nikki and still acted like it much to Nikki's annoyance. Then of course of there'd been the Julies and Denny, and even Crystal Gordon. The memory of nearly losing them and her other friends still sent shivers down Nikki's spine, just like the way it knotted Helen's stomach when she thought about that awful day. Though she'd pretty much cut out all connections from that part of her life for a time, Helen had still had friends and collogues in the prison service. Even her and Karen had managed to revive their friendship after Karen had come to her senses. Helen wasn't normally the type to take pleasure from the anguish of others, but she had to admit that when Karen had said she'd been right all along when it came to Fenner, Helen had felt more then a bit smug. Knowing that she could have missed out on Karen's friendship or on Yvonne's, or Barbara's, made Helen's heart hurt. Knowing that it was all because of some selfish little git and a love struck moron still managed to piss her off.


Helen reached into the fridge for the small carton of heavy whipping cream only to draw back an empty carton. Glancing over at the sauce she'd started and then down at the empty carton she huffed. It was just her luck to be out when she really needed something. Setting the carton aside and turning off the heat to the sauce she padded through Nikki's small flat to the lounge where Nikki was getting caught up on some paperwork.

"Sweetheart," Helen said sweetly as she came into the room. "We're out of cream, could you go and pick…" The Scotswoman stopped mid-sentence at the sight of Nikki. The taller woman was sitting on the couch staring at the television and paling rather quickly. "Nikki?"

Nikki continued to watch the screen, the presenter's voice becoming a shrill hum.

"The fire is centered in the library of the G-wing of the prison." The voice said as images of Larkhall appeared on the screen. "Reports coming in from HMP Larkhall say that the fire was the result of some kind of explosion which took place during the prison's open day; an attempt to gain community and government interest as a way to ward off privateers."

Helen sank slowly onto the couch beside Nikki as she watched the news report. There'd been an explosion at Larkhall? There was a fire in the library? What was going on? Images, faces of the women she'd met while she worked there, flashed through her mind. Reaching over Helen took Nikki's hand and held it tightly.

"We now have confirmation from someone in the prison service that there are indeed several women still trapped inside G-wing's library." The news presenter said. "However, there's still no official word from wing governor Karen Betts or Larkhall's governing governor Neil Grayling."

When she heard the sharp intake of air coming from Nikki Helen squeezed her hand again. Everything she was feeling must have been doubled even tripled for Nikki. She'd known those women, worked with them, for them, but Nikki had lived with them, she'd been their friend, she had shared their lives. So many questions rushed around in Helen's mind. Who was trapped? What were they doing to get those people out? All thoughts stopped suddenly when one thought made it's way to the forefront. Nikki could have easily been one of the one's trapped if she'd been there. The library had been one of Nikki's favorite places to be and the once place Helen could always count on finding her.

"Why aren't they saying who's still trapped?" Nikki suddenly asked. Her anger and fear were clear in her voice and the slight tremble of her shoulders.

The sudden sound of Nikki's voice made Helen jump. "They can't." She explained as she turned her head to look at Nikki. "Not until after it's all over."

"Why?" Nikki snapped. "What if Babs, or the Julies, or Yvonne, or Denny…"

Helen shifted so she could wrap her arm around Nikki's shoulder. "If something, God forbid happens then families will need to be notified. If they were to release names now it could land them in a legal mess."

Unshed tears welled in Nikki's eyes as she continued to watch the news report helplessly. "How could something like this happen?"

"I don't know love." Helen said as she watched as well. She might not have been as close as Nikki was to some of the women, but she had gotten to know several and she was worried, even scared for them. She also had a handful of friends who still worked in Larkhall, and they hadn't said if the women trapped were all prisoners or not. There was just too much they didn't know and it made Helen feel helpless, and Helen really hated feeling helpless. Getting up suddenly she went over and snatched Nikki's cordless phone from its cradle.

Nikki watched Helen as if the other woman were moving in slow motion. "What are you doing?"

"I've still got connections in the service." Helen replied. "I'm going to see what I can find out." As she stepped out of the room Helen dialed a familiar number. She kept glancing back at Nikki but knowing her love was safe and sound didn't seem to ease the knot in her stomach. "Hello Christian? It's Helen Stewart. Yes, I've just seen the news report. I was hoping you could... Chris, I spent three years in G-Wing, I have an emotional attachment to those women, not to mention the staff. Please Chris, I'd be grateful for anything, anything all. Yes, yes, thanks Chris."

Nikki continued to watch the news broadcast even though they'd moved on to something else. Her mind kept drifting back to the women she'd left behind. Barbara, despite their rough start, had become something of a segregate mother to her. Yvonne had become an older sister, and the Julies were like her favorite aunts. With Denny, who Yvonne had kind of adopted, they'd all crafted a family out of each other. She couldn't lose that. She couldn't lose them.

"They don't know who's still trapped yet." Helen said softly as she came over and sat next to Nikki. "Christian's going to ring me back when he has more information. Karen's keeping this closed off from the outside for now. What he did manage to find out was that it was some kind of an escape attempt."

Nikki blinked. "Who?"

"Don't know yet." Helen put her arms around Nikki and held her tight.

The night passed slowly as they waited for Helen's contact to call. When the phone did finally ring they both jumped. Helen didn't bother to leave the room this time she simply sat there and listened. When she hung up she looked at Nikki and carefully weighted the best way to tell her what she'd just been told. "Nikki…"

"Who?" Nikki asked as she took in Helen's expression. There was a touch of sadness in those hazel eyes that told Nikki more then words could. Someone hadn't made it out of the library.

Helen swallowed the painful lump in her throat as she replied, "McKenzie, Tina Purvis, Buki, two new women named Conner and Tyler, Grayling, Denny, both Julies, and, Barbara were trapped but got out. They're all in hospital wing or in hospital proper."

"Who didn't make it Helen?" Nikki asked. Hearing that Barbra had been trapped, but made it out sent a crash of emotion through Nikki. When she noticed the look Helen was giving her she added, "I can see it in your eyes." Reaching out the dark haired woman gently traced the faint winkle caused by the pinch at Helen's eyes.

It wasn't fair. She was just a kid; she had her whole life ahead of her, so much promise that would never be achieved. Tears welled in Helen's eyes as a lump formed in her throat. She'd worked with her one on one; she'd gained her trust and helped her as best she could and now… "Shaz."

Nikki was quiet for a moment and then her anger got the better of her. "How did this happen?!"

Helen shook her head. "The details are still sketchy, but apparently someone tried to escape and the blast was meant to be a distraction."

"Who?" Nikki demanded. Helen shrugged and shook her head again. "Doesn't matter." Nikki said angrily. "Whoever she is, she's as good as dead. The girls inside will make sure of it."

Helen looked at Nikki for a long moment. She wanted to believe that Nikki was exaggerating but deep down she knew she wasn't. She knew what some of the women in Larkhall were capable of. This had been an attack on some of their own on their own turf and she knew just as well as Nikki that this transgression would not go unpunished.