The blow knocked him forward, sending Miguel to his knees. Before he could recover his attackers began kicking, stomping until he was flat on the ground.

"This is for Hoyt you cock sucking spic!"

Miguel cursed out loud when a particularly hard kick hit a rib. He attempted to roll away, managing to hit the wall.

Fuck!

They kept coming with the kicks until one grabbed him up from behind and pinned him.

"I'm going to open you up like fish."

Instinct kicked in and Miguel was able to headbutt the biker's chin. Though the man was much taller, it caused him enough discomfort to step back. That gave the young Latino just enough time to reach for the scalpel in his jeans. He swung around and sliced. Both Burns and Sands paused to evaluate him.

"What do you think you're going to do with that?" Sands taunted.

In his hand was a good old fashioned shank made from a toothbrush and razor. Burns held some corkscrew type weapon.

"You made me bite my tongue you cocksucker!"

His back against the wall, Miguel swung his weapon again. He had to make it out of this. He was not going to die by these white trash hands! Just as Burns began to advance Miguel caught a glimpse of blue flashing around the corner. A hack! He'd never been happier to see one.

"Yo!" he called out.

The agile Latino dodged the corkscrew just as Sands landed a good gash to his forearm.

"Hey! Hey!"

Three hacks were coming which was a good thing. Still, he couldn't count himself lucky until his enemies had lost their gear. All it took was one good jab and once again he'd be laid up in the infirmary. Vulnerable to any attack.

For once the hacks did their job right. The three of them were tackled to the floor, weapons wrestled or tossed away. Of course Nobody admitted to owning said weapons. That made no difference. To the hole the three of them would go.

"Wait, not so fast Alvarez. Stay the fuck down."

It was LoPresti whose knee was in his back as Burns and Sands were dragged away.

"I got something else for you."

Miguel struggled, despite knowing it did no good. If he actually broke free they'd just beat him down again. It wasn't like there was anywhere he could go anyway.

"Quit your moving unless you want to go to solitary."

That froze him.

Please no, anywhere but solitary.

His cheek against the cement floor, Miguel spat red salt from his busted lip. Whether it was the bikers or the hacks who'd done it he wasn't entirely sure. Everything had happened so fast.

"I'd like a word with you," the hack hissed.

He leaned in just enough to be heard better in his hushed tone.

"What the hell is going on with you and McManus? Why is he and Murphy so sweet on you all of a sudden?"

So somebody finally noticed. Other than O'Reily. Shit.

"I don't know what the fuck you're talking about!"

LoPresti responded by digging his knee in painfully further. Miguel grunted.

"Don't fuck with me, Alvarez. Why is he so protective of you? You snitching on your friends? Oh wait you don't have any."

Forever alone. Forever solitary.

"Or maybe you're snitching on COs. Is that it? You running back to Daddy telling him what we do?"

What was he talking about?

"You tell him what you saw? During the riot?" LoPresti's baton was at his throat, forcing his neck upward as it pressed against him. Miguel couldn't even swallow.

"I didn't see nothing! I swear! I wasn't even—"

Conscious. Too busy passed out on the laundry room floor getting his ass plundered without his knowledge.

"I wasn't even participating. I did the riot thing before, remember? It didn't work out so well."

The hack actually chuckled halfway.

"Yea, I suppose you're better suited for folding shorts than leading shit. But that doesn't answer my question."

He tightened the baton and Miguel found that he couldn't breathe.

"What do you have going with McManus?"

He couldn't think of a lie so he went with the truth.

"He likes me for some reason. He wants to set me on the right path or some shit. I don't know why! He's fucking McManus! Always on some do-gooder shit."

LoPresti held him a little longer as he considered Miguel's answer. Just when the Latino knew he was going to black out from lack of air, the hack let him go. His face hit the floor, gasping for air.

"Sounds like that liberal prick."

He didn't ease his weight up.

"You must be his new Wangler."

The hack laughed a little louder.

"Yeah, McManus likes them young. Poor troubled minorities who made one bad choice in life," he mocked his superior 's tone.

"All they need is a chance to turn around. Let their balding white knight save them. You like white knights, Alvarez?"

Gulping in air, he still couldn't answer.

"Of course you do. You got McManus and Murphy watching out for you. Two white knights for one brown shit stain."

He still didn't let him up.

"Or do you like to be the knight? For your little Italian roomie? I heard you've been dipping your noodle in his pasta sauce."

Miguel managed enough breath for a quick retort.

"Fuck you!"

LoPresti laughed out loud.

"Fuck me, huh? You wish fag."

That was enough to set the Latino off again. He fought to find his feet, cursing in both English and Spanish.

I ain't no fag! I ain't no fucking maricon!

Maybe it was his momentum, the force of his anger but LoPresti was losing his hold. Just when Miguel succeeded in knocking the bastard off of him, the baton cracked him upside his head. The last thing he saw was LoPresti taking another swing.

_

"Get him out. Now!"

McManus was pacing behind his desk, absolutely pissed at the CO before him. Once again LoPresti had managed to throw Miguel in the hole and for an attack he was sure the bikers had initiated.

"He had a knife!" LoPresti insisted.

"A fucking scalpel from the infirmary. He attacked me! You telling me that doesn't warrant a month's stay in the hole?"

Tim didn't answer, still too angry at the situation. He knew why Miguel was on edge. The rape had him paranoid. He'd thought that having Schibetta as a podmate would help but that would take some time. It had only been a day.

"The bikers, Burns and Sands?"

"I threw them in too," LoPresti answered.

"Bet you don't have a problem with that though."

Tim was around his desk and in the officer's face.

"You're on a slippery slope toward suspension. Keep talking."

Just one more word, one more accusation. This asshole had it coming.

"Tim."

It was Murphy. He didn't glance at his best friend.

"I was doing my job. Anybody would've done the same. Alvarez had a knife! I don't have to remind you of what he did the last time he had one of those."

Rivera, the guard he'd literally gouged his eyes out. Alvarez had always been…unstable. Okay he had mental issues. All the more reason Tim wanted to see him pull through.

"Why were they alone in that hallway in the first place, huh?"

The CO was speechless. McManus nodded his vindication.

"Riiiight."

"Shit happens, we can't be everywhere all the time."

"Of course not," was his skeptical reply.

He'd had enough of the officer before him.

"Just go. Get out of my sight."

He dismissed him with a wave. The officer exited, not in the least a happy camper. Still fuming, Tim went back to pacing.

"This is not helping Miguel. Being thrown in the hole like this. I want you to get him out—"

"Tim—"

"And bring him to my office."

"That's not a good idea," Murphy told him.

He whirled on the Head CO.

"Excuse me?"

"Look, LoPresti already senses some form of favoritism going on with Alvarez. How much longer before the inmates pick it up? And how much worse for that kid once they do?"

That last sentence paused McManus in his steps.

"Christ."

If the other inmates thought he was doing Miguel favors they'd start in on the Latino. Given his history of mental issues it would only be a matter of time before he got sent back to solitary. Or worse. To the morgue.

"So what, you think I should just let him rot in there for a whole month?"

He couldn't do that either. The last thing Miguel needed was to be alone.

"No, of course not," his best friend seemed to get his concern.

"But maybe just a night or two. To give the impression that he isn't getting away with anything."

Tim sighed. He didn't like the idea of Miguel in there naked and alone. Especially after the rape.

"If it'll get the heat off his back," he reluctantly agreed.

"One night. I'll check in on him before I leave today. And again tomorrow to gage whether or not to let him stay another night. You working late?"

Murphy shook his head.

"Tomorrow's my late day."

That would leave Miguel unattended for the night. Tim tried to relax, to tell himself that no one could get to the Latino in the hole.

Yea, tell that to Dino Ortoloni.

He shook off the memory. That was a different time, before the renovations and efforts he'd made to increase inmate satisfaction. There was nothing to worry about.

Miguel would be safe.

If just for one night.