Alex knew Polly and Piper had gone because the noise outside her office had died down. She was pleased the whole team had got behind PoPi's and seemed to genuinely like Polly and Piper, it was always a good sign business wise.
Personally however she felt she herself was walking on a tight rope. She had known they would be in the store this morning, it made sense they would be excited. Alex felt genuinely pleased for them and that was why she had got Nicky to buy the champagne, gather a few of the team they had met to acknowledge the achievement.
But seeing Piper always left her feeling like she had been punched in the stomach. Whenever Piper was in any room Alex was in she felt compelled to seek her out. At the club she had suddenly lost all interest in every other woman in the place. She hadn't lied to Nicky when she had said it had been a good night, it was one of the best Alex could remember having in ages.
But having found out Piper was newly single somehow made things more confusing. It shouldn't; being single did not mean Piper had suddenly sworn off all men, but it did mean Alex had no inner conscience plaguing her.
This morning when Piper had mentioned Alex hooking up with someone Alex was sure she detected a note of curiosity in her voice that changed to something else. What that something else was though, Alex wasn't sure. When she had suggested Piper was jealous she had been teasing, but the flush she had seen in Pipers cheeks, her blustering response, had merely confused Alex even more.
She had been relieved she had been able to return to her office and wait for the call she had been expecting, without feeling she was running away and hiding. The call however had been a confirmation of a business trip and now, the thought of leaving town, the country even, even if only for a few days made her feel nauseous.
She had had fun with Nicky the other evening. They had danced, drank and laughed. Alex had taken a woman home who had been hanging about near them all evening, she was obviously interested in Alex, but when it had come down to it Alex had simply no desire to be with her. Making a feeble excuse she had got rid of the woman and she had no thought of repeating the performance, however convincing Nicky tried to be. In fact, Alex realised now, she did not even know the women's name.
Nicky assumed Alex had slept with the red head, Alex had seen no point in setting her straight as it stopped a lecture and an attempted repeat performance, but Alex knew now she wanted something else. Something more than the casual one night stands of her past and this realisation unsettled her.
Sighing and opening the email confirming her flight details, Alex copied them to Nicky then began constructing her itinerary. She would not be away long so the more she could pack into the trip the better. Just as she was finishing the list of traders she wanted to talk to Nicky burst through the door.
"London! You are going to London tomorrow! Jeez boss, if you didn't like the woman just don't call her back there is no reason to flee the country."
Alex sniggered. "She was soooo keen!" she winked.
"Yeah well I am guessing after so many months without any you were more than a little eager!"
Alex shook her head wincing at Nicky's inaccurate description of her night of non existent passion and not wanting to encourage her friend any more she grinned, "No, if I was keen I'd be taking her with me!" Seeing Nicky's momentarily shocked expression Alex chuckled, "OK enough. I am sending you the list of traders I want to see if you can set that up for me, then maybe some hotels too. I'll stay central as normal, but make sure there is nothing major going on in the hotel you book me in. I haven't forgotten the time you booked me into the Barcelona hotel in the middle of that fiesta!"
Nicky grinned, "Sure thing boss, no carnivals, fiesta or any form of fun, just work work work."
"Hey, I need to get away just to recover from the fun you have me involved in!"
"You enjoyed it."
Alex shrugged, "maybe."
"So I see Suzanne and Maureen are still an item!" Nicky grinned changing the subject when Alex was not more forthcoming with details of her own love life, "how good a match maker am I!"
"Er, Nick, Maureen was meant for me remember." Alex laughed.
"Yes granted that little red head you went home with the other night was cuter. So," Nicky tried again with a wink, "was she good?"
"Oh no, I am not discussing that with you. Lets just say I wont be seeing her again and leave it at that."
"Damn!" Nicky frowned.
Alex was saved from further comment by her phone ringing, so Nicky retreated to her desk and began making plans for Alex trip.
o0o
"Piper, come in." Pete smiled half heartedly as he let Piper into the house. "Polly is upstairs, I'm off to visit my heart broken friend."
Shaking her head, not feeling the least bit guilty Piper went searching for Polly.
"Hey! What are you doing here?" Polly asked surprised Piper was here as they had arranged to met at the unit in an hour.
"Oh I wondered if I could grab a shower." Piper smiled.
"Piper this is silly." Polly frowned "There was nothing wrong with that last apartment."
"No, only the fact it was so far out of town it would take me til lunch time to get here. And this is a one off request. I have another viewing this afternoon and if it is OK I am going to take it. My dream building looks like it is the dream of every current resident too so unless the plague sweeps through the building I need to forget it."
Leaving her friend to shower Polly went to make coffee. She knew Piper wanted to make this fresh start perfect, but a part of her wondered if this desire for a perfect life was not a little unrealistic.
When Piper returned Polly suggesting going to grab something to eat before heading into work. Seated in a small café Piper said, "He was joking wasn't he, Pete I mean. Larry isn't heart broken?"
Polly smiled, "Yes he was joking. I think Pete is more upset then Larry that Larry has moved out! Today he plans on helping Larry unpack then they are going to watch the game in the sports bar near Larry's office."
"Great" Piper grinned "then we should go out too."
"Just not clubbing." Polly winced. "In fact I never want to drink that much alcohol again."
"So as long as we steer clear of Nicky's haunts we should be fine." Piper laughed.
Once at work the two girls set about taking an inventory of the supplies they had, what they would need to buy for the order for Barneys, and what they wanted to try for their next range. Piper, now sat at the computer happily placing the order, while Polly was trying to compose a description of each new product to send to Suzanne.
"You know," she mused, "I get why we have to do this, but just taking a basket of product to her would be so much easier."
Piper nodded, "Normally I would agree, but if she sees it she is swayed by the look, are you forgetting her reaction to the face mask! When you wrote that description for her though she was at least willing to let us try it on Maureen."
Polly sniggered. "Poor Maureen."
"Yes well if she had mentioned she was allergic to avocados I would not have slathered it all over her face!" Piper muttered defensively.
"And the fact it was green didn't help its case." Polly was laughing loudly now as she remembered Suzanne reaction. "Thank goodness Daya arrived when she did!"
"Yes junior antihistamine for Maureen and 10 minutes deep breathing for Suzanne before Daya was even able to get her latest drawing signed off."
"Why don't we ask Daya if her and John want to join us for dinner tonight?" Piper suggested, "that way we wont be too late if they have to get back for a baby sitte3r and we wont drink too much because they are adults!"
Agreeing Polly picked up her phone to call but when she finished she muttered "That may have been a mistake."
Piper looked up from her figures. "Why?"
"Because Daya was already going out, with Nicky."
"Tell me you didn't agree to anything." Piper laughed.
"All I would commit to is a few drinks in the bar of they normally go too. I made an excuse about having to meet Pete so hopefully we can leave early."
o0o
"So no Lorna tonight?" Piper asked looking at Nicky who was rather quiet.
"No, she is working. She is always working."
"Uh oh, trouble in paradise?"
"No. Just not enough paradise! All last weekend she was working and the weekend before. During the week she wont go out late if she has a meeting the next day. I have been at my desk by 8 every day this week! I will get a reputation soon for being reliable!" Nicky huffed, clearly not liking this idea at all.
"I bet your boss isn't complaining." Polly pointed out sensibly.
"Oh she isn't even there to notice." Nicky's frown deepened. "I am not even getting credit where it is due."
"Where is she?" Piper couldn't help but ask "She's not ill?"
"Oh no. She is fine. She's in London. Living it up no doubt."
Daya sniggered, "You know that's not true! And I have seen your in tray and the amount of orders she has secured proves it."
"OK, so she is working too, I still say she could have taken me with her."
"Then you wouldn't have seen Lorna at all." Polly pointed out rationally.
"Who's side are you on?" Nicky laughed, "Look I promised I would go home early tonight, have dinner ready for her, if that's not making an effort I don't know what is. All I ask is she comes out sometimes."
"Maybe," Piper smiled "she wants you all to herself."
Nicky nodded with a cocky grin, "well you cant blame her right! Anyway Alex is back in a few days so then my normally partying can resume and life as we know it go back to normal."
"That's a pretty cool job," Polly smiled, "getting to jet off to foreign countries, see the world."
"She doesn't see the world though." Nicky sighed. "She books these short trips, packs in so much business she barely has time to sleep, then comes home in a foul mood because of jet lag and the pressure she puts on herself. I had hoped I was getting through to her, making her see there was more to life than work but no, off she goes again. I feel like something has happened but I don't know what."
"Maybe she just loves her job!" Piper pointed out reasonably.
"Yeah," Nicky shrugged, "I just wish she would loosen up a little."
"There is nothing wrong with loving your job." Piper found herself defending Alex. It was exactly how she felt about PoPi's right now.
Daya smiled, "I am guessing you are loving your job right now, it must be exciting."
Piper nodded excitedly. "If you had told me I would be doing this a year ago I would not have believed you. If you had said Larry and I would split I wouldn't have believed you. But right now I am single and living my dream."
"What about you?" Nicky asked Polly, "you living your dream too?"
Polly nodded, although not quite so certainly as Piper, "Yes I guess, but I suppose I am just greedy. I want it all. I want marriage and kids too."
Nicky smiled. No it's not greedy, you want a life not just a business! That's what I keep telling Alex, she can have it all it doesn't have to be a choice." Looking at Piper she said "you are the same, there is more to life than soap!"
Piper grinned, "You haven't smelt my latest concoction. I made it specially for you!"
Nicky hesitated looking at Polly who laughed and nodded. "OK, I give, what is it?"
"Uh uh. Not telling you will have to come to the unit to see for yourself."
Nicky shrugged, "Tomorrow, it will be early though so be warned, I have to take Lorna to work."
"Ah," Daya sniggered "domestic bliss."
o0o
"Hey this place is cool." Nicky stood staring at the packed shelves in the neatly organised unit the following morning. "Very professional!"
"Yeah its a step up from the kitchen!" Piper grinned. Nicky had arrived early as promised and now, nursing the coffee Piper handed her, demanded. "So show me! It had better be good blondie!"
"It is." Piper grinned, moving to a box on the shelf nearest her desk she opens it and pulls out a single bar.
"You only made 1?"
"We have only made 1 that smells right."
Reaching for the bar, a soft pink coloured Nicky said "The colour is a bit 'girly'."
"Yeah, Polly agrees with you but just smell it!"
Holding it too her nose Nicky inhaled then looked at Piper eyes wide, sniffing again she grinned! "That is genius! Its tequila!"
Laughing at the grin on Nicky's face Piper said "The colour may change, maybe. Polly wants it more orange but whenever we try we loose the smell."
Still sniffing Nicky said "I can live with the colour, don't loose the smell. Will you call it 'Nicky'?"
Piper laughed at Nicky's eager expression, "oh I don't know nick, we were thinking something more descriptive, like, 'Trouble Ahead'!"
Nicky laughed. "Well I like 'Nicky', and I will be getting my suggestion into Suzanne early." Replacing the soap into the box once more Nicky asked "Have you any other new creations?"
"Yeah a few." Piper shrugged. "Nothing ready for you yet so until we have 3 or 4 more we are happy with…"
Nicky looked at Piper, "This means a lot to you doesn't it?"
"Yes." Piper sat down on the sofa by the small kitchen area. "I feel it is the first thing I have done on my own. I'm not talking about Polly here I am talking about the lack of my mothers influence. This has been my dream, me that put the idea to Polly, us that got the deal at Barneys. No Chapman influence, no parental pulling of strings."
"Are your parents proud?"
"Who knows. Mom is still ignoring me because of Larry, dad just agrees with mom for a quiet life. My brothers, well we don't see much of each other so …"
"They know you are in store though?"
"I haven't told them." Piper admitted.
"Why?"
"Because I don't want them judging, spoiling this moment. Right now, being here, this unit, everything. It is mine and they have no influence. It feels good."
"So," Nicky looked at Piper seriously, "how long do you intend living in this unit?"
"What?" Piper was shocked Nicky had guessed.
"You cant kid a kidder blondie, when Suzanne told me you had given her Polly address for post I was confused, but seeing you here, it made sense suddenly. You cant live here."
"No I know." Piper shoulders slumped. "Look, I am not sure I am so low I can move back in with Larry, and going back to my parents is just not an option. I just need to find an apartment I can afford on my own. I have two more places to look at later today…"
Nicky nodded. "Aside from anything else blondie, the perfect life you are searching for wont be so perfect if you are living and working from here. Maybe you need to lower your expectations, at least on your home for now. PoPi's will do well, Barney's will make sure of that, you will get your perfect house one day. And just imagine if your mother saw you living here!" with a wink knowing this would strike home, Nicky pulled Piper into a hug. "Go get an apartment blondie or I will tell the boss. And believe me you don't want her on your back."
o0o
Nicky's enthusiastic chatter was giving her a headache. Alex had arrived back in the office right on schedule that morning but with only 4 hours sleep she was struggling.
"So I suggested they call it 'Nicky.'" Grinned her assistant looking expectantly at her boss waiting for a response. When none was forthcoming Nicky sighed, "boss you need to go home and sleep. You look like shit!"
"Gee thanks!" Alex smiled. But not sure she had the strength to argue she asked "Is there anything that needs my urgent attention."
"Only your bed boss." Nicky smiled. "In fact I will drop you home. I need to go see Polly so I will drop you on the way."
Once in the car Alex asked "Why are you visiting Polly?"
"I just need some info," Nicky answered vaguely then changing the subject she grinned "the only reason I am taking you home is for my gift, you know that right!"
"Gift?" Alex chuckled. "You are like a little kid Nicky!"
"Yeah yeah quit bluffing, you always bring me a gift. Why should this trip be any different."
Alex laughed. "I did get you a gift, actually it is a grown up joint gift for you and Lorna. I haven't unpacked yet though so you will have to wait."
"Well it had better not be some house warming type rubbish!" Nicky nudged her boss as she parked outside her house. "You go get some sleep, then I will see you tomorrow gift in hand!"
Smiling, waving goodbye Alex went inside grateful that Nicky was so obviously on top of everything.
Arriving a few minutes later at Polly's Nicky was greeted with surprise.
"Hey Nicky. I wasn't expecting you was I. Piper said everything was OK at the unit."
"No, I was just passing and I had a question, I figured you were likely to tell me the truth. Has Piper found a place yet?"
Polly frowned. "She told you about the unit?"
"No I guessed. I am worried about her actually. She gave that great little speech about her dream coming true etc. but she is living in her workplace, with minimal facilities and from what I can make out it is because she is too proud to tell her parents she needs help."
Polly sighed. "Its a bit more complicated than that really. Pipers mom, well lets just say her expectations are high and more than a little unrealistic. I get why Piper doesn't want to involve her. If Piper went to them they would somehow have her married off to someone they perceive as socially acceptable before she had a chance to escape. The fact she left Larry, was brave enough to leave Larry, was a shock to be honest; but she is happier without him and I think she just wants to keep it that way. I have said she can stay here, its not ideal but…"
"Why doesn't she look at some cheaper apartments?"
"I think she will now." Polly conceded. "Especially now you know. I guess she didn't want to admit defeat."
"Well I threatened to tell Alex." Nicky admitted. "It was an idle threat but if she were to find out, anyone at Barneys for that matter, it wouldn't go down well. Image and all that." Nick shrugged. "Just talk to her for me Polly. Alex is back but I cant keep it from her for long."
"Surely it is Suzanne who would be concerned."
"Yeah she is, but Alex is my boss, so I report to her. It is better her than Suzanne anyway. Alex could talk to Piper about it Suzanne would have to report to the board. It could be serious Polly. Talk to her OK."
Nodding Polly waved Nicky off, then grabbing her coat made her way to the unit.
O0o
"Its none of their business!" Piper snapped.
"Look I thought that too," Polly admitted "but on my way here I stopped at the management office for this place, I had the idea that if they rented private places too maybe you could get a deal. However not only do they not do domestic rents, they said it was illegal to dwell in any of their properties. Hey were strictly for commercial use. Piper this is serious, a lot more serious than just Barneys not approving because of image."
"OK OK." Piper sighed. "I will call Larry, I am sure he wont mind me moving in for a while."
"Good." Polly grinned. "Now that's sorted I had an idea…."
So Polly quickly outlining her ideas for new products had both women soon back into work mode and it was only when Polly began to gather her stuff to go home that she said "Will you call Larry tonight?
"Yes," Piper nodded, unable to hide the defeat in her voice. Nodding Polly left and then alone, Piper picked up her phone.
O0o
"Is Piper not here?" Alex tried to hide the disappointment in her voice but she did a bad job of it.
"Sorry no, you are stuck with me."
"Sorry," Alex smiled "I didn't mean to be rude."
"Oh its OK." Polly smiled, "and she will be upset she missed you, but she had some stuff to move and she didn't know you were coming so…."
"She has moved?" Nicky asked, taking her head out of the box of 'Nicky' soap and focusing on the conversation.
"Yes, back in with Larry."
"What?!" Alex's shocked outburst earning her curious glances before she added in calmer tones. "I thought they were finished, over."
"Yes they are. But Piper was having trouble finding a new place to live, Larry had a spare room at their old house, it just made sense."
"Ludicrous!" Alex muttered under her breath before focusing on the reason for this visit and grabbing the box Nicky was still clutching protectively.
"Gentle!" Nicky grinned. Earning a glare which she shrugged off she watched Alex inhale and her eyes widen.
"Its good isn't it!" Nicky grinned.
"Its very you!" Alex was forced to admit with a smile. "In fact," she added, unable to resist, "you should wear this shade of pink more!"
Nicky flipped her finger at her boss before asking Polly eagerly "Have you made anything else?"
Polly grinned, "well, we had the idea of maybe getting a scent for each of you."
Nicky whooped! "Alex's can be motor bike fumes!"
Polly laughed, "We have a few ideas, nothing concrete. But we were hoping to have samples in the next week or so then thought maybe we could present them. The girls seemed to enjoy testing them before so …"
Alex nodded, "As long as Suzanne is not green! And NOT lemon scented, she needs a new obsession."
"OK deal." Polly grinned. "We will call when we have some samples, oh and Nicky, Piper said you can have that bar."
"Go blondie!" Nicky whooped.
Shaking her head Alex made her way to the door." If you and Piper are free Friday we will be at the bar." she mentioned in what she hoped was a casual tone.
"Sure, I'll ask Piper when she is back." Polly grinned. She just hoped Piper moving back in with Larry worked.
When Piper returned a few hours later she looked happy enough Polly was relieved to see. "All OK?" She asked casually.
"Yes fine. What happened here?" Piper surveyed the mess Polly was making.
"I have been experimenting. We had a visit when you were out. Alex and Nicky came by. I told them of our idea and they seemed OK with it. But I had the idea of making Daya's scent like baby lotion."
Piper frowned. "Why would anyone buy soap like baby lotion when they could just buy baby lotion?"
"Yeah I know, so having realised that myself I got the idea of a couples lotion. Something both Daya and John could use."
"OK," Piper nodded seeing how this could work.
"But I cant get it right, its either too manly or way too flowery. So then I started on something for Alex. I was thinking leather and whisky, deep scents."
"I think we should go for the Nicky scent. We already have then daffodils and dandelions for Suzanne, the yellow would satisfy her colour tastes and the fact she redecorated her office yellow because of the lemons means it wont need doing again!
I think we leave Alex. Go with you couples scent for Daya. That's 3 new ideas plus the range we already have."
"We can ask Daya on Friday for ideas." Polly grinned.
"Friday?"
"Oh yes, Alex invited us to join them."
"OK, it means not having to spend the evening making small talk with Larry so I'm good with that." Piper agreed.
But by the time Friday came round Piper was resistant.
"Piper you agreed. I told Nicky we would be there."
"You go, I don't feel well anyway." Piper admitted.
Looking at her friend Polly saw she was pale and reaching to feel her forehead was shocked when she felt her burning up.
"Piper! You should be home in bed. I can manage here. Go home and rest up for the weekend. Get some soup and drugs on your way home then sleep!"
Waving her friend off Polly went back to work. It was 5 o'clock when her phone went and answering the call she heard Nicky's voice shouting and someone grappling for the phone.
"Hello?" Polly grinned. "Nicky?"
"Yeah, hi, sorry," Nicky sounded out of breath, "look we are at the bar, where are you?"
"Sorry I was busy, hadn't realised the time. Piper isn't well so its just me. But I am leaving now so I will see you soon."
"What's wrong with blondie?"
"Flu I think, fever, shivering… I sent her home to rest."
"OK, well get your butt over here, you will be drinking for two then as we have your drinks lined up waiting."
Laughing Polly said goodbye, shot Piper a text wishing her better and checking to see if she needed anything, then locking up Polly headed to the bar.
Touched that the women seemed so genuinely pleased to see her, eager to hear about the new concepts having heard from Nicky about hers, Polly forgot to check her phone for a response from Piper. When, an hour after she had sat down, Alex joined them and asked after Piper, Polly checked her phone.
"She must be sleeping." Polly smiled. "She looked rough, shivering and running a fever. I sent her home to rest."
"Will Larry take care of her?" Alex asked. "He wont leave her if she is ill."
"Err, yeah I'm sure he will." Polly frowned, "but she wasn't so bad she needed nursing."
Alex just nodded before leaning over and talking quietly to Nicky. Ten minutes later Alex made her excuses and left.
"Was it something I said?" Polly frowned a little surprised Alex had gone.
Nicky smiled, "Yeah in a way. Look its nothing bad, just her mom died after contracting flu and not getting treatment. It lead to complications, the fever caused pressure of the brain…. Alex was not there to help, care for her. She just gets a bit overprotective if people are sick."
Shocked at this side to the no nonsense talking business woman Polly said "I wouldn't have mentioned it if id known."
"Its OK, she said she would call in, check with Larry Piper was OK then she would go home, don't worry about it."
Polly feeling a little guilty was empted to text Piper and warn her but figuring she was still asleep and Larry could deal with it she decided against it.
o0o
"What do you mean she doesn't live her?" Alex frowned at Larry who was looking at her with equal distaste.
"Look lady, I don't know who you are or how you got my address but I am telling you Piper doesn't live here."
"Polly said she had moved back. Polly, you know pipers friend, your friend!"
"Well Polly is wrong. Piper mentioned maybe staying in the spare room but then she told me she had found an apartment."
"Where? Where is she staying?" Alex was shouting now, frustrated at Larry's obvious lack of concern and worry that if Piper had lied then something could be seriously wrong.
"How the hell should I know!" Larry shouted back. "We split up, she left me and what she does is her own business." Larry stepped back slamming the door leaving Alex staring at nothing but wood.
Having the door slammed in her face made Alex more mad. Running back to her car she went back to the bar. Storming over to Polly she said. "Where is she?"
"Who Piper?"
"Yes Piper! Larry said she never moved in. That she found somewhere else. So where is she Polly?"
"I don't know." Polly admitted.
"How can you not know? She is your friend isn't she. Your business partner."
"Yes, but she told me she was staying at Larry's." Polly repeated.
"Maybe we should try the unit." Nicky suggested.
"If she is ill she wont be at work nick."
"No," Nicky sighed, "she was living there for a while."
"She wont still be there," Polly began,
Nicky, who looked at Alex and saw she was clearly in no mood for long discussions said "she told me she would find somewhere boss…"
Alex having demanded "Keys!" from Polly, not waiting for any further justification, was gone and the group of women left in her wake looked stunned.
"You think she is still at the unit?"
Polly shrugged, "she must be. Where else would she go."
O0o
Letting herself in without knocking on the shuttered door Alex flicked on the light. A quick glance of the work area showed it to be empty. Moving to the darker kitchen area and Alex frowned.
Surely not.
Moving quickly to the sofa she saw a pile of blankets. Gently peeling them back she saw Piper curled in a ball, still sleeping. Touching her head Alex knew immediately her temperature was too high. Without hesitating Alex pulled Piper into her arms and not bothering to turn off the lights or lock the door she moved to her car, very relieved she wasn't on her bike. Once satisfied Piper was comfortable Alex pulled out her phone called Nicky, barked orders at her, then drove home.
30 minutes later a very worried Nicky appeared with Polly close on her heels.
"She was there?" Polly asked still shocked Piper had lied to her.
"Yes. In the dark on that sorry excuse for a sofa. Did you get the drugs?" Alex demanded clearly not impressed with Polly. Accepting the bag Nicky handed over Alex disappeared.
"I didn't know." Polly muttered.
"I know kid, look Alex is worried about Piper, let her get her settled, she will calm down."
"Maybe, but it doesn't explain why Piper lied."
"No, but maybe we get her well first before we start the inquisition." Nicky smiled. "Come on, lets go tell the others Alex has found her."
O0o
Where was she? Piper groaned as the light hit her eyes. It was daylight, that meant Polly would be here soon to start work, she needed to get out. Trying to get up, knowing she needed to leave to keep up the pretence of not living in the unit, Piper struggled.
"What are you doing?" A calm voice question.
Piper blinked. "Alex?" She croaked. "What are you doing here?"
"Do you know what day it is?" Alex asked, a smile in her voice that was filled with relief "Where you are?"
Piper looked around her properly actually taking in her surroundings this time.
"What's going on?"
"I was gonna ask you that kid. But first take these."
Handing Piper some pills and water Alex stood over her checking the medication was taken. "OK," she sat on the chair next to the bed which, Piper noted, had a duvet slung over it as if someone had been sleeping there. "You are in my spare room," Alex smiled. "It seems you failed to mention to anyone who cares for you that you were not only ill but homeless. Your best friend has been worried sick. Nicky, who never shows emotion, has been calling hourly, and I have a room downstairs that looks like a florists. All because you were too proud."
"I didn't mean to put you out," Piper once again made to get up but this time Alex place a hand on her shoulder and physically pushed her back.
"It is Tuesday morning. You have been here since Friday night Piper. 3 whole days where I have forced antibiotics down your throat without you even noticing. You are going nowhere. I am going to the office. I will be gone 2 hours. When I get back I had better find you in exactly this spot."
As she turned to leave piper called her. "Alex?"
Alex turned.
"Thank you."
Nodding, not wanting the blonde woman to see jut how relieved she actually was Alex went downstairs. Once on her own Alex slumped into a chair. Then taking a deep breath, swiping at the tears of relief that she suddenly felt on her cheeks Alex Vause stood up, grabbed her briefcase and went to work.
O0o
A/N: So glad you enjoyed the last chapter. I have to confess being compared to Donald Trump is a first for me! I am taking a strange pride in what I am sure was an insult ;-) I like to think my hair is better though if nothing else :-D
All the other reviews… WOW! thank you! I will confess to not being 100% happy with this or the next chapter, but need to post them to get where I am going. I hope that makes sense.
Anyway, enjoy ;-) Ali x
