Author's Note: I hope you're enjoying this story. Please let me know by leaving me a review. Constructive reviews are welcome. This is set fro season 2 onwards right up until the current season-with possible spoilers from season 6. This fic jumps from past to present a lot so I hope you don't get too confused.

CHAPTER NINE

Zoe was still in a lot of pain but managed to hobble into the bathroom and have a shower. The hot water helped with the pain a little but getting dressed took ages. She went back to the cube to find Frieda dressed.

" Morning," Frieda greeted her giving a her kiss hello " How are you feeling?"

" The same. My body feels like it's on fire," she groaned, sitting back down on her bed, " I'm due to go to medical soon for a check-up."

Frieda studied Zoe. The bruise around her eye was now a sickly-looking yellow. Her cuts were still nasty. It was going to be a awhile before Zoe fully healed.

During breakfast, Zoe went to medical and Frieda sat down with the Golden Girls. She was surprised to see Red heading their way.

" Morning ladies," Red greeted them, " How's Zoe?"

" She's getting better."

" She's not joining you?"

" She's got an appointment," Frieda replied.

" Will she be up for visitors during rec time?" Red asked, " I've been meaning to visit her but I wasn't sure if she would be up for it?"

" Sure she's up for it. She'd like that," Frieda said. " Right now she's got more enemies than friends."

" Good. Norma and I will pop around during rec time," Red paused, " What's her favourite snack? I'd like to get her a get well gift."

" She loves Twix and Ding Dongs but her biggest weakness is cheese and onion potato chips," Frieda informed Red.

" Great. Thank you Frieda," Red left the table.


Frieda didn't tell Zoe she was going to have visitors so Zoe was surprised when Red and Norma appeared at their cube with snacks.

" These are for you," Red gave her the snacks, " We came by to see how you're doing."

" Better. At least I can hobble around now." Zoe replied, " Thanks for these."

" I'll leave you guys to it," Frieda said putting on her shoes.

" You don't have to leave," Red protested, " How about a game of cards?"

" I've got crochet circle. Have fun." Frieda wanted to kiss Zoe goodbye. But not with Red and Norma around. I'll just give her double to make up for the one I didn't give her just now. Frieda smiled at the thought and left.

Before lunchtime, Zoe decided to pay someone a little visit. She entered their cube and found Boo napping on her bed. She quietly crept up and peered down at her. Boo's eyes flew open and she gasped. She found herself looking up at the bruised and battered face of Zoe McKenzie. She had heard Zoe had gotten attacked and seeing it first hand was shocking. Zoe looked like a battered woman from a woman's refugee shelter.

" What do you want?" Boo demanded, cringing away in disgust.

" You're disgusted by this aren't you?" Zoe replied, " This is the result of what your rumour started."

" Rumour?"

" I was attacked twice because of you," Zoe went on oblivious to Boo's confusion. " And my good Frieda nearly lost her life trying to save me. " And it's all on you."

" All on me? I never started that rumour," Boo protested, sitting up. She was not about to be accused of something she didn't do.

" Sure you did. Out of petty revenge for that day in the cafeteria," Zoe said then produced something from behind her back. It was a shiv, its small blade glinting cruelly. She leaned forward and pressed the blade against Boo's cheek.

" That rumour is true you know. I did kill a man-I stabbed him twice before he died. And I'm going to live up to your expectation about being the murderess of Litchfield Prison," Zoe pressed the knife in deeper and a tiny drop of blood appeared. Boo's face was white and she trembled.

" B-but I didn't start that rumour!" Boo pleaded, " I swear I didn't. After that day in the cafeteria I left you alone."

" You're lying-"

" Please, I didn't start it." Boo looked up at her with fear in her eyes.

Frieda headed back to her cube after crochet circle to find Zoe, Red and Norma gone. It was nearly lunchtime and Red and Norma had probably gone back to the kitchen.

Frieda grabbed her jacket and felt in her pockets and froze. It wasn't there. Her secret weapon wasn't where it should be. The only person who knew about it wasn't here.

Oh fuck!, Frieda threw her jacket on and went looking for Zoe. She was nearing Boo's cube and saw Zoe. She hurried inside and saw Zoe leaning over Boo, pressing Frieda's knife against her face.

" Zoe!" Frieda exclaimed, grabbing Zoe by the arm and yanking her away. She snatched up the knife and pocketed it.

" What do you think you're doing?" Frieda demanded , " Do you want to get sent back to Max?"

" I was just trying to-"

" She came in here accusing me of starting that rumour," Boo interrupted, " Which I didn't."

Frieda pulled Zoe away from Boo, " What were you doing?" she asked again.

" I don't know…I wanted payback I guess." Zoe mumbled, " I was so sure she started it and it wasn't just me that was attacked. You were too."

" If a CO came in here just now, you would have been hauled off to SHU and after that back to Max and I'd never see you again." Frieda frowned at her, " And thanks for stealing my knife. You also implicated me in your little payback plan."

" I won't say anything," Boo spoke up, " Let's just forget it about all this."

" I'm willing to," Frieda turned to Zoe, " What about you?"

" I'll be good," Zoe replied, " I'm sorry Boo. I really thought it was you."

" And I'm sorry for that day in the cafeteria. I don't take rejection well you know?" Boo stood up then held out her hand to Zoe. " Truce?"

Zoe shook her hand, " Truce." She smiled at Boo and Frieda felt proud of Zoe just then-for willing to bury the hatchet with her enemy.

" I have to think up a new hiding place for this," Frieda held up her knife and pocketed it again.

" I'm sorry for taking it-I wasn't thinking straight."

" You're forgiven." Frieda replied.

" And you guys have my word, I won't tell anyone about the two of you," Boo said grinning at Frieda.

" What do you mean?" Zoe asked playing dumb. How on earth did Boo know?

" There's no use pretending she knows. " Frieda sighed, " Don't go telling anyone about us. Caputo will split us up otherwise."

" How did you know?" Zoe asked Boo, " We were so careful."

Boo just grinned, " We lesbians just know." And at that moment lunchtime was called over the PA system and the three of them headed towards the cafeteria.

They waited in line and Zoe turned to Boo, " Please, just tell me how you knew,"

Frieda nudged Zoe with her tray, " I don't think I want to know how she found out."

" You really want to know?" Boo asked them.

" No," Frieda replied at the same time Zoe said, " Yes."

Boo was heading back to her cube to get her Uno cards. She was going to play a few games with DeMarco and Jones. The dorms were quiet as it was rec time and everybody was either in the rec room or outside on the field. Who'd want to spend quality rec time in the boring, cramped dorms where you could be enjoying the sunshine or catching up on your favourite shows or playing games?

" There's no one around," a voice was saying, " Trust me. No one hangs around the dorms during rec time."

You got that right, Boo thought, ducking into her own cube to grab her Uno cards. The voice belonged to Berlin and she decided it might be nice to ask Berlin to join them in the game. She didn't know the older woman very well-Berlin mostly hung out with the older ladies of Litchfield.

She headed to Berlin's bunk and popped her head over the partition just in time to see Berlin pull Zoe McKenzie into a tight hug. Boo's eyes went wide with surprise when Berlin's mouth settled on Zoe's for a kiss…and the kiss went on. And on.

How long have these two been together? Boo wondered watching them with festination. The two were so involved with their passionate kissing they didn't even realise they were being watched.

" Okay, we get the idea," Frieda interrupted Boo's storytelling. She also knew what happened next and her face flamed. Things had gotten so steamy between them and someone had been watching them! " So you caught us. That was two weeks ago and you haven't said anything to anybody?"

" Not a peep." Boo assured her as they moved down the line and got their food.

" Thanks for keeping out secret Boo," Frieda said. She glanced at Zoe, " We got to be more careful from now on. No fooling around in the dorms anymore."

Zoe followed Frieda to their table, " But there aren't a whole lot of places to be alone though."

" I know a place." Frieda said and paused. She'd be taking a huge risk telling someone about her secret. But she trusted Zoe.

" You do?"

" It's top secret and no one knows about it but me. I'll show you during rec time. "

" Okay," Zoe said her eyes round with curiosity.


During rec time, Zoe met Frieda at their cube and Frieda lead her down the hallway.

" Where are we going?" Zoe whispered. She felt like she had to whisper because Frieda looked so solemn as she lead Zoe to her secret hiding place.

" No one uses this storage closet anymore," Frieda explained to Zoe as they both entered an empty storage room. Tall lockers lined the back wall.

Frieda opened one of the doors to the locker and pushed aside some clothes and opened another door leading to the basement.

" Come on," Frieda said and Zoe hesitated.

" It's safe-there's no need to be scared." Frieda assured her and disappeared into the locker. Zoe followed her and walked down a short flight of stairs and found herself in a small room that was lit up with red light.

Zoe looked around in astonishment. There were metal shelves filled with food, medical supplies and other bits and pieces. There was an armchair and even a cot made up with sheets and pillows nearby. This room seemed to have everything.

" This place is amazing…it's is a bunker," she said as Frieda shut the door to the small room. " Are you a survivalist?"

Frieda nodded, " I built this over the years I've been here. And I was in the girl scouts too when I was a kid."

Zoe ran a hand along one shelf fill of food-of mostly canned goods. " And no one's found it?"

" No one. I've been very careful."

" You haven't? Why?"

Frieda shrugged, " I've never really met anyone I've trusted enough to share this place with."

" Not even the Golden Girls?"

" Not even them. Even though they've kept our relationship a secret so far-it'll come out eventually. I just couldn't risk telling anyone about this place."

" Why tell me? We haven't known each other that long," Zoe reminded Frieda.

" Because you're also the first person I've loved," Frieda replied simply. " I know you'll keep this is a secret."

Zoe didn't say anything and one look at Zoe's dark brown eyes and beautiful face told Frieda Zoe would always keep her secret. Frieda opened her arms and Zoe flew into them. Frieda bought her mouth down onto hers for a long and searching kiss.

" Make love to me," Zoe whispered as Frieda rained kisses along her throat.

" Are you sure?" Frieda asked and Zoe pressed her mouth against Frieda's in reply. Frieda pulled Zoe's shirt off and flung it aside as they stumbled towards the small cot without breaking the kiss. Frieda managed to take off Zoe's bra as they fell back onto the cot with Frieda's body covering Zoe's. Frieda kissed along her jaw, then her collarbone and her lips travelled down to her breasts. Zoe closed her eyes as she let herself surrender to Frieda.