Alex opened her eyes to the strange feeling of another body next to hers. She gently turned over so as to not disturb the woman sleeping on her stomach. Her blonde hair was splayed across her back as her shoulders slightly raised and lowered with each rhythmic breath. She slowly pulled the sheet off the bed to wrap around her pale naked body. She pulled up the duvet to cover Piper who was still soundly asleep.

Alex rummaged in the drawers of her kitchen until she pulled out a book of matches and an old pack of cigarettes. Quietly, she raised the window to the fire escape and crawled out onto the wiry platform. She shook a cigarette out of the pack and placed it between her lips while tore a match out of the pack. She stared at the phosphorous tip as she pressed it against the strip. She struck the match, watching it flare then sucked in the flame through her cigarette.

One strong breath in caused Alex to gag and choke. "Fuck these are stale," Alex murmured. Despite the pungent, acrid smoke burning her lungs, she continued to suck the nicotine into her bloodstream. She drew her knees up to her chest and buried her head in the crook of her elbow thinking about her actions from the night before. The motion tightened the skin on her back, allowing the deep scratches left by Piper's fingernails to twinge. What did the intimacy between the two mean, if anything? Was it even intimacy or just raw sex? At this point, Alex's mind was simply a blur, confused.

As the orange threads of the morning sunrise started to filter through the horizon, Alex finished the cigarette and stubbed it out on the metal grate. She laid the butt on the window sill and gently raised the window. As she stepped inside, she heard her front door click shut. A quick glance into the bedroom showed her bed was empty, and Piper's clothes that had been strewn about were missing.

Despite the little sleep gotten the night before, Alex decided to not try to lay back down. She started a pot of coffee and took a blazing hot shower in an attempt to scrub away any of the emotion she was possibly feeling towards the blonde.

"So you did decide to join us this morning." Nicky turned from the file she had been studying with Piper to look at her friend who had just entered the office.

"Shut the fuck up and help before I drop this stuff." Alex's gruff voice grumbled as she tried to balance the box of Starbucks coffee and a several sacks.

"One of those better have food." Nicky laughed as she relieved her grouchy chum of the steaming coffee carrier.

"Good morning Alex." Of course Piper was the first to speak between the pair after their romp the previous night.

Alex emitted an intelligible grumble as she emptied the contents of the other bags. She poured herself a cup of black coffee, grabbed a muffin, and plopped down in a chair opposite of where Nicky and Piper had been working.

"Damn bud, you really need to lighten up. That or get laid."

Piper scoffed as Alex shot her a warning look.

"What'd I miss?"

Piper pushed some files towards Alex. "These are some of the people I'd like to consider as bus drivers and attendants."

"Aren't you moving a little too quickly being that we don't even have buses yet or a timeline of getting them retrofitted?" Alex began to flip through the papers. She opened the second file and read through its contents. When she finished, she looked up at Piper and stared. "You already have a bus being outfitted? I thought this was a joint effort." Alex tried to keep the disdain from her voice.

"Alex you seem to forget that I've been working on this project for my degree. My mother fronted me the initial costs. I went to the Nichols Foundation for operating costs and additional backing opportunities. You two, on the other hand, are just getting started."

The frown on Alex's face softened a bit. Nicky turned a chair around to straddle it. "She's pretty good, boss, eh? Wait. I'm the boss. Or am I?" Nicky laughed as she shoved the rest of her muffin into her mouth, using her forefinger to cram it all in. "I just don't understand why I have to do the interviews Stretch. Can you believe that blondie here wants me to interview people?" Nicky's voice was muted as she tried to talk with her mouth full.

"Piper is this true?" Piper nodded. Alex laughed as she said, "you really need to get to know Nichols here a little better. She's not much for responsibility."

Nicky laughed, spitting a few crumbs out on the table. "Shut up lackey. I can hold my own."

Alex just rolled her eyes. She picked up the potential employee folder and looked through the possible hires again. She arched her eyebrow and peered across the table at the blonde. "Seriously? These are the candidates?"

"Yes. Tomorrow. We will meet here. Oh, don't dress up."

Nicky pressed a cold beer into Alex's palm. "So Stretch, what do you think of our blondie? Think she's hot for teacher? I wonder what will happen if I ask her out again."

Alex whipped her head around and got into Nicky's face. Her voice was gravelly and low. "Don't. You. Dare."

Nicky started and moved away. "Okay, okay, I get the picture. She's off limits. I guess mixing business and pleasure would be a bad thing."

Alex drained her beer in one long drink then retrieved another from the bar. "That's not it Nicky. I know her."

"You what? You are just now telling me this? Fuck. Is this the chick you banged in Bali? Details please."

"No Nicky. Ugh." Alex sat back in the booth and proceeded to tell Nicky the entire story, leaving out the hate sex from the night before. "So it all started right here." She patted the booth then pointed to the alcove down the street where she had first seen Piper.

"Wow, that's some deep shit pal. You are in a pickle." Nicky was quickly becoming tipsy.

"And I haven't been able to get her out of my mind. It's driving me insane. So it's going to take me a while to get my brain wrapped around all of this. The only thing that I'm absolutely certain is – this project has got to work."

The trio wrapped their coats a bit tighter as they rounded the corner and hit the wind tunnel between the buildings. They entered the 65th street shelter via the delivery entrance and went directly to the office. Justin was all smiles as he warmly greeted them.

He pulled Piper into a tight embrace. "You sure clean up nicely. Interesting project you have going on here. I read about your master's thesis. Gutsy, Piper. I respect you for what you did and hope good things come it." He grasped Alex's hand and shook it. "Alex, it's so nice to see you again."

After Nicky was introduced, Justin gave a quick summary of how he had organized the morning. "Both women were just told I had a lead on jobs for them. They are still here, getting cleaned up and into a little better looking clothes. Well, cleaner at least. I thought you could interview in the night manager's office. Both of them at the same time. They are pretty nervous. We can stay here and talk to them when you are done. I'd like to see their reaction when they see Piper."

Nicky nodded, gathered her folder of material, paper and pen, and left with Justin to complete the interviews. Piper walked over to Alex and placed a hand on her arm. "Thanks Alex. This means a lot to me."

Alex looked down at Piper. "I'm not sure why you've picked these two, but I trust your judgement."

"Do you?" Piper laid her head against Alex's shoulder. Alex mumbled what could be taken as an agreement. "Hey can we talk later? I mean really talk? Maybe dinner?"

Alex sighed deeply as she moved into the woman's touch. "Yeah, I think we need to do that Piper."

Justin escorted the two noticeably nervous women into the room and introduced Nicky. "I'll leave you three be." He closed the door and retreated to his office.

The taller one was a bit bolder and offered her hand. "Tasha Jefferson. My friends call me Taystee." Their eyes went to the shorter Caucasian woman's head was ducked down, staring at the floor. Taystee nudged her gently.

She then offered her hand. "Tricia Miller."

Nicky motioned to the table. "Let's have a seat gals. I don't bite - promise. I'm just here to talk to you about a few things." They all took a seat around the table.

Tricia had a dubious look on her face. "Justin's cool but he said you wanted to talk to us about jobs. What kind of person wants to hire a homeless hood rat?" Nicky's eyes widened at the formerly meek woman's bitter question.

Taystee put her hand on Tricia's and spoke in a professional, kind voice. "What my friend here means is that we are grateful to speak to you about this employment opportunity. What information might we provide in order to be considered?"

Nicky opened the folder. "Well Tasha… errr Taystee. I understand that you used to be a long-haul bus driver. Tell me about that."

"Hmmmft unless those low-lifes laid me off and I lost everything. Errrr I mean, yes ma'am. I drove for the company for four years. I was unfortunate to not have enough seniority to maintain my employment when they made route and budget cuts. When I lost my job and couldn't find another, I couldn't afford to keep my apartment. That's pretty much the story."

"I see." Nicky made a few notes and flipped the page. "Tricia, what can you tell me about your employment background?" Tricia scoffed. Nicky was getting irritated. Piper had been adamant about interviewing this woman, but she didn't seem like she much wanted to be here. "Look Ms. Miller. I'm trying to create some opportunities for you here, open some doors."

Nicky was cut off when Taystee slapped Tricia up-side the head. "Do I have to do everything here girl. Talk to the woman. Tell her what she wants to know." Nicky tried to not smirk at the stink-eye Tricia was giving Taystee.

"I was a janitor at a middle school until I quit because they wanted me to take a drug test. Said they didn't want bad influences around the kids. Then I bused tables and washed dishes at a crappy restaurant over in East Garfield Park."

"And why did you leave there?"

Tricia hung her head. "They said I was stealing food."

Nicky thought for a moment before asking. "Were you?"

Tricia's face reddened but she didn't outburst. She replied through gritted teeth. "Yes. My mother died and I had a little brother to feed. When I lost my job, I lost the apartment, and he went into foster care. So yes, I was stealing food. Happy?"

Nicky took a deep breath in as she made her notes. "I can't say that I've ever been in either of your shoes. But that's only by the grace of God and a very good friend who's shown me what it's like to try to help others. Stay here." Nicky rose to leave.

Taystee jumped up. "But what about the jobs? Can't we get some information about them? I promise we will both be great workers and I will take full responsibility for Tricia here."

Nicky was fighting tears. "I have no doubt you will be good workers. But I believe you need to hear about the job from someone else."

Nicky left the room and leaned against the door breathing heavily. She only had a snippet of background on these two and she was overwhelmed. Piper had indeed found her true calling in this line of work.

An ashen Nicky walked into Justin's office. Alex quickly got up and sat Nicky down in her chair. Piper ran to get a glass of water which Nicky quickly gulped.

"Well…" Both Alex and Piper were staring at Nicky.

"I don't know how you do it. I couldn't get past their personal stories to do the interviews. All I can remember is what we already knew – Tasha used to drive busses and Tricia worked as a janitor and busboy. I don't care about anything else. These two women need a break."

Alex slapped the desk. "Well then let's go talk to them."

Taystee heard the office door open, turned and saw Nicky along with two other women walked in. She cautiously stared, first at Piper then at Alex then back to Piper. Then Taystee surprisingly crossed her arms, raised her chin in defiance and turned her back to the women.

Tricia looked at Alex. "Hey aren't you that crazy chick who was pushing a shopping cart around right before a blizzard. You hooked me up with some supplies. You really saved my ass that night. You were looking for a homeless chick." Tricia's eyes turned to Piper and she stared. "Fuck she was looking for you. You are the sickly one I took the pills off of." Taystee cleared her throat. "I gave them back; I gave them back didn't I? Damn you look different. All clean and shit. You really homeless?"

Piper shook her head and sat down with Nicky and Alex across from the other two women. Taystee refused to make eye contact with Piper. Finally, Piper scooted her chair around until she was knee to knee with her friend from the shelter.

"Taystee, please look at me." Piper placed her hands on Taystee's whose eyes were searching for meaning on the ceiling. "Taystee, I never meant to lie to you. I wish you'd give me a chance to explain." Taystee shook her head side to side. "Did you find the note I left you? And the change?"

Taystee lowered her gaze from the ceiling and looked directly at Piper who could see the tears welling up in the corners of her friend's eyes. "Yeah I got your note. And I got your lousy bag of change."

"I tried to explain in the note. I told you what I was doing and why I had to leave."

Taystee exploded out of her chair, knocking it backwards and making everyone jump. "I don't care about why you left. What matters to me is that actually you left me. You left me in this ratty, stinking shelter. I was your friend Piper, well I thought I was. And you just left me." Now tears were streaming down the woman's face.

Piper stood and wrapped her arms around Taystee. "Oh Taystee. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." She stood there and held her friend until the sobbing subsided. Piper pushed her away slightly, wiping the tears from her cheeks with her thumbs. "I told you I'd be back and then it would all make sense. I can only hope that after you hear what I have to tell you that you can find it in your heart to forgive me."

Taystee wiped her eyes and face with the sleeve of her sweatshirt and sat down. Tricia who had surprisingly remained quiet this entire time reached over and placed a comforting hand on the larger woman's arm.

Justin knocked on the door and brought drinks in for everyone. When everyone was comfortable and calm, Piper began to share her plan.

A/N: Hey fabulous readers… The second part of this story is slowly beginning to take shape. I just had to use this chapter get all the players involved.

So in about a week's time, I will be debarking on a ten-day eastern seaboard vacation. R117 is going to cross the pond and we are going to tour NYC, D.C., and places in-between. I'm going to try to make next week's update super long because I've been told I'm banned from FF during that time. So I thought I'd give you folks a heads up. : )

Thanks to all of you who keep reading my stories and double thanks to those who review. Each of you is what keeps me going with these silly antics of our OITNB family. Until next time…

P.S. Dinner with Alex and Piper? WTH?! That's going to get interesting.