Five months later
The guard they knew only as James found Piper and Alex watching TV with Morello and Nichols in the day room.
"Chapman. Vause. Come with me."
He was always gentle when he led them away but could be stern when he had to be to avoid being made as an undercover marshal. Him and a guard named Leslie were the two main plants put there to protect the two until Aydin's trial. They heard there were others that only the marshals themselves knew about. He led them into a lawyer visiting room.
"Agent Erica Andrews. What's the update on the case," Alex asked.
"You know me too well. You always want to get right to it. The trial starts next Wednesday. I know its been a little more than a year but a trial of this magnitude takes time to put together and he has stalled three times. I told you he is not interested in a speedy trial."
"I'm just glad we might finally see justice. I used to believe so strongly in it and then the past year and a half happened. I just want what Alex and I endured not to be in vain."
"And the DA has been doing everything to ensure that happens for both of you. Aydin has been in solitary confinement and not allowed any outside communication and when we find him guilty he will be going to the supermax in Colorado, where even Kubra Bialik can't get in. His life will be over."
"What does this mean for us?"
"Monday we will be taking you to New York City to the federal jail there. That's the plan but we are monitoring intell and the plan could change. We've told you there aren't many women in the witness protection program other than family members and next to no women in prison in the program. This is really unprecedented. We are looking at options with the warden and my superiors."
"What are they? What are you going to do to me and Piper? Will you split us up?"
"I promised you when I told you I was a lesbian our second meeting, when you asked that question for the first time that I would do whatever I can to keep you two together, despite what the rules say. And I will set my badge on the table to not separate you two."
"I hate that Piper is wrapped up in this but we are in this together or not at all."
"Well a federal subpoena doesn't give you two a choice. Monday afternoon you will meet the victim's advocate that has been working on your case and going to the hearings for you two. Her name is Celia Ortera. You two will love her."
"Promise?"
"Yes, Alex. Here's the transcript from the last hearing. The judge denied his most recent motions and ruled that the trial will take place as scheduled and any further motions to stall the proceedings will not be entertained."
"Thanks," Alex shook her hand.
"Thanks. So glad things are finally getting going, nervous about it all but excited. I doubted that day would ever come," Piper added.
"I'm sorry it took so long. If someone did what he did to my wife I would be impatient too. When me and Celia were fighting for you two we always had you in mind, even more than Alex."
James then led them back to their bunk.
"5am Monday. Leslie will come for you two. If you need anything have it ready. We don't know if or when we will bring you back here."
"What about our medications and medical records," Piper asked worriedly.
"Don't worry. We are taking care of it. You will both have everything you need medically wherever we end up sending you. Just worry about you and her for once and let us take care of the rest."
"Okay."
"You two ready," Leslie asked while most of the prison was at breakfast.
"Yeah. I grabbed my papers and Alex's flashcards, memory games and drawings. I got our cards and letters we've written over the last year."
"Alex?"
"Scared to death and hating myself for Piper having to go through this. But I'm ready. From the moment it happened I knew there was no way I would ever get justice. But its actually happening."
Alex then whispered to Piper, "I wish I could say bye to Nicky."
"Me too. And Red. But you know we can't. Even to tell the two we trust the most is too risky."
"I know. It still really fucking sucks."
"We have each other. I'd be lost without you."
"I can't even imagine anymore."
"No fear. Let's go, love."
"Let's go, kid."
Leslie walked them to the warden's office where Agent Andrews was waiting, the warden who replaced Caputo shortly after the attack was sitting beside her. She had a serious expression on her face.
"Alex. Piper. We have been investigating a hit. Its credible. If we put you into the federal lockup in New York City you will both be killed, not might be, will be."
"So what are you going to do?"
"You have been transferred from the custody of the Federal Department of Corrections to the U.S. Marshals. We can't find a way to protect two women in the federal prison system. We will be taking you to a hotel near the City. You will be placed on house arrest until the trial finishes and we make a permanent decision regarding your status with the program. I told you I would protect you first and keep you together second. That's why the prison has been on lockdown since yesterday afternoon and will be until you two are off the property. We can't risk you being killed and losing everything. You are our star witnesses. Without you two this case is largely circumstantial. The DA would have my head."
"And after all you've done for me and Piper I wouldn't want that."
She waved three Marshals in suits in, "You know my partner Agent Colton. This is Jesse McKinnon and Sara Taylor."
They shook hands and then Agent Andrews carefully handcuffed Alex and led her forward, knowing she couldn't walk without her cane and Agent Colton handcuffed Piper.
When they were in the black SUV with a matching car behind and in front of them and a police car leading the three cars Alex turned to her fiancé, "Wow this is intense. We really mean that much to the feds?"
"Guess so. They probably hate that they had to admit hitmen infiltrate prisons and this time they have gotten a lot of attention from what I heard."
"Guess so. Try to get some rest babe. We have a long drive ahead of us."
"Okay," they then rested their head on the other one's shoulder and fell asleep, they had shared a sleepless night the night before.
A few hours later they were heading into NYC, "Girls, wake up," Agent Andrews woke them up.
"Erica, I'm still sleepy," Alex mumbled and roused Piper, "Babe, we're here. Time to wake up."
Piper yawned and tried to stretch her arms.
"Your handcuffed. You can't stretch."
"Where are we?"
"She gets disoriented sometimes. New York. We are meeting with Celia and then get to see where we will be spending the next few weeks on house arrest."
The four agents led them to an office where Agents Andrews and Colton stood guard by the door.
"Alex. Piper. So glad to finally meet you two."
"We are too," Alex took the spokesperson role, as usual.
She spent the next two hours detailing the case and the evidence. For the first time Piper saw the pictures from inside the greenhouse and she threw up.
"Sorry baby. Its just imagining that and seeing it are two different things. That much blood and all else."
"It was my first time really seeing what was left behind. I saw the hits and blood but not the results."
"You two will be held at the hotel until it gets closer to when you testify at the end of the trial. We will meet daily at your hotel. It would be too dangerous to bring you into the City until you are close to being called. We will likely also put you two in bullet proof vests and move you discreetly when we do just in case."
"Thanks, Celia," they both said as the two agents handcuffed and led them back to the caravan of SUVs and police cars.
"Are you two hungry? I can convince Agent Colton here to stop for drive through burgers."
"Yes."
"What do you think?"
"You know we have to deliver them but once we drop them off we can go for take out and anything you two need."
"You heard him."
Forty five minutes later they were led to a room in a motor inn outside of Newark.
"Its not much," Agent Andrews told them as she took off their handcuffs and they sat next to each other on the bed, finally able to hug each other.
"Still better than prison."
"Now there will be agents in the adjoining room and a security detail running perimeter throughout the day. There are video and audio bugs but if you want to you know none of us care. We are just trying to protect you two and get two alive witnesses to trial. You aren't in prison the same rules don't apply. Unfortunately we have to give you both a reminder that you are technically prisoners and fit you with ankle bracelets."
Agent Colton strapped on the bracelets to each of their right ankles.
"You guys need clothes? Toiletries?"
"Yes. Both."
They gave Agent Andrews their sizes and what they wanted. Two hours later they came back with four Target bags and a paper bag with burgers and fries and two large cokes.
"Knock on the door between the room if you need anything. An agent will bring you dinner at seven. Breakfast will be at 8am and lunch 12:30. Keep the door locked fully at all times. Anyone with business with you two will come through the adjoining room."
"Yes Agent Andrews," they both said as she headed into the adjoining room.
"I can't believe we are here, not in prison. I mean I'd prefer it without the fancy anklet but I'll take it."
"Me too, babe," she said as she kissed the blonde passionately.
"Keep doing that and our food will get cold."
"Okay. Lunch, warm shower, make love. Work for you?"
Piper put her hands on Alex's thighs and kissed her as she rested her ass on the older woman's lap, "Yes."
"Eat silly. You will need your strength for what I'm gonna make you do."
"Oh really."
"I haven't been able to really make love with you for a decade. Fuck you or make guarded love yes and wonderful as it is it's not the same."
After dinner that night the two cuddled in bed and watched TV.
"Al, for the first time in ever I feel like we are a normal couple just laying in bed watching TV after a long day. You aren't all stressed about work."
"Will it ruin the moment if I say I kinda am?"
"The trial?"
"I'm so scared and I'm going to have to relive the worst day of my life and they can ask whatever they want and I have to answer. And to make it worse you have to relive the worst day of your life too. If we were married you wouldn't have to."
"They couldn't make me testify against you but they can make me testify in a case where we are both the victims, where the charges are against us. Al, I am not a young kid you need to protect anymore. The past nearly two years have taught me to stand on my own two feet and declare what I want and get it."
Alex rested her hands on Piper's jawline and looked in her eyes, "Pipes, I will always protect you. You will always be my sweet baby girl. Always be twenty in my eyes, just like I'll always be twenty-five in yours. Even when your carrying and mothering our babies. As long as I live and no matter how old or strong or self assure you get I will because I am your wife and that's what spouses do. And it's why I exist. You put the color in my world. Without you I'm just trying to do anything to fill the emptiness inside."
"I love you so much, Alex. And I would do anything to protect you. You give me another option and the ability to have the freedom to decide who I am and the life I want."
The two fell asleep to the TV and woke to a knock on the door between the rooms.
Alex grabbed her cane and opened the door.
"Hello Agent Andrews."
"You two sleep okay? Piper alright?"
"Yes. She's always been a heavy sleeper."
"Alex? Where are you baby," she yawned and stretched.
"There's my precious girl. Good morning, beautiful. I'm over here at the door. Come get breakfast. Shorts and tank top first love," she said before the agent could realize her fiancé was naked. She knew Piper so many times had been caught by other people when she woke up naked, she loved it and didn't think about it.
"Morning Agent Andrews."
"I got two large coffees. I didn't know how you like it so I got a bunch of creamer and sugar. I got you pancakes, scrambled eggs, hash browns and bacon."
"Thanks," Piper grabbed the food and they sat at the desk as the agent left them alone.
"Pipes, You think we'll get tired of each other before this is up? I mean all we can do is make love, watch TV and wait for our day in court. We can't go beyond the parking lot. We could roam more in prison."
"We spent two years waiting in hotel rooms."
"And you got tired of it."
"I'm not going to get tired of being with you. Yes, there will be times where we drive each other crazy but I would rather be driven crazy by you than mourning you and crying harder cause I didn't get to bury you. I would never have been able to love again."
"And I'm sure you'll piss me off but I never thought I would see you again. You did what I told you to do. If you had died because of my choice and I had lived I wouldn't have cared that it meant Kubra winning, it would have destroyed me. And if I were alone in this tiny room I would be going insane. I'm glad your here, kid."
"I'm glad I am too. I love you."
"I love you too," Alex kissed the blonde.