A.N I am so sorry for the delay in updating this story first of all I have been busy playing catch up at work and secondly season 3 left me a little bit out of sorts. The first half of the series I loved Vauseman was on fire and I think they did a good job with their reunion, fight and make up although it did feel slightly rushed.
The second half irritated the life out of me and so I have been conflicted especially over the writing of Piper's character it just seems well ridiculous! I don't feel quite as guilty for putting my Piper through hell after the way she treated Alex this season and I wish the writers would stop having her treat the woman who is supposedly the love of her life like dirt (I know Alex isn't perfect and I have always liked them equally flaws and all but I just want to shake some sense into Piper this season).
Anyway apologies rant over and I hope you continue to enjoy my little Vauseman story :)
The last couple of days had been shitty Piper had caught an infection, the incision in her side had become an inflamed weeping mess, causing the nurse to flap and fuss and Caputo to rage about the situation to anybody who would listen. The nurse had provided antibiotics and cleaned the wound thoroughly but Piper was still struggling with the pain and a fever. Alex didn't know what to do she had never been particularly good at looking after anyone apart from herself it always made her feel useless when her mother had been ill when she was younger and Piper the first time round in their relationship. The nurse had irritably told her after her third time asking that there was nothing she could do for Piper all that was needed was plenty of fluids and plenty of rest. Piper had been trying to be jovial obviously not wanting her to freak out but Alex could tell she was struggling by her heavy eyes and pale waxy complexion. Looking down at her slumbering lover Alex smiled and ran a hand through Pipers blonde hair soothingly she had been sleeping for little over an hour having drifted off with her head in Alex's lap.
Caputo had been to visit and he had come bearing gifts the first, news from Pipers family which had brought a moment of happiness for Piper and a couple of books which Alex had eagerly made a grab for the minute Caputo had left. Piper had begged Alex to read to her like she used to do when they first started dating and even though Alex had pretended that she didn't want to secretly she was thrilled at how much a small gesture such as her reading aloud meant to Piper. Halfway through reading the first chapter Alex had felt Piper become a dead weight in her lap and the grip around her fingers slacken. A gentle snore reached her ears and Alex chuckled the blonde had always swore blind that she didn't snore and it pleased her that some things never changed. Putting the book down onto the cabinet next to the bed Alex tried to prop herself up more fully on the pillows behind her a non to easy feat while trying not to disturb her sleeping lover. The nurse came over to help placing another couple of pillows behind Alex's back "Thanks" the nurse just nodded and Alex felt a bit guilty that she didn't even know the woman's name after spending close to a week in the infirmary.
"She's going to be ok you know. If she survived that stab wound she'll survive a slight fever" Alex nodded although she didn't smile it had scared her that first morning Piper whimpering in pain her eyes clenched together her body pulling into itself it had reminded her of being back in the shower block when she had held her love while the life literally bled away from her body.
"But I can understand your fears anyone can see how much you care for her"
This made Alex smile Piper Chapman really had got underneath her defences and settled into her heart loving Piper was like breathing essential for her body to survive.
"I've been informed that once Chapman is well the FBI have asked that a meeting is arranged they have further developments to discuss with her"
Alex felt an uneasiness develop in her stomach "Have they asked for me?"
"I'm not sure Caputo only mentioned Chapman he is not happy that they are putting pressure on him to organise a meeting sooner rather than later" "Piper is not attending until she is fit and well and not a minute sooner!" anger built in Alex at them trying to drag Piper from her sick bed hadn't she been through enough?
The nurse nodded hurriedly "Caputo agrees with you Vause I think he is getting infuriated with the FBI's interference but you didn't hear that from me" the nurse winked and smiled and Alex tried to swallow down her anger it wasn't the nurse's fault that the law enforcement was trying to stamp its authority.
"Thanks for telling me"
"You're welcome" The nurse checked Pipers temperature then turned to leave but Alex stopped her before she reached the door "What's your name? Sorry it's just you know mine and Pipers"
The nurse laughed "It's Rachael nothing exciting but thanks for asking" Alex just nodded in reply returning her concentration to the woman in her lap as the infirmary doors closed gently shut.
"You need to stop worrying about me"
Alex nearly jumped as Piper spoke and when Piper rolled over to look at her she raised an eyebrow and scowled "Fuck Kid you nearly gave me a fucking heart attack"
"If I had a dollar for every time you cursed I would be a very rich woman by now"
Alex tried to keep her face stern although it was proving difficult in the face of Pipers infectious grin.
"I'm being serious though I can handle the Feds"
"Hmm not right now you can't"
Piper grumbled at her words and Alex smiled teasingly "You fell asleep after not even one chapter I don't think your quite ready for a full meeting"
Piper scoffed "I can't help it that your voice soothes me it's like liquid silk. Fuck you for being so damn perfect"
"You owe me a dollar"
They both burst out into giggles and Piper nuzzled her head closer into Alex her fingers coming to clutch at her plain white t-shirt.
"I don't think I've slept this much since I arrived"
"The nurse says you need the sleep it'll help you fight the infection"
"Since when you did you get all caring" Piper's voice was teasing but Alex felt her stomach clench slightly and she felt uncomfortable. Pulling her glasses from the top of her head she slipped them on her face and just shrugged at Pipers questioning glance.
"Alex"
Pipers tone was gentle but Alex felt herself bristle slightly in agitation "What?" Piper tried to sit up but she struggled slightly after lying in the same position for so long. Alex grasped Pipers shoulders gently and carefully eased her up until Piper sat crossed legged in front of her looking curious "I didn't mean it to sound like I don't think you give a shit"
"I know"
"Well then what's the matter"
Alex tried to brush it off pretend Pipers words hadn't affected her "Nothing I'm fine"
Piper just sighed gently "I know you better than I know myself sometimes. You've put your glasses on its a habit when you're feeling insecure. Now come on tell me what's bothered you?"
Alex wanted to deny the statement but she couldn't even though it irked her, although it did make her heart swell at how well Piper knew her.
"I'm just worried that's all" she folded her arms defensively she knew Piper wouldn't laugh or make fun of her but revealing her feelings always made her feel like the scared bullied kid in the playground again, frightened of saying the wrong thing in case the other kids made fun of her for it.
"You don't need to be trust me I'm going to be fine" Piper cupped Alex's chin and pushed her glasses back up onto her head "I survived being stabbed I think I'll survive a temperature there's no need for you to overreact"
Alex scowled deeply "I'm not overreacting! You fucking died Pipes ... I watched begging as they struggled to resuscitate you then they whisked you away from me. I never thought I'd see you again" Alex's voice had risen as it wavered with emotion but Pipers face did not change, she ran a thumb over Alex's cheek soothingly until Alex felt her breathing return to normal.
"But you did, I survived and came back to you that's what you need to focus on. No matter what happens I will always come back to you Alex, me and you are inevitable" Alex allowed Pipers words to wash over her soothe her frazzled nerves and let the truth in grain deep into her soul. She was right Piper was a fighter and she had fought against almost certain death to be beside Alex once more. Not trusting her voice as she felt so full of emotion Alex pulled Piper to her so that she was lying against her side Pipers head tucked carefully into the crook of her neck.
"You're such a soft arse" Alex was pleased to hear Pipers joking words the emotional conversation becoming a bit too much and she nodded in agreement.
"I think I always have been when it comes to you"
Piper nodded against her neck her blonde hair tickling Alex's skin "And your mum"
Alex froze for a moment before she composed herself and nodded in return "And my mum"
They lay together in peaceful silence not feeling the need to break it with any meaningless words just enjoying the feeling of being together. Piper had been quiet for so long Alex was just beginning to wonder if she had fallen back to sleep when she suddenly spoke.
"Do you know when we were together back then I thought I knew what it felt like to be completely 100% in love with another person" Alex waited to hear Piper continue not really knowing what to say in response to that declaration, did it mean she thought she loved her but realised now she didn't? Alex's soul shuddered at the thought.
"But now what I feel for you I swear it's 10 times greater than back then. When I'm with you now it feels like coming home. Now I know with certainty that what I felt back then was great but what I feel now is so brilliant it's overwhelming" Alex's heart swelled and she beamed capturing Pipers lips in a heated kiss she tried desperately to convey all her emotions into the simple act of kissing knowing words just couldn't do her thoughts justice in that moment.
"I'm never living without you again Kid"
"I should bloody hope not after I've made that little embarrassing speech! Curse my foot in mouth syndrome"
Alex laughed her husky chuckle sounding lighter to her own ears "Well I'm not cursing anything my ego is just loving all the praise and love your heaping on me"
Piper rolled her eyes although still smiling and Alex cuddled her back into her side as closely as she could. Looking down she allowed herself to stare into Pipers beautiful blue eyes seeing all the emotions so clearly made her feel invincible.
"I like this" at Pipers confused look Alex continued "Talking about how we feel I never thought I would but I do. We never really did the first time round did we?" "No if we did maybe things would have been different"
"Maybe but hey we used to argue a lot but at least that meant plenty of make up sex"
Piper smirked naughtily "You were always very good at apologising with your hands"
Alex smirked "Just my hands?"
Piper shoved her playfully "Of course not how could I ever forget about your amazingly talented tongue!"
Alex poked her tongue out at Piper and she giggled reaching up to try and catch hold of it "Na ah hands off"
"Once where out of this god damn infirmary I know the first place we're visiting"
"The suburbs?" Alex kept her voice light and innocent teasingly but the joking was soon forgotten as her pulse and libido raged into life when Piper looked at her with lust filled eyes.
"No the Chapel I've fucking missed you" Alex tried to clear her now dry throat and calm the throbbing heat between her legs she began to lean downwards intent of giving Piper a thorough snogging until a noise distracted them from their intense staring and nurse Smith reappeared into the ward.
Alex sighed heavily and leaned back into the pillows feeling the frustration as the nurse came to check on Piper "You've got to be fucking kidding me" Piper chuckled softly then leaned up a pressed a quick kiss to Alex's lips ignoring her disgruntled pout "You owe me another dollar"
Alex only groaned in return.
Caputo ran a hand over his head despairingly for what felt like the 100th time that day he was unbelievably stressed and at this precise moment he wished he could just hand his job over to someone else and say fuck it. The FBI had been looking into everybody listed as prison personnel trying to establish how Kubra's man had managed to gain entry to Litchfield and although he had been confident that none of his staff could have possibly been involved they had unfortunately for him found evidence that one of his staff members was corrupt. It had sickened him down to his very core when the report had been sent to him and he had read the damning evidence that they had procured bank transactions telephone records they had everything that they needed to make a conviction and they had only out of kindness provided him with file so that he was not left in the dark while they formally arrested a member of his staff.
Caputo wished, not for the first time recently, that Chapman and Vause had never come to Litchfield that this mess of revenge and deceit had never materialised within Richfield's walls for now he was going to have to have a conversation with a man he never would have thought capable of this level of betrayal. Caputo was distracted by a knock at the door and he grumbled then signed before letting out a tired come in. He pulled his glasses from his face and resisted the urge to rub a hand across his face as the chair across from his desk was pulled out a a figure settled heavily into the worn fabric "Healy".
Sam Healy looked exhausted his uniform rumbled and dishevelled his face grey with tiredness and his eyes bloodshot he looked how Caputo felt and a stab of sympathy shot through his stomach for the man sat across from him.
"What can I do for you now Sir?"
"I just wanted to thank you for your help Sam I know that this hasn't been easy and you were reluctant to help but I needed someone other than myself to help control the uproar and I am incredibly grateful"
Healy inclined his head and sighed "How is Chapman?"
"She's getting there"
"And Vause?" Healy looked as though it cost him a great deal to utter those words and Caputo almost smiled he was well aware of exactly what Sam Healy thought of one Alex Vause. "Vause will be fine"
For a moment they were silent until Caputo became serious once again "Does Luschek suspect anything?"
Healy shook his head "No I have kept him out of mischief away from the main prison he has no idea that Chapman survived and is unaware that his every move is being tracked and recorded"
"Good man" Caputo stood and waited until Healy had done the same before he offered his hand "Thanks Sam"
"No problem" Recognising the dismal Healy headed to the door and Caputo spoke quickly before he left the room "Can you fetch Luschek for me? I think he and I are due a little chat"
Healy smirked and nodded as he left "Gladly" and Caputo was left straightening the file on his desk trying to calm his inner rage. Luschek was a rat and Caputo was going to take great delight in knocking him down a peg or two before the FBI arrived and sentenced him for being the corrupt bastard Caputo always suspected he was.
