Chapter Two-
"How did this happen?" Demanded Joan, pacing her office.
"I don't know, but it's happened, and we're lucky that the woman didn't panic and called us in for help. Doc says it could have been a lot worse," said Vera complacently.
"And how bad is it?" Asked Joan, pausing in her place.
"Burns to her right arm, both legs, internal injury to her lungs. The women have been confined to their units at the moment until Miss Gallagher wakes up, and once we know who did it, we can confine them to the slot instead," said Vera.
"And what good is that going to do? The war will still go on Vera, or are you too daft to remember that?" Sneered Joan.
"No Governor."
"Then I want you to tell me when Miss Gallagher is awake, and we will get our answers."
Nikki woke up several hours later to someone stroking her hair. She shifted painfully, and the hand stopped.
"Wh... what happened?" She rasped.
"You're in medical," said Franky softly.
"How come you're here?" She asked.
"Miss Bennett allowed me up for a little while. We've been trading places to make sure you're not alone. We did have to pay her off a little though," said Franky.
"You shouldn't have," whispered Nikki. She coughed painfully, and wrapped her arms around her chest.
"What happened?" She asked again.
"Liz and Dor found you on the floor in our unit covered in bleach. It was touch and go there, and they thought they'd lost you, but you kept fighting. You've got severe burns on your arm, mild burns everywhere else and burns in your throat, but they think you should be okay. They were going to take you to the hospital with a guard, but Doc didn't think you'd make it," said Franky. She smoothed Nikki's blond streaked hair out of the way.
"When can I leave?" Asked Nikki.
"In a few days. They want to make sure that you can breathe comfortably before letting you go, and then you have to come back to medical every few days to have the dressing changed on your arm," said Franky.
"I'm sorry," said Nikki, tears coming to her eyes.
"For what?" Asked Franky, confused.
"I trusted them," she whispered.
"Niks, what are you talking about?" Asked Franky. She sat up on the bed, facing Nikki. She took Nikki's hand in hers, stroking it gently.
"She came and asked if we could have a cup of tea, and I said yes, and then it all got worse from there, and then I couldn't breathe, and then I remember being sick, and Lizzie's face in front of mine, and then... then I don't remember a lot except you being here," said Nikki tearfully. She swiped away the tears furiously, angry at herself for crying.
"Who was it?" Asked Franky, her voice low and dangerous.
"If can't tell you," said Nikki, backing away from Franky. She recognised the volatility in her voice, and wasn't going to end well.
"Why the fuck not?" Asked Franky, advancing towards Nikki.
"Because this stupid fight will escalate further, and you'll end up hurt, and I can't have that!" Exclaimed Nikki. Franky's hand snapped out and slapped Nikki across the cheek. Nikki let out a choked sob, fear in her eyes, and pressed herself against the wall.
"Why?" She whispered. Linda opened the door, and upon seeing Franky in a threatening stance, called a Code Red and had Franky removed in an instant.
"Let go! Get the fuck off me!" Screamed Franky as she was dragged away. Nikki pulled the blankets up close and sobbed brokenly. Liz was brought in after the area had been cleared, and she sat down on the edge of Nikki's bed. She didn't comment on the red handprint on Nikki's face, just drew her close and held her while she sobbed.
"Oh sweetie, it's never easy," she whispered.
"I thought Franky loved me," hiccuped Nikki.
"She still does love. She's just angry, and I agree, she shouldn't have hit you," said Liz amicably.
"I miss my dad," she whispered.
"I know love."
"I don't want Franky to do something stupid," said Nikki softly.
"Then I'll get Boomer onto her. If anyone can keep her from doing something ridiculous, it's her," said Liz. Nikki nodded, and withdrew from the warm arms.
"I need some sleep," she whispered. Liz nodded, and stood up, dusting herself down.
"That's alright. I'll deal with Franky, you sleep."
"Governor? Miss Gallagher is awake," reported Vera.
"Excellent. Would you care to accompany me to this interview, or have you got something else to do?" Asked Joan. Vera shook her head.
"My afternoon is clear Governor," she responded.
"Good. Let's go." Joan led the way down the corridor, Vera trailing behind her like a pitiful puppy. Joan flung open the door to the medical unit where Nikki as currently residing, and nearly scared poor Nikki off the bed.
"Miss Gallagher! Nice to see you're finally awake!" Exclaimed Joan.
"We want to have a chat to you, to find out what happened a few days ago," said Vera.
"I-I don't remember," said Nikki, stuttering a little.
"You do remember," said Joan menacingly. Nikki backed up against the bed frame, shaking a little.
"Vera, could you watch outside for me please?" Asked Joan. Vera nodded, and stepped out the door. Nikki started to tremble more as she realised that her only lifeline had deserted her.
"You will tell me Miss Gallagher," said Joan dangerously. Nikki shook her head vehemently.
"I can't. They'll know I'm a lagger!" Exclaimed Nikki. Joan's hand snaked out and slapped Nikki clear across the face. Nikki brought a hand to the tender flesh, a tear streaking down her face.
"There's more where that came from," threatened Joan.
"I don't know! I don't know," said Nikki! tears starting afresh. Joan sneered at the snivelling girl on the bed.
"Then I guess I'll have to punish you for withholding information."
"How could you? After everything that poor girl has been through, you go and slap her. What are you, five? Grow up," said Liz angrily.
"How the bloody hell am I supposed to protect her if she won't even tell me who did it?" Snapped Franky.
"It doesn't take a genius to work out who did it Franky. It's pretty clear. So what are you going to do about it?" Asked Liz. Franky turned away from her and marched out of the unit.
"Booms! We gotta smash some heads together. Move!" Boomer followed Franky down to the hall to H4. Emily and Charlie were reclining on the two sofas, each with a magazine open.
"Ah, Francesca, we wondered when you would pay us a visit," said Emily nonchalantly.
"What the fuck did you do?" Asked Franky through clenched teeth.
"Nothing. We've been here," answered Charlie, flipping to the next page in her magazine.
"The hell you have," snapped Franky.
"No proof love. What are you going to do?" Asked Emily sweetly. Franky was almost nauseated at the sweet attitude coming from the young woman.
"The proof is Nikki. She's telling the screws right now," said Franky triumphantly. Charlie and Emily paled briefly, and Franky knew she was right.
"Bitch." In an instant, Franky was atop of Charlie, fists flying. She was determined to injure the woman, make sure she paid for the damage she had done to Nikki. Boomer handled Emily easily, pinning her against the wall, keeping her from protecting her sister.
"You could have killed her!" Exclaimed Franky. She pulled Charlie up and shoved her towards her cell door.
"Booms, I need your help. You move bitch, and Boomer will smash you into last week," Franky threatened Emily. Boomer released the twin, and walked over to Franky.
"Hold her. I'm going to leave you with a painful reminder, just like you've done to Niks," said Franky menacingly. Boomer held Charlie firmly, and Franky stepped inside the twins cell. She grabbed Charlie's wrist and pulled her arm inside the doorway. Charlie realised what she was going to do, and started to panic...
Franky had been in a similar situation with Jacs and a knife...
She held Charlie's arm still, and slammed the door.
The reaction was instantaneous, and Franky knew she had the upper hand...
She always had the upper hand.
Will was walking through the medical corridor when he heard the sobbing, and paused for a moment, unsure of where the noise was coming from. He backtracked, checking each medical unit until he arrived at Nikki's. he opened the door, and found the room apparently deserted. He glanced around, then realised that there was a blanket on the floor. he kneeled down to pick it up, and found nikki hiding under the bed, trembling.
"Are you okay?" Asked Will. Nikki on sobbed hard and tried to hide further under the bed. Will stretched a hand out towards her, and she pulled away. Will hunkered back on his heels, debating how to proceed with the frightened young woman. After a few moments, his debate was ended when Beth Mannings found him.
"Will, what are you doing on the floor?" Asked Beth, her voicing lilting a little. He shook his head, one hand flying to his lips to shush her, the other indicating the frightened girl under the bed. Beth squatted down and took in the sight of the terrified woman. She noted the deep bruising on her hands and face, and the occasional hiccuping sob.
"Come on. Come out so we can check you over. I promise, we won't hurt you," said Beth softly. Nikki nodded, and allowed Beth to help her out.
"Will, can you interview the women in H2 please? One of them had to have done this," said Beth, a hint of accusation in her voice. She helped Nikki up onto the bed, tucking the blanket around her.
"And send in Kayla," added Beth, referring to the nurse on duty. Will nodded, and headed out the door. Beth checked over Nikki, just finding varying degrees of bruising.
"Honey, who did this to you?" Asked Beth. Nikki shook her head, refusing to open her mouth.
"If you tell us, we can protect you," assured Beth. Nikki shook her head again, still refusing. Beth opened her lips to say more, but was interrupted by the sounding of alarms throughout the building.
"Medical Code in H4. All personnel to assist in lockdown." Beth looked at Nikki, then shook her head.
"Kayla will be in shortly to attend to you, and once you're ready, we'll return you to the compound." Beth left, and headed down the hall, wondering what had happened in H4, and how it was connected to everything else that had happened. She moved swiftly through the corridor, soon joined by Linda.
"What do you think happened?" Mused Linda.
"I don't know, but if it's got something to do with H4, you can bet that Franky and the Wilson twins will be involved," said Beth, her mouth set in a grim line.
"I can't believe you've left B Block for this," said Linda.
"Yeah, well, sometimes, neither can I," replied Beth. They turned the corner and entered H4, finding Will and Fletch bent over each of the Wilson twins, blood pouring from Emily's nose, and Charlie's wrist bent at a strange angle.
"And yet, I'm oddly comforted by the fact that everything seems normal," said Beth. The medical team ran in behind her, and Linda followed.
"I want everyone in lockdown down, do a head count, make sure everyone is in their units, and I want to know who did this," ordered Will.
"I'm pretty sure we know who did is, and locking them into the slot isn't going to change it," said Linda, scoffing a little.
"Well, while we're dealing with this, make sure they're locked up and safe," argued Will. Linda shrugged her shoulders, throwing an odd glance at Beth, and the pair left.
"Things are only going to get more crazy around here," commented Linda.
Little did she know how right she was going to be.