As the days passed, Piper slowly got better. She made many phone calls but still refused to see anyone until she was better. When Larry returned he was angry at first, but she told him she was bruised from a fall and didn't want to get accused of fighting, thus no strip search. He seemed to believe her. She did notice that she and Alex were rarely alone. It seemed that Red and others they trusted were always with them. One day she was walking down to the laundry with Morello when she saw the strangest thing. Alex had Nicky in the back of the laundry, bent over a laundry bin. She froze.
"You aren't as tall and Piper and I'm taller. She is about 5'7 and the bruise was across her abdomen." Piper walked up to them and Nicky quickly stood up straight.
"What the fuck are the two of you doing?" Piper asked with barely controlled anger.
Alex stepped forward and looked at Morello. She got the hint and left after squeezing Piper's arm to convey everything will be okay. "Simple, I'm trying to decide, using deductive reasoning how tall your assailant was..you told me he pressed against you...I was trying to eliminate the COs that are too tall or short." Piper squinted her eyes.
"You are trying to do that without me?" Alex mumbled and turned away. "What...what did you say?" she asked taking Alex by the arm and turning her back around. Alex wouldn't look at her.
"She couldn't stand the thought of you reliving it, Chapman. She was afraid your nightmares would return." Piper had trouble sleeping. Alex would hold her most nights and finally Piper was back to getting enough sleep.
Piper put her arms around Alex and pulled her close. She kissed her and whispered on her lips, "Nothing can harm me when I'm with you. LIke you pointed out, Nicky is too short." Piper removed herself from her arm and approached the Laundry bin. It was like all the bins in the prison, an exact replica of the one in the garage.
She swallowed and tried to just focus on the facts, like it had happened to someone else. "I was bent over some, then he pushed my knees in and I fell forward in to the bin like this.." she demonstrated but brought her body up quickly. This bin was empty, there were no greasy rags or soiled uniforms.
"He held me down and slipped the bag over my head, then punched me a few times in the side. He cuffed me fast so, after that he held the cuffs and kept me on my tip toes so I couldn't raise up." Piper swallowed and fought through a wave of nausea.
Nicky walked to the bin. "Could you show us?" Piper nodded and leaned over until she could barely stand. The bin moved and Alex went to the other side to hold it. Piper told her the bin in the garage was up against the wall. From her bent over position she told them how he used his hands to spank her and would punch her periodically in the side. Then he pressed against her and she felt his cock hard in his pants.
"Where did you feel it? On your upper thighs or against your side?" Nicky asked. Alex cursed under her breath but Piper just closed her eyes and tried to focus.
"Against my ass, almost directly. I started to struggle much more and that is when he..." Piper sat up quickly and clutched the side of the bin.
"Enough, this is stupid, enough I can't..." Alex started to come to her to hold her and Piper held up her hand.
"No you are right, this may be the only way to eliminate suspects. That is when he told me he'd hurt you if I told. I stopped struggling. It..seemed to confuse him. He held me down with one hand, unzipped and pulled up my shirt. I thought...I thought he was going to jerk down my pants but he just jerked off instead." Her voice was shaking but she got through it.
Nicky held up a standard tee shirt in Piper's size as she said, "The stains are up where between your shoulders. So he had to be at least.." she seemed confused. Alex took out a measuring tape, one Nicky had borrowed from the shop. They didn't have to check in tape measures. She brought it up to a certain height and then leaned over a notebook Piper hadn't noticed was on the folding table.
After a few minutes, Alex looked up and said, "He is between 6'3 and 6'5. I'd say that limits it to only five or so Officers. To be sure, let's make a small mark by the door frame of the dorm guard rooms, any officer that falls in that area, we add to the list." Nicky nodded.
"How long have the two of you been trying to figure this out?" Piper asked, moving in to Alex's arms finally.
Nicky smirked, "Since that day in the Chapel. You have to know who it is for the evidence to be used...it isn't like we can do a DNA test on our own, so process of elimination is our best bet." Piper squinted her eyes and looked closely at Alex.
Alex turned her head to the side and asked, "What, kid?" Piper ran her hands under her shirt and rested her palm on Alex's back. The skin on skin contact seemed to calm them both.
"You promised Alex. You'd do nothing to get yourself in trouble." Piper said this to her and she noted how Alex dropped her gaze.
Shifting and kissing Piper softly on the lips she replied, "I'm not going to get caught, I'm going to help you find this bastard so we can have some alone time!"
"Anything to get laid I see..." Piper said. Both she and Nicky laughed and Alex growled in mock indignation. They all left the laundry to walk up to movie night.
"Well you know, for three criminals we would have made three decent detectives. CSI: Litchfield." Nicky said with a grin.
Alex snorted, "Please bitch, I am way smarter than the average cop. Hell, If two mules hadn't got caught and turned on me, I'd still be in business." Piper walked with her, wondering all the while, which two were caught and how they had brought Alex down. One unspoken rule they had was not to discuss either of their cases. She knew Alex got time off for turning evidence against her and she assumed she got more time off for testifying about the drug lord she worked under.
They went back to the dorm and got their earphones, then headed to the movie area. Carmen and Red had actually patched things up and Red was doing all the baking in the kitchen. She wasn't top dog anymore but there was an easy alliance between them. She had brought some treats in and Nicky snagged them all a cupcake to eat while they watched a Disney movie with an animal as the lead character. It was funny though and Piper was thrilled to spend her time holding Alex's hand in the dark.
Piper had spent much of her time in Europe alone when she was with Alex. She saw many films in different languages. She often did it to escape the heat and would make up or infer what was being said as she watched. When she got back to the flat, Alex would be on the phone but sometimes she would have dinner ready. Piper loved those nights because when Alex wanted to, she could cook. One night she made this pasta and Piper was famished. Alex had put the phone down and actually joined her at the table.
"Did you enjoy your movie?" Alex asked. Piper told her what she thought it was about and Alex had listened as she plated the food and opened the wine to breathe.
"This looks amazing, baby. I'm really hungry." Piper started to pick up her fork but there wasn't one set out for her. "Oh you forgot my fork, let me get.." Alex took her by the wrist and shook her head. Piper looked confused but Alex motioned for her to sit down in her chair. Piper complied and then Alex brought up a lovely scarf that Piper had bought for her at the market a few days earlier.
"Tonight, you are going to let me feed you." she said and as she said it she put the scarf around Piper's eyes and tied it tightly. Piper immediately became very wet. Alex didn't play many love making games anymore. She was always so stressed and this was thrilling. She felt Alex sit beside her and reached out to touch her hand.
Alex whispered to her, "I'm right here. Now, first taste this.." Piper felt the food at her mouth and she opened her lips. She bit down on what tasted like warm, buttery bread. She salivated with pleasure. Had Alex baked or did she venture out right after Piper left and bought fresh bread from the bakery down the lane. It was thoughtful either way. Piper moaned and told her how good it was, then to her surprise Alex kissed her. Slowly, one bite at a time, usually from Alex's own hands Piper was fed.
She was thirsty and asked for some wine. She felt Alex reach in front of her and opened her mouth expecting the glass to press against her eager bottom lip. Instead she heard Alex take a drink and Piper whimpered softly. Then she felt Alex lean forward and her amazing lips on her own. As they kissed Alex released the wine in to Piper's mouth. It made her moan with need and clench her thighs together. She was panting when Alex leaned back and chuckled softly. They finished their meal and Piper was walked carefully to their bed.
"Now I am going to make a meal of you, my love. Keep the blindfold on and just feel everything. I know I'm busy all the time, I know I'm stressed...but remember I always want to be doing these things with you, like going to movies or the market. Try to remember that, kid." Alex had said as she undressed her lover. Piper had never felt so close to her and it was magical.
These thoughts were in her mind as she brought a piece of cupcake to Alex's mouth. Alex nibbled it and looked at her. Piper felt so heated by her memories she wished she could take Alex right there, right on the floor, but she leaned back instead and focused on the movie. This wasn't the time or place but damn she really wanted Alex inside of her. Piper knew Alex was going slow and taking her time with Piper after the assault. Plus, they really hadn't been left alone much.
At night in their bunks was the only time they weren't surrounded by people. At work, Nicky stuck to her like glue and Sasha was Alex's constant companion. If she was sent to deliver towels to the kitchen, once Alex came up in the hallway, Boo and little Boo would join her for the walk. Though no one knew exactly why, they knew they had to be quiet and close ranks around the two of them. Some girls had seen Piper's bruises and figured out it was a CO. Piper had been very scared but so far no guard had made a move or seemed to notice. Now, they knew how tall he was. She wasn't surprise that it excluded Healy. She thought perhaps he could have paid someone to do it but Piper knew she'd never be sure.
She was on a hunt now. She would find the man that did this and she would make him pay before Alex could figure it out. She knew her love and she knew that Alex would find a way to hurt him. Piper was determined to find him first. In the dark of the theatre she squeezed her lover's hand.
Alex leaned closer, "Are you okay?" Piper nodded.
The room burst in to laughter at the antics of two squirrels and she leaned closer to Alex and whispered in response, "I heart you, Alex Vause." Piper was rewarded with a full smile on Alex's face that was just for her.
**"have you fed a lover, with just your hand, closed your eyes and trusted, just trusted"- a little P!NK to inspire one. I hope you enjoyed this latest chapter. I appreciate all of the reviews. You inspire me to continue and I'm touched by your thoughtful words and critiques. As always, if you want more please review! Peace, FaeCym