Chapter Twenty-Nine

Piper found herself strangely relaxed. They spent time in Nicky's bunk after dinner. She enjoyed being back. Alex left her bunk and went to sit on Piper's bunk. She ignored Red's evil glare because Piper knew she didn't like visitors in their cube that close to lights out. Piper sat down beside her and Alex reached out to take her hand. She ran her thumb up and down the back of Piper's hand. She smiled and felt the warmth of her love. Alex was worried. She was worried about what Piper was going to do.

"Trust me to handle this please…I have a plan," Alex whispered to her. Piper looked for the guards, then over at Red before she leaned in to kiss Alex quietly. She gently touched the side of her face where she was bruised.

"When you saw me in that snow…bloody and beaten…didn't you want to make someone pay for hurting me?" Piper whispered.

Alex pushed her glasses up and responded, " Yeah but you'd already beaten her near to death…I just didn't want you sent up the hill for it." Piper nodded and moved closer to her. She turned on her side and put her head in Alex's lap. Automatically, Alex started to stroke her hair. She felt even more relaxed. It was the most intimate they had been since the mudslide. She ran her fingers in small circles on Alex's thigh. She heard her breath catch and felt fantastic that her small touch made Alex feel that way.

The next day Piper was pumped. She wasn't allowed to work so she rested. She went to the bathroom and used the file to make the paper towel dispenser come off the wall. She gently put it back without the screws and hung paper towels out of it so that anyone that used it prior to the time Piper would need it. She went to the library afterwards. Donaldson was following her today. Piper wished it was someone less vigilante but she had to work with what she had. Alex was working behind the counter and Piper was able to enter. There weren't many inmates in the library. Piper waved at her and went to find Poussey. Alex frowned but she ignored her.

She saw Poussey and the younger woman smiled. "How is Middlesex? I hear it is pretty good. I may read it next," Poussy said in a cheerful tone. Piper told her about how she started it for the second time last night. She was honest about what she liked and what she didn't. After a few moments of speaking about another book altogether Piper inquired if everything was set.

"It is. I told her Gladys wanted her to meet her in the bathroom at that time. She can get off her work detail so it worked perfectly. She had a thing with her, just sex I guess," Poussey said shrugging. Piper exhaled, she had done all she could. She left her by the stacks after Poussey promised she'd be there on time. Piper walked up to Alex and looked at her with bright eyes. If things went wrong, they'd take her directly to SHU and she'd not get to see Alex, possibly again. It was a risk worth taking so no one will ever beat her down again. Piper smiled her brightest smile at her. Alex returned it but Piper could see the worry in her eyes. She leaned in some and said, "I'll see you in therapy in a couple of hours. Don't worry if I'm not at lunch, Red and I are having noodles in our cube."

Alex nodded and told her she'd see her there. Piper left and went to her cube. She made some noodle soup with Red and helped Nicky get her boots on for the walk to the cafeteria. She almost forgot to put up her hood as she made her way with the cane down the isle. She remembered and pulled up her hood. Piper exhaled some in relief.

Lunch passed quickly. She wrote letters to Mandy and her parents just in case she got sent away. She put them on her desk with a note to Red to deliver them. She looked at the clock and then moved to Red's bunk to sit on her knees and lean over to talk to Nicky. Red was called out to go visit with Healy. She'd been trying to teach him Ukranian, or at least enough get by better with his wife. Once she stepped out, Piper started to tell Nicky about her Grandfather's fishing cabin.

"It isn't very small. It is a five bedroom house, full gourmet kitchen and it sits on two acres that border Lake Erie. It is stupid expensive and in the township of Dunkirk. There is a dock that comes up to the yard but your fishing boat has to be kept in the harbor. The few times I went out on the boat with him, he scared me so. Grandmother sold the boat after he died. She kept the house though, my brother Cal got it. He lives off the land though, in a camper. This cabin is a bit too much for his hippy ways," Piper explained. Nicky commented on how she visited that area too. Piper then slid down on Red's bunk and watched as Nicky quickly and expertly flipped over and moved to Piper's bunk. She looked to see the coast was clear, then grabbed the cane. Piper pushed her pants down, slumped and pulled her hoody up. She limped a little and put her weight on the cane. Piper kept her head down and was able to walk right passed Donaldson who was listening to O'Neil tell the story of how he had to scatter the nuns. Piper darted into the bathroom and put the cane right inside the first stall. She then leaned against the sink in front of the loose towel dispenser and waited.

Poussey had said that she was getting out next week, that she was not going into a halfway house and that Crocket was her parole officer. Well, Piper knew they didn't come to meet their parolees before they ever step foot outside the prison. He came to visit the one person he had on the inside that he could get to beat Alex down.

Rhonda, the tall woman with masculine features entered the bathroom and looked around. She saw Piper and seemed disappointed. Piper turned as if she was washing her hands after using the toilet.

"Hey Rhonda, I hear you're getting out soon," Piper said in a friendly tone. Rhonda seemed to ignore her as she looked in each stall. "Oh it is just us in here, looking for someone?" Rhonda shrugged some. She didn't talk much on a good day. Piper could care less.

Poussey came around the corner and leaned in the doorway, blocking the entrance. Piper nodded at her then turned to Rhonda. She suddenly seemed to get that Gladys wasn't going to join them. She laughed to herself and turned to face Piper.

" Yes, Gladys has no idea you are expecting her. From what I hear, you're a lousy lay anyway and she'd never hit that again," Piper said in a cold voice and eyes full of disdain. Rhonda stiffened.

"What do you want Chapman?" asked the tall pale blonde. Poussey stayed still behind her but Piper could see she was ready to jump in. Rhonda took another step, then another closer to Piper. She was now in the perfect position.

"What do I want? Easy, I want- " Piper said as she quickly reached out, grabbed the paper towel dispenser and brought it with all of her might, upside Rhonda's face. She had no clue what hit her. The tall woman fell to the floor with a grunt. Piper felt her blood start to rush in her ears and she moved with lightening speed to get Nicky's cane. Piper registered the blood on her face, she was bleeding all over and her face was bruised. Piper pressed the cane to her throat and brought her knees up to press down. Immediately, Rhonda grasped at the cane trying to lift her off. Piper held fast. She brought her fist down and hit her hard. There was that sickening sound and feeling of the bones. She was careful though, not to bruise her hand.

"What I want is to know EXACTLY what you said to Alex after you blindsided her in the bathroom. Not fun getting sucker punched huh bitch?" Piper spoke in a soft voice, so cold and distant that she didn't even recognize it. Rhonda sputtered and tried to shake her head. "Don't you dare deny it. No one's PO comes to see them in prison. He is the same fuck head that Alex had and I know for a fact he is dirty. So, tell me what you said and I'll let you live," Piper whispered. She wanted to hit her again and again. She wanted to lose herself in that blackness, that fury. Piper didn't know where it came from but she knew it was a part of her now.

She sputtered out and croaked, "Just…that..she wwould hhhave to pppaay some guy back or mmoore things like that would happen…then I gave her the number. She had to call him or more shit would happen to her," Rhonda managed to say. She was big and tried to use Piper's distraction at her words to get her off of her. Piper open palm smacked her….then again…then yet again.

Poussey walked over and held down Rhonda's legs. " Easy Chapman, don't overdo it." she warned. Those words seeped in and Piper stopped punching her.

"The name?" Piper insisted. She leaned forward more and really cut off her air. Piper watched her face as she struggled to breathe and got scared. It made her sick to her stomach but she kept the pressure on for a few beats longer. She then leaned up and let her gasp air. Poussey warned her they had to hurry.

"Kkubra. Crockett said it was a guy named Kubra and he wants her to sell for him in here. I was to hurt her but not too bad, just enough to get her to call. I didn't want to do it…VAuse ain't never done nuttn' to me," she gasped out. She was beaten and though she towered over Piper she looked small. Piper's worse fear was just realized.

"Then why did you do it? Did you enjoy kicking her while she was on the floor? Should I have Poussey kick your ribs? Maybe you'd enjoy working with broken ribs the rest of the week. Fuck that, why not just send you home from medical!" Piper growled out.

"Pplleaseee I'm sorry….he is my little sister's PO as well. He told me he'd look the other way on her drug test if I did this for him. I don't have a choice. He controls my life for over a year after I get out," Rhonda explained. Piper felt some of her anger leaving but it wasn't gone.

She leaned down close to her, letting some of the pressure off the cane, "You did have a choice. You chose to give into the bully and not seek help. JUST like they figured you would. Listen carefully to what I am about to say. You will leave here and go to your counselor. You will tell them you fell down the stairs to laundry and that you want to be placed in the SHU for the remainder of your stay. You WILL NOT make a phone call. You will go to the SHU and pack out from that hole. If I see you again after this day, I will make sure you never breathe air on the outside of this place again. I have the resources to make that happen. Do you believe me Rhonda?" Piper asked this in a steal filled voice.

"Yess..I'll not call, please just let me up," she begged again. Piper felt her stomach twist at what she did. She motioned for Poussey to move away and then she stood. Piper picked up the cane as she rose but once standing she kicked Rhonda in the left ribs. The woman curled up and Poussey's eyes got wide, looking at Piper.

"I'd never ask someone else to do my job. If you tell on us, no one will believe you…see I have an alibi and I'm pretty sure Alex will cover for Poussey in the Library. Do as you were told and threatened. Piper turned, nodded goodbye to Poussey, put the dispenser back up and exited the way she came. She had been careful to wipe the dispenser just in case Rhonda told on her and they did an investigation. Piper would tighten it up after her therapy session.

She pulled up her hoodie and made her way quietly back to Nicky's bunk. She walked by the guard box without either one looking at her. She slipped her cane back in place and then went to join Nicky at her bunk. Red returned and looked at her strangely as she pulled up her pants and readjusted her clothing so she didn't look so much like Nicky. Nicky sat up in her bunk, and blinked. She had been completely covered up and Piper knew no one could have realized it wasn't her in the bunk. She was completely calm, almost relieved after the violence.

They were playing cards when Donaldson came over to tell her it was time for her therapy. Piper jovially gave her hand to Red to finish. Nicky told her to be a good girl and enjoy her couples therapy. She shot her a bird and then made her way towards Healy's office. He left her at the door and Piper knocked before entering. She heard Healy's voice and walked inside carefully.

Alex was in shackles again. Piper growled. "You don't need those, please remove them," she insisted.

He motioned for her to sit down and Piper did so reluctantly. "Perhaps after today, I will feel there is no need to keep one of you at the ready to be taken off to the SHU. So lots has happened since we last spoke. Piper you almost lost your life in that mudslide. Have you two spoken about it?" Piper was furious. He was fucking with them for the sake of fucking with them. She had gained some calm after the Rhonda. Healy was pushing her buttons again.

"It's okay. I told her how scared I was…I thought she would drown before we got there. All I kept thinking about was how it was all my fault," Alex said quietly.

"You didn't send the rain Vause, we went over this before. You aren't the cause of all of her problems," Healy said in a tone that was condescending to Piper. She squinted and took a deep breath. Alex told her she'd take care of Healy. Piper imagined hitting him upside the head with the towel dispenser. She imagined shackling him and kicking him. She then realized she was still THERE….she was still in that cold place her anger takes her.

"It is my fault. I named her. She would be married to Larry and maybe having a kid by now if I hadn't named her to get time off my sentence. I also told her to lie about Kubra and I got released. Now, I thought she told the truth and I tried to get the deal for her as well. I didn't know she'd lied until after I made the deal," Alex said quietly. It was on her mind. Piper could tell it was all she was thinking about…still.

Healy looked through some papers on his desk. "You did make another deal though Vause…when you found out, didn't you?" Vause frowned at him and Piper did as well.

"What deal? Alex..what other deal did you make?" Piper said suddenly feeling ill. She shrugged some and looked away from Piper.

"Tell me, dammit," Piper demanded. Alex lowered her head and turned the cuffs on her wrist. Piper could see they weren't closed very tightly. She had been shackled really tightly on ConAir. She knew Healy had gone easy on her and it almost made her forgive him for using them to begin with. Almost.

"She told them she had more evidence and that she'd continue to cooperate as long as you weren't prosecuted for perjury. That, combined with your testimony that you really only paid attention to her, is why you weren't prosecuted and given more time. So I don't see how it is all your fault, Vause," Healy said gently. Alex looked up at him and she looked like she really wanted to believe it.

"Fuck Alex, you did that?" Piper asked her. She got up from her seat and moved to kneel down beside her chair. Alex shifted and looked at her in the eyes. She was so emotional that Piper had to swallow to keep from sobbing. "Thank you. I…saw you before I testified sitting outside the courtroom . You were so scared. I…knew I had to do as you said. Alex, you told on him…you told the truth and did the right thing….and you tried to protect me. It's over…all water under the bridge now," Piper whispered. Healy didn't like her to be close to Alex.

"Back to your seat Chapman or I'll get another set of shackles," he growled out. Piper rose and moved away from her but not before glaring at him. She had no sooner sat down than the door opened and Caputo entered.

"Hey, knock! I am in a session!" Healy barked.

Caputo ignored him. "Okay Chapman, why did you attack her?" Piper looked up at him as if he had grown another head.

"I'm sorry…attack who?" she said confused. She hoped Rhonda didn't rat on her because she didn't want to have to follow through with her threat.

"Jameson…uh…Rhonda, the tall butch blonde..she was brought to me by her counselor. She is requesting protective custody until she leaves next week," he spat out. Piper's eyes got even more wide and she looked at him the epitome of innocence.

"Did she say I did it?" Piper asked meekly. Alex shifted again and she looked like she was trying to stand up. Healy moved around and pushed her down in her chair.

"No, she won't name names," he said disgusted.

Piper smiled some but tried to look contrite. "Why do you think I did it?" He looked over at Alex and then walked over to push her face forward. He had her by back of her neck and Piper wanted to come out of that chair and smash his face in with her bare hands. Alex shook her head at her, willing her to be calm with her eyes.

"This! This is why you did it. You were getting retalliaiton for what she did to your girlfriend," Caputo said.

Both Alex and Piper said at the same time, " She's not my girlfriend." Piper blushed and Caputo laughed.

"Yeah right, look I want an answer from you Chapman. Was it just over Vause? Is it over now or should I put her in the SHU right along with you?"Caputo inquired. Piper stiffened in her chair and looked him in the eye.

" I don't know what you are talking about. Alex told me and everyone she fell-" Piper began.

"Down the laundry steps…the same thing Vause told everyone. You want everyone to know you did it to her but not get any of the blame! I don't need much to send you up the hill Chapman.." he began. Piper didn't care. She was furious and wanted him to take his hand off of Alex's neck.

"When did this take place Sir?" Donaldson asked from the doorway. Caputo told him and he thought for a moment. "It couldn't have been Chapman, she was sleeping in her bunk at the time. If you'd asked I would have told you. If you recall, you have us following her every time she leaves the dorm to make sure she doesn't get hurt as she is healing. She didn't even go to the bathroom," he said. Piper looked a Caputo and raised her eyebrows. Donaldson had served his purpose well.

"You must have had someone do it. Alright…since you've got an alibi, I'll just send her to the SHU as requested. Watch yourself though Chapman," he fumed. He let go of Alex's neck with a motion that sent her head flying forward. Healy seemed to help sit up straight as Caputo stormed out.

"Thank you Officer, " Piper said to Donaldson. He just nodded and when back outside in the hallway. Alex looked at her hands and not at Piper. Healy decided to call it quits for the day and sent Piper outside again first. She wanted to stay and wait on Alex but she knew he'd not allow it. So Piper left and went back to her cube. Already, the hallway was buzzing with the news. Piper didn't care what they said as long as they understood.

You hurt Alex Vause and you will pay.

***I hope you enjoyed…see Piper always has a plan. Please review…lots and lots..it is getting harder to write these chapters now that I'm back working full time. Peace, Fae***