Propped up on her elbow, Piper studied the face of the person sleeping beside her. Even in the dim half-light of the moon she could see the evidence marked there of the night just gone. Alex twitched in her sleep her brow furrowing and small sounds escaping from her throat. Piper carefully scooted down, pulling the blanket up around them as she cocooned them in, settling on her side and facing the woman in front of her.
She was also exhausted, but she couldn't sleep. She looked into the face of the sleeping woman, brushing her hair off her cheek and gently tracing the angry welt she found there. Her stomach knotted and mind drifted, continents of thoughts colliding as she replayed the events from a few hours earlier. Surely it was longer than that? Hadn't days passed? Months?
No, only hours. How had so much happened in a mere few hours?
She closed her eyes, hoping that reliving the night would help her melt into sleep.
And the winner of Burlesque Idol 2017 is…
Alex steeled herself, practicing painting a smile on her face as she followed Nicky toward the backstage room. She'd always loved being behind the scenes before and after the shows; the smell of make up and dust and socks and hairspray…the nerves and excitement and jokes being thrown around.
This time though, she'd purposefully stayed away. She didn't want to deal with seeing Stella half naked or feeling Piper avoid making eye contact in the mirrors. She'd hated that she'd let her personal life get in the way of what her friends were doing for her, for Nurse Diane.
And they'd actually done it. They'd won Burlesque Idol and she was $20,000 closer to having Kubra out of her life forever. She knew she should be over the moon – it was a miracle! Shit like this just didn't happen to her, or any of them for that matter.
Even so, after the announcement she'd started a feeble excuse about needing to check the bar. Nicky had thrown her a "Don't-you-dare,-are-you-fucking-kidding-me?" look. She knew she had to swallow her pride, get in there and celebrate with them - Stella included, even if she felt it was akin to eating shit pie in front of that grinning asshole.
So now her plan was to propose a toast, thank everyone without blubbering like an idiot, put $500 on the bar and then, well, run away. She was already counting up her drinks to see if she could still ride her bike and imagining the cleansing sting of late November air on her face. She wasn't thinking of any place in particular, just leaving this one.
As they reached the backstage door, a face she wasn't expecting to see pulled her out of her thoughts.
"Kate? Hey. Why…what…are you doing here?"
"Let's stick with Detective Jenkins tonight, Alex." Kate smiled quickly and turned her attention to Nicky. "All set?"
"Yup. It's the jacket that screams I'm a badass lesbian drug dealer." Nicky nodded and glanced over to Alex. "Listen Stretch. Just follow my lead ok? And when I say chill you gotta promise to chill ok?"
"Wait. What the fuck is going on Nichols? Drug dealer?" Alex's pulse jumped painfully as her brow furrowed and her eyes flicked between the Detective and her friend.
"We thought it best to leave you out of this up to now. But you and I will need to meet. I'll call you on your burner – probably tomorrow ok? Follow Nicky's advice in the meantime and try to stay in control Alex." She turned her attention back to Nicky, "I'll give you ten minutes."
Neither women gave her another moment to ask questions as Nicky pulled the door open and tugged Alex inside leaving Detective Jenkins outside.
"Nichols…" Alex hissed, unable to finish her question as the crew let out a roar and crowded in around her.
"YEEEE-AHHHH! We did it Vause! We killed it! Come on – tell us who was your favourite!? Me and the knife right?" Poussey babbled, arm around a glassy eyed Soso who chattered back "I really felt in character. Like the audience really believed they were in prison with me…"
She was interrupted by Sophia rolling her eyes, "Pffft, bitch please. You know it was my audience inter-act-ion that got pulses pumpin'!" She boomed, laughing loudly as Flaca let out a yell "Uhhhh I don't think so! It was my little act with Bennett that got us the cash! I think it might have bagged me a bartender too!"
They fell about laughing and Alex held her hands up in surrender, shaking her head, "Ladies ladies! You were all amazing." Her predictably traitorous eyes fell on Piper at that point, standing on the outside of the mob and she let a small smile escape, "All of you."
Piper returned the smile, which immediately faltered as Stella joined her, nudging her with an elbow and tossing her arm around her shoulders. "Yah well you all know us Aussie's don't like to brag…but I didn't see any of you bitches hanging from the ceiling?!" Stella called, grinning wickedly as the others groaned good-naturedly.
Nicky's voice cut through with an undertone that Alex tuned in to immediately, "Yeah, you sure do put on a good act, Dundee."
Alex squinted at her friend before her attention was yanked away by Morello pulling her up to stand on a chair next to her.
"Ladies! I'm gonna keep this short because we have some serious partying to do. WE GOD DAMN DID IT! WOOOOOOO!" The small woman yelled, holding Alex's hand up and spilling her champagne over a squealing Cindy, who was still a bit miffed about not being cast.
Alex quieted everyone down as she waved her hands, "I'll also keep things short. You're all amazing, as I said. I literally can't believe you pulled this off in a few short weeks." She paused as the room erupted again. "But we all know there's one person here who whipped all your raggedy asses into line…Morello – you're the reason this happened." Alex held up her hands again as the hollering started and simmered down again, "I don't know how to thank you. But if you'd like to do more of it, I'd love you to be the Artistic Director here at Nurse Diane."
Morello's eyes turned into saucers and tears sprang out of them as she threw her arms around Alex's waist, almost capsizing them. "I'll take that as a yes!" Alex laughed as she righted them and raised her beer, "Now let's celebrate."
The room was about to explode when a loud voice cut through. "I hate to break up the party." Detective Jenkins walked into the middle of the room, trailed by another plain-clothed cop. She pulled her badge out of her shirt and held it up to the room. "Is Stella Carlin in the room?"
Morello and Alex climbed down, the latter looking over at Nicky who mouthed "Chill." before pulling her off to the side.
The other women parted nervously, leaving Stella and Piper standing next to each other. Stella glanced over quickly at Piper who kept her gaze forward. Stella cleared her throat and waved at the Detective.
"The one and only. You after an autograph?" Stella smiled confidently, brazenly looking the cop up and down.
Kate mirrored her smile, walking slowly across the room. "Maybe later. Right now, I'm wondering what else you've got that I want."
Stella cocked her head to the side "Oh really? Little bit forward aren't we Officer…?"
"Detective. Jenkins. But you can call me Kate if you like."
"Ok. Kate. What exactly do you want?"
"I want to see what's inside your pockets."
Stella's smile faltered and her eyes flicked over the room before she swallowed quickly. "And why would you want to do that?"
"Oh I suppose what one might deem reasonable suspicion."
Stella let out a hollow laugh, "Of what?"
Detective Jenkins sighed and shot her a look that Alex had experienced first hand before. It said; Really? You're going to play it this way?"
"Of possessing and intending to sell illegal drugs, Miss Carlin." Kate said simply.
The room gasped and Alex felt her gut drop and fists clench. She looked over at Piper, whose face remained impassive.
Stella let a beat pass before she flashed her brilliant smile. "Well I was hoping you'd buy me a drink first, but if we're skipping the pleasantries...Go ahead. Search me – Detective. And please, be thorough." She held her hands up behind her head, letting her toned stomach peek out from underneath her singlet.
Kate smiled and then looked over to her officer, nodding to him "Officer Poulson will need to see your bag too". Stella's smile faded slightly as he walked over. She handed over her bag and he rifled through quickly. He then gestured to her pockets and Stella turned them out, grinning. He gingerly patted her down and turned back to Kate, shaking his head as he walked back.
Stella's smile grew as Kate shrugged her shoulders. "I guess I owe you a drink." She went to go and then paused, turning back "You know, it's cold this time of year. I'm guessing you have a jacket Miss Carlin?"
Stella nodded and shook her head, still smiling. "I like a woman who perseveres. It's the one with the patches on the back. Hanging up behind you."
"This one?" Kate pointed, receiving a nod from Stella "Do you mind?"
"Be my guest." Stella purred, cocking her head to the side.
"Huh. Trust No Bitch. That's an interesting motto. Thank you, Officer Poulson." Kate stood back as the officer searched the pockets on the outside before opening the jacket. He stopped still and looked up sharply to Detective Jenkins before slowly pulling out a package.
"Now. That looks like a lot of sherbet to be carrying around." Kate looked over quizzically to Stella whose face had turned ashen. The room sprung into life, shocked murmurs filling the silence that had hung as the package was revealed.
"What the fuck!?" Alex lurched up, wrenching her arm out of Nicky's grasp.
"Wait. What, I…that's not…how did…" Stella's eyes swung wildly from the package to find Piper's. "You!…I thought - " Piper shrugged imperceptibly and mouthed, "Trust no bitch."
Stella's mouth dropped open and she launched suddenly and ferociously at Piper. Officer Poulson was a step too slow but Alex wasn't. She caught Stella's arm mid-swing and wrenched it back painfully. Stella shrieked, swiping her other hand across Alex's face, scratching across her cheek. Alex hissed and efficiently gripped Stella's free arm with her other hand and pulled her stinging face in close to the immobilised woman.
"You better hope you get jail time…it's the only place you'll be safe." She snarled before she was pulled away by Nicky.
"Yo, Vause! Remember when I said CHILL?"
"Here, take this. Put on your cheek." Red handed Alex a tea towel wrapped around some ice.
"Thanks." Alex mumbled before holding her hand over her glass as Red offered to top it up. "No, thanks, I'm good."
"Hello? What am I chopped liver?" Nicky jiggled her glass in the air receiving a huff from Red who sloshed some liquid into it.
"You need to stop beating yourself up Vause." The Russian woman said sternly. "None of us knew until the end…I know what you're stewing on but Tricia made her own choices."
Alex shook her head, amazed that the woman always knew what she was thinking. "Sure. But I brought her in! If I hadn't, Tricia wouldn't have been tempted."
"To be fair, it wasn't actually you that brought her in…" Nicky interjected sullenly, shooting Sylvie a pointed look.
Alex sighed, "Shut up Nicky. It doesn't matter. You saw the bags; they had Kubra's dumb ass logo. He just used a new person to get to me, and in the process..." she trailed off, a vision of Tricia lying inert in hospital flashing up.
She shook her head to dislodge the thought and continued, fuming; "He's still trying to fuck me up. And that's the bit I really just don't fucking get! Why would he be trying to fuck up my chances of making him the money? I'm no good to him in jail!"
"Maybe it wasn't Kubra." Sylvie piped up. She'd been quiet, unusually so. Alex knew she'd be feeling guilty for introducing Stella to the club.
"What do you mean?" demanded Red, turning her austere gaze Sylvie's way.
Sylvie swallowed before nervously continuing, "Well…Alex, I told you earlier that I'd seen Stella with Aydin a few times?"
"What the fuck? When!?" interrupted Nicky, "You didn't think you should maybe have shared this information sooner?"
"Nick. Your turn to chill ok?" Alex said wearily. "Go on Sylv."
"Well, maybe he's making a play. Trying to fuck up Kubra's plan, make him weak without cash; get the cops to look at him again. Kubra isn't this sloppy. And," she paused looking up with worry etched over her face, "Alex you know Aydin's always had a problem with you."
"Perhaps she's right." said Red. "Something about this doesn't make sense, a third party could be the missing link. You talk to your detective friend. Perhaps this gives you more options to play. But be careful Vause. Laws catch flies but let hornets go free."
"Ooooo-kay. When the kooky Russian sayings start flying, it's definitely my cue to bounce." Nicky stood up resolutely. "Besides, can we just deal with one NYPD Blue episode a night? Would that be ok?! Great. Now, I am going to celebrate Nurse Diane winning the sexy burlesque crown and with my sexy burlesque 'artistic director'. Laters."
Alex chuckled, "Nicky." She waited for her friend to turn back at the door, "Thanks. You're the best ex-con crime-buster out there."
"Hey, I was just the supporting cast. You should be thanking mastermind Blondie." She raised an eyebrow pointedly and was gone.
"I am going to bed. This music is terrible and I have sore feet. Speaking of which…" Red turned back, "One down, Vause." She smiled cheekily and winked before disappearing, leaving the door ajar behind her as the club music reverberated into the room.
"What was that about?" Sylvie asked, standing up herself.
"You don't want to know." Alex smirked and stood up, walking with Sylvie toward the door. "Listen. It's not your fault ok? She was…charming. You're not the only one who fell for it." Alex tried hard to stifle a vision of Piper leaving the cubicle with Stella, clenching her jaw involuntarily.
Sylvie looked up to the ceiling, smiling ruefully as her eyes shone, "Yeah well. It's not as though I had any illusions about her being an asshole. I just feel bad I let her loose on your club and…y'know, poor Tricia..." she let out a stifled little choke and sniffed.
Alex shook her head. "It's no ones fault. I'm sick of thinking about guilt and blame. C'mere." Alex pulled her into a hug, lifting her gaze to see Piper at the door. Startled, she broke the embrace suddenly, taking a step back.
"Hey." She choked out as Sylvie turned around.
"Hey." Piper replied, smiling tightly at them both. "I can see you're busy so…"
"No!" Alex yelped out, quickly clearing her throat as a blush leapt onto her cheeks.
Sylvie stifled a smile, unused to a blushing Alex, before picking up her bag. She took a few steps, leveling up to Piper and paused in front of her, "Well played, Miss Chapman. Beautiful and intelligent – onstage and off. Please try not to give me any more reasons to hate you." She threw a look back to Alex, before sashaying out of the room.
The two women stood awkwardly for a moment before Alex finally found her voice. "Do you want to…" gesturing into the room.
"Yeah, ok." Piper stepped inside, pulling the door behind her. She smiled tightly as the club sounds receded into a dull thudding.
"I thought you'd left…I didn't really see what happened after…Anyway. Nicky made the right call, getting me away from…her."
Piper nodded. "I had to give the cops a statement. I just finished so I thought I'd see how you were going and if…well. I just wanted to make sure you were ok."
Alex felt her chest straining. "I'm fine. Sit down. Please. If you want to…"
Having alarmingly felt a lump rising in her throat the minute she'd seen Alex, Piper felt the familiar stirrings of the flight response. She stared at the scratch across Alex's face, the same face that had betrayed a different kind of pain a few hours earlier in the bathroom. There was so much to say, to explain, to make right. It suddenly seemed impossible, mountainous.
As though sensing the imminent risk, and herself too drained to spend another moment in angst, Alex surprised them both. "Actually. Don't."
"Don't?" Piper repeated dumbly.
"Yeah. Don't sit." Alex turned and grabbed her jacket off her chair, yanking her arms through it. "I need to get out of here."
She swiped her wallet and keys off the desk and strode over to a locker. She pulled it open and produced two helmets, striding back over to Piper and holding one out. She locked gazes with the woman whose eyes she'd been avoiding for too long.
"Come with me."
A/N – Can you sense an end to the angst?! Or at least, the Vauseman angst!? Which of course, is the part that matters! Thanks for sticking around. I know the waits are longer than when I was blissfully unemployed but at least I can pay my mortgage now…can't have everything! There was a guest who figured I wouldn't be finished before the new (official) season launch of OITNB. You may prove correct my friend. But hey, better late than never? Stay tuned – back soon(ish) xx