Alex is finally able to go with Piper for her tests. Piper won't let Alex out of her sight. The tests all come back in-range, so the Dr. removes everything but the iv. Piper and Alex spent the rest of the night alone. They cuddle and talk and eventually fall asleep.
The Dr. comes by the next morning to sign the release papers. Alex calls the team to all come for a pickup. By the time they arrive the nurse has taken out her iv, she's dressed and ready to go. Piper grabs Alex's arm and won't release it until the team has done a quick scan of the apartment and begin their patrols.
The couple kisses for the first time in over a week. It's a long passionate kiss neither wants to leave, pouring all their emotion and love for each other into the long awaited intimacy that they've both dearly missed. Alex finally pulls away.
"Pipes, my love. I need to have a long overdue briefing with your Dad and the team. Why don't you take a nice long bath and then start catching up on the reading you missed last week. I texted you the list that your Dad got from your instructors."
"I don't want to out of my sight Alex."
"Babe it's just for a short while. We've checked the apartment and wiped down surfaces, so there's nothing to worry about. Only me and you have keys, so only I can enter. Anyone else has to knock and wait for your approval."
"I know but I don't feel safe outside of your sight."
"I'll be as quick as possible. Take a shower or a bath. I know their your happy place. After a week it's going to feel amazing. I did change your underwear while you were out of it. But with all the wires I couldn't figure out a way to really make you feel clean. Will you give it a shot for me Pipes?"
"I don't like it one bit but I'll try so you can get to the bottom of things. Find out if Polly is the culprit behind my near death and what the hell is going to happen to her."
"Yes my love. I very much want the entire timeline and what all has been discovered." Alex kisses Piper and waits until she's in the bathroom to leave and lock-up the apartment.
By the time Alex is downstairs, Bill has arrived for the briefing. He begins with detailing the timeline. None of it suprises Alex, as she had worked out the same thing. Bill details his and then the police detective's interviews with Polly. It was determined that a) Polly didn't know what kind of damage she was likely to cause. She thought it would be no more serious that a mild allergic response. b) Polly reluctantly admitted that sprinkling the toxin in the kitchen and later coating the substance on her hands before grabbing Piper was not her idea. She has been wanting a little payback for Piper's treating her the way that she had. And that someone else had an elaborate plan on how she could do that. She swore she didn't know what the substance was or what it would do.
This information leaves Alex livid. "How could Polly not know what she was doing or how much harm it could cause Piper? And who the hell is the accomplice, do we have any idea?"
Bill sighs "Alex, you were correct when you guessed the toxin. You also have the forethought to carry an epi pen. It was your quick actions that gave Piper a chance. Chase and Colton were good to figure out there was a substance in play.
As for your specific questions Alex, even when Polly was told the toxin, she was clueless as to what it was, where to get it, or why it was especially dangerous. We had a lie detector on her that plus her facial expressions and reactions, convinced us that she was merely a pawn. We could not however get her to give up the accomplice, even with threat of jail time."
"So the partner in this diabolical scheme is still unknown?"
"Yes and no Alex. We've gathered Polly's calendar and looked all social media even remotely related to her. We have a ton of data to sift through. I have my top tech guys on it. We're hopeful that the accomplice is in that pile of data. I have my suspicions about someone, but really can't say more until I have data to back it up."
"Okay, my next question is for Colton and Bradley. Tell me every detail from when Piper left Bill's office until I pulled Piper away from Polly. How the hell did Polly manage to get near her when you knew we were keeping an extra close eye on Polly that day."
"Yes Alex, you never specifically said who would be closest to Piper upon her return to the party. I scanned the area and saw no one of interest to be concerned about, so I nodded to Bradley and thought he would take it from there, especially since he is always the back-up when you are not near Piper."
"Thanks Colton. Your turn Bradley."
"I was finishing up a request from another team. I never saw Colton or Piper or Polly."
"What were you doing for a different team and why did I hear nothing that day about you being called elsewhere?"
"I didn't think it would be long and last I saw you were with Piper."
Alex feels her blood starting to boil. 'I want to rip him and Colton both limb to limb for not doing the procedures I've been trying to drill into them all this time.' "Bill can you please take it from here. I need to check on Piper. She really didn't want me to leave even for a little while. Bill if you have any more info. for me, call or text or come to the apartment."
As soon as Alex enters the apartment, before she even has the chance to call out Pipes, Piper runs to her and clings to her side. "I love you Alex."
"I love you too Pipes. Did you have a relaxing shower?"
"It was okay. I missed you being in there with you." Piper pouts.
"I know but I had to find out what I could from the briefing. I got pissed and left it to Bill. He might contact me later or come up here to finish."
Alex moves Piper towards the couch, sits down, and allows Piper to cuddle up with her again. Piper buries herself as deeply into Alex as possible concentrating on her scent and her warmth surrounding her.
"So what do I need to know about the whole thing?"
"Well Pipes, as suspected Polly is part of the equation, but she was not the mastermind. She didn't know what she was sprinkling or rubbing her hands in. She thought it would cause a mild reaction, she had no idea how harmful the toxin could be or why. Your Dad and the cops questioned her repeatedly and even used a lie detector."
"So is she in jail?"
"No she has been in detention but the cops have brought charges, so she will be soon. No one has told me what the bail will be. But she definitely not be bothering you again."
"Al the talk about an apprentice scares me beyond belief. Please, please, please stay in my eyesight, even in the apartment. You are the only person I feel comfortable right now. I mean I love Cal and your Mom and for the most part my Dad, but I can't deal with even them without being in your embrace."
"The accomplice startled me too. Do you have any enemies that I don't know about, or anyone who would want some kind of revenge, besides Polly?"
"No baby. I'm sure a few of the vapid ones would like me taken down a peg or two, but none of them has the brainpower to accomplish anything like what happened."
"Okay my love, why don't you read some more while your by my side. See if you can get caught up on what you'll need tomorrow. I'm just gonna read what's been sent to my phone lately."
About an hour later, there's a knock at the door. Alex gets up and Piper jumps up with her, keeping herself against Alex's back. "You okay Pipes?"
"Yeah just want to be next to you."
Alex opens the door, "Oh hi Bill, do you wanna come in?"
"Yes please Alex. I want to finish filling you in. Where's my daughter?"
Piper moves to the side of Alex. "Right here Daddy."
They all sit down and Piper clings to Alex. "Bill would you like something to eat? I was going to order me and Piper something right after she finished her chapters."
"No, I won't be here that long."
Something to drink maybe? Bill, Piper?"
"No thank you."
"Al, could you get me some juice."
Piper watches Alex like a hawk while she's gone instead of focusing on her Dad.
"Princess are you sure you want to hear this"
"Yes Daddy, Alex has already told me most of it I think. I want to be right here with Alex."
Alex sits down and Piper curls up on her again. Only turning her head towards her Dad after Alex has whispered sweet things in her ear to comfort her.
"So Alex, Polly has been moved from detention, where she was allowed to speak to her lawyer after we verified the number and dialed it for her. The police moved her to a jail cell and she was charged with attempted homocide. She went in front of a judge last Wednesday and was denied bail."
"Daddy, any idea about the accomplice?"
"Not yet Princess, we are working through data as quickly as possible. Oh I forgot to tell you Alex, only myself and Cal are allowed near Piper. I'm not thrilled by Carol and Danny's attitudes and want those stressors eliminated for awhile. Piper if your Mom calls don't answer, if she leaves a message have Alex forward what she said to me please."
"With pleasure Bill. I definitely did not like the way she spoke to Piper. Has she always done that?"
"Pretty much" Piper declared.
"Bill you say Piper is your absolute favorite of your children, so why have you let your wife speak negatively towards her?" Piper quickly states "I'd like to know the answer to that as well."
"Princess, honestly I didn't realize how frequently she went from bitchy to downright cruel. I did a lot of reflecting over the past week and now realize that despite all that I've given, I failed you when it came to Carol. Please forgive me Piper, I truly didn't see how I was failing you by not fighting back."
"Thank you for saying that Daddy. I truly appreciate hearing it at long last. Now you see why I've always tried to keep distance from her. Nothing I ever said or did or achieved was ever good enoough. Alex and her Mom have taught me how unconditional love looks and feels. Diane is the Mom I wish I had and I was blown away that she accepted me as a second daughter, knowing very little about me."
"That sounds wonderful Princess. I'd love to meet her someday, if the two of you don't mind."
"Sure Bill, I'll let you know next time she comes to visit. Diane's always been my best friend. Well now its split between her and Pipes."
"Alex when we have the data on the accomplice, you'll be the first to know. Be sure to restart all you and the team's reports today. Let me know if either of you need anything in the next few days."
Alex does her paperwork within Piper's eyesight. After dinner, Piper has her reading up to date for the next couple of days. Alex leads her to the bedroom and they have a couple of orgasms a piece. Alex demands they sleep as the next day marks Piper's return to college.