Mid-morning Tuesday, Bill shocked Alex by summoning her to the van. She called Chase for a swap out. Piper didn't say anything but she was on the verge of loosing it. Alex wraps her arms around her and Piper whispers "Al please return to me soon. I'm trying so hard to hold it together babe, but I'm struggling.
Alex looks deep into her eyes, winks then walks off. "I have to meet with your Dad. Chase will bring you to home."
"Alex, I have mixed news. I've discovered who the accomplice is. She has been charged with attempted homicide and is in jail. Bail was denied. As soon as we had a name, we let the police take it from there. I won't say who until I talk to you and Piper together. I would like to invite you to dinner tonight 7pm at Rubello's. The meal is on me, so order whatever you'd like regardless of cost. I invited Cal as well."
"I will tell Piper. Thank you Bill, that is a very kind offer. If you'll excuse me I need to get Piper, she still isn't comfortable with anyone but me. She's still clinging to me like her life depends on it. I've tried to talk to her about seeing a trauma specialist, but she dismisses the thought and seems a little angry that I brought it up in the first place."
"Thanks for telling me Alex. By all means get back to my daughter."
Alex was barely through the door of the apartment before Piper was calling out her name. By the time she had taken off her jacket Piper had run to her and was clinging to her.
"Hey Mom, me and Piper got last minute plans. I miss you." She turns to Pipes Babe lets sit and chat for a bit before we need to get ready."
"Get ready for what Al?"
"Your Dad just invited us to dinner along with Cal at 7pm. Someplace called Rubello's."
"Did he say why?"
"No, he didn't babe."
Piper stares off into the distance, her thoughts swirling around her brain. "Al please stay with me all the time, even if a trip to the bathroom is required."
"Yes babe, in public I will do everything possible to stay by your side. Isn't it a bit extreme for you to go with me when I need to go? You know I can't."
Piper's eyes go wide. "But I need you to calm me and keep me from freaking out. There are only four people that I trust, and you top that list."
Alex looks deep in Piper's eyes and they both lean in closer until their lips connect. The kiss gets deeper and more passionate by the second until they have to break for air. Alex breaks away and checks the clock. "Pipes you better start getting ready! I need to type up a few reports before I change."
An hour later they are done. Piper tried to keep her calm, but ended up where Alex was to wrap arms around each other for a couple of minutes before going back to what she was doing. She needed at least that much, she was trying really hard for Alex's sake.
"Okay Pipes, your Dad just texted and said he's five minutes away, so grab your purse."
"Team I need two of you for escort duty, one up at the apartment and the other downstairs waiting for Bill. Continue monitoring until me and Piper are back in the apartment. Then you can be done for the day."
"Yes Alex" they all answer.
Very little is said in Bill's SUV, Cal is trying to lighten the mood. He even manages to get a laugh out of Piper. Mostly she just clings to Alex, while her girlfriend whispers soothing comments to keep Piper calm. Once seated in the restaurant, Bill reminds them to order whatever they want and even tells Alex she can have a drink even though she's technically on duty.
"So Piper, how are you my Princess?"
"I'm still kinda uneasy. Alex helps me try to stay calm. But it's really difficult for me when she's not in my sight line, it helps a little if we're safe at home."
The waiter comes around and after ordering drinks and an entree, the topic had been dropped. Alex is becoming increasingly anxious about what Bill plans to tell them. She finds herself aimlessly massaging Piper's thigh with the hand she's not eating with. Piper squeezes her hand from time to time, encouraging Alex not to stop. Once most everyone has finished eating, Bill finally speaks up.
"So I know you're all wondering why I wanted you all to join me tonight. I have a major update on the horrible incident from a few weeks ago. As you already know, Polly is in jail for her part in the scheme. She was not the mastermind, in fact she didn't have a clue about the substance or why it should have never been around Piper." Piper starts clinging to Alex.
"Polly wouldn't give up who she was working with. But my company and the police worked together. After sifting through a ton of data we finally discovered who that person is." The waiter comes to check on the table. Piper asks for another margarita, she has the feeling she's going to need it.
"As I was saying, the person behind the attack has been, arrested, tried and convicted. She will be in jail for the rest of her life."
"Daddy I'm glad to hear that, but why do I feel that you have a lot more to say on the topic."
"You're right Princess. I only want to go through this once, which is why you're all here."
"What is it Bill?" Alex asks.
"Kids, Alex, the mastermind that dreadful experience is my soon to be ex-wife Carol Chapman. I was in the process of divorcing her, but after myself and the police had her as a suspect, I took her off all our accounts. I didn't want her hiring an expensive lawyer for this or the divorce."
Piper and Cal both had stunned looks on their faces. Alex pulled Piper closer knowing she'd be clinging to her as soon as the information started to sink into her brain. Alex spoke up and wanted to know all about the plot and how both, now incarcerated, women got involved.
Bill carefully details the story from start to finish with Alex asking clarifying questions.
Cal seems to have gotten himself under control and asks, "Dad I can't wrap my brain around how Mom could be so dastardly. I mean me and Pipe are used to her talking down to us and giving us shit about most everything, but this is other level crazy. What did she possibly think was going to happen, how could a parent have such hatred for her own child."
"That's the million dollar question Cal. I think it's a combination of wanting to hurt me and Piper. It's well known that from the first time I looked in those little blue eyes, that Piper has had a special place in my heart. I love you with all my heart Cal, but with her its just the tiniest bit extra. As I mentioned wanting a divorce one night when Carol and I fought. I never brought it up again. I think not pulling the trigger right away made her think it was something I just said in the heat of the moment. In reality I was working everything out with my lawyers and the bank."
Alex's eyes are filled with anger for Carol. Piper is still stunned but has started to shake. Alex notices it after a while and starts softly whispering in Piper's ear while making sure Piper feels her touch. Piper suddenly jumps up and pulls Alex to the bathroom, where there's a sitting area. They both sit down and Piper cuddles up against Alex's chest and starts crying her eyes out.
"Pipes, baby talk to me." Piper locks eyes with her and looks like she wants to say something but before she can even utter a syllable she breaks out in a flood of tears and is making the most horrible sounds that Alex has never heard before. Alex holds her tight and starts kissing and touching her face.
'This is as bad as the night of the attack. My baby is hurting so much and I want to wrap her in a web of comfort and make all the emotional pain disappear. I knew her Mom was despicable but I never would have imagined this degree of pure evil. I'm gonna need to talk to Mom later to vent.'
Alex doesn't even notice that she's crying too. Piper finally looks up and sees Alex right with her in this world of hurt. She gently clears the tears away from the gorgeous green eyes that she adores. She then leans in for a kiss. Alex is surprised but returns the affection. They kiss for a few moments without caring who sees. Soon they heard a knock on the door and Cal calls for them. They clear each other's tears and return to the table.
"How are you feeling Princess?"
"Partially stunned. My brain is racing a million miles and hour. I can't focus on even one detail or feeling. I just want to lay down and cuddle up in Al."
Alex turns towards her, "I have no problem with that Pipes." She ended up saying it louder than she intended and now Cal is smirking and Bill has a strange look on his face.
"If Mom can do this to Piper then I'm glad she's locked up" Cal states. Piper and Alex manage to nod at him.
"The only Chapmans you will ever be around Piper are me and Cal. After the way Danny and Carol acted at the hospital, they no longer considered Chapmans in my mind."
"Alex your team will deny access to anyone that Piper doesn't expressly tell you."
"That's easy Daddy. You two, Alex's Mom, and the few people I've become friendly with at the station. The PD wants to talk to me now that the semester is over. I'm hoping he'll offer me a part time position."
"Me too Pipes, he would be crazy not to. I watched you throughout the internship, saw how hard you worked, heard all kinds of positive comments about you from your co-workers."
"Thanks Al." Piper then buries herself against Alex.
"Unless anyone wants dessert or one to go, then we should get going." Piper and Alex order two, one to share later and one for her Mom.
Once back in the apartment Piper runs into another room. She wants to go after her but figures Piper will either yell for her or find herself back in the living room to cuddle.
"Mom, how have your last few hours been. And we brought back an extra desert if you want it."
"I've been entertaining myself just fine and something sweet sounds good. What's up with Piper?"
Alex walks back into the living room with food and drink for her Mom and a beer for herself.
"We've had a tough night Mom. Piper is taking it the hardest as you'd expect."
"Alex I don't know what your talking about, start at the beginning please." Alex explains the known and previously unknown parts to the story to her Mom. She's crying again by the end of it."
"Oh that's horrific. Come here I wanna hug my girl."
"I can't even begin to wrap my mind around how a parent could willfully hurt their child, especially a sweet, intelligent, beautiful woman like Pipes."
"I cant either. I hate this Carol woman and am glad she's out of Piper's world. Poor darling."
"I feel the same. When Pipes pulled me into the bathroom and started crying buried into my neck, she made the most horrible noises. I started crying with her and didn't even realize it until she wiped away my tears. If you'll excuse me I need to check on her."
Alex found a completely zoned out Piper. She sits down next to her and softly calls her name a few times. When that doesn't work she wraps herself around Piper and kisses her repeatedly. Piper jerks but then relaxes at Alex's touch while slowly coming out of the daze she's coming out of. Alex calls Piper again.
"There she is, there's the woman I love. She's come back to me and I couldn't be happier."
Piper laughs "Was I really that far away?"
"I've been trying for twenty minutes to get you back from wherever your mind headed. What were you thinking of babe?"
"You'd think it was all about tonight's revelation, but it wasn't. I have always held a level of dislike for my Mom, as you know, she's nothing like yours. So it's not like the ill will was a shock. And her and Danny's absence from my life is no big deal, I don't want to be around anyone who tries to force me into being someone I'm not.
"I can't imagine how any parent could want to hurt their own child. Especially someone as extraordinary as you."
"Thanks Al. I can and can't wrap my mind around it all at the same time. I don't want to think on that anytime soon."
"Okay babe, so what else was on your mind. Well now that the semester is over, I only need to stay in the area if I can land a part time job at a local station. If I can't, then I can at least beg for a few shifts to get footage for an aircheck. Then send that cd or mp3 out to numerous sights and hope someone is looking for new staff.''
"So Pipes does this mean you are or not graduate. I mean I know you haven't walked, but I thought you had another term?"
"Al, when I last met with my advisor, we did a check on what I had and what I needed for Graduation. I thought I was going to two more courses. It turns out my advisor discovered that none of my AP classes from high school had been credited. And since by the end of December I met the specific requirements for both majors, those AP classes fill in the general college requirements, like a history, literature, and a higher level math. I could've sworn I told you."
"No, this is the first I'm hearing of this. So what happens now college wise?"
"Usually they get the final grades from the professors, turn it into admin which not only mail out semester grades, but also compile the list for graduates and send out that info. Unfortunately someone messed up and approved vacation time for too many admins and need more time. They said they were gonna have grads walk before or right after the next semester starts."
"So you graduate in two or three weeks?"
"Yes Al."
"And will your Dad continue paying rent if your a graduate?"
"Damn, we're going to have to talk about that with my Dad. But I wanna talk to the PD about everything before we do."
"Okay. This is another thing to rumble around in my brain. Do you want to do something with Diane tomorrow?"
"Yeah, that would be nice."