A/N here is the second chapter, I really hope you like it :) A song I recommend for this chapter is Keep On by Portugal. The Man -boundless
p.s This chapter has been edited and re-uploaded

Chapter 2

Piper knocked on the outside of the bathroom door and switched the woman's wet clothes for her dry ones. As Piper went to go and put them into the washer she noticed a liquid drip through her hands from the clothes. It was not rainwater. It was blood.

Piper's POV

Piper chucked the clothes into the sink in her laundry and washed the blood off of her hands and the clothes. Panicking, Piper rushed out into the lounge where the woman sat, her face had paled to the point that she resembled the snow in a cold winter. Piper carefully placed her hand under the woman's right ribs were a dark wet patch had started to form on the shirt that Piper had given her. The woman hissed and tried to swat her hand away, sweat started to bead down the brunette's face and that was when Piper knew she must be in a large deal of pain. "I'm going to roll this shirt up a bit to see what's wrong", the woman grunted but didn't stop Piper from lifting the bottom up. As the wound was in clear sight Piper could see just how bad it was, there was a deep gash down her right side that started under her rib and continued for about 10cm, Piper pressed on the wound so as to stop some of the bleedings. As she did she looked down and noticed that the brunette's right leg was also making a stain on her pants. Piper hesitantly rolled her pants leg up to see a harsh graze down the front of her shin. She looked up at the woman who had her head facing the ceiling and eyes closed in pain. "I'm going to go and get some bandages, don't move". The woman just made a small nod of her head and Piper scurried to the bathroom.

Piper wondered what she had gotten herself into as she pulled out some pads and bandages from the bathroom "I mean sure, my life has been one downhill spiral for a while now but I could handle it, I hope that she isn't going to stay for too long, she must have a family looking for her." Piper stayed in her thoughts until she lifted up a towel from the floor and saw a wallet and phone laying on the ground. As someone who found a hard time keeping to herself and was curious by nature, Piper picked up both items to try and find out who this woman was, but she was sure not to take too long. She tried to turn on the phone first but it was dead, she then opened the wallet and was greeted with a driver license for the woman. Her picture was on the front and next to it was the name VAUSE, ALEX. Piper then looked at the rest of Alex's license and found out that she was 26 (only a few years older than herself) and an organ donor. Piper subconsciously hoped that she wouldn't need to use the information of the latter.

Piper went back out into the lounge and pressed a pad to the gash on Alex's side, she rose an eyebrow but Piper simply stated that is was to help absorb the blood. Piper wrapped a bandage around Alex's shin as it was not as badly cut, she then went out to the kitchen and came back with disinfectant, water, and paracetamol. Piper gave the water and paracetamol to Alex so that she could have some pain relief, she then put the disinfectant on a towel, removed the pad, and dabbed at the cut on her side so that it would stay clean, she then placed a clean pad on the gash and wrapped it up with a bandage. After checking that it was tight but not enough to cause her too much pain she sat next to Alex on the couch and looked at her face. She was sweating from strain and pain so Piper delicately wiped the sweat from her face with a dry towel. Alex made eye contact with her and, for a moment, they just looked into the other's eyes, each just as curious about the person sitting in front of them.

Piper ended the moment by handing Alex over her phone and wallet "You left these in the bathroom"

Alex looked confused and then chuckled, "My belongings weren't exactly at the forefront of my mind, but thanks" she then opened her wallet to see that her license was at an angle from an assumed hasty attempt of Piper putting it back. "Considering that you have looked through my belongings, I'll assume you already know my name?"

Piper looked down in embarrassment and she could feel a blush form on her cheeks, she was never good at keeping out of other people's business "I was seeing if there was anyone that I should phone to tell them about you." It was a poor attempt at trying to defend herself as she said with the smallest amount of conviction, it almost sounded like a question.

Alex must have noticed that Piper meant no harm and changed her tone to a softer one "It's ok, I know you were just trying to help. Although, it's only fair that I know your name if you know mine."

"Piper, Piper Chapman"

Alex smiled, and because it seemed she was talking with little struggle, Piper knew that the paracetamol must have started to kick in. "Do you need anything Alex? I have some food in the fridge and if you need any water just tell me"

Alex thanked her and asked for some food so Piper went off into the kitchen to heat up some soup in the fridge, leftover from the night previous. She then went to see if she could find any bread for toast but as she opened her pantry she was met with just half a packet of crackers and a Lucky Charms cereal box. She used to keep her pantry full and ready just in case any visitors came over, but for a while, she had been isolating herself from others and had developed eating habits that her parents would surely frown upon. Deciding that crackers would probably go better with the soup than the cereal, she placed them on plates for her and Alex. Once the soup had finished heating up it was poured into two bowls, she then carried the food back into the lounge knowing that Alex was not in a state to walk to the dining table.

Alex took the soup and crackers from Piper gratefully and wolfed down the food. Piper ate at hers slowly, for the last couple of weeks she had drastically lost her appetite but seeing Alex practically inhale her food helped Piper to eat more than what she usually would. It was nearly amusing to see Alex eat so fast, Piper almost thought that she would choke on the food, then the blonde wondered how long it might have been since the brunette had last eaten.

Piper cleaned up after them and told Alex she can sleep on the couch as she wouldn't be able to walk up the stairs to the guest room without hurting herself even more, she then got her a blanket and pillows and helped her lay down on the couch. Piper had considered driving her to the nearest hospital but the roads were too dangerous in this weather and it would have taken around 30-45 minutes to get there in good conditions. She decided it would be for the best if she just waited until tomorrow when there would hopefully be some daylight and an ease in the downfall of rain.

Piper asked Alex if she was needed anywhere tomorrow "Is there anyone that could be looking for you or be wondering where you are?"

Alex looked down and just shook her head. Piper knew she should ask her more questions but it was getting late and instead told Alex that she would be sleeping upstairs and that if she needed anything or was in a great deal of pain again she should just yell out. She then left the room and went to her own bed, closing the door behind her. Piper knew it was going to be another restless night but willed herself to sleep.

Piper woke up from her restless sleep to a bloodcurdling scream and jumped out of bed to check on Alex, worried that she might have been in more pain than Piper previously thought. Regretting not taking her to the hospital earlier she raced down the stairs only to find that Alex was asleep but having a nightmare. She didn't know what to do in a situation like this so she went to Alex's side and tried to hold her to stop her from thrashing around and causing more damage to the gash on her side "Alex, shh it's ok, you're safe. Just breathe, you're ok now". Piper didn't bother waking her up because she knew you were meant to keep a sleepwalker from waking but didn't know if the same applied to nightmares, she thought it was better to be safe than sorry and let her sleep. As she held Alex in her arms and whispered words of comfort, she felt the older woman ease a bit and a small warm feeling was moving around her body from where she was in contact with Alex. Piper may have thought more of it if it weren't for the fact that she was focused on keeping Alex still. Alex slowly calmed down and her breathing returned to normal but Piper stayed with her for just a bit longer.

Once Piper knew that Alex was soundly asleep again she went back to her room, knowing that she would have to endure another long, sleepless night.

A/N That's the end of the second chapter, please review I really appreciate feedback and some suggestions as it helps me improve my writing. Thank you for reading, I'm aiming to upload weekly so I'll see you then :) -boundless