"You sure you're okay to go back?" asked Will.

"Yeah, yeah, thank you. Honestly I think one more day with Nurse Lipstick would've been what ended up killing me."

Will laughed as he walked Bea back to H1. He kept his hand behind her, avoiding touching her, but ready to support her should she need it. They walked slower than normal through the halls as Bea still felt pain in her entire body, as other inmates watched their wounded top dog pass by them. Some greeted her, some simply stared at her. Some felt pity, some felt anger. But they all seemed to want to discuss the same question while she had been in the medical unit and especially now that she was out again. Who was top dog?

Bea was the most popular answer. Sonia told stories to anyone who asked that Bea managed to take out both Kaz and Ferguson, which was not exactly the truth. Had Allie and Sonia not been there, Bea wouldn't be walking back to H1 right now. Regardless, Sonia was the only person capable of spreading any kind of news about the incident, as Kaz and Ferguson were gone, and upon being released from the slot, Allie refused to talk to anyone about anything. Thus, Sonia wrote the headlines. Not only did Bea manage to survive the attack, but she also managed to get her two greatest adversaries to face punishment for what they had done, a good refresher for anyone who was looking to challenge Bea again. Kaz would be let out of the slot eventually, so Sonia wanted to ensure that she returned to a disappointed population who no longer believed her to be a good leader, especially since her own crew ran at the sound of the alarm, and her right hand chose to defend her worst enemy. Bea had won, so nothing had changed. If anything, the women should be more frightened of her now because Bea took note of every last woman who had shown up to the laundry room that day, and if she could take out Ferguson and Kaz at the same time, two of the most defiant and strongest inmates to challenge Bea, there was no telling what she would do to the rest of the women who paled in comparison.

The next most common answer was Maxine, who although had returned frail and in a delicate condition, would most likely take over again with Boomer at her side while Bea fully recovered, if only to supervise, given that no one dared to try to cross Bea so soon after what had happened. Some of the women believed if they had to have a top dog, it should be someone who didn't scare them to death. While Maxine would be willing to fill in temporarily again, she didn't want the position. When the different version of events Sonia was spreading reached her, she became concerned, given that Sonia had previously mentioned that it was because she intervened that Bea was still alive, but who was now completely leaving herself out of the story.

The newest and most unusual answer for who should step up as top dog was none other than Allie. While no one saw what occurred after the distress signal had been pushed, the group Kaz had assembled in the laundry room had all witnessed her former right hand take her down to defend Bea, thus potentially mapping out new alliances. But no one quite understood why Allie would betray Kaz in that manner, and that was one area Sonia refused to touch on. While Sonia still portrayed Allie as heroic for having come to the aid of Bea and then remain to help out the top dog when Kaz's own crew ran, Juice and her crew made sure to spread their own headline that Allie didn't try to help a woman because she was appalled that a woman's face was about to be seared off in front of her, but she helped because Bea and Allie were secretly together. Juice's crew made sure that anyone who listened knew that for future reference, if they wanted to get to Bea, they just had to get to Allie, and then Bea would go down with her.

Allie choked on her water as she laughed upon hearing Sonia say that some women were calling for her to be top dog. Maxine, Boomer, and Liz all joined in laughing with Allie.

"What? Why is that funny?" Sonia asked as she looked around at the women. "Don't believe you would be a good top dog?"

"Fuck no," Allie laughed as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

"Why not?" asked Sonia.

"Well, for starters, I don't want to, and…No I think that pretty much covers it."

"Neither did Beatrice from what I've learned and look how she turned out."

Maxine, Boomer, and Liz all exchanged looks, their laughs and smiles disappearing in unison before all turning to Allie. Then they all looked back down to focus on their trays, even though the majority of their food had already been finished.

"I don't know, Allison…You demonstrated great potential in the laundry room."

"Yeah, 'cause I was trying to defend Bea, not establish dominance." Allie leaned in to speak to Sonia who was sitting next to her, the others barely able to hear her. "And for that matter, why aren't you in the mix as well if you were the one to take out the Freak?"

Without looking, Sonia slid her tray towards Liz for her to clear and stood up from the table.

"Because, darling, I'm not the one sitting in the top dog's chair," Sonia whispered.

Sonia smiled at Allie and walked out of the mess hall. Liz sighed and picked up both trays to empty them. Allie and Maxine looked at each other.

"Not gonna lie, that bite-sized bitch gives me the creeps," declared Boomer, as she rose from the table and left to clear her tray.

"The hell was that about?" asked Allie.

"Did she really take down Ferguson?" asked Maxine, leaning in to whisper.

"Yeah, she did," Allie nodded.

"How is that even possible?"

"Dug her fucking nails into the Freak's eyes while she was too distracted strangling Bea, then cooked her arm in the steam press," Allie whispered.

"Then why is she going around telling everyone Bea did it?"

Allie opened her mouth to respond, but could not say anything, settling for just shrugging and shaking her head, unable to actually answer. Allie looked down at the table, becoming uncomfortable upon hearing and fully realizing she was sitting in Bea's chair at the H1 table during lunch. She had only chosen that seat because the H1 crew who was already sitting stopped her after she had grabbed her food. She didn't think about how the rest of the women in the mess hall would perceive this innocent action.

"…I have to get to work," Allie spoke as she pushed her chair back from the table and cleared her tray.

…

Will stood by the door to Bea's unit, hesitating to enter but wanting to make sure she didn't need his assistance anymore. He watched Bea struggle to slide back on her bed, her left arm in a cast and sling, making it even more difficult to shuffle herself all the way back against the wall. Her feet dangled off the edge of the bed.

"Sure you don't want anything to eat?" he asked.

"No, thank you, I'm fine," she softly replied.

"Okay, well, if you do need anything, just let me or one of the officers know… Ve… The governor and I also don't want you reporting for work for the time being."

"Concerned about another attack? Don't worry, Mr. Jackson, I imagine the women will be a bit more creative in choosing the next location."

Bea tried to clear her throat, causing her to begin coughing erratically. Will hurried to the kitchenette and grabbed a cup, filling it with water, and then running it back to Bea. She gratefully took the cup and finished it all.

"Thank you, Mr. Jackson."

"It's not that, it's just…"

Will couldn't help but stare at Bea, the pain she felt evident in her eyes. He wanted to offer his help, but he wasn't even sure if he could still do that, as it seemed everyone who was supposed to protect this woman had failed to do so tremendously and repeatedly since the first day she arrived.

"…Just…Just take some time to get better, okay?"

He took the cup from her hand and set it down on the sink. As he turned to face Bea again, he noticed the picture of Debbie on her tackboard. Bea turned her head to look at what he was staring.

"D'you draw that?" he asked, pointing towards the picture.

Bea turned back to him and nodded.

"That's really good, Bea. Didn't know we had an artist in here."

"Are you mocking me, Mr. Jackson?" Bea softly laughed.

"No, no of course not, I mean it. It's just…I find it strange how you can be around these women for most of the day for so many weeks, months, years even and… and not really get to know them."

"You're telling me."

Will smiled at Bea, the compassion he felt for her manifesting itself in his eyes.

"Knock knock."

Will and Bea turned to the door, seeing Allie leaning against the doorway with her hands in her hoodie's pockets. Will turned back to Bea and gave her a small wave, nodding to Allie as she moved aside to let him through.

"Maybe I should make nice with Screwart," Allie began as she stepped inside and shut the door behind her. "I could use another screw friend keeping an eye on you."

Bea laughed, recalling when Allie first questioned her friendship with Will.

"Shouldn't you be at work?" Bea asked, unable to contain her joy at seeing Allie.

"See, I was…" Allie plopped down next to Bea. "But then I heard my queen was out of medical, so I figured you could use a little honey to further sweeten your day…"

Allie leaned in to kiss Bea, who was euphoric to have Allie's soft lips back on hers. In that moment, all the pain, all the worries, all the doubts Bea had faded away. Not wanting to push Bea further, knowing she was in no position to do anything other than kiss, Allie forced herself to break away from Bea and looked down, reaching into the pocket of her hoodie.

"Oh yeah, also, I brought you honey to help with your coughing," Allie said, holding out a small bottle and spoon while smirking.

Bea couldn't help but laugh, which immediately turned into coughing. Allie uncapped the honey and carefully poured it into the spoon, capping the bottle again and letting it drop onto the bed. Allie placed her hand on the back of Bea's neck and helped her take the honey as she massaged Bea's neck. Bea swallowed it, grateful that the substance quickly calmed her.

"Two is better than one," Allie said, pouring another spoonful and holding it up to Bea.

When Bea finished it, Allie stood up from the bed and placed the bottle of honey on Bea's shelf, taking her hoodie off afterwards and throwing it behind her on the bed. She stood at the sink to rinse out the spoon, while Bea admired her, her eyes drifting from Allie's hair all the way down to her legs. She began to wonder how she could have gone her entire life without ever feeling anything close to what Allie made her feel.

"You checking me out?" Allie asked, upon seeing Bea stare at her in the mirror.

"It's only fair given how much you did it."

"Good point," Allie laughed. "Well as much as I would love for you to continue lusting after me, I should let you get some rest."

Allie bent over to carefully take off Bea's shoes, setting them next to her bed. She sat down next to Bea and helped her remove the sling holding her arm up and placed it on the floor next to her shoes. Allie hooked Bea's right arm over her shoulder, and wrapped her left arm around Bea to hug her waist, as she slowly helped Bea move closer to the head of the bed, before laying her down on her back as she slid her arm out from underneath Bea. Not wanting to have to make her move again to pull out the blanket from under her, Allie picked up her hoodie and used it to cover Bea, as she sat on the bed again, looking down at her. She gently pushed the strands of her hair away from Bea's face and tucked them behind her ears, deeply exhaling as she gazed into Bea's eyes.

"Are you okay?"

Bea opened her mouth to speak, stopping herself, as she was unsure of how to ask Allie for a favor.

"What?" Allie asked as her eyes shifted. "Do you need something? Are you uncomfortable? Do…"

"Will…Will you please stay with me…just…just for a while?"

Allie softly smiled, wondering what would ever make Bea hesitate to ask a question like that.

"I'll stay with you for as long as you'll have me."

Allie kicked her shoes off before lying down on her side next to Bea. She slid her left arm underneath Bea, and draped her right arm over her, hugging her and pulling her in close, as she kissed Bea's cheek before nuzzling her neck and closing her eyes. Bea stared up at the ceiling, doing her best to keep her eyes wide open, to keep her built up tears from escaping.

…

Jake knocked on Vera's door, opening it and walking inside.

"Doreen Anderson for you, Governor."

"Thank you, Mr. Stewart. Have a seat, Anderson."

Doreen hesitated but ultimately took the chair in front of Vera's desk as Jake walked back out and waited outside the door. Vera stared her down.

"Do you know why you're here, Anderson?" Vera asked, knowing Doreen would never say yes to that question.

"No, Governor, I don't," answered Doreen sheepishly.

Vera continued to stare down Doreen. She took in a deep breath in preparation for the news she was about to deliver, anticipating the overreaction.

"I have made the decision to remove you as peer worker."

Doreen's eyes widened, completely baffled by the governor's statement.

"Wh…What? Why?"

"Do you really not know the answer?" Vera asked, amused at Doreen's display of innocence.

Doreen looked down at the floor, as if trying to think of a reason why she would lose her position as peer worker.

"Very well. You were tasked with watching over Tasha. What happened to her, Anderson?"

"…She was almost ganged…"

"I'm sorry, what?" Vera asked, holding her hand behind her ear.

"She was almost ganged…But I had nothing to do with that, Governor!"

"Where is she now?"

Doreen could do nothing but blink and shake her head.

"I don't know…" Doreen whispered.

"Speak up."

"I don't know, Governor."

"Of course you don't. She's in the psych ward, not that you care. Seems you've been a little busy scheming to hurt Bea Smith to pay attention to anyone else."

"No! Of course not, I would never…"

Vera turned her computer monitor towards Doreen without taking her eyes off her. Doreen looked at the screen to see a still image of the group that had gone into the laundry room to take down Bea. Doreen was right behind Kaz and next to Ferguson in the image. She looked at the floor again as she began to weep.

"You can see how problematic it is to have a peer worker who formed part of a group intent on murder, correct?"

"No, I had nothing to do with that!"

"Is… Is this not you right here?" Vera asked, pointing towards Doreen in the image.

"It…No it is but… Kaz led us to believe we would just remove the position altogether, but I never thought she and Ferguson would attack and try to kill Bea!"

"No, no of course not…" Vera remarked sarcastically.

"No, I, no, when Allie attacked Kaz and then Ferguson tried to strangle Bea, it just…it just all happened so fast, I ran, I couldn't…"

"Help? Try to stand up for the woman who saved your child from a burning building?"

Doreen brought her hands to her face, leaning forward in the chair as she remembered seeing Bea running out of the prison with Joshua.

"I'm sorry…I didn't… I didn't believe it would go that far…"

"You've been here long enough. What exactly did you think removing the position of top dog entailed? Talking over a cuppa in the laundry room?"

"I didn't…" Doreen struggled to speak as she continued to cry.

"This work no longer suits you, Anderson. I need someone in this position who can deal with and help all women, regardless of their affiliations. You're up for parole soon, aren't you? Do you understand how this is going to look at your hearing?"

"No, please, Ms. Bennett, I don't…"

"It's Governor. And I would advise you to tread lightly from here on out. One more mistake, Anderson, and you'll have something bigger to complain about than your conjugal visits."

Vera motioned for Jake who had been standing outside the door to come back in. He entered the office and waited for Doreen to get up to leave. Vera gestured with her hand for Doreen to leave, as if swatting her away, as the crying woman stood and headed out of the office, as Jake closed the door behind her. Vera sat back in her chair, spinning to face the computer. She minimized the image of the group of women, leaving only a recording program open. Vera stopped the recording and began to play it back, smiling as she had finally acquired information implicating Ferguson and Kaz in the attempt on Bea's life.

…

Bea pulled the plastic bag over her arm, binding it at the end of her cast with a hair tie. She moved her arm around a bit to ensure the bag wouldn't come loose. Bea turned the water on and grabbed her toiletries bag, bringing it up to her mouth to pull the zipper and open it, promptly dropping it as it slipped from her hand. She did her best to crouch down and pick it up as she winced from the pain in her legs. As she rose back up, her eyes met Allie's in the next shower stall, surprising her and making her drop the toiletries bag again. Allie smiled and peeked over the stall to see that Bea's shampoo and soap had fallen out of the bag.

"You look like you could use some help," smiled Allie.

"I'm okay, thanks," Bea laughed.

Allie walked out of the shower stall and pulled back the curtain on Bea's, stepping into the shower with her and pulling the curtain back before squatting down to pick up the shampoo and soap. Once she picked them up she slowly rose from the floor, intent on taking in every inch of Bea's body on her way up, noticing the cuts on her left thigh. She threw the soap in the bag on her way up but held onto the shampoo.

"Talk about déjà vu, huh?" Allie winked as her eyes finally met Bea's.

"Mmm," Bea looked away as if lost in thought. "I think last time you were going in the other direction."

"I go up, I go down, I go all around…" whispered Allie as she came closer to Bea.

"Allie, you're getting your clothes wet," Bea laughed as she lightly pushed Allie back.

"Wouldn't be the first time I got wet because of you…"

Allie wrapped her arms around Bea as Bea turned her head upwards to kiss Allie, placing her hands on Allie's neck. Suddenly, Allie began to massage Bea's head, an action that made Bea struggle to continue kissing her as she realized Allie was shampooing her hair and was unable to contain her laughter.

"What's so funny? I told you I wanted to help you," Allie smiled as she stopped kissing Bea and dropped the shampoo bottle back on the floor.

"My mistake…Guess I'm just used to different shower conduct from you."

"Oh you think about that too, do ya? Well then, let's switch things up this time around…"

Allie spun Bea around, pulling her in and continuing to work her fingers through her hair. Bea dropped her head forward, as the massage became at the same time both too relaxing and too rousing for her to handle. After Allie rinsed Bea's hair, she knelt down again to pick up the bag and take out the bar of soap, wetting it before bringing it to the back of Bea's neck and rubbing it all over her back, over and under her arms and hands. As Allie reached around to wash Bea's stomach, her hand travelled slowly up Bea's abdomen, stopping just beneath her breasts.

"Is this okay…" Allie whispered in Bea's ear before she softly bit her earlobe.

"Yeah…" she barely managed to say, her eyelids fluttering, her mind in a complete fog.

Allie pressed Bea's body back into hers, as she ran her hand over Bea's left breast while she ran the bar of soap over her right, meeting at the valley between her breasts to switch the soap to her left hand and continued to stimulate Bea with her right hand. Their breathing became shallow, as Allie let go of the bar and began massaging her breasts with both hands, tracing over and pinching her nipples, running her tongue up Bea's neck before kissing it, a stimulation that caused Bea to push back into Allie and squirm, making Allie push forward and move against Bea. As Allie lowered her right hand down Bea's abdomen, Bea's eyes shot wide open as she realized what was happening and quickly moved away from Allie, turning to face her.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…I'm so sorry, I know…it's…it's too soon, I know, I'm so sorry," Allie stammered, out of breath and full of concern.

"No, no, no, no," Bea smiled, placing her hands on Allie's face and bringing her in for a kiss. "I just…I don't want for it…I don't want for it to happen here, that's all, I swear, I want to but I just…I don't want my first time with you to be here.. It…It means so much more to me than that."

Allie exhaled, a smile popping up on her face, full of relief.

"Oh! No, I know, I just…Got carried away, I'm sorry…."

"No, it's okay, I want you to…I really want to, I really, reallywant you, I just…"

"No, no, no, no I totally understand," Allie laughed. "Okay, well then…" Allie looked around the floor to pick up the bar of soap and hold it up to Bea. "I… guess you should take care of all areas down under."

"Thank you," Bea laughed as she took the soap from Allie.

"Well, uh, I guess I'll be on my way then," Allie said as she pointed her thumb behind her and turned to leave.

"Allie…"

Allie turned back around as Bea grasped her neck and kissed her, their tongues clashing as both women clung onto each other, breathed into one another, as if they would never see each other again. Bea pulled away from Allie, both women beaming with joy. Allie cleared her throat.

"Well, there goes my mind for the day…"

"I'm sure your imagination can help you out at night."

Allie laughed as she brought Bea in for a hug. When they separated, Bea pulled at Allie's shirt, the wet fabric sticking to her skin.

"Better go get out of those clothes," Bea remarked, unable to look away from Allie's chest.

"Gee, thanks for the advice…" Allie turned to leave the shower stall. "Maybe I should just wait for you to help me out of them later…"

Allie smirked at Bea as she walked out of the bathroom, her shoes squeaking with every step. Bea's face glowed as she watched Allie leave, unable to contain her smile or her happiness.