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...

"Jake!"

Jake woke up, quickly lifting his head off the table and jumping up from his chair, rubbing his eyes and looking around before realizing he had fallen asleep in the staff room. Will stepped back in shock when he saw Jake's bandaged hand and his cut, bruised, and swollen face.

"Shit, what happened to you?" Will asked.

Jake looked at Will, simply shaking his head as his eyes turned down towards the floor.

"Got mugged while I was out last night," Jake finally replied as he went to sit back down again.

"Fuck, I'm sorry," Will said as he went to sit down next to him. "You shouldn't be here. Go home, Jake, you're unfit to work today."

"I'm good, I'm good, thanks."

"Jake… You can't…"

"I'm good I swear."

"…Are you sure?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'll be all right."

Will observed Jake, knowing full well he was in no condition to work. Will stood up and began to walk towards the door but stopped in his tracks. He looked down at the floor before turning around and walking back towards Jake.

"Hey, if the offer's still good, we can work out together. I'll help bulk you up so this doesn't happen to you again," Will offered, gesturing towards Jake's face.

Jake chuckled and nodded.

"All right. Thanks, Will."

Will smiled and patted Jake on the back, making him grit his teeth and wince from the pain but still managing to force a smile. Jake watched Will leave before standing up and walking over to the sink, turning the faucet on, and splashing his face. He hadn't slept all night. After receiving a beating from Vic, Jake returned home only to be greeted by Deacon who interrogated him about the disappearance of Allie. Deacon received no information or hints from Jake that would suggest he was involved, but Jake was still unsettled when Deacon informed him he would be back if new information surfaced. Jake gently dried his face off with a paper towel then threw it away before looking at his watch and walking out of the staff room towards C block.

As he entered C3, Jake told the current guard on duty that his shift was over and watched him leave. The only other inmate who shared C3 with Ferguson was currently in the mess hall, but Jake only had a few minutes to speak with Ferguson before the next guard arrived. The door to her room was open, and Jake stood in the doorway for a few seconds watching her eat before stepping inside and closing the door. Jake took the phone out of his pocket and opened it to the photos he had taken of Allie before handing it to Ferguson. She looked up from her tray to look at the screen but refused to take the phone.

"Has she been disposed of?" Ferguson asked as she bent over to pick her cup off the floor.

Jake pulled the phone back to look at it as Ferguson took a drink before placing the cup back down on the coaster on the floor.

"Not yet…"

Ferguson finally turned to look up at Jake, a look of disgust appearing on her face when she saw his cuts and bruises. She gestured for Jake to back away from her. Jake stared at her for a few seconds before he shook his head and took a few steps back. Ferguson finally stood up, turning to place her meal tray down on the bed.

"Not yet? Why not?"

"I don't want to kill her…"

"You seem to not be able to understand the compromising position Allie would place you in should she return to Wentworth."

Jake stared at the phone, the painful realization hitting him that Ferguson was right. Even though Allie hadn't seen him, he couldn't risk her coming back to Wentworth after what he had done in the hospital. Jake had assumed that Bea had been the one to tip off the detective about his possible involvement with Allie's disappearance. He couldn't expect Allie to keep quiet about what had happened, and he couldn't take the risk of anyone somehow tracing everything that had happened to her back to him.

"…You're right," Jake finally responded.

"I'm not asking you to kill her, Jake. Your men would be the ones to do it. I just need you to be present so you can give me confirmation that she is no longer a problem. Say, tonight?"

Jake looked up at Ferguson before looking back down at the phone and nodding his head. Ferguson walked over to her shelf and grabbed a washcloth, holding it in her upwards facing palm and reaching out to Jake. He placed the phone on it and watched Ferguson wipe it down.

"These photos will do."

"Is that it? Are we done now?" Jake asked, reaching for the doorknob.

"You are on watch duty tomorrow morning, correct?"

"…Yes."

"I need you to arrange for Smith to come meet me in the showers then."

"Joan… Joan, I can't do that. If you kill her or if she… They'll sack me. I would face severe consequences if something happens to either…"

"Nothing will happen, Jake. I simply want to speak to her."

Jake stared at Ferguson before slowly nodding his head and walking out of her room. Ferguson set the phone down on her bed before stepping over to her sink and wetting the washcloth. She walked over to the door and began to vigorously wipe down the handle.

…

Franky rose from her chair as she watched Bea come into the visiting area. Bea made her way over to Franky, who leaned over and hugged her, slightly lifting her out of her wheelchair as Bea hugged her back with all her strength. Franky finally let go of her and placed her hands on her face, trying to force a smile. She turned around and pulled her chair close to Bea, grabbing her hand and gripping it tightly.

"Bridget told me everything… I'm really sorry," Franky softly spoke.

"Franky, this is my fault. I knew this would happen. I fucking knew it. I knew that we shouldn't get involved," Bea's voice cracked as her eyes began to water.

"Hey, hey…"

"I just wanted her to be safe. I should have never…"

"Hey, hey, shh, stop, just stop, okay?"

Franky leaned over and hugged Bea again before an officer called out to them to separate. Franky pulled away from Bea and glared at the officer before turning back to face her.

"Ferguson is behind this… I know it," Bea claimed as she clenched her fist.

"What makes you say that?"

"She… She tried to cut a deal… before…" Bea hit the armrests of her wheelchair. "Before this happened… She knew I was going to be a corroborating witness to Jesper and told me that if I testified she'd go after Allie…"

"Has she tried to make the same deal again?"

"I haven't gotten the chance to see her since I came back. They're doing their best to keep us as far away from each other as possible."

"If she has anything to do with Allie's disappearance, she's gonna try to negotiate with you again somehow… But Bea… Bea, her trial's the day after tomorrow. This is it. You have the power to get rid of her permanently. You need to testify. If you don't…"

"Franky, do you actually believe she's gonna let me make it to her trial?" Bea laughed. "What if my van is crashed into? What if I get a bullet in my head and the Red Right Hand's framed for it? And let's say if by some miracle I do make it to the courthouse. Her legal counsel destroyed Jesper, her actual hitman. What if my testimony isn't enough? What if I'm not enough? What if she gets out? What then, Franky? You know what she's capable of. She'll go after everyone who's ever crossed her, everyone who's ever allied themselves with me. She'll come for Sonia, Maxine, Liz, Boomer, Jackson, Bennett… even you're in danger, Franky… She's already got Allie and… Everyone I care about ends up dead."

Bea placed her elbows on the table and began crying into her hands. Franky reached her hands out and took Bea's hands in her own, gripping them tightly as she looked into Bea's tearful eyes.

"Hey, hey, listen to me. They'll find her. Allie's a real fighter… Don't give up on her, okay?"

"No… No… Never… I… I can still feel her."

Franky hugged Bea as tightly as she could, ignoring the warning from the officer who yelled out for them to separate. Still crying, Bea hugged Franky even tighter, as the officer made his way over.

"All right, come on, Smith. Your visit's over."

"She just got here," Franky said, letting go of Bea but holding onto her hand.

"If you can't follow the rules…"

"We separated already."

"Too late. Come on."

The officer stepped behind Bea and grabbed her wheelchair's handles, pulling her away, leaving Bea and Franky no choice but to let go of the other's hand as they could no longer hold onto each other. The officer pushed Bea towards the exit as she turned to look back at Franky and gave her a small wave.

"Everything's gonna be okay! I'll see you soon, Red!" Franky called out.

Another officer opened the door to let Bea pass through. She was pushed until arriving into the general population area again before the officer let go of her chair and walked back towards the visitor's center. Bea wiped her eyes with the back of her hands before grabbing the wheels of her chair and heading down the hallway.

Jake walked up to her from behind and took hold of the wheelchair's handles. Bea turned around to face him for a second before letting go of her chair and looking forward again as Jake pushed her down the hall.

"Ferguson wants to speak with you tomorrow morning," Jake quietly spoke.

"What happened to your face, Mr. Stewart? You look like shit."

"That's none of your fucking business, Smith. I'm only trying to pass along her message."

"She got to you too, then?" Bea asked, already knowing the answer.

"It's a one-time favor. I'll take you to meet her in the C block showers during breakfast. I don't know anything about what's going on between you two so we never had this talk, understand?"

"…Okay."

"Good."

Jake let go of her wheelchair and proceeded to continue down the hallway as Bea watched him. She could have confronted him. She could have questioned him. But Bea knew that if she angered or unsettled or scared Jake in any way, he had the power to get rid of her, especially because Vera seemed intent on defending him no matter what. So for now, she had to wait to deal with him. Bea watched him turn the corner before she started moving again towards the laundry room.

…

Jake knocked on the door to Vera's office.

"Come in," Vera called out without looking up.

Jake entered the office, quickly turning around to shut the door. Vera closed her notebook and looked up.

"What can I do for you, Jake?"

Jake breathed deeply before he turned to face Vera, who became shocked at the sight of his face. She rose from her chair as Jake made his way towards her desk.

"My goodness, what happened to you?"

"…May I?" Jake asked, gesturing towards the chair.

"Of course, of course, please sit."

Jake sat down in the chair while Vera leaned against her desk and examined the injuries on his face.

"I was mugged yesterday… It's really not as bad as it looks," Jake smiled.

"I'm so sorry to hear that. Did you call the police? Please, if you need to go home, you can…"

"No, no, no, no, thank you, but I… I don't want to go home. I much prefer being here."

"Can… Can I get you anything or do anything to help?" Vera asked, the pity she felt for Jake evident in her eyes.

"No, Governor, you're too kind… I just… I just wanted to come by and thank you."

"…For what?"

"Working here has been an… adjustment. Seems like I've kind of been the scapegoat for a lot of the crazy stuff that's been going on recently and… and I just wanted to thank you for always having my back no matter what. You have no idea what it means to me to have someone here on my side."

Jake stood up from his chair and gazed into Vera's eyes, a smile appearing on his face. He reached his bandaged hand out to grab Vera's right hand, placing his other hand over it and giving it a gentle squeeze.

"I couldn't ask for a better boss. Thank you, Governor."

Vera looked down at their hands before looking back up at Jake and shyly smiling while quickly nodding her head.

"Of course, Jake, I, uh… I'm here… for you," she stammered as she covered Jake's hand with her left one.

Jake let go of Vera's hand and hugged her. Shocked but not opposed to it, Vera hesitated but ultimately hugged him back, cherishing the embrace. Jake let go of her and started to leave but stopped when he grabbed the door handle and turned back to face her.

"Would you… Would you like to have dinner with me after work tonight?" Jake asked.

Vera was unable to hide her surprise as her mouth opened and her eyes shifted left and right.

"Uhmm… I, uh… Yes! Yes, that would be most… yes," Vera stuttered.

"Great, I'll cook for you… I mean I would love to eat you out…"

Jake covered his face with his hands and laughed. Vera blushed as her eyes widened.

"Sorry, so sorry, I mean… I would love to eat out with you… but… But I don't want people staring at… this," Jake snickered, pointing towards his face.

"You still look great," Vera softly spoke. "But… But that's fine. I don't mind. I'd love to come to your place."

"Great… I'll see you then, Vera."

Jake smiled and gave her a small wave before turning to leave her office. Vera watched him walk out. She turned down to look at the floor, a smile appearing on her face before she began to softly laugh.

…

"Head count, ladies!" Officer Lawson called out as he stepped into H3.

Kaz and two of her crewmembers walked out of their rooms to stand outside their doors. After the incident in the mess hall, Kaz's other crewmember had been moved out of C3 and into H3, giving her original room up to Ferguson as C3 had only one other inmate and was therefore the safest unit for Ferguson at the moment. Lawson completed the count and walked out of the unit, closing the gate behind him and leaving. Mel turned to look at Kaz who ignored her and walked into Allie's room, shutting the door behind her.

Kaz leaned against the door as she looked around the room. She walked over to Allie's bed and sat down on the edge of it, turning to face the tackboard. Kaz ran her eyes over all of the things Allie had pinned up, the articles, the images, the posters. The door opened and Mel stepped inside.

"Everything all right?" she asked, walking over and handing a cup of tea to Kaz.

Kaz took the mug as Mel sat down on the bed. She looked down at the mug and ran her finger around the rim as she spoke.

"This is all my fault."

"Don't say that, Kaz."

"If I hadn't gone after Smith, Allie would still be here, and you know that. Allie damn near killed herself because of what I did."

Mel looked down at the floor.

"Do you still think Smith is involved?" Mel asked.

"Not anymore… I thought about what Allie told me the last time I saw her… Smith was never our enemy. She never wanted anything to do with us when you think about it. She just… She just wanted Allie."

"…Who do you think did it then?"

"The Freak is the only one who would go so far as to kill her and frame the Red Right Hand for it. I mean she shopped us. It makes sense that she'd frame us."

"You think Allie's really…" Mel began, unwilling to finish the question.

"Knowing Ferguson… Yeah. She gets back at me but more importantly back at Smith by getting rid of Allie. You think she's gonna be all right to testify anymore after this? Ferguson knew exactly what she was doing by taking Allie out of the picture."

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Are you gonna take Sonia up on her proposition and testify? Talk about what really happened in the laundry room and the mess hall?"

"I have to."

"Do you actually trust her?"

"God no. I don't even know her, but… I do know she's always stuck up for Smith. Not sure why, but she has Smith's best interest at heart. I couldn't help Allie, but I can still help Smith in memory of her."

"You might get more time if you testify, you know that, right?"

"Yeah… But if it helps keep Ferguson behind bars, I'll do it… I've fucked up a lot in here. I've failed all my girls… After everything I've done to you guys, to Allie… to Smith… I deserve a life sentence at this point."

Kaz brought the mug to her mouth, sipping the tea as tears fell from her eyes.
…

Jake led Ferguson towards the showers of C block during breakfast. He stood outside the door as Ferguson walked inside the empty shower block. Ferguson stepped into the fourth stall from the door, pulling the curtain back as she placed her robe on the hook, her towel over the stall wall. She turned the water on and began to wash her body and her hair.

When Ferguson was finished, she shut off the water and dried herself off with her towel. She slightly folded the towel and draped it over the wall again before reaching her arm out to grab her robe and put it on. Ferguson turned around and pulled the curtain back, becoming startled when she saw Bea in her wheelchair in front of the bench by the wall, as she hadn't heard her come in. Ferguson smirked as she grabbed her toiletries bag and towel, draping it over her arm and exiting the stall to stand across from Bea.

"Hello, Smith."

Bea glared at her, refusing to speak.

"Despite having asked Mr. Stewart to arrange this meeting, I can't help but feel shocked to see you alive and kicking… metaphorically speaking of course."
Bea simply stared at her, as Ferguson smiled while looking her up and down. Bea knew better than to trust a meeting with Ferguson set up by Jake of all people, but at the moment she had no other way of getting to her. Bea took a deep breath before she began to speak, knowing that this was her one and only chance to get any kind of information about Allie.

"Where's Allie?"

Ferguson smiled, taking a few steps towards Bea but refusing to come within reach of her.

"I offered you a trade before. I tried to make a deal with you, and instead of accepting it like a human with a conscience or a heart would, you stalled and ended up falling victim to a weapon I'm assuming was intended to go into my back, correct?"

"Where's Allie?"

"I am a merciful person, Smith. I tried to give you a way out, a respectful way to go, but you simply refuse to stay down. Allie was absolutely devastated believing you had died. I had hoped she would take the route she did, but then I learn her slashing her wrists wasn't enough to…"

"Where is Allie?"

"…Jesper was no match for me, but now your stubbornness has given me one last charge to deal with before I can walk away. The only thing that stands in my way is you, again, metaphorically speaking. Therefore, I am willing to give you one last chance to right your wrongs. Kaz did her part by taking the fall for Allie to help exonerate her. If she comes back, she won't be imprisoned for much longer, and I believe it's time for you to do your part for Allie as well. Let's call her… leverage, hm?"

Bea did her best to fight back her tears. Ferguson pulled a phone out of her robe's right pocket and used it for a few seconds before looking back up.

"Look at yourself, Smith," Ferguson quietly spoke as she came closer to Bea, still looking down at her. "Do you honestly believe it would have been fair for Allie to spend the best years of her life taking care of you? You're nothing but a decrepit, onerous cripple incapable of offering her anything other than a lifelong burden she would eventually tire of and resent… Young Allie deserves better, wouldn't you agree?"

Bea refused to speak. Ferguson came closer and held the phone in front of her. Bea slowly lowered her eyes to look at the phone screen, unable to stop the tears from running down her face from anger, from sorrow, when she saw the pictures of Allie, her bloody face, her torn lips, and her black and swollen eye.

"Wouldn't you?"

Bea shut her eyes tight, opening them up again as she slowly nodded.

"I don't believe she belongs here. I'm sure you can agree with me that her worst and only mistake was becoming involved with you. Look at what you've done to her. Therefore, I am willing to give you one last opportunity to give Allie a future, a better one at that. Do not testify against me. Retract your allegations. Refuse to appear at the courthouse. Keep your disciples from speaking out. While you still have time, you can see that Allie's is running out. Do this, and I will give Allie back to you so you can enjoy her for the few months she has left here before your love for her forces you to set her free so she can finally live her life."

"…Why should I trust you?" Bea asked, looking at the phone.

Ferguson lowered the phone and crouched down in front of her, looking Bea straight in the eyes as she quietly spoke.

"Because you have no other choice. You do remember what happened last time you refused my trade, don't you?"

Bea stared into Ferguson's eyes, knowing that she shouldn't be trusted but having no other course of action.

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Okay."

"Okay what?"

"I'll drop the charges. I'll tell everyone to withdraw their statements. I won't be at the courthouse. This case is nothing to me. You're nothing to me."

"You do know that my trial is tomorrow, and if you don't do this, that will be it for Allie, correct?"

"I know," Bea nodded. "I won't do anything against you. I'll soon be out of your life forever."

"I wouldn't jump that far ahead. Once your charge is dropped let's make a little wager for how long it takes me to oversee you as governor again, shall we?" Ferguson smiled as she stood back up.

"At least now you can sleep peacefully knowing that because of you, Allie's heart will continue beating."

"I'm trusting you, Ferguson."

"And I am trusting you to uphold your part of our deal, Smith. If you trust me, Allie will be back as soon as my trial ends. By now you should know that I have eyes and ears inside and outside of this prison. If I even begin to suspect for a second that you are trying to scheme against me, I don't even have to lift a finger to remove Allie from your life permanently… Consider this your one and only warning. If you betray me, Allie will only be able to continue existing in your memories."

Ferguson turned away and began using the phone as she walked towards the door. Bea sniffled and wiped the tears from her eyes before speaking again.

"Is that how you keep Jianna alive?"

Ferguson stopped walking, her hands clenching the phone and her toiletries bag as her nose began to twitch. She turned to face Bea, who showed no emotion whatsoever, but simply stared at her.

"Do you have a picture of her? I could draw you two together if you'd like. I guess if you don't, I could just sketch you and Doreen… I mean, if you could see Jianna in her as a person, why wouldn't you be able to in a drawing? Hell, I could even use an image of Joshua as a substitute for Jianna's baby."

Ferguson dropped the phone, towel, and toiletries bag as she stormed towards Bea and wrapped both her hands around her neck, easily lifting her from her wheelchair and kicking it aside before slamming and pinning her to the wall behind her. Bea didn't struggle, but simply gripped her wrists as Ferguson held her up by her neck.

"Shut your dirty mouth, and don't you ever, ever mention…" Ferguson uttered, bringing her face close to Bea's.

"Jianna?" Bea interrupted, struggling to speak but refusing to stop talking.

Ferguson pulled Bea away from the wall before forcefully slamming her head against it, keeping her pushed up against the wall as she continued to tighten her hold on Bea's neck.

"Young Jianna… deserved better… wouldn't you agree?" Bea smirked.

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT THE FUCK UP! SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH!"

Ferguson slammed Bea against the wall repeatedly, drops of blood staining the wall with each subsequent hit. Suddenly, the door to the shower block opened, and Jake ran inside to pull Ferguson off of Bea. Bea dropped down, hitting the bench before falling off of it onto the floor. Jake struggled to pull a frantic and crazed Ferguson away but eventually managed to drag her out of the shower block.

Bea sat up off the floor, bringing her hand to the back of her head. She looked at her bloody fingers as she tried to shake off the pain. Bea looked around the shower block before she slowly stood up and walked over to Ferguson's towel, moving it to the side and picking up the phone that was underneath. The phone's screen had cracked, but Bea was still able to turn it on. She slid her finger across the screen to unlock it and opened it up to the photos section. She quickly shut it off and placed it in her pocket as she turned around to set her wheelchair back up, sitting in it and releasing the locks on it before making her way towards the door, throwing it open, and exiting the shower block.