Franky was only required to spend one night in the hospital after being injured at Wentworth, Vera is still in for observation since she sustained a head injury - more as a precaution though – thankfully both of them will make a full recovery. The Doctors have told Franky to take it easy for a few weeks, so as not to aggravate the injury further, they said she was very lucky no major organs were punctured by the shiv.
"Gidge, where's Olivia? I want to play with her." Franky calls from our bedroom – where she has been in bed for the past 48 hours.
"Honey, remember I told you last night – my parents picked her up so you could rest properly and so I could focus all my attention on getting you better." I say, approaching the bed, sitting down and taking Franky's hand in my own, slightly smaller one.
"Oh – yeah right, sorry these pain meds are making me a bit loopy I think."
"Doctors said that would probably be a side effect, I can have Olivia brought back tonight if you're feeling up to it, but I'm sure my parents wouldn't mind her spending another night with them."
"Can you get them to bring her? After everything that's happened I just want both my girls close to me."
"Sure thing – I'll give them a call in a little bit then." I say, kissing Franky on the cheek.
"Gidge? Umm, about what happened? I mean at Wentworth, I'm so, so sorry – I never thought I'd get hurt." Franky says, tears starting to run down her face.
"Well – we do need to talk about that Franky – but when you're feeling up for it, I'm just glad it wasn't more serious, I don't think I would cope with Olivia on my own." Now it's me with tears in my eyes.
"I'm ready to talk Gidge. I, I want to explain why I went in there okay?" Her eyes are pleading with me to let her justify her actions.
"You might be ready, but I don't think I'm ready to hear what could possibly have been more important than Olivia and I to you Franky, your family! Your wife and three month old daughter!" I raise my voice, stand from the bed and head to the bathroom, where I slam the door behind me. I cry as I slide down the back of the door, the emotion I have been holding in, trying to be strong for my family has finally caught up with me.
"Bridget? Honey – please let me in, I'm sorry, I'm an insensitive idiot." Franky only ever calls me by my actual name when I'm upset or angry at her – I guess my current state is a mix of the two. I slowly move away from the door so Franky can open it.
"I don't know what to say Bridget – all I can say for now, if you're not ready, is that I'm sorry for putting you through all of that – you and Olivia deserve better from me." Franky sits down next to me on the floor, hissing in discomfort as she does, and wraps an arm around my shoulder. I sink into her, it's hard to remain angry, especially when she's seen as a 'hero' again by so many people, just like last time with Joshua.
"No Franky, Olivia and I are lucky to have you. I think I've changed my mind entirely, I don't want to know any of the details of Monday – let's just get Olivia back from my parents, I think we could both use cuddles with our daughter right about now."
"That sounds like a great idea Gidge, I've missed her a lot."
"I know, same here – why don't you give my parents a call and ask them to bring her back, I'll get myself cleaned up and more presentable again." I say as Franky looks at me, concern still etched on her face.
"Okay, I'll do that, will you be okay baby?"
"I think I will be, yes – now go on, the sooner you make the call the sooner we get our daughter home."
Two hours later, Olivia is home with us – I'm making dinner as Franky cradles her on the sofa, she looks so content with her.
"Gidge – she keeps laughing, it's the cutest thing ever." I turn around and smile at Franky from the kitchen.
"Aww I know, she's been doing that a lot lately – everyone keeps commenting on it and saying how adorable she is."
"Well they're not wrong."
"No they're not darling, well dinner is ready – you want to put her in the bouncer while we eat?" I watch as Franky very slowly stands from the sofa – clearly still in a lot of pain, as she then bends down to strap Olivia in securely.
"That's her all set up, we can get her ready for bed once we're finished with dinner." Franky says, walking to the kitchen island and taking a seat.
"You mean I'll get her ready Franky; you're supposed to be taking it easy – remember?" my wife just rolls her eyes at my words.
"I just feel like I'm leaving you to do everything baby."
"You know I don't mind – the more you rest, the quicker you'll be back to your normal self." I give Franky a kiss, simultaneously putting the food down in front of us.
"This looks delicious – you're the best." She kisses me again in return.
"I made your favourite, I knew you would like it." We sit in relative silence until we are both finished, Franky then insists she go and get Olivia ready for bed since I'm tidying up.
A little while later, I am on my way to the nursery to say goodnight to my daughter when I hear Franky's voice, I peer in the door, and I'm greeted by the sight of my wife gently rocking Olivia back and forth, while telling, what I presume is a bedtime story.
"So then, as I leave the office, I start to walk down to the exit, but I hear someone scream – I just couldn't leave knowing people were getting hurt – so I made the decision to go into the cell blocks. I know your mummy is mad at me, and I don't blame her – if she did what I did, I would probably feel the same, but you know what Olivia? The whole time I was there – helping Bea get Vera out, the only thing that kept me going was knowing I had you and mummy to go home to, because I love you both more than you'll ever know, or I could ever show either of you – and I'm so sorry I got hurt, but I'll be fine – and your aunt Vera will be okay as well, little girl – now get some sleep, I know you can probably sense our stress and that's not fair – so sleep Olivia, me and your mummy love you so, so much." I have tears streaming down my face, Franky kisses our daughters head, then moves to stand up and put her into her crib – this is when she notices me.
"Oh – hey babe, how long have you been standing there?" she asks, rather sheepishly.
"Long enough I guess – just know Franky, I'm not mad, I was just so worried about you okay? More than anything I'm just glad you're safe and back home with us – and thanks to you and Bea, Vera will get out of the hospital tomorrow." I walk over to Franky, planting a kiss on her lips and take Olivia from her for a quick cuddle before putting her down for the night.
"Gidge, what do you think will happen to Bea? I mean, she's got what like 20 years left? But she's literally saved my ass twice now, a baby and the Governor – you think there could be any grounds for an appeal to get less time?" I turn to face Franky again, truth be told, I had wondered this myself.
"Well – I'm not too sure Franky, I mean she is in for murder, if it was a lesser charge then I would say yes, but it's difficult – I guess there could be a chance to reduce it slightly – she would need Vera and a psychologist to vouch for her though, before it could be taken any further – maybe talk to Bea first, see if she would want to go down that path?" Franky is nodding her head, clearly trying to take everything in that I'm saying.
"Okay, well I need to finish the course at Wentworth – you are alright with that, yeah?" I nod at her; I can't very well ban a grown woman from doing her job.
"Right, good – well I'll talk to her and Vera when I'm back in two weeks – hopefully Vera will be back by then, I've still got Booms and Kim Chang to sort out as well."
"Well, just do your best darling, I'm sure Bea will appreciate the effort anyway – just remember – you don't work for the department of corrections, Marcus will expect you back in the office in four weeks now and I don't want you stressed out." I say, as my wife pulls me in closer to her.
"I know baby, don't worry okay? The job will always come second to our family." I lean in and kiss her, hoping with every part of me that she means that.
"Okay – well let's head to bed, you must be exhausted by now."
FRANKY POV
Just under two weeks later, I find myself walking back through the gates of Wentworth again – today is Valentine's day so after I finish here, I plan on treating my wife to a lovely evening. We have decided just to stay at home this year with Olivia – since it's a day for the one you love, Bridget and I both now have two loves since Olivia came along, so it only seems fitting for the three of us to be together. Today, I am due to see Boomer – discussing her upcoming parole hearing – and also Bea, we spoke on the phone last week so she's coming to my office this afternoon. I don't have a meeting with Kim until next week, which is probably a good thing, I don't think I could deal with any of her shit today.
"Franky! How are you doing now? I phoned last night but Bridget said you were bathing Olivia."
"Oh, hi Will! Yeah she mentioned you called, I'm doing great – almost completely back to normal now, how are you and Vera? Is she back yet?"
"Glad to hear that, we're doing good – it's her first day back today as well, I'm sure you'll see her later on."
"Yeah, I'll drop by her office at some point – I'm meeting Boomer and Red today, so I better get to my office, see you later Will." I leave to walk to my office, I'm only at my desk for twenty minutes when there's a knock at my door and Bea appears.
"Oh – hey, I thought our appointment was in the afternoon?"
"Hi – yeah it was, Booms hasn't finished writing her statement up, we didn't think you'd mind if we swapped."
"No, that's fine – take a seat and we can start." I say with a smile, signalling to one of the chairs.
"So Franky – what exactly is it you think you can do for me here? I mean, come on – I have a long stretch here, and if I remember correctly that's with no chance of parole."
"Well, I was talking to Bridget about this, we think because of your actions we could maybe get them to at least revoke the no parole sanction that's in place, now I'm not saying this would benefit you immediately – but in a couple of years there could be a chance you'd make parole, I just really want to know if it's something you would want to pursue, before we start looking at your case properly."
"Umm – well yeah, why not I guess, it's not like I have anything to lose anyway."
"Exactly – okay, well I can be your lawyer, Vera is on your side for this after what you did for her – and my wife has kindly agreed to be your psych, so once you do sessions with her, all going well she can sign you off – those can start in the next few months – she's going to work part-time after her maternity leave is up."
"Sounds like you've thought it all through – what do I need to do right now then, anything?"
"Well, try and stay out of trouble, maybe start work on your character statement as well, okay?"
"Okay, good – well I better get back Franky – I'm on laundry duty." I smirk at hearing this.
"Well, make sure no one has any 'accidents' around the steam press Red, that wouldn't look too good on the application."
"I'll bear that in mind – see you around Franky."
"See ya Red."
Later that night, about 7pm, I'm finally pulling up to the house – I didn't want to be late on Valentine's day, but I had so much to catch up on after two weeks off. I have two-dozen red roses, take-out from Bridget's favourite place and a teddy bear with a big love heart on it for Olivia.
"Hey girls I'm home." I call out from the hallway.
"Franky, we're doing some tummy time in the Livingroom." I walk in and they both look so adorable, they're lying on their fronts, Olivia flailing her arms and legs and my gorgeous wife copying her moves.
"Babe, that is just so cute!" I laugh as I crouch down next to them, roses and teddy bear in hand.
"One for my first love." I say, handing the roses to Bridget, while giving her a kiss on the lips.
"And here's something for my second love." I say, scooping Olivia off the floor and into my arms, putting the teddy on her tummy and letting her grab it.
"Aww Franky, you are just too sweet! Thank you baby."
"No problem Gidge, you both deserve it – I got food from your favourite Thai place as well." I say with a smile, earning me another kiss.
"You really are the best."