"Ugh – coming back from a holiday and starting work again is definitely the worst! No late nights, afternoon drinking or morning sex! It was so good to do nothing at all and just relax – now we're back in here, it's depressing!" Franky says, whining yet again, it's been constant since our flight landed in Melbourne yesterday afternoon.
"Franky, I know – I feel exactly the same, but at least we get to spend our work days together now, that must make you a bit happier – no?" I ask my wife as we walk into Wentworth.
"That's a good point – I guess morning sex just came back on the agenda then!" she says, wiggling her eyebrows at me before bursting out laughing. I slap her hard on the arm.
"Oh God, babe your face! I'm kidding, I'm kidding! Honest, don't hit me again – sorry!" I lean up to give her a quick kiss, letting her know I'm not really mad, before we enter the prison – knowing we should keep the PDA to a minimum during office hours.
We are immediately greeted by Will, who informs us there is a staff meeting in ten minutes and we are both expected to attend.
"Okay – we'll see you in there." Franky says as we head towards our shared office to drop off our things.
"You know Gidge, we'll need to get another office space as well, we can't both use this one – if you have a session and I have a meeting at the same time it won't exactly work."
"Good point, I never even thought about that actually, we'll say to Vera at some point this week." We head towards the staffroom and take the last two seats available, conveniently next to one another.
"Okay – so as you all know, or most of you do, there was an incident here last night, we think it was a play to remove Bea Smith as Top Dog – although no one is talking as usual so it's unclear exactly what went down." Vera says, addressing everyone.
"Is everyone okay?" I ask, out of concern.
"No – we have two dead inmates, three in hospital – and God, don't even get me started on Novak, she's hysterical."
"Two dead?" Franky asks, I can see the fear in her eyes.
"Sorry – yes they were recent transfers – both shived during a riot that subsequently took place." Franky just nods upon hearing the information.
"How serious are the three in the hospital?" I ask Vera.
"Bea Smith is one of them, she lost a lot of blood but last time I checked she's stable, the other two should be coming back later today."
"That's good then." I say.
"Bridget, if you could go to H block – talk to Allie Novak, see if you can calm her down a bit before someone permanently shuts her up."
"Not happening Vera!" Franky says, standing up.
"Franky" I say, warning her to watch what she says.
"No Gidge, Vera listen – you're not putting my wife that side of the gate hours after a riot – the place will be full of shivs and other weapons, I know you'll have done a raid, but stuff still gets missed by the guards and dogs – get Novak brought to Bridget, not the other way around." The room goes quiet as everyone waits for Vera or I to say something in response.
"You actually have a valid point Franky – I never thought of that, Will, can you make sure Novak is brought to Bridget instead please." Vera says, I just stay quiet and nod, I don't mind Franky being protective but to talk about me like I can't handle myself in front of colleagues – that's out of line, it could have been suggested discreetly after the meeting.
Soon enough, the meeting is over, I am first to get up and leave. I can hear Franky call me but I just ignore her – I don't want an argument in front of an audience. I hear Will comment to her about being in the 'dog house' but I'm too far away to hear her reply – if there actually was one.
Twenty minutes later there is a knock at the office door, I figure it must be Allie Novak, so I call for them to come in.
"Bridget – I'm so sorry, please don't be mad at me, I didn't mean what I said in a condescending way, it's just as soon as Vera mentioned you going in there I got scared and couldn't help but think back to previous riots and the sort of danger – even hours after they were over." Franky says, putting down coffee and some treats on the desk and looking at me shyly.
"I know you said it for the right reasons – I'd just rather we were a bit more professional while at work – meaning I do my job and you do yours, and if need be, we meet in the middle – the impression you gave to all of our colleagues is that I'm weak and can't make my own decisions about what's best for me, and I don't appreciate that Franky, can you please remember I've been doing this for over 20 years? I know how to handle myself." I say, hating when we fight or disagree, but feeling it's necessary to establish some rules while at work.
"I understand – you're right, I apologise, that most definitely wasn't my intention. I guess I need to try and separate work Bridget and the one I see at home as Olivia's mummy and my wife." Franky says, still a bit sheepishly.
"Well I guess we can break the rules just this once." I say, rounding the desk to embrace my wife, giving her a much needed, reassuring kiss.
"I love you." I say, breaking the kiss but still holding her close.
"I love you too baby." She says, leaning in for a last quick kiss before we separate.
A few minutes later, there's is a knock at the door and Will brings Allie into the office. I stand once again from my desk to greet her, I can't help but feel sorry for her, her eyes are bloodshot and face blotchy from crying.
"Hi, you must be Allie Novak – it's nice to meet you." I say, holding out my hand for her to shake.
"Yeah that's me – why am I here?" she asks as she let's go of my hand, only then noticing Franky at the opposite side of the office.
"Who's that? What's going on?" she asks, beginning to get agitated.
"It's okay Allie – I'm Bridget and this is my wife and newly appointed Wentworth resident lawyer Franky, I'm just here to have a little chat, Franky is just leaving." Franky walks over to greet Allie as well.
"Hey Allie, I hear you're Red's girl – nice to meet you."
"Red? Wait a minute – you're that Franky? Franky Doyle? Has something happened to Bea? Is that why you're here?" she asks panicking.
"Oh hey no – she's still at the hospital but we've been told she's stable okay?" I say to her, trying to calm her down.
"Right okay – so why are you here?" she directs to Franky.
"Like Bridget said I'm the new lawyer here, permanently in-house now so the focus can be the women here instead of me working outside cases too. Bridget is the psych, she worked here a few years ago, but she's back and part of a new team I'm heading up, we're hoping it will prove beneficial." Allie's eyebrows raise at Franky's answer.
"No shit – are you serious? Wow that's quite some turnaround, no doubt I'll end up meeting with you at some point then." Allie says.
"Yeah you will, anyway I'll leave you both to it, see you around Allie, later Gidge." Franky gathers her things and leaves the room.
"So Allie, I understand you've had a rough night, do you want to talk about it?" I ask, as I guide her to sit down opposite me on one of the armchairs.
"There's not really much to say – Bea is in hospital and I'm stuck here, I just wish I could be with her and see how she's doing – even just to hold her hand while she sleeps, I'm so worried."
"Well that's completely understandable, but like I said before – she's stable and in the best possible hands at the hospital right now." I say, again trying to be reassuring.
"I know, I just want to hold her so badly and tell her I love her." She sobs out, I move over and bring the younger woman into a hug.
"Well, how about you write a letter for Bea and I will visit her tonight after work and give it to her? Or even just tell me what to say to her and I'll pass the message along." She just looks at me in disbelief.
"Why would you do that for me? You don't even know me?" she asks, shocked by the gesture.
"Let's just say, I owe Bea a huge favour from a little while ago." I say, thinking back to the riot both Franky and Vera were caught up in.
"Thank you so much! Umm well I guess just tell her that I love her – that's important, and then that I really miss her and want her to come back to me soon. That's all really, I guess it's kind of silly – I'm pretty sure she can at least already guess that."
"Don't be silly Allie, it's important she knows it, I'll tell her tonight. Now, if I could make a suggestion to you?" I say, trying to tread carefully.
"Sure." She replies, I can already tell her mood has vastly improved but it won't hurt.
"Maybe try and keep your emotions to yourself – I know it's hard but from what the Governor has said the women are less than impressed, with Bea gone right now – we're just worried about your safety."
"No you're right Bridget, the women are already sending me death glares, Bea probably is the only reason no one's tried anything yet – I mean, no one succeeded taking power from her, it's still hers, last night was just a bloodbath, nothing more."
"Yeah I was filled in, sounds like it would have been horrific, how are the women doing, what unit are you in?"
"I moved in to Bea's unit a while back, they seem okay in there, just worried about her I think – but I'll pass on that she's stable when I get back."
"Okay good, well anything else you want to discuss with me today?" I ask with a smile.
"No I'm good actually, I don't usually like talking to shrinks but you're different, I can tell – I know you actually care, makes a nice change." She says, standing up.
"Well thanks for saying that, I really do care about all the women here, and I know that as part of this new team that Franky is going to be heading, we will do our best for all of you."
Later that evening, as I'm finishing up some paperwork, Franky comes back into our office.
"Hey Gidge, you ready to head home? We need to relieve Booms from babysitting duties." She says, already with her jacket on and briefcase in hand.
"Oh – actually Franky, I need to make a quick detour first." I say, shutting down my laptop and gathering my things.
"Care to expand?" she asks.
"Well, and before you say anything – yes I've already cleared this with Vera, but I want to stop by the hospital to see Bea, Allie has a message for her and I said I would pass it on." I say to Franky.
"Okay – did you tell Vera the last part though?" she asks with a smirk.
"What do you think?" I say, eyebrows raised at her.
"Wow – my wife the rule breaker, first a tattoo, now this! Who are you?" Franky says with a laugh.
"Well, I think we know better than a lot of people how hard a relationship is behind bars, I guess we were just like Bea and Allie, I know it's not exactly the same, but right now, with one on the inside and the other on the outside, I can't help but connect the two." I say, Franky just walks over and engulfs me in a huge hug.
"Another reason I love you Gidge, always thinking of others. Well we better get going then so you can deliver this important message." With a quick kiss, we leave the office and head off in the direction of the hospital.
We arrive half an hour later, noticing immediately Will outside of Bea's room.
"Oh wow – your new wifey is taking a chance is she not? Red not managed to sneak past you yet?" of course Franky can't resist teasing Will about the now infamous Bea Smith escape.
"Oh shut up Franky." He says punching her arm.
"Jesus you're both like kids! Can we see her Will?"
"Sure, Vera told me you were coming, she was awake the last time I checked – and yes she's still there Franky!" he says, narrowing his eyes.
"Take your word for it big guy." She laughs as we enter the room – and yes Bea is still in the hospital bed.
"Still here Red? That's not like you!" Franky teases as we walk over to the bed.
"Let me guess, you said the same sort of thing to Mr J on the way in, right?" she smirks.
"Well of course! It's only fitting." Franky laughs.
"Seriously though Red, how you doing? You look like shit." My wife asks, looking at Bea.
"Your wife here is quite the charmer Bridget, I really don't know how you weren't able to resist her advances."
"I'm beginning to wonder that myself, trust me!" I laugh as Franky just glares at me.
"Anyway, yeah Franky I've been better, but I'm alive – guess that's something. What do I owe the pleasure of your visit anyway?"
"Actually, I have a message for you, we can't stay long, we need to get back to Olivia – that reminds me Franky you should take Boomer back to the bedsit tonight, so she doesn't miss curfew."
"Wait, wait – hold up, Boomer is your babysitter? No fucking way! Seriously?" Bea looks between us with wide eyes.
"yes, she's really good actually." I reply.
"You won't say that when the little one starts talking!" Bea laughs, Franky just rolls her eyes.
"yeah, yeah whatever, Gidge just tell her what Allie said so we can get home." Franky says, impatient as always.
"Allie? Is she okay?" Bea says worried.
"She's fine, just concerned about you Bea, she wanted me to tell you that she loves you, and is really eager for you to get back so she can see you." I say.
"Wow – thanks for coming to see me and pass that on, God I miss her so much – hopefully I get out soon, the bleeding has stopped, had to have emergency surgery but once the stitches heal, I should get to go back." She says with a smile at the thought.
"Glad to hear that Red, your girl needs you so get better soon, well we better get going, see you soon though so we can continue to review your case." Franky says, and with that we say our goodbyes and head home to our daughter.