Chapter Five
Arms Only for You
It was great to have Nicky back. Alex hung back some as they all gathered around. Piper had to give Nicky respect, she had sided with her against Alex and she didn't really thaw much before she was whisked away to Max. She was different. Piper could tell. Her eyes were different and she understood that look. She knew that her trip to Chicago wasn't the same, but it had changed her. Lorna looked at Nicky like she was a dream. Piper didn't want to be around when she told Nicky about her new husband. Piper watched Morello lose her shit after Nicky was taken away. She wrote all these guys trying to find someone that could love her and she finally got what she wanted. She felt bad for Nicky though.
Nicky walked over and talked quietly to Alex. She was observant and Piper could tell in just a few minutes that Nicky knew something was up. Red came over to get her and then it was time for count. She was in the other rooms so Nicky had to skeedattle out of the dorm to her place. Alex looked across at Piper and she seemed worried. Piper knew that she didn't want that many people to know what was going on and that was understandable. Alex's eyes seemed to plead with her not to tell Nicky. Piper took a deep breath and thought about it.
She told Nicky everything usually. This time she couldn't and that was okay. Piper nodded to her and put her hand over her heat. Alex looked at that hand for a long moment before they were told to turn in to their crowded cell. It took three times for the count to be right. Piper looked over at Alex the entire time. She tried to put all of her feelings into her eyes. Her arm hurt so much that she had to work not to show it. Alex seemed to question her with her eyes and Piper looked around and lifted her sleeve.
It was red...angry but still beautifully outlined. TRUST. Alex swallowed and raised her hand to her face to push up her glasses. Piper watched her eyes and saw her tear up. It was satisfying to her but maybe it told her more about how she felt that a talk. She put some ointment on her tats and Red saw her work. She squinted some and then sat down on her bunk. Without really saying anything, Piper went to her desk and grabbed the lotion. Red looked at her a moment and she raised her eyebrows, indicating that she should turn over. The girls on the top bunks, turned at the same time to face the wall. It was kind of sweet.
"That was some surprise," Piper said quietly and Red smiled back at her.
"Yes, a good one for a change. You better make sure that is covered...and the gun is hid well. You're body is evidence now," Red pointed out. Piper realized that was true. She decided to ditch the gun...she couldn't get lost in that pain again. Red's back was swollen but Piper tried to make her feel better. It reminded her of helping her grandmother after her golfing injury.
"There, I hope that helps some," Piper said as she went to get some wipes to clean her hands. They were burning from the lotion but the pain was welcome. Her mind was like a dark alley and she had to make herself keep walking towards a door, or light. Piper climbed in her bunk and felt immediately exhausted. She dozed until lights out and then turned off her lamp. The pain had subsided and she was left with the painful burn of her tats. Her mind was a dark whirling place that she got lost in as she drifted off to sleep. She had to tell Alex about what Red said..or she didn't. She wasn't scared anymore because she was pretty sure she could escape into her mind if she was sent to max for life. She'd end up dead but she wouldn't suffer like this anymore.
Alex wouldn't fair as well. She'd be in her mind the entire time, letting her thoughts torture her as she survived. She wouldn't go to the madness like Piper. She turned back and forth some until her upper bunkie complained, then she made herself stay still until she drifted to sleep.
"Pipes," she heard Alex whisper. Piper jolted awake and felt Alex's hand on her mouth. It took her a moment to register that Alex was kneeling by her bunk in the middle of the night. She moved over and Alex scooted up to sit on the bunk.
"What's wrong?"
"You can't do that, okay? No matter what you say about our rules, you have to promise me you will stop," Alex said in a desperate whisper. Piper was confused and her expression must have displayed her confusion. Alex pulled up her night shirt and exposed the angry flesh of her forearm.
"Oh..um Stella did this tat...and I changed it," Piper explained.
"I heard about Stella. I'm glad she's gone but I don't want you hurting yourself Pipes. You can get an infection, really fucking easy. You know how medical is in here...please Pipes, don't take chances with your health...please," Alex pleaded. As she spoke to her she got close and held Piper's head so she had to look her in the eyes.
"I...needed the pain," Piper managed to explain. Alex closed her eyes hearing these words. Piper watched her expression as she seemed to absorb the statement. Piper wanted to take it back but she couldn't.
Alex brought her forearm up to her lips and kissed the heated flesh. Piper felt something wet hit her and she realized Alex was crying. "Make the promise please...promise me, not again." Piper shifted in her covers and swallowed back the fear in her voice.
"I'll...try...that's all I can do Al. I'm not always in control of it," Piper tried to explained. Alex exhaled slowly.
"Okay, just take me with you if it happens again and I can help," she offered. Piper promised she would do that. Alex pushed the hair from her eyes and she thought that maybe she would kiss her. " I gotta get back before they catch me. See you in the morning."
She didn't kiss Piper, but she caressed her cheek before she slipped back to her bunk. Piper felt her cheek and smiled some to herself. Alex might not trust her completely but she trusts that she will keep her word to her. She cares enough to try and keep Piper from hurting herself.
Piper remembered getting her first tattoo with Alex. They had been snorkeling in Bali and Piper had seen this fish...so bright and beautiful. "You're like that fish," she told Alex when they came up from the water together.
"What?" She had asked with a laugh. "Maybe a shark...but no fish!"
"No...no that isn't want I mean. The fish is startling beautiful and graceful...it stands out," Piper explained. Alex had smiled and for once she didn't make fun of Piper being mushy. They were on their way back to the bungalow that Alex rented for them when they passed a tattoo parlor.
"Hey, I want a tattoo," Piper said suddenly. Alex looked at her suspiciously.
"You're parents would kill you Pipes," Alex told her. She was right. Her dad would have a heart attack if he knew his girl had a tattoo.
"They don't have to know...besides, I'm old enough and it is my own body," Piper turned and went inside holding Alex's hand the entire time. She spoke to the artist for a long time and eventually she sketched out the fish herself. He fixed it some, make it much better and she approved the picture.
"Is that the fish from earlier?" Alex asked.
"Yeah..um i want it here," she lifted up her hair and pointed to the back of her neck. The artist nodded and then gave Alex the price. Piper smiled as she haggled a bit then agreed to a price. Alex paid for everything she wanted.
Alex put her arm around her waist and leaned in to her ear, " Are you sure?" She nodded and Alex seemed very pleased. "Why there?"
"Well, it isn't as visible...and you kiss me there all the time," Piper said softly. It must have been the right thing to say because Alex was so happy. She had to lay with her head down on this chair and it scared her. Alex was there though. She slowly rubbed Piper's head and held her hand the entire time. It hurt more than she expected but Alex's hands were a soothing balm. Soon the buzz of the gun and constant burning pain seeped into her body. She knew intellectually that she was releasing endorphins to compensate for the pain. However, her breath got shallow and she felt it entirely in a different spot.
Piper moaned and the man asked her if she was okay. "I'm..fine...just fine," she replied. She felt Alex snicker some and she lowered her head to speak directly into Piper's ear.
"I bet you are fine...my girl is a bit of a pain slut. I'm going blow your mind when we get back to the hut," Alex promised. Piper nearly came from the sound of her voice and prayed the artist would hurry.
Alex was pleased with the product and tipped him so much money he closed up shop for the rest of the day. She told Piper how she needed to care for her new tat and as soon as they entered their space, Alex claimed her mouth.
It hurt when she grasped her by the neck to hold her steady as she kissed. Piper moaned on her lips and Alex whispered she was sorry and moved her hand. It was sweet and made Piper sway with the blast of desire that flushed through her body. Alex peeled her out of her bikini and kissed her all over. She took Piper, up against the wall. Her fingers delved into her depths like she was seeking to grab a hold of her from the inside out and never let go.
Piper let go though. She let herself fall into the most delicous ecstasy she ever experienced. " Fuck yes Alex! Oh I love you Al!" was all she could say before she lost her mind to pleasure. She slumped into Alex's arms and she held her up with ease.
"I love you too, kid. You please me so much," Alex panted into her ear. Her cell phone rang and Piper moaned. Alex was gentle though and put her to rest on the couch before she answered. Piper had slipped into a deep restful sleep after that listening to Alex quietly do business on the phone.
She did fall to sleep in the wee hours of the morning and it was the best rest she'd had in a days. Red made her eat two granola bars that morning before she went for a run. It was Saturday and there was a movie tonight. They had to show them in shifts, just like everything else. Half of the prison will watch the movie tomorrow and they weren't happy to miss the Saturday night movie. Piper didn't even know which day she was supposed to see it.
"Hey Chapman, find me after your run," Nicky said to her on her way to the cafeteria. Piper nodded and put on her ear phones. She was at the door when Alex took her by the arm. Piper stopped and looked at her expectantly.
"Don't over do it. You're not a 100 percent, kid." Alex warned. Piper smiled at her and nodded. "Can we talk about the rules later?"
Piper nodded again because she didn't trust her voice. Alex was worried about her and trying to watch out for her. She didn't deserve her love and attention. The guilt ate at Piper as she ran. Janae was out there and usually she tried to keep somewhat of a pace with her but she kept it slow because of her promise to Alex. She ran by the fence where Alex brought her lemonade that time. She had made a joke out of her concern about the girl watching her. She had just wanted in Alex's pants but it had fed her paranoia. Piper felt her gut twist again and she had to stop for a minute to breathe deep.
Janae passed by and stopped, running in place as she spoke, "You don't look too good Chapman. You need to catch your breath, maybe walk." She usually ignored Piper but this time she actually seemed concerned.
I must look like shit.
"Thanks, yeah...I'll do that," Piper answered. She kept on running and Piper started to walk slowly back to the building.
Nicky met her after her shower with a bottle of water and a pack of chips. "You look like you need something to eat."
"Everyone keeps feeding me," Piper said quietly. The dorm was fairly empty but they went to the Chapel to talk. Nicky told her about the time in Max. She was her cellmate's bitch for the entire time.
"Was she even the least bit attractive?" Piper prodded.
"Yeah...in a scary way. She had all these tats on her neck...she was murderer so I did whatever the fuck she said. You spend so much time in your cell there. You get like only four hours out a day. I worked delivering food trays to the different levels. I had to pass a bunch of shit for her but no one caught me. I met this really hot girl named Stella. I heard what you did," Nicky shared. Piper didn't probe too much about what she said about her cell mate and told Nicky she didn't want to talk about Stella. She didn't want to know that many details because she may end up there herself- then she'd deal with her.
"You're back now," Piper reached out and took Nicky's hand in her own. To her surprise, Nicky moved closer to her and buried her head in Piper's neck. She embraced her friend and held her close. They stayed like that for a long time, just rocking back and forth on the edge of the chapel stage.
Finally, Nicky asked, " What happened to Vause?"
Piper told her most if it. She left out the part about killing Aydin and told her he ran off like she told Red. Nicky knew Alex's situation with Kubra and she shivered all over when she realized that he had sent a guard to kill her. "Did you guys tell anyone?"
"What and have her put in SHU for protective custody? No...no I won't let that happen to her. She was attacked but they will find a way to punish her for it. I'll take care of it all," Piper said with such venom that Nicky picked her head up and looked at her.
"How?"
Piper smiled and told her that she'd tell her later when she had it all worked out. They heard the door open above and slam back against the wall. They started to pull apart but saw Lorna standing at the top of all the steps. She was looking at them like she'd caught them doing something, then turned and stomped off.
Piper looked at Nicky and she seemed as confused as she was...but they hopped off and made their way out to go see what was going on with Morello. Nicky told her a story about taking a shower in Max and getting laid with a different girl each day in there. She said there was a four minute window with no guards and everyone that wanted some used it to get off. She said she got good at the fast fuck and run. They were laughing about it when they walked back into the dorm.
"Enjoy yourselves? Fuck, if you didn't want to try, then why not tell me? I'm not going to be second to anyone, especially Nichols!" Alex barked at her when Piper stopped at her cube. Her eyes got wide and then she heard Lorna yelling at Nicky that she was married and could care fucking less who she fucked. That is when it hit her that Alex must have followed them to the Chapel and saw them cuddle together-then told Morello.
"We..didn't...I mean...Alex. Yes...yes I agree to all of them-all the rules- and we didn't do anything. I just held her while she talked about Maximum," Piper said softly to her. Alex looked up at her like she didn't trust her and she guessed she didn't. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have held her but she is my friend and I missed her. I promise...my arms are only for you now," Piper explained, then she walked back to her bunk, leaving a silent Alex behind.
**Short one for this week but important! I'm off to the mountains soon for the ceremony. Happy July everyone! Please, Please, Please...review. Fae***