CHAPTER 5

AlexPOV

In the days following my phone call from Piper, I began my physical therapy, pushing myself to my absolute limit so that I could be done with it faster. I wanted to get back to Piper, everyday her face clouded my vision and I would push myself a little more each time. I needed to get back to the prison to see her, to protect her.

I was being wheeled back to my room, something my doctor insisted on, when I saw Polly standing outside my door. She looked relieved and worried at the same time. My first thought was that something happened to Piper, but she must have read my thoughts and shook her head.

"She's fine," Was all she said. She waited until I was completely in my bed and the nurse was gone. "You should see the news." And with that she turned on the TV and flipped it over to Fox News.

"Why? What's happened?" I asked. She just shook her head and told me to listen.

...Earlier today there was a fatal shooting outside an apartment building in Lenox Hill. The one of the victims has now been identified as one of the suspects in a large drug cartel investigation, Kubra Balik. The other victim has yet to be officially identified, however, eye witness accounts claim that the other victim is the guard impersonator that viciously beat an inmate at Litchfield Penitentiary…

I jumped up as much as I could while I was still in my bed. "Holy shit! Fucking Kubra is dead?"

"Apparently. That's not it." I looked at her confused. "When I got my mail today, this was in there, addressed to you. There's no postage on it. Someone just slid it through my mail slot." She handed me a letter simply addressed Alex Vause. I looked up at her, "Well, I sure as hell didn't open it. I was waiting for you. Now open it Supercunt!"

I couldn't even manage a laugh at her desperateness. I ripped open the letter, only to be even more confused and disappointed.

Alex,

You can live your your life now. Live it right.

F.

Fahri. He was supposed to be dead. I looked at the note and then to the TV and back to the note again. He killed him. For me.

"Well?" I jumped at Polly's voice.

"Umm...An old friend apparently made sure that I was safe now." I pointedly looked at the TV as I said it.

"You mean?" Her voice was getting loud.

"Shh." I said quickly. "A friend that I believed to be dead, yes."

"Holy shit."

"Holy shit is right."

PiperPOV

That phone call was everything. Hearing her voice made me realize that she really was going to be okay. I laid down in my bunk and stared at the ceiling, a smile on my face.

"What is that smile about? You know my rule about masturbation." Red announced while walking into our cube.

"I talked to Alex." I said nonchalantly.

"She's awake? How is she?" Red asked, her concerned mother mode taking over.

"I don't really know, it was really brief. She said she was okay. She obviously sounded like she had been in a coma for a week, but other than that she sounded fine." Red just nodded in acknowledgement before plopping down on her bunk and beginning to read.

The next day, I called Polly again, only to be disappointed when she told me that Finn was sick so she wouldn't be able to go see Alex again for a couple days. I was pretty bummed after that but I knew that she had her priorities. So I went through the next couple of days pretty robotically, staying occupied, so that I can keep my mind off of Alex as much as possible.

After three days I decided to try to call Polly again, I didn't want to bug her but I was desperate for some news about Alex.

"Hey, baby." I sighed deeply when I heard Alex's voice.

"You have no idea how good it is to hear your voice." I said. "How are you? Is the pain any better?"

"Yeah it is, although, physical therapy is a son of a bitch." She laughed the last bit out.

"Yeah? Don't let them push you too hard. You don't need to hurt yourself more."

"Pipes, it's alright. I'm not pushing myself too hard. I just want to get back to you."

I sighed. "I love you so much."

"I love you too, Pipes. Hey, have you seen the news at all today?"

"No, Crazy Eyes has Sesame Street on. Why? What's happened?"

"Kubra and Aydin were killed today. Baby, we're safe now."

I felt the blood drain from my face, shock coursing through me. "Are you sure? Oh my God. Alex. You're safe."

"Yeah, baby." I could hear her choking up on the other end.

"Look, there's a line, but someone is going to be contacting you soon, I sent them. I love you, Al. I'm doing my best to show you that."

"I love you too Pipes, I know you love me too. I'll talk to you soon." I was just about to hang up when I heard her yell "Wait! Holly wants to talk to you." I laughed at Alex's nickname for Polly.

"Geez, Pipes, it's like you don't remember me at all." Polly said.

"What's up? There's a line, I don't have long."

"I know, I just wanted to make sure you remembered that I was visiting on Saturday."

That was weird. We hadn't planned on her visiting anytime soon, but I played along. "Yeah, I know. See you soon." I hung up, curious about what is to come at the next visitation.