Chapter 2

The years had passed happily for Nikki and Helen, happily co-existing as a couple since the day that Nikki had left Larkhall over three years ago. They had start with the remit of taking the relationship slowly, but they couldn't, the years they had spent apart just fuelling the passion between them more.

After a few weeks they happily settled into life together, Nikki returned to work in the club that she co-owned with ex partner, and Helen after swearing she would never work for the prison service, had been persuaded to come back to continuing her work with the lifers units, supervising the ones that had been set up in other prisons. All expect one, the Lifers unit on G Wing in Larkhall, avoiding that one deliberately knowing that if she returned there she would have to face Jim Fenner once again. They were settled into life when they a ball was thrown into their lives which shattered the life around them.

Helen was fast asleep, Nikki holding her close even as they both slept, Nikki snoring slightly next to her. The silence was shattered at the mobile on Helen's bedside table started to ring, dragging forcibly both women out of their sleep. Helen stretched slightly to reach the phone, pressing the answer key she brought it up to her ear.

"Helen Stewart" she mumbled into it, still half asleep.

The expression on her face dropped as she listened to the person on the other end of the phone, the information that she was being told was not what she every expected to hear. Pulling herself upright she continued to listen, only saying the occasionally um and ok to the person at the end.

Finally she spoke again properly.

"You want me to start today? "She said down the phone, her facing dropping even more when she got the response, she quickly excused herself of the phone.

"Shit!" She said out loud as she threw her phone down onto the bed.

"What's the matter babe?" Nikki said moving closer to Helen seeing the sure signs of anxiety of Helen's face when she had turned around.

"That was my boss; I've been requested or rather told by a higher ranking member of area manager that I am to be deployed to assist in a prison which is having problems." She said standing up, her face to Nikki

"I thought that would be good news, you did say that you wanted to be based in one place again for work so you didn't have to spend days away from home" Nikki said in response, standing up, grabbing her dressing gown and pulling it on.

"I know that I said that Nikki, and it should make me happy to have a permanent base again. It's just where they went to send me is a problem."

"Where?" Nikki asked Helen "No-where can be that bad"

Suddenly Nikki realised something, somewhere that was considered bad for the both of them.

"Helen, You don't mean....."

"Larkhall" Helen said watching her lovers face twist into a look of shock at the realisation of what a return would mean.

Nikki sank back down onto the bed, memories of her days locked up in Larkhall flooding back instantly and overwhelming her completely.

Seeing her lover's reaction Helen rushed over to her.

"Sweetheart, it'll be okay." She said grabbing Nikki's hands with her own.

"It's just the thought of you returning to that shit-hole Helen, I know how hard it was for you there at times. Especially with what happened between you and Fenner, him find out about my escape, the allegation. All the shit you had from the other screws."

Helen brought her right hand up to cup Helen's face.

"Sweetheart, it's going to be different than what it was when both of us were there. Fenner's dead and gone Nikki so he can't do us any harm no more. And unlike previously, my job won't be my life, not when I have you to come home to." Helen said before lifting herself up slightly to kiss Nikki lightly on the lips.

Grabbing Helen around the face she looked her square in the eyes.

"I didn't want you to deal with all that shit again, and I know you didn't want to again. That place is rotten to the core; the only thing good that came from it was that we found each other."

"I wish I didn't had to go back, but I was told in no certain terms that I have no choice about it, I am know assigned to work as assistant Governor at Larkhall Prison. I have no leg to stand on Nikki, I'm lucky that the Prison Service would even keep me in employment, I walked out on my job twice at Larkhall with no notice, if I refuse this I'll be out for good. And maybe with Fenner gone I can finally help the women in Larkhall."

Nikki had a few tears in her eyes.

"If you sure Babe, if you are sure that you can manage it, I will support you the same as you have always done for me. Perhaps you'll be right; with Fenner gone things might be completely different."

Helen smiled slightly; it felt good for her to know that she had Nikki's support, knowing that she would need her so much in her first few days back at Larkhall.

"Thank you Sweetheart" Helen said before moving closer to Nikki, bring her head up she pulled Nikki's towards her and captured her lips with her own, kissing her deeply , she slipped her tongue in slightly waiting to see if Nikki would meet it which she did with earnest. Pulling herself up she sat herself down on to Nikki's lap without breaking the kiss. The feeling of lust grew in her and she pulled away from the kiss and started too teasingly kiss Nikki down her neck her hands reaching to pull apart Nikki's dressing gown so she could continuing her assault down.

Nikki pulled back slightly as Helen did that, which left a stunned look on Helens face at the rejection.

Nikki smiled at Helen before speaking

"As much as I would love to babe, I don't think it would be too good of an impression if you are late for your first day."

"You're probably right." Helen said leaning over to kiss Nikki on the cheek remembering all the times she had been late during her time at Larkhall

Standing up she walked over to her wardrobe and surveyed the contents, before pulling of her night wear making certain that Nikki caught sight of her body properly.

"Sometimes Helen your to flirtatious for your own good" Nikki said walking over to Helen smiling before she encircled her arms around her.

**************

Helen sat looking out of the window, the streets that she was going down, intimately familiar to her, the years of driving to Larkhall had burnt them into her mind, they had barely changed since she last left Larkhall Prison, but she barely noticed them her mind fixed on only one building. The imposing Victorian building which was Larkhall Prison.

Helen looked across to Nikki, her lovers face completely emotionless but she could just see a haunted look in her eyes. The trip back to the place that had she had been held for all them years tough on her as well.

"You OK? Helen asked of Nikki who was driving Helen into work. Helen hadn't asked Nikki to drive her in; she had decided to do her own accord but Helen was certain that maybe she was know regretting that decision.

"I'm Ok Babe" She said turning her head slightly to face Helen, a smile that she had deliberately placed onto it to reassure Helen.

"You didn't need to drive me in Nikki; I know that coming back to Larkhall wasn't something you ever envisaged having to do every again. You shouldn't have to rake up those memories just because the prison service wants me to be assigned there once more." Helen said reaching over to Nikki to touch her face.

"I live with those memories every day Helen, from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to sleep, and even in my dreams. If I have to face those memories head on I will to support you. You've supported me through everything Helen, without you I would still be banged up in that shithole. It's your first day back working in a place that caused you so many traumas, so you shouldn't have to face seeing it for the first time since leaving by yourself."

By the time Nikki had said those words, she rounded the final corner. Both of their eyes landed on the sign directly in front of them. Emblazoned in large letters were the words HMP LARKHALL. Nikki's eyes snapped away, small tears forming in the corner of them, she continued driving forward until she reached the barrier.

Nikki was about to signal the officer to open the barrier when Helen put her hand on it.

"End of the line Sweetheart. You don't need to put yourself through seeing the prison today. The fact that you brought me here was brave enough for me, but there is no need to push yourself so hard. I can manage the last few steps myself. And I will always just be a phone call away if you need to talk to me or I need to talk to you." She looked deep into Nikki's eyes as she said those words.

Nikki reached over and cupped Helens face with face.

"Ok babe I will, just Promise me something please. Keep safe will you."

Reaching her arm up Helen mirrored what Nikki was doing.

"I promise I will Sweetheart. "Helen said just before leaning over and kissing Nikki on the lips.

"I've got to go" Helen said as she reached for her stuff and opened the door, Just as she was about to step out Nikki called something out to her.

"Love you Babes"

"Love you too Sweetheart" Helen said turning back to smile Nikki

Stepping out of the car Helen walked over to the officer who was manning the gate. She quickly threw one last look over her shoulder as Nikki reversed the car to leave. Showing her ID she was quickly entered into the prison grounds to quickly spot an older women a few steps away.

"Are you Helen Stewart?" she asked a tone of annoyance in her voice.

"I am, and I'm guessing that your Joy Masterton then."