Chapter 4
Helen just stood there stunned at Joy's announcement; she had resolved her feelings about being a assistant to Joy with regards to the overall running of the wing, knowing that she would have a lot to keep her busy to distance herself away from the wing which she had such emotional ties too. G Wing was a hornets' nest of emotions to her and with her sudden arrival back on G Wing they had been yanked back to the surface and felt as raw and painful as they had did all the, years ago.
She blinked her eyes quickly and cleared her throat before speaking, trying to compose herself; knowing that she couldn't show any emotion in relation to her appointment to Wing governor. That she had any emotional tie to that particular wing or any of the women who had been held on it.
She barely listened as Joy went through the unlock briefing, trying to work out how she was going to explain this to Nikki, how that once again she would be looking after and locking up women on this wing that Nikki called friends. Her eyes flitted back up from where they had been placed on the floor to see the officers disembark from the room, heading to the cells for unlock. Joy beckoned her across and they headed out of the office and towards the gate that would lead them of the wing.
They had made only a few steps away from the gate before Helen spoke out.
"You had this planned all along, didn't you?" she said an accusing tone in her voice aimed at Joy
Joy stopped Helen and spoke.
"That was part of the intention of bringing you here, yes. During the time that Neil was in charge of the prison things have happened that area can no longer support, the suspicious deaths of inmates and also an officer show that he had no control over the prison and G wing therefore causing people to lose faith in him and his policies. Your time here might have been tempestuous as well Helen but from the files I have read from your time here that most of the situations were blown out of proportion by your fellow offices dripping poison and incidents which not even I could of controlled."
Helen sighed slightly at the comment
"I'm just surprised; I have had a number of years out of the day to day running of a prison, as you know I have been concentrating on the lifer's initiative with minimal contact with prisoners on my visits to the units which I have visited."
"Helen, I'm not going to dump you in at the deep end, I perfectly understand there will be a transnational period for you. But I truly believe you are the best candidate for the job, you understand the type of prisoners which are usually placed on this wing, a strong connection due to the lifers unit on it. I wouldn't have requested you if I did not believe you could do the job. So please think about it Helen"
"Ok, I Will, I just need to talk it over with my partner first" Helen said alluding to her relationship with Nikki but not mentioning her by name at all; Knowing that she would be careful not to mention her name at all in case people from the time that both of them had been there worked out about their relationship and the fact it had started before Nikki's release.
"Of Course, Discuss it with your partner. But I'll need a decision soon."
Helen sat behind the desk in what was an all so familiar office to her, the same one which had been hers back when she was G Wing governor, the decor of the room had changed she was in charge and the room still contained Neil's things making it feel like she was trespassing on his domain. He had quit the job but the things were still there, waiting to be boxed and moved something which would probably fall to her to do.
Going to her bag she pulled out her mobile phone, sliding it open she went straight to the too the contacts list in it, scrolling through it too she located Nikki's number where she hit the dial button. Placing the phone up to her ear she only had to wait a few moments before the other end picked up.
"Hiya Babe" Nikki said down the phone to her.
"Hiya" Helen said back to her. Taking a moment before she spoke again to Nikki about what had happened "I've got some news"
"What's that?" Nikki asked intrigued by the fact that Helen didn't seem to have a happy tone in her voice.
"The current Wing Governor has walked out on the Job. They have offered me the position, or to be honest I was placed here to push him out. They want me to be G Wing governor again Nikki."
Helen heard Nikki's sharp intake of breath from her end of the phone
"They what Helen; G Wing Governor?"
"I know Nikki. I turned up her thinking that I would just be assisting the Governing Governor not running one of the wings especially not that one. I've been told that I have the choice to do it or not but I think that that is just for pretences sake. "
"Babe, Honestly do you want to do the job? Don't consider me in the decision, this is your career you're talking about and I know the sacrifices you already made to it because of me. If you want to do it then do it. That part of my life is over and has been for a while. If being governor of G wing will make you happy then go for it."
But what about the people you left inside you were close to, how can I come back in a controlling position over them when I know how much you care about them still to this day. Not when I'm with you and know how they helped you and supported you. And the fact that they must know about the connection between us"
"Helen, the only people I know for sure are still on G Wing who I care about still is The Julies and soon enough they will be on the outside. Barbara is on the outside, as well as Monica. Denny finally got herself released not before being in an open prison for the last few years. Shaz is gone and so is Yvonne and Shell god knows what happened to her. And if the Julies do know about us they won't talk, you know that they covered up about Josh's and Crystal's relationship and I know they would do the same for us as well."
"You sure?" Helen asked trying to sort out the decision in her head
"I'm sure Helen. You have nothing to worry about. You take this job and I'll support you and if you don't take this job I'll support you as well. You did it for me all those years ago. Without you I wouldn't of appealed my sentence and be free right now. So for once Babe let me support you through something. Take the job and do some bloody good for that place. Fenner's reign of terror is over and now you have a proper chance to help people."
Helen looked down at her desk. Nikki was right, perhaps this time she could help the people inside more than she had done previously
"You certain you will stand by me through this."
"Helen Babe. I would stand by you through anything. Just like what you did for me the first few months I was on the outside, so what is it going to be Helen, Yes or No?"
"It's a yes Nikki, I want to do this Job, it was always what I planned to do, I love my lifers work but I can do so much more in this job. Thank you Nikki for being there."
"Always babe; Now you better get to work then" Nikki said a slight laugh to her voice
"Will I see you at home later?" Helen asked.
"Not today. I have a shift at Chix, but you could always come by. Celebrate the fact you managed to get two jobs on the same day. I'm sure Trisha will be happy for you as well." Nikki said mentioning Trisha, her business partner and ex girlfriend but now just a close friend to the both
"Yeah I go. Look I've got to go." Helen said looking at the clock that was on the wall. Knowing that it was lunch time and the perfect moment to be on the wing as everyone would be there.
"Sure. Love you babes."
"Love you too" Helen said just before hanging up the call.
Helen stepped out onto the wing, the hubbub of the prisoners around her as they took their food and sat at one of the many tables. Her eyes went around the room searching through the inmates for a familiar face among them but there was nobody. Looking across she finally noticed some familiar faces that had at that time not recognised her at all. Walking quickly across the atrium she made her way to the server.
"Hello" she said wondering if the two women behind there would recognise her face at all. Their expressions were a mixture of shock and surprise at the person who was standing in front of them.
"Miss Stewart" They both said at the same time.
"Nice to see you, Julies" She said at the two best friends smiling slightly remembering how much they were always in sync with one another.
"What are you doing back here Miss?" Julie Saunders asked her.
"I'm back as your Wing Governor. Mr Grayling has decided to leave the position which has been offered to me."
"That's great Miss we always liked you. Bit of a shock is it being back?"
"Yes, It is."
"Hey Julie's" A tall brunette said to them eying up Helen who was also eying up the woman who had came across to them
"Hiya Pat" They said acknowledging her.
"Who are you?" Pat asked looking up and down Helen trying to make an opinion of her.
"I'm Helen Stewart; your new wing governor."
Pat looked once more at Helen, realising this was the women she had heard about; an actual screw that seemed to care about the prisoners.
"So they final gave Grayling the push then?"
"Mr Grayling decided to leave on his own accord."
"Don't be too sure of that Miss." Pat said walking away.
Helen looked at the woman who walked away; Reminding her so much of Nikki from that single comment, that she was also someone who always knew more than they let on. And perhaps once again a potential ally for her.