Chapter Eighteen

They made it out of the park without a ticket but they did traumatize some tourists. It was light and Piper was aware they were using sex to deal with the stress of their life. Nicky and Lorna were coming over for dinner. Though Piper wanted nothing more than to take a hot shower with her wife, she had to get some work done when they got home. She had a trip scheduled to New Orleans to speak at a symposium. She had a whole itinerary planned with lunch out at different restaurants where ex-cons worked. She would give them exposure through twitter and local interviews. Alex was going to join her the second day but they talked about it and she wanted to stay close to Nicky. Piper wanted to cancel but they talked as they took a train home from the park.

"It is important we keep to our life. I will not have them making us change our plans. Her part only begins tomorrow. She will have to testify against her step dad...and she will have to face Red eventually. She sent her a message I think. I know she can send her a message on the down low. I didn't ask specifics," Alex said as they leaned back on the train. Piper could still feel her fingers inside of her. She closed her eyes and stifled a moan. Piper absently stroked her lover's hand and nodded.

"No matter why Red took care of Nicky, she did. It doesn't change all the things she did to help Nicky," Piper observed.

"It changes things for Nicky and I'm really worried Pipes. Red is a big part of Nicky's sobriety. First...she kept her clean by sheer fear of her. Now, she helps to keep her clean so she can make her proud. She really is Nicky's Mommy...she sees Nicky as she is and still believed she could stay clean. It is important," Alex explained. Nicky nodded and looked out the window as they tunnel lights flashed.

She decided to probe Alex about her own sobriety. "What got you sober?" She had shared some things with Piper but she didn't know the whole story.

Alex shifted some and clutched at Piper's hand. She turned Piper's hand palm up and ran her thumb nail over the sensitive flesh of her palm. It sent a soft shiver up her body. "I was in Bangkok on business...that I conducted and then got high as fuck in a whore house with two distributor friends. There was a variety of drugs and one of the girls mixed a bunch of pills. She started to choke and I was so fucking high I just watched her die. I...did nothing Piper. I live with that each day. I had fallen so far at that point." Alex winced and looked away. Piper murmured softly in her ear that she loved her.

Alex got her emotions under control and continued, "My colleagues got me out of there and helped to cover up what happened. Basically, they paid the fee for the disruption. I then went to that cabin in British Columbia with a sober companion I hired from San Francisco. Roger gave me his name. Brian Coliter. He helped me through withdraws with medical supervision and I was able to get my head on straight. Poor guy, I left him a month later to go back to my work. He had no idea he'd helped a drug dealer-" Alex swallowed. She had always called herself an importer. Technically, she was right. Alex moved the drugs, she didn't sell them. She bought from a select group of distributors and moved the product to where it needed to be sold. Her boss had been an African drug lord and her immediate supervisor was Persian. It was truly an international drug ring. Once, that had thrilled Piper a little to know her girlfriend was bad ass.

Now she was afraid that past put them at even more risk. Piper leaned over and kissed her ear with soft feathery kisses before whispering, "You're clean and legit now baby. You will never contribute to that lifestyle again." Alex put her arms around her and held her close until their stop. They talked about triggers and how disappointment from parental figures was a big one for Nicky. Piper could see that. Alex and her lifestyle had been her heroin. She had been addicted to the adventure and travel of being with her.

But now, she was addicted to the amazing love they shared. Piper worked once they got home. She had three different conference calls and Raven joined her to help her plan the trip. She kept the same room but told Raven she'd be alone at most of the events. It was a few weeks away. The fact Alex was sure Nicky would still need her let Piper know she knew next to nothing about Nicky's struggle to remain sober. She just wished Nicky didn't have to rat out her step father and ruin any chance she had at a relationship with her own mother. Piper found herself thinking about Nicky as Raven spoke.

"Piper? Piper...would you like me to just send this all in an email?" Raven offered when Piper startled and looked over at her.

"Huh? Oh...sorry Raven, I was...um...what were you saying?" Piper tried to focus on the itinerary before her.

"My wife is distracted and we have company coming tonight, so I was wondering if I could get you to call in an order at Sfolgia? I have it all written down there on the counter," Alex asked in her charming way that made Raven grin. Piper shook her head and tried to clean up her notes. She did get lots accomplished...just not everything. Raven took the hint and went into the kitchen to arrange their dinner. Piper knew Alex would have it picked up by Steven. He loved to get out of the book store and go get their dinner at different places. Alex would always choose an entree for him. He was her favorite employee and Piper knew he reminded her of the gay boys that used to help her with her business.

"I really should apologize. I'm all scatterbrained at the moment," Piper began as Alex sat behind her on the couch. She started her magic hands on her shoulders and Piper tensed up some.

"If you do that I'll be all mush and no work. I still need to make a few calls," Piper explained as she leaned forward to restack her papers and open her laptop. She ran her finger over the security sensor and her laptop opened to the three documents she had just edited.

Alex pulled her back and put her arm across her stomach, pinning Piper back against her. She stiffened and frowned, ready to admonish Alex for distracting her.

"But look at me...look how cute I am..." Alex whispered in her ear. Piper froze then slowly smiled. She looked over at her and caressed her cheek. That cute comment had been the beginning of the worse conversation of their relationship.

"You are very cute. I'm sorry I'm being a grump. I just feel so fucking helpless and I learned to work my way through that feeling when you..." Piper let her voice fade.

"When I was in prison and you had no idea where I was? Yeah I can see that...but you aren't alone and I need to hold you." Alex admitted. Piper shook herself some when she realized yet again how much they had grown.

Piper pushed her laptop back and turned to hold her face. They looked into one another's eyes like they do and Piper tried to show her how much she loved Alex with her expression. She settled into Alex's arms and brought her knees up to be cradled in the warmth.

Raven cleared her throat a couple of times before they looked away, " Um, sorry to interrupt what has to be the most beautiful staring contest I've ever seen, but your order will be ready promptly at 5:30. Do you want me to set up a cab for Steve?" Piper blushed some as she always did when people pointed out that they get lost in each other's eyes.

"Yes please, thanks so much Raven...Piper may need your help tomorrow afternoon to finish some things. I know you were going to close the Brooklyn store tomorrow but I think Elsie is going to work. Lorna asked her to cover for the next few days." Alex explained to her and Piper just buried her head in Alex's hair. She wanted to get lost in her arms and not think about why Lorna had to get someone to cover her store. Piper knew that Alex had done the same thing at Nicky's Book 'Em store. She herself had to be at their store all day tomorrow. Raven agreed to the change and headed down the stairs.

"Should we have set anything up for tomorrow, I mean with-"

"You will be working. Piper you need to keep away from all of this tomorrow. Look, as soon as he is arrested...if the wire works, his mob colleagues will know. I don't want us near Nicky. We have to wait on her to call. Lorna may be here as well. Taystee knows something is up with all the moving around of workers. She was scheduled off but said she'd be coming in to do paperwork. We'll have our family around us," Alex said in a soothing tone.

Piper nodded and closed her eyes. She knew the Federal government could care less about her family or life. She had more confidence in her legal team than Alex did but she didn't blame her. Alex came from abject poverty and lost the bulk of the money she earned illegally when she was arrested. She was willing to toss her business aside to stay clear of this whole ordeal. She had known that they would go after her to help and had the good sense to refuse.

"I have faith that you will keep us all safe. Just remember I will be strong for you. Nicky isn't the only one that has to fight addiction Alex. I know you have a sponsor but if you need anything I am here for you. If I can't help you, I'll get you the help you need." Piper kissed her softly after she spoke and Alex smiled. They had therapy together next week but Piper would get her anything she needed.

They took a nap together on the couch and were snuggled together when Steve got there with the dinner. Piper enjoyed watching him eat his dinner while it was still hot. Alex told him the different types of pasta and what was in the sauce. He wasn't able to afford great meals out and Alex was using this as a chance to bring a little culture in to his life. Nicky and Lorna arrived as he was finishing up and Piper didn't like the look on Lorna's face.

Once Steve went back downstairs Piper asked, "Did something happen?" Nicky looked over at Lorna.

"Red. She has been calling Nicky all afternoon. Her message must have been delivered with the early morning kitchen supplies." Lorna answered for her girlfriend.

"What did she say?" Alex asked.

"I didn't talk to her. I can't...if I take her call then the Feds will say I'm warning her friends. Besides I have nothing to say to her." Nicky said in a dead pan voice. She was edgy and Piper noticed she seemed not to know what to do with her hands. Piper knew enough to know she was jonsing heavily for a fix.

"What did you say in your message?" Piper asked. Lorna looked over and then back at Nicky. Piper wasn't going to dance around the issue. She wanted to know.

"I wrote her one sentence. 'I know you were told to help me so fuck you'. It had to be simple." Nicky sat down at the table and Piper plated the food for them. Everything was there; Alex had ordered all their favorites. No one mentioned Red for a long while. They talked about work and some of the details about the next day as they ate.

"I go to their office at nine...get all wired up then PJ and I are riding to their Penthouse together in his car. Mom will be gone so it will just be the three of us." Nicky told them.

"You got it worked out?" Piper asked her. She looked over at her and just nodded. After they cleaned up form dinner, Piper joined them in the living room. No one was drinking though as they wanted to support Nicky. She was a heroin addict that used Alcohol to the point of abuse when she was trying to stay off of drugs. Piper had really admired the self control since she got to know her again outside of Litchfield.

Alex asked what they all had been thinking, " Are you ever going to talk to Red?" Nicky didn't respond for a long while.

"I will see what happens with Pablo. If he takes the bait, it could be that my family ruined her relationship with the Russian crews. I don't know but if I talked to her now, I'd lay her out flat," Nicky answered. Actually, Piper noted she didn't answer her question directly, just an "I'll see". She understood those thoughts. They gave long hugs as the girls started to leave.

"Call me tomorrow before you show up to get fitted for the wire," Alex demanded. Nicky rolled her eyes at Alex's obsessive behavior but she nodded. They walked them to the back door and watched as they walked down to catch a cab.

"She is going to be fine, right Pipes?" Alex asked in a voice that made her heart break. Piper took her hand and squeezed it tight.

"Sure she will, she has us and we won't let her be anything but fine," Piper answered. Alex seemed to be relax at her words and Piper smiled.

**I hope you enjoy. Please review! Peace, Fae**