Allie liked times like this. She was lying on the sofa reading a book. After their shift and dinner, they came back to H1. Then she picked up her towel and toilet bag and went to showers with Liz and Sonia. Now she was enjoying this quite interesting book while Maxine, Liz, and Boomer were playing cards. Sonia and Doreen were in the older woman´s cell going over some project they were working on. Allie was glad that Bea gave this job to Doreen. She was most of the time busy with it and hence she was barely around, that was alright with Allie. The young blonde and Doreen were not the best friends, actually, they were not friends at all. They have merely shared the unit, that was all. Doreen had just something in her, what did not fit well with Allie.
Probably her constant complaining and nagging, it was tiring and annoying. So, Allie was happy that she was out of sight and she was even happier that certain redhead was in her sight instead. Bea Smith was sitting in the chair drawing and Allie just had to move the book a little to have a good view of her. To be honest, she did that a lot. Maybe she should take back a little. It won't take long for Bea to notice how she ogles her. Allie was sure that sometimes when she forgets about herself, what around Bea happened a lot and then she stares with her mouth wide open and probably drooling.
She couldn´t help it, though. Since the incident in the kitchen, what happened three days ago, she spent every day at least one hour remembering the hug Bea gave her. She wanted to keep it fresh in her memories as long as she could. But let's be honest, she will remember it clearly for years to come. Because being in Bea Smith´s arms is not something one would forget.
Or her voice, Allie loved Bea´s voice. It was husky, melodic, sometimes tough echoing with confidence and determination. So, sweet and it was so sexy how she said her name, she could hear it.
- Allie,…
Yes, definitely sexy. Allie smiled into her book, but then she heard it again. She lifted her eyes to look at Bea, the redhead was not sitting in the chair as she did a few seconds ago. She was standing, clenching her fists and looking coldly in front of herself.
- Allie, stay where you are. – She growled, what would normally send chills down Allie´s spine but now she was too confused for that. What the hell? Regardless of what Bea said she sat up and looked towards the gate - Kaz.
The old blonde was standing two steps in H1, her expression was calm and she was alone. After three seconds of dead silence when everyone just tried to comprehend what is happening - obviously H1 crew not believing their eyes - suddenly things got into motion. Without any word from Bea, Maxine and Boomer moved quickly to Kaz stepping to her one from each side. Bea turned her head and looked at Allie. The message was clear, "Don´t move, stay where you are.", with that, she walked around the table and stopped just when she was two steps in front of Kaz Proctor.
-What the fuck are you doing here?
- I want to talk with Allie. – Kaz said and looked behind Bea at Allie.
-You can forget about it!
Kaz Proctor knew that she took a risk by coming here and she was determined to finish her plans. Once again she looked behind Smith and looked at the girl who used to be her close friend.
- Allie, we need to talk. Come here and don´t let this woman control you.
The young blonde had no intention to move. She didn´t plan on it before and especially not now after Kaz did the second mistake today. Coming here was bad enough but opening her mouth was even worse. But to her surprise, Bea laughed.
- You are insane! – she laughed at the blonde in front of her. – I want to control her? Right, and now you will say that I´m using her. Accuse me of using her, say that I don´t treat her right. That I beat her and sent her to medical. All of it was me, right?
- Allie, you know that this is not what happened! – Kaz said making a step aside to get a better view at Allie, but Bea instantly blocked her way.
-Shut up! And don´t you dare to even look her. I told you that you have to learn the rules when you arrived. I said that you have no idea what is going on, that you have the wrong idea about this place. – she stepped closer to her. – It looks like you still haven´t learned. So, I will explain to you the mistake you made.
Maxine and Boomer stepped closer to her now too, they were standing just a step behind her. They were both ready to apprehend her.
- You shouldn´t come here. Do you want to talk to Allie? Ok, you can arrange a meeting that is cool. You have right for it. If she agrees, you can talk. But never, ever come to H1. – Bea looked at Maxine simply nodding. – Never, ever come near H1 again! Do you understand?! If we find you one more time on the hallways around here, you will die. I´m not kidding, Kaz! This is your last warning. – She said and then turned around. Maxine and Boomer grabbed Proctor. Boomer instantly punched her with her free hand. They were dragging her outside and constantly hitting her as they went.
Bea looked at Liz and then at Allie. She walked to the blonde´s cell door and opened it. Allie understood and walked inside without a word. They could hear muffled voices and hits landing on Kaz Proctor until Bea closed the door behind them.
- Are you alright? – Bea asked still standing at the door. Allie nodded. - Do you want to talk with her? You don´t have to answer now, think abou…
- I want to. – Allie said, interrupting the redhead in mid-sentence.
- Alright. – Bea said and reached for the door handle.
-Wait Bea, let me explain. – The young blonde said and sat down on the bed.
-You don´t have to.
- I know, but I want to tell you as to my friend if that is ok.
Bea smiled and stepped closer to the bed. Allie lifted her head and looked at her with strangely sad expression.
- I want to stand in front of her. I want to let her know, that it is not you, who is holding me back from her. I want her to see that I´m not scared of her and that I don´t need her anymore. I have stayed with her crew even if I knew they are up to no good. I knew that Kaz likes pushing the limits and I did not like it. But she was all I had. But I´m not alone anymore. I have better people in my life and I want to show her that she has no hold on me. Not anymore.
Bea smiled again and swallowed the tension which formed in her throat. Allie Novak is a strange creature. If some things are meant to be, then the blonde´s arrival to H1 was one of those things. Women in H1 are smart, nice and very funny. What is great in a place like Wentworth is. It helps you get through every day. Allie Novak is strange, though. She is not just funny and cheerful. She in some way like being locked up. She is genuinely happy, she is full of energy and brightens everyone´s day up.
Bea has no idea about her past or her dealings with Proctor. But she was very happy to give her the closure she wanted.
Governor Vera Bennet watched the redhead sitting in the chair in front of her desk. This is not for the first time and surely not the last time when the fierce top dog occupies that uncomfortable chair. Lately, their meetings were more frequent than usually. It all started with the arrival of Kaz Proctor and her crew. The months prior were fairly calm and quiet. Smith was handling the drugs and all other mishaps at a minimum.
The governor leaned back and looked at the woman who unintentionally became her ally.
- So? What is going on?
- Nothing, all is good. Just ten stitches if you are worried about me. – Bea smirked.
- Do you have everything under control?
Bea nodded, of course, she had. Bennet should relax and just take care of the business on her side.
- Just keep Wang in the slot for few weeks and I will deal with the rest. We can´t let them form some sort of pact or something. Hopefully, the girls from Tina´s crew learned their lesson. Plus Tina is coming back soon, right? - The governor nodded. – Then we are alright, Tina will keep the Asians in order and I´m sure that she won´t try anything anytime soon after the last time.
- What about Proctor?
- She is lying low for now.
- Is she? Why the black eye then?
Bea had to smile. She couldn´t help it. Watching Proctor sporting a huge black bruise under her left eye was very satisfying.
- That was just a small misunderstanding. The woman has no common sense and she has no clue where the boundaries are. I had to teach her that lurking around H1 is a big no.
- Do you need an extra guard around H1?
- No, thanks. We are good, but when all of them get out I might ask for it. Can´t keep an eye on all of them and it would be good not to have to worry about the girls.
This is why their alliance worked. They both wanted just the best for the women inside. Even if Bennet did not agree with Smith´s methods, she knew they were effective. She learned that a long time ago. In order to protect the majority, she must give free hand to deal with the others to Smith. She was a good top dog. Actually, she was the greatest – if that was a thing, that is. Wentworth and Bennet herself lucked out with Smith, she was aware of that.
- And what about Novak? – Bennet asked and Smith´s head snapped. She looked at the woman in front of her with curiosity.
- What about her?
- I´m sure that you are aware that she is on the cameras. Yet, you said nobody else was there. I just wonder what your angle with this is.
- There is no angle, she was not there, simple as that.
- Smith, you know this – she flicked her finger between them – will work just when we are honest with each other. I think we established that.
- Yes, we did. It is for the best if we are honest and if we trust each other. – She looked right into the governor´s eyes and said slowly but clearly. – Novak was in H1 when it happened, she was not in the kitchen. Period.
- Alright, it will be your word against Wang´s then as I think the tape will get lost.
Bea smiled and nodded.
- If this is all, then I will go.
She stood up and walked toward the door. Bennet will keep Wang in the slot for a few days, so she has just Tina to take care off after her return. She must make sure that Tina won´t go into any form of alliance or pact with the old Asian. That would be really dangerous. But first, she has to take care of Proctor. She will let Allie talk to her and after that, she will decide what to do. If that old bitch doesn´t learn from what she got they will have to teach her manners some other way. With this thought, she walked down the stairs to meet her crew.
Bea Smith was sitting up on the table in the yard, watching Maxine and Boomer huddled up on the bench across from them. It is really interesting how two such a different people can find a liking in each other. They are a very odd "couple", but it works for them well. Bea looked at the gate waiting for Proctor to arrive. She will be here soon.
- Are you ready? – she asked the young blonde sitting next to her.
- Yes. – Allie answered simply as she turned to look at Bea. There was a big smile on her face, bright and shiny without any evidence of anxiety.
- Maxine will pat her down and she will be in a t-shirt, so we can be sure she has no shiv. Maxine, Booms and I will be close, she makes one step towards you and she will regret it. No worries, alright? Everything will be fine.
Allie smiled and gathered some courage to nudge the top dog.
- Are you trying to convince me or yourself? Because I´m not scared, but you are.
Bea Smith´s head snapped towards her in shock.
- What are you talking about? I´m not scared! Everything is under control.
-Yes, it is, she won't do anything in the yard. So, chill!
- First of all, if she wants to prove a point best thing to do it is here in the yard as everyone will see it. Second of all, telling you I´m not scared.
- If it is dangerous, why you picked the yard?
- Because it is the safest place too, I know it sounds crazy, but it is how it is. There are a lot of screws around, witnesses and lot of space to move.
- Good, so we will be safe. Anyway, I´m sure she is not trying anything. As narcissistic as she is, she probably thinks that she can win me over. So, no worries Bea, everything will be alright.
Allie mocked the redhead. Bea was fidgeting and Allie liked it.
- I know! – Bea said. – Stop saying it!
- Why, are you so scared Bea? You would miss me if anything happened to me, wouldn't you?
- No, I wouldn't as you are annoying!
- Aww, no, you like me, Bea, accept it! – Allie chuckled. – You would cry and miss me.
- I would miss you like a pain in ass Novak. – Bea smirked, the blonde had a big mouth on her lately. Even if she said otherwise, Bea liked it. For some reason Allie became more cheeky and carefree, she was not so tense. Probably she felt more at ease in H1. Whatever the reason was it suited the young blonde. She looked happier and with that, she became a source of happiness for others too. She really did brighten up the H1 and Bea was grateful for that. Life in Wentworth is not easy and the women deserve happiness, they deserve something or someone who makes them laugh and forget about how much their life is screwed.
Maxine was the first one to spot the old blonde. She nudged Boomer and they both stood up and moved closer to Bea and Allie. When Bea saw Maxine standing up she turned and saw Proctor coming through the gates. She jumped off the table followed by Allie. The redhead grabbed Allie by her hand and pulled her back as she stood in front of her. The whole yard got quiet, the women stopped gossiping everyone was watching what was going on.
Boomer made few steps towards Proctor and watched as Maxine patted her down. Then they both went to stand behind her. Far away to give them privacy, but close enough to make sure that if needed, they can be within reach in one second.
Bea stepped closer too and that was the clue for Allie to go and face the old blonde. She walked past Bea and stopped right in front of Kaz, looking at her coldly with head held high.
- What do you want? Let's get over this!
- I´m sorry kid. This is not what I wanted. – Proctor started but Allie interrupted her with soft laughter.
-I believe that this is not what you have wanted. You wanted to kill Bea, you probably still do and you don't care who you destroy in the process.
- That is not true, I´m really sorry that I hurt you. Shouldn´t have done that. But that is not a reason for you to stay with them. Come back to your family.
Now Allie Novak laughed out loud. Kaz Proctor is obviously delusional.
- Are you kidding Kaz? What is wrong with you? I´m not with them because I have to. I want to be with them. I owe you a lot and I won't forget that, but you are not my family. Never been. Yes, I have been attached to you as I had nobody else and I had no idea that it could be different. But it is.
Now it was Proctors turn to laugh.
- What do you think? That she will love you? She won´t, she is not gay Allie.
-This is not just about Bea and surely it is not about that. H1 is the family I wanted. They are understanding, supportive and loving. Thank you for everything you have done for me. – Allie said sincerely, she wanted to leave Kaz Proctor without guilt or feeling bad. They are done now. She stepped back and then turned around and walked to their table sitting back with a long but freeing sigh. It is over for good she smiled. She felt as some sort of weight was lifted from her chest.
- All good blondie? – Boomer asked as she plopped next to her.
Allie nodded and smiled tucking a loose strand behind her ear. The girls were sitting down around her, everyone offering some sort of support. Warm smiles from Liz and Maxine meant a lot. A way too hard nudge into her shoulder from Booms was comforting too. But nothing was so comforting and nothing felt so good as the two hands landing on her shoulders. Bea was standing very close, Allie could feel the heat radiating from her on her back. Bea gently squeezed her shoulders. Allie lifted and turned her head a bit to look at the older woman behind her, but all she could see was a strong jaw. Bea Smith was looking with a stone cold glare around the yard. Allie turned back and grinned, this is as close as she can get to be marked by Bea Smith and it felt great.