CHAPTER EIGHT

Zoe fell into an uneasy, drug-induced sleep. Frieda had managed to talk to the doctor about letting her stay with Zoe. The doctor had asked Caputo and Caputo agreed. Frieda didn't mind sleeping in the hard, uncomfortable chair.

Frieda must have dozed off because she was rudely awakened by someone grabbing ponytail and yanking her head back, hard.

" Shut up and don't say a word," a voice whispered and she felt the blade of a shiv being pressed against her neck. She struggled but she was being pinned into her seat. " Don't move a muscle or I'll slit your throat," the voice warned and pressed the knife harder into her skin.

" What do you want?" Frieda demanded. Her attacker was behind her.

That's when Frieda saw her. The second inmate was leaning over Zoe, shiv in hand, preparing to strike. Frieda had never seen this inmate before.

" No!" Frieda choked out and at that moment she didn't care if got cut by the shiv. She lashed out and heard an oomph when her fist connected with her attacker. The attacker was momentarily distracted and Frieda charged at the second attacker, ramming her body into the other woman. The two women fell to the floor and Frieda kicked the shiv away.

" You're pretty strong for an old woman," the attacker snarled pushing Frieda off her. She stood up and pressed a boot against Frieda's back. Frieda glanced at the shiv which was just within grasp. " You should mind your own business-that woman must die. We don't need her kind here."

" Why?" Frieda demanded as she reached for the shiv, " She's done nothing to you!"

The woman lifted the shiv high into the air, ready to plunge it into Frieda's back when there was a thud and the woman was knocked off her feet. Frieda rolled onto her back and saw Zoe, standing over the attacker. The attacker snarled but Zoe threw the chair at her, knocking her to the floor again. Frieda grabbed the shiv but the door to the medical room flew open and three guards rushed in, mace at the ready. Frieda threw the knife away and pointed at the two attackers, " They're the ones who attacked first!" she told them.

The guards realised that the doctor was missing and went to look for him. Two guards were posted near the door and Frieda helped Zoe get back into bed.

" You saved my life," Frieda said as she adjusted Zoe's pillows. Zoe looked up at Frieda and realised how close she had gotten to loosing Frieda. She sat up and the room spun dizzily.

" I almost lost you," Zoe replied softly.

" I nearly lost you too." Frieda said. Zoe reached up and cupped Frieda's face in her hands before she kissed Frieda. The kiss went on and they fell back against the bed. Frieda's upper body was pressed against Zoe's and even with all her aches and pains, Zoe was becoming aroused. She could feel the heat from Frieda's body and could tell Frieda was also becoming aroused. Frieda felt a bit guilty for wanting Zoe so much while she was hurt. She was relieved when they heard footsteps and Frieda quickly sat back down again, straightening her uniform.

The following morning, Frieda woke up and stretched. Her neck was stiff and her back was aching from sleeping in that horrible, uncomfortable chair. She glanced at Zoe who was already awake.

" How are you feeling?" Frieda asked giving a good morning kiss.

" A bit better," Zoe replied and at that moment, the doctor and Caputo walked in.

Frieda whirled to face Caputo, " There was supposed to be guards. What happened?"

" One of the guards was bribed in leaving his post last night by your attackers. That's how they got in. Don't worry, you won't have to see them again. They've been sent to Max." Caputo explained. " I'm very sorry this happened."

" She could have been killed," Frieda said angrily.

" And Frieda nearly got killed herself," Zoe interjected.

" I know. It was a major fuck up. But the you two are safe now. Dr Spencer wants to examine you Zoe and we'll get you back to your bunk."

Zoe's ribs were steal healing as were her other bruises and cuts but Dr Spencer was satisfied and she was allowed to go back to her bunk.

" Even with a concussion?" Frieda frowned.

" Just take it easy for a couple of days. Mr Caputo, she can't work for two days. She'll be on painkillers and is not meant to lift anything heavy or operate machinery-"

" She doesn't. She's on the garden crew. But fine, she can rest up for two days."

Frieda helped Zoe get dressed into a clean uniform as her old one was blood-stained and the three of them went back to the dorms. Zoe dropped her bag of dirty clothes onto her bed. " Home sweet home." She said.

" Can I stay and help her get settled? She doesn't have a bunkie to keep an eye on her." Frieda asked Caputo.

Caputo smoothed his moustache down and looked over at the unused bed then back at Frieda. He had an idea.

" Why don't you just stay Berlin?"

" Huh?"

" Stay for good. You can be her bunkmate. I'll fill out the necessary paperwork. "

" I'm her new bunkmate?" Frieda stared at Caputo in astonishment. She had not been expecting this.

" You're right-she doesn't have anyone to keep an eye on her. " he turned to leave, " Leave it to me."

" I guess I'll go get my stuff," Frieda said. She grinned at Zoe, " Can you believe our luck?"

" I bet he felt guilty about me being attacked twice that he figured he's doing me a solid by putting us together."

" We have to be careful though, he doesn't know about us- hardly anyone does. If he does find out he'll split us up," Frieda said to Zoe. She paused, " Since we're working together and now living together, I just hope you won't get sick of me."

Zoe smiled but then grimaced-it even hurt to smile. She put her arms around Frieda and hugged her. " That will never happen," she assured her before leaning in to kiss her.

" I'll just get my stuff, I'll be right back." Frieda replied.

Zoe nodded and laid down onto her bed and closed her eyes. The painkillers were slowly wearing off and her whole body was throbbing with pain. Frieda settled herself in her new bunk. It was evening and was nearly time for lights out. Zoe had been too much in pain to go to dinner and movie night. Frieda went to dinner but stayed with her during movie night.

" You don't have to stay with me. Go to movie night," Zoe mumbled. She was drifting off, " I won't be much company anyway."

Frieda hesitated. She had wanted to go to movie night but didn't want to hurt Zoe's feelings.

" You sure?"

" I'm sure. Just go-the movie should be starting any minute." Zoe pulled her blanket up to her chin. She felt really cold all of a sudden.

Frieda glanced down at her then covered with her with an extra blanket.

" Don't you need that?" Zoe murmured as her eyes drifted shut.

" You need it more than me. If you're asleep by the time I get back, I'll see you in the morning." Frieda leaned down and gently kissed her lips. Zoe didn't return the kiss as she was sound asleep.

Frieda's eyes flew open when a loud moan woke her. The moaning became louder and she sat up and quickly hurried over to Zoe's bunk. Zoe was having a nightmare.

" Zoe!" she whispered, " Wake up!"

Zoe started mumbling, her face looked sweaty. Frieda had to wake her before she woke all the other inmates. Her moaning got so loud, Gina Murphy popped up from the other side of the partition, " Berlin, shut her up. Some of us have to be up in a couple of hours!"

" Shut the fuck up!" another inmate shouted nearby, " I'm trying to sleep here!"

" Zoe!" Frieda shook her and Zoe woke up with a start.

" What?"

" You were having a nightmare," Frieda sat back on her heels as Zoe sat up, beads of sweat dotting her forehead.

" Oh, sorry for waking you," She wiped her forehead and laid back down.

" Did you want to talk about it?"

" No, I just want to forget it," Zoe replied. Frieda started back to her own bed but Zoe grabbed her hand.

" Stay with me," she whispered. Frieda crawled over Zoe and laid down behind Zoe, wrapping an arm around her waist as Zoe pressed her back against Frieda's front.

" We're spooning," Zoe whispered, " At least that's what I think the term is." She looked up at Frieda and Frieda's mouth settled down onto hers for a hungry kiss.

Frieda pulled away, " I better get back to my bunk, we don't want to get shots now do we?"