After her conversation, if you could call it that, with Alex, Piper realised that it might be time she pay a visit to the prison library. She had been trying to trudge her way through a book that Larry had sent her – in Piper and Larry: The good days – but she'd read it before and the plot was no longer gripping her. Making her way through the corridors, she marvelled at how such little things could make you happy here; a kind word, a nice dinner, the prospect of a new book. Despite everything that was weighing on her mind, the thought of being able to lie on her bunk and immerse herself in somebody else's world was one that made her walk with a cheerier step.

Stepping through the door to the library, Piper was greeted by Tastee, now out of her orange uniform and back into her khaki, with a huge grin and an enthusiastic wave which earned her a reproachful look from Sister Ingles. Tastee shrugged and then disappeared into the science section with an armful of books.

Piper was left revelling in the silence of the library. The prison always had a soundtrack of laughter and arguments and after the constant noise at SHU, it was a welcome change to be able to sit and not have to listen to other people's lives. With a smile on her lips, Piper made her way to the fiction section and began to aimless wander amongst the aisles, her eyes scanning over book titles in the hopes that something would jump out at her. She was never one to read a specific author or genre, instead she very much preferred to judge the book by its cover and title – you never knew when one would surprise you with what was within, after all.

As she turned the corner of one aisle and began to make her way down its other side, dark hair caught her attention. In front of her was Pennsatucky, seemingly looking for something specific amongst the stacks of books. Piper watched for a moment as the younger woman ran her finger down the spine of numerous books, reading their titles aloud quietly to herself with her brow furrowed. Piper could feel the blood boiling within her at the sheer sight of the girl. Her harsh words had been spinning in Pipers head for the last couple of months as she sat in SHU. The thought that Doggett was right, that she didn't deserve love, was one that had haunted her through the endless days and made her temper flare. But then she thought of the girls blood spilling across the snow, the crunch of her facial bones beneath her fingers and the horrifying moments immediately after when Piper had seen exactly what she had done. She didn't think that she'd ever be able to forgive herself for her actions but she also knew that the things Doggett had said would sit in the back of her mind forever, whispering and making her wonder if they were true. Maybe she had been right.

Before she could really realise what she was doing, Piper was striding towards her and leaning against the book shelf directly in front of Pennsatucky.

"How come you're back? What happened to you?" she demanded. Tiffany looked up from the book spines at Piper, blinked, gave a very slight smile, and then turned back to them. Her greeting puzzled Piper. In fact, everything about Pennsatucky had puzzled Piper since she had returned.

"What did they say to you? You couldn't have got away with attacking me" she tried again. She could see Doggetts mouth twitch slightly and she looked like she was trying to hide a frown, but her hood was up, as usual, hiding her face as she leant a little closer to the books stubbornly. Instead of replying, she just tried to walk away from Piper and towards another aisle of books but Piper followed closely behind and once again leant against the shelves, arms crossed.

"I know that something must have been said. Tell me, Tiffany. Did they send you to SHU as well?" Piper was starting to get riled by the lack of response. All she wanted to know was what had happened to Pennsatucky whilst she had been in SHU. With psych on her record, there must have been at least some kind of repercussions for her too. She was sure that they hadn't just patched her up and sent her back into Litchfield. Besides, something had to be the cause of her new reserved attitude.

"Just fucking tell me and I'll leave you alone" Piper finally growled, grabbing Pennsatucky lightly on the shoulder and turning her so that they were facing each other more.

"They didn't say nothing, 'kay? Leave me alone" she frowned up at Piper but there was something in her face that was missing. The hatred was there, sure, but there was no fire behind her words. None of the sass that Doggett usually had in abundance.

"Bullshit". Pennsatucky glared at her, her teeth beginning to grind together and her eyes narrowing. Instead of focusing on Piper though, she picked up a book from the shelf and flicked through it quickly. Piper rolled her eyes.

"They must have done something to knock the rebellion out of you. You're quiet as fuck." Her volume was rising with frustration and she stepped a little closer to Doggett, glowering down at her.

"They didn't do nothin'. I told ya. Now leave. Me. Alone" her voice was laced with annoyance but she still didn't rise to Pipers bait. Sighing, Piper shook her head. She didn't believe it for a second.

"Well how long have you been back? How long did it take for them to release you" her eye focused on the scar across the woman's face once again and she had a flash of putting there come to her mind.

"How long?!" Tiffany turned to Piper suddenly, her face barely hiding the anger that was fighting to be released.

"Chapman. I've been looking for you for fucking ages!" Piper turned to see Nicky coming towards the pair, hands deep in her pockets. "What're you doing here? Surely no one taught you to read when you were a kiddy?" Pennsatucky turned her scowl to Nicky but said nothing. "Better not be causing this one any trouble" she nodded her head towards Piper "or I'll have to let a certain someone know" Nicky leant towards Doggett in a conspiratorial way and stage whispered "if you know what I mean" with a wink. Piper watched with confusion as Pennsatuckys eyes widened a fraction before she pulled her hood up further over her head, shoved her hands in her pockets and then sloped off past them.

"Fuck you, Dyke" was mumbled as she passed Nicky. Turning, arms wide open and a huge grin on her face, Nicky called after her

"You're very welcome to, kid! I could teach you a thing or two!" As she turned back to Piper, Nicky slapped her on the shoulder cheerfully and then sat down, back leant against the shelves and arms resting on her knees. Piper joined her.

"What was that all about?" Piper asked.

"What?"

"You know full fucking well. Who is 'a certain someone' and why did Pennsatucky shit a brick?" Nicky paused and looked down for a second. Piper could feel her reluctance but she wasn't going to let this go easily.

"Nichols" she warned. Nicky rolled her eyes and sighed.

"Alright but I shouldn't have said anything in the first place. She'll just go fucking crazy if she knows that nut job has even been talking to you" As soon as she said it, Piper had a feeling she knew exactly who Nicky was referring to.

"Not Alex?" she asked, shaking her head and hoping that she was wrong. Nicky looked up at the ceiling for a moment, not answering.

"Nicky" Piper said sharply, causing Nicky to look at her and throw her head back slightly, giving in.

"Yes, yes it was fucking Vause, okay? She just wanted to know that Pennsatucky wouldn't be sending you crazy again" she told her, her palms facing up and her face not looking impressed at finding herself in this situation.

"She warned her off me?" Piper could feel herself getting pissed and tried to hold down her anger. "Why the fuck would she do that? She'll barely even look at me, she's so offended by the sight of me" Nicky shrugged.

"I don't know what goes on between you two in your dyke drama. I just sit back and watch, trying not to get involved" Piper glared at her. "Which apparently isn't working out so well for me". Piper said nothing for a moment, looking at Nicky and biting the inside of her lip with annoyance. It took her a moment to set things straight in her mind. Alex, the same Alex who had told her to never come to her again, that nothing had changed and she was still pissed at her, had taken it upon herself to warn Doggett away from her. Piper knew that Alex had a fiercely protective streak about her and Piper had always managed to bring that out in her but that had been when they were together. That had been when they were on talking terms. It was because of Alex that Piper was in this god forsaken place and now she had decided to go behind Pipers back and, what, look out for her? Threaten and intimidate people on Pipers behalf because she thought Piper wasn't big enough to handle herself? This was bullshit. Piper was absolutely fuming. She had no fucking right and she was going to fucking well hear about it.

Getting to her feet, Piper said nothing to Nicky as she stormed out of library and towards the laundry room. Nicky, not expecting the sudden movement, jumped up behind her but was too slow to catch Piper and instead watched as she disappeared around the corner. Running a hand through her wild curls, she frowned.

"Fuck".

This wasn't going to be pretty.

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Thanks again for all your support! I'm really glad you seem to be enjoying it! It really makes me want to keep on truckin' with this fic. There probably won't be an update for a couple of days because I'm going away, but hopefully the thought of a bit more Vauseman will keep you coming back for more! ; )

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