Kennedy followed the women to the entrance of the unit. The door was controlled electronically, with key cards or by central control opening it.
Blake ran to her handing her Coopers card, but no matter how many times she swiped it the door didn't budge. "Fuck, it not opening." The women began to panic.
"What are we going to do know?" Doris threw the radio she took from Foley against the wall.
"Fuck it! Move." The women moved back as Kennedy stepped back and delivered a flying kick to the black box. The box cracked short circuiting. The door unlocked and the women rushed into the hall way, not sure what to do next.
The horns went off immediately.
Kennedy, Doris and Blake quickly recovered from the loud ringing and ran to the next unit gaining access with Cooper's card.
The young guard stood scared. "Please don't kill me. I was just following directions."
"Just give me the key and you can leave." Kennedy took the keys letting the man go out of the unit unharmed.
"Spencer, Rivera!" The three women called out until her heard the two answered.
Natalia banged on her door answering whoever was calling her. Her door open and she stood face to face with Kennedy.
Doris opened Olivia's door and continued down the line of cell letting the other women out.
Olivia rushed out of her cell to Natalia's. Natalia held up her hand keeping Olivia at bay, "Don't" It was the only thing she said before running past Olivia to the phones.
"What was that about?"Kennedy asked, knowing she had missed something.
"What the fuck are you doing?" Olivia ignored the question.
"Nothing much. Just came to say hi, what the fuck does it look like we're doing?"
Blake watched Doris key open more doors. "Is that smart? I mean some of these women are crazy and violent."
"Oh God." Doris ran trying to elude the crazed woman. "Help me."
Olivia joined Natalia by the phones. "Did you get anyone?"
"No they shut off the phones." Natalia stormed away, back to her cell.
Olivia caught the door before Natalia could close it. "What are you doing?"
"I'm not being charged with escape too." Natalia slammed the door shut.
"Help me." Doris barely slipped out of the woman grasp.
"Should we help her?"
"How will she ever learn her lesson?" Blake leaned Natalia's door.
Kennedy sat on the floor pulling out a cigarette and a lighter.
Blake sat down beside her, watching Doris run away from the inmate. "Maybe we should go for a boat."
"Nah. The minute we step foot on the boat they will shot us from the towers and it will be legal." Kennedy passed Blake her own cigarette lighting it for her.
"So what was your plan for escape anyway?"
"Oh this wasn't an escape plan more like a rescue mission." Kennedy laughed as an inmate from another unit ran in with a guard shield and baton.
"They set fire to unit A and B." She turned and ran out of the unit screaming, like a banshee.
"Natalia, I'm sorry." Olivia spoke through the door hoping Natalia was listening.
"You been in the hole what could you have possibly done?" Kennedy nervously flicked the cigarette away lighting another. The rumble in the hallway was getting closer.
"Where Lewis and Cooper?"
"Cooper is...sleeping." Blake laughed rubbing the hickey on her neck. Another minute and Frank would have had her clothes off.
"Yea, relax Spencer. It'll be over in a second."
Olivia picked up the keys Kennedy had dropped opening Natalia trap. "Baby…I promise I am going to make this right. I love you." Olivia walked out of the unit covering her face front the fumes fogging the entire facility.
"You know I always liked you guys" Kennedy took a look pull, blowing out the blue grayish smoke.
"Well thank you." Blake smiled always up for comments.
"You hear that Natalia. I kinda like you, so don't go testifying against me and shit." Kennedy laughed trying to lighten Natalia's outlook on the entire situation. "Shit." Kennedy kicked a canister of pepper spray away from her. "Double shit" Two more cans skidded across the floor quickly threatening to engulf the unit. "Well, it's been fun." Kennedy stood up wrapping a black bandana around her face. She stood with her feet spread apart, her fist high in the air ready to strike the first thing to touch her.
"Damn it help." Doris ran into the fog losing sight of the mad inmate.
Olivia covered her face running to the old unit which was filling with smoke from a small fire on the officer station.
Frank stumbled out of cell 119 holding the gash on his forehead.
Reluctantly Olivia helped him sit on the only table that hadn't been overturned."What happened?"
"Son of a Blitzer." Franks hand trembled in front of his face as he saw the blood dripping between his fingers. "They jumped me...I'm going to lose my job." He was near crying for being so stupid.
"Olivia!" Megan called from her room, cradling Foley's head.
"Cooper help me." Together they pulled the unconscious guard from the room. "Stay in your room and tell nothing."
Megan nodded holding a cross made from string.
Frank sat down on the floor, a bout of wooziness striking him."We really fucked this up huh."
"Yeah we did." Olivia surveyed the destroyed unit. The fire was still smoldering, papers thrown everywhere, light fixtures and any other thing that was removable had been torn from the wall, even the phones. Olivia had planned to call Ava or Rafe and explain what happened, but that wasn't happening.
Through the ever increasing smoke Olivia made out a body lying in the doorway of the yard. She walked over identifying Officer Winslow lying in a pool of blood. He groaned only having enough strength to flex his hand. A piece of sharp metal stuck out of his back.
Olivia looked upon him as if he were already dead stepping over him to outside area.
She spotted another body leaning against the basketball goal post.
Harley leaned heavily on the post scared to let go. Rachel had gotten the best of her but she hadn't killed her and for that Harley was confident she had won. The blood was seeping out of two deep puncture wounds to her side. Her eyes were unstable and becoming too blurring to see where Rachel went.
Rachel sat slumped at a picnic table watching Harley struggle to stay upright. She laughed to herself wanting nothing more that to watch Winslow and Harley slowly die from blood lost. "Spencer! Where's brown sugar?" Rachel eyed Olivia as she stepped over Winslow.
Olivia didn't answer. She studied Rachel's slumped form. The closer she got the better she saw Rachel holding her stomach, blood running down her hand that was cupped around a wound.
"Don't worry it's just a flesh wound." Rachel sat up straighter, trying to show the strength she still had left. Briefly she thought about attacking Olivia, but Natalia might not like that.
They both looked out onto the court at the loud thump. Harley had fallen, seemingly passed.
Rachel laughed triumphantly. With a lot of effort she rose from her seat walking past Olivia into the unit. "Tell Rivera I asked about her."
"Olivia get down."
Olivia turned to Frank who stood over Winslow. She chose to rebel if only for a second.
"Olivia, get down." Frank pled with her as the swat team made their way in the unit.
She held up her hands slowly lying on the ground.
The swat team ran out said in full gear waving their batons and stun guns.
"I got her guys." Frank applied handcuffs to Olivia helping her from the ground. They walked in and out of the unit. He escorted her to their regular meeting room, removing the handcuff after locking the door.
"We have to get our story straight."
2 weeks later
Olivia sat in the 10 by 10 cell. It was much better that the others but Natalia was still missing.
She smacked the top of the portable television trying to fix the static.
"Lunch." Frank opened the door holding a tray with a burger and French fries. "Come on it will get cold."
"Tell you what you can have it if you let me out of here. It been two weeks already."
"I told you I can't." Frank sat the tray down on her bed. "But I will see what I can do after this boat leaves."
"You promised I would get to see her before she left." Olivia picked at the plate not interested in any of it at the moment.
"And you will just give me some time." Frank clapped his hands. "So about the money."
"You'll get it when I know you've held up your part of the deal." Olivia stood up stretching her limbs. "What about this Patrick kid."
"Like I've told you a hundred times. I turn the evidence over to the proper authorities."
"But you said you would hear something today about it, so with it out."
"I heard, not 100 percent sure, but he confessed to another murder to avoid life without." Frank held his hand to stop the fury. "Life with the possibly is still good, plus that kid is free to go after he testifies."
"That's kid has name."
"I don't care. All I want is for you to keep your end."
2 weeks earlier
"We have to get our story straight." Frank paced the small room. Feeling like a caged animal. The world around him had exploded and he was the one holding the pieces.
"There nothing to get straight." Olivia attempted to sit but stood back up pacing the other side of the room.
"Yes there is. I'm going to lose my job over this. First Lewis"
"Wait you knew about him." Olivia crossed the room punching Frank in the chest. They both showed enough restraint not to curl up in pain. "When the fuck were you going to tell me?"
"I wasn't, I see the way you look at him, for all I knew you were in on the whole thing."
"I love Natalia, I would never hurt her." Olivia shouted in his face.
Frank turned red with anger. "People like you don't know what love is. You only care about your self. What about me uh? What about Frank what did Frank get out of this whole thing? Not a thank you, just orders and from you of all people. I don't work for you. You two pranced around here like I didn't exist. Oh yea don't think I didn't know about all your secret meetings without me."
"Are you fucking stupid or just paranoid. You were at all the meeting dip shit. You've just had your head so far up your ass you couldn't hear what was said." Olivia pushed him, walking away before a full blown fist fight erupted.
Frank tried to keep the flame that was his justified anger flaring, but he couldn't. Since a kid people had told him he was too paranoid. "Any way, we have to figure out how we are going to cut our losses."
"Your losses not mine. Remember I quit."
Frank stood with his back to Olivia. He looked towards the ceiling trying to blink back the tears. Olivia do you know how old I am? I'm 42 and this is all I know. If I lose this job I won't be able to work in law enforcement ever again." The broken down officer turned to Olivia for sympathy. "I'll make sure you get out, I'm begging you…help me."
Finally feeling like she was in control Olivia sat down. "So when they ask me what's been going on you don't want me to mention the sex with inmates, the rift between you and Josh or the kick backs from Winslow you haven't been reporting, right?" Olivia was fishing knowing there was more to the story than Frank was telling and by the shock look on his face she had caught something.
"That money was for a good cause. I didn't hurt anyone, I didn't bring in drugs or and any thing illegal on the outside, just a few items here and there. I swear.'
"Here's the deal Frank." Olivia pointed at the chair across the table.
Frank reluctantly sat down folding his hand for the ride.
"I want Natalia to go to a good prison. One where she can go to the library. Cook. Get contact visits and have special privileges. I want your word that she will be safe and close to Rafe, somewhere in Texas. I want her to be safe you hear me."
"I'll do what I can, I swear."
"Now if you want to turn this place on it's head and get the information we need to prosecute…make a deal."
"What do you think I'm doing?"
"No, with some of the women in F block.'
"What! They tore up the unit and god knows what they did to the facility."
"I know but some of them could give you some good info on a whole lot of people. You tell the guys upstairs to cut some deals and they'll have information to take down officers and people on the outside." Olivia sat back knowing what she was asking was a lot but it was the only thing she could some up with. After all they didn't have anything and Lewis wasn't either of them.
"Shit. It's all going to be on me. I'm going to be laughed out of uniform and badge."
"And your other choice is?" Olivia forced back a laugh at his misfortune. "Tell you what even if you can't get me out or anyone else, if you could do that for Natalia I'll make sure you never have to work again. You'll have access to more money than you can spend."
Frank began to perk up. "Yea?"
"I'm a woman of my word; all I want is for Natalia to be safe." Olivia held out her hand.
Frank seeing no other way out shook it.
"But first I want you to stop Lewis from touching Rafe."
Officer O'Neal lined the women up, handing out wrist bands. They were all being shipped to other Federal prisons. The island prison was being shut down due to damages and an ongoing investigation of its operations.
They were being sent to different prisons based on alphabet order. A through M was being lined up to go to California.
Blake stood in the central holding area waiting for her name to be called. She was ready to get in line to get on the boat. She had said all the goodbyes she could handle.
"Blake."
Blake sighed hoping she could leave without seeing Doris who had entered the room a couple of minutes ago. She had hoped the interview with the agent would last until she left.
They all had to talk to them, but on the upside they were all giving deals to reduce their sentences if they cooperated, most did willingly. They promised if she testified her sentence would be cut down to another 5 years and 10 on probation.
Doris skidded to a halt in front of the waiting woman. "Guess what they offered me?" Doris bounced on her toes in excitement.
"I don't know." Blake peeked over Doris's shoulder trying to listen for her name. She desperately wanted to get away before her emotions took over.
"They offered me 2 years and 13 probation." Doris smiled a full tooth grin.
"That's great." Blake said as a matter of fact.
"I turned them down."
"What!" Blake's head rolled, studying Doris. "Is that cast messing with your head?"
"No, they offered something I couldn't refuse." Doris settled down. She held up her pink cast studying her fingers. The hand had been fractured in two places when she punched Foley. "Um I just want to tell you, I'm going to miss you more than anyone else." She suddenly found her shoes interesting looking at them as if she had never seen them before.
Blake mumbled something Doris couldn't understand.
"What?"
"I said I'm going to miss you to." This time Blake whispered loud enough for Doris to hear.
"I know you don't like me, I've known for sometime, but I wish we really could have met on the outside so I could show you a good time, even as friends." Doris continued to ramble mostly to herself trying to find the right words.
Blake groaned knowing she was next in line to be called. For second she rethought what she was about to do then decided to take a chance? What's the worst that could happen?
She would probably never she the woman again. Plus Wolfe was the one of the only persons who had chased her instead of the other way around. And for once her past didn't matter to someone. But Wolfe was Wolfe and as unstable as the woman seemed Blake had grown fond of her. She had spent the last couple for days thinking about how prison life would be without the constant pestering of Wolfe.
"Doris, shut up." Blake put her finger over Wolfe's mouth; she grabbed the front of the other woman's suit and brought her in for a kiss. It was definitely not what she had expected.
The politician had always been so hyper she imagined anything with the woman would be rushed, too fast to enjoy but she was proved wrong.
Doris hadn't anticipated Blake kissing her at the moment but she had dreamed, thought, rehearsed this moment since their first meeting. She quickly took control pulling Blake closer; she tested the softness of the lips she had dreamed about. She parted them with her tongue tasting them.
Blake's knees almost gave out as Doris massaged the roof of her mouth. Doris's tongue twisting, stroked, and stimulated the erogenous zones in her mouth she had never known existed.
Doris used every technique she had learned trying to make Blake cum with just a kiss and she was damn close if O'Neal hadn't yelled at them to break it up.
"Mahler lets go!"
Blake hadn't even known she was holding on to Doris's shoulders just to stay upright. She squeezed her legs shut keeping her pulsing sex at bay. Blake cleared her throat. "Um...goodbye." She tried to walk as straight as possible to the officer.
"Mahler. California Sun Valley Federal Prison, unit A, cell 14." O'Neal announced, strapping wrist band onto Blake's wrist.
"Wolfe."
Blake's eye furrowed remembering Doris revelation.
"Wolfe. California Sun Valley Federal Prison, unit A, cell 14." Doris smiled bright as she accepted her wrist band.
Blake's mouth almost dropped to the floor. "Oh God." She mouth was suddenly filled with sand.
"When I get his cast off I am going to show you a good time."
The unit had been scarcely repopulated. Most of the inmates had already shipped to other prisons. Kennedy sat at a picnic table beside Natalia who had yet to udder a word to anyone. Megan sat across the table fidgeting with her hands. She and Megan were headed to the same prison, in Florida.
"I'm sure she'll make it back before you leave." Kennedy offered still not sure why Natalia and Olivia were on the outs in the first place.
"Kennedy, Scott, lets go."
Kennedy looked over her shoulder at their escort. "Look, take care of yourself and if you get a chance drop me a line. Not that care either way"
Natalia stopped Kennedy's leave with a hand on her forearm. "Kennedy, you're better than some gang. When you get out, call me, you have my number. Just call me and I'll help you get on your feet. Both of you." Natalia addressed Megan too. "And can you look out for Scott. For me."
Kennedy looked as if she were going to protest but decided against it. She thought about Natalia's words. When she was younger she wanted to go out with a bang, just like Harley and Rachel. They weren't out, but she wanted battle scars. Now she had second thoughts. Harley was in the hospital in critical condition and Rachel would never see the light of day with another attempted murder charge. She didn't want to be locked in a maximum prison for the rest of her life.
"Sure." Kennedy laid her hand on Natalia's shoulder in a show of affection, the only way she knew. "Tell Spencer I said bye."
"Bye Natalia." Megan leaned down hugging Natalia. "I'll miss you."
Kennedy pulled Megan inside the unit before she could start crying again.
The activity yard was barren. All of the inmates had already shipped out of the facility except Natalia.
Natalia stood in the middle of the basketball court. She was leaving today, headed back to Chicago. She hadn't talked to Olivia since the attempted rescue mission. The anger was too much to overcome at first but her talks with Rafe had simmered it to a light boil. She was still mad Olivia had been lying to her.
She held the basketball in her hands, wishing for the second time she knew how to play, anything to stop her mind from reeling. Olivia hadn't comeback to the unit. She was half relieved and half sad she wouldn't be able to see the woman one last time to say goodbye.
"Rivera, time to go." O'Neal called from the door.
Olivia passed the woman as she walked out into the yard. "Natalia." She walked onto the court standing before Natalia.
Natalia stood silent, fighting against the urge to run to Olivia and promise to find her one day. She won turning from Olivia.
Olivia stood beside the goal post rocking on the ball of her feet. "So this is it. You're going to leave without saying anything to me."
"End just like it started." Natalia's flat tone hurt the older woman. She turned around her feet seemingly stuck to the pavement.
"Natalia, don't leave like this. I love you, you know that. I'm sorry I lied and Rafe got in trouble. Let me make it right."
"It's over with, no harm no foul."
"I know I can't take any of the lies back but I want you to…" Olivia stepped further onto the court.
"To what?"
"Tell me you love me." Olivia was on the verge of tears. This could be the last time she saw Natalia.
"Why?" Natalia tried to bounce the flat ball; it just rolled over to Olivia's feet.
"If I could take it all back I wouldn't. I know I love you and when ever we get out, I want to be with you."
"Rivera lets go."
"That's me." Natalia looked over Olivia frame, every curve, dip and taste of the body. They were burned into her memory too deep to forget.
Olivia faced the woman who had stolen her heart. "Shoot for it." Olivia threw the ball.
Natalia caught it, more out of reflex. "What?"
"Shoot for it." Olivia pointed at the goal. "That's what decided it the first time, so you shoot. Shoot for me."
Natalia stood in the middle of the court, her brain fighting against her heart. Luck couldn't strike twice. There was no real reason to shoot beside the look in Olivia's heart-broken eyes.
She looked up at the rim, contemplating how the sun was still shining and the world went on without skipping a beat no matter how she begged time to stop just for a second so she could think. But what was there to think about? Olivia lied but for a good purpose, she didn't mean to get Rafe in trouble but he was safe now. She would be reunited with him in a few months. All because Olivia had tried to helped. But could they really make it? Natalia was from a poor neighborhood always had been there. The trip to the prison had been the only time she had left the state.
Olivia was rich even if she hadn't always been. She would surely have plenty of suitors from her glory days waiting in line to welcome her home. Women and men alike would vie for her attention; her daughters would want their mother to themselves for awhile. She would want to be with Rafe. Could they really blend their family outside of these walls? "No." Natalia answered the question out loud letting the ball drop from her hands.
Olivia watched eyes full of tears as it rolled into the grass. "You won't even fight for what we could have?"
Natalia didn't answer she walked up to Olivia leaning up to brush her lips against Olivia's. She did it briefly not giving Olivia anytime to respond. "Goodbye."
Olivia was stuck in place. She couldn't move even if she wanted to. But she didn't want to move. There was no changing Natalia's mind today but she would still try after all Rafe was on her side with her two biggest fans. Olivia stood on the court, for how long she didn't know but Copper was standing beside her.
"Sorry." He said with conviction and sympathy lacing his voice.
"Yea right." Olivia scuffed at the statement. What is there to be sorry about? I tried.
"I know we haven't ever been the best of friend, mostly because I hate you. But over time I have come to kind of respect you and..." Frank tossed his head from side to side, pursing his lips in deep thought. "...Your kind like some mole that you hate but when it gone you'll think of it."
Olivia mustered a smile knowing it was Frank's way. He would never admit to liking Olivia but at least he said he respected her."Yea, well I kind of respect you too. You're the only one who kind of had my back and I want to thank you whatever you did and didn't do."
Frank shrugged his shoulder, an unfamiliar warm feeling spread through him. "I still hate you. And I want my money." He breathed the salt filled air feeling normal again after speaking.
Olivia kicked a lonely rock at her feet. "After this I don't want to ever see or hear from you."
"Don't worry. And I take back what I said, I wouldn't think of you."
"Like wise."
Olivia stood on the dock trying to gather the strength to step onto the boat.
"Would you come on!" Frank huff, he had been waiting almost 20 minutes for Olivia to get on the boat.
"Oh fuck you Cooper. You know I don't like boats." Olivia tapped her foot on the first step taking it off before she registered the feeling of the rocking boat under her foot.
She took a deep breathe balancing herself on dock, building the confidence to step on, whatever she gather was destroy just at the sight of the rocking death trap. She felt silly with everyone waiting for her to get on so they could go. She was the last inmate and the only one left off the boat, more off.
Her family was waiting for her on shore. She could make out the shore line in the distance but that wasn't enough motivation for her to get on.
"Spencer, just get on before I drag you onto this boat or throw you in this water trying."
Olivia's head snapped up at his threat, her eyes filled with unfounded fear. She had never almost drowned or even been in water higher that her knees. She just never learned to swim the fear of large bodies of water was getter worse with age.
Frank almost felt bad for threading Olivia. The ride to the prison was just as bad. Olivia had to have a life vest on, held one of those long green swimming tubes and sat in Josh's lap the whole way. And it still took almost an hour to get her onto the boat.
"Here" One of the operators of the boat handed Frank and fresh bottle of vodka.
"Thank you." Frank said going back to address Olivia. He picked up a vest handing it to Olivia. Look what else I have. He waved the bottle in front of her face.
Olivia followed it as if she were hypnotized. "Give it to me." She ordered Frank.
He cracked the seal. "You get on and you can have the whole thing and more." He talked to Olivia like he was tempting an animal.
Olivia's nostrils flared in anger at being talk at. "Give it to me then I will get on." She put her vest on holding out her hand.
Frank relented handing her the bottle. The men around him shook their heads not believing Olivia would stick to her word.
Olivia took two big gulps of the bottle. She cringed at the taste but kept her word. She timidly stepped on to the boat running to the first rail she saw.
The boat started as Olivia drank from the bottle with one hand holding on to the rail for dear life.
Frank sat in front of her on the bench. He shook his head at Olivia.
"Fuck you Frank." She spat at his disapproving look. "Where's Lewis anyway. I'm going to kick his ass."
"In lock up."
"He ever say why."
"Not that it matters nut the guy that was killed in Rivera's case was his 2nd cousin. When he found out about Natalia's case he took it upon himself to exact revenge. The guys upstairs had nothing to do with it. Josh hadn't talked to them in weeks."
"What's going to happen?"
"He'll probably get some time. As for me after the investigation of the prison it over, I will not longer have a job." Frank sighed still wondering what he would do. "Hard to explain how my partner turned and I didn't know. Or better how I let the whole unit escape and burn down a prison."
"Don't worry. I told you I would take care of you if you took care of Natalia." Olivia gripped the rail tighter as the boat hit another wave.
"Don't worry she has her own room and more privileges that we have on the outside."
"Good, Ava will give you the bank card and I'll keep the money coming for as long as you want as long as she okay."
Frank kept watch of the water passing by. He hated to depend on Olivia but he didn't have a job and once this hit his file he would never get another job as an officer of the law. "Yea."
Olivia lurched forward as the nauseous feeling rose from her liquid filled stomach.
"Hey, no, no." Frank yelled.
====-00-====
"Hey that's them!" Rafe pointed with Emma on his shoulders.
"I think I see mommy! Mommy is here." Emma clapped before pulling the reigns that was Rafe's hair.
20 minutes of anxiously waiting the boat finally docked.
Frank was the first off, wiping his pants of the vomit Olivia had so graciously spewed on him.
Olivia feeling much better stepped on the boat into the arms of Ava.
"I missed you so much Mom." Ava held on fearing she was dreaming.
"Me too." Emma climbed off Rafe and hugged her mother around her waist.
"I miss you guys too. It's good to be home." Olivia tore her self from her daughters walking over to Rafe hugging him.
Rafe awkwardly hugged her with one arm."It's good to finally meet you." He bit back a smart comment about hugs being gay.
"Yea, I hope Natalia has the same sunny disposition."
"Don't worry she'll come around. I know Ma. She's just giving you the silent treatment so you'll feel bad."
"Well it's working." Olivia mumbled giving Rafe a once over.
Two high pitched squeals penetrated the air.
Olivia recognized the scream even if they weren't over the phone.
"Oh my god. Oh my god." David and Roger fought each other to make it to their idol first.
Olivia cringed at their shirts, reading Team Spencer.
David fell to his knees in excited tears.
Roger jumped up and down hold is hand out to Olivia. His hand hovered as if she were a hologram that he would distort with his touch.
Olivia tapped David's shoulder trying to get him to get up, she felt her cheeks burn as they gather the attention of the people around them. "Okay lets move this somewhere private."
Roger nearly fainted when Olivia touched his shoulder to stop his bouncing.
They fought Ava and Rafe off walking next to Olivia.
"Why the fuck did you invite them anyway." Ava pushed Rafe's shoulder.
He pushed her back in a playful manner, "They promised to write my papers."
"I knew it; you're using my Mother already for your own selfish need."
"It's the least she can do seeing how I let her date my mother."
"Let her, I didn't hear her complaining!"
"Hey you two knock it off; we will not have this kind of talk all the way back home." David shunned the two, giving Olivia a 'I took care of it' wink.
Ava crack her knuckles, Rafe took her around the waist as she reached for David.
David and Roger stuck their tongues out as they climbed into the limo behind Olivia and Emma.
Olivia, Rafe, Ava and Emma sat outside of the Federal Prison. They watched Olivia pace back and forth with every turn she looked at the building then at her watch.
0-99999999-9999999
The bus engine humming behind them started to pull away from the prison, taking all the other prisoners away. Olivia, Rafe, Ava and Emma sat outside of the Federal Prison. They watched Olivia pace back and forth with every turn she looked at the building then at her watch.
Rafe lean against the hood of the limo beside Emma. He held his phone up anxious to get back to his birthday present from the Spencer family. The amount of money Olivia had spent on him in the last 6 month was ridiculous even though he loved the present especially the new Camaro which was his wall paper, he knew for a fact Natalia would be mad, it was the reason she didn't know about them yet.
Emma began to bounce in boredom by his feet. She was anxious to play with Natalia. Rafe had told her about all the cakes and cookies Natalia liked to bake for any occasion. Since Olivia had never been much of a baker, her only hope was Natalia. "When is she coming? Is she coming?"
Ava hushed her sister. She watched her mother nervous movement. She couldn't remember Olivia being this nervous during her own double murder trial.
Ava shifted to her other foot, slapping Rafe arm.
"What!" He reluctantly stopped looking at the customized motorcycle Olivia had bought him but refused to give him the keys until Natalia said so. He had been force to play make believe, like a child, sitting on it making his own sounds.
"Go say something to her idiot."
"She's your mother."
"It's your mother's fault she's like this."
Rafe sighed, since Ava had helped save his butt he had been conceding to her more often. "Fine." After all it was true; his mother had been ignoring everything that involved Olivia. She had confessed to him she didn't think they would make it on the outside and refused to listen to reason.
Rafe walked over to Olivia stopped her travel with a reassuring hand. "Don't' worry so much. I know Ma."
Olivia forced a smile to her face, gracious at his attempt to comfort her. But she had heard it a million times; every time he and Emma received letter and she didn't, every time Natalia didn't ask to talk to her. Still she was thankful Rafe had stopped her mind from running possible scenarios. Six month without Natalia had her on edge at the moment. She could have found someone else or maybe she ready doesn't' love me anymore.
Olivia threw the ideal out, Natalia would have said something to Rafe and she had read every letter three times, listened to every conversation even recorded some just to have Natalia's voice filling the room about how much fun, if you can call it that, she had at the new prison.
Frank had kept his end of the deal. Natalia had her own room which she raved about; apparently it was the biggest room of the unit. She worked in the cafeteria, which she loved instead of having to eat outside or in her room. She read books, taught bible study and started on a college degree.
Those things had Olivia worried. It seemed like Natalia would be a different person and a person who had adjusted without her, who didn't need her anymore. She had written Natalia everyday said if she didn't respond asking her to come to her release she wouldn't, but that promise was too hard to keep.
"Don't worry; we'll put in a good word for you." Rafe looked toward the building to the double door across the 20 foot bridge they weren't allowed to cross. "Is that her?" Rafe squinted as the doors opened.
Natalia was finally a free woman, she had completed the 6 months left on her sentence, for perjury. She breathed in the air knowing it was the same air but it felt different, more freeing.
After all the hoopla of the island prison; i.e guards being indited on everything from drug smuggling to sexual assault, she had been glad to be in a some what normal setting. The prison was a far from the island prison, but nothing could replace being out in the free world with her son.
Natalia almost started to run to her son, until she saw Olivia standing beside him. She said she wouldn't come.
Natalia started to shuffle her feet fighting against the urge to run and throw herself into Olivia's arms. She clutched the knapsack closer to her body that was filled every letter and photo Olivia had sent. The letters were tattered around the edge after months from her reading and re-reading the letters about Rafe's games, Emma growth spurt, or Ava's latest boyfriend.
She fell asleep reading them, woke up reading them and some she knew by heart. Most of them had the scent of Olivia no doubt expensive perfume infused into the pages. Each one sided conversation ended with a simple 'I'm sorry and I love you'.
She hadn't written to Olivia not out of spite but first anger then worry. Their relationship was one thing inside prison but the outside was different. How would she reconcile things with her religion or her parents? Every time she tried to write, the words never came to her and as time passed they became harder and harder to catch. She had a ton of scratched out or torn up letters. Nothing was good enough.
When Olivia was on the phone she was struck with silence, her voice stole by the images of their time wanted to talk to Olivia but words failed her. But she always listened to Olivia, the smooth voice calming her anxiety. In 6 month all she could muster was 'I need time or how are you.'
The longing was too much to bear and the thought of life outside of prison depressed her even more because she was stuck.
Natalia's heart stammered, missing beats then beating too fast to catch up. She tried to keep breathing, focusing on the next thing to do.
Should she run, ignore Olivia, curse her out, or kiss her. The latter was the most desirable one. Six months without Olivia breathing or voice in her ear before sleep was torture.
She needed to be back inside her home, inside Olivia's, eyes, arms, and body.
Natalia's eyes jumped from Olivia and Rafe to Emma and Ava. Emma looked excited enough and Ava was Ava. She kept her face stoic but Natalia saw the slight bounce on her feet.
She smiled thinking of the two as family already. Emma had wrote her everyday in her newly learned cursive writing at times too sloppy to read, but never the less brought a smile to
Natalia's face as she asked for recipes or how many more days it would before she came home.
Home, Natalia thought, where is that? Chicago, Texas with Rafe, where ever Olivia resided. Where is home, not here anymore. She cringed at the thought of having to start over in a new city.
Natalia realized she only half was over the short bridge but it felt like she had walked a mile already, winded and tired from thought overload.
Olivia looked disappointed at her hesitation. Rafe was waving at her to hurry but she couldn't make her feet move any faster.
Olivia shook her head stepping away for Rafe.
Natalia's step faltered till she came to a complete stop a little more that halfway.
Emma seemingly unaware of the distress everyone else was feeling, jumped up and down clapping her hands."Natalia over here, over here!" She screamed seeing Natalia stop on the bridge.
Natalia froze breaking out in a cold sweat. Thinking about the future and seeing it were two different things. Some many factors were involved, Rafe. She was still the mother and Rafe didn't need people running in and out of his life disappointing him.
She remembered a very sharp conversation she and Rafe had about that very subject.
"I do love Olivia, its just you-"
"No, Ma I'm not going to let you use me as an excuse. Ma, I'm a asshole. I have been for some time now, but that's all changed. I spent most of my teenage years trying to get away from you or hating you for no reason but you were trying to do what was best for me and I repay you by letting you take a murder rap for me. So from this point on I want you to be the asshole. I want you to live your life like I don't exist."
"Rafe-"
"No Ma I'm dead serious, if there was one glass of water left and you were thirsty… and I was on fire, I want you to get your fill of water before even thinking about putting me out. I know it sounds stupid but you know what I mean. When you get out I want you to have fun and I swear I am going to spend the rest of my life making things up to you."
"It's not that easy-"
"Yes it is. You like Olivia and you've been apart for months. So when you get out I want you and her to go in a sound proof room and stay, until dehydration sets in…I think I'm going to be sick."
Natalia appeared calm even as it felt like she was having a heart attack. Going to prison had actually turned out to be one of the best things that could have happened to her. Half of her life had been spent looking after Rafe. Half. The other half had to be about her, about finding a rare love that even confinement or lies couldn't, wouldn't break. She wouldn't let it.
Rafe tilted his head towards Olivia. Come on Ma go to her.
Natalia nodded, rolling her bottom lip between her teeth to stop from smiling. Something took over, the last 8 feet she sprinted jumping at Olivia who caught her in a bear hug.
"I hope that limo has a sound proof back seat." Natalia kissed Olivia before she could respond. "I love you." She whispered through her watering eyes.
"I love you more" Olivia held Natalia not caring that they were standing in the middle of the prison parking lot.
"This is so gay." While Rafe walked away making a gagging sound, Ava and Emma smiled knowing their mother was finally happy.