AN-Sorry for the lack of a midweek update! Thanks for the great comments. On we go!

Chapter Twelve-A Buffet of Comeuppance

Piper watched the clock move slowly through the dark hours of the night. Johnson was restless, flopping and shifting and emitting little whimpers and generally keeping her awake. Getting the addict to report herself should be easy by morning. At five o'clock Piper gave up on sleep and slid out for early shower. If she happened to quietly rouse Alex with a quick fondle on the way to the bathroom, well, who could really blame her?

Piper felt better about so many things. She had finally dealt with Taylor. Without her or Doggett, the meth heads were harmless. Now she was getting rid of her dangerous and untrustworthy cube mate. She had friends and more importantly she had Alex. Who was at this very moment touching her in ways that made her realize she shouldn't be thinking about anything other than her amazing lover. Her focus renewed, it didn't take Piper long to reach a shuddering release and slump against the wall of the shower.

"Wow. How can you be so good at 5:10 in the morning? Piper moaned into Alex's shoulder relying on the taller woman to hold her upright with her body.

Alex laughed quietly. "I guess you inspire me."

"Well, I'll be happy to provide any time, morning, noon or night." Piper replied as she slid down to her knees and grabbed Alex's right thigh, draping it over her shoulder. "Now let me show you how mutual inspiration can be." Piper wasted no time, her tongue and fingers finding Alex's engorged clit and swollen lips and working her to a frenzy.

Alex balanced herself by holding on to the shower handles which worked well until her orgasm hit and her hands gripped and turned involuntarily, spraying them both with ice cold water.

"Shit I'm sorry!" Alex yelped as she and Piper tried to scramble out of the way.

Piper got to her feet and tugged Alex close, as far as they could get away from the water in the confines of the shower, their overheated bodies keeping them warm. "If I was that bad you could just tell me to stop. You don't need to spray me like a dog in heat with the hose." Even as she teased Piper was kissing the spot behind Alex's ear that she knew drove her crazy.

"Ooohhh. You are too forgiving." Alex enjoyed the sensation for a minute more before sighing. "Can I make it up to you later? We probably should get out of here."

Piper nodded. "Yeah. I want to make sure Johnson reports to Healy this morning. Let's get clean."

Candace laughed as she saw Chapman in the hallway near Healy's office. The blonde was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed and a stern look on her face. She tried to look sicker than she actually felt for Chapman's benefit. If Chapman thought she was in major withdrawals the real reason for her visit to Healy would stay secret until she was safely out of prison thanks to her reduced sentence. She wasn't sure exactly how Mr. Healy was going to get her out early, but he had promised and he seemed like such a nice trustworthy fatherly type.

Candace knocked on the office door and waited until she heard Mr. Healy call for her to come in. She took one more look at Chapman wondering if she would ever see the blonde again, and then went into the office, closing the door behind her.

"Mr. Healy?"

"Yes Ms. Johnson, good morning." Healy wondered why the new inmate was coming to see him and gestured for her to take a seat.

Candace sat down suddenly feeling nervous. "Well, you see Mr. Healy, it's that thing you talked to me about. How if I heard something about Chapman then you could get me a shorter sentence."

"Well I will certainly do everything I can to help you Ms. Johnson. What did you hear?" Healy was pleasantly surprised. He hadn't thought Chapman would be careless enough to say something to Johnson, especially so soon.

Candace smiled as Mr. Healy leaned forward focusing completely on what she had to say. "Well, I was going to the bathroom the night before last and I heard Chapman talking to her girlfriend, the tall one, Vause?" She noted Mr. Healy's frown and paused until the counselor made a little motion with his hand for her to continue. "They were talking inside and I heard Chapman say how she 'beat the shit' out of Doggett."

"You heard her admit to beating Tiffany Doggett." Mr. Healy looked serious but pleased. As Candace nodded he asked again, "Those were her exact words?"

"Yes Mr. Healy. She also sort of threatened me." Candace added as an afterthought.

Mr. Healy sat back in his chair. "Well, that is serious. Do you feel you might be in danger from Chapman?"

"Oh definitely. Or Vause, she's scary too." Candace figured it couldn't hurt to throw Chapman's annoying girlfriend in trouble too.

Mr. Healy reached into a drawer in his desk and took out a form which he started to fill out. Candace sat uncomfortably on the edge of her chair as he wrote. She was feeling more miserable by the minute and wondered how she was going to get her hands on something to take the edge off her withdrawal. She really hoped this didn't take much longer.

"Ok Ms. Johnson. I have written a summary of what you have told me, including Chapman's confession. If you could sign this form indicating the accuracy of the statement and that you are willing to testify against Chapman if necessary." Mr. Healy turned the form and scooted the paper to the edge of the desk with a pen on top.

Candace glanced over the wording Mr. Healy had neatly printed on several lines and signed at the bottom with a shaky hand. Mr. Healy took the form, placed it in his top desk drawer and then picked up the phone and made a call.

"So here is what happens now. You have done something very important here. Chapman is dangerous and your statement will help make a strong case against her. But you are right to feel threatened and our responsibility is to keep you safe." Mr. Healy stopped talking when there was a knock on the door. "Oh good, Officer Mendez, come in."

Mr. Healy stood up and gestured for Candace to do likewise. "Ms. Johnson has signed a request to be placed into protective custody."

Mendez raised an eyebrow briefly. If Johnson had reported him for the pills he would make sure no protection would be sufficient to save her. But he would be in Caputo's office right now being fired if that was the case.

"Could you please escort Ms. Johnson to the SHU?" Healy didn't know why Mendez had a confused look in his eye, but he needed someone to take Johnson away, preferably as quickly as possible.

Candace was confused. She was standing by the chair shaking slightly. She knew her mind wasn't at its best, but she didn't understand what Mr. Healy was saying. "The SHU? Isn't that solitary confinement?"

Mr. Healy smiled at her like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Yes. That is where inmates go who need protective custody. It will only be until Chapman and Vause are no longer a threat to you."

That made Mendez snort out a laugh.

"Go with Officer Mendez." Healy stated coldly.

Now Candace was starting to panic. She had heard enough about the SHU to know she didn't want to be there. "But you were supposed to get me out of prison, shorten my sentence, not get me put in solitary! I didn't agree to that!"

Candace saw a new look in Mr. Healy's eyes. They were cold as ice and cut right through her. He opened his desk drawer and took out the form she had just signed. "You signed a request for protective custody. We will do what we can to help you with your sentence, but you can't stay in general population here, it would be far too dangerous. Do you really think you can stay in your cube with Chapman after reporting her for aggravated assault?"

Mendez wasn't sure exactly what was going on but Healy's last statement was certainly interesting. It didn't look like Chapman had done anything to the little pill popper, maybe she had seen or heard something. He'd have to ask her about it on the drive down the hill. "Let's go Johnson. I've got things to do and I don't have all day to get you down to the SHU."

Candace stumbled into the hall and turned towards the dorm until Mendez barked at her. "Where do you think you are going inmate?"

"Back to the dorm to get my things?" Candace asked quietly.

"Nope. You will be provided what you need in the SHU. This way." Mendez pointed towards the door to the outside.

Piper was having a nice afternoon. She could never say great being in prison, but it felt pretty good. The meth heads had been dealt with and her cube mate seemed to be gone. Johnson hadn't been at lunch and wasn't in the dorm. Piper had seen her go to Healy's office, so she presumed the young woman had done as instructed and was in the SHU getting the drugs out of her system.

Of course working in the laundry with Alex was a bonus. The work was hot sometimes, but it was one of the better jobs in the prison, and truth be told she and Alex often made the room seem a lot warmer with their private activities. Alex kept looking at her this afternoon and whenever Piper caught her she put on that little smile. The one that Piper knew meant Alex was probably imagining her naked.

"What are you thinking about?" Piper hadn't noticed Alex coming over to her until she felt her lover's hands circle around her waist.

"You of course." Piper answered immediately.

"Good thoughts I hope?" Alex asked.

"Always." Piper turned in her embrace to face Alex. "You have nothing to worry about you know. I am yours."

"I know." Alex gave her a lingering kiss. "Let's finish up here and go get some dinner."

"You're not worried about tomorrow, are you?" Larry was coming to visit Piper for the first time in several months. Their only contact had been the letter he sent asking to see her and Piper had told him when to come via a message through Polly.

"No. Well, I'm worried, but not for me. I just don't want him to upset you." Alex knew the meeting was bound to be emotional, but she hoped Larry could be an adult about it.

"If he does I'll deal with it. And then I'll come find you and we'll make it better together." Piper looked Alex in the eye and spoke calmly and with confidence.

"Yes we will." Alex smiled.

The next day as Piper disrobed and squatted in front of Officer Bell, she was trying to decide if Larry was worth the strip search. Somehow she doubted their conversation was going to be pleasant enough to warrant the second search on the way out of the visitor's room, but it was too late now.

Larry was waiting for her at one of the small table's for two in the middle of the room. Piper realized he never sat near the windows, always in the center. She decided that must make him feel safer, like he couldn't be trapped and needed an escape route. Why hadn't she seen how really insecure he was before? As she watched him fidget and scan around with his eyes she realized she had known he was weak, but a part of her had liked that. The relationship had always centered on her and she had needed that at the time. That was evidence of her immaturity.

Well, no more. She had been forced to grow up quickly in prison. She didn't want to spend her life with someone who wasn't strong. Larry was nice, comfortable, but ultimately weak in the face of any real pressure. She took a deep breath and made her way to his table.

"Hi."

"Piper, hi." Larry jumped up and reached out to hug her and Piper gave him a quick stiff embrace.

"You look good. I was afraid after everything, the solitary confinement, you would look different. Polly said you were thin." Larry rushed out the words, his hands moving from the table to his lap repeatedly.

Somehow Larry's nervousness made Piper feel calm. "I've been working on my weight. Larry, I may not look too different, but things have changed."

"I know. Listen, I'm sorry I said those things before Christmas on the phone. I should have waited, talked to you in person. I just got angry and scared." Larry was staring at the table.

"It's ok, really. I don't think either one of us had any idea what me being in prison would be like, how it would change us. Let's just both acknowledge it was too much of a strain on our relationship. We both made mistakes and we need to move on." Piper spoke as authentically as she could afraid of sounding patronizing. "What do we need to do about the apartment?"

Larry looked up at her, his eyes narrowing. "You're still with her, aren't you?"

"I'm not going to discuss that Larry." Piper took a deep breath. "You were right when you said we couldn't be together after I get out. Some part of me will always love you and I'm sorry that things got messy and complicated, but that is life. And I have to be with someone who can deal with whatever happens."

"It's not fair. I tried to keep it normal. But you just couldn't wait for that could you? To get out and back to what life should be. You had to hook up with her." Larry's voice was starting to get loud and Piper didn't want a scene.

"You're right. You need normal and I'm anything but. Go find yourself a nice girl Larry. I've come to accept I'm not all that nice a person. Pack up my things and send them to my mom. Do whatever you want with the apartment. Send me the papers and I'll sign. When I get out I'll be starting over completely. The stuff just doesn't matter." Piper stood up.

"That's it, you're leaving?" Larry's mouth was open and he looked a little incredulous.

"Yes, I am." Piper leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Be happy Larry."

Before he could get up or vocalize another protest, Piper turned and walked out.

Healy was annoyed. He was behind in his paperwork and now Caputo had ordered him to his office immediately. When he stepped into his supervisor's door his annoyance turned to curiosity. Figueroa was also there.

"Mr. Healy, thank you for joining us." The tall woman spoke politely, but the expression on her face was pure disdain.

"Certainly. To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?" Healy couldn't stand the insipid woman but knew she was dangerous to have on your bad side.

"I'll fill you in." Caputo spoke for the first time. "We just got back the forensic report on the screwdriver that Mendez found in the yard. Believe it or not, we actually got a partial print that matches Chapman off of the handle."

Healy couldn't hide his glee. "That has to be enough evidence now, right?" He had turned in the report from Johnson several days ago and still Caputo had refused to take action against Chapman saying a prison snitch report wasn't very impressive.

Caputo nodded and Figueroa continued. "Doggett has continued to push for charges against Chapman during her rehabilitation. Her statement combined with the fingerprint evidence and the statement of Chapman's cube mate really leaves us with no choice."

"We should be pursuing this case. Aggravated assault on another inmate cannot be tolerated and Chapman struts around here like she owns the place. Her and her girlfriend." Healy grumbled.

Figueroa stood up from where she had been leaning on Caputo's desk. "These types of incidents look bad for the prison and for all of us. It demonstrates a lack of control on our part over the inmates. But we will do our duty. The evidence will be submitted to the district attorney for review and he will decide what charges are appropriate. In the meantime Chapman needs to be informed and read her rights. See if she wants to make a statement."

Candace was miserable. She was trapped in a small concrete box with no access to anything. She couldn't get pills and the food was terrible. Mendez had told her she was supposed to get extra privileges since she was in the SHU as protective custody and not punishment, but that didn't really seem to make much difference. She got to take her shower in private and spent an hour every day in the exercise cage, but otherwise she was treated the same as far as she could tell.

Mr. Healy had promised he would help her get a shorter sentence, but she hadn't heard anything from the counselor since Mendez had brought her down the hill in the van. She tried to ask a couple of the guards who seemed sympathetic to her, but couldn't do anything about it.

With each passing day she felt the dawning horror that Healy had screwed her over. She had given him what he wanted and ratted out Chapman, but all it got her was solitary confinement. She didn't think she could stand to be here for her entire sentence, it would kill her. Or she might try to kill herself. The constant lights and the screaming from the other inmates were going to drive her insane. Maybe she could take it back? Deny that she had heard anything or say she made it up under pressure? Someone had to come talk to her eventually.

Piper was tired of getting sent to Caputo's office. At least this time it was Bennett escorting her. She liked the young man and all the inmates had heard about him and Daya so she knew he had his own secrets to keep. He had been the officer assigned to pack up Johnson's things after she was sent to the SHU. They had chatted about the problems with drugs getting into the prison, however Piper had been surprised when he said that Johnson had not admitted a drug problem but had requested protective custody.

Again Piper had been concerned for a day or two, but when nothing happened she forgot about it. Now she couldn't help but worry as they approached the office.

This time Bennett opened the door but did not enter. Piper found Caputo in front of his desk along with two people she didn't recognize.

"Chapman, this is Agent Murray and District Attorney Watkins." Caputo pointed to each of the men as he spoke. "They are here to ask you some questions about Doggett."

"Mr. Caputo, haven't we been over this enough? I don't know anything about Doggett." Piper started but she was cut off by the federal agent.

"Ms. Chapman I need to read you your rights before you say anything."

After he was finished Piper decided she needed to stay quiet. There was nothing she could say that would help her and she needed to talk to a lawyer.

"We are evaluating the evidence and possible charges Ms. Chapman. This is a serious matter. Ms. Doggett was severely injured during an assault inside the prison grounds. It is possible that an attempted murder charge may be appropriate. Are you sure you want to stay silent?" The district attorney asked.

"Yes sir." Piper needed to get out of there and talk to Alex.

Caputo looked to the men and then dismissed her. Piper made her way towards the laundry where Alex should be in the middle of the morning, but found her way blocked by Healy. "I told you it was only a matter of time Chapman. Your cube mate ratted you out and they got a print off of that screwdriver. You are going to the big house for a long, long time. Your girlfriend will get out and be old and gray before you see the light of day."

"You left me out there in the snow to die. You knew what Doggett was going to do and you walked away. I'll take you down with me. Besides whose going to believe a little druggie snitch like Johnson?" Piper tried to sound more confident than she felt.

Healy just laughed at her. "No jury cares what you say or what happens to you. You're just another dirtbag prisoner with no credibility. I can't wait for you to go to trial." He chuckled as he walked away.

By the time Piper got to the laundry she was panicked. She told Alex everything that had happened and couldn't hold back the tears. Alex held her tight and whispered words of comfort in her ear, but they could both sense the situation was truly awful.

Alex took her back to the dorm and settled her into her bunk, thankful that the other spot was still empty. She told Piper she had to go back to the laundry and to rest until dinner, and then she immediately headed to the phones.

This was a call Alex had hoped and prayed she never had to make. But this was an emergency, one that the person on the other end could solve. The price was high, but she would pay it, would pay anything to keep Piper safe. She couldn't tell Piper how bad things were. She had heard of inmates being charged and tried for assault and murder of other inmates and it never ended well. Once the DA's got hold of the case it wasn't just a matter of lost good time. It was a serious offense and under the federal sentencing guidelines could result in 10-20 years in the main prison or worse in solitary if you were deemed a violent offender. Piper would never survive that kind of time, and neither would she.

Alex picked up the phone and dialed the number she had memorized but never intended to use. When she heard the voice she needed and dreaded on the other end she used the code they had established years before. "Hi. I need a visit from our mutual friend."