AN-Mea Culpa! Let's get this story rolling again, shall we!
Chapter 14-Tomorrow and the Day After
The lawyer had used a simple replacement cipher favored by the cartel. Since Mendez was on duty in the dorm that night Alex couldn't stay with Piper anyway, so it was the perfect opportunity to decode the message without raising suspicion or being interrupted. Alex knew the basics of the plan before she had made her phone call, just not the specifics. As she continued the slow process of writing out the decoded response the lawyer had passed from her former employer she found several surprises, the major one being timing.
She only had three days. So little time left with the woman she loved. It was probably just as well; every day that passed something could happen to disrupt any options. The Feds could take Piper to another facility or put her in the SHU and then the plan would be a bust.
Alex had 72 hours, give or take, to decide. She had the name of the contact and the signal that would initiate events on Thursday. Without the signal, Piper would face a federal trial and up to 20 years in maximum security in the very near future. Alex could change that with a few words, but the cost to her would be great, and Fahri made it clear in the final sentence of the decoded message that the services she would provide as payment would be both 'professional and personal.' At least he wasn't playing coy.
In the meantime there were preparations to make. Alex had to have several assets in place for the plan to have any chance of success and now she was on a deadline.
"I don't know how you two ladies did it, but thank you." Red found Alex and Piper loading the washers in the mid-afternoon on Tuesday.
Piper stopped filling the detergent and smiled at the older woman. "Mendoza needs you. She can't supervise the cooking and deal with all the ordering and inventory and none of her girls have the training. Besides, the vendors and drivers really like you. The frozen foods guy apparently asks about when you will be back every time he delivers."
"We just assured her that you weren't interested in a coup of the kitchen anymore. You aren't going to try to take over, right?" Alex looked at Red with one raised eyebrow.
Red held up her hands, palms facing out. "No, no. I'm going to be a good girl, promise. Maybe I'll push to get a few of my favorites back on the menu, nothing more."
"Good." Alex glanced over at Piper who had gone back to loading before speaking more quietly. "Let me walk you out Red, there's something I want to ask you."
Piper was sick to death of being called to Healy's office for another of his little 'discussions'. With her current predicament she felt a certain freedom in allowing her true inner emotions to show on her face, something she had to rein in previously. Currently she was going for impatient disgust while Healy reflected back pure smugness.
Finally the counselor was ready to break the stalemate. "Due to your status as a dangerous prisoner your trial date has been expedited. The District Attorney starts selecting a jury next Monday morning."
"No plea negotiations?" Piper asked dripping with sarcasm that eluded the correctional officer.
"Seems he wants to make an example of you; show the citizens he is making sure the women inmates here are being protected." Healy answered without irony.
Piper's guts were clenching inside. She only had a few more days with Alex and then her life would truly be over. She knew she had no chance at trial. She would be convicted and sent to the maximum security facility for the next twenty years. But there was no way she would show Healy how she felt.
So she just smiled. "Of course. Election coming up soon."
Healy leaned back resting his hands on his fat belly. "I haven't told you the best part. Because you need to be at the courthouse Monday morning the transport crew will be here Friday to move you to the local jail."
Two days, that's all she had left. It was Wednesday afternoon. That left her forty-eight hours with Alex at most. Once she was gone they wouldn't even be able to communicate. Prison to prison phone calls and letters were not allowed. Maybe she could get Polly to pass Alex messages, but in all reality, their relationship would be over; forced apart and silent.
Her face must have betrayed her for just an instant, long enough for Healy to read her sorrow and pounce. "Don't worry about your girlfriend Chapman. After you are gone I'm planning to make Ms. Vause my new special project. First I'll become her counselor since your departure will leave me with an opening. I'm thinking she will need extra sessions every week, just the two of us, to work on her attitude and antisocial issues. We'll see how she responds to the therapy I have planned."
That was it. She could listen to Healy threaten her all day, but Alex had done nothing wrong. What did Piper have to lose? She was up and over his desk in one leap, the front of his shirt bunched in her hand.
"You going to hit me Chapman? Go ahead, I would love to add an assault charge to your trial." Healy had been taunting her into a reaction. But he wasn't going to get the one he wanted.
"You keep telling me how dangerous a woman I am, Sam." Piper let up on the tightness of her hold, but didn't back away. "You say it like it's this secret joke, just between you and me. What you don't understand is you have made me into a threat, a real one where you are concerned."
Now Piper did let go and stood up so that she was towering over Healy. "It won't matter where I am or how long it takes, if you hurt Alex in any way or cause her sentence to be prolonged by a single day, I will find out. I already owe you for what you have done to me, but if you involve Alex I will show you no mercy."
Healy's stomach was churning. He felt vulnerable tilted all the way back in his chair, but mostly it was the look on Chapman's face that had him concerned. He had wanted to get her upset, but was hoping she would cry and beg him to leave her lesbian lover alone. He hadn't really thought she would attack him. But he was still in charge here. "You don't scare me Chapman. Back off."
Piper took a step back but her eyes never left Healy's as he pulled upright in the chair. "My statement stands Sam. Remember it. Is there anything else you needed to tell me?"
"I should throw you into the SHU right now." Healy barked as he stood up. "But the paperwork wouldn't be worth it. Get out."
Piper left walking backwards keeping her gaze on the man who had made her life miserable in Litchfield for no reason other than his own petty prejudices. As she shut his office door, she thought the only positive in the whole situation was that it might be the last time she ever had to lay eyes on Sam Healy.
Alex gathered her friends in her cube before dinner. She needed favors, some of them big and possibly dangerous. She asked all of them to give her some private time with Piper in the Chapel tonight and act as lookouts to which they heartily agreed with much ribbing. The other requests didn't seem like much individually, but Alex made it clear to each woman, Morello, Big Boo, and Nicky, that they could potentially get into trouble. They all agreed the less they knew about the big picture the better.
Big Boo summed up what they were all feeling in two simple sentences. "Chapman's getting screwed big time and we want to help. But you are still going to owe us some future favors in return Vause."
Nichols stayed behind at Alex's request. "Nicky, you should know what I'm asking you to do is actually the most dangerous. You'll be away from your job and that could draw suspicion. I'd take on what I'm asking you to do, but I can't, I have to be somewhere else."
Nicky had her head down and Alex was suddenly worried she was going to back out. When she looked up there was a glint in her eye. "If it was me, asking for Lorna, would you do it?"
"Of course I would." Alex smiled. "I will in the future if you ever need me, you know that."
"Exactly Vause. Besides, fuck Healy and the rest of them. We're not going anywhere you and I; we need to stick together."
Piper couldn't understand the constant sniggers and smiles aimed at her and Alex at dinner, but the banter was congenial and comforting in the midst of this nightmare. She had to tell everyone the terrible news about her transfer scheduled for Friday. She needed to tell Alex first, alone, tonight. Maybe tomorrow night she could get arrange to spend some time alone together. Taystee might clear out the library for her. She couldn't believe it would be their last night together. The thought made her breathing shallow and panic rise up.
She needed to think about something more concrete. Like the fact that she needed to talk to her lawyer tomorrow and find out what the plan was for her trial. She hadn't heard from him since their initial meeting and that seemed odd to her, but perhaps it was because she was incarcerated and that made arrangements for an interview more difficult.
The food was less than appetizing tonight. Some sort of pork in a puddle of brown sauce which Piper left in its semi-congealed pile in the middle rectangle of her tray. She ate the slice of white bread and applesauce and went to dump everything else. As Piper knew she would, Alex followed.
They walked leisurely down the hallway in the general direction of the dorm until they passed the entrance to the chapel.
"Let's step in here for a minute." Alex had taken Piper's arm gently at the elbow and spoke quietly into her ear as she guided them in through the doors. Alex moved down to the stage area and found the blanket and candle Morello had left them under the altar.
Piper couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face. "You vixen! Planned a little alone time for us, did you?"
Alex lit the candle with contraband lighter and held out her arms for Piper to crawl into. "We've got an hour unless we hear little Boo barking outside the door. That's our signal to bug out the back."
"Hhhmmm. This is nice." Piper didn't want to bring down the mood so soon with talk and just quietly relished the feeling of being in Alex's strong arms. The selfish part of her wanted to cry and rage that the world wouldn't just leave the two of them alone to survive Litchfield and make a future together. But the realist in her knew that wasn't going to happen now. Alex had given them some time alone and she intended to use it to show her lover everything she felt for her, just in case they couldn't find a way to be alone tomorrow night. She could tell Alex about the transfer later.
"I just wanted you to know that whatever happens in the next few days, I love you Piper." Alex was finding it hard to control her emotions as she held Piper in her arms. Tomorrow was the day and she had completed all the necessary pre-planning. She wanted Piper to think tonight was just a special opportunity to be together and Alex intended to show her all the love she had inside. She had to hope it would be enough to carry Piper through whatever events were to come.
Piper was so relaxed she didn't even notice that Alex had lifted and turned her enough to expose the side of her neck to a series of kisses that trailed from her ear to the base of her throat. Alex latched softly onto her pulse point, teasing the skin and tasting her heartbeat. Piper knew it would leave a mark and found that actually made her happy. At least for a few days she would have a physical sign of Alex's love.
When Alex sat back to catch her breath Piper moved to straddle her, running her fingers through the long dark hair she loved. Piper reached down and pulled her khaki top off and quickly unclasped her bra, leaving her bare breasts at nearly eye level.
"Wow." Alex purred low and moved her hands to cover Piper's nipples, palming them into stimulation. "You are so beautiful." She didn't waste any time before selecting one to attend to with her mouth, swirling her tongue around the stiff tissue before sucking and biting down gently.
Piper began to squirm and pushed Alex's shoulders back until she could force her lover's mouth to the other breast which Alex treated equally as she slid out of the rest of her clothes.
Alex loved Piper in this position. Her creamy thighs split wide and straddling, her pert breasts so easily accessible by mouth. Alex could reach down into the warm pyramidal space between Piper's legs where the blonde strained to gain some sort of contact and grant or deny that need with the flickering of her fingers. Alex smiled as Piper whimpered and scrunched her face as she did just that, teasing with her fingertips against Piper's wetness and then pulling back without providing any real pressure. After several repeats, Piper was moving her hips in a rhythm trying to capture Alex's elusive digits.
Alex was entranced. Piper looked like an erotic dancer moving so fluidly and with such passion, but this was a private dance and Alex intended to give Piper every pleasure she could in the now. She couldn't allow herself to be controlled by panic over what the next 24 hours would bring. She had these few precious minutes to infuse Piper with all the depths of her emotions.
Alex opened her mouth fully, engulfing Piper's breast and working her tongue around the nipple, her groan of pleasure reverberating into Piper's chest. When Piper lifted up slightly to push more of her breast into the warmth of her lover's mouth, Alex took the opportunity to change the angle of her hand so that as Piper started to settle back she slid two fingers easily into her and found slick walls ballooning and pulsating with pleasure. Two fingers became three and Piper leaned back until her breast came free with a pop and she began to pound down on Alex's hand.
Piper's breath hitched and her movements became erratic and finally she let go, stifling a scream with the back of her wrist and flooding Alex's hand and lap before flinging her body forward and collapsing into Alex's one-armed embrace.
"Oh my god that felt amazing." Piper sounded like she had just finished a sprint workout on the track and she was still gulping air.
Alex gave her a deep chuckle and wiggled her still embedded fingers. "Still feels pretty amazing to me."
Piper felt her internal muscles spasm against Alex and groaned, she knew her lover wasn't done with her yet and she didn't want her to be. But she could see how aroused Alex was looking in her eyes and knew just what to do about it. She lifted off of Alex's fingers and lap and slid down the oh so long legs of her lover, splitting them apart with her body as she went. She quickly pulled off the pants and panties as Alex tossed off her top and bra.
Piper couldn't stop herself from licking her lips as she took in the sight and aroma of the glistening wetness that appeared on Alex's folds. She placed a kiss on one inner thigh and then the other before dropping one directly onto Alex's clit. She smiled at the jump of Alex's hips and kissed the same place again, but this time she left her lips loosely around the firm nubbin and wafted warm breath followed by a wet tongue. That brought a low moan out of her lover and then a surprising withdrawal.
"What's wrong? Did I miss the signal?" Piper started to get up, afraid they were about to be interrupted.
"No, Pipes." Alex reached out and grabbed her wrist pulling her back down. "It's just, I don't know how long we might have so I thought we could share. I'm loving what you were doing, and earlier you felt so good and I know you taste even better, so let's do this together."
Piper pushed Alex down onto her back and leaned in for a kiss. "Perfect." She moved to straddle Alex in reverse, her center hovering above Alex's chin. "Think you can get me there in time to come with you? Because I know how you get when I'm. . . " The words were lost when strong hands gripped her hips and pulled down, Alex's tongue diving deep into her in one thrust.
Piper wasted no time in immediately resuming her actions on Alex's clit. She licked and sucked and rolled it around on her tongue enjoying the way Alex writhed and flexed beneath her. She toyed with Alex's entrance, swirling a wet fingertip around and just inside knowing it drove Alex crazy. She was determined to stay focused on Alex, but it became increasingly difficult as her lover directed attention to her same area.
Piper could sense Alex was close and she knew what would tip her over. She couldn't hold her own orgasm any longer anyway and released when Alex nipped her clit, screaming and thrashing her head into Alex's core while holding the suction she had on Alex's clit. Seconds later Alex responded with a shout that she muffled on Piper's thigh.
It took Piper's last strength to flip around and curl up on Alex's chest. Both women soaked in the blissful moment, holding each other tight, knowing too soon the moment would be lost. Three quick raps on the doors brought them back to awareness.
"That's the ten minute signal." Alex sighed.
Piper clutched Alex hard once more and then sat up, running a hand through her mussed hair. "Alex. I don't know how to say this so I'm just going to tell you. My trial is next week. Healy says I'll be transferred on Friday to a jail close to the courthouse."
Alex sat up with a start. For a moment all that registered was that Piper was being sent away. "What? When?"
"Friday. So we still have tomorrow and tomorrow night I hope. Maybe we can talk the ladies into an encore lookout session." Piper took Alex's hand and kissed her palm. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I just wanted this, what you had done for us tonight, not to be clouded. Are you angry?"
The transfer wasn't until Friday. Once that registered in her mind Alex calmed herself. The plan was still an option. "No, of course I'm not angry. Sad, scared for you, but not angry."
This time it was four loud knocks. "Time to go. Let's get in a quick shower and meet in your cube." Alex stood and helped Piper to her feet enveloping her in an embrace. "I love you. Never forget that, whatever happens." She hoped she was doing the right thing not telling Piper the plan in advance. Piper would perseverate and worry about involving their friends, possibly scuttling everything. Ultimately Piper would be the one to decide, but she didn't want her over thinking the options until the time came.
Piper had her own message, delivered with a soft sad smile. "I love you too. I hope you can remember that, no matter what."
When the door handle jiggled they both hurried into their clothes and ran hand in hand up the aisle past a laughing Nicky who had just started to walk in. "Awww, no visuals to go with that sexy audio ladies?"