Empty Spaces Chapter 3
Doggett is dead, and Piper's condition remains uncertain.
Told from Alex's POV
pgsca here you go
Alex had been lying painfully still since lights out, taking slow measured even breaths trying to be as silent as she possibly could be. Desperately keeping her ears tuned for any possible CO gossip from the far side of the room. Things had been far from quietin the prison tonight, there had been people rushing about for hours after the alarm ended they just hadn't been anywhere near close enough for the brunette to glean anything useful. Occasionaly she glaced over at her sleeping bunky to make sure she was still sleeping, whatever may have happened out there tonight she knew she couldn't afford to turn her back on one of Pennsatucky's bible thumpers again. Mostly she chased angry thoughts around in her mind, blaming herself for whatever trouble her blonde lover had managed to get herself into in the day they were apart. Making promises to any variety of dieties she could think of to bring Piper back to her safely. She could feel the tears creeping up around the corners of her eyes again, and she did her best to keep them locked tight inside as she heard the distant echo of footfalls heading in her direction. It was probably just another bed check but she couldn't help getting her hopes up at even the remote possibility that someone who knew something was nearby.
The footfalls got slightly louder as their owner drew nearer, though it was clear whoever they belonged to was trying to walk softly. Most of the male guards seamed to clomp around as loudly as they could, especially at night when the girls were trying to sleep. She held her breath as the figure slowed to a stop in front of her cube and turned to look in her direction. The figure looked around quickly ducking into the cube and coming to crouch at the foot of her bunk. Alex couldn't felt small wave of fear that passed through as she wondered if this slight form might belong to one of Tiffany's girls. Couldn't help the flich that accompanied the sudden intrusion, but tried to relax when the figure raised both hands palms out in a sign of peace. The shadowy figure came closer and she sighed in relief when she was able to make out the features of CO Fischer. The momentary relief was quickly overwhelmed by the sense of dread that was rising inside her, if she was here there really was news about Piper and there was no way it was gonna be good. She couldn't hold back the tears anymore as she reached out for Fischer grabbing her wrist deperately.
"Please tell me she's alive, please..." she couldn't go on the fear was tearing her up inside, Piper had hurt her so many times, but she never imagined the girl could make her feel anything like this. The corrections officer felt her heart break at the woman she saw unfurling in front of her. She put her free hand over the top of the inmate clutching onto her and forcibly made eye contact with the girl so she was sure it would get through.
"She's alive. Do you hear me she is still alive. I'm not gonna lie and tell you everything is okay because it's not. The things that happened tonight are bad and I can't tell you much more than that because you're an inmate, I'm an officer and we're not having this conversation in the first place understand?" A slow nod from Alex whose tears have slowed but are still flowing is enough for her to continue. "News will start filtering in through the usual channels soon enough anyway, but I knew that she would want you to know that she's still alive and she's fighting. I still don't know how bad her condition is, last update had her still in surgery. I'll let you know what I can about her condition. Now since I came over here to talk to you I'm gonna ask a favor of you." Another small nod from the brunette who had released her arm and was clutching the prison issue sheet like a small child's security blanket was again enough to allow her to conitnue. "Whatever news or rumors you may hear in the coming days, don't go out and do something stupid. When" and she made sure to say this word with great emphasis "Piper gets back from the hospital, she's gonna need you. Are we understood inmate?" She made sure to use her guard voice hoping the edge of authority would make it clear that she was in no way kidding. Another nod from the pale girl before her was enough and without another word she stood and left as quietly as she came.
Still so unsure of Piper's condition she felt grateful to the kind woman for taking the time to come to her and assuage the worst of her fears. She knew the guard had taken a big risk in doing so, and made a promise to herself to keep her word. No matter what anyone said she wasn't going to let her temper get the better of her. She wouldn't be any use to her love locked away in SHU and Piper was going to need her.