Empty Spaces Chapter 8
Mostly Alex's POV
It was nearly last count before the female inmates got the first hint that they were finally gonna get the scoop on the missing prisoners. They'd been restricted from going outside and a large number of work details had been cancelled, but other than that the guards had managed to keep up a united front of silence all day. They'd been trying to weasel details out of the guards all day with no results. When CO Fischer had finally showed up for her shift Alex had zeroed in on her immediately but hadn't been able to get anywhere near the guard. It almost seamed like Caputo was keeping her busier than the others just to keep the brunette from talking to her, more likely given what she already knew was that Fischer had probably been the first to find Piper. Might have even saved her life, seeing how hushed and strained the officers had been all that day it was easy to assume that whatever had gone down last night hadn't been any kind of a minor altercation. Caputo and Figeuroa came out of his office and everyone turned to look, some of them with clear signs of anxiety written across their faces. Instead of taking off again to go deal with more details they actually stepped toward the crowd of gathered inmates to everyones relief.
It was Figeuroa who stepped forward to adress the women and it wasn't too much of a surprise at that, most of the male COs seamed to have a knack for saying the wrong thing. Whereas the beautiful woman in the designer suits could at least fake compassion when she needed to, and this was definitely gonna be one of those instances. She took a deep breath taking a moment herself before starting.
"We are very unfortunate to have had this years holiday festivities marred by the sad events that followed. We have been conducting an investigation all day into the altercation that took place last night between inmates Chapman and Doggett. Now I can't give you much in the way of answers just yet but we want to know we are sad to announce the passing of one of your fellow inmates."
Alex felt the air rushing out of her lungs and Nicky's strong arms wrapping around her waist as she felt her knees start to buckle beneath her. She managed to keep her standing but just barely.
"The chapel will be open and the chaplain will be available to any who wish to discuss their feelings over Doggett's passing." Figeuroa paused at the sudden wave of surprise that moved through the crowd of inmates. Seams that everyone had underestimated the skinny little blonde woman. Nicky and Alex had practically fallen all over each other when the relief of that one name had hit their ears." As for the condition of the other inmate, there's not much I can say but I will say that she is stable and already showing signs of improvement. Now I know that it's been a terribly trying day and everyone could use the rest, so if everyone not planning to head to the chapel for counceling could return to their respective dorms it's almost time for final count." with that she turned and was instantly talking to Caputo again about whatever details they were trying to keep from the prisoners.
Alex just sat next to Nicky in a heap on the floor, relishing in the respite from the paralasys that had begun to climb its way up the lengeth of her spine when she had thought the worst. Fischer hadn't even said anything about Doggett being hurt. There were more tears leaking down her face again and this time she didn't even try to stop their descent down the smooth skin of her face because the were happy tears this time. She'd shed so many pained tears last night it felt good to let these new tears wash the old away. Piper was alive, she was still hanging in there and Alex was gonna be damned if she was gonna let her slip away now over something silly like her pride. She didn't care about Larry, or the fight that they'd had. If it took the rest of her life she was going to show Piper Chapman that they really were meant for each other. Her strength returning she allowed Nicky to help her up onto her still shaky legs so they could begin the walk back to the suburbs with everyone else. The chatter had gotten even more out of hand now that everyone knew how the throwdown had come out. She even saw a few candy bars change hands as bets were settled. She could see Taystee and Poussey coming towards her with what looked like a decent stash of newly acquired chocolate stashed under their shirts. They each slipped her a couple of candy bars with knowing smirks plastered on their faces.
"Never doubted it for a second, blondie made a steel yo." and with that they were on their way down to the ghetto. She smiled at their retreating forms appreciatively, she was surprised that her girl had down so well away from the suburbs but was grateful for it. She made a mental note to find a way to say thank you to the girls in her dorm who had given her tips for defending herself. She had to admit that she wouldn't have guessed that Piper had it in her to fight back, Alex had called her Bambi on multiple occasions and for good reason, she'd always seen the blonde as completely sweet and innocent. It would take something pretty big to shatter an image that pure. Even when Alex had gotten her to break the law that had landed her in here she had seamed like a little girl dressed up and playing out some make believe tale. She went through the motions of final count and her nightly rituals lost inside her head. Reminiscing on memories of her time with Piper on the outside.
In the early stages before Piper had known the truth it had been like a game for her. Seducing this pretty young thing who honestly had to be the most innocent creature she had ever met was a challenge unlike any other. She took her time with this one getting to know her had only seamed to make it sweeter. Later when things changed the game changed too, unlike all the others when she finally got a taste of the blonden she knew a simple taste would never be enough. Afterwards the game evolved and the lines started to blur, how to touch that innocence. How to hold it and keep it safe without corrupting and destroying it. That was where she had failed, and lost. She'd let her dirty little world touch Piper and it had left a stain. It had been a small one, but she'd ended up here with the rest of them just the same. These were the thoughts still swirling in her head when she finally lay down on her bunk. She was so exhausted from the emotional roller coaster she been on the last two days she almost didn't notice that the other half of her cube was unoccupied. She supposed it was a smart move, they'd had tension brewing between them for a while now and after last nights incident it would only get worse. After all if my bunkys girlfriend had killed by my best friend I'd... Oh shit.