Empty Spaces Chapter 17
This one picks up with Alex and Nicky in the laundry room.
There was a palpable silence that could be sensed as Nicky approached the prison laundry. The large machines could be heard rumbling through their chores of washing and drying, but the ceaseless chatter that seemed to follow you everywhere in prison was absent down here as well. When she entered the room she wasn't surprised to find the tall brunette staring down several of Pennsatucky's bible thumping followers, though she was pleased to see that Leanne was missing. She cleared her throat at the door garnering everyone's attention, a look of confusion filtering over her friends face she turned her focus to the others littering the laundry.
"Why don't you ladies go for a little stroll, have a cigarette, grab a coffee?" While her words were friendly her tone made it clear that this was not a request. Nicky ignored the glares directed her way as the other women slowly filtered out of the room. Alex for her part stood patiently waiting for the room to clear out that look of confusion still crossing her face. After a moment they were alone but Nicky hesitated, having a quick peek down the hall to check for stragglers.
"So what's up?" the brunette asked hesitantly, she could feel the distress coming off of the woman in waves.
"Boo came to find me." She started simply, not wanting to rush into things and blurt it out like the insensitive ass she was used to being.
"Boo was supposed to come find me." was her friends only reply and she couldn't help wanting to chuckle at the tone in her friends voice but knew it wasn't the time.
"Yeah she said that. I think she was a little afraid to come see you herself, little afraid you might shoot the messenger or somethin' along those lines." She paused, trying to read her friends expression but came up blank. "More importantly, she thought you could use a friend right now."
"Piper's back?" Nicky wasn't surprised that with all she'd said that was the only implication of what she'd said that her friend had even seemed to hear. Nicky nodded before proceading.
"The ambulance came just like Morello said it would, and two paramedics took her into the infirmary. Now I wasn't there myself, I didn't see her but several of the others did." She paused again but Alex just stood there staring, waiting. "She was hurt pretty bad Alex, there's no other way to say that I'm sorry." She stopped now, waiting for an acknowledgement of what she'd just told her.
"How bad?" Nicky couldn't help but notice the way her usually wellspoken friend was struggling with those two brief words.
"She's weak, they said she lost a lot of weight." the brunettes eyebrow quirked at that. "Her hands were damaged and are both in casts..." she drifted off not wanting to continue. If she could stop there things would be bad enough but... her thoughts showed on her face and Alex could tell she was holding back.
"Just tell me." the brunette was trying to be tough, but Nicky could see the cracks forming in her emotional armor. Saw the tears starting to well up in the corners of her eyes, she the slight shake to her hands.
" It might have just been something they had her on, she was still pretty messed and all..."
"Just tell me."
"She wasn't there man. They looked her in the eyes and she just wasn't there." Nicky fought hard to keep her control, Alex was gonna need her to be strong. She was almost caught off guard when the brunette tried to bolt passed her out in the hallway, but she just managed to catch her and drag her back. Placing her own body in between her friend and the door.
"What the hell are you doing? I have to go see her." Alex was angry now and she was suddenly very glad Boo had come to find her first.
"I know how you feel but you can't." She put it out there simply and when the brunette tried to protest she cut her off before she could get going. "It's not allowed, there are no inmate to inmate visits allowed in sick. I know everything inside of you is screaming at you to go to her but you just can't. If you go out there like this all pissed off in protector mode you're just gonna get yourself thrown in the SHU. You can't help anyone in there." Her hands were on Alex's shoulders now as she'd tried to get by her again. She stared hard into the brunettes eyes, letting her know that she wasn't backing down.
"How do I do nothing..." she trailed off, the walls finally breaking as tears cascade down and she collapses into Nicky's arms. "I have to..." but the thought got no further as sobs wracked her body and Nicky just held on the best she could rubbing her back and trying to whisper soothing comforts.