Empty Spaces Chapter 21
This one is Alex's POV in the aftermath of her reunion with Piper in the infirmary.
I'm sorry this update took so long but my whole week was one long blur of work and sleep. Today is my one day off before I have to do it again so please be patient with me over the next week. I've already got a good jump on the next chapter and at least solid ideas where the next few are gonna take us. Don't worry I'm not gonna leave ya hanging, though I am very tired so please forgive any typos that I miss. Please enjoy and don't be shy about what you think, all reviews are appreciated.
Alex was sitting at a table in the prison cafeteria though she wasn't really eating much still, her stomach a roiling ball of nervous energy. She'd barely touched her meal as her leg bounced steadily, preferring to expend her energy filling in the other women at the table on just how well Piper's injuries were healing. The mental and emotional damage she chose to simply skip right over for the time being. Every inmate who hadn't physically seen the blonde being wheeled in on her stretcher had heard multiple detailed accounts of the incident. It was all anyone had been talking about since her return, but the brunette couldn't let herself focus on that. Now that her love was back within her reach she knew she needed to be strong. Needed to believe for both of them that Piper could really get passed this.
The tall woman grew increasingly anxious, foot tapping irritably away while she tried to wait out the end of the morning meal period. The nurse who had seen to her yesterday, rewrapping her ribs and gently prodding the still tenders tissue that Big Boo's fists had intentionally marred, had asked her to return again today after breakfast. Alex was by no means an expert but she knew her own body well enough to know that that much attention wasn't strictly necessary in this stage of the healing process. That knowledge only served to make the brunette even more grateful, prison culture giving everyday acts of kindness an air of the miraculous. She'd seen the outline of the nurse's shadow hovering behind the thin curtain yesterday while Piper had cried, but the woman had turned away walking softly back to her desk leaving the two to share in their moment. The medical staff here was doing everything that they possibly could to help the frail woman on her road to recovery, but there were some things that medicine just couldn't fix.
Slowly but surely the women around her were starting to finish their meals and clear their trays, this was the signal that Alex's overly alert mind had been waiting for all morning. She sprung abruptly to her feet alarming the women surrounding her who had been none too subtly watching her since the blondes return. She paid no mind as her feet carried her swiftly towards the infirmary again for her follow up appointment. She almost failed to notice as her new best friend fell into step beside her, though she wasn't surprised. Alex hadn't thought much of making friends on the inside but she was glad that she had found Nicky. Mostly because she was exactly the kind of person that the former drug dealer would have gotten along with. Despite the fact that she probably would made fun of a gangly ten year old Alex.
"They move the laundry or..." the former addict let the question trail off with a wise ass grin.
"No, smart ass. I'm headed back to the infirmary so the nurse can have another look at my ribs before I'm cleared for work." She spoke without a glance in the other womans direction and missed the raised eyebrow that her response had received. The tall brunette was certainly moving well enough with more than a weeks worth of healing behind her.
"Alright, tell Chapman I said hi." and with a knowing grin she was off on her way to the electrical hut leaving Alex to her mission. At the moment the tall brunette was focused on her intended destination. She didn't know how long she'd be able to stretch out these little visits, but she had today and for now that was enough.
It had been physically painful having to say goodbye to her lover the previous day when the nurse came back around to see to her. Alex hadn't quite dared to kiss her with the nurse so close by and waiting, but that moment and her desire to do just that had lingered with her all through the night. As hard as it had been to force her legs to carry her away from the woman she loved, it had been harder keeping them still as thoughts of how much the blonde needed her came flashing out through broken dreams. She wasn't entirely sure if it was as painful as the day that Piper had walked out on her in Paris, but it had been way too close for the tall brunette after seeing the desperation written across the blondes face when she'd had to go. Her love had begged her to stay without saying a word and it had nearly broken Alex's heart that she couldn't do just that.
Unlfortunately this wasn't the real world, this was the Litch and in here there were rules that had to be followed. Alex hadn't been able to believe the incredible kindness of the prisons resident nurse to allow them their privacy as long as she had, but it simply couldn't last forever. Sooner or later there was always someone higher up to answer to, even for the staff who took care of the inmates. The brunette had been grateful, not just for allowing her to come back again today. More so for the raised voice that carried well across the limits of the infirmary, even though the only other soul in residence had been less than ten feet away.
Alex was pleased when the nurse from yesterday greeted her at the door, and didn't have to force the smile she returned to the middle aged woman. She almost found it hard to believe that someone so friendly and kind could exist in a prison, but the brunette was grateful this woman was the one taking care of Piper. There weren't many working here who would go out of their way to help an inmate, while this woman treated them like they were really people who truly deserved her time and assistance. It wasn't like her kindnesses were without risks, there were already a lot of new faces walking the halls serving as a daily reminder.
"I see you're looking a bit better." It wasn't a question but the brunette nodded just the same, a small grin creasing her lips. "That's good. Seems as though it's going around this morning." Alex couldn't read her expression following behind the red head, but she could hear the smile in her voice. After only a day the brunette knew the space well and she couldn't help turning and looking when she passed by the curtain surrounding her, knowing just that moment their eyes would have locked if it weren't for the fabric obscuring their gazes.
Alex did her part for the sake of discretion and obediantly sat down on the bed she was led to, so very close to Piper, and waited patiently while the nurse pulled her own curtain closed around her hiding her from view. She could hear the soft foot steps retreating back to the desk to fill out whatever forms the prison deemed necessary for her visit today. She fought the spatic teenage boy urges threatening to overcome her and calmly walked over to the curtain separating her from Piper and slipped silently through. She smiled fully seeing the blonde awaiting her so eagerly, staring wide eyed in anticipation of the brunettes inevitable arrival.
Alex froze her eyes locked with Piper's completely unable to move another step, despite how painful the hours spent waiting to touch her lover again had been. They brunette had been hopeful after yesterdays reunion and she knew the road they were walking was a long one indeed, but the life and the love shining out of those big blue eyes was more than she'd dared to hope for. The woman she'd reached out to the day before had been so lost, where now she could see the all of the adventures, all the love, all the moments they'd shared reflecting back at her again.
The tall brunette forced herself to take those last few steps closind the distance between them finally bringing the blonde back within her reach. Her fingers wrapped themselves around Piper's arm just above the cast on her left wrist. She wished that she could clasp her lovers hand in her own, fingers weaving delicately together. Sadly that would have to wait a bit longer yet, for the moment at least she settled on lifting the thin bandaged wrist and laying a gentle kiss along the back of it. She knew the blonde couldn't have felt the caress, but you wouldn't have been able to tell from the expression on her face. It was an expression she'd seen ghosted over those features many times over the years, complete and utter rapture.
"Hi." was all Alex could think of to say and she wanted to kick herself for sounding like some dumbstruck kid. Fortunately she wasn't the only one, blue eyes gazed back at her from under shy half lidded eyes.
"Hi." Piper replied in that soft girly voice that had always brought out something possessive in Alex.
"Better than yesterday?" She asked gazing deeply into those eyes getting lost in them just like she used to so long ago.
"I am." she paused briefly before continuing on. "I'm glad you came back." She didn't have to tell Alex she'd been afraid the brunette wouldn't return again, she could see it written plainly on her lover's face.
"Nowhere else in the world I'd rather be." She stated simply, she'd made her decision all those weeks ago lying awake wondering if the blonde was really okay. She wasn't gonna play any more games, she was gonna be completely upfront and honest about her feelings.
"Not even that beach in Cambodia?" blue eyes looked up at her, wide and questioning.
"Not without you by my side." she could feel those eyes pulling her in and she'd long lost the will to fight them. The space between them disappearing until their lips caressed ever so softly. The kiss was short and probably the most chaste they'd ever shared, but Alex could almost swear she could hear her own heart hum with the thrill of it.
Okay i hope you all enjoyed that and again sorry it took so long, I'm off to eat everything in my kitchen and then crash for twelve hours. Hopefully the next one won't be quite so long a wait.