"Ok, so here's how it's gonna work." Alex said quietly. The small group had huddled together for a secret meeting in the library. "Red's going to be with you during count time and the nights I can't be there. She'll also be able to walk you to the showers before I get there and if there's a rush for early shower times Red will be with you in the shower room. Nicky works with you, so should Carlin take it upon herself to visit your workshop or if you're sent out to fix something she'll go with you…"

"Alex, much as I appreciate my little guard, don't you think it's a bit much? I can take care of myself, I don't need a bodyguard twenty four seven." Piper responded. Alex sighed and took Piper's hand.

"I know you can, Pipes, but she clearly has it in for you and I don't want to take any risks."

"Not only that, but this about more than you, kid." Red added. "She has to be taught a lesson, like you did when you first came here. But hers is much more serious. She has to be taught what happens when you fuck with one of us." Red snarled. She had been here long enough to see what happened when inmates didn't keep to the unwritten rules. This could not go unpunished.

"Exactly." Alex said, happy for another reason that made Piper feel less embarrassed. "And I may have spoken to Gloria…and she may be pissed off enough to starve her out…"

"Alex!" Piper hissed. She loved her girlfriend but this seemed to be going too far. "I don't want everyone knowing. It's prison, you can't let people think you're weak." Alex ignored Piper's obvious anger and pulled her over into a comforting hug. She gently kissed the top of Piper's head.

"Nobody thinks you're weak." She mumbled into the blond hair.

"But even so," Piper sighed, gently pushing Alex off. "Let's try and lay off the bodyguard routine. It'll just draw attention to me. Besides, having bodyguards is no fun when it's not you." Piper added with a mischievous grin. Alex cottoned on immediately and raised an eyebrow.

"Is that so? Need me to frisk you to check if any bombs have been planted on you?" She asked, but without waiting for an answer she pulled Piper back over.

"We'll leave you two not lesbians to it." Nicky said, as she and Red got up. Alex and Piper just looked at each other and laughed like school children who'd been caught kissing behind the bike shed.

"It's good to see you returning to normal." Alex said, gently pushing some hair away from Piper's face before kissing her cheek. "I was worried about you. I still am. What you could have gone through…Pipes, I never want to risk that happening again. I know you think I'm going into overkill here trying to protect you and maybe I am…but it's my fault you're in this damn place so by extension it's my fault-"

"Don't you dare blame yourself Alex." Piper quickly interrupted her. She moved away from Alex's arms so she could look Alex right in the eyes. Now that she looked close enough she could see the guilt clouding over Alex's beautiful features. The way her skin was drawn and the dark circles under her eyes that told Piper she wasn't sleeping well either. The ways she looked at Piper like she had stabbed her in the back. "Alex, if I hadn't come to Litchfield I would never have gotten back with you. I would have never realised that I never really stopped loving you. Yeah, we suck at the whole relationship thing, but for all you're a pain in the ass sometimes you are damn hot Alex and I love you." Alex couldn't help but feel taken aback. She always did whenever Piper said she loved her. She just wanted to grab her and kiss her right in the middle of the library, but there were two reasons why she wouldn't. One: any guard could just walk in and they'd both get carted off to the SHU. Two: despite Piper's reassurances that she was fine, Alex still felt guilty. And part of that guilt stopped her from getting to touchy feely with Piper, just in case she was still frightened. That was part of the reason she had to take Carlin down. Alex felt like if she got revenge for Piper, their relationship could go back to normal. Well, as normal as they ever were. So instead Alex settled for pulling Piper back over to her and giving her another quick kiss on the cheek.

"I love you too, kid." She whispered in Piper's ear.

"How much?" Piper teased, her hands slipping under Alex's top after a quick peak around the shelf of books to make sure there were no lingering eyes. Alex chuckled, but took Piper's hand away.

"Don't tempt me, Pipes. Later, ok? We're got count time in ten minutes and that's not enough time to show you how much properly." Alex justified herself. Piper huffed, but accepted that she wasn't going to get any right now. She was just happy they were back on track. She just hoped Alex didn't have too much in store for Carlin. Doggett only got her thrown in the SHU for a while and Alex nearly got herself thrown in beside her. Anything major could have them separated for a long time, and Piper wasn't sure she could be away from her anymore.