"Just get me the fuck out of these!" Alex cried hysterically, thrusting her raw wrists towards Birdie's shocked face. Uniformed men continued to pour through the broken shed doors, which moments earlier had been forced open by Caputo and his band of officials. Birdie's shock was written all over her face. Of course, she had seen Chapman, as she knelt down in front of Vause, sprawled out on the floor, covered in blood, unmoving. The pretty blonde was almost unrecognizable in form…it was only Alex's desperate screaming that confirmed who she was. "Vause, you need to stay still if I'm going to even stand a chance at getting these off." She steadied Alex's shaking hands with her own, feeling for the key that had been thrown towards her after Aydin had been tackled to the ground.
"She's not moving sir! I can't stop the bleeding. Shit!" the alarm in the guard's voice as he shouted to Kaputo was tangible to all around. Birdie slid the tiny key into the lock, frowning sympathetically as Alex's face crumpled. Tears fled from the brunette's eyes, staining her face with sorrow, dripping morosely from her chin to the floor. Carefully easing the silver cuffs from their victim's wrists, Birdie lay them beside her on the floor. Turning cautiously back towards Alex, she cleared her throat, "Vause.."
But Alex had already gone. Insistent, she had muscled her way between the figures kneeling by Piper's side and was in closest proximity. As soon as she was free she had been drawn like a magnet towards the other inmate, unsteadily leaping forwards, throwing herself finally towards the love of her life.
"Medics should be here any second." Caputo barked as he stood over the casualty, pulling at the buttons of his collar before running one hand nervously through his hair.
"Piper," Alex crouched forwards, gathering the bloodstained curtain of blonde hair that hung over Piper's face in her trembling hand. Bringing her own face closer, she surveyed the damage to the face she knew so well. Then, with wide eyes, she surveyed the pattern of torture that Aydin had emblazoned onto her body. Piper had endured this for her…
"Where's the fucking ambulance! She needs help! Why isn't anybody helping?!" Alex felt hysterical now. Her heart was racing, bile rising in her throat again as waves of disgusted nausea washed over her. "Piper!' slipping one hand underneath the khaki uniform at Piper's waist, she shook her lightly. Nothing. Disturbingly, Alex's withdrawn hand was covered in blood. "Fuck! Shit!" She sank forwards, wiping her hand on her own khaki covered thigh before lightly resting her fingers on Piper's forehead, like she had done so many times before. It was that place, that magic place that brought Piper instant relief, like a cat curling into the affectionate palm of its owner's stroking hand. Whether disappointed, upset or frightened, Piper had always been comforted by Alex's touch.
"Medics are here, clear the area."
Alex heard the order barked but she was unable to move. Every bone in her body resisted the notion of being separated from Piper again. Each fibre of her being balked at the agony of only being able to watch as something else happened to her. It was a split second of stubbornness, a second of security in the wake of far too many previous excruciating minutes of pain.
Suddenly, equipment surrounded them, the shed a hive of activity. Differently uniformed figures; achorus of knowing voices; tubes, masks, whirring machines. "Sweetheart, you need to move." A firm hand took her shoulder and attempted to pull her backwards. "I can't…I can't…" Alex's hoarse voice almost begged to be understood.
"Are you hurt ma'am?" The voice came again, harsher this time. Beneath her, Piper was subject to a flurry of activity. "Ma'am!" He didn't understand. He obviously hadn't ever felt anything like this. This intoxicating, sometimes toxic, inevitable love.
"She's in shock." Birdie interjected, coming to rest at Alex's side. "I got this ok? You need to be gentle with her!" Birdie wrapped her arm around Alex's shoulders and slowly moved her away from Piper's now completely transformed body. Guided like a blind person away from danger, Alex unexpectedly became aware of the fact that Birdie wasn't just holding her for comfort; she was physically holding her up.
"Atrial Fibrillation. We need that defibrillator. Stat."
"Charged."
An alien melody of computerized beeping filled Alex's ears.
"Clear."
The hum of electricity rang throughout the shed, bouncing from the walls. Birdie brought her to a stop and stood facing her, obviously trying to obstruct Alex's view of the procedure. "Vause, you've been through a hell of a lot in here. Tell me, are you hurt?"
Alex blinked. Her throat was dry. What did she mean? Why did everyone keep asking her this? Was she hurt? Piper was lying on the floor; she couldn't open her eyes, move her hands…she could barely take a breath. Was she hurt? Were they serious?
Alex nodded once, slowly.
She was in agony.