A/N:

So, just a heads up guys this is not beta-read and all mistakes are mine. Anyway this story is really just something to get my mind out of the gutter, comment if you liked the fist chapter I don't know when the 2nd will be out but hopefully it'll be sooner than expected. =]

"It's been 3 months Private." General Healy said as he walked across his lone tent, reaching just behind his desk and falling into his seat swiftly. The cluster of pages regarding Private Chapman's progress held loosely against his palm.

"I'm impressed, but I'm not stupid." He let the papers fall against his desk, took off his glasses and stared at Piper. His gaze held fiercely causing Piper's eyes to falter and shift to her feet.

3 months have passed since the day Piper's life tumbled near the edges of oblivion. 3 months; since the short, rapid breaths she took. As she felt the small metal bullet slice through her flesh. 3 months; since her eyelids shuttered close. Gradually weighing too much to keep open, while her blood gushed out. 3 months; since her body was revived from a near-death experience.

Never had time passed so slow. She felt like the earth spontaneously decided to move slower, increasing the hours in a day and suddenly what was suppose to feel like 24 hours, felt like an eternity. Time stood still. For 3 months. Time, stood still.

And for 91 days she couldn't sleep, every time her eyes closed; that moment flashed through her brain, not stopping like a broken record, rewinding and playing at that exact moment. The right side of her stomach still carrying the burning pain of the bullet's residue. The sound of gunfire never left her, it echoed through her ears again and again; as if she was in space when it happened.

Yet, here she was sitting in front of General Healy's desk, asking for an extension. Everyone in her unit was extending, and she felt obligated to extend too. Whether her intentions be out of peer pressure or just to prove to herself that she was still capable of fighting, just to prove that she wasn't weak because she was wounded; it wasn't clear, she just felt like she had to extend.

But Healy was not having it. During the year Piper served in the army, she grew to become Healy's "Army daughter". He cared for her since day one, when the too young and too innocent-looking blonde stepped foot into combat training. Giving her just that little extra attention, patting her on the shoulder softly when she mastered a trick or the simple encouragement he gave her on a daily bases when they passed each other on the base floors.

He grew to really care for her and he knew she was stronger than she looked. So it wasn't the matter of her physical wound causing a barrier between her extension. No, it was her emotional wound that was still fresh, open for any infection to attack. He knew that for whatever reason Piper wanted to extend her tour, it wasn't the right one.

"General, I can assure you I can be of use-"

"Go home, Chapman." He cut her off before she could finish.

Piper sighed heavily, the thought of home rushed across her brain. Where even is home? She hadn't been back there in over a year. So much could've happened in a year. The buildings her eyes were used to could've changed colors by now. The people she grew to know, probably drifted to strangers. The shops she found herself often stumbling upon, could be nothing but abandoned warehouses. Her hometown might as well have transformed into a ghost town by now, because unlike her life, everyone else's kept moving on. So, where even was home?

"Pack your bags, Chapman. You're on leave for the next 3 weeks. I suggest you use that time wisely." He told her as he stood up from his place.

He didn't have to look back to know the look of shock and disappointed the blonde currently supported. She sighed heavily running her fingers through her hair, biting her lip slightly. Stopping herself from cursing the world. Healy turned from his position near the tent door, as soon as he heard her heaved sigh.

"It's for your own good, Piper." She looked up at him, she could see the slight glint of father nurture in his eyes. "I've known you for over a year now, and yet you still can't answer the most basic question when entering the military; What are you fighting for?"

Piper stared at him; the cat definitely got her tongue at that moment; acknowledging her own neglected self. She realized she basically had no say in this. General Healy was sending her back home, whether she liked it or not.

"Find your sense of self again." Was the last thing that slipped out of his mouth before he turned to head out the tent. Piper stared at the now empty spot by the tent whole. The sounds of soldiers light banter and army life slowly fading into nothingness and she couldn't help but think. What is she fighting for?

"Hey stretch!" The bushy haired redhead yelled through the loud thumping of club music. Alex turned her attention from the pretty brunette she was flirting with to look at her boss.

Nicky had a bottle in her left hand ready to throw it in one of those professional bartending ways. She stood behind the bar, next to her best bartender slash best friend as she threw the bottle at the heels of her head, hitting her scalp, missing the catch terribly. The bottle hit the floor with a crash and Alex couldn't keep in the enormous laughter drifting out of her lips when Nicky started rubbing her head.

"Nice shadow toss Nicholes," Alex yelled with a shake of her own head.

She picked up another bottle and perfected the toss Nicky tried to perfect; doing so easily. Once the bottle landed into her right hand she made sure Nicky caught the smirk she left on her lips, specifically for her.

Alex loved to flaunt her talents from time to time. She always liked to think that when you were given a talent, you should be proud of it. Proclaim it, because you weren't given something special just to hide it, you were given something special to endure it. Live with it, to the fullest. What's the point in having it if you weren't gonna show it off?

"Shut it, Vause." Nicky rubbed her head more firmly squinting her eyes when she hit the right spot. Alex chuckled looking at her. "You make it look so damn easy." She slurred out. Alex shook her head again, finding this extremely amusing. She knelt by her boss. Her lips mere inches away from Nicky's ear.

"That's because I'm an expert." She whispered, Nicky smirked at her and let her hands nudge her. Reminding her who's in charge again.

Nicky was clumsy like that, which was why she owned the bar and didn't bartend it. It's crazy how they ended up where they are now. Nicky was easily one of those left-side-neighborhood rich kids, she grew up in the lame light, got whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted. Well, all but one thing. She had what money could give you, anything that ever crossed your mind; from luxury cars to paperback notebooks. She had it. Materialistic things were never an issue but the one thing she always wanted was. The one thing she knew she could never have, though it costs nothing, was too much to ask for.

Alex was a different story. She had that one thing, the affection that only came from a caring mother; Alex Vause had no shortage of that. Though she grew up in a much simpler atmosphere than Nicky, she felt like she had more. She did have more, more than enough. She had what money couldn't buy and what feelings can't fake. Maybe she didn't have an iPhone when she was 17 like every other person did, but she did have someone who would move the earth, space, and everything in between to please her. Alex had love and she knew nothing else could compare.

Despite their uncanny child hoods and their very different worlds, they found a way of colliding into each other's lives. Ever since Alex took the fall for Nicky's backfired senior prank, they've been inseparable, like they've somehow painted their hands with super glue and pressed their palms together, promising to be there for each other through thick and thin.

"Yeah, yeah. Remember Vause you work for me." Nicky teased, Alex rolled her eyes. She brushed her fingers through her hair. Prepping her glasses over her head.

"Yeah and remember Nicky," She smirked, wrapping her arms around the pole on the bar table, tugging herself up."People come for the show." She winked at her boss, when suddenly all the lights turned off and for a split second the music stopped.

The rest of the girls rushing to get into their places, and just like that, in less than ten seconds the music was back on, blaring alongside the lights. Their were about 5 girls on the bar table, including Alex. Each and every one of them claiming a pole as their own. Once the beat dropped, Alex and all the girls slid down the pole exactly on cue; the bar interrupted in cheers and whistles.

Alex took the lead grabbing her pole again, the inside of her foot close to the base of the post. Her dominant hand grabbing the pole at head height, her feet stepping around it; her weight supported by her hand. As soon as she took the full turn, she automatically hooked her leg to the post, aching her back.

The people at the bar applauded loudly. She grinned and continued to move as swiftly as a swan. Her body weight turning into nothing but feather. She continually slid against the post, her long pale legs acting as hooks against the pole; and at some point she had flipped herself upside down. Ending her dance with another wrap around move.

Whistles roared at her, money thrown at her feet as the men and women pushed against each other, all fighting for a chance to be close to the hot, tall, brunette pole dancer. Alex had caught sight of a few regulars. She liked the regulars, they tipped extra. She could use every penny she got from this job. It was pretty decent money.

''Okay, I get your point." Nicky confessed coming around Alex as the brunette collected her money, giving the guests who tipped her well enough, seductive smirks which would make them come back for more. She chuckled quietly at Nicky's confession.

''I need you as much as you need me." The redhead forced out while Alex turned her attention back to Nicky, she grinned a devilish grin. Laughter on it's edges.

''Look at us Nichols, two ends of the same coin." She raised her eyebrows in a proud manner.

''Supply and demand mother fucker." Nicky smirked causing Alex to finally chuckle.

The night washed away swiftly for Alex, it was, after all, the weekend. Her favorite time of the week. Even though she had to spend most of it working, mixing bottles, cleaning tables and then dancing on them, all the while plastering a flirtatious smile on her face. It was tiring but unlike most people, she found that these days were a blessing.

Tippers usually tipped good when they were happy and the two-day excursion usually did that. It also helped that Alex could be extremely persuasive when she wanted to be, not to mention her extensive flirtatious phenomenons too. That helped with the big tips. A perk of being as beautiful as she was, and using that beauty rightfully so.

It was nearing 3 am when the club finally slowed down it's pace, only a couple of seats occupied alongside some people with half empty cups. Alex had picked up a few of the empty cups left on a stray table. She held them in her hand, as she whipped down the table, then made her way back to behind the bar.

Nicky had just walked out of the managers room by the time Alex straightened herself after placing the bar tending bottles back into place, she rested her back against the bar and pulled her tip money from her left-side boob. She counted the stash she had quietly.

"Hey Vause!" she heard her boss's footsteps. She smirked as Nicky approached her, tucking her money back into her left boob. The redhead tossed Alex her keys to the club, she grabbed them quickly before they could fall to the ground.

"Lock up for me will ya?" She told her walking backwards toward the door. She pointed at herself, her thumbs pressed against her chest. "This bitch's got a date tonight."

"Morello's got you so whipped Nicks." Alex said shaking her head at her best friend.

"I don't get whipped, Alex." Nicky rolled her eyes and said her goodbye as she turned around the second she was a mili meter away from the front gates. Alex shook her head at Nicky's insistent need of denying her feelings.

It wasn't the first time Nicky asked her to lock up for her. Ever since the girl met Lorna, her current girl-toy, a month and a half ago; she'd been lousy at her managing skills. But Alex understood that. Nicky rarely ever felt a connection with anyone and when she did, she tend to attach herself to that connection a little too tightly but it was only reasonable with the way she was raised. Even though she won't admit it now but Alex knew that this Lorna Morello chick wasn't just some sex toy to Nicky. She was much more.

Piper had been waiting by the airport arrivals for nearly an hour now. She'd phoned her brother before flying out, asking him to keep her return under wraps for the time being, especially from her mom. Oh how she'd throw a hissy fit, if she found out she was the last to know.

Carol Chapman was never comfortable with Piper's decision to step into the battlefield and become a soldier. If anything she was extremely discouraging. She complained on and on when Piper had backed her bags to head to boot camp.

"A front line is no place for a woman, Piper." She huffed crossing her arms over her chest. Piper quietly rolled her eyes and continued to place her items across her medium sized duffel bag. Her back facing her mother.

"Do you not understand how dangerous that place is?" She persisted on, trying all her might to change her daughters foolish decision. Piper walked across her mother, ignoring her growing complains as she picked out a few more tanks from her cupboard.

"Or how filthy?" She sounded out disgusted, Piper once again rolled her eyes.

She'd been hearing about how disgusting the military grounds were, about how spiders crawl into your bunk, and if you aren't carful enough you'd be a living, breathing, walking buffet for the mosquitos; for months now. Ever since she voiced that she was going to the battleground her mother has been trying all she had to stop her. All her attempts failed though and truthfully it only made Piper want it more.

"You are letting yourself walk into a death trap!" She half yelled frustrated, Piper threw the few tanks she pulled out messily into her duffel bag. Her mother grabbed her wrist before she could make another movement.

"Piper!" She completely yelled at this point. Tugging her daughters wrist. "Don't you remembered what happened to your father?" She hissed boring her eyes into Pipers, her ice cold blue eyes turned to melted frost for a few seconds; and for a split second Piper believed that her mother actually feared for her safety.

Carol wasn't just pleading her to keep her feminine image because of what people might say, but she was pleading for her not to do this. Not to put herself in utter danger, just like her father did. Piper peered into her mother's eyes, switching back and forth examining her eyes before she softened slightly.

"Of course I remember." She whispered out. Nothing could ever make her forget what happened to him. It was solely a part of the reason she'd decided to go. Maybe, just maybe she'd feel closer to him that way. She tugged her arm away and continued to pack.

Piper sighed as the memory washed over her. Suddenly she wasn't sure anymore why she had gone to the military. Originally, yes it was to be closer to her father but being there she'd never felt so far apart. "Find your sense of self again." General Healy's words echoed in her brain. How was she supposed to do that when she never even knew where her self laid in the first place?

She was probably the luckiest one of her military friends. She was off on leave for three weeks, while they were being deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and God only knows where. Yet, she was easily the lousiest. Everyone in her unit knew what they were fighting for. Everyone in her unit had a reason to be there, everyone but her.

Her phone rang in her back pocket, she pulled it out. She only told one person of her arrival, she wasn't surprised when it was her younger brother that was ringing her. She answered the phone.

"Hey Cal." She said casually.

"Heya lil' sis." He said happily. His hippiness growing into focus. Piper smiled slightly, she did miss him. "How was the plane ride?"

"Oh you know." She paused slightly looking at the sky, as if reminding herself of what it was like to be on the plane, on her way home. "Long, boring, tiring." She sighed out, looking back down.

"That doesn't seem so far out." He chuckled.

Cal usually took everything in life lightly, which was probably less stress. Piper was jealous of how he could find so much peace in a world were war was a common factor, nevertheless Cal always found a way to make it better. He was optimistic for the lack of a better term.

"Ya, so where are you?" She asked. "I arrived like an hour ago, the airports almost empty."

"About that." He began skeptically, Piper crossed her brows. Cal's tone wasn't very pleasing.

"Cal"

"Before you freak out and kill me. Just know I did not plan this and if things went my way, we wouldn't be in this situation. But-"

"Cal!" Piper yelled, stopping him from beginning a ramble fit. "What is it?" She questioned. Her grip on her phone tightening.

"Well, Umm." Cal paused trying to find the right words. Piper sighed. She had a pretty good idea what was going to come.

"Please tell me you didn't tell anyone I was coming." She sighed, throwing her head back in annoyance, it was the only annoying thing in Cal. He couldn't keep his mouth shut.

"It may have slipped once." He mumbled. Piper groaned. "Or twice."

"Jesus Cal!" Piper rubbed her forehead, she could easily feel a migraine coming on. Her brother can be the death of her sometimes.

"My car broke down! And I may have phone Polly to get some help and she may have phoned Larry." He explained.

"Larry!" She groaned. "Larry my ex fiancé Larry? Of all the people in the world you could call, you pick Larry?"

"In our defense he was the only person awake at the time." Piper shook her head, she couldn't deal with this now. "Polly's on her way to you. Call her, she'll be waiting for you near this DoubleN Club. Chill there for a while till she gets there."

"I'm going to kill you." She hissed. Purely out of sibling rivalry. Cal chuckled nervously.

"Normally I'd brush it off thinking you couldn't, but seeing as how you've been at war for over a year, that threat seems more dangerous now." he tried to make light of the situation. "But chill Piper, at least mom doesn't know yet." Piper sighed, that was good.

"Don't tell her yet. Just give me two more days to settle then I'll call her."

"Will do Pipes." He said the blissfulness growing back on his voice. "Hey Piper." He called for her before she were to say goodbye and hang up.

"Ya?"

"I missed you dweeb." He said whole heartedly, Piper smiled. An image of them as kids flashed into her mind. Ya, she did miss him terribly, even with his annoying secret spilling mouth.

"I missed you to dork." She smiled and then said her goodbye hanging up, to head to this DoubleN Club.

Alex was picking up the last of the glasses left on the final empty table. She was the last one left in the club, when she heard the club doorbell ring. She paused noticing a tall blonde in army pants and a white tank top walking in. She was taken back by her attire, she had a duffel bag hanging on her shoulder, a jacket sprawled on the bag with the same army print as her pants.

The blonde took in the club, she herself taken aback by the silent atmosphere. Had she missed a closing sign when she walked in? She didn't know. Her eyes examined the room more, hoping to fall on anyone that could've been there.

Alex found her green orbs still processing the blonde before her. She wasn't the type to gawk, usually. But seeing a blonde woman in army clothes, in the middle of a nearly empty club was something she was willing to gaze at.

Their eyes met.

Alex seemed to falter with the glasses in her hand. Blue; that was all she could see at the moment. Ocean blue. Piper felt a sudden tickle down the pit of her stomach at the way the brunette stranger seemed to stare at her. She looked away instantly tucking back a stray strand of hair behind her ear before asking.

"Sorry, are you closing?" She asked, taking slight steps towards the brunette. Alex shook her head.

"No." She said still gazing at her. Piper looked around the club again, it seemed pretty empty for an open club. Alex followed her eyes catching on. "I mean, Yes but I can keep it open for a few more minutes." Alex smiled softly, she could sense in some way that the blonde seemed tired. Piper smiled a slight "thank you" coming out of her mouth.

Piper looked behind her again, taking a few steps away from the brunette. Alex finally snapped out of it, walking her way back to behind the bar. She felt a little tense. Did this woman work at the Army? She asked herself. Of course she dose dummy look at what she's wearing. She schooled herself. Shaking her head.

The blonde eventually found a place she deemed well enough for her to sit. She sat at the far end of the bar, her duffel bag on the seat beside her. She sighed heavily, her arms washing over her face as if she splashed it with water somehow, then starred into space.

Alex seemed to quietly watch, taking in the little movements this beautiful, out of the world image before her Was taking. Never in her life had she come across a soldier. Be it a woman or man. They seemed pretty rough or old when she saw them on TV, but this woman looked small, young and innocent in a way. Who was she to judge though. All she knew about this blonde was the clear layer of stress evident on her face.

She took it in her hands and pulled out a shot glass pouring in some Vodka. She normally took a shot or two when she wanted to get some stress of her back. It was an easy way out. She slid the glass all the way to the blonde, she moved towards her, a glass and cloth in her hand whipping it clean. Piper looked at the glass before her and at the brunette figure that appeared just a few seconds after.

"You look like you could use it." She shrugged.

Piper starred at the brunette for a few seconds, taking in the piercing green sight they offered. Surely this woman was a phenomenal sight for sore eyes. She then starred at her drink. She was tempted to drink it but from previous experiences she knew that it wasn't going to end well if she did. So, she pushed the glass towards Alex and smiled politely to the brunette.

"Thanks but," She pointed at the drink and looked at her. "I don't drink." She explained. Her smile offering a silent "Sorry but thank you" look.

"Yet you step into a bar at 3 am?" Alex questioned with a chuckle. Piper looked away, swallowing a chuckle. Yes that seemed pretty ironic.

"I'm waiting for someone." She felt like she needed to explain. A small smile still lingering on her lips.

Alex nodded her head in understanding drinking the shot herself and placing it in the sink behind her. Piper rubbed the back of her neck, her fingers landing on the chain of her dog tag. She slipped her fingers to the tag itself. Rubbing on it as she starred ahead. She missed the war atmosphere. The danger, the sounds of drunken laughter from her two roommates, Tastyee and Poussey. And Bennet confiding in her, showing her pictures of his pregnant wife who was miles away.

It's true that war was a dangerous and treacherous place in one way or another, but it was also home. To the soldiers at least, you gain friendships that could last a life time. You spend most of your time with them, away from your own family and they may not be blood related but those lifetime friendships slowly turn to second families.

Piper sighed remembering some of the happy moments she had. She had good days, but she also had bad ones, there's no denying that. Especially that fatal day three months ago. She frowned remembering the bullet, lifting her other hand to the side of her stomach.

She winced slightly. Alex turned at that. Facing Piper, she saw the dog tag her hand was playing with and her other hand resting against her stomach. Piper's eyes shut, her forehead wrinkling as she breathed in and out trying to calm the pain. It worked. She opened her eyes slightly and breathEd a final breath.

"You okay?" She asked, Piper nodded with a flawed smile.

Alex didn't dare to ask further, she knew it could get annoying when you were asked that. She decided to change the subject, her curiosity coming out to play.

"Can I," she stopped waiting for the blonde to look at her. Piper lifted her head once she heard the brunette's voice. Alex pointed to the dog tag. "Can I see that?" she asked again. Curiosity lingering on the outskirts of her eyes.

Piper gripped the dog tag slightly tighter, curling her fingers on it for a moment longer. She looked down at it before turning her attention back to the still waiting bartender. The blonde nodded. Alex smiled reaching for it, their fingers brushed as the tag slipped from Piper's fingers to hers. Piper shifted in her seat a sudden rush of heat crawled through her. Alex was too busy examining the engraved letters to have noticed. She smirked.

"So, Piper Chapman." She began lifting her eyes up to Piper. Blue eyes met hers as Piper's body grew intense, shy even. "Have you always wanted to be a soldier?" She asked, the question caught the blonde by surprise.

"I, well." She starred down at her feet before words came to life again. She looked up. "It's a long story." Alex nodded, letting the tag go and dangle by the soldiers chest. She straightened up. Piper's eyes following her every movement.

"I don't know if anyone's ever told you this but," Alex smirked, lifting her glasses over the top of her head. "Bartenders are usually good listeners."

"Who are you?" Piper asked skeptically after a while. The tall brunette just smirked bigger.

"I'm Alex." She answered after a few lingering seconds, putting back her glasses. Piper stared at her questionably as she raised her eyebrows. Before she could even think about telling her story, her phone rang. Alex chuckled.

"Saved by 'the bell.'" She let slip her mouth as she moved to the other side of the bar, to give Piper her privacy. Piper fumbled through her jacket on her duffel bag, Polly was calling. She picked up her things in a hurry and turned around.

"I guess my story wasn't meant to be told after all." She said as she slouched her bag on her shoulder.

"Maybe not today." Alex smiled. Piper returned the smile.

"It was nice meeting you Alex." She said, nodding her head in salut. Her body was programmed to do it now.

"You too, soldier." Alex said with a smirk as Piper chuckled. She gave her one final smile before she made her way out, Alex found her eyes watching the blonde from a far till a short brunette collided into her hugging her.