I wanted to thank you all for the reviews, your advice and critiques help a lot. Here's part two, I'll try and slow it down a bit and play a lot more out.


PIPER'S POV

The ride was short but long at the same time, her body rattled along with the van as it hit pebbles and dents in the road, her eyes never left her lap. The sun caused her eyes to burn red and puff up, not having been in the sun her eyes weren't use to such a bright hot light. The car was at a halt and she hadn't noticed Morello out of the van until she felt wind at her side, she was being tugged out of the van, she was like a rag doll but on full alert. Piper practically hissed when she felt an hand around her arm. "Sorry, you weren't moving and if we don't get going, we'll be late and you won't get a bunk or lunch." Morello said in her defense. Piper tightened her jacket around her body, it was a new one, seeing as the last one she had was stained with thick blood all around it.

Piper's face was thinner, bolder and shaped differently. Her hip bones stuck out against the jacket and she could feel her ribs beneath her shirt, for the past three months she'd been working out, sleeping and repeating, if she had anything to eat, she vomited it up after five minutes of having it in her stomach. Her arms bulked out it an form of a new muscle. Her legs were thin but muscular. The blonde locks on her hair tangled and greasy as they fell longer against her body. This wasn't the Piper everyone saw three months ago. As they walked the yard to the door no inmates were around. They were all filing into the dining hall which meant no one would have seen her, the relief was lifted off her chest. Morello dropped her off at Caputo's office.

The blonde let her fist ring against the wooden door. "Come in." she heard the husked voice, pushing open the door she walked in and sat in the chair across from his desk. "Glad to see you back Chapman, you good?" he asked her as he dropped his pen to his desk and sat back looking at her. She simply lifted her shoulders in a small pathetic and nothing shrug. "Don't have a voice?" he said with a slight attitude to his own voice. Piper could feel herself growing angry but she managed to lick her lips and clear her throat of nothing. "I'm fine." she husked out in a voice she'd never heard from herself. The raspy thick and rough tone that had come to her after a time of no talking. "Good. You've already been assigned a bunk seeing as Pennsatucky..." the one word left Piper's jaw to clench and here heart to sink to her stomach feeling as if she'd vomit the empty pit in her abdomen. "You're going back to the Ghetto and you're going to be in the bunk with Poussey." She didn't mind, the Ghetto felt like home and if it wasn't for her new soon-to-be bunk mate she'd most likely be dead.

"Good, get out of here, no more funny business and get some food before I have to call another funeral." Piper simply rolled her eyes and stood up. "Whatever." she managed to breath out under her breath and even though Caputo heard he allowed it to slide knowing this wasn't the Piper and she only needed time to get back to where she needed to be. Piper was escorted to the Ghetto by Bennett who never once looked at her or said a thing just simply walked. Flashbacks or memory calls played through her mind and she remembered how it was Bennett's voice telling her to wake up. She had no tears left but she knew that if it was there she would have been crying her heart out. "This is we're you'll be staying, everyone's at dinner there's thirty minutes left." he said and turned on his heels to walk away. "Thank you." the raspy and uneven voice spoke up, Bennett stopped and looked over his shoulder, "Glad you're here, Chapman." He whispered so the empty room couldn't hear. She nodded and simply walked over to her bed.

Despite having slept so much while in SHU the blonde slim girl fell to her bed and curled into the thin sheet and simply passed out. Her breathes heavy as if she was gasping for air but she was merely taking in the fresher broader air that was now filling her lungs.

ALEX (EVERYONE)'S POV;

Morello walked into the dinner hall quickly everyone taking glances at her as she did, she seemed to be in a rush and no one new why, there must be a different and unwary inmate seeing as it was the day for new inmates. She was quick to go through the small line and made her way over to the suburbs table sitting next to Nicky and Yoga Jones as quick as she could, "what's up your ass today?" Nicky spoke out with a grin along with everyone else. Big Boo slipped Little Boo a small piece of corn bread and glanced over at Alex who was giving her a 'what the hell' kind of look, "What Little Boo's gotta have a treat too." she said with a small shrug causing Alex to give a small laugh. "Shut up." Morello spoke out and everyone snapped their heads back in a shocking expression. They all new Morello was tough but never expected the girl to be so firm and harsh with them for doing nothing wrong. "Piper's alive and she's here, now. She's different." the words slipped so quickly from her lips hardly anyone had time to register. Alex's spork dropped to her plate and the table grew extremely quiet.

"Wh.." Nicky looked from Alex to Morello, "Where is she at?" Nicky glanced around the cafeteria, first at Pennsatucky who's face was still slightly bandaged up, then to the Ghetto's table where everyone was laughing at something Black Cindy said, then to the rest where everyone was acting normal, nothing out of the ordinary so surely Piper wasn't in the room. "I lost her after we got to Caputo's office but she's got a bunk in Ghetto against because she's not allowed anywhere in the same area as Dodgett." Morello spoke out and suddenly Big Boo didn't feel so hungry. Alex was the first to speak up after the comment. "She's alive?" it was all she could manage to get out. They were all left to think she was dead for the past three or so months and now it was like it was happening all over again. Was Morello seeing things? "Are you sure it wasn't someone who looked just like her?" Sister Ingalls spoke up and it made Alex look over at her, wait was she a mind reader now? Morello shook her head, "It was Piper, she was different though, it may look like Piper but she's definitely changed." Morello said with a hint of sadness towards her voice.

Nicky took a bite of her food, she was the only one eating which left her with odd uneven stares, "SHU changes ya'." was all she had to say, Big Boo allowed her boot to come in harsh contact with Nicky's leg, the smaller bushy haired girl let out a shriek earning looks from all around the cafeteria. "It's true." she mumbled and stuffed her mouth full of food with a shrug. Alex simply stood up and took her tray with her, dumping it and leaving it where it needed to be. Alex walked out of the loud room though the suburbs table allowed their eyes to follow. The brunette made a quick V-Line to the bathroom and collapsed against the sink as she breathed heavily. Piper was back, Piper was alive, Piper was here.

PIPER'S POV;

Shifted slowly in her bed, there was soft mumbles around her and she could feel her body having holes be burn into it. Her puffy eyes blinked slightly, "She's waking up." it was a familiar voice but who's? Piper grumbled slightly as she managed to flutter her eyes open, she squinted at the brightness, she took in a deep breath and softly pushed herself into a sitting position. She managed to finally see something and it wasn't just her bunk mate, it was suburbs and Ghetto joining together to fill the cramped space. Blood boiled in Piper's body as she managed to look around. "Holy shit, it's Chapman, she's fucking alive." another familiar voice filled her ears, "Duh you dip shit Morello told us that already." then there was a bark, Big Boo had just spoke, it had to have been. She glanced over to Nicky and Big Boo battling with their eyes, must have been Nicky's comment Big Boo snarked at. Taystee, Black Cindy and Poussey were the first to make their way up to her, Piper's jaw clenched and they didn't step closer. "It's alright there white girl." Taystee spat out. "We ain't gonna kill ya'." she spoke up earning an elbow to the side from Black Cindy who rolled her eyes. Piper simply looked at her lap closing her eyes.

Everyone shared glances and worried looks until the alarm went off for count. Inamtes scurried off and Poussey was the only one left in the small confinement of the bunk. "Come on Chapman, we have to get to count." the voice was tender and softened Piper's emotions. She stumbled to her feet carefully and out to the larger opening. She stood against the wall her eyes closed. Click. Click. Their bunk was counted and she could still feel the eyes burning against her body. "Lights out early tonight. Caputo's orders." Loud and horrid groans filled the air but Piper didn't mind. The red light flickered off and she shifted back into her bunk and on her bed. Poussey sat on the bed across the small bunk glancing at her in an upright position against the wall. "You have no idea how glad I am you ain't dead, Chapman." the words hit her and she managed to look fully at Poussey, "I wish I was." it was all Piper said before turning over and facing the brick wall closing her eyes. Poussey was left shocked and scared. Would she admit that out loud? Hell no but she was terrified, this wasn't the Piper she'd come to enjoy being around but maybe that Piper would come back. When you come out of SHU you're different but sometimes people manage to get their sanity back and Poussey just prayed that Piper grabbed her and came back to them.

THE NEXT MORNING;

Piper woke up without a word or sound. Glancing around the entire Ghetto she made she didn't awake anyone as she made her way around the bunk snagging up her towel and toiletries. Piper walked toe to heel in an moderate speed towards the showers, before she knew it she was there. The dim lights along the hall showing her where to go. She felt Fischer follower to make sure that she arrived safely and without troubles. As Piper entered the showers there was only one other soul there that early. Crazy Eyes or Suzanne as the woman preferred to be called. Piper nodded her head slightly earning a small hard look from the girl before she turned back to her cleaning. Piper shredded her clothes and set them with her towel on the stall wall. She turned the water on and was thankful for the small amount of warm water that flaked against her body in a toning manner. Piper practically moaned at the warm sensation rolling through her body. It was the voice that followed that caused her to snap her head towards the opening, her fist clenched and arms covering at her not so perfect body. Her jaw tight and her eyes filled with pain and anger. The person who caught her eye was what changed things. Piper snapped the curtain back, "Fuck off." she grumbled in her shaking broken voice turning to put her face back beneath the water.

ALEX'S POV;

Alex ended up back in her bunk in the suburbs after leaving the lunch table abruptly. She collapsed in her bed yanking the pillow and jacket from beneath her bed in a swift movement. She snugged them against her chest as tears fought against her glasses. She could feel anger, relief and confusion fill her mind. How could no one simply tell them that she was alive? How could they leave them to think Piper was dead this entire time knowing it was hurting everyone in different ways. Leaving Alex to work with the girl who had killed Piper in the laundry room. Alex had fucked around with Nicky and a few other hot chicks in the Chapel to remember her first time with Piper after ten years of not seeing each other. She would fight to remember, to feel, to see that body beneath her once again. She'd swore herself to never love again. She could bare the thought of another broken heart.

The brunette stood in line for count with her glasses pulled to her head, she felt Red and Nicky staring at her worried and confused as to what her exact reactions were. The could no longer read the emotions that toyed in Alex like they could before this all went down. But now Alex was empty she was bottomed out from all the shock she had within. That night she didn't bother reading all she did was hug the pillow that still smelt of the Piper she once held in her arms as her little spoon. The Piper she had loved so much but hated at the same time. The Piper who tore her heart out and crumbled it repeatedly. She inhaled deeply before allowing her body to slump against the harshly uncomfortable bed slipping into an awkward slumber.

THE NEXT MORNING;

Sweat was forming against her neck and forehead as she jerked her body. She was awoken when the site of Piper's lifeless body came to her eyes. No one had seen her since she left the Christmas Pageant. No one knew what had happened with Pennsatucky no one asides from Healy and Caputo and the head Judge. Healy was on a overdue suspension of no pay and most likely no return. Everyone was thankful especially his lesbian 'fans'. Alex took in shaking breathes as she threw her feet over the edge of the bed breathing heavily but trying her hardest to keep quiet afraid of waking the others and hearing a hit on herself. Alex pushed the pillow and jacket beneath her bed once against. Standing up she pulled her glasses on and grabbed her toiletries and towel. Red was up, watching Alex with tender and careful eyes, "You be careful and don't do anything stupid." she spoke in a hum to Alex as she walked passed Red's bunk. Alex nodded her promise.

The halls were quiet though the electric mob filled all halls with a silently loud hum. She made her way to the showers. There was only one other person in their and to her mind she was expecting it to be Piper but someone she knew could help get off and release her from her extreme stress. As she walked closer to the occupied shower, she stripped herself and set her glasses atop of her clothing that settled on the bench across from the stall. The small amount of air swiped across her body causing her to hum in the air. Alex pulled open the curtain and to her shocking mind as she noticed the slim broken frame in front of her. The parts of Piper's body that weren't covered pulling Alex's stomach to her throat. "Piper. what the..." she was about to continue her sentence when the curtain was slammed in her face and she trotted backwards. The words filled her mind and she gasped light. It was half of the words she'd spoken to Piper right before she'd left and never came back. Alex shook her head and felt as if she was about to empty her stomach right there.

Stumbling along the fungus filled floor she found the last stall in the showers and slipped in turning the water on full force. She leaned against the wall as her mind replayed the images it took of Piper's not so welcoming body over and over again. How could this have happened? How was Pennsatucky back looking fine asides from her face of course and Piper looked like death warmed over. Alex shook her head but snapped from her thoughts as shadows caught her attention. She watched an slumped but built and skinny Piper walk out of the bathroom not looking at her or making a sound. Alex could feel her heart sink more and more. She still hated the blonde, beyond words but she wanted nothing more then to pull the girl into her arms and shield her from the pain but she couldn't. She couldn't allow herself to fall again just to be broken but this site of Piper left her feeling as if she had to protect the blonde from any and every little thing.