Chapter Three -

Franky was returned to her cell a few hours later, her face deathly white, body shaking. Gone was her strong willed exterior, and left in its place was a frightened young woman. Franky managed to get back to her cell before her stomach revolted on her, and she found herself heaving over her cell toilet.

"Franky? You alright?" Called Liz. Franky couldn't answer, the tears streaming down her face, stomach heaving. Liz and Nikki appeared in the cell, and Liz gasped.

"Nikki, you hold her hair back, I'll grab a damp cloth," said Liz. Nikki held back Franky's hair, and rubbed her back soothingly.

"Shh," she whispered. Liz returned with a damp cloth, and wiped down Franky's sweaty face. Eventually the heaving and the sobs subsided, and Nikki and Liz managed to get Franky back on her bed.

"What happened?" Asked Liz.

"Drug search," whispered Franky, shuddering.

"That's just a strip search, right?" Asked Nikki.

"Who did it?" Asked Liz, ignoring Nikki.

"The Governor," replied Franky.

"Miss Ferguson?" Asked Liz. Franky nodded.

"Rumour has it she's a little bit fond of cavity searches," said Liz. Franky nodded, and felt her stomach roil again. She launched herself off the bed and hung her head over the toilet again. Franky felt violated and exposed, and as a shiver wound it's way up her spine, she felt a blanket draped over her shoulders.

"I know how it feels. It's not the same, but the way you feel afterwards, it's pretty similar," said Nikki softly.

"Liz! Governor wants to see you!" Called Doreen.

"Will you be right with Nikki?" Asked Liz, moving to stand up. Franky nodded.

"Go, see what she wants," said Franky shakily. Liz left, and Franky moved back onto her bed, pulling the blanket with her.

"What did she do?" Asked Nikki softly. Franky shook her head.

"Have you heard why I'm in here?" Asked Nikki, changing topic a little. Franky shook her head.

"A little bit, but not much. I just know that Liz wanted us to look out for you," responded Franky.

"I was raped by four men when walking home after a concert. In self defence, I pulled out a pocket knife and stabbed the first guy, and injured the other three. The courts decided that it was intentional harm, and I had to be sentenced for causing serious injury. I was only sixteen when I entered Reiby, and it was okay. I worked on my schoolwork, participated when needed, and attended therapy sessions as requested by the courts. My mother disowned me, my father walked away, and I was alone. When I reached eighteen, I was shifted from Reiby to Dyllwynia, and I was in with the wives of two of the men that raped me. They didn't believe that their husbands would have been like that, and I soon became a toy they would use, beating me up, blaming me for things, tripping me over. I soon refused to be touched by anyone, and started to avert my eyes, hoping that they wouldn't notice me. After I finally snapped and fought back, the Governor realised I wasn't doing very well and was expected to become suicidal or psychotic. After several meetings with a lawyer and the Governor, it was decided that NSW prisons were not going to be able to deal with me, and it was put out to all prisons across Australia that they were looking for somewhere to transfer me. Wentworth was the only one that replied. I accepted, but didn't realise that you also have male guards on site. It was too much like being held by those men two and a half years ago, and it's not easy to forget that," said Nikki, averting her eyes to pick at a thread on the bed.

"You were raped at sixteen?" Asked Franky. Nikki nodded.

"I came from a poor part of town. It was expected that girls my age were just asking for it," replied Nikki.

"At least you didn't lose your temper on national television and give a guy third degree burns," said Franky.

"What did you do?" Asked Nikki, intrigued.

"You didn't see it?" Asked Franky. Nikki shook her head.

"When did it happen?" Asked Nik.

"Two years ago," answered Franky.

"I would have been in Reiby, and they have a no TV rule until we've earned it. I wasn't there long enough to earn the privilege," said Nikki, shrugging her shoulders. Franky went on to explain her history to the young woman in front of her, and by the end, Nikki was giggling hysterically.

"Mike Pennisi was always a tool," she choked out.

"You used to watch his shows?" Asked Franky, grinning.

"Used to laugh at him and how arrogant he was. God, I'm glad someone finally gave him what he deserves," said Nikki, wiping a tear from her eyes.

"Wish the courts would see it that way," said Franky, sobering up.

"They won't. At least you're forging yourself a life in here, and when you get out, you'll be okay," said Nikki.

"So will you," said Franky softly.

"Well see about that. Gotta survive being in here first."

"We need a favour," said Emily blatantly.

"And we know what you've done in the past," added Charlie, grinning.

"And if you don't want to end up in here," responded Emily.

"Where we can make your life hell," said Charlie.

"Then we suggest you do what we want," said Emily. Vera's body sagged, and she nodded.

"What do you want?" She asked, voice heavy.

"We want you to make sure that Lex Patterson stays off the radar of the other screws. We need her here. If someone else was to come under scrutiny, we could perhaps look at a partnership that benefits you," said Emily.

"Like what?" Asked Vera, a little intrigued.

"Perhaps a stuff up by one of the other screws that makes you look good," suggested Charlie.

"Could finally get that promotion back to Governor. The one you're eyeing off," added Emily.

"No smuggling goods into the prison?" Asked Vera.

"Not yet. Perhaps later. For now, we're pretty self sufficient," said Charlie. Vera nodded.

"I'll do it."

"Simmo? You have a visitor waiting for you," said Linda. Simmo looked mildly surprised, then stood up. She followed Linda out and down the corridor, where she was taken into a waiting room.

"Wait here. Mr Jackson will bring you through in a moment," said Linda sternly. Simmo waited nervously, picking at her fingernails, twisting her shot hair around her fingers. After a few minutes, Will walked in, and ushered her out into the main visiting area. Spitz was waiting for her, fiddling with his wristwatch.

"Spitz! What are doing here?" She hissed.

"Boss sent me to find out some information," replied Spitz. Simmo sat down, glancing around at the screws nervously.

"What do up want to know?" She whispered angrily.

"Boss wants to know if it's true; are the Wilson twins in?" Asked Spitz.

"Yep. He woulda known that if he spoke to his kid once in while," said Simmo.

"Are they playing a full deck?"

"Since Brayden topped that Debbie chick, they found a new supplier. Don't know who."

"What are they playing?" Asked Spitz.

"Don't know. I'm not playing! I've got a parole hearing in two weeks, and I want outta here, so I'm keeping my nose clean," snapped Simmo.

"Don't get your knickers in a twist! Just need to pass the information onto the boss; it won't affect yr parole hearing," said Spitz defensively.

"Why does he need to know?" Asked Simmo, leaning in.

"Between you and me? Ever since Brayden topped that Debbie chick, he's gone off the rails. Boss is blaming Wilson sisters for getting Brayden onto whatever he's high on at the moment," said Spitz.

"Kid got himself into this mess, he can get himself out of it. I wasn't his nanny for fifteen years to get him out of this now," said Simmo, leaning back and folding her arms defensively.

"Boss wants you to get them put in the slot, extend their sentence," said Spitz.

"What? No way. Not happening. I'm this close to getting out of here and putting stupid Jacs behind me, and now he wants me to fuck it all up? No way. Not unless there's a big payout," said Simmo. Spitz leaned in close, and grinned at the uncouth woman.

"We can arrange that."

"Brayden, you need to clean your room, before your father gets home," said Simone desperately.

"Mum said I don't have to," answered five-year-old Brayden, continuing to play with his toy soldiers.

"Your mother didn't say anything about you not cleaning your room," retorted Simone.

"Make me." Simone Slater sighed; a new job as never easy. But the Holt's paid good money, as long as she kept her mouth shut about their business.

"I'll give you five bucks," said Simone.

"Ten," countered the young boy.

"Deal. Go clean up before your Dad gets home," said Simone. Brayden scampered off to his room, and Simone sat down for a brief moment of respite. The child was definitely a product of his parents; already he bargained for money for just about anything, including brushing his teeth, bathing, cleaning his room, eating vegetables. The first few weeks, he'd taken it easy on her.

By the second month she had worked with the Holt family, Brayden was receiving nearly half of her pay cheque as bribe money each month, and she was almost frazzled. But she enjoyed the benefits of working for the Holt family.

She stayed with them as Brayden's nanny until he was seven, and didn't require a nanny. Then she became Jacqueline's assistant, before Jacs was put in jail. After that, she took over some of the business with Spitz, when both Jacs and Vinnie were in prison. That changed when Simmo was charged with possession of drugs, and found herself in Wentworth with Jacs.

Now she wished she'd never gotten involved.

Nikki woke up the next morning warm and comfortable, a first for her since entering the adult law system.

It was then she realised.

She was cuddled up next to Franky.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry," said Nikki, scrambling out of the bed. She turned quickly, and ran straight into the doorframe. Franky winced, and Nikki sped out of the room, straight into her own cell, slamming the door behind her. Franky walked out, still feeling tender from yesterday.

"What was that?" Asked Boomer, sitting at the table drinking a coffee.

"I have no idea. Grommet was upset," said Franky. Boomer passed her a cup of coffee, and Franky sculled half.

"Where is everyone?" Asked Franky.

"Liz is at a peer worker meeting, Doreen has a visit with Kaiya and Bea has a meeting with her lawyer," said Boomer.

"No work on Sunday; at least we can relax," said Franky.

"Liz said you weren't feeling good after your meeting with the Governor. You alright?" Asked Boomer.

"Yeah, I'm good Booms," assured Franky. She sipped the coffee, and contemplated Nikki's door. Something had reassured the young girl last night, enough that she had happily slept beside Franky all night. Franky had enjoyed it; for the first time in a long time, she'd slept nightmare free, and just enjoyed the warm body curled up next to her.

Nikki, however, had taken fright as soon as she had realised where she was, and had fled. Franky had to know what was going on inside her head, and now was the best chance, while no one else was in their unit. Franky stood up and knocked on Nikki's cell door.

"Nikki? You alright?" She called. She could hear sobbing behind the door, and as much as Franky wanted to keep her tough girl attitude, she needed to know the young girl was okay. She pulled open the cell door, and found Nikki in the corner, sobbing.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she whimpered, pulling her knees tighter. Franky moved to sit on Nikki's bed, and Nikki flinched.

"Please, don't hurt me, please," she begged. Franky heard Liz and Doreen return, and ignored them as they stood in Nikki's doorway. She crouched down next to her, wrapping an arm around her as the sobbing started.

"Shhh. I'm not going to hurt you Nik. I swear, I'm never going to hurt you."