Chapter Four-

"I want to go back to the compound. Please," begged Nikki, sitting cross-legged on the bed, Franky just behind her. Vera and Beth were standing in front of her.

"Are you sure you feel safe?" Asked Vera.

"We don't want a repeat of what happened this week," added Beth.

"We'll look after her," said Franky evenly.

"The Governor has agreed to allow you to return on the condition that you continue to return for your weekly psychologist visits," said Vera. Nikki nodded, and Vera left.

"We'll look after you. Make sure you're not alone anymore," said Franky.

"We'll be doing our rounds a little more frequently when Emily and Charlie are released, and we'll be keeping an eye on them ourselves. Vera has allowed me to take over your case, so I'll be the one organising your visits, extra activities and your case worker visits. Let me know if there's anything you need, and we'll see what we can do for you, alright?" Said Beth easily. Nikki nodded, and Beth led them out of the medical unit, and back to the compound. She still needed dressings changed every few days, but she had freedom. Franky walked back with her, an arm around her shoulders. Beth escorted them back to their unit, then left them to their own devices.

"Niks! You're back!" Exclaimed Bea.

"How are you feeling love?" Asked Liz.

"Better. Still not well, but definitely more improved than before. How's everyone else?" Asked Nikki, wrapping herself around Franky.

"Been quiet. Emily and Charlie have been waltzing around like they own the place. Pisses me off a little, you know?" Said Bea.

"Liz's been teaching me how to knit. I'm not very good though," confessed Doreen.

"You're doing fine," said Liz.

"Nikki!" Exclaimed Boomer. She practically flew out of her room and wrapped her arms around Nikki, squeezing her tight. Nikki flailed her arms uselessly, trying to escape.

"Boomer. Boomer, she can't breathe!" Exclaimed Franky. Boomer released the small girl and stood back.

"Laundry's no fun without you two," said Boomer sadly.

"Well, we're back now, and we're not going anywhere. Right Niks?" Nikki nodded her affirmation.

"You've missed out on so much on the Bold and the Beautiful! Come sit, it's coming on now," said Doreen, dragging Nikki and Franky to the lounge. She pushed them down unceremoniously then whirled around to flip on the TV. Bea chuckled a little and leaned against the kitchen bench, sipping a cup of tea. She watched her pseudo-family as they laughed and cried over a TV show, and watched as Nikki seemed to close down on herself now that the others were distracted. She'd seen similar behaviour in Debbie before the incident with her ex-husband, and decided that she needed to speak to the young girl. After the show finished Boomer disappeared, mumbling something about meeting with Megs. Doreen and Liz retreated into Liz's room to continue with the knitting venture they'd started, leaving Franky, Nikki and Bea alone.

"Do you want a cuppa?" Asked Bea gently. Nikki shook her head.

"I'll have a coffee if you're making," added Franky. She stood up and walked inside her cell, returning with a book.

"Count will commence in ten minutes." Franky sighed, and dropped her book on the lounge. She stood up and moved to her doorway, the others mimicking her movements, Boomer rushing back in just before count. Soon after the announcement, Linda and Beth appeared in the doorway.

"Looks good. See you all at seven," said Beth, pulling the large gate across and locking it.

"Night Miss Miles, Ms Manning," called Franky. She returned to the couch, curling up with her book. Bea resumed making tea and coffee in the kitchen, and watched as Nikki debated whether to sit with Franky or sit with Bea.

"Why don't you sit with me? Let Franky finish that chapter," suggested Bea. Nikki looked relieved that someone else had made the decision for her, and took a seat at the table. Bea handed her a glass of water, then took a seat across from her.

"How are you doing?" Asked Bea casually.

"I'm fine," replied Nikki absently. Bea waited until Nikki's eyes finally met hers, and then the floodgates opened. Franky dropped her book and joined them at the table, trying to comfort her distraught girlfriend.

"You knew this was going to happen," stated Franky to Bea. Bea nodded.

"I've been watching her; she's holding it in. Same way Debbie used to," said Bea knowingly.

"I miss my Dad," whispered Nikki, hiccupping a little.

"Sweetie, I know it's hard, but your Dad can always visit," said Bea softly. Nikki started to sob harder, and Franky pulled her close.

"Her Dad's dead Bea." Bea felt bad, bringing up Nikki's past like she just had.

"What about the rest of her family?" Asked Bea.

"Disowned her."

"God Nikki, I'm so sorry," said Bea softly. The motherly side in Bea wanted to cuddle the young woman close and protect her from all the bad things in the world, but something told her Franky had that covered.

"Nikki, if you ever need anything, anything, you come and see me. If Emily and Charlie are harassing you, if you want someone to talk to, if you and Franky are fighting, if you just want to talk, I want you to know my door is always open for you," said Bea gently. She stretched her hand across the table and gripped Nikki's hand in hers. Nikki eventually calmed down, and gazed at Bea across the table, eyes red and puffed.

"It's not easy being in here, especially when there's no-one on the outside to remind you of who you were. Doreen's friends visit, Liz talks to her case worker every second week, Boomer meets with her older brother, but you, me, and Franky? We don't really have anyone. I don't want to see my ex-husband, and Franky doesn't get along with her Dad. So the three of us need to stick together, make sure we look out for each other, because we're all each other's got," said Bea sternly. Nikki nodded.

"I thought I was going to die when Emily and Charlie attacked me, and all I could think about is how no-one would really notice if I wasn't around anymore," said Nikki despondently, averting her eyes. Franky's eyes were shining with tears as she lifted Nikki's chin to see her face.

"I would miss you," she whispered. She pulled Nikki close, and kissed the top of her head.

"Come on, we should get some sleep," suggested Bea.

"Thanks Bea," mumbled Nikki. She allowed Franky to pull her to her feet and drag her into Franky's room. She sat on the bed numbly, and allowed Franky to help her change before falling sideways on the bed. Franky crawled in behind her and wrapped her arms around her, pulling her close.

"I don't ever want to lose you Nik. I don't know what I would do," said Franky softly.

"You'd lose the plot for a few days like I heard Bea did when she lost Debbie," responded Nikki.

"How did you know about Bea?" Asked Franky, surprised.

"Liz told me," said Nikki sleepily. Franky tightened her grip around Nikki, and breathed deeply.

"Promise me you won't ever leave me," whispered Franky.

"I won't."

Bea missed her little girl.

Missed Debbie like she was missing a limb.

Like a hole in the heart.

Nikki reminded her so much of the little she could no longer see, only remember.

She missed her little girl.

"Front and centre; spot check!" Called Will. Franky dragged Nikki out of her room and sat on the table, Nikki standing in front of her. Liz and Doreen sat at the table, each nursing a mug of coffee. Boomer was sprawled on the couch, snoring softly, and Bea was standing near the kitchen, a clear distance between her and the other women in the unit. Will and Beth went through each room, double checking folded clothes.

"Hate spot checks," grumbled Doreen. A ball of yarn and two knitting needles were tossed out of Liz's room, along with her blanket and two cushions. Liz winced as two stitches slipped off her needles. Nikki's room was next, and her meagre belongings were tossed out to mingle with everything. The six women glanced up as they heard loud retching from another unit, and Will and Beth exchanged looks.

"Clear," decided Beth.

"Clean this mess up," ordered Will before he and Beth left the unit. He followed the sound of retching to the next unit he and Beth were due to check, and found Lex leaning over her toilet bowl.

"You right?" He asked rudely. Beth shoved past him, and kneeled down next to her.

"How long have you been throwing up?" She asked.

"All morning," replied Lex weakly.

"Will, can you alert medical that we'll be bringing up a patient, and bring me back one of those plastic vomit bags?" Asked Beth. Will nodded, and left the pair.

"Oh God," cringed Lex before heaving into the toilet bowl again.

"That's it. Better out than in," said Beth soothingly. Lex eventually leaned back, and Will returned.

"We'll get you back up to medical, get you something to settle the nausea, make sure it's not contagious," assured Beth. With Will's help, she assisted Lex to her feet, then took her out of the unit and up to medical.

Lex knew exactly what was wrong with her.

She just hoped they didn't find out...

"What are we bloody running here? A resort for women? A refuge so they can hid away from all their troubles? No! We're running a correctional facility Vera, not some island resort. You've got to stop pandering to their needs, and start upholding the rules and regulations that govern an institution like this, otherwise you'll soon find yourself transferred, demoted or fired. You wouldn't want that, would you?" Asked Joan.

"No, but..."

"You're not here to befriend the women. You're here to help rehabilitate them before we set them loose into society again. Erica has informed me about your tendencies towards the women, and if you're not careful, you'll end up in there with them. And no-one likes a screw gone bad," said Joan sternly.

"I'm not..."

"You know there's a reason why you've not been chosen to be Governor again? Because they believe that you're not capable of handling the stresses that this job entails, that you might collapse under the pressure. You didn't do so well last time you were in the position, what's to say you could even survive if you had the power again?"

"I don't..."

"Save it Vera. Your work so far has been substandard to say the least, and it's appalling how long it takes you to organise a roster, to even manage the women. Beth has taken over your block rotations as of yesterday, as I feel you're no longer capable of upholding your duties. You need to improve Vera. You're an officer of the law, and I expect you to straighten up so you can help straighten out the women in there. Go home, get some rest, and want you back here for your shift tomorrow at nine, hair neat and tidy, uniform pressed, ready to crack the proverbial whip. Understood?"

"Understood."