Chapter Six -
Nikki dissolved into incoherent sobbing, and Franky pulled her close.
"Oh God," whispered Beth.
"I had no idea," replied Linda.
"Of course we wouldn't, we're not privy to everything the Governor does," hissed Beth.
"Look at her. She's really upset!" Exclaimed Linda.
"And you two twats raising your voice does not help!" Snarled Franky. Beth and Linda looked a little taken aback, but quickly recovered.
"What can we do to help?" Asked Beth.
"Just... Get out. Let me calm her down," insisted Franky. Beth and Linda glanced at each other, and nodded in agreement.
"Franky, Nik, we'll be outside if you need us, alright?" Nikki nodded, and pressed herself against Franky, who wrapped her arms around her tightly.
"What did she do Nikki?" Asked Franky.
"She... she hit me," whispered Nikki.
"Is that all she did?" Nikki shook her head..
"Can you tell me what she did?" Asked Franky softly.
"Ms Manning and Miss Miles need to know too," whispered Nikki. Franky disentangled herself from Nikki, and knocked at the locked door. Linda and Beth glanced up, then stood up, crossing over to unlock the door.
"Nikki wants you to hear everything, and I think she's ready," said Franky.
"Alright. We'll take it easy then." Linda and Beth came in, and took a seat on the opposite bed.
"What did Miss Ferguson do?" Asked Beth gently.
"The last meeting we had, I was in medical and she told me she was going to force the lesbian out of me," whispered Nikki, her voice hitching.
"It's okay, take your time," said Linda easily.
"She pulled on a pair of black gloves, told me to strip, and then... then..." Nikki shook her head, unable to speak.
"It's alright Nik, we understand," said Linda.
"We'll see about getting you into a psych consult so you can talk, and if you want Franky to come, we will organise that to. For now, Miss Miles and I will look out for you, and file a report on..."
"No, you can't file a report!" Exclaimed Nikki.
"Why not?" Asked Linda, incredulous.
"The last time I filed a report, I found myself with a long jail sentence and a lot of people who hated me and wanted my head on a stick. I can't have that happen again," said Nikki vehemently.
"Alright. Well, we can inform the other officers so they can intervene where necessary to keep you away from the Governor's office from now on, okay?" Decided Beth. Nikki nodded, settling down. The quartet remained silent for a time, Nikki's occasional hiccups punctuating the silence.
"Okay. I'll leave Ms Manning here with you two, and I'll go and talk to Miss Bennett about transferring you back to general population," said Linda finally. She stood up and left, and Beth looked kindly at Nikki.
"Is there anything I can get you?" Asked Beth. Nikki shook her head, and Franky just shrugged her shoulders.
"I just wish I knew," said Franky. She felt Nikki's breathing even out as she fell asleep.
"Everyone feels like that in cases like this Franky. It's how most people feel when they find out a family member has been assaulted. We'll find a way to help her and make sure she's safe," assured Beth.
"It just makes me so angry that the Governor was doing this to her!"
"Well, I know she said no report, but if it comes to it, I'll make sure Mr Channing knows," said Beth.
"Would it help if I said she's done the same thing to me?"
"Blackmoor was so much easier to manage than a fucking women's prison! None of this bitchiness and argumentative prisoners, just acceptance of their fate. God, I just want to finish here and head back there where I'm respected and listened to!" Exclaimed Joan, pacing her office.
"Listen, it can't be that bad," started Derek Channing, trying to get a word in.
"That bad? They're bad mouthing me at every point, we had a bleaching incident a few weeks back, they're insolent and rude, and I don't know what the fuck Erica even did when she was here but she's fucking hopeless!"
"Now hang on a minute! Erica did a fine job holding this place together considering she's not a corrections officer and hasn't had the training or expertise! You need to step back and look at the situation; you're taking this to heart! They're not arguing with you per se, they're arguing against the system. None of them want to be here, they feel they've done no wrong, and of course they will argue with you; you're in charge! I asked for you to take on this job because you've turned around Blackmoor prison, and I hoped you could do the same for Wentworth! It seems like I've been mistaken Joan, and I'm truly sorry for that," apologised Derek.
"No, no, I can do the job, I just want more support for what I'm trying to do! I can turn this place around, cut down the numbers of self-harming women, turn them into well adjusted women before we return them to society. The way they are right now, we can't release them. What would you like me to do?" Responded Joan.
"I want you to do your job rather than antagonising them. Liaise with the education officer and counsellor, and start finding out what these women want to do when they're released, and start getting them into programs to get them ready. It's exactly what you've put in place at Blackmoor; just do it here," stated Derek.
"I'll talk to Vera, start working on a new plan of attack. Perhaps you're right Derek," said Joan, suddenly amicable. Derek was wary of the change of heart, but agreed with her.
"I'll be here in a few weeks to check how you're progressing, and perhaps talk about Francesca Doyle's release," said Derek, standing up. He stretched out a hand and shook Joan's, noting the confused look on her face.
"Francesca is up for release?" She asked.
"I sent you a memo about it two weeks ago. She's due for release on the 20th," answered Derek.
"Well, I better get her ready for the outside then," replied Joan, taking a seat and starting to shuffle papers.
"I'll leave you to it, and I'll see you in two weeks." Derek left, and Joan could feel a plan hatching in her mind.
A way to make all the women pay.
"Bea, the Governor would like to see you in her office now," said Vera sternly from the entryway to H2.
"What's it about?" Asked Bea, flipping through her magazine nonchalantly.
"It doesn't matter what it's about, just that she wants to see you know!" Exclaimed Vera, rising to the take the bait.
"Got to go ladies; seems the guvnah would like to chat me up a little. Maybe she'd like some pointers on her hair, cause we all know it's gawdawful," commented Bea. She threw her magazine aside, then followed Vera through the maze of corridors up to Joan's office. Vera knocked twice on the door, then waited patiently.
"Enter," came the strong voice from within.
"Go," ordered Vera. Bea smirked at her, then waltzed inside.
"Ah. Beatrice. Take a seat," said Joan, indicting the plush chairs in front of her.
"What's this about?" Asked Bea, a little of the bravado slipping away. Joan smiled at her, and Bea noted the scary look on the woman's face.
"I want your help."
"What are you doing out?" Asked Vera incredulously.
"Miss Miles and Ms Manning said we could return," answered Nikki.
"God, where are they? I'll kill them," threatened Vera. She let Franky and Nikki go, and sighed to herself. If she wasn't careful, she could find herself fired and out on her ass before she could ask why. She stormed down the hall to solitary, where Linda and Beth were finishing up paperwork.
"The bloody hell do you think you're doing?" Hissed Vera.
"They've calmed down; they're not a threat to others. By all rights, they can return," said Beth calmly, jotting down a few notes before glancing up at Vera.
"Don't look so pissed Vera. You know they aren't dangerous," added Beth.
"Wait til I go to the Governor about this. You'll both be fired," said Vera, a hint of glee in her voice.
"Would we? By the rule book, we haven't done anything wrong," said Linda casually.
Vera could see a clear divide amongst the guards, and she was very quickly falling between the crack.
"We'll see what the Governor has to say about this," spluttered Vera before turning heel and stalking away.
"You were so good!" Exclaimed Linda.
"I'm sick of that cow pushing us around," answered Beth.
"She's going to have your head on a platter," said Linda, shaking her head as she placed her final signature on the dotted line.
"I don't care. That girl would not have survived being in here tonight; she's only just started to come out and grow as a person now that Franky's looking after her, and she needs to learn to fight. Franky will look out for her, as long as we can keep her away from the Governor," said Beth. The pair headed down the hall to the officers common room, to grab a coffee before doing night rounds.
Little did they know how busy a night it would be...
Seriously, you all must think I've fallen off the planet and left you all hanging! I haven't, I swear, I've actually been very unwell, and apart from sleeping, I've done very little.
I had originally planned to have this done before S2 aired on May 20th, but we all know that's not going to happen.
So I'm going to do my best to forge on and finish what I do have - I don't have SOHO, so I'll have to wait til it comes out on DVD before I start writing a S3 (if I'm brave enough to do it!).
Support has waned a little, but I believe that is partly my fault for not posting regularly. The support I have had has been amazing, and very encouraging.
One day I'd love to work with the writers of Wentworth, and in my wildest dreams I'd love to be an actor on the show, and meet Nic Da Silva.
But only in my wildest dreams xx.
Stay tuned, hope to have another episode out soon!
MissShawnaAlice xx