A/N: I really tried to pace myself, but I finished Season 4 already...Ooooh. So relieved it was better than S3, so for anyone who hasn't seen it yet, do not fear! Thanks for the reviews - lots of support for Alex making a stand in the last chapter. But what will the fallout be? Let's find out.

Polly took Tuesday off from the store to work on the preparation for the meeting with John Peters on Wednesday. Piper felt useful to be giving her a bit of a break from managing the store every day. Even though her best friend would be working at home still, it was a lie in bed at least. She looked through the local ads on the internet for Lawyers in between serving customers, but they all sounded the same. It was impossible to tell a good one from a bad one and they were coy on costs when she made enquiries – saying only 'it depends on the case'. She knew the easiest thing to do was to call Alex, but it also felt like the hardest now that she'd made it into such a big deal. She resigned to see whether the brunette might make the first move to call her if she left it until tonight to make contact. Instead, she made several calls to interrupt Polly to see if she needed any help until Polly stopped answering and sent her a text to say she was going dark to get it finished.

Alex hadn't called or even sent Piper a text since their spat on Sunday and her phone wasn't lighting up with a new notification from the brunette, no matter how much Piper stared at it on Tuesday night. She dug her heels in and opted to turn her phone off instead to avoid the fact it wasn't ringing, running a long bath to try and relax. Despite this, sleep would not come easily and she spent an inordinate amount of time tossing and turning in frustration. She refused to feel guilty for defending her right to make her own choices, yet she knew the simplest solution was to call Alex and apologise. It didn't seem fucking fair that she should have to apologise though and her pride would not allow her to be seen to be crawling back to Alex. Even though she knew that Alex wouldn't rub her nose in it, there was still the principle of winning and losing on this at stake. She made the decision to do things the hard way if she had to, but she would not bend to Alex's will on this. No damned way.

XXXXX

With Bill and his team having the last of the Rigoveri contract stock under control and ready to go, Alex was following up on some of the contacts he had shared. Some of them sounded promising and there were a few orders that they could get underway pretty quickly. They arranged to provide NY Logistics vans at the Newport depot so Bill's team could take deliveries there directly and Taystee was put in charge of ensuring any drivers had the right licences, insurance and health and safety checks before anything got started. There was a great atmosphere in the place and Taystee was loving the extra responsibility. Once she was happy that everything was under control there, she arranged a mini road trip with Nicky to meet some of the bigger companies in the north east face to face. She always felt you could develop a better understanding that way and it would only take them a few days to cover 4 companies that could bring in quite a chunk of new work if the meetings went well.

Alex was driving and swatting Nicky's feet off her dashboard every so often as they went along the highway in the pouring rain.

"I'll take my shoes off OK? Jees, would you relax?"

"You have no respect for anything Nicholls, you know that?"

"It's comfy. You don't want me to be crippled with back ache do you? You are responsible for my health and safety after all." Nicky grinned as she pulled her Doc Martens off and threw them into the seat behind them. Alex rolled her eyes and turned the heater down a little.

"Man, it's already like a freezer in here. Am I getting you all hot and bothered already Slim?"

"I'm trying to make sure your feet can't sweat anymore now they're hanging over my blower."

"How about I put them in your lap instead and you can give them a little rub while you're at it?"

"Pretty sure you're reading the wrong sort of employer health and safety handbook if you think that's my responsibility."

"What, not enough fancy red nail polish on my toes for you Vause?"

"Yeah, that is exactly the reason." Alex rolled her eyes.

"I can sort that out for you at the next gas stop. I don't want you getting distracted from the road and sucking my toes though Stretch."

"Don't pretend like you haven't dreamed about that."

"Of course I have. I just hope you can live up to my fantasy now you're got me all to yourself for 4 days." Nicky waggled her eyebrows.

"If that involves me hearing about your fantasies, I'm already looking for a U-turn in the road."

"Backing out already? Shame, I had high hopes for you with the stuff I've packed in my case back there."

"Well I do hope you brought something other than a ball gag and handcuffs for the client meetings we are here for." Alex raised an eyebrow at Nicky before they both creased into laughter.

XXXXX

Polly had called Piper first thing on Wednesday morning to go through the plan for the presentation she had prepared for the meeting with John. They shared screens on Skype and Piper added some talking points on the notes as they went. She felt more involved now Polly had gone through the slides with her and she was really happy with all the work Polly had put in.

"Seriously though P, after I hang up that's it. I'm switching my phone to silent so I can try and calm down. There's so fucking much to remember on this that I can't have you calling every time you think of something new or ask what I put on slide 4 for the hundredth time. If both of us were going, we could cover everything, but we have to keep the store open."

"I know. I'm just thinking there might be something important that we remember last minute."

"I'm sure we can send a mail afterwards or something if there's anything I forget. I'll give you a blow by blow when I get out OK?"

"Alright. Good luck! And call me if you need anything OK?"

"I will, promise. Bye!"

Piper had closed her laptop down and pulled her coat on to go into the store. She didn't have any breakfast on account of her stomach doing somersaults ever since she woke up and her head was pounding from the lack of sleep last night. She opened up the store and set to work calling some of the law firms that seemed to be at the cheaper end of the market while it was still quiet on the street. By mid-afternoon she found a guy who would accept payment for the first consultation up front and agree a payment plan based on estimated work following that. He was based in Queensboro, so she figured it would be easier to combine the counselling sessions with Julie and meeting her lawyer at the same time made perfect sense to cut down travel time. Feeling smug and extremely hungry now, she opted to close the store for 5 minutes while she ran down the street for a bagel and coffee.

It was mid-afternoon when Polly called her to share the news of the meeting.

"So do you want the good news or the really fucking amazing news?"

"Really?! It's a long time since I ever had a choice like that….I kind of want to savour the moment now…."

"Seriously?! Oh my God, I'm in love with that man! He was brilliant Piper, like totally amazing."

"I haven't heard you get this excited about a man since Ched Kavinski kissed you for giving him a cigarette in High School."

"Well he was THAT good. So, anyway…he's given me some details for new businesses to transition from start up grants with new funding schemes, told me about locations where we could get a great deal on renting shop space that would be cheaper than Brooklyn, looked at ways we can cut our running costs….God there's so much to tell you. My head is spinning with it all. Can you come round to mine tonight when you lock up and we can go over it with some wine to celebrate?"

"Wow, OK. That sounds pretty full on. Have you made notes?"

"Of course I have! I knew Miss Chapman would check my work later, so I've done my homework. Call me later OK? I've got to call Pete. Bye!"

Piper picked up a bottle of wine on the way and was at Polly's place by 7pm. They went through the meeting in detail, with Piper checking everything twice and making her own notes before Polly closed her notebook over and refilled her wine glass.

"OK, my head is banging from doing this for 48 hours already. Can we not talk about work for a bit now?"

"There's so much to do Pol. I feel like we need to make a start while the intel is still fresh. There might be another artisanal soap and bath products company who met with hi today who are writing their new business plan right now…" Piper warned, opening her notebook again.

"All work and no play makes Piper an exceedingly dull drinking companion. Are you staying here tonight?" Polly closed over the notebook again and moved it out of reach before Piper could stop her.

"I'll probably head home, then I can get changed. Are you going to take the day off and rest a bit like we agreed?"

"Yes! A thousand times yes! I'm also going to finish this bottle and make sure I don't wake up early."

Piper smiled sheepishly, knowing that going home tonight on the subway would at least mean she wouldn't drink too much tonight.

"Good, you deserve it. I need some time off on Friday again OK? I've got another counselling session and I think I've found a lawyer to represent me in the court case. I'll see them both on Friday morning, but I don't know how long I'll be with the legal guy for yet."

"No problem. Are you seeing the guy Alex used?"

"No. I've found my own."

Polly raised her eyebrows. "OK, well if you think he's the man for the job then great. How come you're seeing Sarah so much at the moment?"

"Huh? I'm not. In fact, we just cut back the visits…." Piper realised Polly thought she would be seeing her again on Friday.

"Ah, right. OK, I see why you thought that." She opted to tell a half truth and explain it was counselling for sexual assault, but that it was for the attack in December instead of open up a whole can of worms she couldn't talk about all over again.

"Oh, you didn't say anything about it last week?" Polly seemed hurt by the omission.

"Well, I was trying it out last week really. I wasn't totally convinced it was worth my while going. You know how sceptical I am of these talking about your feelings sessions." Piper shrugged and drank a gulp of her wine.

"Well I think it's a good thing. You weren't really facing this head on before, but it seems like you've finally got your head in the right place to get the help you need. And you've also drunk less wine than me tonight, so it's getting better I think?" Polly's intonation said she wanted Piper to verify that as being right.

"Yeah, I guess." She shrugged, while avoiding Polly's eyes.

"What? It isn't getting better?"

"No. I mean, yes it is." Piper sighed at not being able to convey her thoughts and emotions in a way that her best friend could hope to understand.

"It's complicated."

"It always is when you're involved P. What's complicated?"

Piper fidgeted with the stem of her wine glass, not sure whether to talk to her friend about this or not.

"Piper, you can tell me. Are you drinking again?"

"No! I've been really good."

"Your Mother? Has she been setting you up on dates again?"

"No, I've barely heard from her actually."

"Alex then?"

"It's not really Alex…."

"Which means it is really Alex. Have you two kissed and made up now?"

"No. I've not heard from her since we argued on Sunday."

"Oh. Is that what's wrong with you? Alex isn't pandering to your every need?"

"Fuck off. It's not like that." Polly sensed she had hit a raw nerve with that joke comment.

"I was only joking P. Maybe she thinks you need some space?" Polly leaned against the couch with the side of her head, regarding Piper carefully.

"Maybe. Or she's sulking because I won't do everything on her terms."

Polly was puzzled. "What terms?"

"When she wanted me to use her lawyer."

"Ah yes, the lawyer you chose yourself to prove the point that you don't have to do everything on her terms."

"Exactly. I'm quite capable of working things out on my own."

"And this is why you're not in a happy place? Because Alex offered to give you her lawyer's number and you didn't want it?"

"Ugh!" Piper dropped her head back onto the couch briefly and closed her eyes.

"Not just that. There's other stuff as well. I just – You know what, it doesn't fucking matter. Tonight was a time to celebrate a new direction for PoPi and I'm not going to put a dampener on that. We've had far too much depressing news lately and we should celebrate the good things when they happen. Let's enjoy the moment and finish that bottle so I can make the subway." Piper changed the subject to one of Polly's favourites – Pete, and the subject of Alex and counselling was dropped without haste.

XXXXX

They'd had a really good meeting with a company in Providence on Thursday morning and Nicky was in the mood to celebrate, persuading Alex to drive them to Province Town despite her reservations.

"Come on, it will be good to kick back and relax!"

"The fact that it's the gayest holiday destination on the east coast has absolutely nothing to do with your choosing here in particular then?"

"Of course not!" Nicky scoffed.

"Yeah, right." Alex shook her head.

"Your song is on Stretch." Nicky leaned over and turned the volume up on the radio so the drum beat was pounding through the car. "Whoah Black Betty, bam-a-lam…" Nicky belted out whilst grinning at Alex and drumming her palms on the dash, stopping only for air guitar mimes. Alex resisted the urge to join in and tried to hide the smile forming on her face as her friend bounced around in the passenger seat for the duration of the song.

The song faded out and Alex turned the volume back down as the radio host started talking.

"Better now?"

"Much. Gotta love me some Ram Jam." Nicky pushed her hair back into place as they turned into the main car park and Alex parked up, cutting the engine. They pulled their bags out and headed to a little hotel on the main beach area, checking into their rooms and agreeing to meet up in an hour. Alex got a quick shower and changed into some skinny black jeans and a black silk shirt which she kept open to half way down her chest, applying some red lipstick and her trademark eyeliner before pulling her black heels on.

Nicky whistled as she walked down the staircase to meet her.

"Nice Vause! Very nice! If you need a hand getting out of those tight jeans later on, I'd be happy to oblige." Nicky winked as Alex got to the bottom.

"Thanks for the offer, but I think I can handle it." The taller woman smiled.

"Well, I've picked up that red nail polish for my toes if you change your mind." Nicky's eyebrows danced as she pushed Alex towards the door.

"Seriously?"

"No. But I'll go and get some if it will get your juices flowing."

Alex scrunched her face and pointed towards a bar over the road. "My juices will be safe behind a dam of fidelity thank you very much."

"Well there's a fuckin' first."

They ordered a couple of beers from the bar and headed over to a booth to check out the menu. Nicky downed half of her cold bottle as Alex perused the burgers.

"Someone's a thirsty bird."

"You'd better believe it. Same again? " Nicky was already on her way to the bar and brought back a couple more beers for them before speaking again. "So are you going to lighten up any time soon? Cos I gotta tell you, I'll drop your ass tonight if your mopey face interferes with my gaydar beams."

"I'm not mopey." Alex scowled at her.

"Sure you are. You've been mopey since Sunday, when Chapmangate happened."

Alex rolled her eyes and gripped the menu harder, having nowhere to hide from Nicky's piercing eyes.

"So I've waited 4 days already for you to lighten up or vent or talk about your feelings and shit. So far, nada. This is like my first holiday for 6 months and you're killing me with this strong and silent vibe right now."

"Nicky…."

"So, what's the deal?"

"I don't want to talk about this. If I wanted to talk about it, I probably would have by now." The brunette clenched her jaw and kept her eyes on the food options, silently hoping Nicky would leave it alone.

"How about 20 questions then? OK. I know it's a Chapman thing already…..I just need to establish a motive…..Has she dumped you?"

"No!"

"Has she gone all bunny boiler obsessed with you?"

"No Nicky."

"Has she given you an STD?"

"Nicky! Eww."

"That wasn't a no…."

"It was a no."

"Blue labia?"

"What?"

"It's like the girl equivalent of blue balls."

"Gross. You're so very gross."

"Also not a no. I think I'm getting warmer…."

"You're not getting warmer. You're getting into a line of questioning that is none of your damned business."

"OK…..I'm sensing you'd rather share than let me finish my questions now." Nicky raised her eyebrows, waiting for Alex to break her silence.

"Jesus H Christ!" Alex ran her hand through her hair before lifting her glasses onto her head. "Look, we had an argument on Sunday. She won't let me help her, with like, ANYTHING at the moment. She's a complete control freak over everything and gets pissy if I try and offer help. I feel like I can't do right for doing everything wrong and I'm not going to apologise for it every time." Alex sighed and rubbed her face with her palm before taking a few big gulps of her beer.

"OK. That's progress." Nicky shrugged.

Alex put her bottle down a little heavier than expected.

"No Nic, it isn't. That's the whole fucked up point. Piper always used to prefer it when I made decisions and told her how to do something. I can't get my head around the fact it's the same person I'm in a relationship with, yet a whole different person at the same time…It's like I know her inside and out, but I don't know her at all. All the rules have changed and I haven't got a copy of them to refer to. I don't know whether to call her out on bullshit, take the punches and hope she comes around or ignore it and let her do the running. It's fucked up every which way I look at it."

"Wow…..probably NOT an STD then."

"An STD I could at least sort with a trip to Walgreens." Alex bemoaned as she peeled the label off her bottle.

"It's fucked up when you're wishing you had an STD, I gotta tell you."

"I know." Alex stretched her arms above her head before pressing her palms down on the table.

"I'm no expert….but have you tried calling her?"

"No. I took the 'let her do the running' option on this one. No fucking idea if that option leads to a trap door, but I wasn't in a mulling the options kind of mood when I chucked her out of the van."

"Right. But 4 days have passed since then. You could have chosen any other option since that day."

"Why should I Nic? I always do the running. I always drop whatever I'm doing to pick her up, drop her off, call and check she's eating. Why the fuck can't she call me hey? Why can't she pick up the phone and see how the Rigoveri contract has gone this week? Maybe even apologise for acting like a kid with her tantrum?" Alex was getting increasingly animated as she spoke and the frustration at the situation she was in was emanating from every pore of her pale skin.

Nicky drank some more beer and thought for a while before answering when it was clear that Alex was finished venting.

"I don't know dude. I don't know the answers to any of those questions."

"You and me both."

"I do know that this woman gets to you like nobody I've ever seen. She broke your heart once and I can see she's capable of doing it again. Maybe you see that too and that's why you're so messed up." Nicky spoke softly now, watching her friend carefully as she spoke to check she wasn't crossing a line by talking about a forbidden topic.

Alex felt a sudden lump in her throat and she tried to swallow it down with another swig of her beer, taking her time to hide her discomfort from Nicky.