It was time for breakfast and Nicky was looking forward to some food. She hadn't eaten in almost two days but it felt like a week.

She walked into the cafeteria, somehow being able to avoid conversation with the people that mattered to her up until now. She looked over into the kitchen and made eye contact with Red who then started walking over to the family table. She needed her support, this wasn't going to happen without Red by her side.

"Nicky!" Morello screamed as she walked into the cafeteria and saw Nicky sitting down with Red across from her.

Nicky stood up and they hugged tightly for several moments.

"Where were you? We were all so worried! Oh, it doesn't matter, you're back!" Nicky was relieved that she didn't question further about where she was. Her and Red did have a plan in place but it didn't include how Nicky would answer that question, perhaps it was something they should have went over.

The rest of the family started coming in one by one and immediately upon seeing Nicky, they hugged her and expressed how happy they were that she was back.

After they were settled down and eating, Red cleared her throat as if she was about to say something very important. She looked at Nicky who was looking just beyond Red to something that had made Nicky's face go as pale as a ghost.

Red was about to ask what was wrong when she heard a voice that froze her heart for two beats.

"Inmate Reznikov."

Red kept locked eyes on Nicky's for as long as she could while turning her head to the direction of her future death sentence.

"Yes?"

"Mr. Healy would like to see you in his office now." He grabbed her forcefully by the arm and moved her along out of the cafeteria.

Red looked back at Nicky and mouthed "It's ok" as she disappeared around the corner.

"Nicky relax." Morello spoke softly as she was looking at Nicky's hands which were balled into fists so tight her knuckles turned white. "You alright?"

"Yeah. Everything is alright." Nicky replied, looking Morello in the eyes to convey her sincerity. Nicky just hoped it wasn't a lie.

Piscatella pushed Red into Healy's office and pulled the door closed, leaving Red and Healy alone. Turning her attention away from the door and looking at Healy for the first time, she looked at him as though she had been stranded on a dessert island for months and he was the boat that would take her home.

"Sit down, Red." Healy said unusually gentle. Sure, he was always soft spoken with her but Red noticed that it was softer somehow. She did as she was told.

"CO Piscatella told me what happened." He said softly.

" Everything?" Red was terrified for herself, and for Nicky.

"Yes."

"Oh my God." Red ran her fingers through her hair, pushing it back and creating even more spikey pieces.

"May I see your neck?" Healy asked, afraid of pushing her too far.

Reluctantly, Red showed him.

A small gasp escaped his lips. "I would've never thought this would happen Red, especially with you."

They were silent for a few moments.

"So what happens now?" She was eager for some type of action to be taken place.

"Well, from what I can tell you have a good handle on your mind set so I don't think sending you to psych would be appropriate. But I think a careful eye and some counseling sessions should be ok." Healy explained, grabbing a pen and paper and signing the bottom of it.

"What?" Red was very confused wen Healy had mentioned the psych ward.

"Red, when you try to commit suicide some type of corrective behavioral actions need to be taken place." explained Healy.

"Suicide?" The word in relation to her was so far removed that it almost sounded comical on her ears.

"Piscatella found you in the kitchen with a noose around your neck standing on a table. Just as he was walking into the kitchen, you stepped off of the table and were hanging but he got to you quick enough so you only have those nasty marks all around your neck."

Red's eyes began to tear up and there wasn't a way she could stop them. This could not be happening.

"I know," Healy started, offering Red a box of tissues. "It can be a hard thing to come to terms with. But Red this is not the way you should be trying to handle things. I mean think about what it would do to your girls, to Nichols?"

At the mention of Nicky her cries became harder.

"Did anyone find out what happened to her? All of a sudden she is back this morning." Red wanted to know.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, CO Piscatella told me just before he came to get you that he had a conversation with Nichols this morning. She said she didn't know what she was thinking, one minute she wanted fresh air and the next she wakes up in the woods from the best sleep she ever had. Said she must've found a patch of grass softer than the mattresses." Healy chuckled at the last sentence.

"That's not what happened." Red tried to explain.

"Red, you can't deny reality. The evidence is clear; I mean look at your neck. And on top of that, you've seen Nichols this morning, she is her normal self." Healy gestured a hand to help explain his point.

"That's not what happened." Red repeated, a little more forcefully than before.

"Ok," he sighed, "Maybe we do need to check you into psych for your own good."

"No!" Red said almost standing up.

Red had no idea what to say. She was in disbelief and her fear was only made far greater by the realization that there wasn't a way for her to convince Healy that Piscatella wasn't telling the truth.

"So, counseling sessions?" Red decided to play it as safe as she could in this situation.

"Yes, 3 times a week."

"In here? Or can we do them outside? I enjoy the sunshine." Red pulled the best line she could from her ass to try and avoid being sent to psych.

"Oh it won't be with me. CO Piscatella said that since he saved you, he feels connected with you in this situation and insisted he be the one to give the sessions." Healy said, returning to sign another section of a document.

Red didn't know if her face was as pale as Nicky's was just moments ago but it sure felt like it. What was happening? Was she having a nightmare? Was any of this real life? Red couldn't feel, see or hear anything other than her rapid heart beating in her ears.

"Healy I…I…umm…" Red stammered.

"Red?"

"Can you please be the one to give the sessions. Please, we are already so open with each other that it'll be easier. I don't even know him. I won't be able to open up and get to the root of the problem with him." Red purposely avoided saying his name, simultaneously knowing she couldn't physically say I anyways.

"That does make sense. Ok, we will go with that then." Healy complied and Red was so relived she could cry again, something she saw a lot of happening in her near future.

"Will Nicky be punished? Red's mind now couldn't leave her girl.

"No, and you know this, we spoke about it a couple of days before she showed up."

"Right, I know I just wanted to be sure." Red needed some type of comfort.

"You might want to go talk to her now though. I'm sure she is concerned with your well-being." Healy gave a small smile.

And just like that, Red was rewarded with her comfort she so desperately needed.