Vera Bennett was the worst passenger on earth. It wasn't loud talking, changing the radio station nor shifting in her seat. Her small fingers were wandering up Joan's thigh, making the woman's usually composed mind dull. For the first time in her life she drove though a red light, drawing police's attention and causing her deputy to laugh. Joan had to stop the car. It went quickly but the giggling woman on the passenger seat and driver's flushed cheeks were evident.

The Governor didn't even glance at the other woman. She wanted to be angry at her for disturbance but Vera's actions made her extremely aroused. That wasn't the best moment to feel that way. She took a deep breath to calm herself. Vera was looking at her with curiosity, patiently waiting for her next move. She watched her superior, focused on the road, driving into a parking lot and pulling over.

Joan unfastened her seat belt. She took the keys out of ignition and put them inside the pocket of her slacks. She got out of the car and leaned on it with her back. Vera, not sure what was occurring, got out as well.

"Why did you pull over?" She asked in confusion. Her head was barely visible from the other side of the car.

Joan didn't turn around to face the other woman. She gulped dry and looked into the empty space, trying to find the proper words. She didn't want to do this. She didn't want to tell Vera anything. "You'll think less of me."

Vera made her way towards the other woman. She was standing in front of her as she spoke. "What can be worse than Hep C?"

The Governor loosened her tie and ran her hand through her grey streaked hair. Her breath became heavier than it was. She took the tie off and unbuttoned top buttons of her shirt. The cool air sent a wave of goosebumps up her cheeks. "I don't know where I should start." She pressed herself more into the car and put her hands on it.

Vera narrowed her eyes. This new face of her Governor was quite unsettling. She preferred when the tall woman had control over her. However, she wanted to hear the true Joan, not the one who lacked empathy or any other feelings.

"Everything you've heard about Jianna is nothing but the truth." She let out a long sigh.

The shorter woman was looking at Joan as long as it took to get her attention. She's learnt this technique from Ferguson. The only difference was that she was piercing holes through the other's thick skull with her eyes. "I'm not sure I understand. You shagged an inmate?" She asked foolishly, surprised at her vocabulary.

"It wasn't a shag, as you put it." Her voice raised slightly. "She was one month pregnant when she got to prison. She gave birth a few weeks before her term. She got a permission to keep the baby with her. After a few weeks, a social worker got informed about the situation and took her little boy away. She," She sobbed. "killed herself soon after that." Her voice cracked and got barely audible but Vera heard enough. The Governor's legs gave away but the deputy caught her in time. She couldn't hold her for long with her small frame. Joan tried to stand still. "I found her, Vera." She added wiped the tears away with the back of her hands.

The smaller woman didn't expect to react so emotional. She felt her eyes water. She closed her eyes for a few seconds and cleared her throat. "What about you and her?"

"When she to to Blackmore, she was scared of what she might experience inside. I promised her to protect her. She was so small, so vulnerable. I was paying her visits quite often. They consisted of nothing but conversations. We grew fond of one another. When she was further with her pregnancy, I promised her to help her get through it. By the time I was sure about the certainty of my feelings towards her." A smile sneaked to Governor's face and stayed there for a while.

Vera smiled as well, seeing sparkles in her eyes. Those weren't the remainings of tears. That was a look of joy. It wasn't enough for the deputy. She felt like she needed to ask for more. "Are you going to tell me about the really good part?" She winked but opened her eyes wide at Joan's irritated expression. "Sorry, I was just..."

"Vera, Vera, Vera. Did being a virgin for so long make you so horny or it's just the way you are?" She asked, her lips slightly twitching, showing her dimple. The other woman rolled her eyes and Joan went back to her story. "We grew intimate but we weren't shagging. We were making love. It was just a few times and we were limited to her cell. It stopped when she gave birth, of course, but it never happened again. I promised her so many things and I didn't get to keep any of them. I could have done something. I could have been with her that night." She had white salty trails of tears on her cheeks and dry lips. She leaned away from the car and opened her door. Noticing that, Vera circled the car and returned to her seat. When the Governor was about to start the car, she looked deeply into blue eyes. "You need to know there's more to this." She spoke every word carefully. Vera blinked at her, waiting for her to continue. "Her death changed me."

"How?" It was the only think she could ask about.

"How do you think I gained my nickname?" Vera furrowed her brow in confusion. "The Freak."