Note: I've been writing this story on my mobile. Google seemed to update its words format, the bugs just lost me several progresses in this chapter. Sorry for the delay as I had to rewrite quite a few times. Thanks for all the fav/fol/rev.
Chapter 8
Piper was summoned to Howard's office. Red, her powers training instructor, had also joined the meeting. She didn't particularly want to know what had gone through Howard's mind when he caught her in the SHU. She wondered how he'd interpret the whole thing and translate it to Larry.
Shit. Piper realized that it was the first time she'd thought of Larry today. Occupying the chair in front of Howard's desk, with Red to her right, she looked up at Howard. She opened her mouth to speak, but he beat her to it.
"I informed Larry about the attack as soon as I received the news. Throughout the week that you'd been unconscious, I constantly updated him of your progress. As of today, I've already informed him that you have awakened. He asked if he could come see you, but I refused. He'll be waiting for your evening call as usual. I hope that you're feeling well enough to make a phone call."
Piper sensed a hint of sarcasm in his last statement, but decided to ignore it. Howard was right to be suspicious about her behaviors around Alex. And the truth was that Piper felt too ill to be bothered making an excuse. She could barely sit straight on the chair. "Of course, I... I'll make the call. I can't wait to hear from him again. And thank you for letting him know about the attack. I wouldn't want him to go crazy, not knowing why I hadn't contacted him for a week."
"He already went nuts just to learn that you were injured. But that's for another time." Howard cleared his throat, shifting in his seat. "This is the second time you've broken the rules, Piper. I know that it's hard to adjust to this new life. It must be frustrating with this whole superpowers ordeal, the life with limited freedom, being away from family and friends, but you've proven to be unwilling to cooperate. The SHU is off-limit, yet you still went for it. I tried to overlook when you attacked Alex Vause more than a week ago, but you've done it again. Normally if a resident continued to cause problems, they would be sent to the secured unit, and if the problems persisted, they'd be sent to the SHU. I don't want you, or anyone, to go down that road. Surely you've seen what it's like in the SHU."
Piper paused. How could she forget how they strapped Alex down like a wounded, helpless animal? "What does she have to do to be released? I heard that she lost control, and almost hurt other people, but she was just fighting to save herself. I saw her being attacked. She'd be dead by now if I hadn't interfered in time. That lizard monster was insane."
Howard looked even more unimpressed now. "I've just told you the consequences that you might face if you break the rules again, but all you could say is to try to make excuses for Vause?" He sat back, his hands clasped together. "Perhaps I've been too lenient on you."
"What is your relation with Vause?" Red spoke, turning to gaze at Piper.
"Old friends. We had a dispute some years ago, but we're good friends again… Now." Piper knew that she couldn't lie to these two, but in all honesty, she didn't particularly care to convince anyone at the moment. She just wanted to get Alex out of there. "Please, it wasn't entirely her fault. She was attacked. She was forced to use her powers. I know that she failed to control herself, but... I-I think I can stop her. I stopped her in the SHU. The thing is that she needs helps. But being in the SHU just terrified her. It's not helping her. But I can help. I want to help."
Red darkly chuckled. "You cannot even control your own powers very well, young woman."
"I am aware of my shortcomings at times, but I can prove it to you. I am in so much, umm, I'm better in tune with my powers ever since I got here. And I feel that Alex could-"
"Vause had years of trainings, yet she still lost it. Of course, we all slip at times, but never cross the line and harm others." Howard sighed, his face grim. "I know that you mean well, Piper. But we're talking about fatal threats here. It's not only about Vause's powers being one of the risks, but her involvement with a certain syndicate during the past eight years. We know very little about what went on with her during those times. Even her best friend, Nichols, didn't know everything."
"A syndicate?" Piper raced through her mind for some clues from the past, but the increasing headache just made it next to impossible. Slowly she massaged her right temple, trying not to make it too obvious.
"Would you like to rest? We could continue this conversation some other times," Howard said. He did sound genuinely worried for her, and it touched her.
Red leaned closer to Piper, studying her. "The syndicate collects superheroes to work against the government, and ultimately, to ruin Litchfield's purpose to peacefully coexist with ordinary humans. Now I ask you this. Do you know anything about the syndicate? People like George Mendez, the lizard man. How did you become 'good friends' with dangerous, murky kind of people like Vause?"
Her hand lowered to rest on her thigh, Piper blinked at Red, keeping her face calm. "No, I had never met Mendez before that night." She was telling the truth. Alex had mentioned the syndicate she had been involved in, but never in deep details.
But Piper had met someone else from the ring. Fahri. She remembered how Alex practically worshipped the dark-skinned man. He was like a brother to Alex, a big influence in her life. Somehow Piper was never fond of him even though they had hung out several times together. He had Alex's life wrapped around his fingers. In the end, whatever love Alex and Piper once shared, Alex had chosen them over her.
Howard cleared his throat before taking a sip of his coffee. "The reason we took Vause back is that we want to keep her close. We need to know our enemy better. But things have escalated much faster than we expected. We thought that Vause came back as a spy, but now it's pretty clear that she's fallen out with them and is wanted dead. But that doesn't automatically make her one of us again. Given her history, she can't be trusted. We only keep her here for precautions. One less member for the syndicate, a lot less problems for us."
Piper just nodded. "Yes… yes, I agree."
Red sent one glance at Howard before reaching out and touching Piper's arm. "The more you can tell us about Vause's involvement with the syndicate, the faster she'd be out of the SHU."
Piper groaned as sunlight hit her eyes.
Daya had pulled the curtains open, letting in some morning light. "Good morning, Chapman."
"Morning," Piper said reflexively. Was it morning already? She rubbed her eyes with her good hand, trying to recall what happened yesterday. The SHU. The meeting. The deal.
Fuck. I forgot to call Larry. Piper remembered leaving Howard's office and went straight back to the infirmary. She found her bed, and the rest of the day was spent on a long, deep slumber. She was too tired to even dream. Yawning, she actually felt a little hungry now. "What time is it?"
"Almost ten," the nurse replied. She moved to Piper's bed and put a small medicine cup on the bedside table. "Two for the pain. If the headache doesn't go away, call for me." She smiled before turning to place another medicine cup on the adjacent table. She glanced back at Piper, and said, "Please remind her to take the pills. She's going to need them when she wakes up."
Piper watched Daya, perplexed, but then froze when the nurse moved away, revealing a sleeping form on the bed next to hers. Someone had been occupying the space. So close, yet too close to see.
Alex groaned in her sleep, possibly irritated by the warm sunlight coming through the windows, pooling over her. She tried to shift away from the source of annoyance, but could hardly move before falling back to the same position again. Perhaps, she had unknowingly moved too much, and the pain stirred her out of slumber. Green eyes fluttered open, staring absentmindedly at the ceiling.
Piper watched the raven-haired woman, mesmerized by those eyes she used to love. She had accepted the deal, and Howard and Red really kept their words and let Alex out of the SHU. She just sighed in pure relief when she saw no restraints on Alex's body.
Slowly Alex turned her head to the side, and halted at the sight of Piper staring back at her.
"Good morning." Piper smiled.
Alex's eyes widened slightly. Her full lips split into a childlike grin, although still groggy and tired. Pink flushed her sickly pale cheeks. "Morning."
Piper cherished the sight before her, grinning from ear to ear. "I need a coffee. I can smell it miles away. Those bastards are having their coffees in the cafeteria. Do you want a coffee?"
"Maybe."
Piper listened to the husky whisper.
"Maybe I need more."
That voice got her every time.
Piper and Alex spent their day in the infirmary, going over their injury lists. Piper was quite proud of it since it was her first physical fight in her entire life. Even though she got her ass kicked major time, she still felt that she had toughened up somehow. It excited her. It gave her a new sort of energy, a deadly rush she had never felt before.
"It was crazy. I thought he broke your neck or something," Alex said. She was leaning back against the stack of pillows, already a novel in her hands, borrowed from Ms. Claudette's collections. Although her voice was calm, Piper could catch the understated anger, but decided to ignore it.
"A lot of people thought so too. Well, it must have been my sub-consciousness or something. I must have destroyed the roof somehow without knowing it."
"Jeez, Pipes, it was my lightning that destroyed it. Ego much?"
A moment of silence passed. Piper stared across the small space between their beds. "You struck the roof? You struck it while I was up there?"
Alex lowered the book to her lap. "I had to get him off you somehow, right?"
"You could have killed me then! No, thank you!"
"But it worked. I saved your ass." Alex giggled, but then coughed through it.
"Your ego is astounding. I have no words for it."
"So now it's my fault? Something never changed." Alex rolled her eyes.
Piper shook her head. "Oh, I've changed a lot. You'll be surprised." She then gestured at the bandages around her legs and feet. "For instance, those are war wounds. Just imagine. Now I've got the coolest story to tell. Piper Elizabeth Chapman fought the lizard monster!"
Alex chuckled as she returned to her reading. "I'm not sure if your fiancé would be thrilled to hear that."
Piper glanced at Alex. She can't tell if Alex was just joking or being sarcastic. It did disappoint her that Alex could mention Larry without much thought. Piper berated herself. What did she expect? Did she want Alex to feel jealous like when she thought of Fiona or Jessica?
"Alex!" Jessica marched in through the doors. The bruises on her face looked better now. Her blonde hair had returned to being silky and straight. Piper bet that it smelled nice too, and unconsciously she touched her own messy, blonde locks.
"Hey, Jess." Alex smiled lightly as Jessica came to sit at the edge of her bed.
Quickly, Piper grabbed the iPad on her bedside table and pretended to be using it.
"I heard that they let you out of the SHU today. How are you feeling? I couldn't believe that they put you in there while you were badly injured! I tried talking to Mr. Healy, but he wouldn't listen. He was just so thrilled to bust you. Thank God that Mr. Bloom got back yesterday. He saved you from that wretched place." Jessica wasn't even trying to hide the concerns in her eyes and voice. She placed a palm over Alex's forehead, and sighed in relief when Alex's fever hadn't been too bad.
Alex mustered a dry smile. "At least I was unconscious for most of the lock up. I didn't even know I was there. Anyway, I've been to the SHU before, so it's nothing new."
Alex might have put up a nonchalant façade, but Piper could still catch the hint of dread in those green eyes. Surely Alex remembered how scared she was in the SHU. Being restrained in a confinement such as that would terrify anyone. Then she wondered if Alex remembered her brief visit-if the woman knew that she cared.
"In fact, you sent me there the first time, remember?" Chuckling, Alex brushed her nose with the back of her hand.
Piper frowned, whilst keeping her gaze on the iPad. Alex had runny nose. Did Alex catch a cold?
Jessica stiffened at the mention, and then both of them burst out fits of giggles. Alex, however, had to stop soon as she put a hand on her left rib. "You started it, Alex! You put a roach in my soup!"
Alex rolled her eyes, lowering her hands to her lap, playing with the book. "It was just a roach. Thanks to you. At sixteen, I was the youngest person ever to go to the SHU."
"Well, I'm sorry." Jessica's apology took Piper by surprise, and Piper involuntarily looked up. "I didn't know that Mr. Healy would go that far. He really hates your guts."
"Don't I know that," Alex muttered, and then glanced at Piper's way.
Their gazes locked, and Piper panicked. "What?" She sounded more curt than she had intended.
Jessica growled at Piper. "We saved your ass that night, Chapman. You should be thanking us."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Alex muffled her laugh, looking away when Jessica scowled at her.
"Can you be serious for once?" Jessica chastised Alex with an intense stare, and Piper didn't like it one bit.
Jessica then turned her attention back to Piper. "So much troubles have happened ever since you moved here, Chapman. What's with you and the lizard guy? You got Alex injured, almost killed, and then sent her to the SHU for trying to save you."
Piper looked at Alex, who stiffened at once.
"It's not her fault. Mendez was here for me, not Piper," Alex explained.
"But you lost control, trying to save her, because she couldn't defend herself. Then you got punished for it. How many more times this has to happen?" Jessica crossed her arms across her chest.
Piper paused. They had told her that Alex had lost control and had almost hurt Ms. Claudette and Jessica, but not the reason that caused it. "What do you want? An apology? Will that erase the week in the SHU?" She sighed in frustration, clutching the blanket over her legs. She'd be the last person on earth to want to see Alex being chained like an animal, but she was as powerless as Alex was, with or without the chains.
Alex adjusted her glasses, looking away.
"What I meant was that you should stay away from Alex. She kept getting into serious troubles whenever you're around. Get well soon. Learn fast. So you could leave Litchfield and get back to your fiancé."
As much as Piper hated Jessica's tone of voice, she decided not to respond. She kept quiet for another two hours until Jessica left the infirmary. By then, her iPad had run out of battery. She grumbled, making a mental note to tell Polly to leave the charger here next time.
"Hey," Alex whispered, sipping water through a straw. She sounded tired after a long chat. Piper honestly thought that Jessica had tried too hard.
Piper loudly groaned as she moved her legs to the more comfortable positions.
"I'm sure Jess didn't mean to sound as harsh. She doesn't have the friendliest manners as you can see."
"It's cool, Alex. It's great to see you get along so well with the ice princess. I can't careless what she says or thinks about me. Don't worry." Piper winced at the pain as she rolled to her side, facing away from Alex. She recalled all the mean laughs and cruel jokes Jessica used to make of Alex at the dinning table. People had strange ways to conceal their true feelings, indeed.
My feelings… Piper irritably sighed, trying to brush the thought away. "You lost control because of me?" she asked before she could stop herself.
A long silence. "I thought you were dead."
Piper shut her eyes, embracing the fact that Alex had cared about her. Alex still cared so much that it scared and excited her at the same time. And she felt bad. She felt guilty, knowing that she shouldn't have any of these thoughts or feelings when she was already engaged.
"I lost control, but it's really my fault. Don't let them tell you otherwise."
Piper couldn't help it. She smiled foolishly, knowing that Alex couldn't see it.
"I'm sorry that I'd tried to lead you astray years ago. But this is where you truly belong, where you'll be safe. Litchfield is your home, Pipes." The words came soft, and they effortlessly stopped Piper's world.
With some difficulties, Piper looked over her shoulder to see the watchful, green eyes behind the pair of black-rimmed glasses. "What about you? Is it your home too?"
Alex shrugged. "I've burnt my bridges one after another. I don't know what it's going to be."
But Piper knew the answer very well. Alex would leave Litchfield. The fact that Mendez found her here was no accident. Alex knew that she wasn't safe here, and the residents probably didn't feel as safe either. "Where are you going to go? Do you have any supports or protections out there? Any relatives? Anyone?"
Alex sighed, but with a jaded smile. "I'm pretty much on my own."
"I think Mr. Bloom can help you."
"Fuck, Pipes. I'm never gonna ask for his money."
Piper sat up, concern in her eyes. "I meant that he might be able to help you with places to rent. But what, Alex? You don't have any money? What happened to your savings? Last time you told me that there were at least two millions."
Piper remembered those luxurious trips and fancy dinners Alex used to take her to. She had some idea of what Alex's work was, involving the syndicate that recruited superheroes, but she never knew where the money came from. She thought it was likely dirty money. And if she was given another chance now, she would have said 'no' to those adventurous offers. She was young, reckless and selfish. She was in love with the wrong person, turning at every wrong turns. Yes, the fact that she was lying in bed, sick as fuck, should have confirmed her that the love they shared was never meant to be. What they had wasn't real.
"I spent all of it. I'm pretty fucked." Alex ran her hand through her hair.
Piper didn't ask any further. She didn't want to think of Alex spending it all on other women.
Then Alex carefully got up. Her breathing was a little ragged, her movements sluggish. Sitting by the edge of the bed, she took a moment to breathe, brushing her hair from her face.
"Where are you going?" Piper didn't like the idea of Alex moving too much, fearing the woman would end up hurting herself again.
"I have to make a phone call. I haven't called mom for over a month. She must be really worried."
"Diane...?" Piper blinked. "Your mom is alive?"
"Of course." Alex looked perplexed.
Piper groaned in exasperation. "What the fuck, Alex!? You told me Diane died the day we broke up. You were crying!"
It took Alex a moment before she slapped her forehead. "Crap."
Piper's jaw dropped. "Who fucking lied about their mother's death? Why the hell did you do that!?"
"I… I didn't want you to leave." Mumbling, Alex scratched the back of her neck.
Blue eyes were wide, Piper shook her head. "I cannot believe this. Alex, were you mad?"
"I was madly in love with you. I couldn't stand you leaving. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have lied." Alex looked down, biting her bottom lip. Hands balled on her lap, she looked like a child being caught in a naughty act.
Looking away, Piper couldn't help but sigh. She wanted to scold at the woman more, but she just couldn't. "God, Al, what else did you lie to me?"
It was almost eight in the evening when Alex finally made her way down the corridor, careful with each step. She was wearing a gray jacket over her thin, blue hospital gown. Her white slippers made little sounds as she walked. She felt tired, her body aching, but she had been put to sleep for the whole of last week, and she just wanted to stay awake for as long as she could.
Alex put her hands in her jacket pockets. In truth, she was just afraid to go back to sleep, fearing that she might wake again in the SHU.
'What else did you lie to me?'
The question kept echoing in her head. Alex hadn't replied, and Piper hadn't talked to her again for the rest of the day. She had lied so much in her life that she couldn't quite remember what and when. And she didn't expect Piper to believe her now. As dire as it may sound, she felt that it was the way it was supposed to be for them. Whatever feelings that their reunion had provoked were just remnants of their old flame. It was a dying fire. Nothing more.
Alex walked into the empty canteen. Three vending machines stood to the right. A pair of black couches, and a few sets of round tables and chairs were arranged to the left. Two phone booths were at the far back. Luckily, she didn't have to go all the way back to the South Mansion to make a call.
Sitting down at one of the booths, Alex swiped the card. She had borrowed the phone credits from Nicky a week ago. She dialed, and waited.
"Alex!?"
Alex smiled to hear her mother sounding as healthy and fierce as usual. "I'm sorry I disappeared. Are you ok?"
"I'm fine! Are you ok, baby? You had me worried sick!"
Alex glanced over her shoulder, scanning the empty area. "How are you holding up? Do you follow my instructions?"
"My name is Katherine Sumner. No supermarkets. No appointments. No calls. Online orders only. If I must, leaving apartment only after dark, and only for a short amount of time. Never talk to anyone. What is going on?" Diane sounded distraught.
"It's for your safety. I'm sorry that you have to go through this."
"What kind of trouble are you in? This seems to be very serious. Are you really ok? Are you hurt?"
Alex put her glasses up over her head and pinched the bridge of her nose. "I'm fine. I can take care of myself. But you must be careful, mom. It can get very dangerous."
"You haven't told me what's going on. Is it the men you worked for? It must be them. What did you do, Alex?" Diane pressed on.
Alex held back a sigh. "I… I screwed up. Look, I'm so, so sorry that this has to happen, but please, just hold on until things clear up. You still got the money, right?"
"What exactly can I spend two millions on? Online grocery shopping? I can't even leave the apartment." Diane growled. "Where did you get so much money anyway? Did you kill people for it?"
Alex rolled her eyes. "My job was good. I was a valuable employee."
"What happened, really, Alex Vause? I demand the truth." Diane stressed, letting her daughter know that she was serious.
There was a long moment of silence before tears welled up the green eyes. Alex clutched the phone to her ear with both hands. She was scared for her mom and herself, and now Piper was pulled into this shit too. She was lonely. And she felt guilty for what happened to Fiona. The girl didn't deserve such a fate. She was a bad omen to everyone around her.
"I fell in love with the wrong person, and it got me stuck. I'm stuck in this deep shit, mom, and I don't know how to get out of it." Alex clung to the phone as if she could feel her mom's warmth through it. "I'm not gonna lie to you. It's gonna be a long while before all of this is over. Just... know that I miss you."
"I don't like the sound of this. Alex, please tell me—"
"Hang in there, mom. Everything will be fine. You just have to trust me." Alex steadied her voice, and eventually earned a sigh from her mother.
"I love you," Diane said.
"I love you, too. Take care." Alex hung up. Her hand clung to the receiver for a moment before she let go. Kubra would never let her go, and only now real fears had caught up with her. With Fiona dead, she feared for the worst for her mother.
It's all my fault.
Alex buried her face in her palms. She didn't even know when she would be able to see her mother again. The future looked bleak now that time was pressing. Not only that Kubra's faction was daring enough to invade Litchfield, she felt that her welcomed stay had soon run out with all the incidents happening around her. She might need to call a few contacts to borrow some money to make another escape plan. She had given most of her savings to Diane, and some to Fiona.
I guess I could call— Alex flinched at the blanket coming down and covering her shoulders. She looked up and saw Piper standing behind her.
"It's cold in the canteen. They don't turn on the heater. And... I thought that your jacket is too thin," Piper said, briefly looking away.
"It's one of a few belongings I left here from years ago. I'll have to live with it." Alex stood up, clutching the edge of the blanket. She smiled earnestly at the blonde. "Thanks. But you really shouldn't be moving, Pipes. Your legs are pretty badly hurt."
Piper made a face as she glanced down at the bandages. "Yeah, they hurt like hell when I walk."
Alex chuckled. She found a grumbling Piper adorable. Before she could stop herself, she reached out and wrapped her arm around Piper's waist. To her surprise, Piper let her.
They walked out into the dark corridor, Piper leaning heavily against Alex for support. They headed back to the temporary female ward on the first floor. They knew that they couldn't afford to ruin more rooms now, or they'd be sleeping in the backyard next time.
"I know that I shouldn't like how it feels to have you so close to me, but I really do." Alex was the first to break the silence that was hanging over their agonizingly slow walk through the corridor. She shouldn't have said it, but she said it in hopes that Piper would break away—push her away, because she wouldn't be able to do that herself. "I even dreamt of you last night," Alex muttered, turning her head to kiss Piper's temple. The blonde didn't react. Blue eyes continued to stare down at the floor. "Or… was it the night before? I don't really know. It was a blur to me. I only remember seeing you in the dream."
"It wasn't a dream." Piper finally spoke. "I asked Nicky to get me into the SHU. I needed to see you." She had then stopped walking, pulling Alex to a halt too.
Alex frowned in disbelief. "You sneaked into the SHU…? Were you crazy!? Do you realize what would happen if they caught you guys—" But she was interrupted by a pull at the blanket, propelling her forward to meet with a pair of warm lips against her own. Their hot breaths mingled, and Piper shuddered against her.
Alex stood still for a moment, studying the heavy, blue gaze that was fixed upon her lips. Piper leaned in closer again. Piper wanted more, and Alex did the stupidest thing she could imagine; she snaked a hand behind Piper's neck, pulled her in and kissed her back equally fervent and needy. Eyes closed, she could hear Piper calling out, whispering her name between their mad, urgent kisses.
It was just like the dreams in those dark, cold nights during the confinement. It was just a dream. Piper had always been a dream to her.