Chapter 16

It had been a week since Alex settled back in the South. It was nice and quiet for a change. She occasionally got glances and greetings from other residents, but they never approached her. Perhaps, Howard had warned them, or they were just scared of her girlfriend's awesome telekinetic powers. Girlfriend. Alex couldn't help but smile at the last thought. Sometimes she wondered if Piper was serious—if the blonde had thought things through. Piper choosing her over Larry seemed too good to be true. But, in all honesty, this was the least of Alex's troubles right now.

Alex was in her casual clothes; a white, long-sleeved, thermal shirt, and a pair of khaki. She carefully moved to sit on her bed. It was the second day since she left the SHU that she felt quite comfortable. No more fever. No more waking up in the middle of the night, sweating and shivering. Her head was much clearer, and her limbs had gained back some strength. The pain was still there, but not as unbearable as the days before. Maybe it was time she considered her next step. She knew that she hadn't much time left to ponder, yet it was made next to impossible every time she looked at Piper. She just wanted to make Piper happy.

A brief knock on the door, and Piper entered the room with a lunchbox. "Brunch is here!" She beamed, and proceeded to the desk. She opened the lunchbox. "Hungry?"

Alex took the sandwiches, and took the first bite. "Starving. Thanks."

Piper leaned over the desk to look out the window. She was in her pink sweater and a pair of tight, black, yoga pants today. "Did anyone drop by?"

Chewing, Alex eyed the pair of gorgeous, long legs in front of her. "Nope," she spoke with a mouthful.

Piper turned around to face her girlfriend. "Eat slowly." She reached out and brushed the tiny bits of bread crumbs from Alex's cheek. "Did you go out while I was away? I mean, I passed a few guys in front of the building, and I swear that I heard them mentioning you. I thought that maybe you were chitchatting with them."

Alex arched a brow, eyeing Piper knowingly. "No, I did not leave my room while you went to get my brunch."

"I am chill. I'm just being attentive, that's all."

Piper's voice went a little high, and Alex just chuckled at her girlfriend's bad lie. "Everything's fine. Nobody bothers me. They seem to be much calmer than I first thought," she reassured.

"Calm. Why, I'm sure. After their embarrassing failure to kill you at Queens Comfort, they would be a lot more cautious next time. I'm thinking that direct attack might be out of options now. Maybe they'll try to infiltrate and befriend you, and they'll strike when you least expect it."

Alex closed her eyes for a moment. "Pipes."

Piper automatically groaned, clearly agitated. "You don't seem to understand the situation. Kubra won't stop. His next attack could be at any given moment. And you're still weak, Alex, you have to be extra careful."

"But we're in Litchfield. The guards have doubled ever since Mendez's attack. Relax." Alex finished the sandwiches, licking her fingertips. She was taken by surprise when Piper knelt down in front of her, snatched her hands and licked her fingers clean.

Alex's fingers between her teeth, Piper gazed up at the raven-haired woman. "I told you about Red. Please, don't take it lightly. I saw how she tried, and how it hurt you. I... I just…" She looked away, her lips trembled.

Alex watched Piper stumble for words, and then suppressed her sigh. "Hey, I'm ok now. We're safe. You have nothing to worry—"

"No, you're not ok, and that's why I'm here to make sure nothing happens. You saw what happened to Mendez. He's like a lost puppy now, following Red around, taking her orders. He doesn't even remember who he was, or how to conjure his powers anymore! Red was trying to do the same to you! And she won't go at it alone next time. I'm sure she'd find a few to help her take you down."

"She wouldn't be able to control Mendez forever. It'll eventually exhaust her. It'll tire her out." Alex lazily shrugged. "Well, given her powers and years of experiences, it's gonna take him a while to break free."

"This is not a joke. I can't lose you, Alex."

The words were unwelcomed. Alex watched Piper, contemplating. She was genuinely touched by Piper's concern. Before her return to Litchfield, her memories of Piper had been distant and cold. 'Piper Chapman' had become the scar of heartbreak and the reason for the immediate dangers she was in. Things had taken an unexpected turn, and while it seemed too good to be true, it also came with a price. "I love you, Piper."

Piper looked puzzled. She almost flinched at Alex's words. "Yeah, but—"

Alex offered a small smile. "You know how this'll end. Why are you wasting time with me?"

Piper's jaw dropped in disbelief. "What?"

"I don't know. I guess you can still go back to Bloom. We haven't... moved forwards, so to speak, so you could just tell him that you were wrong, or that you were stressed and under pressure. You could still get him back. Easy."

Her eyes narrowed, Piper rested her folded arms on Alex's lap. "How long did it take you to come up with the idea? Were you thinking about it while I spent twenty-five minutes to get your brunch? Or did you—"

"I'm serious. Just look at me now. I have no money. No career. Howard told me that if I ever leave Litchfield again, I may never come back. I can't go anywhere, but I can't stay here forever either. I have nothing to offer you, Pipes. The only thing I've got is an enemy who won't stop until I'm dead. And I'm not even talking about Red and her newfound hate for me. It's pretty much a dead end with me."

Piper raised both hands up in the air. "I swear I didn't put anything in those sandwiches."

Alex smiled. "I'm glad you could still make joke."

Piper lightly pushed at Alex's arm. It was meant as a tease, but Alex could see the mischievous look in the blue eyes disappearing. Piper stared at her, and her grip on Alex's arm tightened. "What's this? Why this talk all of a sudden? You've been out of coma for a week, and I've been taking care of you. Everyday. It's been going so well for us. It's a start. A—a new start, or however you—"

"You've been taking care of me so well. Thank you. Look, I'm so happy that you want to be with me, but let's be honest here. It's been only a week, but it's already driven you nuts. I don't blame you for that, because the threat is real. But I don't want you to suffer, living every minute of your life, trying to protect me, which you know, that one day, it'll all be pointless." Alex sighed in defeat. "I should stop being selfish. I want you more than anyone or anything, Pipes, but… but I have to let you go."

"Are you breaking up with me?" Piper was now glaring at Alex, her jaw tightened.

Alex gulped. The words came cold, and it sent chill down her spine. "Well, if you put it that way."

"You lied to Kubra to save me from being recruited. You're in danger, years later, because of that—because of me. But you're fine if I just up and leave you now? Don't you want to claim your prize?" Piper's voice shook in frustrations, and she looked away.

Immediately, Alex reached out and caressed Piper's cheek. "You are. That's why it's more important to keep you safe, and for you to have a better future."

"So you think that it's better for me to go back to Larry," Piper deadpanned. Her hands on Alex's lap were dead and cold.

"I'm sure that if you explain, he'll understand."

"You think that he'll take me back after I told him that I love you."

Alex threw her hands up in the air. The experience sounded way too familiar. "He loves you. I love you. Of course, he'll forgive—" She was cut short when Piper abruptly got up on her feet and pushed her down the bed, heedless if the fast movements had hurt her wounds.

Piper was now on all fours, hovering over the panting Alex. "Be still, or you'd hurt yourself," she warned before she climbed down to kneel on the floor once again. Her fingers tightly hooked at the edge of the khaki pants and swiftly pulled them off the pale woman.

"What are you doing—ah—" Alex shuddered when the blonde's lips landed right on her sensitive area. Her hips bucked immediately, and she couldn't stop rocking even though the movements were troubling her wounds. She did try to keep it at a slow pace, but Piper's tongue only elicited a drastic, opposite result. "Piper, a—ah… wait, s—stop... Pipes, stop!"

Piper eventually stopped and climbed back onto the bed. She straddled Alex, whose face and body was blushing deep pink. She put her hand on Alex's heaving chest. "You always blush when we have sex. That's cute."

"I'm not cute. Get off me. I'm not your brunch." Alex let out a shaky breath. She was all hot and bothered. She tried to think of things to take her mind off of what Piper had done, but her body refused to cooperate. Her crotch was aching, and her legs were slightly shaken. Piper could feel it, too, as she gazed down and up again with a mischievous smile.

"Stay absolutely still, or I will make you." The last warning was given before Piper went down on her knees again.

Alex jerked when she felt the tongue against her hot flesh. Piper was giving it thorough attention with both rapid and long, sensual licks. She felt herself even wetter just to hear Piper's lips made sucking noises. "P—Pipes... ah—aaah!" She gripped the bed sheet, writhing. She tried to push herself up, but an invisible force instantly pushed her down.

Ouch. Alex inwardly grumbled at the pain shooting up through her body.

"Shh. Be still." Piper mumbled as her tongue was busy between Alex's legs.

Alex's mind was reeling with pleasure. However, it somewhat scared her. She had never expected Piper to use her powers with her during their love-making session. She reluctantly stiffened even if she already felt her body was being gel-blocked. She caught a stare from the blonde. Piper had caught her fear.

Blue eyes darkened, drowned in desires. Piper let out a whimper as she tightened her holds on the pale thighs, her tongue hungrily picking up its pace. She pushed her face in harder, her lips making love with Alex's swollen flesh.

Alex was now free from the invisible grip, and she felt a sudden liberation. A great relief. And it only heightened all kinds of sensations she was feeling. Moaning, her back arched, and her hips jerked repeatedly as if under the blonde's command. Her center was burning now at the continual assault, and she gasped when she felt long, slender fingers pumping into her. Her inner wall tightened so much so that it hurt. "Aah—oh, god!"

And, if Alex was being honest, Piper was so effective in taking her mind off the physical pain and fear. So good.

Alex bit her bottom lip to silence her moans, but it proved to be pointless as Piper continued to thrust into her, her engorged flesh begging—helpless inside of Piper's mouth. Her control broke. Her hips rocked hard against her lover's face. She might have hurt Piper, but she just couldn't stop it. Her body twisted, she screamed into the pillow, releasing all the tensions off her body.

Oh, God…

It was all white. Blissful and perfect. Almost unreal. Alex opened her eyes again when the high subsided, trying to catch her breath. She gradually turned her face from the pillow, and gazed down at Piper.

Smiling, Piper rested her cheek against Alex's inner thigh, watching her with a dreamy gaze. They had had plenty of sex in the past, but Piper had always looked at her as if it were their first time.

Alex had no sense of importance if it was old or new. She lived in the moment, and Piper was definitely here with her. Now.

Alex flinched when Piper ran her fingertips along the still sensitive area. "Pipes!" The blonde muffled her laugh, and Alex lazily rolled her eyes, yanking Piper's hand away. "Shut up. C'mere."

Chortling, Piper gingerly climbed onto the bed. Alex moved up to make room for her. She lied down next to Alex, a hand rested on the woman's chest. "Your heart is beating so fast. I love it."

Alex turned to face Piper. Eyes closed, she hummed into their kiss, tasting her own release from Piper's soft, swollen lips. She reached up and cupped Piper's breast. "Yours, too."

"We're still... together, right?" Piper breathed hotly between their kisses. She was already arching her back, pressing in against the taller woman.

Alex just loved how Piper's body reacted so naturally and effortlessly against hers. They always felt so at ease that they never had to try. It was a rare kind of connection that Alex had never felt with anyone before or after Piper. She wondered if Piper felt the same way.

Lightly biting down on Piper's lower lip, Alex pulled her closer. "You're still dumped, Chapman—ouch! What was that for!?"

Piper punched at Alex's arm. "Does it hurt? Good," she growled.

"You're especially aggressive today," Alex teasingly remarked, rubbing her arm. But her smile faded when a stern look flashed across Piper's face. It was no longer a joke to the blonde.

Piper reluctantly hooked her fingers at the loose collar of Alex's tee, pulling weakly. "Don't leave me."

Alex watched tears welling up Piper's eyes, stunned. Piper, a doll that she was, rarely ever cried in front of her. Her whisper came so soft and fragile that Alex almost missed it. It sounded nothing like the aggression Piper had acted in their love making. Piper was scared. So scared for Alex's life that it was starting to eat her alive. It was the very reason Alex had thought that it was best if they parted. But, here she was, making love with Piper once again, giving in to desires rather than reasons. It had been years since, but she had never forgotten how it felt. Only with Piper. Everything for Piper.

Alex took Piper's hand at her collar, cherishing the warmth from their contact. "You left me before. You can do it again. It'll be for both of us this time," Alex said. Every word coming out of her mouth stabbed her a thousand times over, but she wanted all the pains to stop with her and leave Piper out of it.

Blue gaze hardened. Piper moved up, resting her weight on her elbow, gazing down at Alex. "You think that it was easy for me to learn that you lied to me? That our relationship was a sham from the start? You don't know me at all, do you? Even after knowing what you did, it was still so hard to walk away. You ruined everything I believed in. You shattered my world."

Alex idly watched the angelic face above hers, wondering many things. She had loved Piper so deeply that it had scared her to hope or wish for anything. "It was so dark after you left. I just wasn't… the same. I wasn't able to live," she murmured. Staring up at the ceiling, she recalled those gloomy times. "Drugs became a friend. My only friend."

"Drugs...?" Piper's voice came out dry, heavy with guilt.

"The only time I was able to breathe without hurting was when I was high. There were times when I just couldn't stand the sight of lightning, or—or the sound of thunders. They made me feel sick. You took everything from me when you left. I'm not the person I used to be... I'm still empty."

Piper's lips parted, but her mind failed to find words. For a long moment, she remained silent, contemplating of the years lost between them. "I... I've always wondered what you were doing, what you were thinking, or who you were with. All these years, not a day passed that I didn't think of you. Even when I was with Larry, I still hoped that maybe you'd pass me by and see how happy I was, and… maybe, just maybe you'd regret and try to make amend." Piper gulped down her tears. "It was stupid. I'm so, so sorry."

Alex grabbed Piper's hand and kissed her knuckle. "But I was wrong. It was so dark when you were with me. I couldn't see at all. But it was also the brightest moment. You were my light. Still are. You lit up my world."

A smile broke on Piper's face as a tear fell from her cheek. She leaned down to meet Alex's lips, gentle and light. "And you… are my world," she whispered between their kisses.

Alex held back her breath as she grabbed Piper's slim waist and flipped them over, hovering above the blonde. She ignored the pain, focusing all her attention on her lover. She pulled the sweater off Piper's head and flicked the hook of her bra loose. She hungrily captured Piper's nipple in her mouth, feeling its hardness against her tongue. Gasping, Piper writhed under her, her nails digging into Alex's back. She roamed her hands all over the blonde's perfect body, diving in for more kisses as though it was her oxygen. She needed it. She needed Piper. As always. Piper was her drugs, and there was no quitting.

Piper momentarily pulled away, gazing up at Alex. Her hands cupped the pale face. "Stay alive for me," she said, breathless. Her statement came more like a command rather than a plea.

Alex was tongue-tied as she had no way to assure Piper, but she eventually sighed in defeat. "For you." At the last words, Piper raised her shoulders, the woman's lips crashing with hers, needy and urgent. Their lips still connected, Alex pushed Piper back down, reaching down to the blonde's center.

Piper involuntarily moaned into Alex's mouth, pleading with ragged, hot breaths. Her hips jerked at the continual touches, and she began to rock against her lover, setting the pace for herself. Their bodies radiated heat, and they burned with pleasure. As they delved deeper into ecstasy, shielding themselves from the outside world, they panted and cried together. Hope against hope, they found each other again.

The cold wind swept her blonde locks back. Reaching her destination, Piper steadied herself and gracefully landed on her feet. The main road was quiet. There was only a truck passing by the intersection. The mountains stood behind the small town. It was twilight, and the sky was slipping fast into darkness. Piper glanced around, noting the few passerby. Old ladies with their grocery bags. From the look of it, there wasn't much beyond the main road and the few sets of old, two-story buildings. Nothing was out of ordinary. Nothing was happening. How Alex found this town was beyond Piper, not to mention how anyone survived in this lonely place. She wouldn't want to be here even for an hour.

Blue eyes were wide, scrutinizing in the dark. Piper whispered her lover's name, touching her cheek carefully. They were still in bed, naked and blissfully exhausted under the blanket. Hours had passed, and they had forsaken meals. They both had eventually fallen asleep, but she was stirred out of slumber by Alex's sleep talking. She watched the raven-haired woman with curiosity.

Alex was frowning. Her lips were moving, but her words were incoherent at best. After a while, she turned, burying her face into the pillow, her body twisting. Her breathing became shallower as moments passed, her fists clenched.

Piper sat up, grabbing Alex's shoulders, shaking her. "Alex... Al, wake up—Alex! Stop it!" She screamed, falling off the single bed. A small lightning bolt had just shot right past her head. She scrambled to her feet and scooted as far as the wall allowed her in this tiny room. "Alex! Wake the fuck up! Alex!"

Alex flinched at Piper's yell and shot up to a sitting position. But the sharp sting in her shoulder wound froze her, and she cursed for moving too fast. "Ugh… shit..."

"What the fuck was that!? You almost electrocuted me, or burn a hole in my head!" Piper sprung up to her feet, utterly relieved that Alex was now awake.

"What happened?" Alex looked utterly dumbfounded as she turned around. There were new cracks on the old, painted wall. "Fuck. They're going to make me pay for this."

Piper sighed in exasperation. "That's all you can say to me? After the shit you just pulled?"

"Hey… hey, I'm sorry. I truly am." Alex raised her hands in apology. "It rarely happened. Like once or twice a long time ago."

Piper studied the walls and noted the marks that remained. Even the new paints couldn't hide everything. Maybe Polly was right about Litchfield keeping the dangerous ones in the South Mansion after all. It was the main reason given why the South residents got their private, albeit tiny, rooms. They were meant to be 'alone'. "You never had nightmares like this when we were together," she said as she sat down next to Alex.

Alex pulled the blanket to wrap them both from the chilly air. "It happened when I get a bit anxious," she mumbled almost in guilt. "I swear that it won't happen again. I'll keep it in check. I mean, it happens sometimes when someone with psychic powers like Red tried to manipulate my mind. It kind of fucked things up. A glitch, you could say, but it'll fix itself."

"What is it? What are you worried about?" Piper's tone softened at once. She cupped Alex's face with both hands, resting her forehead against the woman's. "Tell me."

"It's… it's nothing—"

"Alex."

"I mean—"

"Al."

"I've been thinking…" Alex sighed. "I have to leave."

There it was, the truth Piper didn't want to hear. She knew it was coming, yet she felt unprepared for it. It was too soon. Too much. They had just come back together. She had just gotten Alex back in her arms, alive and safe. "But, no... you... you—no, you can't. You can't," Piper stammered.

"It's Diane. I'm out of the SHU for a week now, and I've been calling her every day, but she hadn't answered. I think something happened."

Piper pulled Alex in closer, trying to calm the woman down. "Wait. There must be an explanation to all of this. S—she might be out of town, or—or she could be busy—"

"I put her in a safe house, Piper. She has no jobs. No friends. She often said that all she did all day was watching TV and waiting for my calls. She'd missed my calls before for a day or two, but never this long. I need to check up on her."

"B—but you can't leave Litchfield. You said so yourself!"

"I knew this would happen. Sooner or later. Howard knew, too, and that was why he let me stay for the time being. He knew that I'd leave anyway."

Alex sighed as she got up from the bed, but Piper was quick to get up and held her in her arms. "You can't go, Al. You're not well enough to fight them. You could barely defend yourself."

But Alex didn't seem to listen as she pushed her way past Piper and headed towards the suitcase standing beside the drawer.

Piper walked up to the porch of an old, one-story, blue-painted house. There were only a few other houses down the long road. She glanced around, paranoid if she was noticed or followed in this ghost town.

No. No. No. She can't leave. She can't.

Piper's heart was in her throat. If Alex left, she could never come back. Alex would then have to go into hiding to avoid Kubra, and it would most likely mean that they would never see each other again. Alex would be out of her life for good. They'd be 'dead' to each other. "I'll go."

Alex turned to look at her, frowning. "What?"

Her palms sweaty, Piper gulped. She felt even more naked than her body was. The realization that Alex was all she had—all she had ever wanted, and that she would do anything to keep her safe. "I'll go. I'll check on Diane. Tell me where she is."

Her gaze stern, Alex shook her head. "No. That's out of the question."

Piper approached the taller woman. "What's that supposed to mean? You don't trust me?" she asked, heated. Her tone came out more accusative than she initially meant.

"Of course, I do. But it's too dangerous, Pipes. Something must have happened, and I think it must be very serious. I can't just put you out there. I've already caused enough troubles as it is. I can't let you—"

"I want to do it." Piper pressed into Alex, breathing on her lips. "I can do it. Trust me."

Alex tried to break away. "Pipes, no—"

Piper literally leapt at Alex, wrapping her arms around her, locking her in place. She could hear Alex wincing at the harsh contact, but she couldn't stop herself. "I can't lose you, Al. I don't want to. Not again. Let me do it. I'll handle it." She tightened her embrace, and never meant to let go. If she had to tie Alex down, she would.

"Pipes—"

"Don't."

A long silence hung heavily over them before Piper felt a pair of arms gently wrapping around her. Alex knew it had to be.

"I can't lose you either." Alex planted a soft kiss on Piper's shoulder. "Come back to me."

Piper took in a deep breath and pressed the doorbell.

Silence.

She hit the button again, and waited.

Silence.

Piper knocked on the door this time. "Hello…? Diane…? It's Piper Chapman. Alex sent me."

Silence.

Piper took a step back, and by her willpower, the doorknob twisted. The door was pushed open, letting in a gush of wind. It was cold. Too cold. She peered into the dark living room. She needed a few moments for her eyes to adjust, and she entered.

The living room was littered with crumpled pieces of paper. A broken laptop was scattered on the floor beside the knocked over table. Pools of broken shards of glasses. A window was left open, the wind blowing in, swaying the curtains. The large, flat TV was knocked down, shattered on the carpeted floor. Piper's eyes widened as she took in all the details. Possibly, there had been a nasty fight. Then the place was searched and destroyed. Alex was right; Diane was kidnapped.

Her hand shot up to cover her mouth. Piper stumbled back against the nearest wall, sick in her stomach. Diane was gone. All the bad thoughts flooded her mind, but the worst of all was Alex leaving Litchfield to find her mother. It was a trap. Anyone in their right mind could see through it, but Piper was sure that Alex would walk right back into Kubra's nest for Diane. Piper tried to breathe—to think. There had to be something she could do. There had to be a way out.

"Hello, again."

A male voice greeted, and Piper froze. Slowly, she turned to look over her shoulder. Standing by the doorway was a tall, blond man with wide, athletic shoulders. He looked to be in his late thirties. He was in a gray jacket and a pair of black jeans. She didn't recognize his face, but remembered his voice. It couldn't have been mistaken. He was the steel man she fought at Queens Comfort. Immediately, she lifted her hand, and the force sent him flying from the doorway. He was thrown backwards, hitting the front yard hard.

"Piper!" he yelped.

"Where is she?" Piper stalked out of the house and moved towards him, concentrating on his neck. "I should have torn your limbs out last time. Why didn't I?" She cursed, heat rising up to her face as she thought about what they had possibly done to Diane.

The man was on his knees, choking. Both hands around his neck, he kicked at the ground, gasping for air. "P...Piper, please..."

Piper stood, watching him. He was calling her name, and it disgusted her. He was testing her. He was challenging her, and she loathed it. He had hurt Alex, almost claiming Alex's life. "You have something I want. Be quick," she said.

"It's… me... D—Danny… Piper… stop…" he breathed. His face reddened, and his eyes bulged in agony.

Piper paused. She hadn't heard the name in a long time. They told her that he died many years ago, when he was nine and she was three. Since then, it had been only Cal and her. She studied him more carefully, realizing their matching, beautiful, blue eyes.

Oh, my God.