Chapter 3

There was somberness in the Suburbs following the lockdown. Those who knew Nicky were grieving, and those who didn't know her, respected the family enough to not disregard their grief.

Piper, Gina, and Frieda were all guarding Red's bunk, like a shield. The barely suppressed rage on their faces was evident, as they glared at any inmate that even attempted to approach the matriarch of the family. Red hadn't spoken a word or made a single noise since she was placed in her bed. The woman was in a catatonic state, which everyone agreed was far worse than her anguished cries.

The only noise in the pod was Norma's soft singing voice, which could barely heard over the strangled cries from Lorna, whom was curled up in Norma's arms crying. Lorna fell apart immediately after finding out about Nicky. They found her crying in Nicky's bed right after breakfast, and no one could get her out. The woman already had a fragile mental health state and finding out that Nicky, her ex-lover and best friend was attacked, seemed to be the final break in her psyche. The only thing that seemed to calm her down and not be taken to psych was Norma's singing voice, and thankfully Norma seemed all too willing to hold the woman. Norma had her own tears shining down her face, and it seemed the woman needed this comfort just as much as Lorna did.

Boo and surprisingly, Pennsatucky had taken guard over Lorna. The cold fury on Boo's face had not left since the morning she found Nicky's blood covered body in the shower. She hadn't said a word since Nicky was taken to medical, choosing instead to glare at anyone who so much as looked at Nicky's bed.

Suddenly, the sound of the pod door opening followed by heavy-footed footsteps seemed to echo through the room, as Sam Heely stepped up to Red's bunk. He didn't make it far however, as Frieda immediately stood in his path.

"Can we help you?"

Heely looked a little outraged at the clear disrespect but when his eyes traveled over the woman to see a grief stricken Red, he cleared his throat and his anger dissipated.

"SIS has Warren for questioning and I thought I could take this time to take Red to see Nichols," said Heely quietly.

Frieda actually looked impressed with the man, since no one was ever allowed visitation in medical, due to the easy access to weapons and drugs. Frieda then turned back to Red, to see the woman had still not moved.

"She hasn't said a word since they brought her back," whispered Frieda to Heely, before giving him a grim nod. "We have tried to talk to her but it's like she isn't there, but maybe she will talk to you."

Heely frowned at her words but nodded, as he stepped forward and entered Red's bunk to then kneel next to her bed.

"Red," said Heely softly, noting the lack of light in the woman's usually bright blue eyes.

After a few seconds of nothing he reached forward and brushed a lock of red hair back away from her forehead before to trying again.

"Red, it's Sam," he said softly, "I am here to take you to Nichols."

A light entered Red's eyes at this words as the woman finally looked up at him.

"Ty otvedi menya k moyey docheri?" whispered Red, too exhausted to realize she was speaking in her native tongue.

Thankfully, Heely had been practicing his Russian more as of late and was able to understand her.

"Da," nodded Heely, reaching forward and extending her hand. "I am taking you to your daughter."

Red looked at the offered hand for a moment before reaching forward, her hand was shaking but found its way into Heely's. Once grasped, Heely helped her up from the bed and thankfully was at her side and began helping her walk out of the pod.

Red had never moved like a woman her age. She was always so full of life, or perhaps Russian's just refused to show any weakness, regardless of their failing bodies. It didn't matter how tired she was, or how many years older she got, Red never let anyone see her down.

So to see the matriarch of the family, the leader of the Suburbs, and the woman that the rest of prison never dared to cross – led out of the room like she was seconds from collapsing was difficult for all of them to watch. After a few moments of watching her struggle to the door, everyone in the Suburbs began to turn away. It was a matter of respect. They all knew that if Red knew they all saw her like this, she would be terribly embarrassed and most importantly angry.

So everyone looked away, because they all recognized that even in the fragile state Red was currently in, she was still Red – and no one disrespected Red.

The walk to the medical was quiet but with each step Red took towards her destination the more the fog in her mind cleared away. It was almost as if with every step she took towards Nicky, the more her world seemed to brighten. Her daughter always had that effect on her.

After Nicky came into her life, it was as if Red was missing a part of herself that she didn't even know was missing. Now that she has that part within herself, she couldn't imagine a life without it. With every step towards medical Red felt those missing pieces coming back to herself.

Before she knew it the doors to medical were in front of her, and Sam was pushing them open and holding them open in order for her to enter.

"I will be standing right outside the door," nodded Sam as she walked past him.

Red barely recognized his words as she walked into the room. Like a moth drawn to a flame, Red's eyes instantly came to rest on her daughter in a hospital bed in the middle of the room. Also like a moth to a flame, Red found herself in an overwhelming pain at the sight before her. The only thing that saved her from completely collapsing with the overwhelming pain was the sight of Sister Ingalls sitting at directly next to Nicky, the woman's hand directly in hers.

Sister looked up, hearing Red's footsteps and her eyes swelled with relief and tears.

"I haven't left her side since she was brought in here," assured Sister Ingalls.

Red nodded, unable to formulate her relief as the deep sadness that seemed to have a chokehold on her heart and vocals. Stepping forward until she was directly in front of the hospital bed, Red finally allowed her eyes to travel down her daughter's body, taking in every detail.

Starting at her head, Red took in the large gash across Nicky's forehead, noting the jaggedness of the cut and the purple and red surrounding it. It wasn't from the shank; instead it looked like from a fall – no doubt from falling in the showers and hitting her head on the broken tiles.

Red frowned; it would scar and mar her beautiful face. Moving her gaze down, she noted the way Nicky was breathing – it was labored and there was a wheeze to her breath. Her lungs ached within her chest at the sight, almost as if she felt her child's pain.

"I know it sounds bad, but it has actually improved. The doctor said she had a collapsed lung when she was brought in," said Sister Ingalls to her left, and Red saw the way the woman's hand shook slightly in Nicky's limp hand. The Sister looked even frailer than before, and Red knew it wasn't due to the woman's hunger strike. Red watched Sister Ingalls give her a daughter's hand a firm squeeze before she looked up to find the nun's gaze on her.

Red and Sister Ingalls shared a silent moment, before finally Red gave her a nod for the woman to continue.

"I only know what I overheard, but the worst of the damage was to her right side," continued Sister Ingalls. "She was stabbed in the side three times, and one punctured her lung…"

Red let out a strangled cry at the news but quickly muffled it with her hand and nodded at Sister Ingalls to continue.

"She has also has concussion and the marks on her arms…" Sister Ingalls trailed off, letting both her and Red's eyes move down to Nicky's arms that were heavily bandaged and already soaking through with blood.

"They are defensive wounds," stated Sister Ingalls grimacing, before bringing her gaze back up to see Red and her frown only deepened further at the sight of the pain in Red's eyes. "One hundred and seventy three stitches..."

Sister Ingalls's voice trailed off as she watched Red's face turned from one of despair to fury.

"Red…"

"She fought back."

Red's words were barely above a whisper but Sister Ingalls heard them, and watched as Red walked forward and around the bed to stand by Nicky's side. The woman brushed back Nicky's hair from her face before leaning down and kissing Nicky on the head.

"Red," said Sister Ingalls leaning forward, worriedly looking at the woman's dramatic change in behavior.

Red leaned down and whispered something clearly in Russian to Nicky before standing up and walking towards the door.

"Red," called out Sister Ingalls, this time garnering the woman's attention, as Red stopped and turned towards her.

"What are you going to do?" asked Sister Ingalls.

A furious but yet murderous look overcame Red's features as the woman eyes went from Nicky then back to Sister Ingalls.

"I am going to fight back."