CHAPTER 1: WELCOME TO THE 91ST

A/N: Well, hi everyone. This is my first fic, so please, let me know what you think. I chose this dynamic because, as they say, 'write what you know'. That being said, if there's any technical details that I've mentioned and you guys don't fully understand, let me know and I'll do my best to clear up any confusion.

If there are any characters you guys would like to see, please let me know. I absolutely plan on bringing in as many characters as possible, but if there's anyone specifically, send me a message or post it in a review.

Obviously, I don't own any of the characters in this story.

"Good morning everybody, and welcome to Fort Drum, New York, home of 10th Mountain Division, and, as you are all aware since you are all now members of it, 91st Military Police Battalion."

Piper shifted slightly in her seat, partially to feign interest in the young sergeant's presentation, partially to just stay awake. She'd been up late the night before celebrating her last night of leave before she started back at work, and she knew she didn't want to draw unwanted attention to herself, especially her first day at a new unit and duty station.

"The Fort has a population of approximately 12 000 soldiers and family members, almost all of which belong to 10th Mountain, either directly as infantrymen, or indirectly as support and logistical staff. As military police, you all fall under the umbrella of support staff." The presenter, that Piper had identified as SGT Bennett, an infantryman with 10th Mountain, that, judging by the patch on his right shoulder, had spent some time overseas with the 75th Ranger Regiment, clicked to the next slide and continued to drone on.

"Now we are going to go around the room and introduce ourselves. I'd like each Soldier to tell us their full name, rank, hometown, and a short summary of your military experience to date."

Piper had been dreading this part of the morning. She'd identified almost immediately on her arrival that most of her new colleagues were fresh-faced privates who were most likely on their first assignment out of training, a stark contrast to her years of experience that hadn't been reflected in her lowly rank. Her expectations were met as each person stood up, introducing themselves as a private, or occasionally a private first class (although they had probably been handed that rank as a reward for having a few college credits, as opposed to actually having earned it).

"Chapman? Chapman!?"

She was snapped out of her trance by the young sergeant who now stood directly in front of her.

"Would you care to share your thoughts with the rest of the group, Corporal Chapman?"

"I'm fine, but thanks for the opportunity, Sergeant."

"Ok, then, if it isn't too much of an inconvenience, would you like to introduce yourself to the group?"

"Of course, Sarn't." Piper shot back, only making half an effort to hide her sarcasm. She stood up and faced the other soldiers in the room. "Morning everybody, my name is Corporal Piper Chapman. I was born in New York City, and I joined the Army right out of college. I've been in for 8 years now, I spent some time down range, about a year in Afghanistan and another year in Iraq. Got back from my last tour a year and a half ago, and got orders out here to Drum three months ago. Today's my first day back from leave and, as a result, my first day with the 91st." Piper gave a small wave to the group before taking her seat.

"Ok, thank you to everyone for sharing. Now I'm going to pass each of you a piece of paper, on which you will find your watch assignment, position, barracks room and your first CQ shift." Bennett announced as he started tossing envelopes to each person in the room.

Piper grabbed her envelope from him and was pleasantly surprised at the contents. "CPL Chapman, P.E. 1st Watch, 3rd Patrol 2 I/C. Barracks assignment: building 1-91, room 226. CQ: 12:00 Jul 21 – 12:00 Jul 22." Since she'd been promoted to corporal, Piper hadn't really had a chance to perform as a leader, but this new position as a patrol second in command could give her some great experience, assuming her new patrol commander allowed her some leeway with her leadership style. Also, in her experience, the second floor of a barracks facility was almost always single rooms, assigned only to people in leadership positions.

Bennett spoke up again from the podium at the front of the room, "Alright, so, now that you all have your assignments, you should expect your schedules to look something like this: two consecutive day shifts, from 0600 until 1800, one day off, then two consecutive night shifts from 1800 until 0600, then four days off. Your CQ shifts, which will be spent watching all the unit's important equipment, will consist of one sergeant or above and one corporal or below, are 24 hour long shifts, during which you must be in the CQ building and at least one of you must be awake. Any questions? None? Ok, good. If you've been assigned to 1st Watch, please report to the 91st MP Battalion HQ for 1200hrs, the rest of you have your 'Meet the Boss' timings on your assignment sheet. Enjoy your time here at the 91st, and good luck."

Piper glanced down at her watch and saw that it was already 11:30, leaving her only half an hour to get to HQ and find wherever she was supposed to meet her new supervisor.

Alex Vause didn't allow herself to be conquered by very many things. When her Humvee hit an IED in Kandahar in 2007, she had climbed out relatively unscathed. She was always in control of everything she possibly could be. But today, it looked like Sergeant Alex Vause, a tough-as-nails military policewoman, was going to lose.

"Fuck!" She muttered under her breath as she looked, perplexed, at the new cell phone her boss had handed her that morning, telling her to have it figured out, with all the unit's important contact numbers programmed into it by day's end. She sat there, cursing the rectangular hunk of metal and glass for what seemed like hours. She had just about decided to give up on it when her office intercom beeped, and the voice of her assistant, a young black specialist who insisted on being called by her nickname, Tasty (or was it spelled Taystee? Alex could never remember) instead of the usual, more official, combination of rank and last name, rang through her office.

"Hey Sarge, fresh meat's here. Should I send 'em up?"

"Ah fuck, is that today? I thought the poor – er, uh, should I say, new guys didn't get here until next week."

"Nah boss, it's today. I know because I'm staring at the three new guys on your patrol right now."

"Shit, well, send 'em up I guess."

The hangover that had been pounding in the back of Piper's head became more and more prominent as she made her way across the base to the 91st MP Battalion HQ, and as she argued with the receptionist who insisted that the new MPs weren't arriving until the next week, and finally as she ascended the flights of stairs leading to the fourth floor of the brick building that smelled of floor wax and gun cleaner, as the receptionist's bleak warning to, "look out for SGT Vause, she's a real hard-ass" resonating against the dull throb in Piper's head.

One of the other two new people, an Asian private with some ridiculous name that Piper hadn't bothered to learn yet, knocked at the door labelled "SGT Vause, A.M., 1st Watch, 3rd Patrol Commander," to be greeted a few moments later with what Piper was sure were just a string of muffled curse words. The three stepped inside and Piper was blown away with what she saw inside.

At the desk sat the most beautiful woman Piper had ever seen. Long raven hair pulled back into a slick, military bun, alabaster skin, toned body hidden her camouflage uniform, and the deepest, most captivating green eyes tucked behind a set of thick-rimmed glasses.

"Uh, please, uh, come in. Have a seat everyone." Alex said absent-mindedly to the group, her attention being pulled by the tall blond woman with distractingly poignant blue eyes. "Um, well, welcome to 3rd Patrol. My name is SGT Alex Vause, and I'll be your Patrol Commander during your time here. You two," Alex said indicating towards the two junior soldiers in the room, "have already met CPL Chapman, who will be my second in command and right hand. Any issues you have should go to her, she'll be on the street with you guys, calling the shots from out there. You two can go downstairs to room 118 now and get your weapons. I'll call in my two senior guys out on the street right now and you can ride with them until you get the hang of things. Chapman, I'd like you to go get your weapon then come back up here so we can discuss the chain of command and some administrative points."

The three let out a quiet "Yes, sergeant," in unison as they all rose and turned towards the door.

Twenty minutes later, Piper was back outside the beautiful and captivating SGT Vause's door, although this time she was sporting a heavy black belt that featured all the equipment she would need out on the street – handcuffs, pepper spray, radio, pistol with extra magazines, and a tazer, among other things. She was decidedly much more nervous to be going back to this room, seeing as she now knew exactly what lay on the other side of the door: the most beautiful woman Piper had ever laid eyes on. She knew that relationships, even just casual sex, which is what Piper had preferred since her return from Iraq 18 months earlier, between supervisors and subordinates were highly discouraged, although with Piper and Alex both being non-commissioned officers, it wouldn't technically be against any rules. Piper had to snap herself out of it. "Stop!" She thought to herself, "You haven't even known her for a half hour and you're already thinking about the legal implications of getting in her pants. You don't even know if she's gay."

"Oh, hello." Piper was suddenly brought crashing back to reality as the office door opened and she saw those two green eyes, which she was now certain she would recognize anywhere, peering through the now-open entryway and directly at her. "I was just going to grab some lunch. Have you eaten yet?" The mouth belonging to the eyes spoke in a lovely baritone, a small smirk claiming her mouth as she saw the effect she already had on the younger woman.

"Uh, um, no, uh, I haven't had a chance quite yet, Sarn't." Piper stammered back, while trying her best to maintain her composure under the brunette's gaze.

"Well then, that's perfect. We can get to know each other better over food." The taller woman rasped, a smirk still adorning her face. After a half second of hesitation, she gestured ahead of herself, "After you, please."

"So, tell me about yourself, Corporal Chapman." Alex said as the two women sat down at a small café a few minutes away from the Fort Drum gates.

"Well, uh, there isn't too much to tell. Born and raised in New York City, went to Smith for college, took history. Joined up right out of college, basic training and AIT at Leonard Wood. Spent some time at Bragg, then Irwin, then Rucker, and now I'm here. I was in Afghanistan from August '09 until June 2010, then Iraq from March 2014 'til January 2015. Pinned corporal on my last tour after my Patrol 2 I/C hit an IED and they weren't able to get anyone else brought in." Piper paused to take a sip of her water, still trying to rid herself of the horrible hangover that was still pounding away in her head. "How about you, Sarn't?"

"Hey, now, don't go changing the subject quite yet, I'm not done with you," Alex said with her trademark smirk, "how about family? Are you close with your parents? Any siblings? Significant other?" Her voice getting a little deeper as she asked the last question.

"Hm, well, uh, I'm not close with my parents, my mother smothered me throughout high school so I jumped ship as soon as I could get out of there. I do have siblings, two brothers, Cal and Danny." Piper replied, a smile quickly flashing as she continued with, "And I'm very single. Now, please, tell me about yourself, SGT Vause."

"Alright, alright. I joined the Army right out of high school, because I knew that college wasn't in the cards, and if I hadn't I may have ended up working for an international drug cartel, or something," Alex started with a chuckle, "I also did BCT and AIT at Fort Leonard Wood. I've been moved about quite a bit in my 14 years in, been as far south as Fort Polk and far north as the beautiful Fort Drum. Pinned Sergeant three years ago and re-enlisted for another 10-year term three months ago."

"Wow, so you're around for the long haul, huh? 24 years is a long time."

"Look at you, all good at math and stuff. Really showing that fancy Smith edumacation." Alex chuckled back at the younger girl.

Piper laughed at the older woman's dig before continuing, "So, you told the two privates back there that I'd be calling the shots out on the street?"

"Yea, that's how I like to run things. I hang out and deal with the bureaucratic BS while my 2 I/C handles the troops out on the road. You don't have any problems with that, do you? I just figured since you were an NCO you'd be comfortable with that sort of position."

"No, no issues at all. In fact, it's a huge step from being treated like a glorified specialist back at Rucker."

Suddenly, both women's radios crackled to life, with a muffled man's voice, "31C, this is A31C, over."

"Ah shit, that can't be good," Alex said to Piper before turning to her own handset. "31C, send, over."

"A31C, I am currently executing a traffic stop near the corner of Mountain View Drive and Morgan Street, and the occupant present is requesting to speak with you, over."

Alex rolled her eyes before continuing to speak into her handset, "31C, roger, I'm en route. ETA 5 minutes, out." As she said that, she rose, tossed a twenty-dollar bill onto the table and gestured to Piper to follow her back to her car. Both women quickly pulled on their camouflaged Kevlar vests, each adorned with their respective last name and rank, as well as a few pouches here and there for storing ammunition, first aid kits, and admin equipment. They each climbed into the front seat as Alex turned the key in her 2015 Ford Escape Police Interceptor and flicked the lights and sirens on.

Five minutes later, the two women pulled up behind a white Ford Taurus Police Interceptor, which sat with lights flashing behind a newer model Mercedes SUV.

"Fuck me." Alex muttered under her breath as she put the car in park, looking over at the vehicles laptop to see who the vehicle belonged to.

"What's up, Sarn't? Who is this Mendez guy?" Piper asked curiously, looking over at the older woman.

"Fucking son of the base commander. He's also a douchebag Captain who works over at 10th Mountain."

"Damn, I see. What's the traffic stop about?"

"Suspected DUI, but he won't submit to a breathalyzer or field sobriety test. Normally we'd just haul him in, but with his father being who he is…"

"Yea, I get it, Sarn't. I can take lead on this if you want, seeing as he wouldn't know me or anything."

"I appreciate the offer, but this guy has a hate out for women, and you pretty much have to be an E5 or above for him to acknowledge your existence." Alex said, smiling at the blond woman to show her appreciation for the offer. As she said that, she reached over and opened her car door, swinging her legs (very long legs, as Piper had noticed) out and instinctively placing her right hand on top of her sidearm, which sat in a camouflaged holster on her thigh. On the other side of the car, Piper mirrored the brunette's actions. Together, the two women walked up to the Ford in front of them and leaned into the windows on either side, seeing a well-built black man whose nametag read "Ford" in the driver's seat, and the young Asian woman that Piper had met earlier that day, whose name she now saw was "Soso", in the passenger's seat.

"SPC Ford, I'd like you to meet my new 2 I/C, CPL Chapman," Alex started, but giving them no time for pleasantries before continuing, "so, CPT Mendez again, huh? Did he say anything before he asked for me?"

"Nothing at all, Sarn't, besides to refuse the breathalyzer and sobriety test."

"Alright, I see. Chapman, come with me, let's go have a word with the good sir."

"Roger that, Sarn't." Piper chirped back, darting to the other side of the car and slowly approaching the driver's side mirror of the Mercedes a few feet behind her new boss. As they reached the window, Alex knocked loudly on it a few times and gestured to man sitting inside to roll it down. Piper drew her flashlight out of a holster on her belt and shone it into the back seat of the vehicle, checking for anything potentially dangerous.

"Good afternoon, sir. SPC Ford tells me you asked to speak with me." Alex asked while examining the man who smelled like he'd just come off a two-day bender.

"Well, Sarge, ya see, your man back there needs a lesson in rank structure, because he obviously doesn't understand that I greatly outrank him," Mendez slurred, "he tried to make me do some stupid fucking test to prove that I'm OK to drive, when I obviously am."

"Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to step out of the vehicle." Alex barked authoritatively at the man.

"That is no way to talk to a fucking officer, Vause! I'm going to have your fucking badge before you even have a chance to fuck whoever it is in your chain of command that may be able to save your pathetic little career." Mendez screamed back at the brunette.

Sensing the situation escalating, Piper put her flashlight back into its holster on her belt, before slowly moving around the SUV and taking up a position just to the left of the vehicle's front, her hand now gripping her pistol in its holster.

"I'm not going to ask again, sir. Step out of the vehicle right fucking now." Alex's voice was straining slightly, not seeing any good way to deescalate the now seething captain.

Then, it all happened so quickly, if anyone around had blinked they would have missed the whole encounter.

Black SUV door swings open.

A fist belonging to the driver flies towards the tall brunette standing just outside the door.

A flash of metal and the sound of Piper's pistol being taken off of safe, searching for a safe shot.

Ford and Soso's car doors opening and both of them jumping out, looking for a way to help.

The unmistakable buzz of Alex's tazer putting 50 000 volts into the man.

Mendez falling to the ground in a heap.

Alex falling on top of him.

The clinking of handcuffs being locked onto Mendez's wrists.

Alex's voice rasping through the familiar Article 31 rights: "You're under arrest for driving under the influence, resisting arrest, assaulting a police officer, and conduct unbecoming an officer of the US Armed Forces. You have the right to remain silent, that is, to say nothing at all. Any statement you do make, oral or written, may be used against you in court-martial or other judicial, non-judicial or administrative proceedings. You have the right to consult with a lawyer, including military counsel provided free of charge."

Ford dragging Mendez back to his cruiser, shutting the door, and driving away.

At this point, Piper finally remembered to let out the breath she hadn't known she was holding and advanced towards her new brunette colleague, who stood leaning against the black Mercedes.

"Holy fuck," was all she could manage in response to the actions that just unfolded in front of her.

"My thoughts exactly," the brunette replied, looking up to meet those ocean-deep blue eyes, that now contained something she hadn't seen yet: concern.

"You're hurt," Piper said in a voice barely louder than a whisper, pointing out a small cut that had formed where Mendez's fist had made contact with Alex's face. "Here, let me help," she continued, as she took a light grip on the older woman's arm and led her back to their vehicle, opening the trunk and pulling out a first aid kit. "Sit down, Vause. Let me patch ya up." Piper patted the floor of the truck's trunk, indicating to Alex to have a seat. Alex cautiously slid down, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose as she did so. Piper reached into the first aid kit, and pulled out a small alcohol swab, opening it up and slowly bringing it to the small gash right below Alex's left eye. "This might hurt a little bit," she commented as she brought the swab closer to the gash, eventually coming into contact with the small cut.

Alex winced at the sudden stinging brought on by the contact, "Fuck, kid, can't you just use water or something?" she muttered.

Piper laughed quietly, "No Sarn't, I'm afraid I can't. Won't work as well as the alcohol."

"I hate to burst your bubble there, doc, but I'm afraid there are much better uses for alcohol than cleaning a little cut."

"Oh trust me, I'm very well acquainted with the other uses for alcohol. In fact, I've had a pounding headache all day because of those other uses."

"Hm, so you make a habit of coming to your first day at a new duty station hungover, do you?"

"I guess you could say that I like to make a habit of coming to work hungover several days a week. Really, it just makes me look that much better the days that I'm 100%."

"Well shit, kid, I guess I never thought about it that way. Look, a few of the NCOs are going to a local bar tonight, nothing too fancy, just a jeans and t-shirts sorta thing, but I think you should come out. You know, get acquainted with your new colleagues." Alex said, silently proud of her excellent segue.

"I guess I may be able to find it in me to drink with all your sergeant-y types. Who knows, maybe I'll even enjoy myself," Piper said, making no effort to hide her sarcastic tone, "and, will you look at that, you're all patched up," she continued, giving the bandage on Alex's face one final smoothing.

Suddenly, Alex's phone started buzzing from her pants pocket, causing Piper to pull away quickly. "Shit, that's the boss man," Alex muttered before sliding her thumb along the screen and pressing the phone to her ear. "Sergeant Vause, 91 MP. Yes, sir. No, sir, he was resisting. Yes, sir, I'll have my report in by shift's end. Of course, sir. Roger that, sir. Bye, sir."

"Well, I guess you should be getting back to the office, huh? Don't want all that 'bureaucratic BS' piling up in your absence." Piper questioned, mocking her new supervisor's earlier words.

"You know, your sense of humour could really use some work Chapman. I hear it's an unwritten rule that in order to pin sergeant you need to have a good sense of humour." Alex shot back at the younger woman.

"Hm, that's strange, you see, my new patrol commander is a sergeant and her sense of humour is shit."

Laughing, both women climbed back into the Ford Escape, and started the short drive back to their offices.

A/N: A quick rundown of anything that may have confused you guys:

US Army enlisted rank structure goes E1 Private (AKA E-fuzzy), E2 Private 2nd class (PV2) E3 PFC, E4 Specialist (SPC), E4 Corporal (CPL) (basically for people who are great specialists but not able to be promoted to SGT for some reason), E5 Sergeant (SGT), E6 Staff Sergeant, E7 Sergeant First Class (SFC), E8 Master Sergeant (MSG), E8 First Sergeant (1SG), E9 Sergeant Major (SgtMaj). Above that are all the officers: 01 2nd lieutenant (2LT), 02 1st lieutenant (1LT), 03 Captain (CPT), 04 Major (MAJ), 05 Lieutenant Colonel (LTC), 06 Colonel (COL), 07-010 are general ranks (brigadier, major and lieutenant general are 1, 2, and 3 stars respectively, and general is a 4 star.)

BCT = Basic Combat Training, AKA basic training or boot camp

AIT = advanced individual training, i.e. where a soldier learns to do their specific job

Leonard Wood, Bragg, Rucker, Polk, etc.: all US Army forts

In my little world, each Watch is a platoon (give or take 32 soldiers), with each Patrol being 8 troops, including the commander and 2 I/C. So 4 Patrols = 1 Watch. I don't know how real life US Army MPs are organized, but this is how I'm doing it.

Hope you guys weren't too lost by all the technical stuff; I did my best to explain stuff as well as I could. Please leave a review if you enjoyed it (or if you didn't leave a review saying that too), and let me know what you guys want to see. I haven't written any future chapters yet so I can definitely use your suggestions sooner, rather than later. OK, that's all for this beast of an author's note, thanks for reading!