Which is better, to be locked in or out?

So I'm reworking pretty much all of my stories, getting back into the swing of things!

Hope you like the new chapter, this is going to start off slower than the old chapter.

I own nothing and this will contain femslash!

Chapter 1

"You see, I got god on my side! I'm not afraid of you!" Pennsatucky screamed at me, wildly swinging her make shift cross at my body.

I would of laughed in her face if I currently wasn't frightened for my life. There she was preaching at me in a really bad interpretation of an angel costume, which frankly looked more like something dragged up from Peter Pan.

She swung once more, aiming for my chest. She missed by a mere centimetre, causing me to spin around and try and put some distance between us. Reaching into my jacket, I grasped the present Boo gave me and yanked it out while turning to face the meth head.

"Whoa, look what you brought to play!" She cackled, obviously finding the weapon in my shaky hands comedic.

"Just back the fuck off!" I yelled, pointing the screwdriver at her to emphasis my words.

"That ain't gunna happen! You need to be taught a lesson!" She ranted, "He told me so, coming to me so I can follow along in his plans!"

The door back into the Chapel opened and I let the relief flow through me, finally someone had decided to come and check on us. That relief was short lived however when I caught sight of who came out, my stomach plummeted ad I felt my heart rate kick up another notch as the fear rose.

Leanne and a few other of Doggett's cronies came wondering out.

"See!" She hollered, gesturing to her group. "God sent me friends! Who's coming for you?"

With a flick of her wrist the other girls began running towards us, in seconds I felt hands grabbing my arms roughly before a sharp pain shot up from my knees as they gave out under the pressure.

The screwdriver was ripped from my hands and quickly passed over to the ringleader.

"Now girls, lets do as our Lord commands and teach this bitch some manners!" The moment the words left her lips, a sharp kick struck me in the stomach making me double over.

The pain was excruciating, as kick after kick rained down on my body. I couldn't do anything but curl up waiting for the attack to end.

Faintly I heard the door open once again before the shouting started. I tried to lift my head up to see who was there but pain slammed into me, ricocheting throughout my entire being.

"Come on girl," Gentle hands slowly pulled my body up of the cold floor, "You tell me what you want, I can get a guard and get you to the clinic or to the showers where you can clean off,"

The agony I was in, instantly made me think of the clinic but then I heard the next whispered words.

"If I take you to the clinic, there'll be an investigation. They'll probably put you in SHU for protection." The fog surrounding me receded enough for me to lift myself slightly to look at the person who'd helped me. Taystee gave me a weak smile as she wrapped her arm around my waist bringing me closer to her.

"Showers," I whispered, "Don't let anyone see me like this,"

"I won't girl, we got you,"

xxxxxx

Getting to the shower block was a blur, I just laid my head on Taystee's shoulder trusting her to get me there.

"P has gone to go get your stuff. You want a hand getting undressed?"

"That's ok, gotta get used to it or the guards will figure something out," I smile at her, trying to block out the throbbing from my back and ribs.

"Alright girl, I'll be just outside. Holler if you need anything alright? Me and the girls will try and keep some of the people outta here,"

"Thank you, for what you did. I know you didn't have to but it really means a lot." I gingerly lifted my arm and squeezed her hand.

"Hey no problem, those damn bitches shouldn't of done what they did. It was between you and Pensatucky. If they hadn't jumped in I think you could of taken the bitch,"

"Thanks," I chuckled, but stopped instantly when my body protested the movement.

"Get yourself sorted and I'll see you in a bit," With that she spun and left the shower block, leaving me standing alone.

Slowly I dragged me body to the showers, each step igniting a new wave of agony. My arms felt like lead as I grabbed hold of the hem of my shirt, lifting my arms a sob tore through my throat as every injury screamed at me.

"Kid? That you?" Nicky's voice echoed through the room, making me drop my hands immediately.

Panic swirled through me as I heard her footsteps coming around the corner, turning my head I watched as she made her way over to me.

"What are you doing here? You usually shower in the mornings," I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. It was her that had taught me early on not to show any weakness.

"Was on my way back to my bunk when I heard Taystee and some of the other girls arguing about this being off limits. Figured something was going down so I snuck in around them. What's going on Chapman?"

"Nothing, just grabbing a shower before I go to bed," I couldn't tell her because she'd tell Alex and then who knows what would happen.

"Bullshit!" She snorted, taking a step closer to me. "I caught sight of ya in the Chapel, not sure if anyone else did but ya didn't look all that good,"

"Im fine, besides isn't Alex waiting for you? Your new best buddy right?" I shot back bitterly.

"Me and Alex? What are you talking about?"

"Oh come on, I'm not stupid. Think I didn't figure out what had been happening before I came to see her earlier?"

"Why do you care?"

"I don't, just leave me alone Nicky,"

"Nah not till you tell me what's going on,"

"Hey! You heard the girl, she wants a bit of privacy so get on outta here," Pouessy called out, appearing from around the corner with my things. "What ya waiting for?" She questioned, positioning herself between the two of us.

"You know what, forget it," Nicky shrugged and backed off before turning and leaving.

"Thanks," I whispered, bowing my head.

"Anytime yo, we got ya back,"

xxxxx

Showering had been even more painful than actually getting the shit kicked out of me, but the night had been the worst. Every position I laid in my battered body protested and throbbed painfully, with the hours passing me by with no sleep the clinic kept looking more and more appealing however, I held out until the clock struck five am.

I heaved myself out of my bunk as quietly as possible, so I didn't wake any of the other girls and picked up my shower things. Hopefully a cold shower will numb my muscles somewhat to dull the pain. I slipped my flip flops on my feet and carefully exited the cube, feeling a little bit proud of doing so without any help.

Taystee had to help me last night to get back here, after my shower I just couldn't seem to get my legs to cooperate. All the adrenalin id felt seemed to wash away with my tears.

Slowly, I made my way down the hall glad for once at being up before all the others. Entering the shower block, I breathed a sigh of relief at finding it empty aswell.

It was slightly easier to undress this time around, knowing which way I could move without there being to much pain. Turning on the shower, I lent against the wall letting the cold water hit me sore skin. I barely registered the temperature as cold, because it felt wonderful against my overheated skin.

"What no body guards today?"

My head whipped up so fast at the voice I couldn't help the flinch that shook me and I know Nicky saw it straight away.

"I don't need any bodyguards," I muttered grabbing my towel, my moment of peace broken.

"Didn't seem that way yesterday, had half the girls from the ghetto block shadowing you,"

"Don't start Nicky, please?" I begged, flicking the shower off as I tried to wrap the towel around me.

Nicky quickly took steps towards my cubicle, having noticed me struggling, "Here," She pulled the curtain back to grab hold of my towel but stopped as a gasp left her lips.

My head bowed in embarrassment, as I stood there naked. She just stared.

"What the fuck happened to you?" She gestured angrily, making me jump back away from her, "Chapman?"

"Nothing," I whispered, finally securing my towel around me.

"Nothing? That's not fucking nothing, half your body is black and blue! Is that why the girls from your block were hanging around you? Did they do this?"

"No!" I shouted, looking at her in shock. Not once since I'd been here did any of the girls from my area threaten me.

"We'll then who the hell did that to you? Pensatucky?"

"Just leave it alone Nicky," I begged again, shaking my head.

"Does Vause know?" She asked, gently taking my arm and pulling me out of the shower.

"No and I wasn't going to tell her and neither are you!" I told her pulling my arm out of her grip.

"Why the hell not?"

"Because she told me not to come to her," I replied, the words sounding childish even to my own ears, "She doesn't want to know, so she doesn't need to,"

"She'd want to know this and you know that, She's angry at you for choosing your boyfriend over her, that doesn't mean she doesn't care Piper!"

"Really?" I screamed back, " I came to talk to her about it yesterday but all I got was a fuck off, an from you too!" Tears welled up in my eyes as I thought about the moment, how much it hurt to hear her speak to me like that. She'd never raised her voice at me before or looked at me with such anger as she did yesterday.

"I..."

"What Nicky?" I growled, wiping furiously at the tears that spilled over. "Its better this way, it's my problem and I'll deal with it,"

"Deal with it? That's what you call dealing with it?" Again she gestured to my body. "Whoever did that, kicked the fuck out of you,"

"I wasn't ready for it!" I snapped back, my tears forgotten as the anger built up inside of me. I was sick and tired of people treating me like crap, I was angry at Larry for writing such a stupid article about me, I was angry at Alex for not understanding why I had done what I did and most of all I was angry at myself for being so pathetic that a bunch if fucked up meth heads could beat me.

"So next time you will be? What ya gunna do huh? Knife some bitch, get sent down for life, what?"

"If that's what it takes!"

"Bullshit Piper! Let me help!"

"No, this has nothing to do with you,"

"Fine, I'll go get Vause then,"

"The fuck you will!" My hand shot out of its own accord, grabbing ahold of her arm and yanking her back. My anger finally reaching its limits.

"Ya gunna hit me Chapman?"

And just like that my rage was gone, I stumbled back away from her. My actions registering on my mind.

"I...I'm sorry, I would never...," I whispered brokenly, wrapping my arms around my battered body.

"It's alright; I get it," She whispered, slowly edging back towards me: gently she wrapped her arms around my shoulders, pulling me forward into her body. This time I didn't fight her touch, I let my body sag into hers finally letting go of everything id bottled up these past few days. Sobs tore from my mouth as I grabbed her shoulders, trying to keep myself upright. "It's alright," She whispered soothingly as she combed her fingers through my wet hair.

"It's not alright, Im not alright," I sobbed into her shoulder, my entire body was shaking from head to toe.

"You might not be now, but your going to be ok, in going to help you through this but I really think you should talk to Alex. She'd wanna be here for you,"

"But that isn't fair, she shouldn't have to be. I'm trying so hard to respect her wishes but when something happens she's the first person I think of, she's the one I want to go to. But I'm not doing that this time, I'm going to leave her alone and stay away like she asked,"

"Piper this isn't something she's wants you to stay away for, hell Im sure she's going to be pissed if she finds out from someone who isn't you. Put yourself in her shoes, how would you feel if someone you love was going through this and didn't come to you for help?"

"Ok," I whispered, "Im going to go get dressed,"

"Okay? As in you're going to talk to her?"

"Yeah,"

"Alright, need a hand with anything?"

"No, but thanks Nicky,"

"Sure Kid,"

xxxxxx

After the talk with Nicky, I decided to skip breakfast and head back to my bunk. My whole body was practically killing me and the thought of trying to put any food in my stomach made me wince, plus I needed to get my head sorted before I went and spoke to Alex.

"What, you not hungry?"

Immediately my body tensed at the voice, I was getting sick of people sneakin up on me.

"No thank you sir," I tried to keep my body from shaking when his footsteps came closer, "I was going to go wait outside the workshop, so if you'll excuse me sir?"

Healy stood stock still in the entrance to my cube, his eyes cold as his hand rested on the taser sitting on his hip. "Lovers quarrel?"

"No sir, just wanting to get a head start on my work," I took a step forward, expecting him to step to the side but gasped as his hand shot out and pushed me back in the stomach.

A cry of pain escaped my lips before I could stop it, and the nausea swept over me once again, though I couldn't tell if that was from my injuries or the cold smirk that slipped across his face when I staggered back.

"Pensatucky and her little gang did a real number on you huh?" He whispered, taking a step further into my cube. "Probably would of been a lot worse had those 'friends' of yours not shown up ,"

Against my will, I felt tremors echo through me a he came closer still.

"Im going to be late for work," I muttered, trying to look anywhere but at him. My eyes fell on the gaurd box and with a sense of dread saw it was empty.

"I knew I should of locked that door, at least she would of gotten rid of you for me,"

"Please,"

"Please what?"

"I won't say a word to anyone,"

"Your damn right you won't, but if you do remember this. I can make life for you and your little dyke girlfriend hell in here, am I understood?" He snarled, grabbing me by the upper arms and yanking me to his body. "You would be very wise to just forget all about her,"

"Yo Chapman! Come on or we're going to be late for work!"

Healy's hands left me as if I'd burnt him, and spun to face Nicky in the hall entrance. Straight away from the the look on her face I knew she'd seen and heard everything.

"Run along Chapman, before I write you up for being late," He called over his shoulder as he breezed past Nicky.

"Jesus fucking Christ!" Nicky whispered harshly, rushing over to me. "You alright?"

Not trusting my voice, I nodded willing my tears not to fall.

"That was... What the fuck was that? All that shit he said about you and Vause, is that why you picked Larry because Healy threatened you?"

"N...oo, he hasn't done that before," I lied, "just little comments, here and there,"

"You didn't really pick Larry did you?"

The tears fell as I shook my head, and for the second time that day I felt Nocky wrap her arms around me.

"We'll sort this out kid, I promise ya,"

xxxxxx

Work was hell, throughout the entire time I was there I couldn't get my hands to stop shaking. Healy's words repeating over and over in my mind, in the end Nicky had taken the screwdriver from my hands and had quickly finished off what I was working on. Thankfully Lusechek ha been none the wiser, sitting at his desk with a magazine.

"Right that's it, everyone return your tools an get back to your bunks for check!"

Nicky took mine and her tools and turned them in before coming back straight to me. My body felt so tense that every slight movement I made sent a wave of biting pain through my chest, back and stomach. So when I stood, slowly, I don't miss the look of sympathy and concern etched on Nicky's face as she hovered close to me.

"Cone on," She sighed, reaching out for my hand. Unhurriedly she guided me out of the workshop, only letting my hand go when our feet touched the grass, "It's commissary today, think they do some lotion to help with sore muscles. It could help the pain some,"

"Yeah, I'll go get some," I smiled, trying to appease her slightly. The concerned looks were beginning to annoy me, everyone in my dorm knows what happened as each of them look at me the same way.

"Ya coming to dinner?"

"Think I'm just going to get some pretzels or something when I go get the lotion, the canteens a bit crowded,"

"Ok so I'll go for check, then come back and get you an we'll go to the commissary together,"

I stopped and stared at her in shock, forgetting everything else I lent in aJD gave her a quick hug, "Thank you," I whispered, pulling away. I was unable to stop the slight giggle that bubbled out of my lips at the look on her face.

Nicky stood there, a slight smirk on here slips trying to cover up the genuine one I could just make out.

"Hell if your going to hug me, we better take this shit to the Chapel," She laughed, making my own face flush in embarrassment. "Don't laugh at me if you can't handle what I check back at ya,"

"Lesson learned," I chuckled, and give her a slight wave as I stepped through the door to my dorm.

"Hey girl! Ya alright? Didn't see you at breakfast,"Taystee greeted me the second I was within earshot. We lined up outside our cube just as the gaurd was about to go past us, we waited until he was gone before we sat down on our bunks.

"Wasn't feeling all that hungry," I shrugged, slipping my jacket gingerly off my shoulders.

"Ya gotta eat," She pushed, picking up the jacket and placing it on the shelf for me.

"Nicky is coming to get me and we're going to the commissary, so I'll get something from there,"

"So no dinner either? You gotta go sometime or people are gunna get suspicious and think something is going on,"

"And if someone accidentally bumps into me in the canteen, what then? Doubling over in agony doesn't exactly scream good health Tay," I shot back.

"We'll then come in with us, me and P will make sure no one gets close," she compromised, looking pleased with herself.

"Stop looking all smug, there's plenty of reasons why I shouldn't go to dinner,"

"And plenty of why you should,"

"Hey Chapman," I sighed in relief, turning to face Nicky. "There wasn't a line so I grabbed the stuff you wanted. I read the back of the lotion says its better to be out on just before you go to sleep,"

"I'll get you what ever you want when it's next open," I promised.

" Don't worry about it," She shrugged, doing that half smirk half smile thig again. "But what Taystee said is true, if we go tonight it won't look strange if you skip in the morning,"

"The idea though of actually eating anything right now is completely unappealing,"

"Just do what you can," Taystee assured, motioning to someone with her hand and in an instant Pouessy was there, "Hey P, stand with me and Chapman in food hall alright, no one can knock into her then,"

Pouessy gave a quick nod, glancing between me and Nicky.

"She knows," I smiled, again touched by the protectiveness these women were shoving me, " Shall we go then?"

xxxxx