A HEALTHY LOVE

CH.6: CIVILITY BETWEEN THE CO & INMATE

The following afternoon, Alex sat on the floor of C-block with a book in her hand. She was nowhere nearer to figuring out what to do about her marriage, so she chose to distract herself with a decent novel. McCullough stood against the opposite wall of the block, trying her best to look at anything and anyone other than Alex Vause. It was hard for her, as she was concerned about how Alex was doing after whatever had brought Alex to tears. Yet again, the janitorial crew from D-block came onto C-block. 

It was Nicky's last shift with the crew. She casually rolled her cart past McCullough. The bum wheels caused a slight hiccup, and a few of her cleaning products fell over. McCullough automatically bent to help Nicky collect them. "Hey, thanks. That was nice of you. Most of the CO's around here wouldn't have bothered to help," Nicky said. McCullough handed her a bottle of bleach with rigid frown. "Get busy, inmate" McCullough said coldly.  "Ouch. You didn't have to come back with such a cold attitude. Hey, you know, we've never had much of an opportunity to chat..." Nicky said calmly. Alex happened to glance upwards. She saw Nicky was chatting up McCullough, and she didn't like it.

McCullough: "I know who you are, Nichols. You're friends with Vause."

Nicky: "That's right...so what?" 

McCullough (in low and sincere tone): "I just want to know if she is ok. I,um...heard crying after her last visitation." 

"She will be. Vause is a tough cookie. Listen,uh..if you have such a soft spot for inmates, you're always welcome to come by my cell in D-block"  Nicky replied back with a smirk. McCullough shook her head at Nicky with disgust at her implication. "Keep it moving,pervert" McCullough replied back harshly.  Nicky playfully saluted as went back to her cleaning duties of C block. After witnessing the exchange, Alex had set her book aside and discreetly made her way towards Nicky. She intercepted Nicky under the steps, with folded arms and her usual glare. "What do you think you're doing?" Alex asked, accusation filling her tone. 

Nicky: "Cleaning. It's actually a nice change of pace. I'll be back in the kitchen tomorrow."

Alex(with a hissing tone): "You know what I mean.." 

Nicky: "Don't worry. You're the only one on her mind."

Alex: "That not what I...I'm not jealous. I told you last night to leave her alone, and you were obviously chatting her up."

Nicky: "Hey, I was thanking her for helping me. I mean,sure, I clearly hinted she could visit me in D-block, but she wasn't interested. She wanted to know how you're doing..said she heard crying after your last Chapman visit and was concerned." 

Alex: "She asked about me?"

"Yeah, she did. Now, I'd better get to work. You folks in C-block are such slobs" Nicky said as she patted Alex on the back before she pushed her cart away, whistling a happy tune. Alex glanced at McCullough, who was conversing  with CO Copeland. Though  she knew it was against her better judgment, Alex watched McCullough and Copeland. Once Copeland had left, Alex slowly and discreetly approached McCullough. Alex wanted to make this conversation quick and to point. McCullough noticed Alex walking toward her slowly looked at her feet. "I came over to just say...thank you for last night" Alex said calmly. 

McCullough: "I,uh...heard crying after visitation that afternoon.  Are you OK?" 

Alex: "I'm fine. But for the future, you don't need to keep such a close eye on me."

McCullough (sarcastic tone): "Uh-huh...You are aware it is literally my job to keep an eye on all the inmates,which includes you?" 

Alex: "I just mean..try not give me special attention from now on. Or Nichols."

"Oh,don't worry. You can tells Nichols that I'm not at all interested.  You, of all people, know why.." McCullough said, pain in her tone.  Alex looked at her and met McCullough's wounded gaze. Alex open her mouth to say more in response, yet her mouth shut a second later. She turned and walked to her cell. As she sat on her bed, Alex had a flashback to the night McCullough dropped by her cell to apologize for putting her at risk by forcing her to sell chargers. Several minutes later, the two of them had fallen onto  her prison mattress, their lips crashing into one another. Alex put her hands to lips as she pushed away the memory. She pulled her cell-phone from its hiding place and checked her notifications. Piper hadn't called or texted for a week now.

Sitting in the CO break room, McCullough felt the sting of fresh tears in her eyes. It was her job to watch Alex, but it was starting to be too much. Every time she saw Alex, her heart broke a little more. She wasn't going to be able to get over Alex as long as they were in the same prison. If Alex wanted them to be apart, maybe the only way to make that happen was to get her transferred. McCullough knew she had to talk to Warden Ward as soon as possible

While McCullough started to think of a way to convince Warden Ward to transfer Alex, Alex replayed the moment she saw Nicky talking to McCullough in her mind. She stupidly kept picturing them together, perhaps in the shower or some broom closet, and she didn't like it. However, Alex wasn't sure why it bothered her so much. "But it won't happen. You know it won't. She wants you and only you" Alex told herself  "Stop it. It doesn't matter who she's with or interested in. You're with Piper."   Alex decided to give Piper a call, yet Piper didn't answer. Alex left a voicemail. "Pipes, it's me. Can you come visit? We really need to talk." She hung up her phone, knowing Piper was probably with Zelda.