Innocent (Lams prison au)

14

John hadn't seen Alex since the incident with Levi two days ago, and for all he knew, he could be dead. The ambulance whisked him away and Washington locked Levi up. That was the end of it. The staff organised for both parties to see Angelica, the psychologist, but John didn't turn up for his appointment. John couldn't focus on anything, burning his hands in the laundry, burying his hand instead of the seeds in gardening and chopping his fingers and not the food in kitchen duty. He was a mess and the bandages littering his hands were proof enough. His one favourite pass time, drawing, he couldn't do while his hands were bundled up so John spent his days over-thinking scenarios and waiting for Alex to return, if he would at all.

Over the last two days nobody had really stepped up to take the role of top dog, probably out of fear of the curse the position might bestow upon them.

John considered it for half a millisecond before completely dissing himself for even thinking of it. Right now all he could really think of was Alex, guilt and worry eating away at him endlessly. And despite the fact that Levi was now locked away in solitary confinement, he still struggled to sleep at night knowing the man who attempted to rape him 3 times was sleeping in the same building as him.

Lafayette and Hercules hung with John, putting up with his sulky sook attitude with sympathetic outlooks. One particular lunch time, however, John was not in the mood to put on a brave face. He stood from his seat, pushing his tray away.
"John- where are you off to?" Lafayette asked as he began to leave.
"I'm going to see Washington," John replied over his shoulder. "Enjoy your lunch," he added, exiting the room.

Hercules and Lafayette shared a suspicious glance, eye brows raised, as they watched John leave, not that John noticed. He was dead-set on seeing Alex. He wasn't going to rest until he knew Alex was safe.

John found Seabury in the hallway and took the opportunity as it came.
"Officer Seabury! Would you be able to get me to the Governor's office? It's urgent." John coaxed.
"Uh... sure John," Seabury replied, not sure if he believed John but rolling with it anyway. He scanned his ID card at least 4 times for different hallways until they reached Washington's office.

A meeting was already taking place inside so Seabury seated John beside the door to wait his turn.
"Thank you so much," he nodded with gratitude.

John sat patiently, the mumbling of Washington's meeting buzzing from the wall behind him. He wasn't sure who he was talking to, but he was intrigued. John pressed his ear up against the wall, taking shallow breaths to listen carefully.

"The prisoners have too much freedom, this needs to cut down starting with not being allowed to leave their cell blocks whenever they please throughout the day," A stern voice lectured, footsteps pacing back and forth. John recognised it, but struggled to place to voice to a face while it was muffled and quiet.
"I know, but we can't just change facility rules based on one inmate, on one incident," Washington sighed from the other side.

"Governor this was not just one incident, Levi Weeks is a possessive sex offender, I'll have you know he has raped 6 other men, advancing on John Laurens three reported times. If I hadn't-" The anonymous voice exclaimed, coming to a stand still from their pacing, but interrupted by Washington.
"Well if it's just Levi and Laurens, I'll have one of them moved to another facility, possibly upstate," Washington muttered.

John's breath hitched in his throat. If he was moved, he wouldn't be with Alex. He wouldn't be with Herc and Laf and he would have to start all over again as the 'fresh meat' at a new prison.

"Is that even debatable? Levi would be moved. Laurens has done nothing to provoke him, if anything he helped you with Hamilton's case. Apply for Weeks to be shipped off upstate, they can deal with his shit." The voice spat with a small laugh. Washington chuckled, concealing it by clearing his voice. John sighed in relief. Levi would be moving away. He wouldn't have to worry about that bastard anymore.