Chapter Text
Erica was escorted through the prison. Oh, how it was to be on the other side of the fence. How had she got herself in this mess? It was more than a mess, it was a fucking disaster and the answer was the same as it always was; Franky. She’d let herself get in way too deep, against all the warning bells in her head. She had followed her instincts and her heart, and fuck look where it had got her. Franky had become more than the smartass prisoner she should have been, she had become a friend and a…well Erica, didn’t know the name for what she had become exactly but the point was that she had let a prisoner into her world, all the way into her world and that Franky in return, had put her trust in the governor. So, when Franky was finally caught for being the true killer of Meg, it was natural that Erica would go down too. That’s what happens, after all, when you steal evidence from a murder investigation. And where had it gotten them anyway? Now they were both going to be locked away for an extensive sentence. That was if the now-ex governor could last her sentence, it was never going to be easy entering Wentworth as a prisoner with all these women who had a thousand reasons to hate her.
Franky was in the yard as Erica was escorted in. She sat by herself; her standing in the prison had fallen rapidly when the truth came out. The truth. Franky had killed Meg and let someone else take the fall. Hell, if you really wanted to push it you could blame a lot that hinged on Franky’s lies. Not to mention, the whole time she was being protected by the governor. Now there was no direct proof, but the other women all knew that the two must have been fucking. So now Franky, once top dog of Wentworth was nothing more than the governor’s little pet project.
The guards were well aware of the dangers that presented their old boss as the other women growled and lunged at her. As much as they hated what Erica had done (though there was a couple who believed that Franky had been the one to take advantage and manipulate the governor), it was still their responsibility to protect her. Eventually, the other women let her move on and she wandered over to Franky, sitting opposite her not saying a word.
“Are you okay?” Franky asked, full of concern and guilt. She could feel the rest of the women watching her but she only had eyes for Erica.
Erica looked at her, “I’m fine,” she said in a low voice.
“Erica, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, I never meant for this – “
“I know, Franky. I know,” Erica nodded, holding back tears.
Franky clenched her jaw as though she was trying to hold in Erica’s tears herself.
“Isn’t there anything they can do? You were the governor for fucks sake.”
“Exactly. That only makes it worse. I stole evidence, Franky, there’s no way out of that,” Erica looked Franky in the eye, trying to get her message across.
“I’m – “
“Please don’t apologise. You didn’t ask me to go into the file, Franky. I made the choice. It isn’t your fault,” Erica was tired, she really didn’t need to fight with Franky over this.
Franky nodded, she could see Erica didn’t want to argue and neither did she. In fact, all she really wanted was to be alone with Erica, without all these eyes on them, but she knew if she tried to take Erica inside someone would come after them. They were safer in the crowd, and under the guard’s watch. It was ironic that the two would probably find it harder to have any time alone in here than they did when Erica was the governor.
Fletch had taken over as governor, after being friendly with Channing for months it didn’t come as much of a surprise to anyone. He had made himself comfortable in the office, but it really wasn’t the best of circumstances to take over a prison, the ex governor being imprisoned for colluding with a prisoner and covering up the murder of her predecessor. Of course, Erica’s name was like poison in the industry now and there was a lot of anger from employee’s, the board, the public. The prison weren’t going to give the governor-turned-criminal the privilege of an ‘easy’ sentence in protection. The admin couldn’t be completely stupid though; they had made sure that Erica was placed in Franky’s block. Even that, they knew, was no guarantee that Erica would survive.
“Are you going to keep studying?” Erica asked, as she ate her first prison-meal. At least the food wasn’t as bad as she had thought.
Franky looked surprised, “I don’t know. I hadn’t really thought about it, Erica. I don’t know if I could.”
Erica put her fork down, “I swear to god Franky, if you don’t continue your degree I’ll never talk to you again.”
“Erica,” Franky said in shock, “what…where did that come from?”
“We worked too hard for you to just give it up. Besides, it’s obvious you have no friends in here anymore, you need something to fill your time.”
Franky thought about saying something like jeez Erica, you’re still trying to be governor, but decided it was too soon, “Okay,” she nodded, “I’ll keep studying then. What about you? You need to find something to do too.”
Erica looked relieved, “Good. And yeah, I know. I will, I’m talking to someone about courses this afternoon.”
Franky nodded, “I’m going to keep you safe, Erica. I promise, you’re going to get through this.”
Erica sighed, “Franky, you’re in enough shit with the other women as it is.”
“Exactly, I can hardly get in anymore. Besides, Erica,” Franky reached across the table and touched Erica’s hand quickly and gently, “I love you,” she said quietly.
Erica smiled for the first time since she’d entered Wentworth as a prisoner, “I love you too.”
Franky could hardly shower without worrying about Erica; she’d been as quick as she could and headed back to the block, still drying her hair. Gone were the days she walked these halls as if she owned them, she was determined not to show any shame though and still walked with her head held high. There were just none of the old smiles, greetings or high fives, just glare’s, looks of disappointment and complete snubs. Kim was the only one who did none of the three usual reactions; she simply avoided Franky’s eyes, still unsure of what she was meant to feel. Franky was sure something would come from Kim at some stage, but for now she was being quiet. Franky walked in to the block, Erica’s door was closed and Liz, Doreen and another woman were standing outside it. Franky approached them.
“Get out of the way,” she demanded.
They shook their heads, and Franky could hear the smash of fists against skin on the other side of the door and worse, Erica’s reactions; cries as she hit the floor.
Franky tried to push them aside, and she was good, she was tough but it was three on one. Franky was still writhing on the ground when Erica’s door opened and Simmo, Bea and a new woman, Cassie who had been initiated in, walked out smugly. Bea smirked at Franky on the floor, walking over and making a single, swift quick into the ribs. Franky had certainly realised as of late that she had well underestimated Bea Smith. Even after Debbie, Franky didn’t think Bea had been capable of the things she’d done since then, but she was proving herself to be one of the most vicious top dog’s Wentworth had ever seen. Fuelled by anger and hatred at anyone involved in her daughter’s death (and didn’t it feel good to lay into the woman who hadn’t allowed her to go to Debbie’s funeral?), Bea had finally learnt what it was Jacs and Franky had been fighting for.
Franky clenched her jaw in pain and stumbled into Erica’s room, closing the door (and hoping it stayed that way) and rushed to Erica’s side. Her left eye was already beginning to bruise and she had blood dripping from both sides of her lip and nose. She clutched her stomach.
“Oh god, Erica, I’m so sorry,” Franky let a few tears run down her face. She started to clean Erica up, wiping both of their tears away. She sat Erica up against the bed.
“Are you okay? Do you need medical?”
Erica shook her head, “I’ll be okay. I just want to lie down.”
Franky helped her onto the bed and brushed her hair out of her face, “I’m going to stay with you.”
“You’ll just get us in more trouble, Franky.”
“I don’t care. I’m not leaving you,” Franky winced as she lay down next to Erica, her ribs still causing her pain.
“Hey,” Erica whispered, putting her hand on Franky’s face, “are you okay? Is it your ribs?”
Franky nodded, “Yeah, hurts a bit but I’m tough, I’ll be right,” she smiled unconvincingly.
Erica put her hand on Franky’s ribs, “Are you sure? They’re not broken?” she pressed a little harder and though Franky cried out in pain, they were clearly still in tact, “sorry,” she whispered, giving Franky a quick peck on the cheek.
Franky curled an arm around Erica’s shoulders and pulled her close. Erica took a while to get to sleep, but it was Franky who stared at the door until the early hours of the morning when she simply couldn’t keep her eyes open anymore. She buried herself in Erica’s smell, different now than it had been when she was a governor wearing expensive, intoxicating perfume, and fell asleep.