Chapter Text
Vera Bennett was sitting down in the lunch room getting lost in thought as she nursed her tea that sat on the left side of her arm, her face downward focusing on some paper work. Things had been very hectic as of late, everyone getting out of control and the recent demise of Vera's mother Rita. Which was morphing her into the person she had always meant to be in a slow fade. The deputy wasn't the same as she was before, she took a leave of absence after she endured an accident from the prisoners which was actually meant for Matthew Fletcher, causing her to slip and fall with Vinegar spread throughout the floor that now labeled her as “Vinegar tits”. It was a cruel thing to do, and something Miss Bennett wouldn't be able to get over much but, disregarded it the best she could. Because Joan Ferguson was accurate: when the prisoners smell weakness, they go for it. Not to mention the problem she was basically forced to bare in regards to Mr. Fletcher sleeping with Will Jackson's late wife aka ex Governor, Meg Jackson.
Mr. Jackson had walked into the lunch room going to his locker, silently.
Vera looked up slightly and then back down, not wanting to make eye contact or speak if she could avoid it. Jackson hadn't been happy with her and in a way she understood but wished that it could be realized at what a position she had been put in. Bennett got up to use the ladies room for a short moment.
While she was away, Mr. Jackson had this look in his eye, and checked his surroundings oddly. He quickly went over to where Vera sat, and then stuck something into her drink quickly mixing it right before Vera made her way back in. He stormed off rather oddly that even made Vera question.
Shaking her head at the thought, Vera sat down and looked up at the clock which stated it was five minutes before break was over so she downed her tea quickly and headed off to Governor Ferguson's office. On her way there, her head started to feel slightly fuzzy. It was odd, but Vera shrugged it off assuming it was just her body reacting to how fast she drank that tea down. While entering The Governors office all of a sudden everything around her morphed into a trance like state causing her to feel rather, well nothing. Vera felt as if she was a cloud and had no feelings.
“Oh, Vera.” Governor Ferguson stated with a small grin as Vera stood there slowly walking, oddly at that and stood in front of Joan now.
Joan raised a brow “Uh, Vera?” She questioned.
Vera didn't say anything still. Everything turned a different like color and all of a sudden, red hot chili peppers began to form on Joan's eyebrows laughing wickedly and making noises. Okay, she had to be in a dream. So she thought to herself anyway. Vera did tend to have odd dreams as it was, and a lot of them involving, Joan.
Joan huffed crossing her arms wondering if something had occurred that she wasn't aware of. “VERA!” she snapped, but still nothing.
Those peppers forming on Joan's eyebrows began to slightly move and Vera began to laugh, cupping her mouth in the process.
This caused Ferguson to get a tad angry and wonder what exactly was going on. She slightly huffed and rose to her seat walking around the desk leaning against it in front of Vera. “Vera! Vera!” She said loudly, snapping her fingers in front of the small deputies face.
Vera giggled more and then went wide eyed as the peppers she was seeing, began to look as though they were going downward. Her small hand began to rise over towards Joan, to take them off right away for her safety. Literately believing this was all real.
Joan scrunched her face in confusion and smacked Vera's hand away “Miss Bennett! What on earth are you doing!” she demanded at once.
Vera whined a little and stared “I was trying to get them off of you! Can't you feel them?” She asked, sincerely at that. This had to be a dream, the small deputy thought. There was no away around it. How was she to figure, Mr. Jackson had spiked her drink with an obvious hallucinogenic.
Joan kinked a brow and then, touched her own face a little quickly “wh—what? Whats on my face?” she asked and then looked around her before turning her head back slowly, glaring at her deputy “Vera BENNETT! Are you HIGH!?!?” Joan asked very angrily now crossing her arms, nostrils flaring.
Vera stood there a moment and then, busted out into laughter “Oh Joan! You are so silly! O' course I'm not! I'm just trying to get those chili peppers off your eyebrows for crying out loud, sheeesh” she responded which left Joan jaw dropped. Vera then began to see the apparent red peppers laughing evilly and pumping pepper juice into Joan's hair, causing Bennett to giggle even more wickedly.
Joan was not amused but now, she was actually concerned and in wonder. “Oh heavens...” Joan mumbled to herself, slowly piecing together what exactly was going on here.
Vera had a huge smile on her face and began to prance around the room and then, went towatds Joan's personal bathroom humming before slamming right into the door “Owwwww....” Vera moaned and then went to grab the doorknob to gain access.
Joan couldn't help but to smirk at this, but then regained her seriousness and strutted over to her deputy. “Vera, stop!” she protested before the deputy flung the door open with wide arms in a sign of accomplishment. Joan shook her head and groaned knowing this was going to be one hell of a situation. And why the situation was happening to begin with. Vera was never one to do drugs, so she knew, and even if she did, Joan had faith knowing Vera would never go and do anything like that during work. She was well aware of how important this job was to her precious little deputy.
Vera went into the bathroom and laughed childishly “Oh my goodness!“ the brunette squealed causing Joan to jump in utter startle not expecting it.
Joan shook her head with a sigh “Oh god, Vera...what am I gonna do with you.” she said in a pained voice yet, smirked again looking at how ridiculous Vera was acting and looking.
Vera turned around looking at Joan and gasped “Oh my goodness. Joan...you...you're a tree!” she exclaimed with horror written all over her face before realizing she was in a 'dream', to her knowledge anyway. And then, began to snicker harshly. All of a sudden from Vera's point of seeing, Joan formed into a gorilla which caused her to gain scared whether it a dream or not “AHH!” she screamed.
Joan jumped once again ”BLOODY HELL!” she yelled “WHAT! What is it!?” Ferguson demanded.
Vera regained herself to not feel so afraid since after all, it was only a 'DREAM' and the snickering continued before she slightly trembled. “Y—you....you're a gorilla now...I don't like it” she said shaking her head before Joan went back to being Joan, and Vera smiled daydream like at her “ah you are dream Joan again, YAY!” she squeaked, with a flicker of happiness in her eye.
Joan's eyes narrowed and she shook her head “Oh god...” she said pained and put a hand to her forehead. Then it dawned on her 'dream Joan'. The Governor began to question in her head. Vera had dreams about her? That was now definitely peeking her interest causing her to form a wicked grin at the thought, before all of a sudden a knock at the door was made causing Joan to jump “SHIT” she said and then grabbed Vera closely “Vera, uh--uh--we are going to play a game alright? You are to STAY in here, and not come out no matter what, hm?” Joan instructed as Vera began to look like a lost puppy. “And if you touch that doorknob, your hand will melt off so do not touch. Alright?” Joan said right away before shutting the door and leaving to get to whomever was knocking and hope to god this wasn't going to be found out.
Vera shrugged and whimpered before she left, not liking this. “This is MY dream though.” Vera stated with a huff, but then got distracted by her body beginning to sweat feeling very hot. She roamed in the bathroom, turning the sink on and then went to the shower curtain to open it while trying to take her bun down before, THUD! She fell into the shower, curtain halfway over her face, Vera's hair a complete mess.
Joan answered her door and it was Channing, great. “Mr. Channing what can I do for you today?” Joan asked in her best sophisticated voice and face.
Channing walked in without even being offered, looking around bright eyed “Hi there Joan, Just checking in to see how Mr. Fletcher was holding up after the whole ordeal with he and Mr.Jackson” he said in wonder. Then all of a sudden humming began.
It was Vera in the bathroom humming that turned into singing. “I'm in a bathroooooom! Lalala! And I'm singing! I'm in t-t-the bathroooooom! Annnnnd I”M SIIIIIIIINGING! Lalalalala! I'm stuck in the shower and cannot move, lalalala! Joan is still so pretty in my dreaaaaams even though she threatened if my hand touch the doorknooooob it would burn off lalala!!” Vera sang in the distance.
Channing cleared his throat and pointed towards the bathroom with his thumb looking confused “Uh Joan, do you hear that?” he asked, squinting his eyes, looking rather confused.
A very nervous Joan quickly stood in front of Channing and smiled the best she could “Hmm no, I don't actually” she replied using a fake laugh. This was going to really screw up Joan's reputation if this was found out, that was for sure. So, Miss Ferguson had to do whatever she could in order to make Channing get the hell out so she could figure how exactly she was going to care for Vera, and in the same process, not have nobody know about this. She slightly grinned hearing Vera in the distance though. Her deputy thought she was pretty? First, she had apparent dreams of her and now she seems to think Joan is-- so pretty? This was something else, that was for sure but, Joan had to remove that grin and keep her serious and mean attitude on.
Channing chuckled a little, protesting against the fact that no noise or music was on somewhere located in Joan's office. “Hmm, no I think I hear music or something....it...” He paused a moment looking as though he may of found an answer to his question, causing Joan to slightly groan to herself before he continued “Well hey, you know it happens to sound kind of like Miss Bennett, don't it?” He questioned and began to smirk.
Joan sucked in a deep breath feeling overwhelmed with this situation on how exactly she was going to fix it, and have nobody know of it. “Oh...THAT! HA funny you say that, I have a small radio in there with soft tunes. I find it rather uhh--- calming.” She said quickly trying to pull this utter lie off and then continued to throw Channing off “I'll be sure to let Miss Bennett know that you thought it was her singing, I'm sure she'd be flattered Mr. Channing”Joan added slightly kinking a brow with a nod before the singing continued causing her to mumble a groan under her breath, completely stressed.
Vera was a mess in the bathroom and for whatever reason something compelled her to sing, hum and act completely ridiculous but, it was from whatever she was laced with. More than likely acid. “I want outta this shower! LALALA! Oh yes I do!! hmmmm hmmm hmmm!” Vera continued to sing.
Channing squinted his eyes a little more turning his head before Joan slightly walked to the side of him.
“Well, you know what I actually have a phone meeting. I completely forgot! We can speak on behalf of Mr. Fletcher and Mr. Jackson right away and I'll let you know how everything is and has been planning out alright?” Joan said calmly as she forcefully but not showing it, instructed him to move towards the door.
Channing tilted his head a little and began to itch the inside of his ear when the singing continued “How come you have a radio in the bathroom when you work in....here?” He questioned looking over in the direction of the bathroom once more.
Joan cleared her throat and basically shoved him out the door but gracefully “So sorry! Must uh get to that meeting Mr. Channing! Surely you understand there is no time for small talk right now. Get back to you later” She said closing the door right away behind her, leaning her back against it and letting out a drawn sigh.
Channing was a couple inches away from the door and turned his head “huh...” he mumbled and began to take his leave “Crazy ass women.” He said to himself before vanishing into his own office finally giving Joan room to breath and get her mess in check.
Vera continued to sing before Joan flung the door wide open causing the small deputy to gasp and go wide eyed, her singing stopping. “JOOOOAN!!!” She squeaked with a bright smile upon her face, trying to pull herself up from the tub in the shower.
Joan was breathing rather fast and couldn't help but to smirk looking at Vera. She was to precious to her, even though Joan would never ever admit such a thing. And despite this mess, Vera looked beautiful and in a way, it made Joan feel rather warm inside at the things Vera was saying and how she apparently has dreams of her. Ferguson had to shake it off though, this was obvious a trip from being high of some sort so it was probably nothing. “Vera, Vera, Vera...” Joan said sighing as she sat onto the toilet seat running a hand down her own face trying to figure out what was going to happen and not to mention, waning to find out who and the hell did this to her Vera. Her precious deputy she was still continuing to mold into her own prodigy.