Alice hung up the phone and sat in her car waiting on Bette to return home. Bette had made her promise she would be waiting when she got home. Bette needed to talk to Alice to find out what Tina had said before she left. When Bette arrived Alice slowly got out of her car and walked towards the front door. She was dreading this conversation but she knew she had to try and be a friend to Bette even though she didnt understand why she had chosen to cheat on Tina.

Thanks for staying until I could get here Bette said.

No problem. Alice replied. Porter you look like ***** and almost as bad as Tina did.

Why did you let her leave Alice? Bette asked. Why didnt you call me before she left town?

Look Bette, this is really hard on me because we are friends but I am Tinas friend too
Alice replied. I did what I thought I had to do for both of you.

If you had called me maybe I could have stopped her Bette said.

Bette, I dont think anyone could have stopped her. She is hurting big time and she needs time away from her, from you to heal. Alice said trying to be gentle with her words. She said she could not stay here and perhaps run in to you and be civilized. She just couldnt face that Bette not yet.

*****! Bette said. We could have worked something out. This is her home.

Bette I do not want to hurt you so please just let this go for now Alice said. Give her some time and maybe when she has calmed down some and the pain she is feeling has eased up a little, she will change her mind and come back.

Alice you have to tell me what she said. I dont care if it hurts or not. Nothing could hurt more than this Bette said.

She felt as if she had nothing left here. No job, no home and she lost you Alice said.

But Alice she has a home and she has me. I know I fucked it up, but I swear to you I love her. Bette cried. I dont even know how the ***** I let my life get so screwed up

Bette, Tina didnt feel like she had those things anymore and honestly I dont blame her. You cheated on her. How did you expect her to feel? How did you expect her to react? Was she just supposed to say oh it is okay? Alice said. I have no idea why you did what you did, but if you hope to have any chance at all with Tina you better figure out why in ***** you did it.

I dont know what I expected, but it wasnt for her to leave town Bette said.

Bette all I can say is to give it time. If you two are really meant to be together it will happen. For what its worth I believe that you two belong together Alice said.

Thank you. Thank you for saying that and for being my friend Bette said.

Ill tell you what I told Tina. That is what friends are for Alice said. I am going to get going but if you need me please call. Oh and by the way, if I hear from Tina I will let you know.

After Alice left Bette just said down on the sofa and cried. She had totally destroyed her life and Tinas and she didnt know what to do. How was she supposed to go on with out Tina? Even though Bette outwardly was the strong one in the relationship, Tina was the rock of their relationship and Bette knew that. She had to hope and pray that given time that Tina would change her mind and come back home to LA and maybe someday back to her. Bette got up from the sofa and walked through the house touching the items there that she knew Tina loved. She needed to feel that connection because as long as Tinas things were still in the house in some way Tina was still there. Bette made her way into the bedroom and slowly sat down on the bed. She sat there looking at the night stand sitting by the bed. Tinas ring was lying on that nightstand still in the place where she had left it before she walked out. Bette really didnt blame her for leaving or for taking her ring off because she knew that she would have done the same, if Tina had been the one to cheat on her. She knew that she had brought this all on herself and she honestly could not figure out why. She had doubted her love for Tina a while back but she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she was totally in love with Tina. She realized that the saying that you dont know what you have until it is gone is so true. She lay down on the bed and thought of Tina and how much she had hurt her and she began to cry in earnest. She cried so much that finally she cried herself to sleep.

After Tina left the house she headed her car in the general direction of her mothers house in Denver. She didnt have to be anywhere at any specific time and she had withdrawn enough money from her and Bettes account to take her time getting to Denver. She winced with pain as she thought about Bette but she did not allow her self to dwell on thoughts of Bette. She cranked up the radio and concentrated on the road as each mile took her further away from LA and further away from Bette and the life they had shared together. She drove for close to 4 hours before she made her first stop. She filled her car up with gas, grabbed something to eat and was ready to get back out on the road. She was on the outskirts of Las Vegas and she was coming up on the intersection where she would be getting on the interstate. She had to stop for the red light and when the light turned green she started to pull forward. She got about mid way into the first lane when a car broadsided her. The car had run a red light and Tina had no time to react. Tina lay in her car unconscious as people stopped to try and help. Eventually the police came, the fireman came to cut Tina out of the car and finally an ambulance came to take Tina to the hospital. Tina was unconscious the entire time they worked to get her out of the car and she was still unconscious when she arrived at the hospital. The EMT personnel had brought Tinas personnel items from the car to the hospital. The nurses went through her purse to identify who she was and see if she had anything in her purse to help them find out who they needed to call to notify of them of the accident. They found paperwork in Tinas wallet that identified her next of kin as Julie Kennard from Denver Colorado. The nurse managed to get a phone number for Julie Kennard and placed a call to her to notify her of the accident.

Hello Julie said answering the phone.

Is this Ms. Julie Kennard of Denver Colorado? the nurse said.

Yes it is Julie replied.

My name is Sue Thompson and I am a nurse at Mountain View Hospital in Las Vegas Nevada the nurse said. I need to know if you are any relation to Tina Kennard from Los Angeles California.

Yes that is my daughter Julie replied. Has something happened to her?

We have admitted a Miss Tina Kennard here in our emergency room Sue replied. She was injured in a car accident.

Oh God, my poor baby Julie cried. Is she okay? Can you tell me the extent of her injuries?

Im sorry Ms. Kennard but we are still in the process of assessing her injuries at this time Sue said.

Was she alone in the car? Julie asked.

Maam there was no one else brought in with her. Sue said. Can you tell us whether you will be coming in case we need permission to provide treatment should she require surgery?

I will be there as quickly as I can Julie replied. I am also going to call her partner and let her know. She can probably be there quicker than I can. Can she sign for her treatment?

Is she related to her? Sue said.

No. They are not legally married. Julie replied.

Then Im sorry she has no legal right to sign for medical treatment for her Sue said.

I will get a flight out as soon as I can. If she needs surgery you have my permission to do what you have to make sure that my baby is okay.

Julie hung up the phone and cried. She grabbed the phone book and found a number for the airlines and soon she had a flight reservation to Las Vegas. She was lucky because she had managed to get a flight out of Denver that was leaving in 3 hours. She started to go in and throw a few things in a suitcase but decided that she would call Bette first.

Bette was sleeping soundly but she was dreaming of Tina. The dream was of happier times of them together. They were laughing and having fun just being together and then the dream moved on and they were in bed together. Tina was on top of her, straddling her hips and they were stroking each other intimately. The stroking rhythm soon became so intense for both of them that they reached a shattering climax within seconds of each other. Once again the dream moved on and this time it was as if Tina was floating away from her. Bette called her name and held out her hand but the image of Tina just kept floating away. The dream frightened Bette and brought her immediately awake. The dream had disturbed Bette, but Bette chocked it up to having to do with Tina leaving her. She got up and had started towards the bathroom when the phone rang. Bette turned back and went to answer the phone.

Hello Bette said answering the phone.

Hello. Is this Bette Porter? Julie said.

Yes. This is Bette Porter Bette replied.

Hello Bette. This is Julie Kennard, Tinas mother Julie said.

Hello Ms. Kennard. How are you? Bette said.

Oh Bette I have been better. Julie said. I am sorry to have to call you and tell you that I received a call from Mountain View Hospital in Las Vegas and Tina has been in a car accident.

Oh my God. Is she alright? Bette cried.

They are assessing her injuries now Julie replied. I am booked on a flight that leaves here in 3 hours.

I have to get to her. What did you say the name of the hospital was? Bette asked.

Mountain View Hospital Julie said.

I will get there as quickly as I can. Bette said.

Bette hung up the phone and the image in her dream popped into her head.

God Tina you have got to be okay. Bette said to the air. Please dont leave me forever. I love you. Hold on baby I am coming.
Bette picked up the phone and called Alice.

Alice Bette said not giving Alice a chance to even say hello. I need you.

Bette what is wrong? Alice asked.

I just got a call from Tinas mother and Tina has been in a car accident in Las Vegas. Bette replied. I have to get to her as quick as I can. Can you please come with me?

I will be right there. Alice replied.

TBC