Tina stood quickly as the doctor walked towards her. Turning she placed Weylend to sit on the bench that they had just been resting on, and he laid his head down and drifted to sleep. Hello, are you here with Ms. Porter? the woman greeted her and as Tina nodded they shook hands. Have you informed her family? It would be good if I spoke to her family as well, about her condition. Tina just looked at her; she was getting frustrated not knowing how Bette was doing. I AM her family. Were partnersIm her wife. She knew she probably didnt have the right to say this formally again yet, but she had always considered Bette her wife. The doctor looked at her skeptically for a moment before relinquishing the information. Well, umMs. Porter suffered severe blood loss from her broken nose, and she needed quite a few stitches in her bottom lip, but thats the extent of her injuries. Right now shes tired from the amount of blood that she lost and shes sleeping, but she should be awake within the hour. Tina breathed a sigh of relief and suddenly felt light headed, almost passing out. The doctor reached out and grabbed her before she fell. Are you okay miss? What happened? Grabbing her forehead Tina tried to stand up straight. Im. Im fine. I just bumped my head is all. Looking her over the doctor said, Lets get you checked out, then maybe you can tell me what the ***** happened to you two. The doctor, Dr. McStravick, led Tina back to an exam room and did a quick once over of her condition. You dont seem to have a concussion you just whacked you head pretty hard, everything looks good except for that bump, you may have a helluva headache for a while though. Putting her hands on her knees as she sat in front of Tina who was stroking Weylends head, which was in her lap. Now, are you going to tell me what happened? Tina looked at the doctor and just felt the story pour out of her as she cried. And I dont even know where all that anger came from, I mean, he didnt act like that the first time, and I always made sure it wasnt overwhelmingly serious with us. For Christ sakes he was Bettes friend too! The doctor shook her head. Sometimes people do stupid things when theyre in love, although thats definitely no excuse for what did. Your little boy wasnt hurt was he? Tina had to smile at thather little boy; shaking her head out of her stupor she answered the question. No, our son is fineI mean as fine as he can be after seeing Bette being hit like that. Dr. McStravick shook her head. I hate cases like this, I really think that you should press charges Ms. Kennard, who knows what else this man will try to do. Tina just shook her head and said shed think about it. Well if you promise to think about it. Follow me and Ill take you to your wife. Tina picked up Wey and followed the doctor into the room. Tina tried her hardest to fight against the tears that were straining her eyes as she look at her wife. Bettes eyes were black and blue slightly because of her broken nose, which was bandaged with a splint type thing. Her bottom lip was stitched and swollen, she just thanked god that Weylend was asleep for now not having to deal with his reaction to his mother. The doctor took in Tinas reaction and told her she would leave the three of them alone, and that Bette should be awake at any moment and would be free to leave. Tina placed Wey on the empty bed next to Bettes and took a seat on Bettes bed holding her hand. Im so sorry Bette, I shouldve told him. I was just so excited to have you coming home. It slipped my mind that I had made plans with himI had no idea he would be capable of something like thatgod, Im so so sorry. Tina reached up and stroked Bettes hair. Finally making a decision Tina walked toward the open door and poked her out looking for the doctor. Spotting her she waved her over. I want to press charges. She said simply. Dr. McStravick just smiled and nodded. Ill file a medical report and call in an officer. Ill send him to you when he gets here. Tina gave the older woman and genuine smile and a polite Thank you, and made her way back to Bettes side. Moments later Tina was questioned by a police officer and he took down all the information she had to give then left, leaving Tina once again alone with Bette who still hadnt awoke. Minutes later she had fallen asleep with Bettes hand clasped between her own and her head resting on the hard hospital mattress. She was roused from her sleep when she heard Bette speaking sweetly to her baby boy who had climbed up onto the bed and was obviously upset, as Tina could hear his sniffles. Pretending to be asleep she shamefully eves-dropped on the touching moment her wife was having with their son. Wey, momma is gonna be fine okay, no tears. He was just a bad man who was mad at me and mommy T ok? Hes not going to come back. Weylend sniffled and hugged his mother tightly. Tina smiled at Bette calling her mommy T and decided to wake up fully so she could finally have a moment with her wife. Hey you. Bette said as Tina began sat up and rubbed her eyes to get rid of the sleep left in them. Hey yourself. How are you feeling? Tina asked this although she knew it was a stupid question. Bette smile and then winced as she almost pulled a stitch in her lip. Like I was ***** slapped by Tyson, she joked, hoping it would take away some of the unhappiness she saw on Tinas face. No, I feel okay. I just want to get the ***** out of here. Still holding Bettes hand Tina kissed it and the rubbed it with her own. We can babe, as soon as the doctor comesand the police get a statement from you. Bette looked at Tina, police? Tina. Now were going to have to deal with this forever, with questioning and a trail andyou decided all of this without me and Im the one in the hospital bed. I dont see how we could let him get away with something like this Bette. What if he had hurt Weywhat if he had killed you?! Bette shook her head. T, lets be realistic here. We both know Eric, and we both know how extremely out of character this was for him. I doubt that he would have done anything to Wey, he had his chance, but he didnt. He was upset and hurt, and I can understand that. Im pissed as ***** that he went off like that and I wish I could hurt him for hurting us like this, but I really dont think well ever see him again. At this moment the doctor walked in. Youre awake. How are you feeling? Okay I think, considering. Nodding her head the doctor proceeded to check Bettes vitals, when she was all finished she gave Bette a prescription for pain reliever and told her that she could be released tonight when she was ready. While the doctor was walking out, a man came walking in. Good evening ladies. Im detective Sikorski, I just came to see how you were doing. Bette looked over at Tina who was giving her a look saying that she at least should talk to the man. Relenting, Bette decided to give the man a recount of what had happened when he asked. Well after he shoved Tina he grabbed me and pinned me against the counterwords were exchanged and he slapped me, she said this and then pointed to her lip. Our son walked in, and I guess he had startled Eric, he gave me a hook to the face, pointing to her busted nose, and then he ran out. The detective nodded. And he didnt hurt the boy? No, I mean he knocked him down while he was running outbut he didnt do anything deliberately. Again the detective nodded and wrote down the facts. Flipping his notepad closed and slipping it into his jacket the detective gave a warm smile to the family. Well well see if we can track down Mr. Mahoney. Ill call if and when we bring him in, if he shows up again, give me a call. He handed Tina a card with the number of his precinct and cell phone on it and with a goodnight left the girls alone. Are you ready to go home babe? Tina asked turning to Bette who had Weylend curled up in her lap fast asleep again. God yes, he needs to get some sleep in a bed. Letting Tina pick up their son, Bette moved wearily to get dressed with Tina keeping a close eye on her to make sure she was alright. They checked out and Bette was wheeled out to their car following hospital orders. When they got home Tina carried Weylend into his new room and settled him under the covers giving him a kiss on the forehead and whispering an I love you sweetie, thinking to herself that she had never before in her life, fallen in love with another human being as quickly as she had with the little boy sleeping in front of her. Okay, with the exception of Bette, she thought. Bette, now standing in the doorway, saw the confession from Tina and fell hard for Tina all over again. Thinking how amazing it was that she had just found Tina again today, and already the three of them were a family. Walking into the room slowly she caressed Weys sleeping cheek and gave it a kiss, then looked over at Tina. Come on baby, lets go to bed. She said grasping Tinas hands and pulling her to their bedroom. Both women collapsed onto the bed holding onto each other under the covers and falling asleep to the sound of one anothers breathing, relaxing in an embrace that they hadnt shared for three long years.