Happy Easter All!



*Bette*

There was a prolonged silence after my statement. They really didnt seem to know what to say to this. I thought Id start.

Uh…Doctor Winters told me that I was pregnant by one of the guys that did this to me, I explained, I dont know which one because she didnt say but I am three months pregnant.

Why didnt the stuff they give you to stop that kind of thing from happening stop that, Alice asks after a moment

That seems like a perfectly good question and one that I dont have the answer to, I dont know that.

How do you feel about this, Dana asks

That is also a good question. How do I feel about being pregnant? Ive always wanted children, or I have I think. Hmm. Being ***** I knew it would be tough to have a child. Becoming pregnant the way that I did is something that Ill have to get through but Im still happy about it.

Im happy Im pregnant but not how I got there, I answer after a moments consideration

They seemed to understand this statement well enough.

These uh…three men that attacked me, I began, Were they ever caught?

I received varying looks of that being a big fat NO.

Bummer, I remark, But they left DNA though, at least one of them did right?

They did leave DNA, Kit began, These men are a study in the stupidity of criminals and the genius of criminals.

That was certainly an odd statement to make.

Hows that, I ask

They left DNA, were captured on the security cameras outside of the CAC, Alice picked up

Whats the CAC, I ask

California Arts Center.

Right, I remark

The police even had the license plate number, said Shane

And these guys still havent been caught, I ask, Is my case even important to the police?

Shane speaks up, Its very important to them. The general population has made sure of that.

What the heck did that mean? What?

When your story hit the news people were incensed over what happened to you, Dana spoke up, We put up a five thousand dollar reward for the capture of these men.

That was very generous of you, I state slightly surprised that theyd do that for me

Yeah but B, Shane starts taking a breath, It is now five million dollars.

Holy *****! I must admit that I am completely flabbergasted by this.

Five million dollars, I repeat dumbly

You have become sort of a martyr, so to speak, for the American people, except youre alive and everything. You are the example of what must stop; what must never happen again, Alice stated quickly and slightly high strung, “Other people have added to the reward money for these guys’ capture.”

If for the first time I realize the scope of all of this, and for the first time I really notice the room that Im in.

The walls are covered in get well cards, there are floral bouquets covering just about every surface, balloons floating about and various stuffed animals.

Why didn’t I notice that before?

Looking at the table to the left of my bed I see it has photographs on it. Shane who is sitting on my left near my head see the direction Im looking and grabs a photo near the front.

This is Tina, she says handing it to me

I look at the picture and see the most beautiful blond staring back out at me.

Shes beautiful, I say softly

That she is baby girl, Kit remarks rubbing my hair

You were the only woman that she was ever with, Dana pointed out

I look up at Dana, Really?

They all smile.

What, I ask

You did the ultimate in conquests, Alice states with a grin, You converted a straight girl to the other side.

Really, I ask again impressed with myself

You stole her away from her boyfriend in fact, says Alice

Wow, was all I could think of to say

Everyone smiled at this. I chose this moment to yawn widely covering my mouth with my hand.

Sorry, I stated

Kit leaned over and kissed me on the head, We should go now sweetie. Visiting hours are almost up.

Youll be back tomorrow, I asked a little hesitantly

Well be here till you kick us out, Shane remarked with a smile kissing me on the forehead as the others followed suit, Well see you in the morning B.

I really liked that nickname for some reason. I smiled as bravely at them as I could. I was scared to be left alone overnight but didnt want to tell them that.

Ill see you in the morning.

Smiling they left my room closing the door behind them. Alone. Thats what I was, alone. Looking around the room I see all of the get well things once again and realize that Im not alone.

Carefully I set the picture of Tina down on the table and grab for another. It is of Tina and myself looking at each other under the setting sun.

I am wearing a white pants suit with a lavender shirt underneath, while Tina is wearing a white dress with a beautiful wreath strung intricately with lavender. This looks like a wedding photo. Wow we looked so happy. Closing my eyes its like I can see it.

**I smile over at Tina as she is talking with our friends. God Im lucky to have her in my life…as my wife. That thought makes my smile widen. We are going to be together forever now. We said so in our vows. I watch as Tina comes over to me and kisses me passionately.

Hi, she states after this kiss

Uh, is all I can come up with to say seeing as how my brain has turned to mush.

She smiles widely at my reaction to her kiss, The photographer wants a picture.

I nod as she pulls me toward the photographer we had paid to be here at this wonderful event.

While Tina is fixing the wreath in her hair or smoothing her dress I just gaze at her with all of the love in my soul. She turns to me and sees this look and I see her gasp. Then I see the same expression cross her face and this is when I see the flash.**

I blink a moment at the slight pain this…memory caused in my head. Thats what that was; a memory. I remember our wedding day. Tinas and mine. We were so happy.

Then why the ***** did I cheat on her, I ask aloud

I dont know, comes from the door

Almost dropping the picture I turn and see…her standing in the doorway.



*Tina*
(Before getting to the hospital)


As a kid I would sometimes wish that I had wings so that I could fly places on my own. This is one time I wish I had wings. Or that teleporter from Star Trek yeah that would come in handy.

I am trying my damndest to remain as calm as possible. I snort at this thought startling the man next to me. I smile over at him. This guy has to think Im nuts by this point.

We should be arriving in Los Angeles within the half hour and this last part of the journey is driving me insane. So then I guess I am nuts at this point in time.

Hmm.

There is something that freaked me even more. I happened to be flipping through People magazine and saw an article on Bette. It was an article on the perseverance on the human spirit and its willingness not to give up. Bette hadnt given up when just about every odd was against her. This particular magazine was about a month old. Before Bette had woken up.

Knowing the full extent of the injuries inflict upon my heart, my soul I had burst into tears, furthering the assumption that I am nuts, until the man had seen what I was looking at.

Thats a damn shame is what it is.

Pardon, I had asked turning to him wiping my eyes

That poor woman. Those ***** that hurt her still havent been found. Can you believe that? The police are incompetent.

This had awed me in a way I didnt think it would. First the two old timers in the diner and now this guy. They were all praying for Bette and they didnt even know her.

Want to know something strange about all of this, hed asked

Whats that?

My son is ***** and I had practically disowned him because of it, this man had started and I could see the hurt in his eyes, But when this happened and we found it was a hate crime because of who Ms. Porter chose to love. I realized I wasnt any better than those monsters that hurt her. Well…better but with the same ideology. I called up my son and begged for his forgiveness. Now were closer than ever. I even like his boyfriend.

Wow, thats wonderful, I had said

Now focusing back on my present thoughts it was hard to think on how close Bette had come to dying. She should have died, she should be dead. Bette really had someone watching over her.

Finally this hunk of junk lands and I race of the plane carrying my bags behind me and hail a taxi.

Los Angeles Memorial, I state and lean back as we begin the trip

What am I going to say to her once I arrive? She may not even know who I am. Ill just introduce myself and see what happens from there.

I am jerked awake by the taxi driver telling me we are there. I pay him and carry my stuff into the hospital. Its dark inside and I know that visiting hours are over. From the magazine I knew that she was in the ICU. Where I didnt know. Going to the elevator I pressed the corresponding button for the floor I needed and went up.

Once to the correct floor I look around. One lone nurse is watching the floor. Thats good. Looking around Im not sure which door is hers. Silently I walk down the hall trying not to catch the attention of the nurse. She seems to be enthralled in the book that she is reading. I spot a door some ways down the hall covered in cards. This has to be hers.

Carefully I push the door open and my breath is immediately taken away by what I see. Its Bette. She is looking at something, a picture it looks like and then I see her grab for her head. Im about to go for the nurse when she lowers her hand and speaks.

…Then why the ***** did I cheat on her, she asks aloud

I dont know, I say from the door

I must have really startled her because she almost dropped the picture in her hands. I step into the room letting the door close and drop my bags. She is staring at me as if she isnt sure who I am or if Im even here.

Tina, she hesitantly asks

I smile at this, Im here and Im not going anywhere.

Bette smiles.




I know it’s probably not that easy to get into a hospital now a days but this is my story and I’ll make it that easy Had to get this out.

TBC…