Chapter 8

Bette rushed into the Cedars Sinai emergency room, and began demanding answers from the nurse behind the desk.

“Alice Pieszecki, please.” The nurse looked up from the magazine she had been reading, smacking her gum as she stared bored at the woman in front of her. Bette decided to reiterate her cause. “I need to know where Alice Pieszecki is.”

“Are you family?” the monotone, smoker-scratchy voice of the nurse asked.

“What does it fucking matter? I’m fucking here to see my girlfriend? She was in a car wreck for fucks sake! Now tell me where the hell she is!”

“Ms. Porter?” a voice from behind her inquired. She looked toward the source to find a policeman.

“Yes, that’s me.”

“Officer McAfee.” He reached out his hand to shake hers. “We spoke on the phone.”

“Yes, officer,” Bette replied taking his hand, as she calmed down a bit. “Do you know where Alice is?”

“Right this way?” Smiling her thanks, Bette followed Officer McAfee down the hall all the while giving a triumphant ‘Kiss This’ look to the grumpy old bitch behind the desk.

“This is it,” Office McAfee said stopping at a closed door. She glanced at him as raised her fist to knock, but decided against pleasantries and let herself in.

The first sight she saw was Alice, lying on a hospital bed sleeping. Bette walked slowly to the edge of the bed and ran her eyes over the body in front of her. The bruises and scrapes were abundant. From beneath the hospital gown she could see a very distinctive rash in the shape of a seat belt crossing diagonally across her body. Deft fingers reached out to softly graze over the bruised area.

Alice moaned, coming into consciousness. “Ow,” she cried softly, her eyes fluttering slowly open to focus on Bette.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…” Bette started.

“No, not you.”

“Then what? What hurts?”

“Everything… God, just kill me. Please.”

“We wouldn’t want that,” Bette said, running her fingers through Alice’s blonde hair. “I’m just getting used to having you around.”

Alice smiled despite the pain, looking on the beautiful woman treating her so tenderly. Yet another side of Bette Porter. “I’m sorry.”