Bette and Tina finished up the ‘bathing’ ritual and Tina forget herself as she lifted the basin and winced in pain. Alice looked at her in concern and Bette ran over, putting her hand on Tina’s arm.

“Tina? Are you ok?” Tina nodded in reply. “Tina what’s wrong?” asked Alice.

“I’m ok,” she smirks to try and make it seem like nothing. “I must have strained my self with all the work I was doing at home recently packing things.” Bette looks at her with concern as Alice looks at Bette for a reaction.

“T, why don’t I take you home?” suggests Bette.

“No, it’s ok, I’ll be fine.”

“Please Tina…”

Alice then joins in, “Tina, let Bette help. You look almost as bad as I do.”

Tina gives Alice a look, “Gee thanks Al!”

“Hey, just telling it like it is. I don’t want you to get sick…after all ‘nurse Kennard’ who is going to bathe me?”

Bette jumps in feigning malice, “Big burley nurse Betty…and very often, if I have anything to do with it!”

Looking at Tina, “See Tina, she’s just jealous.”

Tina smiles at Alice and then turns to Bette, “You know, I think I might need some help getting home. I really am tired.” Bette nods and then goes to Alice to kiss her goodbye.

“You take it easy Alice, ok?”

“Yes Mamma Porter…”

“I’m not kidding…I’ll be asking Nurse Betty for updates.” She straightens up to turn.

“Bette…”

“Yes Alice?”

“I love you…I love you both.” Bette looks at Alice with some surprise and then lovingly. She walks over and kisses her on the forehead. “I love you too, you nut.” Tina then walks over and strokes Alice’s cheek and says goodbye.

After leaving, and facing the questioning looks of the women outside the room after they announce they are leaving, Bette drives Tina home. Not much but small talk is said in the car as Tina gazes out the window, with her head leaning on the back of the chair. Bette escorts Tina inside. “Can I do anything? Make you tea? Anything?” asks Bette.

“No, no, it’s ok. I just…I want to lay down. But…”

“What?”

“I…I have to clean the wound and apply gauze.”

“Let me help you.”

Giving her a long look, “No…it’s ok. I’ll manage.”

“Tina please…I want to.”

“Moving a little quickly aren’t we? From just friends to you fondling my breasts?” Tina smirks.

Gently tilting her head and giving her a bit of a sarcastic look, “I won’t do it for pleasure Tina…I just want to help. Please…I’ll be careful.”

Tina motions for Bette to follow her into the bedroom. She puts a small bag on the bed next to her and opens it. “The stuff is in here.” She starts pulling out the supplies. “Just clean it a bit and then new gauze. Can’t use water for now.” Bette nods during the instructions and sits next to Tina on the bed. As she sees Tina struggle, she helps to remove her shirt and then Tina stops as she sits in her bra. She unclasps it with the one hand and then slowly removes it while Bette almost instinctively looks away. She nervously then looks and feels herself tense up. She quickly focuses in on the bandaged area in an attempt to focus on the task at hand and to try avoiding the obvious distraction that hasn’t robbed her attention for months…well, apart for in her dreams. She slowly removes the bandage and examines the wound like she’s analyzing an unidentified object. Then she sees the scar in its context of the full mound…and she stares, causing Tina to frown. “Bette? What are you doing?” Then Bette’s eyes, which were looking downwards until this point, in seeming curiosity, started to look up and revealed their rather moist state to Tina’s gaze. The hazel eyes then lost their annoyed disposition as they recognize the pain they see in the brown orbs. “Bette it’s ok. It’s fine.”

“T…” (Shakes her head.) “Why didn’t you tell me? I can’t believe I wasn’t there for you…even if as just a friend…I would have been there for you…”

Tina touches Bette’s hand, “I know…I know Bette. But I tried to explain to you…I just couldn’t…” She looks ahead and continues, “I…look it’s ok, you don’t have to do this and I’m exhausted.”

“No, I’m doing this. I just can’t believe what’s happened.”

Tina looks at her and tries to make her laugh, “Oh you’re just suffering withdrawal from not getting to hold the Kennard jewels all this time and now, confronted with the awe inspiring prospect, just can’t handle the pressure…I know Porter…it’s ok.” Bette looks at her surprised and a bit taken aback. Tina smiles and Bette smiles back. Tina resumes the serious discussion, “Bette…I know…ok? I understand and I totally appreciate what you’re saying. I know that you would have been there for me but…” Tina’s a bit agitated at having to sit there topless… “Ok look, are you going to clean it or am I going to have to sit here half naked while you stare at my scar?” Bette snaps out of it and starts getting the stuff out of the bag to clean the wound. “I’d do it myself except I’m so tired and I’d have to look in the mirror while adjusting it. Please…gently…”

Bette gives her a look, “No shit Tina.” The blonde looks away a bit miffed but waiting for her caressing…uhhhm…cleaning…

“Ok, just let me know if I hurt you.” Tina gives Bette a look, obviously not letting that alternative meaning of that phrase go unnoticed. Bette notices it a second later as she looks into Tina’s eyes and then looks away as she commences work on the breast….gently, sensitively, lovingly, expertly, slowly, admiringly, and not without some nostalgia. But for the most part, she proceeds with great care and concern, while Tina gazes at her from above, watching every movement of Bette’s hands and Bette’s face.

“Don’t concentrate TOO hard Porter…”

Not phased, “Oh shut up Kennard, I’m working…” Tina smiles as Bette carefully tends to the wound.

“Actually, you’re pretty good at this. Didn’t think you could manage.”

“Why? You’ve certainly had occasion to see my sensitive side over the years.”

“I just mean that…”

“What?”

“Never mind.”

“Okay, that should do it. All done.” Bette then helps her put her clothes back on and they sit.

“Thanks Bette.”

Bette smiles, “my pleasure!” Tina fakes slaps her on the arm.

“Ok, enough fun for one day, I need sleep. Can you help me lie down?” Bette nods and moves to the other side of the bed and helps Tina onto her back under the sheets. Bette lies next to her on her side and props up her head to face Tina. “Thanks. For everything Bette.”

“Tina…” Bette looks at her as Tina looks into her eyes, but she can’t quite form the words.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I just thought I’d stay here for a while. Just until you fall asleep.”

“Bette…”

“No no no…please I just…”

“Bette it’s ok…”

“I promise…I know you’ve been through a lot and it’s…”

“Bette, you don’t have to explain…”

“I understand, but I…”

“BETTE!!!”

“What?”

“Hold me…ok? ” Bette’s eyes smile and show their emotional exuberance as Tina smiles. “Until I fall asleep. Thank you Bette.” Bette nods and takes Tina, holding her in her arms, with Tina’s head resting below Bette’s cheek.

“I’m so glad you’re ok.”

“You and me both.”

“I’ve missed you so much. When Peggy told me I thought I was going to collapse or explode. It was like I was suddenly hearing things in slow motion.”

“Funny, that’s how I felt when they told me they weren’t sure what kind of lump it was.”

“I really wish you had told me. You shouldn’t have gone through that alone.”

“Oddly enough, I wanted to.”

“Why?”

“Because I wanted you there with me. I desperately wanted you to be there, to hold me…like the first time it happened…years ago when we were together. You were the only person I wanted to see…then and now.”

“I don’t understand…all you had to do was ask…why do you say you didn’t want anyone there but wanted me?”

“I didn’t want anyone there because I couldn’t have YOU there.”

“But Tina I just said…”

“NO… I couldn’t bear having you there and wanting nothing but to fall into your arms and find so much comfort there, while you were sharing a bed with someone else. I didn’t want you to come to me out of pity or even friendship. I needed you, I needed my Bette, but as far as I was concerned she was gone forever. She left quite a while ago.”

Bette rustles a bit and motions to get up to continue the conversation but Tina motions her body downward. “Bette no, please, not now.”

“But Tina…I’m here. I told you back in San Francisco…I’ve never left. You know that…somehow you must have always known that, deep down…just like I did.” Bette doesn’t budge now so she doesn’t hurt Tina who is insistent on lying in her arms while continuing the conversation.

“Bette, you were with someone else…so knowing that…finally finding that knowledge somewhere inside me after seeing it somewhere in those eyes of yours again not long ago…knowing that somewhere deep down in that cavernous heart of yours there lurked a love for me or thinking I know that didn’t mean very much given you had purportedly ‘moved on’. Did YOU know that I hadn’t stopped loving you way back when you kicked me out of our bed? I didn’t know what the hec I was feeling and I don’t think either of us did. We lost sight of each other and our deepest parts, long before then, long before even Provocations…the parts that we once saw in each other more clearly than anyone else, including our own selves. It’s unbelievable to me that we lost each other the way we did. When we were madly in love, years ago, I couldn’t believe that we could possibly disconnect like that…I thought it was impossible…just unforeseeable even though I knew that people could fall out of love. But my heart….my heart couldn’t see it, just couldn’t see such a thing…just not possible for it to fathom such a thing. And look at us now, all these years later. What a trip it’s been, what a long and difficult thing, these past couple of years especially. I’m just glad right now that you’re in my life and Angelica’s. I’m so tired…so very tired. I’ve missed you. You have no idea. Bette I love you, but I really need some sleep…we’ll talk in the morning.”

“Morning? You want me to stay until…”

“Yes Bette…I’ll make you breakfast. Now shut up or I’ll be tempted to make you those pancakes that Alice used to cook when I first met you.”

Bette smiles. With a softened tone, “Ok, sleep.” She kisses her on the head. “I love you T.” Bette strokes Tina’s hair as they both slowly fall into a comforting sleep.