Bette sat on the edge of the coffee table, facing Tina who was sitting on the couch. Tina had a pale face, smudges on her eyes, and generally looked haggard. Bette noticed it for the first time in weeks, she had been so caught up with herself…that she didn’t even noticed the strain she was putting Tina under. Tina had been shouldering the weight of Bette’s depression and explosions since the ‘incident’. Quietly supporting her suffering partner, now Bette realized how selfish she was. She did have the ability to stand back and take account of what her actions might do, and she didn’t. So Bette sat on that table with her head bowed, she brushed her hair back and they talked.

“Tina, I haven’t been honest…..things took a turn I guess, and I don’t have as many nightmares…but anger problems I guess”

“Problems? You threw a plate through the window, how did you manage to keep it all in?”

“I don’t know I just did”

“Did you discuss it with the therapist?”

“Yea”

“But not with me?”

“No and im sorry for that, I really am Tina”

“So what are you gonna do? Still gonna bail Kit out?”

“Of course she is my sister”

“Bette she has never been there for you, ever in your life? Your bailing her out I can understand but letting her stay with us? She’s a junkie”

“She’s my sister”

“And im your partner Bette, listen … (Tina leaned closer and took Bette’s hands in her own)…ok listen, I understand where you’re coming from, but there are limits to how much I can handle, I can handle this. But im warning you, no im letting you know that im under a lot of strain, it’s hard to deal with all…and it’s harder knowing you didn’t trust me enough to tell me that you’ve got this….rage”

“im sorry, I don’t know why.i felt stupid I guess”

“don’t be…be grateful that you’re alive, be angry and take boxing lessons, tell me Bette…I need to know these things”

“yea… (Bette nodded kissing Tina’s hands)…Tina I promise to you to always be honest about…everything….fuck it feels better now”