(End Flashback)

“You were so insecure, you didn’t know how to act around me” Tina giggled “It was really cute”

“Yeah I was insecure around you, I didn’t know if you would look at me differently or be uncomfortable around me” Bette said “But you were so understanding” she smiled “I don’t know what I would have done without you, when I started having those feelings and when I was confused you always made me feel better, you really gave me the courage to be true to myself T” Bette said as her eyes watered “I don’t think I ever thanked you for that”

“You don’t have to thank me Bette, I’m happy I could be there for you” Tina smiled.

“Just like I will be here for you now” Bette said, pulling the blonde closer to her.

The next day Tina was sitting in Dr. Ferguson’s office, staring out into space as she was lost in her own world.

“As I informed you the last time we spoke the test results of your biopsy indicate Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. From the texture of the lump we should be planning either a lumpectomy and axillary lymph node dissection or a mastectomy” she heard Dr. Ferguson say somewhere in the background.

“Wait what?” Bette asked anxiously, pulling Tina out of her thoughts. Bette looked between Tina and the doctor “You didn’t tell me the cancer had spread” she exclaimed looking at the blonde sitting next to her “You told me that they were going to remove the lump and then everything would be fine, you made it seem like it wasn’t a big deal!”

She got out of her seat and walked over to the window to get some space and gather her thoughts. She was feeling hurt that Tina left so much important information from her and hearing how serious Tina’s condition really was scared her.

“I’m sorry” Tina sighed “You were already freaking out, I just didn’t want to add on to that”

Bette took a deep breath, trying to keep her tears at bay before turning and walking back to her seat. “So how bad is it?” she asked Dr. Ferguson knowing that she would give her the truth of the situation.

“It’s hard to tell exactly how aggressive the cancer is right now but we will perform the surgery, either the lumpectomy or mastectomy, whichever Tina decides” she said, looking over at the blonde “Then radiation therapy is highly recommended and I would also recommend chemotherapy since we’re dealing with invasive breast cancer and since breast cancer in premenopausal women tends to be more aggressive”

Tina was once again lost in her thoughts, staring out into space.

Radiation. Chemo.

The words kept repeating in her head. This is not happening to me, this is not happening to me. But it was, it was happening to her.

She felt her hand being embraced by Bette’s and she was broken out of her thoughts. She looked over at Bette who was looking back at her with worried eyes “So what do you think?” the brunette asked.

“Huh?” Tina looked between Dr. Ferguson and Bette “About what?”

“About the surgery” Bette answered, giving her hand a squeeze.

“Assuming you want to reconstruct the breast we can do that at the same time, it will take a little longer to schedule because we need to get you in first to see the plastic surgeon…” Dr. Ferguson informed her patient.

“No” Tina interrupted shaking her head “I don’t want to wait”

“I want it off” she said with determination “I want it off now”

(TBC)