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    Ashes, ashes… Chapter 17

    Story written on December 31, 2005 by fanficchick.
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    15 votes, average: 5.00 out of 515 votes, average: 5.00 out of 515 votes, average: 5.00 out of 515 votes, average: 5.00 out of 515 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5 (15 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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    Character(s): N/A
    Number of Comments: 23
    Words: 5510
    Story Shortlink: https://lesfan.com/?p=58701
    Author Notes:

    .

     

    Tina buckled her seat belt and started the car, but as she shifted into reverse and checked her rearview mirror, she stopped short.  Bette was coming out of the front door of the building she’d just left.  Tina thought her racing heart was going to leap out of her chest, and a million questions began to flood her brain, making her unable to focus on any of them.  What was she doing here?  Hadn’t she moved?  What about the job in Seattle?  What about selling the house?  Tina fought to calm the panic that was coursing through her veins.  Okay.  So she’d seen Bette.   It was inevitable, wasn’t it?  Sooner or later they were bound to have some kind of contact with each other, right? 

     

    She watched her ex-wife slowly make her way through the rows of cars, and felt an involuntary rush of warmth and affection fill her.  Even though they were completely estranged, Tina knew that she would somehow always be connected to Bette.  Theirs was a bond sealed by all of the things that brought them together and, ultimately, kept them apart.  Love and loss.  Strengths and failures.  Everything that they had, and everything that was lacking.  The realization weighed heavy on Tina’s chest, and she suddenly felt trapped inside the confines of the car, as if she couldn’t get enough air. 

     

    She rolled down the window and took a deep breath, filling her lungs.  As she looked across the parking lot, she saw cars drive by, and noticed men and women walking past her, carrying on with their lives as usual.  It continued to amaze her how the world at large could be so oblivious to and unmoved by the life-altering things that happened to people every single minute of every single day.  She glanced back to her rearview mirror, but Bette had disappeared.

     

    –

     

    Tina moved around the kitchen on automatic pilot.  Tenderize, marinate, dice, reduce heat to a simmer.  She’d made this particular meal a hundred times, and she was thankful for how rote the preparation had become over the years, because her mind was a million miles away.

     

    “Something smells otherworldly,” Helena said, setting her briefcase by the door and wandering into the kitchen with a stunning arrangement of flowers, which she handed to Tina.

     

    “They’re beautiful,” Tina said, accepting the gift and burying her face in them, breathing deeply to take in the scent and clear her thoughts. 

     

    “You look as if you’ve been crying,” Helena said, laying her palm against Tina’s cheek.

     

    Tina forced an unconvincing smile.  “I’m fine.”

     

    “Did something come up in your session today?”

     

    Helena‘s dark blue eyes were clouded with concern, and her gaze seemed to pierce through all of Tina’s pretenses to reveal her heart.

     

    “No.  I…  I saw Bette,” she said softly.

     

    “What?”

     

    “In the parking lot.  At Ronnie’s office.”

     

    “Why don’t we sit down for a bit?  Tell me what happened.”

     

    “There’s nothing to tell.  We didn’t talk.  She didn’t even see me.  I was just… driving out of the lot.  And there she was.  Coming out of the building.”

     

    “That must have been a huge shock,” Helena said, taking Tina’s hand.

     

    “Especially since she’s supposed to have moved.  The house sold.  Alice said the closing was two weeks ago.  What could she still be doing here?”

     

    Helena rested her hands on Tina’s shoulders.  “Tina.  It doesn’t matter.  Does it?  The only thing you need to focus on is yourself and your own healing.”

     

    Tina exhaled slowly, considering.  Helena was right.  She had no control over Bette’s actions or activities.  Only her own.  “No.  It doesn’t matter.  It was just… a surprise.”

     

    “I’m sure it was,” Helena said, drawing Tina into an embrace. 

     

    Tina nodded against Helena‘s shoulder, allowing herself to be soothed by the other woman.  Finally, she leaned back.  “I’m going to burn our supper unless I pay attention to it.”

     

    “Have a seat.  Talk me through it.  I’ll finish up,” Helena said, steering Tina to a chair.

     

    “Are you sure?” Tina asked skeptically.

     

    “Darling,” Helena smiled, rolling up her sleeves.  “In case you’ve forgotten, these hands are quite capable.” 

     

     

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    Comments

    1. this was so touching and still heart breaking…i hope bette will stick around for a long long long time and B&T will work it out..sorry to sound like a broken record

    2. Great chapter, although I found it interesting that Tina and Helena are sleeping together, but not “sleeping” with each other. I’m not sure why I think that is so odd…I would like to see this story end up with Bette and Tina talking, but ultimately, Tina and Helena together.

    5. Why are you so good? Why does your name synonomize (is that a word) what you are? Do you watch Monday Night Football, where the players introduce themselves by their university affiliations? There are the usual, Notre Dame, USC, Florida. Then, there are the players from Ohio who always say, “Johnnie Joe Whatthehell, THE Ohio State University.” You are THE fanficchick. …okay, I digress. It’s New Year’s Eve so, shoot me. THE Techgal…. Amen. Somebody, set off a bottle rocket…Happy New Year!

    7. Compelling as always, ffc. So Bette’s hung around for a couple extra weeks. Interesting. I wonder if she felt Tina’s presence near her as well. Good to know Ronnie kept up her professionalism. Helena and Tina’s relationship sure has transformed.

    8. I know this story needs to be in a slow pace but damn i just wished they would be talkin by now :P Awesome chapter! and i cant wait to know what happened to Bette with the psychologist. Im loving this story. Post soon :)

    11. i hope that woman can help Bette the way she is helping Tina and of course she will know how they are and it will be better please let them be together again please? my new year wish..lol..thanks ffc

    16. I wanted to say, “It does matter Helena so step back even though you’ve been nice”. Bette being there does matter and Tina needs to put two and two together to see that Bette is hurting too and is trying to work on it. I wanted them to see the same therapist in the hopes that she can do couples therapy too! Why not? It would help them and me! LOL

    21. Happy New Year, FFC. I was so excited to see that you’ve posted. So, Bette is still in LA 2 weeks after the closing of the house. I guess that 50 minutes with the psychologist must’ve been productive and she must be going back for more… Hope you’ll let us read about some of the conversation with the psychologist. Thanks again, FFC.

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