*Bette*


Ben and I arrive at the prison that houses the worst of the worst and I wonder how Gracy ended up here. Hes bad but not this bad.

Its only temporary B, until we can get him moved to a prison in Southern Cali, Ben says seemingly reading my mind

I see. Ben?

Yeah?

Do you ever think the…relationship I have with Gracy borders on the psychotic?

Well I think you are psychotic sometimes but I dont think the relationship you have with Gracy is.

Thank you for that blondie.

Ben smiles, Its a weird kind of symbiosis for sure but I understand it. Ive seen it happen before B.

I dont want any kind symbiosis with this man, I explain, But I need to know what he wants.

Why didnt you bring Tina with you?

I sighed at this because I knew he was going to be asking this question of me soon.

I dont want to subject her to any of this.

But youre the one that is pregnant, Ben argued, The one that was so harmed by this man.

He was making a sound argument for sure but how did I explain this all to him in a way that made sense?

I need this, I stated, This closure. With Tina here I wont be able to get that.

Why not?

She is still so angry with him. Her anger would get in the way of anything he may want to say to me.

Looking over at him I see Ben nodding his head, That makes sense.

I know it does, I smile, With you by my side every single moment nothing is going to happen to me.

You bet it is, Im not even going to let you go to the bathroom by yourself.

Oh well thank you for that, I state with a roll of my eyes

Your welcome.

After another hour or so we pulled up to the gate and after going through security checks so thorough that it made me blush we were ushered into a simple room with a table and three chairs. Two on one side of the table and one on the other. Ben helped me into one of the chairs and he was just sitting down when a side door opened and Gracy was ushered in.

I was quite literally shocked by his appearance. In the month since I had seen him he had grown haggard and frail. He looked like death warmed over. Gracy wasnt wearing any handcuffs or ankle cuffs and for I knew why. Wearily he sat down in the chair on the other side of the table from me.

Whats wrong with you, I ask of Gracy

He sighs as if speaking is a hardship for him, Leukemia.

Now isnt that interesting.

You had to have had it for a while to be this…

Far gone, he asks of me lifting his head so I can stare into his pail eyes

I knew even before we hurt you.

You never sought any help?

I was going to after…but I changed my mind.

You are punishing yourself by giving up.
He flinches slightly at this, It was what I deserve.

You are taking the easy way out Tom.

He is apparently shocked by me using his first name and I did it to get a rise out of him, anything, and it worked. He sat straighter in his chair and placed his hands flat on the table. He didnt say anything to my statement.

Youre cohorts in crime get the lethal injection.

You think withering away is taking the easy way out, Gracy states with a little more fire in him this time

Yes, I state raising an eyebrow at this, It is.

I see his nostrils flair and then this fair drain out of him, Youre right. I feel this gnawing guilt everyday of my life, Gracy says, I know you feel giving me life is a way to pay me back for saving you.

You have no need to feel the guilt.

Why not, he asked, Nothing has changed.

Except for the fact the I forgive you.

What, came from both Gracy and Ben

I hadnt realized till this moment in time how much I truly forgave this man that did so much to me.

You heard me, I said and turned to Ben putting a hand on his arm, I do.

Ben frowned at this but nodded his head as I turned my attention back to Gracy.

You brought me here today to tell me good bye didnt you?

Gracy only nodded his head.

I will not say good bye to you today. I did not survive all of the ***** I did for you to take the easy way out. The other two deserve what they get but you…you deserve life. Even if its behind these prison walls it is still a life.

I see the wheels turning in his head as he contemplates what it is that I am saying to him. After a moment of silence he turns his head to the guard, Get the infirmary ready for me.
I cant help but smile at this as the guard radios the infirmary. Gracy returns his attention back to me.

This is the last time we will see each other, he says to me, I will live for you but…

I know, I interrupt with, This is it.

He nods his head, Thank you.

I smile and ***** my head to the side, Your welcome. Goodbye…Tom.

He manages a smile for me as I stand up with Ben following suit. I turn to leave and the guard opens the door. Ben and I leave this room not looking back knowing this chapter of my life is over with.

~I am lying on my back staring up at the ceiling as I wait for one of the evil men that hurt met to come back to hurt me some more or put me back in my shackles. Hearing the creak of the door I close my eyes hoping they would think that I am either asleep or unconscious. It seems to work because whoever it is doesnt say anything to me. I can hear them moving around the small cell that Im in. Who is this? What is he doing?

I know you arent awake to hear this, the man begins and I know its Gracy, But Im sorry for what Ive done to you. I was sorry the moment I saw the look in your eyes after we attacked you in the parking lot, but there wasnt anything I could do. If I tried to defy one of them they would surely kill me. It doesnt make it right that I was willing to sacrifice you for my own life but thats how it is Im afraid. You are such an amazing woman you know that? I dont care anymore who you love or how you live your life. Its your life. I understand this now. If there is a way that I can help you I will find it. Ill find it.~

I come back to awareness realizing I am leaning against the wall with Ben hovering anxiously at my side.

Are you okay, he asks

Just a memory is all.

Thats what I figured. Are you okay now?

Nodding my head I push off against the wall and resume my walking with Ben falling into step next to me.

Do you really forgive Gracy.
I give Ben a sidelong glance, I really do.

He nods his head at this, Okay.

I love how you just take my word for it.

Ben smiled to this, I know isnt it great.

Oh its peachy.

We drove talking about this and that until we arrived at my house. Ben turned to me and sighed.

What is it Ben? Do you want to come in and talk?

No, Im just worried about proposing.

I smile widely at this, Dont worry Ben, Stacy is going to say yes.

I hope so.

I know so, I stated, You sure youre okay with the whole me forgiving Gracy thing?

He turned his head to me and smiled, Im okay with it as long as you are okay with it.

Well thats a lame assed answer, I smile back, Thank you for coming with me.

Your welcome. Now get out of my car and go rest.

I give him a salute and get out of the car walking up the walk toward the house. I turn to see Ben pull away and I give him a wave as the front door is opened and I see Tina standing in the doorway with a bright smile.

How did it go, she asks giving me a hug as I reach her

It was…interesting, I state following her into the house



*Tina*

When I heard the car pull up in front of the house I looked out the window and saw that Bette and Ben were talking with each other. When I saw exit the car ad slowly come up the walk I went to the door to meet her. I knew that visiting Gracy was probably harder then she let on it was going to be.

How did it go, I ask giving her a hug

As she pulls back a look that I cant quite decipher crosses her face, It was interesting.

We both went into the house. Bette went into the kitchen to get something to drink.

What do you mean interesting?

I assumed that he called me there to tell me he was giving up or some such rubbish. Turns out I was right.

He was giving up, I ask in confusion

Leukemia and he was just going to let himself die. I had to set him straight.

This was very strange. I knew they had a weird thing but this is…

If he gave up he would be saying that he wasnt being honest when he said that he would live the rest of his life in repentance for what he did to me.

When did he say this?

After the trial.

I nod my head to this and remember what she was referring to. After the verdict had been read Gracy had shuffled over to Bette in his ankle and hand cuffs and whispered something to her. She never told me what he had said to her but her response to his comment had been you better. Now this makes a little more sense.

So you convinced him to…live?

I know it may be too late for him depending on which stage hes in but he is going to damn well try.

Okay, I say softly

Bette smiles at me, Were done though, he and I.

Thats good. I think its time that you finally move on.

I watch as she puts down her glass of milk and saunters over to me. As much as she can saunter with the slight waddle for being pregnant anyway.

We are finally moving on, she states stopping a hairs breadth away from me

I could feel her hot breath against my lips as she leaned in for a kiss but we were rudely interrupted by the phone ringing. Bette lets out a frustrated moan and pulled away from me answering the phone.



*Bette*


Whoever is on the other end of this phone is so going to pay.

What, I say into the phone a little too tersely

Is this a bad time, I here my new boss as the CAC ask

No, no everything is fine. Whats up?

I was wondering when you were going to be in? Do you think youll be in tomorrow?

I frowned at this thinking. Tomorrow was Friday. I had nothing better to do. I was taking it light at the CAC per my doctors orders. Pregnancy at your age is risky, especially from you history yada, yada.

I would be delighted to come in tomorrow, I state already seeing the brilliant smile that my boss was displaying right about now

Excellent, she states, Have I told you that we are glad to have you back? Even if we do have to teach you everything about art, she says with some humor

Funny thats not. I remember stuff.

She laughs at this, Of course you do. Im just messing with you.

Thank you for that. Messing with the woman with head trauma

She laughs again, You cant you that excuse for the rest of your life you know.

I see Tina smirking at this. She knows that my boss and I have this strange give and take kind of comedic relationship going on. I know she was jealous when I first started working again but now shes not.

I know. I figure I have a good six months before its tired and worn, I say of my head trauma excuse

You are a nut you know that?

I do know that.

So Ill see you tomorrow Bette. Youll be bright eyed and bushy tailed.

Im not sure about that but Ill be there and Helena?

Yes, she asks

Thank you for everything.

Youre quite welcome Bette. Goodbye.



TBC….muhahaha, Im evil I know.