“What the *****?  Who is that?”  Shane stood up and stumbled back into the table trying to reach a safer place.  “I’ll get help.”

“Why Shaneyou are the help.”  He stated it matter-of-factly as he stood up.  “I would think you would recognize the woman you love.”

“What”

Shane opened her eyes slowly and began to cough and wheeze at the stifling smoke.  “Al”  She looked at her best friend who was limp on the floor beside her.  Having a new determination she managed to get to her knees and grip her roommate’s shirt.  Tugging on it with every once of strength she had left she pulled and dragged the body out into the smoke filled hall.  Listlessly and defeated she dropped her face to the floor no longer able to fight against her fate.  For a fraction of a moment she tensed against the darkness that had overtook her, fearful of never being free from her own personal *****. 

Too tired to struggle she gave into it and floated through the black to the nothingness.     

*******

Gasping for air and feeling boneless, Bette shuddered in pleasure.  “Wherewhere did you learn that?”  She grinned widely at the blonde crawling up the bed to lie beside her.  “I didn’t teach you that”  She forced the word out between breaths.

Tina grinned wickedly at her lover.  “Shane taught me.”  She stated proudly as her fingers danced up and down the older woman’s chest.

“What?  I’ll kill her!”  Bette jerked up to a sitting position preparing to take care of the situation tonight.

“Not like that!”  The blonde giggled as she pushed her wife back onto the bed and startled her.  “I asked her”

“You what?!?  Why?”

Pressing her finger to Bette’s mouth she shushed her.  “I asked her for some pointers and”

With a slightly muffled voice the dark haired woman managed to mumble.  “and she actually toldor showed you?”  Bette was not exactly feeling comforted at this new piece of information.

Sighing, Tina gave the older woman a look of contempt.  She waited for Bette to get the hint and quite, than she continued.  “ANDshe wouldn’t tell me anything, but she gave me a book!”