Looking at the nurse for reassurance and guidance, “She acknowledged that she has pain, I’m just not sure where.” Bette’s concern was visible but she calmed herself for Tina’s sake.

‘It is much better to treat her pain than to feel the pain she cannot” Thank God, she wasn’t totally paralyzed.

As the nurse takes an ice chip from a cup she presses it to Tina’s lips and softly rubs the ice across them. Raising the head of Tina’s bed slightly, she slips the small chip into Tina’s mouth. Tina does not appear to know what to do with the ice and begins to choke.

The nurse looks at Bette, “It’s ok, she’ll get the hang of it.”

The nurse asks Tina if she is doing ok, she wants to raise the head of her bed a bit more. Tina signaled her agreement with a light squeeze of Bette’s hand.

“She didn’t squeeze hard, I think she is either in pain or she’s really apprehensive about moving.”

“Tina, were do you hurt?” Bette wants nothing more than to relieve her pain.

Tina closes her eyes again.

The nurse now talking to Tina, “Miss Kennard, I’m going to ask you some questions. Can you squeeze Miss Porters hand with your answers?”

Tina squeezes Bette’s hand. “She squeezed my hand. Please call her Tina, … I’m Bette.”

“Tina squeeze Bette’s hand if your pain is below your waist.” Tina does not respond.

“Tina, does your chest hurt? No response.

“Does your head hurt?” Tina grips Bette’s hand. “There’s your answer, she is squeezing my hand tightly.

“Tina, do you have pain anywhere other than your head?

No response.

Tina’s eye’s are looking more and more concerned as she realizes she is having trouble speaking. The fear starts to mount as tears start to well up in her eyes.

Bette, seeing Tina’s fear, starts to speak softly to her again, “Tina, I love you. Angelica loves you so much. We need you to get better and come home to us. We have so many things to do. Be strong baby. Tina you have got to stay strong.”

Tina grips Bette’s hand as tears fall from her eyes.

“Don’t cry baby, please. Don’t cry. Everything is going to be ok.” Bette’s voice was quietly calm as she wiped the tears from Tina’s face.

Another nurse arrives to inform Bette that there is someone at the front desk for her.

Leaning down to Tina, “I will be right back. Someone is here to check on you. I am just going out to the front desk and I will right back. Your doctors are on their way. You’re ok Tina. I love you. I’ll be right back.”

As Bette walks toward the desk she sees Alice. Bette motioned for her to come back. Alice slowly, nervously walks toward the room where Tina lay. Bette met her at the door. “Tina is just waking up. She is really struggling. She isn’t able to speak but she did squeeze may hand.”

Putting her firm arm around Alice’s shoulders, “Please try really hard not to be too upset. She is already frightened and us showing her that we are upset will only upset her more. Promise me Alice.”

“OK,  ok  …   ok, I’ll try.” This is the first time that Alice has really seen anyone sick since they lost Dana and that is still very raw.