Bette calls from the phone in Tina’s room.

Alice answers the phone hesitantly, seeing the hospital come up on the caller ID.

“Hel  lo.”

“Alice ………” Before Bette can finish her sentence.

“Oh God Bette, thank God it’s you. Is everything OK. I mean is Tina OK this morning?

“Alice, calm down. I know that you want to see Tina. She is feeling better today and she was able to get a bath this morning. They are managing her headache without completely knocking her out, but, this morning would be good if you want to come by.”

“Yes, ….Yes…. I will come right now. I’ll be right there.” The phone falls silent.

Looking at Tina, “On my way home yesterday evening, I stopped by the Planet, everyone was there. They were having dinner together. They have been spending a lot of time together since your accident. I had dinner with Angelica. I told her how much you miss her and how much you love her.”

Tina smiles, but, she looks a little weary from her bath.

“The nurse stopped me on my way in and said that there is a speech therapist coming up to see you today. They just want to make sure everything is working properly. It’s nothing to worry about Tina, it’s just a precaution. The doctors are very pleased with your progress. Dr. Peek is coming in this afternoon. They may move you from ICU tomorrow if you continue to progress this well.”

Faintly, Tina begins to question Bette. “Did you get some rest last night?

“Yes, of course …. I   …..  well, I   …..” Tina looked knowingly at Bette.

“You   did   not   do   well   last   night   did   you?”

Bette looks down, “No T,   no  I, I  didn’t  do  well. There was a message from Phyllis, she is thinking of you and hopes you are feeling better. There was a message from Helena. Alice has been keeping everyone up to speed on how you are doing.” Remembering the honesty policy Bette continued. “And then, there was a message from Jodie. She thanked me for the sign and said that she agreed that we were better friends than lovers.” Bette now looked at Tina for a response and there was nothing overt. “In the last ten years, you are the only person I have truly loved Tina. You and only you. With all my heart even when I didn’t want to believe it. You and only you Tina.”

Tina reaches for Bette’s hand, “Me too Babe.”

Alice’s voice announces her arrival. Hi Guys!     Tina,  you look so good. How do you feel. How’s your headache. God you look great! Well, maybe not great but, really good. Does anything else hurt. Well, I guess that a stupid question, I bet everything hurts ……..”

“Hi Alice, I’m feeling better.” Tina’s words were slow and even but Alice was able to hear them and see that Tina was getting better.

Bette was flashing the calm the fuck down Alice, look.

“Oh God, it is so good to hear your voice. When you were laying there and you weren’t talking or moving or …….”

Bette interrupts, “Alice was really unable to be here the other night. It was just to painful for her I think.”

“Yeah,  Yeah, it was,  ah, well, anyway, you look so much better but I can’t stay. I just wanted to stop by and see for myself that you are …….are you know, feeling better.’

You mean alive don’t you Alice. You needed to make sure for yourself that Tina was still alive.” Bette walks toward Alice and puts her arm around Alice’s shoulder. “It’s OK Alice, Dana’s death was hard on all of us. It’s OK, Tina is alive.”

Yeah, and,  and that is good! She looks good.” Alice goes to the side of Tina’s bed and gives her a light hug. “I am so happy to see you sitting up and talking.”

“Thank you Alice.”

Alice hugs Bette on her way out the door. Bette watches Alice disappear down the long corridor again.

Bette looks at Tina, “Does she exhaust you? She exhausts me.”

Tina nods in agreement, “She means well.”