Although the party had finished an hour or so before, Bette was still at the gallery. She had some paperwork that had to be done. It was then she heard the door of the gallery open and the angelic voice that had haunted her all evening

“Bette are you here?” Bette could hear the pain in Tina’s voice; she quickly rose from her desk and went to greet Tina. She found Tina with redden eyes and a duffle bag in her hand. A wave of protectiveness washed over her

“Tina what are you doing here?” Bette walks towards Tina; she was crying and visibly shaken by something “Hey tell me what’s happened, why are you crying and carrying a bag?” Tina collapses into a sobbing heap on the floor; Bette kneels down and puts her arms around her. The protective instinct kicks in

“I… left… left Eric” Bette’s heart soared, maybe she and Tina had a chance but she sensed there was something Tina wasn’t telling her

“Why do I feel like you’re keeping something from me T… Tina” Tina smiles at Bette’s slip of the tongue, but she knew Bette was right. It was a strange thing for Tina to confide in a complete stranger, but this stranger was a perfect stranger and one she was very attracted too

“He tried to rape me Bette” Bette clinched her fist, she was going to kill Eric for what he tried to do to Tina “I can’t believe he would try… and… do that to… me” tears threatened Tina again however a calm feeling washed over her as she could feel Bette’s grip tighten around her

“It’s ok I’m here and you’re safe” Tina gripped Bette’s arm. She felt safe in Bette’s arms “Do you have anywhere to stay?” Tina shakes her head. Bette knew she couldn’t just let Tina go to some hotel. She had a spare room that no one used except when she had the girls over and she had a feeling she’d enjoy having Tina around

“Why don’t you come and stay with me, I have a spare room that’s just gathering dust” Tina looks up at Bette and sees the sincerity in Bette’s eyes as well as something else