Pacing the waiting room up and down Bette was shaking her head. She stopped looking at Tina who was outside talking on the phone. Shane walked towards her carrying a steamy cup of coffee.

“Anything?” she asked.

Shaking her head, Bette said,

“Alice doesnt answer her cell and no one is saying anything here?”

Nodding, Shane sat down, waiting. Sipping the hot beverage Bette looked at Tina, noticing her body language, the way she had her free hand resting on her hip, how her fingers were squeezing the t-shirt. Realizing that she was able to know, just by looking at her, that something was going on; that something was bothering her, made Bette very happy. Looking at her, she could almost feel her soft skin on the waist, the touch of her long fingers caressing her back. Unaware of being blowing on the coffee cup, Bette closed her eyes for a second. Memories, desire and an urgent need for Tina was running through her body.

Shane, looking ahead was thinking about Kate, imagining her driving to San Francisco, what she could be thinking about, what she could be listening to. It was easy for Shane to imagine the look on Kates face. She could easily picture her, the shape of her hand on the wheel, the long arms, the rebel hair escaping the loose comb?

“Is everything ok?” asked Bette to Tina as she was walking back, throwing the cell in her bag.

“Yeah?” nodded Tina not very convincing,”Do we know anything else?”

“No” said Bette caressing Tinas arm, unable to stop the urge to feel Tinas skin under her touch.

Sitting down besides Shane, Tina looked ahead, lost in her own thoughts. Sitting at her side, Bette offered her coffee, bringing her back with the move. Shaking her head, Tina looked at Bette quietly for a few minutes before saying.

“I have to go to go away for a couple of days”

Looking at Bette straight in the eyes Tina tried to read her reaction. But there was none. Bette could not believe what Tina was saying. She needed a few minutes to process the information and just when she was going to say something, to react, she saw Alice walking through one of the glass doors.

“Al!” she almost yelled. Jumping off her seat Bette walked towards her friend, being followed by a surprised Tina and a curious Shane.

“What are you doing dress like that?, Hows Dane?” asked Bette looking down at Alices costume, noticing then Blue hiding at her back.

“And who is he?” she added, whispering.

“Florence Nightingale, hi” theatrically said Alice taking Bettes hand,”and here is my friend, Doctor Blue” she added, winking at the boy.


***

An then, later that night…


It was dark outside but the street lights were drawing strange figures on the wall. Feeling Tina at her side made Bette to shiver. Turning she looked at her. She could not believe that in a few hours she was not going to be there, not even in LA?now that she was getting use to her, now that she was ready,ready for something she still wasnt sure what it was. Looking at her, caressing her arm Bette felt goose pumps all over her body. It was stupid she told to herself. It was just for a couple of days she repeated to herself as a mantra, as a hidden wish. Nodding, Bette knew that that wasnt the problem. What she didn?t like was that Tina was leaving with Paolo. They had to go to Hawai for a shooting. Hawai, of all places, Bette mumbled. Shaking her head, she rolled over. She wanted to sleep, to take advantage of that last night with Tina. Placing her arm around Tinas waist she hugged her tight. She kissed her on the neck before resting the head on her shoulder. Feeling her close, smelling her scent Bette finally let herself rest.


***

Checking the plate on the door, Shane looked up. There was light coming from inside. Sighing, not sure what she was doing but unable to stop herself she rang the bell.


***

Awake, hearing Alices light snoring, Dana smiled. Looking at her, Dana thought about them. It scared her to think about losing her best friend. She wasnt ready to lose Alice but then, the memory of the kisses they shared, the memory of Alices hand caressing her belly, the way she looked at her, they way she teased her put a smile on Danas face, cradling her memories, she went back to sleep.

***

Shane run the stairs up fearing that the impulse she was following could be a mistake. She wasnt sure about anything Kate related, she was playing by ear, trying to follow her guts but she wasnt sure why this time, this girl, was not like the others. Shaking her head, sighing deeply, she rose her hand to knock on the door just when Kate opened it.

“What are you doing here?” asked a very surprised Kate sounding a bit harsher that she intended.

“I…you invited me” Shane said, putting all her hopes in the look on Kates eyes.

“Come on in…”Kate said pointing what it looked like the living room

“Were you sleeping?” asked Shane looking around, not sure what to say, feeling intimidated by Kates presence.

“No, I was working” said Kate, closing the silky robe around her waist.

“Oh…am sorry” whispered Shane, trying not to look at Kates bare legs.

“Is ok…how did you….” Kate started saying only to be interrupted by Shane, who, moving closer, said,

“I drove….thought that you might need a car to go back”

Looking at Shane in the eyes, Kate said nothing for a couple of minutes.

“Because you were going back to LA, right?” asked Shane again, suddenly feeling very insecure, something she was not use, something that was making the moment completely new to her.

“You want some coffee?” Kate said lightly touching Shanes sleeve as she walked towards the kitchen.

“Ok…” whispered Shane following Kate.

Shane observed Kate pouring the coffee, waiting for her to talk. The seconds seemed like hours while Kate hands looked like they were moving at slow motion.

“Hows Dana?” finally asked Kate breaking the silence, turning to hand the coffee to Shane.

“She is good, she can go home tomorrow” Shane answered, locking her eyes with Kates unable to stop looking at her.

“Good” Kate said, walking back to the living room.

Following Kate, Shane noticed the shape of her hips moving under the silky robe. Taking some papers from the table, Kate started folding them, noticing Shanes stare, feeling awkward but intrigued at the same time.

“You have a nice house” Shane said sitting on the couch.

“Not much of a house… havent live here in almost four years now” Kate nonchalantly said, trying not to look at Shane.

“Where do you live?” asked Shane taking a sip of her coffee.

“I dont know… Washington I guess” answered Kate piling the papers on the table. She was paying so little attention to what she was doing that some of the papers fell on the floor, giving Shane the perfect cue to move closer. Kneeling at Kates side, Shane helped collecting the papers. Putting them on the table she lightly rubbed her hand against Kates.

“You want me to leave? Shane whispered, hoping, silently praying for the wanted answer.

Looking down, feeling Shane very close, Kate shook her head.

“You took my by surprise by coming here…I dont know what this means.” She said, her tone trembling, her voice barely a whisper.

“Does this have to mean anything?” asked Shane caressing Kates cheek.

“I dont know…but I think it does…you cant drive five hours just to…” Kate said, not wanting to voice what she was fearing, what she was wishing, the thought that was running through her mind.

Nodding, quietly looking at her, Shane leaned forward to what it look like a kiss on the neck but instead, she whispered again,

“Did you want me to?”

Leaning back, Kate looked at Shane for a few long seconds before taking her face in her hands to kiss her. It was a long hot kiss, that lasted long enough to surprise both of them. Breaking the kiss, seeing the shy smile on Shanes face, Kate said, turning around,

“I want you”.


***

With a very sore neck, Alice finally opened her eyes. Stretching her arms and legs she looked at Dana. Yawning, Alice walked to the bed. Carefully, as if trying not to wake her up, she removed a lock of hair from Danas face.

“Hey” Dana mumbled opening the eyes.

Hi? whispered Alice, ?how do you feel?? she added, sitting on the bed.

“Am ok..and you?”

“Am good…the chair is really comfortable” lied Alice, happy to see Danas face.

“Yeah, am sure…”Dana teased trying to sit on the bed.

“Ehh, let me help you” Alice said taking Danas hand, “Do you need anything?

“No, am good thanks, ..dont you have to go o work?” Dana asked checking the time.

“Its Sunday Dane, am all yours….” Alice said, theatrically opening her arms.

Blushing like a teenager Dana looked down, squeezing the sheet with her hand.

“I mean?you are going to need a ride, right?…the doctor said you can go home today” Alice said jumping off the bed, “…by the way…I…your car….I…she mumbled, only to be stop by Danas inquiring look “I…well…your car…Shane needed a car to go to San Francisco…she is going back tonight, dont worry…” She quickly added, wondering what Danas face was not saying.

“ok” Dana whispered, resting the head on the pillow.

“Ok?…is it ok?” asked Alice, astonished.

“Yeah…she is a great driver..but how are you gonna drive me home then?” Dana asked, closing her eyes.

“What? For her to take your car is ok?… are you kidding me? what about me?”

Opening the eyes, hiding the amusement she was feeling, Dana said,

“What about you?”

“You wouldnt let me drive your car unless you are almost dying…” Alice started saying till she noticed the half smile growing on Danas face.

“What?” she asked, back at Danas side.

“Nothing…is just that is so easy…” Dana said shaking her head. Loving the look on Alices face.

Looking at Dana, realizing what she was saying, or not saying, Alice sighed. She was in trouble, she knew it. Leaning forward she whispered,

“Dont get use to it…I have a reputation…”

Smiling, Dana nodded and then, turning the head, she kissed Alices cheek before she leaned back.

Just then Alices cell rang. Nodding, she took it,

“..Bette?…yes…yes she is…yes…ok…great…yeah she is here…what?…when?…oh, ok…yeah ok…we will be here…ok, see you in a bit”

“That was Bette…Tina is leaving today”

“What?… They broke up?” asked Dana, confused.

“No, of course not, is just for a few days, something about work”

“Ah, ok” mumbled Dana, relief.

“They are going to bring the mini and then Bette will drive Tina to the airport” Alice said sitting back on Danas bed.

“So, where were we?” she teased, leaning forward stopping inches apart from Danas lips.


***

Shane woke up with a strange feeling in her chest. Rolling over she looked for Kate but she was not in the bed. Caressing the still warm sheets Shane looked around, trying to find out Kates whereabouts, but then she heard the shower running and without noticing she let the air enter her lungs again. Lazily, she stretched her arms, loving the feeling of the sun caressing her bare legs.

“Good morning” said Kate walking back from the bathroom.

“Morning” mumbled Shane, loving seeing Kate walking around wearing just a tiny towel around her body. The hair was wet and as she was walking around the room, opening the closet doors a wet path was being drawn behind her.

“At what time do you have to be back in LA?” asked Shane without having any interest in the answer, just wanting to hear Kates voice, the low tone she had, how her lips move when she pronounced certain words, how her accent was something difficult to place. Shane loved Kates way of talking. While driving all the way up to San Francisco is all she thought about, realizing how ***** it was. And now, having her there, in front of there, half naked, barefoot and talking about work, Shane found it all extremely *****.

Walking closer, slowly, as a cat on a hot thin roof, Shane walked towards Kate who, unaware of Shanes presence behind her was still rambling while trying to find something in the closet.

“You have no idea how ***** you are…?” Shane whispered, the words coming out slowly, caressing every pore on Kates neck, her bare back feeling the rush, the emotion.

Tensing her shoulders, feeling Shanes body behind her, her hands almost touching her arms, her lips almost kissing her shoulder, Kate looked down, defeat.

Noticing some lonely water drops resting in between Kate shoulders, Shane found it impossible not to touch them, not to take them, slowly. Not to keep them as a treasure, as a gift. Slowly, loving noticing how Kate was craving for her, Shane placed her avid lips on Kates neck. Loving the touch, feeling her knees weak, Kate put her hand on Shanes head before turning around to lock her lips with hers.