Fan Fiction
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Lifeline – Chapter 8
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I don’t know why you’re acting so strange, Bette. I’m right here. I’m awake, except I still can’t see you, which is so bizarre. Shit, my head. My head is exploding. God, I’m tired. I think I just need to rest for a minute, okay baby? Don’t go though. Just for a min…
“I love you, Tina. Please come back to me. Please.”
Three people raced to Tina’s bedside, looking at Bette expectantly, then at the monitors.
She jumped up, alarmed.
“What is it? What’s going on?”
They were preoccupied with their assessments, ignoring Bette’s pleas for the moment.
“Hey! I said, what is going on?” The inflection of her voice commanded their attention suddenly.
“Her heart rate jumped a few minutes ago…” a young male nurse answered, looking at her quizzically.
“What does that mean? Why?”
“Were you talking to her?”
“Well, yeah. I thought it was okay. They said I could,” she answered softly, looking around for the nurses she had spoken to.
“It’s fine.” He noted Bette’s alarm, seeing in her expression that she didn’t understand what he was implying.
“We think she responded to your voice…” he explained, letting it sink in, then continued, “that’s why her heart rate accelerated.”
Bette’s face still registered confusion. She wasn’t sure whether or not she had done something wrong.
“It’s a good thing,” he smiled. “It means she heard you.”
Bette’s heart leapt and at the same time the floor seemed to fall away beneath her. She looked down and suddenly the room had tilted. She tried to focus on the nurse’s face, but he was rapidly disappearing down a tunnel. His voice began to fade and then everything went a blinding bright white.
When Bette woke up she was reclining in a chair with her feet propped up.
“Where am I?” She asked groggily, touching a hand to her forehead.
“You passed out,” Grace Pell said, handing her a bottle of water. “How are you feeling now?”
“I’m a little weak,” Bette answered honestly.
“You’re exhausted, Bette. It’s understandable. Do you remember where you were right before you passed out?” The nurse asked gently.
Bette focused her eyes, concentrating on remembering. She looked up at the nurse as it registered.
“I was in Tina’s room, by her bedside. They rushed in and it scared the shit out of me. The nurse said something – said her heart rate had changed, that I had caused it, but that it was a good sign, and then I couldn’t feel my feet and I was so dizzy…”
“It was a lot to take in. I think you just got a little overwhelmed.”
“How long have I been…out?” Bette asked.
“Just a few minutes.”
Bette looked relieved and took a swig of water.
“Tina?” She asked anxiously.
“She’s fine. The same.”
“But it was good, right? That she heard me?”
“Yes, it’s a really good sign.” She still wanted to warn Bette to be cautiously optimistic, but thought she’d give her a little longer to enjoy the good news. There were sure to be a lot of ups and downs ahead and she didn’t have the heart to bring that up at the moment.
“When you feel up to it, we’ll go tell your friends and family. I think there’s a bigger group out there now waiting for you. And Bette?”
Bette raised her chin, listening.
“You have to eat some breakfast. Nurse’s orders,” Grace smiled warmly. She liked the tall brunette and was really pulling for the couple and a happy ending for them. A lot of how it turned out would depend on Tina’s will to live, but if she loved Bette even half as much as Bette seemed to love her, she would fight to get back to her. And something told Grace Pell that half as much probably didn’t come close. She would put her money on Tina. It was just a feeling, but she was a pretty good gambler.
TBC
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Great update!!! – And I also have my money on Tina. Please post soon.
i love how connected bette and tina are in this story. thanks for creating this story
Awww…What a moving chapter, Nell. Heartbreakingly beautiful. Brava, girl! I got teary-eyed while reading it, especially Tina’s soliloquy. Even in her unconscious state, she still thought about Bette’s needs first. (Btw, Bette’s reassurance to Tina when the doctor first allowed her to see her–that her back is okay, that Shane gets coffee for her and that she shouldn’t worry about her–was touching and funny at the same time. Tina was there lying almost lifeless and yet Bette was telling her not to fuss about her at that moment, isn’t that funny? Bette knew that would be the first impulse of her selfless and loving wife. And true enough Tina’s first questions were about Bette in this chapter.) I had been wondering about Angie’s probable role in this story. Now I have a clue. =) Please keep on writing and listen to the beat of your own drum, Nell. Take heart. Imho, you’re doing a splendid job so far. THANK YOU! =)
P.S. I’m sure there’ll be more drama and heartache in the next chapters but I think it’s a sure bet this love story will end on a happy note. But not just yet. These lines => “Her stomach tightened with the thoughts and she felt conflicted about thinking them with Tina so fragile, but she couldn’t help herself. Her life, her safety, everything that meant anything to her lay before her, silent, surrounded by tubes and machinery. She wanted Tina all to herself; her heart and her voice, her body. She ached for her physically and in every other way imaginable. She felt so paralyzed with helplessness. All she could do was think and remember. It was all she had to hold on to.” Heartfelt and simply beautiful. Yay, Nell! =)
This story is rockin’.
Great update, great writing. It really sucks you in. If I keep commenting like this I’m going to have to change my “silent reader” moniker.
Nell, Bravo!! You have been writing a great moving story, and you should totally be givan an awar for that! Seriously, it´s getting better and better. And just so you know, I have faith in you that we´ll make them live happily ever after! Keep up the incredible work!
A beautifully written chapter – thank you! To hear from Tina was encouraging if also distressing, but I’m thankful that Bette at least has the hope that Tina can hear her. It was a very moving read, and a glimmer of hope on the horizon was Tina’s vision of their ‘angel’! Thanks again.
Amazing Update!!!! Thank you so much. PPS
My heart ached while I read this, very moving, excellent story!
I loved the way you had Tina expressing her feelings in that never-never land of the coma. Beautiful.
Just beautiful the connection between Bette and Tina. Thank you for this wonderful story.
bette needs to keep talking to tina… she can hear her and she will open her eyes… love this… and take your time, don’t rush just because we want tina awake… pps
That was amazing and love the connection between Bette and Tina, and I put my money on Tina too. Please post more, thanks!
Thank you for the update.Amazing story.PPS
Superb job telling this story and we love it. I know we all get anxious about Tina’s condition and are eager to have more from you. But, we will wait for it to unfold, maybe not patiently but we will wait until you unfold it for us. The things Tina are thinking are just what I would expect for her to say. Please let Bette continue to talk to her, touch her because she can feel her as well as hear Bette. Their connection in their love for each other is astonshing, we all need a love like that. Keep it going for us. Thanks so much for posting.