Kit returned from the cafeteria and noted the two women’s entwined hands.  Kit quietly exited the hospital and made her way to the private waiting area to nap.

—————–

Bette stirred in bed and slowly opened her eyes. When she saw Tina sitting at her bedside, she smiled. “I was afraid you’d leave.” She said, her voice sounding hoarse. The brunette frowned as she noticed the exhaustion on the blonde’s face. Bette tired to sit up, when she couldn’t she took the controls and pressed the button to raised the head.

Tina stood and waited until Bette positioned the bed to how she wanted it. She adjusted the pillows and stared at the brunette. “How’s that?”

“Thank you.” Bette leaned back on the pillows.

“You’re very welcome.” The blonde smiled and kissed Bette on the cheek.

“Did you sleep here all night?”

“I haven’t left your bedside since I got here and there’s no place where I’d rather be.” Tina answered honestly.

“But it’s been days.” Bette was surprised, but glad that the blonde had not left her side. “Where’s Kit?”

“She’s resting in the private waiting area that Peggy Peabody had arranged for us.” The blonde informed Bette.

“Remind me to thank Peggy.” Bette closed her eyes and sighed. She looked at Tina…Tina, the woman she had loved at first sight…the woman who she longed to hold…the woman who she had hurt with her infidelity. The brunette turned her head away as tears began to fall.

Tina ran her fingers through the brunette’s wavy locks…trying to bring comfort to the woman who she tried to runway from and tried to stop loving. “Hey…what’s with the tears?” Tina leaned in.

“I’m sorry.” The brunette cried. “I’m sorry I hurt you.”

The blonde looked at Bette. Her throat tightened. She couldn’t stand seeing the brunette in so much pain…emotional or physical. “I’m sorry I left you.” Tina took Bette’s hand and kissed it.

Bette opened her eyes and focused on Tina’s smiling face and believed her. “I was crossing the street and a cab hit me.”

“I know.” Tina opened the bedside drawer and removed a small Ziploc bag containing Bette’s belongings: BlackBerry, an old Motorola phone, a set of keys, and Bette’s commitment ring that as cut from Bette’s finger when she was in the emergency room.

Bette looked down at her left hand ring finger and realized her ring was missing. She began to cry again.

“They had to cut the ring from your finger. The doctor said your finger was starting to swell from the IV and it had to be removed.” Tina tried to comfort the brunette.

“I promised…I…would never…take the ring…off.” Bette cried.

“Baby…it’s okay.”

“No, it’s not T…it’s not.” Bette’s throat tightened as she remembered the promise she and Tina made to each other. “That was the only thing left I had of you and now it’s gone.”

“Baby…we’ll get another one.” The blonde hated seeing Bette like this.

“It won’t be the same. There’s so much we have to discuss…”

Tina interrupted Bette. “We’ll talk…but right now your main focus is to get better. That’s all I want you to do and I’m here to help you.”

 tbc