“You know I don’t remember Bette ever being sick. In seven years I don’t think she’s had so much as a cold”, Tina said this to no one in particular staring at the still form of the woman she loves.

“She has been sick. She just doesn’t like people to know she’s sick. I know my baby sister well enough. We are going to have to watch her after this because if she’s not feeling well she’ll work through it. She won’t tell us. She’s like a kid sometimes that girl”, Kit told her.

 “I guess we are going to have to pay attention and be more adamant about her getting rest and eating especially when she first comes home. She’s going to have it in her head that she’ll bounce right back into her life and job as it was.”

“You’ve got that right. She never was very good about taking care of herself. I mean how do you forget to eat?”

“I know that’s why I tried to always have dinner ready when she came home”, Tina gave Kit a sad smile.

“Baby she’s gonna pull through. When she does the two of you will be able to get back on track. You might have to beat some sense into her but she’ll be there for you and that little one”, Kit said pointing at Tina’s middle. “Now I’m going outside. I want you to stay here and get that girl of yours to show us those baby browns. Oh, and before I forget I called the CAC and spoke to James. I told him Bette was in hospital. He’s going to stop by later on. He’s got a lot of work in front of him with out Bette there.”

“Oh, *****”, was the response Kit got from Tina.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing it’s just I never returned Helena‘s call from a couple of days ago. As a matter of fact my phone is still off. I’ve been avoiding her. She probably thought Bette and I ran off together. Now she knows where I am. I guess I couldn’t put it off forever.”

“Hey, Tina”, this time it was Alice speaking. “I know someone who knows someone who can take care of that problem of yours”, Alice brought her right fist in her left palm as a sign of threat. “You’ll never have to deal with the Brit again”, Alice smiled deviously.

“Nice Alice. I don’t think that will be necessary but I’ll keep it mind”, Tina told her.

“I’ll have that number handy just in case.”

“Thanks Alice I appreciate it”, Tina said as Alice moved toward the door.

When Tina was alone she sat on the edge of Bette’s bed. She wasn’t ready to say anything yet but she took Bette’s hand into hers. She sat there for a while simply holding the still hand of her partner, her life, her lover. Finally after thinking this through she began to talk, “Bette, baby, you have to wake up. You’ve been asleep way to long. We’re all worried about you here. You can’t leave us now we need you. I have some things you have to know. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before this but I was angry and I was scared.”

Tina stopped talking and got off the bed and started pacing the room. Without returning to the bed Tina started again, “You know Bette I’ve had a while to think things thru. I want to come back to you and I want us to be a family.  I want you to be a mother to my baby. I want to take care of you. I want you to let me take care of you.”

Tina paused then returned to her original position at the edge of the bed. She reached out to brush a stray hair out of Bette’s face, “I want you to know I’m not going anywhere. If you wake up now we can get to fixing us. Please Bette”, Tina then lay down placing her head on Bette’s chest. She stayed that way listening to the reassuring sound of Bette’s steady heart beat. Tina closed her eyes to take in everything that was Bette. With her head on Bette’s chest she breathed in her scent. She still smelled of her seductive perfume even after two days. Tina felt tears fall across her face, “Bette I’m sorry. Please wake up.”

“What do you have to be sorry for?” came a quiet voice floating into Tina’s ear.