When she had finally located the bar and was wondering which stool to choose, and noticed something strange. Well, someone strange.

The woman’s posture was one of fatigue, and her clothes relaxed – black bermuda pants and a purple cardigan. The clothes didn’t match Tina’s suspicions, but she had to wonder.

"Bette?"

Much slower than Tina would have liked, Bette turned to the voice.

Tina was incredulous. "What are you doing here?"

"I never knew you were a lush," Bette teased, a sly smile on her face partly due to her three previous drinks.

"Down girl," Tina smirked without effort, climbing onto a stool to leave one between her and Bette. "I’m just celebrating my early victory." She kept her eyes focused on the back wall, and then turned to look for the bartender.

"I think he’s dead," Bette chuckled, fingering the rim of her martini.

Tina smiled, and sensed the lapse in devious behaviour in the brunette. She figured one joke wouldn’t hurt. "Maybe Jenny’s involved."

Bette chuckled again, trying to correct her smile before looking up to Tina again. This was her favorite bar, although it wasn’t the closest or the safest – not even the most admirable (probably the least) – but for some reason, she always came back. She didn’t know what compelled her, but she was comforted each time upon entering the seedy establishment. She didn’t really care anymore, now that Tina was here. It probably never really had anything to do with the fact that it was only a block away from Tina’s place.

Needless to say, one joked turned into five, and so on. By the end of the hour, they were getting along as if they weren’t gunning for each other’s jobs deviously. In fact, they were laughing together.

"Oh god," Bette sighed, trying to settle herself down as she took another healthy sip of her drink, "Sometimes I don’t even know why Helena’s kept me this long."

Tina smiled at the mention of their boss. It had been strange bringing work into the conversation, but it didn’t seem to make either of them uncomfortable. Turning a bit in her seat, Tina looked at Bette for the first time in a long time – really looking at her. "I think it’s great that you can tell her how you feel, and speak up for ideas that should be granted a larger spotlight. I think it says a lot about you."