Bette kept up her arduous schedule, working late at The
C.A.C. and busying herself with work related projects at home. But she at least
stopped visiting bars in between. It was better than nothing, Kit reasoned.

Bette arrived home one Friday night, feet practically
dragging on the floor. She didnt appear to have the energy to even eat the
meal that Kit had brought home for her.
When asked what was wrong, a rather grumpy sounding Bette answered that
she had somehow caught a cold. Probably, she gathered, from getting caught in
the rain earlier that morning and having to sit in damp clothes all day long.
Intent on just sleeping it off, Bette traded her hot meal for a hot tea with
lemon and headed off to bed. Saturday found Bette lounging around the
apartment, biting back coughs and suppressing sneezes. When Kit suggested that
Bette see a doctor, Bette lashed out and accused Kit of wanting her to
leave. Kit knew from past experiences
that Bette could be the worst patient at times and so she kept her distance and
let her sister rest. Sometimes there as
just no reasoning with someone who was sick. Besides if Bette didnt want any
help, then she wasnt going to go out of her way and risk getting herself sick
at the same time. By the time Monday
rolled around, the simple cold had turned into quite the infection. Bette had
woken up with a sore, scratchy throat and a fever. Kit urged her to take the
day off and stay home. If anything, going to work would only make the symptoms
work. But Bette argued that she didnt have time to be sick. She had a job to
do and shed do it, no matter what.

It was bad enough Franklin
seemed to be harping on everything she did. Now she had Helena Peabody to
contend with. And then there was Leo, who Bette considered to be Helenas
personal lackey. Bette wanted to make sure that Leos position at the C.A.C.
remained temporary. And staying in bed nursing a cold wasnt going to help
matters any. So off she went with an
extra camisole layered under her favorite Stella McCartney suit and a small
packet of tissues stashed in her pants pocket.

Kit was more than surprised when Bette came home mid
afternoon. And only slightly less surprised when Bette walked in smiling. But
after a moment she realized that it wasnt a happy smile that Bette was
giving. It was the type of smile that said Im really pissed off and plotting
someones death, so you better get out of my way or youll be added to the
list.