Alice closed her eyes and nodded. She opened them again with fresh tears falling from them.

“It’s just the waiting, I just want to know. One way or another so I can get on with my life. It’s ticking away here!”

“I understand that and I feel for you but just a few more days. I’ll come back tomorrow afternoon and we’ll do a few tests. Ok?”

“Yeh ok. Thank you.”

“No problem. Have a good day, both of you.”

With that the Dr Morgan left Dana and Alice to digest the information.

Half and hour later Bette and Tina arrived to visit, looking fairly happy together.  Alice noticed Dana stifle another yawn and took her hand.

“Dana go and phone Sharon. You’re going home.”

“No no Al I’m fine.”

Alice nodded but unbeknown to Dana, gave Bette a look that she understood.

“I’m going to get a coffee, can I get anyone anything?” Bette asked

“Oh some M&Ms for me please.” Alice said

“No thanks Bette” Dana replied

With that Bette left leaving the other 3 friends alone.

“So T what’s new with you?” Alice was feeling a bit brighter, but new visitors were having that effect on her.

“Work is really busy, Helena and I are trying really hard to get this film off the ground but it’s putting a bit of strain on my relationship with Bette and Angel.”

Alice, always ready with some sort of quick reply “Don’t worry think everyone’s relationships are under a bit of strain right now. We’ll all be ok in the end tho.”

Tina immediately felt guilty for likening her problems to the real and much scarier ones her best friends were facing.  Alice sensed this and took Tina’s hand in hers.

“Hey T just because Dana is ill and I was in a coma for 5 days doesn’t mean that our problems are any more important that yours and Bette’s ok” Alice said and winked a friendly wink at the blonde sat beside her.

Bette returned moments later with Alice’s M&Ms and the four of them chatted as though they were sitting in the Planet having coffee.  It was only Dana who seemed not quite like herself but Alice knew this was because she always went quiet the night before treatment and the fact that the past week had been such an emotional rollercoaster for everyone was making it harder for Dana to understand that life went on and so did her treatment.