Finally, Alice had had enough. She took Tina’s hands and led her to a chair. She sat Tina down and hunkered down in front of her.

"Tina, look at me." She spoke slowly and firmly. When Tina’s eyes met hers, she nodded encouragingly. "I’ve known Bette a long time. And although in all those years I’ve known her, the worst injury she’s ever had was a splinter in her finger…" Alice regrouped. "Bette is strong…"

"She takes in a lot of calcium," Dana interrupted, trying to be helpful. Alice sent her a brief smile that was both irritated and grateful.

"Well okay she loves her dairy products." Alice tried to continue. "What I’m trying to say is, Bette is strong. But you’re strong too. She’s the one who’s physically hurt, but you were hurt too, seeing her get hurt. Don’t shut everyone out by feeling guilty. We’re here for both of you, okay? She’ll recover and well, so will you."

The rest of the group went forward to offer physical comfort with warm hugs and gentle pats. Tina sniffled. "I need to talk to her. I need to know that she’s not angry. That she doesn’t blame me."

"Bette wouldn’t blame you if you set her on fire." Alice spoke with conviction. "That’s just not who she is."

"Yeah! She’d blame herself." Dana offered.

Tina knew without a doubt that it was true. Bette would put herself down before anyone else. Then, she decided, I just have to stop that from happening.

Tina stood up and walked out to the couch where Bette was dozing heavily. The sedatives the doctor had given her really knocked her out. The doctor had said to take it once they got home. Tina realized that she should have given it to Bette once she had settled in bed, not while they were in the car on the way home. But she had not been able to bear Bette’s slightly incomprehensible complaints about the pain in her limbs.

"Guys," she whispered loudly. "We need to get Bette into bed."

The foursome carefully carried Bette into the bedroom and onto the bed. The patient didn’t stir once. Not even when Alice accidentally bumped her splinted leg against a door.

"See? She’ll be fine."

"Yes, she’ll be okay."

"Hang in there."

With these words, the three friends bade their goodbyes.

Tina shut the door to the bedroom quietly. She carefully lay down on the bed beside Bette, reasoning that her closeness might help Bette heal. She kissed Bette’s cheek and felt tears track down her own. She snuggled as close as she could beside Bette, and tugged a corner of Bette’s shirt against her face. A feeling of intense isolation stole over her as the person she most wanted to talk to about the debilitating fear that she was feeling, slept drugged. She cuddled Bette’s shirt, hoping that her closeness would help Bette, or at least help herself, feel better.

How could the morning have gone so wrong? Tina cried silently.

"Mmmrmrmmm…" Tina’s eyes flew open when she heard Bette making sounds.

"Baby?"

"Mmm… Tina… not as limber… I’m sorry… I love you…." Bette’s slurred words pushed out of her mouth even as her eyes remained shut. She was deeply asleep.

"I love you. I love you. I’m sorry. I’ll never leave your side. You mean everything to me. I can’t even imagine life without you." Tina whimpered against Bette’s shirt. "Please be alright. Please. Please."

In Tina’s bed lay evidence that Bette was hurt but alive. In her mind the doctor spoke and told her that Bette was going to recover fully. But in her heart’s memory, the sight of Bette falling and bleeding on the ground kept recurring. She screwed her eyes tight and held onto Bette’s shirt, hoping to erase the images by constant contact with what she almost lost.

"Tina…" Bette mumbled again.

"Bette?"

"Tina…?"

"I’m here Bette. I’m here." Tina propped herself up on one arm and frantically searched Bette’s face for any discomfort or pain.

Bette smiled. "Perfect… morning…" When Tina didn’t respond, she mumbled again, "Talk… later…"

Tina grabbed Bette around the middle, mindfully avoiding all the bandaged areas. She couldn’t help herself. She didn’t think she was hurting Bette. She just needed to be closer.

"Perfect morning." Tina echoed tearfully. "We’ll talk later."

TBC