“Hey, you guys, I got us some coffee,” Dana Fairbanks called out as she came around the corner.


It was hard enough finding a coffee joint that actually served java strong enough for her friends but it was equally hard actually getting the coffee. The place was packed. And once the server-girl noticed Dana in line, she quickly reached over the counter and pulled her up-front. The normally shy Fairbanks was happy that her celebrity worked in her favor. She didn’t want to wait forever. Her family needed her.


Dana handed a cup to each lady, finally saying to Shane…”Hey Shane they actually had something strong enough for you.”

Shane took a long swig of the liquid and nodded her head in approval.

“Thanks, Dane.”
“So any news yet?” Dana asked.
“No, nothing. I think they’re ***** around. I personally think that they’re ***** around. I mean… how long does it take to get the people out of there? ***** Supergirl would have been faster,” Alice ranted.
“No, WonderWoman,” Dana disagreed.
“Oh, yeah,” Alice nodded.
“No, guys…Batgirl,” Shane interjected.
“Batgirl, Shane, are you for real?”
“Think about it, Al… all that leather,” Shane replied.

Slowly but surely a smile grew on Alice’s face as she understood Shane’s attraction to Batgirl.

“Yeah,” Shane smiled.
“Whatever. You guys are sleepin’ on WonderWoman. Lynda Carter and those legs…” Dana left it at that.
“Now you what to talk legs…Daisy Duke on the Dukes of Hazzard.”
“No way…to…to much of a tease,” Shane participated in their stupid conversation.
“So who then, Shane… who besides Batgirl?”

Kit couldn’t believe the pointless talk these girls were having at a time like this.

“Guys, please, could we stop this,” Kit sighed.

All six eyes turned to Kit. The frustration of not knowing and not being able to comfort Bette or Tina was beginning to take it’s toll on her. It was taking it’s toll on all of them.

*****


“Pinckney, full report,” Lieutenant Simon commanded.
“So far nothing, Lieu.”
“What do you mean nothing? What about that noise I heard back there?”
“You mean the ‘sneeze’?” Kensington inquired.
“Yeah the sneeze. I heard it, even if you didn’t.”
“I heard it, too,” Weiner confessed.

Miguel looked at the other volunteer and nodded his gratitude.

“See it wasn’t all in my mind,” Vasquez added.
“Yeah, whatever,” Pinckney said.

Kensington took off his helmet and ran his fingers through his hair.

Sighing he said, ” Lieu… we have one more area to check, over.”
“Roger that, Kensington.”
“Are you happy now, Me-guell?”
“Yes, very,” Miguel smiled to himself.

*****


The sun was gone and the night air had turned an uncommon cold temperature for that time of year. The once huge crowd had somewhat dispersed; no longer willing to wait for the outcome. Catch it on the evening news. Tina stood behind Bette with her arms wrapped around her wife’s slender body. She could feel Bette continue to tremble even if she wouldn’t admit to being cold.

“Babe, turn around… you’re freezing.”
“No, I’m fine,” Bette lied.
“No you’re not, Bette. You’re tired, cold and starving right now, like I am but you won’t allow yourself to admit to either one of them. At least let me help keep you warm, you would be no good to Evan if you catch hyperthermia.”
“I’m not going to catch hyperthermia, Tina.”

Unable to watch her partner keep up this charade of being strong, Tina forcibly turned Bette around and held her tighter.

“You will look at me. And you will listen to me,” Tina began but then soften her voiced, “Babe, I know you and I know that you think this is somehow you’re fault, but it’s not. No one knew that this was going to happen. No one could prevent this from happening…not even you. Our daughter will come out of this alive and okay…I know she will.”

Bette began to silently cry.

“It’s okay to cry, babe. No one says you have to be strong all the time. I don’t want you to be,” Tina confessed.

Bette laid her head on Tina’s shoulder and continued to cry. Some of the days tension was beginning to melt.

*****