Getting to her feet was a chore, her head felt the same it did the morning after the night she, Alice and Dana had gone out partying.  After Tina had moved out, Bette spent a lot of time alone at first, then gradually, she began to make her way in the world again.  She remembered bumping into Jenny one evening and the two of them shared a smoke.  This led to many nights with a beer in one hand and a smoke in the other.  She had stepped out of her realm.  It was reckless abandon that brought her to that place.  She realized it was all wrong.  Bette had never really been one for the night life.  It there ever was a function or gathering of sorts, Tina had always been by her side.  Nothing in her life ever seemed right, unless Tina was there with her.  So she quickly ended the party nights with the girls.  She had more important things to do.  Some how, some way, she needed to find Tina again, or better yet, Tina needed to find her.

She stumbled toward the bathroom, rubbing her temples.  She directly needed Advil, or something, to kill the monster living in her head.  She tapped on the door.  “Tee, can I come in?”  There was no answer so she slowly pushed open the door.  Tina had submerged herself into the water and couldn’t hear a thing.  Bette stood by the tub and called out again, this time louder.  Tee!! 

Tina sat up really fast.  The sound of Bette’s voice shocked her.  What?? she belted out.

“Sorry, I just wanted you to know that I was in here.  I didn’t want to scare you.  I guess it’s too late for that,” she remarked.

Tina laughed and Bette wanted to, but instead, she just kept rubbing her temples.

“What’s wrong?” Tina said looking up at her.

“I have a killer headache,” she winced.  And with that she opened her toiletry case and took out the Advil.

“You should take a shower and I’ll make you some hot tea.”  Tina got out of the bath and put on her robe.

Bette stood under the hot steaming shower, hoping it would melt away the pain.  She felt more and more relaxed as the water washed over her.

“Are you okay in there?”  Tina called out to her.

“I’m fine.”  Bette turned off the shower and grabbed her robe.  She wiped off the steam that had covered the mirror.  The pain in her head had subsided, but not the pain in her heart.

“Your tea is ready.”  Tina walked in to find Bette still staring at herself in the mirror.  She stood there not knowing what to say.  She could tell that there was more to Bette’s worried look than just a headache.  Tina came closer to her.  She glanced into the steamy glass, looking into Bette’s discontented, yet warm brown eyes.  And with no qualms, she put her arms around Bette’s waist. 

To be continued.