The incessant beeps surrounding her was giving her a headache, as her stomach was starting to rebel.

Out of no where a kindly nurse held a bucket to her side and helped her sit up as she emptied her stomach into the basin.  She felt hollow when she was finished.

“Are you in pain love?”  The nurse asked, wiping tears from her eyes.  She was laying back on the bed, the oxygen mask over her face and the nurse was taking her pulse.  Bette slowly nodded, thankful that within moments to nurse was injecting painkillers into her catheter.

Maybe she could find her way back to blessed oblivion.

She was just so damned tired.

**********

Kit and Alice were talking quietly to each other when Helena, Tina and Angelica walked into the waiting room.  Helena found them quickly and walked toward them with confidant strides, leaving Tina and Angelica hanging back, afraid of what kind of reception their presence may warrant.

“Alice, Kit.”  Helena greeted warmly, hugging both of them closely.  “Have you heard anything.”

Kit smiled, which told her all she needed to know before they both launched into a rundown of Bette’s condition.  Relieved, Helena saw this was a perfect time to divert attention to, what will definitely be, surprised visitors.

“Look who I found.”  Helena said, directing the attention of the 2 women to Tina and Angelica.

“Finally.”  Kit breathed.  She thought she would be angry with Tina when she got to see her again, not relieved and thankful – but that is exactly what she was.  “Tina, over here.”  She called, making sure that Tina felt like she had no choice but the join them.

“What brought you back?”  She was asked.

“Helena.”  She answered truthfully, before amending, “and I think Bette and I need to talk.”

Alice didn’t know how to react to the almost flippant way that Tina was addressing the situation.  She was happy to see her friend and her Earth Daughter, but equally she was angry that Tina just didn’t seem to grasp what happened.

“You think?”  She questioned snakily.  “Until you know, you don’t get to see Bette.  We’ll take Angelica through.”  Alice got up and purposefully took Angelica from her mother and held her close as she made her way down the hall to the room Bette would soon occupy.

Tina didn’t know what to say, rendered speechless by the condemnation of her friend.  She looked both at Helena and Kit, hoping that one of them would tell her, something, anything.  That they would make Alice give her back Angelica.

“I gotta agree with Alice Tina.  Until you know you need to see Bette, I don’t think it’s a good idea you see my baby sis.  She can’t take it right now.  It’s all to raw.”  Kit patted Tina’s arm as she too got up to leave the waiting room.  “Thank you for bringing Angelica.  Her Momma B is gonna love seeing her.”  With a kiss on the cheek, Kit followed in the same direction that Alice went.

“I need to see her Helena” Tina cried, tears quietly staining her face.

Helena smiled sadly, “Just this once Tina, think about what Bette needs, I implore you.”

TBC