As the sun rose indicating the start of a new day, Tina and Bette are both sleeping. Bette is occupying the same spot next to Tinas bed that she had for the past several days. Now that Tina is no longer in the drug induced coma, it had become more difficult for anyone to get Bette to leave Tinas side. Bette is determined that Tina will not wake up alone. Bette had not gotten much sleep overnight because of her concern for Tina. Any movement that Tina made, Bette would wake up to see if everything was alright. During the last few hours, Tina had not stirred much, so Bette was deep in sleep. However, her sleep was not deep enough to prevent her from feeling Tinas hand rubbing the side of her face. Bette thought she was dreaming until she opened her eyes and saw Tina looking at her.

After gently kissing Tinas hand Bette says Hey .. Good Morning Baby .. I will let the doctor know that you are awake so they can get that tube out of you ok?

Tina nods in acknowledgement.

Bette leaves the room for a short time and when she returns she has Tinas doctor and a nurse with her. She goes back to Tinas side and takes her hand.

Good Morning Ms. Kennard. We are going to remove this tube ok? It isnt going to be very comfortable but it should be over quickly. What I am going to need you to do when I pull the tube is to exhale as hard as you can ok? Dont try to talk immediately after the tube is removed. We will give you some ice chips to lubricate your throat to make it easier to talk. When I say go, you push

Dr. Richardson wraps his hand around the tube, looks at Tina and says go

He pulls the tube from Tina and she begins gagging and coughing. The nurse raises Tinas head and hands Bette a cup of ice chips for Tina. Bette gently places ice chips in Tinas mouth. Dr. Richardson proceeds to fill Tina in on her condition leaving out the information about the hysterectomy per Bettes request. Bette feels that she should be the one to tell Tina that she can no longer have any children. She feels like she wasnt as supportive to Tina as she should have been after the miscarriage and she plans to do a better job of supporting Tina with what will sure to be devastating news.

Ms. Kennard , on a scale of 1 to 10 where is your pain right now?

Tina in a raspy voice answered 8

ok .. We will take care of that for you. Ms. Porter, the hospital clothing is no longer required so you can take them off when you like. The nurse gives Tina more pain medication through her IV and then she and the doctor leave the room. While the nurse was attending to Tina, Bette was removing her hospital scrubs. She knows that Tina will be going back to sleep soon so she moves closer to Tina to try to talk to her before she does falls asleep. She is torn as to what she should talk about. She wants to apologize again and again for what she has done but she also realizes that Tina is not in any condition to deal with her on that level right now. If I dont try to talk to her will she think I am avoiding the subject, if I do try to talk to her she might think I am being insensitive.

Bette continues to struggles with what she should say. There is an uncomfortable silence in the room as Tina and Bette just look at one another. Bette can see the emotional and physical pain that Tina is in and it is killing Bette to know that she is the source of that pain. She so desperately wants to take Tina in her arms and turn back time to a happier point in their life. Tina knowing Bette so well can see the mental struggle that Bette is going through but she does not know what to say either. Her emotions are all over the place right now. She is in physical pain. Her heart is breaking. Her mind and body are struggling with some many things right now. She is fighting the memories of the fight with Bette. It alls seems so overwhelming. Tina closes her eye tightly in an attempt to make it all go away as tears begin to roll down her face.

T Baby Whats wrong? Are you in a lot pain?

Yes

The medication should be taking affect soon

Opening her eyes to look at Bette tears still flowing, The medication cant help the pain that I am in Bette

T .. I am so sorry for what I did. Please baby, give me a chance to make it up to you. I promise that it will never happen again. It was a stupid mistake and

Tina interrupts still crying A mistake is putting on one blue sock and one black sock Bette. It is not a mistake to make love to someone else when you are supposed to be married. Bette I love you so much that is scares me sometimes. Right after the accident, all I could think about was you. I just wanted to be in your arms so bad. I didnt want our last time together to be the last memory for both .. of . us. I thought .. we . would be ..together for .. the .. rest of our .. lives Tina begins to fall asleep.

Bette leaning in and kissing Tina gently on her cheek T We will be together for the rest of our lives. I love you so very much .. Please just give me chance to make things right

As Tina surrender to her sleep, Bette hears Tina mumble I love you too

When she wakes up several hours later, Bette is still by her side. They both agree that it is not a good idea to try to talk about the affair while Tina is still so heavily medicated. They will try to tackle the tough issues in a few days.

tbc